December 18: A study conducted by the government has shown that the gap between the government’s income and expenditure is gradually widening where the income is on the weaker side.…
December 18: A study conducted by the government has shown that the gap between the government’s income and expenditure is gradually widening where the income is on the weaker side.…
December 18: The month-long football World Cup draws to a close today (Sunday) after a mouth-watering clash between the Titans – Argentina and France – in what is anticipated to be one of the most thrilling…
With a motto to replace import of pens, an industrialist has brought a pen industry into operation at Bara-Parsa…
December 18: Croatia eased past Morocco 2-1 to claim the third place in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on…
December 18: The Traffic Police has sent 60 driving licenses to the Department of Transport Management from November 17 to December 15 recommending suspension of the…
With fixing of the date to crush the sugarcane by the sugar mills, sugarcane producing farmers have started harvesting sugarcanes. The government, however, has not shown any concern to fix the minimum support price for the sugarcane…
The government has spent 24.26 per cent budget in the first five months of the current fiscal year of…
December 16: 'Dr App', which provides information about doctors, clinics and diagnostic centers available in cities across Nepal, has been launched by the…
President Bidhya Devi Bhandari urged the government to solve the problems seen in the industrial sector on…
December 16: The year-on-year consumer price inflation increased to 8.08 percent in mid-November 2022 compared to 6.04 percent a year…
December 16: Nepal’s exports decreased by 33.3 percent in the first four months of the current fiscal year, according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra…
December 16: Nepal Airlines Corporation has resumed its flights that were obstructed on Thursday due to the protest by cabin crew members.…
December 16: The Ministry of Health and Population has urged one and all to take precautions as the temperature is becoming increasingly cold across the country including Kathmandu…
Economic indicators have further improved in the fourth month of the current fiscal year in the…
December 15: Export of vegetable seeds produced in Nepal is come to a halt due to the inability to maintain quality of the seeds.…
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 18: A study conducted by the government has shown that the gap between the government’s income and expenditure is gradually widening where the income is on the weaker side. In the current fiscal year, the government announced a budget of Rs 1.793 trillion to be spent under various headings. As of December 14, the total budget expenditure is just 24.2 percent. The government, which aims to raise Rs 1.4 trillion in revenue this year, has collected only 22.96 percent during this period.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the review period, 8.83 percent of the development budget and 29.91 percent of the current expenditures have been spent. The government, which is earning Rs 2.95 billion on a daily basis, is spending more than 4 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The gap between government income and expenditure seems to be increasing since a long time. A government study has shown that the gap between revenue collection and expenditure is increasing with the increase in administrative expenses and the need for development in Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to a recent study by the National Planning Commission, this gap is increasing due to lack of resources, resource management capacity, and unscientific projection, ambiguity in priorities, random project selection and resource allocation. The revenue and expenditure gap has been increasing for the past 4.5 decades.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">From the year 2031/32 to 2035/36, the gap between revenue collection and expenditure was Rs 1 billion. The average gap of income and expenses between 2073/74 and 2077/78 is Rs 262 billion. According to the study, the gap between revenue and expenditure reached the highest point (Rs 361 billion) in the year 2074/75 in the last four and a half decades.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Studies have shown that the gap between revenue collection and expenditure increased significantly after the promulgation of the new constitution in 2072 BS (2015 AD). The average economic growth from the year 2073/74 to 2075/76 was also more than 6.5 percent. The study revealed the fact that Nepal's launch capacity has not been effective since 70 years. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The study has shown that many factors such as political instability, projection method, economic environment and projection capacity affect public expenditure. From the year 2030/31 to 2045/46, the average estimated budget gap was 12 percent. The gap was 12 percent during the conflict period, 13 percent during the subsequent transition period and 20 percent after the constitution was promulgated in 2072.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-18', 'modified' => '2022-12-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16295', 'image' => '20221218015345_New_Emblem_of_Nepal.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-18 13:52:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16552', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Messi Aims for World Cup Glory against Formidable France', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 18: The month-long football World Cup draws to a close today (Sunday) after a mouth-watering clash between the Titans – Argentina and France – in what is anticipated to be one of the most thrilling finals.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">AGENCIES</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">December 18: The month-long football World Cup draws to a close today (Sunday) after a mouth-watering clash between the Titans – Argentina and France – in what is anticipated to be one of the most thrilling finals. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Lionel Messi is hoping to crown his stellar career by leading Argentina to World Cup glory at 15:00 GMT (20:45 NST) but Kylian Mbappé's history-chasing France are standing in his way, reports AFP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the BBC, Messi, 35, has won a record seven Ballon d'Or awards - presented to the best player in the world - but never won the biggest team prize in football.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Sunday's final is likely to be his last chance to match the achievement of Diego Maradona, who inspired Argentina to victory in 1986.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Messi – the magician – quite possibly the best the world has ever seen, is heading towards retirement, reports Al Jazeera, adding, Mbappe, the prodigious talent who has scored only two fewer World Cup goals than Messi, but is aged just 23 and is poised to take the 35-year-old Argentinian’s mantle as the best player in the world.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Argentina teams of recent years may have been built entirely around Messi but as his years advance, his role in La Albiceleste has developed beyond that of nonstop goal machine and into playmaker supreme, empowering his teammates and waiting for that perfect moment to unleash a little magic. And it works.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Likewise, France is more than Mbappe. Had they had some of their global superstars such as the injured Karim Benzema, Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante playing, there’s no guarantee the 2018 winners would have made it this far, added Al Jazeera.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, France’s preparation for Sunday’s final has been hampered by illness to several players.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to AFP, central defenders Raphaël Varane and Ibrahima Konaté, as well as Kingsley Coman, sat out training on Friday with cold-like symptoms while Konaté replaced Dayot Upamecano in defence for the semi-final against Morocco after he was ruled out by illness, and Adrien Rabiot was also unwell for that game.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Argentina and France are both aiming to win the trophy for the third time, with Les Bleus returning to the final four years after their triumph in Moscow, added AFP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Back-to-back titles would be a monumental achievement for the side coached by Deschamps – the only teams to have done it previously are Italy in the 1930s and Pelé's Brazil in 1958 and 1962.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The one player they cannot afford to lose is Mbappé, who scored five goals in the team's first four games but was largely kept quiet in the wins against England and Morocco.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-18', 'modified' => '2022-12-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16294', 'image' => '20221218123911_messi youtube.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-18 12:38:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16553', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Pen Industry Worth Rs 400 Million Opens at Bara-Parsa Corridor ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'With a motto to replace import of pens, an industrialist has brought a pen industry into operation at Bara-Parsa Corridor.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">December 18 : With a motto to replace import of pens, an industrialist has brought a pen industry into operation at Bara-Parsa Corridor.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The industry with the name “Beena Shakti Paper and Stationery Product” has come into operation. Industry’s Proprietor Manoj Kumar Marodiya said that he had brought the industry into operation with a goal to manufacture 90 million sets of sets of pens a year. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">“Nepal has a great market for pens and stationery product. But, imported products have captured the market. We have brought the industry into operation to avail this market”, said Marodiya.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Operated with the initial investment of Rs Rs 400 million, the industry will manufacture 16 types of pens costing from Rs 5 to Rs 50 under “Frenz” brand. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The industry will manufacture erasers, sharpeners and scales as well. Marodiya estimates that Nepal requires 300 million sets of pens at present. “Pens worth Rs 2 billion sell in the domestic market a year”, he added.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Marodiya says that he has used two-decades of his experience earned in the import of pens and stationery in the new industry. He claims that country can become self-dependent if the government provides policy-level support to the his industry. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Marodiya, however, laments that he is having a tough time competing with imported pens due to nominal margin of custom duty in the import of raw materials used for making pens and readymade pens. Pens imported avoiding tax have added woes to the domestic industry.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The government imposes 10 and 15 taxes in the import of raw materials used to making pens and readymade pens respectively. </span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The industry has been importing raw materials from India, Japan, South Korea and Germany to manufacture pens, according to Marodiya. <br /> </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-18', 'modified' => '2022-12-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16293', 'image' => '20221218125532_collage (10).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-18 12:50:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16551', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Croatia Finish Third in World Cup', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 18: Croatia eased past Morocco 2-1 to claim the third place in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on Saturday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">December 18: Croatia eased past Morocco 2-1 to claim the third place in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on Saturday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A sublime header from Joško Gvardiol in the seventh minute gave the 2018 runners-up Croatia the lead but the joy was short lived.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Morocco’s Achraf Dari levelled just two minutes later by nodding home from close range.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the BBC, Mislav Orsic curled in a sumptuous second for Croatia via the post three minutes before half-time.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The second half could not match the energy of a thrilling opening period and Morocco failed to find an equaliser as a fruitful campaign ended in back-to-back defeats.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-18', 'modified' => '2022-12-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16292', 'image' => '20221218113711_croatia_celebrate_3rd_place_at_world_cup_2022_ee5b5179902f7831d165c6ce185e6030.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-18 11:36:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16550', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Licenses of Frequent Traffic Rule Violators to be Suspended ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 18: The Traffic Police has sent 60 driving licenses to the Department of Transport Management from November 17 to December 15 recommending suspension of the licenses. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 18: The Traffic Police has sent 60 driving licenses to the Department of Transport Management from November 17 to December 15 recommending suspension of the licenses. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office sent those licenses to the DoTM for suspension reasoning that the drivers were found frequently violating rules. The recommendation for the suspension of license was made as per the Vehicle and Transport Management Act 2049 and Regulation 2054. According to the traffic police, they were violators of traffic rule for more than five times. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Spokesperson at the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, Senior Superintendent of Police, Rajendra Prasad Bhatta, said they had sent licenses to the DoTM for action as per the Transport Management Act-2049 because the drivers had violated the traffic rules for more than five times. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Among those to be punished, a driver had faced action for 44 times. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-18', 'modified' => '2022-12-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16291', 'image' => '20221218104348_Traffic-Fines-Payment-Esewa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-18 10:43:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16549', 'article_category_id' => '277', 'title' => 'Government Delays to Fix Support Price for Sugarcane; Farmers Likely To Face Old Predicament ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'With fixing of the date to crush the sugarcane by the sugar mills, sugarcane producing farmers have started harvesting sugarcanes. The government, however, has not shown any concern to fix the minimum support price for the sugarcane yet. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">December 18: With fixing of the date to crush the sugarcane by the sugar mills, sugarcane producing farmers have started harvesting sugarcanes. The government, however, has not shown any concern to fix the minimum support price for the sugarcane yet. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Sugarcane producing farmers are busy harvesting sugarcanes in Sarlahi, Bara, Rautahat, Kapilvastu, Kailali, and Kanchanpur in Tarai. After a few days, they will start selling their produce. But, the government not fixing the support price has left them worried and disappointed. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">In the case of paddy, the government fixed the minimum support price after the paddy producing farmers had sold out their produce to manage their household expenses. Farmers with weak financial condition had sold out their paddy to the traders up to at Rs 800 per quintal cheaper price before the government determined the minimum support price.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Sugarcane Producing Farmers Struggle Committee Sarlahi’s Secretary Harishyam Ray says that almost all of the farmers had started harvesting the sugarcane as sugar mills had already fixed the date to crush the sugarcane.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“Sugarcanes have started drying up. Delaying to harvest them will lose their weight. The government should have fixed the minimum support price by now. We do not know why the government is delaying to fix the price”, Ray wondered. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Ray informed he has planted sugarcane in three bigahas of the land. He used to plant sugarcanes in 18 bigahas of the land until four years ago. “Owing to delay to fix the minimum price, non-payment of the sugarcanes for a long time by mill owners, soaring cost of production, I have reduced sugarcane cultivation”, shared Ray. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Sugarcane farmers have to protest to receive money of the their produce against sugar mill owners.<br /> Sugarcane farmers from Tarai have staged the protest in Kathmandu to force the sugar mills to pay them for their produce in the past years.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The government had issued warning to arrest the sugar mill owners for non-payment to the farmers. The government fixes minimum support price of paddy, wheat and sugarcane, among others, to ensure farmers’ cost of production and stop middlemen from cheating farmers.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Stakeholders, however, say that minimum price fixed by the government is a game to trick farmers.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Sugarcane Farmers’ Struggle Committee Coordinator Rakesh Mishra says that farmers can not benefit as the government delays to fix the price though the provision has it that the government has to determine the price before farmers plant the crops.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Meanwhile, Ministry of Agriculture, and Livestock Development, however, said that it was preparing to present the proposal to fix the minimum price of sugarcane to the Cabinet. </span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Spokesperson Prakash Kumar Sanjel at the ministry said that sugarcane’s support price would be fixed in a matter of few days. “The ministry has completed all technical work. Now, we will hold a meeting with all stakeholders and fix the price”, added Sanjel. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Farmers have been accusing the government of fixing the price arbitrarily by not inviting their representatives. They complain that support price is always lower than their cost of production since their representatives are not invited in the meeting held to fix the support price of the sugarcane. </span></p> <p><br /> <span style="font-size:18px">Sugarcane farmers have started selling their produce to jaggery industries at cheaper price since they are fed up with the government delay to fix the support price and non-payment of their produce by the sugar mill owners. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-18', 'modified' => '2022-12-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16290', 'image' => '20221218063838_collage (9).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-18 06:32:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16548', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Twenty-Four Per Cent Budget Spent in First Five Months ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The government has spent 24.26 per cent budget in the first five months of the current fiscal year of 2022/23. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">December 16: The government has spent 24.26 per cent budget in the first five months of the current fiscal year of 2022/23. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The government had brought a total budget of Rs 17, 93,83,7300000 for the current fiscal year. Out of the total budget, the government’s expenditure stands at Rs 4, 35,21,1100000, according to Office of Auditor General. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">In the last five months, capital expenses are just around 9 per cent. The federal government’s capital expenses up to the end of the fifth month stand at Rs 3,80, 38,4500000. This is equal to 8.94 per cent. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Similarly, out of the 11, 83,23,5100000 appropriated for administrative expenses, 29.94 per cent, which is equivalent to Rs 3, 54, 25, 6900000, has been spent.</span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">In the category of financial management, the government has allocated Rs 2,30,21,7700000. Till the end of the fifth month, the government has used up Rs 46,96,2600000. Expenditure under the financial management is 20.4 per cent. </span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The government has collected 24.52 percent revenue during the same period. The government has set the target to collect the internal revenue of Rs 14, 3,14,7000000 and take a foreign grant of Rs 55, 83, 4500000 within the current fiscal year.<br /> </span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The government has collected internal revenue of Rs 3,26,890000000 so far, which is 23. 3 per cent of total annual target. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Likewise, the government has received Rs 3,41,5900000 foreign grant, which is 6.16 per cent of the total annual target.</span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16289', 'image' => '20221216052612_collage (18).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 17:20:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16546', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'App to Provide Information on Doctors and Clinics Launched', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 16: 'Dr App', which provides information about doctors, clinics and diagnostic centers available in cities across Nepal, has been launched by the developers.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 16: 'Dr App', which provides information about doctors, clinics and diagnostic centers available in cities across Nepal, has been launched by the developers. The app developed by Titanium Technology was launched in Kathmandu on Monday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The app is launched as a platform to help find information about hospitals and doctors in one place. This app will not only provide information from various experts at one place, but also gives the qualification, experience of all types of doctors and the opening time and location of the hospitals and clinics. Titanium Technology says that since not everyone has the information about which specialist doctor and hospital to go to for a sensitive issue like health, this app will make such information accessible to everyone.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> Inaugurating the app, Samindra Singh Thapa, managing director of the company said that the app can solve dilemmas like which specialist and which place to go in case of a health problem. He informed, “In the app, you can find information about doctors, clinics and diagnostic centers available in cities across Nepal, which can be used not only in the country but also by Nepalese living abroad for their relatives.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The app is available in both English and Nepali languages. The company informed that the app, which is currently only available on Play Store, will soon be available on the App Store as well.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16287', 'image' => '20221216043115_health sector.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 16:30:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16545', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'President Bhandari Urges the Government to Solve Problems Seen in Industrial Sector ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' President Bidhya Devi Bhandari urged the government to solve the problems seen in the industrial sector on Friday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:22px"> December 16: President Bidhya Devi Bhandari urged the government to solve the problems seen in the industrial sector on Friday.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">Speaking at the Birat Expo organized in Biratanagr, Bhandari argued that Biratnagar, country’s major industrial estate, was struggling to retain its past glory. She expressed confidence that Biratanagar would set a good example in industrialization to the whole country.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">President Bhandari stressed the need to establish industries based on domestic raw materials. She also highlighted the need to forge coordination among farmers and industrialists to produce raw materials for the industries in the country. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">At the programme, Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) Chairman Sekhar Golchha said that country was experiencing a financial crisis never seen before. “Earlier, the country faced economic crises due to the earthquake, COVID-19 and other disasters”, Golchha stated. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">But, Golchha blamed that Nepal Rastra Bank and the government’s flawed policies had led to the current financial crisis facing the country.</span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">Morang Industry Association’s Chairman Suyash Pyakurel said that country was in need of export promoting and import replacing industries. “Post-COVID financial crisis has adversely affected almost all industries and business in the country”, Pyakurel added.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16286', 'image' => '20221216035726_collage (14).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 15:47:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16544', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Inflation Rises to 8.08 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 16: The year-on-year consumer price inflation increased to 8.08 percent in mid-November 2022 compared to 6.04 percent a year ago.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">December 16: The year-on-year consumer price inflation increased to 8.08 percent in mid-November 2022 compared to 6.04 percent a year ago. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Nepal Rastra Bank, food and beverage inflation stood at 7.38 percent whereas non-food and service inflation rose to 8.63 percent in the review month. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Under the food and beverage category, y-o-y price index of restaurant and hotel sub-category increased 15.97 percent, tobacco products 11.81 percent, milk products and eggs 9.33 percent, cereal grains and their products 9.19 and alcoholic drinks 8.84 percent, as per the Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report released by NRB on Thursday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the report based on four months of data, the y-o-y price index of transportation subcategory increased 17.71 percent, health 11.22 percent, recreation and culture 8.76 percent, housing and utilities 8.49 percent and furnishing and household equipment 8.33 percent under the non-food and services category.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the review month, consumer price inflation in the Kathmandu Valley, Terai, hill and mountain areas stood at 7.56 percent, 8.52 percent, 8.03 percent and 6.68 percent respectively. Inflation in these regions were 6.14 percent, 5.42 percent, 7.14 percent and 5.00 percent respectively a year ago.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16285', 'image' => '20221216010258_Inflation.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 13:02:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16543', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal’s Export, Import Decline', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 16: Nepal’s exports decreased by 33.3 percent in the first four months of the current fiscal year, according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">December 16: Nepal’s exports decreased by 33.3 percent in the first four months of the current fiscal year, according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report of Nepal released by the central bank on Thursday states that merchandise exports decreased 33.3 percent in the first four months of FY 2022/23 amounting Rs 54.77 billion against an increase of 104.3 percent in the same period of the previous fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Destination-wise, exports to India and China decreased 42.3 percent and 34.2 percent respectively whereas exports to other countries increased 7.4 percent. Exports of zinc sheet, particle board, woolen carpets, tea, readymade garments, among others, increased whereas exports of soybean oil, palm oil, oil cakes, jute goods, textiles, among others, decreased in the review period, the repot states. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the first four months of FY 2022/23, merchandise imports decreased 18.1 percent amounting to Rs 532.69 billion against an increase of 61.6 percent a year ago. Destination-wise, imports from India, China and other countries decreased 16.5 percent, 20.9 percent, and 20.1 percent respectively. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the NRB report, imports of petroleum products, chemical fertilizer, sponge iron, gold, aircraft spare parts, among others, increased whereas imports of transport equipment and parts, silver, telecommunication equipment and parts, MS billet, crude soybean oil, among others, decreased in the review period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Based on customs points, exports from Dry Port, Jaleshwar, Kailali, Krishnanagar, Mechi and Tribhuwan Airport Customs Offices increased whereas exports from all the other major customs points decreased in the review period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">On the import side, imports from Jaleshwar Customs Office increased whereas imports from all the other major customs points decreased in the review period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Total trade deficit decreased 15.9 percent to Rs 477.92 billion during the four months of FY 2022/23. Such a deficit had increased 56.8 percent in the corresponding period of the previous year. The export-import ratio decreased to 10.3 percent in the review period from 12.6 percent in the corresponding period of the previous year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the four months of FY 2022/23, merchandise imports from India by paying convertible foreign currency amounted Rs 42.69 billion. Such amount was Rs 71.40 billion in the same period of the previous year, added the NRB. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16284', 'image' => '20221216124439_Trade.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 12:44:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16542', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NAC Resumes Flights after Resolving Cabin Crew Protest', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 16: Nepal Airlines Corporation has resumed its flights that were obstructed on Thursday due to the protest by cabin crew members. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"arial sans-serif","serif"">December 16: Nepal Airlines Corporation has resumed its flights that were obstructed on Thursday due to the protest by cabin crew members. Both domestic and international flights of the state-owned airlines company was halted from Thursday morning after the cabin crew members of NAC staged protest against the NAC management for not renewing contract of two air hostesses, who have been working at the corporations for the past 15 years. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"arial sans-serif","serif"">After the issue was resolved, regular flights resumed on Thursday evening, informed Archana Khadka, spokesperson of NAC.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"arial sans-serif","serif"">NAC said that the company’s management team and the agitating crew members held discussions throughout the day and sorted out the problem.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"arial sans-serif","serif"">According to Spokesperson Khadka, the flights that were halted throughout the day resumed in the evening. She further informed that the NAC’s scheduled flights to New Delhi and Riyadh took place after 8 pm on Thursday. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"arial sans-serif","serif"">Spokesperson Khadka said that the agitating cabin crew members resumed their work after NAC agreed to renew the contracts of all the staffers. The cabin crew members had started the protest alleging that the NAC tried to lay off two staff members – Aarati Maharjan and Smita Gubaju – without any reasons although they had been serving with the NAC since the last 15 years.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"arial sans-serif","serif"">Issuing a statement on Thursday, the NAC Cabin Crew Association had accused the company of delaying renewal of contract, not providing them identity cards and of unfair treatment in perks and facilities.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16283', 'image' => '20221216111621_NAC.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 11:15:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16541', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Health Ministry Urges to Take Precaution as Mercury Level Continues to Plunge', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 16: The Ministry of Health and Population has urged one and all to take precautions as the temperature is becoming increasingly cold across the country including Kathmandu Valley. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 16: The Ministry of Health and Population has urged one and all to take precautions as the temperature is becoming increasingly cold across the country including Kathmandu Valley. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Health Ministry Spokesperson Dr Sanjay Kumar Thakur appealed to all to be alert considering the increasing risk of infection during the cold weather. As the mercury level has started falling down continuously for the last few days, senior citizens, chronic patients, children, expecting mothers are advised to take special precautions. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The temperature of Kathmandu plummeted to as low as 7.6 degree Celsius on Friday, according to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. The ministry has requested the general public to keep warm and protect themselves against the increasing cold. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Furthermore, the ministry advised to take warm food and water and suggested not to stay outdoor and open area for a long time. Proper ventilation should be maintained while using heater or geyser, the ministry said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Considering the risk of infection due to contaminated water and food, the ministry urged all to pay special attention to food intake. Washing hands before preparing and eating meal is also recommended. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16282', 'image' => '20221216105551_DaneBohara_Humla_RSS_14(2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 10:55:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16540', 'article_category_id' => '274', 'title' => 'Improvement in Nepal’s Economic Indicators ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Economic indicators have further improved in the fourth month of the current fiscal year in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px">December 16: Economic indicators have further improved in the fourth month of the current fiscal year in the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-size:20px">Restrictive policies adopted by Nepal Rastra Bank and the government following the depletion of foreign currency reserve and high deficit in balance of payment have yielded positive results. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">As per the report published by Nepal Rastra Bank on Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation on Thursday, inflation has slightly dropped while condition of balance of payment, remittance inflow, and foreign currency reserve have improved. </span><br /> <span style="font-size:20px">Inflation stood at 8.8 per cent in the fourth month of the current fiscal year while country recorded inflation at 8.26 per cent in the third month of the same fiscal year. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Nepal Rasrta Bank and the government have set the target to keep inflation within 7 per cent this fiscal. The fourth month has witnessed improvement in the balance of payment (difference in inflow and outflow of money from the country). </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Balance of payment incurring loss for 14 months had started seeing surplus from the third month of the current fiscal year. BOP surplus that stood at Rs 12,43,0000000 in the same month increased to Rs 20,030000000 in the fourth month.</span><br /> <span style="font-size:20px">Due to COVID-19 and lockdowns imposed to contain the virus had plummeted the import, causing the BOP surplus. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">However, high import since last year had led to the deficit in balance of payment. After the high import reduced the foreign currency reserve rapidly, Nepal Rastra Bank had started provision of keeping 50 per cash margin when opening the letter of credit (LC) to import the luxurious goods from the fourth month of last fiscal year.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Later, the government had banned the import of 10 luxurious good in May. The ban has resulted into BOP surplus. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Remittance inflow rate that started rising since the first month of the current fiscal year increased by 20.4 per cent in the fourth month. Country has received a total of Rs 3,780,40000000 remittance in the first four months of the current fiscal. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Remittance amount country received in the fourth month was at Rs 96,990000000. Last year, the remittance inflow had dropped by 7 per cent in the same month. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">In the US Dollar terms, the remittance inflow has increased by 10.8 per cent and reached 2, 93,0000000. Remittance in the US Dollar had dropped by 7.3 per cent in the same period last year.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Rise in the number of people going for foreign employment and sharp increase in the price of US Dollar have led to the rise of remittance inflow inside the country.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The number of people receiving labour agreement to work in foreign countries in the first four months increased by 102 per cent and reached 1,95,196. A total of 87,428 migrant workers renewed their labour contract during the same period this fiscal. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Tourism income has also improved. Income received from tourists increased by 137 per cent and stood at Rs 17, 96,0000000 in the first four months of the current fiscal. Tourism income was just Rs 7,580000000 during the same period last year. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Trade deficit has also dropped in the first four months of the current fiscal. In the review period, import fell by 18 per cent and stood at Rs 5,32,690000000. In the same period, country’s export stood at Rs 54,77,0000000. The total trade deficit decreased by 9.4 per cent and stood at Rs 4,77, 920000000 during the same period.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Status of foreign current reserve has also improved during the review period. The total foreign currency reserve stood in the US Dollar stood at 9,63,0000000 in the fourth month of the current fiscal year. The third month had foreign currency reserve of US Dollar 9,48,0000000. </span><br /> <span style="font-size:20px">The current reserve of the foreign currency is enough to import goods for 9.7 months and goods and services for 8.4 months.</span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16281', 'image' => '20221216103327_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 07:08:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16539', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Turns into Seeds Importer from Exporter', 'sub_title' => 'Inability to Maintain Quality of Seeds to Blame for Halt in Export of Vegetable Seeds', 'summary' => 'December 15: Export of vegetable seeds produced in Nepal is come to a halt due to the inability to maintain quality of the seeds. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 15: Export of vegetable seeds produced in Nepal is come to a halt due to the inability to maintain quality of the seeds. Nepal, which used to export seeds to various countries until 16 years ago, is currently importing vegetable seeds worth millions of rupees from those countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data provided by the Agribusiness Promotion Support and Training Center, Nepal used to export vegetable seeds to India, Bangladesh, Germany and Japan by producing them in hill districts including Rukum, Salyan, Pyuthan since the fiscal year 2086/87. In that year, Nepal produced half a metric ton of radish seeds and exported them to Bangladesh. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After Bangladesh increased the demand order saying that the seeds of Nepal were of good quality, Nepal started producing seeds of cauliflower, radish, brinjal and tomato and exported them to other countries as well. According to government data, Nepal exported up to 89 metric tons of seeds to India in FY 2006/07 due to good demand.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, Nepal could not give continuity to the production and export of seeds.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As a result, the country is now forced to import seeds worth millions of rupees annually, says Amar Raj Sharma, senior crop development officer of the centre.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He claims that the demand for vegetable seeds produced in Nepal is decreasing and the export has stopped due to the weakness of the Nepali seed production company. He said, “The main reason why the export of the seeds produced by us stopped is that we could not maintain the quality. If we can maintain the quality, we can still export seeds.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to him, since the seed production centers were established in remote areas, the germinating power of the seeds started to decrease while being transported to Kathmandu due to the bad condition of roads. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Seed producers also need to maintain a distance of at least two kilometers while producing seeds of two different varieties. However, the distance could not be maintained due to lack of land.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As a result, adulteration was seen in the seeds.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to lack of adequate irrigation and fertilizer, the size of seeds was also a problem. Apart from this, the work on development and growth of indigenous varieties of seeds could not be done. As per the information, there is also a decline in the development of hybrid varieties, due to which the demand for seeds from foreign countries stopped and subsequently the export also came to a halt.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The center informed New Business Age that Nepal imported about 150,000 kilograms of vegetable seeds worth more than Rs 433.39 million in the last fiscal year alone.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-15', 'modified' => '2022-12-15', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16280', 'image' => '20221215052644_ss-8-850x340 - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-15 17:25:41', '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' => '16554', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Gap between Government’s Income and Expenditure Widening', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 18: A study conducted by the government has shown that the gap between the government’s income and expenditure is gradually widening where the income is on the weaker side. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 18: A study conducted by the government has shown that the gap between the government’s income and expenditure is gradually widening where the income is on the weaker side. In the current fiscal year, the government announced a budget of Rs 1.793 trillion to be spent under various headings. As of December 14, the total budget expenditure is just 24.2 percent. The government, which aims to raise Rs 1.4 trillion in revenue this year, has collected only 22.96 percent during this period.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the review period, 8.83 percent of the development budget and 29.91 percent of the current expenditures have been spent. The government, which is earning Rs 2.95 billion on a daily basis, is spending more than 4 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The gap between government income and expenditure seems to be increasing since a long time. A government study has shown that the gap between revenue collection and expenditure is increasing with the increase in administrative expenses and the need for development in Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to a recent study by the National Planning Commission, this gap is increasing due to lack of resources, resource management capacity, and unscientific projection, ambiguity in priorities, random project selection and resource allocation. The revenue and expenditure gap has been increasing for the past 4.5 decades.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">From the year 2031/32 to 2035/36, the gap between revenue collection and expenditure was Rs 1 billion. The average gap of income and expenses between 2073/74 and 2077/78 is Rs 262 billion. According to the study, the gap between revenue and expenditure reached the highest point (Rs 361 billion) in the year 2074/75 in the last four and a half decades.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Studies have shown that the gap between revenue collection and expenditure increased significantly after the promulgation of the new constitution in 2072 BS (2015 AD). The average economic growth from the year 2073/74 to 2075/76 was also more than 6.5 percent. The study revealed the fact that Nepal's launch capacity has not been effective since 70 years. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The study has shown that many factors such as political instability, projection method, economic environment and projection capacity affect public expenditure. From the year 2030/31 to 2045/46, the average estimated budget gap was 12 percent. The gap was 12 percent during the conflict period, 13 percent during the subsequent transition period and 20 percent after the constitution was promulgated in 2072.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-18', 'modified' => '2022-12-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16295', 'image' => '20221218015345_New_Emblem_of_Nepal.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-18 13:52:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16552', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Messi Aims for World Cup Glory against Formidable France', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 18: The month-long football World Cup draws to a close today (Sunday) after a mouth-watering clash between the Titans – Argentina and France – in what is anticipated to be one of the most thrilling finals.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">AGENCIES</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">December 18: The month-long football World Cup draws to a close today (Sunday) after a mouth-watering clash between the Titans – Argentina and France – in what is anticipated to be one of the most thrilling finals. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Lionel Messi is hoping to crown his stellar career by leading Argentina to World Cup glory at 15:00 GMT (20:45 NST) but Kylian Mbappé's history-chasing France are standing in his way, reports AFP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the BBC, Messi, 35, has won a record seven Ballon d'Or awards - presented to the best player in the world - but never won the biggest team prize in football.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Sunday's final is likely to be his last chance to match the achievement of Diego Maradona, who inspired Argentina to victory in 1986.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Messi – the magician – quite possibly the best the world has ever seen, is heading towards retirement, reports Al Jazeera, adding, Mbappe, the prodigious talent who has scored only two fewer World Cup goals than Messi, but is aged just 23 and is poised to take the 35-year-old Argentinian’s mantle as the best player in the world.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Argentina teams of recent years may have been built entirely around Messi but as his years advance, his role in La Albiceleste has developed beyond that of nonstop goal machine and into playmaker supreme, empowering his teammates and waiting for that perfect moment to unleash a little magic. And it works.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Likewise, France is more than Mbappe. Had they had some of their global superstars such as the injured Karim Benzema, Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante playing, there’s no guarantee the 2018 winners would have made it this far, added Al Jazeera.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, France’s preparation for Sunday’s final has been hampered by illness to several players.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to AFP, central defenders Raphaël Varane and Ibrahima Konaté, as well as Kingsley Coman, sat out training on Friday with cold-like symptoms while Konaté replaced Dayot Upamecano in defence for the semi-final against Morocco after he was ruled out by illness, and Adrien Rabiot was also unwell for that game.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Argentina and France are both aiming to win the trophy for the third time, with Les Bleus returning to the final four years after their triumph in Moscow, added AFP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Back-to-back titles would be a monumental achievement for the side coached by Deschamps – the only teams to have done it previously are Italy in the 1930s and Pelé's Brazil in 1958 and 1962.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The one player they cannot afford to lose is Mbappé, who scored five goals in the team's first four games but was largely kept quiet in the wins against England and Morocco.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-18', 'modified' => '2022-12-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16294', 'image' => '20221218123911_messi youtube.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-18 12:38:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16553', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Pen Industry Worth Rs 400 Million Opens at Bara-Parsa Corridor ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'With a motto to replace import of pens, an industrialist has brought a pen industry into operation at Bara-Parsa Corridor.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">December 18 : With a motto to replace import of pens, an industrialist has brought a pen industry into operation at Bara-Parsa Corridor.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The industry with the name “Beena Shakti Paper and Stationery Product” has come into operation. Industry’s Proprietor Manoj Kumar Marodiya said that he had brought the industry into operation with a goal to manufacture 90 million sets of sets of pens a year. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">“Nepal has a great market for pens and stationery product. But, imported products have captured the market. We have brought the industry into operation to avail this market”, said Marodiya.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Operated with the initial investment of Rs Rs 400 million, the industry will manufacture 16 types of pens costing from Rs 5 to Rs 50 under “Frenz” brand. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The industry will manufacture erasers, sharpeners and scales as well. Marodiya estimates that Nepal requires 300 million sets of pens at present. “Pens worth Rs 2 billion sell in the domestic market a year”, he added.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Marodiya says that he has used two-decades of his experience earned in the import of pens and stationery in the new industry. He claims that country can become self-dependent if the government provides policy-level support to the his industry. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Marodiya, however, laments that he is having a tough time competing with imported pens due to nominal margin of custom duty in the import of raw materials used for making pens and readymade pens. Pens imported avoiding tax have added woes to the domestic industry.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The government imposes 10 and 15 taxes in the import of raw materials used to making pens and readymade pens respectively. </span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The industry has been importing raw materials from India, Japan, South Korea and Germany to manufacture pens, according to Marodiya. <br /> </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-18', 'modified' => '2022-12-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16293', 'image' => '20221218125532_collage (10).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-18 12:50:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16551', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Croatia Finish Third in World Cup', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 18: Croatia eased past Morocco 2-1 to claim the third place in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on Saturday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">December 18: Croatia eased past Morocco 2-1 to claim the third place in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on Saturday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A sublime header from Joško Gvardiol in the seventh minute gave the 2018 runners-up Croatia the lead but the joy was short lived.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Morocco’s Achraf Dari levelled just two minutes later by nodding home from close range.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the BBC, Mislav Orsic curled in a sumptuous second for Croatia via the post three minutes before half-time.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The second half could not match the energy of a thrilling opening period and Morocco failed to find an equaliser as a fruitful campaign ended in back-to-back defeats.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-18', 'modified' => '2022-12-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16292', 'image' => '20221218113711_croatia_celebrate_3rd_place_at_world_cup_2022_ee5b5179902f7831d165c6ce185e6030.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-18 11:36:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16550', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Licenses of Frequent Traffic Rule Violators to be Suspended ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 18: The Traffic Police has sent 60 driving licenses to the Department of Transport Management from November 17 to December 15 recommending suspension of the licenses. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 18: The Traffic Police has sent 60 driving licenses to the Department of Transport Management from November 17 to December 15 recommending suspension of the licenses. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office sent those licenses to the DoTM for suspension reasoning that the drivers were found frequently violating rules. The recommendation for the suspension of license was made as per the Vehicle and Transport Management Act 2049 and Regulation 2054. According to the traffic police, they were violators of traffic rule for more than five times. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Spokesperson at the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, Senior Superintendent of Police, Rajendra Prasad Bhatta, said they had sent licenses to the DoTM for action as per the Transport Management Act-2049 because the drivers had violated the traffic rules for more than five times. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Among those to be punished, a driver had faced action for 44 times. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-18', 'modified' => '2022-12-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16291', 'image' => '20221218104348_Traffic-Fines-Payment-Esewa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-18 10:43:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16549', 'article_category_id' => '277', 'title' => 'Government Delays to Fix Support Price for Sugarcane; Farmers Likely To Face Old Predicament ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'With fixing of the date to crush the sugarcane by the sugar mills, sugarcane producing farmers have started harvesting sugarcanes. The government, however, has not shown any concern to fix the minimum support price for the sugarcane yet. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">December 18: With fixing of the date to crush the sugarcane by the sugar mills, sugarcane producing farmers have started harvesting sugarcanes. The government, however, has not shown any concern to fix the minimum support price for the sugarcane yet. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Sugarcane producing farmers are busy harvesting sugarcanes in Sarlahi, Bara, Rautahat, Kapilvastu, Kailali, and Kanchanpur in Tarai. After a few days, they will start selling their produce. But, the government not fixing the support price has left them worried and disappointed. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">In the case of paddy, the government fixed the minimum support price after the paddy producing farmers had sold out their produce to manage their household expenses. Farmers with weak financial condition had sold out their paddy to the traders up to at Rs 800 per quintal cheaper price before the government determined the minimum support price.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Sugarcane Producing Farmers Struggle Committee Sarlahi’s Secretary Harishyam Ray says that almost all of the farmers had started harvesting the sugarcane as sugar mills had already fixed the date to crush the sugarcane.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“Sugarcanes have started drying up. Delaying to harvest them will lose their weight. The government should have fixed the minimum support price by now. We do not know why the government is delaying to fix the price”, Ray wondered. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Ray informed he has planted sugarcane in three bigahas of the land. He used to plant sugarcanes in 18 bigahas of the land until four years ago. “Owing to delay to fix the minimum price, non-payment of the sugarcanes for a long time by mill owners, soaring cost of production, I have reduced sugarcane cultivation”, shared Ray. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Sugarcane farmers have to protest to receive money of the their produce against sugar mill owners.<br /> Sugarcane farmers from Tarai have staged the protest in Kathmandu to force the sugar mills to pay them for their produce in the past years.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The government had issued warning to arrest the sugar mill owners for non-payment to the farmers. The government fixes minimum support price of paddy, wheat and sugarcane, among others, to ensure farmers’ cost of production and stop middlemen from cheating farmers.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Stakeholders, however, say that minimum price fixed by the government is a game to trick farmers.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Sugarcane Farmers’ Struggle Committee Coordinator Rakesh Mishra says that farmers can not benefit as the government delays to fix the price though the provision has it that the government has to determine the price before farmers plant the crops.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Meanwhile, Ministry of Agriculture, and Livestock Development, however, said that it was preparing to present the proposal to fix the minimum price of sugarcane to the Cabinet. </span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Spokesperson Prakash Kumar Sanjel at the ministry said that sugarcane’s support price would be fixed in a matter of few days. “The ministry has completed all technical work. Now, we will hold a meeting with all stakeholders and fix the price”, added Sanjel. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Farmers have been accusing the government of fixing the price arbitrarily by not inviting their representatives. They complain that support price is always lower than their cost of production since their representatives are not invited in the meeting held to fix the support price of the sugarcane. </span></p> <p><br /> <span style="font-size:18px">Sugarcane farmers have started selling their produce to jaggery industries at cheaper price since they are fed up with the government delay to fix the support price and non-payment of their produce by the sugar mill owners. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-18', 'modified' => '2022-12-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16290', 'image' => '20221218063838_collage (9).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-18 06:32:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16548', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Twenty-Four Per Cent Budget Spent in First Five Months ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The government has spent 24.26 per cent budget in the first five months of the current fiscal year of 2022/23. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">December 16: The government has spent 24.26 per cent budget in the first five months of the current fiscal year of 2022/23. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The government had brought a total budget of Rs 17, 93,83,7300000 for the current fiscal year. Out of the total budget, the government’s expenditure stands at Rs 4, 35,21,1100000, according to Office of Auditor General. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">In the last five months, capital expenses are just around 9 per cent. The federal government’s capital expenses up to the end of the fifth month stand at Rs 3,80, 38,4500000. This is equal to 8.94 per cent. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Similarly, out of the 11, 83,23,5100000 appropriated for administrative expenses, 29.94 per cent, which is equivalent to Rs 3, 54, 25, 6900000, has been spent.</span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">In the category of financial management, the government has allocated Rs 2,30,21,7700000. Till the end of the fifth month, the government has used up Rs 46,96,2600000. Expenditure under the financial management is 20.4 per cent. </span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The government has collected 24.52 percent revenue during the same period. The government has set the target to collect the internal revenue of Rs 14, 3,14,7000000 and take a foreign grant of Rs 55, 83, 4500000 within the current fiscal year.<br /> </span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The government has collected internal revenue of Rs 3,26,890000000 so far, which is 23. 3 per cent of total annual target. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Likewise, the government has received Rs 3,41,5900000 foreign grant, which is 6.16 per cent of the total annual target.</span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16289', 'image' => '20221216052612_collage (18).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 17:20:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16546', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'App to Provide Information on Doctors and Clinics Launched', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 16: 'Dr App', which provides information about doctors, clinics and diagnostic centers available in cities across Nepal, has been launched by the developers.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 16: 'Dr App', which provides information about doctors, clinics and diagnostic centers available in cities across Nepal, has been launched by the developers. The app developed by Titanium Technology was launched in Kathmandu on Monday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The app is launched as a platform to help find information about hospitals and doctors in one place. This app will not only provide information from various experts at one place, but also gives the qualification, experience of all types of doctors and the opening time and location of the hospitals and clinics. Titanium Technology says that since not everyone has the information about which specialist doctor and hospital to go to for a sensitive issue like health, this app will make such information accessible to everyone.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> Inaugurating the app, Samindra Singh Thapa, managing director of the company said that the app can solve dilemmas like which specialist and which place to go in case of a health problem. He informed, “In the app, you can find information about doctors, clinics and diagnostic centers available in cities across Nepal, which can be used not only in the country but also by Nepalese living abroad for their relatives.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The app is available in both English and Nepali languages. The company informed that the app, which is currently only available on Play Store, will soon be available on the App Store as well.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16287', 'image' => '20221216043115_health sector.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 16:30:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16545', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'President Bhandari Urges the Government to Solve Problems Seen in Industrial Sector ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' President Bidhya Devi Bhandari urged the government to solve the problems seen in the industrial sector on Friday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:22px"> December 16: President Bidhya Devi Bhandari urged the government to solve the problems seen in the industrial sector on Friday.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">Speaking at the Birat Expo organized in Biratanagr, Bhandari argued that Biratnagar, country’s major industrial estate, was struggling to retain its past glory. She expressed confidence that Biratanagar would set a good example in industrialization to the whole country.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">President Bhandari stressed the need to establish industries based on domestic raw materials. She also highlighted the need to forge coordination among farmers and industrialists to produce raw materials for the industries in the country. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">At the programme, Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) Chairman Sekhar Golchha said that country was experiencing a financial crisis never seen before. “Earlier, the country faced economic crises due to the earthquake, COVID-19 and other disasters”, Golchha stated. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">But, Golchha blamed that Nepal Rastra Bank and the government’s flawed policies had led to the current financial crisis facing the country.</span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">Morang Industry Association’s Chairman Suyash Pyakurel said that country was in need of export promoting and import replacing industries. “Post-COVID financial crisis has adversely affected almost all industries and business in the country”, Pyakurel added.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16286', 'image' => '20221216035726_collage (14).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 15:47:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16544', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Inflation Rises to 8.08 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 16: The year-on-year consumer price inflation increased to 8.08 percent in mid-November 2022 compared to 6.04 percent a year ago.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">December 16: The year-on-year consumer price inflation increased to 8.08 percent in mid-November 2022 compared to 6.04 percent a year ago. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Nepal Rastra Bank, food and beverage inflation stood at 7.38 percent whereas non-food and service inflation rose to 8.63 percent in the review month. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Under the food and beverage category, y-o-y price index of restaurant and hotel sub-category increased 15.97 percent, tobacco products 11.81 percent, milk products and eggs 9.33 percent, cereal grains and their products 9.19 and alcoholic drinks 8.84 percent, as per the Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report released by NRB on Thursday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the report based on four months of data, the y-o-y price index of transportation subcategory increased 17.71 percent, health 11.22 percent, recreation and culture 8.76 percent, housing and utilities 8.49 percent and furnishing and household equipment 8.33 percent under the non-food and services category.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the review month, consumer price inflation in the Kathmandu Valley, Terai, hill and mountain areas stood at 7.56 percent, 8.52 percent, 8.03 percent and 6.68 percent respectively. Inflation in these regions were 6.14 percent, 5.42 percent, 7.14 percent and 5.00 percent respectively a year ago.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16285', 'image' => '20221216010258_Inflation.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 13:02:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16543', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal’s Export, Import Decline', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 16: Nepal’s exports decreased by 33.3 percent in the first four months of the current fiscal year, according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">December 16: Nepal’s exports decreased by 33.3 percent in the first four months of the current fiscal year, according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report of Nepal released by the central bank on Thursday states that merchandise exports decreased 33.3 percent in the first four months of FY 2022/23 amounting Rs 54.77 billion against an increase of 104.3 percent in the same period of the previous fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Destination-wise, exports to India and China decreased 42.3 percent and 34.2 percent respectively whereas exports to other countries increased 7.4 percent. Exports of zinc sheet, particle board, woolen carpets, tea, readymade garments, among others, increased whereas exports of soybean oil, palm oil, oil cakes, jute goods, textiles, among others, decreased in the review period, the repot states. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the first four months of FY 2022/23, merchandise imports decreased 18.1 percent amounting to Rs 532.69 billion against an increase of 61.6 percent a year ago. Destination-wise, imports from India, China and other countries decreased 16.5 percent, 20.9 percent, and 20.1 percent respectively. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the NRB report, imports of petroleum products, chemical fertilizer, sponge iron, gold, aircraft spare parts, among others, increased whereas imports of transport equipment and parts, silver, telecommunication equipment and parts, MS billet, crude soybean oil, among others, decreased in the review period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Based on customs points, exports from Dry Port, Jaleshwar, Kailali, Krishnanagar, Mechi and Tribhuwan Airport Customs Offices increased whereas exports from all the other major customs points decreased in the review period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">On the import side, imports from Jaleshwar Customs Office increased whereas imports from all the other major customs points decreased in the review period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Total trade deficit decreased 15.9 percent to Rs 477.92 billion during the four months of FY 2022/23. Such a deficit had increased 56.8 percent in the corresponding period of the previous year. The export-import ratio decreased to 10.3 percent in the review period from 12.6 percent in the corresponding period of the previous year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the four months of FY 2022/23, merchandise imports from India by paying convertible foreign currency amounted Rs 42.69 billion. Such amount was Rs 71.40 billion in the same period of the previous year, added the NRB. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16284', 'image' => '20221216124439_Trade.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 12:44:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16542', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NAC Resumes Flights after Resolving Cabin Crew Protest', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 16: Nepal Airlines Corporation has resumed its flights that were obstructed on Thursday due to the protest by cabin crew members. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"arial sans-serif","serif"">December 16: Nepal Airlines Corporation has resumed its flights that were obstructed on Thursday due to the protest by cabin crew members. Both domestic and international flights of the state-owned airlines company was halted from Thursday morning after the cabin crew members of NAC staged protest against the NAC management for not renewing contract of two air hostesses, who have been working at the corporations for the past 15 years. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"arial sans-serif","serif"">After the issue was resolved, regular flights resumed on Thursday evening, informed Archana Khadka, spokesperson of NAC.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"arial sans-serif","serif"">NAC said that the company’s management team and the agitating crew members held discussions throughout the day and sorted out the problem.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"arial sans-serif","serif"">According to Spokesperson Khadka, the flights that were halted throughout the day resumed in the evening. She further informed that the NAC’s scheduled flights to New Delhi and Riyadh took place after 8 pm on Thursday. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"arial sans-serif","serif"">Spokesperson Khadka said that the agitating cabin crew members resumed their work after NAC agreed to renew the contracts of all the staffers. The cabin crew members had started the protest alleging that the NAC tried to lay off two staff members – Aarati Maharjan and Smita Gubaju – without any reasons although they had been serving with the NAC since the last 15 years.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"arial sans-serif","serif"">Issuing a statement on Thursday, the NAC Cabin Crew Association had accused the company of delaying renewal of contract, not providing them identity cards and of unfair treatment in perks and facilities.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16283', 'image' => '20221216111621_NAC.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 11:15:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16541', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Health Ministry Urges to Take Precaution as Mercury Level Continues to Plunge', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 16: The Ministry of Health and Population has urged one and all to take precautions as the temperature is becoming increasingly cold across the country including Kathmandu Valley. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 16: The Ministry of Health and Population has urged one and all to take precautions as the temperature is becoming increasingly cold across the country including Kathmandu Valley. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Health Ministry Spokesperson Dr Sanjay Kumar Thakur appealed to all to be alert considering the increasing risk of infection during the cold weather. As the mercury level has started falling down continuously for the last few days, senior citizens, chronic patients, children, expecting mothers are advised to take special precautions. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The temperature of Kathmandu plummeted to as low as 7.6 degree Celsius on Friday, according to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. The ministry has requested the general public to keep warm and protect themselves against the increasing cold. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Furthermore, the ministry advised to take warm food and water and suggested not to stay outdoor and open area for a long time. Proper ventilation should be maintained while using heater or geyser, the ministry said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Considering the risk of infection due to contaminated water and food, the ministry urged all to pay special attention to food intake. Washing hands before preparing and eating meal is also recommended. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16282', 'image' => '20221216105551_DaneBohara_Humla_RSS_14(2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 10:55:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16540', 'article_category_id' => '274', 'title' => 'Improvement in Nepal’s Economic Indicators ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Economic indicators have further improved in the fourth month of the current fiscal year in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px">December 16: Economic indicators have further improved in the fourth month of the current fiscal year in the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-size:20px">Restrictive policies adopted by Nepal Rastra Bank and the government following the depletion of foreign currency reserve and high deficit in balance of payment have yielded positive results. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">As per the report published by Nepal Rastra Bank on Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation on Thursday, inflation has slightly dropped while condition of balance of payment, remittance inflow, and foreign currency reserve have improved. </span><br /> <span style="font-size:20px">Inflation stood at 8.8 per cent in the fourth month of the current fiscal year while country recorded inflation at 8.26 per cent in the third month of the same fiscal year. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Nepal Rasrta Bank and the government have set the target to keep inflation within 7 per cent this fiscal. The fourth month has witnessed improvement in the balance of payment (difference in inflow and outflow of money from the country). </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Balance of payment incurring loss for 14 months had started seeing surplus from the third month of the current fiscal year. BOP surplus that stood at Rs 12,43,0000000 in the same month increased to Rs 20,030000000 in the fourth month.</span><br /> <span style="font-size:20px">Due to COVID-19 and lockdowns imposed to contain the virus had plummeted the import, causing the BOP surplus. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">However, high import since last year had led to the deficit in balance of payment. After the high import reduced the foreign currency reserve rapidly, Nepal Rastra Bank had started provision of keeping 50 per cash margin when opening the letter of credit (LC) to import the luxurious goods from the fourth month of last fiscal year.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Later, the government had banned the import of 10 luxurious good in May. The ban has resulted into BOP surplus. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Remittance inflow rate that started rising since the first month of the current fiscal year increased by 20.4 per cent in the fourth month. Country has received a total of Rs 3,780,40000000 remittance in the first four months of the current fiscal. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Remittance amount country received in the fourth month was at Rs 96,990000000. Last year, the remittance inflow had dropped by 7 per cent in the same month. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">In the US Dollar terms, the remittance inflow has increased by 10.8 per cent and reached 2, 93,0000000. Remittance in the US Dollar had dropped by 7.3 per cent in the same period last year.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Rise in the number of people going for foreign employment and sharp increase in the price of US Dollar have led to the rise of remittance inflow inside the country.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The number of people receiving labour agreement to work in foreign countries in the first four months increased by 102 per cent and reached 1,95,196. A total of 87,428 migrant workers renewed their labour contract during the same period this fiscal. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Tourism income has also improved. Income received from tourists increased by 137 per cent and stood at Rs 17, 96,0000000 in the first four months of the current fiscal. Tourism income was just Rs 7,580000000 during the same period last year. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Trade deficit has also dropped in the first four months of the current fiscal. In the review period, import fell by 18 per cent and stood at Rs 5,32,690000000. In the same period, country’s export stood at Rs 54,77,0000000. The total trade deficit decreased by 9.4 per cent and stood at Rs 4,77, 920000000 during the same period.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Status of foreign current reserve has also improved during the review period. The total foreign currency reserve stood in the US Dollar stood at 9,63,0000000 in the fourth month of the current fiscal year. The third month had foreign currency reserve of US Dollar 9,48,0000000. </span><br /> <span style="font-size:20px">The current reserve of the foreign currency is enough to import goods for 9.7 months and goods and services for 8.4 months.</span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16281', 'image' => '20221216103327_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 07:08:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16539', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Turns into Seeds Importer from Exporter', 'sub_title' => 'Inability to Maintain Quality of Seeds to Blame for Halt in Export of Vegetable Seeds', 'summary' => 'December 15: Export of vegetable seeds produced in Nepal is come to a halt due to the inability to maintain quality of the seeds. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 15: Export of vegetable seeds produced in Nepal is come to a halt due to the inability to maintain quality of the seeds. Nepal, which used to export seeds to various countries until 16 years ago, is currently importing vegetable seeds worth millions of rupees from those countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data provided by the Agribusiness Promotion Support and Training Center, Nepal used to export vegetable seeds to India, Bangladesh, Germany and Japan by producing them in hill districts including Rukum, Salyan, Pyuthan since the fiscal year 2086/87. In that year, Nepal produced half a metric ton of radish seeds and exported them to Bangladesh. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After Bangladesh increased the demand order saying that the seeds of Nepal were of good quality, Nepal started producing seeds of cauliflower, radish, brinjal and tomato and exported them to other countries as well. According to government data, Nepal exported up to 89 metric tons of seeds to India in FY 2006/07 due to good demand.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, Nepal could not give continuity to the production and export of seeds.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As a result, the country is now forced to import seeds worth millions of rupees annually, says Amar Raj Sharma, senior crop development officer of the centre.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He claims that the demand for vegetable seeds produced in Nepal is decreasing and the export has stopped due to the weakness of the Nepali seed production company. He said, “The main reason why the export of the seeds produced by us stopped is that we could not maintain the quality. If we can maintain the quality, we can still export seeds.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to him, since the seed production centers were established in remote areas, the germinating power of the seeds started to decrease while being transported to Kathmandu due to the bad condition of roads. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Seed producers also need to maintain a distance of at least two kilometers while producing seeds of two different varieties. However, the distance could not be maintained due to lack of land.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As a result, adulteration was seen in the seeds.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to lack of adequate irrigation and fertilizer, the size of seeds was also a problem. Apart from this, the work on development and growth of indigenous varieties of seeds could not be done. As per the information, there is also a decline in the development of hybrid varieties, due to which the demand for seeds from foreign countries stopped and subsequently the export also came to a halt.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The center informed New Business Age that Nepal imported about 150,000 kilograms of vegetable seeds worth more than Rs 433.39 million in the last fiscal year alone.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-15', 'modified' => '2022-12-15', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16280', 'image' => '20221215052644_ss-8-850x340 - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-15 17:25:41', '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
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 18: A study conducted by the government has shown that the gap between the government’s income and expenditure is gradually widening where the income is on the weaker side. In the current fiscal year, the government announced a budget of Rs 1.793 trillion to be spent under various headings. As of December 14, the total budget expenditure is just 24.2 percent. The government, which aims to raise Rs 1.4 trillion in revenue this year, has collected only 22.96 percent during this period.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the review period, 8.83 percent of the development budget and 29.91 percent of the current expenditures have been spent. The government, which is earning Rs 2.95 billion on a daily basis, is spending more than 4 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The gap between government income and expenditure seems to be increasing since a long time. A government study has shown that the gap between revenue collection and expenditure is increasing with the increase in administrative expenses and the need for development in Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to a recent study by the National Planning Commission, this gap is increasing due to lack of resources, resource management capacity, and unscientific projection, ambiguity in priorities, random project selection and resource allocation. The revenue and expenditure gap has been increasing for the past 4.5 decades.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">From the year 2031/32 to 2035/36, the gap between revenue collection and expenditure was Rs 1 billion. The average gap of income and expenses between 2073/74 and 2077/78 is Rs 262 billion. According to the study, the gap between revenue and expenditure reached the highest point (Rs 361 billion) in the year 2074/75 in the last four and a half decades.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Studies have shown that the gap between revenue collection and expenditure increased significantly after the promulgation of the new constitution in 2072 BS (2015 AD). The average economic growth from the year 2073/74 to 2075/76 was also more than 6.5 percent. The study revealed the fact that Nepal's launch capacity has not been effective since 70 years. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The study has shown that many factors such as political instability, projection method, economic environment and projection capacity affect public expenditure. From the year 2030/31 to 2045/46, the average estimated budget gap was 12 percent. The gap was 12 percent during the conflict period, 13 percent during the subsequent transition period and 20 percent after the constitution was promulgated in 2072.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-18', 'modified' => '2022-12-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16295', 'image' => '20221218015345_New_Emblem_of_Nepal.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-18 13:52:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16552', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Messi Aims for World Cup Glory against Formidable France', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 18: The month-long football World Cup draws to a close today (Sunday) after a mouth-watering clash between the Titans – Argentina and France – in what is anticipated to be one of the most thrilling finals.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">AGENCIES</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">December 18: The month-long football World Cup draws to a close today (Sunday) after a mouth-watering clash between the Titans – Argentina and France – in what is anticipated to be one of the most thrilling finals. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Lionel Messi is hoping to crown his stellar career by leading Argentina to World Cup glory at 15:00 GMT (20:45 NST) but Kylian Mbappé's history-chasing France are standing in his way, reports AFP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the BBC, Messi, 35, has won a record seven Ballon d'Or awards - presented to the best player in the world - but never won the biggest team prize in football.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Sunday's final is likely to be his last chance to match the achievement of Diego Maradona, who inspired Argentina to victory in 1986.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Messi – the magician – quite possibly the best the world has ever seen, is heading towards retirement, reports Al Jazeera, adding, Mbappe, the prodigious talent who has scored only two fewer World Cup goals than Messi, but is aged just 23 and is poised to take the 35-year-old Argentinian’s mantle as the best player in the world.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Argentina teams of recent years may have been built entirely around Messi but as his years advance, his role in La Albiceleste has developed beyond that of nonstop goal machine and into playmaker supreme, empowering his teammates and waiting for that perfect moment to unleash a little magic. And it works.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Likewise, France is more than Mbappe. Had they had some of their global superstars such as the injured Karim Benzema, Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante playing, there’s no guarantee the 2018 winners would have made it this far, added Al Jazeera.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, France’s preparation for Sunday’s final has been hampered by illness to several players.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to AFP, central defenders Raphaël Varane and Ibrahima Konaté, as well as Kingsley Coman, sat out training on Friday with cold-like symptoms while Konaté replaced Dayot Upamecano in defence for the semi-final against Morocco after he was ruled out by illness, and Adrien Rabiot was also unwell for that game.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Argentina and France are both aiming to win the trophy for the third time, with Les Bleus returning to the final four years after their triumph in Moscow, added AFP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Back-to-back titles would be a monumental achievement for the side coached by Deschamps – the only teams to have done it previously are Italy in the 1930s and Pelé's Brazil in 1958 and 1962.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The one player they cannot afford to lose is Mbappé, who scored five goals in the team's first four games but was largely kept quiet in the wins against England and Morocco.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-18', 'modified' => '2022-12-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16294', 'image' => '20221218123911_messi youtube.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-18 12:38:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16553', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Pen Industry Worth Rs 400 Million Opens at Bara-Parsa Corridor ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'With a motto to replace import of pens, an industrialist has brought a pen industry into operation at Bara-Parsa Corridor.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">December 18 : With a motto to replace import of pens, an industrialist has brought a pen industry into operation at Bara-Parsa Corridor.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The industry with the name “Beena Shakti Paper and Stationery Product” has come into operation. Industry’s Proprietor Manoj Kumar Marodiya said that he had brought the industry into operation with a goal to manufacture 90 million sets of sets of pens a year. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">“Nepal has a great market for pens and stationery product. But, imported products have captured the market. We have brought the industry into operation to avail this market”, said Marodiya.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Operated with the initial investment of Rs Rs 400 million, the industry will manufacture 16 types of pens costing from Rs 5 to Rs 50 under “Frenz” brand. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The industry will manufacture erasers, sharpeners and scales as well. Marodiya estimates that Nepal requires 300 million sets of pens at present. “Pens worth Rs 2 billion sell in the domestic market a year”, he added.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Marodiya says that he has used two-decades of his experience earned in the import of pens and stationery in the new industry. He claims that country can become self-dependent if the government provides policy-level support to the his industry. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Marodiya, however, laments that he is having a tough time competing with imported pens due to nominal margin of custom duty in the import of raw materials used for making pens and readymade pens. Pens imported avoiding tax have added woes to the domestic industry.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The government imposes 10 and 15 taxes in the import of raw materials used to making pens and readymade pens respectively. </span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The industry has been importing raw materials from India, Japan, South Korea and Germany to manufacture pens, according to Marodiya. <br /> </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-18', 'modified' => '2022-12-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16293', 'image' => '20221218125532_collage (10).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-18 12:50:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16551', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Croatia Finish Third in World Cup', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 18: Croatia eased past Morocco 2-1 to claim the third place in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on Saturday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">December 18: Croatia eased past Morocco 2-1 to claim the third place in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on Saturday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A sublime header from Joško Gvardiol in the seventh minute gave the 2018 runners-up Croatia the lead but the joy was short lived.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Morocco’s Achraf Dari levelled just two minutes later by nodding home from close range.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the BBC, Mislav Orsic curled in a sumptuous second for Croatia via the post three minutes before half-time.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The second half could not match the energy of a thrilling opening period and Morocco failed to find an equaliser as a fruitful campaign ended in back-to-back defeats.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-18', 'modified' => '2022-12-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16292', 'image' => '20221218113711_croatia_celebrate_3rd_place_at_world_cup_2022_ee5b5179902f7831d165c6ce185e6030.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-18 11:36:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16550', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Licenses of Frequent Traffic Rule Violators to be Suspended ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 18: The Traffic Police has sent 60 driving licenses to the Department of Transport Management from November 17 to December 15 recommending suspension of the licenses. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 18: The Traffic Police has sent 60 driving licenses to the Department of Transport Management from November 17 to December 15 recommending suspension of the licenses. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office sent those licenses to the DoTM for suspension reasoning that the drivers were found frequently violating rules. The recommendation for the suspension of license was made as per the Vehicle and Transport Management Act 2049 and Regulation 2054. According to the traffic police, they were violators of traffic rule for more than five times. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Spokesperson at the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, Senior Superintendent of Police, Rajendra Prasad Bhatta, said they had sent licenses to the DoTM for action as per the Transport Management Act-2049 because the drivers had violated the traffic rules for more than five times. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Among those to be punished, a driver had faced action for 44 times. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-18', 'modified' => '2022-12-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16291', 'image' => '20221218104348_Traffic-Fines-Payment-Esewa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-18 10:43:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16549', 'article_category_id' => '277', 'title' => 'Government Delays to Fix Support Price for Sugarcane; Farmers Likely To Face Old Predicament ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'With fixing of the date to crush the sugarcane by the sugar mills, sugarcane producing farmers have started harvesting sugarcanes. The government, however, has not shown any concern to fix the minimum support price for the sugarcane yet. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">December 18: With fixing of the date to crush the sugarcane by the sugar mills, sugarcane producing farmers have started harvesting sugarcanes. The government, however, has not shown any concern to fix the minimum support price for the sugarcane yet. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Sugarcane producing farmers are busy harvesting sugarcanes in Sarlahi, Bara, Rautahat, Kapilvastu, Kailali, and Kanchanpur in Tarai. After a few days, they will start selling their produce. But, the government not fixing the support price has left them worried and disappointed. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">In the case of paddy, the government fixed the minimum support price after the paddy producing farmers had sold out their produce to manage their household expenses. Farmers with weak financial condition had sold out their paddy to the traders up to at Rs 800 per quintal cheaper price before the government determined the minimum support price.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Sugarcane Producing Farmers Struggle Committee Sarlahi’s Secretary Harishyam Ray says that almost all of the farmers had started harvesting the sugarcane as sugar mills had already fixed the date to crush the sugarcane.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“Sugarcanes have started drying up. Delaying to harvest them will lose their weight. The government should have fixed the minimum support price by now. We do not know why the government is delaying to fix the price”, Ray wondered. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Ray informed he has planted sugarcane in three bigahas of the land. He used to plant sugarcanes in 18 bigahas of the land until four years ago. “Owing to delay to fix the minimum price, non-payment of the sugarcanes for a long time by mill owners, soaring cost of production, I have reduced sugarcane cultivation”, shared Ray. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Sugarcane farmers have to protest to receive money of the their produce against sugar mill owners.<br /> Sugarcane farmers from Tarai have staged the protest in Kathmandu to force the sugar mills to pay them for their produce in the past years.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The government had issued warning to arrest the sugar mill owners for non-payment to the farmers. The government fixes minimum support price of paddy, wheat and sugarcane, among others, to ensure farmers’ cost of production and stop middlemen from cheating farmers.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Stakeholders, however, say that minimum price fixed by the government is a game to trick farmers.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Sugarcane Farmers’ Struggle Committee Coordinator Rakesh Mishra says that farmers can not benefit as the government delays to fix the price though the provision has it that the government has to determine the price before farmers plant the crops.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Meanwhile, Ministry of Agriculture, and Livestock Development, however, said that it was preparing to present the proposal to fix the minimum price of sugarcane to the Cabinet. </span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Spokesperson Prakash Kumar Sanjel at the ministry said that sugarcane’s support price would be fixed in a matter of few days. “The ministry has completed all technical work. Now, we will hold a meeting with all stakeholders and fix the price”, added Sanjel. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Farmers have been accusing the government of fixing the price arbitrarily by not inviting their representatives. They complain that support price is always lower than their cost of production since their representatives are not invited in the meeting held to fix the support price of the sugarcane. </span></p> <p><br /> <span style="font-size:18px">Sugarcane farmers have started selling their produce to jaggery industries at cheaper price since they are fed up with the government delay to fix the support price and non-payment of their produce by the sugar mill owners. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-18', 'modified' => '2022-12-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16290', 'image' => '20221218063838_collage (9).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-18 06:32:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16548', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Twenty-Four Per Cent Budget Spent in First Five Months ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The government has spent 24.26 per cent budget in the first five months of the current fiscal year of 2022/23. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">December 16: The government has spent 24.26 per cent budget in the first five months of the current fiscal year of 2022/23. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The government had brought a total budget of Rs 17, 93,83,7300000 for the current fiscal year. Out of the total budget, the government’s expenditure stands at Rs 4, 35,21,1100000, according to Office of Auditor General. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">In the last five months, capital expenses are just around 9 per cent. The federal government’s capital expenses up to the end of the fifth month stand at Rs 3,80, 38,4500000. This is equal to 8.94 per cent. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Similarly, out of the 11, 83,23,5100000 appropriated for administrative expenses, 29.94 per cent, which is equivalent to Rs 3, 54, 25, 6900000, has been spent.</span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">In the category of financial management, the government has allocated Rs 2,30,21,7700000. Till the end of the fifth month, the government has used up Rs 46,96,2600000. Expenditure under the financial management is 20.4 per cent. </span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The government has collected 24.52 percent revenue during the same period. The government has set the target to collect the internal revenue of Rs 14, 3,14,7000000 and take a foreign grant of Rs 55, 83, 4500000 within the current fiscal year.<br /> </span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The government has collected internal revenue of Rs 3,26,890000000 so far, which is 23. 3 per cent of total annual target. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Likewise, the government has received Rs 3,41,5900000 foreign grant, which is 6.16 per cent of the total annual target.</span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16289', 'image' => '20221216052612_collage (18).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 17:20:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16546', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'App to Provide Information on Doctors and Clinics Launched', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 16: 'Dr App', which provides information about doctors, clinics and diagnostic centers available in cities across Nepal, has been launched by the developers.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 16: 'Dr App', which provides information about doctors, clinics and diagnostic centers available in cities across Nepal, has been launched by the developers. The app developed by Titanium Technology was launched in Kathmandu on Monday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The app is launched as a platform to help find information about hospitals and doctors in one place. This app will not only provide information from various experts at one place, but also gives the qualification, experience of all types of doctors and the opening time and location of the hospitals and clinics. Titanium Technology says that since not everyone has the information about which specialist doctor and hospital to go to for a sensitive issue like health, this app will make such information accessible to everyone.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> Inaugurating the app, Samindra Singh Thapa, managing director of the company said that the app can solve dilemmas like which specialist and which place to go in case of a health problem. He informed, “In the app, you can find information about doctors, clinics and diagnostic centers available in cities across Nepal, which can be used not only in the country but also by Nepalese living abroad for their relatives.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The app is available in both English and Nepali languages. The company informed that the app, which is currently only available on Play Store, will soon be available on the App Store as well.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16287', 'image' => '20221216043115_health sector.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 16:30:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16545', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'President Bhandari Urges the Government to Solve Problems Seen in Industrial Sector ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' President Bidhya Devi Bhandari urged the government to solve the problems seen in the industrial sector on Friday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:22px"> December 16: President Bidhya Devi Bhandari urged the government to solve the problems seen in the industrial sector on Friday.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">Speaking at the Birat Expo organized in Biratanagr, Bhandari argued that Biratnagar, country’s major industrial estate, was struggling to retain its past glory. She expressed confidence that Biratanagar would set a good example in industrialization to the whole country.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">President Bhandari stressed the need to establish industries based on domestic raw materials. She also highlighted the need to forge coordination among farmers and industrialists to produce raw materials for the industries in the country. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">At the programme, Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) Chairman Sekhar Golchha said that country was experiencing a financial crisis never seen before. “Earlier, the country faced economic crises due to the earthquake, COVID-19 and other disasters”, Golchha stated. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">But, Golchha blamed that Nepal Rastra Bank and the government’s flawed policies had led to the current financial crisis facing the country.</span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">Morang Industry Association’s Chairman Suyash Pyakurel said that country was in need of export promoting and import replacing industries. “Post-COVID financial crisis has adversely affected almost all industries and business in the country”, Pyakurel added.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16286', 'image' => '20221216035726_collage (14).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 15:47:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16544', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Inflation Rises to 8.08 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 16: The year-on-year consumer price inflation increased to 8.08 percent in mid-November 2022 compared to 6.04 percent a year ago.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">December 16: The year-on-year consumer price inflation increased to 8.08 percent in mid-November 2022 compared to 6.04 percent a year ago. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Nepal Rastra Bank, food and beverage inflation stood at 7.38 percent whereas non-food and service inflation rose to 8.63 percent in the review month. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Under the food and beverage category, y-o-y price index of restaurant and hotel sub-category increased 15.97 percent, tobacco products 11.81 percent, milk products and eggs 9.33 percent, cereal grains and their products 9.19 and alcoholic drinks 8.84 percent, as per the Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report released by NRB on Thursday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the report based on four months of data, the y-o-y price index of transportation subcategory increased 17.71 percent, health 11.22 percent, recreation and culture 8.76 percent, housing and utilities 8.49 percent and furnishing and household equipment 8.33 percent under the non-food and services category.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the review month, consumer price inflation in the Kathmandu Valley, Terai, hill and mountain areas stood at 7.56 percent, 8.52 percent, 8.03 percent and 6.68 percent respectively. Inflation in these regions were 6.14 percent, 5.42 percent, 7.14 percent and 5.00 percent respectively a year ago.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16285', 'image' => '20221216010258_Inflation.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 13:02:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16543', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal’s Export, Import Decline', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 16: Nepal’s exports decreased by 33.3 percent in the first four months of the current fiscal year, according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">December 16: Nepal’s exports decreased by 33.3 percent in the first four months of the current fiscal year, according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report of Nepal released by the central bank on Thursday states that merchandise exports decreased 33.3 percent in the first four months of FY 2022/23 amounting Rs 54.77 billion against an increase of 104.3 percent in the same period of the previous fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Destination-wise, exports to India and China decreased 42.3 percent and 34.2 percent respectively whereas exports to other countries increased 7.4 percent. Exports of zinc sheet, particle board, woolen carpets, tea, readymade garments, among others, increased whereas exports of soybean oil, palm oil, oil cakes, jute goods, textiles, among others, decreased in the review period, the repot states. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the first four months of FY 2022/23, merchandise imports decreased 18.1 percent amounting to Rs 532.69 billion against an increase of 61.6 percent a year ago. Destination-wise, imports from India, China and other countries decreased 16.5 percent, 20.9 percent, and 20.1 percent respectively. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the NRB report, imports of petroleum products, chemical fertilizer, sponge iron, gold, aircraft spare parts, among others, increased whereas imports of transport equipment and parts, silver, telecommunication equipment and parts, MS billet, crude soybean oil, among others, decreased in the review period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Based on customs points, exports from Dry Port, Jaleshwar, Kailali, Krishnanagar, Mechi and Tribhuwan Airport Customs Offices increased whereas exports from all the other major customs points decreased in the review period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">On the import side, imports from Jaleshwar Customs Office increased whereas imports from all the other major customs points decreased in the review period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Total trade deficit decreased 15.9 percent to Rs 477.92 billion during the four months of FY 2022/23. Such a deficit had increased 56.8 percent in the corresponding period of the previous year. The export-import ratio decreased to 10.3 percent in the review period from 12.6 percent in the corresponding period of the previous year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the four months of FY 2022/23, merchandise imports from India by paying convertible foreign currency amounted Rs 42.69 billion. Such amount was Rs 71.40 billion in the same period of the previous year, added the NRB. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16284', 'image' => '20221216124439_Trade.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 12:44:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16542', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NAC Resumes Flights after Resolving Cabin Crew Protest', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 16: Nepal Airlines Corporation has resumed its flights that were obstructed on Thursday due to the protest by cabin crew members. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"arial sans-serif","serif"">December 16: Nepal Airlines Corporation has resumed its flights that were obstructed on Thursday due to the protest by cabin crew members. Both domestic and international flights of the state-owned airlines company was halted from Thursday morning after the cabin crew members of NAC staged protest against the NAC management for not renewing contract of two air hostesses, who have been working at the corporations for the past 15 years. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"arial sans-serif","serif"">After the issue was resolved, regular flights resumed on Thursday evening, informed Archana Khadka, spokesperson of NAC.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"arial sans-serif","serif"">NAC said that the company’s management team and the agitating crew members held discussions throughout the day and sorted out the problem.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"arial sans-serif","serif"">According to Spokesperson Khadka, the flights that were halted throughout the day resumed in the evening. She further informed that the NAC’s scheduled flights to New Delhi and Riyadh took place after 8 pm on Thursday. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"arial sans-serif","serif"">Spokesperson Khadka said that the agitating cabin crew members resumed their work after NAC agreed to renew the contracts of all the staffers. The cabin crew members had started the protest alleging that the NAC tried to lay off two staff members – Aarati Maharjan and Smita Gubaju – without any reasons although they had been serving with the NAC since the last 15 years.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"arial sans-serif","serif"">Issuing a statement on Thursday, the NAC Cabin Crew Association had accused the company of delaying renewal of contract, not providing them identity cards and of unfair treatment in perks and facilities.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16283', 'image' => '20221216111621_NAC.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 11:15:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16541', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Health Ministry Urges to Take Precaution as Mercury Level Continues to Plunge', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 16: The Ministry of Health and Population has urged one and all to take precautions as the temperature is becoming increasingly cold across the country including Kathmandu Valley. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 16: The Ministry of Health and Population has urged one and all to take precautions as the temperature is becoming increasingly cold across the country including Kathmandu Valley. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Health Ministry Spokesperson Dr Sanjay Kumar Thakur appealed to all to be alert considering the increasing risk of infection during the cold weather. As the mercury level has started falling down continuously for the last few days, senior citizens, chronic patients, children, expecting mothers are advised to take special precautions. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The temperature of Kathmandu plummeted to as low as 7.6 degree Celsius on Friday, according to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. The ministry has requested the general public to keep warm and protect themselves against the increasing cold. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Furthermore, the ministry advised to take warm food and water and suggested not to stay outdoor and open area for a long time. Proper ventilation should be maintained while using heater or geyser, the ministry said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Considering the risk of infection due to contaminated water and food, the ministry urged all to pay special attention to food intake. Washing hands before preparing and eating meal is also recommended. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16282', 'image' => '20221216105551_DaneBohara_Humla_RSS_14(2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 10:55:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16540', 'article_category_id' => '274', 'title' => 'Improvement in Nepal’s Economic Indicators ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Economic indicators have further improved in the fourth month of the current fiscal year in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px">December 16: Economic indicators have further improved in the fourth month of the current fiscal year in the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-size:20px">Restrictive policies adopted by Nepal Rastra Bank and the government following the depletion of foreign currency reserve and high deficit in balance of payment have yielded positive results. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">As per the report published by Nepal Rastra Bank on Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation on Thursday, inflation has slightly dropped while condition of balance of payment, remittance inflow, and foreign currency reserve have improved. </span><br /> <span style="font-size:20px">Inflation stood at 8.8 per cent in the fourth month of the current fiscal year while country recorded inflation at 8.26 per cent in the third month of the same fiscal year. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Nepal Rasrta Bank and the government have set the target to keep inflation within 7 per cent this fiscal. The fourth month has witnessed improvement in the balance of payment (difference in inflow and outflow of money from the country). </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Balance of payment incurring loss for 14 months had started seeing surplus from the third month of the current fiscal year. BOP surplus that stood at Rs 12,43,0000000 in the same month increased to Rs 20,030000000 in the fourth month.</span><br /> <span style="font-size:20px">Due to COVID-19 and lockdowns imposed to contain the virus had plummeted the import, causing the BOP surplus. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">However, high import since last year had led to the deficit in balance of payment. After the high import reduced the foreign currency reserve rapidly, Nepal Rastra Bank had started provision of keeping 50 per cash margin when opening the letter of credit (LC) to import the luxurious goods from the fourth month of last fiscal year.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Later, the government had banned the import of 10 luxurious good in May. The ban has resulted into BOP surplus. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Remittance inflow rate that started rising since the first month of the current fiscal year increased by 20.4 per cent in the fourth month. Country has received a total of Rs 3,780,40000000 remittance in the first four months of the current fiscal. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Remittance amount country received in the fourth month was at Rs 96,990000000. Last year, the remittance inflow had dropped by 7 per cent in the same month. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">In the US Dollar terms, the remittance inflow has increased by 10.8 per cent and reached 2, 93,0000000. Remittance in the US Dollar had dropped by 7.3 per cent in the same period last year.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Rise in the number of people going for foreign employment and sharp increase in the price of US Dollar have led to the rise of remittance inflow inside the country.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The number of people receiving labour agreement to work in foreign countries in the first four months increased by 102 per cent and reached 1,95,196. A total of 87,428 migrant workers renewed their labour contract during the same period this fiscal. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Tourism income has also improved. Income received from tourists increased by 137 per cent and stood at Rs 17, 96,0000000 in the first four months of the current fiscal. Tourism income was just Rs 7,580000000 during the same period last year. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Trade deficit has also dropped in the first four months of the current fiscal. In the review period, import fell by 18 per cent and stood at Rs 5,32,690000000. In the same period, country’s export stood at Rs 54,77,0000000. The total trade deficit decreased by 9.4 per cent and stood at Rs 4,77, 920000000 during the same period.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Status of foreign current reserve has also improved during the review period. The total foreign currency reserve stood in the US Dollar stood at 9,63,0000000 in the fourth month of the current fiscal year. The third month had foreign currency reserve of US Dollar 9,48,0000000. </span><br /> <span style="font-size:20px">The current reserve of the foreign currency is enough to import goods for 9.7 months and goods and services for 8.4 months.</span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16281', 'image' => '20221216103327_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 07:08:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16539', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Turns into Seeds Importer from Exporter', 'sub_title' => 'Inability to Maintain Quality of Seeds to Blame for Halt in Export of Vegetable Seeds', 'summary' => 'December 15: Export of vegetable seeds produced in Nepal is come to a halt due to the inability to maintain quality of the seeds. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 15: Export of vegetable seeds produced in Nepal is come to a halt due to the inability to maintain quality of the seeds. Nepal, which used to export seeds to various countries until 16 years ago, is currently importing vegetable seeds worth millions of rupees from those countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data provided by the Agribusiness Promotion Support and Training Center, Nepal used to export vegetable seeds to India, Bangladesh, Germany and Japan by producing them in hill districts including Rukum, Salyan, Pyuthan since the fiscal year 2086/87. In that year, Nepal produced half a metric ton of radish seeds and exported them to Bangladesh. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After Bangladesh increased the demand order saying that the seeds of Nepal were of good quality, Nepal started producing seeds of cauliflower, radish, brinjal and tomato and exported them to other countries as well. According to government data, Nepal exported up to 89 metric tons of seeds to India in FY 2006/07 due to good demand.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, Nepal could not give continuity to the production and export of seeds.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As a result, the country is now forced to import seeds worth millions of rupees annually, says Amar Raj Sharma, senior crop development officer of the centre.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He claims that the demand for vegetable seeds produced in Nepal is decreasing and the export has stopped due to the weakness of the Nepali seed production company. He said, “The main reason why the export of the seeds produced by us stopped is that we could not maintain the quality. If we can maintain the quality, we can still export seeds.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to him, since the seed production centers were established in remote areas, the germinating power of the seeds started to decrease while being transported to Kathmandu due to the bad condition of roads. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Seed producers also need to maintain a distance of at least two kilometers while producing seeds of two different varieties. However, the distance could not be maintained due to lack of land.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As a result, adulteration was seen in the seeds.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to lack of adequate irrigation and fertilizer, the size of seeds was also a problem. Apart from this, the work on development and growth of indigenous varieties of seeds could not be done. As per the information, there is also a decline in the development of hybrid varieties, due to which the demand for seeds from foreign countries stopped and subsequently the export also came to a halt.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The center informed New Business Age that Nepal imported about 150,000 kilograms of vegetable seeds worth more than Rs 433.39 million in the last fiscal year alone.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-15', 'modified' => '2022-12-15', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16280', 'image' => '20221215052644_ss-8-850x340 - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-15 17:25:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 18: A study conducted by the government has shown that the gap between the government’s income and expenditure is gradually widening where the income is on the weaker side. In the current fiscal year, the government announced a budget of Rs 1.793 trillion to be spent under various headings. As of December 14, the total budget expenditure is just 24.2 percent. The government, which aims to raise Rs 1.4 trillion in revenue this year, has collected only 22.96 percent during this period.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the review period, 8.83 percent of the development budget and 29.91 percent of the current expenditures have been spent. The government, which is earning Rs 2.95 billion on a daily basis, is spending more than 4 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The gap between government income and expenditure seems to be increasing since a long time. A government study has shown that the gap between revenue collection and expenditure is increasing with the increase in administrative expenses and the need for development in Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to a recent study by the National Planning Commission, this gap is increasing due to lack of resources, resource management capacity, and unscientific projection, ambiguity in priorities, random project selection and resource allocation. The revenue and expenditure gap has been increasing for the past 4.5 decades.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">From the year 2031/32 to 2035/36, the gap between revenue collection and expenditure was Rs 1 billion. The average gap of income and expenses between 2073/74 and 2077/78 is Rs 262 billion. According to the study, the gap between revenue and expenditure reached the highest point (Rs 361 billion) in the year 2074/75 in the last four and a half decades.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Studies have shown that the gap between revenue collection and expenditure increased significantly after the promulgation of the new constitution in 2072 BS (2015 AD). The average economic growth from the year 2073/74 to 2075/76 was also more than 6.5 percent. The study revealed the fact that Nepal's launch capacity has not been effective since 70 years. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The study has shown that many factors such as political instability, projection method, economic environment and projection capacity affect public expenditure. From the year 2030/31 to 2045/46, the average estimated budget gap was 12 percent. The gap was 12 percent during the conflict period, 13 percent during the subsequent transition period and 20 percent after the constitution was promulgated in 2072.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-18', 'modified' => '2022-12-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16295', 'image' => '20221218015345_New_Emblem_of_Nepal.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-18 13:52:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16552', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Messi Aims for World Cup Glory against Formidable France', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 18: The month-long football World Cup draws to a close today (Sunday) after a mouth-watering clash between the Titans – Argentina and France – in what is anticipated to be one of the most thrilling finals.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">AGENCIES</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">December 18: The month-long football World Cup draws to a close today (Sunday) after a mouth-watering clash between the Titans – Argentina and France – in what is anticipated to be one of the most thrilling finals. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Lionel Messi is hoping to crown his stellar career by leading Argentina to World Cup glory at 15:00 GMT (20:45 NST) but Kylian Mbappé's history-chasing France are standing in his way, reports AFP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the BBC, Messi, 35, has won a record seven Ballon d'Or awards - presented to the best player in the world - but never won the biggest team prize in football.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Sunday's final is likely to be his last chance to match the achievement of Diego Maradona, who inspired Argentina to victory in 1986.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Messi – the magician – quite possibly the best the world has ever seen, is heading towards retirement, reports Al Jazeera, adding, Mbappe, the prodigious talent who has scored only two fewer World Cup goals than Messi, but is aged just 23 and is poised to take the 35-year-old Argentinian’s mantle as the best player in the world.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Argentina teams of recent years may have been built entirely around Messi but as his years advance, his role in La Albiceleste has developed beyond that of nonstop goal machine and into playmaker supreme, empowering his teammates and waiting for that perfect moment to unleash a little magic. And it works.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Likewise, France is more than Mbappe. Had they had some of their global superstars such as the injured Karim Benzema, Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante playing, there’s no guarantee the 2018 winners would have made it this far, added Al Jazeera.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, France’s preparation for Sunday’s final has been hampered by illness to several players.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to AFP, central defenders Raphaël Varane and Ibrahima Konaté, as well as Kingsley Coman, sat out training on Friday with cold-like symptoms while Konaté replaced Dayot Upamecano in defence for the semi-final against Morocco after he was ruled out by illness, and Adrien Rabiot was also unwell for that game.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Argentina and France are both aiming to win the trophy for the third time, with Les Bleus returning to the final four years after their triumph in Moscow, added AFP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Back-to-back titles would be a monumental achievement for the side coached by Deschamps – the only teams to have done it previously are Italy in the 1930s and Pelé's Brazil in 1958 and 1962.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The one player they cannot afford to lose is Mbappé, who scored five goals in the team's first four games but was largely kept quiet in the wins against England and Morocco.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-18', 'modified' => '2022-12-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16294', 'image' => '20221218123911_messi youtube.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-18 12:38:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16553', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Pen Industry Worth Rs 400 Million Opens at Bara-Parsa Corridor ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'With a motto to replace import of pens, an industrialist has brought a pen industry into operation at Bara-Parsa Corridor.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">December 18 : With a motto to replace import of pens, an industrialist has brought a pen industry into operation at Bara-Parsa Corridor.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The industry with the name “Beena Shakti Paper and Stationery Product” has come into operation. Industry’s Proprietor Manoj Kumar Marodiya said that he had brought the industry into operation with a goal to manufacture 90 million sets of sets of pens a year. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">“Nepal has a great market for pens and stationery product. But, imported products have captured the market. We have brought the industry into operation to avail this market”, said Marodiya.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Operated with the initial investment of Rs Rs 400 million, the industry will manufacture 16 types of pens costing from Rs 5 to Rs 50 under “Frenz” brand. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The industry will manufacture erasers, sharpeners and scales as well. Marodiya estimates that Nepal requires 300 million sets of pens at present. “Pens worth Rs 2 billion sell in the domestic market a year”, he added.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Marodiya says that he has used two-decades of his experience earned in the import of pens and stationery in the new industry. He claims that country can become self-dependent if the government provides policy-level support to the his industry. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Marodiya, however, laments that he is having a tough time competing with imported pens due to nominal margin of custom duty in the import of raw materials used for making pens and readymade pens. Pens imported avoiding tax have added woes to the domestic industry.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The government imposes 10 and 15 taxes in the import of raw materials used to making pens and readymade pens respectively. </span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The industry has been importing raw materials from India, Japan, South Korea and Germany to manufacture pens, according to Marodiya. <br /> </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-18', 'modified' => '2022-12-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16293', 'image' => '20221218125532_collage (10).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-18 12:50:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16551', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Croatia Finish Third in World Cup', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 18: Croatia eased past Morocco 2-1 to claim the third place in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on Saturday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">December 18: Croatia eased past Morocco 2-1 to claim the third place in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on Saturday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A sublime header from Joško Gvardiol in the seventh minute gave the 2018 runners-up Croatia the lead but the joy was short lived.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Morocco’s Achraf Dari levelled just two minutes later by nodding home from close range.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the BBC, Mislav Orsic curled in a sumptuous second for Croatia via the post three minutes before half-time.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The second half could not match the energy of a thrilling opening period and Morocco failed to find an equaliser as a fruitful campaign ended in back-to-back defeats.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-18', 'modified' => '2022-12-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16292', 'image' => '20221218113711_croatia_celebrate_3rd_place_at_world_cup_2022_ee5b5179902f7831d165c6ce185e6030.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-18 11:36:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16550', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Licenses of Frequent Traffic Rule Violators to be Suspended ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 18: The Traffic Police has sent 60 driving licenses to the Department of Transport Management from November 17 to December 15 recommending suspension of the licenses. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 18: The Traffic Police has sent 60 driving licenses to the Department of Transport Management from November 17 to December 15 recommending suspension of the licenses. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office sent those licenses to the DoTM for suspension reasoning that the drivers were found frequently violating rules. The recommendation for the suspension of license was made as per the Vehicle and Transport Management Act 2049 and Regulation 2054. According to the traffic police, they were violators of traffic rule for more than five times. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Spokesperson at the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, Senior Superintendent of Police, Rajendra Prasad Bhatta, said they had sent licenses to the DoTM for action as per the Transport Management Act-2049 because the drivers had violated the traffic rules for more than five times. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Among those to be punished, a driver had faced action for 44 times. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-18', 'modified' => '2022-12-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16291', 'image' => '20221218104348_Traffic-Fines-Payment-Esewa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-18 10:43:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16549', 'article_category_id' => '277', 'title' => 'Government Delays to Fix Support Price for Sugarcane; Farmers Likely To Face Old Predicament ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'With fixing of the date to crush the sugarcane by the sugar mills, sugarcane producing farmers have started harvesting sugarcanes. The government, however, has not shown any concern to fix the minimum support price for the sugarcane yet. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">December 18: With fixing of the date to crush the sugarcane by the sugar mills, sugarcane producing farmers have started harvesting sugarcanes. The government, however, has not shown any concern to fix the minimum support price for the sugarcane yet. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Sugarcane producing farmers are busy harvesting sugarcanes in Sarlahi, Bara, Rautahat, Kapilvastu, Kailali, and Kanchanpur in Tarai. After a few days, they will start selling their produce. But, the government not fixing the support price has left them worried and disappointed. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">In the case of paddy, the government fixed the minimum support price after the paddy producing farmers had sold out their produce to manage their household expenses. Farmers with weak financial condition had sold out their paddy to the traders up to at Rs 800 per quintal cheaper price before the government determined the minimum support price.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Sugarcane Producing Farmers Struggle Committee Sarlahi’s Secretary Harishyam Ray says that almost all of the farmers had started harvesting the sugarcane as sugar mills had already fixed the date to crush the sugarcane.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“Sugarcanes have started drying up. Delaying to harvest them will lose their weight. The government should have fixed the minimum support price by now. We do not know why the government is delaying to fix the price”, Ray wondered. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Ray informed he has planted sugarcane in three bigahas of the land. He used to plant sugarcanes in 18 bigahas of the land until four years ago. “Owing to delay to fix the minimum price, non-payment of the sugarcanes for a long time by mill owners, soaring cost of production, I have reduced sugarcane cultivation”, shared Ray. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Sugarcane farmers have to protest to receive money of the their produce against sugar mill owners.<br /> Sugarcane farmers from Tarai have staged the protest in Kathmandu to force the sugar mills to pay them for their produce in the past years.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The government had issued warning to arrest the sugar mill owners for non-payment to the farmers. The government fixes minimum support price of paddy, wheat and sugarcane, among others, to ensure farmers’ cost of production and stop middlemen from cheating farmers.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Stakeholders, however, say that minimum price fixed by the government is a game to trick farmers.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Sugarcane Farmers’ Struggle Committee Coordinator Rakesh Mishra says that farmers can not benefit as the government delays to fix the price though the provision has it that the government has to determine the price before farmers plant the crops.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Meanwhile, Ministry of Agriculture, and Livestock Development, however, said that it was preparing to present the proposal to fix the minimum price of sugarcane to the Cabinet. </span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Spokesperson Prakash Kumar Sanjel at the ministry said that sugarcane’s support price would be fixed in a matter of few days. “The ministry has completed all technical work. Now, we will hold a meeting with all stakeholders and fix the price”, added Sanjel. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Farmers have been accusing the government of fixing the price arbitrarily by not inviting their representatives. They complain that support price is always lower than their cost of production since their representatives are not invited in the meeting held to fix the support price of the sugarcane. </span></p> <p><br /> <span style="font-size:18px">Sugarcane farmers have started selling their produce to jaggery industries at cheaper price since they are fed up with the government delay to fix the support price and non-payment of their produce by the sugar mill owners. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-18', 'modified' => '2022-12-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16290', 'image' => '20221218063838_collage (9).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-18 06:32:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16548', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Twenty-Four Per Cent Budget Spent in First Five Months ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The government has spent 24.26 per cent budget in the first five months of the current fiscal year of 2022/23. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">December 16: The government has spent 24.26 per cent budget in the first five months of the current fiscal year of 2022/23. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The government had brought a total budget of Rs 17, 93,83,7300000 for the current fiscal year. Out of the total budget, the government’s expenditure stands at Rs 4, 35,21,1100000, according to Office of Auditor General. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">In the last five months, capital expenses are just around 9 per cent. The federal government’s capital expenses up to the end of the fifth month stand at Rs 3,80, 38,4500000. This is equal to 8.94 per cent. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Similarly, out of the 11, 83,23,5100000 appropriated for administrative expenses, 29.94 per cent, which is equivalent to Rs 3, 54, 25, 6900000, has been spent.</span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">In the category of financial management, the government has allocated Rs 2,30,21,7700000. Till the end of the fifth month, the government has used up Rs 46,96,2600000. Expenditure under the financial management is 20.4 per cent. </span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The government has collected 24.52 percent revenue during the same period. The government has set the target to collect the internal revenue of Rs 14, 3,14,7000000 and take a foreign grant of Rs 55, 83, 4500000 within the current fiscal year.<br /> </span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The government has collected internal revenue of Rs 3,26,890000000 so far, which is 23. 3 per cent of total annual target. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Likewise, the government has received Rs 3,41,5900000 foreign grant, which is 6.16 per cent of the total annual target.</span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16289', 'image' => '20221216052612_collage (18).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 17:20:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16546', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'App to Provide Information on Doctors and Clinics Launched', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 16: 'Dr App', which provides information about doctors, clinics and diagnostic centers available in cities across Nepal, has been launched by the developers.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 16: 'Dr App', which provides information about doctors, clinics and diagnostic centers available in cities across Nepal, has been launched by the developers. The app developed by Titanium Technology was launched in Kathmandu on Monday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The app is launched as a platform to help find information about hospitals and doctors in one place. This app will not only provide information from various experts at one place, but also gives the qualification, experience of all types of doctors and the opening time and location of the hospitals and clinics. Titanium Technology says that since not everyone has the information about which specialist doctor and hospital to go to for a sensitive issue like health, this app will make such information accessible to everyone.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> Inaugurating the app, Samindra Singh Thapa, managing director of the company said that the app can solve dilemmas like which specialist and which place to go in case of a health problem. He informed, “In the app, you can find information about doctors, clinics and diagnostic centers available in cities across Nepal, which can be used not only in the country but also by Nepalese living abroad for their relatives.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The app is available in both English and Nepali languages. The company informed that the app, which is currently only available on Play Store, will soon be available on the App Store as well.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16287', 'image' => '20221216043115_health sector.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 16:30:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16545', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'President Bhandari Urges the Government to Solve Problems Seen in Industrial Sector ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' President Bidhya Devi Bhandari urged the government to solve the problems seen in the industrial sector on Friday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:22px"> December 16: President Bidhya Devi Bhandari urged the government to solve the problems seen in the industrial sector on Friday.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">Speaking at the Birat Expo organized in Biratanagr, Bhandari argued that Biratnagar, country’s major industrial estate, was struggling to retain its past glory. She expressed confidence that Biratanagar would set a good example in industrialization to the whole country.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">President Bhandari stressed the need to establish industries based on domestic raw materials. She also highlighted the need to forge coordination among farmers and industrialists to produce raw materials for the industries in the country. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">At the programme, Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) Chairman Sekhar Golchha said that country was experiencing a financial crisis never seen before. “Earlier, the country faced economic crises due to the earthquake, COVID-19 and other disasters”, Golchha stated. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">But, Golchha blamed that Nepal Rastra Bank and the government’s flawed policies had led to the current financial crisis facing the country.</span><br /> </p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">Morang Industry Association’s Chairman Suyash Pyakurel said that country was in need of export promoting and import replacing industries. “Post-COVID financial crisis has adversely affected almost all industries and business in the country”, Pyakurel added.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16286', 'image' => '20221216035726_collage (14).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 15:47:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16544', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Inflation Rises to 8.08 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 16: The year-on-year consumer price inflation increased to 8.08 percent in mid-November 2022 compared to 6.04 percent a year ago.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">December 16: The year-on-year consumer price inflation increased to 8.08 percent in mid-November 2022 compared to 6.04 percent a year ago. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Nepal Rastra Bank, food and beverage inflation stood at 7.38 percent whereas non-food and service inflation rose to 8.63 percent in the review month. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Under the food and beverage category, y-o-y price index of restaurant and hotel sub-category increased 15.97 percent, tobacco products 11.81 percent, milk products and eggs 9.33 percent, cereal grains and their products 9.19 and alcoholic drinks 8.84 percent, as per the Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report released by NRB on Thursday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the report based on four months of data, the y-o-y price index of transportation subcategory increased 17.71 percent, health 11.22 percent, recreation and culture 8.76 percent, housing and utilities 8.49 percent and furnishing and household equipment 8.33 percent under the non-food and services category.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the review month, consumer price inflation in the Kathmandu Valley, Terai, hill and mountain areas stood at 7.56 percent, 8.52 percent, 8.03 percent and 6.68 percent respectively. Inflation in these regions were 6.14 percent, 5.42 percent, 7.14 percent and 5.00 percent respectively a year ago.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16285', 'image' => '20221216010258_Inflation.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 13:02:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16543', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal’s Export, Import Decline', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 16: Nepal’s exports decreased by 33.3 percent in the first four months of the current fiscal year, according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">December 16: Nepal’s exports decreased by 33.3 percent in the first four months of the current fiscal year, according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report of Nepal released by the central bank on Thursday states that merchandise exports decreased 33.3 percent in the first four months of FY 2022/23 amounting Rs 54.77 billion against an increase of 104.3 percent in the same period of the previous fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Destination-wise, exports to India and China decreased 42.3 percent and 34.2 percent respectively whereas exports to other countries increased 7.4 percent. Exports of zinc sheet, particle board, woolen carpets, tea, readymade garments, among others, increased whereas exports of soybean oil, palm oil, oil cakes, jute goods, textiles, among others, decreased in the review period, the repot states. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the first four months of FY 2022/23, merchandise imports decreased 18.1 percent amounting to Rs 532.69 billion against an increase of 61.6 percent a year ago. Destination-wise, imports from India, China and other countries decreased 16.5 percent, 20.9 percent, and 20.1 percent respectively. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the NRB report, imports of petroleum products, chemical fertilizer, sponge iron, gold, aircraft spare parts, among others, increased whereas imports of transport equipment and parts, silver, telecommunication equipment and parts, MS billet, crude soybean oil, among others, decreased in the review period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Based on customs points, exports from Dry Port, Jaleshwar, Kailali, Krishnanagar, Mechi and Tribhuwan Airport Customs Offices increased whereas exports from all the other major customs points decreased in the review period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">On the import side, imports from Jaleshwar Customs Office increased whereas imports from all the other major customs points decreased in the review period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Total trade deficit decreased 15.9 percent to Rs 477.92 billion during the four months of FY 2022/23. Such a deficit had increased 56.8 percent in the corresponding period of the previous year. The export-import ratio decreased to 10.3 percent in the review period from 12.6 percent in the corresponding period of the previous year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the four months of FY 2022/23, merchandise imports from India by paying convertible foreign currency amounted Rs 42.69 billion. Such amount was Rs 71.40 billion in the same period of the previous year, added the NRB. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16284', 'image' => '20221216124439_Trade.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 12:44:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16542', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NAC Resumes Flights after Resolving Cabin Crew Protest', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 16: Nepal Airlines Corporation has resumed its flights that were obstructed on Thursday due to the protest by cabin crew members. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"arial sans-serif","serif"">December 16: Nepal Airlines Corporation has resumed its flights that were obstructed on Thursday due to the protest by cabin crew members. Both domestic and international flights of the state-owned airlines company was halted from Thursday morning after the cabin crew members of NAC staged protest against the NAC management for not renewing contract of two air hostesses, who have been working at the corporations for the past 15 years. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"arial sans-serif","serif"">After the issue was resolved, regular flights resumed on Thursday evening, informed Archana Khadka, spokesperson of NAC.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"arial sans-serif","serif"">NAC said that the company’s management team and the agitating crew members held discussions throughout the day and sorted out the problem.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"arial sans-serif","serif"">According to Spokesperson Khadka, the flights that were halted throughout the day resumed in the evening. She further informed that the NAC’s scheduled flights to New Delhi and Riyadh took place after 8 pm on Thursday. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"arial sans-serif","serif"">Spokesperson Khadka said that the agitating cabin crew members resumed their work after NAC agreed to renew the contracts of all the staffers. The cabin crew members had started the protest alleging that the NAC tried to lay off two staff members – Aarati Maharjan and Smita Gubaju – without any reasons although they had been serving with the NAC since the last 15 years.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"arial sans-serif","serif"">Issuing a statement on Thursday, the NAC Cabin Crew Association had accused the company of delaying renewal of contract, not providing them identity cards and of unfair treatment in perks and facilities.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16283', 'image' => '20221216111621_NAC.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 11:15:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16541', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Health Ministry Urges to Take Precaution as Mercury Level Continues to Plunge', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 16: The Ministry of Health and Population has urged one and all to take precautions as the temperature is becoming increasingly cold across the country including Kathmandu Valley. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 16: The Ministry of Health and Population has urged one and all to take precautions as the temperature is becoming increasingly cold across the country including Kathmandu Valley. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Health Ministry Spokesperson Dr Sanjay Kumar Thakur appealed to all to be alert considering the increasing risk of infection during the cold weather. As the mercury level has started falling down continuously for the last few days, senior citizens, chronic patients, children, expecting mothers are advised to take special precautions. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The temperature of Kathmandu plummeted to as low as 7.6 degree Celsius on Friday, according to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. The ministry has requested the general public to keep warm and protect themselves against the increasing cold. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Furthermore, the ministry advised to take warm food and water and suggested not to stay outdoor and open area for a long time. Proper ventilation should be maintained while using heater or geyser, the ministry said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Considering the risk of infection due to contaminated water and food, the ministry urged all to pay special attention to food intake. Washing hands before preparing and eating meal is also recommended. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16282', 'image' => '20221216105551_DaneBohara_Humla_RSS_14(2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 10:55:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16540', 'article_category_id' => '274', 'title' => 'Improvement in Nepal’s Economic Indicators ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Economic indicators have further improved in the fourth month of the current fiscal year in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px">December 16: Economic indicators have further improved in the fourth month of the current fiscal year in the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-size:20px">Restrictive policies adopted by Nepal Rastra Bank and the government following the depletion of foreign currency reserve and high deficit in balance of payment have yielded positive results. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">As per the report published by Nepal Rastra Bank on Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation on Thursday, inflation has slightly dropped while condition of balance of payment, remittance inflow, and foreign currency reserve have improved. </span><br /> <span style="font-size:20px">Inflation stood at 8.8 per cent in the fourth month of the current fiscal year while country recorded inflation at 8.26 per cent in the third month of the same fiscal year. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Nepal Rasrta Bank and the government have set the target to keep inflation within 7 per cent this fiscal. The fourth month has witnessed improvement in the balance of payment (difference in inflow and outflow of money from the country). </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Balance of payment incurring loss for 14 months had started seeing surplus from the third month of the current fiscal year. BOP surplus that stood at Rs 12,43,0000000 in the same month increased to Rs 20,030000000 in the fourth month.</span><br /> <span style="font-size:20px">Due to COVID-19 and lockdowns imposed to contain the virus had plummeted the import, causing the BOP surplus. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">However, high import since last year had led to the deficit in balance of payment. After the high import reduced the foreign currency reserve rapidly, Nepal Rastra Bank had started provision of keeping 50 per cash margin when opening the letter of credit (LC) to import the luxurious goods from the fourth month of last fiscal year.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Later, the government had banned the import of 10 luxurious good in May. The ban has resulted into BOP surplus. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Remittance inflow rate that started rising since the first month of the current fiscal year increased by 20.4 per cent in the fourth month. Country has received a total of Rs 3,780,40000000 remittance in the first four months of the current fiscal. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Remittance amount country received in the fourth month was at Rs 96,990000000. Last year, the remittance inflow had dropped by 7 per cent in the same month. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">In the US Dollar terms, the remittance inflow has increased by 10.8 per cent and reached 2, 93,0000000. Remittance in the US Dollar had dropped by 7.3 per cent in the same period last year.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Rise in the number of people going for foreign employment and sharp increase in the price of US Dollar have led to the rise of remittance inflow inside the country.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The number of people receiving labour agreement to work in foreign countries in the first four months increased by 102 per cent and reached 1,95,196. A total of 87,428 migrant workers renewed their labour contract during the same period this fiscal. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Tourism income has also improved. Income received from tourists increased by 137 per cent and stood at Rs 17, 96,0000000 in the first four months of the current fiscal. Tourism income was just Rs 7,580000000 during the same period last year. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Trade deficit has also dropped in the first four months of the current fiscal. In the review period, import fell by 18 per cent and stood at Rs 5,32,690000000. In the same period, country’s export stood at Rs 54,77,0000000. The total trade deficit decreased by 9.4 per cent and stood at Rs 4,77, 920000000 during the same period.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Status of foreign current reserve has also improved during the review period. The total foreign currency reserve stood in the US Dollar stood at 9,63,0000000 in the fourth month of the current fiscal year. The third month had foreign currency reserve of US Dollar 9,48,0000000. </span><br /> <span style="font-size:20px">The current reserve of the foreign currency is enough to import goods for 9.7 months and goods and services for 8.4 months.</span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-16', 'modified' => '2022-12-16', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16281', 'image' => '20221216103327_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-16 07:08:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16539', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Turns into Seeds Importer from Exporter', 'sub_title' => 'Inability to Maintain Quality of Seeds to Blame for Halt in Export of Vegetable Seeds', 'summary' => 'December 15: Export of vegetable seeds produced in Nepal is come to a halt due to the inability to maintain quality of the seeds. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 15: Export of vegetable seeds produced in Nepal is come to a halt due to the inability to maintain quality of the seeds. Nepal, which used to export seeds to various countries until 16 years ago, is currently importing vegetable seeds worth millions of rupees from those countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data provided by the Agribusiness Promotion Support and Training Center, Nepal used to export vegetable seeds to India, Bangladesh, Germany and Japan by producing them in hill districts including Rukum, Salyan, Pyuthan since the fiscal year 2086/87. In that year, Nepal produced half a metric ton of radish seeds and exported them to Bangladesh. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After Bangladesh increased the demand order saying that the seeds of Nepal were of good quality, Nepal started producing seeds of cauliflower, radish, brinjal and tomato and exported them to other countries as well. According to government data, Nepal exported up to 89 metric tons of seeds to India in FY 2006/07 due to good demand.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, Nepal could not give continuity to the production and export of seeds.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As a result, the country is now forced to import seeds worth millions of rupees annually, says Amar Raj Sharma, senior crop development officer of the centre.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He claims that the demand for vegetable seeds produced in Nepal is decreasing and the export has stopped due to the weakness of the Nepali seed production company. He said, “The main reason why the export of the seeds produced by us stopped is that we could not maintain the quality. If we can maintain the quality, we can still export seeds.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to him, since the seed production centers were established in remote areas, the germinating power of the seeds started to decrease while being transported to Kathmandu due to the bad condition of roads. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Seed producers also need to maintain a distance of at least two kilometers while producing seeds of two different varieties. However, the distance could not be maintained due to lack of land.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As a result, adulteration was seen in the seeds.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to lack of adequate irrigation and fertilizer, the size of seeds was also a problem. Apart from this, the work on development and growth of indigenous varieties of seeds could not be done. As per the information, there is also a decline in the development of hybrid varieties, due to which the demand for seeds from foreign countries stopped and subsequently the export also came to a halt.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The center informed New Business Age that Nepal imported about 150,000 kilograms of vegetable seeds worth more than Rs 433.39 million in the last fiscal year alone.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-12-15', 'modified' => '2022-12-15', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16280', 'image' => '20221215052644_ss-8-850x340 - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-12-15 17:25:41', '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
