February 26: US President Joe Biden arrived in Kyiv four days before the first anniversary of the start of tensions between Russia and…
February 26: US President Joe Biden arrived in Kyiv four days before the first anniversary of the start of tensions between Russia and…
February 26: There is a possibility of rainfall and thunderstorms due to the general influence of the westerly winds in the country today (February…
February 25: Senior leader of the Nepali Congress Ram Chandra Poudel has filed his candidacy for the presidential election to be held on March…
February 24: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has revised provisions about office hours of banks and financial institutions, mandating them to render certain kinds of services during sudden public…
February 24: A variety of programmes depicting Nepal’s unique art and culture was organised in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, for the promotion of…
February 24: Nepal has voted in favour of the United Nations (UN) non-binding resolution that condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.…
February 24: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has amended the Unified Directives 2078 to tighten the screws on microfinance…
February 24: Office bearers of the Confederation of Banks and Financial Institutions Nepal (CBFIN) on Wednesday held a meeting with an International Monetary Fund (IMF) led by Jarkko…
February 24: The government is making preparations to open essential government offices on public holidays other than Saturdays.…
February 24: The value of the dollar has decreased today (Friday) against the Nepali currency as compared to the previous trading day.…
February 24: Hetauda Cement Industry, which was closed for the last two weeks, has started operation from today (February 24) after resumption of coal supply.…
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel left for India to take part in the First G-20 meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors on…
Round Table Nepal is organizing a 5k Fun Run on World Obesity Day in Kathmandu on March 4,…
Pokhara Regional International Airport, the third largest international airport in the country, will be launching night flights from…
February 23: Local farmers of Beni have started potato farming in the land that had remained barren for the past 20 years at Mareni of Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality-2 in Myagdi district.…
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Since the beginning of tensions with Russia, the United States has provided more than USD 30 billion in aid to Ukraine.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Russia has expressed its displeasure about Biden's arrival in Kyiv. After Biden visited Ukraine, Russia announced the suspension of the Strategic Arms Limitation Agreement (SALT) with the United States. Soon after (last Tuesday), US President Biden, who reached Poland, opposed Russia's move. Due to this, the Russia-Ukraine tension does not seem to resolve immediately.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After the tension started between the two countries, the world economy went into recession. Inflation has increased in most of the countries. The problem of unemployment is getting serious. Tech giants like Amazon and Twitter have laid off employees hugely.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">How is the war affecting Nepal?</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The effect of the Russia-Ukraine tension, which started post Covid-19 pandemic, has also affected Nepal. Especially the increase in fuel prices has increased inflation in the country. The average inflation for the last six months is above 8 per cent, which is higher than expected. The 'supply chain' of food imports is disrupted and is causing the general public to suffer.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As there are no signs of immediate resolution to the tension in those countries, it is not yet possible to say how long the problem will last. World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Asian Development Bank and other agencies have predicted that the economic recession will continue throughout 2023. Nepal's economy has been import-oriented for years. All the necessary goods, including food, are imported, and revenue collected from imports has been the main source of revenue for the government.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal used to export rice until the 1980s, but in recent times it has stopped exporting and is only importing the staple food. Due to this, as soon as there is a disruption in the 'supply chain', Nepal gets impacted. The reason why the Ukraine-Russia tension has reached Nepal is because of the disruption in the supply chain. All over the world, Russia and Ukraine are known as the major source of wheat, mustard, lentils and petroleum products. Many countries, including Nepal and India, import the products of Russia and Ukraine. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Former Executive Director of Nepal Rastra Bank Nar Bahadur Thapa shared that there is no other option but to emphasize production growth as there is no possibility of an immediate resolution to the Russia-Ukraine tension.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"Since it is seen that there will be problems in the coming days, the first thing to do to sustain the economy is to increase production," he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Even though experts have been suggesting the government to increase production, the government does not seem to be paying much attention to it.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">For example, now is the time to plant paddy. However, the government has not yet been able to bring any incentive program for the farmers to plant paddy. The lack of chemical fertilizers is another major problem. Experts argue that if farmers are to be encouraged to plant paddy and increase production, it is necessary to fix the support price now.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the farmers do not believe in the support price set by the government, because the government does not buy the food crops if they are not sold according to the support price. This year too, the government announced the support price for annual paddy cultivation, but the government did not buy all of the farmers' produce.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Some farmers had already sold their paddy before the support price was fixed. Because of this, there is no point in setting or not setting the support price.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ex-executive director of Nepal Rashtra Bank suggested that large warehouses should be built all over the country and enough food should be stored in such houses to avert the possible threat of food crisis. Experts shared that now is the time for the government to act. However, such an opportunity also came during the time of Covid-19. However, the government wasted time by not introducing programs that would encourage production growth. Due to the fear of the pandemic, the people who lived in the city at that time returned to their villages.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">If the government had been able to adopt an incentive policy, the returnees could have been engaged in agricultural work. There was such an opportunity last year as well, but it was also wasted without working. Experts shared that since the crisis has not been resolved, there is still room for work to increase production. For that, first of all, the government should win the trust of the farmers, and to win the trust, it should adopt a farmer-friendly policy and implement it accordingly.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The farmers will be assured that the government is committed to support them only if it sets a support price for paddy and shows it by purchasing paddy accordingly. Even if there is an immediate ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, it will take at least six months for the 'supply chain' to return to normalcy. During that period, only agriculture can earn income. So the government should not waste time. A policy of increasing agricultural production should be adopted without any delay. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-26', 'modified' => '2023-02-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16860', 'image' => '20230226114038_20220224080713_aaa - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-26 11:39:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17121', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Light Rainfall Likely Today ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 26: There is a possibility of rainfall and thunderstorms due to the general influence of the westerly winds in the country today (February 26).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 26: There is a possibility of rainfall and thunderstorms due to the general influence of the westerly winds in the country today (February 26). </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 meteorologist at the state-owned Weather Forecasting Division, there is a possibility of light rainfall with thunder and lightning in few places of the hill areas of Province 1, Bagmati and Gandaki provinces.</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"">Rojana Lamichhane, a meteorologist with the Weather Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology said that light snowfall is also likely in the mountainous areas of the three provinces. </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"">Kathmandu is also likely to witness rainfall with partial to normal change in the weather today, added Lamichhane. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Lamichhane said that the weather will become clear in the morning and evening in Province 1, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province in the next few days. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The minimum temperature in Kathmandu todhas been recorded at 10 degrees Celsius and the maximum temperature is expected to be around 23 degrees Celsius. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-26', 'modified' => '2023-02-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16859', 'image' => '20230226110122_weatherrrr.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-26 11:00:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17119', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NC Senior Leader Poudel Most Likely to become New President', 'sub_title' => 'Registers Candidacy for Presidential Election', 'summary' => 'February 25: Senior leader of the Nepali Congress Ram Chandra Poudel has filed his candidacy for the presidential election to be held on March 9. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 25: Senior leader of the Nepali Congress Ram Chandra Poudel has filed his candidacy for the presidential election to be held on March 9. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and top leaders from various political parties reached the Federal Parliament building at New Baneshwar on Saturday to register Poudel's candidacy. Backed by eight parties, Paudel is most likely to be elected as the new president with clear majority. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Poudel has been proposed for the presidential candidate by NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairperson Madhav Kumar Nepal, CPN (Maoist Centre) Senior Vice-Chairperson Narayankaji Shrestha, Janata Samajwadi Party leader Ashok Kumar Rai and Abdul Khan of the Janamat Party. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, supporters for Poudel's candidacy in the presidential bid are Chairperson of Lokatantrik Samajwadi Party Nepal, Mahantha Thakur; Vice-President of Nepali Congress, Purna Bahadur Khadka; Chairperson of Nagarik Unmukti Party, Ranjita Shrestha; Chairman of Rastriya Janamorcha, Chitra Bahadur KC; and Chief Whip of CPN (Maoist Centre), Hitraj Pandey. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">President hopeful Poudel was elected Member of the House of Representatives from Tanahu-1 in the November 20 election. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Also, he was elected to the parliament from Tanahu in 2048 BS, 2051 BS, 2056 BS, 2064 BS and 2070 BS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Leader Poudel had already served as Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Home Affairs and led the Ministry of Local Development, Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Communications and Information in the past. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also served as the Speaker of the HoR. Born in 2001 BS at Bahunpokhara of Risti Rural Municipality in Tanahu district, Poudel forayed into politics at the age of 16. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He is the founding member of the Nepal Student Union, which was established in 2027 BS and was elected to the central committee member of the party for the first time in 2034 BS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, leader Poudel became vice-president and acting president of the party. He was also awarded with the 'Order of the Rising Sun (2020)' presented by the government of Japan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He has written dozens of books and published seminal articles on contemporary issues. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Eight political parties, including Nepali Congress – the largest party in the House of Representatives, CPN (Maoist Centre) and CPN (Unified Socialist) have decided to support Paudel’s bid to become a new president. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">An eight-party meeting held at the prime minister's official residence in Baluwatar on Friday evening took a decision to this effect, according to Prakash Jwala, a leader of the CPN (Unified Socialist). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">" Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal called the meeting of the eight parties including those out of the government. The only agenda discussed in the meeting was the president's election. In the meeting, PM Dahal proposed to support the Nepali Congress nominee for the president because it is the largest political party. We also agreed with PM Dahal's proposal," said Jwala.</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Quoting PM Dahal in the meeting, leader Jwala said, "From today onward, a new political journey begins. Let's take it ahead; let's be united for the country's prosperity, national independence, sovereignty and people's livelihood. We can go together on power sharing as well." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The eight parties attending the meeting were NC, Maoist Centre, CPN (Unified Socialist), Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP), Loktantrik Samajbadi Party, Janamat Party, Rastriya Janamorcha and Nagarik Unmukti Party. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The meeting of the top leaders of NC, Maoist Centre, JSP and CPN (US) on Friday morning had agreed to restore the previous alliance- the alliance before that of November 20 election. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Although the CPN UML had been insisting that UML nominee would be the president as per the agreement reached on December 25, PM Dahal was for forging national consensus for the presidential election. </span><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">-- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-25', 'modified' => '2023-02-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16857', 'image' => '20230225092850_PRO_KTM_RAMCHANDRAPAUDEL.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-25 21:28:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17117', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Tells Banks to Render Certain Services during Sudden Public Holidays ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has revised provisions about office hours of banks and financial institutions, mandating them to render certain kinds of services during sudden public holidays. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 24: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has revised provisions about office hours of banks and financial institutions, mandating them to render certain kinds of services during sudden public holidays. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NRB has fixed certain hours (10:00 am-1:30 pm) for banks and financial institutions to ensure most essential services such as cash transactions, cheque clearance and real-time gross settlement during a sudden public holiday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Prior to this, banks and financial institutions were required to pre-inform the Bank and Financial Institutions Regulation Department and Bank Supervision Department, NRB to render services during public holidays. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16855', 'image' => '20230224070045_20230223105840_Banks - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 19:00:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17116', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism Promotion Event held in Cairo ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: A variety of programmes depicting Nepal’s unique art and culture was organised in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, for the promotion of tourism. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 24: A variety of programmes depicting Nepal’s unique art and culture was organised in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, for the promotion of tourism. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Embassy of Nepal in Cairo held the programme on Wednesday and Thursday. Videos and songs and music reflecting the unique Nepali art and culture were presented on the occasion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Around 375 foreign nationals keenly observed the programme, the Nepali Embassy in Cairo said. The national flag, statues of Pashupatinath and the Buddha, images of elephants, urn, mask, khukuri knives and other articles related to Buddhism were put on display in the exhibition hall. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Tourism promotional materials such as booklets and posters were distributed to the visitors. The Nepali diaspora and students in Egypt had extended cooperation for this. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There are about 300 Nepali students studying medical science in Egypt, the embassy stated. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Besides Nepal, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Portugal, Russia, Vietnam, Spain, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Thailand, Ghana among other countries had also run tourism promotional stalls on the occasion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ambassador of Nepal to Egypt, Sushil Kumar Lamsal and the employees at the embassy were present on the occasion. The locals, foreigners living in Egypt and diplomatic staff of various countries had observed the Nepali stall and programme. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16854', 'image' => '20230224061340_RSS_332818672_3520502944849156.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 18:13:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17114', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal backs UN Resolution against Russia's Hostilities in Ukraine ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: Nepal has voted in favour of the United Nations (UN) non-binding resolution that condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 24: Nepal has voted in favour of the United Nations (UN) non-binding resolution that condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The resolution calls for Russia to end its hostilities in its neighbour and withdraw its forces from Ukraine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal taking part in an emergency Special General Assembly held in the UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday voted in favour of the resolution that calls for restoration of peace in Ukraine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A total of 141 nations, out of 193 UN member countries, backed the resolution approved by the UN General Assembly on the eve of the first anniversary of the invasion. Through the resolution, the UN has urged Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amrit Rai said Nepal's backing the UN resolution to end hostilities in Ukraine sends a strong message that is in favour of Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence. “Through the voting, we urged for finding ways for restoring peace in Ukraine.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The UN has expressed its concerns over increasing food insecurity, inflation and poverty due to disruptions in the global supplies chain owing to Russia’s hostilities in Ukraine since a year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Russia launched its attacks on Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Though a large number of people are believed to have been the victims of the conflict, official data in this regard is not available. When 141 nations including Nepal supported the resolution, 32 abstained and seven: Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea, Mali, Nicaragua, Syria and Russia voted against it. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16852', 'image' => '20230224044120_Rai_WTniRMr.width-800.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 16:40:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17113', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Tightens the Screws on Microfinance Companies', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has amended the Unified Directives 2078 to tighten the screws on microfinance companies.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 24: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has amended the Unified Directives 2078 to tighten the screws on microfinance companies.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the new provision, microfinance companies must keep 100 percent cash reserve if they propose issuing 15 percent dividend.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the revised directives of NRB, if such companies want to issue more than 15 percent dividend (cash or shares), they must deposit 50 percent of the dividend exceeding 15 percent in the general reserve fund, 35 percent in the customer protection fund and 10 percent in the corporate social responsibility fund. According to this arrangement, when a microfinance company gives more than 15 percent dividend, it has to keep Rs 95 in various reserve funds while issuing dividend of Rs 100.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Earlier, microfinance companies were required to keep 50 percent of the amount w in the general reserve fund and 25 percent in the customer protection fund only in case of issuing more than 20 percent dividend. No matter how much dividend was distributed, not more than 1 percent of net profit was required to be spent on corporate social responsibility.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, in the past, the limit of micro enterprise loan which was Rs 1,500,000 with mortgage has now been lowered to Rs 700,000, while borrowers who take loans from commercial banks, development banks and finance companies not allowed to take loans from micro finance companies.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, NRB also added a provision that orientation of directors should be done within Nepal. Since the location was not mentioned earlier, the directors used to go abroad for orientation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Employees working in microfinance companies should be given training related to microfinance transactions at least once every 2 years. The details of the training provided by the organization should be published on the website every 6 months.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, NRB also added a provision that the interest rate of deposits and loans should differ by only 50 percent from now on. Earlier, there was no provision regarding the minimum interest rate on savings.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16851', 'image' => '20230224024652_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 14:46:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17112', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CBFIN discusses Nepal’s Economic Situation with IMF', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: Office bearers of the Confederation of Banks and Financial Institutions Nepal (CBFIN) on Wednesday held a meeting with an International Monetary Fund (IMF) led by Jarkko Turunen.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 24: Office bearers of the Confederation of Banks and Financial Institutions Nepal (CBFIN) on Wednesday held a meeting with an International Monetary Fund (IMF) led by Jarkko Turunen.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The two sides discussed about the current economic situation of Nepal in the meeting.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Turunen, the head of the mission team of the IMF, said that he came to Nepal to review the current state of Nepal's economy and to consult with the stakeholders regarding the post-Covid-19 scenario. During the discussion, the representative of CBFIN informed the visiting delegates about various topics including import, liquidity problem and its impact, shrinking of profits of banks and financial institutions, decline in the capital market, the implementation status of a provision of Banking and Financial Institutions Act (BAFIA) which can convert promoter shares into ordinary shares, increase in non-performing loans, rising interest rates, lack of loanable capital, etc.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The representatives of the team from the IMF said that they will study the current economic problems of Nepal and prepare a report. Saying that the meeting and discussion were meaningful, the representative of the IMF relayed the message that they will continue the discussion and cooperation with CBFIN on various issues in the financial and banking sector in the future as well.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The discussion was attended by Teresa Daban Sanchez, the resident representative of IMF Nepal, Russell Green, senior economist of IMF, and CBFIN Vice President Rajesh Upadhyay, Secretary General Rajan Singh Bhandari, Executive Member Radhesh Panta and Director General Dr. Gopal Prasad Tiwari.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16850', 'image' => '20230224020043_1677194233.Clipboard05.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 14:00:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17111', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Preparations Underway to Open Essential Government Offices on Public Holidays', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: The government is making preparations to open essential government offices on public holidays other than Saturdays. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 24: The government is making preparations to open essential government offices on public holidays other than Saturdays. Following widespread complaints that there were too many public holidays, the cabinet meeting held on Thursday discussed about opening essential offices on public holidays as well.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the information shared by a cabinet minister, the government is planning to give additional facilities or some other arrangements to the government employees who work on public holidays.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government is preparing to open the Department of Passport, Department of Foreign Employment, district administration offices under the Ministry of Home Affairs, hospitals, banks, police stations, etc open on public holidays.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal was criticized after declaring public holidays on February 13 on the occasion of People’s War Day. The government announced holiday on February 13 within a few days after PM Dahal publicly said there were too many public holidays. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Dahal-led government has already given three days of additional public holidays within two months.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government announced a public holiday to mourn the day after the plane crash of Yeti Airlines in Pokhara on January 15. Before that, to please the ruling partner Rastriya Prajatantra Party, the government announced a holiday saying that Prithvi Jayanti would be celebrated on January 11 as the National Unity Day.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Now, instead of reducing public holidays, the government is preparing to open some offices on holidays. Some have understood this as a diplomatic move by Dahal to avoid criticism.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16849', 'image' => '20230224010200_1677194359.Clipboard07.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 13:01:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17110', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Foreign Exchange Rate of US Dollar Declines: NRB', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: The value of the dollar has decreased today (Friday) against the Nepali currency as compared to the previous trading day. ', '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:"Arial","sans-serif"">February 24: The value of the dollar has decreased today (Friday) against the Nepali currency as compared to the previous trading day. The latest list of foreign currency exchange rates published by Nepal Rastra Bank on Friday shows that the US dollar has depreciated.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">As per the rate published by NRB for Friday, the buying rate of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> US dollar is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">132</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">08</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">and the selling rate is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">132</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">68</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">. Until a day ago, the buying rate of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> US dollar was Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">132</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">27</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> paisa and the selling rate was Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">132</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">87</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The price of euro has also decreased on Friday. The buying rate per euro is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">140</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">and the selling rate is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">140</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">63</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">. On the previous day, the buying rate of euro was Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">140</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">63</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">and the selling rate was Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">141</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">27</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, the pound sterling has also decreased on Friday. The buying rate of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">pound sterling is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">158</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">98 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">and the selling rate is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">159</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">70</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">. On the previous day, the buying rate of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">pound sterling was fixed at Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">159</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">85 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">and the selling rate was Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">160</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">57</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16848', 'image' => '20230224121050_1677216922.1665294814.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 12:09:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17109', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Hetauda Cement Industry Resumes Operation ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: Hetauda Cement Industry, which was closed for the last two weeks, has started operation from today (February 24) after resumption of coal supply. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 24: Hetauda Cement Industry, which was closed for the last two weeks, has started operation from today (February 24) after resumption of coal supply. The industry was forced to close temporarily due to the unavailability of coal, said the industry. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Although the company had called for bids to supply of 8,000 metric tonnes of coal, it has only received 1,600 metric tons, said Deputy General Manager of the industry Nabin Kumar Karna. He added that the amount supplied would last only for 15 days. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Coal is being supplied from India, Bhutan, Indonesia and Pakistan, he said. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16847', 'image' => '20230224111424_cementtttt.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 11:13:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17107', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister Poudel Leaves for India to Attend G20 Finance Ministers’ Meeting', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel left for India to take part in the First G-20 meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors on Thursday. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">February 23: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel left for India to take part in the First G-20 meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors on Thursday. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Finance Poudel is accompanied by Shree Krishna Nepal, chief of International Economic Cooperation Coordination Division, Ministry of Finance. The meeting will be held on February 24 and 25 in Bangalore officially known as Bengaluru, Karnataka. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Though Nepal is not the G-20 member, Poudel is attending the meeting as an invitee when India is taking its presidency. The Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister is scheduled to hold meetings with his counterparts from various nations including India on the sidelines of the gathering. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the UK and the USA are the members in the Group of Twenty (G20). The Minister is scheduled to return home on February 25, according to the Ministry.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16845', 'image' => '20230223055414_collage - 2023-02-23T175407.639.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 17:52:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17106', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Round Table Nepal to Organize Fun Run on World Obesity Day ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Round Table Nepal is organizing a 5k Fun Run on World Obesity Day in Kathmandu on March 4, 2023.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">February 23: Round Table Nepal is organizing a 5k Fun Run on World Obesity Day in Kathmandu on March 4, 2023. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The Fun Run managed by N.R.S. Sports Foundation will have Plumber Pipes as the title sponsor and King Koil Mattress as the gold sponsor. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">With the slogan "Run For Obesity", the Fun Run is expected to attract 1000 participants and will start at 7:30 am. Participants have to pay Rs 200 registration fee, which includes a commemorative T-shirt and a certificate for every participant. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The organizers have arranged a warm-up Zumba session to get participants pumped and energized for the run.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">A non-political and non-sectarian organization, Round Table consists of youths from 18 to 40 years. The mission of Round Table Nepal is to work to provide quality education and health care services for the underprivileged communities.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Interested individuals can register for the event through Khalti App or by visiting website of N. R.S. Foundation. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16844', 'image' => '20230223050656_collage - 2023-02-23T170517.830.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 17:03:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17105', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Pokhara Regional International Airport Launching Night Flight From Thursday ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Pokhara Regional International Airport, the third largest international airport in the country, will be launching night flights from Thursday. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">February 23: Pokhara Regional International Airport, the third largest international airport in the country, will be launching night flights from Thursday. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">According to Spokesperson Jagannath Niraula of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) to date, flights to and from the Pokhara airport are available from 6:00 am to 4:00 pm and the night flight will be commencing from Thursday night. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">With the implementation of the Instrument Flight Rules system by the airport, it is able to operate night flights. Niraula said the airport will operate 18 hours in a day: from 6:00 am till midnight.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The regional international airport has been in operation since January 1, 2023. Earlier, the flight operation system was assisted by the Visual Flight Rules system.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">But the airport has switched to an IFR system under which an aircraft is operated under instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), making night flights possible. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Private airlines service provider Buddha Air is preparing to launch the night flight at the airport. Buddha Air Spokesperson Dipendra Karna said they are preparing for operating Pokhara-Kathmandu and Kathmandu-Pokhara night flight from Thursday. ---RSS </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16843', 'image' => '20230223034849_collage - 2023-02-23T153817.721.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 15:46:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17104', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Myagdi Farmers Find their Calling in Potato Farming ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 23: Local farmers of Beni have started potato farming in the land that had remained barren for the past 20 years at Mareni of Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality-2 in Myagdi district. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 23: Local farmers of Beni have started potato farming in the land that had remained barren for the past 20 years at Mareni of Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality-2 in Myagdi district. A group of farmers associated with the Lagansheel Multipurpose Farmers' Group has cultivated potatoes in 44 ropanis of land by removing shrubs. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A total of 18 farmers associated with the group have commercially engaged in the farming, said the group's chairperson Gausara BK. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The group is at work to expand the cultivation to 100 ropanis of land at Mareni, Paireni and Lamsung this year, said BK, adding that the farmers have planted seed potato by taking 44 ropanis of land on lease at Mareni. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Potato farming is done in the pocket area for potato programme launched by the rural municipality, said Amrit Thapa, technical assistant at the agriculture section of the rural municipality. </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 land that remained barren for long has been properly utilized with the cultivating of potato. Local farmers have been encouraged to continue farming. It will help generate income for them," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The rural municipality has allocated Rs 1.2 million under the programme in the current fiscal year (FY 2022/23). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The local government will provide Rs 600,000 each to the selected applicants under the programme, said the agriculture section. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16842', 'image' => '20230223110227_potato-farming.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 11:01:29', '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
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Since the beginning of tensions with Russia, the United States has provided more than USD 30 billion in aid to Ukraine.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Russia has expressed its displeasure about Biden's arrival in Kyiv. After Biden visited Ukraine, Russia announced the suspension of the Strategic Arms Limitation Agreement (SALT) with the United States. Soon after (last Tuesday), US President Biden, who reached Poland, opposed Russia's move. Due to this, the Russia-Ukraine tension does not seem to resolve immediately.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After the tension started between the two countries, the world economy went into recession. Inflation has increased in most of the countries. The problem of unemployment is getting serious. Tech giants like Amazon and Twitter have laid off employees hugely.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">How is the war affecting Nepal?</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The effect of the Russia-Ukraine tension, which started post Covid-19 pandemic, has also affected Nepal. Especially the increase in fuel prices has increased inflation in the country. The average inflation for the last six months is above 8 per cent, which is higher than expected. The 'supply chain' of food imports is disrupted and is causing the general public to suffer.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As there are no signs of immediate resolution to the tension in those countries, it is not yet possible to say how long the problem will last. World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Asian Development Bank and other agencies have predicted that the economic recession will continue throughout 2023. Nepal's economy has been import-oriented for years. All the necessary goods, including food, are imported, and revenue collected from imports has been the main source of revenue for the government.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal used to export rice until the 1980s, but in recent times it has stopped exporting and is only importing the staple food. Due to this, as soon as there is a disruption in the 'supply chain', Nepal gets impacted. The reason why the Ukraine-Russia tension has reached Nepal is because of the disruption in the supply chain. All over the world, Russia and Ukraine are known as the major source of wheat, mustard, lentils and petroleum products. Many countries, including Nepal and India, import the products of Russia and Ukraine. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Former Executive Director of Nepal Rastra Bank Nar Bahadur Thapa shared that there is no other option but to emphasize production growth as there is no possibility of an immediate resolution to the Russia-Ukraine tension.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"Since it is seen that there will be problems in the coming days, the first thing to do to sustain the economy is to increase production," he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Even though experts have been suggesting the government to increase production, the government does not seem to be paying much attention to it.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">For example, now is the time to plant paddy. However, the government has not yet been able to bring any incentive program for the farmers to plant paddy. The lack of chemical fertilizers is another major problem. Experts argue that if farmers are to be encouraged to plant paddy and increase production, it is necessary to fix the support price now.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the farmers do not believe in the support price set by the government, because the government does not buy the food crops if they are not sold according to the support price. This year too, the government announced the support price for annual paddy cultivation, but the government did not buy all of the farmers' produce.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Some farmers had already sold their paddy before the support price was fixed. Because of this, there is no point in setting or not setting the support price.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ex-executive director of Nepal Rashtra Bank suggested that large warehouses should be built all over the country and enough food should be stored in such houses to avert the possible threat of food crisis. Experts shared that now is the time for the government to act. However, such an opportunity also came during the time of Covid-19. However, the government wasted time by not introducing programs that would encourage production growth. Due to the fear of the pandemic, the people who lived in the city at that time returned to their villages.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">If the government had been able to adopt an incentive policy, the returnees could have been engaged in agricultural work. There was such an opportunity last year as well, but it was also wasted without working. Experts shared that since the crisis has not been resolved, there is still room for work to increase production. For that, first of all, the government should win the trust of the farmers, and to win the trust, it should adopt a farmer-friendly policy and implement it accordingly.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The farmers will be assured that the government is committed to support them only if it sets a support price for paddy and shows it by purchasing paddy accordingly. Even if there is an immediate ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, it will take at least six months for the 'supply chain' to return to normalcy. During that period, only agriculture can earn income. So the government should not waste time. A policy of increasing agricultural production should be adopted without any delay. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-26', 'modified' => '2023-02-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16860', 'image' => '20230226114038_20220224080713_aaa - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-26 11:39:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17121', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Light Rainfall Likely Today ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 26: There is a possibility of rainfall and thunderstorms due to the general influence of the westerly winds in the country today (February 26).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 26: There is a possibility of rainfall and thunderstorms due to the general influence of the westerly winds in the country today (February 26). </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 meteorologist at the state-owned Weather Forecasting Division, there is a possibility of light rainfall with thunder and lightning in few places of the hill areas of Province 1, Bagmati and Gandaki provinces.</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"">Rojana Lamichhane, a meteorologist with the Weather Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology said that light snowfall is also likely in the mountainous areas of the three provinces. </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"">Kathmandu is also likely to witness rainfall with partial to normal change in the weather today, added Lamichhane. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Lamichhane said that the weather will become clear in the morning and evening in Province 1, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province in the next few days. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The minimum temperature in Kathmandu todhas been recorded at 10 degrees Celsius and the maximum temperature is expected to be around 23 degrees Celsius. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-26', 'modified' => '2023-02-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16859', 'image' => '20230226110122_weatherrrr.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-26 11:00:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17119', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NC Senior Leader Poudel Most Likely to become New President', 'sub_title' => 'Registers Candidacy for Presidential Election', 'summary' => 'February 25: Senior leader of the Nepali Congress Ram Chandra Poudel has filed his candidacy for the presidential election to be held on March 9. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 25: Senior leader of the Nepali Congress Ram Chandra Poudel has filed his candidacy for the presidential election to be held on March 9. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and top leaders from various political parties reached the Federal Parliament building at New Baneshwar on Saturday to register Poudel's candidacy. Backed by eight parties, Paudel is most likely to be elected as the new president with clear majority. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Poudel has been proposed for the presidential candidate by NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairperson Madhav Kumar Nepal, CPN (Maoist Centre) Senior Vice-Chairperson Narayankaji Shrestha, Janata Samajwadi Party leader Ashok Kumar Rai and Abdul Khan of the Janamat Party. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, supporters for Poudel's candidacy in the presidential bid are Chairperson of Lokatantrik Samajwadi Party Nepal, Mahantha Thakur; Vice-President of Nepali Congress, Purna Bahadur Khadka; Chairperson of Nagarik Unmukti Party, Ranjita Shrestha; Chairman of Rastriya Janamorcha, Chitra Bahadur KC; and Chief Whip of CPN (Maoist Centre), Hitraj Pandey. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">President hopeful Poudel was elected Member of the House of Representatives from Tanahu-1 in the November 20 election. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Also, he was elected to the parliament from Tanahu in 2048 BS, 2051 BS, 2056 BS, 2064 BS and 2070 BS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Leader Poudel had already served as Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Home Affairs and led the Ministry of Local Development, Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Communications and Information in the past. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also served as the Speaker of the HoR. Born in 2001 BS at Bahunpokhara of Risti Rural Municipality in Tanahu district, Poudel forayed into politics at the age of 16. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He is the founding member of the Nepal Student Union, which was established in 2027 BS and was elected to the central committee member of the party for the first time in 2034 BS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, leader Poudel became vice-president and acting president of the party. He was also awarded with the 'Order of the Rising Sun (2020)' presented by the government of Japan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He has written dozens of books and published seminal articles on contemporary issues. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Eight political parties, including Nepali Congress – the largest party in the House of Representatives, CPN (Maoist Centre) and CPN (Unified Socialist) have decided to support Paudel’s bid to become a new president. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">An eight-party meeting held at the prime minister's official residence in Baluwatar on Friday evening took a decision to this effect, according to Prakash Jwala, a leader of the CPN (Unified Socialist). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">" Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal called the meeting of the eight parties including those out of the government. The only agenda discussed in the meeting was the president's election. In the meeting, PM Dahal proposed to support the Nepali Congress nominee for the president because it is the largest political party. We also agreed with PM Dahal's proposal," said Jwala.</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Quoting PM Dahal in the meeting, leader Jwala said, "From today onward, a new political journey begins. Let's take it ahead; let's be united for the country's prosperity, national independence, sovereignty and people's livelihood. We can go together on power sharing as well." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The eight parties attending the meeting were NC, Maoist Centre, CPN (Unified Socialist), Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP), Loktantrik Samajbadi Party, Janamat Party, Rastriya Janamorcha and Nagarik Unmukti Party. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The meeting of the top leaders of NC, Maoist Centre, JSP and CPN (US) on Friday morning had agreed to restore the previous alliance- the alliance before that of November 20 election. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Although the CPN UML had been insisting that UML nominee would be the president as per the agreement reached on December 25, PM Dahal was for forging national consensus for the presidential election. </span><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">-- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-25', 'modified' => '2023-02-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16857', 'image' => '20230225092850_PRO_KTM_RAMCHANDRAPAUDEL.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-25 21:28:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17117', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Tells Banks to Render Certain Services during Sudden Public Holidays ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has revised provisions about office hours of banks and financial institutions, mandating them to render certain kinds of services during sudden public holidays. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 24: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has revised provisions about office hours of banks and financial institutions, mandating them to render certain kinds of services during sudden public holidays. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NRB has fixed certain hours (10:00 am-1:30 pm) for banks and financial institutions to ensure most essential services such as cash transactions, cheque clearance and real-time gross settlement during a sudden public holiday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Prior to this, banks and financial institutions were required to pre-inform the Bank and Financial Institutions Regulation Department and Bank Supervision Department, NRB to render services during public holidays. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16855', 'image' => '20230224070045_20230223105840_Banks - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 19:00:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17116', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism Promotion Event held in Cairo ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: A variety of programmes depicting Nepal’s unique art and culture was organised in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, for the promotion of tourism. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 24: A variety of programmes depicting Nepal’s unique art and culture was organised in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, for the promotion of tourism. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Embassy of Nepal in Cairo held the programme on Wednesday and Thursday. Videos and songs and music reflecting the unique Nepali art and culture were presented on the occasion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Around 375 foreign nationals keenly observed the programme, the Nepali Embassy in Cairo said. The national flag, statues of Pashupatinath and the Buddha, images of elephants, urn, mask, khukuri knives and other articles related to Buddhism were put on display in the exhibition hall. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Tourism promotional materials such as booklets and posters were distributed to the visitors. The Nepali diaspora and students in Egypt had extended cooperation for this. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There are about 300 Nepali students studying medical science in Egypt, the embassy stated. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Besides Nepal, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Portugal, Russia, Vietnam, Spain, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Thailand, Ghana among other countries had also run tourism promotional stalls on the occasion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ambassador of Nepal to Egypt, Sushil Kumar Lamsal and the employees at the embassy were present on the occasion. The locals, foreigners living in Egypt and diplomatic staff of various countries had observed the Nepali stall and programme. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16854', 'image' => '20230224061340_RSS_332818672_3520502944849156.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 18:13:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17114', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal backs UN Resolution against Russia's Hostilities in Ukraine ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: Nepal has voted in favour of the United Nations (UN) non-binding resolution that condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 24: Nepal has voted in favour of the United Nations (UN) non-binding resolution that condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The resolution calls for Russia to end its hostilities in its neighbour and withdraw its forces from Ukraine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal taking part in an emergency Special General Assembly held in the UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday voted in favour of the resolution that calls for restoration of peace in Ukraine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A total of 141 nations, out of 193 UN member countries, backed the resolution approved by the UN General Assembly on the eve of the first anniversary of the invasion. Through the resolution, the UN has urged Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amrit Rai said Nepal's backing the UN resolution to end hostilities in Ukraine sends a strong message that is in favour of Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence. “Through the voting, we urged for finding ways for restoring peace in Ukraine.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The UN has expressed its concerns over increasing food insecurity, inflation and poverty due to disruptions in the global supplies chain owing to Russia’s hostilities in Ukraine since a year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Russia launched its attacks on Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Though a large number of people are believed to have been the victims of the conflict, official data in this regard is not available. When 141 nations including Nepal supported the resolution, 32 abstained and seven: Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea, Mali, Nicaragua, Syria and Russia voted against it. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16852', 'image' => '20230224044120_Rai_WTniRMr.width-800.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 16:40:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17113', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Tightens the Screws on Microfinance Companies', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has amended the Unified Directives 2078 to tighten the screws on microfinance companies.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 24: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has amended the Unified Directives 2078 to tighten the screws on microfinance companies.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the new provision, microfinance companies must keep 100 percent cash reserve if they propose issuing 15 percent dividend.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the revised directives of NRB, if such companies want to issue more than 15 percent dividend (cash or shares), they must deposit 50 percent of the dividend exceeding 15 percent in the general reserve fund, 35 percent in the customer protection fund and 10 percent in the corporate social responsibility fund. According to this arrangement, when a microfinance company gives more than 15 percent dividend, it has to keep Rs 95 in various reserve funds while issuing dividend of Rs 100.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Earlier, microfinance companies were required to keep 50 percent of the amount w in the general reserve fund and 25 percent in the customer protection fund only in case of issuing more than 20 percent dividend. No matter how much dividend was distributed, not more than 1 percent of net profit was required to be spent on corporate social responsibility.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, in the past, the limit of micro enterprise loan which was Rs 1,500,000 with mortgage has now been lowered to Rs 700,000, while borrowers who take loans from commercial banks, development banks and finance companies not allowed to take loans from micro finance companies.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, NRB also added a provision that orientation of directors should be done within Nepal. Since the location was not mentioned earlier, the directors used to go abroad for orientation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Employees working in microfinance companies should be given training related to microfinance transactions at least once every 2 years. The details of the training provided by the organization should be published on the website every 6 months.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, NRB also added a provision that the interest rate of deposits and loans should differ by only 50 percent from now on. Earlier, there was no provision regarding the minimum interest rate on savings.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16851', 'image' => '20230224024652_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 14:46:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17112', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CBFIN discusses Nepal’s Economic Situation with IMF', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: Office bearers of the Confederation of Banks and Financial Institutions Nepal (CBFIN) on Wednesday held a meeting with an International Monetary Fund (IMF) led by Jarkko Turunen.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 24: Office bearers of the Confederation of Banks and Financial Institutions Nepal (CBFIN) on Wednesday held a meeting with an International Monetary Fund (IMF) led by Jarkko Turunen.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The two sides discussed about the current economic situation of Nepal in the meeting.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Turunen, the head of the mission team of the IMF, said that he came to Nepal to review the current state of Nepal's economy and to consult with the stakeholders regarding the post-Covid-19 scenario. During the discussion, the representative of CBFIN informed the visiting delegates about various topics including import, liquidity problem and its impact, shrinking of profits of banks and financial institutions, decline in the capital market, the implementation status of a provision of Banking and Financial Institutions Act (BAFIA) which can convert promoter shares into ordinary shares, increase in non-performing loans, rising interest rates, lack of loanable capital, etc.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The representatives of the team from the IMF said that they will study the current economic problems of Nepal and prepare a report. Saying that the meeting and discussion were meaningful, the representative of the IMF relayed the message that they will continue the discussion and cooperation with CBFIN on various issues in the financial and banking sector in the future as well.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The discussion was attended by Teresa Daban Sanchez, the resident representative of IMF Nepal, Russell Green, senior economist of IMF, and CBFIN Vice President Rajesh Upadhyay, Secretary General Rajan Singh Bhandari, Executive Member Radhesh Panta and Director General Dr. Gopal Prasad Tiwari.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16850', 'image' => '20230224020043_1677194233.Clipboard05.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 14:00:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17111', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Preparations Underway to Open Essential Government Offices on Public Holidays', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: The government is making preparations to open essential government offices on public holidays other than Saturdays. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 24: The government is making preparations to open essential government offices on public holidays other than Saturdays. Following widespread complaints that there were too many public holidays, the cabinet meeting held on Thursday discussed about opening essential offices on public holidays as well.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the information shared by a cabinet minister, the government is planning to give additional facilities or some other arrangements to the government employees who work on public holidays.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government is preparing to open the Department of Passport, Department of Foreign Employment, district administration offices under the Ministry of Home Affairs, hospitals, banks, police stations, etc open on public holidays.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal was criticized after declaring public holidays on February 13 on the occasion of People’s War Day. The government announced holiday on February 13 within a few days after PM Dahal publicly said there were too many public holidays. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Dahal-led government has already given three days of additional public holidays within two months.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government announced a public holiday to mourn the day after the plane crash of Yeti Airlines in Pokhara on January 15. Before that, to please the ruling partner Rastriya Prajatantra Party, the government announced a holiday saying that Prithvi Jayanti would be celebrated on January 11 as the National Unity Day.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Now, instead of reducing public holidays, the government is preparing to open some offices on holidays. Some have understood this as a diplomatic move by Dahal to avoid criticism.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16849', 'image' => '20230224010200_1677194359.Clipboard07.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 13:01:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17110', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Foreign Exchange Rate of US Dollar Declines: NRB', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: The value of the dollar has decreased today (Friday) against the Nepali currency as compared to the previous trading day. ', '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:"Arial","sans-serif"">February 24: The value of the dollar has decreased today (Friday) against the Nepali currency as compared to the previous trading day. The latest list of foreign currency exchange rates published by Nepal Rastra Bank on Friday shows that the US dollar has depreciated.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">As per the rate published by NRB for Friday, the buying rate of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> US dollar is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">132</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">08</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">and the selling rate is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">132</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">68</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">. Until a day ago, the buying rate of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> US dollar was Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">132</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">27</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> paisa and the selling rate was Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">132</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">87</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The price of euro has also decreased on Friday. The buying rate per euro is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">140</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">and the selling rate is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">140</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">63</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">. On the previous day, the buying rate of euro was Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">140</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">63</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">and the selling rate was Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">141</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">27</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, the pound sterling has also decreased on Friday. The buying rate of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">pound sterling is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">158</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">98 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">and the selling rate is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">159</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">70</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">. On the previous day, the buying rate of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">pound sterling was fixed at Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">159</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">85 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">and the selling rate was Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">160</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">57</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16848', 'image' => '20230224121050_1677216922.1665294814.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 12:09:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17109', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Hetauda Cement Industry Resumes Operation ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: Hetauda Cement Industry, which was closed for the last two weeks, has started operation from today (February 24) after resumption of coal supply. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 24: Hetauda Cement Industry, which was closed for the last two weeks, has started operation from today (February 24) after resumption of coal supply. The industry was forced to close temporarily due to the unavailability of coal, said the industry. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Although the company had called for bids to supply of 8,000 metric tonnes of coal, it has only received 1,600 metric tons, said Deputy General Manager of the industry Nabin Kumar Karna. He added that the amount supplied would last only for 15 days. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Coal is being supplied from India, Bhutan, Indonesia and Pakistan, he said. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16847', 'image' => '20230224111424_cementtttt.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 11:13:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17107', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister Poudel Leaves for India to Attend G20 Finance Ministers’ Meeting', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel left for India to take part in the First G-20 meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors on Thursday. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">February 23: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel left for India to take part in the First G-20 meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors on Thursday. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Finance Poudel is accompanied by Shree Krishna Nepal, chief of International Economic Cooperation Coordination Division, Ministry of Finance. The meeting will be held on February 24 and 25 in Bangalore officially known as Bengaluru, Karnataka. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Though Nepal is not the G-20 member, Poudel is attending the meeting as an invitee when India is taking its presidency. The Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister is scheduled to hold meetings with his counterparts from various nations including India on the sidelines of the gathering. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the UK and the USA are the members in the Group of Twenty (G20). The Minister is scheduled to return home on February 25, according to the Ministry.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16845', 'image' => '20230223055414_collage - 2023-02-23T175407.639.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 17:52:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17106', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Round Table Nepal to Organize Fun Run on World Obesity Day ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Round Table Nepal is organizing a 5k Fun Run on World Obesity Day in Kathmandu on March 4, 2023.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">February 23: Round Table Nepal is organizing a 5k Fun Run on World Obesity Day in Kathmandu on March 4, 2023. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The Fun Run managed by N.R.S. Sports Foundation will have Plumber Pipes as the title sponsor and King Koil Mattress as the gold sponsor. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">With the slogan "Run For Obesity", the Fun Run is expected to attract 1000 participants and will start at 7:30 am. Participants have to pay Rs 200 registration fee, which includes a commemorative T-shirt and a certificate for every participant. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The organizers have arranged a warm-up Zumba session to get participants pumped and energized for the run.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">A non-political and non-sectarian organization, Round Table consists of youths from 18 to 40 years. The mission of Round Table Nepal is to work to provide quality education and health care services for the underprivileged communities.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Interested individuals can register for the event through Khalti App or by visiting website of N. R.S. Foundation. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16844', 'image' => '20230223050656_collage - 2023-02-23T170517.830.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 17:03:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17105', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Pokhara Regional International Airport Launching Night Flight From Thursday ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Pokhara Regional International Airport, the third largest international airport in the country, will be launching night flights from Thursday. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">February 23: Pokhara Regional International Airport, the third largest international airport in the country, will be launching night flights from Thursday. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">According to Spokesperson Jagannath Niraula of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) to date, flights to and from the Pokhara airport are available from 6:00 am to 4:00 pm and the night flight will be commencing from Thursday night. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">With the implementation of the Instrument Flight Rules system by the airport, it is able to operate night flights. Niraula said the airport will operate 18 hours in a day: from 6:00 am till midnight.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The regional international airport has been in operation since January 1, 2023. Earlier, the flight operation system was assisted by the Visual Flight Rules system.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">But the airport has switched to an IFR system under which an aircraft is operated under instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), making night flights possible. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Private airlines service provider Buddha Air is preparing to launch the night flight at the airport. Buddha Air Spokesperson Dipendra Karna said they are preparing for operating Pokhara-Kathmandu and Kathmandu-Pokhara night flight from Thursday. ---RSS </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16843', 'image' => '20230223034849_collage - 2023-02-23T153817.721.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 15:46:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17104', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Myagdi Farmers Find their Calling in Potato Farming ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 23: Local farmers of Beni have started potato farming in the land that had remained barren for the past 20 years at Mareni of Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality-2 in Myagdi district. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 23: Local farmers of Beni have started potato farming in the land that had remained barren for the past 20 years at Mareni of Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality-2 in Myagdi district. A group of farmers associated with the Lagansheel Multipurpose Farmers' Group has cultivated potatoes in 44 ropanis of land by removing shrubs. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A total of 18 farmers associated with the group have commercially engaged in the farming, said the group's chairperson Gausara BK. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The group is at work to expand the cultivation to 100 ropanis of land at Mareni, Paireni and Lamsung this year, said BK, adding that the farmers have planted seed potato by taking 44 ropanis of land on lease at Mareni. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Potato farming is done in the pocket area for potato programme launched by the rural municipality, said Amrit Thapa, technical assistant at the agriculture section of the rural municipality. </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 land that remained barren for long has been properly utilized with the cultivating of potato. Local farmers have been encouraged to continue farming. It will help generate income for them," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The rural municipality has allocated Rs 1.2 million under the programme in the current fiscal year (FY 2022/23). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The local government will provide Rs 600,000 each to the selected applicants under the programme, said the agriculture section. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16842', 'image' => '20230223110227_potato-farming.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 11:01:29', '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' => '17122', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Ukraine-Russia Tension Continues: How Prepared is Nepal?', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 26: US President Joe Biden arrived in Kyiv four days before the first anniversary of the start of tensions between Russia and Ukraine.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Rudra Khadka</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 26: US President Joe Biden arrived in Kyiv four days before the first anniversary of the start of tensions between Russia and Ukraine on February 24.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Since the tension between the two countries is ongoing, the president and the soldiers of Ukraine are excited with the arrival of Biden in Kyiv. Since the beginning of tensions with Russia, the United States has provided more than USD 30 billion in aid to Ukraine.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Russia has expressed its displeasure about Biden's arrival in Kyiv. After Biden visited Ukraine, Russia announced the suspension of the Strategic Arms Limitation Agreement (SALT) with the United States. Soon after (last Tuesday), US President Biden, who reached Poland, opposed Russia's move. Due to this, the Russia-Ukraine tension does not seem to resolve immediately.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After the tension started between the two countries, the world economy went into recession. Inflation has increased in most of the countries. The problem of unemployment is getting serious. Tech giants like Amazon and Twitter have laid off employees hugely.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">How is the war affecting Nepal?</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The effect of the Russia-Ukraine tension, which started post Covid-19 pandemic, has also affected Nepal. Especially the increase in fuel prices has increased inflation in the country. The average inflation for the last six months is above 8 per cent, which is higher than expected. The 'supply chain' of food imports is disrupted and is causing the general public to suffer.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As there are no signs of immediate resolution to the tension in those countries, it is not yet possible to say how long the problem will last. World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Asian Development Bank and other agencies have predicted that the economic recession will continue throughout 2023. Nepal's economy has been import-oriented for years. All the necessary goods, including food, are imported, and revenue collected from imports has been the main source of revenue for the government.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal used to export rice until the 1980s, but in recent times it has stopped exporting and is only importing the staple food. Due to this, as soon as there is a disruption in the 'supply chain', Nepal gets impacted. The reason why the Ukraine-Russia tension has reached Nepal is because of the disruption in the supply chain. All over the world, Russia and Ukraine are known as the major source of wheat, mustard, lentils and petroleum products. Many countries, including Nepal and India, import the products of Russia and Ukraine. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Former Executive Director of Nepal Rastra Bank Nar Bahadur Thapa shared that there is no other option but to emphasize production growth as there is no possibility of an immediate resolution to the Russia-Ukraine tension.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"Since it is seen that there will be problems in the coming days, the first thing to do to sustain the economy is to increase production," he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Even though experts have been suggesting the government to increase production, the government does not seem to be paying much attention to it.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">For example, now is the time to plant paddy. However, the government has not yet been able to bring any incentive program for the farmers to plant paddy. The lack of chemical fertilizers is another major problem. Experts argue that if farmers are to be encouraged to plant paddy and increase production, it is necessary to fix the support price now.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the farmers do not believe in the support price set by the government, because the government does not buy the food crops if they are not sold according to the support price. This year too, the government announced the support price for annual paddy cultivation, but the government did not buy all of the farmers' produce.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Some farmers had already sold their paddy before the support price was fixed. Because of this, there is no point in setting or not setting the support price.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ex-executive director of Nepal Rashtra Bank suggested that large warehouses should be built all over the country and enough food should be stored in such houses to avert the possible threat of food crisis. Experts shared that now is the time for the government to act. However, such an opportunity also came during the time of Covid-19. However, the government wasted time by not introducing programs that would encourage production growth. Due to the fear of the pandemic, the people who lived in the city at that time returned to their villages.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">If the government had been able to adopt an incentive policy, the returnees could have been engaged in agricultural work. There was such an opportunity last year as well, but it was also wasted without working. Experts shared that since the crisis has not been resolved, there is still room for work to increase production. For that, first of all, the government should win the trust of the farmers, and to win the trust, it should adopt a farmer-friendly policy and implement it accordingly.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The farmers will be assured that the government is committed to support them only if it sets a support price for paddy and shows it by purchasing paddy accordingly. Even if there is an immediate ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, it will take at least six months for the 'supply chain' to return to normalcy. During that period, only agriculture can earn income. So the government should not waste time. A policy of increasing agricultural production should be adopted without any delay. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-26', 'modified' => '2023-02-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16860', 'image' => '20230226114038_20220224080713_aaa - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-26 11:39:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17121', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Light Rainfall Likely Today ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 26: There is a possibility of rainfall and thunderstorms due to the general influence of the westerly winds in the country today (February 26).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 26: There is a possibility of rainfall and thunderstorms due to the general influence of the westerly winds in the country today (February 26). </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 meteorologist at the state-owned Weather Forecasting Division, there is a possibility of light rainfall with thunder and lightning in few places of the hill areas of Province 1, Bagmati and Gandaki provinces.</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"">Rojana Lamichhane, a meteorologist with the Weather Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology said that light snowfall is also likely in the mountainous areas of the three provinces. </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"">Kathmandu is also likely to witness rainfall with partial to normal change in the weather today, added Lamichhane. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Lamichhane said that the weather will become clear in the morning and evening in Province 1, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province in the next few days. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The minimum temperature in Kathmandu todhas been recorded at 10 degrees Celsius and the maximum temperature is expected to be around 23 degrees Celsius. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-26', 'modified' => '2023-02-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16859', 'image' => '20230226110122_weatherrrr.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-26 11:00:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17119', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NC Senior Leader Poudel Most Likely to become New President', 'sub_title' => 'Registers Candidacy for Presidential Election', 'summary' => 'February 25: Senior leader of the Nepali Congress Ram Chandra Poudel has filed his candidacy for the presidential election to be held on March 9. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 25: Senior leader of the Nepali Congress Ram Chandra Poudel has filed his candidacy for the presidential election to be held on March 9. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and top leaders from various political parties reached the Federal Parliament building at New Baneshwar on Saturday to register Poudel's candidacy. Backed by eight parties, Paudel is most likely to be elected as the new president with clear majority. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Poudel has been proposed for the presidential candidate by NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairperson Madhav Kumar Nepal, CPN (Maoist Centre) Senior Vice-Chairperson Narayankaji Shrestha, Janata Samajwadi Party leader Ashok Kumar Rai and Abdul Khan of the Janamat Party. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, supporters for Poudel's candidacy in the presidential bid are Chairperson of Lokatantrik Samajwadi Party Nepal, Mahantha Thakur; Vice-President of Nepali Congress, Purna Bahadur Khadka; Chairperson of Nagarik Unmukti Party, Ranjita Shrestha; Chairman of Rastriya Janamorcha, Chitra Bahadur KC; and Chief Whip of CPN (Maoist Centre), Hitraj Pandey. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">President hopeful Poudel was elected Member of the House of Representatives from Tanahu-1 in the November 20 election. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Also, he was elected to the parliament from Tanahu in 2048 BS, 2051 BS, 2056 BS, 2064 BS and 2070 BS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Leader Poudel had already served as Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Home Affairs and led the Ministry of Local Development, Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Communications and Information in the past. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also served as the Speaker of the HoR. Born in 2001 BS at Bahunpokhara of Risti Rural Municipality in Tanahu district, Poudel forayed into politics at the age of 16. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He is the founding member of the Nepal Student Union, which was established in 2027 BS and was elected to the central committee member of the party for the first time in 2034 BS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, leader Poudel became vice-president and acting president of the party. He was also awarded with the 'Order of the Rising Sun (2020)' presented by the government of Japan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He has written dozens of books and published seminal articles on contemporary issues. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Eight political parties, including Nepali Congress – the largest party in the House of Representatives, CPN (Maoist Centre) and CPN (Unified Socialist) have decided to support Paudel’s bid to become a new president. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">An eight-party meeting held at the prime minister's official residence in Baluwatar on Friday evening took a decision to this effect, according to Prakash Jwala, a leader of the CPN (Unified Socialist). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">" Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal called the meeting of the eight parties including those out of the government. The only agenda discussed in the meeting was the president's election. In the meeting, PM Dahal proposed to support the Nepali Congress nominee for the president because it is the largest political party. We also agreed with PM Dahal's proposal," said Jwala.</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Quoting PM Dahal in the meeting, leader Jwala said, "From today onward, a new political journey begins. Let's take it ahead; let's be united for the country's prosperity, national independence, sovereignty and people's livelihood. We can go together on power sharing as well." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The eight parties attending the meeting were NC, Maoist Centre, CPN (Unified Socialist), Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP), Loktantrik Samajbadi Party, Janamat Party, Rastriya Janamorcha and Nagarik Unmukti Party. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The meeting of the top leaders of NC, Maoist Centre, JSP and CPN (US) on Friday morning had agreed to restore the previous alliance- the alliance before that of November 20 election. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Although the CPN UML had been insisting that UML nominee would be the president as per the agreement reached on December 25, PM Dahal was for forging national consensus for the presidential election. </span><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">-- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-25', 'modified' => '2023-02-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16857', 'image' => '20230225092850_PRO_KTM_RAMCHANDRAPAUDEL.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-25 21:28:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17117', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Tells Banks to Render Certain Services during Sudden Public Holidays ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has revised provisions about office hours of banks and financial institutions, mandating them to render certain kinds of services during sudden public holidays. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 24: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has revised provisions about office hours of banks and financial institutions, mandating them to render certain kinds of services during sudden public holidays. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NRB has fixed certain hours (10:00 am-1:30 pm) for banks and financial institutions to ensure most essential services such as cash transactions, cheque clearance and real-time gross settlement during a sudden public holiday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Prior to this, banks and financial institutions were required to pre-inform the Bank and Financial Institutions Regulation Department and Bank Supervision Department, NRB to render services during public holidays. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16855', 'image' => '20230224070045_20230223105840_Banks - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 19:00:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17116', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism Promotion Event held in Cairo ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: A variety of programmes depicting Nepal’s unique art and culture was organised in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, for the promotion of tourism. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 24: A variety of programmes depicting Nepal’s unique art and culture was organised in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, for the promotion of tourism. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Embassy of Nepal in Cairo held the programme on Wednesday and Thursday. Videos and songs and music reflecting the unique Nepali art and culture were presented on the occasion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Around 375 foreign nationals keenly observed the programme, the Nepali Embassy in Cairo said. The national flag, statues of Pashupatinath and the Buddha, images of elephants, urn, mask, khukuri knives and other articles related to Buddhism were put on display in the exhibition hall. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Tourism promotional materials such as booklets and posters were distributed to the visitors. The Nepali diaspora and students in Egypt had extended cooperation for this. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There are about 300 Nepali students studying medical science in Egypt, the embassy stated. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Besides Nepal, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Portugal, Russia, Vietnam, Spain, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Thailand, Ghana among other countries had also run tourism promotional stalls on the occasion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ambassador of Nepal to Egypt, Sushil Kumar Lamsal and the employees at the embassy were present on the occasion. The locals, foreigners living in Egypt and diplomatic staff of various countries had observed the Nepali stall and programme. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16854', 'image' => '20230224061340_RSS_332818672_3520502944849156.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 18:13:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17114', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal backs UN Resolution against Russia's Hostilities in Ukraine ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: Nepal has voted in favour of the United Nations (UN) non-binding resolution that condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 24: Nepal has voted in favour of the United Nations (UN) non-binding resolution that condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The resolution calls for Russia to end its hostilities in its neighbour and withdraw its forces from Ukraine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal taking part in an emergency Special General Assembly held in the UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday voted in favour of the resolution that calls for restoration of peace in Ukraine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A total of 141 nations, out of 193 UN member countries, backed the resolution approved by the UN General Assembly on the eve of the first anniversary of the invasion. Through the resolution, the UN has urged Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amrit Rai said Nepal's backing the UN resolution to end hostilities in Ukraine sends a strong message that is in favour of Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence. “Through the voting, we urged for finding ways for restoring peace in Ukraine.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The UN has expressed its concerns over increasing food insecurity, inflation and poverty due to disruptions in the global supplies chain owing to Russia’s hostilities in Ukraine since a year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Russia launched its attacks on Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Though a large number of people are believed to have been the victims of the conflict, official data in this regard is not available. When 141 nations including Nepal supported the resolution, 32 abstained and seven: Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea, Mali, Nicaragua, Syria and Russia voted against it. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16852', 'image' => '20230224044120_Rai_WTniRMr.width-800.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 16:40:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17113', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Tightens the Screws on Microfinance Companies', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has amended the Unified Directives 2078 to tighten the screws on microfinance companies.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 24: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has amended the Unified Directives 2078 to tighten the screws on microfinance companies.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the new provision, microfinance companies must keep 100 percent cash reserve if they propose issuing 15 percent dividend.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the revised directives of NRB, if such companies want to issue more than 15 percent dividend (cash or shares), they must deposit 50 percent of the dividend exceeding 15 percent in the general reserve fund, 35 percent in the customer protection fund and 10 percent in the corporate social responsibility fund. According to this arrangement, when a microfinance company gives more than 15 percent dividend, it has to keep Rs 95 in various reserve funds while issuing dividend of Rs 100.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Earlier, microfinance companies were required to keep 50 percent of the amount w in the general reserve fund and 25 percent in the customer protection fund only in case of issuing more than 20 percent dividend. No matter how much dividend was distributed, not more than 1 percent of net profit was required to be spent on corporate social responsibility.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, in the past, the limit of micro enterprise loan which was Rs 1,500,000 with mortgage has now been lowered to Rs 700,000, while borrowers who take loans from commercial banks, development banks and finance companies not allowed to take loans from micro finance companies.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, NRB also added a provision that orientation of directors should be done within Nepal. Since the location was not mentioned earlier, the directors used to go abroad for orientation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Employees working in microfinance companies should be given training related to microfinance transactions at least once every 2 years. The details of the training provided by the organization should be published on the website every 6 months.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, NRB also added a provision that the interest rate of deposits and loans should differ by only 50 percent from now on. Earlier, there was no provision regarding the minimum interest rate on savings.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16851', 'image' => '20230224024652_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 14:46:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17112', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CBFIN discusses Nepal’s Economic Situation with IMF', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: Office bearers of the Confederation of Banks and Financial Institutions Nepal (CBFIN) on Wednesday held a meeting with an International Monetary Fund (IMF) led by Jarkko Turunen.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 24: Office bearers of the Confederation of Banks and Financial Institutions Nepal (CBFIN) on Wednesday held a meeting with an International Monetary Fund (IMF) led by Jarkko Turunen.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The two sides discussed about the current economic situation of Nepal in the meeting.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Turunen, the head of the mission team of the IMF, said that he came to Nepal to review the current state of Nepal's economy and to consult with the stakeholders regarding the post-Covid-19 scenario. During the discussion, the representative of CBFIN informed the visiting delegates about various topics including import, liquidity problem and its impact, shrinking of profits of banks and financial institutions, decline in the capital market, the implementation status of a provision of Banking and Financial Institutions Act (BAFIA) which can convert promoter shares into ordinary shares, increase in non-performing loans, rising interest rates, lack of loanable capital, etc.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The representatives of the team from the IMF said that they will study the current economic problems of Nepal and prepare a report. Saying that the meeting and discussion were meaningful, the representative of the IMF relayed the message that they will continue the discussion and cooperation with CBFIN on various issues in the financial and banking sector in the future as well.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The discussion was attended by Teresa Daban Sanchez, the resident representative of IMF Nepal, Russell Green, senior economist of IMF, and CBFIN Vice President Rajesh Upadhyay, Secretary General Rajan Singh Bhandari, Executive Member Radhesh Panta and Director General Dr. Gopal Prasad Tiwari.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16850', 'image' => '20230224020043_1677194233.Clipboard05.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 14:00:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17111', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Preparations Underway to Open Essential Government Offices on Public Holidays', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: The government is making preparations to open essential government offices on public holidays other than Saturdays. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 24: The government is making preparations to open essential government offices on public holidays other than Saturdays. Following widespread complaints that there were too many public holidays, the cabinet meeting held on Thursday discussed about opening essential offices on public holidays as well.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the information shared by a cabinet minister, the government is planning to give additional facilities or some other arrangements to the government employees who work on public holidays.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government is preparing to open the Department of Passport, Department of Foreign Employment, district administration offices under the Ministry of Home Affairs, hospitals, banks, police stations, etc open on public holidays.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal was criticized after declaring public holidays on February 13 on the occasion of People’s War Day. The government announced holiday on February 13 within a few days after PM Dahal publicly said there were too many public holidays. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Dahal-led government has already given three days of additional public holidays within two months.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government announced a public holiday to mourn the day after the plane crash of Yeti Airlines in Pokhara on January 15. Before that, to please the ruling partner Rastriya Prajatantra Party, the government announced a holiday saying that Prithvi Jayanti would be celebrated on January 11 as the National Unity Day.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Now, instead of reducing public holidays, the government is preparing to open some offices on holidays. Some have understood this as a diplomatic move by Dahal to avoid criticism.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16849', 'image' => '20230224010200_1677194359.Clipboard07.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 13:01:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17110', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Foreign Exchange Rate of US Dollar Declines: NRB', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: The value of the dollar has decreased today (Friday) against the Nepali currency as compared to the previous trading day. ', '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:"Arial","sans-serif"">February 24: The value of the dollar has decreased today (Friday) against the Nepali currency as compared to the previous trading day. The latest list of foreign currency exchange rates published by Nepal Rastra Bank on Friday shows that the US dollar has depreciated.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">As per the rate published by NRB for Friday, the buying rate of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> US dollar is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">132</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">08</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">and the selling rate is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">132</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">68</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">. Until a day ago, the buying rate of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> US dollar was Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">132</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">27</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> paisa and the selling rate was Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">132</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">87</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The price of euro has also decreased on Friday. The buying rate per euro is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">140</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">and the selling rate is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">140</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">63</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">. On the previous day, the buying rate of euro was Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">140</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">63</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">and the selling rate was Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">141</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">27</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, the pound sterling has also decreased on Friday. The buying rate of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">pound sterling is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">158</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">98 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">and the selling rate is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">159</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">70</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">. On the previous day, the buying rate of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">pound sterling was fixed at Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">159</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">85 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">and the selling rate was Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">160</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">57</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16848', 'image' => '20230224121050_1677216922.1665294814.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 12:09:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17109', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Hetauda Cement Industry Resumes Operation ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: Hetauda Cement Industry, which was closed for the last two weeks, has started operation from today (February 24) after resumption of coal supply. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 24: Hetauda Cement Industry, which was closed for the last two weeks, has started operation from today (February 24) after resumption of coal supply. The industry was forced to close temporarily due to the unavailability of coal, said the industry. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Although the company had called for bids to supply of 8,000 metric tonnes of coal, it has only received 1,600 metric tons, said Deputy General Manager of the industry Nabin Kumar Karna. He added that the amount supplied would last only for 15 days. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Coal is being supplied from India, Bhutan, Indonesia and Pakistan, he said. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16847', 'image' => '20230224111424_cementtttt.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 11:13:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17107', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister Poudel Leaves for India to Attend G20 Finance Ministers’ Meeting', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel left for India to take part in the First G-20 meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors on Thursday. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">February 23: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel left for India to take part in the First G-20 meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors on Thursday. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Finance Poudel is accompanied by Shree Krishna Nepal, chief of International Economic Cooperation Coordination Division, Ministry of Finance. The meeting will be held on February 24 and 25 in Bangalore officially known as Bengaluru, Karnataka. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Though Nepal is not the G-20 member, Poudel is attending the meeting as an invitee when India is taking its presidency. The Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister is scheduled to hold meetings with his counterparts from various nations including India on the sidelines of the gathering. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the UK and the USA are the members in the Group of Twenty (G20). The Minister is scheduled to return home on February 25, according to the Ministry.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16845', 'image' => '20230223055414_collage - 2023-02-23T175407.639.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 17:52:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17106', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Round Table Nepal to Organize Fun Run on World Obesity Day ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Round Table Nepal is organizing a 5k Fun Run on World Obesity Day in Kathmandu on March 4, 2023.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">February 23: Round Table Nepal is organizing a 5k Fun Run on World Obesity Day in Kathmandu on March 4, 2023. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The Fun Run managed by N.R.S. Sports Foundation will have Plumber Pipes as the title sponsor and King Koil Mattress as the gold sponsor. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">With the slogan "Run For Obesity", the Fun Run is expected to attract 1000 participants and will start at 7:30 am. Participants have to pay Rs 200 registration fee, which includes a commemorative T-shirt and a certificate for every participant. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The organizers have arranged a warm-up Zumba session to get participants pumped and energized for the run.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">A non-political and non-sectarian organization, Round Table consists of youths from 18 to 40 years. The mission of Round Table Nepal is to work to provide quality education and health care services for the underprivileged communities.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Interested individuals can register for the event through Khalti App or by visiting website of N. R.S. Foundation. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16844', 'image' => '20230223050656_collage - 2023-02-23T170517.830.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 17:03:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17105', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Pokhara Regional International Airport Launching Night Flight From Thursday ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Pokhara Regional International Airport, the third largest international airport in the country, will be launching night flights from Thursday. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">February 23: Pokhara Regional International Airport, the third largest international airport in the country, will be launching night flights from Thursday. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">According to Spokesperson Jagannath Niraula of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) to date, flights to and from the Pokhara airport are available from 6:00 am to 4:00 pm and the night flight will be commencing from Thursday night. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">With the implementation of the Instrument Flight Rules system by the airport, it is able to operate night flights. Niraula said the airport will operate 18 hours in a day: from 6:00 am till midnight.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The regional international airport has been in operation since January 1, 2023. Earlier, the flight operation system was assisted by the Visual Flight Rules system.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">But the airport has switched to an IFR system under which an aircraft is operated under instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), making night flights possible. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Private airlines service provider Buddha Air is preparing to launch the night flight at the airport. Buddha Air Spokesperson Dipendra Karna said they are preparing for operating Pokhara-Kathmandu and Kathmandu-Pokhara night flight from Thursday. ---RSS </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16843', 'image' => '20230223034849_collage - 2023-02-23T153817.721.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 15:46:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17104', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Myagdi Farmers Find their Calling in Potato Farming ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 23: Local farmers of Beni have started potato farming in the land that had remained barren for the past 20 years at Mareni of Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality-2 in Myagdi district. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 23: Local farmers of Beni have started potato farming in the land that had remained barren for the past 20 years at Mareni of Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality-2 in Myagdi district. A group of farmers associated with the Lagansheel Multipurpose Farmers' Group has cultivated potatoes in 44 ropanis of land by removing shrubs. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A total of 18 farmers associated with the group have commercially engaged in the farming, said the group's chairperson Gausara BK. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The group is at work to expand the cultivation to 100 ropanis of land at Mareni, Paireni and Lamsung this year, said BK, adding that the farmers have planted seed potato by taking 44 ropanis of land on lease at Mareni. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Potato farming is done in the pocket area for potato programme launched by the rural municipality, said Amrit Thapa, technical assistant at the agriculture section of the rural municipality. </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 land that remained barren for long has been properly utilized with the cultivating of potato. Local farmers have been encouraged to continue farming. It will help generate income for them," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The rural municipality has allocated Rs 1.2 million under the programme in the current fiscal year (FY 2022/23). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The local government will provide Rs 600,000 each to the selected applicants under the programme, said the agriculture section. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16842', 'image' => '20230223110227_potato-farming.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 11:01:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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Since the beginning of tensions with Russia, the United States has provided more than USD 30 billion in aid to Ukraine.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Russia has expressed its displeasure about Biden's arrival in Kyiv. After Biden visited Ukraine, Russia announced the suspension of the Strategic Arms Limitation Agreement (SALT) with the United States. Soon after (last Tuesday), US President Biden, who reached Poland, opposed Russia's move. Due to this, the Russia-Ukraine tension does not seem to resolve immediately.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After the tension started between the two countries, the world economy went into recession. Inflation has increased in most of the countries. The problem of unemployment is getting serious. Tech giants like Amazon and Twitter have laid off employees hugely.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">How is the war affecting Nepal?</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The effect of the Russia-Ukraine tension, which started post Covid-19 pandemic, has also affected Nepal. Especially the increase in fuel prices has increased inflation in the country. The average inflation for the last six months is above 8 per cent, which is higher than expected. The 'supply chain' of food imports is disrupted and is causing the general public to suffer.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As there are no signs of immediate resolution to the tension in those countries, it is not yet possible to say how long the problem will last. World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Asian Development Bank and other agencies have predicted that the economic recession will continue throughout 2023. Nepal's economy has been import-oriented for years. All the necessary goods, including food, are imported, and revenue collected from imports has been the main source of revenue for the government.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal used to export rice until the 1980s, but in recent times it has stopped exporting and is only importing the staple food. Due to this, as soon as there is a disruption in the 'supply chain', Nepal gets impacted. The reason why the Ukraine-Russia tension has reached Nepal is because of the disruption in the supply chain. All over the world, Russia and Ukraine are known as the major source of wheat, mustard, lentils and petroleum products. Many countries, including Nepal and India, import the products of Russia and Ukraine. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Former Executive Director of Nepal Rastra Bank Nar Bahadur Thapa shared that there is no other option but to emphasize production growth as there is no possibility of an immediate resolution to the Russia-Ukraine tension.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"Since it is seen that there will be problems in the coming days, the first thing to do to sustain the economy is to increase production," he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Even though experts have been suggesting the government to increase production, the government does not seem to be paying much attention to it.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">For example, now is the time to plant paddy. However, the government has not yet been able to bring any incentive program for the farmers to plant paddy. The lack of chemical fertilizers is another major problem. Experts argue that if farmers are to be encouraged to plant paddy and increase production, it is necessary to fix the support price now.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the farmers do not believe in the support price set by the government, because the government does not buy the food crops if they are not sold according to the support price. This year too, the government announced the support price for annual paddy cultivation, but the government did not buy all of the farmers' produce.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Some farmers had already sold their paddy before the support price was fixed. Because of this, there is no point in setting or not setting the support price.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ex-executive director of Nepal Rashtra Bank suggested that large warehouses should be built all over the country and enough food should be stored in such houses to avert the possible threat of food crisis. Experts shared that now is the time for the government to act. However, such an opportunity also came during the time of Covid-19. However, the government wasted time by not introducing programs that would encourage production growth. Due to the fear of the pandemic, the people who lived in the city at that time returned to their villages.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">If the government had been able to adopt an incentive policy, the returnees could have been engaged in agricultural work. There was such an opportunity last year as well, but it was also wasted without working. Experts shared that since the crisis has not been resolved, there is still room for work to increase production. For that, first of all, the government should win the trust of the farmers, and to win the trust, it should adopt a farmer-friendly policy and implement it accordingly.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The farmers will be assured that the government is committed to support them only if it sets a support price for paddy and shows it by purchasing paddy accordingly. Even if there is an immediate ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, it will take at least six months for the 'supply chain' to return to normalcy. During that period, only agriculture can earn income. So the government should not waste time. A policy of increasing agricultural production should be adopted without any delay. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-26', 'modified' => '2023-02-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16860', 'image' => '20230226114038_20220224080713_aaa - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-26 11:39:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17121', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Light Rainfall Likely Today ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 26: There is a possibility of rainfall and thunderstorms due to the general influence of the westerly winds in the country today (February 26).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 26: There is a possibility of rainfall and thunderstorms due to the general influence of the westerly winds in the country today (February 26). </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 meteorologist at the state-owned Weather Forecasting Division, there is a possibility of light rainfall with thunder and lightning in few places of the hill areas of Province 1, Bagmati and Gandaki provinces.</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"">Rojana Lamichhane, a meteorologist with the Weather Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology said that light snowfall is also likely in the mountainous areas of the three provinces. </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"">Kathmandu is also likely to witness rainfall with partial to normal change in the weather today, added Lamichhane. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Lamichhane said that the weather will become clear in the morning and evening in Province 1, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province in the next few days. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The minimum temperature in Kathmandu todhas been recorded at 10 degrees Celsius and the maximum temperature is expected to be around 23 degrees Celsius. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-26', 'modified' => '2023-02-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16859', 'image' => '20230226110122_weatherrrr.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-26 11:00:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17119', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NC Senior Leader Poudel Most Likely to become New President', 'sub_title' => 'Registers Candidacy for Presidential Election', 'summary' => 'February 25: Senior leader of the Nepali Congress Ram Chandra Poudel has filed his candidacy for the presidential election to be held on March 9. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 25: Senior leader of the Nepali Congress Ram Chandra Poudel has filed his candidacy for the presidential election to be held on March 9. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and top leaders from various political parties reached the Federal Parliament building at New Baneshwar on Saturday to register Poudel's candidacy. Backed by eight parties, Paudel is most likely to be elected as the new president with clear majority. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Poudel has been proposed for the presidential candidate by NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairperson Madhav Kumar Nepal, CPN (Maoist Centre) Senior Vice-Chairperson Narayankaji Shrestha, Janata Samajwadi Party leader Ashok Kumar Rai and Abdul Khan of the Janamat Party. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, supporters for Poudel's candidacy in the presidential bid are Chairperson of Lokatantrik Samajwadi Party Nepal, Mahantha Thakur; Vice-President of Nepali Congress, Purna Bahadur Khadka; Chairperson of Nagarik Unmukti Party, Ranjita Shrestha; Chairman of Rastriya Janamorcha, Chitra Bahadur KC; and Chief Whip of CPN (Maoist Centre), Hitraj Pandey. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">President hopeful Poudel was elected Member of the House of Representatives from Tanahu-1 in the November 20 election. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Also, he was elected to the parliament from Tanahu in 2048 BS, 2051 BS, 2056 BS, 2064 BS and 2070 BS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Leader Poudel had already served as Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Home Affairs and led the Ministry of Local Development, Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Communications and Information in the past. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also served as the Speaker of the HoR. Born in 2001 BS at Bahunpokhara of Risti Rural Municipality in Tanahu district, Poudel forayed into politics at the age of 16. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He is the founding member of the Nepal Student Union, which was established in 2027 BS and was elected to the central committee member of the party for the first time in 2034 BS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, leader Poudel became vice-president and acting president of the party. He was also awarded with the 'Order of the Rising Sun (2020)' presented by the government of Japan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He has written dozens of books and published seminal articles on contemporary issues. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Eight political parties, including Nepali Congress – the largest party in the House of Representatives, CPN (Maoist Centre) and CPN (Unified Socialist) have decided to support Paudel’s bid to become a new president. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">An eight-party meeting held at the prime minister's official residence in Baluwatar on Friday evening took a decision to this effect, according to Prakash Jwala, a leader of the CPN (Unified Socialist). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">" Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal called the meeting of the eight parties including those out of the government. The only agenda discussed in the meeting was the president's election. In the meeting, PM Dahal proposed to support the Nepali Congress nominee for the president because it is the largest political party. We also agreed with PM Dahal's proposal," said Jwala.</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Quoting PM Dahal in the meeting, leader Jwala said, "From today onward, a new political journey begins. Let's take it ahead; let's be united for the country's prosperity, national independence, sovereignty and people's livelihood. We can go together on power sharing as well." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The eight parties attending the meeting were NC, Maoist Centre, CPN (Unified Socialist), Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP), Loktantrik Samajbadi Party, Janamat Party, Rastriya Janamorcha and Nagarik Unmukti Party. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The meeting of the top leaders of NC, Maoist Centre, JSP and CPN (US) on Friday morning had agreed to restore the previous alliance- the alliance before that of November 20 election. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Although the CPN UML had been insisting that UML nominee would be the president as per the agreement reached on December 25, PM Dahal was for forging national consensus for the presidential election. </span><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">-- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-25', 'modified' => '2023-02-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16857', 'image' => '20230225092850_PRO_KTM_RAMCHANDRAPAUDEL.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-25 21:28:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17117', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Tells Banks to Render Certain Services during Sudden Public Holidays ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has revised provisions about office hours of banks and financial institutions, mandating them to render certain kinds of services during sudden public holidays. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 24: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has revised provisions about office hours of banks and financial institutions, mandating them to render certain kinds of services during sudden public holidays. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NRB has fixed certain hours (10:00 am-1:30 pm) for banks and financial institutions to ensure most essential services such as cash transactions, cheque clearance and real-time gross settlement during a sudden public holiday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Prior to this, banks and financial institutions were required to pre-inform the Bank and Financial Institutions Regulation Department and Bank Supervision Department, NRB to render services during public holidays. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16855', 'image' => '20230224070045_20230223105840_Banks - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 19:00:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17116', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism Promotion Event held in Cairo ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: A variety of programmes depicting Nepal’s unique art and culture was organised in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, for the promotion of tourism. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 24: A variety of programmes depicting Nepal’s unique art and culture was organised in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, for the promotion of tourism. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Embassy of Nepal in Cairo held the programme on Wednesday and Thursday. Videos and songs and music reflecting the unique Nepali art and culture were presented on the occasion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Around 375 foreign nationals keenly observed the programme, the Nepali Embassy in Cairo said. The national flag, statues of Pashupatinath and the Buddha, images of elephants, urn, mask, khukuri knives and other articles related to Buddhism were put on display in the exhibition hall. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Tourism promotional materials such as booklets and posters were distributed to the visitors. The Nepali diaspora and students in Egypt had extended cooperation for this. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There are about 300 Nepali students studying medical science in Egypt, the embassy stated. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Besides Nepal, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Portugal, Russia, Vietnam, Spain, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Thailand, Ghana among other countries had also run tourism promotional stalls on the occasion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ambassador of Nepal to Egypt, Sushil Kumar Lamsal and the employees at the embassy were present on the occasion. The locals, foreigners living in Egypt and diplomatic staff of various countries had observed the Nepali stall and programme. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16854', 'image' => '20230224061340_RSS_332818672_3520502944849156.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 18:13:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17114', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal backs UN Resolution against Russia's Hostilities in Ukraine ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: Nepal has voted in favour of the United Nations (UN) non-binding resolution that condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 24: Nepal has voted in favour of the United Nations (UN) non-binding resolution that condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The resolution calls for Russia to end its hostilities in its neighbour and withdraw its forces from Ukraine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal taking part in an emergency Special General Assembly held in the UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday voted in favour of the resolution that calls for restoration of peace in Ukraine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A total of 141 nations, out of 193 UN member countries, backed the resolution approved by the UN General Assembly on the eve of the first anniversary of the invasion. Through the resolution, the UN has urged Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amrit Rai said Nepal's backing the UN resolution to end hostilities in Ukraine sends a strong message that is in favour of Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence. “Through the voting, we urged for finding ways for restoring peace in Ukraine.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The UN has expressed its concerns over increasing food insecurity, inflation and poverty due to disruptions in the global supplies chain owing to Russia’s hostilities in Ukraine since a year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Russia launched its attacks on Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Though a large number of people are believed to have been the victims of the conflict, official data in this regard is not available. When 141 nations including Nepal supported the resolution, 32 abstained and seven: Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea, Mali, Nicaragua, Syria and Russia voted against it. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16852', 'image' => '20230224044120_Rai_WTniRMr.width-800.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 16:40:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17113', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Tightens the Screws on Microfinance Companies', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has amended the Unified Directives 2078 to tighten the screws on microfinance companies.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 24: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has amended the Unified Directives 2078 to tighten the screws on microfinance companies.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the new provision, microfinance companies must keep 100 percent cash reserve if they propose issuing 15 percent dividend.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the revised directives of NRB, if such companies want to issue more than 15 percent dividend (cash or shares), they must deposit 50 percent of the dividend exceeding 15 percent in the general reserve fund, 35 percent in the customer protection fund and 10 percent in the corporate social responsibility fund. According to this arrangement, when a microfinance company gives more than 15 percent dividend, it has to keep Rs 95 in various reserve funds while issuing dividend of Rs 100.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Earlier, microfinance companies were required to keep 50 percent of the amount w in the general reserve fund and 25 percent in the customer protection fund only in case of issuing more than 20 percent dividend. No matter how much dividend was distributed, not more than 1 percent of net profit was required to be spent on corporate social responsibility.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, in the past, the limit of micro enterprise loan which was Rs 1,500,000 with mortgage has now been lowered to Rs 700,000, while borrowers who take loans from commercial banks, development banks and finance companies not allowed to take loans from micro finance companies.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, NRB also added a provision that orientation of directors should be done within Nepal. Since the location was not mentioned earlier, the directors used to go abroad for orientation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Employees working in microfinance companies should be given training related to microfinance transactions at least once every 2 years. The details of the training provided by the organization should be published on the website every 6 months.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, NRB also added a provision that the interest rate of deposits and loans should differ by only 50 percent from now on. Earlier, there was no provision regarding the minimum interest rate on savings.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16851', 'image' => '20230224024652_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 14:46:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17112', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CBFIN discusses Nepal’s Economic Situation with IMF', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: Office bearers of the Confederation of Banks and Financial Institutions Nepal (CBFIN) on Wednesday held a meeting with an International Monetary Fund (IMF) led by Jarkko Turunen.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 24: Office bearers of the Confederation of Banks and Financial Institutions Nepal (CBFIN) on Wednesday held a meeting with an International Monetary Fund (IMF) led by Jarkko Turunen.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The two sides discussed about the current economic situation of Nepal in the meeting.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Turunen, the head of the mission team of the IMF, said that he came to Nepal to review the current state of Nepal's economy and to consult with the stakeholders regarding the post-Covid-19 scenario. During the discussion, the representative of CBFIN informed the visiting delegates about various topics including import, liquidity problem and its impact, shrinking of profits of banks and financial institutions, decline in the capital market, the implementation status of a provision of Banking and Financial Institutions Act (BAFIA) which can convert promoter shares into ordinary shares, increase in non-performing loans, rising interest rates, lack of loanable capital, etc.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The representatives of the team from the IMF said that they will study the current economic problems of Nepal and prepare a report. Saying that the meeting and discussion were meaningful, the representative of the IMF relayed the message that they will continue the discussion and cooperation with CBFIN on various issues in the financial and banking sector in the future as well.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The discussion was attended by Teresa Daban Sanchez, the resident representative of IMF Nepal, Russell Green, senior economist of IMF, and CBFIN Vice President Rajesh Upadhyay, Secretary General Rajan Singh Bhandari, Executive Member Radhesh Panta and Director General Dr. Gopal Prasad Tiwari.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16850', 'image' => '20230224020043_1677194233.Clipboard05.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 14:00:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17111', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Preparations Underway to Open Essential Government Offices on Public Holidays', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: The government is making preparations to open essential government offices on public holidays other than Saturdays. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 24: The government is making preparations to open essential government offices on public holidays other than Saturdays. Following widespread complaints that there were too many public holidays, the cabinet meeting held on Thursday discussed about opening essential offices on public holidays as well.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the information shared by a cabinet minister, the government is planning to give additional facilities or some other arrangements to the government employees who work on public holidays.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government is preparing to open the Department of Passport, Department of Foreign Employment, district administration offices under the Ministry of Home Affairs, hospitals, banks, police stations, etc open on public holidays.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal was criticized after declaring public holidays on February 13 on the occasion of People’s War Day. The government announced holiday on February 13 within a few days after PM Dahal publicly said there were too many public holidays. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Dahal-led government has already given three days of additional public holidays within two months.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government announced a public holiday to mourn the day after the plane crash of Yeti Airlines in Pokhara on January 15. Before that, to please the ruling partner Rastriya Prajatantra Party, the government announced a holiday saying that Prithvi Jayanti would be celebrated on January 11 as the National Unity Day.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Now, instead of reducing public holidays, the government is preparing to open some offices on holidays. Some have understood this as a diplomatic move by Dahal to avoid criticism.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16849', 'image' => '20230224010200_1677194359.Clipboard07.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 13:01:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17110', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Foreign Exchange Rate of US Dollar Declines: NRB', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: The value of the dollar has decreased today (Friday) against the Nepali currency as compared to the previous trading day. ', '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:"Arial","sans-serif"">February 24: The value of the dollar has decreased today (Friday) against the Nepali currency as compared to the previous trading day. The latest list of foreign currency exchange rates published by Nepal Rastra Bank on Friday shows that the US dollar has depreciated.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">As per the rate published by NRB for Friday, the buying rate of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> US dollar is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">132</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">08</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">and the selling rate is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">132</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">68</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">. Until a day ago, the buying rate of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> US dollar was Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">132</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">27</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> paisa and the selling rate was Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">132</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">87</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The price of euro has also decreased on Friday. The buying rate per euro is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">140</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">and the selling rate is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">140</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">63</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">. On the previous day, the buying rate of euro was Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">140</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">63</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">and the selling rate was Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">141</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">27</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, the pound sterling has also decreased on Friday. The buying rate of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">pound sterling is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">158</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">98 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">and the selling rate is Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">159</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">70</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">. On the previous day, the buying rate of </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">pound sterling was fixed at Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">159</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">85 </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">and the selling rate was Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">160</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">57</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16848', 'image' => '20230224121050_1677216922.1665294814.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 12:09:14', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17109', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Hetauda Cement Industry Resumes Operation ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: Hetauda Cement Industry, which was closed for the last two weeks, has started operation from today (February 24) after resumption of coal supply. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 24: Hetauda Cement Industry, which was closed for the last two weeks, has started operation from today (February 24) after resumption of coal supply. The industry was forced to close temporarily due to the unavailability of coal, said the industry. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Although the company had called for bids to supply of 8,000 metric tonnes of coal, it has only received 1,600 metric tons, said Deputy General Manager of the industry Nabin Kumar Karna. He added that the amount supplied would last only for 15 days. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Coal is being supplied from India, Bhutan, Indonesia and Pakistan, he said. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-24', 'modified' => '2023-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16847', 'image' => '20230224111424_cementtttt.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-24 11:13:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17107', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister Poudel Leaves for India to Attend G20 Finance Ministers’ Meeting', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel left for India to take part in the First G-20 meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors on Thursday. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">February 23: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel left for India to take part in the First G-20 meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors on Thursday. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Finance Poudel is accompanied by Shree Krishna Nepal, chief of International Economic Cooperation Coordination Division, Ministry of Finance. The meeting will be held on February 24 and 25 in Bangalore officially known as Bengaluru, Karnataka. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Though Nepal is not the G-20 member, Poudel is attending the meeting as an invitee when India is taking its presidency. The Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister is scheduled to hold meetings with his counterparts from various nations including India on the sidelines of the gathering. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the UK and the USA are the members in the Group of Twenty (G20). The Minister is scheduled to return home on February 25, according to the Ministry.</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16845', 'image' => '20230223055414_collage - 2023-02-23T175407.639.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 17:52:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17106', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Round Table Nepal to Organize Fun Run on World Obesity Day ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Round Table Nepal is organizing a 5k Fun Run on World Obesity Day in Kathmandu on March 4, 2023.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">February 23: Round Table Nepal is organizing a 5k Fun Run on World Obesity Day in Kathmandu on March 4, 2023. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The Fun Run managed by N.R.S. Sports Foundation will have Plumber Pipes as the title sponsor and King Koil Mattress as the gold sponsor. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">With the slogan "Run For Obesity", the Fun Run is expected to attract 1000 participants and will start at 7:30 am. Participants have to pay Rs 200 registration fee, which includes a commemorative T-shirt and a certificate for every participant. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The organizers have arranged a warm-up Zumba session to get participants pumped and energized for the run.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">A non-political and non-sectarian organization, Round Table consists of youths from 18 to 40 years. The mission of Round Table Nepal is to work to provide quality education and health care services for the underprivileged communities.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Interested individuals can register for the event through Khalti App or by visiting website of N. R.S. Foundation. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16844', 'image' => '20230223050656_collage - 2023-02-23T170517.830.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 17:03:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17105', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Pokhara Regional International Airport Launching Night Flight From Thursday ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Pokhara Regional International Airport, the third largest international airport in the country, will be launching night flights from Thursday. ', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">February 23: Pokhara Regional International Airport, the third largest international airport in the country, will be launching night flights from Thursday. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">According to Spokesperson Jagannath Niraula of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) to date, flights to and from the Pokhara airport are available from 6:00 am to 4:00 pm and the night flight will be commencing from Thursday night. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">With the implementation of the Instrument Flight Rules system by the airport, it is able to operate night flights. Niraula said the airport will operate 18 hours in a day: from 6:00 am till midnight.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The regional international airport has been in operation since January 1, 2023. Earlier, the flight operation system was assisted by the Visual Flight Rules system.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">But the airport has switched to an IFR system under which an aircraft is operated under instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), making night flights possible. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Private airlines service provider Buddha Air is preparing to launch the night flight at the airport. Buddha Air Spokesperson Dipendra Karna said they are preparing for operating Pokhara-Kathmandu and Kathmandu-Pokhara night flight from Thursday. ---RSS </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16843', 'image' => '20230223034849_collage - 2023-02-23T153817.721.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 15:46:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '17104', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Myagdi Farmers Find their Calling in Potato Farming ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 23: Local farmers of Beni have started potato farming in the land that had remained barren for the past 20 years at Mareni of Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality-2 in Myagdi district. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 23: Local farmers of Beni have started potato farming in the land that had remained barren for the past 20 years at Mareni of Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality-2 in Myagdi district. A group of farmers associated with the Lagansheel Multipurpose Farmers' Group has cultivated potatoes in 44 ropanis of land by removing shrubs. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A total of 18 farmers associated with the group have commercially engaged in the farming, said the group's chairperson Gausara BK. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The group is at work to expand the cultivation to 100 ropanis of land at Mareni, Paireni and Lamsung this year, said BK, adding that the farmers have planted seed potato by taking 44 ropanis of land on lease at Mareni. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Potato farming is done in the pocket area for potato programme launched by the rural municipality, said Amrit Thapa, technical assistant at the agriculture section of the rural municipality. </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 land that remained barren for long has been properly utilized with the cultivating of potato. Local farmers have been encouraged to continue farming. It will help generate income for them," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The rural municipality has allocated Rs 1.2 million under the programme in the current fiscal year (FY 2022/23). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The local government will provide Rs 600,000 each to the selected applicants under the programme, said the agriculture section. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-23', 'modified' => '2023-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16842', 'image' => '20230223110227_potato-farming.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-23 11:01:29', '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
