October 31: Nepal's foreign trade has decreased by 18 per cent in the first three months of the current fiscal…
October 31: Nepal's foreign trade has decreased by 18 per cent in the first three months of the current fiscal…
October 31: The Chhath festival observed mostly by the people of Mithila region concluded this morning by offering curd (Argha) to the rising…
October 30: The share of fixed deposits of banks has climbed to almost 60 percent of the total…
October 30: Russia has pulled out of an internatinaly-brokered grain deal that allows Ukraine to export grains, raising concerns of a global food crisis amid ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.…
October 30: Clear sky is ideal for trekking and sightseeing. It is also suitable for mountain flights that delights the domestic and foreign tourists in…
October 30: A multi-stakeholder consultation and discussion program was held recently on the subject of “Legalization of Marijuana Farming in Nepal: Opportunities and Challenges” in collaboration with the Nepal Government's Expert Group Policy Research Institute and the Nepal Health Research Council.…
October 30: ccording to government data, about 4 million metric tons of vegetables are produced in Nepal annually.…
October 30: Ujjwal Basnet from Dharmadevi Municipality of Sankhuwasabha was in Yangle Kharka on October 17.…
October 30: The setting sun will be worshiped this evening as part of the Chhath festival.…
October 28: The demand for earthen pots has been growing with the approaching Chhath…
October 27: Today is the fifth and the final day of Tihar festival.…
October 26: Security has been beefed up in Kathmandu Valley, the federal capital, in view of the Deepawali, Nepal Sambat and Chhath festivals, informed the District Administration Office,…
October 26: The fourth day of Tihar is celebrated by worshipping the oxen.…
October 25: A new variant of coronavirus has been detected in…
October 25: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released a new projection of economic growth rate of 4.2 percent for Nepal in…
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Foreign trade has been affected due to the government's policy of discouraging imports and tightening of bank loans for imports due to pressure on foreign exchange reserves.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data released by the Department of Customs, Nepal’s foreign trade amounted to Rs 442.81 billion till mid-October of the current fiscal year. This is 18.54 per cent less than the volume of foreign trade during the corresponding period of the previous year. In the same period of the previous year, the size of Nepal's foreign trade was equal to Rs 543.57 billion. The size of foreign trade decreased as both imports and exports decreased.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the department, from last mid-July to mid-October, the import decreased by 16.2 per cent compared to the previous year and remained at Rs 499 billion. Similarly, the previous year in July-August, the export was worth Rs 65.5 billion, but this year it has decreased by 35.71 per cent to Rs 41.82 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to the decrease in imports, the country's trade deficit has also decreased. By mid-October 2022, the trade deficit declined by 13.13 per cent to Rs 359 billion compared to last year, the department said. The government has collected revenue of Rs 96.61 billion from imports till October. Since last year, Nepal Rastra Bank has adopted a policy of tightening imports due to the lack of liquidity in banks and pressure on foreign exchange reserves </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">To reduce imports, the NRB reduced the import quota of gold and silver and also implemented the provision of keeping a cash margin for opening letter of credit.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government had banned the import of 10 luxury items for four months during last summer. The government lifted the ban on most of the items in August except the import of cars, jeeps, vans, mobiles worth more than $300, liquor and motorcycles with a capacity of more than 150 ccs was banned. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the department, until mid-October of the current year, petroleum products tops the list of imported goods. During this period, diesel worth Rs 29.81 billion, petrol worth Rs 18.44 and LPG gas worth Rs 14.94 billion have been imported into the country.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The import of raw materials of palm and soybean oil is also high. According to the statistics of the department, unrefined palm oil worth Rs 14.48 billion and crude soybean oil worth Rs 9.97 billion were imported till mid-October.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-31', 'modified' => '2022-10-31', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15959', 'image' => '20221031123131_1667170461.0--.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-31 12:30:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16217', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Chhath Concludes with Offering to Sun God ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 31: The Chhath festival observed mostly by the people of Mithila region concluded this morning by offering curd (Argha) to the rising Sun. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 31: The Chhath festival observed mostly by the people of Mithila region concluded this morning by offering curd (Argha) to the rising Sun. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The devotees who observed fasting since the start of the festival concluded the Chhath rituals this year by offering prayers to the rising Sun this morning. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Sun rose at around 6.14 am in Mithila region this morning. The timing of the sunshine is determined as per the Mithila Panchanga and Bidyapati Panchanga in Mithila. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Just prior to the sunshine, the devotees were chanting songs awaiting the rise of the Sun by taking holy dips three times. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Devotees also ended their 36-hour-long perennial fasting after offering worships to the Sun God today morning. With this, the devotees returned home from the river banks (Chhati Ghat) by concluding the grand festival where the shining and setting suns are worshipped with devotion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chhath is a festival of goodwill, faith, social harmony as people from all backgrounds come together in a common place to offer worships to the Sun God. It is widely believed that appeasing the Sun God brings happiness, prosperity, well-being and longevity of the family members. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-31', 'modified' => '2022-10-31', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15958', 'image' => '20221031114759_chhath.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-31 11:47:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16216', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Fixed Deposits of Banks Increasing', 'sub_title' => 'Share of Fixed Deposits Climbs to Almost 60 Percent', 'summary' => 'October 30: The share of fixed deposits of banks has climbed to almost 60 percent of the total deposits.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">October 30: The share of fixed deposits of banks has climbed to almost 60 percent of the total deposits. The amount in fixed deposit accounts has increased due to the long-term schemes launched by banks to attract more deposits amid liquidity crisis. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">As per the data of Nepal Rastra Bank, the total deposits of commercial banks has reached Rs 5090.42 billion as of mid-September this year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The share of fixed deposits stands at 58.8 percent, which was 49.2 percent a year ago.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Commercial banks have announced interest of 12.13 percent for fixed deposits, 10.13 for institutional term deposits and 13.13 percent for remittance since mid-September. Similarly, development banks have announced 13 percent interest for fixed deposits and 11 percent interest for institutional term deposits while finance companies have fixed interest rate of 13.47 for personal term deposits and 11.47 for institutional term deposits.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Bank deposits have been declining due to liquidity crisis. The deposit collection of banks and financial institutes declined by 0.9 percent in the month of Bhadra (mid-August to mid-September) when credit flow increased by 0.55 percent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Banks have announced schemes to attract deposits by promising to pay ten times the initial deposit in 21 years. Besides interest, banks are also providing other facilities such as insurance, credit card, easy loans to such depositors. As a result, the share of fixed deposits has been increasing at the expense of other types of deposits.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The share of current account has dropped to 7.7 percent in mid-September from 7.9 percent during the corresponding period of last year. Likewise, the share of general savings account has dropped to 26.5 percent in mid-September from 35 percent. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-30', 'modified' => '2022-10-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15957', 'image' => '20221030050239_1667081609.11.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-30 17:01:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16215', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Russia Halts Grain Exports via Black Sea Prompting Fear of Food Crisis', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 30: Russia has pulled out of an internatinaly-brokered grain deal that allows Ukraine to export grains, raising concerns of a global food crisis amid ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. ', '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"">October 30: Russia has pulled out of an internatinaly-brokered grain deal that allows Ukraine to export grains, raising concerns of a global food crisis amid ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Reuters, Moscow said on Saturday that it was suspending participation in the Black Sea deal in response to what it called a major Ukrainian drone attack on its fleet. In a conflict that began in February, Russia calls its actions in Ukraine "a special operation".</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The suspension of July's Black Sea Grain Initiative will cut shipments from Ukraine, one of the world's biggest grain exporters, from its crucial Black Sea ports, the news agency further reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Al Jazeera, the Turkey and UN-brokered deal to unlock grain exports signed between Russia and Ukraine in July is critical to easing the global food crisis caused by the conflict.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The agreement has already allowed more than 9 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain to be exported and was due to be renewed on November 19, the Doha-based news agency added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Any act by Russia to disrupt these critical grain exports is essentially a statement that people and families around the world should pay more for food or go hungry," Reuters quoted US Secretary of State Antony Blinken as saying in a statement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Russia's defence ministry said Ukraine attacked the Black Sea Fleet near Sevastopol on the Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula with 16 drones early on Saturday, and that British navy "specialists" had helped coordinate the "terrorist" attack.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Moscow also accused British navy personnel of blowing up the Nord Stream gas pipelines last month, a claim that London said was false and designed to distract from Russian military failures in Ukraine, Reuters added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The grain deal had restarted shipments from Ukraine, allowing sales on world markets, targeting the pre-war level of 5 million metric tonnes exported from Ukraine each month. More than 9 million tonnes of corn, wheat, sunflower products, barley, rapeseed and soya have been exported under the deal, signed on July 22. But ahead of its November 19 expiry, Russia had repeatedly said that there were serious problems with it, Reuters added. Ukraine complained Moscow had blocked almost 200 ships from picking up grain cargoes.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the news agency, when the agreement was signed, the UN World Food Programme said some 47 million people had moved into "acute hunger" as the war halted Ukrainian shipments. The deal ensured safe passage in and out of Odesa and two other Ukrainian ports in what an official called a "de facto ceasefire" for the ships and facilities covered.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Russia's departure from the grain deal marks a new development in a war that has recently been dominated by a Ukrainian counteroffensive and Russian drone and missile attacks that have destroyed more than 30 percent of Ukraine's generating capacity and hit populated areas. Each side has accused the other of being prepared to detonate radioactive bombs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Reuters, President Vladimir Putin ordered Russia's invasion of its smaller neighbour in an offensive he said was aimed at demilitarising and "denazifying" Ukraine. Kyiv and the West say the war is an unprovoked act of aggression by Moscow.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-30', 'modified' => '2022-10-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15956', 'image' => '20221030035342_wheatttttt.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-30 15:52:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16214', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Clear Sky Attracting Tourists Towards Mountain Flights', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 30: Clear sky is ideal for trekking and sightseeing. It is also suitable for mountain flights that delights the domestic and foreign tourists in Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 30: Clear sky is ideal for trekking and sightseeing. It is also suitable for mountain flights that delights the domestic and foreign tourists in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Different airlines have been operating mountain flights enthusiastically as this is the peak season for tourism as the weather has become favourable. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Private airlines companies--Buddha Airlines, Yeti Airlines, Shree Airlines, Guna Air, and others have been operating mountain flights. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Spokesperson of Yeti Airlines, Sudharshan Bartaula, said mountain flights were in operation thanks to the favourable weather. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The number of mountain flights has increased all of sudden. There has been good booking for mountain flight till Tihar. We believe that the trend of booking for mountain flight will increase," said Bartaula. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Information Officer of Buddha Air, Dipendra Karna, shared that attraction to mountain flight has increased this season. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The number of mountain flights has increased due to the clear sky. Many foreigners visit Nepal in this season. Attraction towards mountain flight in winter season increases as there is no cloudy weather and one can easily view mountain ranges under the clean serene blue sky," said Karna. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October, November and December are suitable months for mountain flights. Hotels located in tourism destinations are crowded with domestic and foreign tourists in this season, said first Vice-President of Hotel Association of Nepal, Binayak Shah. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Mountain flight is operated from 7:00 am from Tribhuvan International Airport. Buddha Airlines and Yeti Airlines have determined Rs 15,000 fare for mountain flight for domestic and Indian tourists. The fare is USD 230 for the citizens of other countries. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-30', 'modified' => '2022-10-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15955', 'image' => '20221030031427_Mountain-Flight-Tour-Kathma.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-30 15:13:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16213', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Discussion on Legalizing Marijuana Farming in Nepal Held', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 30: A multi-stakeholder consultation and discussion program was held recently on the subject of “Legalization of Marijuana Farming in Nepal: Opportunities and Challenges” in collaboration with the Nepal Government's Expert Group Policy Research Institute and the Nepal Health Research Council. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 30: A multi-stakeholder consultation and discussion program was held recently on the subject of “Legalization of Marijuana Farming in Nepal: Opportunities and Challenges” in collaboration with the Nepal Government's Expert Group Policy Research Institute and the Nepal Health Research Council. In the program, the researchers of Nepal Health Research Foundation presented a paper based on the analysis of reference materials from the medical side of marijuana. Similarly, a working paper was presented from the perspective of the economic importance and social aspects of cannabis cultivation in Nepal on behalf of the Policy Research Institute.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the program, it was shared that the debate on the controlled use of cannabis was raised around the world after the United Nations placed cannabis as a useful plant in 2020. In addition, the fact that 56 countries in the world legalized the cultivation and controlled use of marijuana was highlighted during the programme</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, in the paper presented about the legal aspects of marijuana, it is mentioned that the cultivation of marijuana is not legally prohibited because the definition of marijuana in the Narcotic Drugs (Control) Act, 2033 does not prohibit the production of hemp plants and bark (fibers). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, President of Narconon Nepal, Basanta Kunwar said that one should not even imagine legalizing marijuana arguing that the reason behind almost 90 percent of mental patients is due to marijuana consumption.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Achyut Adhikari, associate professor of Tribhuvan University said that the harmful substances of marijuana should be banned and useful substances should be used. Devi Prasad Bhandari of the Institute of Forestry opined that hemp oil can be sold in the world market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Research Director of Nepal Health Research Foundation Dr Meghnath Dhimal said that if the regulations are made first, it will be easier to use marijuana for research.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-30', 'modified' => '2022-10-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15954', 'image' => '20221030030309_20201204014433_1607039093.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-30 15:02:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16212', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Produces 4 Million Tons of Vegetables Annually', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 30: ccording to government data, about 4 million metric tons of vegetables are produced in Nepal annually. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 30: ccording to government data, about 4 million metric tons of vegetables are produced in Nepal annually. As per the data provided by National Center for Potato, Vegetable and Spice Crops Development, all the districts of the seven provinces produced the given amount of vegetables in 284,000 hectares of land in the fiscal year 2020/21.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The total production of 56 types of vegetable crops including cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, tomato, radish, bitter gourd, okra, and green vegetables are included in the data of the center. Looking at the data of the last 10 years, the lowest quantity of vegetables (3,298,000 metric tons) was produced in the FY 2011/12 and the highest (4,271,000 metric tons) in the FY 2018/19.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although vegetable production increased somewhat in recent years, it seems that it has not fully met the demand of the domestic market. Due to this, vegetables are imported from India, China, Bhutan, Japan and other countries in large quantities each year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Uddhav Adhikari, agricultural engineer and coordinator of the Agricultural Campaign for Food, the best way to become self-reliant in vegetables by increasing production is to develop the local agricultural market. According to him, the farmers have stopped producing because the produced vegetables do not have a market; so they have to import vegetables from abroad. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The production will increase only if the farmers' products find a market,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the fiscal year 2020/21 alone, 231,000 metric tons of vegetables were imported from abroad. In the same year, Nepal exported 6000 metric tons of vegetables. A per the information provided by the centre, most vegetables were produced in Madhesh Province that year. In Madhesh Province, 1,245,000 tons of vegetables were produced on 53,300 hectares of land. The least amount of vegetables was produced in Karnali Province. In Karnali, 149,500 tons of vegetables were produced in 13,200 hectares of land. Similarly, 798,300 tons of vegetables were grown on 50,300 hectares in Province 1 and 727,000 tons of vegetables were grown on 50,400 hectares of land in Bagmati Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, 282,000 tons of vegetables were produced on 22,700 hectares in Gandaki Province, 544,600 tons on 41,900 hectares in Lumbini Province, and 285,000 tons of vegetables were produced on 22,000 hectares in Sudurpaschim Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Sandeep Subedi, horticultural development officer of the National Center for Potato, Vegetable and Spice Crop Development, due to the lack of quality seeds and fertilizers, farmers are not able to grow vegetables despite their best efforts, and the quality of the soil is not good enough to improve productivity. He added that the data also confirmed that there has been no significant improvement in our productivity in the last 10 years. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-30', 'modified' => '2022-10-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15953', 'image' => '20221030011818_vegetable-store.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-30 13:17:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16211', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepali Trekkers Complain of Discrimination at Makalu Base Camp ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 30: Ujjwal Basnet from Dharmadevi Municipality of Sankhuwasabha was in Yangle Kharka on October 17. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 30: Ujjwal Basnet from Dharmadevi Municipality of Sankhuwasabha was in Yangle Kharka on October 17. He was there after making a trip to Makalu Base Camp, the base camp of fifth tallest mountain on earth. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A day before on October 16, he spent his night in a local teahouse. In Yangle Kharka, no teahouses are named. He woke up at 6 am in the morning and headed out for Shiva Dhara shrine. Shiva Dhara is a very famous religious destination nearby, which takes around 5 to 6 hours to make a complete trip. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Basnet came back to Yangle Kharka after making his 6 hour long pilgrimage to the famed shrine of Sankhuwasabha. ''I had ordered meal in the morning as we visit religious shrine with fasting,'' Basnet said, ''But, when I came back after 6 hours of extremely stressing journey, the teahouse operator said there is no meal for me.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The repeated request by Basnet fell into deaf ears of the teahouse operators, who simply said he was 'busy’. Basnet said the same teahouse operator had cooked meal just a couple of days ago while he was coming from Fematang, a nearby camp. But that day, the same service was not offered. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">''Previously, there were no foreigners and he cooked meal for me and I paid Rs 400 for a vegetarian meal,'' said Basnet, ''But, on October 17, there were some foreigners and he did not give attention to my request.'' </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ujjwal basnet is not only one to complain about discriminatory treatment by operators of teahouses along the route of Makalu Base Camp compared to their foreign counterparts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">''The price is not that much different for Nepali and foreign trekkers,'' said Kamal Magar, a trekker from Chitwan. ''They give utmost priority to foreigners and give least, if not no priority at all, to Nepali trekkers.'' </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, Dawa Chhiring Sherpa, a local teahouse operator at Dobato of Makalu Base Camp trail, said there are some complaints from Nepali trekkers in other teahouses. ''I have heard some complaints. This is due to unprofessional practices by some teahouse operators but you cannot blame all of us,'' said Sherpa. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-30', 'modified' => '2022-10-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15952', 'image' => '20221030120011_makalu-base-camp-trek-banner.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-30 11:59:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16210', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Preparations Underway to Worship the Setting Sun during Chhath Festival', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 30: The setting sun will be worshiped this evening as part of the Chhath festival. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 30: The setting sun will be worshiped this evening as part of the Chhath festival. Most of the ponds, lakes, streams and rivers in Terai Madhes including Janakpurdham have been cleaned up and decorated as worshipping sites. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The banks of Ganga Sagar, the main pond of Janakpurdham sub-metropolitan city, have been decorated and preparations for the rituals have been completed. Local youth clubs have set up tents for the Chhath Pooja. In addition to Ganga Sagar, the Dhanush Sagar, Angraj Sar, Dasharath Lake, Janaki Sarovar, Gordhoi, Agnikunda have been decorated by local youth clubs in Janakpurdham. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The army and the police have also supported the cleaning of the ponds and lakes used as a place of worship. Bhojpuri and Maithili songs glorifying Chhathimaiya are found buzzing all around the sites and in the market places. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chhath is also considered as one of the major festivals for the people of Mithila region. Preparations for Chhath festival start from a week before. This festival starts on the fourth day of the waxing moon in the Nepali month of Kartik (mid-October to mid-November) and ends on the seventh day as per the lunar calendar, says Pandit Ramkumar Shastri. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Sun god is especially worshiped during this festival. It is believed that the tradition of worshipping the sun in Hinduism has existed since the Vedic period. This festival is celebrated by all sections of the society together. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the Chhath festival, fasting women and men take a bath and wear clean clothes and eat vegetarian food. In the evening, rice pudding is made in a new oven made of clay. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Pandit Shastri, rice pudding made with molasses is offered to the gods and goddesses and then accepted by the fasting person and other members of the family. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Women offer argha to the setting sun, while men stand on the banks of the ponds and river with coconuts or other fruits in their hands. Traditionally, all the members of the family fasting usually stay awake at the bank of the pond throughout the night. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This year, the worshippers have been hit hard as the prices of goods used in Chhath have skyrocketed. Prices of bananas, coconuts, sugarcane, radish, lemons, apples, oranges, molasses, as well as bamboo items used during the Chhath festival have increased of late. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-30', 'modified' => '2022-10-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15951', 'image' => '20221030111003_20211107101945_1260843_n - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-30 11:09:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16209', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Demand for Earthen Pots High with Approaching Chhath Festival ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 28: The demand for earthen pots has been growing with the approaching Chhath festival.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 28: The demand for earthen pots has been growing with the approaching Chhath festival. Along with the domestic clay pots, various articles required for the festival manufactured in India are also making in-roads to the Nepali market. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The earthen pots manufactured in India are doing brisk business in the bordering towns while the domestically produced ones are selling in greater numbers in the inner markets. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The sale of clay pots has seen a rise in Janakpurdham, Mahendranagar Sakhuwa, Dhalkebar, Bateshwor, Dharapani, Birendrabazar, Sabaila, the main square at Sahidnagar and Hatiya, among the main markets of Dhanusha. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With the increasing demand for clay pots in the market, the potters have become busy like the bees. The demand for earthen pots is high during the cultural festivals as Chhath due to the tradition of mostly using the clay pots for various cultural rituals. It is considered auspicious to conduct the rituals using fresh clay pots. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The sale of clay articles like lamp and images of elephants has increased at various places and the bordering towns for the imminent Chhath festival," said Bishnu Lal Pandit, a pottery trader of Haraiya, Kshireshwornath Municipality-4. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He said that making clay pots was their main means of subsistence in the past. But these days their traditional profession has been displaced with the increasing use of plastic and metal pots. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Kamal Pandit, a potter at Sakhuwa, Kshireshwornath Municipality-6, complained that their traditional profession is under threat in recent years due to the growing use of plastic and metal pots. The festival period is the only time for local potters to earn whatever income for the whole year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A set of earthen pots for the Chhath festival costs between Rs 200 to Rs 300, said Kanhaiya Pandit from Janakpurdham. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A majority of the local communities whose traditional profession is pottery making are abandoning this profession as it is not profitable. So, the traditional pottery making business is under threat. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Chhath festival this year falls on coming Sunday. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-28', 'modified' => '2022-10-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15950', 'image' => '20221028101104_CDS-Janakpur-Matakabhada.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-28 10:09:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16208', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Hindus Mark the Fifth day of Tihar Festival ', 'sub_title' => 'This day is Dedicated to the Bond between Brothers and Sisters', 'summary' => 'October 27: Today is the fifth and the final day of Tihar festival. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">October 27: Today is the fifth and the final day of Tihar festival. On this day, sisters put tika or a mark on the forehead of their brothers with seven different colours. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sisters pray for longevity and prosperity of their brothers on this auspicious day. There is a tradition of giving priority to younger brothers while following the ritual of putting the colour mark or tika from which this day derives its name of 'bhai-tika'.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the Nepal Calendar Fixation Committee, the auspicious time for putting tika or the colourful marks on the forehead during this year’s Tihar festival is </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">11:37 am today (October 27).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Before the ritual, the siblings first worship the eight immortal beings including Markandeya, Bali, Parshuram, Vyas, Hanuman, Bivishan, Kripacharya and Ashwathma as per the tradition.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Yamaraj, the god of death, and his sister Yamuna are also worshipped to mark the bond between brothers and sisters. Legend has it that Yamuna started this tradition by putting tika on the forehead of Yamaraj, which is commemorated till this day.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sisters also pray for long life of their brothers with Yamaraj.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Globe Amaranth, a flower whose colour does not fade, holds a special significance during this festival. Other flowers extensively used during this day is the Godavari and Marigold flowers.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Those who do not have siblings celebrate this festival with their close relatives. It is believed that the foreheads should not remain blank on this day. People who do not have siblings visit the Yamaleshwar Mahadev Temple at Ranipokhari in the heart of Kathmandu on this day. This temple is opened only once a year on the day of bhai-tika. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">After the ritual is over, brothers and sisters celebrate by feasting. There is also a tradition of playing swing on this day. It is believed that one must leave the ground once a year. After all this is over, families light lamps in the evening as the five-day festival draws to a close.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-27', 'modified' => '2022-10-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15949', 'image' => '20221027093650_20221019044902_bhaitika.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-27 09:35:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16207', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Security Beefed up in Kathmandu Valley for the Festive Season ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 26: Security has been beefed up in Kathmandu Valley, the federal capital, in view of the Deepawali, Nepal Sambat and Chhath festivals, informed the District Administration Office, Kathmandu. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 26: Security has been beefed up in Kathmandu Valley, the federal capital, in view of the Deepawali, Nepal Sambat and Chhath festivals, informed the District Administration Office, Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief District Officer (CDO) of Kathmandu District, Ghanshyam Upadhyay said that security has been strengthened to prevent any untoward incidents during the festivals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, all the three district administration offices within the valley have fully implemented the security strategy focusing on the festivals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CDO Upadhyay said that the Deusi-Bhailo cultural programme can be organized until 10:00 pm. Before this, the District Administration Office had stated through a public notice on October 21 that the Deusi-Bhailo cultural programme could be held only up to 9 pm during the Tihar festival. The time for this has been extended by an hour in response to the public demand and security arrangements have been made accordingly, CDO Upadhyay said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, the prohibition on gambling, exploding fire crackers and drinking in a way likely to disturb social peace and law and order stands, the District Administration Office said. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-26', 'modified' => '2022-10-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15948', 'image' => '20221026024136_PRO_KTM_LAXMIOUJA_KTM.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-26 14:40:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16206', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govardhan Puja Observed ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 26: The fourth day of Tihar is celebrated by worshipping the oxen. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">October 26: The fourth day of Tihar is celebrated by worshipping the oxen. This day is also called Govardan Puja, named after a hill mentioned in the Hindu mythology. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The oxen is historically used by the locals in the rural areas for helping with crop plantation. They are worshipped by offering prayers, good food and by decorating them with garlands. The Govardan Hill, mentioned in the Hindu mythology is worshipped by the people by making a large stack of cow dung.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The rituals are linked to the Hindu God Krishna who, according to the legend, lifted the Govardhan hill with his hand and protected the people of a place called Gokul from torrential rains caused by an enraged Indra, the God of rain. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Lord Krishna is the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu or the protector of the world.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A section of the Newar community also observes the Mha Puja today to welcomes the Newari New Year while others celebrated the Mha Puja or worshipping the self a day ago.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On this occasion, Newars prepare sweet dishes at homes and mandalas (sacred diagram as symbol of their soul) are drawn on the floor and worshipped. According to the state-owned RSS, family members sit in front of the mandalas and the eldest lady of the house presents each of them with a burning wick, sacred thread and fruits symbolising long life and good fortune. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Today, the Newari Community also welcomes the Newari New Year--Nepal Sambar 1143. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-26', 'modified' => '2022-10-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15947', 'image' => '20221026023044_Happy-Govardhan-Puja-Wishes.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-26 14:30:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16205', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'New Variant of Coronavirus Detected in Nepal', 'sub_title' => 'Government Urges Public to Follow Health Protocol During Festive Season', 'summary' => 'October 25: A new variant of coronavirus has been detected in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 25: A new variant of coronavirus has been detected in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to joint-spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr Sameer Kumar Adhikari, the sub-variant of Omicron 'XBB' has been identified in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The sub-variant of omicron 'XBB' was identified in course of genomic sequencing of coronavirus infected people from different places of the country between August 21 to October 10. The sample tests were conducted at National Public Health Laboratory. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the ministry has urged all to follow the due health protocol as coronavirus infection may increase in festivals like Tihar and Chhath. It has also requested people to wear face mask, maintain physical distance and wash hands with soap regularly. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Around 50 new cases of COVID-19 are being detected daily on an average in Nepal. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-25', 'modified' => '2022-10-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15946', 'image' => '20221025101535_20220630115224_health-ministry.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-25 10:14:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16204', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'IMF Projects 4.2 Percent Economic Growth for Nepal ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 25: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released a new projection of economic growth rate of 4.2 percent for Nepal in 2022.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 25: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released a new projection of economic growth rate of 4.2 percent for Nepal in 2022. IMF revised its initial estimate of economic growth rate in the report entitled 'World Economic Outlook: Countering the Cost-of-Living Crisis' which it unveiled this week. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In January, IMF had projected Nepal's economic growth rate to be 4.1 percent. However, it has anticipated Nepal's economic growth rate to decline in 2023. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the IMF's projection last January, Nepal's economic growth rate next year was estimated at 6.1 percent. But this projection has been dropped and confined to 5 percent. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, the government has set the goal of achieving 8 percent economic growth rate for fiscal year 2022/23. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the IMF has revised the earlier estimates for inflation. It had initially estimated inflation to be at 6.3 percent in 2022 and at 7.7 percent in 2023. But it has revised it now to be at 8.1 percent in 2022 and at 7.2 percent in 2023. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The government has however projected to limit the inflation within 7 percent through the budget for the current fiscal year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">IMF has stated in its report that the global economic activity is experiencing a broad-based and sharper-than-expected slowdown, with inflation higher than seen in several decades. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The cost-of-living crisis, tightening financial conditions in most regions, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the lingering COVID-19 pandemic all weigh heavily on the outlook. Global growth is forecast to slow from 6.0 percent in 2021 to 3.2 percent in 2022 and 2.7 percent in 2023. This is the weakest growth profile since 2001 except for the global financial crisis and the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Global inflation is forecast to rise from 4.7 percent in 2021 to 8.8 percent in 2022 but to decline to 6.5 percent in 2023 and to 4.1 percent by 2024. Monetary policy should stay the course to restore price stability, and fiscal policy should aim to alleviate the cost-of-living pressures while maintaining a sufficiently tight stance aligned with monetary policy. Structural reforms can further support the fight against inflation by improving productivity and easing supply constraints, while multilateral cooperation is necessary for fast-tracking the green energy transition and preventing fragmentation. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-25', 'modified' => '2022-10-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15945', 'image' => '20221025100925_iiii.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-25 10:08:50', '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' => '16218', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Foreign Trade Declines by 18 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 31: Nepal's foreign trade has decreased by 18 per cent in the first three months of the current fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 31: Nepal's foreign trade has decreased by 18 per cent in the first three months of the current fiscal year. Foreign trade has been affected due to the government's policy of discouraging imports and tightening of bank loans for imports due to pressure on foreign exchange reserves.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data released by the Department of Customs, Nepal’s foreign trade amounted to Rs 442.81 billion till mid-October of the current fiscal year. This is 18.54 per cent less than the volume of foreign trade during the corresponding period of the previous year. In the same period of the previous year, the size of Nepal's foreign trade was equal to Rs 543.57 billion. The size of foreign trade decreased as both imports and exports decreased.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the department, from last mid-July to mid-October, the import decreased by 16.2 per cent compared to the previous year and remained at Rs 499 billion. Similarly, the previous year in July-August, the export was worth Rs 65.5 billion, but this year it has decreased by 35.71 per cent to Rs 41.82 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to the decrease in imports, the country's trade deficit has also decreased. By mid-October 2022, the trade deficit declined by 13.13 per cent to Rs 359 billion compared to last year, the department said. The government has collected revenue of Rs 96.61 billion from imports till October. Since last year, Nepal Rastra Bank has adopted a policy of tightening imports due to the lack of liquidity in banks and pressure on foreign exchange reserves </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">To reduce imports, the NRB reduced the import quota of gold and silver and also implemented the provision of keeping a cash margin for opening letter of credit.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government had banned the import of 10 luxury items for four months during last summer. The government lifted the ban on most of the items in August except the import of cars, jeeps, vans, mobiles worth more than $300, liquor and motorcycles with a capacity of more than 150 ccs was banned. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the department, until mid-October of the current year, petroleum products tops the list of imported goods. During this period, diesel worth Rs 29.81 billion, petrol worth Rs 18.44 and LPG gas worth Rs 14.94 billion have been imported into the country.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The import of raw materials of palm and soybean oil is also high. According to the statistics of the department, unrefined palm oil worth Rs 14.48 billion and crude soybean oil worth Rs 9.97 billion were imported till mid-October.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-31', 'modified' => '2022-10-31', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15959', 'image' => '20221031123131_1667170461.0--.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-31 12:30:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16217', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Chhath Concludes with Offering to Sun God ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 31: The Chhath festival observed mostly by the people of Mithila region concluded this morning by offering curd (Argha) to the rising Sun. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 31: The Chhath festival observed mostly by the people of Mithila region concluded this morning by offering curd (Argha) to the rising Sun. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The devotees who observed fasting since the start of the festival concluded the Chhath rituals this year by offering prayers to the rising Sun this morning. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Sun rose at around 6.14 am in Mithila region this morning. The timing of the sunshine is determined as per the Mithila Panchanga and Bidyapati Panchanga in Mithila. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Just prior to the sunshine, the devotees were chanting songs awaiting the rise of the Sun by taking holy dips three times. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Devotees also ended their 36-hour-long perennial fasting after offering worships to the Sun God today morning. With this, the devotees returned home from the river banks (Chhati Ghat) by concluding the grand festival where the shining and setting suns are worshipped with devotion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chhath is a festival of goodwill, faith, social harmony as people from all backgrounds come together in a common place to offer worships to the Sun God. It is widely believed that appeasing the Sun God brings happiness, prosperity, well-being and longevity of the family members. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-31', 'modified' => '2022-10-31', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15958', 'image' => '20221031114759_chhath.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-31 11:47:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16216', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Fixed Deposits of Banks Increasing', 'sub_title' => 'Share of Fixed Deposits Climbs to Almost 60 Percent', 'summary' => 'October 30: The share of fixed deposits of banks has climbed to almost 60 percent of the total deposits.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">October 30: The share of fixed deposits of banks has climbed to almost 60 percent of the total deposits. The amount in fixed deposit accounts has increased due to the long-term schemes launched by banks to attract more deposits amid liquidity crisis. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">As per the data of Nepal Rastra Bank, the total deposits of commercial banks has reached Rs 5090.42 billion as of mid-September this year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The share of fixed deposits stands at 58.8 percent, which was 49.2 percent a year ago.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Commercial banks have announced interest of 12.13 percent for fixed deposits, 10.13 for institutional term deposits and 13.13 percent for remittance since mid-September. Similarly, development banks have announced 13 percent interest for fixed deposits and 11 percent interest for institutional term deposits while finance companies have fixed interest rate of 13.47 for personal term deposits and 11.47 for institutional term deposits.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Bank deposits have been declining due to liquidity crisis. The deposit collection of banks and financial institutes declined by 0.9 percent in the month of Bhadra (mid-August to mid-September) when credit flow increased by 0.55 percent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Banks have announced schemes to attract deposits by promising to pay ten times the initial deposit in 21 years. Besides interest, banks are also providing other facilities such as insurance, credit card, easy loans to such depositors. As a result, the share of fixed deposits has been increasing at the expense of other types of deposits.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The share of current account has dropped to 7.7 percent in mid-September from 7.9 percent during the corresponding period of last year. Likewise, the share of general savings account has dropped to 26.5 percent in mid-September from 35 percent. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-30', 'modified' => '2022-10-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15957', 'image' => '20221030050239_1667081609.11.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-30 17:01:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16215', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Russia Halts Grain Exports via Black Sea Prompting Fear of Food Crisis', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 30: Russia has pulled out of an internatinaly-brokered grain deal that allows Ukraine to export grains, raising concerns of a global food crisis amid ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. ', '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"">October 30: Russia has pulled out of an internatinaly-brokered grain deal that allows Ukraine to export grains, raising concerns of a global food crisis amid ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Reuters, Moscow said on Saturday that it was suspending participation in the Black Sea deal in response to what it called a major Ukrainian drone attack on its fleet. In a conflict that began in February, Russia calls its actions in Ukraine "a special operation".</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The suspension of July's Black Sea Grain Initiative will cut shipments from Ukraine, one of the world's biggest grain exporters, from its crucial Black Sea ports, the news agency further reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Al Jazeera, the Turkey and UN-brokered deal to unlock grain exports signed between Russia and Ukraine in July is critical to easing the global food crisis caused by the conflict.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The agreement has already allowed more than 9 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain to be exported and was due to be renewed on November 19, the Doha-based news agency added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Any act by Russia to disrupt these critical grain exports is essentially a statement that people and families around the world should pay more for food or go hungry," Reuters quoted US Secretary of State Antony Blinken as saying in a statement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Russia's defence ministry said Ukraine attacked the Black Sea Fleet near Sevastopol on the Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula with 16 drones early on Saturday, and that British navy "specialists" had helped coordinate the "terrorist" attack.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Moscow also accused British navy personnel of blowing up the Nord Stream gas pipelines last month, a claim that London said was false and designed to distract from Russian military failures in Ukraine, Reuters added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The grain deal had restarted shipments from Ukraine, allowing sales on world markets, targeting the pre-war level of 5 million metric tonnes exported from Ukraine each month. More than 9 million tonnes of corn, wheat, sunflower products, barley, rapeseed and soya have been exported under the deal, signed on July 22. But ahead of its November 19 expiry, Russia had repeatedly said that there were serious problems with it, Reuters added. Ukraine complained Moscow had blocked almost 200 ships from picking up grain cargoes.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the news agency, when the agreement was signed, the UN World Food Programme said some 47 million people had moved into "acute hunger" as the war halted Ukrainian shipments. The deal ensured safe passage in and out of Odesa and two other Ukrainian ports in what an official called a "de facto ceasefire" for the ships and facilities covered.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Russia's departure from the grain deal marks a new development in a war that has recently been dominated by a Ukrainian counteroffensive and Russian drone and missile attacks that have destroyed more than 30 percent of Ukraine's generating capacity and hit populated areas. Each side has accused the other of being prepared to detonate radioactive bombs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Reuters, President Vladimir Putin ordered Russia's invasion of its smaller neighbour in an offensive he said was aimed at demilitarising and "denazifying" Ukraine. Kyiv and the West say the war is an unprovoked act of aggression by Moscow.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-30', 'modified' => '2022-10-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15956', 'image' => '20221030035342_wheatttttt.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-30 15:52:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16214', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Clear Sky Attracting Tourists Towards Mountain Flights', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 30: Clear sky is ideal for trekking and sightseeing. It is also suitable for mountain flights that delights the domestic and foreign tourists in Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 30: Clear sky is ideal for trekking and sightseeing. It is also suitable for mountain flights that delights the domestic and foreign tourists in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Different airlines have been operating mountain flights enthusiastically as this is the peak season for tourism as the weather has become favourable. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Private airlines companies--Buddha Airlines, Yeti Airlines, Shree Airlines, Guna Air, and others have been operating mountain flights. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Spokesperson of Yeti Airlines, Sudharshan Bartaula, said mountain flights were in operation thanks to the favourable weather. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The number of mountain flights has increased all of sudden. There has been good booking for mountain flight till Tihar. We believe that the trend of booking for mountain flight will increase," said Bartaula. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Information Officer of Buddha Air, Dipendra Karna, shared that attraction to mountain flight has increased this season. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The number of mountain flights has increased due to the clear sky. Many foreigners visit Nepal in this season. Attraction towards mountain flight in winter season increases as there is no cloudy weather and one can easily view mountain ranges under the clean serene blue sky," said Karna. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October, November and December are suitable months for mountain flights. Hotels located in tourism destinations are crowded with domestic and foreign tourists in this season, said first Vice-President of Hotel Association of Nepal, Binayak Shah. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Mountain flight is operated from 7:00 am from Tribhuvan International Airport. Buddha Airlines and Yeti Airlines have determined Rs 15,000 fare for mountain flight for domestic and Indian tourists. The fare is USD 230 for the citizens of other countries. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-30', 'modified' => '2022-10-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15955', 'image' => '20221030031427_Mountain-Flight-Tour-Kathma.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-30 15:13:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16213', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Discussion on Legalizing Marijuana Farming in Nepal Held', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 30: A multi-stakeholder consultation and discussion program was held recently on the subject of “Legalization of Marijuana Farming in Nepal: Opportunities and Challenges” in collaboration with the Nepal Government's Expert Group Policy Research Institute and the Nepal Health Research Council. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 30: A multi-stakeholder consultation and discussion program was held recently on the subject of “Legalization of Marijuana Farming in Nepal: Opportunities and Challenges” in collaboration with the Nepal Government's Expert Group Policy Research Institute and the Nepal Health Research Council. In the program, the researchers of Nepal Health Research Foundation presented a paper based on the analysis of reference materials from the medical side of marijuana. Similarly, a working paper was presented from the perspective of the economic importance and social aspects of cannabis cultivation in Nepal on behalf of the Policy Research Institute.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the program, it was shared that the debate on the controlled use of cannabis was raised around the world after the United Nations placed cannabis as a useful plant in 2020. In addition, the fact that 56 countries in the world legalized the cultivation and controlled use of marijuana was highlighted during the programme</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, in the paper presented about the legal aspects of marijuana, it is mentioned that the cultivation of marijuana is not legally prohibited because the definition of marijuana in the Narcotic Drugs (Control) Act, 2033 does not prohibit the production of hemp plants and bark (fibers). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, President of Narconon Nepal, Basanta Kunwar said that one should not even imagine legalizing marijuana arguing that the reason behind almost 90 percent of mental patients is due to marijuana consumption.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Achyut Adhikari, associate professor of Tribhuvan University said that the harmful substances of marijuana should be banned and useful substances should be used. Devi Prasad Bhandari of the Institute of Forestry opined that hemp oil can be sold in the world market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Research Director of Nepal Health Research Foundation Dr Meghnath Dhimal said that if the regulations are made first, it will be easier to use marijuana for research.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-30', 'modified' => '2022-10-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15954', 'image' => '20221030030309_20201204014433_1607039093.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-30 15:02:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16212', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Produces 4 Million Tons of Vegetables Annually', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 30: ccording to government data, about 4 million metric tons of vegetables are produced in Nepal annually. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 30: ccording to government data, about 4 million metric tons of vegetables are produced in Nepal annually. As per the data provided by National Center for Potato, Vegetable and Spice Crops Development, all the districts of the seven provinces produced the given amount of vegetables in 284,000 hectares of land in the fiscal year 2020/21.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The total production of 56 types of vegetable crops including cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, tomato, radish, bitter gourd, okra, and green vegetables are included in the data of the center. Looking at the data of the last 10 years, the lowest quantity of vegetables (3,298,000 metric tons) was produced in the FY 2011/12 and the highest (4,271,000 metric tons) in the FY 2018/19.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although vegetable production increased somewhat in recent years, it seems that it has not fully met the demand of the domestic market. Due to this, vegetables are imported from India, China, Bhutan, Japan and other countries in large quantities each year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Uddhav Adhikari, agricultural engineer and coordinator of the Agricultural Campaign for Food, the best way to become self-reliant in vegetables by increasing production is to develop the local agricultural market. According to him, the farmers have stopped producing because the produced vegetables do not have a market; so they have to import vegetables from abroad. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The production will increase only if the farmers' products find a market,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the fiscal year 2020/21 alone, 231,000 metric tons of vegetables were imported from abroad. In the same year, Nepal exported 6000 metric tons of vegetables. A per the information provided by the centre, most vegetables were produced in Madhesh Province that year. In Madhesh Province, 1,245,000 tons of vegetables were produced on 53,300 hectares of land. The least amount of vegetables was produced in Karnali Province. In Karnali, 149,500 tons of vegetables were produced in 13,200 hectares of land. Similarly, 798,300 tons of vegetables were grown on 50,300 hectares in Province 1 and 727,000 tons of vegetables were grown on 50,400 hectares of land in Bagmati Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, 282,000 tons of vegetables were produced on 22,700 hectares in Gandaki Province, 544,600 tons on 41,900 hectares in Lumbini Province, and 285,000 tons of vegetables were produced on 22,000 hectares in Sudurpaschim Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Sandeep Subedi, horticultural development officer of the National Center for Potato, Vegetable and Spice Crop Development, due to the lack of quality seeds and fertilizers, farmers are not able to grow vegetables despite their best efforts, and the quality of the soil is not good enough to improve productivity. He added that the data also confirmed that there has been no significant improvement in our productivity in the last 10 years. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-30', 'modified' => '2022-10-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15953', 'image' => '20221030011818_vegetable-store.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-30 13:17:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16211', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepali Trekkers Complain of Discrimination at Makalu Base Camp ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 30: Ujjwal Basnet from Dharmadevi Municipality of Sankhuwasabha was in Yangle Kharka on October 17. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 30: Ujjwal Basnet from Dharmadevi Municipality of Sankhuwasabha was in Yangle Kharka on October 17. He was there after making a trip to Makalu Base Camp, the base camp of fifth tallest mountain on earth. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A day before on October 16, he spent his night in a local teahouse. In Yangle Kharka, no teahouses are named. He woke up at 6 am in the morning and headed out for Shiva Dhara shrine. Shiva Dhara is a very famous religious destination nearby, which takes around 5 to 6 hours to make a complete trip. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Basnet came back to Yangle Kharka after making his 6 hour long pilgrimage to the famed shrine of Sankhuwasabha. ''I had ordered meal in the morning as we visit religious shrine with fasting,'' Basnet said, ''But, when I came back after 6 hours of extremely stressing journey, the teahouse operator said there is no meal for me.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The repeated request by Basnet fell into deaf ears of the teahouse operators, who simply said he was 'busy’. Basnet said the same teahouse operator had cooked meal just a couple of days ago while he was coming from Fematang, a nearby camp. But that day, the same service was not offered. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">''Previously, there were no foreigners and he cooked meal for me and I paid Rs 400 for a vegetarian meal,'' said Basnet, ''But, on October 17, there were some foreigners and he did not give attention to my request.'' </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ujjwal basnet is not only one to complain about discriminatory treatment by operators of teahouses along the route of Makalu Base Camp compared to their foreign counterparts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">''The price is not that much different for Nepali and foreign trekkers,'' said Kamal Magar, a trekker from Chitwan. ''They give utmost priority to foreigners and give least, if not no priority at all, to Nepali trekkers.'' </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, Dawa Chhiring Sherpa, a local teahouse operator at Dobato of Makalu Base Camp trail, said there are some complaints from Nepali trekkers in other teahouses. ''I have heard some complaints. This is due to unprofessional practices by some teahouse operators but you cannot blame all of us,'' said Sherpa. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-30', 'modified' => '2022-10-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15952', 'image' => '20221030120011_makalu-base-camp-trek-banner.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-30 11:59:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16210', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Preparations Underway to Worship the Setting Sun during Chhath Festival', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 30: The setting sun will be worshiped this evening as part of the Chhath festival. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 30: The setting sun will be worshiped this evening as part of the Chhath festival. Most of the ponds, lakes, streams and rivers in Terai Madhes including Janakpurdham have been cleaned up and decorated as worshipping sites. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The banks of Ganga Sagar, the main pond of Janakpurdham sub-metropolitan city, have been decorated and preparations for the rituals have been completed. Local youth clubs have set up tents for the Chhath Pooja. In addition to Ganga Sagar, the Dhanush Sagar, Angraj Sar, Dasharath Lake, Janaki Sarovar, Gordhoi, Agnikunda have been decorated by local youth clubs in Janakpurdham. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The army and the police have also supported the cleaning of the ponds and lakes used as a place of worship. Bhojpuri and Maithili songs glorifying Chhathimaiya are found buzzing all around the sites and in the market places. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chhath is also considered as one of the major festivals for the people of Mithila region. Preparations for Chhath festival start from a week before. This festival starts on the fourth day of the waxing moon in the Nepali month of Kartik (mid-October to mid-November) and ends on the seventh day as per the lunar calendar, says Pandit Ramkumar Shastri. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Sun god is especially worshiped during this festival. It is believed that the tradition of worshipping the sun in Hinduism has existed since the Vedic period. This festival is celebrated by all sections of the society together. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the Chhath festival, fasting women and men take a bath and wear clean clothes and eat vegetarian food. In the evening, rice pudding is made in a new oven made of clay. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Pandit Shastri, rice pudding made with molasses is offered to the gods and goddesses and then accepted by the fasting person and other members of the family. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Women offer argha to the setting sun, while men stand on the banks of the ponds and river with coconuts or other fruits in their hands. Traditionally, all the members of the family fasting usually stay awake at the bank of the pond throughout the night. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This year, the worshippers have been hit hard as the prices of goods used in Chhath have skyrocketed. Prices of bananas, coconuts, sugarcane, radish, lemons, apples, oranges, molasses, as well as bamboo items used during the Chhath festival have increased of late. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-30', 'modified' => '2022-10-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15951', 'image' => '20221030111003_20211107101945_1260843_n - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-30 11:09:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16209', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Demand for Earthen Pots High with Approaching Chhath Festival ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 28: The demand for earthen pots has been growing with the approaching Chhath festival.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 28: The demand for earthen pots has been growing with the approaching Chhath festival. Along with the domestic clay pots, various articles required for the festival manufactured in India are also making in-roads to the Nepali market. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The earthen pots manufactured in India are doing brisk business in the bordering towns while the domestically produced ones are selling in greater numbers in the inner markets. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The sale of clay pots has seen a rise in Janakpurdham, Mahendranagar Sakhuwa, Dhalkebar, Bateshwor, Dharapani, Birendrabazar, Sabaila, the main square at Sahidnagar and Hatiya, among the main markets of Dhanusha. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With the increasing demand for clay pots in the market, the potters have become busy like the bees. The demand for earthen pots is high during the cultural festivals as Chhath due to the tradition of mostly using the clay pots for various cultural rituals. It is considered auspicious to conduct the rituals using fresh clay pots. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The sale of clay articles like lamp and images of elephants has increased at various places and the bordering towns for the imminent Chhath festival," said Bishnu Lal Pandit, a pottery trader of Haraiya, Kshireshwornath Municipality-4. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He said that making clay pots was their main means of subsistence in the past. But these days their traditional profession has been displaced with the increasing use of plastic and metal pots. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Kamal Pandit, a potter at Sakhuwa, Kshireshwornath Municipality-6, complained that their traditional profession is under threat in recent years due to the growing use of plastic and metal pots. The festival period is the only time for local potters to earn whatever income for the whole year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A set of earthen pots for the Chhath festival costs between Rs 200 to Rs 300, said Kanhaiya Pandit from Janakpurdham. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A majority of the local communities whose traditional profession is pottery making are abandoning this profession as it is not profitable. So, the traditional pottery making business is under threat. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Chhath festival this year falls on coming Sunday. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-28', 'modified' => '2022-10-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15950', 'image' => '20221028101104_CDS-Janakpur-Matakabhada.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-28 10:09:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16208', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Hindus Mark the Fifth day of Tihar Festival ', 'sub_title' => 'This day is Dedicated to the Bond between Brothers and Sisters', 'summary' => 'October 27: Today is the fifth and the final day of Tihar festival. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">October 27: Today is the fifth and the final day of Tihar festival. On this day, sisters put tika or a mark on the forehead of their brothers with seven different colours. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sisters pray for longevity and prosperity of their brothers on this auspicious day. There is a tradition of giving priority to younger brothers while following the ritual of putting the colour mark or tika from which this day derives its name of 'bhai-tika'.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the Nepal Calendar Fixation Committee, the auspicious time for putting tika or the colourful marks on the forehead during this year’s Tihar festival is </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">11:37 am today (October 27).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Before the ritual, the siblings first worship the eight immortal beings including Markandeya, Bali, Parshuram, Vyas, Hanuman, Bivishan, Kripacharya and Ashwathma as per the tradition.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Yamaraj, the god of death, and his sister Yamuna are also worshipped to mark the bond between brothers and sisters. Legend has it that Yamuna started this tradition by putting tika on the forehead of Yamaraj, which is commemorated till this day.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sisters also pray for long life of their brothers with Yamaraj.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Globe Amaranth, a flower whose colour does not fade, holds a special significance during this festival. Other flowers extensively used during this day is the Godavari and Marigold flowers.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Those who do not have siblings celebrate this festival with their close relatives. It is believed that the foreheads should not remain blank on this day. People who do not have siblings visit the Yamaleshwar Mahadev Temple at Ranipokhari in the heart of Kathmandu on this day. This temple is opened only once a year on the day of bhai-tika. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">After the ritual is over, brothers and sisters celebrate by feasting. There is also a tradition of playing swing on this day. It is believed that one must leave the ground once a year. After all this is over, families light lamps in the evening as the five-day festival draws to a close.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-27', 'modified' => '2022-10-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15949', 'image' => '20221027093650_20221019044902_bhaitika.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-27 09:35:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16207', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Security Beefed up in Kathmandu Valley for the Festive Season ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 26: Security has been beefed up in Kathmandu Valley, the federal capital, in view of the Deepawali, Nepal Sambat and Chhath festivals, informed the District Administration Office, Kathmandu. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 26: Security has been beefed up in Kathmandu Valley, the federal capital, in view of the Deepawali, Nepal Sambat and Chhath festivals, informed the District Administration Office, Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief District Officer (CDO) of Kathmandu District, Ghanshyam Upadhyay said that security has been strengthened to prevent any untoward incidents during the festivals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, all the three district administration offices within the valley have fully implemented the security strategy focusing on the festivals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CDO Upadhyay said that the Deusi-Bhailo cultural programme can be organized until 10:00 pm. Before this, the District Administration Office had stated through a public notice on October 21 that the Deusi-Bhailo cultural programme could be held only up to 9 pm during the Tihar festival. The time for this has been extended by an hour in response to the public demand and security arrangements have been made accordingly, CDO Upadhyay said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, the prohibition on gambling, exploding fire crackers and drinking in a way likely to disturb social peace and law and order stands, the District Administration Office said. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-26', 'modified' => '2022-10-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15948', 'image' => '20221026024136_PRO_KTM_LAXMIOUJA_KTM.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-26 14:40:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16206', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govardhan Puja Observed ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 26: The fourth day of Tihar is celebrated by worshipping the oxen. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">October 26: The fourth day of Tihar is celebrated by worshipping the oxen. This day is also called Govardan Puja, named after a hill mentioned in the Hindu mythology. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The oxen is historically used by the locals in the rural areas for helping with crop plantation. They are worshipped by offering prayers, good food and by decorating them with garlands. The Govardan Hill, mentioned in the Hindu mythology is worshipped by the people by making a large stack of cow dung.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The rituals are linked to the Hindu God Krishna who, according to the legend, lifted the Govardhan hill with his hand and protected the people of a place called Gokul from torrential rains caused by an enraged Indra, the God of rain. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Lord Krishna is the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu or the protector of the world.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A section of the Newar community also observes the Mha Puja today to welcomes the Newari New Year while others celebrated the Mha Puja or worshipping the self a day ago.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On this occasion, Newars prepare sweet dishes at homes and mandalas (sacred diagram as symbol of their soul) are drawn on the floor and worshipped. According to the state-owned RSS, family members sit in front of the mandalas and the eldest lady of the house presents each of them with a burning wick, sacred thread and fruits symbolising long life and good fortune. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Today, the Newari Community also welcomes the Newari New Year--Nepal Sambar 1143. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-26', 'modified' => '2022-10-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15947', 'image' => '20221026023044_Happy-Govardhan-Puja-Wishes.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-26 14:30:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16205', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'New Variant of Coronavirus Detected in Nepal', 'sub_title' => 'Government Urges Public to Follow Health Protocol During Festive Season', 'summary' => 'October 25: A new variant of coronavirus has been detected in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 25: A new variant of coronavirus has been detected in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to joint-spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr Sameer Kumar Adhikari, the sub-variant of Omicron 'XBB' has been identified in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The sub-variant of omicron 'XBB' was identified in course of genomic sequencing of coronavirus infected people from different places of the country between August 21 to October 10. The sample tests were conducted at National Public Health Laboratory. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the ministry has urged all to follow the due health protocol as coronavirus infection may increase in festivals like Tihar and Chhath. It has also requested people to wear face mask, maintain physical distance and wash hands with soap regularly. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Around 50 new cases of COVID-19 are being detected daily on an average in Nepal. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-25', 'modified' => '2022-10-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15946', 'image' => '20221025101535_20220630115224_health-ministry.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-25 10:14:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16204', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'IMF Projects 4.2 Percent Economic Growth for Nepal ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 25: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released a new projection of economic growth rate of 4.2 percent for Nepal in 2022.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 25: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released a new projection of economic growth rate of 4.2 percent for Nepal in 2022. IMF revised its initial estimate of economic growth rate in the report entitled 'World Economic Outlook: Countering the Cost-of-Living Crisis' which it unveiled this week. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In January, IMF had projected Nepal's economic growth rate to be 4.1 percent. However, it has anticipated Nepal's economic growth rate to decline in 2023. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the IMF's projection last January, Nepal's economic growth rate next year was estimated at 6.1 percent. But this projection has been dropped and confined to 5 percent. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, the government has set the goal of achieving 8 percent economic growth rate for fiscal year 2022/23. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the IMF has revised the earlier estimates for inflation. It had initially estimated inflation to be at 6.3 percent in 2022 and at 7.7 percent in 2023. But it has revised it now to be at 8.1 percent in 2022 and at 7.2 percent in 2023. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The government has however projected to limit the inflation within 7 percent through the budget for the current fiscal year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">IMF has stated in its report that the global economic activity is experiencing a broad-based and sharper-than-expected slowdown, with inflation higher than seen in several decades. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The cost-of-living crisis, tightening financial conditions in most regions, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the lingering COVID-19 pandemic all weigh heavily on the outlook. Global growth is forecast to slow from 6.0 percent in 2021 to 3.2 percent in 2022 and 2.7 percent in 2023. This is the weakest growth profile since 2001 except for the global financial crisis and the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Global inflation is forecast to rise from 4.7 percent in 2021 to 8.8 percent in 2022 but to decline to 6.5 percent in 2023 and to 4.1 percent by 2024. Monetary policy should stay the course to restore price stability, and fiscal policy should aim to alleviate the cost-of-living pressures while maintaining a sufficiently tight stance aligned with monetary policy. Structural reforms can further support the fight against inflation by improving productivity and easing supply constraints, while multilateral cooperation is necessary for fast-tracking the green energy transition and preventing fragmentation. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-25', 'modified' => '2022-10-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15945', 'image' => '20221025100925_iiii.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-25 10:08:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16218', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Foreign Trade Declines by 18 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 31: Nepal's foreign trade has decreased by 18 per cent in the first three months of the current fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 31: Nepal's foreign trade has decreased by 18 per cent in the first three months of the current fiscal year. Foreign trade has been affected due to the government's policy of discouraging imports and tightening of bank loans for imports due to pressure on foreign exchange reserves.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data released by the Department of Customs, Nepal’s foreign trade amounted to Rs 442.81 billion till mid-October of the current fiscal year. This is 18.54 per cent less than the volume of foreign trade during the corresponding period of the previous year. In the same period of the previous year, the size of Nepal's foreign trade was equal to Rs 543.57 billion. The size of foreign trade decreased as both imports and exports decreased.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the department, from last mid-July to mid-October, the import decreased by 16.2 per cent compared to the previous year and remained at Rs 499 billion. Similarly, the previous year in July-August, the export was worth Rs 65.5 billion, but this year it has decreased by 35.71 per cent to Rs 41.82 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to the decrease in imports, the country's trade deficit has also decreased. By mid-October 2022, the trade deficit declined by 13.13 per cent to Rs 359 billion compared to last year, the department said. The government has collected revenue of Rs 96.61 billion from imports till October. Since last year, Nepal Rastra Bank has adopted a policy of tightening imports due to the lack of liquidity in banks and pressure on foreign exchange reserves </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">To reduce imports, the NRB reduced the import quota of gold and silver and also implemented the provision of keeping a cash margin for opening letter of credit.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government had banned the import of 10 luxury items for four months during last summer. The government lifted the ban on most of the items in August except the import of cars, jeeps, vans, mobiles worth more than $300, liquor and motorcycles with a capacity of more than 150 ccs was banned. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the department, until mid-October of the current year, petroleum products tops the list of imported goods. During this period, diesel worth Rs 29.81 billion, petrol worth Rs 18.44 and LPG gas worth Rs 14.94 billion have been imported into the country.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The import of raw materials of palm and soybean oil is also high. According to the statistics of the department, unrefined palm oil worth Rs 14.48 billion and crude soybean oil worth Rs 9.97 billion were imported till mid-October.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-31', 'modified' => '2022-10-31', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15959', 'image' => '20221031123131_1667170461.0--.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-31 12:30:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16217', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Chhath Concludes with Offering to Sun God ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 31: The Chhath festival observed mostly by the people of Mithila region concluded this morning by offering curd (Argha) to the rising Sun. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 31: The Chhath festival observed mostly by the people of Mithila region concluded this morning by offering curd (Argha) to the rising Sun. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The devotees who observed fasting since the start of the festival concluded the Chhath rituals this year by offering prayers to the rising Sun this morning. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Sun rose at around 6.14 am in Mithila region this morning. The timing of the sunshine is determined as per the Mithila Panchanga and Bidyapati Panchanga in Mithila. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Just prior to the sunshine, the devotees were chanting songs awaiting the rise of the Sun by taking holy dips three times. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Devotees also ended their 36-hour-long perennial fasting after offering worships to the Sun God today morning. With this, the devotees returned home from the river banks (Chhati Ghat) by concluding the grand festival where the shining and setting suns are worshipped with devotion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chhath is a festival of goodwill, faith, social harmony as people from all backgrounds come together in a common place to offer worships to the Sun God. It is widely believed that appeasing the Sun God brings happiness, prosperity, well-being and longevity of the family members. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-31', 'modified' => '2022-10-31', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15958', 'image' => '20221031114759_chhath.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-31 11:47:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16216', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Fixed Deposits of Banks Increasing', 'sub_title' => 'Share of Fixed Deposits Climbs to Almost 60 Percent', 'summary' => 'October 30: The share of fixed deposits of banks has climbed to almost 60 percent of the total deposits.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">October 30: The share of fixed deposits of banks has climbed to almost 60 percent of the total deposits. The amount in fixed deposit accounts has increased due to the long-term schemes launched by banks to attract more deposits amid liquidity crisis. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">As per the data of Nepal Rastra Bank, the total deposits of commercial banks has reached Rs 5090.42 billion as of mid-September this year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The share of fixed deposits stands at 58.8 percent, which was 49.2 percent a year ago.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Commercial banks have announced interest of 12.13 percent for fixed deposits, 10.13 for institutional term deposits and 13.13 percent for remittance since mid-September. Similarly, development banks have announced 13 percent interest for fixed deposits and 11 percent interest for institutional term deposits while finance companies have fixed interest rate of 13.47 for personal term deposits and 11.47 for institutional term deposits.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Bank deposits have been declining due to liquidity crisis. The deposit collection of banks and financial institutes declined by 0.9 percent in the month of Bhadra (mid-August to mid-September) when credit flow increased by 0.55 percent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Banks have announced schemes to attract deposits by promising to pay ten times the initial deposit in 21 years. Besides interest, banks are also providing other facilities such as insurance, credit card, easy loans to such depositors. As a result, the share of fixed deposits has been increasing at the expense of other types of deposits.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The share of current account has dropped to 7.7 percent in mid-September from 7.9 percent during the corresponding period of last year. Likewise, the share of general savings account has dropped to 26.5 percent in mid-September from 35 percent. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-30', 'modified' => '2022-10-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15957', 'image' => '20221030050239_1667081609.11.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-30 17:01:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16215', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Russia Halts Grain Exports via Black Sea Prompting Fear of Food Crisis', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 30: Russia has pulled out of an internatinaly-brokered grain deal that allows Ukraine to export grains, raising concerns of a global food crisis amid ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. ', '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"">October 30: Russia has pulled out of an internatinaly-brokered grain deal that allows Ukraine to export grains, raising concerns of a global food crisis amid ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Reuters, Moscow said on Saturday that it was suspending participation in the Black Sea deal in response to what it called a major Ukrainian drone attack on its fleet. In a conflict that began in February, Russia calls its actions in Ukraine "a special operation".</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The suspension of July's Black Sea Grain Initiative will cut shipments from Ukraine, one of the world's biggest grain exporters, from its crucial Black Sea ports, the news agency further reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Al Jazeera, the Turkey and UN-brokered deal to unlock grain exports signed between Russia and Ukraine in July is critical to easing the global food crisis caused by the conflict.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The agreement has already allowed more than 9 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain to be exported and was due to be renewed on November 19, the Doha-based news agency added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Any act by Russia to disrupt these critical grain exports is essentially a statement that people and families around the world should pay more for food or go hungry," Reuters quoted US Secretary of State Antony Blinken as saying in a statement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Russia's defence ministry said Ukraine attacked the Black Sea Fleet near Sevastopol on the Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula with 16 drones early on Saturday, and that British navy "specialists" had helped coordinate the "terrorist" attack.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Moscow also accused British navy personnel of blowing up the Nord Stream gas pipelines last month, a claim that London said was false and designed to distract from Russian military failures in Ukraine, Reuters added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The grain deal had restarted shipments from Ukraine, allowing sales on world markets, targeting the pre-war level of 5 million metric tonnes exported from Ukraine each month. More than 9 million tonnes of corn, wheat, sunflower products, barley, rapeseed and soya have been exported under the deal, signed on July 22. But ahead of its November 19 expiry, Russia had repeatedly said that there were serious problems with it, Reuters added. Ukraine complained Moscow had blocked almost 200 ships from picking up grain cargoes.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the news agency, when the agreement was signed, the UN World Food Programme said some 47 million people had moved into "acute hunger" as the war halted Ukrainian shipments. The deal ensured safe passage in and out of Odesa and two other Ukrainian ports in what an official called a "de facto ceasefire" for the ships and facilities covered.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Russia's departure from the grain deal marks a new development in a war that has recently been dominated by a Ukrainian counteroffensive and Russian drone and missile attacks that have destroyed more than 30 percent of Ukraine's generating capacity and hit populated areas. Each side has accused the other of being prepared to detonate radioactive bombs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Reuters, President Vladimir Putin ordered Russia's invasion of its smaller neighbour in an offensive he said was aimed at demilitarising and "denazifying" Ukraine. Kyiv and the West say the war is an unprovoked act of aggression by Moscow.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-30', 'modified' => '2022-10-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15956', 'image' => '20221030035342_wheatttttt.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-30 15:52:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16214', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Clear Sky Attracting Tourists Towards Mountain Flights', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 30: Clear sky is ideal for trekking and sightseeing. It is also suitable for mountain flights that delights the domestic and foreign tourists in Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 30: Clear sky is ideal for trekking and sightseeing. It is also suitable for mountain flights that delights the domestic and foreign tourists in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Different airlines have been operating mountain flights enthusiastically as this is the peak season for tourism as the weather has become favourable. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Private airlines companies--Buddha Airlines, Yeti Airlines, Shree Airlines, Guna Air, and others have been operating mountain flights. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Spokesperson of Yeti Airlines, Sudharshan Bartaula, said mountain flights were in operation thanks to the favourable weather. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The number of mountain flights has increased all of sudden. There has been good booking for mountain flight till Tihar. We believe that the trend of booking for mountain flight will increase," said Bartaula. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Information Officer of Buddha Air, Dipendra Karna, shared that attraction to mountain flight has increased this season. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The number of mountain flights has increased due to the clear sky. Many foreigners visit Nepal in this season. Attraction towards mountain flight in winter season increases as there is no cloudy weather and one can easily view mountain ranges under the clean serene blue sky," said Karna. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October, November and December are suitable months for mountain flights. Hotels located in tourism destinations are crowded with domestic and foreign tourists in this season, said first Vice-President of Hotel Association of Nepal, Binayak Shah. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Mountain flight is operated from 7:00 am from Tribhuvan International Airport. Buddha Airlines and Yeti Airlines have determined Rs 15,000 fare for mountain flight for domestic and Indian tourists. The fare is USD 230 for the citizens of other countries. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-30', 'modified' => '2022-10-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15955', 'image' => '20221030031427_Mountain-Flight-Tour-Kathma.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-30 15:13:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16213', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Discussion on Legalizing Marijuana Farming in Nepal Held', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 30: A multi-stakeholder consultation and discussion program was held recently on the subject of “Legalization of Marijuana Farming in Nepal: Opportunities and Challenges” in collaboration with the Nepal Government's Expert Group Policy Research Institute and the Nepal Health Research Council. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 30: A multi-stakeholder consultation and discussion program was held recently on the subject of “Legalization of Marijuana Farming in Nepal: Opportunities and Challenges” in collaboration with the Nepal Government's Expert Group Policy Research Institute and the Nepal Health Research Council. In the program, the researchers of Nepal Health Research Foundation presented a paper based on the analysis of reference materials from the medical side of marijuana. Similarly, a working paper was presented from the perspective of the economic importance and social aspects of cannabis cultivation in Nepal on behalf of the Policy Research Institute.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the program, it was shared that the debate on the controlled use of cannabis was raised around the world after the United Nations placed cannabis as a useful plant in 2020. In addition, the fact that 56 countries in the world legalized the cultivation and controlled use of marijuana was highlighted during the programme</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, in the paper presented about the legal aspects of marijuana, it is mentioned that the cultivation of marijuana is not legally prohibited because the definition of marijuana in the Narcotic Drugs (Control) Act, 2033 does not prohibit the production of hemp plants and bark (fibers). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, President of Narconon Nepal, Basanta Kunwar said that one should not even imagine legalizing marijuana arguing that the reason behind almost 90 percent of mental patients is due to marijuana consumption.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Achyut Adhikari, associate professor of Tribhuvan University said that the harmful substances of marijuana should be banned and useful substances should be used. Devi Prasad Bhandari of the Institute of Forestry opined that hemp oil can be sold in the world market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Research Director of Nepal Health Research Foundation Dr Meghnath Dhimal said that if the regulations are made first, it will be easier to use marijuana for research.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-30', 'modified' => '2022-10-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15954', 'image' => '20221030030309_20201204014433_1607039093.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-30 15:02:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16212', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Produces 4 Million Tons of Vegetables Annually', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 30: ccording to government data, about 4 million metric tons of vegetables are produced in Nepal annually. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 30: ccording to government data, about 4 million metric tons of vegetables are produced in Nepal annually. As per the data provided by National Center for Potato, Vegetable and Spice Crops Development, all the districts of the seven provinces produced the given amount of vegetables in 284,000 hectares of land in the fiscal year 2020/21.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The total production of 56 types of vegetable crops including cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, tomato, radish, bitter gourd, okra, and green vegetables are included in the data of the center. Looking at the data of the last 10 years, the lowest quantity of vegetables (3,298,000 metric tons) was produced in the FY 2011/12 and the highest (4,271,000 metric tons) in the FY 2018/19.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although vegetable production increased somewhat in recent years, it seems that it has not fully met the demand of the domestic market. Due to this, vegetables are imported from India, China, Bhutan, Japan and other countries in large quantities each year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Uddhav Adhikari, agricultural engineer and coordinator of the Agricultural Campaign for Food, the best way to become self-reliant in vegetables by increasing production is to develop the local agricultural market. According to him, the farmers have stopped producing because the produced vegetables do not have a market; so they have to import vegetables from abroad. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The production will increase only if the farmers' products find a market,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the fiscal year 2020/21 alone, 231,000 metric tons of vegetables were imported from abroad. In the same year, Nepal exported 6000 metric tons of vegetables. A per the information provided by the centre, most vegetables were produced in Madhesh Province that year. In Madhesh Province, 1,245,000 tons of vegetables were produced on 53,300 hectares of land. The least amount of vegetables was produced in Karnali Province. In Karnali, 149,500 tons of vegetables were produced in 13,200 hectares of land. Similarly, 798,300 tons of vegetables were grown on 50,300 hectares in Province 1 and 727,000 tons of vegetables were grown on 50,400 hectares of land in Bagmati Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, 282,000 tons of vegetables were produced on 22,700 hectares in Gandaki Province, 544,600 tons on 41,900 hectares in Lumbini Province, and 285,000 tons of vegetables were produced on 22,000 hectares in Sudurpaschim Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Sandeep Subedi, horticultural development officer of the National Center for Potato, Vegetable and Spice Crop Development, due to the lack of quality seeds and fertilizers, farmers are not able to grow vegetables despite their best efforts, and the quality of the soil is not good enough to improve productivity. He added that the data also confirmed that there has been no significant improvement in our productivity in the last 10 years. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-30', 'modified' => '2022-10-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15953', 'image' => '20221030011818_vegetable-store.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-30 13:17:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16211', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepali Trekkers Complain of Discrimination at Makalu Base Camp ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 30: Ujjwal Basnet from Dharmadevi Municipality of Sankhuwasabha was in Yangle Kharka on October 17. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 30: Ujjwal Basnet from Dharmadevi Municipality of Sankhuwasabha was in Yangle Kharka on October 17. He was there after making a trip to Makalu Base Camp, the base camp of fifth tallest mountain on earth. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A day before on October 16, he spent his night in a local teahouse. In Yangle Kharka, no teahouses are named. He woke up at 6 am in the morning and headed out for Shiva Dhara shrine. Shiva Dhara is a very famous religious destination nearby, which takes around 5 to 6 hours to make a complete trip. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Basnet came back to Yangle Kharka after making his 6 hour long pilgrimage to the famed shrine of Sankhuwasabha. ''I had ordered meal in the morning as we visit religious shrine with fasting,'' Basnet said, ''But, when I came back after 6 hours of extremely stressing journey, the teahouse operator said there is no meal for me.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The repeated request by Basnet fell into deaf ears of the teahouse operators, who simply said he was 'busy’. Basnet said the same teahouse operator had cooked meal just a couple of days ago while he was coming from Fematang, a nearby camp. But that day, the same service was not offered. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">''Previously, there were no foreigners and he cooked meal for me and I paid Rs 400 for a vegetarian meal,'' said Basnet, ''But, on October 17, there were some foreigners and he did not give attention to my request.'' </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ujjwal basnet is not only one to complain about discriminatory treatment by operators of teahouses along the route of Makalu Base Camp compared to their foreign counterparts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">''The price is not that much different for Nepali and foreign trekkers,'' said Kamal Magar, a trekker from Chitwan. ''They give utmost priority to foreigners and give least, if not no priority at all, to Nepali trekkers.'' </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, Dawa Chhiring Sherpa, a local teahouse operator at Dobato of Makalu Base Camp trail, said there are some complaints from Nepali trekkers in other teahouses. ''I have heard some complaints. This is due to unprofessional practices by some teahouse operators but you cannot blame all of us,'' said Sherpa. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-30', 'modified' => '2022-10-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15952', 'image' => '20221030120011_makalu-base-camp-trek-banner.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-30 11:59:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16210', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Preparations Underway to Worship the Setting Sun during Chhath Festival', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 30: The setting sun will be worshiped this evening as part of the Chhath festival. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 30: The setting sun will be worshiped this evening as part of the Chhath festival. Most of the ponds, lakes, streams and rivers in Terai Madhes including Janakpurdham have been cleaned up and decorated as worshipping sites. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The banks of Ganga Sagar, the main pond of Janakpurdham sub-metropolitan city, have been decorated and preparations for the rituals have been completed. Local youth clubs have set up tents for the Chhath Pooja. In addition to Ganga Sagar, the Dhanush Sagar, Angraj Sar, Dasharath Lake, Janaki Sarovar, Gordhoi, Agnikunda have been decorated by local youth clubs in Janakpurdham. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The army and the police have also supported the cleaning of the ponds and lakes used as a place of worship. Bhojpuri and Maithili songs glorifying Chhathimaiya are found buzzing all around the sites and in the market places. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chhath is also considered as one of the major festivals for the people of Mithila region. Preparations for Chhath festival start from a week before. This festival starts on the fourth day of the waxing moon in the Nepali month of Kartik (mid-October to mid-November) and ends on the seventh day as per the lunar calendar, says Pandit Ramkumar Shastri. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Sun god is especially worshiped during this festival. It is believed that the tradition of worshipping the sun in Hinduism has existed since the Vedic period. This festival is celebrated by all sections of the society together. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the Chhath festival, fasting women and men take a bath and wear clean clothes and eat vegetarian food. In the evening, rice pudding is made in a new oven made of clay. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Pandit Shastri, rice pudding made with molasses is offered to the gods and goddesses and then accepted by the fasting person and other members of the family. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Women offer argha to the setting sun, while men stand on the banks of the ponds and river with coconuts or other fruits in their hands. Traditionally, all the members of the family fasting usually stay awake at the bank of the pond throughout the night. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This year, the worshippers have been hit hard as the prices of goods used in Chhath have skyrocketed. Prices of bananas, coconuts, sugarcane, radish, lemons, apples, oranges, molasses, as well as bamboo items used during the Chhath festival have increased of late. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-30', 'modified' => '2022-10-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15951', 'image' => '20221030111003_20211107101945_1260843_n - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-30 11:09:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16209', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Demand for Earthen Pots High with Approaching Chhath Festival ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 28: The demand for earthen pots has been growing with the approaching Chhath festival.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 28: The demand for earthen pots has been growing with the approaching Chhath festival. Along with the domestic clay pots, various articles required for the festival manufactured in India are also making in-roads to the Nepali market. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The earthen pots manufactured in India are doing brisk business in the bordering towns while the domestically produced ones are selling in greater numbers in the inner markets. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The sale of clay pots has seen a rise in Janakpurdham, Mahendranagar Sakhuwa, Dhalkebar, Bateshwor, Dharapani, Birendrabazar, Sabaila, the main square at Sahidnagar and Hatiya, among the main markets of Dhanusha. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With the increasing demand for clay pots in the market, the potters have become busy like the bees. The demand for earthen pots is high during the cultural festivals as Chhath due to the tradition of mostly using the clay pots for various cultural rituals. It is considered auspicious to conduct the rituals using fresh clay pots. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The sale of clay articles like lamp and images of elephants has increased at various places and the bordering towns for the imminent Chhath festival," said Bishnu Lal Pandit, a pottery trader of Haraiya, Kshireshwornath Municipality-4. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He said that making clay pots was their main means of subsistence in the past. But these days their traditional profession has been displaced with the increasing use of plastic and metal pots. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Kamal Pandit, a potter at Sakhuwa, Kshireshwornath Municipality-6, complained that their traditional profession is under threat in recent years due to the growing use of plastic and metal pots. The festival period is the only time for local potters to earn whatever income for the whole year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A set of earthen pots for the Chhath festival costs between Rs 200 to Rs 300, said Kanhaiya Pandit from Janakpurdham. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A majority of the local communities whose traditional profession is pottery making are abandoning this profession as it is not profitable. So, the traditional pottery making business is under threat. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Chhath festival this year falls on coming Sunday. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-28', 'modified' => '2022-10-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15950', 'image' => '20221028101104_CDS-Janakpur-Matakabhada.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-28 10:09:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16208', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Hindus Mark the Fifth day of Tihar Festival ', 'sub_title' => 'This day is Dedicated to the Bond between Brothers and Sisters', 'summary' => 'October 27: Today is the fifth and the final day of Tihar festival. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">October 27: Today is the fifth and the final day of Tihar festival. On this day, sisters put tika or a mark on the forehead of their brothers with seven different colours. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sisters pray for longevity and prosperity of their brothers on this auspicious day. There is a tradition of giving priority to younger brothers while following the ritual of putting the colour mark or tika from which this day derives its name of 'bhai-tika'.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the Nepal Calendar Fixation Committee, the auspicious time for putting tika or the colourful marks on the forehead during this year’s Tihar festival is </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">11:37 am today (October 27).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Before the ritual, the siblings first worship the eight immortal beings including Markandeya, Bali, Parshuram, Vyas, Hanuman, Bivishan, Kripacharya and Ashwathma as per the tradition.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Yamaraj, the god of death, and his sister Yamuna are also worshipped to mark the bond between brothers and sisters. Legend has it that Yamuna started this tradition by putting tika on the forehead of Yamaraj, which is commemorated till this day.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sisters also pray for long life of their brothers with Yamaraj.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Globe Amaranth, a flower whose colour does not fade, holds a special significance during this festival. Other flowers extensively used during this day is the Godavari and Marigold flowers.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Those who do not have siblings celebrate this festival with their close relatives. It is believed that the foreheads should not remain blank on this day. People who do not have siblings visit the Yamaleshwar Mahadev Temple at Ranipokhari in the heart of Kathmandu on this day. This temple is opened only once a year on the day of bhai-tika. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">After the ritual is over, brothers and sisters celebrate by feasting. There is also a tradition of playing swing on this day. It is believed that one must leave the ground once a year. After all this is over, families light lamps in the evening as the five-day festival draws to a close.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-27', 'modified' => '2022-10-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15949', 'image' => '20221027093650_20221019044902_bhaitika.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-27 09:35:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16207', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Security Beefed up in Kathmandu Valley for the Festive Season ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 26: Security has been beefed up in Kathmandu Valley, the federal capital, in view of the Deepawali, Nepal Sambat and Chhath festivals, informed the District Administration Office, Kathmandu. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 26: Security has been beefed up in Kathmandu Valley, the federal capital, in view of the Deepawali, Nepal Sambat and Chhath festivals, informed the District Administration Office, Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief District Officer (CDO) of Kathmandu District, Ghanshyam Upadhyay said that security has been strengthened to prevent any untoward incidents during the festivals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, all the three district administration offices within the valley have fully implemented the security strategy focusing on the festivals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CDO Upadhyay said that the Deusi-Bhailo cultural programme can be organized until 10:00 pm. Before this, the District Administration Office had stated through a public notice on October 21 that the Deusi-Bhailo cultural programme could be held only up to 9 pm during the Tihar festival. The time for this has been extended by an hour in response to the public demand and security arrangements have been made accordingly, CDO Upadhyay said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, the prohibition on gambling, exploding fire crackers and drinking in a way likely to disturb social peace and law and order stands, the District Administration Office said. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-26', 'modified' => '2022-10-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15948', 'image' => '20221026024136_PRO_KTM_LAXMIOUJA_KTM.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-26 14:40:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16206', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govardhan Puja Observed ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 26: The fourth day of Tihar is celebrated by worshipping the oxen. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">October 26: The fourth day of Tihar is celebrated by worshipping the oxen. This day is also called Govardan Puja, named after a hill mentioned in the Hindu mythology. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The oxen is historically used by the locals in the rural areas for helping with crop plantation. They are worshipped by offering prayers, good food and by decorating them with garlands. The Govardan Hill, mentioned in the Hindu mythology is worshipped by the people by making a large stack of cow dung.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The rituals are linked to the Hindu God Krishna who, according to the legend, lifted the Govardhan hill with his hand and protected the people of a place called Gokul from torrential rains caused by an enraged Indra, the God of rain. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Lord Krishna is the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu or the protector of the world.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A section of the Newar community also observes the Mha Puja today to welcomes the Newari New Year while others celebrated the Mha Puja or worshipping the self a day ago.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On this occasion, Newars prepare sweet dishes at homes and mandalas (sacred diagram as symbol of their soul) are drawn on the floor and worshipped. According to the state-owned RSS, family members sit in front of the mandalas and the eldest lady of the house presents each of them with a burning wick, sacred thread and fruits symbolising long life and good fortune. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Today, the Newari Community also welcomes the Newari New Year--Nepal Sambar 1143. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-26', 'modified' => '2022-10-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15947', 'image' => '20221026023044_Happy-Govardhan-Puja-Wishes.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-26 14:30:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16205', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'New Variant of Coronavirus Detected in Nepal', 'sub_title' => 'Government Urges Public to Follow Health Protocol During Festive Season', 'summary' => 'October 25: A new variant of coronavirus has been detected in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 25: A new variant of coronavirus has been detected in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to joint-spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr Sameer Kumar Adhikari, the sub-variant of Omicron 'XBB' has been identified in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The sub-variant of omicron 'XBB' was identified in course of genomic sequencing of coronavirus infected people from different places of the country between August 21 to October 10. The sample tests were conducted at National Public Health Laboratory. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the ministry has urged all to follow the due health protocol as coronavirus infection may increase in festivals like Tihar and Chhath. It has also requested people to wear face mask, maintain physical distance and wash hands with soap regularly. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Around 50 new cases of COVID-19 are being detected daily on an average in Nepal. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-25', 'modified' => '2022-10-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15946', 'image' => '20221025101535_20220630115224_health-ministry.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-25 10:14:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16204', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'IMF Projects 4.2 Percent Economic Growth for Nepal ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 25: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released a new projection of economic growth rate of 4.2 percent for Nepal in 2022.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 25: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released a new projection of economic growth rate of 4.2 percent for Nepal in 2022. IMF revised its initial estimate of economic growth rate in the report entitled 'World Economic Outlook: Countering the Cost-of-Living Crisis' which it unveiled this week. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In January, IMF had projected Nepal's economic growth rate to be 4.1 percent. However, it has anticipated Nepal's economic growth rate to decline in 2023. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the IMF's projection last January, Nepal's economic growth rate next year was estimated at 6.1 percent. But this projection has been dropped and confined to 5 percent. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, the government has set the goal of achieving 8 percent economic growth rate for fiscal year 2022/23. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the IMF has revised the earlier estimates for inflation. It had initially estimated inflation to be at 6.3 percent in 2022 and at 7.7 percent in 2023. But it has revised it now to be at 8.1 percent in 2022 and at 7.2 percent in 2023. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The government has however projected to limit the inflation within 7 percent through the budget for the current fiscal year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">IMF has stated in its report that the global economic activity is experiencing a broad-based and sharper-than-expected slowdown, with inflation higher than seen in several decades. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The cost-of-living crisis, tightening financial conditions in most regions, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the lingering COVID-19 pandemic all weigh heavily on the outlook. Global growth is forecast to slow from 6.0 percent in 2021 to 3.2 percent in 2022 and 2.7 percent in 2023. This is the weakest growth profile since 2001 except for the global financial crisis and the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Global inflation is forecast to rise from 4.7 percent in 2021 to 8.8 percent in 2022 but to decline to 6.5 percent in 2023 and to 4.1 percent by 2024. Monetary policy should stay the course to restore price stability, and fiscal policy should aim to alleviate the cost-of-living pressures while maintaining a sufficiently tight stance aligned with monetary policy. Structural reforms can further support the fight against inflation by improving productivity and easing supply constraints, while multilateral cooperation is necessary for fast-tracking the green energy transition and preventing fragmentation. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-25', 'modified' => '2022-10-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15945', 'image' => '20221025100925_iiii.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-25 10:08:50', '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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Foreign trade has been affected due to the government's policy of discouraging imports and tightening of bank loans for imports due to pressure on foreign exchange reserves.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data released by the Department of Customs, Nepal’s foreign trade amounted to Rs 442.81 billion till mid-October of the current fiscal year. This is 18.54 per cent less than the volume of foreign trade during the corresponding period of the previous year. In the same period of the previous year, the size of Nepal's foreign trade was equal to Rs 543.57 billion. The size of foreign trade decreased as both imports and exports decreased.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the department, from last mid-July to mid-October, the import decreased by 16.2 per cent compared to the previous year and remained at Rs 499 billion. Similarly, the previous year in July-August, the export was worth Rs 65.5 billion, but this year it has decreased by 35.71 per cent to Rs 41.82 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to the decrease in imports, the country's trade deficit has also decreased. By mid-October 2022, the trade deficit declined by 13.13 per cent to Rs 359 billion compared to last year, the department said. The government has collected revenue of Rs 96.61 billion from imports till October. Since last year, Nepal Rastra Bank has adopted a policy of tightening imports due to the lack of liquidity in banks and pressure on foreign exchange reserves </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">To reduce imports, the NRB reduced the import quota of gold and silver and also implemented the provision of keeping a cash margin for opening letter of credit.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government had banned the import of 10 luxury items for four months during last summer. The government lifted the ban on most of the items in August except the import of cars, jeeps, vans, mobiles worth more than $300, liquor and motorcycles with a capacity of more than 150 ccs was banned. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the department, until mid-October of the current year, petroleum products tops the list of imported goods. During this period, diesel worth Rs 29.81 billion, petrol worth Rs 18.44 and LPG gas worth Rs 14.94 billion have been imported into the country.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The import of raw materials of palm and soybean oil is also high. According to the statistics of the department, unrefined palm oil worth Rs 14.48 billion and crude soybean oil worth Rs 9.97 billion were imported till mid-October.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-31', 'modified' => '2022-10-31', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15959', 'image' => '20221031123131_1667170461.0--.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-31 12:30:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16217', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Chhath Concludes with Offering to Sun God ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 31: The Chhath festival observed mostly by the people of Mithila region concluded this morning by offering curd (Argha) to the rising Sun. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 31: The Chhath festival observed mostly by the people of Mithila region concluded this morning by offering curd (Argha) to the rising Sun. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The devotees who observed fasting since the start of the festival concluded the Chhath rituals this year by offering prayers to the rising Sun this morning. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Sun rose at around 6.14 am in Mithila region this morning. The timing of the sunshine is determined as per the Mithila Panchanga and Bidyapati Panchanga in Mithila. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Just prior to the sunshine, the devotees were chanting songs awaiting the rise of the Sun by taking holy dips three times. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Devotees also ended their 36-hour-long perennial fasting after offering worships to the Sun God today morning. With this, the devotees returned home from the river banks (Chhati Ghat) by concluding the grand festival where the shining and setting suns are worshipped with devotion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chhath is a festival of goodwill, faith, social harmony as people from all backgrounds come together in a common place to offer worships to the Sun God. It is widely believed that appeasing the Sun God brings happiness, prosperity, well-being and longevity of the family members. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-31', 'modified' => '2022-10-31', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15958', 'image' => '20221031114759_chhath.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-31 11:47:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16216', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Fixed Deposits of Banks Increasing', 'sub_title' => 'Share of Fixed Deposits Climbs to Almost 60 Percent', 'summary' => 'October 30: The share of fixed deposits of banks has climbed to almost 60 percent of the total deposits.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">October 30: The share of fixed deposits of banks has climbed to almost 60 percent of the total deposits. The amount in fixed deposit accounts has increased due to the long-term schemes launched by banks to attract more deposits amid liquidity crisis. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">As per the data of Nepal Rastra Bank, the total deposits of commercial banks has reached Rs 5090.42 billion as of mid-September this year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The share of fixed deposits stands at 58.8 percent, which was 49.2 percent a year ago.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Commercial banks have announced interest of 12.13 percent for fixed deposits, 10.13 for institutional term deposits and 13.13 percent for remittance since mid-September. Similarly, development banks have announced 13 percent interest for fixed deposits and 11 percent interest for institutional term deposits while finance companies have fixed interest rate of 13.47 for personal term deposits and 11.47 for institutional term deposits.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Bank deposits have been declining due to liquidity crisis. The deposit collection of banks and financial institutes declined by 0.9 percent in the month of Bhadra (mid-August to mid-September) when credit flow increased by 0.55 percent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Banks have announced schemes to attract deposits by promising to pay ten times the initial deposit in 21 years. Besides interest, banks are also providing other facilities such as insurance, credit card, easy loans to such depositors. As a result, the share of fixed deposits has been increasing at the expense of other types of deposits.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The share of current account has dropped to 7.7 percent in mid-September from 7.9 percent during the corresponding period of last year. Likewise, the share of general savings account has dropped to 26.5 percent in mid-September from 35 percent. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-30', 'modified' => '2022-10-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15957', 'image' => '20221030050239_1667081609.11.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-30 17:01:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16215', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Russia Halts Grain Exports via Black Sea Prompting Fear of Food Crisis', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 30: Russia has pulled out of an internatinaly-brokered grain deal that allows Ukraine to export grains, raising concerns of a global food crisis amid ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. ', '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"">October 30: Russia has pulled out of an internatinaly-brokered grain deal that allows Ukraine to export grains, raising concerns of a global food crisis amid ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Reuters, Moscow said on Saturday that it was suspending participation in the Black Sea deal in response to what it called a major Ukrainian drone attack on its fleet. In a conflict that began in February, Russia calls its actions in Ukraine "a special operation".</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The suspension of July's Black Sea Grain Initiative will cut shipments from Ukraine, one of the world's biggest grain exporters, from its crucial Black Sea ports, the news agency further reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Al Jazeera, the Turkey and UN-brokered deal to unlock grain exports signed between Russia and Ukraine in July is critical to easing the global food crisis caused by the conflict.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The agreement has already allowed more than 9 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain to be exported and was due to be renewed on November 19, the Doha-based news agency added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Any act by Russia to disrupt these critical grain exports is essentially a statement that people and families around the world should pay more for food or go hungry," Reuters quoted US Secretary of State Antony Blinken as saying in a statement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Russia's defence ministry said Ukraine attacked the Black Sea Fleet near Sevastopol on the Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula with 16 drones early on Saturday, and that British navy "specialists" had helped coordinate the "terrorist" attack.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Moscow also accused British navy personnel of blowing up the Nord Stream gas pipelines last month, a claim that London said was false and designed to distract from Russian military failures in Ukraine, Reuters added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The grain deal had restarted shipments from Ukraine, allowing sales on world markets, targeting the pre-war level of 5 million metric tonnes exported from Ukraine each month. More than 9 million tonnes of corn, wheat, sunflower products, barley, rapeseed and soya have been exported under the deal, signed on July 22. But ahead of its November 19 expiry, Russia had repeatedly said that there were serious problems with it, Reuters added. Ukraine complained Moscow had blocked almost 200 ships from picking up grain cargoes.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the news agency, when the agreement was signed, the UN World Food Programme said some 47 million people had moved into "acute hunger" as the war halted Ukrainian shipments. The deal ensured safe passage in and out of Odesa and two other Ukrainian ports in what an official called a "de facto ceasefire" for the ships and facilities covered.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Russia's departure from the grain deal marks a new development in a war that has recently been dominated by a Ukrainian counteroffensive and Russian drone and missile attacks that have destroyed more than 30 percent of Ukraine's generating capacity and hit populated areas. Each side has accused the other of being prepared to detonate radioactive bombs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Reuters, President Vladimir Putin ordered Russia's invasion of its smaller neighbour in an offensive he said was aimed at demilitarising and "denazifying" Ukraine. Kyiv and the West say the war is an unprovoked act of aggression by Moscow.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-30', 'modified' => '2022-10-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15956', 'image' => '20221030035342_wheatttttt.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-30 15:52:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16214', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Clear Sky Attracting Tourists Towards Mountain Flights', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 30: Clear sky is ideal for trekking and sightseeing. It is also suitable for mountain flights that delights the domestic and foreign tourists in Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 30: Clear sky is ideal for trekking and sightseeing. It is also suitable for mountain flights that delights the domestic and foreign tourists in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Different airlines have been operating mountain flights enthusiastically as this is the peak season for tourism as the weather has become favourable. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Private airlines companies--Buddha Airlines, Yeti Airlines, Shree Airlines, Guna Air, and others have been operating mountain flights. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Spokesperson of Yeti Airlines, Sudharshan Bartaula, said mountain flights were in operation thanks to the favourable weather. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The number of mountain flights has increased all of sudden. There has been good booking for mountain flight till Tihar. We believe that the trend of booking for mountain flight will increase," said Bartaula. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Information Officer of Buddha Air, Dipendra Karna, shared that attraction to mountain flight has increased this season. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The number of mountain flights has increased due to the clear sky. Many foreigners visit Nepal in this season. Attraction towards mountain flight in winter season increases as there is no cloudy weather and one can easily view mountain ranges under the clean serene blue sky," said Karna. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October, November and December are suitable months for mountain flights. Hotels located in tourism destinations are crowded with domestic and foreign tourists in this season, said first Vice-President of Hotel Association of Nepal, Binayak Shah. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Mountain flight is operated from 7:00 am from Tribhuvan International Airport. Buddha Airlines and Yeti Airlines have determined Rs 15,000 fare for mountain flight for domestic and Indian tourists. The fare is USD 230 for the citizens of other countries. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-30', 'modified' => '2022-10-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15955', 'image' => '20221030031427_Mountain-Flight-Tour-Kathma.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-30 15:13:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16213', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Discussion on Legalizing Marijuana Farming in Nepal Held', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 30: A multi-stakeholder consultation and discussion program was held recently on the subject of “Legalization of Marijuana Farming in Nepal: Opportunities and Challenges” in collaboration with the Nepal Government's Expert Group Policy Research Institute and the Nepal Health Research Council. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 30: A multi-stakeholder consultation and discussion program was held recently on the subject of “Legalization of Marijuana Farming in Nepal: Opportunities and Challenges” in collaboration with the Nepal Government's Expert Group Policy Research Institute and the Nepal Health Research Council. In the program, the researchers of Nepal Health Research Foundation presented a paper based on the analysis of reference materials from the medical side of marijuana. Similarly, a working paper was presented from the perspective of the economic importance and social aspects of cannabis cultivation in Nepal on behalf of the Policy Research Institute.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the program, it was shared that the debate on the controlled use of cannabis was raised around the world after the United Nations placed cannabis as a useful plant in 2020. In addition, the fact that 56 countries in the world legalized the cultivation and controlled use of marijuana was highlighted during the programme</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, in the paper presented about the legal aspects of marijuana, it is mentioned that the cultivation of marijuana is not legally prohibited because the definition of marijuana in the Narcotic Drugs (Control) Act, 2033 does not prohibit the production of hemp plants and bark (fibers). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, President of Narconon Nepal, Basanta Kunwar said that one should not even imagine legalizing marijuana arguing that the reason behind almost 90 percent of mental patients is due to marijuana consumption.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Achyut Adhikari, associate professor of Tribhuvan University said that the harmful substances of marijuana should be banned and useful substances should be used. Devi Prasad Bhandari of the Institute of Forestry opined that hemp oil can be sold in the world market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Research Director of Nepal Health Research Foundation Dr Meghnath Dhimal said that if the regulations are made first, it will be easier to use marijuana for research.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-30', 'modified' => '2022-10-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15954', 'image' => '20221030030309_20201204014433_1607039093.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-30 15:02:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16212', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Produces 4 Million Tons of Vegetables Annually', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 30: ccording to government data, about 4 million metric tons of vegetables are produced in Nepal annually. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 30: ccording to government data, about 4 million metric tons of vegetables are produced in Nepal annually. As per the data provided by National Center for Potato, Vegetable and Spice Crops Development, all the districts of the seven provinces produced the given amount of vegetables in 284,000 hectares of land in the fiscal year 2020/21.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The total production of 56 types of vegetable crops including cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, tomato, radish, bitter gourd, okra, and green vegetables are included in the data of the center. Looking at the data of the last 10 years, the lowest quantity of vegetables (3,298,000 metric tons) was produced in the FY 2011/12 and the highest (4,271,000 metric tons) in the FY 2018/19.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although vegetable production increased somewhat in recent years, it seems that it has not fully met the demand of the domestic market. Due to this, vegetables are imported from India, China, Bhutan, Japan and other countries in large quantities each year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Uddhav Adhikari, agricultural engineer and coordinator of the Agricultural Campaign for Food, the best way to become self-reliant in vegetables by increasing production is to develop the local agricultural market. According to him, the farmers have stopped producing because the produced vegetables do not have a market; so they have to import vegetables from abroad. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The production will increase only if the farmers' products find a market,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the fiscal year 2020/21 alone, 231,000 metric tons of vegetables were imported from abroad. In the same year, Nepal exported 6000 metric tons of vegetables. A per the information provided by the centre, most vegetables were produced in Madhesh Province that year. In Madhesh Province, 1,245,000 tons of vegetables were produced on 53,300 hectares of land. The least amount of vegetables was produced in Karnali Province. In Karnali, 149,500 tons of vegetables were produced in 13,200 hectares of land. Similarly, 798,300 tons of vegetables were grown on 50,300 hectares in Province 1 and 727,000 tons of vegetables were grown on 50,400 hectares of land in Bagmati Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, 282,000 tons of vegetables were produced on 22,700 hectares in Gandaki Province, 544,600 tons on 41,900 hectares in Lumbini Province, and 285,000 tons of vegetables were produced on 22,000 hectares in Sudurpaschim Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Sandeep Subedi, horticultural development officer of the National Center for Potato, Vegetable and Spice Crop Development, due to the lack of quality seeds and fertilizers, farmers are not able to grow vegetables despite their best efforts, and the quality of the soil is not good enough to improve productivity. He added that the data also confirmed that there has been no significant improvement in our productivity in the last 10 years. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-30', 'modified' => '2022-10-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15953', 'image' => '20221030011818_vegetable-store.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-30 13:17:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16211', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepali Trekkers Complain of Discrimination at Makalu Base Camp ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 30: Ujjwal Basnet from Dharmadevi Municipality of Sankhuwasabha was in Yangle Kharka on October 17. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 30: Ujjwal Basnet from Dharmadevi Municipality of Sankhuwasabha was in Yangle Kharka on October 17. He was there after making a trip to Makalu Base Camp, the base camp of fifth tallest mountain on earth. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A day before on October 16, he spent his night in a local teahouse. In Yangle Kharka, no teahouses are named. He woke up at 6 am in the morning and headed out for Shiva Dhara shrine. Shiva Dhara is a very famous religious destination nearby, which takes around 5 to 6 hours to make a complete trip. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Basnet came back to Yangle Kharka after making his 6 hour long pilgrimage to the famed shrine of Sankhuwasabha. ''I had ordered meal in the morning as we visit religious shrine with fasting,'' Basnet said, ''But, when I came back after 6 hours of extremely stressing journey, the teahouse operator said there is no meal for me.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The repeated request by Basnet fell into deaf ears of the teahouse operators, who simply said he was 'busy’. Basnet said the same teahouse operator had cooked meal just a couple of days ago while he was coming from Fematang, a nearby camp. But that day, the same service was not offered. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">''Previously, there were no foreigners and he cooked meal for me and I paid Rs 400 for a vegetarian meal,'' said Basnet, ''But, on October 17, there were some foreigners and he did not give attention to my request.'' </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ujjwal basnet is not only one to complain about discriminatory treatment by operators of teahouses along the route of Makalu Base Camp compared to their foreign counterparts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">''The price is not that much different for Nepali and foreign trekkers,'' said Kamal Magar, a trekker from Chitwan. ''They give utmost priority to foreigners and give least, if not no priority at all, to Nepali trekkers.'' </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, Dawa Chhiring Sherpa, a local teahouse operator at Dobato of Makalu Base Camp trail, said there are some complaints from Nepali trekkers in other teahouses. ''I have heard some complaints. This is due to unprofessional practices by some teahouse operators but you cannot blame all of us,'' said Sherpa. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-30', 'modified' => '2022-10-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15952', 'image' => '20221030120011_makalu-base-camp-trek-banner.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-30 11:59:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16210', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Preparations Underway to Worship the Setting Sun during Chhath Festival', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 30: The setting sun will be worshiped this evening as part of the Chhath festival. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 30: The setting sun will be worshiped this evening as part of the Chhath festival. Most of the ponds, lakes, streams and rivers in Terai Madhes including Janakpurdham have been cleaned up and decorated as worshipping sites. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The banks of Ganga Sagar, the main pond of Janakpurdham sub-metropolitan city, have been decorated and preparations for the rituals have been completed. Local youth clubs have set up tents for the Chhath Pooja. In addition to Ganga Sagar, the Dhanush Sagar, Angraj Sar, Dasharath Lake, Janaki Sarovar, Gordhoi, Agnikunda have been decorated by local youth clubs in Janakpurdham. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The army and the police have also supported the cleaning of the ponds and lakes used as a place of worship. Bhojpuri and Maithili songs glorifying Chhathimaiya are found buzzing all around the sites and in the market places. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chhath is also considered as one of the major festivals for the people of Mithila region. Preparations for Chhath festival start from a week before. This festival starts on the fourth day of the waxing moon in the Nepali month of Kartik (mid-October to mid-November) and ends on the seventh day as per the lunar calendar, says Pandit Ramkumar Shastri. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Sun god is especially worshiped during this festival. It is believed that the tradition of worshipping the sun in Hinduism has existed since the Vedic period. This festival is celebrated by all sections of the society together. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the Chhath festival, fasting women and men take a bath and wear clean clothes and eat vegetarian food. In the evening, rice pudding is made in a new oven made of clay. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Pandit Shastri, rice pudding made with molasses is offered to the gods and goddesses and then accepted by the fasting person and other members of the family. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Women offer argha to the setting sun, while men stand on the banks of the ponds and river with coconuts or other fruits in their hands. Traditionally, all the members of the family fasting usually stay awake at the bank of the pond throughout the night. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This year, the worshippers have been hit hard as the prices of goods used in Chhath have skyrocketed. Prices of bananas, coconuts, sugarcane, radish, lemons, apples, oranges, molasses, as well as bamboo items used during the Chhath festival have increased of late. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-30', 'modified' => '2022-10-30', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15951', 'image' => '20221030111003_20211107101945_1260843_n - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-30 11:09:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16209', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Demand for Earthen Pots High with Approaching Chhath Festival ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 28: The demand for earthen pots has been growing with the approaching Chhath festival.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 28: The demand for earthen pots has been growing with the approaching Chhath festival. Along with the domestic clay pots, various articles required for the festival manufactured in India are also making in-roads to the Nepali market. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The earthen pots manufactured in India are doing brisk business in the bordering towns while the domestically produced ones are selling in greater numbers in the inner markets. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The sale of clay pots has seen a rise in Janakpurdham, Mahendranagar Sakhuwa, Dhalkebar, Bateshwor, Dharapani, Birendrabazar, Sabaila, the main square at Sahidnagar and Hatiya, among the main markets of Dhanusha. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With the increasing demand for clay pots in the market, the potters have become busy like the bees. The demand for earthen pots is high during the cultural festivals as Chhath due to the tradition of mostly using the clay pots for various cultural rituals. It is considered auspicious to conduct the rituals using fresh clay pots. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The sale of clay articles like lamp and images of elephants has increased at various places and the bordering towns for the imminent Chhath festival," said Bishnu Lal Pandit, a pottery trader of Haraiya, Kshireshwornath Municipality-4. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He said that making clay pots was their main means of subsistence in the past. But these days their traditional profession has been displaced with the increasing use of plastic and metal pots. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Kamal Pandit, a potter at Sakhuwa, Kshireshwornath Municipality-6, complained that their traditional profession is under threat in recent years due to the growing use of plastic and metal pots. The festival period is the only time for local potters to earn whatever income for the whole year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A set of earthen pots for the Chhath festival costs between Rs 200 to Rs 300, said Kanhaiya Pandit from Janakpurdham. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A majority of the local communities whose traditional profession is pottery making are abandoning this profession as it is not profitable. So, the traditional pottery making business is under threat. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Chhath festival this year falls on coming Sunday. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-28', 'modified' => '2022-10-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15950', 'image' => '20221028101104_CDS-Janakpur-Matakabhada.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-28 10:09:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16208', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Hindus Mark the Fifth day of Tihar Festival ', 'sub_title' => 'This day is Dedicated to the Bond between Brothers and Sisters', 'summary' => 'October 27: Today is the fifth and the final day of Tihar festival. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">October 27: Today is the fifth and the final day of Tihar festival. On this day, sisters put tika or a mark on the forehead of their brothers with seven different colours. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sisters pray for longevity and prosperity of their brothers on this auspicious day. There is a tradition of giving priority to younger brothers while following the ritual of putting the colour mark or tika from which this day derives its name of 'bhai-tika'.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the Nepal Calendar Fixation Committee, the auspicious time for putting tika or the colourful marks on the forehead during this year’s Tihar festival is </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">11:37 am today (October 27).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Before the ritual, the siblings first worship the eight immortal beings including Markandeya, Bali, Parshuram, Vyas, Hanuman, Bivishan, Kripacharya and Ashwathma as per the tradition.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Yamaraj, the god of death, and his sister Yamuna are also worshipped to mark the bond between brothers and sisters. Legend has it that Yamuna started this tradition by putting tika on the forehead of Yamaraj, which is commemorated till this day.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sisters also pray for long life of their brothers with Yamaraj.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Globe Amaranth, a flower whose colour does not fade, holds a special significance during this festival. Other flowers extensively used during this day is the Godavari and Marigold flowers.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Those who do not have siblings celebrate this festival with their close relatives. It is believed that the foreheads should not remain blank on this day. People who do not have siblings visit the Yamaleshwar Mahadev Temple at Ranipokhari in the heart of Kathmandu on this day. This temple is opened only once a year on the day of bhai-tika. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">After the ritual is over, brothers and sisters celebrate by feasting. There is also a tradition of playing swing on this day. It is believed that one must leave the ground once a year. After all this is over, families light lamps in the evening as the five-day festival draws to a close.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-27', 'modified' => '2022-10-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15949', 'image' => '20221027093650_20221019044902_bhaitika.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-27 09:35:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16207', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Security Beefed up in Kathmandu Valley for the Festive Season ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 26: Security has been beefed up in Kathmandu Valley, the federal capital, in view of the Deepawali, Nepal Sambat and Chhath festivals, informed the District Administration Office, Kathmandu. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 26: Security has been beefed up in Kathmandu Valley, the federal capital, in view of the Deepawali, Nepal Sambat and Chhath festivals, informed the District Administration Office, Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief District Officer (CDO) of Kathmandu District, Ghanshyam Upadhyay said that security has been strengthened to prevent any untoward incidents during the festivals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, all the three district administration offices within the valley have fully implemented the security strategy focusing on the festivals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CDO Upadhyay said that the Deusi-Bhailo cultural programme can be organized until 10:00 pm. Before this, the District Administration Office had stated through a public notice on October 21 that the Deusi-Bhailo cultural programme could be held only up to 9 pm during the Tihar festival. The time for this has been extended by an hour in response to the public demand and security arrangements have been made accordingly, CDO Upadhyay said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, the prohibition on gambling, exploding fire crackers and drinking in a way likely to disturb social peace and law and order stands, the District Administration Office said. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-26', 'modified' => '2022-10-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15948', 'image' => '20221026024136_PRO_KTM_LAXMIOUJA_KTM.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-26 14:40:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16206', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govardhan Puja Observed ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 26: The fourth day of Tihar is celebrated by worshipping the oxen. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">October 26: The fourth day of Tihar is celebrated by worshipping the oxen. This day is also called Govardan Puja, named after a hill mentioned in the Hindu mythology. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The oxen is historically used by the locals in the rural areas for helping with crop plantation. They are worshipped by offering prayers, good food and by decorating them with garlands. The Govardan Hill, mentioned in the Hindu mythology is worshipped by the people by making a large stack of cow dung.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The rituals are linked to the Hindu God Krishna who, according to the legend, lifted the Govardhan hill with his hand and protected the people of a place called Gokul from torrential rains caused by an enraged Indra, the God of rain. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Lord Krishna is the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu or the protector of the world.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A section of the Newar community also observes the Mha Puja today to welcomes the Newari New Year while others celebrated the Mha Puja or worshipping the self a day ago.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On this occasion, Newars prepare sweet dishes at homes and mandalas (sacred diagram as symbol of their soul) are drawn on the floor and worshipped. According to the state-owned RSS, family members sit in front of the mandalas and the eldest lady of the house presents each of them with a burning wick, sacred thread and fruits symbolising long life and good fortune. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Today, the Newari Community also welcomes the Newari New Year--Nepal Sambar 1143. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-26', 'modified' => '2022-10-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15947', 'image' => '20221026023044_Happy-Govardhan-Puja-Wishes.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-26 14:30:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16205', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'New Variant of Coronavirus Detected in Nepal', 'sub_title' => 'Government Urges Public to Follow Health Protocol During Festive Season', 'summary' => 'October 25: A new variant of coronavirus has been detected in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 25: A new variant of coronavirus has been detected in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to joint-spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr Sameer Kumar Adhikari, the sub-variant of Omicron 'XBB' has been identified in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The sub-variant of omicron 'XBB' was identified in course of genomic sequencing of coronavirus infected people from different places of the country between August 21 to October 10. The sample tests were conducted at National Public Health Laboratory. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the ministry has urged all to follow the due health protocol as coronavirus infection may increase in festivals like Tihar and Chhath. It has also requested people to wear face mask, maintain physical distance and wash hands with soap regularly. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Around 50 new cases of COVID-19 are being detected daily on an average in Nepal. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-25', 'modified' => '2022-10-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15946', 'image' => '20221025101535_20220630115224_health-ministry.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-25 10:14:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16204', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'IMF Projects 4.2 Percent Economic Growth for Nepal ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 25: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released a new projection of economic growth rate of 4.2 percent for Nepal in 2022.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 25: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released a new projection of economic growth rate of 4.2 percent for Nepal in 2022. IMF revised its initial estimate of economic growth rate in the report entitled 'World Economic Outlook: Countering the Cost-of-Living Crisis' which it unveiled this week. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In January, IMF had projected Nepal's economic growth rate to be 4.1 percent. However, it has anticipated Nepal's economic growth rate to decline in 2023. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the IMF's projection last January, Nepal's economic growth rate next year was estimated at 6.1 percent. But this projection has been dropped and confined to 5 percent. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, the government has set the goal of achieving 8 percent economic growth rate for fiscal year 2022/23. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the IMF has revised the earlier estimates for inflation. It had initially estimated inflation to be at 6.3 percent in 2022 and at 7.7 percent in 2023. But it has revised it now to be at 8.1 percent in 2022 and at 7.2 percent in 2023. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The government has however projected to limit the inflation within 7 percent through the budget for the current fiscal year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">IMF has stated in its report that the global economic activity is experiencing a broad-based and sharper-than-expected slowdown, with inflation higher than seen in several decades. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The cost-of-living crisis, tightening financial conditions in most regions, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the lingering COVID-19 pandemic all weigh heavily on the outlook. Global growth is forecast to slow from 6.0 percent in 2021 to 3.2 percent in 2022 and 2.7 percent in 2023. This is the weakest growth profile since 2001 except for the global financial crisis and the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Global inflation is forecast to rise from 4.7 percent in 2021 to 8.8 percent in 2022 but to decline to 6.5 percent in 2023 and to 4.1 percent by 2024. Monetary policy should stay the course to restore price stability, and fiscal policy should aim to alleviate the cost-of-living pressures while maintaining a sufficiently tight stance aligned with monetary policy. Structural reforms can further support the fight against inflation by improving productivity and easing supply constraints, while multilateral cooperation is necessary for fast-tracking the green energy transition and preventing fragmentation. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-10-25', 'modified' => '2022-10-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15945', 'image' => '20221025100925_iiii.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-10-25 10:08:50', '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
