December 3: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed Record of Discussions with the Government of Nepal for the technical cooperation for Strengthening Seed Production, Supply and Quality Control System…
December 3: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed Record of Discussions with the Government of Nepal for the technical cooperation for Strengthening Seed Production, Supply and Quality Control System…
December 3: The work of upgrading the Mardi Himal trekking route has moved forward in full…
December 3: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has urged domestic and foreign investors to invest confidently in the country as he assured that the government would take all possible efforts to create an environment conducive for…
December 3: Export through Biratnagar Customs, the prime trade point of Province 1, has been increasing since the last five…
December 3: The country's weather pattern is currently experiencing the westerly trough and low pressure system formed in the Arabian…
December 3: The government has decided to impose a ban on arrival of people from nine countries including African countries that have reported cases of Omicron virus.…
December 3: A three-day webinar program on ‘Baking, financial, and risk financing skills’ organised by Thulo.com and Enterprise for Management, Economic Reform and Gender Equality (EMERGE) with the support of USAID’s Tayar Nepal – Improved Disaster Risk Management Project, has concluded.…
December 3: The government has forwarded a special plan for upgrading power system of hill districts in Karnali and Sudurpaschim…
December 2: Free shuttle bus service has been started to and from the Golden Gate up to the internal terminal building of the Tribhuvan International…
December 2: The ‘Made in Nepal Expo and Food Fest’ is set to be organized in Birgunj in…
December 2: The government has failed to collect more than Rs 171 billion in arrears from…
December 2: Kalinchowk, a popular tourist destination in Dolakha district, has finally started to return back to its normal business.…
December 2: Nepal Railway Company has asked for a budget of Rs 350 million with the government to operate two sets of trains stranded in Inaruwa for the last fourteen…
December 2: The Ministry of Health and Population has appealed to one and all not to consider travelling abroad unless absolutely…
December 2: NMB Bank has succeeded to become the best bank in Asia. It has been awarded with the "The Bank of the Year Asia 2021" award by London-based The Banker…
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The purpose of the project is “to strengthen rice seed production, supply and quality control system” to improve </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt">productivity of rice by the means of dissemination of quality improved seeds in Province 1 and to strengthen the implementation of the rice seed production, supply and quality control system in Nepal, the statement added.</span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Rice is the fundamental crop of Nepal, noted JICA. “Everyone eats it, and farmers gain income out of it. In order to make the crop tasty, nutritious, and productive, the most important factor remains the quality of rice seeds,” reads the statement.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Even though rice farming contributes around 15 percent of the national GDP of Nepal, there is still possibility to increase its yield, says JICA adding that the usage of improved seed and increasing the replacement rate of seed are the key to achieve it.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">According to the statistic, seed replacement rate of rice in Nepal is around 20 percent at present, therefore, the Government of Nepal has adopted a strategy to raise the percentage to 25 percent. And it is estimated that the use of improved seeds of good quality will increase its yield by 15 percent, the statement further said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">“However, there are several processes before farmers can use the improved seeds with good quality. It is necessary to improve the quality of the system and capacity to produce quality seeds in Nepal. In this context, holistic support for improving seed production was requested to JICA.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">According to JICA, the project is expected to contribute for sustainable social and economic development of Nepal during and after the implementation period of the project. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14160', 'image' => '20211203040445_102.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 16:03:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14413', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Upgrading of Mardi Himal Foot Trail in Full Swing', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 3: The work of upgrading the Mardi Himal trekking route has moved forward in full swing.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 3: The work of upgrading the Mardi Himal trekking route has moved forward in full swing. This foot trail is being upgraded as the mountain can be reached in a short time following this route.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">With the increasing attraction of domestic and foreign tourists in recent years, the Mardi Himal trail has managed to grab the attention of the state as well. The government started the work of upgrading the foot trail with the help of the Department of Tourism. Under this project, 4,200 steps have been constructed up to the low camp view point and 250 cubic meters of machinery wall has been constructed as well.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the work of placing railings weighing 4,000 kg in various difficult places of the foot trail has been completed, said Sudip Gautam, a tourism entrepreneur and founder s well as chairman of Mardi Trek Tourism Management and Entrepreneurs Committee. He said that the Mardi Trek has been the top choice of domestic and foreign tourists in recent years as it is a trekking route that is convenient for people of any age group.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that every scenic view of this trekking route is full of natural beauty, Gautam shared that trekking activities in the area have also been affected due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">People of all age group can walk along this trekking route. Along the route, trekkers can enjoy the view of blooming rhododendrons, see and hear the birds chirping in the forest. Mountains like Machhapuchre, Mardi, Annapurna South, Gangapurna can be observed at the same time.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Gautam expressed his confidence stating that the tourism industry in this region will return to normalcy after the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to him, there are about 100 hotels on this trekking route from Dhampus up to the View Point. In his opinion, all the entrepreneurs and workers in the region need to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to restore the trekking and tourism business.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Hoteliers say that the beauty of the place intensifies during the months of April and May since the national flower of Nepal, rhododendron blooms along the foot trail throughout the jungle. According to him, another important part of the trek is that even if you see a pink rhododendron at the beginning of the trek, you can find the rhododendron blooming in dark red color. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Som Thapa, former president of the Trekking Agencies Association Nepal (TAAN) Western Regional Association, said that the tourism sector has been badly affected due to the impact of Covid-19.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that upgrading of foot trails in the middle of the pandemic would further support tourism activities, Thapa, who is also the former chairman of Pokhara Tourism Council, emphasized on the need to vaccinate all entrepreneurs and workers on the trekking route.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Sudip Gautam, who is also the manager of Hotel Trekkers Paradise at Mardi High Camp, the construction of hotels at other places along the foot trail area has gained momentum ever since the hotel was opened at Mardi High Camp in 2007. Starting from Kande of Kaski, this trekking route leads to Mardi High Camp via Australian Camp, Pothana, Pritam Deurali, Forest Camp, Low Camp and Badal Danda. Hotels have come into operation for food and stay in all of these places.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Mardi High Camp is situated at an altitude of 3,550 meters above the sea level, from which, the View Point located at an altitude of 4,200 meters can be reached in about two hours and from there, Mardi Base Camp which is located at an altitude of 5,500 meters, can be reached in two hours. The trekkers starting the trek from Kande can return back from Siding of Machhapuchhre rural municipality. Tourists can reach Pokhara in about two hours by jeep from Siding. Established as a nature-based foot trail, the foot trail will have 4,200 steps from the low camp to the viewpoint. It will make the trekking safer, say tourism entrepreneurs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In order to rescue the trekking and tourism business which was affected greatly due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Nepal Tourism Board and UNDP have made joint efforts to promote trekking and tourism targeted programmes. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14159', 'image' => '20211203011912_1638503922.Clipboard13.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 13:18:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14414', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govt Effortful to Create Conducive Environment for Investment: PM Deuba ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 3: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has urged domestic and foreign investors to invest confidently in the country as he assured that the government would take all possible efforts to create an environment conducive for investment. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 3: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has urged domestic and foreign investors to invest confidently in the country as he assured that the government would take all possible efforts to create an environment conducive for investment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Your investments and properties in Nepal will be secured. I assure that the government will guarantee this," said Deuba during the silver jubilee celebration of the Society of Economic Journalists-Nepal (SEJON) on Thursday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating that Nepal has prioritised its journey to prosperity by internalising achievements made from the adoption of the open market policy and analysing shortcomings in it, the PM pledged to speed up the country's economic revival that was dashed severely by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. "Now, it requires the launch of the second phase of mega economic reforms in the country." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Finance Minister Janardan Sharma stressed the need for developing the state mechanism for infrastructure development and laws to make the public procurement act development-friendly. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"There are many challenges facing the country's economy. COVID-19 has severely affected the global economy. In this context, there is a need for us to increase capital expenditure and use new technology in development." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Industrialist and lawmaker Binod Chaudhary suggested that the government widen country's economic scopes while strengthening regulatory bodies of the state. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, President of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries Bishnu Agrawal underscored the need for a dialogue, coordination and cooperation between the government and private sector to promote industries and create employment opportunities in the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Also, President of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce Rajendra Malla suggested that the government resolve problems relating to middlepersons and a liquidity crisis facing the country. -- RSS</span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14158', 'image' => '20211203012916_20210715115732_adsafd.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 13:28:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14412', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Exports through Biratnagar Customs Increasing', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 3: Export through Biratnagar Customs, the prime trade point of Province 1, has been increasing since the last five years.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 3: Export through Biratnagar Customs, the prime trade point of Province 1, has been increasing since the last five years. While the average trade deficit rate of other customs points is 8 percent, the trade deficit of the Biratnagar customs is only 5.14 percent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the customs data, goods worth Rs 21.44 billion were exported through this customs in FY 2073/74, which surged to Rs 36.90 billion in FY 2077/78.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Export from the Biratnagar Customs Office, the third prime trade point of the country, is increasing annually. Although the trade deficit of Biratnagar Customs was less than that of other customs points, in the fiscal year 2077/78, the customs saw imports worth Rs 189.65 billion and exports worth Rs. 36.90 billion. Statistics show a trade deficit of 152.75 billion in this fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Biratnagar Customs Office, whose revenue collection dropped due to the Covid-19 pandemic, has exceeded its revenue target in July and August this year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Amit Tiwari, Customs Officer at the Biratnagar Customs Office, said that the Biratnagar Customs Office had collected less revenue in the fiscal year 2076/77 due to the closure of industries and businesses following the Covid-19 outbreak.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Tiwari said that the revenue of Biratnagar customs has come down as the Nepal Oil Corporation is transporting petroleum products only through Kakadvitta checkpoint as the transportation fare is less by Rs 3 per liter.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Biratnagar Customs Office has collected Rs 3.34 billion in revenue in June / July of the current fiscal year, which is 115.82 percent of the target. It has collected revenue of Rs 3.86 billion in August ie 100.13 percent of the target.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Raw soybean oil, MS billet, polythene granules, steel wire rod in coils, readymade garments, crude sunflower oil, food grains, maize, cooking gas, and industrial machinery are the main items imported through Biratnagar Customs.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, among the top 10 items exported through Biratnagar Customs are refined soybean oil, synthetic yarn, jute woven cloth, jute sacks and bags, cloth (except wool, cotton, terry cotton), noodles, pasta as well. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14157', 'image' => '20211203010448_ICP Biratnagar.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 13:04:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14411', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Rain, Snowfall in Forecast Today', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 3: The country's weather pattern is currently experiencing the westerly trough and low pressure system formed in the Arabian Sea.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 3: The country's weather pattern is currently experiencing the westerly trough and low pressure system formed in the Arabian Sea. As a result, light to moderate rainfall is likely to occur at a few places in Bagmati Province, Gandaki Province, Lumbini Province, Karnali Province and Sudur Pashchim Province today (December 3), according to the Meteorological Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the division has forecast chances of heavy snowfall at many places of the high mountainous region. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The sky of the Kathmandu Valley is cloudy from early morning today and the minimum temperature of the valley has been recorded at 10 degrees Celsius. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the weather is expected to remain generally to mostly cloudy in Bagmati Province, Gandaki Province, Lumbini Province and Karnali Province and partly to generally cloudy in rest of the provinces tonight.</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"">"Light rainfall is likely to occur at a few places in Bagmati Province, Gandaki Province, Lumbini Province and Karnali Province," the division said. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14156', 'image' => '20211203121748_20190208022443_a.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 12:17:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14410', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govt Imposes Ban on Entry of People from 9 Countries ', 'sub_title' => 'Surveillance Stepped Up in Birgunj in View of Omicron Variant ', 'summary' => 'December 3: The government has decided to impose a ban on arrival of people from nine countries including African countries that have reported cases of Omicron virus. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">December 3: The government has decided to impose a ban on arrival of people from nine countries including African countries that have reported cases of Omicron virus. The decision taken by a cabinet meeting on Monday has come into effect from Thursday (December 2). <br /> Following the cabinet decision, the passengers arriving in Nepal from these nine countries should mandatorily stay in hotel quarantine for seven days on their own expenses. <br /> A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Monday had decided to restrict the passengers from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Malawi and Hong Kong. <br /> The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers stated that the passengers coming to Nepal via those countries or those visiting them within the past three weeks would be restricted from coming to Nepal from Thursday midnight. The government took such decision as a precaution against the new variant of COVID-19 that has gradually increased in the recent days. <br /> Likewise, the government has decided not to issue on-arrival visa to the foreigners coming from those countries. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Border Surveillance</span></strong><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Government officials have stepped up surveillance in Birgunj border point along the Nepal-India border after India reported cases of Omicron variant of COVID-19.<br /> Chief District Officer (CDO) of Parsa Umesh Kumar Dhakal said that preparations have been made to conduct tests from the District COVID-19 Crisis Management Centre after the emergence of Omicron variant of COVID-19 in India. <br /> It is said that the administration is preparing an action plan to take precautions considering that the new variant of COVID-19 could enter Nepal from the southern neighbour. <br /> Officials are working to prepare the plan as Parsa district is at high risk of the new variant of the COVID-19 due to unrestricted human mobility between the two countries due to the open border. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14155', 'image' => '20211203111950_new_logo.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 11:18:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14409', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Webinar on 'Banking, Financial, and Risk Financing Skills’ Concludes', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 3: A three-day webinar program on ‘Baking, financial, and risk financing skills’ organised by Thulo.com and Enterprise for Management, Economic Reform and Gender Equality (EMERGE) with the support of USAID’s Tayar Nepal – Improved Disaster Risk Management Project, has concluded. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 3: A three-day webinar program on ‘Baking, financial, and risk financing skills’ organised by Thulo.com and Enterprise for Management, Economic Reform and Gender Equality (EMERGE) with the support of USAID’s Tayar Nepal – Improved Disaster Risk Management Project, has concluded. The online event was organised from November 29 to December 1, 2021.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the organisers, the online session is a part of the training ‘Building Resilient Businesses’ provided to more than 120 women producers/entrepreneurs from five provinces, 11 districts and 16 municipalities.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chief Executive Officer of EMERGE Dr Mona Shrestha Adhikari said that the objective of the sessions was to connect women entrepreneurs with several banks and insurance companies so that they can avail the government-subsidized loans and insurance schemes provided to Micro Small and Medium Enterprises.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The webinar provided a platform where banks and insurance companies could impart knowledge on digital finance, banking and insurance along with government norms and their services to women-led MSMEs as well as home-based producers,” she said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Banks including Rastriya Banijya Bank (RBB), Standard Chartered Bank, Nepal Investment Bank, as well as United Insurance and National Life and General Insurance (NLG) had participated in the webinar.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the RBB has prioritised subsidised loan initiated by the Government of Nepal, CEO of the bank Kiran Shrestha said, “We have provided subsidised loans to 3053 entrepreneurs, among which 2416 are women entrepreneurs.” He also stated that they are always ready to support women entrepreneurs and contribute to their empowerment.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Speaking at the program, Bijendra Suwal, deputy general manager of Nepal Investment Bank, said that it is necessary to encourage entrepreneurship in order to develop Nepal’s economy. Assuring to promote and support entrepreneurs to contribute to Nepal’s economic development, he shared the detailed information on various loan schemes including women entrepreneurs’ loan and required documents.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, experts of NLG Insurance and United Insurance stressed on the importance of insurance and shared about different types of insurance and schemes that support SMEs. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> <img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/received_1968393089986960.jpeg" style="height:407px; width:800px" /></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14154', 'image' => '20211203110259_financial-risk - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 11:01:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14408', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Electricity Authority to Upgrade Transmission Line in Karnali and Sudur Paschim Provinces', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 3: The government has forwarded a special plan for upgrading power system of hill districts in Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 3: The government has forwarded a special plan for upgrading power system of hill districts in Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The state-owned Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has signed a loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank recently for the construction of 132-KV Kohalpur-Surkhet transmission line in order to supply uninterrupted electricity to the districts of Karnali province. The NEA plans to construct a high-voltage transmission line by upgrading the existing 33-KV transmission line. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Although the transmission line from Kohalpur-Surkhet has a capacity of 33-KV, the transmission line from Surkhet to Kalikot is of only 11-KV capacity, resulting in massive disruption in power supply during monsoon due to low capacity transmission line. The Nepal Electricity Authority has forwarded a strategic plan in this regard with the support of donor agencies to resolve this problem. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation has set a target to provide electricity service in the districts that do not have access to central transmission line. The Ministry has directed the NEA to make a special package in order to provide electricity service to every household of the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has also expressed commitment not to let resource crunch affect the upgrading and expansion of transmission line in Karnali Province. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Study is being carried out for the construction of an additional 220-KV transmission line linking Dailekh of Surkhet to Jumla. The NEA is going to invest Rs 25 billion for the project. A package has been prepared in order to carry out activities with government’s investment in Dolpa. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Executive Director of NEA, Kulman Ghising, said that activities have been initiated in other districts as well by taking concessional loan from the European Investment Bank and AAIB. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Only 43 per cent population of Karnali Province have access to electricity. The NEA has given special priority keeping this situation of Karnali Province in mind, shared Ghising. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, out of 547,671 households in Sudurpaschim Province, 71.07 per cent households have access to central transmission line. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14153', 'image' => '20211203092824_Transmission.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 09:27:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14407', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Free Shuttle Bus Service Started at TIA ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 2: Free shuttle bus service has been started to and from the Golden Gate up to the internal terminal building of the Tribhuvan International Airport. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 2: Free shuttle bus service has been started to and from the Golden Gate up to the internal terminal building of the Tribhuvan International Airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Prem Bahadur Ale, inaugurated the shuttle bus service on Wednesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This service has been started for the convenience of the passengers and to stop the taxis operating from inside the airport from overcharging and fleecing the passengers. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Along with the free shuttle bus service, a resting shed has also been managed for the passengers at the airport. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) is operating this shuttle bus service free of cost. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-02', 'modified' => '2021-12-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14152', 'image' => '20211202020506_2009-03_Kathmandu_10.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-02 14:04:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14406', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '‘Made in Nepal Expo and Food Festival’ in February', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 2: The ‘Made in Nepal Expo and Food Fest’ is set to be organized in Birgunj in February.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 2: The ‘Made in Nepal Expo and Food Fest’ is set to be organized in Birgunj in February.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">It is the first time that such an expo is getting organized in collaboration between the Nepalese Young Entrepreneurs’ Forum (NYEF), Birgunj and New Business Age. NYEF informed about the expo during a press conference in Birgunj on Wednesday. The expo is scheduled to be organized from 24<sup><span style="font-size:7.0pt">th</span></sup> to 27<sup><span style="font-size:7.0pt">th</span></sup> of February, 2022.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Anup Agrawal, the president of NYEF, said that the expo would be organized at an open space located at the old buspark of Adarshanagar, Birgunj. The organizers have said that there would be 130 stalls set up for the encouragement of production and promotion of domestic industries. The exhibition will showcase domestically produced industrial products, services businesses, home-made and handicraft products, technology, local art and culture, literature, local food items and more.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the organizers, stall booking for the expo has started and special facilities will be provided at the stall for women and entrepreneurs who are differently abled. President Agrawal said that the exhibition is being organized with the aim of supporting the objective of financial development of the country through the exchange of experience among Nepali entrepreneurs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The exhibition is being organized as part of a campaign to awaken the spirit of entrepreneurship and establish enterprise trade as the backbone of the country's economic development with new and innovative thinking and research,” reads the statement issued by the organisers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The organizers have informed that training, branding, workshops and other programmes on entrepreneurship and innovation will also be conducted during the exhibition. The organizers believe that the exhibition will be effective in providing opportunities for the study and research for developing entrepreneurship, encouraging the application of theoretical knowledge in practice, and in initiating solutions to policy and procedural hurdles in the enterprise and business sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">This large scale exhibition is being organized for the promotion of domestically produced goods and services using Nepali labor, skills and knowledge from the raw resources and means available in the country itself. “This will make a significant contribution to building a self-reliant economy,” expressed President Agrawal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the organisers, interviews will be held between the producers of goods and services and the consumers in the exhibition and that the consumers will get information about the indigenous products. The organizers also claimed that the exhibition will help in the economic development of the country through the promotion of indigenous goods and services while exploring new investment possibilities.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-02', 'modified' => '2021-12-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14151', 'image' => '20211202015115_1638355410.made in nepal1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-02 13:50:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14404', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govt Fails to Collect Rs 171 Billion in Taxes as Taxpayers Move Court against Tax Assessment', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 2: The government has failed to collect more than Rs 171 billion in arrears from taxpayers.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 2: The government has failed to collect more than Rs 171 billion in arrears from taxpayers.</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> The state has not been able to collect a large amount of tax as the taxpayers are not satisfied with the tax fixed by the tax office. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The taxpayers have moved the court and have not paid the taxes on time. According to the latest report of the Inland Revenue Department, the total arrears is Rs. 171.39 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the IRD, the arrears of Rs 39.4 billion was yet to be collected as of last fiscal year (FY 2077/78). The disgruntled taxpayers have appealed to the administrative review and judicial bodies regarding tax assessment worth Rs. 131.98 billion as well.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In FY 2077/78, the IRD collected income tax of Rs. 2.51 billion against the target of Rs 10.1 billion. This is only 25 percent of the target.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, out of the target of Rs 4.47 billion towards value-added tax, Rs.5.41 billion has been collected. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Under the heading of arrears adjustment, the IRD had set a target of collecting Rs 23.35 billion, but it managed to collect only Rs 6.13 billion. This is 26 percent of the target. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, in terms of VAT, only Rs 4.28 billion has been collected out of Rs 10.45 billion. This amount is 41 percent of the total target. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the records kept by the IRD, it has settled arrears of Rs 28.86 billion as of FY 2077/78.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Raju Prasad Pyakurel, Information Officer of the department, they have been setting monthly and annual targets of settling arrears, preparing strategy, and monitoring the progress of arrears settlement.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He claimed that the department is mobilizing a separate unit to make adjustments and to settle arrears. The department is making progress every year, he added.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-02', 'modified' => '2021-12-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14150', 'image' => '20211202123550_20210116081553_Clipboard36.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-02 12:35:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14405', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism in Kalinchowk Limping back to Normalcy', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 2: Kalinchowk, a popular tourist destination in Dolakha district, has finally started to return back to its normal business. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 2: Kalinchowk, a popular tourist destination in Dolakha district, has finally started to return back to its normal business. Domestic tourists are increasing each day in Kalinchowk, the main reason being the snowfall season. Kalinchowk is one of the major tourist destinations of Nepal during the winter season.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Bimal Ojha, the manager of Hotel Sunpati, stated that there has been an increase in hotel bookings since the onset of snowfall as well as the decline in Covid-19 infections. According to him, the occupancy of hotels in the area is almost full, especially on Fridays.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Chandra Lama, another hotel entrepreneur based in Kuri, Kalinchowk stated that there has been an increase in the number of tourists lately. Businessmen say that the hotel occupancy reaches 80 percent on Fridays while it remains 30 to 40 percent on other days. Tourism activities were almost nil for the last one year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but has now resumed after the onset of snowfall.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Acting chief of Kalinchowk Cable Car, Sandesh Shivakoti, said there has been an increase in the number of people visiting Kalinchowk temple via the cable car as well. The cable car was also closed for over a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Kalinchowk area gets crowded during the snowfall season with domestic tourists. Kalinchowk is a favoured destinations for domestic tourists from nearby areas including Kathmandu valley and neighboring districts who wish to experience snowfall.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Thousands of people visit Kalinchowk every year with the aim to see the scenery, play in the snow and visit Kalinchok Bhagwati temple. Visitors at Kalinchok, with an altitude of 3,841 meters, can enjoy a panoramic view of the Rolwaling and Jugal mountain range and the sunset as well. There are 50 hotels in Kalinchowk. Even hoteliers in the district headquarters Charikot are excited as the number of domestic tourists has started increasing at a time when business had come to a standstill due to the pandemic. The hotel business in Dolakha is estimated to have incurred a daily loss of Rs 2.5 million during the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Rajesh Upreti, manager of Hotel Laxmi in Charikot, says that the hotel business in the district headquarters Charikot also increases when tourists visit Kalinchowk. “The hotel business here does well during the snowy season as it is full of tourists,” he said. He suggested that domestic tourists should book hotel room in advance as they may be left stranded if they do not book hotel room during the season of snowfall when the area is overcrowded.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-02', 'modified' => '2021-12-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14149', 'image' => '20211202010005_20181230033201_2222.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-02 12:59:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14403', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Railway Company Seeks Rs 350 Million Budget to Operate Trains', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 2: Nepal Railway Company has asked for a budget of Rs 350 million with the government to operate two sets of trains stranded in Inaruwa for the last fourteen months.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 2: Nepal Railway Company has asked for a budget of Rs 350 million with the government to operate two sets of trains stranded in Inaruwa for the last fourteen months. President Bidyadevi Bhandari issued the Railway Ordinance on Wednesday (December 1) which paved the way to operate these trains. But the company is still unable to operate the trains immediately due to lack of budget.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Niranjan Jha, general manager of the company, said that the legal hurdle has been removed to operate the railway service but the trains will run once the budget is released."We had written to the Ministry of Finance one and half months ago asking to release the budget. In response, the ministry said it will release the budget soon and asked us carry on the service with the company's budget for the time being," he added.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He claimed that if the budget is released soon, the railway service can begin within a few months. Nepal Railway Company needs to make payment of Rs 350 million to the Indian railway manufacturer Konkan and has to pay Rs100 million in taxes.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that the due amount has to be paid to 26 staffers of the Indian company Konkan required for the operation of the trains, as well as for equipment required for the technical tests. According to Jha, the budget is expected to be released in the next one week. He said that the technical aspects of railway operation will be tested and training will be provided to the employees once the budget is released. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ordinance has paved the way to determine the railway fares and freight charges. Earlier, the Railway Bill was issued during the tenure of the outgoing Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli which was later scrapped. The government had purchased two trains at Rs 856 million and brought them to Nepal in September, 2020 and a test operation was also conducted. A total of Rs 1 billion has already been invested in the procurement along with the customs duty. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-02', 'modified' => '2021-12-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14148', 'image' => '20211202121118_20211201110915_20190325112130_Clipboard43-5.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-02 12:10:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14402', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Urges Citizens not to Travel Abroad Unless Absolutely Necessary', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 2: The Ministry of Health and Population has appealed to one and all not to consider travelling abroad unless absolutely necessary.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 2:<strong> </strong>The</span><strong> </strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ministry of Health and Population has appealed to one and all not to consider travelling abroad unless absolutely necessary. According to the state-owned national news agency RSS, the ministry made such appeal in the wake of the spread of the 'Omicron' variant of COVID-19 in various countries. Urging all Nepalis to observe precaution against COVID-19, the ministry reportedly said that the 'Omicron' variant has not been detected in Nepal yet. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The monitoring and testing of this new variant has been expanded, RSS reported citing Joint Spokesperson at the Ministry Dr Samir Adhikari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Issuing a press statement on Wednesday, Dr Adhikari said that the new variant is very contagious and it would infect people of any age group. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Omicron variant was first detected in African countries some days ago and has been expanding rapidly across South Africa and Asia lately. The WHO has declared the new variant as the 'universal variant of concern'. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry has also urged one and all to get vaccinated against Coronavirus infection. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-02', 'modified' => '2021-12-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14147', 'image' => '20211202081956_Hc74d_0_0.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-02 08:19:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14401', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NMB Bank wins 'The Bank of the Year Asia 2021' Award ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 2: NMB Bank has succeeded to become the best bank in Asia. It has been awarded with the "The Bank of the Year Asia 2021" award by London-based The Banker magazine.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 2: NMB Bank has succeeded to become the best bank in Asia. It has been awarded with the "The Bank of the Year Asia 2021" award by London-based The Banker magazine. </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"">NMB Bank has been adjudged the best bank in Asia beating out stiff competition from banks based in Asian giants such as China, India, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The reportedly bank won this award because of its focus on sustainable banking, commitment towards digital transformation and high corporate governance standards. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Wednesday handed over the award jointly to NMB Chairperson Pawan Golyan, chief executive officer Sunil KC and the Board of Directors of the bank amid a programme organised at the official residence of the PM. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, PM Sher Deuba congratulated all those associated with the bank for creating a history, adding that the bank has enhanced the prestige of the entire banking industry of Nepal by being honoured with the coveted award. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-02', 'modified' => '2021-12-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14146', 'image' => '20211202081130_BOTY-Awards-2021-thumbnail.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-02 08:10:52', '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' => '14415', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'JICA to support Strengthening of Seed Production, Supply and Quality Control System in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 3: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed Record of Discussions with the Government of Nepal for the technical cooperation for Strengthening Seed Production, Supply and Quality Control System Project.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">December 3: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed Record of Discussions with the Government of Nepal for the technical cooperation for Strengthening Seed Production, Supply and Quality Control System Project. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">According to JICA, the implementation period of the project is for five years from March 2022 to March 2027 and the executing agencies are the Seed Quality Control Center (SQCC), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MOALD), Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), and the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoLMAC) of Province 1. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Issuing a statement on December 3, JICA said that the project will be implemented in Jhapa, Morang, Sunasari and Udayapur districts of Province 1. The purpose of the project is “to strengthen rice seed production, supply and quality control system” to improve </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt">productivity of rice by the means of dissemination of quality improved seeds in Province 1 and to strengthen the implementation of the rice seed production, supply and quality control system in Nepal, the statement added.</span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Rice is the fundamental crop of Nepal, noted JICA. “Everyone eats it, and farmers gain income out of it. In order to make the crop tasty, nutritious, and productive, the most important factor remains the quality of rice seeds,” reads the statement.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Even though rice farming contributes around 15 percent of the national GDP of Nepal, there is still possibility to increase its yield, says JICA adding that the usage of improved seed and increasing the replacement rate of seed are the key to achieve it.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">According to the statistic, seed replacement rate of rice in Nepal is around 20 percent at present, therefore, the Government of Nepal has adopted a strategy to raise the percentage to 25 percent. And it is estimated that the use of improved seeds of good quality will increase its yield by 15 percent, the statement further said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">“However, there are several processes before farmers can use the improved seeds with good quality. It is necessary to improve the quality of the system and capacity to produce quality seeds in Nepal. In this context, holistic support for improving seed production was requested to JICA.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">According to JICA, the project is expected to contribute for sustainable social and economic development of Nepal during and after the implementation period of the project. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14160', 'image' => '20211203040445_102.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 16:03:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14413', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Upgrading of Mardi Himal Foot Trail in Full Swing', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 3: The work of upgrading the Mardi Himal trekking route has moved forward in full swing.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 3: The work of upgrading the Mardi Himal trekking route has moved forward in full swing. This foot trail is being upgraded as the mountain can be reached in a short time following this route.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">With the increasing attraction of domestic and foreign tourists in recent years, the Mardi Himal trail has managed to grab the attention of the state as well. The government started the work of upgrading the foot trail with the help of the Department of Tourism. Under this project, 4,200 steps have been constructed up to the low camp view point and 250 cubic meters of machinery wall has been constructed as well.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the work of placing railings weighing 4,000 kg in various difficult places of the foot trail has been completed, said Sudip Gautam, a tourism entrepreneur and founder s well as chairman of Mardi Trek Tourism Management and Entrepreneurs Committee. He said that the Mardi Trek has been the top choice of domestic and foreign tourists in recent years as it is a trekking route that is convenient for people of any age group.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that every scenic view of this trekking route is full of natural beauty, Gautam shared that trekking activities in the area have also been affected due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">People of all age group can walk along this trekking route. Along the route, trekkers can enjoy the view of blooming rhododendrons, see and hear the birds chirping in the forest. Mountains like Machhapuchre, Mardi, Annapurna South, Gangapurna can be observed at the same time.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Gautam expressed his confidence stating that the tourism industry in this region will return to normalcy after the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to him, there are about 100 hotels on this trekking route from Dhampus up to the View Point. In his opinion, all the entrepreneurs and workers in the region need to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to restore the trekking and tourism business.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Hoteliers say that the beauty of the place intensifies during the months of April and May since the national flower of Nepal, rhododendron blooms along the foot trail throughout the jungle. According to him, another important part of the trek is that even if you see a pink rhododendron at the beginning of the trek, you can find the rhododendron blooming in dark red color. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Som Thapa, former president of the Trekking Agencies Association Nepal (TAAN) Western Regional Association, said that the tourism sector has been badly affected due to the impact of Covid-19.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that upgrading of foot trails in the middle of the pandemic would further support tourism activities, Thapa, who is also the former chairman of Pokhara Tourism Council, emphasized on the need to vaccinate all entrepreneurs and workers on the trekking route.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Sudip Gautam, who is also the manager of Hotel Trekkers Paradise at Mardi High Camp, the construction of hotels at other places along the foot trail area has gained momentum ever since the hotel was opened at Mardi High Camp in 2007. Starting from Kande of Kaski, this trekking route leads to Mardi High Camp via Australian Camp, Pothana, Pritam Deurali, Forest Camp, Low Camp and Badal Danda. Hotels have come into operation for food and stay in all of these places.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Mardi High Camp is situated at an altitude of 3,550 meters above the sea level, from which, the View Point located at an altitude of 4,200 meters can be reached in about two hours and from there, Mardi Base Camp which is located at an altitude of 5,500 meters, can be reached in two hours. The trekkers starting the trek from Kande can return back from Siding of Machhapuchhre rural municipality. Tourists can reach Pokhara in about two hours by jeep from Siding. Established as a nature-based foot trail, the foot trail will have 4,200 steps from the low camp to the viewpoint. It will make the trekking safer, say tourism entrepreneurs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In order to rescue the trekking and tourism business which was affected greatly due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Nepal Tourism Board and UNDP have made joint efforts to promote trekking and tourism targeted programmes. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14159', 'image' => '20211203011912_1638503922.Clipboard13.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 13:18:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14414', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govt Effortful to Create Conducive Environment for Investment: PM Deuba ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 3: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has urged domestic and foreign investors to invest confidently in the country as he assured that the government would take all possible efforts to create an environment conducive for investment. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 3: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has urged domestic and foreign investors to invest confidently in the country as he assured that the government would take all possible efforts to create an environment conducive for investment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Your investments and properties in Nepal will be secured. I assure that the government will guarantee this," said Deuba during the silver jubilee celebration of the Society of Economic Journalists-Nepal (SEJON) on Thursday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating that Nepal has prioritised its journey to prosperity by internalising achievements made from the adoption of the open market policy and analysing shortcomings in it, the PM pledged to speed up the country's economic revival that was dashed severely by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. "Now, it requires the launch of the second phase of mega economic reforms in the country." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Finance Minister Janardan Sharma stressed the need for developing the state mechanism for infrastructure development and laws to make the public procurement act development-friendly. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"There are many challenges facing the country's economy. COVID-19 has severely affected the global economy. In this context, there is a need for us to increase capital expenditure and use new technology in development." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Industrialist and lawmaker Binod Chaudhary suggested that the government widen country's economic scopes while strengthening regulatory bodies of the state. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, President of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries Bishnu Agrawal underscored the need for a dialogue, coordination and cooperation between the government and private sector to promote industries and create employment opportunities in the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Also, President of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce Rajendra Malla suggested that the government resolve problems relating to middlepersons and a liquidity crisis facing the country. -- RSS</span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14158', 'image' => '20211203012916_20210715115732_adsafd.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 13:28:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14412', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Exports through Biratnagar Customs Increasing', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 3: Export through Biratnagar Customs, the prime trade point of Province 1, has been increasing since the last five years.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 3: Export through Biratnagar Customs, the prime trade point of Province 1, has been increasing since the last five years. While the average trade deficit rate of other customs points is 8 percent, the trade deficit of the Biratnagar customs is only 5.14 percent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the customs data, goods worth Rs 21.44 billion were exported through this customs in FY 2073/74, which surged to Rs 36.90 billion in FY 2077/78.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Export from the Biratnagar Customs Office, the third prime trade point of the country, is increasing annually. Although the trade deficit of Biratnagar Customs was less than that of other customs points, in the fiscal year 2077/78, the customs saw imports worth Rs 189.65 billion and exports worth Rs. 36.90 billion. Statistics show a trade deficit of 152.75 billion in this fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Biratnagar Customs Office, whose revenue collection dropped due to the Covid-19 pandemic, has exceeded its revenue target in July and August this year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Amit Tiwari, Customs Officer at the Biratnagar Customs Office, said that the Biratnagar Customs Office had collected less revenue in the fiscal year 2076/77 due to the closure of industries and businesses following the Covid-19 outbreak.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Tiwari said that the revenue of Biratnagar customs has come down as the Nepal Oil Corporation is transporting petroleum products only through Kakadvitta checkpoint as the transportation fare is less by Rs 3 per liter.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Biratnagar Customs Office has collected Rs 3.34 billion in revenue in June / July of the current fiscal year, which is 115.82 percent of the target. It has collected revenue of Rs 3.86 billion in August ie 100.13 percent of the target.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Raw soybean oil, MS billet, polythene granules, steel wire rod in coils, readymade garments, crude sunflower oil, food grains, maize, cooking gas, and industrial machinery are the main items imported through Biratnagar Customs.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, among the top 10 items exported through Biratnagar Customs are refined soybean oil, synthetic yarn, jute woven cloth, jute sacks and bags, cloth (except wool, cotton, terry cotton), noodles, pasta as well. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14157', 'image' => '20211203010448_ICP Biratnagar.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 13:04:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14411', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Rain, Snowfall in Forecast Today', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 3: The country's weather pattern is currently experiencing the westerly trough and low pressure system formed in the Arabian Sea.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 3: The country's weather pattern is currently experiencing the westerly trough and low pressure system formed in the Arabian Sea. As a result, light to moderate rainfall is likely to occur at a few places in Bagmati Province, Gandaki Province, Lumbini Province, Karnali Province and Sudur Pashchim Province today (December 3), according to the Meteorological Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the division has forecast chances of heavy snowfall at many places of the high mountainous region. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The sky of the Kathmandu Valley is cloudy from early morning today and the minimum temperature of the valley has been recorded at 10 degrees Celsius. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the weather is expected to remain generally to mostly cloudy in Bagmati Province, Gandaki Province, Lumbini Province and Karnali Province and partly to generally cloudy in rest of the provinces tonight.</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"">"Light rainfall is likely to occur at a few places in Bagmati Province, Gandaki Province, Lumbini Province and Karnali Province," the division said. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14156', 'image' => '20211203121748_20190208022443_a.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 12:17:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14410', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govt Imposes Ban on Entry of People from 9 Countries ', 'sub_title' => 'Surveillance Stepped Up in Birgunj in View of Omicron Variant ', 'summary' => 'December 3: The government has decided to impose a ban on arrival of people from nine countries including African countries that have reported cases of Omicron virus. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">December 3: The government has decided to impose a ban on arrival of people from nine countries including African countries that have reported cases of Omicron virus. The decision taken by a cabinet meeting on Monday has come into effect from Thursday (December 2). <br /> Following the cabinet decision, the passengers arriving in Nepal from these nine countries should mandatorily stay in hotel quarantine for seven days on their own expenses. <br /> A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Monday had decided to restrict the passengers from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Malawi and Hong Kong. <br /> The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers stated that the passengers coming to Nepal via those countries or those visiting them within the past three weeks would be restricted from coming to Nepal from Thursday midnight. The government took such decision as a precaution against the new variant of COVID-19 that has gradually increased in the recent days. <br /> Likewise, the government has decided not to issue on-arrival visa to the foreigners coming from those countries. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Border Surveillance</span></strong><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Government officials have stepped up surveillance in Birgunj border point along the Nepal-India border after India reported cases of Omicron variant of COVID-19.<br /> Chief District Officer (CDO) of Parsa Umesh Kumar Dhakal said that preparations have been made to conduct tests from the District COVID-19 Crisis Management Centre after the emergence of Omicron variant of COVID-19 in India. <br /> It is said that the administration is preparing an action plan to take precautions considering that the new variant of COVID-19 could enter Nepal from the southern neighbour. <br /> Officials are working to prepare the plan as Parsa district is at high risk of the new variant of the COVID-19 due to unrestricted human mobility between the two countries due to the open border. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14155', 'image' => '20211203111950_new_logo.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 11:18:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14409', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Webinar on 'Banking, Financial, and Risk Financing Skills’ Concludes', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 3: A three-day webinar program on ‘Baking, financial, and risk financing skills’ organised by Thulo.com and Enterprise for Management, Economic Reform and Gender Equality (EMERGE) with the support of USAID’s Tayar Nepal – Improved Disaster Risk Management Project, has concluded. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 3: A three-day webinar program on ‘Baking, financial, and risk financing skills’ organised by Thulo.com and Enterprise for Management, Economic Reform and Gender Equality (EMERGE) with the support of USAID’s Tayar Nepal – Improved Disaster Risk Management Project, has concluded. The online event was organised from November 29 to December 1, 2021.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the organisers, the online session is a part of the training ‘Building Resilient Businesses’ provided to more than 120 women producers/entrepreneurs from five provinces, 11 districts and 16 municipalities.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chief Executive Officer of EMERGE Dr Mona Shrestha Adhikari said that the objective of the sessions was to connect women entrepreneurs with several banks and insurance companies so that they can avail the government-subsidized loans and insurance schemes provided to Micro Small and Medium Enterprises.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The webinar provided a platform where banks and insurance companies could impart knowledge on digital finance, banking and insurance along with government norms and their services to women-led MSMEs as well as home-based producers,” she said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Banks including Rastriya Banijya Bank (RBB), Standard Chartered Bank, Nepal Investment Bank, as well as United Insurance and National Life and General Insurance (NLG) had participated in the webinar.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the RBB has prioritised subsidised loan initiated by the Government of Nepal, CEO of the bank Kiran Shrestha said, “We have provided subsidised loans to 3053 entrepreneurs, among which 2416 are women entrepreneurs.” He also stated that they are always ready to support women entrepreneurs and contribute to their empowerment.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Speaking at the program, Bijendra Suwal, deputy general manager of Nepal Investment Bank, said that it is necessary to encourage entrepreneurship in order to develop Nepal’s economy. Assuring to promote and support entrepreneurs to contribute to Nepal’s economic development, he shared the detailed information on various loan schemes including women entrepreneurs’ loan and required documents.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, experts of NLG Insurance and United Insurance stressed on the importance of insurance and shared about different types of insurance and schemes that support SMEs. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> <img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/received_1968393089986960.jpeg" style="height:407px; width:800px" /></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14154', 'image' => '20211203110259_financial-risk - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 11:01:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14408', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Electricity Authority to Upgrade Transmission Line in Karnali and Sudur Paschim Provinces', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 3: The government has forwarded a special plan for upgrading power system of hill districts in Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 3: The government has forwarded a special plan for upgrading power system of hill districts in Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The state-owned Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has signed a loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank recently for the construction of 132-KV Kohalpur-Surkhet transmission line in order to supply uninterrupted electricity to the districts of Karnali province. The NEA plans to construct a high-voltage transmission line by upgrading the existing 33-KV transmission line. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Although the transmission line from Kohalpur-Surkhet has a capacity of 33-KV, the transmission line from Surkhet to Kalikot is of only 11-KV capacity, resulting in massive disruption in power supply during monsoon due to low capacity transmission line. The Nepal Electricity Authority has forwarded a strategic plan in this regard with the support of donor agencies to resolve this problem. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation has set a target to provide electricity service in the districts that do not have access to central transmission line. The Ministry has directed the NEA to make a special package in order to provide electricity service to every household of the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has also expressed commitment not to let resource crunch affect the upgrading and expansion of transmission line in Karnali Province. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Study is being carried out for the construction of an additional 220-KV transmission line linking Dailekh of Surkhet to Jumla. The NEA is going to invest Rs 25 billion for the project. A package has been prepared in order to carry out activities with government’s investment in Dolpa. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Executive Director of NEA, Kulman Ghising, said that activities have been initiated in other districts as well by taking concessional loan from the European Investment Bank and AAIB. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Only 43 per cent population of Karnali Province have access to electricity. The NEA has given special priority keeping this situation of Karnali Province in mind, shared Ghising. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, out of 547,671 households in Sudurpaschim Province, 71.07 per cent households have access to central transmission line. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14153', 'image' => '20211203092824_Transmission.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 09:27:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14407', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Free Shuttle Bus Service Started at TIA ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 2: Free shuttle bus service has been started to and from the Golden Gate up to the internal terminal building of the Tribhuvan International Airport. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 2: Free shuttle bus service has been started to and from the Golden Gate up to the internal terminal building of the Tribhuvan International Airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Prem Bahadur Ale, inaugurated the shuttle bus service on Wednesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This service has been started for the convenience of the passengers and to stop the taxis operating from inside the airport from overcharging and fleecing the passengers. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Along with the free shuttle bus service, a resting shed has also been managed for the passengers at the airport. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) is operating this shuttle bus service free of cost. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-02', 'modified' => '2021-12-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14152', 'image' => '20211202020506_2009-03_Kathmandu_10.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-02 14:04:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14406', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '‘Made in Nepal Expo and Food Festival’ in February', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 2: The ‘Made in Nepal Expo and Food Fest’ is set to be organized in Birgunj in February.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 2: The ‘Made in Nepal Expo and Food Fest’ is set to be organized in Birgunj in February.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">It is the first time that such an expo is getting organized in collaboration between the Nepalese Young Entrepreneurs’ Forum (NYEF), Birgunj and New Business Age. NYEF informed about the expo during a press conference in Birgunj on Wednesday. The expo is scheduled to be organized from 24<sup><span style="font-size:7.0pt">th</span></sup> to 27<sup><span style="font-size:7.0pt">th</span></sup> of February, 2022.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Anup Agrawal, the president of NYEF, said that the expo would be organized at an open space located at the old buspark of Adarshanagar, Birgunj. The organizers have said that there would be 130 stalls set up for the encouragement of production and promotion of domestic industries. The exhibition will showcase domestically produced industrial products, services businesses, home-made and handicraft products, technology, local art and culture, literature, local food items and more.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the organizers, stall booking for the expo has started and special facilities will be provided at the stall for women and entrepreneurs who are differently abled. President Agrawal said that the exhibition is being organized with the aim of supporting the objective of financial development of the country through the exchange of experience among Nepali entrepreneurs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The exhibition is being organized as part of a campaign to awaken the spirit of entrepreneurship and establish enterprise trade as the backbone of the country's economic development with new and innovative thinking and research,” reads the statement issued by the organisers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The organizers have informed that training, branding, workshops and other programmes on entrepreneurship and innovation will also be conducted during the exhibition. The organizers believe that the exhibition will be effective in providing opportunities for the study and research for developing entrepreneurship, encouraging the application of theoretical knowledge in practice, and in initiating solutions to policy and procedural hurdles in the enterprise and business sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">This large scale exhibition is being organized for the promotion of domestically produced goods and services using Nepali labor, skills and knowledge from the raw resources and means available in the country itself. “This will make a significant contribution to building a self-reliant economy,” expressed President Agrawal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the organisers, interviews will be held between the producers of goods and services and the consumers in the exhibition and that the consumers will get information about the indigenous products. The organizers also claimed that the exhibition will help in the economic development of the country through the promotion of indigenous goods and services while exploring new investment possibilities.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-02', 'modified' => '2021-12-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14151', 'image' => '20211202015115_1638355410.made in nepal1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-02 13:50:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14404', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govt Fails to Collect Rs 171 Billion in Taxes as Taxpayers Move Court against Tax Assessment', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 2: The government has failed to collect more than Rs 171 billion in arrears from taxpayers.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 2: The government has failed to collect more than Rs 171 billion in arrears from taxpayers.</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> The state has not been able to collect a large amount of tax as the taxpayers are not satisfied with the tax fixed by the tax office. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The taxpayers have moved the court and have not paid the taxes on time. According to the latest report of the Inland Revenue Department, the total arrears is Rs. 171.39 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the IRD, the arrears of Rs 39.4 billion was yet to be collected as of last fiscal year (FY 2077/78). The disgruntled taxpayers have appealed to the administrative review and judicial bodies regarding tax assessment worth Rs. 131.98 billion as well.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In FY 2077/78, the IRD collected income tax of Rs. 2.51 billion against the target of Rs 10.1 billion. This is only 25 percent of the target.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, out of the target of Rs 4.47 billion towards value-added tax, Rs.5.41 billion has been collected. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Under the heading of arrears adjustment, the IRD had set a target of collecting Rs 23.35 billion, but it managed to collect only Rs 6.13 billion. This is 26 percent of the target. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, in terms of VAT, only Rs 4.28 billion has been collected out of Rs 10.45 billion. This amount is 41 percent of the total target. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the records kept by the IRD, it has settled arrears of Rs 28.86 billion as of FY 2077/78.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Raju Prasad Pyakurel, Information Officer of the department, they have been setting monthly and annual targets of settling arrears, preparing strategy, and monitoring the progress of arrears settlement.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He claimed that the department is mobilizing a separate unit to make adjustments and to settle arrears. The department is making progress every year, he added.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-02', 'modified' => '2021-12-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14150', 'image' => '20211202123550_20210116081553_Clipboard36.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-02 12:35:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14405', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism in Kalinchowk Limping back to Normalcy', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 2: Kalinchowk, a popular tourist destination in Dolakha district, has finally started to return back to its normal business. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 2: Kalinchowk, a popular tourist destination in Dolakha district, has finally started to return back to its normal business. Domestic tourists are increasing each day in Kalinchowk, the main reason being the snowfall season. Kalinchowk is one of the major tourist destinations of Nepal during the winter season.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Bimal Ojha, the manager of Hotel Sunpati, stated that there has been an increase in hotel bookings since the onset of snowfall as well as the decline in Covid-19 infections. According to him, the occupancy of hotels in the area is almost full, especially on Fridays.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Chandra Lama, another hotel entrepreneur based in Kuri, Kalinchowk stated that there has been an increase in the number of tourists lately. Businessmen say that the hotel occupancy reaches 80 percent on Fridays while it remains 30 to 40 percent on other days. Tourism activities were almost nil for the last one year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but has now resumed after the onset of snowfall.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Acting chief of Kalinchowk Cable Car, Sandesh Shivakoti, said there has been an increase in the number of people visiting Kalinchowk temple via the cable car as well. The cable car was also closed for over a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Kalinchowk area gets crowded during the snowfall season with domestic tourists. Kalinchowk is a favoured destinations for domestic tourists from nearby areas including Kathmandu valley and neighboring districts who wish to experience snowfall.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Thousands of people visit Kalinchowk every year with the aim to see the scenery, play in the snow and visit Kalinchok Bhagwati temple. Visitors at Kalinchok, with an altitude of 3,841 meters, can enjoy a panoramic view of the Rolwaling and Jugal mountain range and the sunset as well. There are 50 hotels in Kalinchowk. Even hoteliers in the district headquarters Charikot are excited as the number of domestic tourists has started increasing at a time when business had come to a standstill due to the pandemic. The hotel business in Dolakha is estimated to have incurred a daily loss of Rs 2.5 million during the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Rajesh Upreti, manager of Hotel Laxmi in Charikot, says that the hotel business in the district headquarters Charikot also increases when tourists visit Kalinchowk. “The hotel business here does well during the snowy season as it is full of tourists,” he said. He suggested that domestic tourists should book hotel room in advance as they may be left stranded if they do not book hotel room during the season of snowfall when the area is overcrowded.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-02', 'modified' => '2021-12-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14149', 'image' => '20211202010005_20181230033201_2222.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-02 12:59:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14403', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Railway Company Seeks Rs 350 Million Budget to Operate Trains', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 2: Nepal Railway Company has asked for a budget of Rs 350 million with the government to operate two sets of trains stranded in Inaruwa for the last fourteen months.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 2: Nepal Railway Company has asked for a budget of Rs 350 million with the government to operate two sets of trains stranded in Inaruwa for the last fourteen months. President Bidyadevi Bhandari issued the Railway Ordinance on Wednesday (December 1) which paved the way to operate these trains. But the company is still unable to operate the trains immediately due to lack of budget.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Niranjan Jha, general manager of the company, said that the legal hurdle has been removed to operate the railway service but the trains will run once the budget is released."We had written to the Ministry of Finance one and half months ago asking to release the budget. In response, the ministry said it will release the budget soon and asked us carry on the service with the company's budget for the time being," he added.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He claimed that if the budget is released soon, the railway service can begin within a few months. Nepal Railway Company needs to make payment of Rs 350 million to the Indian railway manufacturer Konkan and has to pay Rs100 million in taxes.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that the due amount has to be paid to 26 staffers of the Indian company Konkan required for the operation of the trains, as well as for equipment required for the technical tests. According to Jha, the budget is expected to be released in the next one week. He said that the technical aspects of railway operation will be tested and training will be provided to the employees once the budget is released. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ordinance has paved the way to determine the railway fares and freight charges. Earlier, the Railway Bill was issued during the tenure of the outgoing Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli which was later scrapped. The government had purchased two trains at Rs 856 million and brought them to Nepal in September, 2020 and a test operation was also conducted. A total of Rs 1 billion has already been invested in the procurement along with the customs duty. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-02', 'modified' => '2021-12-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14148', 'image' => '20211202121118_20211201110915_20190325112130_Clipboard43-5.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-02 12:10:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14402', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Urges Citizens not to Travel Abroad Unless Absolutely Necessary', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 2: The Ministry of Health and Population has appealed to one and all not to consider travelling abroad unless absolutely necessary.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 2:<strong> </strong>The</span><strong> </strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ministry of Health and Population has appealed to one and all not to consider travelling abroad unless absolutely necessary. According to the state-owned national news agency RSS, the ministry made such appeal in the wake of the spread of the 'Omicron' variant of COVID-19 in various countries. Urging all Nepalis to observe precaution against COVID-19, the ministry reportedly said that the 'Omicron' variant has not been detected in Nepal yet. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The monitoring and testing of this new variant has been expanded, RSS reported citing Joint Spokesperson at the Ministry Dr Samir Adhikari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Issuing a press statement on Wednesday, Dr Adhikari said that the new variant is very contagious and it would infect people of any age group. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Omicron variant was first detected in African countries some days ago and has been expanding rapidly across South Africa and Asia lately. The WHO has declared the new variant as the 'universal variant of concern'. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry has also urged one and all to get vaccinated against Coronavirus infection. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-02', 'modified' => '2021-12-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14147', 'image' => '20211202081956_Hc74d_0_0.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-02 08:19:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14401', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NMB Bank wins 'The Bank of the Year Asia 2021' Award ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 2: NMB Bank has succeeded to become the best bank in Asia. It has been awarded with the "The Bank of the Year Asia 2021" award by London-based The Banker magazine.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 2: NMB Bank has succeeded to become the best bank in Asia. It has been awarded with the "The Bank of the Year Asia 2021" award by London-based The Banker magazine. </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"">NMB Bank has been adjudged the best bank in Asia beating out stiff competition from banks based in Asian giants such as China, India, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The reportedly bank won this award because of its focus on sustainable banking, commitment towards digital transformation and high corporate governance standards. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Wednesday handed over the award jointly to NMB Chairperson Pawan Golyan, chief executive officer Sunil KC and the Board of Directors of the bank amid a programme organised at the official residence of the PM. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, PM Sher Deuba congratulated all those associated with the bank for creating a history, adding that the bank has enhanced the prestige of the entire banking industry of Nepal by being honoured with the coveted award. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-02', 'modified' => '2021-12-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14146', 'image' => '20211202081130_BOTY-Awards-2021-thumbnail.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-02 08:10:52', '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' => '14415', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'JICA to support Strengthening of Seed Production, Supply and Quality Control System in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 3: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed Record of Discussions with the Government of Nepal for the technical cooperation for Strengthening Seed Production, Supply and Quality Control System Project.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">December 3: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed Record of Discussions with the Government of Nepal for the technical cooperation for Strengthening Seed Production, Supply and Quality Control System Project. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">According to JICA, the implementation period of the project is for five years from March 2022 to March 2027 and the executing agencies are the Seed Quality Control Center (SQCC), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MOALD), Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), and the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoLMAC) of Province 1. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Issuing a statement on December 3, JICA said that the project will be implemented in Jhapa, Morang, Sunasari and Udayapur districts of Province 1. The purpose of the project is “to strengthen rice seed production, supply and quality control system” to improve </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt">productivity of rice by the means of dissemination of quality improved seeds in Province 1 and to strengthen the implementation of the rice seed production, supply and quality control system in Nepal, the statement added.</span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Rice is the fundamental crop of Nepal, noted JICA. “Everyone eats it, and farmers gain income out of it. In order to make the crop tasty, nutritious, and productive, the most important factor remains the quality of rice seeds,” reads the statement.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Even though rice farming contributes around 15 percent of the national GDP of Nepal, there is still possibility to increase its yield, says JICA adding that the usage of improved seed and increasing the replacement rate of seed are the key to achieve it.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">According to the statistic, seed replacement rate of rice in Nepal is around 20 percent at present, therefore, the Government of Nepal has adopted a strategy to raise the percentage to 25 percent. And it is estimated that the use of improved seeds of good quality will increase its yield by 15 percent, the statement further said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">“However, there are several processes before farmers can use the improved seeds with good quality. It is necessary to improve the quality of the system and capacity to produce quality seeds in Nepal. In this context, holistic support for improving seed production was requested to JICA.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">According to JICA, the project is expected to contribute for sustainable social and economic development of Nepal during and after the implementation period of the project. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14160', 'image' => '20211203040445_102.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 16:03:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14413', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Upgrading of Mardi Himal Foot Trail in Full Swing', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 3: The work of upgrading the Mardi Himal trekking route has moved forward in full swing.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 3: The work of upgrading the Mardi Himal trekking route has moved forward in full swing. This foot trail is being upgraded as the mountain can be reached in a short time following this route.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">With the increasing attraction of domestic and foreign tourists in recent years, the Mardi Himal trail has managed to grab the attention of the state as well. The government started the work of upgrading the foot trail with the help of the Department of Tourism. Under this project, 4,200 steps have been constructed up to the low camp view point and 250 cubic meters of machinery wall has been constructed as well.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the work of placing railings weighing 4,000 kg in various difficult places of the foot trail has been completed, said Sudip Gautam, a tourism entrepreneur and founder s well as chairman of Mardi Trek Tourism Management and Entrepreneurs Committee. He said that the Mardi Trek has been the top choice of domestic and foreign tourists in recent years as it is a trekking route that is convenient for people of any age group.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that every scenic view of this trekking route is full of natural beauty, Gautam shared that trekking activities in the area have also been affected due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">People of all age group can walk along this trekking route. Along the route, trekkers can enjoy the view of blooming rhododendrons, see and hear the birds chirping in the forest. Mountains like Machhapuchre, Mardi, Annapurna South, Gangapurna can be observed at the same time.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Gautam expressed his confidence stating that the tourism industry in this region will return to normalcy after the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to him, there are about 100 hotels on this trekking route from Dhampus up to the View Point. In his opinion, all the entrepreneurs and workers in the region need to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to restore the trekking and tourism business.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Hoteliers say that the beauty of the place intensifies during the months of April and May since the national flower of Nepal, rhododendron blooms along the foot trail throughout the jungle. According to him, another important part of the trek is that even if you see a pink rhododendron at the beginning of the trek, you can find the rhododendron blooming in dark red color. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Som Thapa, former president of the Trekking Agencies Association Nepal (TAAN) Western Regional Association, said that the tourism sector has been badly affected due to the impact of Covid-19.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that upgrading of foot trails in the middle of the pandemic would further support tourism activities, Thapa, who is also the former chairman of Pokhara Tourism Council, emphasized on the need to vaccinate all entrepreneurs and workers on the trekking route.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Sudip Gautam, who is also the manager of Hotel Trekkers Paradise at Mardi High Camp, the construction of hotels at other places along the foot trail area has gained momentum ever since the hotel was opened at Mardi High Camp in 2007. Starting from Kande of Kaski, this trekking route leads to Mardi High Camp via Australian Camp, Pothana, Pritam Deurali, Forest Camp, Low Camp and Badal Danda. Hotels have come into operation for food and stay in all of these places.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Mardi High Camp is situated at an altitude of 3,550 meters above the sea level, from which, the View Point located at an altitude of 4,200 meters can be reached in about two hours and from there, Mardi Base Camp which is located at an altitude of 5,500 meters, can be reached in two hours. The trekkers starting the trek from Kande can return back from Siding of Machhapuchhre rural municipality. Tourists can reach Pokhara in about two hours by jeep from Siding. Established as a nature-based foot trail, the foot trail will have 4,200 steps from the low camp to the viewpoint. It will make the trekking safer, say tourism entrepreneurs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In order to rescue the trekking and tourism business which was affected greatly due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Nepal Tourism Board and UNDP have made joint efforts to promote trekking and tourism targeted programmes. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14159', 'image' => '20211203011912_1638503922.Clipboard13.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 13:18:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14414', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govt Effortful to Create Conducive Environment for Investment: PM Deuba ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 3: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has urged domestic and foreign investors to invest confidently in the country as he assured that the government would take all possible efforts to create an environment conducive for investment. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 3: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has urged domestic and foreign investors to invest confidently in the country as he assured that the government would take all possible efforts to create an environment conducive for investment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Your investments and properties in Nepal will be secured. I assure that the government will guarantee this," said Deuba during the silver jubilee celebration of the Society of Economic Journalists-Nepal (SEJON) on Thursday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating that Nepal has prioritised its journey to prosperity by internalising achievements made from the adoption of the open market policy and analysing shortcomings in it, the PM pledged to speed up the country's economic revival that was dashed severely by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. "Now, it requires the launch of the second phase of mega economic reforms in the country." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Finance Minister Janardan Sharma stressed the need for developing the state mechanism for infrastructure development and laws to make the public procurement act development-friendly. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"There are many challenges facing the country's economy. COVID-19 has severely affected the global economy. In this context, there is a need for us to increase capital expenditure and use new technology in development." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Industrialist and lawmaker Binod Chaudhary suggested that the government widen country's economic scopes while strengthening regulatory bodies of the state. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, President of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries Bishnu Agrawal underscored the need for a dialogue, coordination and cooperation between the government and private sector to promote industries and create employment opportunities in the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Also, President of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce Rajendra Malla suggested that the government resolve problems relating to middlepersons and a liquidity crisis facing the country. -- RSS</span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14158', 'image' => '20211203012916_20210715115732_adsafd.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 13:28:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14412', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Exports through Biratnagar Customs Increasing', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 3: Export through Biratnagar Customs, the prime trade point of Province 1, has been increasing since the last five years.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 3: Export through Biratnagar Customs, the prime trade point of Province 1, has been increasing since the last five years. While the average trade deficit rate of other customs points is 8 percent, the trade deficit of the Biratnagar customs is only 5.14 percent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the customs data, goods worth Rs 21.44 billion were exported through this customs in FY 2073/74, which surged to Rs 36.90 billion in FY 2077/78.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Export from the Biratnagar Customs Office, the third prime trade point of the country, is increasing annually. Although the trade deficit of Biratnagar Customs was less than that of other customs points, in the fiscal year 2077/78, the customs saw imports worth Rs 189.65 billion and exports worth Rs. 36.90 billion. Statistics show a trade deficit of 152.75 billion in this fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Biratnagar Customs Office, whose revenue collection dropped due to the Covid-19 pandemic, has exceeded its revenue target in July and August this year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Amit Tiwari, Customs Officer at the Biratnagar Customs Office, said that the Biratnagar Customs Office had collected less revenue in the fiscal year 2076/77 due to the closure of industries and businesses following the Covid-19 outbreak.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Tiwari said that the revenue of Biratnagar customs has come down as the Nepal Oil Corporation is transporting petroleum products only through Kakadvitta checkpoint as the transportation fare is less by Rs 3 per liter.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Biratnagar Customs Office has collected Rs 3.34 billion in revenue in June / July of the current fiscal year, which is 115.82 percent of the target. It has collected revenue of Rs 3.86 billion in August ie 100.13 percent of the target.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Raw soybean oil, MS billet, polythene granules, steel wire rod in coils, readymade garments, crude sunflower oil, food grains, maize, cooking gas, and industrial machinery are the main items imported through Biratnagar Customs.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, among the top 10 items exported through Biratnagar Customs are refined soybean oil, synthetic yarn, jute woven cloth, jute sacks and bags, cloth (except wool, cotton, terry cotton), noodles, pasta as well. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14157', 'image' => '20211203010448_ICP Biratnagar.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 13:04:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14411', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Rain, Snowfall in Forecast Today', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 3: The country's weather pattern is currently experiencing the westerly trough and low pressure system formed in the Arabian Sea.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 3: The country's weather pattern is currently experiencing the westerly trough and low pressure system formed in the Arabian Sea. As a result, light to moderate rainfall is likely to occur at a few places in Bagmati Province, Gandaki Province, Lumbini Province, Karnali Province and Sudur Pashchim Province today (December 3), according to the Meteorological Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the division has forecast chances of heavy snowfall at many places of the high mountainous region. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The sky of the Kathmandu Valley is cloudy from early morning today and the minimum temperature of the valley has been recorded at 10 degrees Celsius. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the weather is expected to remain generally to mostly cloudy in Bagmati Province, Gandaki Province, Lumbini Province and Karnali Province and partly to generally cloudy in rest of the provinces tonight.</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"">"Light rainfall is likely to occur at a few places in Bagmati Province, Gandaki Province, Lumbini Province and Karnali Province," the division said. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14156', 'image' => '20211203121748_20190208022443_a.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 12:17:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14410', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govt Imposes Ban on Entry of People from 9 Countries ', 'sub_title' => 'Surveillance Stepped Up in Birgunj in View of Omicron Variant ', 'summary' => 'December 3: The government has decided to impose a ban on arrival of people from nine countries including African countries that have reported cases of Omicron virus. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">December 3: The government has decided to impose a ban on arrival of people from nine countries including African countries that have reported cases of Omicron virus. The decision taken by a cabinet meeting on Monday has come into effect from Thursday (December 2). <br /> Following the cabinet decision, the passengers arriving in Nepal from these nine countries should mandatorily stay in hotel quarantine for seven days on their own expenses. <br /> A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Monday had decided to restrict the passengers from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Malawi and Hong Kong. <br /> The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers stated that the passengers coming to Nepal via those countries or those visiting them within the past three weeks would be restricted from coming to Nepal from Thursday midnight. The government took such decision as a precaution against the new variant of COVID-19 that has gradually increased in the recent days. <br /> Likewise, the government has decided not to issue on-arrival visa to the foreigners coming from those countries. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Border Surveillance</span></strong><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Government officials have stepped up surveillance in Birgunj border point along the Nepal-India border after India reported cases of Omicron variant of COVID-19.<br /> Chief District Officer (CDO) of Parsa Umesh Kumar Dhakal said that preparations have been made to conduct tests from the District COVID-19 Crisis Management Centre after the emergence of Omicron variant of COVID-19 in India. <br /> It is said that the administration is preparing an action plan to take precautions considering that the new variant of COVID-19 could enter Nepal from the southern neighbour. <br /> Officials are working to prepare the plan as Parsa district is at high risk of the new variant of the COVID-19 due to unrestricted human mobility between the two countries due to the open border. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14155', 'image' => '20211203111950_new_logo.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 11:18:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14409', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Webinar on 'Banking, Financial, and Risk Financing Skills’ Concludes', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 3: A three-day webinar program on ‘Baking, financial, and risk financing skills’ organised by Thulo.com and Enterprise for Management, Economic Reform and Gender Equality (EMERGE) with the support of USAID’s Tayar Nepal – Improved Disaster Risk Management Project, has concluded. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 3: A three-day webinar program on ‘Baking, financial, and risk financing skills’ organised by Thulo.com and Enterprise for Management, Economic Reform and Gender Equality (EMERGE) with the support of USAID’s Tayar Nepal – Improved Disaster Risk Management Project, has concluded. The online event was organised from November 29 to December 1, 2021.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the organisers, the online session is a part of the training ‘Building Resilient Businesses’ provided to more than 120 women producers/entrepreneurs from five provinces, 11 districts and 16 municipalities.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chief Executive Officer of EMERGE Dr Mona Shrestha Adhikari said that the objective of the sessions was to connect women entrepreneurs with several banks and insurance companies so that they can avail the government-subsidized loans and insurance schemes provided to Micro Small and Medium Enterprises.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The webinar provided a platform where banks and insurance companies could impart knowledge on digital finance, banking and insurance along with government norms and their services to women-led MSMEs as well as home-based producers,” she said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Banks including Rastriya Banijya Bank (RBB), Standard Chartered Bank, Nepal Investment Bank, as well as United Insurance and National Life and General Insurance (NLG) had participated in the webinar.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the RBB has prioritised subsidised loan initiated by the Government of Nepal, CEO of the bank Kiran Shrestha said, “We have provided subsidised loans to 3053 entrepreneurs, among which 2416 are women entrepreneurs.” He also stated that they are always ready to support women entrepreneurs and contribute to their empowerment.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Speaking at the program, Bijendra Suwal, deputy general manager of Nepal Investment Bank, said that it is necessary to encourage entrepreneurship in order to develop Nepal’s economy. Assuring to promote and support entrepreneurs to contribute to Nepal’s economic development, he shared the detailed information on various loan schemes including women entrepreneurs’ loan and required documents.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, experts of NLG Insurance and United Insurance stressed on the importance of insurance and shared about different types of insurance and schemes that support SMEs. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> <img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/received_1968393089986960.jpeg" style="height:407px; width:800px" /></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14154', 'image' => '20211203110259_financial-risk - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 11:01:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14408', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Electricity Authority to Upgrade Transmission Line in Karnali and Sudur Paschim Provinces', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 3: The government has forwarded a special plan for upgrading power system of hill districts in Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 3: The government has forwarded a special plan for upgrading power system of hill districts in Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The state-owned Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has signed a loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank recently for the construction of 132-KV Kohalpur-Surkhet transmission line in order to supply uninterrupted electricity to the districts of Karnali province. The NEA plans to construct a high-voltage transmission line by upgrading the existing 33-KV transmission line. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Although the transmission line from Kohalpur-Surkhet has a capacity of 33-KV, the transmission line from Surkhet to Kalikot is of only 11-KV capacity, resulting in massive disruption in power supply during monsoon due to low capacity transmission line. The Nepal Electricity Authority has forwarded a strategic plan in this regard with the support of donor agencies to resolve this problem. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation has set a target to provide electricity service in the districts that do not have access to central transmission line. The Ministry has directed the NEA to make a special package in order to provide electricity service to every household of the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has also expressed commitment not to let resource crunch affect the upgrading and expansion of transmission line in Karnali Province. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Study is being carried out for the construction of an additional 220-KV transmission line linking Dailekh of Surkhet to Jumla. The NEA is going to invest Rs 25 billion for the project. A package has been prepared in order to carry out activities with government’s investment in Dolpa. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Executive Director of NEA, Kulman Ghising, said that activities have been initiated in other districts as well by taking concessional loan from the European Investment Bank and AAIB. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Only 43 per cent population of Karnali Province have access to electricity. The NEA has given special priority keeping this situation of Karnali Province in mind, shared Ghising. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, out of 547,671 households in Sudurpaschim Province, 71.07 per cent households have access to central transmission line. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14153', 'image' => '20211203092824_Transmission.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 09:27:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14407', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Free Shuttle Bus Service Started at TIA ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 2: Free shuttle bus service has been started to and from the Golden Gate up to the internal terminal building of the Tribhuvan International Airport. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 2: Free shuttle bus service has been started to and from the Golden Gate up to the internal terminal building of the Tribhuvan International Airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Prem Bahadur Ale, inaugurated the shuttle bus service on Wednesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This service has been started for the convenience of the passengers and to stop the taxis operating from inside the airport from overcharging and fleecing the passengers. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Along with the free shuttle bus service, a resting shed has also been managed for the passengers at the airport. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) is operating this shuttle bus service free of cost. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-02', 'modified' => '2021-12-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14152', 'image' => '20211202020506_2009-03_Kathmandu_10.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-02 14:04:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14406', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '‘Made in Nepal Expo and Food Festival’ in February', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 2: The ‘Made in Nepal Expo and Food Fest’ is set to be organized in Birgunj in February.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 2: The ‘Made in Nepal Expo and Food Fest’ is set to be organized in Birgunj in February.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">It is the first time that such an expo is getting organized in collaboration between the Nepalese Young Entrepreneurs’ Forum (NYEF), Birgunj and New Business Age. NYEF informed about the expo during a press conference in Birgunj on Wednesday. The expo is scheduled to be organized from 24<sup><span style="font-size:7.0pt">th</span></sup> to 27<sup><span style="font-size:7.0pt">th</span></sup> of February, 2022.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Anup Agrawal, the president of NYEF, said that the expo would be organized at an open space located at the old buspark of Adarshanagar, Birgunj. The organizers have said that there would be 130 stalls set up for the encouragement of production and promotion of domestic industries. The exhibition will showcase domestically produced industrial products, services businesses, home-made and handicraft products, technology, local art and culture, literature, local food items and more.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the organizers, stall booking for the expo has started and special facilities will be provided at the stall for women and entrepreneurs who are differently abled. President Agrawal said that the exhibition is being organized with the aim of supporting the objective of financial development of the country through the exchange of experience among Nepali entrepreneurs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The exhibition is being organized as part of a campaign to awaken the spirit of entrepreneurship and establish enterprise trade as the backbone of the country's economic development with new and innovative thinking and research,” reads the statement issued by the organisers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The organizers have informed that training, branding, workshops and other programmes on entrepreneurship and innovation will also be conducted during the exhibition. The organizers believe that the exhibition will be effective in providing opportunities for the study and research for developing entrepreneurship, encouraging the application of theoretical knowledge in practice, and in initiating solutions to policy and procedural hurdles in the enterprise and business sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">This large scale exhibition is being organized for the promotion of domestically produced goods and services using Nepali labor, skills and knowledge from the raw resources and means available in the country itself. “This will make a significant contribution to building a self-reliant economy,” expressed President Agrawal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the organisers, interviews will be held between the producers of goods and services and the consumers in the exhibition and that the consumers will get information about the indigenous products. The organizers also claimed that the exhibition will help in the economic development of the country through the promotion of indigenous goods and services while exploring new investment possibilities.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-02', 'modified' => '2021-12-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14151', 'image' => '20211202015115_1638355410.made in nepal1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-02 13:50:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14404', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govt Fails to Collect Rs 171 Billion in Taxes as Taxpayers Move Court against Tax Assessment', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 2: The government has failed to collect more than Rs 171 billion in arrears from taxpayers.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 2: The government has failed to collect more than Rs 171 billion in arrears from taxpayers.</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> The state has not been able to collect a large amount of tax as the taxpayers are not satisfied with the tax fixed by the tax office. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The taxpayers have moved the court and have not paid the taxes on time. According to the latest report of the Inland Revenue Department, the total arrears is Rs. 171.39 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the IRD, the arrears of Rs 39.4 billion was yet to be collected as of last fiscal year (FY 2077/78). The disgruntled taxpayers have appealed to the administrative review and judicial bodies regarding tax assessment worth Rs. 131.98 billion as well.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In FY 2077/78, the IRD collected income tax of Rs. 2.51 billion against the target of Rs 10.1 billion. This is only 25 percent of the target.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, out of the target of Rs 4.47 billion towards value-added tax, Rs.5.41 billion has been collected. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Under the heading of arrears adjustment, the IRD had set a target of collecting Rs 23.35 billion, but it managed to collect only Rs 6.13 billion. This is 26 percent of the target. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, in terms of VAT, only Rs 4.28 billion has been collected out of Rs 10.45 billion. This amount is 41 percent of the total target. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the records kept by the IRD, it has settled arrears of Rs 28.86 billion as of FY 2077/78.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Raju Prasad Pyakurel, Information Officer of the department, they have been setting monthly and annual targets of settling arrears, preparing strategy, and monitoring the progress of arrears settlement.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He claimed that the department is mobilizing a separate unit to make adjustments and to settle arrears. The department is making progress every year, he added.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-02', 'modified' => '2021-12-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14150', 'image' => '20211202123550_20210116081553_Clipboard36.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-02 12:35:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14405', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism in Kalinchowk Limping back to Normalcy', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 2: Kalinchowk, a popular tourist destination in Dolakha district, has finally started to return back to its normal business. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 2: Kalinchowk, a popular tourist destination in Dolakha district, has finally started to return back to its normal business. Domestic tourists are increasing each day in Kalinchowk, the main reason being the snowfall season. Kalinchowk is one of the major tourist destinations of Nepal during the winter season.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Bimal Ojha, the manager of Hotel Sunpati, stated that there has been an increase in hotel bookings since the onset of snowfall as well as the decline in Covid-19 infections. According to him, the occupancy of hotels in the area is almost full, especially on Fridays.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Chandra Lama, another hotel entrepreneur based in Kuri, Kalinchowk stated that there has been an increase in the number of tourists lately. Businessmen say that the hotel occupancy reaches 80 percent on Fridays while it remains 30 to 40 percent on other days. Tourism activities were almost nil for the last one year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but has now resumed after the onset of snowfall.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Acting chief of Kalinchowk Cable Car, Sandesh Shivakoti, said there has been an increase in the number of people visiting Kalinchowk temple via the cable car as well. The cable car was also closed for over a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Kalinchowk area gets crowded during the snowfall season with domestic tourists. Kalinchowk is a favoured destinations for domestic tourists from nearby areas including Kathmandu valley and neighboring districts who wish to experience snowfall.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Thousands of people visit Kalinchowk every year with the aim to see the scenery, play in the snow and visit Kalinchok Bhagwati temple. Visitors at Kalinchok, with an altitude of 3,841 meters, can enjoy a panoramic view of the Rolwaling and Jugal mountain range and the sunset as well. There are 50 hotels in Kalinchowk. Even hoteliers in the district headquarters Charikot are excited as the number of domestic tourists has started increasing at a time when business had come to a standstill due to the pandemic. The hotel business in Dolakha is estimated to have incurred a daily loss of Rs 2.5 million during the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Rajesh Upreti, manager of Hotel Laxmi in Charikot, says that the hotel business in the district headquarters Charikot also increases when tourists visit Kalinchowk. “The hotel business here does well during the snowy season as it is full of tourists,” he said. He suggested that domestic tourists should book hotel room in advance as they may be left stranded if they do not book hotel room during the season of snowfall when the area is overcrowded.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-02', 'modified' => '2021-12-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14149', 'image' => '20211202010005_20181230033201_2222.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-02 12:59:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14403', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Railway Company Seeks Rs 350 Million Budget to Operate Trains', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 2: Nepal Railway Company has asked for a budget of Rs 350 million with the government to operate two sets of trains stranded in Inaruwa for the last fourteen months.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 2: Nepal Railway Company has asked for a budget of Rs 350 million with the government to operate two sets of trains stranded in Inaruwa for the last fourteen months. President Bidyadevi Bhandari issued the Railway Ordinance on Wednesday (December 1) which paved the way to operate these trains. But the company is still unable to operate the trains immediately due to lack of budget.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Niranjan Jha, general manager of the company, said that the legal hurdle has been removed to operate the railway service but the trains will run once the budget is released."We had written to the Ministry of Finance one and half months ago asking to release the budget. In response, the ministry said it will release the budget soon and asked us carry on the service with the company's budget for the time being," he added.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He claimed that if the budget is released soon, the railway service can begin within a few months. Nepal Railway Company needs to make payment of Rs 350 million to the Indian railway manufacturer Konkan and has to pay Rs100 million in taxes.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that the due amount has to be paid to 26 staffers of the Indian company Konkan required for the operation of the trains, as well as for equipment required for the technical tests. According to Jha, the budget is expected to be released in the next one week. He said that the technical aspects of railway operation will be tested and training will be provided to the employees once the budget is released. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ordinance has paved the way to determine the railway fares and freight charges. Earlier, the Railway Bill was issued during the tenure of the outgoing Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli which was later scrapped. The government had purchased two trains at Rs 856 million and brought them to Nepal in September, 2020 and a test operation was also conducted. A total of Rs 1 billion has already been invested in the procurement along with the customs duty. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-02', 'modified' => '2021-12-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14148', 'image' => '20211202121118_20211201110915_20190325112130_Clipboard43-5.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-02 12:10:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14402', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Urges Citizens not to Travel Abroad Unless Absolutely Necessary', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 2: The Ministry of Health and Population has appealed to one and all not to consider travelling abroad unless absolutely necessary.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 2:<strong> </strong>The</span><strong> </strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ministry of Health and Population has appealed to one and all not to consider travelling abroad unless absolutely necessary. According to the state-owned national news agency RSS, the ministry made such appeal in the wake of the spread of the 'Omicron' variant of COVID-19 in various countries. Urging all Nepalis to observe precaution against COVID-19, the ministry reportedly said that the 'Omicron' variant has not been detected in Nepal yet. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The monitoring and testing of this new variant has been expanded, RSS reported citing Joint Spokesperson at the Ministry Dr Samir Adhikari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Issuing a press statement on Wednesday, Dr Adhikari said that the new variant is very contagious and it would infect people of any age group. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Omicron variant was first detected in African countries some days ago and has been expanding rapidly across South Africa and Asia lately. The WHO has declared the new variant as the 'universal variant of concern'. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry has also urged one and all to get vaccinated against Coronavirus infection. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-02', 'modified' => '2021-12-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14147', 'image' => '20211202081956_Hc74d_0_0.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-02 08:19:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14401', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NMB Bank wins 'The Bank of the Year Asia 2021' Award ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 2: NMB Bank has succeeded to become the best bank in Asia. It has been awarded with the "The Bank of the Year Asia 2021" award by London-based The Banker magazine.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 2: NMB Bank has succeeded to become the best bank in Asia. It has been awarded with the "The Bank of the Year Asia 2021" award by London-based The Banker magazine. </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"">NMB Bank has been adjudged the best bank in Asia beating out stiff competition from banks based in Asian giants such as China, India, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The reportedly bank won this award because of its focus on sustainable banking, commitment towards digital transformation and high corporate governance standards. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Wednesday handed over the award jointly to NMB Chairperson Pawan Golyan, chief executive officer Sunil KC and the Board of Directors of the bank amid a programme organised at the official residence of the PM. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, PM Sher Deuba congratulated all those associated with the bank for creating a history, adding that the bank has enhanced the prestige of the entire banking industry of Nepal by being honoured with the coveted award. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-02', 'modified' => '2021-12-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14146', 'image' => '20211202081130_BOTY-Awards-2021-thumbnail.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-02 08:10:52', '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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The purpose of the project is “to strengthen rice seed production, supply and quality control system” to improve </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt">productivity of rice by the means of dissemination of quality improved seeds in Province 1 and to strengthen the implementation of the rice seed production, supply and quality control system in Nepal, the statement added.</span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Rice is the fundamental crop of Nepal, noted JICA. “Everyone eats it, and farmers gain income out of it. In order to make the crop tasty, nutritious, and productive, the most important factor remains the quality of rice seeds,” reads the statement.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Even though rice farming contributes around 15 percent of the national GDP of Nepal, there is still possibility to increase its yield, says JICA adding that the usage of improved seed and increasing the replacement rate of seed are the key to achieve it.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">According to the statistic, seed replacement rate of rice in Nepal is around 20 percent at present, therefore, the Government of Nepal has adopted a strategy to raise the percentage to 25 percent. And it is estimated that the use of improved seeds of good quality will increase its yield by 15 percent, the statement further said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">“However, there are several processes before farmers can use the improved seeds with good quality. It is necessary to improve the quality of the system and capacity to produce quality seeds in Nepal. In this context, holistic support for improving seed production was requested to JICA.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">According to JICA, the project is expected to contribute for sustainable social and economic development of Nepal during and after the implementation period of the project. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14160', 'image' => '20211203040445_102.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 16:03:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14413', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Upgrading of Mardi Himal Foot Trail in Full Swing', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 3: The work of upgrading the Mardi Himal trekking route has moved forward in full swing.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 3: The work of upgrading the Mardi Himal trekking route has moved forward in full swing. This foot trail is being upgraded as the mountain can be reached in a short time following this route.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">With the increasing attraction of domestic and foreign tourists in recent years, the Mardi Himal trail has managed to grab the attention of the state as well. The government started the work of upgrading the foot trail with the help of the Department of Tourism. Under this project, 4,200 steps have been constructed up to the low camp view point and 250 cubic meters of machinery wall has been constructed as well.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the work of placing railings weighing 4,000 kg in various difficult places of the foot trail has been completed, said Sudip Gautam, a tourism entrepreneur and founder s well as chairman of Mardi Trek Tourism Management and Entrepreneurs Committee. He said that the Mardi Trek has been the top choice of domestic and foreign tourists in recent years as it is a trekking route that is convenient for people of any age group.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that every scenic view of this trekking route is full of natural beauty, Gautam shared that trekking activities in the area have also been affected due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">People of all age group can walk along this trekking route. Along the route, trekkers can enjoy the view of blooming rhododendrons, see and hear the birds chirping in the forest. Mountains like Machhapuchre, Mardi, Annapurna South, Gangapurna can be observed at the same time.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Gautam expressed his confidence stating that the tourism industry in this region will return to normalcy after the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to him, there are about 100 hotels on this trekking route from Dhampus up to the View Point. In his opinion, all the entrepreneurs and workers in the region need to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to restore the trekking and tourism business.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Hoteliers say that the beauty of the place intensifies during the months of April and May since the national flower of Nepal, rhododendron blooms along the foot trail throughout the jungle. According to him, another important part of the trek is that even if you see a pink rhododendron at the beginning of the trek, you can find the rhododendron blooming in dark red color. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Som Thapa, former president of the Trekking Agencies Association Nepal (TAAN) Western Regional Association, said that the tourism sector has been badly affected due to the impact of Covid-19.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that upgrading of foot trails in the middle of the pandemic would further support tourism activities, Thapa, who is also the former chairman of Pokhara Tourism Council, emphasized on the need to vaccinate all entrepreneurs and workers on the trekking route.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Sudip Gautam, who is also the manager of Hotel Trekkers Paradise at Mardi High Camp, the construction of hotels at other places along the foot trail area has gained momentum ever since the hotel was opened at Mardi High Camp in 2007. Starting from Kande of Kaski, this trekking route leads to Mardi High Camp via Australian Camp, Pothana, Pritam Deurali, Forest Camp, Low Camp and Badal Danda. Hotels have come into operation for food and stay in all of these places.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Mardi High Camp is situated at an altitude of 3,550 meters above the sea level, from which, the View Point located at an altitude of 4,200 meters can be reached in about two hours and from there, Mardi Base Camp which is located at an altitude of 5,500 meters, can be reached in two hours. The trekkers starting the trek from Kande can return back from Siding of Machhapuchhre rural municipality. Tourists can reach Pokhara in about two hours by jeep from Siding. Established as a nature-based foot trail, the foot trail will have 4,200 steps from the low camp to the viewpoint. It will make the trekking safer, say tourism entrepreneurs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In order to rescue the trekking and tourism business which was affected greatly due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Nepal Tourism Board and UNDP have made joint efforts to promote trekking and tourism targeted programmes. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14159', 'image' => '20211203011912_1638503922.Clipboard13.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 13:18:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14414', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govt Effortful to Create Conducive Environment for Investment: PM Deuba ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 3: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has urged domestic and foreign investors to invest confidently in the country as he assured that the government would take all possible efforts to create an environment conducive for investment. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 3: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has urged domestic and foreign investors to invest confidently in the country as he assured that the government would take all possible efforts to create an environment conducive for investment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Your investments and properties in Nepal will be secured. I assure that the government will guarantee this," said Deuba during the silver jubilee celebration of the Society of Economic Journalists-Nepal (SEJON) on Thursday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating that Nepal has prioritised its journey to prosperity by internalising achievements made from the adoption of the open market policy and analysing shortcomings in it, the PM pledged to speed up the country's economic revival that was dashed severely by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. "Now, it requires the launch of the second phase of mega economic reforms in the country." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Finance Minister Janardan Sharma stressed the need for developing the state mechanism for infrastructure development and laws to make the public procurement act development-friendly. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"There are many challenges facing the country's economy. COVID-19 has severely affected the global economy. In this context, there is a need for us to increase capital expenditure and use new technology in development." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Industrialist and lawmaker Binod Chaudhary suggested that the government widen country's economic scopes while strengthening regulatory bodies of the state. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, President of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries Bishnu Agrawal underscored the need for a dialogue, coordination and cooperation between the government and private sector to promote industries and create employment opportunities in the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Also, President of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce Rajendra Malla suggested that the government resolve problems relating to middlepersons and a liquidity crisis facing the country. -- RSS</span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14158', 'image' => '20211203012916_20210715115732_adsafd.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 13:28:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14412', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Exports through Biratnagar Customs Increasing', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 3: Export through Biratnagar Customs, the prime trade point of Province 1, has been increasing since the last five years.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 3: Export through Biratnagar Customs, the prime trade point of Province 1, has been increasing since the last five years. While the average trade deficit rate of other customs points is 8 percent, the trade deficit of the Biratnagar customs is only 5.14 percent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the customs data, goods worth Rs 21.44 billion were exported through this customs in FY 2073/74, which surged to Rs 36.90 billion in FY 2077/78.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Export from the Biratnagar Customs Office, the third prime trade point of the country, is increasing annually. Although the trade deficit of Biratnagar Customs was less than that of other customs points, in the fiscal year 2077/78, the customs saw imports worth Rs 189.65 billion and exports worth Rs. 36.90 billion. Statistics show a trade deficit of 152.75 billion in this fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Biratnagar Customs Office, whose revenue collection dropped due to the Covid-19 pandemic, has exceeded its revenue target in July and August this year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Amit Tiwari, Customs Officer at the Biratnagar Customs Office, said that the Biratnagar Customs Office had collected less revenue in the fiscal year 2076/77 due to the closure of industries and businesses following the Covid-19 outbreak.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Tiwari said that the revenue of Biratnagar customs has come down as the Nepal Oil Corporation is transporting petroleum products only through Kakadvitta checkpoint as the transportation fare is less by Rs 3 per liter.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Biratnagar Customs Office has collected Rs 3.34 billion in revenue in June / July of the current fiscal year, which is 115.82 percent of the target. It has collected revenue of Rs 3.86 billion in August ie 100.13 percent of the target.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Raw soybean oil, MS billet, polythene granules, steel wire rod in coils, readymade garments, crude sunflower oil, food grains, maize, cooking gas, and industrial machinery are the main items imported through Biratnagar Customs.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, among the top 10 items exported through Biratnagar Customs are refined soybean oil, synthetic yarn, jute woven cloth, jute sacks and bags, cloth (except wool, cotton, terry cotton), noodles, pasta as well. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14157', 'image' => '20211203010448_ICP Biratnagar.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 13:04:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14411', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Rain, Snowfall in Forecast Today', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 3: The country's weather pattern is currently experiencing the westerly trough and low pressure system formed in the Arabian Sea.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 3: The country's weather pattern is currently experiencing the westerly trough and low pressure system formed in the Arabian Sea. As a result, light to moderate rainfall is likely to occur at a few places in Bagmati Province, Gandaki Province, Lumbini Province, Karnali Province and Sudur Pashchim Province today (December 3), according to the Meteorological Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the division has forecast chances of heavy snowfall at many places of the high mountainous region. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The sky of the Kathmandu Valley is cloudy from early morning today and the minimum temperature of the valley has been recorded at 10 degrees Celsius. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the weather is expected to remain generally to mostly cloudy in Bagmati Province, Gandaki Province, Lumbini Province and Karnali Province and partly to generally cloudy in rest of the provinces tonight.</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"">"Light rainfall is likely to occur at a few places in Bagmati Province, Gandaki Province, Lumbini Province and Karnali Province," the division said. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14156', 'image' => '20211203121748_20190208022443_a.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 12:17:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14410', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govt Imposes Ban on Entry of People from 9 Countries ', 'sub_title' => 'Surveillance Stepped Up in Birgunj in View of Omicron Variant ', 'summary' => 'December 3: The government has decided to impose a ban on arrival of people from nine countries including African countries that have reported cases of Omicron virus. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">December 3: The government has decided to impose a ban on arrival of people from nine countries including African countries that have reported cases of Omicron virus. The decision taken by a cabinet meeting on Monday has come into effect from Thursday (December 2). <br /> Following the cabinet decision, the passengers arriving in Nepal from these nine countries should mandatorily stay in hotel quarantine for seven days on their own expenses. <br /> A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Monday had decided to restrict the passengers from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Malawi and Hong Kong. <br /> The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers stated that the passengers coming to Nepal via those countries or those visiting them within the past three weeks would be restricted from coming to Nepal from Thursday midnight. The government took such decision as a precaution against the new variant of COVID-19 that has gradually increased in the recent days. <br /> Likewise, the government has decided not to issue on-arrival visa to the foreigners coming from those countries. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Border Surveillance</span></strong><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Government officials have stepped up surveillance in Birgunj border point along the Nepal-India border after India reported cases of Omicron variant of COVID-19.<br /> Chief District Officer (CDO) of Parsa Umesh Kumar Dhakal said that preparations have been made to conduct tests from the District COVID-19 Crisis Management Centre after the emergence of Omicron variant of COVID-19 in India. <br /> It is said that the administration is preparing an action plan to take precautions considering that the new variant of COVID-19 could enter Nepal from the southern neighbour. <br /> Officials are working to prepare the plan as Parsa district is at high risk of the new variant of the COVID-19 due to unrestricted human mobility between the two countries due to the open border. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14155', 'image' => '20211203111950_new_logo.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 11:18:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14409', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Webinar on 'Banking, Financial, and Risk Financing Skills’ Concludes', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 3: A three-day webinar program on ‘Baking, financial, and risk financing skills’ organised by Thulo.com and Enterprise for Management, Economic Reform and Gender Equality (EMERGE) with the support of USAID’s Tayar Nepal – Improved Disaster Risk Management Project, has concluded. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 3: A three-day webinar program on ‘Baking, financial, and risk financing skills’ organised by Thulo.com and Enterprise for Management, Economic Reform and Gender Equality (EMERGE) with the support of USAID’s Tayar Nepal – Improved Disaster Risk Management Project, has concluded. The online event was organised from November 29 to December 1, 2021.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the organisers, the online session is a part of the training ‘Building Resilient Businesses’ provided to more than 120 women producers/entrepreneurs from five provinces, 11 districts and 16 municipalities.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chief Executive Officer of EMERGE Dr Mona Shrestha Adhikari said that the objective of the sessions was to connect women entrepreneurs with several banks and insurance companies so that they can avail the government-subsidized loans and insurance schemes provided to Micro Small and Medium Enterprises.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The webinar provided a platform where banks and insurance companies could impart knowledge on digital finance, banking and insurance along with government norms and their services to women-led MSMEs as well as home-based producers,” she said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Banks including Rastriya Banijya Bank (RBB), Standard Chartered Bank, Nepal Investment Bank, as well as United Insurance and National Life and General Insurance (NLG) had participated in the webinar.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the RBB has prioritised subsidised loan initiated by the Government of Nepal, CEO of the bank Kiran Shrestha said, “We have provided subsidised loans to 3053 entrepreneurs, among which 2416 are women entrepreneurs.” He also stated that they are always ready to support women entrepreneurs and contribute to their empowerment.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Speaking at the program, Bijendra Suwal, deputy general manager of Nepal Investment Bank, said that it is necessary to encourage entrepreneurship in order to develop Nepal’s economy. Assuring to promote and support entrepreneurs to contribute to Nepal’s economic development, he shared the detailed information on various loan schemes including women entrepreneurs’ loan and required documents.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, experts of NLG Insurance and United Insurance stressed on the importance of insurance and shared about different types of insurance and schemes that support SMEs. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> <img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/received_1968393089986960.jpeg" style="height:407px; width:800px" /></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14154', 'image' => '20211203110259_financial-risk - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 11:01:49', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14408', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Electricity Authority to Upgrade Transmission Line in Karnali and Sudur Paschim Provinces', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 3: The government has forwarded a special plan for upgrading power system of hill districts in Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 3: The government has forwarded a special plan for upgrading power system of hill districts in Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The state-owned Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has signed a loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank recently for the construction of 132-KV Kohalpur-Surkhet transmission line in order to supply uninterrupted electricity to the districts of Karnali province. The NEA plans to construct a high-voltage transmission line by upgrading the existing 33-KV transmission line. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Although the transmission line from Kohalpur-Surkhet has a capacity of 33-KV, the transmission line from Surkhet to Kalikot is of only 11-KV capacity, resulting in massive disruption in power supply during monsoon due to low capacity transmission line. The Nepal Electricity Authority has forwarded a strategic plan in this regard with the support of donor agencies to resolve this problem. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation has set a target to provide electricity service in the districts that do not have access to central transmission line. The Ministry has directed the NEA to make a special package in order to provide electricity service to every household of the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has also expressed commitment not to let resource crunch affect the upgrading and expansion of transmission line in Karnali Province. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Study is being carried out for the construction of an additional 220-KV transmission line linking Dailekh of Surkhet to Jumla. The NEA is going to invest Rs 25 billion for the project. A package has been prepared in order to carry out activities with government’s investment in Dolpa. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Executive Director of NEA, Kulman Ghising, said that activities have been initiated in other districts as well by taking concessional loan from the European Investment Bank and AAIB. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Only 43 per cent population of Karnali Province have access to electricity. The NEA has given special priority keeping this situation of Karnali Province in mind, shared Ghising. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, out of 547,671 households in Sudurpaschim Province, 71.07 per cent households have access to central transmission line. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-03', 'modified' => '2021-12-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14153', 'image' => '20211203092824_Transmission.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-03 09:27:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14407', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Free Shuttle Bus Service Started at TIA ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 2: Free shuttle bus service has been started to and from the Golden Gate up to the internal terminal building of the Tribhuvan International Airport. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 2: Free shuttle bus service has been started to and from the Golden Gate up to the internal terminal building of the Tribhuvan International Airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Prem Bahadur Ale, inaugurated the shuttle bus service on Wednesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This service has been started for the convenience of the passengers and to stop the taxis operating from inside the airport from overcharging and fleecing the passengers. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Along with the free shuttle bus service, a resting shed has also been managed for the passengers at the airport. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) is operating this shuttle bus service free of cost. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-02', 'modified' => '2021-12-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14152', 'image' => '20211202020506_2009-03_Kathmandu_10.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-02 14:04:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14406', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '‘Made in Nepal Expo and Food Festival’ in February', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 2: The ‘Made in Nepal Expo and Food Fest’ is set to be organized in Birgunj in February.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 2: The ‘Made in Nepal Expo and Food Fest’ is set to be organized in Birgunj in February.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">It is the first time that such an expo is getting organized in collaboration between the Nepalese Young Entrepreneurs’ Forum (NYEF), Birgunj and New Business Age. NYEF informed about the expo during a press conference in Birgunj on Wednesday. The expo is scheduled to be organized from 24<sup><span style="font-size:7.0pt">th</span></sup> to 27<sup><span style="font-size:7.0pt">th</span></sup> of February, 2022.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Anup Agrawal, the president of NYEF, said that the expo would be organized at an open space located at the old buspark of Adarshanagar, Birgunj. The organizers have said that there would be 130 stalls set up for the encouragement of production and promotion of domestic industries. The exhibition will showcase domestically produced industrial products, services businesses, home-made and handicraft products, technology, local art and culture, literature, local food items and more.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the organizers, stall booking for the expo has started and special facilities will be provided at the stall for women and entrepreneurs who are differently abled. President Agrawal said that the exhibition is being organized with the aim of supporting the objective of financial development of the country through the exchange of experience among Nepali entrepreneurs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The exhibition is being organized as part of a campaign to awaken the spirit of entrepreneurship and establish enterprise trade as the backbone of the country's economic development with new and innovative thinking and research,” reads the statement issued by the organisers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The organizers have informed that training, branding, workshops and other programmes on entrepreneurship and innovation will also be conducted during the exhibition. The organizers believe that the exhibition will be effective in providing opportunities for the study and research for developing entrepreneurship, encouraging the application of theoretical knowledge in practice, and in initiating solutions to policy and procedural hurdles in the enterprise and business sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">This large scale exhibition is being organized for the promotion of domestically produced goods and services using Nepali labor, skills and knowledge from the raw resources and means available in the country itself. “This will make a significant contribution to building a self-reliant economy,” expressed President Agrawal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the organisers, interviews will be held between the producers of goods and services and the consumers in the exhibition and that the consumers will get information about the indigenous products. The organizers also claimed that the exhibition will help in the economic development of the country through the promotion of indigenous goods and services while exploring new investment possibilities.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-02', 'modified' => '2021-12-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14151', 'image' => '20211202015115_1638355410.made in nepal1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-02 13:50:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14404', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govt Fails to Collect Rs 171 Billion in Taxes as Taxpayers Move Court against Tax Assessment', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 2: The government has failed to collect more than Rs 171 billion in arrears from taxpayers.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 2: The government has failed to collect more than Rs 171 billion in arrears from taxpayers.</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> The state has not been able to collect a large amount of tax as the taxpayers are not satisfied with the tax fixed by the tax office. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The taxpayers have moved the court and have not paid the taxes on time. According to the latest report of the Inland Revenue Department, the total arrears is Rs. 171.39 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the IRD, the arrears of Rs 39.4 billion was yet to be collected as of last fiscal year (FY 2077/78). The disgruntled taxpayers have appealed to the administrative review and judicial bodies regarding tax assessment worth Rs. 131.98 billion as well.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In FY 2077/78, the IRD collected income tax of Rs. 2.51 billion against the target of Rs 10.1 billion. This is only 25 percent of the target.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, out of the target of Rs 4.47 billion towards value-added tax, Rs.5.41 billion has been collected. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Under the heading of arrears adjustment, the IRD had set a target of collecting Rs 23.35 billion, but it managed to collect only Rs 6.13 billion. This is 26 percent of the target. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, in terms of VAT, only Rs 4.28 billion has been collected out of Rs 10.45 billion. This amount is 41 percent of the total target. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the records kept by the IRD, it has settled arrears of Rs 28.86 billion as of FY 2077/78.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Raju Prasad Pyakurel, Information Officer of the department, they have been setting monthly and annual targets of settling arrears, preparing strategy, and monitoring the progress of arrears settlement.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He claimed that the department is mobilizing a separate unit to make adjustments and to settle arrears. The department is making progress every year, he added.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-02', 'modified' => '2021-12-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14150', 'image' => '20211202123550_20210116081553_Clipboard36.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-02 12:35:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14405', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism in Kalinchowk Limping back to Normalcy', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 2: Kalinchowk, a popular tourist destination in Dolakha district, has finally started to return back to its normal business. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 2: Kalinchowk, a popular tourist destination in Dolakha district, has finally started to return back to its normal business. Domestic tourists are increasing each day in Kalinchowk, the main reason being the snowfall season. Kalinchowk is one of the major tourist destinations of Nepal during the winter season.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Bimal Ojha, the manager of Hotel Sunpati, stated that there has been an increase in hotel bookings since the onset of snowfall as well as the decline in Covid-19 infections. According to him, the occupancy of hotels in the area is almost full, especially on Fridays.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Chandra Lama, another hotel entrepreneur based in Kuri, Kalinchowk stated that there has been an increase in the number of tourists lately. Businessmen say that the hotel occupancy reaches 80 percent on Fridays while it remains 30 to 40 percent on other days. Tourism activities were almost nil for the last one year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but has now resumed after the onset of snowfall.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Acting chief of Kalinchowk Cable Car, Sandesh Shivakoti, said there has been an increase in the number of people visiting Kalinchowk temple via the cable car as well. The cable car was also closed for over a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Kalinchowk area gets crowded during the snowfall season with domestic tourists. Kalinchowk is a favoured destinations for domestic tourists from nearby areas including Kathmandu valley and neighboring districts who wish to experience snowfall.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Thousands of people visit Kalinchowk every year with the aim to see the scenery, play in the snow and visit Kalinchok Bhagwati temple. Visitors at Kalinchok, with an altitude of 3,841 meters, can enjoy a panoramic view of the Rolwaling and Jugal mountain range and the sunset as well. There are 50 hotels in Kalinchowk. Even hoteliers in the district headquarters Charikot are excited as the number of domestic tourists has started increasing at a time when business had come to a standstill due to the pandemic. The hotel business in Dolakha is estimated to have incurred a daily loss of Rs 2.5 million during the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Rajesh Upreti, manager of Hotel Laxmi in Charikot, says that the hotel business in the district headquarters Charikot also increases when tourists visit Kalinchowk. “The hotel business here does well during the snowy season as it is full of tourists,” he said. He suggested that domestic tourists should book hotel room in advance as they may be left stranded if they do not book hotel room during the season of snowfall when the area is overcrowded.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-02', 'modified' => '2021-12-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14149', 'image' => '20211202010005_20181230033201_2222.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-02 12:59:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14403', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Railway Company Seeks Rs 350 Million Budget to Operate Trains', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 2: Nepal Railway Company has asked for a budget of Rs 350 million with the government to operate two sets of trains stranded in Inaruwa for the last fourteen months.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">December 2: Nepal Railway Company has asked for a budget of Rs 350 million with the government to operate two sets of trains stranded in Inaruwa for the last fourteen months. President Bidyadevi Bhandari issued the Railway Ordinance on Wednesday (December 1) which paved the way to operate these trains. But the company is still unable to operate the trains immediately due to lack of budget.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Niranjan Jha, general manager of the company, said that the legal hurdle has been removed to operate the railway service but the trains will run once the budget is released."We had written to the Ministry of Finance one and half months ago asking to release the budget. In response, the ministry said it will release the budget soon and asked us carry on the service with the company's budget for the time being," he added.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He claimed that if the budget is released soon, the railway service can begin within a few months. Nepal Railway Company needs to make payment of Rs 350 million to the Indian railway manufacturer Konkan and has to pay Rs100 million in taxes.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that the due amount has to be paid to 26 staffers of the Indian company Konkan required for the operation of the trains, as well as for equipment required for the technical tests. According to Jha, the budget is expected to be released in the next one week. He said that the technical aspects of railway operation will be tested and training will be provided to the employees once the budget is released. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ordinance has paved the way to determine the railway fares and freight charges. Earlier, the Railway Bill was issued during the tenure of the outgoing Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli which was later scrapped. The government had purchased two trains at Rs 856 million and brought them to Nepal in September, 2020 and a test operation was also conducted. A total of Rs 1 billion has already been invested in the procurement along with the customs duty. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-02', 'modified' => '2021-12-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14148', 'image' => '20211202121118_20211201110915_20190325112130_Clipboard43-5.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-02 12:10:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14402', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Urges Citizens not to Travel Abroad Unless Absolutely Necessary', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 2: The Ministry of Health and Population has appealed to one and all not to consider travelling abroad unless absolutely necessary.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 2:<strong> </strong>The</span><strong> </strong><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ministry of Health and Population has appealed to one and all not to consider travelling abroad unless absolutely necessary. According to the state-owned national news agency RSS, the ministry made such appeal in the wake of the spread of the 'Omicron' variant of COVID-19 in various countries. Urging all Nepalis to observe precaution against COVID-19, the ministry reportedly said that the 'Omicron' variant has not been detected in Nepal yet. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The monitoring and testing of this new variant has been expanded, RSS reported citing Joint Spokesperson at the Ministry Dr Samir Adhikari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Issuing a press statement on Wednesday, Dr Adhikari said that the new variant is very contagious and it would infect people of any age group. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Omicron variant was first detected in African countries some days ago and has been expanding rapidly across South Africa and Asia lately. The WHO has declared the new variant as the 'universal variant of concern'. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Ministry has also urged one and all to get vaccinated against Coronavirus infection. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-02', 'modified' => '2021-12-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14147', 'image' => '20211202081956_Hc74d_0_0.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-02 08:19:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14401', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NMB Bank wins 'The Bank of the Year Asia 2021' Award ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'December 2: NMB Bank has succeeded to become the best bank in Asia. It has been awarded with the "The Bank of the Year Asia 2021" award by London-based The Banker magazine.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">December 2: NMB Bank has succeeded to become the best bank in Asia. It has been awarded with the "The Bank of the Year Asia 2021" award by London-based The Banker magazine. </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"">NMB Bank has been adjudged the best bank in Asia beating out stiff competition from banks based in Asian giants such as China, India, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The reportedly bank won this award because of its focus on sustainable banking, commitment towards digital transformation and high corporate governance standards. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Wednesday handed over the award jointly to NMB Chairperson Pawan Golyan, chief executive officer Sunil KC and the Board of Directors of the bank amid a programme organised at the official residence of the PM. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, PM Sher Deuba congratulated all those associated with the bank for creating a history, adding that the bank has enhanced the prestige of the entire banking industry of Nepal by being honoured with the coveted award. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-12-02', 'modified' => '2021-12-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14146', 'image' => '20211202081130_BOTY-Awards-2021-thumbnail.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-12-02 08:10:52', '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
