Super Madi Hydropower Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the general public from…
…
Super Madi Hydropower Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the general public from…
An exhibition related to energy and health is underway simultaneously at Bhrikutimandap,…
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel said the government is ready for policy-level and legal reforms to systematise the remittance inflow to the…
January 22: The increase in bad loans has affected the profitability of banks in the second quarter of the current fiscal year.…
January 22: The production of Sugarcane, which is the main cash crop of Nepal, is decreasing in recent times.…
January 22: Import and export through the Birganj customs has declined in the first six months of the current fiscal…
January 22: The Tamang community is observing Sonam Lhosar across the country today by organising various…
January 22: The black box of ATR-72 aircraft of Yeti Airlines that crashed in Pokhara on January 15 is being sent to France for technical analysis by the aircraft manufacturer.…
January 21: The European Union (EU) has put off its plan of undertaking an on-site evaluation of Nepal’s aviation…
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ said the government is ready to revise the Foreign Employment Act to make the foreign employment business fair and…
Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has achieved a remarkable success in controlling electricity leakage. The NEA has reduced the power leakage to 7.49 per cent in the distribution side in the first five months of the current fiscal year, according to the Nepal Electricity…
January 20: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has removed the requirement to have 50 to 100 per cent cash margin for opening letter of credit (LC) to import luxury goods.…
January 20: The sugarcane farmers have expressed their dissatisfaction after the government set the support price of sugarcane less than the cost incurred this year.…
January 20: The Khumbu region in Solukhumbu district has received a good number of tourists even during the off-season this year.…
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60]Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/indexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16814', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Rainfall likely from Tonight', 'sub_title' => 'Winter this Year has Seen the Lowest Rainfall in the Last 30 Years', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 23: The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has said that there is a possibility of normal to moderate rain starting from Western Nepal to Kathmandu and other parts of the country from coming Monday night (January 23). The rainfall is likely to continue until Thursday. </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"">There is also possibility of snowfall in the mountainous regions for a week after Tuesday, said Meteorologist Binod Pokharel. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the winter this year has seen the lowest rainfall in the last 30 years. </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"">According to government records, the country has received the lowest rainfall this year since 1991. </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"">An average of 12.6 millimeters of rainfall has been recoded from December 1 to January 18 between 1991 to 2020. However, only 0.1 mm of rainfall occurred during the same period this year, according to the department. </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"">During last winter, there was an average of 27.1 millimeters of rainfall. December 15 to February 15 is considered as the winter season in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Climate expert Dharmaraj Upreti said less rainfall in winter will likely cause and also directly impact winter crops. Drying up or depletion of water springs, increased air pollution and increased risk of incidents of fire are also likely to occur. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-23', 'modified' => '2023-01-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16555', 'image' => '20230123115304_rainfallll.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-23 11:52:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16813', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Super Madi Hydropower Limited opens IPO to General Public ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Super Madi Hydropower Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the general public from Monday. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <span style="font-size:20px">January 23: Super Madi Hydropower Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the general public from Monday. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">With the allotment of IPO shares to the project-affected locals and Nepali citizens working in foreign countries in the first phase, the hydropower has floated IPO shares to the general public in the second phase. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The hydropower is issuing a total of 17,43,000 units of shares at the face value of Rs 100 per unit of share after allotting the shares to locals, migrant workers and mutual funds. The company has also reserved shares for its employees. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">A total of 1,74, 310 individuals will receive 10 units of shares each. <br /> The IPO Offering will close on January 26. If the IPO is not fully subscribed until January 26, the deadline will extend till February 6. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">One can apply for a minimum of 10 shares and a maximum of 50,000 units of shares.<br /> Sanima Capital Limited is issue and sales manager. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Interested individuals can apply for the IPO from issue manager and all banks and financial institutions that are C-ASBA members approved by Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON). Investors can also apply for the IPO through Mero Share. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The company is constructing Super Madi Hydropower of 44 megawatt in Kaski district. The estimated cost of the hydropower stands at Rs 190 million per megawatt. </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-23', 'modified' => '2023-01-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16554', 'image' => '20230123060221_collage (8) (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-23 05:55:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16812', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Energy and Health exhibition at Bhrikutimandap ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'An exhibition related to energy and health is underway simultaneously at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <span style="font-size:22px">January 22: An exhibition related to energy and health is underway simultaneously at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">‘Nepal Electric Power Lights International Exhibition’ and ‘Nepal Pharma and Health Exhibition’ had kicked off Friday. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">Different stalls pertaining to energy, electricity, medicine, treatment and pharmacies have been put on the exhibition.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">The exhibition is jointly organized by Media Space Solutions, Exhibitions and Trade Services India Private Limited and Futurex Trade Fairs and Events Private Limited. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">Organisers say more than 100 domestic and foreign companies have kept their stalls on the exhibition. </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-22', 'modified' => '2023-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16553', 'image' => '20230122072759_collage (75).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-22 19:25:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16811', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government ready for policy-level reform to systematise Remittance, says Finance Minister Poudel ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel said the government is ready for policy-level and legal reforms to systematise the remittance inflow to the country. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <span style="font-size:18px">January 22: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel said the government is ready for policy-level and legal reforms to systematise the remittance inflow to the country. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">In his virtual address to a programme entitled ‘Remittance and Investment in Nepal’ organised by the Overseas Nepali Forum, the United States of America on Saturday night, the Minister Poudel said that the government was ready to bring in the remittance through legal channel and create conducive atmosphere for investment in productive sectors. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"> “We have not been able to receive a large chunk of remittance through an official route and the government is ready to take measures to usher in remittance through such channels,” Poudel said. He stressed the need to revise the policy - level and legal hurdles for the same.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Stating that the government’s attention had been drawn towards the concerns of citizenship raised by the non-resident Nepalis, Poudel said, “The constitution has made provisions to provide citizenship to the non-resident Nepali with socio-economic rights and government will do the needful to implement the provision as guaranteed in the country's statute". </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">On the Act Related to Foreign Investment and Technology that considers non-resident Nepali as the foreign national, Poudel pledged to address the problem at the earliest. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Saying that his attention had been drawn towards the requirement for non-resident Nepalis to obtain visa while coming to Nepal, Minister Poudel assured that the issue would be sorted out with resolution of citizenship issues. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Minister Poudel appreciated NRN overseas’ big contribution to Nepal’s economic development and prosperity.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Reiterating that Nepal is a safe destination for investment and high return prospect, Poudel urged the NRNs to share this message with investors around the globe to invest in Nepal.</span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-22', 'modified' => '2023-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16552', 'image' => '20230122051343_collage (74).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-22 17:08:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16810', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Banks' Profit Affected by Bad Loans', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: The increase in bad loans has affected the profitability of banks in the second quarter of the current fiscal year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 22: The increase in bad loans has affected the profitability of banks in the second quarter<strong> </strong>of the current fiscal year. Likewise, the banks facing liquidity crunch have also been affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As of January 21, a total of 20 banks that published their unaudited financial statements have earned a net profit of Rs 29.87 billion. It is only 1.85 per cent more than the profit earned during the corresponding period of the last fiscal year when the banks made a profit of Rs 29.33 billion. During the last fiscal year, the profit of the banks increased by 10 per cent compared to the previous year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal Investment and Mega Bank merged with each other to start integrated business as Nepal Investment Mega Bank while Kumari Bank and NCC Bank which merged with each other are yet to publish their financial statements. Among the banks that have published their financial statements, the profit of a dozen banks has increased compared to last year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The profit of Everest Bank has increased the highest by 89.29 per cent. The profit of eight banks has decreased compared to last fiscal year. The net profit of the Agriculture Development Bank has decreased by 109 per cent resulting in a loss of Rs 128.9 million. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Global IME Bank’s profit increased by 4.47 per cent, while the profit of Bank of Kathmandu before the merger decreased by 4.37 per cent. BoK’s profit of Rs 452.5 million has been adjusted with the profit of the current fiscal year of Global IME Bank. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-22', 'modified' => '2023-01-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16551', 'image' => '20230122042344_Banks.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-22 16:23:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16809', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sugarcane Production Declining in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: The production of Sugarcane, which is the main cash crop of Nepal, is decreasing in recent times. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 22: The production of Sugarcane, which is the main cash crop of Nepal, is decreasing in recent times. Government data shows that sugarcane production decreased by more than 305,000 metric tons in the last three years. Stakeholders say that production is decreasing due to increasing cost of production, risky market, low competitiveness and problems in getting the amount of sugarcane sold on credit.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, sugarcane cultivation was done on 71,625 hectares of land in the fiscal year (FY) 2075/76 yielding production of 3,557,934 tons of sugarcane. But by FY 2077/78, the cultivation area reduced by 7,271 hectares to 64,354 hectares, and the production reduced by 373,991 tons to 318,3943 tons. Meanwhile, the productivity of sugarcane decreased to 49.47 tons which was 49.6 tons in FY 2075/76.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the ministry, although there is a lot of potential to get quality products with high productivity by expanding sugarcane cultivation commercially in the country, the production is decreasing due to internal problems. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Prakash Kumar Sanjel, spokesperson of the ministry, said that the cost-price ratio decreased due to the low productivity of sugarcane in Nepal compared to other countries. Farmers also lack quality sugarcane varieties. Due to this, both productivity and production are decreasing.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In recent times sugarcane market is also at risk, adding problems to the production. According to a statement released by the ministry, 13 large industries are currently purchasing sugarcane from the farmers in Nepal in big scale. There are many farmers who produce sugarcane on a small scale. Therefore, there are many sugarcane producers and limited number of buyers in Nepal. The government's role in market regulation is secondary. In such a situation, there is a high possibility that the limited number of buyers can exploit the small farmers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to this kind of effect, sugarcane farmers had to come to Kathmandu many times and stage street protests to get payment for the sugarcane they sold on credit to the industrialists. Even though the government has introduced programs such as fixing the minimum support price for sugarcane, promoting irrigation for sugarcane and promoting the development of seeds of superior quality in the country, the sugarcane farmers have started turning to other crops because of the failure in effective implementation of those initiatives.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The sugar produced in Nepal is not able to compete with the price of imported sugar in terms of production cost. According to a report published by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 2018, Nepal's neighboring countries including India and Pakistan provide high subsidies for sugar and sugarcane production, which has affected Nepal's sugar production.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-22', 'modified' => '2023-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16550', 'image' => '20230122031034_HB_KTM-IMG_0142.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-22 15:09:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16808', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Imports from Birgunj Decline by 15 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: Import and export through the Birganj customs has declined in the first six months of the current fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 22: Import and export through the Birganj customs has declined in the first six months of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the statistics of Birgunj Customs, the import decreased by 15.3 percent and the export by 62.7 percent between mid-July to mid-January this fiscal year compared to the corresponding period of last year</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the first 6 months of last fiscal year, goods worth Rs 348 billion were imported into Nepal through this customs point. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dhan Bahadur Baruwal, Chief Customs Officer of Birgunj Customs, informed that goods worth Rs 295 billion have been imported during the same period this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Exports on the other hand decreased to Rs 20 billion from Rs 55 billion during the review period. In the previous years, the export of refined cooking oil from Nepal used to take place in a considerable amount when India imposed high customs duty on oil imports from other countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal had been exporting refined oil to India by importing crude oil from third countries. However, after India adopted a zero duty policy on oil imports, the export from Nepal reduced significantly as the exporters could no longer benefit from the customs duty gap. Products such as shoes, yarn, and juice are mainly exported through Birgunj Customs.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-22', 'modified' => '2023-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16549', 'image' => '20230122025513_Birgunjjjjjjjjjj.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-22 14:54:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16807', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tamang Community Observing Sonam Lhosar Today', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: The Tamang community is observing Sonam Lhosar across the country today by organising various programmes. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 22: The Tamang community is observing Sonam Lhosar across the country today by organising various programmes. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The festival is taken as the commencement of the near year as per the Manju Shree calendar or Tibetan lunar calendar and today marks the beginning of the year 2859. </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"">As per the Tamang tradition, today they complete the ‘year of tiger’ and enter the ‘year of rabbit’. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The festival falls on the first day of the bright half in the month of Magh (mid-January to mid-February) according to the lunar calendar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There is a custom in the Taming community to count the year with association of symbols of 12 different animals: rat, cow, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, bird, dog and boar. It starts with rat and ends on boar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to researcher Tika Sherpa, the counting of year with the name of animals suggest that the Tamang people are worshippers of nature. Various districts in the Bagmati Province are predominantly Tamang districts and this festival is observed in such districts with much fanfare. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Bouddhanath Area Development Trust has planned various programmes today to observe the festival. Likewise, Nepal Tamang Ghedung has decided to mark the festival by organising programmes in the Tundikhel for the next three days. Likewise, the Swoyambhu area in Kathmandu is also hosting programmes on the occasion. -- RSS </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-22', 'modified' => '2023-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16548', 'image' => '20230122125214_sonam.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-22 12:51:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16806', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Black Box of Crashed Yeti Airlines Plane will be sent to France ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: The black box of ATR-72 aircraft of Yeti Airlines that crashed in Pokhara on January 15 is being sent to France for technical analysis by the aircraft manufacturer. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 22: The black box of ATR-72 aircraft of Yeti Airlines that crashed in Pokhara on January 15 is being sent to France for technical analysis by the aircraft manufacturer. Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and member-secretary of Air Crash Investigation Committee Budhisagar Lamichhane told the state-owned national news agency RSS that the black box of the aircraft is being sent to France for an independent analysis of the accident. The expert team of the Air Crash Investigation Committee will also go to France along with the black box, added RSS. </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"">According to Lamichhane, the black box will be sent to the aircraft manufacturing company in France next week.</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 black box contains Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder which will help in the effective investigation of the 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 committee has so far conducted on-site monitoring of the accident site, collected necessary documents and discussed with experts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Yeti Airlines flight with call sign 9N-ANC (ATR-72-212) flying from Kathmandu to Pokhara crashed in the Seti River gorge, killing 71 out of 72 people including the crew members of the plane. The body of one more passenger traveling on the plane is yet to be found. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-22', 'modified' => '2023-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16547', 'image' => '20230122111105_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-22 11:10:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16804', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'EU's On-Site Evaluation Team Postpones its Plan to Visit Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 21: The European Union (EU) has put off its plan of undertaking an on-site evaluation of Nepal’s aviation sector.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 21: The European Union (EU) has put off its plan of undertaking an on-site evaluation of Nepal’s aviation sector. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) said that the planned visit of EU's technical team has been postponed for the time being. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Issuing a joint statement on Friday, Director-General of CAAN Pradeep Adhikari and EU's Ambassador to Nepal Nona Deprez said that the scheduled Nepal visit of the on-site evaluation team has been put off for now. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to CAAN Spokesperson Jagannath Niraula, EU's Nepal visit has been put off on mutual agreement as the human resource of the CAAN has to be deployed to investigate the crash of the Yeti Airlines plane in Pokhara on January 15. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier on October, a team of the EU had undertaken a study of the aviation safety of Nepal and drew a conclusion that notable progress was made in aviation safety. The team had returned with a decision to send another team to carry out an on-site evaluation of the aviation safety of Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the statement, the EU has clarified that it would continue its support to Nepal for aviation safety. EU had blacklisted Nepal in its air safety list since 2013 citing safety concners. Nepal has made several efforts to get itself removed from the blacklist. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)'s recent audit has assessed Nepal's aviation safety compliance rate to be 70.1 percent, which is above the global average. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-21', 'modified' => '2023-01-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16545', 'image' => '20230121051057_european-union.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-21 17:10:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16803', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Ready to Revise Foreign Employment Act, says Prime Minister Dahal ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ said the government is ready to revise the Foreign Employment Act to make the foreign employment business fair and transparent. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <span style="font-size:20px">January 20: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ said the government is ready to revise the Foreign Employment Act to make the foreign employment business fair and transparent. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Addressing the 29th Annual General Assembly(AGM) of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA) organised in Kathmandu on Friday, Prime Minister Dahal reiterated that he was ready to make business of foreign employment transparent and respectful after consultation with the Labour Minister and ministry’s Secretary.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Dahal sought assistance of entrepreneurs involved in the business of foreign employment to end malpractices prevalent in the domain of foreign employment. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">“The government is making headway in making the foreign employment transparent and effective and in stopping the wrong practices widespread in the field”, Dahal added.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Dahal stated that the government was prepared to forge friendly and cordial relationship with entrepreneurs and industrialists to usher in economic development and prosperity in the country. </span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-20', 'modified' => '2023-01-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16544', 'image' => '20230120054801_collage (73).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-20 17:44:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16802', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Electricity Leakage Declines ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has achieved a remarkable success in controlling electricity leakage. The NEA has reduced the power leakage to 7.49 per cent in the distribution side in the first five months of the current fiscal year, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px">January 20: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has achieved a remarkable success in controlling electricity leakage.<br /> The NEA has reduced the power leakage to 7.49 per cent in the distribution side in the first five months of the current fiscal year, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Power leakage was 9.23 per cent in the distribution side in the first five months of the last fiscal year, which fell by 1.74 per cent during the same period this fiscal. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">By the end of the fifth month of the current fiscal year, the distribution system has received 4.147 billion units of electricity. Out of it, 3.836 billion units of electricity were sold, while 31.779 million units of electricity leaked. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Power leakage on transmission side stands at 4.56 percent till the end of the fifth month of the same period. Power leakage of the total system including distribution and transmission side stands at 12.5 per cent. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Electricity leakage of the entire system was 15.38 per cent till 15 July, 2022. <br /> The largest part of the power leakage in the system is on the distribution side. The Authority has set a target of reducing the electricity leakage of the overall system to 14 percent and the distribution leakage to 8.5 percent in the current fiscal year.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">The power leakage on distribution side that was 22 per cent around seven years ago has come down to 7.49 per cent , which is a great achievement, said Executive Director Kulman Ghising of the Nepal Electricity Authority.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Ghising said that NEA had deployed its staffers to reduce the leakage below its target by making steps launched to control technical and non-technical leakage effective. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">“During this period, new substations have been constructed, the existing substations have been upgraded, electricity consumption has increased in the industrial sector, meter reading has been made effective, and the leakages have decreased due to the accumulated unit billing of customers," Ghising said. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Regular monitoring and action against the power theft, strengthening overloaded substations and feeder lines, construction of new substations, and replacement of conductors have led to the fall of power leakage , said NEA Executive Director Ghising. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Increasing the capacity of substations, adding conductors, changing overloaded transformers, and encouraging the use of three-phase meters have caused the leakage to subside. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">The NEA has launched various measures as campaign to control the power leakage. The NEA has stepped up efforts to control power theft and collect arrears and adopted strict actions against those who steal power, replace and bypass meters. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Out of the distribution centers under the NEA’s seven regional offices and two provincial division offices, Madhesh Province Regional Office, Janakpur has the highest electricity leakage. The total electricity leakage of 23 distribution centers under Janakpur Regional Office is 12.80 percent till mid-December.</span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-20', 'modified' => '2023-01-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16543', 'image' => '20230120050800_collage (71).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-20 17:00:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16801', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Removes Cash Margin for LC', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 20: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has removed the requirement to have 50 to 100 per cent cash margin for opening letter of credit (LC) to import luxury goods. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 20: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has removed the requirement to have 50 to 100 per cent cash margin for opening letter of credit (LC) to import luxury goods. After the improvement in the foreign exchange reserves, the NRB on Thursday amended the Integrated Circular 2078 to remove the requirement of cash margin for the imports.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">From now onwards, the importers need to maintain only the cash margin specified by the banks for opening LC.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Banks take a cash margin of up to 5 percent while opening import LCs considering the risk factor. NRB has also removed the ban on the payment for imports through Demand Draft (DD), and Telegraphic Transfer (TT). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Importers can now pay up to USD 35,000 through TT for the imports from third countries while they can pay up to Rs 300 million through draft and TT for imports from India.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The NRB had fixed the cash margin of 50 to 100 percent earlier to discourage import of luxury goods but gradually eased the restrictions as the situation improved.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ban imposed by the government on the import of luxury goods has already been lifted. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The central bank was under pressure from businessmen to remove the provision of cash margin. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) also pressured NRB to remove the provision of cash margin for imports.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the report of NRB, the foreign exchange reserves were equal to Rs 1215 billion by the end of last fiscal year, which increased by 6.3 per cent and reached Rs 1290 by billion mid-November.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The foreign exchange reserves held by the banks as of mid-November can sustain imports for ten months.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, Nepal Rastra Bank injected liquidity of Rs 3.8 billion in the market through repo on Thursday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-20', 'modified' => '2023-01-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16542', 'image' => '20230120033746_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-20 15:36:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16799', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sugarcane Farmers Unhappy with the Support Price Fixed by the Government', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 20: The sugarcane farmers have expressed their dissatisfaction after the government set the support price of sugarcane less than the cost incurred this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 20: The sugarcane farmers have expressed their dissatisfaction after the government set the support price of sugarcane less than the cost incurred this year. Farmers are complaining that even the cost of sugarcane plantation cannot be collected because the support price of sugarcane is less that the production cost while the cost of transportation and wages of laborers have increased.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government set the minimum support price of sugarcane at Rs 540 per quintal for the current fiscal year, including the production cost, transportation fee and profit. In addition, the government has announced a subsidy of Rs 70 per quintal for the farmers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the farmers, the minimum support price set by the government is only Rs 20 more than last year while the transportation cost has doubled. Rakesh Mishra, coordinator of Sugarcane Farmers Struggle Committee Sarlahi, said that sugarcane transportation cost and labor charge have doubled in one year, making the cost of sugarcane more than Rs 550 per quintal. Farmers get a profit of only 60 rupees per quintal from sugarcane.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Mishra questioned the government, “How much effort does it take to produce one quintal of sugarcane throughout the year? Why doesn't the government increase the price of our hard work? If the profit is only Rs 60 per quintal after working hard throughout the year, why did the farmers have to cultivate sugarcane?”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He alleged that the government's intention is to demoralize the farmers and destroy the domestic sugar industry and production. He said, “Until the tradition of fixing the price inside the Singha Durbar without the farmers’ knowledge comes to an end, the farmers will not get a fair price for their produce.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kapil Muni Mainali, president of the Sugarcane Producers' Association said that before the government fixed the price, the association had suggested setting the purchase price of sugarcane at Rs 705 per quintal. He accused the government of doing great injustice to the farmers by arbitrarily fixing the price of sugarcane.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ministry of Agriculture on the other hand said that the purchase price is determined only after studying all aspects of farmers' efforts, costs and transportation expenses in a scientific manner. Due to the fact that the government does not fix the price in the interests of the farmers, the industrialists do not pay the money to the farmers on time. The attraction of the farmers towards sugarcane farming is decreasing recently due to the reasons like lack of chemical fertilizers and the non-availability of sugarcane seeds of high production quality in addition to not getting appropriate price for the produce.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-20', 'modified' => '2023-01-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16540', 'image' => '20230120033638_sugarcane.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-20 15:35:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16798', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Khumbu Welcomes Tourists in Off-Season ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 20: The Khumbu region in Solukhumbu district has received a good number of tourists even during the off-season this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 20: The Khumbu region in Solukhumbu district has received a good number of tourists even during the off-season this year. The winter period is considered as an off-season for tourism in the Khumbu area. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the past three days, a total of 95 people visited the Khumbu region, according to a report of the Sagarmatha National Park. Of them, 68 tourists were foreigners, three from SAARC countries, two Nepalis, 18 porters and four tour guides, Chief Conservation Officer of the National Park, Bhumiraj Upadhyay said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Upadhyay added that a total of Rs 215,150 revenue was collected from them. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Currently, most of the hotels in the Khumbu region are closed due to winter and off-season for tourism. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Tourism entrepreneur Lama Kaji Shrestha said that the visitors have arrived here as the weather here is clear these days. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As there is no snowfall this winter, the trekking routes here are in good condition. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-20', 'modified' => '2023-01-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16539', 'image' => '20230120025713_258482_218714068152324_7011012_o.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-20 14:56:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/indexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16814', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Rainfall likely from Tonight', 'sub_title' => 'Winter this Year has Seen the Lowest Rainfall in the Last 30 Years', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 23: The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has said that there is a possibility of normal to moderate rain starting from Western Nepal to Kathmandu and other parts of the country from coming Monday night (January 23). The rainfall is likely to continue until Thursday. </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"">There is also possibility of snowfall in the mountainous regions for a week after Tuesday, said Meteorologist Binod Pokharel. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the winter this year has seen the lowest rainfall in the last 30 years. </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"">According to government records, the country has received the lowest rainfall this year since 1991. </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"">An average of 12.6 millimeters of rainfall has been recoded from December 1 to January 18 between 1991 to 2020. However, only 0.1 mm of rainfall occurred during the same period this year, according to the department. </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"">During last winter, there was an average of 27.1 millimeters of rainfall. December 15 to February 15 is considered as the winter season in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Climate expert Dharmaraj Upreti said less rainfall in winter will likely cause and also directly impact winter crops. Drying up or depletion of water springs, increased air pollution and increased risk of incidents of fire are also likely to occur. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-23', 'modified' => '2023-01-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16555', 'image' => '20230123115304_rainfallll.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-23 11:52:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16813', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Super Madi Hydropower Limited opens IPO to General Public ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Super Madi Hydropower Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the general public from Monday. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <span style="font-size:20px">January 23: Super Madi Hydropower Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the general public from Monday. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">With the allotment of IPO shares to the project-affected locals and Nepali citizens working in foreign countries in the first phase, the hydropower has floated IPO shares to the general public in the second phase. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The hydropower is issuing a total of 17,43,000 units of shares at the face value of Rs 100 per unit of share after allotting the shares to locals, migrant workers and mutual funds. The company has also reserved shares for its employees. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">A total of 1,74, 310 individuals will receive 10 units of shares each. <br /> The IPO Offering will close on January 26. If the IPO is not fully subscribed until January 26, the deadline will extend till February 6. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">One can apply for a minimum of 10 shares and a maximum of 50,000 units of shares.<br /> Sanima Capital Limited is issue and sales manager. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Interested individuals can apply for the IPO from issue manager and all banks and financial institutions that are C-ASBA members approved by Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON). Investors can also apply for the IPO through Mero Share. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The company is constructing Super Madi Hydropower of 44 megawatt in Kaski district. The estimated cost of the hydropower stands at Rs 190 million per megawatt. </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-23', 'modified' => '2023-01-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16554', 'image' => '20230123060221_collage (8) (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-23 05:55:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16812', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Energy and Health exhibition at Bhrikutimandap ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'An exhibition related to energy and health is underway simultaneously at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <span style="font-size:22px">January 22: An exhibition related to energy and health is underway simultaneously at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">‘Nepal Electric Power Lights International Exhibition’ and ‘Nepal Pharma and Health Exhibition’ had kicked off Friday. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">Different stalls pertaining to energy, electricity, medicine, treatment and pharmacies have been put on the exhibition.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">The exhibition is jointly organized by Media Space Solutions, Exhibitions and Trade Services India Private Limited and Futurex Trade Fairs and Events Private Limited. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">Organisers say more than 100 domestic and foreign companies have kept their stalls on the exhibition. </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-22', 'modified' => '2023-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16553', 'image' => '20230122072759_collage (75).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-22 19:25:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16811', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government ready for policy-level reform to systematise Remittance, says Finance Minister Poudel ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel said the government is ready for policy-level and legal reforms to systematise the remittance inflow to the country. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <span style="font-size:18px">January 22: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel said the government is ready for policy-level and legal reforms to systematise the remittance inflow to the country. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">In his virtual address to a programme entitled ‘Remittance and Investment in Nepal’ organised by the Overseas Nepali Forum, the United States of America on Saturday night, the Minister Poudel said that the government was ready to bring in the remittance through legal channel and create conducive atmosphere for investment in productive sectors. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"> “We have not been able to receive a large chunk of remittance through an official route and the government is ready to take measures to usher in remittance through such channels,” Poudel said. He stressed the need to revise the policy - level and legal hurdles for the same.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Stating that the government’s attention had been drawn towards the concerns of citizenship raised by the non-resident Nepalis, Poudel said, “The constitution has made provisions to provide citizenship to the non-resident Nepali with socio-economic rights and government will do the needful to implement the provision as guaranteed in the country's statute". </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">On the Act Related to Foreign Investment and Technology that considers non-resident Nepali as the foreign national, Poudel pledged to address the problem at the earliest. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Saying that his attention had been drawn towards the requirement for non-resident Nepalis to obtain visa while coming to Nepal, Minister Poudel assured that the issue would be sorted out with resolution of citizenship issues. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Minister Poudel appreciated NRN overseas’ big contribution to Nepal’s economic development and prosperity.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Reiterating that Nepal is a safe destination for investment and high return prospect, Poudel urged the NRNs to share this message with investors around the globe to invest in Nepal.</span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-22', 'modified' => '2023-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16552', 'image' => '20230122051343_collage (74).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-22 17:08:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16810', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Banks' Profit Affected by Bad Loans', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: The increase in bad loans has affected the profitability of banks in the second quarter of the current fiscal year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 22: The increase in bad loans has affected the profitability of banks in the second quarter<strong> </strong>of the current fiscal year. Likewise, the banks facing liquidity crunch have also been affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As of January 21, a total of 20 banks that published their unaudited financial statements have earned a net profit of Rs 29.87 billion. It is only 1.85 per cent more than the profit earned during the corresponding period of the last fiscal year when the banks made a profit of Rs 29.33 billion. During the last fiscal year, the profit of the banks increased by 10 per cent compared to the previous year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal Investment and Mega Bank merged with each other to start integrated business as Nepal Investment Mega Bank while Kumari Bank and NCC Bank which merged with each other are yet to publish their financial statements. Among the banks that have published their financial statements, the profit of a dozen banks has increased compared to last year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The profit of Everest Bank has increased the highest by 89.29 per cent. The profit of eight banks has decreased compared to last fiscal year. The net profit of the Agriculture Development Bank has decreased by 109 per cent resulting in a loss of Rs 128.9 million. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Global IME Bank’s profit increased by 4.47 per cent, while the profit of Bank of Kathmandu before the merger decreased by 4.37 per cent. BoK’s profit of Rs 452.5 million has been adjusted with the profit of the current fiscal year of Global IME Bank. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-22', 'modified' => '2023-01-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16551', 'image' => '20230122042344_Banks.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-22 16:23:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16809', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sugarcane Production Declining in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: The production of Sugarcane, which is the main cash crop of Nepal, is decreasing in recent times. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 22: The production of Sugarcane, which is the main cash crop of Nepal, is decreasing in recent times. Government data shows that sugarcane production decreased by more than 305,000 metric tons in the last three years. Stakeholders say that production is decreasing due to increasing cost of production, risky market, low competitiveness and problems in getting the amount of sugarcane sold on credit.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, sugarcane cultivation was done on 71,625 hectares of land in the fiscal year (FY) 2075/76 yielding production of 3,557,934 tons of sugarcane. But by FY 2077/78, the cultivation area reduced by 7,271 hectares to 64,354 hectares, and the production reduced by 373,991 tons to 318,3943 tons. Meanwhile, the productivity of sugarcane decreased to 49.47 tons which was 49.6 tons in FY 2075/76.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the ministry, although there is a lot of potential to get quality products with high productivity by expanding sugarcane cultivation commercially in the country, the production is decreasing due to internal problems. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Prakash Kumar Sanjel, spokesperson of the ministry, said that the cost-price ratio decreased due to the low productivity of sugarcane in Nepal compared to other countries. Farmers also lack quality sugarcane varieties. Due to this, both productivity and production are decreasing.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In recent times sugarcane market is also at risk, adding problems to the production. According to a statement released by the ministry, 13 large industries are currently purchasing sugarcane from the farmers in Nepal in big scale. There are many farmers who produce sugarcane on a small scale. Therefore, there are many sugarcane producers and limited number of buyers in Nepal. The government's role in market regulation is secondary. In such a situation, there is a high possibility that the limited number of buyers can exploit the small farmers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to this kind of effect, sugarcane farmers had to come to Kathmandu many times and stage street protests to get payment for the sugarcane they sold on credit to the industrialists. Even though the government has introduced programs such as fixing the minimum support price for sugarcane, promoting irrigation for sugarcane and promoting the development of seeds of superior quality in the country, the sugarcane farmers have started turning to other crops because of the failure in effective implementation of those initiatives.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The sugar produced in Nepal is not able to compete with the price of imported sugar in terms of production cost. According to a report published by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 2018, Nepal's neighboring countries including India and Pakistan provide high subsidies for sugar and sugarcane production, which has affected Nepal's sugar production.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-22', 'modified' => '2023-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16550', 'image' => '20230122031034_HB_KTM-IMG_0142.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-22 15:09:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16808', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Imports from Birgunj Decline by 15 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: Import and export through the Birganj customs has declined in the first six months of the current fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 22: Import and export through the Birganj customs has declined in the first six months of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the statistics of Birgunj Customs, the import decreased by 15.3 percent and the export by 62.7 percent between mid-July to mid-January this fiscal year compared to the corresponding period of last year</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the first 6 months of last fiscal year, goods worth Rs 348 billion were imported into Nepal through this customs point. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dhan Bahadur Baruwal, Chief Customs Officer of Birgunj Customs, informed that goods worth Rs 295 billion have been imported during the same period this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Exports on the other hand decreased to Rs 20 billion from Rs 55 billion during the review period. In the previous years, the export of refined cooking oil from Nepal used to take place in a considerable amount when India imposed high customs duty on oil imports from other countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal had been exporting refined oil to India by importing crude oil from third countries. However, after India adopted a zero duty policy on oil imports, the export from Nepal reduced significantly as the exporters could no longer benefit from the customs duty gap. Products such as shoes, yarn, and juice are mainly exported through Birgunj Customs.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-22', 'modified' => '2023-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16549', 'image' => '20230122025513_Birgunjjjjjjjjjj.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-22 14:54:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16807', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tamang Community Observing Sonam Lhosar Today', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: The Tamang community is observing Sonam Lhosar across the country today by organising various programmes. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 22: The Tamang community is observing Sonam Lhosar across the country today by organising various programmes. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The festival is taken as the commencement of the near year as per the Manju Shree calendar or Tibetan lunar calendar and today marks the beginning of the year 2859. </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"">As per the Tamang tradition, today they complete the ‘year of tiger’ and enter the ‘year of rabbit’. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The festival falls on the first day of the bright half in the month of Magh (mid-January to mid-February) according to the lunar calendar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There is a custom in the Taming community to count the year with association of symbols of 12 different animals: rat, cow, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, bird, dog and boar. It starts with rat and ends on boar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to researcher Tika Sherpa, the counting of year with the name of animals suggest that the Tamang people are worshippers of nature. Various districts in the Bagmati Province are predominantly Tamang districts and this festival is observed in such districts with much fanfare. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Bouddhanath Area Development Trust has planned various programmes today to observe the festival. Likewise, Nepal Tamang Ghedung has decided to mark the festival by organising programmes in the Tundikhel for the next three days. Likewise, the Swoyambhu area in Kathmandu is also hosting programmes on the occasion. -- RSS </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-22', 'modified' => '2023-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16548', 'image' => '20230122125214_sonam.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-22 12:51:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16806', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Black Box of Crashed Yeti Airlines Plane will be sent to France ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: The black box of ATR-72 aircraft of Yeti Airlines that crashed in Pokhara on January 15 is being sent to France for technical analysis by the aircraft manufacturer. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 22: The black box of ATR-72 aircraft of Yeti Airlines that crashed in Pokhara on January 15 is being sent to France for technical analysis by the aircraft manufacturer. Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and member-secretary of Air Crash Investigation Committee Budhisagar Lamichhane told the state-owned national news agency RSS that the black box of the aircraft is being sent to France for an independent analysis of the accident. The expert team of the Air Crash Investigation Committee will also go to France along with the black box, added RSS. </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"">According to Lamichhane, the black box will be sent to the aircraft manufacturing company in France next week.</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 black box contains Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder which will help in the effective investigation of the 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 committee has so far conducted on-site monitoring of the accident site, collected necessary documents and discussed with experts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Yeti Airlines flight with call sign 9N-ANC (ATR-72-212) flying from Kathmandu to Pokhara crashed in the Seti River gorge, killing 71 out of 72 people including the crew members of the plane. The body of one more passenger traveling on the plane is yet to be found. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-22', 'modified' => '2023-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16547', 'image' => '20230122111105_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-22 11:10:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16804', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'EU's On-Site Evaluation Team Postpones its Plan to Visit Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 21: The European Union (EU) has put off its plan of undertaking an on-site evaluation of Nepal’s aviation sector.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 21: The European Union (EU) has put off its plan of undertaking an on-site evaluation of Nepal’s aviation sector. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) said that the planned visit of EU's technical team has been postponed for the time being. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Issuing a joint statement on Friday, Director-General of CAAN Pradeep Adhikari and EU's Ambassador to Nepal Nona Deprez said that the scheduled Nepal visit of the on-site evaluation team has been put off for now. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to CAAN Spokesperson Jagannath Niraula, EU's Nepal visit has been put off on mutual agreement as the human resource of the CAAN has to be deployed to investigate the crash of the Yeti Airlines plane in Pokhara on January 15. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier on October, a team of the EU had undertaken a study of the aviation safety of Nepal and drew a conclusion that notable progress was made in aviation safety. The team had returned with a decision to send another team to carry out an on-site evaluation of the aviation safety of Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the statement, the EU has clarified that it would continue its support to Nepal for aviation safety. EU had blacklisted Nepal in its air safety list since 2013 citing safety concners. Nepal has made several efforts to get itself removed from the blacklist. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)'s recent audit has assessed Nepal's aviation safety compliance rate to be 70.1 percent, which is above the global average. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-21', 'modified' => '2023-01-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16545', 'image' => '20230121051057_european-union.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-21 17:10:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16803', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Ready to Revise Foreign Employment Act, says Prime Minister Dahal ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ said the government is ready to revise the Foreign Employment Act to make the foreign employment business fair and transparent. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <span style="font-size:20px">January 20: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ said the government is ready to revise the Foreign Employment Act to make the foreign employment business fair and transparent. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Addressing the 29th Annual General Assembly(AGM) of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA) organised in Kathmandu on Friday, Prime Minister Dahal reiterated that he was ready to make business of foreign employment transparent and respectful after consultation with the Labour Minister and ministry’s Secretary.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Dahal sought assistance of entrepreneurs involved in the business of foreign employment to end malpractices prevalent in the domain of foreign employment. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">“The government is making headway in making the foreign employment transparent and effective and in stopping the wrong practices widespread in the field”, Dahal added.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Dahal stated that the government was prepared to forge friendly and cordial relationship with entrepreneurs and industrialists to usher in economic development and prosperity in the country. </span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-20', 'modified' => '2023-01-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16544', 'image' => '20230120054801_collage (73).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-20 17:44:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16802', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Electricity Leakage Declines ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has achieved a remarkable success in controlling electricity leakage. The NEA has reduced the power leakage to 7.49 per cent in the distribution side in the first five months of the current fiscal year, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px">January 20: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has achieved a remarkable success in controlling electricity leakage.<br /> The NEA has reduced the power leakage to 7.49 per cent in the distribution side in the first five months of the current fiscal year, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Power leakage was 9.23 per cent in the distribution side in the first five months of the last fiscal year, which fell by 1.74 per cent during the same period this fiscal. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">By the end of the fifth month of the current fiscal year, the distribution system has received 4.147 billion units of electricity. Out of it, 3.836 billion units of electricity were sold, while 31.779 million units of electricity leaked. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Power leakage on transmission side stands at 4.56 percent till the end of the fifth month of the same period. Power leakage of the total system including distribution and transmission side stands at 12.5 per cent. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Electricity leakage of the entire system was 15.38 per cent till 15 July, 2022. <br /> The largest part of the power leakage in the system is on the distribution side. The Authority has set a target of reducing the electricity leakage of the overall system to 14 percent and the distribution leakage to 8.5 percent in the current fiscal year.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">The power leakage on distribution side that was 22 per cent around seven years ago has come down to 7.49 per cent , which is a great achievement, said Executive Director Kulman Ghising of the Nepal Electricity Authority.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Ghising said that NEA had deployed its staffers to reduce the leakage below its target by making steps launched to control technical and non-technical leakage effective. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">“During this period, new substations have been constructed, the existing substations have been upgraded, electricity consumption has increased in the industrial sector, meter reading has been made effective, and the leakages have decreased due to the accumulated unit billing of customers," Ghising said. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Regular monitoring and action against the power theft, strengthening overloaded substations and feeder lines, construction of new substations, and replacement of conductors have led to the fall of power leakage , said NEA Executive Director Ghising. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Increasing the capacity of substations, adding conductors, changing overloaded transformers, and encouraging the use of three-phase meters have caused the leakage to subside. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">The NEA has launched various measures as campaign to control the power leakage. The NEA has stepped up efforts to control power theft and collect arrears and adopted strict actions against those who steal power, replace and bypass meters. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Out of the distribution centers under the NEA’s seven regional offices and two provincial division offices, Madhesh Province Regional Office, Janakpur has the highest electricity leakage. The total electricity leakage of 23 distribution centers under Janakpur Regional Office is 12.80 percent till mid-December.</span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-20', 'modified' => '2023-01-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16543', 'image' => '20230120050800_collage (71).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-20 17:00:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16801', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Removes Cash Margin for LC', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 20: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has removed the requirement to have 50 to 100 per cent cash margin for opening letter of credit (LC) to import luxury goods. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 20: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has removed the requirement to have 50 to 100 per cent cash margin for opening letter of credit (LC) to import luxury goods. After the improvement in the foreign exchange reserves, the NRB on Thursday amended the Integrated Circular 2078 to remove the requirement of cash margin for the imports.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">From now onwards, the importers need to maintain only the cash margin specified by the banks for opening LC.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Banks take a cash margin of up to 5 percent while opening import LCs considering the risk factor. NRB has also removed the ban on the payment for imports through Demand Draft (DD), and Telegraphic Transfer (TT). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Importers can now pay up to USD 35,000 through TT for the imports from third countries while they can pay up to Rs 300 million through draft and TT for imports from India.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The NRB had fixed the cash margin of 50 to 100 percent earlier to discourage import of luxury goods but gradually eased the restrictions as the situation improved.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ban imposed by the government on the import of luxury goods has already been lifted. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The central bank was under pressure from businessmen to remove the provision of cash margin. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) also pressured NRB to remove the provision of cash margin for imports.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the report of NRB, the foreign exchange reserves were equal to Rs 1215 billion by the end of last fiscal year, which increased by 6.3 per cent and reached Rs 1290 by billion mid-November.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The foreign exchange reserves held by the banks as of mid-November can sustain imports for ten months.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, Nepal Rastra Bank injected liquidity of Rs 3.8 billion in the market through repo on Thursday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-20', 'modified' => '2023-01-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16542', 'image' => '20230120033746_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-20 15:36:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16799', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sugarcane Farmers Unhappy with the Support Price Fixed by the Government', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 20: The sugarcane farmers have expressed their dissatisfaction after the government set the support price of sugarcane less than the cost incurred this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 20: The sugarcane farmers have expressed their dissatisfaction after the government set the support price of sugarcane less than the cost incurred this year. Farmers are complaining that even the cost of sugarcane plantation cannot be collected because the support price of sugarcane is less that the production cost while the cost of transportation and wages of laborers have increased.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government set the minimum support price of sugarcane at Rs 540 per quintal for the current fiscal year, including the production cost, transportation fee and profit. In addition, the government has announced a subsidy of Rs 70 per quintal for the farmers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the farmers, the minimum support price set by the government is only Rs 20 more than last year while the transportation cost has doubled. Rakesh Mishra, coordinator of Sugarcane Farmers Struggle Committee Sarlahi, said that sugarcane transportation cost and labor charge have doubled in one year, making the cost of sugarcane more than Rs 550 per quintal. Farmers get a profit of only 60 rupees per quintal from sugarcane.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Mishra questioned the government, “How much effort does it take to produce one quintal of sugarcane throughout the year? Why doesn't the government increase the price of our hard work? If the profit is only Rs 60 per quintal after working hard throughout the year, why did the farmers have to cultivate sugarcane?”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He alleged that the government's intention is to demoralize the farmers and destroy the domestic sugar industry and production. He said, “Until the tradition of fixing the price inside the Singha Durbar without the farmers’ knowledge comes to an end, the farmers will not get a fair price for their produce.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kapil Muni Mainali, president of the Sugarcane Producers' Association said that before the government fixed the price, the association had suggested setting the purchase price of sugarcane at Rs 705 per quintal. He accused the government of doing great injustice to the farmers by arbitrarily fixing the price of sugarcane.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ministry of Agriculture on the other hand said that the purchase price is determined only after studying all aspects of farmers' efforts, costs and transportation expenses in a scientific manner. Due to the fact that the government does not fix the price in the interests of the farmers, the industrialists do not pay the money to the farmers on time. The attraction of the farmers towards sugarcane farming is decreasing recently due to the reasons like lack of chemical fertilizers and the non-availability of sugarcane seeds of high production quality in addition to not getting appropriate price for the produce.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-20', 'modified' => '2023-01-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16540', 'image' => '20230120033638_sugarcane.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-20 15:35:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16798', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Khumbu Welcomes Tourists in Off-Season ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 20: The Khumbu region in Solukhumbu district has received a good number of tourists even during the off-season this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 20: The Khumbu region in Solukhumbu district has received a good number of tourists even during the off-season this year. The winter period is considered as an off-season for tourism in the Khumbu area. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the past three days, a total of 95 people visited the Khumbu region, according to a report of the Sagarmatha National Park. Of them, 68 tourists were foreigners, three from SAARC countries, two Nepalis, 18 porters and four tour guides, Chief Conservation Officer of the National Park, Bhumiraj Upadhyay said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Upadhyay added that a total of Rs 215,150 revenue was collected from them. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Currently, most of the hotels in the Khumbu region are closed due to winter and off-season for tourism. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Tourism entrepreneur Lama Kaji Shrestha said that the visitors have arrived here as the weather here is clear these days. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As there is no snowfall this winter, the trekking routes here are in good condition. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-20', 'modified' => '2023-01-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16539', 'image' => '20230120025713_258482_218714068152324_7011012_o.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-20 14:56:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16814', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Rainfall likely from Tonight', 'sub_title' => 'Winter this Year has Seen the Lowest Rainfall in the Last 30 Years', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 23: The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has said that there is a possibility of normal to moderate rain starting from Western Nepal to Kathmandu and other parts of the country from coming Monday night (January 23). The rainfall is likely to continue until Thursday. </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"">There is also possibility of snowfall in the mountainous regions for a week after Tuesday, said Meteorologist Binod Pokharel. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the winter this year has seen the lowest rainfall in the last 30 years. </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"">According to government records, the country has received the lowest rainfall this year since 1991. </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"">An average of 12.6 millimeters of rainfall has been recoded from December 1 to January 18 between 1991 to 2020. However, only 0.1 mm of rainfall occurred during the same period this year, according to the department. </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"">During last winter, there was an average of 27.1 millimeters of rainfall. December 15 to February 15 is considered as the winter season in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Climate expert Dharmaraj Upreti said less rainfall in winter will likely cause and also directly impact winter crops. Drying up or depletion of water springs, increased air pollution and increased risk of incidents of fire are also likely to occur. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-23', 'modified' => '2023-01-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16555', 'image' => '20230123115304_rainfallll.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-23 11:52:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16813', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Super Madi Hydropower Limited opens IPO to General Public ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Super Madi Hydropower Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the general public from Monday. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <span style="font-size:20px">January 23: Super Madi Hydropower Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the general public from Monday. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">With the allotment of IPO shares to the project-affected locals and Nepali citizens working in foreign countries in the first phase, the hydropower has floated IPO shares to the general public in the second phase. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The hydropower is issuing a total of 17,43,000 units of shares at the face value of Rs 100 per unit of share after allotting the shares to locals, migrant workers and mutual funds. The company has also reserved shares for its employees. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">A total of 1,74, 310 individuals will receive 10 units of shares each. <br /> The IPO Offering will close on January 26. If the IPO is not fully subscribed until January 26, the deadline will extend till February 6. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">One can apply for a minimum of 10 shares and a maximum of 50,000 units of shares.<br /> Sanima Capital Limited is issue and sales manager. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Interested individuals can apply for the IPO from issue manager and all banks and financial institutions that are C-ASBA members approved by Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON). Investors can also apply for the IPO through Mero Share. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The company is constructing Super Madi Hydropower of 44 megawatt in Kaski district. The estimated cost of the hydropower stands at Rs 190 million per megawatt. </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-23', 'modified' => '2023-01-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16554', 'image' => '20230123060221_collage (8) (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-23 05:55:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16812', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Energy and Health exhibition at Bhrikutimandap ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'An exhibition related to energy and health is underway simultaneously at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <span style="font-size:22px">January 22: An exhibition related to energy and health is underway simultaneously at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">‘Nepal Electric Power Lights International Exhibition’ and ‘Nepal Pharma and Health Exhibition’ had kicked off Friday. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">Different stalls pertaining to energy, electricity, medicine, treatment and pharmacies have been put on the exhibition.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">The exhibition is jointly organized by Media Space Solutions, Exhibitions and Trade Services India Private Limited and Futurex Trade Fairs and Events Private Limited. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">Organisers say more than 100 domestic and foreign companies have kept their stalls on the exhibition. </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-22', 'modified' => '2023-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16553', 'image' => '20230122072759_collage (75).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-22 19:25:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16811', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government ready for policy-level reform to systematise Remittance, says Finance Minister Poudel ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel said the government is ready for policy-level and legal reforms to systematise the remittance inflow to the country. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <span style="font-size:18px">January 22: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel said the government is ready for policy-level and legal reforms to systematise the remittance inflow to the country. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">In his virtual address to a programme entitled ‘Remittance and Investment in Nepal’ organised by the Overseas Nepali Forum, the United States of America on Saturday night, the Minister Poudel said that the government was ready to bring in the remittance through legal channel and create conducive atmosphere for investment in productive sectors. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"> “We have not been able to receive a large chunk of remittance through an official route and the government is ready to take measures to usher in remittance through such channels,” Poudel said. He stressed the need to revise the policy - level and legal hurdles for the same.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Stating that the government’s attention had been drawn towards the concerns of citizenship raised by the non-resident Nepalis, Poudel said, “The constitution has made provisions to provide citizenship to the non-resident Nepali with socio-economic rights and government will do the needful to implement the provision as guaranteed in the country's statute". </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">On the Act Related to Foreign Investment and Technology that considers non-resident Nepali as the foreign national, Poudel pledged to address the problem at the earliest. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Saying that his attention had been drawn towards the requirement for non-resident Nepalis to obtain visa while coming to Nepal, Minister Poudel assured that the issue would be sorted out with resolution of citizenship issues. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Minister Poudel appreciated NRN overseas’ big contribution to Nepal’s economic development and prosperity.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Reiterating that Nepal is a safe destination for investment and high return prospect, Poudel urged the NRNs to share this message with investors around the globe to invest in Nepal.</span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-22', 'modified' => '2023-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16552', 'image' => '20230122051343_collage (74).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-22 17:08:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16810', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Banks' Profit Affected by Bad Loans', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: The increase in bad loans has affected the profitability of banks in the second quarter of the current fiscal year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 22: The increase in bad loans has affected the profitability of banks in the second quarter<strong> </strong>of the current fiscal year. Likewise, the banks facing liquidity crunch have also been affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As of January 21, a total of 20 banks that published their unaudited financial statements have earned a net profit of Rs 29.87 billion. It is only 1.85 per cent more than the profit earned during the corresponding period of the last fiscal year when the banks made a profit of Rs 29.33 billion. During the last fiscal year, the profit of the banks increased by 10 per cent compared to the previous year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal Investment and Mega Bank merged with each other to start integrated business as Nepal Investment Mega Bank while Kumari Bank and NCC Bank which merged with each other are yet to publish their financial statements. Among the banks that have published their financial statements, the profit of a dozen banks has increased compared to last year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The profit of Everest Bank has increased the highest by 89.29 per cent. The profit of eight banks has decreased compared to last fiscal year. The net profit of the Agriculture Development Bank has decreased by 109 per cent resulting in a loss of Rs 128.9 million. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Global IME Bank’s profit increased by 4.47 per cent, while the profit of Bank of Kathmandu before the merger decreased by 4.37 per cent. BoK’s profit of Rs 452.5 million has been adjusted with the profit of the current fiscal year of Global IME Bank. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-22', 'modified' => '2023-01-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16551', 'image' => '20230122042344_Banks.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-22 16:23:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16809', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sugarcane Production Declining in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: The production of Sugarcane, which is the main cash crop of Nepal, is decreasing in recent times. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 22: The production of Sugarcane, which is the main cash crop of Nepal, is decreasing in recent times. Government data shows that sugarcane production decreased by more than 305,000 metric tons in the last three years. Stakeholders say that production is decreasing due to increasing cost of production, risky market, low competitiveness and problems in getting the amount of sugarcane sold on credit.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, sugarcane cultivation was done on 71,625 hectares of land in the fiscal year (FY) 2075/76 yielding production of 3,557,934 tons of sugarcane. But by FY 2077/78, the cultivation area reduced by 7,271 hectares to 64,354 hectares, and the production reduced by 373,991 tons to 318,3943 tons. Meanwhile, the productivity of sugarcane decreased to 49.47 tons which was 49.6 tons in FY 2075/76.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the ministry, although there is a lot of potential to get quality products with high productivity by expanding sugarcane cultivation commercially in the country, the production is decreasing due to internal problems. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Prakash Kumar Sanjel, spokesperson of the ministry, said that the cost-price ratio decreased due to the low productivity of sugarcane in Nepal compared to other countries. Farmers also lack quality sugarcane varieties. Due to this, both productivity and production are decreasing.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In recent times sugarcane market is also at risk, adding problems to the production. According to a statement released by the ministry, 13 large industries are currently purchasing sugarcane from the farmers in Nepal in big scale. There are many farmers who produce sugarcane on a small scale. Therefore, there are many sugarcane producers and limited number of buyers in Nepal. The government's role in market regulation is secondary. In such a situation, there is a high possibility that the limited number of buyers can exploit the small farmers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to this kind of effect, sugarcane farmers had to come to Kathmandu many times and stage street protests to get payment for the sugarcane they sold on credit to the industrialists. Even though the government has introduced programs such as fixing the minimum support price for sugarcane, promoting irrigation for sugarcane and promoting the development of seeds of superior quality in the country, the sugarcane farmers have started turning to other crops because of the failure in effective implementation of those initiatives.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The sugar produced in Nepal is not able to compete with the price of imported sugar in terms of production cost. According to a report published by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 2018, Nepal's neighboring countries including India and Pakistan provide high subsidies for sugar and sugarcane production, which has affected Nepal's sugar production.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-22', 'modified' => '2023-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16550', 'image' => '20230122031034_HB_KTM-IMG_0142.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-22 15:09:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16808', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Imports from Birgunj Decline by 15 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: Import and export through the Birganj customs has declined in the first six months of the current fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 22: Import and export through the Birganj customs has declined in the first six months of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the statistics of Birgunj Customs, the import decreased by 15.3 percent and the export by 62.7 percent between mid-July to mid-January this fiscal year compared to the corresponding period of last year</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the first 6 months of last fiscal year, goods worth Rs 348 billion were imported into Nepal through this customs point. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dhan Bahadur Baruwal, Chief Customs Officer of Birgunj Customs, informed that goods worth Rs 295 billion have been imported during the same period this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Exports on the other hand decreased to Rs 20 billion from Rs 55 billion during the review period. In the previous years, the export of refined cooking oil from Nepal used to take place in a considerable amount when India imposed high customs duty on oil imports from other countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal had been exporting refined oil to India by importing crude oil from third countries. However, after India adopted a zero duty policy on oil imports, the export from Nepal reduced significantly as the exporters could no longer benefit from the customs duty gap. Products such as shoes, yarn, and juice are mainly exported through Birgunj Customs.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-22', 'modified' => '2023-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16549', 'image' => '20230122025513_Birgunjjjjjjjjjj.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-22 14:54:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16807', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tamang Community Observing Sonam Lhosar Today', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: The Tamang community is observing Sonam Lhosar across the country today by organising various programmes. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 22: The Tamang community is observing Sonam Lhosar across the country today by organising various programmes. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The festival is taken as the commencement of the near year as per the Manju Shree calendar or Tibetan lunar calendar and today marks the beginning of the year 2859. </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"">As per the Tamang tradition, today they complete the ‘year of tiger’ and enter the ‘year of rabbit’. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The festival falls on the first day of the bright half in the month of Magh (mid-January to mid-February) according to the lunar calendar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There is a custom in the Taming community to count the year with association of symbols of 12 different animals: rat, cow, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, bird, dog and boar. It starts with rat and ends on boar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to researcher Tika Sherpa, the counting of year with the name of animals suggest that the Tamang people are worshippers of nature. Various districts in the Bagmati Province are predominantly Tamang districts and this festival is observed in such districts with much fanfare. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Bouddhanath Area Development Trust has planned various programmes today to observe the festival. Likewise, Nepal Tamang Ghedung has decided to mark the festival by organising programmes in the Tundikhel for the next three days. Likewise, the Swoyambhu area in Kathmandu is also hosting programmes on the occasion. -- RSS </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-22', 'modified' => '2023-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16548', 'image' => '20230122125214_sonam.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-22 12:51:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16806', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Black Box of Crashed Yeti Airlines Plane will be sent to France ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: The black box of ATR-72 aircraft of Yeti Airlines that crashed in Pokhara on January 15 is being sent to France for technical analysis by the aircraft manufacturer. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 22: The black box of ATR-72 aircraft of Yeti Airlines that crashed in Pokhara on January 15 is being sent to France for technical analysis by the aircraft manufacturer. Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and member-secretary of Air Crash Investigation Committee Budhisagar Lamichhane told the state-owned national news agency RSS that the black box of the aircraft is being sent to France for an independent analysis of the accident. The expert team of the Air Crash Investigation Committee will also go to France along with the black box, added RSS. </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"">According to Lamichhane, the black box will be sent to the aircraft manufacturing company in France next week.</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 black box contains Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder which will help in the effective investigation of the 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 committee has so far conducted on-site monitoring of the accident site, collected necessary documents and discussed with experts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Yeti Airlines flight with call sign 9N-ANC (ATR-72-212) flying from Kathmandu to Pokhara crashed in the Seti River gorge, killing 71 out of 72 people including the crew members of the plane. The body of one more passenger traveling on the plane is yet to be found. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-22', 'modified' => '2023-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16547', 'image' => '20230122111105_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-22 11:10:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16804', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'EU's On-Site Evaluation Team Postpones its Plan to Visit Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 21: The European Union (EU) has put off its plan of undertaking an on-site evaluation of Nepal’s aviation sector.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 21: The European Union (EU) has put off its plan of undertaking an on-site evaluation of Nepal’s aviation sector. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) said that the planned visit of EU's technical team has been postponed for the time being. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Issuing a joint statement on Friday, Director-General of CAAN Pradeep Adhikari and EU's Ambassador to Nepal Nona Deprez said that the scheduled Nepal visit of the on-site evaluation team has been put off for now. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to CAAN Spokesperson Jagannath Niraula, EU's Nepal visit has been put off on mutual agreement as the human resource of the CAAN has to be deployed to investigate the crash of the Yeti Airlines plane in Pokhara on January 15. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier on October, a team of the EU had undertaken a study of the aviation safety of Nepal and drew a conclusion that notable progress was made in aviation safety. The team had returned with a decision to send another team to carry out an on-site evaluation of the aviation safety of Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the statement, the EU has clarified that it would continue its support to Nepal for aviation safety. EU had blacklisted Nepal in its air safety list since 2013 citing safety concners. Nepal has made several efforts to get itself removed from the blacklist. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)'s recent audit has assessed Nepal's aviation safety compliance rate to be 70.1 percent, which is above the global average. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-21', 'modified' => '2023-01-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16545', 'image' => '20230121051057_european-union.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-21 17:10:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16803', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Ready to Revise Foreign Employment Act, says Prime Minister Dahal ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ said the government is ready to revise the Foreign Employment Act to make the foreign employment business fair and transparent. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <span style="font-size:20px">January 20: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ said the government is ready to revise the Foreign Employment Act to make the foreign employment business fair and transparent. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Addressing the 29th Annual General Assembly(AGM) of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA) organised in Kathmandu on Friday, Prime Minister Dahal reiterated that he was ready to make business of foreign employment transparent and respectful after consultation with the Labour Minister and ministry’s Secretary.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Dahal sought assistance of entrepreneurs involved in the business of foreign employment to end malpractices prevalent in the domain of foreign employment. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">“The government is making headway in making the foreign employment transparent and effective and in stopping the wrong practices widespread in the field”, Dahal added.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Dahal stated that the government was prepared to forge friendly and cordial relationship with entrepreneurs and industrialists to usher in economic development and prosperity in the country. </span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-20', 'modified' => '2023-01-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16544', 'image' => '20230120054801_collage (73).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-20 17:44:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16802', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Electricity Leakage Declines ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has achieved a remarkable success in controlling electricity leakage. The NEA has reduced the power leakage to 7.49 per cent in the distribution side in the first five months of the current fiscal year, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px">January 20: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has achieved a remarkable success in controlling electricity leakage.<br /> The NEA has reduced the power leakage to 7.49 per cent in the distribution side in the first five months of the current fiscal year, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Power leakage was 9.23 per cent in the distribution side in the first five months of the last fiscal year, which fell by 1.74 per cent during the same period this fiscal. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">By the end of the fifth month of the current fiscal year, the distribution system has received 4.147 billion units of electricity. Out of it, 3.836 billion units of electricity were sold, while 31.779 million units of electricity leaked. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Power leakage on transmission side stands at 4.56 percent till the end of the fifth month of the same period. Power leakage of the total system including distribution and transmission side stands at 12.5 per cent. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Electricity leakage of the entire system was 15.38 per cent till 15 July, 2022. <br /> The largest part of the power leakage in the system is on the distribution side. The Authority has set a target of reducing the electricity leakage of the overall system to 14 percent and the distribution leakage to 8.5 percent in the current fiscal year.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">The power leakage on distribution side that was 22 per cent around seven years ago has come down to 7.49 per cent , which is a great achievement, said Executive Director Kulman Ghising of the Nepal Electricity Authority.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Ghising said that NEA had deployed its staffers to reduce the leakage below its target by making steps launched to control technical and non-technical leakage effective. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">“During this period, new substations have been constructed, the existing substations have been upgraded, electricity consumption has increased in the industrial sector, meter reading has been made effective, and the leakages have decreased due to the accumulated unit billing of customers," Ghising said. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Regular monitoring and action against the power theft, strengthening overloaded substations and feeder lines, construction of new substations, and replacement of conductors have led to the fall of power leakage , said NEA Executive Director Ghising. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Increasing the capacity of substations, adding conductors, changing overloaded transformers, and encouraging the use of three-phase meters have caused the leakage to subside. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">The NEA has launched various measures as campaign to control the power leakage. The NEA has stepped up efforts to control power theft and collect arrears and adopted strict actions against those who steal power, replace and bypass meters. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Out of the distribution centers under the NEA’s seven regional offices and two provincial division offices, Madhesh Province Regional Office, Janakpur has the highest electricity leakage. The total electricity leakage of 23 distribution centers under Janakpur Regional Office is 12.80 percent till mid-December.</span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-20', 'modified' => '2023-01-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16543', 'image' => '20230120050800_collage (71).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-20 17:00:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16801', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Removes Cash Margin for LC', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 20: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has removed the requirement to have 50 to 100 per cent cash margin for opening letter of credit (LC) to import luxury goods. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 20: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has removed the requirement to have 50 to 100 per cent cash margin for opening letter of credit (LC) to import luxury goods. After the improvement in the foreign exchange reserves, the NRB on Thursday amended the Integrated Circular 2078 to remove the requirement of cash margin for the imports.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">From now onwards, the importers need to maintain only the cash margin specified by the banks for opening LC.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Banks take a cash margin of up to 5 percent while opening import LCs considering the risk factor. NRB has also removed the ban on the payment for imports through Demand Draft (DD), and Telegraphic Transfer (TT). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Importers can now pay up to USD 35,000 through TT for the imports from third countries while they can pay up to Rs 300 million through draft and TT for imports from India.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The NRB had fixed the cash margin of 50 to 100 percent earlier to discourage import of luxury goods but gradually eased the restrictions as the situation improved.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ban imposed by the government on the import of luxury goods has already been lifted. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The central bank was under pressure from businessmen to remove the provision of cash margin. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) also pressured NRB to remove the provision of cash margin for imports.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the report of NRB, the foreign exchange reserves were equal to Rs 1215 billion by the end of last fiscal year, which increased by 6.3 per cent and reached Rs 1290 by billion mid-November.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The foreign exchange reserves held by the banks as of mid-November can sustain imports for ten months.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, Nepal Rastra Bank injected liquidity of Rs 3.8 billion in the market through repo on Thursday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-20', 'modified' => '2023-01-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16542', 'image' => '20230120033746_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-20 15:36:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16799', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sugarcane Farmers Unhappy with the Support Price Fixed by the Government', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 20: The sugarcane farmers have expressed their dissatisfaction after the government set the support price of sugarcane less than the cost incurred this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 20: The sugarcane farmers have expressed their dissatisfaction after the government set the support price of sugarcane less than the cost incurred this year. Farmers are complaining that even the cost of sugarcane plantation cannot be collected because the support price of sugarcane is less that the production cost while the cost of transportation and wages of laborers have increased.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government set the minimum support price of sugarcane at Rs 540 per quintal for the current fiscal year, including the production cost, transportation fee and profit. In addition, the government has announced a subsidy of Rs 70 per quintal for the farmers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the farmers, the minimum support price set by the government is only Rs 20 more than last year while the transportation cost has doubled. Rakesh Mishra, coordinator of Sugarcane Farmers Struggle Committee Sarlahi, said that sugarcane transportation cost and labor charge have doubled in one year, making the cost of sugarcane more than Rs 550 per quintal. Farmers get a profit of only 60 rupees per quintal from sugarcane.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Mishra questioned the government, “How much effort does it take to produce one quintal of sugarcane throughout the year? Why doesn't the government increase the price of our hard work? If the profit is only Rs 60 per quintal after working hard throughout the year, why did the farmers have to cultivate sugarcane?”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He alleged that the government's intention is to demoralize the farmers and destroy the domestic sugar industry and production. He said, “Until the tradition of fixing the price inside the Singha Durbar without the farmers’ knowledge comes to an end, the farmers will not get a fair price for their produce.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kapil Muni Mainali, president of the Sugarcane Producers' Association said that before the government fixed the price, the association had suggested setting the purchase price of sugarcane at Rs 705 per quintal. He accused the government of doing great injustice to the farmers by arbitrarily fixing the price of sugarcane.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ministry of Agriculture on the other hand said that the purchase price is determined only after studying all aspects of farmers' efforts, costs and transportation expenses in a scientific manner. Due to the fact that the government does not fix the price in the interests of the farmers, the industrialists do not pay the money to the farmers on time. The attraction of the farmers towards sugarcane farming is decreasing recently due to the reasons like lack of chemical fertilizers and the non-availability of sugarcane seeds of high production quality in addition to not getting appropriate price for the produce.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-20', 'modified' => '2023-01-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16540', 'image' => '20230120033638_sugarcane.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-20 15:35:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16798', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Khumbu Welcomes Tourists in Off-Season ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 20: The Khumbu region in Solukhumbu district has received a good number of tourists even during the off-season this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 20: The Khumbu region in Solukhumbu district has received a good number of tourists even during the off-season this year. The winter period is considered as an off-season for tourism in the Khumbu area. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the past three days, a total of 95 people visited the Khumbu region, according to a report of the Sagarmatha National Park. Of them, 68 tourists were foreigners, three from SAARC countries, two Nepalis, 18 porters and four tour guides, Chief Conservation Officer of the National Park, Bhumiraj Upadhyay said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Upadhyay added that a total of Rs 215,150 revenue was collected from them. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Currently, most of the hotels in the Khumbu region are closed due to winter and off-season for tourism. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Tourism entrepreneur Lama Kaji Shrestha said that the visitors have arrived here as the weather here is clear these days. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As there is no snowfall this winter, the trekking routes here are in good condition. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-20', 'modified' => '2023-01-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16539', 'image' => '20230120025713_258482_218714068152324_7011012_o.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-20 14:56:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16814', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Rainfall likely from Tonight', 'sub_title' => 'Winter this Year has Seen the Lowest Rainfall in the Last 30 Years', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 23: The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has said that there is a possibility of normal to moderate rain starting from Western Nepal to Kathmandu and other parts of the country from coming Monday night (January 23). The rainfall is likely to continue until Thursday. </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"">There is also possibility of snowfall in the mountainous regions for a week after Tuesday, said Meteorologist Binod Pokharel. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the winter this year has seen the lowest rainfall in the last 30 years. </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"">According to government records, the country has received the lowest rainfall this year since 1991. </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"">An average of 12.6 millimeters of rainfall has been recoded from December 1 to January 18 between 1991 to 2020. However, only 0.1 mm of rainfall occurred during the same period this year, according to the department. </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"">During last winter, there was an average of 27.1 millimeters of rainfall. December 15 to February 15 is considered as the winter season in Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Climate expert Dharmaraj Upreti said less rainfall in winter will likely cause and also directly impact winter crops. Drying up or depletion of water springs, increased air pollution and increased risk of incidents of fire are also likely to occur. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-23', 'modified' => '2023-01-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16555', 'image' => '20230123115304_rainfallll.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-23 11:52:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16813', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Super Madi Hydropower Limited opens IPO to General Public ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Super Madi Hydropower Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the general public from Monday. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <span style="font-size:20px">January 23: Super Madi Hydropower Limited has opened sale of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the general public from Monday. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">With the allotment of IPO shares to the project-affected locals and Nepali citizens working in foreign countries in the first phase, the hydropower has floated IPO shares to the general public in the second phase. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The hydropower is issuing a total of 17,43,000 units of shares at the face value of Rs 100 per unit of share after allotting the shares to locals, migrant workers and mutual funds. The company has also reserved shares for its employees. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">A total of 1,74, 310 individuals will receive 10 units of shares each. <br /> The IPO Offering will close on January 26. If the IPO is not fully subscribed until January 26, the deadline will extend till February 6. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">One can apply for a minimum of 10 shares and a maximum of 50,000 units of shares.<br /> Sanima Capital Limited is issue and sales manager. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Interested individuals can apply for the IPO from issue manager and all banks and financial institutions that are C-ASBA members approved by Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON). Investors can also apply for the IPO through Mero Share. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">The company is constructing Super Madi Hydropower of 44 megawatt in Kaski district. The estimated cost of the hydropower stands at Rs 190 million per megawatt. </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-23', 'modified' => '2023-01-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16554', 'image' => '20230123060221_collage (8) (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-23 05:55:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16812', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Energy and Health exhibition at Bhrikutimandap ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'An exhibition related to energy and health is underway simultaneously at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <span style="font-size:22px">January 22: An exhibition related to energy and health is underway simultaneously at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">‘Nepal Electric Power Lights International Exhibition’ and ‘Nepal Pharma and Health Exhibition’ had kicked off Friday. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">Different stalls pertaining to energy, electricity, medicine, treatment and pharmacies have been put on the exhibition.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">The exhibition is jointly organized by Media Space Solutions, Exhibitions and Trade Services India Private Limited and Futurex Trade Fairs and Events Private Limited. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:22px">Organisers say more than 100 domestic and foreign companies have kept their stalls on the exhibition. </span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-22', 'modified' => '2023-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16553', 'image' => '20230122072759_collage (75).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-22 19:25:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16811', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government ready for policy-level reform to systematise Remittance, says Finance Minister Poudel ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel said the government is ready for policy-level and legal reforms to systematise the remittance inflow to the country. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <span style="font-size:18px">January 22: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Poudel said the government is ready for policy-level and legal reforms to systematise the remittance inflow to the country. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">In his virtual address to a programme entitled ‘Remittance and Investment in Nepal’ organised by the Overseas Nepali Forum, the United States of America on Saturday night, the Minister Poudel said that the government was ready to bring in the remittance through legal channel and create conducive atmosphere for investment in productive sectors. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"> “We have not been able to receive a large chunk of remittance through an official route and the government is ready to take measures to usher in remittance through such channels,” Poudel said. He stressed the need to revise the policy - level and legal hurdles for the same.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Stating that the government’s attention had been drawn towards the concerns of citizenship raised by the non-resident Nepalis, Poudel said, “The constitution has made provisions to provide citizenship to the non-resident Nepali with socio-economic rights and government will do the needful to implement the provision as guaranteed in the country's statute". </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">On the Act Related to Foreign Investment and Technology that considers non-resident Nepali as the foreign national, Poudel pledged to address the problem at the earliest. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Saying that his attention had been drawn towards the requirement for non-resident Nepalis to obtain visa while coming to Nepal, Minister Poudel assured that the issue would be sorted out with resolution of citizenship issues. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Minister Poudel appreciated NRN overseas’ big contribution to Nepal’s economic development and prosperity.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Reiterating that Nepal is a safe destination for investment and high return prospect, Poudel urged the NRNs to share this message with investors around the globe to invest in Nepal.</span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-22', 'modified' => '2023-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16552', 'image' => '20230122051343_collage (74).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-22 17:08:30', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16810', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Banks' Profit Affected by Bad Loans', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: The increase in bad loans has affected the profitability of banks in the second quarter of the current fiscal year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 22: The increase in bad loans has affected the profitability of banks in the second quarter<strong> </strong>of the current fiscal year. Likewise, the banks facing liquidity crunch have also been affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As of January 21, a total of 20 banks that published their unaudited financial statements have earned a net profit of Rs 29.87 billion. It is only 1.85 per cent more than the profit earned during the corresponding period of the last fiscal year when the banks made a profit of Rs 29.33 billion. During the last fiscal year, the profit of the banks increased by 10 per cent compared to the previous year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal Investment and Mega Bank merged with each other to start integrated business as Nepal Investment Mega Bank while Kumari Bank and NCC Bank which merged with each other are yet to publish their financial statements. Among the banks that have published their financial statements, the profit of a dozen banks has increased compared to last year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The profit of Everest Bank has increased the highest by 89.29 per cent. The profit of eight banks has decreased compared to last fiscal year. The net profit of the Agriculture Development Bank has decreased by 109 per cent resulting in a loss of Rs 128.9 million. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Global IME Bank’s profit increased by 4.47 per cent, while the profit of Bank of Kathmandu before the merger decreased by 4.37 per cent. BoK’s profit of Rs 452.5 million has been adjusted with the profit of the current fiscal year of Global IME Bank. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-22', 'modified' => '2023-01-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16551', 'image' => '20230122042344_Banks.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-22 16:23:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16809', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sugarcane Production Declining in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: The production of Sugarcane, which is the main cash crop of Nepal, is decreasing in recent times. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 22: The production of Sugarcane, which is the main cash crop of Nepal, is decreasing in recent times. Government data shows that sugarcane production decreased by more than 305,000 metric tons in the last three years. Stakeholders say that production is decreasing due to increasing cost of production, risky market, low competitiveness and problems in getting the amount of sugarcane sold on credit.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, sugarcane cultivation was done on 71,625 hectares of land in the fiscal year (FY) 2075/76 yielding production of 3,557,934 tons of sugarcane. But by FY 2077/78, the cultivation area reduced by 7,271 hectares to 64,354 hectares, and the production reduced by 373,991 tons to 318,3943 tons. Meanwhile, the productivity of sugarcane decreased to 49.47 tons which was 49.6 tons in FY 2075/76.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the ministry, although there is a lot of potential to get quality products with high productivity by expanding sugarcane cultivation commercially in the country, the production is decreasing due to internal problems. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Prakash Kumar Sanjel, spokesperson of the ministry, said that the cost-price ratio decreased due to the low productivity of sugarcane in Nepal compared to other countries. Farmers also lack quality sugarcane varieties. Due to this, both productivity and production are decreasing.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In recent times sugarcane market is also at risk, adding problems to the production. According to a statement released by the ministry, 13 large industries are currently purchasing sugarcane from the farmers in Nepal in big scale. There are many farmers who produce sugarcane on a small scale. Therefore, there are many sugarcane producers and limited number of buyers in Nepal. The government's role in market regulation is secondary. In such a situation, there is a high possibility that the limited number of buyers can exploit the small farmers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to this kind of effect, sugarcane farmers had to come to Kathmandu many times and stage street protests to get payment for the sugarcane they sold on credit to the industrialists. Even though the government has introduced programs such as fixing the minimum support price for sugarcane, promoting irrigation for sugarcane and promoting the development of seeds of superior quality in the country, the sugarcane farmers have started turning to other crops because of the failure in effective implementation of those initiatives.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The sugar produced in Nepal is not able to compete with the price of imported sugar in terms of production cost. According to a report published by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 2018, Nepal's neighboring countries including India and Pakistan provide high subsidies for sugar and sugarcane production, which has affected Nepal's sugar production.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-22', 'modified' => '2023-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16550', 'image' => '20230122031034_HB_KTM-IMG_0142.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-22 15:09:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16808', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Imports from Birgunj Decline by 15 Percent', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: Import and export through the Birganj customs has declined in the first six months of the current fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 22: Import and export through the Birganj customs has declined in the first six months of the current fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the statistics of Birgunj Customs, the import decreased by 15.3 percent and the export by 62.7 percent between mid-July to mid-January this fiscal year compared to the corresponding period of last year</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the first 6 months of last fiscal year, goods worth Rs 348 billion were imported into Nepal through this customs point. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dhan Bahadur Baruwal, Chief Customs Officer of Birgunj Customs, informed that goods worth Rs 295 billion have been imported during the same period this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Exports on the other hand decreased to Rs 20 billion from Rs 55 billion during the review period. In the previous years, the export of refined cooking oil from Nepal used to take place in a considerable amount when India imposed high customs duty on oil imports from other countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal had been exporting refined oil to India by importing crude oil from third countries. However, after India adopted a zero duty policy on oil imports, the export from Nepal reduced significantly as the exporters could no longer benefit from the customs duty gap. Products such as shoes, yarn, and juice are mainly exported through Birgunj Customs.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-22', 'modified' => '2023-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16549', 'image' => '20230122025513_Birgunjjjjjjjjjj.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-22 14:54:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16807', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tamang Community Observing Sonam Lhosar Today', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: The Tamang community is observing Sonam Lhosar across the country today by organising various programmes. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 22: The Tamang community is observing Sonam Lhosar across the country today by organising various programmes. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The festival is taken as the commencement of the near year as per the Manju Shree calendar or Tibetan lunar calendar and today marks the beginning of the year 2859. </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"">As per the Tamang tradition, today they complete the ‘year of tiger’ and enter the ‘year of rabbit’. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The festival falls on the first day of the bright half in the month of Magh (mid-January to mid-February) according to the lunar calendar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There is a custom in the Taming community to count the year with association of symbols of 12 different animals: rat, cow, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, bird, dog and boar. It starts with rat and ends on boar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to researcher Tika Sherpa, the counting of year with the name of animals suggest that the Tamang people are worshippers of nature. Various districts in the Bagmati Province are predominantly Tamang districts and this festival is observed in such districts with much fanfare. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Bouddhanath Area Development Trust has planned various programmes today to observe the festival. Likewise, Nepal Tamang Ghedung has decided to mark the festival by organising programmes in the Tundikhel for the next three days. Likewise, the Swoyambhu area in Kathmandu is also hosting programmes on the occasion. -- RSS </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-22', 'modified' => '2023-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16548', 'image' => '20230122125214_sonam.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-22 12:51:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16806', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Black Box of Crashed Yeti Airlines Plane will be sent to France ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 22: The black box of ATR-72 aircraft of Yeti Airlines that crashed in Pokhara on January 15 is being sent to France for technical analysis by the aircraft manufacturer. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 22: The black box of ATR-72 aircraft of Yeti Airlines that crashed in Pokhara on January 15 is being sent to France for technical analysis by the aircraft manufacturer. Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and member-secretary of Air Crash Investigation Committee Budhisagar Lamichhane told the state-owned national news agency RSS that the black box of the aircraft is being sent to France for an independent analysis of the accident. The expert team of the Air Crash Investigation Committee will also go to France along with the black box, added RSS. </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"">According to Lamichhane, the black box will be sent to the aircraft manufacturing company in France next week.</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 black box contains Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder which will help in the effective investigation of the 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 committee has so far conducted on-site monitoring of the accident site, collected necessary documents and discussed with experts. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Yeti Airlines flight with call sign 9N-ANC (ATR-72-212) flying from Kathmandu to Pokhara crashed in the Seti River gorge, killing 71 out of 72 people including the crew members of the plane. The body of one more passenger traveling on the plane is yet to be found. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-22', 'modified' => '2023-01-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16547', 'image' => '20230122111105_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-22 11:10:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16804', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'EU's On-Site Evaluation Team Postpones its Plan to Visit Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 21: The European Union (EU) has put off its plan of undertaking an on-site evaluation of Nepal’s aviation sector.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 21: The European Union (EU) has put off its plan of undertaking an on-site evaluation of Nepal’s aviation sector. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) said that the planned visit of EU's technical team has been postponed for the time being. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Issuing a joint statement on Friday, Director-General of CAAN Pradeep Adhikari and EU's Ambassador to Nepal Nona Deprez said that the scheduled Nepal visit of the on-site evaluation team has been put off for now. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to CAAN Spokesperson Jagannath Niraula, EU's Nepal visit has been put off on mutual agreement as the human resource of the CAAN has to be deployed to investigate the crash of the Yeti Airlines plane in Pokhara on January 15. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier on October, a team of the EU had undertaken a study of the aviation safety of Nepal and drew a conclusion that notable progress was made in aviation safety. The team had returned with a decision to send another team to carry out an on-site evaluation of the aviation safety of Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the statement, the EU has clarified that it would continue its support to Nepal for aviation safety. EU had blacklisted Nepal in its air safety list since 2013 citing safety concners. Nepal has made several efforts to get itself removed from the blacklist. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)'s recent audit has assessed Nepal's aviation safety compliance rate to be 70.1 percent, which is above the global average. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-21', 'modified' => '2023-01-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16545', 'image' => '20230121051057_european-union.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-21 17:10:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16803', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Ready to Revise Foreign Employment Act, says Prime Minister Dahal ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ said the government is ready to revise the Foreign Employment Act to make the foreign employment business fair and transparent. ', 'content' => '<p><br /> <span style="font-size:20px">January 20: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ said the government is ready to revise the Foreign Employment Act to make the foreign employment business fair and transparent. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Addressing the 29th Annual General Assembly(AGM) of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA) organised in Kathmandu on Friday, Prime Minister Dahal reiterated that he was ready to make business of foreign employment transparent and respectful after consultation with the Labour Minister and ministry’s Secretary.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Dahal sought assistance of entrepreneurs involved in the business of foreign employment to end malpractices prevalent in the domain of foreign employment. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">“The government is making headway in making the foreign employment transparent and effective and in stopping the wrong practices widespread in the field”, Dahal added.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px">Dahal stated that the government was prepared to forge friendly and cordial relationship with entrepreneurs and industrialists to usher in economic development and prosperity in the country. </span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-20', 'modified' => '2023-01-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16544', 'image' => '20230120054801_collage (73).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-20 17:44:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16802', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Electricity Leakage Declines ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has achieved a remarkable success in controlling electricity leakage. The NEA has reduced the power leakage to 7.49 per cent in the distribution side in the first five months of the current fiscal year, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px">January 20: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has achieved a remarkable success in controlling electricity leakage.<br /> The NEA has reduced the power leakage to 7.49 per cent in the distribution side in the first five months of the current fiscal year, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Power leakage was 9.23 per cent in the distribution side in the first five months of the last fiscal year, which fell by 1.74 per cent during the same period this fiscal. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">By the end of the fifth month of the current fiscal year, the distribution system has received 4.147 billion units of electricity. Out of it, 3.836 billion units of electricity were sold, while 31.779 million units of electricity leaked. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Power leakage on transmission side stands at 4.56 percent till the end of the fifth month of the same period. Power leakage of the total system including distribution and transmission side stands at 12.5 per cent. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Electricity leakage of the entire system was 15.38 per cent till 15 July, 2022. <br /> The largest part of the power leakage in the system is on the distribution side. The Authority has set a target of reducing the electricity leakage of the overall system to 14 percent and the distribution leakage to 8.5 percent in the current fiscal year.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">The power leakage on distribution side that was 22 per cent around seven years ago has come down to 7.49 per cent , which is a great achievement, said Executive Director Kulman Ghising of the Nepal Electricity Authority.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Ghising said that NEA had deployed its staffers to reduce the leakage below its target by making steps launched to control technical and non-technical leakage effective. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">“During this period, new substations have been constructed, the existing substations have been upgraded, electricity consumption has increased in the industrial sector, meter reading has been made effective, and the leakages have decreased due to the accumulated unit billing of customers," Ghising said. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Regular monitoring and action against the power theft, strengthening overloaded substations and feeder lines, construction of new substations, and replacement of conductors have led to the fall of power leakage , said NEA Executive Director Ghising. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Increasing the capacity of substations, adding conductors, changing overloaded transformers, and encouraging the use of three-phase meters have caused the leakage to subside. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">The NEA has launched various measures as campaign to control the power leakage. The NEA has stepped up efforts to control power theft and collect arrears and adopted strict actions against those who steal power, replace and bypass meters. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px">Out of the distribution centers under the NEA’s seven regional offices and two provincial division offices, Madhesh Province Regional Office, Janakpur has the highest electricity leakage. The total electricity leakage of 23 distribution centers under Janakpur Regional Office is 12.80 percent till mid-December.</span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-20', 'modified' => '2023-01-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16543', 'image' => '20230120050800_collage (71).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-20 17:00:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16801', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Removes Cash Margin for LC', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 20: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has removed the requirement to have 50 to 100 per cent cash margin for opening letter of credit (LC) to import luxury goods. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 20: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has removed the requirement to have 50 to 100 per cent cash margin for opening letter of credit (LC) to import luxury goods. After the improvement in the foreign exchange reserves, the NRB on Thursday amended the Integrated Circular 2078 to remove the requirement of cash margin for the imports.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">From now onwards, the importers need to maintain only the cash margin specified by the banks for opening LC.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Banks take a cash margin of up to 5 percent while opening import LCs considering the risk factor. NRB has also removed the ban on the payment for imports through Demand Draft (DD), and Telegraphic Transfer (TT). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Importers can now pay up to USD 35,000 through TT for the imports from third countries while they can pay up to Rs 300 million through draft and TT for imports from India.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The NRB had fixed the cash margin of 50 to 100 percent earlier to discourage import of luxury goods but gradually eased the restrictions as the situation improved.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ban imposed by the government on the import of luxury goods has already been lifted. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The central bank was under pressure from businessmen to remove the provision of cash margin. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) also pressured NRB to remove the provision of cash margin for imports.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the report of NRB, the foreign exchange reserves were equal to Rs 1215 billion by the end of last fiscal year, which increased by 6.3 per cent and reached Rs 1290 by billion mid-November.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The foreign exchange reserves held by the banks as of mid-November can sustain imports for ten months.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, Nepal Rastra Bank injected liquidity of Rs 3.8 billion in the market through repo on Thursday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-20', 'modified' => '2023-01-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16542', 'image' => '20230120033746_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-20 15:36:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16799', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Sugarcane Farmers Unhappy with the Support Price Fixed by the Government', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 20: The sugarcane farmers have expressed their dissatisfaction after the government set the support price of sugarcane less than the cost incurred this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 20: The sugarcane farmers have expressed their dissatisfaction after the government set the support price of sugarcane less than the cost incurred this year. Farmers are complaining that even the cost of sugarcane plantation cannot be collected because the support price of sugarcane is less that the production cost while the cost of transportation and wages of laborers have increased.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government set the minimum support price of sugarcane at Rs 540 per quintal for the current fiscal year, including the production cost, transportation fee and profit. In addition, the government has announced a subsidy of Rs 70 per quintal for the farmers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the farmers, the minimum support price set by the government is only Rs 20 more than last year while the transportation cost has doubled. Rakesh Mishra, coordinator of Sugarcane Farmers Struggle Committee Sarlahi, said that sugarcane transportation cost and labor charge have doubled in one year, making the cost of sugarcane more than Rs 550 per quintal. Farmers get a profit of only 60 rupees per quintal from sugarcane.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Mishra questioned the government, “How much effort does it take to produce one quintal of sugarcane throughout the year? Why doesn't the government increase the price of our hard work? If the profit is only Rs 60 per quintal after working hard throughout the year, why did the farmers have to cultivate sugarcane?”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He alleged that the government's intention is to demoralize the farmers and destroy the domestic sugar industry and production. He said, “Until the tradition of fixing the price inside the Singha Durbar without the farmers’ knowledge comes to an end, the farmers will not get a fair price for their produce.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kapil Muni Mainali, president of the Sugarcane Producers' Association said that before the government fixed the price, the association had suggested setting the purchase price of sugarcane at Rs 705 per quintal. He accused the government of doing great injustice to the farmers by arbitrarily fixing the price of sugarcane.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ministry of Agriculture on the other hand said that the purchase price is determined only after studying all aspects of farmers' efforts, costs and transportation expenses in a scientific manner. Due to the fact that the government does not fix the price in the interests of the farmers, the industrialists do not pay the money to the farmers on time. The attraction of the farmers towards sugarcane farming is decreasing recently due to the reasons like lack of chemical fertilizers and the non-availability of sugarcane seeds of high production quality in addition to not getting appropriate price for the produce.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-20', 'modified' => '2023-01-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16540', 'image' => '20230120033638_sugarcane.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-20 15:35:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '16798', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Khumbu Welcomes Tourists in Off-Season ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 20: The Khumbu region in Solukhumbu district has received a good number of tourists even during the off-season this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 20: The Khumbu region in Solukhumbu district has received a good number of tourists even during the off-season this year. The winter period is considered as an off-season for tourism in the Khumbu area. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the past three days, a total of 95 people visited the Khumbu region, according to a report of the Sagarmatha National Park. Of them, 68 tourists were foreigners, three from SAARC countries, two Nepalis, 18 porters and four tour guides, Chief Conservation Officer of the National Park, Bhumiraj Upadhyay said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Upadhyay added that a total of Rs 215,150 revenue was collected from them. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Currently, most of the hotels in the Khumbu region are closed due to winter and off-season for tourism. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Tourism entrepreneur Lama Kaji Shrestha said that the visitors have arrived here as the weather here is clear these days. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As there is no snowfall this winter, the trekking routes here are in good condition. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-01-20', 'modified' => '2023-01-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '16539', 'image' => '20230120025713_258482_218714068152324_7011012_o.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-01-20 14:56:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
| Currency | Unit |
Buy | Sell |
| U.S. Dollar | 1 | 121.23 | 121.83 |
| European Euro | 1 | 131.65 | 132.31 |
| UK Pound Sterling | 1 | 142.47 | 143.18 |
| Swiss Franc | 1 | 124.29 | 124.90 |
| Australian Dollar | 1 | 71.69 | 72.05 |
| Canadian Dollar | 1 | 83.90 | 84.32 |
| Japanese Yen | 10 | 10.94 | 11.00 |
| Chinese Yuan | 1 | 17.17 | 17.26 |
| Saudi Arabian Riyal | 1 | 32.27 | 32.43 |
| UAE Dirham | 1 | 33.01 | 33.17 |
| Malaysian Ringgit | 1 | 27.36 | 27.50 |
| South Korean Won | 100 | 9.77 | 9.82 |
Update: 2020-03-25 | Source: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)
| Fine Gold | 1 tola | 77000.00 |
| Tejabi Gold | 1 tola | 76700.00 |
| Silver | 1 tola | 720.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
Source: Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association
| Petrol | 1 Liter | 106.00 |
| Diesel | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| Kerosene | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| LP Gas | 1 Cylinder | 1375.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
