February 8: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has enhanced its support to advance democratic progress in…
February 8: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has enhanced its support to advance democratic progress in…
The government has set the target to export pashmina worth 750 million in the US Dollar till 2026. Keeping in mind the target, the Nepal government has unveiled “Pashmina Sector Export National…
February 7: Tourism entrepreneurs are excited due to the initiative to start of jeep safari from Nawalpur to Chitwan National Park…
February 7: The Government of India has increased the customs duty on gold import through the budget for the fiscal year…
February 7: Nepal exported tea worth Rs 38 million in the first six months of the current fiscal year.…
February 7: Garment, one of the major export items of Nepal, has seen an improvement after Covid-19 pandemic subsided.…
February 7: Nepal’s trade deficit decreased by 19.2 percent to Rs 711.86 billion during the six months of the current fiscal year (FY 2022/23), according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank…
February 7: A preliminary report of a probe panel formed by the government to study the crash of an ATR aircraft belonging to Yeti Airlines in Pokhara on January 15 has found that the ill-fated aircraft did not have any thrust in both the engines while making a final attempt to land at the newly-built Pokhara Regional International Airport, which led to the fatal…
February 7: The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the price of petroleum products including that of diesel, petrol and kerosene.…
February 6: Amid speculations of economic slowdown and challenges in the country’s financial situation, some positive signs are visible in the economy except for higher inflation…
February 6: The year-on-year (y-o-y) consumer price inflation increased to 7.26 percent in mid-January 2023 compared to 5.65 percent a year ago, according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank…
Lawmaker of the CPN (Maoist Centre) Urmila Aryal has been unanimously elected the Vice Chairperson of the National Assembly…
February 6: Government data shows that a large amount of wood and timber products are imported every year from…
February 6: Sundar Yatayat Pvt Ltd has decided to halt its electric bus service.…
February 6: A devastating earthquake early on Monday has flattened buildings and killed at least 100 people in Turkey and Syria as rescuers scramble to search for people trapped in…
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 8: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has enhanced its support to advance democratic progress in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">USAID's administrator Samantha power who is on a two-day official visit to Nepal announced to provide USAID assistance up to $ 58.5 million to advance Nepal's democratic progress, subject to availability of funds. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The announcement was made in the presence of representatives of the Government of Nepal, civil society and private sector on Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the US Embassy in Kathmandu, the amount of $ 20.2 million was a part of $659 million development objective agreement announced in 2022. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Following transparent and peaceful election this year, Nepal has an opportunity to strengthen federalism, advance the inclusion of women and marginalized communities, empower youths and demonstrate that democracy can deliver to its people. The US would collaborate with Nepal in these areas, the US embassy said in a statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The USAID investment would further help strengthen public financial management, independent civil society and media, democratic processes and institutions, rule of law and private sector, thereby consolidating its democratic achievements and inviting further wider prosperity and resilience, added the statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">USAID would also continue its assistance to Nepal in its bid to fight against human trafficking. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In order to deliver service in a more accountable and transparent manner from economic perspectives, the investment announced on Tuesday includes up to $20 million to support provincial and local governments towards strengthening inclusive democracy and prosperity. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, assistance up to $ 18.5 million is included in the package to support the independent CSOs led by and for women, youth and marginalized community people to advance community needs, fundamental freedoms and accountability. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">USAID would work with the CSOs to develop their skills, credibility and techniques required to engage effectively with the government and the general public. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The international development agency has said that it would also collaborate with media to support efforts to improve public access to credible information and diverse narratives. That will enhance social trust on media. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The USAID has also shared that it would work to strengthen rule of law and legal regime to fight against human trafficking as well as to further enable free and fair elections. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">These new initiative is built on more than 60-years of USAID partnership with the Nepal government and the people, private sector and others to support goals and aspirations of Nepal. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-08', 'modified' => '2023-02-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16703', 'image' => '20230208093716_KB_KTM-RE3A7328copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-08 09:35:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16963', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Formulates National Strategy for Export of Pashmina', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The government has set the target to export pashmina worth 750 million in the US Dollar till 2026. Keeping in mind the target, the Nepal government has unveiled “Pashmina Sector Export National Strategy”.', 'content' => '<div> <div> <div> <div> <div> <div> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 7: The government has set the target to export pashmina worth 750 million in the US Dollar till 2026. Keeping in mind the target, </span></span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> the Nepal government has unveiled “Pashmina Sector Export National Strategy”.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Amidst a programme organized in Lalitpur, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Damodar Bhandari released the “Pashmina Sector Export National Strategy” on Tuesday. P</span></span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">ashmina sector export national strategy was formulated in collaboration with Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Trade and Export Promotion Center, Nepal Pashmina Industries Association. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The national strategy will be technically assisted by International Trade Center under EU Nepal Trade and Investment Programme operated with EU’s support. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Minister Bhandari said that national strategy on pashmina export would contribute largely to development and expansion of pashmina industries.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Bhandari informed that a factory would be set up to produce thread out of wools of mountain goats for the first time in Nepal. He claimed that production and quality of pashmina-borne goods would increase following the production of pashmina thread in Nepal from the wools of mountain goats.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">National pashmina export strategy formulated by industry and commerce ministry with EU’s financial assistance and International Trade Center’s technical support sets the target to export the pashmina within five years. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies stressed the need to encourage the farmers to keep mountain goats in the mountainous districts for wool production.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We can export pashmina and earn a lot of money to reduce trade deficit. Thus, we have to encourage the farmers for keeping mountain goats for wool production,” Marasini added. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal Pashmina Industries Association Chairman Bijay Dugad said that Pashmina Sector Export National Strategy would be helpful for the private sector. “The production of thread used for making pashmina inside the country is very good step. Farmers will get good price for the wools of mountain goats used to make pashmina,” he added. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal is importing pashmina thread from outside to make pashmina goods. “Making pashmina thread inside the country will give good price to the farmers,” Dugad stated.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal has capacity to manufacture 5 million pieces of pashmina. However, only 2 to 2.5 million pieces of pashmina are being made at the moment. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A foundation stone of Pashmina Fiber Processing Center to manufacture pashmina thread was laid in Harisiddi, Lalitpur on Tuesday. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal had imported pashmina shawls worth Rs 2.53 billion in 2021. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">With target to export pashmina worth 75 million in the US Dollar by 2026, the national pashmina export strategy is expected to contribute to the prosperity of the country. The strategy clearly describes roles and responsibilities, plans, coordination and implementation of all stakeholders.</span></span></span></p> </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> </div> </div> <div> </div> </div> </div> <div> </div> </div> <div> <div> <div> <div> <table cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top; width:44px"><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><img class="ajn bofPge" id=":mr_5" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a/AEdFTp4-VpiAMFbtOF9st6DjlMR50rTaZa7DRPIhBo2C=s40-p" style="border-radius:50%; display:block; height:40px; width:40px" /></span></span></td> <td style="width:922px"> <div> <div><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">ReplyForward</span></span></span></div> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> </div> </div> </div> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-08', 'modified' => '2023-02-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16702', 'image' => '20230208061115_collage (39).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-08 05:51:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16961', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism Entrepreneurs Excited about Jeep Safari in Chitwan National Park', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 7: Tourism entrepreneurs are excited due to the initiative to start of jeep safari from Nawalpur to Chitwan National Park (CNP).', 'content' => '<p>February 7: Tourism entrepreneurs are excited due to the initiative to start of jeep safari from Nawalpur to Chitwan National Park (CNP).</p> <p>Earlier, this service was only available to the buffer zones and community forests near the national park.</p> <p>Dhaniram Gurau, a tourism entrepreneur from Kawasoti said that they are excited because the number of tourists will increase if the visitors who come for a jungle safari are given additional services of jeep safari in the park area with a boat ride in the Narayani River.</p> <p>He said, “Earlier, jeep safari could go only upto the community forests located in the buffer zone, but now tourists can visit the park as well, so the number of tourists coming here has increased.”</p> <p>Nawalpur Tourism Committee Chairman Phansram Mahato said that last year jeep safaris were stopped even in the community forests of the buffer zone, but now that the park has allowed safaris across Narayani. Tourism activities will now increase in the district.</p> <p>“We are happy, this step will help to keep the tourism activities going,” he said. According to him, CNP gave permission to all hotels and businessmen on January 25 to enter the park from the Amaltari post of Nawalpur.</p> <p>Earlier, only Hotel Temple Tiger and Tharu Village were allowed to take tourists to the park. Chief District Officer Krishna Prasad Lamsal said that since tourists will be able to travel to Gaindakhasa, Devital, Tiger Tops route and crocodile breeding center through Amaltari, there will be an increase in economic and tourist activities in this area.</p> <p>Inaugurating the safari on Saturday, CDO Lamsal said that after the jeep safari starts inside the park from Nawalpur, the arrival of foreign tourists will also promote the local culture. The committee started a safari in the park amid an official program. Ten people will be allowed to enter the park in five jeeps per day from Nawalpur area. Hotel and tourism businesses will get permission on 'first-come-first-service' basis.</p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-07', 'modified' => '2023-02-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16700', 'image' => '20230207084654_DA_Tribeni-DSC_0071.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-07 20:46:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16958', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India Increases Customs Duty on Gold Imports', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 7: The Government of India has increased the customs duty on gold import through the budget for the fiscal year 2023/24.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 7: The Government of India has increased the customs duty on gold import through the budget for the fiscal year 2023/24. India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has increased the customs duty on gold imports to 12 and a half per cent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Experts said that since Nepal and India have open border and uninterrupted trade, as soon as the price of gold increases in the Indian market, it will automatically affect the Nepali market. On the other hand, Nepal's northern neighbour, China, has been imposing minimal rate of tax on gold.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Businessmen said that the possibility of exporting gold from China to India via Nepal cannot be ruled out. However, since China closed its borders with Nepal after the Covid, the possibility of Chinese gold being delivered to India through transit in Nepal is very unlikely. Apart from this, it is said that the possibility of bringing gold from other countries illegally to Nepal and bringing it to India will also increase.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The government should control it through its security and inspection mechanism," said Manikaratna Shakya, president of the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Association. He said that the Nepali market can also be affected by such activities.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal imports gold from Dubai, Turkey, Hong Kong and Australia. However, businessmen cannot import gold in Nepal. Banks import gold in Nepal as per the provisions of Nepal Rastra Bank, while Businesses buy from banks.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Traders said that with the Indian government increasing the customs duty on gold import, the price of gold in the Nepali market will be cheaper by Rs 1000 to 1500 per tola compared to India. According to the Federation’s President Shakya, Indian customers can come to the border towns of Nepal to buy gold.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“There is a possibility that Indian customers will come to the Nepali market and buy gold. It is good if this happens. Nepali business will grow, and many will get jobs,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government of Nepal has adopted a policy of sending only 10 kg of gold per day to the market for trading. Due to the impact on international economic activities after the Russia-Ukraine war, as the foreign currency reserves are decreasing in Nepal, the government has reduced the amount of gold to be sent to the market to 10 kg to reduce the outflow of dollars. Businessmen are demanding to increase in the amount saying that 10 kg of gold will be less during the peak season.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"10 kg of gold is less. The government needs to send at least 20 or 25 kg of gold to the market daily,'' Pawan Kumar Somani, the vice president of the federation, said. He said that there is no alternative to increasing the amount of gold to keep the market moving.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, because after India increased the tax on gold import, the price of gold in Nepal decreased, increasing the amount of gold in the market may create a situation where the gold will have to be bought in dollars and sold in gold. If this happens, there will be a situation where the demand of businessmen, who have been taking a stand for increasing the supply of gold for a long time, will not be met.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-07', 'modified' => '2023-02-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16698', 'image' => '20230207030625_20230205100630_20230205091743_gold.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-07 15:05:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16959', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Exports Tea worth Rs 38 Million', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 7: Nepal exported tea worth Rs 38 million in the first six months of the current fiscal year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 7: Nepal exported tea worth Rs 38 million in the first six months of the current fiscal year. According to the National Tea and Coffee Development Board, tea farming is done in around 27,500 hectares of land in the country and Jhapa covers more than one third of the total tea gardens. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Of the total 28 million kilograms of tea produced during the review period, Jhapa alone produced 18 million kilograms, which is the highest in terms of district-wise production, said chief of the board Indra Prasad Adhikari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The districts of the Province 1 produce almost 99 per cent of the total tea in the country, according to Adhikari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In Nepal, a total of 68 large-scale tea industries including 38 CTC and 30 orthodox tea producing industries are in operation. Likewise, more than 150 small companies are processing orthodox tea. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The board said that more than 70,000 people have got direct employment from tea production and 15,000 plus small farmers are engaged in tea farming. -- RSS </span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-07', 'modified' => '2023-02-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16696', 'image' => '20230207042911_Tea.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-07 16:28:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16956', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Garment Exports Improving after Covid-19', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 7: Garment, one of the major export items of Nepal, has seen an improvement after Covid-19 pandemic subsided. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 7: Garment, one of the major export items of Nepal, has seen an improvement after Covid-19 pandemic subsided. Garment exports of the country, which lost Rs 2.5 billion due to the cancellation of orders during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, have seen improvement in recent times.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">From mid-July to mid-January of the current fiscal year (FY) 2079/80, garments worth Rs 4.28 billion were exported from Nepal. According to the Trade and Export Promotion Center, during the corresponding period of the last fiscal year, Nepal exported ready-made garments worth Rs 3.84 billion. The Government of Nepal imposed a lockdown from March 24, 2020 to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 infection, halting the exports of ready-made garments as well according to Pashupatidev Pandey, president of Nepal Ready-Made Garment Industry Association.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that even though the export have been encouraging after the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, the increase in bank interest rates, non-availability of subsidized loans, and increase in freight charges caused problems. He says that this sector lost Rs 2.5 billion due to the closure in the first and second waves of Covid-19. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Pandey said, “There were massive losses when orders were canceled and raw materials were stopped in countries like India and China. Only if there was export credit insurance, the businessmen would have received compensation for that.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Export Credit Insurance is applicable at international level. Such a system is yet to be implemented in Nepal. He said, “If such insurance was arranged through the Ministry of Finance, the compensation for the loss during the Covid-19 would have been available. The loss when the order was canceled would have been covered by the insurance. Cargo freight, which was $1 before Covid-19, has now reached $4.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The association has urged the government to make arrangements to export goods from Nepal's cargo ships to nearby countries and to keep 500 containers under the state in the border area to export goods from nearby sea ports.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There are now only around 100 industries in the readymade garments sector, which provided high employment in the 1980s. According to the association, more than 10,000 people are directly and indirectly employed in these industries. According to the statistics of the association, when 1200 industries were operating in the 80s, more than 400,000 people got employment in this sector. However, after the removal of customs exemptions and quotas provided by the US since 2005, exports began to decline.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Businessmen say that exports can be increased if necessary policies are adopted by the government after conducting researches on like Bangladesh, Vietnam, and China countries that export large quantities of garments. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Pandey says that it is necessary to take initiatives to revive the facilities that were previously provided when the relations with the US were smooth. According to Pandey, it is necessary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister's Office to take a diplomatic initiative to regain the quota facilities given by the US in the 90s. He said, “At that time, when America provided the quota, garments worth US$ 400 million were exported. Now it has reduced to US$ 50 million.”</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-07', 'modified' => '2023-02-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16694', 'image' => '20230207023410_20210501021711_Clipboard13.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-07 14:33:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16955', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Trade Deficit Declines by more than Nineteen Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 7: Nepal’s trade deficit decreased by 19.2 percent to Rs 711.86 billion during the six months of the current fiscal year (FY 2022/23), according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 7: Nepal’s trade deficit decreased by 19.2 percent to Rs 711.86 billion during the six months of the current fiscal year (FY 2022/23), according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report published by the central bank on Monday revealed that such a deficit had increased 46.6 percent in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The export-import ratio decreased to 10.2 percent in the review period from 11.9 percent in the corresponding period of the previous year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, merchandise exports decreased 32.0 percent to Rs 80.81 billion during the first six months of 2022/23 against an increase of 95.5 percent in the same period of the previous year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Destination-wise, exports to India and China decreased 40.1 percent and 25.2 percent respectively whereas exports to other countries increased 3.6 percent. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Exports of zinc sheet, particle board, cardamom, woolen carpets, polyester yarn and thread, among others, increased whereas exports of soybean oil, palm oil, oil cakes, textiles, silverware and jewelries, among others, decreased in the review period, states the report.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Similarly, merchandise imports decreased 20.7 percent to Rs 792.67 billion during the review period against an increase of 51.1 percent a year ago. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Destination-wise, imports from India, China and other countries decreased 19.4 percent, 24.6 percent, and 21.4 percent respectively. Imports of petroleum products, sponge iron, chemical fertilizer, gold, other stationeries, among others, increased whereas imports of transport equipment and parts, medicine, MS billet, silver, telecommunication equipment and parts, among others, decreased in the review period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Based on customs points, exports from customs offices of Bhairahawa, Jaleshwar, Kailali, Krishnanagar, Mechi, Nepalgunj, Rasuwa and Tribhuvan International Airport increased whereas exports from all the other major customs points decreased in the review period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">On the import side, imports from all the major customs points decreased in the review period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the six months of FY 2022/23, merchandise imports from India by paying convertible foreign currency amounted to Rs 60.56 billion. Such an amount was Rs 110.91 billion in the same period of the previous year.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-07', 'modified' => '2023-02-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16693', 'image' => '20230207011450_Trade.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-07 13:13:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16952', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Yeti Airlines Plane that Crashed in Pokhara did not have Thrust in Engines before Landing', 'sub_title' => 'Probe Panel Completes Analysis of Data Recorder of the Crashed Aircraft of Yeti Airlines ', 'summary' => 'February 7: A preliminary report of a probe panel formed by the government to study the crash of an ATR aircraft belonging to Yeti Airlines in Pokhara on January 15 has found that the ill-fated aircraft did not have any thrust in both the engines while making a final attempt to land at the newly-built Pokhara Regional International Airport, which led to the fatal accident.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 7: A preliminary report of a probe panel formed by the government to study the crash of an ATR aircraft belonging to Yeti Airlines in Pokhara on January 15 has found that the ill-fated aircraft did not have any thrust in both the engines while making a final attempt to land at the newly-built Pokhara Regional International Airport, which led to the fatal accident.</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"">The Aircraft Accident Investigation Commission on Monday revealed that it reached to this conclusion after completing the analysis of the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) of the ATR-72 aircraft conducted at Singapore-based Transport Safety Investigation Bureau. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The black boxes of the aircraft with call sign 9N-ANC, which crashed in the Seti River gorge near the Pokhara airport killing all 72 people on board last month, were sent to Singapore along with a team of experts for forensic study.</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"">Member-Secretary of the investigation commission, Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane, said that a team of aviation experts and commission members during the investigation found that the “propellers of both engines had gone to feathering in the base leg in course of landing” which means that there was no thrust in the engines to push the aircraft ahead. Analysts believe that this led to the aircraft to stall and take a nosedive minutes before it was scheduled to land.</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"">“Study of different flights and technical aspects was carried out at different simulator flights of ATR aircraft in Singapore,” said Lamichhane adding that the commission is carrying out further investigation about technical and human aspects on it. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A press release issued by the commission on Monday states that preparations are underway to come up with a preliminary report along with recommendation to increase aviation safety on the basis of analysis report and data received so far. The commission said that the final report would be published later. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-07', 'modified' => '2023-02-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16691', 'image' => '20230207121550_Yetii.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-07 12:14:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16951', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NOC Hikes Price of Petroleum Products', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 7: The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the price of petroleum products including that of diesel, petrol and kerosene. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 7: The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the price of petroleum products including that of diesel, petrol and kerosene. The price of fuel has been increased by Rs 3 per litre to take the retail price of diesel and kerosene at Rs 175 per litre and that of petrol to Rs 178 per litre. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The new price has come into effect from February 7. The price of aviation fuel and cooking cooking gas remains unchanged, reads a statement issued by the NOC on Monday. -- </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-07', 'modified' => '2023-02-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16690', 'image' => '20230207113831_20210824101943_20210707102647_20190503125003_Petrol-Price-Increase.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-07 11:36:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16949', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Economy Shows Slight Improvement with Increase in Remittance Inflow and BOP Surplus ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 6: Amid speculations of economic slowdown and challenges in the country’s financial situation, some positive signs are visible in the economy except for higher inflation rate. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 6: Amid speculations of economic slowdown and challenges in the country’s financial situation, some positive signs are visible in the economy except for higher inflation rate. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the consumer price inflation was recorded at 7.25 percent in the first six months of the current fiscal year compared to 5.65 percent a year ago. Food and beverage inflation stood at 5.62 percent whereas non-food and service inflation rose to 8.57 percent in the review month, the NRB said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Releasing the Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation of the country based on first six months’ data ending mid-January, the NRB said consumer price inflation in the Kathmandu Valley, Terai, Hill and Mountain belts surged to 6.93 percent, 7.49 percent, 7.30 percent and 6.69 percent, respectively. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the central bank said remittance inflows increased by 24.3 percent to Rs 585.08 billion in the review period against a decrease of 5 percent in the same period of the previous year. In the US Dollar terms, remittance inflows increased 13.9 percent to 4.5 billion against a decrease of 5.7 percent in the same period of the previous year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the number of Nepali workers taking approval for foreign employment increased 64.6 percent to 275,643 in the review period. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, the current account of the government remained at a deficit of Rs 29.47 billion compared to a deficit of Rs 352.16 billion in the same period of the previous year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Furthermore, the Balance of Payments (BOP) remained at a surplus of Rs 97.10 billion in the review period which was at a deficit of Rs 241.23 billion in the same period of the previous year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The country’s gross foreign exchange reserves increased 10 percent to Rs 1337.29 billion in mid-January 2023 from Rs 1215.80 billion in mid-July 2022. In the US dollar terms, the gross foreign exchange reserves increased 8.0 percent to 10.30 billion in mid-January 2023 from 9.54 billion in mid-July 2022. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, former governor of NRB Dipendra Bahadur Kshetri said that the current economic situation of the country should be taken cautiously because we are yet to return to the previous position. The major source of foreign reserve is remittance but we have failed to bring in foreign direct investment and we have not been able to offer an alternative to the import of petroleum products, Kshetri said. “We should promote EVs to reduce the consumption and import of petroleum products.” -- RSS</span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-06', 'modified' => '2023-02-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16688', 'image' => '20230206090958_20201228012934_20201106055408_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-06 21:09:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16948', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Consumer Price Inflation Rises to 7.26 Percent in mid-January: NRB Report', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 6: The year-on-year (y-o-y) consumer price inflation increased to 7.26 percent in mid-January 2023 compared to 5.65 percent a year ago, according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 6: The year-on-year (y-o-y) consumer price inflation increased to 7.26 percent in mid-January 2023 compared to 5.65 percent a year ago, according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report released by NRB on Monday states that the food and beverage inflation stood at 5.62 percent whereas non-food and service inflation rose to 8.57 percent in the review month.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Under the food and beverage category, y-o-y consumer price index of restaurant and hotel sub-category increased 15.56 percent, tobacco products 11.81 percent, milk products and eggs 9.70 percent, cereal grains and their products 9.56 percent and alcoholic drinks 8.84 percent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Under the non-food and services category, y-o-y consumer price index of transportation sub-category increased 16.43 percent, health 11.22 percent, recreation and culture 8.76 percent, miscellaneous goods and services 8.68 percent and furnishing and household equipment 8.33 percent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the review month, consumer price inflation in the Kathmandu Valley, Terai, Hill and Mountain surged to 6.93 percent, 7.49 percent, 7.30 percent and 6.69 percent respectively. Inflation in these regions were 5.28 percent, 6.15 percent, 5.34 percent and 5.22 percent respectively a year ago.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-06', 'modified' => '2023-02-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16687', 'image' => '20230206064814_20210924021304_636277035242086786-Inflation.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-06 18:47:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16947', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Maoists Center’ Aryal Elected National Assembly Vice-chair', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Lawmaker of the CPN (Maoist Centre) Urmila Aryal has been unanimously elected the Vice Chairperson of the National Assembly (NA).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 6: Lawmaker of the CPN (Maoist Centre) Urmila Aryal has been unanimously elected the Vice Chairperson of the National Assembly (NA). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Ganesh Prasad Timilsina, Chairperson of the upper house, informed Monday’s NA session about Aryal’s unanimous election to the post of vice-chair since she was the sole candidate to register her candidacy for the post. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The CPN UML lawmaker Debendra Dahal had seconded the proposal to elect Aryal to the post. Dahal had praised her saying that she was capable and qualified candidate for the job. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Speaking at the session of the National Assembly, lawmaker Khim Lal Devkota praised her for having played an important role in women's movement in Nepal. He stressed the need for electing women in the leading positions in other state organs. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">State Committee member of the ruling CPN-Maoists center, Aryal had served as the local development minister.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-06', 'modified' => '2023-02-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16686', 'image' => '20230206053121_collage - 2023-02-06T163421.733.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-06 17:29:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16945', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Importing Timber worth Millions due to Policy Hurdles', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 6: Government data shows that a large amount of wood and timber products are imported every year from abroad.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 6: Government data shows that a large amount of wood and timber products are imported every year from abroad. In the fiscal year (FY) 2077/78, wood and wood products worth Rs 15.18 billion were imported into Nepal. Meanwhile in FY 2078/79, this amount increased to Rs 17.82 billion, where the import of wood alone worth Rs 7.45 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In six months of the current fiscal year (FY 2079/80), wood worth Rs 2.76 billion is already imported. This amount of wood import has shocked many people. Import of such a large amount of wood from abroad when Nepal itself is rich in forest resources, cannot be considered normal. It also points towards the need for a review of the policies adopted by the country.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Ministry of Forests, more than 45 percent of the total land area of Nepal is covered by forests where 41 percent of area has trees and the remaining 4 percent has other plants. According to the business organization involved in this sector, Nepal needs 100 million cubic feet of wood annually. However, in the last FY 2078/79, it seems that only 21.2 million cubic feet of wood was produced from the forests of Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kapil Adhikari, chairman of Federation of Forest Based Industry and Trade Nepal (FenFit) says that the problem is mainly policy and procedural hurdles.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said, “If the policy hurdle is to be removed, the timber produced in the country can be consumed here and exported abroad as well.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government introduced the Scientific Forest Management Procedure, 2014 to deal with the difficult supply system of wood and the need to import wood from abroad. The procedure mentioned that the forest will be managed in a community, with partnership and pooling approach. After the implementation of the procedure, it was estimated that there would be no need to import wood, but the procedure was canceled in 2020 after complaints of widespread deforestation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Forest management expert Bijay Subedi says that the scientific forest management procedure, 2014 had to be scrapped as the general public did not understand the procedure.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said, “It was a good procedure with neither policy error nor implementation problem. Common people took the cutting of forest trees as deforestation. There was a weakness in explaining the real meaning. Later, the procedure was canceled based on the complaints.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After the cancellation of the Scientific Forest Management Procedure, 2071, cutting of trees stopped in more than 800 forests of the country for 3 years. The Ministry of Forest prepared the National Standard for Sustainable Forest Management, 2078, to facilitate the supply of wood from forests within the country smoothly. That too is yet to be implemented.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Megh Nath Kafle, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Forest also admits that there is a problem in wood collection and due to the high price of wood while businessmen complain of the problem in distribution. He said, “We formed a team to investigate the issue of wood produced in Nepal not getting a market. A report has been prepared.” He said that all these matters have been delayed due to the lack of ministers and secretaries in the ministry and will go to the implementation stage after their appointment. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-06', 'modified' => '2023-02-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16684', 'image' => '20230206040714_timber-harvesting-process.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-06 16:06:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16944', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sundar Yatayat Decides to Halt Electric Bus Service', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 6: Sundar Yatayat Pvt Ltd has decided to halt its electric bus service. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 6: Sundar Yatayat Pvt Ltd has decided to halt its electric bus service. Issuing a statement on Sunday, the company complained that it had to take such a decision due to the lack of cooperation from the government. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the company, it has been almost a year since the Nepal Electricity Authority announced not to collect the demand fee from the EV charging stations, but the decision has not been implemented yet, compelling them to put a full stop to their services. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Earlier, Sundar Yatayat had requested the Government of Nepal, the Electricity Regulatory Commission and NEA to remove the demand fee they have been collecting from the charging stations. Addressing this demand, the commission had decided a year ago not to charge such a fee in the future.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, chairman of Sundar Yatayat, Bhesh Bahadur Thapa, says that the commission is reluctant to implement its own decision, and the company is forced to stop all electric bus services and also to shut down the charging stations. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to him, public and private vehicles powered by electricity will be closed from Monday. He expressed that it is sad for the entire transport sector that the vehicles have to be stopped just because of the lack of cooperation from the government.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-06', 'modified' => '2023-02-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16683', 'image' => '20230206013515_20210910123141_20210826022928_20210706023411yatayat.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-06 13:34:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16943', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '7.8 Magnitude Earthquake Kills at least 2,300 in Turkey, Syria', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 6: A devastating earthquake early on Monday has flattened buildings and killed at least 100 people in Turkey and Syria as rescuers scramble to search for people trapped in debris.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 6: A devastating earthquake early on Monday has flattened buildings and killed at least 2300 people in Turkey and Syria as rescuers scramble to search for people trapped in debris, according to media reports. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The BBC reported that the powerful hit a wide area in south-eastern Turkey, near the Syrian border.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the US Geological Survey, the 7.8 magnitude tremor struck at 04:17 local time (01:17 GMT) at a depth of 11 miles near the city of Gaziantep.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Authorities have confirmed 1,498 casualties in Turkey and 810 in Syria, AFP said in an updated report. Authorities expect the death toll to rise as many people are still trapped inside flattened buildings.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Many buildings have collapsed and rescue teams have been deployed to search for survivors under huge piles of rubble, added the BBC.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the Guardian reported that the death toll is expected to climb substantially higher because the night-time disaster flattened dozens of apartment blocks across major cities.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Tremors were felt as far as Lebanon, Greece, Israel and the island of Cyprus,” the Guardian reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to media reports, there are around 5,000 Nepalis in Turkey and majority of them are undocumented workers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Department of Immigration told New Business Age that they do not have the exact number of Nepalis currently living in Turkey.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">It may be noted that Turkish aid agencies had sent a search and rescue team to help Nepal in the aftermath of the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on its official website.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the ministry, Nepal exports carpets, pashmina and handicraft items to Turkey while it imports food items and machineries from there.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal and Turkey signed an Air Service Agreement in September 2010, opening a new avenue connecting Europe and Nepal. Turkish Airlines has been operating direct flights between Kathmandu and Istanbul from 2013, added the ministry.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-06', 'modified' => '2023-02-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16682', 'image' => '20230206120828_1675651039earthquakreturkey.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-06 12:06:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/indexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16964', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'USAID Announces Assistance of Nearly $60 Million to Nepal ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 8: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has enhanced its support to advance democratic progress in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 8: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has enhanced its support to advance democratic progress in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">USAID's administrator Samantha power who is on a two-day official visit to Nepal announced to provide USAID assistance up to $ 58.5 million to advance Nepal's democratic progress, subject to availability of funds. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The announcement was made in the presence of representatives of the Government of Nepal, civil society and private sector on Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the US Embassy in Kathmandu, the amount of $ 20.2 million was a part of $659 million development objective agreement announced in 2022. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Following transparent and peaceful election this year, Nepal has an opportunity to strengthen federalism, advance the inclusion of women and marginalized communities, empower youths and demonstrate that democracy can deliver to its people. The US would collaborate with Nepal in these areas, the US embassy said in a statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The USAID investment would further help strengthen public financial management, independent civil society and media, democratic processes and institutions, rule of law and private sector, thereby consolidating its democratic achievements and inviting further wider prosperity and resilience, added the statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">USAID would also continue its assistance to Nepal in its bid to fight against human trafficking. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In order to deliver service in a more accountable and transparent manner from economic perspectives, the investment announced on Tuesday includes up to $20 million to support provincial and local governments towards strengthening inclusive democracy and prosperity. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, assistance up to $ 18.5 million is included in the package to support the independent CSOs led by and for women, youth and marginalized community people to advance community needs, fundamental freedoms and accountability. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">USAID would work with the CSOs to develop their skills, credibility and techniques required to engage effectively with the government and the general public. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The international development agency has said that it would also collaborate with media to support efforts to improve public access to credible information and diverse narratives. That will enhance social trust on media. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The USAID has also shared that it would work to strengthen rule of law and legal regime to fight against human trafficking as well as to further enable free and fair elections. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">These new initiative is built on more than 60-years of USAID partnership with the Nepal government and the people, private sector and others to support goals and aspirations of Nepal. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-08', 'modified' => '2023-02-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16703', 'image' => '20230208093716_KB_KTM-RE3A7328copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-08 09:35:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16963', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Formulates National Strategy for Export of Pashmina', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The government has set the target to export pashmina worth 750 million in the US Dollar till 2026. Keeping in mind the target, the Nepal government has unveiled “Pashmina Sector Export National Strategy”.', 'content' => '<div> <div> <div> <div> <div> <div> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 7: The government has set the target to export pashmina worth 750 million in the US Dollar till 2026. Keeping in mind the target, </span></span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> the Nepal government has unveiled “Pashmina Sector Export National Strategy”.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Amidst a programme organized in Lalitpur, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Damodar Bhandari released the “Pashmina Sector Export National Strategy” on Tuesday. P</span></span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">ashmina sector export national strategy was formulated in collaboration with Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Trade and Export Promotion Center, Nepal Pashmina Industries Association. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The national strategy will be technically assisted by International Trade Center under EU Nepal Trade and Investment Programme operated with EU’s support. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Minister Bhandari said that national strategy on pashmina export would contribute largely to development and expansion of pashmina industries.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Bhandari informed that a factory would be set up to produce thread out of wools of mountain goats for the first time in Nepal. He claimed that production and quality of pashmina-borne goods would increase following the production of pashmina thread in Nepal from the wools of mountain goats.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">National pashmina export strategy formulated by industry and commerce ministry with EU’s financial assistance and International Trade Center’s technical support sets the target to export the pashmina within five years. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies stressed the need to encourage the farmers to keep mountain goats in the mountainous districts for wool production.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We can export pashmina and earn a lot of money to reduce trade deficit. Thus, we have to encourage the farmers for keeping mountain goats for wool production,” Marasini added. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal Pashmina Industries Association Chairman Bijay Dugad said that Pashmina Sector Export National Strategy would be helpful for the private sector. “The production of thread used for making pashmina inside the country is very good step. Farmers will get good price for the wools of mountain goats used to make pashmina,” he added. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal is importing pashmina thread from outside to make pashmina goods. “Making pashmina thread inside the country will give good price to the farmers,” Dugad stated.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal has capacity to manufacture 5 million pieces of pashmina. However, only 2 to 2.5 million pieces of pashmina are being made at the moment. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A foundation stone of Pashmina Fiber Processing Center to manufacture pashmina thread was laid in Harisiddi, Lalitpur on Tuesday. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal had imported pashmina shawls worth Rs 2.53 billion in 2021. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">With target to export pashmina worth 75 million in the US Dollar by 2026, the national pashmina export strategy is expected to contribute to the prosperity of the country. The strategy clearly describes roles and responsibilities, plans, coordination and implementation of all stakeholders.</span></span></span></p> </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> </div> </div> <div> </div> </div> </div> <div> </div> </div> <div> <div> <div> <div> <table cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top; width:44px"><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><img class="ajn bofPge" id=":mr_5" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a/AEdFTp4-VpiAMFbtOF9st6DjlMR50rTaZa7DRPIhBo2C=s40-p" style="border-radius:50%; display:block; height:40px; width:40px" /></span></span></td> <td style="width:922px"> <div> <div><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">ReplyForward</span></span></span></div> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> </div> </div> </div> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-08', 'modified' => '2023-02-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16702', 'image' => '20230208061115_collage (39).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-08 05:51:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16961', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism Entrepreneurs Excited about Jeep Safari in Chitwan National Park', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 7: Tourism entrepreneurs are excited due to the initiative to start of jeep safari from Nawalpur to Chitwan National Park (CNP).', 'content' => '<p>February 7: Tourism entrepreneurs are excited due to the initiative to start of jeep safari from Nawalpur to Chitwan National Park (CNP).</p> <p>Earlier, this service was only available to the buffer zones and community forests near the national park.</p> <p>Dhaniram Gurau, a tourism entrepreneur from Kawasoti said that they are excited because the number of tourists will increase if the visitors who come for a jungle safari are given additional services of jeep safari in the park area with a boat ride in the Narayani River.</p> <p>He said, “Earlier, jeep safari could go only upto the community forests located in the buffer zone, but now tourists can visit the park as well, so the number of tourists coming here has increased.”</p> <p>Nawalpur Tourism Committee Chairman Phansram Mahato said that last year jeep safaris were stopped even in the community forests of the buffer zone, but now that the park has allowed safaris across Narayani. Tourism activities will now increase in the district.</p> <p>“We are happy, this step will help to keep the tourism activities going,” he said. According to him, CNP gave permission to all hotels and businessmen on January 25 to enter the park from the Amaltari post of Nawalpur.</p> <p>Earlier, only Hotel Temple Tiger and Tharu Village were allowed to take tourists to the park. Chief District Officer Krishna Prasad Lamsal said that since tourists will be able to travel to Gaindakhasa, Devital, Tiger Tops route and crocodile breeding center through Amaltari, there will be an increase in economic and tourist activities in this area.</p> <p>Inaugurating the safari on Saturday, CDO Lamsal said that after the jeep safari starts inside the park from Nawalpur, the arrival of foreign tourists will also promote the local culture. The committee started a safari in the park amid an official program. Ten people will be allowed to enter the park in five jeeps per day from Nawalpur area. Hotel and tourism businesses will get permission on 'first-come-first-service' basis.</p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-07', 'modified' => '2023-02-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16700', 'image' => '20230207084654_DA_Tribeni-DSC_0071.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-07 20:46:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16958', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India Increases Customs Duty on Gold Imports', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 7: The Government of India has increased the customs duty on gold import through the budget for the fiscal year 2023/24.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 7: The Government of India has increased the customs duty on gold import through the budget for the fiscal year 2023/24. India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has increased the customs duty on gold imports to 12 and a half per cent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Experts said that since Nepal and India have open border and uninterrupted trade, as soon as the price of gold increases in the Indian market, it will automatically affect the Nepali market. On the other hand, Nepal's northern neighbour, China, has been imposing minimal rate of tax on gold.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Businessmen said that the possibility of exporting gold from China to India via Nepal cannot be ruled out. However, since China closed its borders with Nepal after the Covid, the possibility of Chinese gold being delivered to India through transit in Nepal is very unlikely. Apart from this, it is said that the possibility of bringing gold from other countries illegally to Nepal and bringing it to India will also increase.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The government should control it through its security and inspection mechanism," said Manikaratna Shakya, president of the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Association. He said that the Nepali market can also be affected by such activities.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal imports gold from Dubai, Turkey, Hong Kong and Australia. However, businessmen cannot import gold in Nepal. Banks import gold in Nepal as per the provisions of Nepal Rastra Bank, while Businesses buy from banks.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Traders said that with the Indian government increasing the customs duty on gold import, the price of gold in the Nepali market will be cheaper by Rs 1000 to 1500 per tola compared to India. According to the Federation’s President Shakya, Indian customers can come to the border towns of Nepal to buy gold.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“There is a possibility that Indian customers will come to the Nepali market and buy gold. It is good if this happens. Nepali business will grow, and many will get jobs,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government of Nepal has adopted a policy of sending only 10 kg of gold per day to the market for trading. Due to the impact on international economic activities after the Russia-Ukraine war, as the foreign currency reserves are decreasing in Nepal, the government has reduced the amount of gold to be sent to the market to 10 kg to reduce the outflow of dollars. Businessmen are demanding to increase in the amount saying that 10 kg of gold will be less during the peak season.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"10 kg of gold is less. The government needs to send at least 20 or 25 kg of gold to the market daily,'' Pawan Kumar Somani, the vice president of the federation, said. He said that there is no alternative to increasing the amount of gold to keep the market moving.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, because after India increased the tax on gold import, the price of gold in Nepal decreased, increasing the amount of gold in the market may create a situation where the gold will have to be bought in dollars and sold in gold. If this happens, there will be a situation where the demand of businessmen, who have been taking a stand for increasing the supply of gold for a long time, will not be met.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-07', 'modified' => '2023-02-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16698', 'image' => '20230207030625_20230205100630_20230205091743_gold.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-07 15:05:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16959', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Exports Tea worth Rs 38 Million', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 7: Nepal exported tea worth Rs 38 million in the first six months of the current fiscal year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 7: Nepal exported tea worth Rs 38 million in the first six months of the current fiscal year. According to the National Tea and Coffee Development Board, tea farming is done in around 27,500 hectares of land in the country and Jhapa covers more than one third of the total tea gardens. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Of the total 28 million kilograms of tea produced during the review period, Jhapa alone produced 18 million kilograms, which is the highest in terms of district-wise production, said chief of the board Indra Prasad Adhikari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The districts of the Province 1 produce almost 99 per cent of the total tea in the country, according to Adhikari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In Nepal, a total of 68 large-scale tea industries including 38 CTC and 30 orthodox tea producing industries are in operation. Likewise, more than 150 small companies are processing orthodox tea. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The board said that more than 70,000 people have got direct employment from tea production and 15,000 plus small farmers are engaged in tea farming. -- RSS </span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-07', 'modified' => '2023-02-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16696', 'image' => '20230207042911_Tea.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-07 16:28:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16956', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Garment Exports Improving after Covid-19', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 7: Garment, one of the major export items of Nepal, has seen an improvement after Covid-19 pandemic subsided. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 7: Garment, one of the major export items of Nepal, has seen an improvement after Covid-19 pandemic subsided. Garment exports of the country, which lost Rs 2.5 billion due to the cancellation of orders during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, have seen improvement in recent times.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">From mid-July to mid-January of the current fiscal year (FY) 2079/80, garments worth Rs 4.28 billion were exported from Nepal. According to the Trade and Export Promotion Center, during the corresponding period of the last fiscal year, Nepal exported ready-made garments worth Rs 3.84 billion. The Government of Nepal imposed a lockdown from March 24, 2020 to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 infection, halting the exports of ready-made garments as well according to Pashupatidev Pandey, president of Nepal Ready-Made Garment Industry Association.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that even though the export have been encouraging after the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, the increase in bank interest rates, non-availability of subsidized loans, and increase in freight charges caused problems. He says that this sector lost Rs 2.5 billion due to the closure in the first and second waves of Covid-19. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Pandey said, “There were massive losses when orders were canceled and raw materials were stopped in countries like India and China. Only if there was export credit insurance, the businessmen would have received compensation for that.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Export Credit Insurance is applicable at international level. Such a system is yet to be implemented in Nepal. He said, “If such insurance was arranged through the Ministry of Finance, the compensation for the loss during the Covid-19 would have been available. The loss when the order was canceled would have been covered by the insurance. Cargo freight, which was $1 before Covid-19, has now reached $4.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The association has urged the government to make arrangements to export goods from Nepal's cargo ships to nearby countries and to keep 500 containers under the state in the border area to export goods from nearby sea ports.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There are now only around 100 industries in the readymade garments sector, which provided high employment in the 1980s. According to the association, more than 10,000 people are directly and indirectly employed in these industries. According to the statistics of the association, when 1200 industries were operating in the 80s, more than 400,000 people got employment in this sector. However, after the removal of customs exemptions and quotas provided by the US since 2005, exports began to decline.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Businessmen say that exports can be increased if necessary policies are adopted by the government after conducting researches on like Bangladesh, Vietnam, and China countries that export large quantities of garments. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Pandey says that it is necessary to take initiatives to revive the facilities that were previously provided when the relations with the US were smooth. According to Pandey, it is necessary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister's Office to take a diplomatic initiative to regain the quota facilities given by the US in the 90s. He said, “At that time, when America provided the quota, garments worth US$ 400 million were exported. Now it has reduced to US$ 50 million.”</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-07', 'modified' => '2023-02-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16694', 'image' => '20230207023410_20210501021711_Clipboard13.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-07 14:33:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16955', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Trade Deficit Declines by more than Nineteen Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 7: Nepal’s trade deficit decreased by 19.2 percent to Rs 711.86 billion during the six months of the current fiscal year (FY 2022/23), according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 7: Nepal’s trade deficit decreased by 19.2 percent to Rs 711.86 billion during the six months of the current fiscal year (FY 2022/23), according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report published by the central bank on Monday revealed that such a deficit had increased 46.6 percent in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The export-import ratio decreased to 10.2 percent in the review period from 11.9 percent in the corresponding period of the previous year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, merchandise exports decreased 32.0 percent to Rs 80.81 billion during the first six months of 2022/23 against an increase of 95.5 percent in the same period of the previous year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Destination-wise, exports to India and China decreased 40.1 percent and 25.2 percent respectively whereas exports to other countries increased 3.6 percent. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Exports of zinc sheet, particle board, cardamom, woolen carpets, polyester yarn and thread, among others, increased whereas exports of soybean oil, palm oil, oil cakes, textiles, silverware and jewelries, among others, decreased in the review period, states the report.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Similarly, merchandise imports decreased 20.7 percent to Rs 792.67 billion during the review period against an increase of 51.1 percent a year ago. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Destination-wise, imports from India, China and other countries decreased 19.4 percent, 24.6 percent, and 21.4 percent respectively. Imports of petroleum products, sponge iron, chemical fertilizer, gold, other stationeries, among others, increased whereas imports of transport equipment and parts, medicine, MS billet, silver, telecommunication equipment and parts, among others, decreased in the review period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Based on customs points, exports from customs offices of Bhairahawa, Jaleshwar, Kailali, Krishnanagar, Mechi, Nepalgunj, Rasuwa and Tribhuvan International Airport increased whereas exports from all the other major customs points decreased in the review period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">On the import side, imports from all the major customs points decreased in the review period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the six months of FY 2022/23, merchandise imports from India by paying convertible foreign currency amounted to Rs 60.56 billion. Such an amount was Rs 110.91 billion in the same period of the previous year.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-07', 'modified' => '2023-02-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16693', 'image' => '20230207011450_Trade.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-07 13:13:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16952', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Yeti Airlines Plane that Crashed in Pokhara did not have Thrust in Engines before Landing', 'sub_title' => 'Probe Panel Completes Analysis of Data Recorder of the Crashed Aircraft of Yeti Airlines ', 'summary' => 'February 7: A preliminary report of a probe panel formed by the government to study the crash of an ATR aircraft belonging to Yeti Airlines in Pokhara on January 15 has found that the ill-fated aircraft did not have any thrust in both the engines while making a final attempt to land at the newly-built Pokhara Regional International Airport, which led to the fatal accident.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 7: A preliminary report of a probe panel formed by the government to study the crash of an ATR aircraft belonging to Yeti Airlines in Pokhara on January 15 has found that the ill-fated aircraft did not have any thrust in both the engines while making a final attempt to land at the newly-built Pokhara Regional International Airport, which led to the fatal accident.</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"">The Aircraft Accident Investigation Commission on Monday revealed that it reached to this conclusion after completing the analysis of the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) of the ATR-72 aircraft conducted at Singapore-based Transport Safety Investigation Bureau. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The black boxes of the aircraft with call sign 9N-ANC, which crashed in the Seti River gorge near the Pokhara airport killing all 72 people on board last month, were sent to Singapore along with a team of experts for forensic study.</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"">Member-Secretary of the investigation commission, Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane, said that a team of aviation experts and commission members during the investigation found that the “propellers of both engines had gone to feathering in the base leg in course of landing” which means that there was no thrust in the engines to push the aircraft ahead. Analysts believe that this led to the aircraft to stall and take a nosedive minutes before it was scheduled to land.</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"">“Study of different flights and technical aspects was carried out at different simulator flights of ATR aircraft in Singapore,” said Lamichhane adding that the commission is carrying out further investigation about technical and human aspects on it. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A press release issued by the commission on Monday states that preparations are underway to come up with a preliminary report along with recommendation to increase aviation safety on the basis of analysis report and data received so far. The commission said that the final report would be published later. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-07', 'modified' => '2023-02-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16691', 'image' => '20230207121550_Yetii.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-07 12:14:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16951', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NOC Hikes Price of Petroleum Products', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 7: The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the price of petroleum products including that of diesel, petrol and kerosene. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 7: The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the price of petroleum products including that of diesel, petrol and kerosene. The price of fuel has been increased by Rs 3 per litre to take the retail price of diesel and kerosene at Rs 175 per litre and that of petrol to Rs 178 per litre. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The new price has come into effect from February 7. The price of aviation fuel and cooking cooking gas remains unchanged, reads a statement issued by the NOC on Monday. -- </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-07', 'modified' => '2023-02-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16690', 'image' => '20230207113831_20210824101943_20210707102647_20190503125003_Petrol-Price-Increase.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-07 11:36:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16949', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Economy Shows Slight Improvement with Increase in Remittance Inflow and BOP Surplus ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 6: Amid speculations of economic slowdown and challenges in the country’s financial situation, some positive signs are visible in the economy except for higher inflation rate. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 6: Amid speculations of economic slowdown and challenges in the country’s financial situation, some positive signs are visible in the economy except for higher inflation rate. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the consumer price inflation was recorded at 7.25 percent in the first six months of the current fiscal year compared to 5.65 percent a year ago. Food and beverage inflation stood at 5.62 percent whereas non-food and service inflation rose to 8.57 percent in the review month, the NRB said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Releasing the Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation of the country based on first six months’ data ending mid-January, the NRB said consumer price inflation in the Kathmandu Valley, Terai, Hill and Mountain belts surged to 6.93 percent, 7.49 percent, 7.30 percent and 6.69 percent, respectively. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the central bank said remittance inflows increased by 24.3 percent to Rs 585.08 billion in the review period against a decrease of 5 percent in the same period of the previous year. In the US Dollar terms, remittance inflows increased 13.9 percent to 4.5 billion against a decrease of 5.7 percent in the same period of the previous year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the number of Nepali workers taking approval for foreign employment increased 64.6 percent to 275,643 in the review period. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, the current account of the government remained at a deficit of Rs 29.47 billion compared to a deficit of Rs 352.16 billion in the same period of the previous year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Furthermore, the Balance of Payments (BOP) remained at a surplus of Rs 97.10 billion in the review period which was at a deficit of Rs 241.23 billion in the same period of the previous year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The country’s gross foreign exchange reserves increased 10 percent to Rs 1337.29 billion in mid-January 2023 from Rs 1215.80 billion in mid-July 2022. In the US dollar terms, the gross foreign exchange reserves increased 8.0 percent to 10.30 billion in mid-January 2023 from 9.54 billion in mid-July 2022. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, former governor of NRB Dipendra Bahadur Kshetri said that the current economic situation of the country should be taken cautiously because we are yet to return to the previous position. The major source of foreign reserve is remittance but we have failed to bring in foreign direct investment and we have not been able to offer an alternative to the import of petroleum products, Kshetri said. “We should promote EVs to reduce the consumption and import of petroleum products.” -- RSS</span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-06', 'modified' => '2023-02-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16688', 'image' => '20230206090958_20201228012934_20201106055408_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-06 21:09:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16948', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Consumer Price Inflation Rises to 7.26 Percent in mid-January: NRB Report', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 6: The year-on-year (y-o-y) consumer price inflation increased to 7.26 percent in mid-January 2023 compared to 5.65 percent a year ago, according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 6: The year-on-year (y-o-y) consumer price inflation increased to 7.26 percent in mid-January 2023 compared to 5.65 percent a year ago, according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report released by NRB on Monday states that the food and beverage inflation stood at 5.62 percent whereas non-food and service inflation rose to 8.57 percent in the review month.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Under the food and beverage category, y-o-y consumer price index of restaurant and hotel sub-category increased 15.56 percent, tobacco products 11.81 percent, milk products and eggs 9.70 percent, cereal grains and their products 9.56 percent and alcoholic drinks 8.84 percent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Under the non-food and services category, y-o-y consumer price index of transportation sub-category increased 16.43 percent, health 11.22 percent, recreation and culture 8.76 percent, miscellaneous goods and services 8.68 percent and furnishing and household equipment 8.33 percent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the review month, consumer price inflation in the Kathmandu Valley, Terai, Hill and Mountain surged to 6.93 percent, 7.49 percent, 7.30 percent and 6.69 percent respectively. Inflation in these regions were 5.28 percent, 6.15 percent, 5.34 percent and 5.22 percent respectively a year ago.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-06', 'modified' => '2023-02-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16687', 'image' => '20230206064814_20210924021304_636277035242086786-Inflation.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-06 18:47:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16947', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Maoists Center’ Aryal Elected National Assembly Vice-chair', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Lawmaker of the CPN (Maoist Centre) Urmila Aryal has been unanimously elected the Vice Chairperson of the National Assembly (NA).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 6: Lawmaker of the CPN (Maoist Centre) Urmila Aryal has been unanimously elected the Vice Chairperson of the National Assembly (NA). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Ganesh Prasad Timilsina, Chairperson of the upper house, informed Monday’s NA session about Aryal’s unanimous election to the post of vice-chair since she was the sole candidate to register her candidacy for the post. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The CPN UML lawmaker Debendra Dahal had seconded the proposal to elect Aryal to the post. Dahal had praised her saying that she was capable and qualified candidate for the job. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Speaking at the session of the National Assembly, lawmaker Khim Lal Devkota praised her for having played an important role in women's movement in Nepal. He stressed the need for electing women in the leading positions in other state organs. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">State Committee member of the ruling CPN-Maoists center, Aryal had served as the local development minister.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-06', 'modified' => '2023-02-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16686', 'image' => '20230206053121_collage - 2023-02-06T163421.733.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-06 17:29:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16945', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Importing Timber worth Millions due to Policy Hurdles', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 6: Government data shows that a large amount of wood and timber products are imported every year from abroad.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 6: Government data shows that a large amount of wood and timber products are imported every year from abroad. In the fiscal year (FY) 2077/78, wood and wood products worth Rs 15.18 billion were imported into Nepal. Meanwhile in FY 2078/79, this amount increased to Rs 17.82 billion, where the import of wood alone worth Rs 7.45 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In six months of the current fiscal year (FY 2079/80), wood worth Rs 2.76 billion is already imported. This amount of wood import has shocked many people. Import of such a large amount of wood from abroad when Nepal itself is rich in forest resources, cannot be considered normal. It also points towards the need for a review of the policies adopted by the country.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Ministry of Forests, more than 45 percent of the total land area of Nepal is covered by forests where 41 percent of area has trees and the remaining 4 percent has other plants. According to the business organization involved in this sector, Nepal needs 100 million cubic feet of wood annually. However, in the last FY 2078/79, it seems that only 21.2 million cubic feet of wood was produced from the forests of Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kapil Adhikari, chairman of Federation of Forest Based Industry and Trade Nepal (FenFit) says that the problem is mainly policy and procedural hurdles.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said, “If the policy hurdle is to be removed, the timber produced in the country can be consumed here and exported abroad as well.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government introduced the Scientific Forest Management Procedure, 2014 to deal with the difficult supply system of wood and the need to import wood from abroad. The procedure mentioned that the forest will be managed in a community, with partnership and pooling approach. After the implementation of the procedure, it was estimated that there would be no need to import wood, but the procedure was canceled in 2020 after complaints of widespread deforestation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Forest management expert Bijay Subedi says that the scientific forest management procedure, 2014 had to be scrapped as the general public did not understand the procedure.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said, “It was a good procedure with neither policy error nor implementation problem. Common people took the cutting of forest trees as deforestation. There was a weakness in explaining the real meaning. Later, the procedure was canceled based on the complaints.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After the cancellation of the Scientific Forest Management Procedure, 2071, cutting of trees stopped in more than 800 forests of the country for 3 years. The Ministry of Forest prepared the National Standard for Sustainable Forest Management, 2078, to facilitate the supply of wood from forests within the country smoothly. That too is yet to be implemented.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Megh Nath Kafle, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Forest also admits that there is a problem in wood collection and due to the high price of wood while businessmen complain of the problem in distribution. He said, “We formed a team to investigate the issue of wood produced in Nepal not getting a market. A report has been prepared.” He said that all these matters have been delayed due to the lack of ministers and secretaries in the ministry and will go to the implementation stage after their appointment. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-06', 'modified' => '2023-02-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16684', 'image' => '20230206040714_timber-harvesting-process.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-06 16:06:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16944', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sundar Yatayat Decides to Halt Electric Bus Service', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 6: Sundar Yatayat Pvt Ltd has decided to halt its electric bus service. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 6: Sundar Yatayat Pvt Ltd has decided to halt its electric bus service. Issuing a statement on Sunday, the company complained that it had to take such a decision due to the lack of cooperation from the government. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the company, it has been almost a year since the Nepal Electricity Authority announced not to collect the demand fee from the EV charging stations, but the decision has not been implemented yet, compelling them to put a full stop to their services. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Earlier, Sundar Yatayat had requested the Government of Nepal, the Electricity Regulatory Commission and NEA to remove the demand fee they have been collecting from the charging stations. Addressing this demand, the commission had decided a year ago not to charge such a fee in the future.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, chairman of Sundar Yatayat, Bhesh Bahadur Thapa, says that the commission is reluctant to implement its own decision, and the company is forced to stop all electric bus services and also to shut down the charging stations. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to him, public and private vehicles powered by electricity will be closed from Monday. He expressed that it is sad for the entire transport sector that the vehicles have to be stopped just because of the lack of cooperation from the government.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-06', 'modified' => '2023-02-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16683', 'image' => '20230206013515_20210910123141_20210826022928_20210706023411yatayat.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-06 13:34:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16943', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '7.8 Magnitude Earthquake Kills at least 2,300 in Turkey, Syria', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 6: A devastating earthquake early on Monday has flattened buildings and killed at least 100 people in Turkey and Syria as rescuers scramble to search for people trapped in debris.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 6: A devastating earthquake early on Monday has flattened buildings and killed at least 2300 people in Turkey and Syria as rescuers scramble to search for people trapped in debris, according to media reports. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The BBC reported that the powerful hit a wide area in south-eastern Turkey, near the Syrian border.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the US Geological Survey, the 7.8 magnitude tremor struck at 04:17 local time (01:17 GMT) at a depth of 11 miles near the city of Gaziantep.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Authorities have confirmed 1,498 casualties in Turkey and 810 in Syria, AFP said in an updated report. Authorities expect the death toll to rise as many people are still trapped inside flattened buildings.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Many buildings have collapsed and rescue teams have been deployed to search for survivors under huge piles of rubble, added the BBC.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the Guardian reported that the death toll is expected to climb substantially higher because the night-time disaster flattened dozens of apartment blocks across major cities.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Tremors were felt as far as Lebanon, Greece, Israel and the island of Cyprus,” the Guardian reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to media reports, there are around 5,000 Nepalis in Turkey and majority of them are undocumented workers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Department of Immigration told New Business Age that they do not have the exact number of Nepalis currently living in Turkey.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">It may be noted that Turkish aid agencies had sent a search and rescue team to help Nepal in the aftermath of the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on its official website.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the ministry, Nepal exports carpets, pashmina and handicraft items to Turkey while it imports food items and machineries from there.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal and Turkey signed an Air Service Agreement in September 2010, opening a new avenue connecting Europe and Nepal. Turkish Airlines has been operating direct flights between Kathmandu and Istanbul from 2013, added the ministry.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-06', 'modified' => '2023-02-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16682', 'image' => '20230206120828_1675651039earthquakreturkey.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-06 12:06:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, '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' => '16964', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'USAID Announces Assistance of Nearly $60 Million to Nepal ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 8: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has enhanced its support to advance democratic progress in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 8: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has enhanced its support to advance democratic progress in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">USAID's administrator Samantha power who is on a two-day official visit to Nepal announced to provide USAID assistance up to $ 58.5 million to advance Nepal's democratic progress, subject to availability of funds. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The announcement was made in the presence of representatives of the Government of Nepal, civil society and private sector on Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the US Embassy in Kathmandu, the amount of $ 20.2 million was a part of $659 million development objective agreement announced in 2022. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Following transparent and peaceful election this year, Nepal has an opportunity to strengthen federalism, advance the inclusion of women and marginalized communities, empower youths and demonstrate that democracy can deliver to its people. The US would collaborate with Nepal in these areas, the US embassy said in a statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The USAID investment would further help strengthen public financial management, independent civil society and media, democratic processes and institutions, rule of law and private sector, thereby consolidating its democratic achievements and inviting further wider prosperity and resilience, added the statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">USAID would also continue its assistance to Nepal in its bid to fight against human trafficking. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In order to deliver service in a more accountable and transparent manner from economic perspectives, the investment announced on Tuesday includes up to $20 million to support provincial and local governments towards strengthening inclusive democracy and prosperity. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, assistance up to $ 18.5 million is included in the package to support the independent CSOs led by and for women, youth and marginalized community people to advance community needs, fundamental freedoms and accountability. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">USAID would work with the CSOs to develop their skills, credibility and techniques required to engage effectively with the government and the general public. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The international development agency has said that it would also collaborate with media to support efforts to improve public access to credible information and diverse narratives. That will enhance social trust on media. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The USAID has also shared that it would work to strengthen rule of law and legal regime to fight against human trafficking as well as to further enable free and fair elections. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">These new initiative is built on more than 60-years of USAID partnership with the Nepal government and the people, private sector and others to support goals and aspirations of Nepal. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-08', 'modified' => '2023-02-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16703', 'image' => '20230208093716_KB_KTM-RE3A7328copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-08 09:35:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16963', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Formulates National Strategy for Export of Pashmina', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The government has set the target to export pashmina worth 750 million in the US Dollar till 2026. Keeping in mind the target, the Nepal government has unveiled “Pashmina Sector Export National Strategy”.', 'content' => '<div> <div> <div> <div> <div> <div> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 7: The government has set the target to export pashmina worth 750 million in the US Dollar till 2026. Keeping in mind the target, </span></span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> the Nepal government has unveiled “Pashmina Sector Export National Strategy”.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Amidst a programme organized in Lalitpur, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Damodar Bhandari released the “Pashmina Sector Export National Strategy” on Tuesday. P</span></span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">ashmina sector export national strategy was formulated in collaboration with Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Trade and Export Promotion Center, Nepal Pashmina Industries Association. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The national strategy will be technically assisted by International Trade Center under EU Nepal Trade and Investment Programme operated with EU’s support. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Minister Bhandari said that national strategy on pashmina export would contribute largely to development and expansion of pashmina industries.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Bhandari informed that a factory would be set up to produce thread out of wools of mountain goats for the first time in Nepal. He claimed that production and quality of pashmina-borne goods would increase following the production of pashmina thread in Nepal from the wools of mountain goats.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">National pashmina export strategy formulated by industry and commerce ministry with EU’s financial assistance and International Trade Center’s technical support sets the target to export the pashmina within five years. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies stressed the need to encourage the farmers to keep mountain goats in the mountainous districts for wool production.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We can export pashmina and earn a lot of money to reduce trade deficit. Thus, we have to encourage the farmers for keeping mountain goats for wool production,” Marasini added. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal Pashmina Industries Association Chairman Bijay Dugad said that Pashmina Sector Export National Strategy would be helpful for the private sector. “The production of thread used for making pashmina inside the country is very good step. Farmers will get good price for the wools of mountain goats used to make pashmina,” he added. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal is importing pashmina thread from outside to make pashmina goods. “Making pashmina thread inside the country will give good price to the farmers,” Dugad stated.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal has capacity to manufacture 5 million pieces of pashmina. However, only 2 to 2.5 million pieces of pashmina are being made at the moment. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A foundation stone of Pashmina Fiber Processing Center to manufacture pashmina thread was laid in Harisiddi, Lalitpur on Tuesday. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal had imported pashmina shawls worth Rs 2.53 billion in 2021. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">With target to export pashmina worth 75 million in the US Dollar by 2026, the national pashmina export strategy is expected to contribute to the prosperity of the country. The strategy clearly describes roles and responsibilities, plans, coordination and implementation of all stakeholders.</span></span></span></p> </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> </div> </div> <div> </div> </div> </div> <div> </div> </div> <div> <div> <div> <div> <table cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top; width:44px"><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><img class="ajn bofPge" id=":mr_5" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a/AEdFTp4-VpiAMFbtOF9st6DjlMR50rTaZa7DRPIhBo2C=s40-p" style="border-radius:50%; display:block; height:40px; width:40px" /></span></span></td> <td style="width:922px"> <div> <div><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">ReplyForward</span></span></span></div> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> </div> </div> </div> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-08', 'modified' => '2023-02-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16702', 'image' => '20230208061115_collage (39).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-08 05:51:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16961', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism Entrepreneurs Excited about Jeep Safari in Chitwan National Park', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 7: Tourism entrepreneurs are excited due to the initiative to start of jeep safari from Nawalpur to Chitwan National Park (CNP).', 'content' => '<p>February 7: Tourism entrepreneurs are excited due to the initiative to start of jeep safari from Nawalpur to Chitwan National Park (CNP).</p> <p>Earlier, this service was only available to the buffer zones and community forests near the national park.</p> <p>Dhaniram Gurau, a tourism entrepreneur from Kawasoti said that they are excited because the number of tourists will increase if the visitors who come for a jungle safari are given additional services of jeep safari in the park area with a boat ride in the Narayani River.</p> <p>He said, “Earlier, jeep safari could go only upto the community forests located in the buffer zone, but now tourists can visit the park as well, so the number of tourists coming here has increased.”</p> <p>Nawalpur Tourism Committee Chairman Phansram Mahato said that last year jeep safaris were stopped even in the community forests of the buffer zone, but now that the park has allowed safaris across Narayani. Tourism activities will now increase in the district.</p> <p>“We are happy, this step will help to keep the tourism activities going,” he said. According to him, CNP gave permission to all hotels and businessmen on January 25 to enter the park from the Amaltari post of Nawalpur.</p> <p>Earlier, only Hotel Temple Tiger and Tharu Village were allowed to take tourists to the park. Chief District Officer Krishna Prasad Lamsal said that since tourists will be able to travel to Gaindakhasa, Devital, Tiger Tops route and crocodile breeding center through Amaltari, there will be an increase in economic and tourist activities in this area.</p> <p>Inaugurating the safari on Saturday, CDO Lamsal said that after the jeep safari starts inside the park from Nawalpur, the arrival of foreign tourists will also promote the local culture. The committee started a safari in the park amid an official program. Ten people will be allowed to enter the park in five jeeps per day from Nawalpur area. Hotel and tourism businesses will get permission on 'first-come-first-service' basis.</p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-07', 'modified' => '2023-02-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16700', 'image' => '20230207084654_DA_Tribeni-DSC_0071.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-07 20:46:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16958', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India Increases Customs Duty on Gold Imports', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 7: The Government of India has increased the customs duty on gold import through the budget for the fiscal year 2023/24.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 7: The Government of India has increased the customs duty on gold import through the budget for the fiscal year 2023/24. India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has increased the customs duty on gold imports to 12 and a half per cent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Experts said that since Nepal and India have open border and uninterrupted trade, as soon as the price of gold increases in the Indian market, it will automatically affect the Nepali market. On the other hand, Nepal's northern neighbour, China, has been imposing minimal rate of tax on gold.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Businessmen said that the possibility of exporting gold from China to India via Nepal cannot be ruled out. However, since China closed its borders with Nepal after the Covid, the possibility of Chinese gold being delivered to India through transit in Nepal is very unlikely. Apart from this, it is said that the possibility of bringing gold from other countries illegally to Nepal and bringing it to India will also increase.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The government should control it through its security and inspection mechanism," said Manikaratna Shakya, president of the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Association. He said that the Nepali market can also be affected by such activities.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal imports gold from Dubai, Turkey, Hong Kong and Australia. However, businessmen cannot import gold in Nepal. Banks import gold in Nepal as per the provisions of Nepal Rastra Bank, while Businesses buy from banks.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Traders said that with the Indian government increasing the customs duty on gold import, the price of gold in the Nepali market will be cheaper by Rs 1000 to 1500 per tola compared to India. According to the Federation’s President Shakya, Indian customers can come to the border towns of Nepal to buy gold.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“There is a possibility that Indian customers will come to the Nepali market and buy gold. It is good if this happens. Nepali business will grow, and many will get jobs,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government of Nepal has adopted a policy of sending only 10 kg of gold per day to the market for trading. Due to the impact on international economic activities after the Russia-Ukraine war, as the foreign currency reserves are decreasing in Nepal, the government has reduced the amount of gold to be sent to the market to 10 kg to reduce the outflow of dollars. Businessmen are demanding to increase in the amount saying that 10 kg of gold will be less during the peak season.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"10 kg of gold is less. The government needs to send at least 20 or 25 kg of gold to the market daily,'' Pawan Kumar Somani, the vice president of the federation, said. He said that there is no alternative to increasing the amount of gold to keep the market moving.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, because after India increased the tax on gold import, the price of gold in Nepal decreased, increasing the amount of gold in the market may create a situation where the gold will have to be bought in dollars and sold in gold. If this happens, there will be a situation where the demand of businessmen, who have been taking a stand for increasing the supply of gold for a long time, will not be met.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-07', 'modified' => '2023-02-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16698', 'image' => '20230207030625_20230205100630_20230205091743_gold.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-07 15:05:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16959', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Exports Tea worth Rs 38 Million', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 7: Nepal exported tea worth Rs 38 million in the first six months of the current fiscal year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 7: Nepal exported tea worth Rs 38 million in the first six months of the current fiscal year. According to the National Tea and Coffee Development Board, tea farming is done in around 27,500 hectares of land in the country and Jhapa covers more than one third of the total tea gardens. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Of the total 28 million kilograms of tea produced during the review period, Jhapa alone produced 18 million kilograms, which is the highest in terms of district-wise production, said chief of the board Indra Prasad Adhikari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The districts of the Province 1 produce almost 99 per cent of the total tea in the country, according to Adhikari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In Nepal, a total of 68 large-scale tea industries including 38 CTC and 30 orthodox tea producing industries are in operation. Likewise, more than 150 small companies are processing orthodox tea. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The board said that more than 70,000 people have got direct employment from tea production and 15,000 plus small farmers are engaged in tea farming. -- RSS </span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-07', 'modified' => '2023-02-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16696', 'image' => '20230207042911_Tea.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-07 16:28:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16956', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Garment Exports Improving after Covid-19', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 7: Garment, one of the major export items of Nepal, has seen an improvement after Covid-19 pandemic subsided. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 7: Garment, one of the major export items of Nepal, has seen an improvement after Covid-19 pandemic subsided. Garment exports of the country, which lost Rs 2.5 billion due to the cancellation of orders during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, have seen improvement in recent times.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">From mid-July to mid-January of the current fiscal year (FY) 2079/80, garments worth Rs 4.28 billion were exported from Nepal. According to the Trade and Export Promotion Center, during the corresponding period of the last fiscal year, Nepal exported ready-made garments worth Rs 3.84 billion. The Government of Nepal imposed a lockdown from March 24, 2020 to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 infection, halting the exports of ready-made garments as well according to Pashupatidev Pandey, president of Nepal Ready-Made Garment Industry Association.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that even though the export have been encouraging after the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, the increase in bank interest rates, non-availability of subsidized loans, and increase in freight charges caused problems. He says that this sector lost Rs 2.5 billion due to the closure in the first and second waves of Covid-19. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Pandey said, “There were massive losses when orders were canceled and raw materials were stopped in countries like India and China. Only if there was export credit insurance, the businessmen would have received compensation for that.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Export Credit Insurance is applicable at international level. Such a system is yet to be implemented in Nepal. He said, “If such insurance was arranged through the Ministry of Finance, the compensation for the loss during the Covid-19 would have been available. The loss when the order was canceled would have been covered by the insurance. Cargo freight, which was $1 before Covid-19, has now reached $4.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The association has urged the government to make arrangements to export goods from Nepal's cargo ships to nearby countries and to keep 500 containers under the state in the border area to export goods from nearby sea ports.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There are now only around 100 industries in the readymade garments sector, which provided high employment in the 1980s. According to the association, more than 10,000 people are directly and indirectly employed in these industries. According to the statistics of the association, when 1200 industries were operating in the 80s, more than 400,000 people got employment in this sector. However, after the removal of customs exemptions and quotas provided by the US since 2005, exports began to decline.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Businessmen say that exports can be increased if necessary policies are adopted by the government after conducting researches on like Bangladesh, Vietnam, and China countries that export large quantities of garments. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Pandey says that it is necessary to take initiatives to revive the facilities that were previously provided when the relations with the US were smooth. According to Pandey, it is necessary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister's Office to take a diplomatic initiative to regain the quota facilities given by the US in the 90s. He said, “At that time, when America provided the quota, garments worth US$ 400 million were exported. Now it has reduced to US$ 50 million.”</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-07', 'modified' => '2023-02-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16694', 'image' => '20230207023410_20210501021711_Clipboard13.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-07 14:33:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16955', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Trade Deficit Declines by more than Nineteen Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 7: Nepal’s trade deficit decreased by 19.2 percent to Rs 711.86 billion during the six months of the current fiscal year (FY 2022/23), according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 7: Nepal’s trade deficit decreased by 19.2 percent to Rs 711.86 billion during the six months of the current fiscal year (FY 2022/23), according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report published by the central bank on Monday revealed that such a deficit had increased 46.6 percent in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The export-import ratio decreased to 10.2 percent in the review period from 11.9 percent in the corresponding period of the previous year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, merchandise exports decreased 32.0 percent to Rs 80.81 billion during the first six months of 2022/23 against an increase of 95.5 percent in the same period of the previous year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Destination-wise, exports to India and China decreased 40.1 percent and 25.2 percent respectively whereas exports to other countries increased 3.6 percent. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Exports of zinc sheet, particle board, cardamom, woolen carpets, polyester yarn and thread, among others, increased whereas exports of soybean oil, palm oil, oil cakes, textiles, silverware and jewelries, among others, decreased in the review period, states the report.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Similarly, merchandise imports decreased 20.7 percent to Rs 792.67 billion during the review period against an increase of 51.1 percent a year ago. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Destination-wise, imports from India, China and other countries decreased 19.4 percent, 24.6 percent, and 21.4 percent respectively. Imports of petroleum products, sponge iron, chemical fertilizer, gold, other stationeries, among others, increased whereas imports of transport equipment and parts, medicine, MS billet, silver, telecommunication equipment and parts, among others, decreased in the review period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Based on customs points, exports from customs offices of Bhairahawa, Jaleshwar, Kailali, Krishnanagar, Mechi, Nepalgunj, Rasuwa and Tribhuvan International Airport increased whereas exports from all the other major customs points decreased in the review period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">On the import side, imports from all the major customs points decreased in the review period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the six months of FY 2022/23, merchandise imports from India by paying convertible foreign currency amounted to Rs 60.56 billion. Such an amount was Rs 110.91 billion in the same period of the previous year.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-07', 'modified' => '2023-02-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16693', 'image' => '20230207011450_Trade.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-07 13:13:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16952', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Yeti Airlines Plane that Crashed in Pokhara did not have Thrust in Engines before Landing', 'sub_title' => 'Probe Panel Completes Analysis of Data Recorder of the Crashed Aircraft of Yeti Airlines ', 'summary' => 'February 7: A preliminary report of a probe panel formed by the government to study the crash of an ATR aircraft belonging to Yeti Airlines in Pokhara on January 15 has found that the ill-fated aircraft did not have any thrust in both the engines while making a final attempt to land at the newly-built Pokhara Regional International Airport, which led to the fatal accident.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 7: A preliminary report of a probe panel formed by the government to study the crash of an ATR aircraft belonging to Yeti Airlines in Pokhara on January 15 has found that the ill-fated aircraft did not have any thrust in both the engines while making a final attempt to land at the newly-built Pokhara Regional International Airport, which led to the fatal accident.</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"">The Aircraft Accident Investigation Commission on Monday revealed that it reached to this conclusion after completing the analysis of the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) of the ATR-72 aircraft conducted at Singapore-based Transport Safety Investigation Bureau. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The black boxes of the aircraft with call sign 9N-ANC, which crashed in the Seti River gorge near the Pokhara airport killing all 72 people on board last month, were sent to Singapore along with a team of experts for forensic study.</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"">Member-Secretary of the investigation commission, Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane, said that a team of aviation experts and commission members during the investigation found that the “propellers of both engines had gone to feathering in the base leg in course of landing” which means that there was no thrust in the engines to push the aircraft ahead. Analysts believe that this led to the aircraft to stall and take a nosedive minutes before it was scheduled to land.</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"">“Study of different flights and technical aspects was carried out at different simulator flights of ATR aircraft in Singapore,” said Lamichhane adding that the commission is carrying out further investigation about technical and human aspects on it. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A press release issued by the commission on Monday states that preparations are underway to come up with a preliminary report along with recommendation to increase aviation safety on the basis of analysis report and data received so far. The commission said that the final report would be published later. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-07', 'modified' => '2023-02-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16691', 'image' => '20230207121550_Yetii.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-07 12:14:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16951', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NOC Hikes Price of Petroleum Products', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 7: The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the price of petroleum products including that of diesel, petrol and kerosene. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 7: The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the price of petroleum products including that of diesel, petrol and kerosene. The price of fuel has been increased by Rs 3 per litre to take the retail price of diesel and kerosene at Rs 175 per litre and that of petrol to Rs 178 per litre. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The new price has come into effect from February 7. The price of aviation fuel and cooking cooking gas remains unchanged, reads a statement issued by the NOC on Monday. -- </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-07', 'modified' => '2023-02-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16690', 'image' => '20230207113831_20210824101943_20210707102647_20190503125003_Petrol-Price-Increase.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-07 11:36:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16949', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Economy Shows Slight Improvement with Increase in Remittance Inflow and BOP Surplus ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 6: Amid speculations of economic slowdown and challenges in the country’s financial situation, some positive signs are visible in the economy except for higher inflation rate. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 6: Amid speculations of economic slowdown and challenges in the country’s financial situation, some positive signs are visible in the economy except for higher inflation rate. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the consumer price inflation was recorded at 7.25 percent in the first six months of the current fiscal year compared to 5.65 percent a year ago. Food and beverage inflation stood at 5.62 percent whereas non-food and service inflation rose to 8.57 percent in the review month, the NRB said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Releasing the Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation of the country based on first six months’ data ending mid-January, the NRB said consumer price inflation in the Kathmandu Valley, Terai, Hill and Mountain belts surged to 6.93 percent, 7.49 percent, 7.30 percent and 6.69 percent, respectively. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the central bank said remittance inflows increased by 24.3 percent to Rs 585.08 billion in the review period against a decrease of 5 percent in the same period of the previous year. In the US Dollar terms, remittance inflows increased 13.9 percent to 4.5 billion against a decrease of 5.7 percent in the same period of the previous year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the number of Nepali workers taking approval for foreign employment increased 64.6 percent to 275,643 in the review period. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, the current account of the government remained at a deficit of Rs 29.47 billion compared to a deficit of Rs 352.16 billion in the same period of the previous year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Furthermore, the Balance of Payments (BOP) remained at a surplus of Rs 97.10 billion in the review period which was at a deficit of Rs 241.23 billion in the same period of the previous year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The country’s gross foreign exchange reserves increased 10 percent to Rs 1337.29 billion in mid-January 2023 from Rs 1215.80 billion in mid-July 2022. In the US dollar terms, the gross foreign exchange reserves increased 8.0 percent to 10.30 billion in mid-January 2023 from 9.54 billion in mid-July 2022. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, former governor of NRB Dipendra Bahadur Kshetri said that the current economic situation of the country should be taken cautiously because we are yet to return to the previous position. The major source of foreign reserve is remittance but we have failed to bring in foreign direct investment and we have not been able to offer an alternative to the import of petroleum products, Kshetri said. “We should promote EVs to reduce the consumption and import of petroleum products.” -- RSS</span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-06', 'modified' => '2023-02-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16688', 'image' => '20230206090958_20201228012934_20201106055408_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-06 21:09:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16948', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Consumer Price Inflation Rises to 7.26 Percent in mid-January: NRB Report', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 6: The year-on-year (y-o-y) consumer price inflation increased to 7.26 percent in mid-January 2023 compared to 5.65 percent a year ago, according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 6: The year-on-year (y-o-y) consumer price inflation increased to 7.26 percent in mid-January 2023 compared to 5.65 percent a year ago, according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report released by NRB on Monday states that the food and beverage inflation stood at 5.62 percent whereas non-food and service inflation rose to 8.57 percent in the review month.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Under the food and beverage category, y-o-y consumer price index of restaurant and hotel sub-category increased 15.56 percent, tobacco products 11.81 percent, milk products and eggs 9.70 percent, cereal grains and their products 9.56 percent and alcoholic drinks 8.84 percent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Under the non-food and services category, y-o-y consumer price index of transportation sub-category increased 16.43 percent, health 11.22 percent, recreation and culture 8.76 percent, miscellaneous goods and services 8.68 percent and furnishing and household equipment 8.33 percent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the review month, consumer price inflation in the Kathmandu Valley, Terai, Hill and Mountain surged to 6.93 percent, 7.49 percent, 7.30 percent and 6.69 percent respectively. Inflation in these regions were 5.28 percent, 6.15 percent, 5.34 percent and 5.22 percent respectively a year ago.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-06', 'modified' => '2023-02-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16687', 'image' => '20230206064814_20210924021304_636277035242086786-Inflation.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-06 18:47:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16947', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Maoists Center’ Aryal Elected National Assembly Vice-chair', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Lawmaker of the CPN (Maoist Centre) Urmila Aryal has been unanimously elected the Vice Chairperson of the National Assembly (NA).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 6: Lawmaker of the CPN (Maoist Centre) Urmila Aryal has been unanimously elected the Vice Chairperson of the National Assembly (NA). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Ganesh Prasad Timilsina, Chairperson of the upper house, informed Monday’s NA session about Aryal’s unanimous election to the post of vice-chair since she was the sole candidate to register her candidacy for the post. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The CPN UML lawmaker Debendra Dahal had seconded the proposal to elect Aryal to the post. Dahal had praised her saying that she was capable and qualified candidate for the job. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Speaking at the session of the National Assembly, lawmaker Khim Lal Devkota praised her for having played an important role in women's movement in Nepal. He stressed the need for electing women in the leading positions in other state organs. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">State Committee member of the ruling CPN-Maoists center, Aryal had served as the local development minister.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-06', 'modified' => '2023-02-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16686', 'image' => '20230206053121_collage - 2023-02-06T163421.733.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-06 17:29:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16945', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Importing Timber worth Millions due to Policy Hurdles', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 6: Government data shows that a large amount of wood and timber products are imported every year from abroad.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 6: Government data shows that a large amount of wood and timber products are imported every year from abroad. In the fiscal year (FY) 2077/78, wood and wood products worth Rs 15.18 billion were imported into Nepal. Meanwhile in FY 2078/79, this amount increased to Rs 17.82 billion, where the import of wood alone worth Rs 7.45 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In six months of the current fiscal year (FY 2079/80), wood worth Rs 2.76 billion is already imported. This amount of wood import has shocked many people. Import of such a large amount of wood from abroad when Nepal itself is rich in forest resources, cannot be considered normal. It also points towards the need for a review of the policies adopted by the country.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Ministry of Forests, more than 45 percent of the total land area of Nepal is covered by forests where 41 percent of area has trees and the remaining 4 percent has other plants. According to the business organization involved in this sector, Nepal needs 100 million cubic feet of wood annually. However, in the last FY 2078/79, it seems that only 21.2 million cubic feet of wood was produced from the forests of Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kapil Adhikari, chairman of Federation of Forest Based Industry and Trade Nepal (FenFit) says that the problem is mainly policy and procedural hurdles.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said, “If the policy hurdle is to be removed, the timber produced in the country can be consumed here and exported abroad as well.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government introduced the Scientific Forest Management Procedure, 2014 to deal with the difficult supply system of wood and the need to import wood from abroad. The procedure mentioned that the forest will be managed in a community, with partnership and pooling approach. After the implementation of the procedure, it was estimated that there would be no need to import wood, but the procedure was canceled in 2020 after complaints of widespread deforestation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Forest management expert Bijay Subedi says that the scientific forest management procedure, 2014 had to be scrapped as the general public did not understand the procedure.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said, “It was a good procedure with neither policy error nor implementation problem. Common people took the cutting of forest trees as deforestation. There was a weakness in explaining the real meaning. Later, the procedure was canceled based on the complaints.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After the cancellation of the Scientific Forest Management Procedure, 2071, cutting of trees stopped in more than 800 forests of the country for 3 years. The Ministry of Forest prepared the National Standard for Sustainable Forest Management, 2078, to facilitate the supply of wood from forests within the country smoothly. That too is yet to be implemented.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Megh Nath Kafle, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Forest also admits that there is a problem in wood collection and due to the high price of wood while businessmen complain of the problem in distribution. He said, “We formed a team to investigate the issue of wood produced in Nepal not getting a market. A report has been prepared.” He said that all these matters have been delayed due to the lack of ministers and secretaries in the ministry and will go to the implementation stage after their appointment. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-06', 'modified' => '2023-02-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16684', 'image' => '20230206040714_timber-harvesting-process.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-06 16:06:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16944', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sundar Yatayat Decides to Halt Electric Bus Service', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 6: Sundar Yatayat Pvt Ltd has decided to halt its electric bus service. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 6: Sundar Yatayat Pvt Ltd has decided to halt its electric bus service. Issuing a statement on Sunday, the company complained that it had to take such a decision due to the lack of cooperation from the government. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the company, it has been almost a year since the Nepal Electricity Authority announced not to collect the demand fee from the EV charging stations, but the decision has not been implemented yet, compelling them to put a full stop to their services. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Earlier, Sundar Yatayat had requested the Government of Nepal, the Electricity Regulatory Commission and NEA to remove the demand fee they have been collecting from the charging stations. Addressing this demand, the commission had decided a year ago not to charge such a fee in the future.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, chairman of Sundar Yatayat, Bhesh Bahadur Thapa, says that the commission is reluctant to implement its own decision, and the company is forced to stop all electric bus services and also to shut down the charging stations. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to him, public and private vehicles powered by electricity will be closed from Monday. He expressed that it is sad for the entire transport sector that the vehicles have to be stopped just because of the lack of cooperation from the government.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-06', 'modified' => '2023-02-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16683', 'image' => '20230206013515_20210910123141_20210826022928_20210706023411yatayat.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-06 13:34:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16943', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '7.8 Magnitude Earthquake Kills at least 2,300 in Turkey, Syria', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 6: A devastating earthquake early on Monday has flattened buildings and killed at least 100 people in Turkey and Syria as rescuers scramble to search for people trapped in debris.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 6: A devastating earthquake early on Monday has flattened buildings and killed at least 2300 people in Turkey and Syria as rescuers scramble to search for people trapped in debris, according to media reports. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The BBC reported that the powerful hit a wide area in south-eastern Turkey, near the Syrian border.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the US Geological Survey, the 7.8 magnitude tremor struck at 04:17 local time (01:17 GMT) at a depth of 11 miles near the city of Gaziantep.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Authorities have confirmed 1,498 casualties in Turkey and 810 in Syria, AFP said in an updated report. Authorities expect the death toll to rise as many people are still trapped inside flattened buildings.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Many buildings have collapsed and rescue teams have been deployed to search for survivors under huge piles of rubble, added the BBC.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the Guardian reported that the death toll is expected to climb substantially higher because the night-time disaster flattened dozens of apartment blocks across major cities.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Tremors were felt as far as Lebanon, Greece, Israel and the island of Cyprus,” the Guardian reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to media reports, there are around 5,000 Nepalis in Turkey and majority of them are undocumented workers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Department of Immigration told New Business Age that they do not have the exact number of Nepalis currently living in Turkey.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">It may be noted that Turkish aid agencies had sent a search and rescue team to help Nepal in the aftermath of the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on its official website.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the ministry, Nepal exports carpets, pashmina and handicraft items to Turkey while it imports food items and machineries from there.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal and Turkey signed an Air Service Agreement in September 2010, opening a new avenue connecting Europe and Nepal. Turkish Airlines has been operating direct flights between Kathmandu and Istanbul from 2013, added the ministry.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-06', 'modified' => '2023-02-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16682', 'image' => '20230206120828_1675651039earthquakreturkey.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-06 12:06:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, '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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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 8: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has enhanced its support to advance democratic progress in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">USAID's administrator Samantha power who is on a two-day official visit to Nepal announced to provide USAID assistance up to $ 58.5 million to advance Nepal's democratic progress, subject to availability of funds. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The announcement was made in the presence of representatives of the Government of Nepal, civil society and private sector on Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the US Embassy in Kathmandu, the amount of $ 20.2 million was a part of $659 million development objective agreement announced in 2022. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Following transparent and peaceful election this year, Nepal has an opportunity to strengthen federalism, advance the inclusion of women and marginalized communities, empower youths and demonstrate that democracy can deliver to its people. The US would collaborate with Nepal in these areas, the US embassy said in a statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The USAID investment would further help strengthen public financial management, independent civil society and media, democratic processes and institutions, rule of law and private sector, thereby consolidating its democratic achievements and inviting further wider prosperity and resilience, added the statement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">USAID would also continue its assistance to Nepal in its bid to fight against human trafficking. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In order to deliver service in a more accountable and transparent manner from economic perspectives, the investment announced on Tuesday includes up to $20 million to support provincial and local governments towards strengthening inclusive democracy and prosperity. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, assistance up to $ 18.5 million is included in the package to support the independent CSOs led by and for women, youth and marginalized community people to advance community needs, fundamental freedoms and accountability. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">USAID would work with the CSOs to develop their skills, credibility and techniques required to engage effectively with the government and the general public. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The international development agency has said that it would also collaborate with media to support efforts to improve public access to credible information and diverse narratives. That will enhance social trust on media. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The USAID has also shared that it would work to strengthen rule of law and legal regime to fight against human trafficking as well as to further enable free and fair elections. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">These new initiative is built on more than 60-years of USAID partnership with the Nepal government and the people, private sector and others to support goals and aspirations of Nepal. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-08', 'modified' => '2023-02-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16703', 'image' => '20230208093716_KB_KTM-RE3A7328copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-08 09:35:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16963', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Formulates National Strategy for Export of Pashmina', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The government has set the target to export pashmina worth 750 million in the US Dollar till 2026. Keeping in mind the target, the Nepal government has unveiled “Pashmina Sector Export National Strategy”.', 'content' => '<div> <div> <div> <div> <div> <div> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 7: The government has set the target to export pashmina worth 750 million in the US Dollar till 2026. Keeping in mind the target, </span></span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> the Nepal government has unveiled “Pashmina Sector Export National Strategy”.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Amidst a programme organized in Lalitpur, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Damodar Bhandari released the “Pashmina Sector Export National Strategy” on Tuesday. P</span></span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">ashmina sector export national strategy was formulated in collaboration with Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Trade and Export Promotion Center, Nepal Pashmina Industries Association. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The national strategy will be technically assisted by International Trade Center under EU Nepal Trade and Investment Programme operated with EU’s support. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Minister Bhandari said that national strategy on pashmina export would contribute largely to development and expansion of pashmina industries.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Bhandari informed that a factory would be set up to produce thread out of wools of mountain goats for the first time in Nepal. He claimed that production and quality of pashmina-borne goods would increase following the production of pashmina thread in Nepal from the wools of mountain goats.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">National pashmina export strategy formulated by industry and commerce ministry with EU’s financial assistance and International Trade Center’s technical support sets the target to export the pashmina within five years. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies stressed the need to encourage the farmers to keep mountain goats in the mountainous districts for wool production.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We can export pashmina and earn a lot of money to reduce trade deficit. Thus, we have to encourage the farmers for keeping mountain goats for wool production,” Marasini added. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal Pashmina Industries Association Chairman Bijay Dugad said that Pashmina Sector Export National Strategy would be helpful for the private sector. “The production of thread used for making pashmina inside the country is very good step. Farmers will get good price for the wools of mountain goats used to make pashmina,” he added. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal is importing pashmina thread from outside to make pashmina goods. “Making pashmina thread inside the country will give good price to the farmers,” Dugad stated.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal has capacity to manufacture 5 million pieces of pashmina. However, only 2 to 2.5 million pieces of pashmina are being made at the moment. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A foundation stone of Pashmina Fiber Processing Center to manufacture pashmina thread was laid in Harisiddi, Lalitpur on Tuesday. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal had imported pashmina shawls worth Rs 2.53 billion in 2021. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">With target to export pashmina worth 75 million in the US Dollar by 2026, the national pashmina export strategy is expected to contribute to the prosperity of the country. The strategy clearly describes roles and responsibilities, plans, coordination and implementation of all stakeholders.</span></span></span></p> </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> </div> </div> <div> </div> </div> </div> <div> </div> </div> <div> <div> <div> <div> <table cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top; width:44px"><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><img class="ajn bofPge" id=":mr_5" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a/AEdFTp4-VpiAMFbtOF9st6DjlMR50rTaZa7DRPIhBo2C=s40-p" style="border-radius:50%; display:block; height:40px; width:40px" /></span></span></td> <td style="width:922px"> <div> <div><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Google Sans",Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif">ReplyForward</span></span></span></div> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> </div> </div> </div> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-08', 'modified' => '2023-02-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16702', 'image' => '20230208061115_collage (39).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-08 05:51:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16961', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism Entrepreneurs Excited about Jeep Safari in Chitwan National Park', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 7: Tourism entrepreneurs are excited due to the initiative to start of jeep safari from Nawalpur to Chitwan National Park (CNP).', 'content' => '<p>February 7: Tourism entrepreneurs are excited due to the initiative to start of jeep safari from Nawalpur to Chitwan National Park (CNP).</p> <p>Earlier, this service was only available to the buffer zones and community forests near the national park.</p> <p>Dhaniram Gurau, a tourism entrepreneur from Kawasoti said that they are excited because the number of tourists will increase if the visitors who come for a jungle safari are given additional services of jeep safari in the park area with a boat ride in the Narayani River.</p> <p>He said, “Earlier, jeep safari could go only upto the community forests located in the buffer zone, but now tourists can visit the park as well, so the number of tourists coming here has increased.”</p> <p>Nawalpur Tourism Committee Chairman Phansram Mahato said that last year jeep safaris were stopped even in the community forests of the buffer zone, but now that the park has allowed safaris across Narayani. Tourism activities will now increase in the district.</p> <p>“We are happy, this step will help to keep the tourism activities going,” he said. According to him, CNP gave permission to all hotels and businessmen on January 25 to enter the park from the Amaltari post of Nawalpur.</p> <p>Earlier, only Hotel Temple Tiger and Tharu Village were allowed to take tourists to the park. Chief District Officer Krishna Prasad Lamsal said that since tourists will be able to travel to Gaindakhasa, Devital, Tiger Tops route and crocodile breeding center through Amaltari, there will be an increase in economic and tourist activities in this area.</p> <p>Inaugurating the safari on Saturday, CDO Lamsal said that after the jeep safari starts inside the park from Nawalpur, the arrival of foreign tourists will also promote the local culture. The committee started a safari in the park amid an official program. Ten people will be allowed to enter the park in five jeeps per day from Nawalpur area. Hotel and tourism businesses will get permission on 'first-come-first-service' basis.</p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-07', 'modified' => '2023-02-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16700', 'image' => '20230207084654_DA_Tribeni-DSC_0071.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-07 20:46:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16958', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India Increases Customs Duty on Gold Imports', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 7: The Government of India has increased the customs duty on gold import through the budget for the fiscal year 2023/24.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 7: The Government of India has increased the customs duty on gold import through the budget for the fiscal year 2023/24. India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has increased the customs duty on gold imports to 12 and a half per cent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Experts said that since Nepal and India have open border and uninterrupted trade, as soon as the price of gold increases in the Indian market, it will automatically affect the Nepali market. On the other hand, Nepal's northern neighbour, China, has been imposing minimal rate of tax on gold.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Businessmen said that the possibility of exporting gold from China to India via Nepal cannot be ruled out. However, since China closed its borders with Nepal after the Covid, the possibility of Chinese gold being delivered to India through transit in Nepal is very unlikely. Apart from this, it is said that the possibility of bringing gold from other countries illegally to Nepal and bringing it to India will also increase.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The government should control it through its security and inspection mechanism," said Manikaratna Shakya, president of the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Association. He said that the Nepali market can also be affected by such activities.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal imports gold from Dubai, Turkey, Hong Kong and Australia. However, businessmen cannot import gold in Nepal. Banks import gold in Nepal as per the provisions of Nepal Rastra Bank, while Businesses buy from banks.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Traders said that with the Indian government increasing the customs duty on gold import, the price of gold in the Nepali market will be cheaper by Rs 1000 to 1500 per tola compared to India. According to the Federation’s President Shakya, Indian customers can come to the border towns of Nepal to buy gold.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“There is a possibility that Indian customers will come to the Nepali market and buy gold. It is good if this happens. Nepali business will grow, and many will get jobs,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government of Nepal has adopted a policy of sending only 10 kg of gold per day to the market for trading. Due to the impact on international economic activities after the Russia-Ukraine war, as the foreign currency reserves are decreasing in Nepal, the government has reduced the amount of gold to be sent to the market to 10 kg to reduce the outflow of dollars. Businessmen are demanding to increase in the amount saying that 10 kg of gold will be less during the peak season.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"10 kg of gold is less. The government needs to send at least 20 or 25 kg of gold to the market daily,'' Pawan Kumar Somani, the vice president of the federation, said. He said that there is no alternative to increasing the amount of gold to keep the market moving.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, because after India increased the tax on gold import, the price of gold in Nepal decreased, increasing the amount of gold in the market may create a situation where the gold will have to be bought in dollars and sold in gold. If this happens, there will be a situation where the demand of businessmen, who have been taking a stand for increasing the supply of gold for a long time, will not be met.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-07', 'modified' => '2023-02-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16698', 'image' => '20230207030625_20230205100630_20230205091743_gold.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-07 15:05:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16959', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Exports Tea worth Rs 38 Million', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 7: Nepal exported tea worth Rs 38 million in the first six months of the current fiscal year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 7: Nepal exported tea worth Rs 38 million in the first six months of the current fiscal year. According to the National Tea and Coffee Development Board, tea farming is done in around 27,500 hectares of land in the country and Jhapa covers more than one third of the total tea gardens. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Of the total 28 million kilograms of tea produced during the review period, Jhapa alone produced 18 million kilograms, which is the highest in terms of district-wise production, said chief of the board Indra Prasad Adhikari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The districts of the Province 1 produce almost 99 per cent of the total tea in the country, according to Adhikari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In Nepal, a total of 68 large-scale tea industries including 38 CTC and 30 orthodox tea producing industries are in operation. Likewise, more than 150 small companies are processing orthodox tea. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The board said that more than 70,000 people have got direct employment from tea production and 15,000 plus small farmers are engaged in tea farming. -- RSS </span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-07', 'modified' => '2023-02-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16696', 'image' => '20230207042911_Tea.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-07 16:28:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16956', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Garment Exports Improving after Covid-19', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 7: Garment, one of the major export items of Nepal, has seen an improvement after Covid-19 pandemic subsided. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 7: Garment, one of the major export items of Nepal, has seen an improvement after Covid-19 pandemic subsided. Garment exports of the country, which lost Rs 2.5 billion due to the cancellation of orders during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, have seen improvement in recent times.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">From mid-July to mid-January of the current fiscal year (FY) 2079/80, garments worth Rs 4.28 billion were exported from Nepal. According to the Trade and Export Promotion Center, during the corresponding period of the last fiscal year, Nepal exported ready-made garments worth Rs 3.84 billion. The Government of Nepal imposed a lockdown from March 24, 2020 to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 infection, halting the exports of ready-made garments as well according to Pashupatidev Pandey, president of Nepal Ready-Made Garment Industry Association.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that even though the export have been encouraging after the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, the increase in bank interest rates, non-availability of subsidized loans, and increase in freight charges caused problems. He says that this sector lost Rs 2.5 billion due to the closure in the first and second waves of Covid-19. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Pandey said, “There were massive losses when orders were canceled and raw materials were stopped in countries like India and China. Only if there was export credit insurance, the businessmen would have received compensation for that.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Export Credit Insurance is applicable at international level. Such a system is yet to be implemented in Nepal. He said, “If such insurance was arranged through the Ministry of Finance, the compensation for the loss during the Covid-19 would have been available. The loss when the order was canceled would have been covered by the insurance. Cargo freight, which was $1 before Covid-19, has now reached $4.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The association has urged the government to make arrangements to export goods from Nepal's cargo ships to nearby countries and to keep 500 containers under the state in the border area to export goods from nearby sea ports.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There are now only around 100 industries in the readymade garments sector, which provided high employment in the 1980s. According to the association, more than 10,000 people are directly and indirectly employed in these industries. According to the statistics of the association, when 1200 industries were operating in the 80s, more than 400,000 people got employment in this sector. However, after the removal of customs exemptions and quotas provided by the US since 2005, exports began to decline.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Businessmen say that exports can be increased if necessary policies are adopted by the government after conducting researches on like Bangladesh, Vietnam, and China countries that export large quantities of garments. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Pandey says that it is necessary to take initiatives to revive the facilities that were previously provided when the relations with the US were smooth. According to Pandey, it is necessary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister's Office to take a diplomatic initiative to regain the quota facilities given by the US in the 90s. He said, “At that time, when America provided the quota, garments worth US$ 400 million were exported. Now it has reduced to US$ 50 million.”</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-07', 'modified' => '2023-02-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16694', 'image' => '20230207023410_20210501021711_Clipboard13.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-07 14:33:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16955', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Trade Deficit Declines by more than Nineteen Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 7: Nepal’s trade deficit decreased by 19.2 percent to Rs 711.86 billion during the six months of the current fiscal year (FY 2022/23), according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 7: Nepal’s trade deficit decreased by 19.2 percent to Rs 711.86 billion during the six months of the current fiscal year (FY 2022/23), according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report published by the central bank on Monday revealed that such a deficit had increased 46.6 percent in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The export-import ratio decreased to 10.2 percent in the review period from 11.9 percent in the corresponding period of the previous year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, merchandise exports decreased 32.0 percent to Rs 80.81 billion during the first six months of 2022/23 against an increase of 95.5 percent in the same period of the previous year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Destination-wise, exports to India and China decreased 40.1 percent and 25.2 percent respectively whereas exports to other countries increased 3.6 percent. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Exports of zinc sheet, particle board, cardamom, woolen carpets, polyester yarn and thread, among others, increased whereas exports of soybean oil, palm oil, oil cakes, textiles, silverware and jewelries, among others, decreased in the review period, states the report.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Similarly, merchandise imports decreased 20.7 percent to Rs 792.67 billion during the review period against an increase of 51.1 percent a year ago. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Destination-wise, imports from India, China and other countries decreased 19.4 percent, 24.6 percent, and 21.4 percent respectively. Imports of petroleum products, sponge iron, chemical fertilizer, gold, other stationeries, among others, increased whereas imports of transport equipment and parts, medicine, MS billet, silver, telecommunication equipment and parts, among others, decreased in the review period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Based on customs points, exports from customs offices of Bhairahawa, Jaleshwar, Kailali, Krishnanagar, Mechi, Nepalgunj, Rasuwa and Tribhuvan International Airport increased whereas exports from all the other major customs points decreased in the review period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">On the import side, imports from all the major customs points decreased in the review period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">During the six months of FY 2022/23, merchandise imports from India by paying convertible foreign currency amounted to Rs 60.56 billion. Such an amount was Rs 110.91 billion in the same period of the previous year.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-07', 'modified' => '2023-02-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16693', 'image' => '20230207011450_Trade.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-07 13:13:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16952', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Yeti Airlines Plane that Crashed in Pokhara did not have Thrust in Engines before Landing', 'sub_title' => 'Probe Panel Completes Analysis of Data Recorder of the Crashed Aircraft of Yeti Airlines ', 'summary' => 'February 7: A preliminary report of a probe panel formed by the government to study the crash of an ATR aircraft belonging to Yeti Airlines in Pokhara on January 15 has found that the ill-fated aircraft did not have any thrust in both the engines while making a final attempt to land at the newly-built Pokhara Regional International Airport, which led to the fatal accident.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 7: A preliminary report of a probe panel formed by the government to study the crash of an ATR aircraft belonging to Yeti Airlines in Pokhara on January 15 has found that the ill-fated aircraft did not have any thrust in both the engines while making a final attempt to land at the newly-built Pokhara Regional International Airport, which led to the fatal accident.</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"">The Aircraft Accident Investigation Commission on Monday revealed that it reached to this conclusion after completing the analysis of the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) of the ATR-72 aircraft conducted at Singapore-based Transport Safety Investigation Bureau. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The black boxes of the aircraft with call sign 9N-ANC, which crashed in the Seti River gorge near the Pokhara airport killing all 72 people on board last month, were sent to Singapore along with a team of experts for forensic study.</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"">Member-Secretary of the investigation commission, Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane, said that a team of aviation experts and commission members during the investigation found that the “propellers of both engines had gone to feathering in the base leg in course of landing” which means that there was no thrust in the engines to push the aircraft ahead. Analysts believe that this led to the aircraft to stall and take a nosedive minutes before it was scheduled to land.</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"">“Study of different flights and technical aspects was carried out at different simulator flights of ATR aircraft in Singapore,” said Lamichhane adding that the commission is carrying out further investigation about technical and human aspects on it. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A press release issued by the commission on Monday states that preparations are underway to come up with a preliminary report along with recommendation to increase aviation safety on the basis of analysis report and data received so far. The commission said that the final report would be published later. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-07', 'modified' => '2023-02-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16691', 'image' => '20230207121550_Yetii.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-07 12:14:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16951', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NOC Hikes Price of Petroleum Products', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 7: The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the price of petroleum products including that of diesel, petrol and kerosene. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 7: The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the price of petroleum products including that of diesel, petrol and kerosene. The price of fuel has been increased by Rs 3 per litre to take the retail price of diesel and kerosene at Rs 175 per litre and that of petrol to Rs 178 per litre. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The new price has come into effect from February 7. The price of aviation fuel and cooking cooking gas remains unchanged, reads a statement issued by the NOC on Monday. -- </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-07', 'modified' => '2023-02-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16690', 'image' => '20230207113831_20210824101943_20210707102647_20190503125003_Petrol-Price-Increase.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-07 11:36:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16949', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Economy Shows Slight Improvement with Increase in Remittance Inflow and BOP Surplus ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 6: Amid speculations of economic slowdown and challenges in the country’s financial situation, some positive signs are visible in the economy except for higher inflation rate. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">February 6: Amid speculations of economic slowdown and challenges in the country’s financial situation, some positive signs are visible in the economy except for higher inflation rate. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the consumer price inflation was recorded at 7.25 percent in the first six months of the current fiscal year compared to 5.65 percent a year ago. Food and beverage inflation stood at 5.62 percent whereas non-food and service inflation rose to 8.57 percent in the review month, the NRB said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Releasing the Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation of the country based on first six months’ data ending mid-January, the NRB said consumer price inflation in the Kathmandu Valley, Terai, Hill and Mountain belts surged to 6.93 percent, 7.49 percent, 7.30 percent and 6.69 percent, respectively. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the central bank said remittance inflows increased by 24.3 percent to Rs 585.08 billion in the review period against a decrease of 5 percent in the same period of the previous year. In the US Dollar terms, remittance inflows increased 13.9 percent to 4.5 billion against a decrease of 5.7 percent in the same period of the previous year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the number of Nepali workers taking approval for foreign employment increased 64.6 percent to 275,643 in the review period. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, the current account of the government remained at a deficit of Rs 29.47 billion compared to a deficit of Rs 352.16 billion in the same period of the previous year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Furthermore, the Balance of Payments (BOP) remained at a surplus of Rs 97.10 billion in the review period which was at a deficit of Rs 241.23 billion in the same period of the previous year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The country’s gross foreign exchange reserves increased 10 percent to Rs 1337.29 billion in mid-January 2023 from Rs 1215.80 billion in mid-July 2022. In the US dollar terms, the gross foreign exchange reserves increased 8.0 percent to 10.30 billion in mid-January 2023 from 9.54 billion in mid-July 2022. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, former governor of NRB Dipendra Bahadur Kshetri said that the current economic situation of the country should be taken cautiously because we are yet to return to the previous position. The major source of foreign reserve is remittance but we have failed to bring in foreign direct investment and we have not been able to offer an alternative to the import of petroleum products, Kshetri said. “We should promote EVs to reduce the consumption and import of petroleum products.” -- RSS</span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-06', 'modified' => '2023-02-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16688', 'image' => '20230206090958_20201228012934_20201106055408_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-06 21:09:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16948', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Consumer Price Inflation Rises to 7.26 Percent in mid-January: NRB Report', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 6: The year-on-year (y-o-y) consumer price inflation increased to 7.26 percent in mid-January 2023 compared to 5.65 percent a year ago, according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 6: The year-on-year (y-o-y) consumer price inflation increased to 7.26 percent in mid-January 2023 compared to 5.65 percent a year ago, according to the latest report of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report released by NRB on Monday states that the food and beverage inflation stood at 5.62 percent whereas non-food and service inflation rose to 8.57 percent in the review month.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Under the food and beverage category, y-o-y consumer price index of restaurant and hotel sub-category increased 15.56 percent, tobacco products 11.81 percent, milk products and eggs 9.70 percent, cereal grains and their products 9.56 percent and alcoholic drinks 8.84 percent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Under the non-food and services category, y-o-y consumer price index of transportation sub-category increased 16.43 percent, health 11.22 percent, recreation and culture 8.76 percent, miscellaneous goods and services 8.68 percent and furnishing and household equipment 8.33 percent.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In the review month, consumer price inflation in the Kathmandu Valley, Terai, Hill and Mountain surged to 6.93 percent, 7.49 percent, 7.30 percent and 6.69 percent respectively. Inflation in these regions were 5.28 percent, 6.15 percent, 5.34 percent and 5.22 percent respectively a year ago.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-06', 'modified' => '2023-02-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16687', 'image' => '20230206064814_20210924021304_636277035242086786-Inflation.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-06 18:47:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16947', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Maoists Center’ Aryal Elected National Assembly Vice-chair', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Lawmaker of the CPN (Maoist Centre) Urmila Aryal has been unanimously elected the Vice Chairperson of the National Assembly (NA).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 6: Lawmaker of the CPN (Maoist Centre) Urmila Aryal has been unanimously elected the Vice Chairperson of the National Assembly (NA). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Ganesh Prasad Timilsina, Chairperson of the upper house, informed Monday’s NA session about Aryal’s unanimous election to the post of vice-chair since she was the sole candidate to register her candidacy for the post. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The CPN UML lawmaker Debendra Dahal had seconded the proposal to elect Aryal to the post. Dahal had praised her saying that she was capable and qualified candidate for the job. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Speaking at the session of the National Assembly, lawmaker Khim Lal Devkota praised her for having played an important role in women's movement in Nepal. He stressed the need for electing women in the leading positions in other state organs. </span></span><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">State Committee member of the ruling CPN-Maoists center, Aryal had served as the local development minister.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-06', 'modified' => '2023-02-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16686', 'image' => '20230206053121_collage - 2023-02-06T163421.733.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-06 17:29:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16945', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Importing Timber worth Millions due to Policy Hurdles', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 6: Government data shows that a large amount of wood and timber products are imported every year from abroad.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 6: Government data shows that a large amount of wood and timber products are imported every year from abroad. In the fiscal year (FY) 2077/78, wood and wood products worth Rs 15.18 billion were imported into Nepal. Meanwhile in FY 2078/79, this amount increased to Rs 17.82 billion, where the import of wood alone worth Rs 7.45 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In six months of the current fiscal year (FY 2079/80), wood worth Rs 2.76 billion is already imported. This amount of wood import has shocked many people. Import of such a large amount of wood from abroad when Nepal itself is rich in forest resources, cannot be considered normal. It also points towards the need for a review of the policies adopted by the country.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Ministry of Forests, more than 45 percent of the total land area of Nepal is covered by forests where 41 percent of area has trees and the remaining 4 percent has other plants. According to the business organization involved in this sector, Nepal needs 100 million cubic feet of wood annually. However, in the last FY 2078/79, it seems that only 21.2 million cubic feet of wood was produced from the forests of Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kapil Adhikari, chairman of Federation of Forest Based Industry and Trade Nepal (FenFit) says that the problem is mainly policy and procedural hurdles.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said, “If the policy hurdle is to be removed, the timber produced in the country can be consumed here and exported abroad as well.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government introduced the Scientific Forest Management Procedure, 2014 to deal with the difficult supply system of wood and the need to import wood from abroad. The procedure mentioned that the forest will be managed in a community, with partnership and pooling approach. After the implementation of the procedure, it was estimated that there would be no need to import wood, but the procedure was canceled in 2020 after complaints of widespread deforestation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Forest management expert Bijay Subedi says that the scientific forest management procedure, 2014 had to be scrapped as the general public did not understand the procedure.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said, “It was a good procedure with neither policy error nor implementation problem. Common people took the cutting of forest trees as deforestation. There was a weakness in explaining the real meaning. Later, the procedure was canceled based on the complaints.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After the cancellation of the Scientific Forest Management Procedure, 2071, cutting of trees stopped in more than 800 forests of the country for 3 years. The Ministry of Forest prepared the National Standard for Sustainable Forest Management, 2078, to facilitate the supply of wood from forests within the country smoothly. That too is yet to be implemented.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Megh Nath Kafle, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Forest also admits that there is a problem in wood collection and due to the high price of wood while businessmen complain of the problem in distribution. He said, “We formed a team to investigate the issue of wood produced in Nepal not getting a market. A report has been prepared.” He said that all these matters have been delayed due to the lack of ministers and secretaries in the ministry and will go to the implementation stage after their appointment. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-06', 'modified' => '2023-02-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16684', 'image' => '20230206040714_timber-harvesting-process.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-06 16:06:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16944', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sundar Yatayat Decides to Halt Electric Bus Service', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 6: Sundar Yatayat Pvt Ltd has decided to halt its electric bus service. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">February 6: Sundar Yatayat Pvt Ltd has decided to halt its electric bus service. Issuing a statement on Sunday, the company complained that it had to take such a decision due to the lack of cooperation from the government. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the company, it has been almost a year since the Nepal Electricity Authority announced not to collect the demand fee from the EV charging stations, but the decision has not been implemented yet, compelling them to put a full stop to their services. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Earlier, Sundar Yatayat had requested the Government of Nepal, the Electricity Regulatory Commission and NEA to remove the demand fee they have been collecting from the charging stations. Addressing this demand, the commission had decided a year ago not to charge such a fee in the future.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, chairman of Sundar Yatayat, Bhesh Bahadur Thapa, says that the commission is reluctant to implement its own decision, and the company is forced to stop all electric bus services and also to shut down the charging stations. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to him, public and private vehicles powered by electricity will be closed from Monday. He expressed that it is sad for the entire transport sector that the vehicles have to be stopped just because of the lack of cooperation from the government.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-06', 'modified' => '2023-02-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16683', 'image' => '20230206013515_20210910123141_20210826022928_20210706023411yatayat.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-06 13:34:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16943', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '7.8 Magnitude Earthquake Kills at least 2,300 in Turkey, Syria', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 6: A devastating earthquake early on Monday has flattened buildings and killed at least 100 people in Turkey and Syria as rescuers scramble to search for people trapped in debris.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">February 6: A devastating earthquake early on Monday has flattened buildings and killed at least 2300 people in Turkey and Syria as rescuers scramble to search for people trapped in debris, according to media reports. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The BBC reported that the powerful hit a wide area in south-eastern Turkey, near the Syrian border.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the US Geological Survey, the 7.8 magnitude tremor struck at 04:17 local time (01:17 GMT) at a depth of 11 miles near the city of Gaziantep.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Authorities have confirmed 1,498 casualties in Turkey and 810 in Syria, AFP said in an updated report. Authorities expect the death toll to rise as many people are still trapped inside flattened buildings.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Many buildings have collapsed and rescue teams have been deployed to search for survivors under huge piles of rubble, added the BBC.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the Guardian reported that the death toll is expected to climb substantially higher because the night-time disaster flattened dozens of apartment blocks across major cities.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Tremors were felt as far as Lebanon, Greece, Israel and the island of Cyprus,” the Guardian reported.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to media reports, there are around 5,000 Nepalis in Turkey and majority of them are undocumented workers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The Department of Immigration told New Business Age that they do not have the exact number of Nepalis currently living in Turkey.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">It may be noted that Turkish aid agencies had sent a search and rescue team to help Nepal in the aftermath of the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on its official website.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the ministry, Nepal exports carpets, pashmina and handicraft items to Turkey while it imports food items and machineries from there.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal and Turkey signed an Air Service Agreement in September 2010, opening a new avenue connecting Europe and Nepal. Turkish Airlines has been operating direct flights between Kathmandu and Istanbul from 2013, added the ministry.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-02-06', 'modified' => '2023-02-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16682', 'image' => '20230206120828_1675651039earthquakreturkey.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-02-06 12:06:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, '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
