May 6: Karnali Province, which is often considered as the most backward province in several fronts, ironically has the highest life expectancy among all provinces of…
May 6: Karnali Province, which is often considered as the most backward province in several fronts, ironically has the highest life expectancy among all provinces of…
May 6: Samsung's popular customization app, Good Lock, has made its debut on the Google Play Store, marking a significant expansion in accessibility for Samsung…
Goods worth Rs 450 billion were imported via Birgunj entry point in the past nine months of the current fiscal year 2023/2024.Similarly, goods worth Rs 23 billion were exported via the same entry…
May 5: More than 10,000 people have applied for the 'Skill Fair 2081 BS' organized since May 1 by Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC).…
The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index saw a loss of 1.23%, or 24.58 points, closing at 1,974.37 points on the first trading day of the week on…
May 5: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has indicated that a committee will be formed to investigate the issue of cooperative fraud amid the demand of main opposition party Nepali Congress for parliamentary inquiry against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ravi Lamichhane regarding cooperative…
May 5: Most of the projects that are eligible for start-up enterprise loans pledged by the government are projects related to agriculture and animal husbandry.…
May 5: The Supreme Court has ordered the Government of Nepal to limit the number of mountaineering permits issued for Everest and other peaks, AFP reported on Friday citing an…
May 5: Global food prices rose for the second consecutive month in April, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported…
May 5: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahalhas said that the government’s policies and programme as well as budget for the upcoming fiscal year would focus on the concerns of underprivileged classes and regions lagging behind in national development…
The India government on Friday imposed a 40 per cent duty on export of onions. Similarly, it granted an exemption on duty for the import of desi chana until March 31,…
Nepal has imported betel leaves nearly worth Rs 18 million in the past nine months. According to the statistics of the Department of Customs, Nepal has imported 75, 685 kilograms of betel leaves worth 18 million in the last nine months of the current fiscal…
May 3: A Philippine court has blocked the commercial propagation of genetically modified golden rice because it said conflicting scientific views gave rise to "severe" health and environmental safety concerns, AFP…
May 3: The government has started issuing fewer Foreign Employment Saving Bonds in recent years as the target group – Nepali workers in foreign employment -- has shown little interest in the initiative of the government to encourage investment in such…
May 3: The officials at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology have argued that information technology (IT) sector has opened up new avenues for employment as an IT-friendly society is being created in…
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This is even higher than the national average life expectancy, which according to the NSO, has reached 71.3 years. According to the report prepared on the basis of the recently conducted census in 2021, male life expectancy stands at 68.2 years while that of females is 73.8 years. The NSO records show that average life expectancy of Nepalis increased by 21.5 years in the past four decades. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Lumbini Province has the lowest life expectancy of 69.5 years. The life expectancy is 70.4 years in Koshi Province, 71.3 years in Sudurpaschim Province, 71.8 years in Madhesh Province, 72.1 years in Gandaki Province and 72.4 years in Bagmati Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We are doing additional study to find out the factors behind the high life expectancy in Karnali Province,” said Dr Hemraj Regni, deputy chief of the NSO, during a press conference in the capital on Sunday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Probably it is due to various projects implemented by the government and its development partners in Karnali Province in the past ten to twenty years,” he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Regmi, Karnali Province has also made significant improvement in poverty alleviation. The Living Standard Survey conducted by the government in the last fiscal year shows that 26.69 percent of population in Karnali Province are below the poverty line. In average, 20.27 percent population of Nepal fall under the poverty line.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the Human Development Index Report of Nepal prepared in 2020 by the National Planning Commission in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Human Development Index of Karnali Province is not good compared to other provinces.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The HDI of Karnali Province is the second worst after Madhesh Province. According to the NSO, the infant mortality rate is also the second lowest in Karnali compared to other provinces.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In 2021, the infant mortality rate went down to 17 per 1,000. The figure was 40 per 1,000 babies in 2011.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The reproductive rate has reduced to 1.94 children per woman. The average age of giving birth by a woman is 26.9 years in Karnali Province, while it is 28.4 years in Bagmati Province. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The study of five year data shows that the internal migration rate was the highest in Gandaki Province, which witnessed migration of 4,027 people per 100,000 during the review period. In Karnali Province, the internal migration rate was 3,700 per 100,000 of population, while it was the lowest in Bagmati Province that had 54 per 100,000 of population. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In five years, a total of 3,752 people out of 100,000 of the population migrated abroad. Sudurpashchim posted the largest figure of 7,359 people per 100,000 of population, which was followed by Gandaki Province and Lumbini Province in second and third positions, respectively. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, Nepal’s population growth rate stood 0.92 percent per annum in the past one decade, which was the lowest in 80 years, the NSO report stated.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the NSO, the population of the country is around 29.2 million at present. During mid-April 2011 and mid-April 2021, Nepal’s population grew by 2.7 million. The growth rate in Lumbini Province was the largest at 13.8 percent. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-06', 'modified' => '2024-05-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20624', 'image' => '20240506114451_20231215110529_agri maize (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-06 11:43:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20896', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Samsung's 'Good Lock' App Debuts on Google Play Store ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 6: Samsung's popular customization app, Good Lock, has made its debut on the Google Play Store, marking a significant expansion in accessibility for Samsung users. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 6: Samsung's popular customization app, Good Lock, has made its debut on the Google Play Store, marking a significant expansion in accessibility for Samsung users. </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"">Previously exclusive to Samsung's Galaxy Store, the availability of Good Lock on the Play Store broadens its reach to a wider audience of Android users, confirmed GSM Arena. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The move comes as Samsung aims to offer its users more flexibility in accessing its suite of applications. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, it's important to note that the Good Lock app on the Google Play Store is currently labelled as 'Early Access,' suggesting that users should exercise caution, particularly if considering downloading it on their primary devices. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In addition to the Good Lock app, Samsung has also introduced the One Hand Operation+ module on the Google Play Store, further enriching the customization options available to Samsung device owners, reported GSM Arena. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This module, previously accessible only through the Galaxy Store, now provides users with the choice to download it from either platform. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">While the expansion of Samsung's applications to the Google Play Store offers greater convenience for users, it's advised to approach the Early Access tag with prudence, considering potential bugs or stability issues that may arise in pre-release versions. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">For those interested in exploring these offerings, both the Good Lock app and the One Hand Operation+ module are now available for download from the Google Play Store and the Galaxy Store, providing Samsung users with enhanced customization options for their devices. – ANI/RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-06', 'modified' => '2024-05-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20623', 'image' => '20240506110315_gl.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-06 11:02:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20895', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Birgunj Records Rs 450 Billion Imports, Rs 23 Billion Exports in Nine Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Goods worth Rs 450 billion were imported via Birgunj entry point in the past nine months of the current fiscal year 2023/2024.Similarly, goods worth Rs 23 billion were exported via the same entry point.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> May 6: Goods worth Rs 450 billion were imported via Birgunj entry point in the past nine months of the current fiscal year 2023/2024.Similarly, goods worth Rs 23 billion were exported via the same entry point. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the Birgunj Customs Office, both imports and exports have decreased compared to the previous fiscal year. When imports decreased by 14.61%, exports dropped by 21.84%.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the first nine months of the last fiscal year, goods worth Rs 527 billion were imported while the goods amounting to Rs 29 billion were exported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">After India imposed a policy of zero duty on the import of refined and semi-refined cooking oil, export of cooking oil from Nepal to India has come to a standstill. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">From this border point, mainly petroleum products, vehicles, and industrial raw materials are imported. Items like edible oil, juice, cloth, yarn, and pineapples are exported from Birgunj border point. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">While Birjgunj Customs Office reported total transaction of worth Rs 473 billion, the trade deficit reached 427 billion. With the fall in imports and export, the trade deficit has slumped by 14.18% compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Following the decrease in imports and exports, the revenue collected by the Birgunj Customs Office has been affected. The Customs Office has collected only 62.73% of its revenue target in the first nine months of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The customs office has collected 114 billion in revenue against its total target of 181 billion in the first nine months of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-06', 'modified' => '2024-05-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20622', 'image' => '20240506061550_collage (73).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-06 06:13:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20894', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'KMC's Skill Fair gets 10,000 Plus Applications for Vocational Training', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 5: More than 10,000 people have applied for the 'Skill Fair 2081 BS' organized since May 1 by Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">May 5: More than 10,000 people have applied for the 'Skill Fair 2081 BS' organized since May 1 by Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC). KMC organized the fair with the goal of training 2,081 individuals but more than 10,000 people applied for the training. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to Bimala Koirala, acting head of KMC’s Social Development Department, all those who have filled the application forms will be provided the training.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Koirala said that the applicants who filled the forms before May 1 will be allowed to participate in the skill fair. Koirala said that there is a plan to provide them with the training schedule by Friday, May 10. She further said that training will be provided at various stages in collaboration with various campuses and community schools for those who fill the forms after May 2.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">She shared that 2,081 of those who filled the forms will be trained immediately and others will be trained for the next three years based on their needs. The skill fair has been started under the KMC's Gaurav Yojana (Pride Project) under 'Increase in Employment and Income, Prosperity of Kathmandu'.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">KMC has collaborated with the Nepal Training and Employment Association to organize the fair. According to the KMC, the aim is to provide training in 36 occupations in 10 areas. The KMC believes that the fair will help people with skills reach employers. Koirala further stated that people who have completed 18 years of age and are not above 58 years of age can participate in the training.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">For those who find it difficult to fill the details online, arrangements were made to fill the form on paper at the ward offices of the KMC as well. The participants who came to Tundikhel on the opening day could fill the forms from that venue as well, KMC said. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20621', 'image' => '20240505090233_BBB-KTM-23silaikataitalim(1)copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 21:01:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20893', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEPSE Plummets by Double Digits, Closes at 1974.37', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index saw a loss of 1.23%, or 24.58 points, closing at 1,974.37 points on the first trading day of the week on Sunday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">May 5: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index saw a loss of 1.23%, or 24.58 points, closing at 1,974.37 points on the first trading day of the week on Sunday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During today’s trading session, 316 different stocks were traded on the NEPSE through 60,523 transactions. A total of shares traded amounted to 9,762,803 with a total turnover of Rs. 3.79 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Nepal Finance Limited(NFS) led the turnover amount with the total transaction of Rs 12 crores. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Dolti Power Company Limited (DOLTI) showed the highest gain of 9.56%, followed by Sadhana Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SDLBSL) and Samata Gharelu Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SMATA) with a gain of 8.72% each.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">On the contrary, People's Power Limited (PPL) incurred the maximum loss of 9.92%, closing at a market price of Rs. 554 per share. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In terms of sector indices, all sectors closed in the negative territory except Microfinance Index and Non-Life Insurance. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The "Microfinance Index" experienced the gain of 0.16%, while the "Development Bank Index" witnessed the highest decline of 2.65%.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20620', 'image' => '20240505041155_collage (4).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 16:10:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20892', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'PM Dahal Hints at Investigating Co-operative Fraud Case Involving Ravi Lamichhane', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 5: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has indicated that a committee will be formed to investigate the issue of cooperative fraud amid the demand of main opposition party Nepali Congress for parliamentary inquiry against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ravi Lamichhane regarding cooperative fraud.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">May 5: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has indicated that a committee will be formed to investigate the issue of cooperative fraud amid the demand of main opposition party Nepali Congress for parliamentary inquiry against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ravi Lamichhane regarding cooperative fraud.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Prime Minister Dahal, who is also the chairman of the CPN (Maoist Centre), while addressing the party's parliamentary party meeting held on Saturday, indicated that a parliamentary inquiry committee would be formed, a party leader informed New Business Age.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“The problem of cooperatives has become serious,” a leader of the party said quoting the prime minister. According to the Maoist leader, the prime minister said that a concrete step in this regard will be taken through another cabinet meeting.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"Discussions on forming a parliamentary inquiry committee to solve the overall problem will be taken forward," he added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the leader, the prime minister is in a state of mind not to let the budget session be affected by the fact that the Nepali Congress blocked the winter session by demanding a parliamentary inquiry. Amidst the obstruction created by the Nepali Congress, the government decided to end the winter session with effect from the midnight of the April 14.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">After ending the winter session, it was decided to bring an ordinance to amend various laws targeting the investment summit held on April 28 and 29. The budget session of the House of Representatives has been called again on May 10.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">During this session, the government will present the policies and programs and the budget for the next fiscal year (FY) 2081/82. However, the Nepali Congress has been repeating its stance that it will not allow the Parliament to run without an investigation into Lamichhane, suspected to be involved in cooperative fraud. In particular, a study report of Pokhara Metropolitan City showed that Ravi Lamichhane, who is not a member of Suryadarshan Cooperative, took Rs 10 million from the cooperative.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A person who is not a member of the cooperative is not eligible to take a loan. However, documents show that Lamichhane took the loan but did not repay it. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Lamichhane claimed that a fake account was opened in his name and maintained his stance that he did not take the loan.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">GB Rai was the president of Suryadarshan Cooperative when Lamichhane allegedly took the loan. Rai had partnered with Lamichhane to open Galaxy 4K Television, operated by Gorkha Network Pvt Ltd. Now the television has been shut down. It is mentioned in the report that Lamichhane took the loan of Rs 300 million from Pokhara's Suryadarshan Cooperative for this media.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Pokhara Metropolitan City formed a study committee last year after receiving many complaints about Suryadarshan Cooperative. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to Auditor Anil Lamichhane, was a member of the committee, the loan was sanctioned in the name of Ravi Lamichhane. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Not only Lamichhane but also Rastriya Swatantra Party's Vice President and Labor Minister DP Aryal was also involved in cooperative fraud cases. He was accused of cheating while he was the vice president of Hamro Naya Krishi Cooperative. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Maoist Chief Whip Hitraj Pandey said that the Prime Minister agreed to call an all-party meeting to end the impasse in Parliament. According to him, the same meeting will also discuss about the investigation of Home Minister Lamichhane, who has been accused of being involved in cooperative fraud.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20619', 'image' => '20240505032321_cooerativesssss.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 15:21:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20891', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Most of the Projects Seeking Start-up Loans are Related to Agriculture', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 5: Most of the projects that are eligible for start-up enterprise loans pledged by the government are projects related to agriculture and animal husbandry. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 5: Most of the projects that are eligible for start-up enterprise loans pledged by the government are projects related to agriculture and animal husbandry. A total of 1,658 projects were registered for startup ventures with the Industrial Enterprise Development Institute (IEDI), an autonomous body established by the government which is dedicated to developing human and knowledge resources for entrepreneurship and business promotion in Nepal through a number of impact-generating quality tools such as training, research, consultancy, enterprise education, and management development programmes. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The IEDI has listed 394 projects as eligible for the startup enterprise loans.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">More than half of the eligible list, that is roughly about 200 projects, pertain to agriculture and animal husbandry businesses. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Most of the startup projects eligible for startup enterprise loans are from Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur. There are 119 projects from these three districts. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Apart from these, some projects are also related to food processing. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The productivity of this sector is very low as most of the agriculture and animal husbandry in the country are subsistence oriented. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to a report published last December regarding Nepal’s food security and agricultural commercialization program, supported by the Asian Development Bank, the productivity of Nepal's agricultural sector was found to be the lowest in South Asia. The report pointed out that the major obstacles for the commercialization of agriculture were widespread fragmentation of land, lack of appropriate cultivation and cropping techniques, lack of timely supply of chemical fertilizers and seeds, and limited financial and agricultural infrastructure.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Juna Mathema, chairperson of the Startup and Innovation Forum of FNCCI, says that it is positive that there are many projects related to this sector in the context of the challenges of commercialization of agriculture in the country. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Neighboring India has already taken a leap in agriculture startups. There are startups related to agriculture in India's AG hub. It seems that the same kind of ecosystem has been developed by starting agro in a different way in Nepal,” said Mathema.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Stakeholders say that startups related to agriculture will also bring new technologies related to agriculture, which will help in the modernization and commercialization of agriculture. For example, China has succeeded in increasing productivity rapidly in 2023 through the use of technology, according to Chinese international television CGN. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to a report published in December last year, despite extensive damage to agriculture due to natural calamities, agricultural production increased widely. Nepal is also implementing the Prime Minister's Agriculture Modernization Project for the modernization and commercialization of agriculture. Its purpose is to maintain food security, reduce import of agricultural products and increase exports. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government has also announced the youth startup grant program in the budget of the current financial year to attract young manpower in agriculture and livestock business and develop entrepreneurship. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The implementation of this program under the Prime Minister's Agriculture Modernization Program has already started in nearly two dozen districts as per Dr. Jit Bahadur Chand. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> “Under this programme, we give a maximum of Rs 400,000 to a youth. But, those proposals should be innovative. We have also been instructing our offices in different districts to support innovative programs,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Mathema, there is plenty of room for innovation in the agricultural sector. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">She said, “The criteria set by the government for giving loans to start-up enterprises must include innovation. Incubation center is the link of startup.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Chand says that educated youth now want to engage in agriculture with the help of technology. Various technologies are being used in agriculture, including artificial intelligence. This will help increasing Nepal's agricultural production, make it competitive and sustainable. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Apart from projects related to agriculture and animal husbandry, proposals for restaurants, spice processing industry, bakery, cafe, small scale industry, chemicals, thangka/handicraft related businesses are also in the eligible list. In the current fiscal year 2080/81, the IEDI is planning to provide start-up enterprise loans to 200 projects and has fixed the date for the project presentation to the applicants who are in the list of eligible projects from April 29 to May 16. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the annual national accounting estimates of the current year 2080/81 published by the National Statistics Office a few days ago, the growth rate of this sector is estimated to be 3.05 percent.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20618', 'image' => '20240505021223_20240208011240_startup.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 14:11:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20890', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Orders Government to Limit Climbing Permits for Everest', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 5: The Supreme Court has ordered the Government of Nepal to limit the number of mountaineering permits issued for Everest and other peaks, AFP reported on Friday citing an advocate.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">May 5: The Supreme Court has ordered the Government of Nepal to limit the number of mountaineering permits issued for Everest and other peaks, AFP reported on Friday citing an advocate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The revelation comes just as climbers prepare for the spring climbing season.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Nepal is home to eight of the world's 10 highest peaks and welcomes hundreds of adventurers each spring, when temperatures are warm and winds are typically calm, the French news agency reported.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to AFP, the verdict was issued in late April but a summary was only published last week.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Advocate Deepak Bikram Mishra, who had filed a petition urging permits to be curtailed, told AFP that the court had responded to public concerns about Nepal's mountains and its environment.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"It has ordered a limit to the number of climbers... and also given measures for waste management and preservation of the mountain's environment," AFP quoted Mishra as saying.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The verdict's summary said that the mountains' capacity "must be respected" and an appropriate maximum number of permits should be determined.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The full text of the verdict has not been published and the summary does not mention any specific limit to the number of permits issued, added AFP.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Nepal currently grants permits to all who apply and are willing to pay $11,000 to scale Everest, the world's highest peak at 8,850 metres (29,035 feet) above the sea level.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Last year, the country issued 478 permits for Everest, a record high.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">A massive human traffic jam on Everest in 2019 forced teams to wait hours at the summit in freezing temperatures, risking depleted oxygen levels that can lead to sickness and exhaustion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to AFP, at least four of the 11 deaths on the peak that year were blamed on overcrowding.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"We are pressuring the mountain too much and we need to give it some respite," Mishra told AFP.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The court decision also orders restrictions on the use of helicopters, which the court said should be used only for emergency rescues.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Helicopters have in recent years been frequently used to airlift mountaineering teams to base camps and across hazardous terrain.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Nepal Mountaineering Association president Nima Nuru Sherpa told AFP that such decisions need to be made after a proper study and consultation with the stakeholders.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"It is not clear right now how it will impact the industry. We don't know on what basis the limits will be made and how will this be divided among expedition operators," Sherpa said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"Our focus should instead be on how we can make the mountains safer."</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Nepal has issued permits to 945 climbers for its mountains so far this year, including 403 for Everest.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20617', 'image' => '20240505122737_20240401075430_SubhasDarnal_KalapatharSolukhumbu_RSS_IMG_20240308_200422.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 12:27:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20889', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'World Food Prices Continue to Rise in April: FAO ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 5: Global food prices rose for the second consecutive month in April, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported Friday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 5: Global food prices rose for the second consecutive month in April, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported Friday. It was the first time they rose in consecutive months in more than two years, FAO said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A significant increase in prices for meat, along with modest rises in prices for grains, cereals and vegetable oil offset larger declines in prices for dairy products and sugar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The overall FAO Food Price Index gained 0.3 percent in April compared to March. A month ago, the broad index was 1.1 percent higher than in February, while previously it had declined for seven months in a row. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The last time the Food Price Index climbed in consecutive months was in February and March 2022, when higher energy prices pushed the index to its all-time high of 160.2 points. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Despite the increases over the last two months, the broad index only reached 119.1 points, far below its record high. The FAO said the biggest increase in April was for meat prices, which climbed 1.6 percent. This was due in part to higher demand for poultry in the Middle East. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Grains and cereals, the largest component in the Food Price Index, saw 0.3 percent gains due to production worries in Europe and transportation disruptions caused by the situation in Ukraine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Vegetable oil quotations inched higher because of unfavorable weather conditions in the Northern Hemisphere, the FAO said. The increase came after a dramatic 8.0 percent rise a month earlier. Meanwhile, sugar prices were 4.4 percent lower, pushed by strong production levels in India and Thailand and good weather in Brazil. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Dairy prices slipped 0.3 percent after increasing in each of the previous six months. The FAO said currency valuations were one factor behind the decline. -- Xinhua/RSS<br /> </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20616', 'image' => '20240505114421_inflationnnnnn.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 11:43:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20886', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'PM says New Budget will Focus on Underprivileged Class, Region ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 5: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahalhas said that the government’s policies and programme as well as budget for the upcoming fiscal year would focus on the concerns of underprivileged classes and regions lagging behind in national development indicators. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 5: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahalhas said that the government’s policies and programme as well as budget for the upcoming fiscal year would focus on the concerns of underprivileged classes and regions lagging behind in national development indicators. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Addressing a parliamentary party meeting of the CPN (Maoist Centre) on Saturday, the Maoist Centre Chairman and Prime Minister Dahal shared that the new budget would be prepared by taking lessons from past experiences. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Policies and programme, and budget will be brought keeping the agendas of good-governance, social justice and prosperity in the centre, and to uplift the underprivileged ones," Maoist Centre's chief whip Hitraj Pandey quoted the PM as saying. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the PM directed the ministers from the Maoist Centre to interact with the Maoist Centre's lawmakers and take their feedback in preparing the budget. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the PM asked the lawmakers to offer their feedback for production growth and employment generation and share the recommendations from the experts of diverse sectors to the government through the party. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the meeting, the Maoist Centre lawmakers suggested that the new budget should address the people's expectations amid the ongoing status of limited resources. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief Whip Pandey said that the meeting decided to make the upcoming parliamentary session systematic and effective and pass the bills from the thematic committees. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20613', 'image' => '20240505104723_budgetttttt.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 10:46:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20885', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India Imposes Export Duty of 40% on Onions', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The India government on Friday imposed a 40 per cent duty on export of onions. Similarly, it granted an exemption on duty for the import of desi chana until March 31, 2025.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px">May 5: The India government on Friday imposed a 40 per cent duty on export of onions. Similarly, it granted an exemption on duty for the import of desi chana until March 31, 2025.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Currently, the export of onion is banned. However, the government allows shipments to India's friendly nations. It has permitted a specified quantity of onion exports to UAE and Bangladesh.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">In August last year, India had imposed a 40 per cent export duty on onions up to December 31, 2023. The rise on export duty is bound to impact Nepali market, which is dependent on Indian onions.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20612', 'image' => '20240505062922_collage (72).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 06:27:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20884', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Betel Leaves Worth Over Rs 18 Million Imported in Nine Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Nepal has imported betel leaves nearly worth Rs 18 million in the past nine months. According to the statistics of the Department of Customs, Nepal has imported 75, 685 kilograms of betel leaves worth 18 million in the last nine months of the current fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 3: Nepal has imported betel leaves nearly worth Rs 18 million in the past nine months. According to the statistics of the Department of Customs, Nepal has imported 75, 685 kilograms of betel leaves worth 18 million in the last nine months of the current fiscal year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In comparison to the same period of the previous year, the import value of betel leaves decreased by 2 percent and the quantity by 16 percent. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the same period last fiscal year, Nepal had imported 90, 794 kilograms of betel leaves worth Rs 19 million. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal imports betel leaves from India.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-03', 'modified' => '2024-05-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20611', 'image' => '20240503043835_collage (71).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-03 16:37:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20882', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Philippine Court Blocks Genetically Modified 'Golden Rice' Production over Safety Fears', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 3: A Philippine court has blocked the commercial propagation of genetically modified golden rice because it said conflicting scientific views gave rise to "severe" health and environmental safety concerns, AFP reported.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 3: A Philippine court has blocked the commercial propagation of genetically modified golden rice because it said conflicting scientific views gave rise to "severe" health and environmental safety concerns, AFP reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the French news agency, the Philippines was the first country in the world to approve golden rice, which is enriched with the Vitamin A precursor beta-carotene and has a bright yellow colour, in a bid to combat childhood blindness.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, the Court of Appeals in Manila revoked a biosafety permit for commercial production of the rice granted by government regulators in 2021 after 14 opponents filed a challenge.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The court's ruling, issued on April 17 and seen by AFP, also applies to a genetically modified eggplant, BT eggplant, that is pest resistant.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"By reason of the conflicting scientific views and uncertainties on the risks and effects of Golden Rice and Bt Eggplant, potential severe and grave threats to the welfare of people and the environment arise," the court said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Commercial propagation was not allowed "until such time that the concerned respondent government agencies submit proof of safety and compliance with all legal requirements", it said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Experts hope the rice will help combat childhood blindness and save lives in the developing world.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">World Health Organization data show vitamin A deficiency causes up to 500,000 cases of childhood blindness every year, mostly in developing countries, with half of those dying within 12 months of losing their sight.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Golden rice was developed over two decades by the Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), while BT eggplant was developed by the University of the Philippines Los Banos campus.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The scientists involved insist both are safe to eat. PhilRice executive director John de Leon said in a statement the institute was "reviewing the implications" of the ruling to prepare its response.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The IRRI said it would continue to work with PhilRice on "developing safe and effective nutritional interventions through rice research".</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">It also said golden rice had received "positive food safety evaluations" from regulators in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, the rice faced strong resistance from environmental groups opposed to genetically altered food plants and at least one test field in the Philippines was attacked by activists.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The opponents who filed the objection, including Greenpeace, welcomed the ruling.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"This decision is a monumental win for Filipino farmers and Filipino people who have for decades stood up against genetically modified crops," Greenpeace Southeast Asia campaigner Wilhelmina Pelegrina said in a statement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"GM crops have never been proven safe, and have hindered necessary progress on climate resilient ecological agriculture that keeps the control of seeds on our farmers."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Ordinary rice, a staple for hundreds of millions of people, particularly in Asia, produces beta-carotene in the plant but it is not found in the grain. – AFP</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-03', 'modified' => '2024-05-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20610', 'image' => '20240503012113_415162-01-02 (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-03 13:20:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20883', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Fails to Sell Foreign Employment Savings Bonds as per its Target', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 3: The government has started issuing fewer Foreign Employment Saving Bonds in recent years as the target group – Nepali workers in foreign employment -- has shown little interest in the initiative of the government to encourage investment in such bonds.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 3: The government has started issuing fewer Foreign Employment Saving Bonds in recent years as the target group – Nepali workers in foreign employment -- has shown little interest in the initiative of the government to encourage investment in such bonds.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government has been issuing 'Foreign Employment Savings Bond' for almost one and a half decades along with the scheme of setting up income generating sectors for the Nepalese who are in foreign employment. However, every year the sales of such savings bond are much less than the target. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Public Debt Management Office issued a notice on Monday calling for the purchase of savings bonds worth Rs 1 billion. The notice mentions that the target group can purchase a minimum savings bond worth Rs 10,000 from May 5 to June 4. The notice further mentions the annual interest rate on the savings bond with a maturity period of five years will be 9 percent. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the last fiscal year (FY) 2079/80, the government had issued notice to sell foreign employment savings bonds worth Rs 1.47 billion, but only Rs 26.3 million were sold as per the Nepal Rastra Bank. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Although the central bank used to raise internal debt for the government in the past, the Public Debt Management Office has started raising such debts for the government since one month.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the fiscal year 2078/89, the government had issued such bonds worth Rs 500 million for sale but bonds worth only Rs 56.7 million were sold. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In view of the low sales of savings bonds in the past, the PDMO has started correspondence with Nepal’s embassies to increase the sale of such bonds, shared Dilaram Giri, the information officer of the PDMO.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We are trying to promote the sale of savings bond with the help of Nepal’s embassies abroad, media as well as to foreign workers. We expect sales to increase this year compared to previous years.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government started issuing foreign employment savings bonds for the first time since 2066/67.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">So far, the government has issued foreign employment savings bonds worth Rs 15.56 billion through 25 different schemes but the sale has been only 4.9 percent worth Rs 762.3 million.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-03', 'modified' => '2024-05-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20609', 'image' => '20240503021028_20240117124624_20210730071603_20200327032654_5003_finance-ministy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-03 14:09:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20881', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ''IT has Immense Potential' ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 3: The officials at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology have argued that information technology (IT) sector has opened up new avenues for employment as an IT-friendly society is being created in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 3: The officials at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology have argued that information technology (IT) sector has opened up new avenues for employment as an IT-friendly society is being created in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Joint Secretary at the ministry, Anil Kumar Dutta, viewed that IT could prosper agriculture, tourism and health sectors as well.</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"">"IT is a borderless issue. One can work for abroad staying at home. The IT experts and youths can make windfall in this field," he added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, a study conducted a year back had showed that 64,000 Nepali youths were involved in the IT business and entrepreneurship and earning foreign currency. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the National Information and Communications Day was observed in Nepal on Thursday in a bid to promote IT. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal had introduced computer in 2028 BS. The restoration of democracy in 2046 BS had further created liberal atmosphere which facilitated the launch and expansion of IT business. Computer Association of Nepal was established then. The Day CAN was established is now observed as the National Information and Communications Day. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Joint Secretary Dutta further shared that government was mulling a concept of IT park or tech park and working on policy and law reform so that foreign investment could be ensured along with the entry of tech giants like Microsoft and Google in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He however said Nepal needs high speed internet, expansion of optical fibres, broadband connectivity and development of software. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Moreover, Director General at the Department of Information Technology, Prem Sharan Shrestha, said government was making efforts to bring reforms in IT sector. Paperless integrated office management system is in place for two years, which has eased service delivery, he added. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-03', 'modified' => '2024-05-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20608', 'image' => '20240503012016_IT_3.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-03 13:19:46', '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' => '20897', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Karnali Province has the Highest Life Expectancy in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 6: Karnali Province, which is often considered as the most backward province in several fronts, ironically has the highest life expectancy among all provinces of Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 6: Karnali Province, which is often considered as the most backward province in several fronts, ironically has the highest life expectancy among all provinces of Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A report on demographic indicators published by the National Statistics Office (NSO) on Sunday shows that the people living in Karnali Province have a life expectancy of 72.5 years, the highest of all. This is even higher than the national average life expectancy, which according to the NSO, has reached 71.3 years. According to the report prepared on the basis of the recently conducted census in 2021, male life expectancy stands at 68.2 years while that of females is 73.8 years. The NSO records show that average life expectancy of Nepalis increased by 21.5 years in the past four decades. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Lumbini Province has the lowest life expectancy of 69.5 years. The life expectancy is 70.4 years in Koshi Province, 71.3 years in Sudurpaschim Province, 71.8 years in Madhesh Province, 72.1 years in Gandaki Province and 72.4 years in Bagmati Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We are doing additional study to find out the factors behind the high life expectancy in Karnali Province,” said Dr Hemraj Regni, deputy chief of the NSO, during a press conference in the capital on Sunday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Probably it is due to various projects implemented by the government and its development partners in Karnali Province in the past ten to twenty years,” he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Regmi, Karnali Province has also made significant improvement in poverty alleviation. The Living Standard Survey conducted by the government in the last fiscal year shows that 26.69 percent of population in Karnali Province are below the poverty line. In average, 20.27 percent population of Nepal fall under the poverty line.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the Human Development Index Report of Nepal prepared in 2020 by the National Planning Commission in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Human Development Index of Karnali Province is not good compared to other provinces.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The HDI of Karnali Province is the second worst after Madhesh Province. According to the NSO, the infant mortality rate is also the second lowest in Karnali compared to other provinces.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In 2021, the infant mortality rate went down to 17 per 1,000. The figure was 40 per 1,000 babies in 2011.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The reproductive rate has reduced to 1.94 children per woman. The average age of giving birth by a woman is 26.9 years in Karnali Province, while it is 28.4 years in Bagmati Province. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The study of five year data shows that the internal migration rate was the highest in Gandaki Province, which witnessed migration of 4,027 people per 100,000 during the review period. In Karnali Province, the internal migration rate was 3,700 per 100,000 of population, while it was the lowest in Bagmati Province that had 54 per 100,000 of population. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In five years, a total of 3,752 people out of 100,000 of the population migrated abroad. Sudurpashchim posted the largest figure of 7,359 people per 100,000 of population, which was followed by Gandaki Province and Lumbini Province in second and third positions, respectively. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, Nepal’s population growth rate stood 0.92 percent per annum in the past one decade, which was the lowest in 80 years, the NSO report stated.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the NSO, the population of the country is around 29.2 million at present. During mid-April 2011 and mid-April 2021, Nepal’s population grew by 2.7 million. The growth rate in Lumbini Province was the largest at 13.8 percent. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-06', 'modified' => '2024-05-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20624', 'image' => '20240506114451_20231215110529_agri maize (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-06 11:43:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20896', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Samsung's 'Good Lock' App Debuts on Google Play Store ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 6: Samsung's popular customization app, Good Lock, has made its debut on the Google Play Store, marking a significant expansion in accessibility for Samsung users. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 6: Samsung's popular customization app, Good Lock, has made its debut on the Google Play Store, marking a significant expansion in accessibility for Samsung users. </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"">Previously exclusive to Samsung's Galaxy Store, the availability of Good Lock on the Play Store broadens its reach to a wider audience of Android users, confirmed GSM Arena. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The move comes as Samsung aims to offer its users more flexibility in accessing its suite of applications. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, it's important to note that the Good Lock app on the Google Play Store is currently labelled as 'Early Access,' suggesting that users should exercise caution, particularly if considering downloading it on their primary devices. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In addition to the Good Lock app, Samsung has also introduced the One Hand Operation+ module on the Google Play Store, further enriching the customization options available to Samsung device owners, reported GSM Arena. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This module, previously accessible only through the Galaxy Store, now provides users with the choice to download it from either platform. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">While the expansion of Samsung's applications to the Google Play Store offers greater convenience for users, it's advised to approach the Early Access tag with prudence, considering potential bugs or stability issues that may arise in pre-release versions. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">For those interested in exploring these offerings, both the Good Lock app and the One Hand Operation+ module are now available for download from the Google Play Store and the Galaxy Store, providing Samsung users with enhanced customization options for their devices. – ANI/RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-06', 'modified' => '2024-05-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20623', 'image' => '20240506110315_gl.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-06 11:02:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20895', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Birgunj Records Rs 450 Billion Imports, Rs 23 Billion Exports in Nine Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Goods worth Rs 450 billion were imported via Birgunj entry point in the past nine months of the current fiscal year 2023/2024.Similarly, goods worth Rs 23 billion were exported via the same entry point.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> May 6: Goods worth Rs 450 billion were imported via Birgunj entry point in the past nine months of the current fiscal year 2023/2024.Similarly, goods worth Rs 23 billion were exported via the same entry point. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the Birgunj Customs Office, both imports and exports have decreased compared to the previous fiscal year. When imports decreased by 14.61%, exports dropped by 21.84%.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the first nine months of the last fiscal year, goods worth Rs 527 billion were imported while the goods amounting to Rs 29 billion were exported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">After India imposed a policy of zero duty on the import of refined and semi-refined cooking oil, export of cooking oil from Nepal to India has come to a standstill. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">From this border point, mainly petroleum products, vehicles, and industrial raw materials are imported. Items like edible oil, juice, cloth, yarn, and pineapples are exported from Birgunj border point. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">While Birjgunj Customs Office reported total transaction of worth Rs 473 billion, the trade deficit reached 427 billion. With the fall in imports and export, the trade deficit has slumped by 14.18% compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Following the decrease in imports and exports, the revenue collected by the Birgunj Customs Office has been affected. The Customs Office has collected only 62.73% of its revenue target in the first nine months of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The customs office has collected 114 billion in revenue against its total target of 181 billion in the first nine months of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-06', 'modified' => '2024-05-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20622', 'image' => '20240506061550_collage (73).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-06 06:13:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20894', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'KMC's Skill Fair gets 10,000 Plus Applications for Vocational Training', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 5: More than 10,000 people have applied for the 'Skill Fair 2081 BS' organized since May 1 by Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">May 5: More than 10,000 people have applied for the 'Skill Fair 2081 BS' organized since May 1 by Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC). KMC organized the fair with the goal of training 2,081 individuals but more than 10,000 people applied for the training. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to Bimala Koirala, acting head of KMC’s Social Development Department, all those who have filled the application forms will be provided the training.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Koirala said that the applicants who filled the forms before May 1 will be allowed to participate in the skill fair. Koirala said that there is a plan to provide them with the training schedule by Friday, May 10. She further said that training will be provided at various stages in collaboration with various campuses and community schools for those who fill the forms after May 2.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">She shared that 2,081 of those who filled the forms will be trained immediately and others will be trained for the next three years based on their needs. The skill fair has been started under the KMC's Gaurav Yojana (Pride Project) under 'Increase in Employment and Income, Prosperity of Kathmandu'.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">KMC has collaborated with the Nepal Training and Employment Association to organize the fair. According to the KMC, the aim is to provide training in 36 occupations in 10 areas. The KMC believes that the fair will help people with skills reach employers. Koirala further stated that people who have completed 18 years of age and are not above 58 years of age can participate in the training.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">For those who find it difficult to fill the details online, arrangements were made to fill the form on paper at the ward offices of the KMC as well. The participants who came to Tundikhel on the opening day could fill the forms from that venue as well, KMC said. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20621', 'image' => '20240505090233_BBB-KTM-23silaikataitalim(1)copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 21:01:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20893', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEPSE Plummets by Double Digits, Closes at 1974.37', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index saw a loss of 1.23%, or 24.58 points, closing at 1,974.37 points on the first trading day of the week on Sunday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">May 5: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index saw a loss of 1.23%, or 24.58 points, closing at 1,974.37 points on the first trading day of the week on Sunday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During today’s trading session, 316 different stocks were traded on the NEPSE through 60,523 transactions. A total of shares traded amounted to 9,762,803 with a total turnover of Rs. 3.79 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Nepal Finance Limited(NFS) led the turnover amount with the total transaction of Rs 12 crores. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Dolti Power Company Limited (DOLTI) showed the highest gain of 9.56%, followed by Sadhana Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SDLBSL) and Samata Gharelu Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SMATA) with a gain of 8.72% each.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">On the contrary, People's Power Limited (PPL) incurred the maximum loss of 9.92%, closing at a market price of Rs. 554 per share. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In terms of sector indices, all sectors closed in the negative territory except Microfinance Index and Non-Life Insurance. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The "Microfinance Index" experienced the gain of 0.16%, while the "Development Bank Index" witnessed the highest decline of 2.65%.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20620', 'image' => '20240505041155_collage (4).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 16:10:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20892', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'PM Dahal Hints at Investigating Co-operative Fraud Case Involving Ravi Lamichhane', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 5: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has indicated that a committee will be formed to investigate the issue of cooperative fraud amid the demand of main opposition party Nepali Congress for parliamentary inquiry against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ravi Lamichhane regarding cooperative fraud.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">May 5: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has indicated that a committee will be formed to investigate the issue of cooperative fraud amid the demand of main opposition party Nepali Congress for parliamentary inquiry against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ravi Lamichhane regarding cooperative fraud.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Prime Minister Dahal, who is also the chairman of the CPN (Maoist Centre), while addressing the party's parliamentary party meeting held on Saturday, indicated that a parliamentary inquiry committee would be formed, a party leader informed New Business Age.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“The problem of cooperatives has become serious,” a leader of the party said quoting the prime minister. According to the Maoist leader, the prime minister said that a concrete step in this regard will be taken through another cabinet meeting.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"Discussions on forming a parliamentary inquiry committee to solve the overall problem will be taken forward," he added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the leader, the prime minister is in a state of mind not to let the budget session be affected by the fact that the Nepali Congress blocked the winter session by demanding a parliamentary inquiry. Amidst the obstruction created by the Nepali Congress, the government decided to end the winter session with effect from the midnight of the April 14.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">After ending the winter session, it was decided to bring an ordinance to amend various laws targeting the investment summit held on April 28 and 29. The budget session of the House of Representatives has been called again on May 10.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">During this session, the government will present the policies and programs and the budget for the next fiscal year (FY) 2081/82. However, the Nepali Congress has been repeating its stance that it will not allow the Parliament to run without an investigation into Lamichhane, suspected to be involved in cooperative fraud. In particular, a study report of Pokhara Metropolitan City showed that Ravi Lamichhane, who is not a member of Suryadarshan Cooperative, took Rs 10 million from the cooperative.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A person who is not a member of the cooperative is not eligible to take a loan. However, documents show that Lamichhane took the loan but did not repay it. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Lamichhane claimed that a fake account was opened in his name and maintained his stance that he did not take the loan.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">GB Rai was the president of Suryadarshan Cooperative when Lamichhane allegedly took the loan. Rai had partnered with Lamichhane to open Galaxy 4K Television, operated by Gorkha Network Pvt Ltd. Now the television has been shut down. It is mentioned in the report that Lamichhane took the loan of Rs 300 million from Pokhara's Suryadarshan Cooperative for this media.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Pokhara Metropolitan City formed a study committee last year after receiving many complaints about Suryadarshan Cooperative. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to Auditor Anil Lamichhane, was a member of the committee, the loan was sanctioned in the name of Ravi Lamichhane. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Not only Lamichhane but also Rastriya Swatantra Party's Vice President and Labor Minister DP Aryal was also involved in cooperative fraud cases. He was accused of cheating while he was the vice president of Hamro Naya Krishi Cooperative. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Maoist Chief Whip Hitraj Pandey said that the Prime Minister agreed to call an all-party meeting to end the impasse in Parliament. According to him, the same meeting will also discuss about the investigation of Home Minister Lamichhane, who has been accused of being involved in cooperative fraud.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20619', 'image' => '20240505032321_cooerativesssss.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 15:21:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20891', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Most of the Projects Seeking Start-up Loans are Related to Agriculture', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 5: Most of the projects that are eligible for start-up enterprise loans pledged by the government are projects related to agriculture and animal husbandry. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 5: Most of the projects that are eligible for start-up enterprise loans pledged by the government are projects related to agriculture and animal husbandry. A total of 1,658 projects were registered for startup ventures with the Industrial Enterprise Development Institute (IEDI), an autonomous body established by the government which is dedicated to developing human and knowledge resources for entrepreneurship and business promotion in Nepal through a number of impact-generating quality tools such as training, research, consultancy, enterprise education, and management development programmes. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The IEDI has listed 394 projects as eligible for the startup enterprise loans.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">More than half of the eligible list, that is roughly about 200 projects, pertain to agriculture and animal husbandry businesses. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Most of the startup projects eligible for startup enterprise loans are from Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur. There are 119 projects from these three districts. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Apart from these, some projects are also related to food processing. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The productivity of this sector is very low as most of the agriculture and animal husbandry in the country are subsistence oriented. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to a report published last December regarding Nepal’s food security and agricultural commercialization program, supported by the Asian Development Bank, the productivity of Nepal's agricultural sector was found to be the lowest in South Asia. The report pointed out that the major obstacles for the commercialization of agriculture were widespread fragmentation of land, lack of appropriate cultivation and cropping techniques, lack of timely supply of chemical fertilizers and seeds, and limited financial and agricultural infrastructure.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Juna Mathema, chairperson of the Startup and Innovation Forum of FNCCI, says that it is positive that there are many projects related to this sector in the context of the challenges of commercialization of agriculture in the country. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Neighboring India has already taken a leap in agriculture startups. There are startups related to agriculture in India's AG hub. It seems that the same kind of ecosystem has been developed by starting agro in a different way in Nepal,” said Mathema.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Stakeholders say that startups related to agriculture will also bring new technologies related to agriculture, which will help in the modernization and commercialization of agriculture. For example, China has succeeded in increasing productivity rapidly in 2023 through the use of technology, according to Chinese international television CGN. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to a report published in December last year, despite extensive damage to agriculture due to natural calamities, agricultural production increased widely. Nepal is also implementing the Prime Minister's Agriculture Modernization Project for the modernization and commercialization of agriculture. Its purpose is to maintain food security, reduce import of agricultural products and increase exports. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government has also announced the youth startup grant program in the budget of the current financial year to attract young manpower in agriculture and livestock business and develop entrepreneurship. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The implementation of this program under the Prime Minister's Agriculture Modernization Program has already started in nearly two dozen districts as per Dr. Jit Bahadur Chand. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> “Under this programme, we give a maximum of Rs 400,000 to a youth. But, those proposals should be innovative. We have also been instructing our offices in different districts to support innovative programs,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Mathema, there is plenty of room for innovation in the agricultural sector. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">She said, “The criteria set by the government for giving loans to start-up enterprises must include innovation. Incubation center is the link of startup.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Chand says that educated youth now want to engage in agriculture with the help of technology. Various technologies are being used in agriculture, including artificial intelligence. This will help increasing Nepal's agricultural production, make it competitive and sustainable. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Apart from projects related to agriculture and animal husbandry, proposals for restaurants, spice processing industry, bakery, cafe, small scale industry, chemicals, thangka/handicraft related businesses are also in the eligible list. In the current fiscal year 2080/81, the IEDI is planning to provide start-up enterprise loans to 200 projects and has fixed the date for the project presentation to the applicants who are in the list of eligible projects from April 29 to May 16. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the annual national accounting estimates of the current year 2080/81 published by the National Statistics Office a few days ago, the growth rate of this sector is estimated to be 3.05 percent.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20618', 'image' => '20240505021223_20240208011240_startup.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 14:11:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20890', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Orders Government to Limit Climbing Permits for Everest', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 5: The Supreme Court has ordered the Government of Nepal to limit the number of mountaineering permits issued for Everest and other peaks, AFP reported on Friday citing an advocate.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">May 5: The Supreme Court has ordered the Government of Nepal to limit the number of mountaineering permits issued for Everest and other peaks, AFP reported on Friday citing an advocate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The revelation comes just as climbers prepare for the spring climbing season.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Nepal is home to eight of the world's 10 highest peaks and welcomes hundreds of adventurers each spring, when temperatures are warm and winds are typically calm, the French news agency reported.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to AFP, the verdict was issued in late April but a summary was only published last week.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Advocate Deepak Bikram Mishra, who had filed a petition urging permits to be curtailed, told AFP that the court had responded to public concerns about Nepal's mountains and its environment.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"It has ordered a limit to the number of climbers... and also given measures for waste management and preservation of the mountain's environment," AFP quoted Mishra as saying.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The verdict's summary said that the mountains' capacity "must be respected" and an appropriate maximum number of permits should be determined.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The full text of the verdict has not been published and the summary does not mention any specific limit to the number of permits issued, added AFP.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Nepal currently grants permits to all who apply and are willing to pay $11,000 to scale Everest, the world's highest peak at 8,850 metres (29,035 feet) above the sea level.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Last year, the country issued 478 permits for Everest, a record high.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">A massive human traffic jam on Everest in 2019 forced teams to wait hours at the summit in freezing temperatures, risking depleted oxygen levels that can lead to sickness and exhaustion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to AFP, at least four of the 11 deaths on the peak that year were blamed on overcrowding.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"We are pressuring the mountain too much and we need to give it some respite," Mishra told AFP.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The court decision also orders restrictions on the use of helicopters, which the court said should be used only for emergency rescues.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Helicopters have in recent years been frequently used to airlift mountaineering teams to base camps and across hazardous terrain.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Nepal Mountaineering Association president Nima Nuru Sherpa told AFP that such decisions need to be made after a proper study and consultation with the stakeholders.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"It is not clear right now how it will impact the industry. We don't know on what basis the limits will be made and how will this be divided among expedition operators," Sherpa said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"Our focus should instead be on how we can make the mountains safer."</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Nepal has issued permits to 945 climbers for its mountains so far this year, including 403 for Everest.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20617', 'image' => '20240505122737_20240401075430_SubhasDarnal_KalapatharSolukhumbu_RSS_IMG_20240308_200422.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 12:27:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20889', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'World Food Prices Continue to Rise in April: FAO ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 5: Global food prices rose for the second consecutive month in April, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported Friday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 5: Global food prices rose for the second consecutive month in April, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported Friday. It was the first time they rose in consecutive months in more than two years, FAO said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A significant increase in prices for meat, along with modest rises in prices for grains, cereals and vegetable oil offset larger declines in prices for dairy products and sugar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The overall FAO Food Price Index gained 0.3 percent in April compared to March. A month ago, the broad index was 1.1 percent higher than in February, while previously it had declined for seven months in a row. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The last time the Food Price Index climbed in consecutive months was in February and March 2022, when higher energy prices pushed the index to its all-time high of 160.2 points. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Despite the increases over the last two months, the broad index only reached 119.1 points, far below its record high. The FAO said the biggest increase in April was for meat prices, which climbed 1.6 percent. This was due in part to higher demand for poultry in the Middle East. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Grains and cereals, the largest component in the Food Price Index, saw 0.3 percent gains due to production worries in Europe and transportation disruptions caused by the situation in Ukraine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Vegetable oil quotations inched higher because of unfavorable weather conditions in the Northern Hemisphere, the FAO said. The increase came after a dramatic 8.0 percent rise a month earlier. Meanwhile, sugar prices were 4.4 percent lower, pushed by strong production levels in India and Thailand and good weather in Brazil. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Dairy prices slipped 0.3 percent after increasing in each of the previous six months. The FAO said currency valuations were one factor behind the decline. -- Xinhua/RSS<br /> </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20616', 'image' => '20240505114421_inflationnnnnn.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 11:43:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20886', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'PM says New Budget will Focus on Underprivileged Class, Region ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 5: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahalhas said that the government’s policies and programme as well as budget for the upcoming fiscal year would focus on the concerns of underprivileged classes and regions lagging behind in national development indicators. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 5: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahalhas said that the government’s policies and programme as well as budget for the upcoming fiscal year would focus on the concerns of underprivileged classes and regions lagging behind in national development indicators. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Addressing a parliamentary party meeting of the CPN (Maoist Centre) on Saturday, the Maoist Centre Chairman and Prime Minister Dahal shared that the new budget would be prepared by taking lessons from past experiences. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Policies and programme, and budget will be brought keeping the agendas of good-governance, social justice and prosperity in the centre, and to uplift the underprivileged ones," Maoist Centre's chief whip Hitraj Pandey quoted the PM as saying. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the PM directed the ministers from the Maoist Centre to interact with the Maoist Centre's lawmakers and take their feedback in preparing the budget. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the PM asked the lawmakers to offer their feedback for production growth and employment generation and share the recommendations from the experts of diverse sectors to the government through the party. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the meeting, the Maoist Centre lawmakers suggested that the new budget should address the people's expectations amid the ongoing status of limited resources. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief Whip Pandey said that the meeting decided to make the upcoming parliamentary session systematic and effective and pass the bills from the thematic committees. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20613', 'image' => '20240505104723_budgetttttt.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 10:46:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20885', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India Imposes Export Duty of 40% on Onions', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The India government on Friday imposed a 40 per cent duty on export of onions. Similarly, it granted an exemption on duty for the import of desi chana until March 31, 2025.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px">May 5: The India government on Friday imposed a 40 per cent duty on export of onions. Similarly, it granted an exemption on duty for the import of desi chana until March 31, 2025.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Currently, the export of onion is banned. However, the government allows shipments to India's friendly nations. It has permitted a specified quantity of onion exports to UAE and Bangladesh.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">In August last year, India had imposed a 40 per cent export duty on onions up to December 31, 2023. The rise on export duty is bound to impact Nepali market, which is dependent on Indian onions.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20612', 'image' => '20240505062922_collage (72).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 06:27:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20884', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Betel Leaves Worth Over Rs 18 Million Imported in Nine Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Nepal has imported betel leaves nearly worth Rs 18 million in the past nine months. According to the statistics of the Department of Customs, Nepal has imported 75, 685 kilograms of betel leaves worth 18 million in the last nine months of the current fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 3: Nepal has imported betel leaves nearly worth Rs 18 million in the past nine months. According to the statistics of the Department of Customs, Nepal has imported 75, 685 kilograms of betel leaves worth 18 million in the last nine months of the current fiscal year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In comparison to the same period of the previous year, the import value of betel leaves decreased by 2 percent and the quantity by 16 percent. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the same period last fiscal year, Nepal had imported 90, 794 kilograms of betel leaves worth Rs 19 million. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal imports betel leaves from India.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-03', 'modified' => '2024-05-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20611', 'image' => '20240503043835_collage (71).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-03 16:37:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20882', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Philippine Court Blocks Genetically Modified 'Golden Rice' Production over Safety Fears', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 3: A Philippine court has blocked the commercial propagation of genetically modified golden rice because it said conflicting scientific views gave rise to "severe" health and environmental safety concerns, AFP reported.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 3: A Philippine court has blocked the commercial propagation of genetically modified golden rice because it said conflicting scientific views gave rise to "severe" health and environmental safety concerns, AFP reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the French news agency, the Philippines was the first country in the world to approve golden rice, which is enriched with the Vitamin A precursor beta-carotene and has a bright yellow colour, in a bid to combat childhood blindness.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, the Court of Appeals in Manila revoked a biosafety permit for commercial production of the rice granted by government regulators in 2021 after 14 opponents filed a challenge.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The court's ruling, issued on April 17 and seen by AFP, also applies to a genetically modified eggplant, BT eggplant, that is pest resistant.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"By reason of the conflicting scientific views and uncertainties on the risks and effects of Golden Rice and Bt Eggplant, potential severe and grave threats to the welfare of people and the environment arise," the court said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Commercial propagation was not allowed "until such time that the concerned respondent government agencies submit proof of safety and compliance with all legal requirements", it said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Experts hope the rice will help combat childhood blindness and save lives in the developing world.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">World Health Organization data show vitamin A deficiency causes up to 500,000 cases of childhood blindness every year, mostly in developing countries, with half of those dying within 12 months of losing their sight.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Golden rice was developed over two decades by the Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), while BT eggplant was developed by the University of the Philippines Los Banos campus.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The scientists involved insist both are safe to eat. PhilRice executive director John de Leon said in a statement the institute was "reviewing the implications" of the ruling to prepare its response.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The IRRI said it would continue to work with PhilRice on "developing safe and effective nutritional interventions through rice research".</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">It also said golden rice had received "positive food safety evaluations" from regulators in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, the rice faced strong resistance from environmental groups opposed to genetically altered food plants and at least one test field in the Philippines was attacked by activists.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The opponents who filed the objection, including Greenpeace, welcomed the ruling.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"This decision is a monumental win for Filipino farmers and Filipino people who have for decades stood up against genetically modified crops," Greenpeace Southeast Asia campaigner Wilhelmina Pelegrina said in a statement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"GM crops have never been proven safe, and have hindered necessary progress on climate resilient ecological agriculture that keeps the control of seeds on our farmers."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Ordinary rice, a staple for hundreds of millions of people, particularly in Asia, produces beta-carotene in the plant but it is not found in the grain. – AFP</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-03', 'modified' => '2024-05-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20610', 'image' => '20240503012113_415162-01-02 (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-03 13:20:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20883', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Fails to Sell Foreign Employment Savings Bonds as per its Target', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 3: The government has started issuing fewer Foreign Employment Saving Bonds in recent years as the target group – Nepali workers in foreign employment -- has shown little interest in the initiative of the government to encourage investment in such bonds.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 3: The government has started issuing fewer Foreign Employment Saving Bonds in recent years as the target group – Nepali workers in foreign employment -- has shown little interest in the initiative of the government to encourage investment in such bonds.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government has been issuing 'Foreign Employment Savings Bond' for almost one and a half decades along with the scheme of setting up income generating sectors for the Nepalese who are in foreign employment. However, every year the sales of such savings bond are much less than the target. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Public Debt Management Office issued a notice on Monday calling for the purchase of savings bonds worth Rs 1 billion. The notice mentions that the target group can purchase a minimum savings bond worth Rs 10,000 from May 5 to June 4. The notice further mentions the annual interest rate on the savings bond with a maturity period of five years will be 9 percent. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the last fiscal year (FY) 2079/80, the government had issued notice to sell foreign employment savings bonds worth Rs 1.47 billion, but only Rs 26.3 million were sold as per the Nepal Rastra Bank. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Although the central bank used to raise internal debt for the government in the past, the Public Debt Management Office has started raising such debts for the government since one month.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the fiscal year 2078/89, the government had issued such bonds worth Rs 500 million for sale but bonds worth only Rs 56.7 million were sold. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In view of the low sales of savings bonds in the past, the PDMO has started correspondence with Nepal’s embassies to increase the sale of such bonds, shared Dilaram Giri, the information officer of the PDMO.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We are trying to promote the sale of savings bond with the help of Nepal’s embassies abroad, media as well as to foreign workers. We expect sales to increase this year compared to previous years.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government started issuing foreign employment savings bonds for the first time since 2066/67.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">So far, the government has issued foreign employment savings bonds worth Rs 15.56 billion through 25 different schemes but the sale has been only 4.9 percent worth Rs 762.3 million.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-03', 'modified' => '2024-05-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20609', 'image' => '20240503021028_20240117124624_20210730071603_20200327032654_5003_finance-ministy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-03 14:09:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20881', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ''IT has Immense Potential' ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 3: The officials at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology have argued that information technology (IT) sector has opened up new avenues for employment as an IT-friendly society is being created in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 3: The officials at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology have argued that information technology (IT) sector has opened up new avenues for employment as an IT-friendly society is being created in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Joint Secretary at the ministry, Anil Kumar Dutta, viewed that IT could prosper agriculture, tourism and health sectors as well.</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"">"IT is a borderless issue. One can work for abroad staying at home. The IT experts and youths can make windfall in this field," he added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, a study conducted a year back had showed that 64,000 Nepali youths were involved in the IT business and entrepreneurship and earning foreign currency. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the National Information and Communications Day was observed in Nepal on Thursday in a bid to promote IT. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal had introduced computer in 2028 BS. The restoration of democracy in 2046 BS had further created liberal atmosphere which facilitated the launch and expansion of IT business. Computer Association of Nepal was established then. The Day CAN was established is now observed as the National Information and Communications Day. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Joint Secretary Dutta further shared that government was mulling a concept of IT park or tech park and working on policy and law reform so that foreign investment could be ensured along with the entry of tech giants like Microsoft and Google in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He however said Nepal needs high speed internet, expansion of optical fibres, broadband connectivity and development of software. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Moreover, Director General at the Department of Information Technology, Prem Sharan Shrestha, said government was making efforts to bring reforms in IT sector. Paperless integrated office management system is in place for two years, which has eased service delivery, he added. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-03', 'modified' => '2024-05-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20608', 'image' => '20240503012016_IT_3.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-03 13:19:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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This is even higher than the national average life expectancy, which according to the NSO, has reached 71.3 years. According to the report prepared on the basis of the recently conducted census in 2021, male life expectancy stands at 68.2 years while that of females is 73.8 years. The NSO records show that average life expectancy of Nepalis increased by 21.5 years in the past four decades. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Lumbini Province has the lowest life expectancy of 69.5 years. The life expectancy is 70.4 years in Koshi Province, 71.3 years in Sudurpaschim Province, 71.8 years in Madhesh Province, 72.1 years in Gandaki Province and 72.4 years in Bagmati Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We are doing additional study to find out the factors behind the high life expectancy in Karnali Province,” said Dr Hemraj Regni, deputy chief of the NSO, during a press conference in the capital on Sunday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Probably it is due to various projects implemented by the government and its development partners in Karnali Province in the past ten to twenty years,” he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Regmi, Karnali Province has also made significant improvement in poverty alleviation. The Living Standard Survey conducted by the government in the last fiscal year shows that 26.69 percent of population in Karnali Province are below the poverty line. In average, 20.27 percent population of Nepal fall under the poverty line.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the Human Development Index Report of Nepal prepared in 2020 by the National Planning Commission in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Human Development Index of Karnali Province is not good compared to other provinces.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The HDI of Karnali Province is the second worst after Madhesh Province. According to the NSO, the infant mortality rate is also the second lowest in Karnali compared to other provinces.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In 2021, the infant mortality rate went down to 17 per 1,000. The figure was 40 per 1,000 babies in 2011.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The reproductive rate has reduced to 1.94 children per woman. The average age of giving birth by a woman is 26.9 years in Karnali Province, while it is 28.4 years in Bagmati Province. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The study of five year data shows that the internal migration rate was the highest in Gandaki Province, which witnessed migration of 4,027 people per 100,000 during the review period. In Karnali Province, the internal migration rate was 3,700 per 100,000 of population, while it was the lowest in Bagmati Province that had 54 per 100,000 of population. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In five years, a total of 3,752 people out of 100,000 of the population migrated abroad. Sudurpashchim posted the largest figure of 7,359 people per 100,000 of population, which was followed by Gandaki Province and Lumbini Province in second and third positions, respectively. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, Nepal’s population growth rate stood 0.92 percent per annum in the past one decade, which was the lowest in 80 years, the NSO report stated.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the NSO, the population of the country is around 29.2 million at present. During mid-April 2011 and mid-April 2021, Nepal’s population grew by 2.7 million. The growth rate in Lumbini Province was the largest at 13.8 percent. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-06', 'modified' => '2024-05-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20624', 'image' => '20240506114451_20231215110529_agri maize (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-06 11:43:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20896', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Samsung's 'Good Lock' App Debuts on Google Play Store ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 6: Samsung's popular customization app, Good Lock, has made its debut on the Google Play Store, marking a significant expansion in accessibility for Samsung users. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 6: Samsung's popular customization app, Good Lock, has made its debut on the Google Play Store, marking a significant expansion in accessibility for Samsung users. </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"">Previously exclusive to Samsung's Galaxy Store, the availability of Good Lock on the Play Store broadens its reach to a wider audience of Android users, confirmed GSM Arena. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The move comes as Samsung aims to offer its users more flexibility in accessing its suite of applications. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, it's important to note that the Good Lock app on the Google Play Store is currently labelled as 'Early Access,' suggesting that users should exercise caution, particularly if considering downloading it on their primary devices. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In addition to the Good Lock app, Samsung has also introduced the One Hand Operation+ module on the Google Play Store, further enriching the customization options available to Samsung device owners, reported GSM Arena. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This module, previously accessible only through the Galaxy Store, now provides users with the choice to download it from either platform. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">While the expansion of Samsung's applications to the Google Play Store offers greater convenience for users, it's advised to approach the Early Access tag with prudence, considering potential bugs or stability issues that may arise in pre-release versions. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">For those interested in exploring these offerings, both the Good Lock app and the One Hand Operation+ module are now available for download from the Google Play Store and the Galaxy Store, providing Samsung users with enhanced customization options for their devices. – ANI/RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-06', 'modified' => '2024-05-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20623', 'image' => '20240506110315_gl.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-06 11:02:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20895', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Birgunj Records Rs 450 Billion Imports, Rs 23 Billion Exports in Nine Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Goods worth Rs 450 billion were imported via Birgunj entry point in the past nine months of the current fiscal year 2023/2024.Similarly, goods worth Rs 23 billion were exported via the same entry point.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> May 6: Goods worth Rs 450 billion were imported via Birgunj entry point in the past nine months of the current fiscal year 2023/2024.Similarly, goods worth Rs 23 billion were exported via the same entry point. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the Birgunj Customs Office, both imports and exports have decreased compared to the previous fiscal year. When imports decreased by 14.61%, exports dropped by 21.84%.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the first nine months of the last fiscal year, goods worth Rs 527 billion were imported while the goods amounting to Rs 29 billion were exported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">After India imposed a policy of zero duty on the import of refined and semi-refined cooking oil, export of cooking oil from Nepal to India has come to a standstill. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">From this border point, mainly petroleum products, vehicles, and industrial raw materials are imported. Items like edible oil, juice, cloth, yarn, and pineapples are exported from Birgunj border point. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">While Birjgunj Customs Office reported total transaction of worth Rs 473 billion, the trade deficit reached 427 billion. With the fall in imports and export, the trade deficit has slumped by 14.18% compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Following the decrease in imports and exports, the revenue collected by the Birgunj Customs Office has been affected. The Customs Office has collected only 62.73% of its revenue target in the first nine months of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The customs office has collected 114 billion in revenue against its total target of 181 billion in the first nine months of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-06', 'modified' => '2024-05-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20622', 'image' => '20240506061550_collage (73).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-06 06:13:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20894', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'KMC's Skill Fair gets 10,000 Plus Applications for Vocational Training', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 5: More than 10,000 people have applied for the 'Skill Fair 2081 BS' organized since May 1 by Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">May 5: More than 10,000 people have applied for the 'Skill Fair 2081 BS' organized since May 1 by Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC). KMC organized the fair with the goal of training 2,081 individuals but more than 10,000 people applied for the training. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to Bimala Koirala, acting head of KMC’s Social Development Department, all those who have filled the application forms will be provided the training.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Koirala said that the applicants who filled the forms before May 1 will be allowed to participate in the skill fair. Koirala said that there is a plan to provide them with the training schedule by Friday, May 10. She further said that training will be provided at various stages in collaboration with various campuses and community schools for those who fill the forms after May 2.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">She shared that 2,081 of those who filled the forms will be trained immediately and others will be trained for the next three years based on their needs. The skill fair has been started under the KMC's Gaurav Yojana (Pride Project) under 'Increase in Employment and Income, Prosperity of Kathmandu'.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">KMC has collaborated with the Nepal Training and Employment Association to organize the fair. According to the KMC, the aim is to provide training in 36 occupations in 10 areas. The KMC believes that the fair will help people with skills reach employers. Koirala further stated that people who have completed 18 years of age and are not above 58 years of age can participate in the training.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">For those who find it difficult to fill the details online, arrangements were made to fill the form on paper at the ward offices of the KMC as well. The participants who came to Tundikhel on the opening day could fill the forms from that venue as well, KMC said. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20621', 'image' => '20240505090233_BBB-KTM-23silaikataitalim(1)copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 21:01:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20893', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEPSE Plummets by Double Digits, Closes at 1974.37', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index saw a loss of 1.23%, or 24.58 points, closing at 1,974.37 points on the first trading day of the week on Sunday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">May 5: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index saw a loss of 1.23%, or 24.58 points, closing at 1,974.37 points on the first trading day of the week on Sunday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During today’s trading session, 316 different stocks were traded on the NEPSE through 60,523 transactions. A total of shares traded amounted to 9,762,803 with a total turnover of Rs. 3.79 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Nepal Finance Limited(NFS) led the turnover amount with the total transaction of Rs 12 crores. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Dolti Power Company Limited (DOLTI) showed the highest gain of 9.56%, followed by Sadhana Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SDLBSL) and Samata Gharelu Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SMATA) with a gain of 8.72% each.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">On the contrary, People's Power Limited (PPL) incurred the maximum loss of 9.92%, closing at a market price of Rs. 554 per share. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In terms of sector indices, all sectors closed in the negative territory except Microfinance Index and Non-Life Insurance. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The "Microfinance Index" experienced the gain of 0.16%, while the "Development Bank Index" witnessed the highest decline of 2.65%.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20620', 'image' => '20240505041155_collage (4).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 16:10:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20892', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'PM Dahal Hints at Investigating Co-operative Fraud Case Involving Ravi Lamichhane', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 5: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has indicated that a committee will be formed to investigate the issue of cooperative fraud amid the demand of main opposition party Nepali Congress for parliamentary inquiry against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ravi Lamichhane regarding cooperative fraud.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">May 5: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has indicated that a committee will be formed to investigate the issue of cooperative fraud amid the demand of main opposition party Nepali Congress for parliamentary inquiry against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ravi Lamichhane regarding cooperative fraud.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Prime Minister Dahal, who is also the chairman of the CPN (Maoist Centre), while addressing the party's parliamentary party meeting held on Saturday, indicated that a parliamentary inquiry committee would be formed, a party leader informed New Business Age.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“The problem of cooperatives has become serious,” a leader of the party said quoting the prime minister. According to the Maoist leader, the prime minister said that a concrete step in this regard will be taken through another cabinet meeting.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"Discussions on forming a parliamentary inquiry committee to solve the overall problem will be taken forward," he added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the leader, the prime minister is in a state of mind not to let the budget session be affected by the fact that the Nepali Congress blocked the winter session by demanding a parliamentary inquiry. Amidst the obstruction created by the Nepali Congress, the government decided to end the winter session with effect from the midnight of the April 14.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">After ending the winter session, it was decided to bring an ordinance to amend various laws targeting the investment summit held on April 28 and 29. The budget session of the House of Representatives has been called again on May 10.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">During this session, the government will present the policies and programs and the budget for the next fiscal year (FY) 2081/82. However, the Nepali Congress has been repeating its stance that it will not allow the Parliament to run without an investigation into Lamichhane, suspected to be involved in cooperative fraud. In particular, a study report of Pokhara Metropolitan City showed that Ravi Lamichhane, who is not a member of Suryadarshan Cooperative, took Rs 10 million from the cooperative.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A person who is not a member of the cooperative is not eligible to take a loan. However, documents show that Lamichhane took the loan but did not repay it. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Lamichhane claimed that a fake account was opened in his name and maintained his stance that he did not take the loan.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">GB Rai was the president of Suryadarshan Cooperative when Lamichhane allegedly took the loan. Rai had partnered with Lamichhane to open Galaxy 4K Television, operated by Gorkha Network Pvt Ltd. Now the television has been shut down. It is mentioned in the report that Lamichhane took the loan of Rs 300 million from Pokhara's Suryadarshan Cooperative for this media.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Pokhara Metropolitan City formed a study committee last year after receiving many complaints about Suryadarshan Cooperative. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to Auditor Anil Lamichhane, was a member of the committee, the loan was sanctioned in the name of Ravi Lamichhane. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Not only Lamichhane but also Rastriya Swatantra Party's Vice President and Labor Minister DP Aryal was also involved in cooperative fraud cases. He was accused of cheating while he was the vice president of Hamro Naya Krishi Cooperative. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Maoist Chief Whip Hitraj Pandey said that the Prime Minister agreed to call an all-party meeting to end the impasse in Parliament. According to him, the same meeting will also discuss about the investigation of Home Minister Lamichhane, who has been accused of being involved in cooperative fraud.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20619', 'image' => '20240505032321_cooerativesssss.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 15:21:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20891', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Most of the Projects Seeking Start-up Loans are Related to Agriculture', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 5: Most of the projects that are eligible for start-up enterprise loans pledged by the government are projects related to agriculture and animal husbandry. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 5: Most of the projects that are eligible for start-up enterprise loans pledged by the government are projects related to agriculture and animal husbandry. A total of 1,658 projects were registered for startup ventures with the Industrial Enterprise Development Institute (IEDI), an autonomous body established by the government which is dedicated to developing human and knowledge resources for entrepreneurship and business promotion in Nepal through a number of impact-generating quality tools such as training, research, consultancy, enterprise education, and management development programmes. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The IEDI has listed 394 projects as eligible for the startup enterprise loans.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">More than half of the eligible list, that is roughly about 200 projects, pertain to agriculture and animal husbandry businesses. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Most of the startup projects eligible for startup enterprise loans are from Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur. There are 119 projects from these three districts. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Apart from these, some projects are also related to food processing. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The productivity of this sector is very low as most of the agriculture and animal husbandry in the country are subsistence oriented. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to a report published last December regarding Nepal’s food security and agricultural commercialization program, supported by the Asian Development Bank, the productivity of Nepal's agricultural sector was found to be the lowest in South Asia. The report pointed out that the major obstacles for the commercialization of agriculture were widespread fragmentation of land, lack of appropriate cultivation and cropping techniques, lack of timely supply of chemical fertilizers and seeds, and limited financial and agricultural infrastructure.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Juna Mathema, chairperson of the Startup and Innovation Forum of FNCCI, says that it is positive that there are many projects related to this sector in the context of the challenges of commercialization of agriculture in the country. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Neighboring India has already taken a leap in agriculture startups. There are startups related to agriculture in India's AG hub. It seems that the same kind of ecosystem has been developed by starting agro in a different way in Nepal,” said Mathema.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Stakeholders say that startups related to agriculture will also bring new technologies related to agriculture, which will help in the modernization and commercialization of agriculture. For example, China has succeeded in increasing productivity rapidly in 2023 through the use of technology, according to Chinese international television CGN. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to a report published in December last year, despite extensive damage to agriculture due to natural calamities, agricultural production increased widely. Nepal is also implementing the Prime Minister's Agriculture Modernization Project for the modernization and commercialization of agriculture. Its purpose is to maintain food security, reduce import of agricultural products and increase exports. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government has also announced the youth startup grant program in the budget of the current financial year to attract young manpower in agriculture and livestock business and develop entrepreneurship. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The implementation of this program under the Prime Minister's Agriculture Modernization Program has already started in nearly two dozen districts as per Dr. Jit Bahadur Chand. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> “Under this programme, we give a maximum of Rs 400,000 to a youth. But, those proposals should be innovative. We have also been instructing our offices in different districts to support innovative programs,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Mathema, there is plenty of room for innovation in the agricultural sector. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">She said, “The criteria set by the government for giving loans to start-up enterprises must include innovation. Incubation center is the link of startup.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Chand says that educated youth now want to engage in agriculture with the help of technology. Various technologies are being used in agriculture, including artificial intelligence. This will help increasing Nepal's agricultural production, make it competitive and sustainable. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Apart from projects related to agriculture and animal husbandry, proposals for restaurants, spice processing industry, bakery, cafe, small scale industry, chemicals, thangka/handicraft related businesses are also in the eligible list. In the current fiscal year 2080/81, the IEDI is planning to provide start-up enterprise loans to 200 projects and has fixed the date for the project presentation to the applicants who are in the list of eligible projects from April 29 to May 16. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the annual national accounting estimates of the current year 2080/81 published by the National Statistics Office a few days ago, the growth rate of this sector is estimated to be 3.05 percent.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20618', 'image' => '20240505021223_20240208011240_startup.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 14:11:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20890', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Orders Government to Limit Climbing Permits for Everest', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 5: The Supreme Court has ordered the Government of Nepal to limit the number of mountaineering permits issued for Everest and other peaks, AFP reported on Friday citing an advocate.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">May 5: The Supreme Court has ordered the Government of Nepal to limit the number of mountaineering permits issued for Everest and other peaks, AFP reported on Friday citing an advocate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The revelation comes just as climbers prepare for the spring climbing season.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Nepal is home to eight of the world's 10 highest peaks and welcomes hundreds of adventurers each spring, when temperatures are warm and winds are typically calm, the French news agency reported.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to AFP, the verdict was issued in late April but a summary was only published last week.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Advocate Deepak Bikram Mishra, who had filed a petition urging permits to be curtailed, told AFP that the court had responded to public concerns about Nepal's mountains and its environment.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"It has ordered a limit to the number of climbers... and also given measures for waste management and preservation of the mountain's environment," AFP quoted Mishra as saying.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The verdict's summary said that the mountains' capacity "must be respected" and an appropriate maximum number of permits should be determined.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The full text of the verdict has not been published and the summary does not mention any specific limit to the number of permits issued, added AFP.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Nepal currently grants permits to all who apply and are willing to pay $11,000 to scale Everest, the world's highest peak at 8,850 metres (29,035 feet) above the sea level.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Last year, the country issued 478 permits for Everest, a record high.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">A massive human traffic jam on Everest in 2019 forced teams to wait hours at the summit in freezing temperatures, risking depleted oxygen levels that can lead to sickness and exhaustion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to AFP, at least four of the 11 deaths on the peak that year were blamed on overcrowding.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"We are pressuring the mountain too much and we need to give it some respite," Mishra told AFP.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The court decision also orders restrictions on the use of helicopters, which the court said should be used only for emergency rescues.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Helicopters have in recent years been frequently used to airlift mountaineering teams to base camps and across hazardous terrain.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Nepal Mountaineering Association president Nima Nuru Sherpa told AFP that such decisions need to be made after a proper study and consultation with the stakeholders.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"It is not clear right now how it will impact the industry. We don't know on what basis the limits will be made and how will this be divided among expedition operators," Sherpa said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"Our focus should instead be on how we can make the mountains safer."</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Nepal has issued permits to 945 climbers for its mountains so far this year, including 403 for Everest.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20617', 'image' => '20240505122737_20240401075430_SubhasDarnal_KalapatharSolukhumbu_RSS_IMG_20240308_200422.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 12:27:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20889', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'World Food Prices Continue to Rise in April: FAO ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 5: Global food prices rose for the second consecutive month in April, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported Friday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 5: Global food prices rose for the second consecutive month in April, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported Friday. It was the first time they rose in consecutive months in more than two years, FAO said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A significant increase in prices for meat, along with modest rises in prices for grains, cereals and vegetable oil offset larger declines in prices for dairy products and sugar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The overall FAO Food Price Index gained 0.3 percent in April compared to March. A month ago, the broad index was 1.1 percent higher than in February, while previously it had declined for seven months in a row. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The last time the Food Price Index climbed in consecutive months was in February and March 2022, when higher energy prices pushed the index to its all-time high of 160.2 points. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Despite the increases over the last two months, the broad index only reached 119.1 points, far below its record high. The FAO said the biggest increase in April was for meat prices, which climbed 1.6 percent. This was due in part to higher demand for poultry in the Middle East. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Grains and cereals, the largest component in the Food Price Index, saw 0.3 percent gains due to production worries in Europe and transportation disruptions caused by the situation in Ukraine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Vegetable oil quotations inched higher because of unfavorable weather conditions in the Northern Hemisphere, the FAO said. The increase came after a dramatic 8.0 percent rise a month earlier. Meanwhile, sugar prices were 4.4 percent lower, pushed by strong production levels in India and Thailand and good weather in Brazil. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Dairy prices slipped 0.3 percent after increasing in each of the previous six months. The FAO said currency valuations were one factor behind the decline. -- Xinhua/RSS<br /> </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20616', 'image' => '20240505114421_inflationnnnnn.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 11:43:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20886', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'PM says New Budget will Focus on Underprivileged Class, Region ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 5: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahalhas said that the government’s policies and programme as well as budget for the upcoming fiscal year would focus on the concerns of underprivileged classes and regions lagging behind in national development indicators. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 5: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahalhas said that the government’s policies and programme as well as budget for the upcoming fiscal year would focus on the concerns of underprivileged classes and regions lagging behind in national development indicators. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Addressing a parliamentary party meeting of the CPN (Maoist Centre) on Saturday, the Maoist Centre Chairman and Prime Minister Dahal shared that the new budget would be prepared by taking lessons from past experiences. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Policies and programme, and budget will be brought keeping the agendas of good-governance, social justice and prosperity in the centre, and to uplift the underprivileged ones," Maoist Centre's chief whip Hitraj Pandey quoted the PM as saying. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the PM directed the ministers from the Maoist Centre to interact with the Maoist Centre's lawmakers and take their feedback in preparing the budget. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the PM asked the lawmakers to offer their feedback for production growth and employment generation and share the recommendations from the experts of diverse sectors to the government through the party. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the meeting, the Maoist Centre lawmakers suggested that the new budget should address the people's expectations amid the ongoing status of limited resources. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief Whip Pandey said that the meeting decided to make the upcoming parliamentary session systematic and effective and pass the bills from the thematic committees. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20613', 'image' => '20240505104723_budgetttttt.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 10:46:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20885', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India Imposes Export Duty of 40% on Onions', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The India government on Friday imposed a 40 per cent duty on export of onions. Similarly, it granted an exemption on duty for the import of desi chana until March 31, 2025.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px">May 5: The India government on Friday imposed a 40 per cent duty on export of onions. Similarly, it granted an exemption on duty for the import of desi chana until March 31, 2025.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Currently, the export of onion is banned. However, the government allows shipments to India's friendly nations. It has permitted a specified quantity of onion exports to UAE and Bangladesh.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">In August last year, India had imposed a 40 per cent export duty on onions up to December 31, 2023. The rise on export duty is bound to impact Nepali market, which is dependent on Indian onions.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20612', 'image' => '20240505062922_collage (72).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 06:27:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20884', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Betel Leaves Worth Over Rs 18 Million Imported in Nine Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Nepal has imported betel leaves nearly worth Rs 18 million in the past nine months. According to the statistics of the Department of Customs, Nepal has imported 75, 685 kilograms of betel leaves worth 18 million in the last nine months of the current fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 3: Nepal has imported betel leaves nearly worth Rs 18 million in the past nine months. According to the statistics of the Department of Customs, Nepal has imported 75, 685 kilograms of betel leaves worth 18 million in the last nine months of the current fiscal year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In comparison to the same period of the previous year, the import value of betel leaves decreased by 2 percent and the quantity by 16 percent. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the same period last fiscal year, Nepal had imported 90, 794 kilograms of betel leaves worth Rs 19 million. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal imports betel leaves from India.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-03', 'modified' => '2024-05-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20611', 'image' => '20240503043835_collage (71).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-03 16:37:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20882', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Philippine Court Blocks Genetically Modified 'Golden Rice' Production over Safety Fears', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 3: A Philippine court has blocked the commercial propagation of genetically modified golden rice because it said conflicting scientific views gave rise to "severe" health and environmental safety concerns, AFP reported.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 3: A Philippine court has blocked the commercial propagation of genetically modified golden rice because it said conflicting scientific views gave rise to "severe" health and environmental safety concerns, AFP reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the French news agency, the Philippines was the first country in the world to approve golden rice, which is enriched with the Vitamin A precursor beta-carotene and has a bright yellow colour, in a bid to combat childhood blindness.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, the Court of Appeals in Manila revoked a biosafety permit for commercial production of the rice granted by government regulators in 2021 after 14 opponents filed a challenge.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The court's ruling, issued on April 17 and seen by AFP, also applies to a genetically modified eggplant, BT eggplant, that is pest resistant.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"By reason of the conflicting scientific views and uncertainties on the risks and effects of Golden Rice and Bt Eggplant, potential severe and grave threats to the welfare of people and the environment arise," the court said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Commercial propagation was not allowed "until such time that the concerned respondent government agencies submit proof of safety and compliance with all legal requirements", it said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Experts hope the rice will help combat childhood blindness and save lives in the developing world.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">World Health Organization data show vitamin A deficiency causes up to 500,000 cases of childhood blindness every year, mostly in developing countries, with half of those dying within 12 months of losing their sight.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Golden rice was developed over two decades by the Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), while BT eggplant was developed by the University of the Philippines Los Banos campus.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The scientists involved insist both are safe to eat. PhilRice executive director John de Leon said in a statement the institute was "reviewing the implications" of the ruling to prepare its response.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The IRRI said it would continue to work with PhilRice on "developing safe and effective nutritional interventions through rice research".</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">It also said golden rice had received "positive food safety evaluations" from regulators in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, the rice faced strong resistance from environmental groups opposed to genetically altered food plants and at least one test field in the Philippines was attacked by activists.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The opponents who filed the objection, including Greenpeace, welcomed the ruling.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"This decision is a monumental win for Filipino farmers and Filipino people who have for decades stood up against genetically modified crops," Greenpeace Southeast Asia campaigner Wilhelmina Pelegrina said in a statement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"GM crops have never been proven safe, and have hindered necessary progress on climate resilient ecological agriculture that keeps the control of seeds on our farmers."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Ordinary rice, a staple for hundreds of millions of people, particularly in Asia, produces beta-carotene in the plant but it is not found in the grain. – AFP</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-03', 'modified' => '2024-05-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20610', 'image' => '20240503012113_415162-01-02 (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-03 13:20:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20883', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Fails to Sell Foreign Employment Savings Bonds as per its Target', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 3: The government has started issuing fewer Foreign Employment Saving Bonds in recent years as the target group – Nepali workers in foreign employment -- has shown little interest in the initiative of the government to encourage investment in such bonds.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 3: The government has started issuing fewer Foreign Employment Saving Bonds in recent years as the target group – Nepali workers in foreign employment -- has shown little interest in the initiative of the government to encourage investment in such bonds.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government has been issuing 'Foreign Employment Savings Bond' for almost one and a half decades along with the scheme of setting up income generating sectors for the Nepalese who are in foreign employment. However, every year the sales of such savings bond are much less than the target. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Public Debt Management Office issued a notice on Monday calling for the purchase of savings bonds worth Rs 1 billion. The notice mentions that the target group can purchase a minimum savings bond worth Rs 10,000 from May 5 to June 4. The notice further mentions the annual interest rate on the savings bond with a maturity period of five years will be 9 percent. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the last fiscal year (FY) 2079/80, the government had issued notice to sell foreign employment savings bonds worth Rs 1.47 billion, but only Rs 26.3 million were sold as per the Nepal Rastra Bank. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Although the central bank used to raise internal debt for the government in the past, the Public Debt Management Office has started raising such debts for the government since one month.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the fiscal year 2078/89, the government had issued such bonds worth Rs 500 million for sale but bonds worth only Rs 56.7 million were sold. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In view of the low sales of savings bonds in the past, the PDMO has started correspondence with Nepal’s embassies to increase the sale of such bonds, shared Dilaram Giri, the information officer of the PDMO.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We are trying to promote the sale of savings bond with the help of Nepal’s embassies abroad, media as well as to foreign workers. We expect sales to increase this year compared to previous years.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government started issuing foreign employment savings bonds for the first time since 2066/67.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">So far, the government has issued foreign employment savings bonds worth Rs 15.56 billion through 25 different schemes but the sale has been only 4.9 percent worth Rs 762.3 million.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-03', 'modified' => '2024-05-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20609', 'image' => '20240503021028_20240117124624_20210730071603_20200327032654_5003_finance-ministy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-03 14:09:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20881', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ''IT has Immense Potential' ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 3: The officials at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology have argued that information technology (IT) sector has opened up new avenues for employment as an IT-friendly society is being created in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 3: The officials at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology have argued that information technology (IT) sector has opened up new avenues for employment as an IT-friendly society is being created in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Joint Secretary at the ministry, Anil Kumar Dutta, viewed that IT could prosper agriculture, tourism and health sectors as well.</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"">"IT is a borderless issue. One can work for abroad staying at home. The IT experts and youths can make windfall in this field," he added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, a study conducted a year back had showed that 64,000 Nepali youths were involved in the IT business and entrepreneurship and earning foreign currency. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the National Information and Communications Day was observed in Nepal on Thursday in a bid to promote IT. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal had introduced computer in 2028 BS. The restoration of democracy in 2046 BS had further created liberal atmosphere which facilitated the launch and expansion of IT business. Computer Association of Nepal was established then. The Day CAN was established is now observed as the National Information and Communications Day. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Joint Secretary Dutta further shared that government was mulling a concept of IT park or tech park and working on policy and law reform so that foreign investment could be ensured along with the entry of tech giants like Microsoft and Google in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He however said Nepal needs high speed internet, expansion of optical fibres, broadband connectivity and development of software. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Moreover, Director General at the Department of Information Technology, Prem Sharan Shrestha, said government was making efforts to bring reforms in IT sector. Paperless integrated office management system is in place for two years, which has eased service delivery, he added. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-03', 'modified' => '2024-05-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20608', 'image' => '20240503012016_IT_3.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-03 13:19:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20897', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Karnali Province has the Highest Life Expectancy in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 6: Karnali Province, which is often considered as the most backward province in several fronts, ironically has the highest life expectancy among all provinces of Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 6: Karnali Province, which is often considered as the most backward province in several fronts, ironically has the highest life expectancy among all provinces of Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A report on demographic indicators published by the National Statistics Office (NSO) on Sunday shows that the people living in Karnali Province have a life expectancy of 72.5 years, the highest of all. This is even higher than the national average life expectancy, which according to the NSO, has reached 71.3 years. According to the report prepared on the basis of the recently conducted census in 2021, male life expectancy stands at 68.2 years while that of females is 73.8 years. The NSO records show that average life expectancy of Nepalis increased by 21.5 years in the past four decades. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Lumbini Province has the lowest life expectancy of 69.5 years. The life expectancy is 70.4 years in Koshi Province, 71.3 years in Sudurpaschim Province, 71.8 years in Madhesh Province, 72.1 years in Gandaki Province and 72.4 years in Bagmati Province.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We are doing additional study to find out the factors behind the high life expectancy in Karnali Province,” said Dr Hemraj Regni, deputy chief of the NSO, during a press conference in the capital on Sunday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Probably it is due to various projects implemented by the government and its development partners in Karnali Province in the past ten to twenty years,” he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Regmi, Karnali Province has also made significant improvement in poverty alleviation. The Living Standard Survey conducted by the government in the last fiscal year shows that 26.69 percent of population in Karnali Province are below the poverty line. In average, 20.27 percent population of Nepal fall under the poverty line.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the Human Development Index Report of Nepal prepared in 2020 by the National Planning Commission in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Human Development Index of Karnali Province is not good compared to other provinces.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The HDI of Karnali Province is the second worst after Madhesh Province. According to the NSO, the infant mortality rate is also the second lowest in Karnali compared to other provinces.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In 2021, the infant mortality rate went down to 17 per 1,000. The figure was 40 per 1,000 babies in 2011.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The reproductive rate has reduced to 1.94 children per woman. The average age of giving birth by a woman is 26.9 years in Karnali Province, while it is 28.4 years in Bagmati Province. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The study of five year data shows that the internal migration rate was the highest in Gandaki Province, which witnessed migration of 4,027 people per 100,000 during the review period. In Karnali Province, the internal migration rate was 3,700 per 100,000 of population, while it was the lowest in Bagmati Province that had 54 per 100,000 of population. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In five years, a total of 3,752 people out of 100,000 of the population migrated abroad. Sudurpashchim posted the largest figure of 7,359 people per 100,000 of population, which was followed by Gandaki Province and Lumbini Province in second and third positions, respectively. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, Nepal’s population growth rate stood 0.92 percent per annum in the past one decade, which was the lowest in 80 years, the NSO report stated.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the NSO, the population of the country is around 29.2 million at present. During mid-April 2011 and mid-April 2021, Nepal’s population grew by 2.7 million. The growth rate in Lumbini Province was the largest at 13.8 percent. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-06', 'modified' => '2024-05-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20624', 'image' => '20240506114451_20231215110529_agri maize (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-06 11:43:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20896', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Samsung's 'Good Lock' App Debuts on Google Play Store ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 6: Samsung's popular customization app, Good Lock, has made its debut on the Google Play Store, marking a significant expansion in accessibility for Samsung users. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 6: Samsung's popular customization app, Good Lock, has made its debut on the Google Play Store, marking a significant expansion in accessibility for Samsung users. </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"">Previously exclusive to Samsung's Galaxy Store, the availability of Good Lock on the Play Store broadens its reach to a wider audience of Android users, confirmed GSM Arena. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The move comes as Samsung aims to offer its users more flexibility in accessing its suite of applications. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, it's important to note that the Good Lock app on the Google Play Store is currently labelled as 'Early Access,' suggesting that users should exercise caution, particularly if considering downloading it on their primary devices. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In addition to the Good Lock app, Samsung has also introduced the One Hand Operation+ module on the Google Play Store, further enriching the customization options available to Samsung device owners, reported GSM Arena. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This module, previously accessible only through the Galaxy Store, now provides users with the choice to download it from either platform. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">While the expansion of Samsung's applications to the Google Play Store offers greater convenience for users, it's advised to approach the Early Access tag with prudence, considering potential bugs or stability issues that may arise in pre-release versions. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">For those interested in exploring these offerings, both the Good Lock app and the One Hand Operation+ module are now available for download from the Google Play Store and the Galaxy Store, providing Samsung users with enhanced customization options for their devices. – ANI/RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-06', 'modified' => '2024-05-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20623', 'image' => '20240506110315_gl.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-06 11:02:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20895', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Birgunj Records Rs 450 Billion Imports, Rs 23 Billion Exports in Nine Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Goods worth Rs 450 billion were imported via Birgunj entry point in the past nine months of the current fiscal year 2023/2024.Similarly, goods worth Rs 23 billion were exported via the same entry point.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> May 6: Goods worth Rs 450 billion were imported via Birgunj entry point in the past nine months of the current fiscal year 2023/2024.Similarly, goods worth Rs 23 billion were exported via the same entry point. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the Birgunj Customs Office, both imports and exports have decreased compared to the previous fiscal year. When imports decreased by 14.61%, exports dropped by 21.84%.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the first nine months of the last fiscal year, goods worth Rs 527 billion were imported while the goods amounting to Rs 29 billion were exported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">After India imposed a policy of zero duty on the import of refined and semi-refined cooking oil, export of cooking oil from Nepal to India has come to a standstill. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">From this border point, mainly petroleum products, vehicles, and industrial raw materials are imported. Items like edible oil, juice, cloth, yarn, and pineapples are exported from Birgunj border point. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">While Birjgunj Customs Office reported total transaction of worth Rs 473 billion, the trade deficit reached 427 billion. With the fall in imports and export, the trade deficit has slumped by 14.18% compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Following the decrease in imports and exports, the revenue collected by the Birgunj Customs Office has been affected. The Customs Office has collected only 62.73% of its revenue target in the first nine months of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The customs office has collected 114 billion in revenue against its total target of 181 billion in the first nine months of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-06', 'modified' => '2024-05-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20622', 'image' => '20240506061550_collage (73).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-06 06:13:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20894', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'KMC's Skill Fair gets 10,000 Plus Applications for Vocational Training', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 5: More than 10,000 people have applied for the 'Skill Fair 2081 BS' organized since May 1 by Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">May 5: More than 10,000 people have applied for the 'Skill Fair 2081 BS' organized since May 1 by Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC). KMC organized the fair with the goal of training 2,081 individuals but more than 10,000 people applied for the training. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to Bimala Koirala, acting head of KMC’s Social Development Department, all those who have filled the application forms will be provided the training.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Koirala said that the applicants who filled the forms before May 1 will be allowed to participate in the skill fair. Koirala said that there is a plan to provide them with the training schedule by Friday, May 10. She further said that training will be provided at various stages in collaboration with various campuses and community schools for those who fill the forms after May 2.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">She shared that 2,081 of those who filled the forms will be trained immediately and others will be trained for the next three years based on their needs. The skill fair has been started under the KMC's Gaurav Yojana (Pride Project) under 'Increase in Employment and Income, Prosperity of Kathmandu'.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">KMC has collaborated with the Nepal Training and Employment Association to organize the fair. According to the KMC, the aim is to provide training in 36 occupations in 10 areas. The KMC believes that the fair will help people with skills reach employers. Koirala further stated that people who have completed 18 years of age and are not above 58 years of age can participate in the training.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">For those who find it difficult to fill the details online, arrangements were made to fill the form on paper at the ward offices of the KMC as well. The participants who came to Tundikhel on the opening day could fill the forms from that venue as well, KMC said. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20621', 'image' => '20240505090233_BBB-KTM-23silaikataitalim(1)copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 21:01:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20893', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEPSE Plummets by Double Digits, Closes at 1974.37', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index saw a loss of 1.23%, or 24.58 points, closing at 1,974.37 points on the first trading day of the week on Sunday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">May 5: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index saw a loss of 1.23%, or 24.58 points, closing at 1,974.37 points on the first trading day of the week on Sunday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During today’s trading session, 316 different stocks were traded on the NEPSE through 60,523 transactions. A total of shares traded amounted to 9,762,803 with a total turnover of Rs. 3.79 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Nepal Finance Limited(NFS) led the turnover amount with the total transaction of Rs 12 crores. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Dolti Power Company Limited (DOLTI) showed the highest gain of 9.56%, followed by Sadhana Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SDLBSL) and Samata Gharelu Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SMATA) with a gain of 8.72% each.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">On the contrary, People's Power Limited (PPL) incurred the maximum loss of 9.92%, closing at a market price of Rs. 554 per share. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In terms of sector indices, all sectors closed in the negative territory except Microfinance Index and Non-Life Insurance. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The "Microfinance Index" experienced the gain of 0.16%, while the "Development Bank Index" witnessed the highest decline of 2.65%.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20620', 'image' => '20240505041155_collage (4).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 16:10:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20892', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'PM Dahal Hints at Investigating Co-operative Fraud Case Involving Ravi Lamichhane', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 5: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has indicated that a committee will be formed to investigate the issue of cooperative fraud amid the demand of main opposition party Nepali Congress for parliamentary inquiry against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ravi Lamichhane regarding cooperative fraud.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">May 5: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has indicated that a committee will be formed to investigate the issue of cooperative fraud amid the demand of main opposition party Nepali Congress for parliamentary inquiry against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ravi Lamichhane regarding cooperative fraud.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Prime Minister Dahal, who is also the chairman of the CPN (Maoist Centre), while addressing the party's parliamentary party meeting held on Saturday, indicated that a parliamentary inquiry committee would be formed, a party leader informed New Business Age.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“The problem of cooperatives has become serious,” a leader of the party said quoting the prime minister. According to the Maoist leader, the prime minister said that a concrete step in this regard will be taken through another cabinet meeting.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"Discussions on forming a parliamentary inquiry committee to solve the overall problem will be taken forward," he added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the leader, the prime minister is in a state of mind not to let the budget session be affected by the fact that the Nepali Congress blocked the winter session by demanding a parliamentary inquiry. Amidst the obstruction created by the Nepali Congress, the government decided to end the winter session with effect from the midnight of the April 14.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">After ending the winter session, it was decided to bring an ordinance to amend various laws targeting the investment summit held on April 28 and 29. The budget session of the House of Representatives has been called again on May 10.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">During this session, the government will present the policies and programs and the budget for the next fiscal year (FY) 2081/82. However, the Nepali Congress has been repeating its stance that it will not allow the Parliament to run without an investigation into Lamichhane, suspected to be involved in cooperative fraud. In particular, a study report of Pokhara Metropolitan City showed that Ravi Lamichhane, who is not a member of Suryadarshan Cooperative, took Rs 10 million from the cooperative.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A person who is not a member of the cooperative is not eligible to take a loan. However, documents show that Lamichhane took the loan but did not repay it. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Lamichhane claimed that a fake account was opened in his name and maintained his stance that he did not take the loan.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">GB Rai was the president of Suryadarshan Cooperative when Lamichhane allegedly took the loan. Rai had partnered with Lamichhane to open Galaxy 4K Television, operated by Gorkha Network Pvt Ltd. Now the television has been shut down. It is mentioned in the report that Lamichhane took the loan of Rs 300 million from Pokhara's Suryadarshan Cooperative for this media.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Pokhara Metropolitan City formed a study committee last year after receiving many complaints about Suryadarshan Cooperative. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to Auditor Anil Lamichhane, was a member of the committee, the loan was sanctioned in the name of Ravi Lamichhane. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Not only Lamichhane but also Rastriya Swatantra Party's Vice President and Labor Minister DP Aryal was also involved in cooperative fraud cases. He was accused of cheating while he was the vice president of Hamro Naya Krishi Cooperative. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Maoist Chief Whip Hitraj Pandey said that the Prime Minister agreed to call an all-party meeting to end the impasse in Parliament. According to him, the same meeting will also discuss about the investigation of Home Minister Lamichhane, who has been accused of being involved in cooperative fraud.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20619', 'image' => '20240505032321_cooerativesssss.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 15:21:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20891', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Most of the Projects Seeking Start-up Loans are Related to Agriculture', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 5: Most of the projects that are eligible for start-up enterprise loans pledged by the government are projects related to agriculture and animal husbandry. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 5: Most of the projects that are eligible for start-up enterprise loans pledged by the government are projects related to agriculture and animal husbandry. A total of 1,658 projects were registered for startup ventures with the Industrial Enterprise Development Institute (IEDI), an autonomous body established by the government which is dedicated to developing human and knowledge resources for entrepreneurship and business promotion in Nepal through a number of impact-generating quality tools such as training, research, consultancy, enterprise education, and management development programmes. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The IEDI has listed 394 projects as eligible for the startup enterprise loans.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">More than half of the eligible list, that is roughly about 200 projects, pertain to agriculture and animal husbandry businesses. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Most of the startup projects eligible for startup enterprise loans are from Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur. There are 119 projects from these three districts. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Apart from these, some projects are also related to food processing. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The productivity of this sector is very low as most of the agriculture and animal husbandry in the country are subsistence oriented. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to a report published last December regarding Nepal’s food security and agricultural commercialization program, supported by the Asian Development Bank, the productivity of Nepal's agricultural sector was found to be the lowest in South Asia. The report pointed out that the major obstacles for the commercialization of agriculture were widespread fragmentation of land, lack of appropriate cultivation and cropping techniques, lack of timely supply of chemical fertilizers and seeds, and limited financial and agricultural infrastructure.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Juna Mathema, chairperson of the Startup and Innovation Forum of FNCCI, says that it is positive that there are many projects related to this sector in the context of the challenges of commercialization of agriculture in the country. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Neighboring India has already taken a leap in agriculture startups. There are startups related to agriculture in India's AG hub. It seems that the same kind of ecosystem has been developed by starting agro in a different way in Nepal,” said Mathema.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Stakeholders say that startups related to agriculture will also bring new technologies related to agriculture, which will help in the modernization and commercialization of agriculture. For example, China has succeeded in increasing productivity rapidly in 2023 through the use of technology, according to Chinese international television CGN. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to a report published in December last year, despite extensive damage to agriculture due to natural calamities, agricultural production increased widely. Nepal is also implementing the Prime Minister's Agriculture Modernization Project for the modernization and commercialization of agriculture. Its purpose is to maintain food security, reduce import of agricultural products and increase exports. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government has also announced the youth startup grant program in the budget of the current financial year to attract young manpower in agriculture and livestock business and develop entrepreneurship. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The implementation of this program under the Prime Minister's Agriculture Modernization Program has already started in nearly two dozen districts as per Dr. Jit Bahadur Chand. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> “Under this programme, we give a maximum of Rs 400,000 to a youth. But, those proposals should be innovative. We have also been instructing our offices in different districts to support innovative programs,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Mathema, there is plenty of room for innovation in the agricultural sector. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">She said, “The criteria set by the government for giving loans to start-up enterprises must include innovation. Incubation center is the link of startup.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Chand says that educated youth now want to engage in agriculture with the help of technology. Various technologies are being used in agriculture, including artificial intelligence. This will help increasing Nepal's agricultural production, make it competitive and sustainable. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Apart from projects related to agriculture and animal husbandry, proposals for restaurants, spice processing industry, bakery, cafe, small scale industry, chemicals, thangka/handicraft related businesses are also in the eligible list. In the current fiscal year 2080/81, the IEDI is planning to provide start-up enterprise loans to 200 projects and has fixed the date for the project presentation to the applicants who are in the list of eligible projects from April 29 to May 16. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the annual national accounting estimates of the current year 2080/81 published by the National Statistics Office a few days ago, the growth rate of this sector is estimated to be 3.05 percent.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20618', 'image' => '20240505021223_20240208011240_startup.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 14:11:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20890', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Orders Government to Limit Climbing Permits for Everest', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 5: The Supreme Court has ordered the Government of Nepal to limit the number of mountaineering permits issued for Everest and other peaks, AFP reported on Friday citing an advocate.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">May 5: The Supreme Court has ordered the Government of Nepal to limit the number of mountaineering permits issued for Everest and other peaks, AFP reported on Friday citing an advocate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The revelation comes just as climbers prepare for the spring climbing season.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Nepal is home to eight of the world's 10 highest peaks and welcomes hundreds of adventurers each spring, when temperatures are warm and winds are typically calm, the French news agency reported.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to AFP, the verdict was issued in late April but a summary was only published last week.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Advocate Deepak Bikram Mishra, who had filed a petition urging permits to be curtailed, told AFP that the court had responded to public concerns about Nepal's mountains and its environment.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"It has ordered a limit to the number of climbers... and also given measures for waste management and preservation of the mountain's environment," AFP quoted Mishra as saying.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The verdict's summary said that the mountains' capacity "must be respected" and an appropriate maximum number of permits should be determined.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The full text of the verdict has not been published and the summary does not mention any specific limit to the number of permits issued, added AFP.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Nepal currently grants permits to all who apply and are willing to pay $11,000 to scale Everest, the world's highest peak at 8,850 metres (29,035 feet) above the sea level.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Last year, the country issued 478 permits for Everest, a record high.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">A massive human traffic jam on Everest in 2019 forced teams to wait hours at the summit in freezing temperatures, risking depleted oxygen levels that can lead to sickness and exhaustion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">According to AFP, at least four of the 11 deaths on the peak that year were blamed on overcrowding.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"We are pressuring the mountain too much and we need to give it some respite," Mishra told AFP.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The court decision also orders restrictions on the use of helicopters, which the court said should be used only for emergency rescues.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Helicopters have in recent years been frequently used to airlift mountaineering teams to base camps and across hazardous terrain.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Nepal Mountaineering Association president Nima Nuru Sherpa told AFP that such decisions need to be made after a proper study and consultation with the stakeholders.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"It is not clear right now how it will impact the industry. We don't know on what basis the limits will be made and how will this be divided among expedition operators," Sherpa said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">"Our focus should instead be on how we can make the mountains safer."</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Nepal has issued permits to 945 climbers for its mountains so far this year, including 403 for Everest.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20617', 'image' => '20240505122737_20240401075430_SubhasDarnal_KalapatharSolukhumbu_RSS_IMG_20240308_200422.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 12:27:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20889', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'World Food Prices Continue to Rise in April: FAO ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 5: Global food prices rose for the second consecutive month in April, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported Friday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 5: Global food prices rose for the second consecutive month in April, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported Friday. It was the first time they rose in consecutive months in more than two years, FAO said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A significant increase in prices for meat, along with modest rises in prices for grains, cereals and vegetable oil offset larger declines in prices for dairy products and sugar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The overall FAO Food Price Index gained 0.3 percent in April compared to March. A month ago, the broad index was 1.1 percent higher than in February, while previously it had declined for seven months in a row. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The last time the Food Price Index climbed in consecutive months was in February and March 2022, when higher energy prices pushed the index to its all-time high of 160.2 points. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Despite the increases over the last two months, the broad index only reached 119.1 points, far below its record high. The FAO said the biggest increase in April was for meat prices, which climbed 1.6 percent. This was due in part to higher demand for poultry in the Middle East. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Grains and cereals, the largest component in the Food Price Index, saw 0.3 percent gains due to production worries in Europe and transportation disruptions caused by the situation in Ukraine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Vegetable oil quotations inched higher because of unfavorable weather conditions in the Northern Hemisphere, the FAO said. The increase came after a dramatic 8.0 percent rise a month earlier. Meanwhile, sugar prices were 4.4 percent lower, pushed by strong production levels in India and Thailand and good weather in Brazil. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Dairy prices slipped 0.3 percent after increasing in each of the previous six months. The FAO said currency valuations were one factor behind the decline. -- Xinhua/RSS<br /> </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20616', 'image' => '20240505114421_inflationnnnnn.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 11:43:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20886', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'PM says New Budget will Focus on Underprivileged Class, Region ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 5: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahalhas said that the government’s policies and programme as well as budget for the upcoming fiscal year would focus on the concerns of underprivileged classes and regions lagging behind in national development indicators. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 5: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahalhas said that the government’s policies and programme as well as budget for the upcoming fiscal year would focus on the concerns of underprivileged classes and regions lagging behind in national development indicators. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Addressing a parliamentary party meeting of the CPN (Maoist Centre) on Saturday, the Maoist Centre Chairman and Prime Minister Dahal shared that the new budget would be prepared by taking lessons from past experiences. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Policies and programme, and budget will be brought keeping the agendas of good-governance, social justice and prosperity in the centre, and to uplift the underprivileged ones," Maoist Centre's chief whip Hitraj Pandey quoted the PM as saying. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the PM directed the ministers from the Maoist Centre to interact with the Maoist Centre's lawmakers and take their feedback in preparing the budget. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the PM asked the lawmakers to offer their feedback for production growth and employment generation and share the recommendations from the experts of diverse sectors to the government through the party. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the meeting, the Maoist Centre lawmakers suggested that the new budget should address the people's expectations amid the ongoing status of limited resources. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief Whip Pandey said that the meeting decided to make the upcoming parliamentary session systematic and effective and pass the bills from the thematic committees. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20613', 'image' => '20240505104723_budgetttttt.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 10:46:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20885', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India Imposes Export Duty of 40% on Onions', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The India government on Friday imposed a 40 per cent duty on export of onions. Similarly, it granted an exemption on duty for the import of desi chana until March 31, 2025.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px">May 5: The India government on Friday imposed a 40 per cent duty on export of onions. Similarly, it granted an exemption on duty for the import of desi chana until March 31, 2025.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Currently, the export of onion is banned. However, the government allows shipments to India's friendly nations. It has permitted a specified quantity of onion exports to UAE and Bangladesh.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">In August last year, India had imposed a 40 per cent export duty on onions up to December 31, 2023. The rise on export duty is bound to impact Nepali market, which is dependent on Indian onions.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-05', 'modified' => '2024-05-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20612', 'image' => '20240505062922_collage (72).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-05 06:27:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20884', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Betel Leaves Worth Over Rs 18 Million Imported in Nine Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Nepal has imported betel leaves nearly worth Rs 18 million in the past nine months. According to the statistics of the Department of Customs, Nepal has imported 75, 685 kilograms of betel leaves worth 18 million in the last nine months of the current fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 3: Nepal has imported betel leaves nearly worth Rs 18 million in the past nine months. According to the statistics of the Department of Customs, Nepal has imported 75, 685 kilograms of betel leaves worth 18 million in the last nine months of the current fiscal year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In comparison to the same period of the previous year, the import value of betel leaves decreased by 2 percent and the quantity by 16 percent. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the same period last fiscal year, Nepal had imported 90, 794 kilograms of betel leaves worth Rs 19 million. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal imports betel leaves from India.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-03', 'modified' => '2024-05-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20611', 'image' => '20240503043835_collage (71).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-03 16:37:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20882', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Philippine Court Blocks Genetically Modified 'Golden Rice' Production over Safety Fears', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 3: A Philippine court has blocked the commercial propagation of genetically modified golden rice because it said conflicting scientific views gave rise to "severe" health and environmental safety concerns, AFP reported.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 3: A Philippine court has blocked the commercial propagation of genetically modified golden rice because it said conflicting scientific views gave rise to "severe" health and environmental safety concerns, AFP reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the French news agency, the Philippines was the first country in the world to approve golden rice, which is enriched with the Vitamin A precursor beta-carotene and has a bright yellow colour, in a bid to combat childhood blindness.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, the Court of Appeals in Manila revoked a biosafety permit for commercial production of the rice granted by government regulators in 2021 after 14 opponents filed a challenge.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The court's ruling, issued on April 17 and seen by AFP, also applies to a genetically modified eggplant, BT eggplant, that is pest resistant.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"By reason of the conflicting scientific views and uncertainties on the risks and effects of Golden Rice and Bt Eggplant, potential severe and grave threats to the welfare of people and the environment arise," the court said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Commercial propagation was not allowed "until such time that the concerned respondent government agencies submit proof of safety and compliance with all legal requirements", it said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Experts hope the rice will help combat childhood blindness and save lives in the developing world.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">World Health Organization data show vitamin A deficiency causes up to 500,000 cases of childhood blindness every year, mostly in developing countries, with half of those dying within 12 months of losing their sight.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Golden rice was developed over two decades by the Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), while BT eggplant was developed by the University of the Philippines Los Banos campus.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The scientists involved insist both are safe to eat. PhilRice executive director John de Leon said in a statement the institute was "reviewing the implications" of the ruling to prepare its response.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The IRRI said it would continue to work with PhilRice on "developing safe and effective nutritional interventions through rice research".</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">It also said golden rice had received "positive food safety evaluations" from regulators in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, the rice faced strong resistance from environmental groups opposed to genetically altered food plants and at least one test field in the Philippines was attacked by activists.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The opponents who filed the objection, including Greenpeace, welcomed the ruling.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"This decision is a monumental win for Filipino farmers and Filipino people who have for decades stood up against genetically modified crops," Greenpeace Southeast Asia campaigner Wilhelmina Pelegrina said in a statement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"GM crops have never been proven safe, and have hindered necessary progress on climate resilient ecological agriculture that keeps the control of seeds on our farmers."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Ordinary rice, a staple for hundreds of millions of people, particularly in Asia, produces beta-carotene in the plant but it is not found in the grain. – AFP</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-03', 'modified' => '2024-05-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20610', 'image' => '20240503012113_415162-01-02 (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-03 13:20:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20883', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Fails to Sell Foreign Employment Savings Bonds as per its Target', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 3: The government has started issuing fewer Foreign Employment Saving Bonds in recent years as the target group – Nepali workers in foreign employment -- has shown little interest in the initiative of the government to encourage investment in such bonds.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 3: The government has started issuing fewer Foreign Employment Saving Bonds in recent years as the target group – Nepali workers in foreign employment -- has shown little interest in the initiative of the government to encourage investment in such bonds.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government has been issuing 'Foreign Employment Savings Bond' for almost one and a half decades along with the scheme of setting up income generating sectors for the Nepalese who are in foreign employment. However, every year the sales of such savings bond are much less than the target. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Public Debt Management Office issued a notice on Monday calling for the purchase of savings bonds worth Rs 1 billion. The notice mentions that the target group can purchase a minimum savings bond worth Rs 10,000 from May 5 to June 4. The notice further mentions the annual interest rate on the savings bond with a maturity period of five years will be 9 percent. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the last fiscal year (FY) 2079/80, the government had issued notice to sell foreign employment savings bonds worth Rs 1.47 billion, but only Rs 26.3 million were sold as per the Nepal Rastra Bank. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Although the central bank used to raise internal debt for the government in the past, the Public Debt Management Office has started raising such debts for the government since one month.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the fiscal year 2078/89, the government had issued such bonds worth Rs 500 million for sale but bonds worth only Rs 56.7 million were sold. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In view of the low sales of savings bonds in the past, the PDMO has started correspondence with Nepal’s embassies to increase the sale of such bonds, shared Dilaram Giri, the information officer of the PDMO.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We are trying to promote the sale of savings bond with the help of Nepal’s embassies abroad, media as well as to foreign workers. We expect sales to increase this year compared to previous years.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government started issuing foreign employment savings bonds for the first time since 2066/67.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">So far, the government has issued foreign employment savings bonds worth Rs 15.56 billion through 25 different schemes but the sale has been only 4.9 percent worth Rs 762.3 million.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-03', 'modified' => '2024-05-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20609', 'image' => '20240503021028_20240117124624_20210730071603_20200327032654_5003_finance-ministy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-03 14:09:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20881', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ''IT has Immense Potential' ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 3: The officials at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology have argued that information technology (IT) sector has opened up new avenues for employment as an IT-friendly society is being created in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 3: The officials at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology have argued that information technology (IT) sector has opened up new avenues for employment as an IT-friendly society is being created in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Joint Secretary at the ministry, Anil Kumar Dutta, viewed that IT could prosper agriculture, tourism and health sectors as well.</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"">"IT is a borderless issue. One can work for abroad staying at home. The IT experts and youths can make windfall in this field," he added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, a study conducted a year back had showed that 64,000 Nepali youths were involved in the IT business and entrepreneurship and earning foreign currency. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the National Information and Communications Day was observed in Nepal on Thursday in a bid to promote IT. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal had introduced computer in 2028 BS. The restoration of democracy in 2046 BS had further created liberal atmosphere which facilitated the launch and expansion of IT business. Computer Association of Nepal was established then. The Day CAN was established is now observed as the National Information and Communications Day. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Joint Secretary Dutta further shared that government was mulling a concept of IT park or tech park and working on policy and law reform so that foreign investment could be ensured along with the entry of tech giants like Microsoft and Google in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He however said Nepal needs high speed internet, expansion of optical fibres, broadband connectivity and development of software. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Moreover, Director General at the Department of Information Technology, Prem Sharan Shrestha, said government was making efforts to bring reforms in IT sector. Paperless integrated office management system is in place for two years, which has eased service delivery, he added. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-05-03', 'modified' => '2024-05-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20608', 'image' => '20240503012016_IT_3.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-05-03 13:19:46', '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
