April 25: The ongoing tensions in the Middle East threaten to halt -- or even reverse -- some of the recent progress made in tackling global inflation, the AFP reported citing the World…
April 25: The ongoing tensions in the Middle East threaten to halt -- or even reverse -- some of the recent progress made in tackling global inflation, the AFP reported citing the World…
April 25: President Ram Chandra Paudel inaugurated the Himalayan Hydro Expo 2024 at the Exhibition Hall in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu on Thursday.…
April 25: Nepal imported toothpicks worth Rs 19 million in the first nine months of the current fiscal…
April 25: The Ministry of Health and Population has urged the public to take preventive measures against the heat wave that has already started sweeping across the Tarai…
April 25: Nepal took the initiative for the export of bottled drinking water to Qatar during the recent state visit of Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to…
April 25: The first meeting of the Aid Projects of China's Autonomous Region Tibet to Nepal (2024-2028) was held in Tibet's capital Lhasa on April…
April 25: The two-day state visit of Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani to Nepal has encouraged tourism entrepreneurs in…
April 24: Nepal and Qatar have reached an understanding to collaborate in the fields of art and culture, education, communication, youth and sports, legal assistance, and the industry and…
The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index saw a slight increase of 0.15 points, or 0.00%, closing at 1969.17 on Wednesday, the third trading day of the…
April 24: Twenty two trucks carrying tea from Nepal were allowed to enter West Bengal by the Indian Customs Office on Tuesday night after holding them at the Indian checkpoint across Mechi for six…
April 24: The distributable profits of half of the commercial banks operating in Nepal have been negative as of the third quarter of the current fiscal…
April 23: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, has said Nepal failed to secure expected benefits from international trade despite the completion of 20 years of its membership in the World Trade Organisation…
April 24: President Ram Chandra Paudel has urged Qatar to deepen cooperation between Nepal and Qatar on issues of common interests like saving the earth from the impacts of climate change, protecting the Himalayas, preserving the sources of water, and maintaining environmental…
April 24: Asia was the region most affected by climate change, weather and water-related hazards globally last year, the United Nations weather agency has…
April 23: The Investment Board of Nepal (IBN) has approved the list of projects to be showcased in the upcoming Investment…
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60]Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/indexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20814', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Mideast Tensions Threaten Global Progress on Inflation: World Bank', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: The ongoing tensions in the Middle East threaten to halt -- or even reverse -- some of the recent progress made in tackling global inflation, the AFP reported citing the World Bank.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">April 25: The ongoing tensions in the Middle East threaten to halt -- or even reverse -- some of the recent progress made in tackling global inflation, the AFP reported citing the World Bank.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to a news report published by AFP, Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza has caused tensions to rise across the region and pushed up oil prices.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Heightened tensions in the Middle East have been exerting upward pressure on prices for key commodities, notably oil and gold," the World Bank announced in its outlook for global commodity markets.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Disinflationary tailwinds from moderating commodity prices appear essentially over," it added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A worst-case scenario shock to oil prices meanwhile could raise global inflation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Regional tensions remain high more than 200 days into Israel's devastating war in Gaza, launched after Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack which resulted in the deaths of around 1,170 people, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 34,262 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong>Disinflation 'hit a wall' </strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"A key force for disinflation -- falling commodity prices -- has essentially hit a wall," World Bank chief economist Indermit Gill said in a statement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"That means interest rates could remain higher than currently expected this year and next," he continued.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"The world is at a vulnerable moment: a major energy shock could undermine much of the progress in reducing inflation over the past two years," he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The World Bank estimated that a "moderate conflict-related supply disruption" could raise the average cost of a barrel of Brent crude oil to $92 per barrel, while a "severe disruption" could push it above $100.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">That worst-case scenario would have the impact of raising global inflation by nearly one percentage point this year, the World Bank said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As well as delaying interest rate cuts, it could also cause an increase to food insecurity, which had already "worsened markedly last year reflecting armed conflicts and elevated food prices," the Bank added.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-25', 'modified' => '2024-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20541', 'image' => '20240425091623_20240215010906_World.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-25 21:13:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20813', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'President Inaugurates Himalayan Hydro Expo', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: President Ram Chandra Paudel inaugurated the Himalayan Hydro Expo 2024 at the Exhibition Hall in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu on Thursday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">April 25: President Ram Chandra Paudel inaugurated the Himalayan Hydro Expo 2024 at the Exhibition Hall in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu on Thursday. Addressing the opening ceremony of the expo, the president said that it is important to transform Nepal from an electricity importing country to an electricity exporting country. President Paudel mentioned that this is a matter of pride and happiness for everyone.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Stating that Nepal has reached an agreement to sell 10,000 megawatts of electricity to neighboring India within ten years, he expressed confidence that more investment will be made in this sector. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">He said that it is possible to achieve the goals set for power generation through the facilitation and coordination of the government and the involvement of the private sector. The president further said that the expo will help to bring together all parties involved in energy development. The president urged all domestic and foreign investors to work together in green energy development.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Shakti Bahadur Basnet, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, said that the huge potential of hydropower development is an important basis for Nepal's progress. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"The government has brought an action plan to generate 28,700 megawatts of electricity within the next 12 years. Although it looks ambitious, it has been done based on reality and needs," he said. He added that there is a need to bring foreign investment in this sector. He mentioned that the electricity bill, which is now registered in the parliament, will be passed and implemented soon.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Minister Basnet expressed confidence that the new Electricity Act will facilitate the development of hydropower projects and the investment will increase further. He said that the government will continue to facilitate land acquisition, clearing forest and other procedural matters for the projects. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Ganesh Karki, president of the Independent Power Producers Association, Nepal (IPPAN), said that the private sector has invested Rs 13 billion in hydropower projects.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"It is playing an important role in economic growth and job creation and more than 500,000 skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled citizens are getting jobs," he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">He said that Nepal has succeeded in earning foreign currency through electricity export in recent times and expressed his belief that the income from electricity exports will increase further in the coming days. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">In order to increase foreign investment, he urged the government to make policy reforms and ease procedural hurdles. Development of hydropower projects has provided significant support for local development, he shared. Karki added that the promoters of hydropower projects have contributed to the construction of infrastructure such as local roads, drinking water facilities, health posts, playgrounds, etc.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Canada's ambassador to Nepal, Cameron McKee, through a video message, mentioned that the development of hydropower is important for Nepal's prosperity. He said, "We believe that Canada's extensive knowledge and experience will be useful for developing hydropower projects in Nepal." He said that emphasis should be placed on the use of updated technology for the development of renewable energy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The expo, which started with the slogan Green Energy for Prosperity, will conclude on Friday.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-25', 'modified' => '2024-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20540', 'image' => '20240425031055_38db00c3.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-25 15:10:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20812', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Imports Toothpicks worth Rs 19 Million in Nine Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: Nepal imported toothpicks worth Rs 19 million in the first nine months of the current fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">April 25: Nepal imported toothpicks worth Rs 19 million in the first nine months of the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">According to government data, the country imported toothpicks worth Rs 19 million from mid-July to mid-March of the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">According to the data of the Department of Customs, the country imported 60,427 kg of toothpicks during the review period.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">During the corresponding period of last fiscal year, Nepal imported 27,996 kg of toothpicks worth Rs 9 million. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Compared to the same period of last year, the import of toothpicks has increased by 111 percent in terms of value and 115 percent in terms of volume this year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">In the same period last year, the government collected revenue of Rs 3.5 million from the import of toothpicks and this year it has collected Rs 7.7 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Nepal has been importing toothpicks from China and India. In the review period, Nepal has imported 60,376 kilograms of toothpicks worth Rs 19,660,000 from China. Similarly, it has imported 51 kg of toothpicks worth Rs 9,000 from India.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-25', 'modified' => '2024-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20539', 'image' => '20240425024745_71uygnl-C+L.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-25 14:46:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20811', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Health Ministry Urges Public to Take Precaution against Heat Wave ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: The Ministry of Health and Population has urged the public to take preventive measures against the heat wave that has already started sweeping across the Tarai region. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 25: The Ministry of Health and Population has urged the public to take preventive measures against the heat wave that has already started sweeping across the Tarai region. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The effects of the heat wave include rapid heartbeat, breathing complications, low blood pressure, sweating, severe headache, dizziness, sickness, and so on. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to physician Dr Bimal Chalise, the chief consultant at Shukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, the Tarai settlements are prone to the effects of heat wave with the soaring temperatures. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The heat wave may affect the brain, the doctor said, urging the public to avoid exposure to sunshine during daytime as much as possible. Dr Chalise said that heat wave may cause dehydration, affecting the kidneys and heart. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Preventive measures: </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The doctor suggests intake of plenty of drinking water, having a cold shower, using an umbrella and covering of head with a thin cloth while going outside, wearing cotton clothes, choosing morning or evening hours to undertake work outside the home, intake of lemon and water, coconut water and fresh juice, intake of fruits and cucumber. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">If possible, one should not venture outside the home during the day time, should not spend much time in the kitchen, must stay away from smoking and drinking beverages, tea, coffee, and soda-mixed water. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-25', 'modified' => '2024-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20538', 'image' => '20240425011418_20240423103916_Document.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-25 13:13:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20810', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Proposes Exporting Bottled Water to Qatar', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: Nepal took the initiative for the export of bottled drinking water to Qatar during the recent state visit of Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">April 25: Nepal took the initiative for the export of bottled drinking water to Qatar during the recent state visit of Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">At a time when Qatar and other Gulf countries are facing severe shortage of drinking water, Nepal, which is rich in water resources, is looking for the possibility of exporting water to the oil-rich nation. The Trade and Export Promotion Center’s data shows that Nepal has exporting bottled water in some quantity to India and Japan.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s International Affairs Adviser, Rupak Sapkota, informed New Business Age that a formal discussion was held with the Qatari Emir for the first time from the prime minister's level.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif""> "During the bilateral talks, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal himself asked to open the door to export water to Qatar as there is sufficient source of pure drinking water in Nepal," Sapkota told New Business Age, adding, "There is a great potential to export water from Nepal. The government received a 'green signal' for exporting water from Nepal to Qatar.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">A senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed that there was a positive discussion on the agenda for the export of drinking water. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"Even though there was no concrete agreement for water export, the two sides reached an understanding to continue efforts to reach an agreement to export water. We hope that we will finalize this matter soon," said Amrit Bahadur Rai, joint secretary and spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to the World Research Institute, Bahrain, Cyprus, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman and Qatar are the most water-scarce countries in the world. According to the recently published report of the institute, the demand for water for domestic use, agriculture and industrial sectors is increasing but the supply is low and there is a shortage in those countries. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to the institute, 83 percent of the population in the Middle East and North Africa does not have enough water, while 74 percent of the population in South Asia is suffering from water problems.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">A report published by the Time magazine in January also mentions there is a water scarcity in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. In particular, Saudi Arabia is now the world's third largest per capita water consumer after the United States and Canada.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to a study conducted by the Policy Research Council in 2019, countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), including Qatar, spent USD 172.3 million to import bottled drinking water in 2018.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The study also mentions that the market for such water is flourishing. Altogether 19 billion liters of bottled water were sold in these countries in 2018 and its demand is estimated to reach 25.4 billion liters by 2024. Stakeholders say that there is an opportunity for Nepal to export water from the mountains as the shortage of drinking water in the Gulf nation increases.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Mukti Shree Pvt Ltd is exporting water from Nepal to foreign countries. The director of the company, Arunraj Sumargi, told New Business Age that the company is exporting more than 120,000 bottles of water daily to countries such as the USA, Japan, and Korea. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"We have started preparations for water export targeting Middle East countries by adding plants. We are preparing to increase the production in a few days," he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The Sumargi family is considered close to Prime Minister Dahal. He said that the government's discussion with Qatar for the export of water was positive. According to him, there are some challenges in export. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"It is very difficult to maintain international standards for production and export of water," he said, adding that Nepal exported water to two countries – India and Japan – in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">As of mid-March this year, the country exported bottled water worth Rs 1.5 million to India and Rs 2 million to Japan.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">In the year 2078/79, Nepal exported 18,403 liters of water to Qatar and earned Rs 2.5 million. In the following years, Nepal did not export any water to Qatar. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Besides the issue of water export, Nepal raised the concerns about the safety of its migrant workers and labor contract renewal during the visit of the Qatari Emir, but there was no significant achievement. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Rai, the joint secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, "Despite intensive discussions on labor issue, we could not reach any agreement. However, the two countries have decided to continue the talks. The initiative will continue through the embassy.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Although the two countries had signed a labor agreement in 2005, it has not been revised. Nepal has been put forth conditions such as wage hike, full-time insurance, and increase in quota of workers. However, these issues have yet to be resolved by the bilateral negotiation team.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">A statement issued by the Prime Minister's Secretariat after a bilateral talks on Wednesday mentions that the Qatari side wants to work together with Nepal to increase the number of workers and is willing to cooperate on the matter.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Similarly, during the visit of the Emir of Qatar to Nepal, the government raised the issue of expanding the air service between the two countries. Sapkota informed Nepal and Qatar agreed to form a team and discuss the cooperation of air connectivity, especially since the Prime Minister himself proposed to expand the flights of Qatar Airways to Pokhara and Bhairahawa. Government officials say that Prime Minister Dahal and the Emir of Qatar discussed investment in Nepal in sectors such as labor, infrastructure, energy, education and transportation, along with water.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-25', 'modified' => '2024-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20537', 'image' => '20240425123110_AP24115270598867.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-25 12:30:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20809', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'First Meeting of Nepal-China Aid Projects Concludes ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: The first meeting of the Aid Projects of China's Autonomous Region Tibet to Nepal (2024-2028) was held in Tibet's capital Lhasa on April 23-24. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 25: The first meeting of the Aid Projects of China's Autonomous Region Tibet to Nepal (2024-2028) was held in Tibet's capital Lhasa on April 23-24. </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"">Discussions during the meeting which concluded on Wednesday focused on aid projects to be implemented in Nepal, the Lhasa-based Consulate of Nepal said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, the two sides discussed on the coordination mechanism including work schedule, selection modality of the projects, and the ways to implement and monitor the aid projects funded by Tibet to Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the meeting, both sides agreed to hold the meeting of aid projects twice in the first half of the year, so as to focus on the projects arrangements and twice in the second half of the year for the implementation and review of the implemented projects. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Furthermore, the two sides underlined the need to enhance the level of support for improving the livelihood of people residing in bordering districts in the Northern Himalayan region of Nepal through the aid projects. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The first meeting was co-chaired by Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration of Nepal Kamal Prasad Bhattarai and Director General of the Foreign Affairs Office of Tibet Baiman Yangzong. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Joint Secretary Bhattarai and the head of the Nepali delegation also paid a courtesy call on Executive Vice-Chairman of the People’s Government of Tibet Chen Yongqi. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the meeting, the two exchanged views on matters of mutual interests; including the promotion of socio-economic linkages for further strengthening Nepal-China relations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The second meeting of the Aid Projects to Nepal will take place next month. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-25', 'modified' => '2024-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20536', 'image' => '20240425113714_f399288e-city-20379-16751221faf.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-25 11:36:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20808', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism Entrepreneurs Buoyed by Qatar Amir's Visit', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: The two-day state visit of Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani to Nepal has encouraged tourism entrepreneurs 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"">April 25: The two-day state visit of Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani to Nepal has encouraged tourism entrepreneurs in Nepal. The stakeholders said that the visit spread a positive message in the tourism sector. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The two-day state visit of the Qatar Amir is the most high-profile visit from Gulf countries, which would undoubtedly help prop Nepali tourism, the stakeholders added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Former chair of Nepal Mountaineering Association, Ang Chhiring Sherpa, shared, "Qatar Amir's visit to Nepal would help increase Qatar tourists to Nepal." The senior tourism entrepreneur further hoped high-end tourists from middle east- Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait could come to Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The royal family members from Qatar come to Nepal for trekking and mountaineering. Sheikh Mohammad Bin Abdullha Al Thani is the first person to scale world's highest peak, Sagarmatha from Qatar. He was atop the Sagarmatha on May 22, 2013, while he climbed Mt Amadablam successfully on November 11, 2020. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Moreover, the royal member of Qatar, Sheikh Asma Al Thani had climbed the Annapurna-I peak. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Qatari royals are fond of mountain climbing and trekking. The people from Qatar enjoy luxury hotel stay. Nepal is also expanding the number of deluxe hotels of late. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chair of Hotel Association of Nepal, Binayak Shah, also shares similar observation on Qatari tourists. The royal family members of the Gulf countries, including from Qatar, prefer to stay in deluxe hotels like Sintamani of Mustang and Soaltee West End Resort of Chitwan and others. Qatar Amir's visit to Nepal has given a positive message to Nepal’s tourism sector,” he argued. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Qatar is an emerging country in the globe. The visit of such distinguished guest promotes Nepal's tourism across the globe," he viewed. </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"">Moreover, noted tourism entrepreneur Yogendra Shakya hoped that the arrival of foreign tourists would grow in Nepal in the wake Amir Thani's visit. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Nepal Tourism Board, a total of 255 people from Qatar had visited Nepal in 2023. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Importantly, Qatar Airways is known as one of the best airlines in the world. It provides air service to over 150 countries through a fleet of over 200 aircraft. Currently, Qatar Airways conducts four flights a day to Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In two years since 2021, Qatar Airways has brought more than 733,000 people to Nepal while ferried over 823,000 people from Nepal to different countries across the globe. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Following the visit of Qatar’s Amir, authorities in Nepal are expecting the launch of air service to Doha, Qatar from Bhairahawa and Pokhara international airports. </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"">Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal reportedly requested the Qatari Amir to consider air service to the two new international airports in Nepal. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-25', 'modified' => '2024-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20535', 'image' => '20240425102229_KRB_KTM-image_123650291(9).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-25 10:21:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20807', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal and Qatar Agree on Collaboration in Eight Sectors ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: Nepal and Qatar have reached an understanding to collaborate in the fields of art and culture, education, communication, youth and sports, legal assistance, and the industry and commerce. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 24: Nepal and Qatar have reached an understanding to collaborate in the fields of art and culture, education, communication, youth and sports, legal assistance, and the industry and commerce. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The two countries signed agreements and MoUs to this effect on the occasion of the state visit of Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, said Amrit Bahadur Rai, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on collaboration in the area of art and culture, exchange of news between the official news agencies of Nepal and Qatar, and exchange of cooperation in the education sector. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The agreements and MoUs were signed in the presence of the Qatari Amir and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal following bilateral talks between them at the Soaltee Hotel on Wednesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The MoUs signed include: the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in the Fields of Culture and Arts between the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation of Nepal and the Ministry of Culture of the State of Qatar; the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in the Field of Education, Higher Education and Scientific Research between the Government of Nepal and the Government of the State of Qatar; the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Youth and Sports between the Government of Nepal and the Government of the State of Qatar; the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation between the Office of the Attorney General of Nepal and the Public Prosecution of the State of Qatar and the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Diplomatic Training and Education between The Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA) of the Government of Nepal and the Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Padam Giri and Qatar's State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sultan Bin Saad Al Muraikhi signed on the MoUs at the government level on behalf of Nepal and Qatar, respectively. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, a MoU related to exchange of investment has been signed between the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Qatar Chamber of Commerce. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">FNCCI President Chandra Prasad Dhakal and Shekh Khalif Bin Jasim Al Thani signed the MoU on behalf of FNCCI and Qatar Chamber of Commerce respectively. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20534', 'image' => '20240424061926_PRO_KTM-6F8A0555.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 18:18:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20806', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEPSE Records Minimal Gain of 0.15 Points to Close at 1969.17', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index saw a slight increase of 0.15 points, or 0.00%, closing at 1969.17 on Wednesday, the third trading day of the week.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">April 24: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index saw a slight increase of 0.15 points, or 0.00%, closing at 1969.17 on Wednesday, the third trading day of the week.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During today's trading session, 313 scrips were traded on the NEPSE through 36,483 transactions, with a total of 7,284,272 shares changing hands, resulting in transactions worth Rs 2.53 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Nepal Reinsurance Company Limited Promoter Share (NRICP) led the turnover amount with transactions worth Rs 63 crores. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Pokhara Finance Limited (PFL) witnessed the highest gain of 10%, closing at a market price of Rs 565 per share. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Conversely, Mai Khola Hydropower Limited (MKHL) incurred the maximum loss at 7.84%, settling at a market price of Rs 470 per share.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In terms of sector indices, ten sectors closed in the red territory, while the remaining sectors closed in the green zone. The Finance Index saw the highest gain of 2.44%. Conversely, the Hotels and Tourism Index experienced the highest loss at 0.44%.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20533', 'image' => '20240424034310_collage.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 15:41:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20805', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Indian Customs Releases 22 Trucks Carrying Tea from Nepal after Six Days ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: Twenty two trucks carrying tea from Nepal were allowed to enter West Bengal by the Indian Customs Office on Tuesday night after holding them at the Indian checkpoint across Mechi for six days.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">April 24: Twenty two trucks carrying tea from Nepal were allowed to enter West Bengal by the Indian Customs Office on Tuesday night after holding them at the Indian checkpoint across Mechi for six days.</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"">These trucks were carrying 2,200 tons of tea produced in Nepal.</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 Indian Customs Office, Panitanki, stopped the Nepali trucks at the checkpoint last Thursday demanding 100 per cent lab test certificate along with quality assurance papers. The trucks were stopped at Panitanki for almost a week.</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"">Before this, only 5 to 25 per cent of tea samples used to be tested and released. However, the Panitanki Customs last week refused customs clearance of the tea saying that new provisions were implemented.</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 delegation led by Aditya Parajuli, president of the Nepal Tea Producers Association, met Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and asked him to take the initiative to resolve the problem in tea export and also urged for a long-term solution. </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"">Due to the joint initiative of the prime minister, the Department of Customs as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Indian Customs Office called the customs agents at 9:30 PM on Tuesday night and released the truck carrying tea.</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"">Ram Prasad Regmi, head of the Mechi customs office, also confirmed that 22 vehicles carrying tea were released from Panitanki Customs. He said, "When I informally met with Panitanki customs, thet informed that Nepali tea was released on the basis of verbal order from above."</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"">Tea is the second most exported item from Nepal. The export of tea from Nepal, however, has decreased in the ninth months of the current fiscal year. The monetary value of ready-made tea exported from Nepal amounted to Rs 3 billion. Traders informed that the market of Nepali tea is decreasing due to the Indian blockade, the price of tea falling in the market and the lack of auctions. </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"">Nepal exported 9.83 million kilograms of tea worth Rs 2.66 billion in the 9 months of the current year. Looking at the data, compared to last year, tea exports decreased by 3.5 million kg amounting to Rs 476.76 million.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20532', 'image' => '20240424021223_Tea.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 14:11:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20804', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Half of the Commercial Banks not in a Position to Issue Dividends to Shareholders', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: The distributable profits of half of the commercial banks operating in Nepal have been negative as of the third quarter of the current fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">April 24: The distributable profits of half of the commercial banks operating in Nepal have been negative as of the third quarter of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">This has raised doubts whether the banks will be able to distribute dividends to the shareholders after the end of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the unaudited financial statements of the third quarter released by the banks, the distributable profit of 10 out of 20 commercial banks is negative. The distributable profit of Himalayan Bank, Nepal Investment Mega Bank, Kumari Bank, NIC Asia Bank, Laxmi Sunrise Bank, Nepal Bank, NMB Bank, Global IME Bank, Machhapuchhre Bank and Siddharth Bank is negative.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Bhuvan Dahal, an expert in the banking sector, commercial banks have not been able to make a profit of late because they have not been able to collect the accrued interest from the borrowers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"As per the instructions of Nepal Rastra Bank, the amount equivalent to the interest that is yet to be collected cannot be taken into consideration as distributable profit as 'regulatory adjustment' has to be done," he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Nepal Rastra Bank, under the regulatory adjustment, banks need to set aside the amount yet to recover from the borrowers for provisioning. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> With the slowdown in the country's economy, banks have been facing problems in loan recovery. As a result, bad loans are increasing, the central bank said. According to the data of Nepal Rastra Bank, the bad loans of commercial banks stood at 3.63 percent of the total loans as of mid-March.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Since the dividend distribution capacity of banks is assessed on the basis of distributable profits till the end of the year, the main challenge for banks is to improve the current situation by the next quarter.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the current fiscal year, only 12 out of 20 banks have distributed dividends based on the profit earned in the previous year. Himalayan Bank, NMB Bank, Prime Commercial Bank, Kumari Bank, Nepal Bank, Nepal Investment Mega Bank, Prabhu Bank and Krishi Bikas Bank have not given returns to the investors this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Prabhu Bank, Krishi Bikas Bank and Prime Commercial Bank have distributable profit but decided not to issue dividends to the investors this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">If Himalayan Bank, NMB Bank, Nepal Bank, Kumari Bank and Nepal Investment Mega Bank do not improve their distributable profit in the next three months by collecting interest, it seems that the investors of these banks will be disappointed in the next year as well. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Himalayan Bank's distributable profit for the third quarter is negative by more than Rs 5.24 billion. It is the highest among all banks. The distributable profit of Nepal Investment Mega Bank is negative by more than 5.8 billion and stands second among the banks in this segment. Siddharth Bank has the lowest negative distributable profit. Its distributable profit is negative by more than Rs 27.12 million.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Everest Bank is leading among 10 commercial banks with distributable profit. The distributable profit of Everest Bank, which has a paid-up capital of more than Rs 11.76 billion, is more than Rs 2.75 billion. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Standard Chartered Bank's distributable profit is the highest after Everest Bank. Its distributable profit is more than Rs 1.81 billion. Currently, the paid-up capital of this bank is above Rs 9.42 billion. Based on the distributable profit up to the third quarter, the dividend potential of Standard Chartered is 19.27 percent. In the history of dividend distribution, this bank has distributed a maximum of 105 percent, but in the last 2 years, it has only distributed cash dividends. This year Standard Chartered distributed 19 percent cash dividend.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20531', 'image' => '20240424021106_Banks - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 14:09:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20803', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Industry Minister says Nepal Failed to Secure Expected Benefits from WTO ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 23: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, has said Nepal failed to secure expected benefits from international trade despite the completion of 20 years of its membership in the World Trade Organisation (WTO). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 23: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, has said Nepal failed to secure expected benefits from international trade despite the completion of 20 years of its membership in the World Trade Organisation (WTO). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Speaking at a programme on "expectations, achievements and future course of action in 20 years of Nepal's WTO membership" organised by the Ministry on Tuesday, the minister said, "There is no situation for least developed countries despite some exceptions to secure anticipated expectations from the WTO aiming to ensure benefits of the world economy to the developing countries and an increased market access for them." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He underlined the need to guarantee meaningful participation of government, private, and related research institutes and stakeholders concerned to ink a bilateral trade and investment agreement with nations with potential for exports from Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He advised Nepal should make efforts to explore potential for international trade and implement objective and country-wise export strategies. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also pointed out the need for wider dialogues and discussions with the participation of public-private sectors to navigate ways for awareness in industrial and trade sectors. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There is a wider discussion at the national level when expected achievements from the WTO remain unmet, according to the minister. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“We accept the WTO standards, but in the context of Nepal, such standards have not been implemented. We are overwhelmed by the burden of import trade. We have to liberate ourselves from this situation. The lack of Nepal's presence in world trade should be analyzed meticulously,” he said.</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Acknowledging Nepal's weak presence in world trade, Commerce Secretary Dinesh Kumar Ghimire insisted on policy-level and strategic interventions toward that end. He stressed the need to increase domestic production. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Industry Secretary Krishna Bahadur Raut said Nepal could not secure the right benefits of WTO while other speakers including the Chairperson of Federation of Nepal Cottage and Small Industries, Umesh Prasad Singh; Vice Chair of Federation of Export Entrepreneurs Nepal (FEEN) and Joint Secretary Leela Prasad Sharma expressed concerns over the country's increasing size of imports, thus leading to a ballooning trade deficit in the absence of lack of Nepal's access to the world trade market. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">They called for replacing the import-based trade. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20530', 'image' => '20240424012950_20240216100904_placeholder_md.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 13:29:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20802', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'President Paudel, Emir of Qatar Discuss Climate Change Impacts and Deepening Nepal-Qatar Ties ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: President Ram Chandra Paudel has urged Qatar to deepen cooperation between Nepal and Qatar on issues of common interests like saving the earth from the impacts of climate change, protecting the Himalayas, preserving the sources of water, and maintaining environmental balance. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 24: President Ram Chandra Paudel has urged Qatar to deepen cooperation between Nepal and Qatar on issues of common interests like saving the earth from the impacts of climate change, protecting the Himalayas, preserving the sources of water, and maintaining environmental balance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">President Paudel said so at a meeting with the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, at the Office of the President in Shital Niwas on Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Emir of the State of Qatar arrived in Kathmandu on Tuesday afternoon on a two-day state visit to Nepal at the invitation of President Paudel. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The common challenge of today's world is saving the earth from climate change; protecting our Himalayas; preserving the source of water and maintaining the environmental balance. Cooperation of all is imperative in these areas. This is an issue of human existence. I consider mostly the developing countries should be more serious in such issues,” President's press advisor Kiran Pokharel quoted President Paudel as saying. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The president also said that the conflict in the Middle East has 'made us worried', Pokharel told the RSS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, President Paudel praised the role played by Qatar for peace building and wished for the end to the war and restoration of peace in the Middle East. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, the Emir of the State of Qatar Al Thani said the entire world is suffering from climate change impacts, and good results will come and a good environment will be created if all abided by the international agreements on climate change. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also expressed the confidence that his visit would be fruitful to explore new areas of cooperation by further deepening Nepal-Qatar relations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Furthermore, the Emir of Qatar praised Nepali migrant workers stating that they have huge contributions to the development of Qatar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Emir of Qatar Al Thani viewed that new possibilities could be explored for investments in water resources, agriculture, tourism and other sectors in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, President Paudel also expressed the confidence that the agreement and memorandum of understanding to be reached on Wednesday would unleash new potentials for investment in the areas such as water resource, agriculture and tourism in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Noting that Nepal and Qatar have ever enjoyed cordial bilateral relations, President Paudel clarified that the relations between Nepal and Qatar are bound by the sense of friendship, mutual respect, trust and goodwill. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There has been a tradition of exchange of high-level visits between the two countries in a regular way which he claimed had played spectacular role in expanding the bilateral relations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The historical visit has taken the Nepal-Qatar relations to a new height, he further said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Noting that Nepal has moved towards the journey of economic development and prosperity now with the agenda of political transformation of late, he expressed his belief that there would be continuous support from Qatar to Nepal's efforts towards attaining development and prosperity. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">President Paudel further expressed his optimism that the bilateral cooperation and collaboration would be further deepened in coming days in the context when there are arrays of potential for partnership in trade, tourism and investment areas. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Qatar has been a prime and attractive destination of foreign employment for Nepali workers and Nepali workforce has also substantially contributed in the making of modern Qatar, he recalled. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Expressing happiness over the sustainable development and prosperity of Qatar under the visionary leadership of the Emir, President Paudel lauded his far-reaching thinking and unswerving commitment to make Qatar a highly-developed nation. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => 'Qatar, Nepal, ties, friendly, climate, induced, impacts, Emir, Thani', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20529', 'image' => '20240424123325_RS_KTM_1713871958865(1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 12:32:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20800', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Asia Worst Hit by Climate-Induced Disasters in 2023: UN', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: Asia was the region most affected by climate change, weather and water-related hazards globally last year, the United Nations weather agency has said.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">April 24: Asia was the region most affected by climate change, weather and water-related hazards globally last year, the United Nations weather agency has said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In a report published on Tuesday, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said the impact of heatwaves in Asia was becoming more severe, with melting glaciers threatening the region's future water security.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Floods and storms were the main cause of casualties and economic damage in 2023, the report added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">It found that Asia has been warming faster than the global average, with temperature rises in 2023 averaging nearly 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above the 1961-90 average, Al Jazeera reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Many countries in the region experienced their hottest year on record in 2023, along with a barrage of extreme conditions, from droughts and heatwaves to floods and storms,” WMO chief Celeste Saulo said in a statement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the Doha-based media network funded by Qatar, Saulo added that climate change “exacerbated the frequency and severity of such events”, calling the report’s conclusions “sobering”.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Many countries in the region experienced their hottest year on record in 2023, along with a barrage of extreme conditions, from droughts and heatwaves to floods and storms. Climate change exacerbated the frequency and severity of such events, profoundly impacting societies, economies, and, most importantly, human lives and the environment that we live in."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The State of the Climate in Asia 2023 report highlighted the accelerating rate of key climate change indicators such as surface temperature, glacier retreat and sea level rise, saying they would have serious repercussions for societies, economies and ecosystems in the region, AFP reorted.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Asia remained the world's most disaster-hit region from weather, climate and water-related hazards in 2023," the WMO said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the report, the annual mean near-surface temperature over Asia in 2023 was the second highest on record, at 0.91 degrees Celsius above the 1991-2020 average, and 1.87 C above the 1961-1990 average.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Particularly high average temperatures were recorded from western Siberia to central Asia, and from eastern China to Japan, the report said, with Japan having its hottest summer on record.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As for precipitation, it was below normal in the Himalayas and in the Hindu Kush mountain range in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Meanwhile southwest China suffered from a drought, with below-normal precipitation levels in nearly every month of the year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The High-Mountain Asia region, centred on the Tibetan Plateau, contains the largest volume of ice outside of the polar regions. Over the last several decades, most of these glaciers have been retreating, and at an accelerating rate, the WMO said, with 20 out of 22 monitored glaciers in the region showing continued mass loss last year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The report said 2023 sea-surface temperatures in the northwest Pacific Ocean were the highest on record.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Last year, 79 disasters associated with water-related weather hazards were reported in Asia. Of those, more than 80 percent were floods and storms, with more than 2,000 deaths and nine million people directly affected.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Floods were the leading cause of death in reported events in 2023 by a substantial margin," the WMO said, noting the continuing high level of vulnerability of Asia to natural hazard events.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The WMO said there was an urgent need for national weather services across the region to improve tailored information to officials working on reducing disaster risks.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"It is imperative that our actions and strategies mirror the urgency of these times," AFP quoted Saulo as saying.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the evolving climate is not merely an option, but a fundamental necessity."</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20527', 'image' => '20240424112058_download.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 11:20:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20799', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'IBN Approves List of Projects to be Showcased during the Investment Summit', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 23: The Investment Board of Nepal (IBN) has approved the list of projects to be showcased in the upcoming Investment Summit.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 23: The Investment Board of Nepal (IBN) has approved the list of projects to be showcased in the upcoming Investment Summit.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The 58th meeting of the IBN chaired by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Tuesday approved the list of projects, the state-owned RSS reported, adding that the IBN aims to seek letters of intent as well as showcase and carry out market sounding for these projects.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The IBN plans to showcase a total of 148 projects including government and private projects during the summit scheduled for April 28 and 29. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The meeting also decided to increase investment in two projects. The board meeting approved an additional investment worth Rs 6.63 billion for the Huaxin Narayani Cement Project. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, Dabur Nepal has proposed reinvestment of Rs 9.68 billion for capacity expansion and product diversification. The board gave the go ahead for negotiation process after receiving the project report and its assessment.</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"">Following the meeting, Prime Minister Dahal directed to work to make the investment summit more result-oriented rather than being limited to formalities. </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"">According to RSS, the prime minister also instructed the authorities to form a special unit to facilitate the mobilization of capital and credits from domestic, foreign and private sectors. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating that the prosperity of the country will be achieved only through the partnership between the public and private sectors, Prime Minister Dahal said the government has initiated the work of amending laws to remove obstacles to investment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief Executive Officer of the Investment Board, Sushil Bhatta, shed light on the status of implementation of the decision of the previous board meeting and the preparations for the investment summit, RSS added. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20526', 'image' => '20240424105133_20160513034506_editor.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 10:50:56', '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' => '20814', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Mideast Tensions Threaten Global Progress on Inflation: World Bank', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: The ongoing tensions in the Middle East threaten to halt -- or even reverse -- some of the recent progress made in tackling global inflation, the AFP reported citing the World Bank.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">April 25: The ongoing tensions in the Middle East threaten to halt -- or even reverse -- some of the recent progress made in tackling global inflation, the AFP reported citing the World Bank.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to a news report published by AFP, Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza has caused tensions to rise across the region and pushed up oil prices.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Heightened tensions in the Middle East have been exerting upward pressure on prices for key commodities, notably oil and gold," the World Bank announced in its outlook for global commodity markets.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Disinflationary tailwinds from moderating commodity prices appear essentially over," it added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A worst-case scenario shock to oil prices meanwhile could raise global inflation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Regional tensions remain high more than 200 days into Israel's devastating war in Gaza, launched after Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack which resulted in the deaths of around 1,170 people, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 34,262 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong>Disinflation 'hit a wall' </strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"A key force for disinflation -- falling commodity prices -- has essentially hit a wall," World Bank chief economist Indermit Gill said in a statement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"That means interest rates could remain higher than currently expected this year and next," he continued.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"The world is at a vulnerable moment: a major energy shock could undermine much of the progress in reducing inflation over the past two years," he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The World Bank estimated that a "moderate conflict-related supply disruption" could raise the average cost of a barrel of Brent crude oil to $92 per barrel, while a "severe disruption" could push it above $100.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">That worst-case scenario would have the impact of raising global inflation by nearly one percentage point this year, the World Bank said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As well as delaying interest rate cuts, it could also cause an increase to food insecurity, which had already "worsened markedly last year reflecting armed conflicts and elevated food prices," the Bank added.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-25', 'modified' => '2024-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20541', 'image' => '20240425091623_20240215010906_World.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-25 21:13:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20813', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'President Inaugurates Himalayan Hydro Expo', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: President Ram Chandra Paudel inaugurated the Himalayan Hydro Expo 2024 at the Exhibition Hall in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu on Thursday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">April 25: President Ram Chandra Paudel inaugurated the Himalayan Hydro Expo 2024 at the Exhibition Hall in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu on Thursday. Addressing the opening ceremony of the expo, the president said that it is important to transform Nepal from an electricity importing country to an electricity exporting country. President Paudel mentioned that this is a matter of pride and happiness for everyone.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Stating that Nepal has reached an agreement to sell 10,000 megawatts of electricity to neighboring India within ten years, he expressed confidence that more investment will be made in this sector. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">He said that it is possible to achieve the goals set for power generation through the facilitation and coordination of the government and the involvement of the private sector. The president further said that the expo will help to bring together all parties involved in energy development. The president urged all domestic and foreign investors to work together in green energy development.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Shakti Bahadur Basnet, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, said that the huge potential of hydropower development is an important basis for Nepal's progress. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"The government has brought an action plan to generate 28,700 megawatts of electricity within the next 12 years. Although it looks ambitious, it has been done based on reality and needs," he said. He added that there is a need to bring foreign investment in this sector. He mentioned that the electricity bill, which is now registered in the parliament, will be passed and implemented soon.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Minister Basnet expressed confidence that the new Electricity Act will facilitate the development of hydropower projects and the investment will increase further. He said that the government will continue to facilitate land acquisition, clearing forest and other procedural matters for the projects. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Ganesh Karki, president of the Independent Power Producers Association, Nepal (IPPAN), said that the private sector has invested Rs 13 billion in hydropower projects.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"It is playing an important role in economic growth and job creation and more than 500,000 skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled citizens are getting jobs," he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">He said that Nepal has succeeded in earning foreign currency through electricity export in recent times and expressed his belief that the income from electricity exports will increase further in the coming days. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">In order to increase foreign investment, he urged the government to make policy reforms and ease procedural hurdles. Development of hydropower projects has provided significant support for local development, he shared. Karki added that the promoters of hydropower projects have contributed to the construction of infrastructure such as local roads, drinking water facilities, health posts, playgrounds, etc.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Canada's ambassador to Nepal, Cameron McKee, through a video message, mentioned that the development of hydropower is important for Nepal's prosperity. He said, "We believe that Canada's extensive knowledge and experience will be useful for developing hydropower projects in Nepal." He said that emphasis should be placed on the use of updated technology for the development of renewable energy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The expo, which started with the slogan Green Energy for Prosperity, will conclude on Friday.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-25', 'modified' => '2024-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20540', 'image' => '20240425031055_38db00c3.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-25 15:10:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20812', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Imports Toothpicks worth Rs 19 Million in Nine Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: Nepal imported toothpicks worth Rs 19 million in the first nine months of the current fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">April 25: Nepal imported toothpicks worth Rs 19 million in the first nine months of the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">According to government data, the country imported toothpicks worth Rs 19 million from mid-July to mid-March of the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">According to the data of the Department of Customs, the country imported 60,427 kg of toothpicks during the review period.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">During the corresponding period of last fiscal year, Nepal imported 27,996 kg of toothpicks worth Rs 9 million. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Compared to the same period of last year, the import of toothpicks has increased by 111 percent in terms of value and 115 percent in terms of volume this year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">In the same period last year, the government collected revenue of Rs 3.5 million from the import of toothpicks and this year it has collected Rs 7.7 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Nepal has been importing toothpicks from China and India. In the review period, Nepal has imported 60,376 kilograms of toothpicks worth Rs 19,660,000 from China. Similarly, it has imported 51 kg of toothpicks worth Rs 9,000 from India.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-25', 'modified' => '2024-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20539', 'image' => '20240425024745_71uygnl-C+L.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-25 14:46:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20811', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Health Ministry Urges Public to Take Precaution against Heat Wave ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: The Ministry of Health and Population has urged the public to take preventive measures against the heat wave that has already started sweeping across the Tarai region. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 25: The Ministry of Health and Population has urged the public to take preventive measures against the heat wave that has already started sweeping across the Tarai region. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The effects of the heat wave include rapid heartbeat, breathing complications, low blood pressure, sweating, severe headache, dizziness, sickness, and so on. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to physician Dr Bimal Chalise, the chief consultant at Shukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, the Tarai settlements are prone to the effects of heat wave with the soaring temperatures. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The heat wave may affect the brain, the doctor said, urging the public to avoid exposure to sunshine during daytime as much as possible. Dr Chalise said that heat wave may cause dehydration, affecting the kidneys and heart. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Preventive measures: </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The doctor suggests intake of plenty of drinking water, having a cold shower, using an umbrella and covering of head with a thin cloth while going outside, wearing cotton clothes, choosing morning or evening hours to undertake work outside the home, intake of lemon and water, coconut water and fresh juice, intake of fruits and cucumber. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">If possible, one should not venture outside the home during the day time, should not spend much time in the kitchen, must stay away from smoking and drinking beverages, tea, coffee, and soda-mixed water. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-25', 'modified' => '2024-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20538', 'image' => '20240425011418_20240423103916_Document.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-25 13:13:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20810', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Proposes Exporting Bottled Water to Qatar', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: Nepal took the initiative for the export of bottled drinking water to Qatar during the recent state visit of Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">April 25: Nepal took the initiative for the export of bottled drinking water to Qatar during the recent state visit of Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">At a time when Qatar and other Gulf countries are facing severe shortage of drinking water, Nepal, which is rich in water resources, is looking for the possibility of exporting water to the oil-rich nation. The Trade and Export Promotion Center’s data shows that Nepal has exporting bottled water in some quantity to India and Japan.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s International Affairs Adviser, Rupak Sapkota, informed New Business Age that a formal discussion was held with the Qatari Emir for the first time from the prime minister's level.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif""> "During the bilateral talks, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal himself asked to open the door to export water to Qatar as there is sufficient source of pure drinking water in Nepal," Sapkota told New Business Age, adding, "There is a great potential to export water from Nepal. The government received a 'green signal' for exporting water from Nepal to Qatar.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">A senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed that there was a positive discussion on the agenda for the export of drinking water. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"Even though there was no concrete agreement for water export, the two sides reached an understanding to continue efforts to reach an agreement to export water. We hope that we will finalize this matter soon," said Amrit Bahadur Rai, joint secretary and spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to the World Research Institute, Bahrain, Cyprus, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman and Qatar are the most water-scarce countries in the world. According to the recently published report of the institute, the demand for water for domestic use, agriculture and industrial sectors is increasing but the supply is low and there is a shortage in those countries. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to the institute, 83 percent of the population in the Middle East and North Africa does not have enough water, while 74 percent of the population in South Asia is suffering from water problems.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">A report published by the Time magazine in January also mentions there is a water scarcity in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. In particular, Saudi Arabia is now the world's third largest per capita water consumer after the United States and Canada.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to a study conducted by the Policy Research Council in 2019, countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), including Qatar, spent USD 172.3 million to import bottled drinking water in 2018.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The study also mentions that the market for such water is flourishing. Altogether 19 billion liters of bottled water were sold in these countries in 2018 and its demand is estimated to reach 25.4 billion liters by 2024. Stakeholders say that there is an opportunity for Nepal to export water from the mountains as the shortage of drinking water in the Gulf nation increases.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Mukti Shree Pvt Ltd is exporting water from Nepal to foreign countries. The director of the company, Arunraj Sumargi, told New Business Age that the company is exporting more than 120,000 bottles of water daily to countries such as the USA, Japan, and Korea. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"We have started preparations for water export targeting Middle East countries by adding plants. We are preparing to increase the production in a few days," he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The Sumargi family is considered close to Prime Minister Dahal. He said that the government's discussion with Qatar for the export of water was positive. According to him, there are some challenges in export. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"It is very difficult to maintain international standards for production and export of water," he said, adding that Nepal exported water to two countries – India and Japan – in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">As of mid-March this year, the country exported bottled water worth Rs 1.5 million to India and Rs 2 million to Japan.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">In the year 2078/79, Nepal exported 18,403 liters of water to Qatar and earned Rs 2.5 million. In the following years, Nepal did not export any water to Qatar. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Besides the issue of water export, Nepal raised the concerns about the safety of its migrant workers and labor contract renewal during the visit of the Qatari Emir, but there was no significant achievement. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Rai, the joint secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, "Despite intensive discussions on labor issue, we could not reach any agreement. However, the two countries have decided to continue the talks. The initiative will continue through the embassy.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Although the two countries had signed a labor agreement in 2005, it has not been revised. Nepal has been put forth conditions such as wage hike, full-time insurance, and increase in quota of workers. However, these issues have yet to be resolved by the bilateral negotiation team.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">A statement issued by the Prime Minister's Secretariat after a bilateral talks on Wednesday mentions that the Qatari side wants to work together with Nepal to increase the number of workers and is willing to cooperate on the matter.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Similarly, during the visit of the Emir of Qatar to Nepal, the government raised the issue of expanding the air service between the two countries. Sapkota informed Nepal and Qatar agreed to form a team and discuss the cooperation of air connectivity, especially since the Prime Minister himself proposed to expand the flights of Qatar Airways to Pokhara and Bhairahawa. Government officials say that Prime Minister Dahal and the Emir of Qatar discussed investment in Nepal in sectors such as labor, infrastructure, energy, education and transportation, along with water.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-25', 'modified' => '2024-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20537', 'image' => '20240425123110_AP24115270598867.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-25 12:30:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20809', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'First Meeting of Nepal-China Aid Projects Concludes ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: The first meeting of the Aid Projects of China's Autonomous Region Tibet to Nepal (2024-2028) was held in Tibet's capital Lhasa on April 23-24. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 25: The first meeting of the Aid Projects of China's Autonomous Region Tibet to Nepal (2024-2028) was held in Tibet's capital Lhasa on April 23-24. </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"">Discussions during the meeting which concluded on Wednesday focused on aid projects to be implemented in Nepal, the Lhasa-based Consulate of Nepal said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, the two sides discussed on the coordination mechanism including work schedule, selection modality of the projects, and the ways to implement and monitor the aid projects funded by Tibet to Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the meeting, both sides agreed to hold the meeting of aid projects twice in the first half of the year, so as to focus on the projects arrangements and twice in the second half of the year for the implementation and review of the implemented projects. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Furthermore, the two sides underlined the need to enhance the level of support for improving the livelihood of people residing in bordering districts in the Northern Himalayan region of Nepal through the aid projects. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The first meeting was co-chaired by Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration of Nepal Kamal Prasad Bhattarai and Director General of the Foreign Affairs Office of Tibet Baiman Yangzong. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Joint Secretary Bhattarai and the head of the Nepali delegation also paid a courtesy call on Executive Vice-Chairman of the People’s Government of Tibet Chen Yongqi. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the meeting, the two exchanged views on matters of mutual interests; including the promotion of socio-economic linkages for further strengthening Nepal-China relations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The second meeting of the Aid Projects to Nepal will take place next month. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-25', 'modified' => '2024-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20536', 'image' => '20240425113714_f399288e-city-20379-16751221faf.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-25 11:36:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20808', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism Entrepreneurs Buoyed by Qatar Amir's Visit', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: The two-day state visit of Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani to Nepal has encouraged tourism entrepreneurs 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"">April 25: The two-day state visit of Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani to Nepal has encouraged tourism entrepreneurs in Nepal. The stakeholders said that the visit spread a positive message in the tourism sector. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The two-day state visit of the Qatar Amir is the most high-profile visit from Gulf countries, which would undoubtedly help prop Nepali tourism, the stakeholders added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Former chair of Nepal Mountaineering Association, Ang Chhiring Sherpa, shared, "Qatar Amir's visit to Nepal would help increase Qatar tourists to Nepal." The senior tourism entrepreneur further hoped high-end tourists from middle east- Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait could come to Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The royal family members from Qatar come to Nepal for trekking and mountaineering. Sheikh Mohammad Bin Abdullha Al Thani is the first person to scale world's highest peak, Sagarmatha from Qatar. He was atop the Sagarmatha on May 22, 2013, while he climbed Mt Amadablam successfully on November 11, 2020. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Moreover, the royal member of Qatar, Sheikh Asma Al Thani had climbed the Annapurna-I peak. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Qatari royals are fond of mountain climbing and trekking. The people from Qatar enjoy luxury hotel stay. Nepal is also expanding the number of deluxe hotels of late. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chair of Hotel Association of Nepal, Binayak Shah, also shares similar observation on Qatari tourists. The royal family members of the Gulf countries, including from Qatar, prefer to stay in deluxe hotels like Sintamani of Mustang and Soaltee West End Resort of Chitwan and others. Qatar Amir's visit to Nepal has given a positive message to Nepal’s tourism sector,” he argued. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Qatar is an emerging country in the globe. The visit of such distinguished guest promotes Nepal's tourism across the globe," he viewed. </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"">Moreover, noted tourism entrepreneur Yogendra Shakya hoped that the arrival of foreign tourists would grow in Nepal in the wake Amir Thani's visit. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Nepal Tourism Board, a total of 255 people from Qatar had visited Nepal in 2023. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Importantly, Qatar Airways is known as one of the best airlines in the world. It provides air service to over 150 countries through a fleet of over 200 aircraft. Currently, Qatar Airways conducts four flights a day to Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In two years since 2021, Qatar Airways has brought more than 733,000 people to Nepal while ferried over 823,000 people from Nepal to different countries across the globe. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Following the visit of Qatar’s Amir, authorities in Nepal are expecting the launch of air service to Doha, Qatar from Bhairahawa and Pokhara international airports. </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"">Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal reportedly requested the Qatari Amir to consider air service to the two new international airports in Nepal. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-25', 'modified' => '2024-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20535', 'image' => '20240425102229_KRB_KTM-image_123650291(9).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-25 10:21:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20807', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal and Qatar Agree on Collaboration in Eight Sectors ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: Nepal and Qatar have reached an understanding to collaborate in the fields of art and culture, education, communication, youth and sports, legal assistance, and the industry and commerce. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 24: Nepal and Qatar have reached an understanding to collaborate in the fields of art and culture, education, communication, youth and sports, legal assistance, and the industry and commerce. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The two countries signed agreements and MoUs to this effect on the occasion of the state visit of Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, said Amrit Bahadur Rai, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on collaboration in the area of art and culture, exchange of news between the official news agencies of Nepal and Qatar, and exchange of cooperation in the education sector. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The agreements and MoUs were signed in the presence of the Qatari Amir and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal following bilateral talks between them at the Soaltee Hotel on Wednesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The MoUs signed include: the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in the Fields of Culture and Arts between the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation of Nepal and the Ministry of Culture of the State of Qatar; the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in the Field of Education, Higher Education and Scientific Research between the Government of Nepal and the Government of the State of Qatar; the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Youth and Sports between the Government of Nepal and the Government of the State of Qatar; the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation between the Office of the Attorney General of Nepal and the Public Prosecution of the State of Qatar and the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Diplomatic Training and Education between The Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA) of the Government of Nepal and the Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Padam Giri and Qatar's State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sultan Bin Saad Al Muraikhi signed on the MoUs at the government level on behalf of Nepal and Qatar, respectively. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, a MoU related to exchange of investment has been signed between the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Qatar Chamber of Commerce. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">FNCCI President Chandra Prasad Dhakal and Shekh Khalif Bin Jasim Al Thani signed the MoU on behalf of FNCCI and Qatar Chamber of Commerce respectively. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20534', 'image' => '20240424061926_PRO_KTM-6F8A0555.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 18:18:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20806', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEPSE Records Minimal Gain of 0.15 Points to Close at 1969.17', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index saw a slight increase of 0.15 points, or 0.00%, closing at 1969.17 on Wednesday, the third trading day of the week.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">April 24: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index saw a slight increase of 0.15 points, or 0.00%, closing at 1969.17 on Wednesday, the third trading day of the week.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During today's trading session, 313 scrips were traded on the NEPSE through 36,483 transactions, with a total of 7,284,272 shares changing hands, resulting in transactions worth Rs 2.53 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Nepal Reinsurance Company Limited Promoter Share (NRICP) led the turnover amount with transactions worth Rs 63 crores. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Pokhara Finance Limited (PFL) witnessed the highest gain of 10%, closing at a market price of Rs 565 per share. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Conversely, Mai Khola Hydropower Limited (MKHL) incurred the maximum loss at 7.84%, settling at a market price of Rs 470 per share.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In terms of sector indices, ten sectors closed in the red territory, while the remaining sectors closed in the green zone. The Finance Index saw the highest gain of 2.44%. Conversely, the Hotels and Tourism Index experienced the highest loss at 0.44%.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20533', 'image' => '20240424034310_collage.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 15:41:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20805', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Indian Customs Releases 22 Trucks Carrying Tea from Nepal after Six Days ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: Twenty two trucks carrying tea from Nepal were allowed to enter West Bengal by the Indian Customs Office on Tuesday night after holding them at the Indian checkpoint across Mechi for six days.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">April 24: Twenty two trucks carrying tea from Nepal were allowed to enter West Bengal by the Indian Customs Office on Tuesday night after holding them at the Indian checkpoint across Mechi for six days.</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"">These trucks were carrying 2,200 tons of tea produced in Nepal.</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 Indian Customs Office, Panitanki, stopped the Nepali trucks at the checkpoint last Thursday demanding 100 per cent lab test certificate along with quality assurance papers. The trucks were stopped at Panitanki for almost a week.</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"">Before this, only 5 to 25 per cent of tea samples used to be tested and released. However, the Panitanki Customs last week refused customs clearance of the tea saying that new provisions were implemented.</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 delegation led by Aditya Parajuli, president of the Nepal Tea Producers Association, met Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and asked him to take the initiative to resolve the problem in tea export and also urged for a long-term solution. </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"">Due to the joint initiative of the prime minister, the Department of Customs as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Indian Customs Office called the customs agents at 9:30 PM on Tuesday night and released the truck carrying tea.</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"">Ram Prasad Regmi, head of the Mechi customs office, also confirmed that 22 vehicles carrying tea were released from Panitanki Customs. He said, "When I informally met with Panitanki customs, thet informed that Nepali tea was released on the basis of verbal order from above."</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"">Tea is the second most exported item from Nepal. The export of tea from Nepal, however, has decreased in the ninth months of the current fiscal year. The monetary value of ready-made tea exported from Nepal amounted to Rs 3 billion. Traders informed that the market of Nepali tea is decreasing due to the Indian blockade, the price of tea falling in the market and the lack of auctions. </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"">Nepal exported 9.83 million kilograms of tea worth Rs 2.66 billion in the 9 months of the current year. Looking at the data, compared to last year, tea exports decreased by 3.5 million kg amounting to Rs 476.76 million.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20532', 'image' => '20240424021223_Tea.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 14:11:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20804', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Half of the Commercial Banks not in a Position to Issue Dividends to Shareholders', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: The distributable profits of half of the commercial banks operating in Nepal have been negative as of the third quarter of the current fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">April 24: The distributable profits of half of the commercial banks operating in Nepal have been negative as of the third quarter of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">This has raised doubts whether the banks will be able to distribute dividends to the shareholders after the end of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the unaudited financial statements of the third quarter released by the banks, the distributable profit of 10 out of 20 commercial banks is negative. The distributable profit of Himalayan Bank, Nepal Investment Mega Bank, Kumari Bank, NIC Asia Bank, Laxmi Sunrise Bank, Nepal Bank, NMB Bank, Global IME Bank, Machhapuchhre Bank and Siddharth Bank is negative.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Bhuvan Dahal, an expert in the banking sector, commercial banks have not been able to make a profit of late because they have not been able to collect the accrued interest from the borrowers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"As per the instructions of Nepal Rastra Bank, the amount equivalent to the interest that is yet to be collected cannot be taken into consideration as distributable profit as 'regulatory adjustment' has to be done," he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Nepal Rastra Bank, under the regulatory adjustment, banks need to set aside the amount yet to recover from the borrowers for provisioning. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> With the slowdown in the country's economy, banks have been facing problems in loan recovery. As a result, bad loans are increasing, the central bank said. According to the data of Nepal Rastra Bank, the bad loans of commercial banks stood at 3.63 percent of the total loans as of mid-March.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Since the dividend distribution capacity of banks is assessed on the basis of distributable profits till the end of the year, the main challenge for banks is to improve the current situation by the next quarter.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the current fiscal year, only 12 out of 20 banks have distributed dividends based on the profit earned in the previous year. Himalayan Bank, NMB Bank, Prime Commercial Bank, Kumari Bank, Nepal Bank, Nepal Investment Mega Bank, Prabhu Bank and Krishi Bikas Bank have not given returns to the investors this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Prabhu Bank, Krishi Bikas Bank and Prime Commercial Bank have distributable profit but decided not to issue dividends to the investors this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">If Himalayan Bank, NMB Bank, Nepal Bank, Kumari Bank and Nepal Investment Mega Bank do not improve their distributable profit in the next three months by collecting interest, it seems that the investors of these banks will be disappointed in the next year as well. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Himalayan Bank's distributable profit for the third quarter is negative by more than Rs 5.24 billion. It is the highest among all banks. The distributable profit of Nepal Investment Mega Bank is negative by more than 5.8 billion and stands second among the banks in this segment. Siddharth Bank has the lowest negative distributable profit. Its distributable profit is negative by more than Rs 27.12 million.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Everest Bank is leading among 10 commercial banks with distributable profit. The distributable profit of Everest Bank, which has a paid-up capital of more than Rs 11.76 billion, is more than Rs 2.75 billion. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Standard Chartered Bank's distributable profit is the highest after Everest Bank. Its distributable profit is more than Rs 1.81 billion. Currently, the paid-up capital of this bank is above Rs 9.42 billion. Based on the distributable profit up to the third quarter, the dividend potential of Standard Chartered is 19.27 percent. In the history of dividend distribution, this bank has distributed a maximum of 105 percent, but in the last 2 years, it has only distributed cash dividends. This year Standard Chartered distributed 19 percent cash dividend.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20531', 'image' => '20240424021106_Banks - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 14:09:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20803', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Industry Minister says Nepal Failed to Secure Expected Benefits from WTO ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 23: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, has said Nepal failed to secure expected benefits from international trade despite the completion of 20 years of its membership in the World Trade Organisation (WTO). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 23: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, has said Nepal failed to secure expected benefits from international trade despite the completion of 20 years of its membership in the World Trade Organisation (WTO). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Speaking at a programme on "expectations, achievements and future course of action in 20 years of Nepal's WTO membership" organised by the Ministry on Tuesday, the minister said, "There is no situation for least developed countries despite some exceptions to secure anticipated expectations from the WTO aiming to ensure benefits of the world economy to the developing countries and an increased market access for them." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He underlined the need to guarantee meaningful participation of government, private, and related research institutes and stakeholders concerned to ink a bilateral trade and investment agreement with nations with potential for exports from Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He advised Nepal should make efforts to explore potential for international trade and implement objective and country-wise export strategies. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also pointed out the need for wider dialogues and discussions with the participation of public-private sectors to navigate ways for awareness in industrial and trade sectors. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There is a wider discussion at the national level when expected achievements from the WTO remain unmet, according to the minister. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“We accept the WTO standards, but in the context of Nepal, such standards have not been implemented. We are overwhelmed by the burden of import trade. We have to liberate ourselves from this situation. The lack of Nepal's presence in world trade should be analyzed meticulously,” he said.</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Acknowledging Nepal's weak presence in world trade, Commerce Secretary Dinesh Kumar Ghimire insisted on policy-level and strategic interventions toward that end. He stressed the need to increase domestic production. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Industry Secretary Krishna Bahadur Raut said Nepal could not secure the right benefits of WTO while other speakers including the Chairperson of Federation of Nepal Cottage and Small Industries, Umesh Prasad Singh; Vice Chair of Federation of Export Entrepreneurs Nepal (FEEN) and Joint Secretary Leela Prasad Sharma expressed concerns over the country's increasing size of imports, thus leading to a ballooning trade deficit in the absence of lack of Nepal's access to the world trade market. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">They called for replacing the import-based trade. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20530', 'image' => '20240424012950_20240216100904_placeholder_md.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 13:29:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20802', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'President Paudel, Emir of Qatar Discuss Climate Change Impacts and Deepening Nepal-Qatar Ties ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: President Ram Chandra Paudel has urged Qatar to deepen cooperation between Nepal and Qatar on issues of common interests like saving the earth from the impacts of climate change, protecting the Himalayas, preserving the sources of water, and maintaining environmental balance. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 24: President Ram Chandra Paudel has urged Qatar to deepen cooperation between Nepal and Qatar on issues of common interests like saving the earth from the impacts of climate change, protecting the Himalayas, preserving the sources of water, and maintaining environmental balance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">President Paudel said so at a meeting with the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, at the Office of the President in Shital Niwas on Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Emir of the State of Qatar arrived in Kathmandu on Tuesday afternoon on a two-day state visit to Nepal at the invitation of President Paudel. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The common challenge of today's world is saving the earth from climate change; protecting our Himalayas; preserving the source of water and maintaining the environmental balance. Cooperation of all is imperative in these areas. This is an issue of human existence. I consider mostly the developing countries should be more serious in such issues,” President's press advisor Kiran Pokharel quoted President Paudel as saying. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The president also said that the conflict in the Middle East has 'made us worried', Pokharel told the RSS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, President Paudel praised the role played by Qatar for peace building and wished for the end to the war and restoration of peace in the Middle East. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, the Emir of the State of Qatar Al Thani said the entire world is suffering from climate change impacts, and good results will come and a good environment will be created if all abided by the international agreements on climate change. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also expressed the confidence that his visit would be fruitful to explore new areas of cooperation by further deepening Nepal-Qatar relations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Furthermore, the Emir of Qatar praised Nepali migrant workers stating that they have huge contributions to the development of Qatar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Emir of Qatar Al Thani viewed that new possibilities could be explored for investments in water resources, agriculture, tourism and other sectors in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, President Paudel also expressed the confidence that the agreement and memorandum of understanding to be reached on Wednesday would unleash new potentials for investment in the areas such as water resource, agriculture and tourism in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Noting that Nepal and Qatar have ever enjoyed cordial bilateral relations, President Paudel clarified that the relations between Nepal and Qatar are bound by the sense of friendship, mutual respect, trust and goodwill. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There has been a tradition of exchange of high-level visits between the two countries in a regular way which he claimed had played spectacular role in expanding the bilateral relations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The historical visit has taken the Nepal-Qatar relations to a new height, he further said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Noting that Nepal has moved towards the journey of economic development and prosperity now with the agenda of political transformation of late, he expressed his belief that there would be continuous support from Qatar to Nepal's efforts towards attaining development and prosperity. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">President Paudel further expressed his optimism that the bilateral cooperation and collaboration would be further deepened in coming days in the context when there are arrays of potential for partnership in trade, tourism and investment areas. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Qatar has been a prime and attractive destination of foreign employment for Nepali workers and Nepali workforce has also substantially contributed in the making of modern Qatar, he recalled. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Expressing happiness over the sustainable development and prosperity of Qatar under the visionary leadership of the Emir, President Paudel lauded his far-reaching thinking and unswerving commitment to make Qatar a highly-developed nation. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => 'Qatar, Nepal, ties, friendly, climate, induced, impacts, Emir, Thani', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20529', 'image' => '20240424123325_RS_KTM_1713871958865(1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 12:32:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20800', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Asia Worst Hit by Climate-Induced Disasters in 2023: UN', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: Asia was the region most affected by climate change, weather and water-related hazards globally last year, the United Nations weather agency has said.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">April 24: Asia was the region most affected by climate change, weather and water-related hazards globally last year, the United Nations weather agency has said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In a report published on Tuesday, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said the impact of heatwaves in Asia was becoming more severe, with melting glaciers threatening the region's future water security.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Floods and storms were the main cause of casualties and economic damage in 2023, the report added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">It found that Asia has been warming faster than the global average, with temperature rises in 2023 averaging nearly 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above the 1961-90 average, Al Jazeera reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Many countries in the region experienced their hottest year on record in 2023, along with a barrage of extreme conditions, from droughts and heatwaves to floods and storms,” WMO chief Celeste Saulo said in a statement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the Doha-based media network funded by Qatar, Saulo added that climate change “exacerbated the frequency and severity of such events”, calling the report’s conclusions “sobering”.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Many countries in the region experienced their hottest year on record in 2023, along with a barrage of extreme conditions, from droughts and heatwaves to floods and storms. Climate change exacerbated the frequency and severity of such events, profoundly impacting societies, economies, and, most importantly, human lives and the environment that we live in."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The State of the Climate in Asia 2023 report highlighted the accelerating rate of key climate change indicators such as surface temperature, glacier retreat and sea level rise, saying they would have serious repercussions for societies, economies and ecosystems in the region, AFP reorted.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Asia remained the world's most disaster-hit region from weather, climate and water-related hazards in 2023," the WMO said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the report, the annual mean near-surface temperature over Asia in 2023 was the second highest on record, at 0.91 degrees Celsius above the 1991-2020 average, and 1.87 C above the 1961-1990 average.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Particularly high average temperatures were recorded from western Siberia to central Asia, and from eastern China to Japan, the report said, with Japan having its hottest summer on record.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As for precipitation, it was below normal in the Himalayas and in the Hindu Kush mountain range in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Meanwhile southwest China suffered from a drought, with below-normal precipitation levels in nearly every month of the year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The High-Mountain Asia region, centred on the Tibetan Plateau, contains the largest volume of ice outside of the polar regions. Over the last several decades, most of these glaciers have been retreating, and at an accelerating rate, the WMO said, with 20 out of 22 monitored glaciers in the region showing continued mass loss last year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The report said 2023 sea-surface temperatures in the northwest Pacific Ocean were the highest on record.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Last year, 79 disasters associated with water-related weather hazards were reported in Asia. Of those, more than 80 percent were floods and storms, with more than 2,000 deaths and nine million people directly affected.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Floods were the leading cause of death in reported events in 2023 by a substantial margin," the WMO said, noting the continuing high level of vulnerability of Asia to natural hazard events.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The WMO said there was an urgent need for national weather services across the region to improve tailored information to officials working on reducing disaster risks.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"It is imperative that our actions and strategies mirror the urgency of these times," AFP quoted Saulo as saying.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the evolving climate is not merely an option, but a fundamental necessity."</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20527', 'image' => '20240424112058_download.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 11:20:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20799', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'IBN Approves List of Projects to be Showcased during the Investment Summit', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 23: The Investment Board of Nepal (IBN) has approved the list of projects to be showcased in the upcoming Investment Summit.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 23: The Investment Board of Nepal (IBN) has approved the list of projects to be showcased in the upcoming Investment Summit.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The 58th meeting of the IBN chaired by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Tuesday approved the list of projects, the state-owned RSS reported, adding that the IBN aims to seek letters of intent as well as showcase and carry out market sounding for these projects.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The IBN plans to showcase a total of 148 projects including government and private projects during the summit scheduled for April 28 and 29. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The meeting also decided to increase investment in two projects. The board meeting approved an additional investment worth Rs 6.63 billion for the Huaxin Narayani Cement Project. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, Dabur Nepal has proposed reinvestment of Rs 9.68 billion for capacity expansion and product diversification. The board gave the go ahead for negotiation process after receiving the project report and its assessment.</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"">Following the meeting, Prime Minister Dahal directed to work to make the investment summit more result-oriented rather than being limited to formalities. </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"">According to RSS, the prime minister also instructed the authorities to form a special unit to facilitate the mobilization of capital and credits from domestic, foreign and private sectors. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating that the prosperity of the country will be achieved only through the partnership between the public and private sectors, Prime Minister Dahal said the government has initiated the work of amending laws to remove obstacles to investment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief Executive Officer of the Investment Board, Sushil Bhatta, shed light on the status of implementation of the decision of the previous board meeting and the preparations for the investment summit, RSS added. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20526', 'image' => '20240424105133_20160513034506_editor.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 10:50:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20814', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Mideast Tensions Threaten Global Progress on Inflation: World Bank', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: The ongoing tensions in the Middle East threaten to halt -- or even reverse -- some of the recent progress made in tackling global inflation, the AFP reported citing the World Bank.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">April 25: The ongoing tensions in the Middle East threaten to halt -- or even reverse -- some of the recent progress made in tackling global inflation, the AFP reported citing the World Bank.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to a news report published by AFP, Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza has caused tensions to rise across the region and pushed up oil prices.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Heightened tensions in the Middle East have been exerting upward pressure on prices for key commodities, notably oil and gold," the World Bank announced in its outlook for global commodity markets.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Disinflationary tailwinds from moderating commodity prices appear essentially over," it added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A worst-case scenario shock to oil prices meanwhile could raise global inflation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Regional tensions remain high more than 200 days into Israel's devastating war in Gaza, launched after Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack which resulted in the deaths of around 1,170 people, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 34,262 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong>Disinflation 'hit a wall' </strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"A key force for disinflation -- falling commodity prices -- has essentially hit a wall," World Bank chief economist Indermit Gill said in a statement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"That means interest rates could remain higher than currently expected this year and next," he continued.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"The world is at a vulnerable moment: a major energy shock could undermine much of the progress in reducing inflation over the past two years," he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The World Bank estimated that a "moderate conflict-related supply disruption" could raise the average cost of a barrel of Brent crude oil to $92 per barrel, while a "severe disruption" could push it above $100.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">That worst-case scenario would have the impact of raising global inflation by nearly one percentage point this year, the World Bank said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As well as delaying interest rate cuts, it could also cause an increase to food insecurity, which had already "worsened markedly last year reflecting armed conflicts and elevated food prices," the Bank added.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-25', 'modified' => '2024-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20541', 'image' => '20240425091623_20240215010906_World.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-25 21:13:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20813', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'President Inaugurates Himalayan Hydro Expo', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: President Ram Chandra Paudel inaugurated the Himalayan Hydro Expo 2024 at the Exhibition Hall in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu on Thursday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">April 25: President Ram Chandra Paudel inaugurated the Himalayan Hydro Expo 2024 at the Exhibition Hall in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu on Thursday. Addressing the opening ceremony of the expo, the president said that it is important to transform Nepal from an electricity importing country to an electricity exporting country. President Paudel mentioned that this is a matter of pride and happiness for everyone.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Stating that Nepal has reached an agreement to sell 10,000 megawatts of electricity to neighboring India within ten years, he expressed confidence that more investment will be made in this sector. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">He said that it is possible to achieve the goals set for power generation through the facilitation and coordination of the government and the involvement of the private sector. The president further said that the expo will help to bring together all parties involved in energy development. The president urged all domestic and foreign investors to work together in green energy development.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Shakti Bahadur Basnet, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, said that the huge potential of hydropower development is an important basis for Nepal's progress. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"The government has brought an action plan to generate 28,700 megawatts of electricity within the next 12 years. Although it looks ambitious, it has been done based on reality and needs," he said. He added that there is a need to bring foreign investment in this sector. He mentioned that the electricity bill, which is now registered in the parliament, will be passed and implemented soon.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Minister Basnet expressed confidence that the new Electricity Act will facilitate the development of hydropower projects and the investment will increase further. He said that the government will continue to facilitate land acquisition, clearing forest and other procedural matters for the projects. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Ganesh Karki, president of the Independent Power Producers Association, Nepal (IPPAN), said that the private sector has invested Rs 13 billion in hydropower projects.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"It is playing an important role in economic growth and job creation and more than 500,000 skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled citizens are getting jobs," he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">He said that Nepal has succeeded in earning foreign currency through electricity export in recent times and expressed his belief that the income from electricity exports will increase further in the coming days. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">In order to increase foreign investment, he urged the government to make policy reforms and ease procedural hurdles. Development of hydropower projects has provided significant support for local development, he shared. Karki added that the promoters of hydropower projects have contributed to the construction of infrastructure such as local roads, drinking water facilities, health posts, playgrounds, etc.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Canada's ambassador to Nepal, Cameron McKee, through a video message, mentioned that the development of hydropower is important for Nepal's prosperity. He said, "We believe that Canada's extensive knowledge and experience will be useful for developing hydropower projects in Nepal." He said that emphasis should be placed on the use of updated technology for the development of renewable energy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The expo, which started with the slogan Green Energy for Prosperity, will conclude on Friday.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-25', 'modified' => '2024-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20540', 'image' => '20240425031055_38db00c3.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-25 15:10:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20812', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Imports Toothpicks worth Rs 19 Million in Nine Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: Nepal imported toothpicks worth Rs 19 million in the first nine months of the current fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">April 25: Nepal imported toothpicks worth Rs 19 million in the first nine months of the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">According to government data, the country imported toothpicks worth Rs 19 million from mid-July to mid-March of the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">According to the data of the Department of Customs, the country imported 60,427 kg of toothpicks during the review period.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">During the corresponding period of last fiscal year, Nepal imported 27,996 kg of toothpicks worth Rs 9 million. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Compared to the same period of last year, the import of toothpicks has increased by 111 percent in terms of value and 115 percent in terms of volume this year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">In the same period last year, the government collected revenue of Rs 3.5 million from the import of toothpicks and this year it has collected Rs 7.7 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Nepal has been importing toothpicks from China and India. In the review period, Nepal has imported 60,376 kilograms of toothpicks worth Rs 19,660,000 from China. Similarly, it has imported 51 kg of toothpicks worth Rs 9,000 from India.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-25', 'modified' => '2024-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20539', 'image' => '20240425024745_71uygnl-C+L.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-25 14:46:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20811', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Health Ministry Urges Public to Take Precaution against Heat Wave ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: The Ministry of Health and Population has urged the public to take preventive measures against the heat wave that has already started sweeping across the Tarai region. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 25: The Ministry of Health and Population has urged the public to take preventive measures against the heat wave that has already started sweeping across the Tarai region. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The effects of the heat wave include rapid heartbeat, breathing complications, low blood pressure, sweating, severe headache, dizziness, sickness, and so on. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to physician Dr Bimal Chalise, the chief consultant at Shukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, the Tarai settlements are prone to the effects of heat wave with the soaring temperatures. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The heat wave may affect the brain, the doctor said, urging the public to avoid exposure to sunshine during daytime as much as possible. Dr Chalise said that heat wave may cause dehydration, affecting the kidneys and heart. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Preventive measures: </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The doctor suggests intake of plenty of drinking water, having a cold shower, using an umbrella and covering of head with a thin cloth while going outside, wearing cotton clothes, choosing morning or evening hours to undertake work outside the home, intake of lemon and water, coconut water and fresh juice, intake of fruits and cucumber. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">If possible, one should not venture outside the home during the day time, should not spend much time in the kitchen, must stay away from smoking and drinking beverages, tea, coffee, and soda-mixed water. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-25', 'modified' => '2024-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20538', 'image' => '20240425011418_20240423103916_Document.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-25 13:13:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20810', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Proposes Exporting Bottled Water to Qatar', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: Nepal took the initiative for the export of bottled drinking water to Qatar during the recent state visit of Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">April 25: Nepal took the initiative for the export of bottled drinking water to Qatar during the recent state visit of Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">At a time when Qatar and other Gulf countries are facing severe shortage of drinking water, Nepal, which is rich in water resources, is looking for the possibility of exporting water to the oil-rich nation. The Trade and Export Promotion Center’s data shows that Nepal has exporting bottled water in some quantity to India and Japan.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s International Affairs Adviser, Rupak Sapkota, informed New Business Age that a formal discussion was held with the Qatari Emir for the first time from the prime minister's level.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif""> "During the bilateral talks, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal himself asked to open the door to export water to Qatar as there is sufficient source of pure drinking water in Nepal," Sapkota told New Business Age, adding, "There is a great potential to export water from Nepal. The government received a 'green signal' for exporting water from Nepal to Qatar.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">A senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed that there was a positive discussion on the agenda for the export of drinking water. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"Even though there was no concrete agreement for water export, the two sides reached an understanding to continue efforts to reach an agreement to export water. We hope that we will finalize this matter soon," said Amrit Bahadur Rai, joint secretary and spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to the World Research Institute, Bahrain, Cyprus, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman and Qatar are the most water-scarce countries in the world. According to the recently published report of the institute, the demand for water for domestic use, agriculture and industrial sectors is increasing but the supply is low and there is a shortage in those countries. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to the institute, 83 percent of the population in the Middle East and North Africa does not have enough water, while 74 percent of the population in South Asia is suffering from water problems.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">A report published by the Time magazine in January also mentions there is a water scarcity in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. In particular, Saudi Arabia is now the world's third largest per capita water consumer after the United States and Canada.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to a study conducted by the Policy Research Council in 2019, countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), including Qatar, spent USD 172.3 million to import bottled drinking water in 2018.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The study also mentions that the market for such water is flourishing. Altogether 19 billion liters of bottled water were sold in these countries in 2018 and its demand is estimated to reach 25.4 billion liters by 2024. Stakeholders say that there is an opportunity for Nepal to export water from the mountains as the shortage of drinking water in the Gulf nation increases.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Mukti Shree Pvt Ltd is exporting water from Nepal to foreign countries. The director of the company, Arunraj Sumargi, told New Business Age that the company is exporting more than 120,000 bottles of water daily to countries such as the USA, Japan, and Korea. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"We have started preparations for water export targeting Middle East countries by adding plants. We are preparing to increase the production in a few days," he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The Sumargi family is considered close to Prime Minister Dahal. He said that the government's discussion with Qatar for the export of water was positive. According to him, there are some challenges in export. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"It is very difficult to maintain international standards for production and export of water," he said, adding that Nepal exported water to two countries – India and Japan – in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">As of mid-March this year, the country exported bottled water worth Rs 1.5 million to India and Rs 2 million to Japan.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">In the year 2078/79, Nepal exported 18,403 liters of water to Qatar and earned Rs 2.5 million. In the following years, Nepal did not export any water to Qatar. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Besides the issue of water export, Nepal raised the concerns about the safety of its migrant workers and labor contract renewal during the visit of the Qatari Emir, but there was no significant achievement. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Rai, the joint secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, "Despite intensive discussions on labor issue, we could not reach any agreement. However, the two countries have decided to continue the talks. The initiative will continue through the embassy.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Although the two countries had signed a labor agreement in 2005, it has not been revised. Nepal has been put forth conditions such as wage hike, full-time insurance, and increase in quota of workers. However, these issues have yet to be resolved by the bilateral negotiation team.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">A statement issued by the Prime Minister's Secretariat after a bilateral talks on Wednesday mentions that the Qatari side wants to work together with Nepal to increase the number of workers and is willing to cooperate on the matter.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Similarly, during the visit of the Emir of Qatar to Nepal, the government raised the issue of expanding the air service between the two countries. Sapkota informed Nepal and Qatar agreed to form a team and discuss the cooperation of air connectivity, especially since the Prime Minister himself proposed to expand the flights of Qatar Airways to Pokhara and Bhairahawa. Government officials say that Prime Minister Dahal and the Emir of Qatar discussed investment in Nepal in sectors such as labor, infrastructure, energy, education and transportation, along with water.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-25', 'modified' => '2024-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20537', 'image' => '20240425123110_AP24115270598867.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-25 12:30:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20809', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'First Meeting of Nepal-China Aid Projects Concludes ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: The first meeting of the Aid Projects of China's Autonomous Region Tibet to Nepal (2024-2028) was held in Tibet's capital Lhasa on April 23-24. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 25: The first meeting of the Aid Projects of China's Autonomous Region Tibet to Nepal (2024-2028) was held in Tibet's capital Lhasa on April 23-24. </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"">Discussions during the meeting which concluded on Wednesday focused on aid projects to be implemented in Nepal, the Lhasa-based Consulate of Nepal said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, the two sides discussed on the coordination mechanism including work schedule, selection modality of the projects, and the ways to implement and monitor the aid projects funded by Tibet to Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the meeting, both sides agreed to hold the meeting of aid projects twice in the first half of the year, so as to focus on the projects arrangements and twice in the second half of the year for the implementation and review of the implemented projects. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Furthermore, the two sides underlined the need to enhance the level of support for improving the livelihood of people residing in bordering districts in the Northern Himalayan region of Nepal through the aid projects. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The first meeting was co-chaired by Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration of Nepal Kamal Prasad Bhattarai and Director General of the Foreign Affairs Office of Tibet Baiman Yangzong. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Joint Secretary Bhattarai and the head of the Nepali delegation also paid a courtesy call on Executive Vice-Chairman of the People’s Government of Tibet Chen Yongqi. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the meeting, the two exchanged views on matters of mutual interests; including the promotion of socio-economic linkages for further strengthening Nepal-China relations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The second meeting of the Aid Projects to Nepal will take place next month. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-25', 'modified' => '2024-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20536', 'image' => '20240425113714_f399288e-city-20379-16751221faf.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-25 11:36:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20808', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism Entrepreneurs Buoyed by Qatar Amir's Visit', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: The two-day state visit of Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani to Nepal has encouraged tourism entrepreneurs 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"">April 25: The two-day state visit of Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani to Nepal has encouraged tourism entrepreneurs in Nepal. The stakeholders said that the visit spread a positive message in the tourism sector. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The two-day state visit of the Qatar Amir is the most high-profile visit from Gulf countries, which would undoubtedly help prop Nepali tourism, the stakeholders added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Former chair of Nepal Mountaineering Association, Ang Chhiring Sherpa, shared, "Qatar Amir's visit to Nepal would help increase Qatar tourists to Nepal." The senior tourism entrepreneur further hoped high-end tourists from middle east- Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait could come to Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The royal family members from Qatar come to Nepal for trekking and mountaineering. Sheikh Mohammad Bin Abdullha Al Thani is the first person to scale world's highest peak, Sagarmatha from Qatar. He was atop the Sagarmatha on May 22, 2013, while he climbed Mt Amadablam successfully on November 11, 2020. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Moreover, the royal member of Qatar, Sheikh Asma Al Thani had climbed the Annapurna-I peak. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Qatari royals are fond of mountain climbing and trekking. The people from Qatar enjoy luxury hotel stay. Nepal is also expanding the number of deluxe hotels of late. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chair of Hotel Association of Nepal, Binayak Shah, also shares similar observation on Qatari tourists. The royal family members of the Gulf countries, including from Qatar, prefer to stay in deluxe hotels like Sintamani of Mustang and Soaltee West End Resort of Chitwan and others. Qatar Amir's visit to Nepal has given a positive message to Nepal’s tourism sector,” he argued. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Qatar is an emerging country in the globe. The visit of such distinguished guest promotes Nepal's tourism across the globe," he viewed. </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"">Moreover, noted tourism entrepreneur Yogendra Shakya hoped that the arrival of foreign tourists would grow in Nepal in the wake Amir Thani's visit. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Nepal Tourism Board, a total of 255 people from Qatar had visited Nepal in 2023. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Importantly, Qatar Airways is known as one of the best airlines in the world. It provides air service to over 150 countries through a fleet of over 200 aircraft. Currently, Qatar Airways conducts four flights a day to Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In two years since 2021, Qatar Airways has brought more than 733,000 people to Nepal while ferried over 823,000 people from Nepal to different countries across the globe. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Following the visit of Qatar’s Amir, authorities in Nepal are expecting the launch of air service to Doha, Qatar from Bhairahawa and Pokhara international airports. </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"">Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal reportedly requested the Qatari Amir to consider air service to the two new international airports in Nepal. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-25', 'modified' => '2024-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20535', 'image' => '20240425102229_KRB_KTM-image_123650291(9).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-25 10:21:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20807', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal and Qatar Agree on Collaboration in Eight Sectors ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: Nepal and Qatar have reached an understanding to collaborate in the fields of art and culture, education, communication, youth and sports, legal assistance, and the industry and commerce. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 24: Nepal and Qatar have reached an understanding to collaborate in the fields of art and culture, education, communication, youth and sports, legal assistance, and the industry and commerce. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The two countries signed agreements and MoUs to this effect on the occasion of the state visit of Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, said Amrit Bahadur Rai, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on collaboration in the area of art and culture, exchange of news between the official news agencies of Nepal and Qatar, and exchange of cooperation in the education sector. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The agreements and MoUs were signed in the presence of the Qatari Amir and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal following bilateral talks between them at the Soaltee Hotel on Wednesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The MoUs signed include: the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in the Fields of Culture and Arts between the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation of Nepal and the Ministry of Culture of the State of Qatar; the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in the Field of Education, Higher Education and Scientific Research between the Government of Nepal and the Government of the State of Qatar; the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Youth and Sports between the Government of Nepal and the Government of the State of Qatar; the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation between the Office of the Attorney General of Nepal and the Public Prosecution of the State of Qatar and the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Diplomatic Training and Education between The Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA) of the Government of Nepal and the Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Padam Giri and Qatar's State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sultan Bin Saad Al Muraikhi signed on the MoUs at the government level on behalf of Nepal and Qatar, respectively. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, a MoU related to exchange of investment has been signed between the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Qatar Chamber of Commerce. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">FNCCI President Chandra Prasad Dhakal and Shekh Khalif Bin Jasim Al Thani signed the MoU on behalf of FNCCI and Qatar Chamber of Commerce respectively. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20534', 'image' => '20240424061926_PRO_KTM-6F8A0555.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 18:18:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20806', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEPSE Records Minimal Gain of 0.15 Points to Close at 1969.17', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index saw a slight increase of 0.15 points, or 0.00%, closing at 1969.17 on Wednesday, the third trading day of the week.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">April 24: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index saw a slight increase of 0.15 points, or 0.00%, closing at 1969.17 on Wednesday, the third trading day of the week.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During today's trading session, 313 scrips were traded on the NEPSE through 36,483 transactions, with a total of 7,284,272 shares changing hands, resulting in transactions worth Rs 2.53 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Nepal Reinsurance Company Limited Promoter Share (NRICP) led the turnover amount with transactions worth Rs 63 crores. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Pokhara Finance Limited (PFL) witnessed the highest gain of 10%, closing at a market price of Rs 565 per share. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Conversely, Mai Khola Hydropower Limited (MKHL) incurred the maximum loss at 7.84%, settling at a market price of Rs 470 per share.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In terms of sector indices, ten sectors closed in the red territory, while the remaining sectors closed in the green zone. The Finance Index saw the highest gain of 2.44%. Conversely, the Hotels and Tourism Index experienced the highest loss at 0.44%.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20533', 'image' => '20240424034310_collage.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 15:41:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20805', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Indian Customs Releases 22 Trucks Carrying Tea from Nepal after Six Days ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: Twenty two trucks carrying tea from Nepal were allowed to enter West Bengal by the Indian Customs Office on Tuesday night after holding them at the Indian checkpoint across Mechi for six days.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">April 24: Twenty two trucks carrying tea from Nepal were allowed to enter West Bengal by the Indian Customs Office on Tuesday night after holding them at the Indian checkpoint across Mechi for six days.</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"">These trucks were carrying 2,200 tons of tea produced in Nepal.</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 Indian Customs Office, Panitanki, stopped the Nepali trucks at the checkpoint last Thursday demanding 100 per cent lab test certificate along with quality assurance papers. The trucks were stopped at Panitanki for almost a week.</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"">Before this, only 5 to 25 per cent of tea samples used to be tested and released. However, the Panitanki Customs last week refused customs clearance of the tea saying that new provisions were implemented.</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 delegation led by Aditya Parajuli, president of the Nepal Tea Producers Association, met Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and asked him to take the initiative to resolve the problem in tea export and also urged for a long-term solution. </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"">Due to the joint initiative of the prime minister, the Department of Customs as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Indian Customs Office called the customs agents at 9:30 PM on Tuesday night and released the truck carrying tea.</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"">Ram Prasad Regmi, head of the Mechi customs office, also confirmed that 22 vehicles carrying tea were released from Panitanki Customs. He said, "When I informally met with Panitanki customs, thet informed that Nepali tea was released on the basis of verbal order from above."</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"">Tea is the second most exported item from Nepal. The export of tea from Nepal, however, has decreased in the ninth months of the current fiscal year. The monetary value of ready-made tea exported from Nepal amounted to Rs 3 billion. Traders informed that the market of Nepali tea is decreasing due to the Indian blockade, the price of tea falling in the market and the lack of auctions. </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"">Nepal exported 9.83 million kilograms of tea worth Rs 2.66 billion in the 9 months of the current year. Looking at the data, compared to last year, tea exports decreased by 3.5 million kg amounting to Rs 476.76 million.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20532', 'image' => '20240424021223_Tea.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 14:11:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20804', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Half of the Commercial Banks not in a Position to Issue Dividends to Shareholders', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: The distributable profits of half of the commercial banks operating in Nepal have been negative as of the third quarter of the current fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">April 24: The distributable profits of half of the commercial banks operating in Nepal have been negative as of the third quarter of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">This has raised doubts whether the banks will be able to distribute dividends to the shareholders after the end of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the unaudited financial statements of the third quarter released by the banks, the distributable profit of 10 out of 20 commercial banks is negative. The distributable profit of Himalayan Bank, Nepal Investment Mega Bank, Kumari Bank, NIC Asia Bank, Laxmi Sunrise Bank, Nepal Bank, NMB Bank, Global IME Bank, Machhapuchhre Bank and Siddharth Bank is negative.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Bhuvan Dahal, an expert in the banking sector, commercial banks have not been able to make a profit of late because they have not been able to collect the accrued interest from the borrowers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"As per the instructions of Nepal Rastra Bank, the amount equivalent to the interest that is yet to be collected cannot be taken into consideration as distributable profit as 'regulatory adjustment' has to be done," he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Nepal Rastra Bank, under the regulatory adjustment, banks need to set aside the amount yet to recover from the borrowers for provisioning. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> With the slowdown in the country's economy, banks have been facing problems in loan recovery. As a result, bad loans are increasing, the central bank said. According to the data of Nepal Rastra Bank, the bad loans of commercial banks stood at 3.63 percent of the total loans as of mid-March.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Since the dividend distribution capacity of banks is assessed on the basis of distributable profits till the end of the year, the main challenge for banks is to improve the current situation by the next quarter.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the current fiscal year, only 12 out of 20 banks have distributed dividends based on the profit earned in the previous year. Himalayan Bank, NMB Bank, Prime Commercial Bank, Kumari Bank, Nepal Bank, Nepal Investment Mega Bank, Prabhu Bank and Krishi Bikas Bank have not given returns to the investors this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Prabhu Bank, Krishi Bikas Bank and Prime Commercial Bank have distributable profit but decided not to issue dividends to the investors this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">If Himalayan Bank, NMB Bank, Nepal Bank, Kumari Bank and Nepal Investment Mega Bank do not improve their distributable profit in the next three months by collecting interest, it seems that the investors of these banks will be disappointed in the next year as well. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Himalayan Bank's distributable profit for the third quarter is negative by more than Rs 5.24 billion. It is the highest among all banks. The distributable profit of Nepal Investment Mega Bank is negative by more than 5.8 billion and stands second among the banks in this segment. Siddharth Bank has the lowest negative distributable profit. Its distributable profit is negative by more than Rs 27.12 million.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Everest Bank is leading among 10 commercial banks with distributable profit. The distributable profit of Everest Bank, which has a paid-up capital of more than Rs 11.76 billion, is more than Rs 2.75 billion. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Standard Chartered Bank's distributable profit is the highest after Everest Bank. Its distributable profit is more than Rs 1.81 billion. Currently, the paid-up capital of this bank is above Rs 9.42 billion. Based on the distributable profit up to the third quarter, the dividend potential of Standard Chartered is 19.27 percent. In the history of dividend distribution, this bank has distributed a maximum of 105 percent, but in the last 2 years, it has only distributed cash dividends. This year Standard Chartered distributed 19 percent cash dividend.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20531', 'image' => '20240424021106_Banks - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 14:09:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20803', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Industry Minister says Nepal Failed to Secure Expected Benefits from WTO ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 23: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, has said Nepal failed to secure expected benefits from international trade despite the completion of 20 years of its membership in the World Trade Organisation (WTO). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 23: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, has said Nepal failed to secure expected benefits from international trade despite the completion of 20 years of its membership in the World Trade Organisation (WTO). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Speaking at a programme on "expectations, achievements and future course of action in 20 years of Nepal's WTO membership" organised by the Ministry on Tuesday, the minister said, "There is no situation for least developed countries despite some exceptions to secure anticipated expectations from the WTO aiming to ensure benefits of the world economy to the developing countries and an increased market access for them." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He underlined the need to guarantee meaningful participation of government, private, and related research institutes and stakeholders concerned to ink a bilateral trade and investment agreement with nations with potential for exports from Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He advised Nepal should make efforts to explore potential for international trade and implement objective and country-wise export strategies. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also pointed out the need for wider dialogues and discussions with the participation of public-private sectors to navigate ways for awareness in industrial and trade sectors. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There is a wider discussion at the national level when expected achievements from the WTO remain unmet, according to the minister. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“We accept the WTO standards, but in the context of Nepal, such standards have not been implemented. We are overwhelmed by the burden of import trade. We have to liberate ourselves from this situation. The lack of Nepal's presence in world trade should be analyzed meticulously,” he said.</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Acknowledging Nepal's weak presence in world trade, Commerce Secretary Dinesh Kumar Ghimire insisted on policy-level and strategic interventions toward that end. He stressed the need to increase domestic production. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Industry Secretary Krishna Bahadur Raut said Nepal could not secure the right benefits of WTO while other speakers including the Chairperson of Federation of Nepal Cottage and Small Industries, Umesh Prasad Singh; Vice Chair of Federation of Export Entrepreneurs Nepal (FEEN) and Joint Secretary Leela Prasad Sharma expressed concerns over the country's increasing size of imports, thus leading to a ballooning trade deficit in the absence of lack of Nepal's access to the world trade market. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">They called for replacing the import-based trade. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20530', 'image' => '20240424012950_20240216100904_placeholder_md.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 13:29:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20802', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'President Paudel, Emir of Qatar Discuss Climate Change Impacts and Deepening Nepal-Qatar Ties ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: President Ram Chandra Paudel has urged Qatar to deepen cooperation between Nepal and Qatar on issues of common interests like saving the earth from the impacts of climate change, protecting the Himalayas, preserving the sources of water, and maintaining environmental balance. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 24: President Ram Chandra Paudel has urged Qatar to deepen cooperation between Nepal and Qatar on issues of common interests like saving the earth from the impacts of climate change, protecting the Himalayas, preserving the sources of water, and maintaining environmental balance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">President Paudel said so at a meeting with the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, at the Office of the President in Shital Niwas on Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Emir of the State of Qatar arrived in Kathmandu on Tuesday afternoon on a two-day state visit to Nepal at the invitation of President Paudel. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The common challenge of today's world is saving the earth from climate change; protecting our Himalayas; preserving the source of water and maintaining the environmental balance. Cooperation of all is imperative in these areas. This is an issue of human existence. I consider mostly the developing countries should be more serious in such issues,” President's press advisor Kiran Pokharel quoted President Paudel as saying. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The president also said that the conflict in the Middle East has 'made us worried', Pokharel told the RSS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, President Paudel praised the role played by Qatar for peace building and wished for the end to the war and restoration of peace in the Middle East. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, the Emir of the State of Qatar Al Thani said the entire world is suffering from climate change impacts, and good results will come and a good environment will be created if all abided by the international agreements on climate change. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also expressed the confidence that his visit would be fruitful to explore new areas of cooperation by further deepening Nepal-Qatar relations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Furthermore, the Emir of Qatar praised Nepali migrant workers stating that they have huge contributions to the development of Qatar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Emir of Qatar Al Thani viewed that new possibilities could be explored for investments in water resources, agriculture, tourism and other sectors in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, President Paudel also expressed the confidence that the agreement and memorandum of understanding to be reached on Wednesday would unleash new potentials for investment in the areas such as water resource, agriculture and tourism in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Noting that Nepal and Qatar have ever enjoyed cordial bilateral relations, President Paudel clarified that the relations between Nepal and Qatar are bound by the sense of friendship, mutual respect, trust and goodwill. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There has been a tradition of exchange of high-level visits between the two countries in a regular way which he claimed had played spectacular role in expanding the bilateral relations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The historical visit has taken the Nepal-Qatar relations to a new height, he further said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Noting that Nepal has moved towards the journey of economic development and prosperity now with the agenda of political transformation of late, he expressed his belief that there would be continuous support from Qatar to Nepal's efforts towards attaining development and prosperity. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">President Paudel further expressed his optimism that the bilateral cooperation and collaboration would be further deepened in coming days in the context when there are arrays of potential for partnership in trade, tourism and investment areas. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Qatar has been a prime and attractive destination of foreign employment for Nepali workers and Nepali workforce has also substantially contributed in the making of modern Qatar, he recalled. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Expressing happiness over the sustainable development and prosperity of Qatar under the visionary leadership of the Emir, President Paudel lauded his far-reaching thinking and unswerving commitment to make Qatar a highly-developed nation. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => 'Qatar, Nepal, ties, friendly, climate, induced, impacts, Emir, Thani', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20529', 'image' => '20240424123325_RS_KTM_1713871958865(1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 12:32:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20800', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Asia Worst Hit by Climate-Induced Disasters in 2023: UN', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: Asia was the region most affected by climate change, weather and water-related hazards globally last year, the United Nations weather agency has said.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">April 24: Asia was the region most affected by climate change, weather and water-related hazards globally last year, the United Nations weather agency has said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In a report published on Tuesday, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said the impact of heatwaves in Asia was becoming more severe, with melting glaciers threatening the region's future water security.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Floods and storms were the main cause of casualties and economic damage in 2023, the report added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">It found that Asia has been warming faster than the global average, with temperature rises in 2023 averaging nearly 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above the 1961-90 average, Al Jazeera reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Many countries in the region experienced their hottest year on record in 2023, along with a barrage of extreme conditions, from droughts and heatwaves to floods and storms,” WMO chief Celeste Saulo said in a statement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the Doha-based media network funded by Qatar, Saulo added that climate change “exacerbated the frequency and severity of such events”, calling the report’s conclusions “sobering”.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Many countries in the region experienced their hottest year on record in 2023, along with a barrage of extreme conditions, from droughts and heatwaves to floods and storms. Climate change exacerbated the frequency and severity of such events, profoundly impacting societies, economies, and, most importantly, human lives and the environment that we live in."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The State of the Climate in Asia 2023 report highlighted the accelerating rate of key climate change indicators such as surface temperature, glacier retreat and sea level rise, saying they would have serious repercussions for societies, economies and ecosystems in the region, AFP reorted.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Asia remained the world's most disaster-hit region from weather, climate and water-related hazards in 2023," the WMO said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the report, the annual mean near-surface temperature over Asia in 2023 was the second highest on record, at 0.91 degrees Celsius above the 1991-2020 average, and 1.87 C above the 1961-1990 average.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Particularly high average temperatures were recorded from western Siberia to central Asia, and from eastern China to Japan, the report said, with Japan having its hottest summer on record.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As for precipitation, it was below normal in the Himalayas and in the Hindu Kush mountain range in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Meanwhile southwest China suffered from a drought, with below-normal precipitation levels in nearly every month of the year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The High-Mountain Asia region, centred on the Tibetan Plateau, contains the largest volume of ice outside of the polar regions. Over the last several decades, most of these glaciers have been retreating, and at an accelerating rate, the WMO said, with 20 out of 22 monitored glaciers in the region showing continued mass loss last year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The report said 2023 sea-surface temperatures in the northwest Pacific Ocean were the highest on record.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Last year, 79 disasters associated with water-related weather hazards were reported in Asia. Of those, more than 80 percent were floods and storms, with more than 2,000 deaths and nine million people directly affected.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Floods were the leading cause of death in reported events in 2023 by a substantial margin," the WMO said, noting the continuing high level of vulnerability of Asia to natural hazard events.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The WMO said there was an urgent need for national weather services across the region to improve tailored information to officials working on reducing disaster risks.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"It is imperative that our actions and strategies mirror the urgency of these times," AFP quoted Saulo as saying.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the evolving climate is not merely an option, but a fundamental necessity."</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20527', 'image' => '20240424112058_download.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 11:20:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20799', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'IBN Approves List of Projects to be Showcased during the Investment Summit', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 23: The Investment Board of Nepal (IBN) has approved the list of projects to be showcased in the upcoming Investment Summit.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 23: The Investment Board of Nepal (IBN) has approved the list of projects to be showcased in the upcoming Investment Summit.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The 58th meeting of the IBN chaired by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Tuesday approved the list of projects, the state-owned RSS reported, adding that the IBN aims to seek letters of intent as well as showcase and carry out market sounding for these projects.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The IBN plans to showcase a total of 148 projects including government and private projects during the summit scheduled for April 28 and 29. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The meeting also decided to increase investment in two projects. The board meeting approved an additional investment worth Rs 6.63 billion for the Huaxin Narayani Cement Project. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, Dabur Nepal has proposed reinvestment of Rs 9.68 billion for capacity expansion and product diversification. The board gave the go ahead for negotiation process after receiving the project report and its assessment.</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"">Following the meeting, Prime Minister Dahal directed to work to make the investment summit more result-oriented rather than being limited to formalities. </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"">According to RSS, the prime minister also instructed the authorities to form a special unit to facilitate the mobilization of capital and credits from domestic, foreign and private sectors. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating that the prosperity of the country will be achieved only through the partnership between the public and private sectors, Prime Minister Dahal said the government has initiated the work of amending laws to remove obstacles to investment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief Executive Officer of the Investment Board, Sushil Bhatta, shed light on the status of implementation of the decision of the previous board meeting and the preparations for the investment summit, RSS added. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20526', 'image' => '20240424105133_20160513034506_editor.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 10:50:56', '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' => '20814', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Mideast Tensions Threaten Global Progress on Inflation: World Bank', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: The ongoing tensions in the Middle East threaten to halt -- or even reverse -- some of the recent progress made in tackling global inflation, the AFP reported citing the World Bank.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">April 25: The ongoing tensions in the Middle East threaten to halt -- or even reverse -- some of the recent progress made in tackling global inflation, the AFP reported citing the World Bank.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to a news report published by AFP, Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza has caused tensions to rise across the region and pushed up oil prices.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Heightened tensions in the Middle East have been exerting upward pressure on prices for key commodities, notably oil and gold," the World Bank announced in its outlook for global commodity markets.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Disinflationary tailwinds from moderating commodity prices appear essentially over," it added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A worst-case scenario shock to oil prices meanwhile could raise global inflation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Regional tensions remain high more than 200 days into Israel's devastating war in Gaza, launched after Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack which resulted in the deaths of around 1,170 people, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 34,262 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong>Disinflation 'hit a wall' </strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"A key force for disinflation -- falling commodity prices -- has essentially hit a wall," World Bank chief economist Indermit Gill said in a statement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"That means interest rates could remain higher than currently expected this year and next," he continued.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"The world is at a vulnerable moment: a major energy shock could undermine much of the progress in reducing inflation over the past two years," he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The World Bank estimated that a "moderate conflict-related supply disruption" could raise the average cost of a barrel of Brent crude oil to $92 per barrel, while a "severe disruption" could push it above $100.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">That worst-case scenario would have the impact of raising global inflation by nearly one percentage point this year, the World Bank said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As well as delaying interest rate cuts, it could also cause an increase to food insecurity, which had already "worsened markedly last year reflecting armed conflicts and elevated food prices," the Bank added.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-25', 'modified' => '2024-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20541', 'image' => '20240425091623_20240215010906_World.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-25 21:13:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20813', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'President Inaugurates Himalayan Hydro Expo', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: President Ram Chandra Paudel inaugurated the Himalayan Hydro Expo 2024 at the Exhibition Hall in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu on Thursday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">April 25: President Ram Chandra Paudel inaugurated the Himalayan Hydro Expo 2024 at the Exhibition Hall in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu on Thursday. Addressing the opening ceremony of the expo, the president said that it is important to transform Nepal from an electricity importing country to an electricity exporting country. President Paudel mentioned that this is a matter of pride and happiness for everyone.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Stating that Nepal has reached an agreement to sell 10,000 megawatts of electricity to neighboring India within ten years, he expressed confidence that more investment will be made in this sector. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">He said that it is possible to achieve the goals set for power generation through the facilitation and coordination of the government and the involvement of the private sector. The president further said that the expo will help to bring together all parties involved in energy development. The president urged all domestic and foreign investors to work together in green energy development.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Shakti Bahadur Basnet, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, said that the huge potential of hydropower development is an important basis for Nepal's progress. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"The government has brought an action plan to generate 28,700 megawatts of electricity within the next 12 years. Although it looks ambitious, it has been done based on reality and needs," he said. He added that there is a need to bring foreign investment in this sector. He mentioned that the electricity bill, which is now registered in the parliament, will be passed and implemented soon.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Minister Basnet expressed confidence that the new Electricity Act will facilitate the development of hydropower projects and the investment will increase further. He said that the government will continue to facilitate land acquisition, clearing forest and other procedural matters for the projects. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Ganesh Karki, president of the Independent Power Producers Association, Nepal (IPPAN), said that the private sector has invested Rs 13 billion in hydropower projects.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"It is playing an important role in economic growth and job creation and more than 500,000 skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled citizens are getting jobs," he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">He said that Nepal has succeeded in earning foreign currency through electricity export in recent times and expressed his belief that the income from electricity exports will increase further in the coming days. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">In order to increase foreign investment, he urged the government to make policy reforms and ease procedural hurdles. Development of hydropower projects has provided significant support for local development, he shared. Karki added that the promoters of hydropower projects have contributed to the construction of infrastructure such as local roads, drinking water facilities, health posts, playgrounds, etc.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Canada's ambassador to Nepal, Cameron McKee, through a video message, mentioned that the development of hydropower is important for Nepal's prosperity. He said, "We believe that Canada's extensive knowledge and experience will be useful for developing hydropower projects in Nepal." He said that emphasis should be placed on the use of updated technology for the development of renewable energy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The expo, which started with the slogan Green Energy for Prosperity, will conclude on Friday.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-25', 'modified' => '2024-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20540', 'image' => '20240425031055_38db00c3.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-25 15:10:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20812', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Imports Toothpicks worth Rs 19 Million in Nine Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: Nepal imported toothpicks worth Rs 19 million in the first nine months of the current fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">April 25: Nepal imported toothpicks worth Rs 19 million in the first nine months of the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">According to government data, the country imported toothpicks worth Rs 19 million from mid-July to mid-March of the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">According to the data of the Department of Customs, the country imported 60,427 kg of toothpicks during the review period.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">During the corresponding period of last fiscal year, Nepal imported 27,996 kg of toothpicks worth Rs 9 million. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Compared to the same period of last year, the import of toothpicks has increased by 111 percent in terms of value and 115 percent in terms of volume this year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">In the same period last year, the government collected revenue of Rs 3.5 million from the import of toothpicks and this year it has collected Rs 7.7 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Nepal has been importing toothpicks from China and India. In the review period, Nepal has imported 60,376 kilograms of toothpicks worth Rs 19,660,000 from China. Similarly, it has imported 51 kg of toothpicks worth Rs 9,000 from India.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-25', 'modified' => '2024-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20539', 'image' => '20240425024745_71uygnl-C+L.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-25 14:46:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20811', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Health Ministry Urges Public to Take Precaution against Heat Wave ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: The Ministry of Health and Population has urged the public to take preventive measures against the heat wave that has already started sweeping across the Tarai region. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 25: The Ministry of Health and Population has urged the public to take preventive measures against the heat wave that has already started sweeping across the Tarai region. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The effects of the heat wave include rapid heartbeat, breathing complications, low blood pressure, sweating, severe headache, dizziness, sickness, and so on. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to physician Dr Bimal Chalise, the chief consultant at Shukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, the Tarai settlements are prone to the effects of heat wave with the soaring temperatures. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The heat wave may affect the brain, the doctor said, urging the public to avoid exposure to sunshine during daytime as much as possible. Dr Chalise said that heat wave may cause dehydration, affecting the kidneys and heart. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Preventive measures: </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The doctor suggests intake of plenty of drinking water, having a cold shower, using an umbrella and covering of head with a thin cloth while going outside, wearing cotton clothes, choosing morning or evening hours to undertake work outside the home, intake of lemon and water, coconut water and fresh juice, intake of fruits and cucumber. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">If possible, one should not venture outside the home during the day time, should not spend much time in the kitchen, must stay away from smoking and drinking beverages, tea, coffee, and soda-mixed water. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-25', 'modified' => '2024-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20538', 'image' => '20240425011418_20240423103916_Document.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-25 13:13:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20810', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Proposes Exporting Bottled Water to Qatar', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: Nepal took the initiative for the export of bottled drinking water to Qatar during the recent state visit of Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">April 25: Nepal took the initiative for the export of bottled drinking water to Qatar during the recent state visit of Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">At a time when Qatar and other Gulf countries are facing severe shortage of drinking water, Nepal, which is rich in water resources, is looking for the possibility of exporting water to the oil-rich nation. The Trade and Export Promotion Center’s data shows that Nepal has exporting bottled water in some quantity to India and Japan.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s International Affairs Adviser, Rupak Sapkota, informed New Business Age that a formal discussion was held with the Qatari Emir for the first time from the prime minister's level.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif""> "During the bilateral talks, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal himself asked to open the door to export water to Qatar as there is sufficient source of pure drinking water in Nepal," Sapkota told New Business Age, adding, "There is a great potential to export water from Nepal. The government received a 'green signal' for exporting water from Nepal to Qatar.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">A senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed that there was a positive discussion on the agenda for the export of drinking water. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"Even though there was no concrete agreement for water export, the two sides reached an understanding to continue efforts to reach an agreement to export water. We hope that we will finalize this matter soon," said Amrit Bahadur Rai, joint secretary and spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to the World Research Institute, Bahrain, Cyprus, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman and Qatar are the most water-scarce countries in the world. According to the recently published report of the institute, the demand for water for domestic use, agriculture and industrial sectors is increasing but the supply is low and there is a shortage in those countries. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to the institute, 83 percent of the population in the Middle East and North Africa does not have enough water, while 74 percent of the population in South Asia is suffering from water problems.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">A report published by the Time magazine in January also mentions there is a water scarcity in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. In particular, Saudi Arabia is now the world's third largest per capita water consumer after the United States and Canada.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">According to a study conducted by the Policy Research Council in 2019, countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), including Qatar, spent USD 172.3 million to import bottled drinking water in 2018.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The study also mentions that the market for such water is flourishing. Altogether 19 billion liters of bottled water were sold in these countries in 2018 and its demand is estimated to reach 25.4 billion liters by 2024. Stakeholders say that there is an opportunity for Nepal to export water from the mountains as the shortage of drinking water in the Gulf nation increases.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Mukti Shree Pvt Ltd is exporting water from Nepal to foreign countries. The director of the company, Arunraj Sumargi, told New Business Age that the company is exporting more than 120,000 bottles of water daily to countries such as the USA, Japan, and Korea. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"We have started preparations for water export targeting Middle East countries by adding plants. We are preparing to increase the production in a few days," he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">The Sumargi family is considered close to Prime Minister Dahal. He said that the government's discussion with Qatar for the export of water was positive. According to him, there are some challenges in export. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">"It is very difficult to maintain international standards for production and export of water," he said, adding that Nepal exported water to two countries – India and Japan – in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">As of mid-March this year, the country exported bottled water worth Rs 1.5 million to India and Rs 2 million to Japan.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">In the year 2078/79, Nepal exported 18,403 liters of water to Qatar and earned Rs 2.5 million. In the following years, Nepal did not export any water to Qatar. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Besides the issue of water export, Nepal raised the concerns about the safety of its migrant workers and labor contract renewal during the visit of the Qatari Emir, but there was no significant achievement. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Rai, the joint secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, "Despite intensive discussions on labor issue, we could not reach any agreement. However, the two countries have decided to continue the talks. The initiative will continue through the embassy.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Although the two countries had signed a labor agreement in 2005, it has not been revised. Nepal has been put forth conditions such as wage hike, full-time insurance, and increase in quota of workers. However, these issues have yet to be resolved by the bilateral negotiation team.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">A statement issued by the Prime Minister's Secretariat after a bilateral talks on Wednesday mentions that the Qatari side wants to work together with Nepal to increase the number of workers and is willing to cooperate on the matter.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"ekmukta","serif"">Similarly, during the visit of the Emir of Qatar to Nepal, the government raised the issue of expanding the air service between the two countries. Sapkota informed Nepal and Qatar agreed to form a team and discuss the cooperation of air connectivity, especially since the Prime Minister himself proposed to expand the flights of Qatar Airways to Pokhara and Bhairahawa. Government officials say that Prime Minister Dahal and the Emir of Qatar discussed investment in Nepal in sectors such as labor, infrastructure, energy, education and transportation, along with water.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-25', 'modified' => '2024-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20537', 'image' => '20240425123110_AP24115270598867.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-25 12:30:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20809', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'First Meeting of Nepal-China Aid Projects Concludes ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: The first meeting of the Aid Projects of China's Autonomous Region Tibet to Nepal (2024-2028) was held in Tibet's capital Lhasa on April 23-24. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 25: The first meeting of the Aid Projects of China's Autonomous Region Tibet to Nepal (2024-2028) was held in Tibet's capital Lhasa on April 23-24. </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"">Discussions during the meeting which concluded on Wednesday focused on aid projects to be implemented in Nepal, the Lhasa-based Consulate of Nepal said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, the two sides discussed on the coordination mechanism including work schedule, selection modality of the projects, and the ways to implement and monitor the aid projects funded by Tibet to Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the meeting, both sides agreed to hold the meeting of aid projects twice in the first half of the year, so as to focus on the projects arrangements and twice in the second half of the year for the implementation and review of the implemented projects. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Furthermore, the two sides underlined the need to enhance the level of support for improving the livelihood of people residing in bordering districts in the Northern Himalayan region of Nepal through the aid projects. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The first meeting was co-chaired by Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration of Nepal Kamal Prasad Bhattarai and Director General of the Foreign Affairs Office of Tibet Baiman Yangzong. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Joint Secretary Bhattarai and the head of the Nepali delegation also paid a courtesy call on Executive Vice-Chairman of the People’s Government of Tibet Chen Yongqi. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During the meeting, the two exchanged views on matters of mutual interests; including the promotion of socio-economic linkages for further strengthening Nepal-China relations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The second meeting of the Aid Projects to Nepal will take place next month. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-25', 'modified' => '2024-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20536', 'image' => '20240425113714_f399288e-city-20379-16751221faf.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-25 11:36:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20808', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism Entrepreneurs Buoyed by Qatar Amir's Visit', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: The two-day state visit of Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani to Nepal has encouraged tourism entrepreneurs 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"">April 25: The two-day state visit of Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani to Nepal has encouraged tourism entrepreneurs in Nepal. The stakeholders said that the visit spread a positive message in the tourism sector. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The two-day state visit of the Qatar Amir is the most high-profile visit from Gulf countries, which would undoubtedly help prop Nepali tourism, the stakeholders added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Former chair of Nepal Mountaineering Association, Ang Chhiring Sherpa, shared, "Qatar Amir's visit to Nepal would help increase Qatar tourists to Nepal." The senior tourism entrepreneur further hoped high-end tourists from middle east- Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait could come to Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The royal family members from Qatar come to Nepal for trekking and mountaineering. Sheikh Mohammad Bin Abdullha Al Thani is the first person to scale world's highest peak, Sagarmatha from Qatar. He was atop the Sagarmatha on May 22, 2013, while he climbed Mt Amadablam successfully on November 11, 2020. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Moreover, the royal member of Qatar, Sheikh Asma Al Thani had climbed the Annapurna-I peak. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Qatari royals are fond of mountain climbing and trekking. The people from Qatar enjoy luxury hotel stay. Nepal is also expanding the number of deluxe hotels of late. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chair of Hotel Association of Nepal, Binayak Shah, also shares similar observation on Qatari tourists. The royal family members of the Gulf countries, including from Qatar, prefer to stay in deluxe hotels like Sintamani of Mustang and Soaltee West End Resort of Chitwan and others. Qatar Amir's visit to Nepal has given a positive message to Nepal’s tourism sector,” he argued. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Qatar is an emerging country in the globe. The visit of such distinguished guest promotes Nepal's tourism across the globe," he viewed. </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"">Moreover, noted tourism entrepreneur Yogendra Shakya hoped that the arrival of foreign tourists would grow in Nepal in the wake Amir Thani's visit. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Nepal Tourism Board, a total of 255 people from Qatar had visited Nepal in 2023. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Importantly, Qatar Airways is known as one of the best airlines in the world. It provides air service to over 150 countries through a fleet of over 200 aircraft. Currently, Qatar Airways conducts four flights a day to Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In two years since 2021, Qatar Airways has brought more than 733,000 people to Nepal while ferried over 823,000 people from Nepal to different countries across the globe. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Following the visit of Qatar’s Amir, authorities in Nepal are expecting the launch of air service to Doha, Qatar from Bhairahawa and Pokhara international airports. </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"">Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal reportedly requested the Qatari Amir to consider air service to the two new international airports in Nepal. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-25', 'modified' => '2024-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20535', 'image' => '20240425102229_KRB_KTM-image_123650291(9).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-25 10:21:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20807', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal and Qatar Agree on Collaboration in Eight Sectors ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: Nepal and Qatar have reached an understanding to collaborate in the fields of art and culture, education, communication, youth and sports, legal assistance, and the industry and commerce. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 24: Nepal and Qatar have reached an understanding to collaborate in the fields of art and culture, education, communication, youth and sports, legal assistance, and the industry and commerce. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The two countries signed agreements and MoUs to this effect on the occasion of the state visit of Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, said Amrit Bahadur Rai, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on collaboration in the area of art and culture, exchange of news between the official news agencies of Nepal and Qatar, and exchange of cooperation in the education sector. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The agreements and MoUs were signed in the presence of the Qatari Amir and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal following bilateral talks between them at the Soaltee Hotel on Wednesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The MoUs signed include: the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in the Fields of Culture and Arts between the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation of Nepal and the Ministry of Culture of the State of Qatar; the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in the Field of Education, Higher Education and Scientific Research between the Government of Nepal and the Government of the State of Qatar; the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Youth and Sports between the Government of Nepal and the Government of the State of Qatar; the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation between the Office of the Attorney General of Nepal and the Public Prosecution of the State of Qatar and the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Diplomatic Training and Education between The Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA) of the Government of Nepal and the Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Padam Giri and Qatar's State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sultan Bin Saad Al Muraikhi signed on the MoUs at the government level on behalf of Nepal and Qatar, respectively. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, a MoU related to exchange of investment has been signed between the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Qatar Chamber of Commerce. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">FNCCI President Chandra Prasad Dhakal and Shekh Khalif Bin Jasim Al Thani signed the MoU on behalf of FNCCI and Qatar Chamber of Commerce respectively. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20534', 'image' => '20240424061926_PRO_KTM-6F8A0555.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 18:18:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20806', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEPSE Records Minimal Gain of 0.15 Points to Close at 1969.17', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index saw a slight increase of 0.15 points, or 0.00%, closing at 1969.17 on Wednesday, the third trading day of the week.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">April 24: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index saw a slight increase of 0.15 points, or 0.00%, closing at 1969.17 on Wednesday, the third trading day of the week.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During today's trading session, 313 scrips were traded on the NEPSE through 36,483 transactions, with a total of 7,284,272 shares changing hands, resulting in transactions worth Rs 2.53 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Nepal Reinsurance Company Limited Promoter Share (NRICP) led the turnover amount with transactions worth Rs 63 crores. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Pokhara Finance Limited (PFL) witnessed the highest gain of 10%, closing at a market price of Rs 565 per share. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Conversely, Mai Khola Hydropower Limited (MKHL) incurred the maximum loss at 7.84%, settling at a market price of Rs 470 per share.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In terms of sector indices, ten sectors closed in the red territory, while the remaining sectors closed in the green zone. The Finance Index saw the highest gain of 2.44%. Conversely, the Hotels and Tourism Index experienced the highest loss at 0.44%.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20533', 'image' => '20240424034310_collage.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 15:41:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20805', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Indian Customs Releases 22 Trucks Carrying Tea from Nepal after Six Days ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: Twenty two trucks carrying tea from Nepal were allowed to enter West Bengal by the Indian Customs Office on Tuesday night after holding them at the Indian checkpoint across Mechi for six days.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">April 24: Twenty two trucks carrying tea from Nepal were allowed to enter West Bengal by the Indian Customs Office on Tuesday night after holding them at the Indian checkpoint across Mechi for six days.</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"">These trucks were carrying 2,200 tons of tea produced in Nepal.</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 Indian Customs Office, Panitanki, stopped the Nepali trucks at the checkpoint last Thursday demanding 100 per cent lab test certificate along with quality assurance papers. The trucks were stopped at Panitanki for almost a week.</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"">Before this, only 5 to 25 per cent of tea samples used to be tested and released. However, the Panitanki Customs last week refused customs clearance of the tea saying that new provisions were implemented.</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 delegation led by Aditya Parajuli, president of the Nepal Tea Producers Association, met Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and asked him to take the initiative to resolve the problem in tea export and also urged for a long-term solution. </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"">Due to the joint initiative of the prime minister, the Department of Customs as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Indian Customs Office called the customs agents at 9:30 PM on Tuesday night and released the truck carrying tea.</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"">Ram Prasad Regmi, head of the Mechi customs office, also confirmed that 22 vehicles carrying tea were released from Panitanki Customs. He said, "When I informally met with Panitanki customs, thet informed that Nepali tea was released on the basis of verbal order from above."</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"">Tea is the second most exported item from Nepal. The export of tea from Nepal, however, has decreased in the ninth months of the current fiscal year. The monetary value of ready-made tea exported from Nepal amounted to Rs 3 billion. Traders informed that the market of Nepali tea is decreasing due to the Indian blockade, the price of tea falling in the market and the lack of auctions. </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"">Nepal exported 9.83 million kilograms of tea worth Rs 2.66 billion in the 9 months of the current year. Looking at the data, compared to last year, tea exports decreased by 3.5 million kg amounting to Rs 476.76 million.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20532', 'image' => '20240424021223_Tea.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 14:11:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20804', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Half of the Commercial Banks not in a Position to Issue Dividends to Shareholders', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: The distributable profits of half of the commercial banks operating in Nepal have been negative as of the third quarter of the current fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">April 24: The distributable profits of half of the commercial banks operating in Nepal have been negative as of the third quarter of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">This has raised doubts whether the banks will be able to distribute dividends to the shareholders after the end of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the unaudited financial statements of the third quarter released by the banks, the distributable profit of 10 out of 20 commercial banks is negative. The distributable profit of Himalayan Bank, Nepal Investment Mega Bank, Kumari Bank, NIC Asia Bank, Laxmi Sunrise Bank, Nepal Bank, NMB Bank, Global IME Bank, Machhapuchhre Bank and Siddharth Bank is negative.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Bhuvan Dahal, an expert in the banking sector, commercial banks have not been able to make a profit of late because they have not been able to collect the accrued interest from the borrowers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"As per the instructions of Nepal Rastra Bank, the amount equivalent to the interest that is yet to be collected cannot be taken into consideration as distributable profit as 'regulatory adjustment' has to be done," he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Nepal Rastra Bank, under the regulatory adjustment, banks need to set aside the amount yet to recover from the borrowers for provisioning. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> With the slowdown in the country's economy, banks have been facing problems in loan recovery. As a result, bad loans are increasing, the central bank said. According to the data of Nepal Rastra Bank, the bad loans of commercial banks stood at 3.63 percent of the total loans as of mid-March.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Since the dividend distribution capacity of banks is assessed on the basis of distributable profits till the end of the year, the main challenge for banks is to improve the current situation by the next quarter.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the current fiscal year, only 12 out of 20 banks have distributed dividends based on the profit earned in the previous year. Himalayan Bank, NMB Bank, Prime Commercial Bank, Kumari Bank, Nepal Bank, Nepal Investment Mega Bank, Prabhu Bank and Krishi Bikas Bank have not given returns to the investors this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Prabhu Bank, Krishi Bikas Bank and Prime Commercial Bank have distributable profit but decided not to issue dividends to the investors this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">If Himalayan Bank, NMB Bank, Nepal Bank, Kumari Bank and Nepal Investment Mega Bank do not improve their distributable profit in the next three months by collecting interest, it seems that the investors of these banks will be disappointed in the next year as well. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Himalayan Bank's distributable profit for the third quarter is negative by more than Rs 5.24 billion. It is the highest among all banks. The distributable profit of Nepal Investment Mega Bank is negative by more than 5.8 billion and stands second among the banks in this segment. Siddharth Bank has the lowest negative distributable profit. Its distributable profit is negative by more than Rs 27.12 million.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Everest Bank is leading among 10 commercial banks with distributable profit. The distributable profit of Everest Bank, which has a paid-up capital of more than Rs 11.76 billion, is more than Rs 2.75 billion. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Standard Chartered Bank's distributable profit is the highest after Everest Bank. Its distributable profit is more than Rs 1.81 billion. Currently, the paid-up capital of this bank is above Rs 9.42 billion. Based on the distributable profit up to the third quarter, the dividend potential of Standard Chartered is 19.27 percent. In the history of dividend distribution, this bank has distributed a maximum of 105 percent, but in the last 2 years, it has only distributed cash dividends. This year Standard Chartered distributed 19 percent cash dividend.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20531', 'image' => '20240424021106_Banks - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 14:09:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20803', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Industry Minister says Nepal Failed to Secure Expected Benefits from WTO ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 23: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, has said Nepal failed to secure expected benefits from international trade despite the completion of 20 years of its membership in the World Trade Organisation (WTO). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 23: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, has said Nepal failed to secure expected benefits from international trade despite the completion of 20 years of its membership in the World Trade Organisation (WTO). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Speaking at a programme on "expectations, achievements and future course of action in 20 years of Nepal's WTO membership" organised by the Ministry on Tuesday, the minister said, "There is no situation for least developed countries despite some exceptions to secure anticipated expectations from the WTO aiming to ensure benefits of the world economy to the developing countries and an increased market access for them." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He underlined the need to guarantee meaningful participation of government, private, and related research institutes and stakeholders concerned to ink a bilateral trade and investment agreement with nations with potential for exports from Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He advised Nepal should make efforts to explore potential for international trade and implement objective and country-wise export strategies. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also pointed out the need for wider dialogues and discussions with the participation of public-private sectors to navigate ways for awareness in industrial and trade sectors. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There is a wider discussion at the national level when expected achievements from the WTO remain unmet, according to the minister. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“We accept the WTO standards, but in the context of Nepal, such standards have not been implemented. We are overwhelmed by the burden of import trade. We have to liberate ourselves from this situation. The lack of Nepal's presence in world trade should be analyzed meticulously,” he said.</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Acknowledging Nepal's weak presence in world trade, Commerce Secretary Dinesh Kumar Ghimire insisted on policy-level and strategic interventions toward that end. He stressed the need to increase domestic production. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Industry Secretary Krishna Bahadur Raut said Nepal could not secure the right benefits of WTO while other speakers including the Chairperson of Federation of Nepal Cottage and Small Industries, Umesh Prasad Singh; Vice Chair of Federation of Export Entrepreneurs Nepal (FEEN) and Joint Secretary Leela Prasad Sharma expressed concerns over the country's increasing size of imports, thus leading to a ballooning trade deficit in the absence of lack of Nepal's access to the world trade market. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">They called for replacing the import-based trade. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20530', 'image' => '20240424012950_20240216100904_placeholder_md.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 13:29:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20802', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'President Paudel, Emir of Qatar Discuss Climate Change Impacts and Deepening Nepal-Qatar Ties ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: President Ram Chandra Paudel has urged Qatar to deepen cooperation between Nepal and Qatar on issues of common interests like saving the earth from the impacts of climate change, protecting the Himalayas, preserving the sources of water, and maintaining environmental balance. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 24: President Ram Chandra Paudel has urged Qatar to deepen cooperation between Nepal and Qatar on issues of common interests like saving the earth from the impacts of climate change, protecting the Himalayas, preserving the sources of water, and maintaining environmental balance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">President Paudel said so at a meeting with the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, at the Office of the President in Shital Niwas on Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Emir of the State of Qatar arrived in Kathmandu on Tuesday afternoon on a two-day state visit to Nepal at the invitation of President Paudel. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The common challenge of today's world is saving the earth from climate change; protecting our Himalayas; preserving the source of water and maintaining the environmental balance. Cooperation of all is imperative in these areas. This is an issue of human existence. I consider mostly the developing countries should be more serious in such issues,” President's press advisor Kiran Pokharel quoted President Paudel as saying. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The president also said that the conflict in the Middle East has 'made us worried', Pokharel told the RSS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, President Paudel praised the role played by Qatar for peace building and wished for the end to the war and restoration of peace in the Middle East. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, the Emir of the State of Qatar Al Thani said the entire world is suffering from climate change impacts, and good results will come and a good environment will be created if all abided by the international agreements on climate change. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also expressed the confidence that his visit would be fruitful to explore new areas of cooperation by further deepening Nepal-Qatar relations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Furthermore, the Emir of Qatar praised Nepali migrant workers stating that they have huge contributions to the development of Qatar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Emir of Qatar Al Thani viewed that new possibilities could be explored for investments in water resources, agriculture, tourism and other sectors in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, President Paudel also expressed the confidence that the agreement and memorandum of understanding to be reached on Wednesday would unleash new potentials for investment in the areas such as water resource, agriculture and tourism in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Noting that Nepal and Qatar have ever enjoyed cordial bilateral relations, President Paudel clarified that the relations between Nepal and Qatar are bound by the sense of friendship, mutual respect, trust and goodwill. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There has been a tradition of exchange of high-level visits between the two countries in a regular way which he claimed had played spectacular role in expanding the bilateral relations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The historical visit has taken the Nepal-Qatar relations to a new height, he further said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Noting that Nepal has moved towards the journey of economic development and prosperity now with the agenda of political transformation of late, he expressed his belief that there would be continuous support from Qatar to Nepal's efforts towards attaining development and prosperity. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">President Paudel further expressed his optimism that the bilateral cooperation and collaboration would be further deepened in coming days in the context when there are arrays of potential for partnership in trade, tourism and investment areas. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Qatar has been a prime and attractive destination of foreign employment for Nepali workers and Nepali workforce has also substantially contributed in the making of modern Qatar, he recalled. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Expressing happiness over the sustainable development and prosperity of Qatar under the visionary leadership of the Emir, President Paudel lauded his far-reaching thinking and unswerving commitment to make Qatar a highly-developed nation. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => 'Qatar, Nepal, ties, friendly, climate, induced, impacts, Emir, Thani', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20529', 'image' => '20240424123325_RS_KTM_1713871958865(1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 12:32:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20800', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Asia Worst Hit by Climate-Induced Disasters in 2023: UN', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 24: Asia was the region most affected by climate change, weather and water-related hazards globally last year, the United Nations weather agency has said.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">April 24: Asia was the region most affected by climate change, weather and water-related hazards globally last year, the United Nations weather agency has said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In a report published on Tuesday, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said the impact of heatwaves in Asia was becoming more severe, with melting glaciers threatening the region's future water security.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Floods and storms were the main cause of casualties and economic damage in 2023, the report added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">It found that Asia has been warming faster than the global average, with temperature rises in 2023 averaging nearly 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above the 1961-90 average, Al Jazeera reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Many countries in the region experienced their hottest year on record in 2023, along with a barrage of extreme conditions, from droughts and heatwaves to floods and storms,” WMO chief Celeste Saulo said in a statement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the Doha-based media network funded by Qatar, Saulo added that climate change “exacerbated the frequency and severity of such events”, calling the report’s conclusions “sobering”.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Many countries in the region experienced their hottest year on record in 2023, along with a barrage of extreme conditions, from droughts and heatwaves to floods and storms. Climate change exacerbated the frequency and severity of such events, profoundly impacting societies, economies, and, most importantly, human lives and the environment that we live in."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The State of the Climate in Asia 2023 report highlighted the accelerating rate of key climate change indicators such as surface temperature, glacier retreat and sea level rise, saying they would have serious repercussions for societies, economies and ecosystems in the region, AFP reorted.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Asia remained the world's most disaster-hit region from weather, climate and water-related hazards in 2023," the WMO said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the report, the annual mean near-surface temperature over Asia in 2023 was the second highest on record, at 0.91 degrees Celsius above the 1991-2020 average, and 1.87 C above the 1961-1990 average.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Particularly high average temperatures were recorded from western Siberia to central Asia, and from eastern China to Japan, the report said, with Japan having its hottest summer on record.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As for precipitation, it was below normal in the Himalayas and in the Hindu Kush mountain range in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Meanwhile southwest China suffered from a drought, with below-normal precipitation levels in nearly every month of the year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The High-Mountain Asia region, centred on the Tibetan Plateau, contains the largest volume of ice outside of the polar regions. Over the last several decades, most of these glaciers have been retreating, and at an accelerating rate, the WMO said, with 20 out of 22 monitored glaciers in the region showing continued mass loss last year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The report said 2023 sea-surface temperatures in the northwest Pacific Ocean were the highest on record.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Last year, 79 disasters associated with water-related weather hazards were reported in Asia. Of those, more than 80 percent were floods and storms, with more than 2,000 deaths and nine million people directly affected.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Floods were the leading cause of death in reported events in 2023 by a substantial margin," the WMO said, noting the continuing high level of vulnerability of Asia to natural hazard events.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The WMO said there was an urgent need for national weather services across the region to improve tailored information to officials working on reducing disaster risks.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"It is imperative that our actions and strategies mirror the urgency of these times," AFP quoted Saulo as saying.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the evolving climate is not merely an option, but a fundamental necessity."</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20527', 'image' => '20240424112058_download.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 11:20:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '20799', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'IBN Approves List of Projects to be Showcased during the Investment Summit', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 23: The Investment Board of Nepal (IBN) has approved the list of projects to be showcased in the upcoming Investment Summit.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 23: The Investment Board of Nepal (IBN) has approved the list of projects to be showcased in the upcoming Investment Summit.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The 58th meeting of the IBN chaired by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Tuesday approved the list of projects, the state-owned RSS reported, adding that the IBN aims to seek letters of intent as well as showcase and carry out market sounding for these projects.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The IBN plans to showcase a total of 148 projects including government and private projects during the summit scheduled for April 28 and 29. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The meeting also decided to increase investment in two projects. The board meeting approved an additional investment worth Rs 6.63 billion for the Huaxin Narayani Cement Project. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, Dabur Nepal has proposed reinvestment of Rs 9.68 billion for capacity expansion and product diversification. The board gave the go ahead for negotiation process after receiving the project report and its assessment.</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"">Following the meeting, Prime Minister Dahal directed to work to make the investment summit more result-oriented rather than being limited to formalities. </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"">According to RSS, the prime minister also instructed the authorities to form a special unit to facilitate the mobilization of capital and credits from domestic, foreign and private sectors. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating that the prosperity of the country will be achieved only through the partnership between the public and private sectors, Prime Minister Dahal said the government has initiated the work of amending laws to remove obstacles to investment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief Executive Officer of the Investment Board, Sushil Bhatta, shed light on the status of implementation of the decision of the previous board meeting and the preparations for the investment summit, RSS added. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2024-04-24', 'modified' => '2024-04-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '20526', 'image' => '20240424105133_20160513034506_editor.jpg', 'article_date' => '2024-04-24 10:50:56', '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
