May 11: Minister for Finance Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada on Sunday (May 10) presented the proposal seeking deliberation on the principles and priorities (except tax proposal) of the Appropriation Bill for the fiscal year 2020/21 in the meeting of House of Representatives (HoR).…
May 11: The Meteorological Forecasting Division has predicted storm coupled with rainfall with the weather remaining mostly cloudy in most of the places across the country till Tuesday.…
May 8: Banks are facing dilemma over implementation of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)’s directive to lower the interest rate on loan for the affected businesses by 2 percentage…
May 8: The government has decided to allow 44 different categories of enterprises to resume operation from Friday, May 8.…
May 8: The budget session of the federal parliament will start at 4:00 pm Friday (May 8) at the federal parliament building in New Baneshwor, Kathmandu.…
May 8: Two more persons have tested positive for coronavirus in Kapilbastu district on Thursday (May…
May 7: With the extension of lockdown, banks and financial institutions (BFIs) are encouraging customers to open savings and deposit accounts through online…
May 7: The government has extended the lockdown till May 18 but has eased the restrictions to some extent, allowing operation of some industries producing basic needs under certain terms and conditions.…
May 8: The main opposition party, Nepali Congress, has initiated a study on the impact of the coronavirus and lockdown on the country's…
May 7: Stakeholders of private sector have demanded resumption of industries severely affected by lockdown amid coronavirus outbreak.…
May 7: The total number of people infected with coronavirus has reached 99 in the country.…
May 6: Nepal Rastra Bank is preparing to reduce the refinancing limit.…
May 6: The federal government is planning to move ahead bigger tourism projects under 'Investment Partnership and Return on Investment’ policy rather than focusing on smaller tourism…
May 6: The Department of Labour (DoL) is monitoring whether or not the hotel entrepreneurs have given salary for the month of Chaitra (mid-March to mid-April) to their workers.…
May 6: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has decided to prepare the monetary policy in around mid-July as it is currently busy studying the impact of coronavirus on the country’s economy.…
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 11: Minister for Finance Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada on Sunday (May 10) presented the proposal seeking deliberation on the principles and priorities (except tax proposal) of the Appropriation Bill for the fiscal year 2020/21 in the meeting of House of Representatives (HoR). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has aimed to minimize the COVID-10’s adverse impacts on the country’s economy and to usher the country towards economic growth, good-governance and prosperity by keeping these things in mind while allocating the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Khatiwada said that the new budget would be centered on achieving prosperous and socialism-oriented economy and it would also take into account establishing social justice through private, public and cooperatives. Outlining the government’s economic policies, the finance minister said that the government’s main priority was implementing the fundamental rights of the citizens as enshrined in the constitution and providing effective and quality healthcare services to the people. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government also underscored the establishment of an able health organization which would tackle any health related pandemic in future. Mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 and its fallout and making the economy more dynamic were also high in priority for the government for which the budget for the new fiscal year would be prudently mobilized, according to the minister. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Khatiwada was confident that the government would be successful in utilizing national and international resources and capitalizing on the international communities’ commitment to Nepal for helping in prevention and control of COVID-19. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Furthermore, he was of the belief that the private sectors’ issues could be addressed through various measures and relief packages. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The lower House of the Federal Parliament is scheduled to deliberate on the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill for the fiscal year 2020/21 on May 11 and 12. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The HoR is scheduled to meet at 11 am Monday (May 11). -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-11', 'modified' => '2020-05-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11789', 'image' => '20200511090536_1589147822.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-11 09:04:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12039', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Storm, Rainfall Predicated till Tuesday', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 11: The Meteorological Forecasting Division has predicted storm coupled with rainfall with the weather remaining mostly cloudy in most of the places across the country till Tuesday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 11: The Meteorological Forecasting Division has predicted storm coupled with rainfall with the weather remaining mostly cloudy in most of the places across the country till Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">This phenomena is caused by the influence of the westerly wind and local wind as well as due to the moisture-laden wind coming from the Bay of Bengal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Division has also published an advisory, urging caution as the impact of westerly and local winds will continue to cause storm and rainfall in most of the places in the country. Furthermore, there are also chances of thunderstorm, lightning and light to moderate rainfall in majority of the places across the country till Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The western parts of the country is currently experiencing storm, lightning and thunderstorm along with rainfall, according to the Division. The Division has forecast generally cloudy weather throughout the country on Monday while some places in the mountainous areas of the country and a couple of areas in Terai region will witness thunderstorm accompanied with hailstorm and storm. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, the weather will remain generally cloudy throughout the country while thunderstorm coupled with gusty winds and lightning are likely to occur in some areas in the country on Tuesday. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-11', 'modified' => '2020-05-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11788', 'image' => '20200511091310_Storm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-11 09:12:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12037', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Directs Banks to Lower Interest on Loan by 2 Percentage Points', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 8: Banks are facing dilemma over implementation of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)’s directive to lower the interest rate on loan for the affected businesses by 2 percentage points.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">May 8: Banks are facing dilemma over implementation of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)’s directive to lower the interest rate on loan for the affected businesses by 2 percentage points. As the banks have already made public announcement about reduction of interest rate on deposit by 1 percentage point, they are hesitant to implement the directive of the central bank.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">As NRB has reduced the rate of interest by 1 percentage points, all commercial banks had decided to reduce the interest rate on deposits accordingly. Apparently, they reduced the interest rate in savings, fixed deposits and call deposits by 1 to 1.5 percentage points. According to Bhuwan Dahal, chairman of Nepal Bankers’ Association, NRB’s directive has made them confused. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">He said that NRB took this decision despite being informed about their preparation to reduce the interest rate by 1 percentage point. “After the directive from NRB, we even shared our concern with them. However, we did not get any response,” said Dahal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">It is estimated that if the decision is implemented around 10 commercial banks will go in loss in the fourth quarter. “We were planning to reduce the interest rate. But NRB took a unilateral decision without consulting with us,” he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">NRB had directed the BFIs on April 28 to lower the interest rate on loan given to affected sectors by 2 percentage points. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">According to Gunakar Bhatta, spokesperson of NRB, currently everyone should give high priority to saving national economy rather than looking for one’s own profit. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif""> “Bankers should give relief to the affected sectors,” Bhatta said. As NRB has given facility to reduce the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) to 5 percent, banks will have liquidity of Rs 35 billion. According to Bhatta they can invest the amount in government securities and bond as well. So, they should provide interest relief till mid-July. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-08', 'modified' => '2020-05-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11787', 'image' => '20200508040331_20160909042218_nrb.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-08 16:02:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12036', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Allows various Industries to Resume Operation from Today', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 8: The government has decided to allow 44 different categories of enterprises to resume operation from Friday, May 8. ', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 8: The government has decided to allow 44 different categories of enterprises to resume operation from Friday, May 8. A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on May 6 took a decision to this effect.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Despite the risk of coronavirus infection, the government has decided to allow industries and businesses in non-infected zones to operate from Friday as the country is heading to an economic crisis.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Entrepreneurs and industrialists are getting ready to reopen the industries following the government's decision to allow industries to open after 43 days of lockdown.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Industries producing cement, iron, rods as well as food processing industries are currently engaged in managing workers to restart production.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The 44 types of enterprises include construction companies, health and education services, national pride projects, agriculture sector, hydropower projects and special economic zones (SEZ) and industrial estates.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">However, industries in border areas and coronavirus-affected zones will remain closed. Meanwhile, people have demand that the government allow hardware stores to open for limited period during lockdown.</span></span></h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span></h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-08', 'modified' => '2020-05-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11786', 'image' => '20200508035032_90201015612_sej pic (2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-08 15:49:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12033', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Budget Session of Federal Parliament to begin from Today', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 8: The budget session of the federal parliament will start at 4:00 pm Friday (May 8) at the federal parliament building in New Baneshwor, Kathmandu. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 8: The budget session of the federal parliament will start at 4:00 pm Friday (May 8) at the federal parliament building in New Baneshwor, Kathmandu. Also known as monsoon session, this session will see the introduction of the policies and programmes as well as budget for the new fiscal year 2020/21. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to general-secretary of the Federal Parliament Secretariat, Dr Bharatraj Gautam, a letter received from the Office of the President regarding addressing of joint meeting of the Federal House session will be read out apart from the letter about beginning of the sixth session on Friday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The leaders representing various political parties in the parliament will also deliver their speeches on Friday, informed Gautam. According to the Federal Parliament Secretariat, President Bidya Devi Bhandari will present the government’s policies and programmes on May 17 at the joint meeting of the House of Representatives and National Assembly. </span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The subsequent meetings will then discuss about the policies and programmmes, while the Prime Minister will respond queries of lawmakers regarding such policy and programmes and the House will endorse them. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, Minister for Finance Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada will present the budget for the upcoming fiscal year on May 28. President Bhandari had summoned the session for tomorrow on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers on May 3. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The federal parliament’s budget session will be held in consideration of the COVID-19 pandemic and its potential transmission, according to Federal Parliament Secretariat. Necessary measures have been taken and all the criteria as recommended by the WHO have been followed to maintain physical distancing during the session to prevent the infection. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Each parliamentarian will maintain at least one metre of physical distancing and every member of national Assembly will be seated in their respective seats every time they convene for the meeting. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, the rostrum will be only used by the PM, ministers and members of the National Assembly and each member will use their own mike arranged in their respective seats. Any type of gathering inside and outside the federal parliament building is prohibited for the parliamentarians and the meeting hall will be sanitized properly. Use of sanitizers and masks have been made mandatory for those attending the meeting. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The secretariat will provide photos to the media persons electronically and no audiences will be allowed to witness the meeting. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The throat and nasal swab of 441 parliamentarians, staffers and guards at the federal secretariat have been collected and sent for test, according to the federal parliament secretariat. There are 275 members in House of Representatives and 58 members in National Assembly. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-08', 'modified' => '2020-05-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11785', 'image' => '20200508075145_20200426021504_1587852541.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-08 07:51:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12034', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Confirms 101 Cases of Coronavirus', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 8: Two more persons have tested positive for coronavirus in Kapilbastu district on Thursday (May 7).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">May 8: Two more persons have tested positive for coronavirus in Kapilbastu district on Thursday (May 7). With this, the number of coronavirus cases has reached 101 in the country. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">The Ministry of Health and Population on Thursday confirmed the new cases, according to the national news agency RSS. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, health authorities intensified tests by conducting over 1450 tests for coronavirus on Thursday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the Ministry of Health and Population, they carried out 1451 tests but none of then turned out positive. Among the infected, 73 are male and 28 female. The infected also includes a two-month old child, who tested positive in Parsa on Wednesday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">Altogether 31 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported in Province 1 followed by 30 in Province 2 and 26 in Province 5. Likewise, Bagmati Province has reported 7 cases, Sudur Paschim Province has 5 cases and Gandaki Province has 2 cases, according to Dr Bikas Devkota, spokesperson at the health ministry.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">The government has so far tested 14,509 samples through PCR method while 54,093 tests have been conducted through RDT method.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to Devkota, a total of 17,372 people are currently in quarantine across the country. Likewise, three suspects in the Kathmandu Valley and 130 outside the valley have been kept in isolation.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-08', 'modified' => '2020-05-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11784', 'image' => '20200508080149_Toll Rises4.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-08 08:00:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12032', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'BFIs Focusing on Online Banking', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 7: With the extension of lockdown, banks and financial institutions (BFIs) are encouraging customers to open savings and deposit accounts through online medium.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">May 7: With the extension of lockdown, banks and financial institutions (BFIs) are encouraging customers to open savings and deposit accounts through online medium.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Though almost all the banks have been providing the online service, the BFIs have been promoting online banking as most customers are not able to use banking service physically. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Nabil Bank had started online system for bank account opening for the first time eight years ago. “However, due to lockdown, now all the banks are focusing on online banking,” said Bhuwan Kumar Dahal, president of Bankers Association of Nepal. Especially Nabil Bank, NIC Asia Bank, Citizens Banks and NMB Bank have been promoting online banking. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">Mostly, Nepali nationals in foreign countries used to apply online for opening account. However, most Nepalis in the country preferred to go to bank to take any service. But, due to the lockdown most of the banks have been creating facilities so that people can open their accounts online. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Sanima Bank had brought the system around six years ago. But most customers did not use it. According to president Dahal, who is also the chairperson of Sanima Bank, only a handful of Nepalis in foreign countries had used the service before lockdown. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Now, the most effective medium is to open bank account from home. After all the process, the customer needs to come to the bank once. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">“The customer can deposit money in the bank. But they need to come for identity confirmation once before releasing the money for the first time,” said Dahal. He said that this is an opportunity for the banks to go cashless. “Gradually, all the transactions need to be cashless,” he opined. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Citizens Bank International had also brought this service last week. “The system was already there, but now we have upgraded it,” said Ganesh Raj Pokhrel, CEO of the bank. A year ago, around 100 Nepalis from abroad used the service every month, he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">According to the bankers, opening account from bank is quick, secured and safe process.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Nepal Rastra Bank(NRB) has been focusing on the need of digital transaction and has been encouraging the banks to do so. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">“As the new generation is more familiar about these concepts, they should start using it,” added Chnitamani Shiwakoti, deputy governor of NRB. “Also, banks should work on making the process convenient for customers.” Nevertheless, the market needs much time to go cashless to the full extent. “We cannot immediately switch to cashless system right now,” he said. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-07', 'modified' => '2020-05-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11783', 'image' => '20200507113521_vector-20452770 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-07 11:34:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12031', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Extends Lockdown until May 18 but Eases Restrictions', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 7: The government has extended the lockdown till May 18 but has eased the restrictions to some extent, allowing operation of some industries producing basic needs under certain terms and conditions. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 7: The government has extended the lockdown till May 18 but has eased the restrictions to some extent, allowing operation of some industries producing basic needs under certain terms and conditions. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Wednesday decided to reopen industries producing essential goods by adopting safety measures and maintaining physical distancing as a precaution against coronavirus infection.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">With the latest cabinet decision, most of the closed industries will now be able to resume operation under strict conditions set by the government. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Pharmaceutical companies, industries producing daily essentials, transportation of raw materials for construction works, banking service among others would be allowed to operate even during the lockdown.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Government Spokesperson Yuba Raj Khatiwada made the announcement during a press conference after the cabinet meeting.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has also decided to allow operation of industries that process drinking water, companies manufacturing soaps, packaging industries, gas bottling plants, small and cottage industries, cement and steel industries and other industries that produce export materials. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Council of Ministers took such decision upon the recommendation of the High Level Committee to Prevent Coronavirus. The committee had recommended the government to extend the lockdown and ease the restrictions.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“Besides the industries, the government has decided to resume national pride projects, hydropower projects, construction of airports, roads, and bridges,” said Minister Khatiwada, who holds the portfolio of finance and communication ministries.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has made it mandatory for daily health check-up of workers involved in development projects. The projects must also arrange for the accommodation of the workers at a fixed place in order to prevent them from contracting the disease.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Khatiwada said that the government would allow farmers to harvest their crop and sell their produce as well as other products like poultry, fish, vegetables, milk in the market without any hindrance. The government has ensured hassle-free transportation for vehicles carrying such goods. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">However, the cabinet has decided to not to allow cargo vehicles to carry passengers and to maintain strict record of the drivers and helpers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The drivers and helpers entering Kathmandu Valley must enter their names which will be verified while they leave the valley. Any discrepancy would be strictly dealt with,” said Khatiwada.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, the government has allowed banks and financial institutions (BFIs), insurance companies and share market to operate with a maximum of one-third workforce. Only some limited branches of BFIs were operational during the lockdown period so far.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS""> The government has also allowed operation of government and private hospital, nursing homes, polyclinics, labs, and diagnostic centres. The cabinet decision also allows resumption of vaccination drives and all essential medical services.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS""> Meanwhile, the international borders and all entry points will remain closed until May 31. The government has strictly barred cross-border movement until the period to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Regular international flights will also remain suspended until May 31. However, government has decided to allow the movement of cargo vehicles through the international transit points.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-07', 'modified' => '2020-05-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11782', 'image' => '20200507101757_1588777825.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-07 10:16:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12035', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepali Congress Studying Impacts of Coronavirus on Economy', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 8: The main opposition party, Nepali Congress, has initiated a study on the impact of the coronavirus and lockdown on the country's economy.', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 8: The main opposition party, Nepali Congress, has initiated a study on the impact of the coronavirus and lockdown on the country's economy. The study also focuses on determining the priorities for the budget of upcoming fiscal year.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">With the objective of analyzing the impact of coronavirus and lockdown and formulating the necessary approach, Nepali Congress on Wednesday (May 6) formed a 14-member special committee lead by former Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat to conduct the study.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The political party informed that it will give suggestions to the government and raise the issues in the parliament accordingly.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepali Congress in a statement informed that the committee will study the impact of the coronavirus and lockdown on the country's economy. Likewise, it will also formulate the party’s perspectives on building the current economy, policies and programs for the upcoming fiscal year’s budget. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The party after concluding its study will make suggestions to the government.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The committee will make recommendations for immediate relief, set short-term priorities, and suggest a long-term solution for the post-coronavirus economy.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepali Congress informed that the study will help the party to make their concept and role more effective. On April 29, the party had decided to form various committees to study the impacts of coronavirus on various sectors of the country. A committee under the coordination of former Finance Minister Mahat was formed on Wednesday based on the decision.</span></span></h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-08', 'modified' => '2020-05-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11781', 'image' => '20200508081942_20150731013431_1433670488 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-08 08:19:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12030', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Private Sector Demands Resumption of Industries Affected by Lockdown ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 7: Stakeholders of private sector have demanded resumption of industries severely affected by lockdown amid coronavirus outbreak. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 7: Stakeholders of private sector have demanded resumption of industries severely affected by lockdown amid coronavirus outbreak. At an interaction with the theme of 'policies, programmes and budget for the fiscal year, 2077/78' organised by Nepali Congress on Wednesday at party office in Sanepa, they demanded that the government seek alternatives to lockdown and reduce interests on loan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">On the occasion, senior vice president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Shekhar Golchha said that the country's economy would go two years backward due to lockdown. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">"Private sector should be improved to recover country's economy. For that, the government should take steps like facility on property record, concession on electricity, bringing down bank loans to five percent and value added tax rate to 10 percent and 20 percent exemption on income and corporate taxes." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Saying that approximately 5,000 construction projects were operating before lockdown, president of the Federation of Contractors Association Nepal (FCAN) Rabi Singh said they have incurred losses of around Rs 35 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">President of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) Sirjana Rana demanded that time to repay loans should be extended, loan interests capitalised and loans re-tabulated. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">President of Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents Achyut Guragain demanded that an arrangement should be made to provide loans at two percent interest rate to manage salaries to tourism employees. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">On the occasion, NC president Sher Bahadur Deuba pledged that NC would take up demands of private sector with the Parliament and the government and create pressure on the government to address them. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-07', 'modified' => '2020-05-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11780', 'image' => '20200507092819_sg(2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-07 09:27:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12029', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'COVID-19 Cases Climb to 99', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 7: The total number of people infected with coronavirus has reached 99 in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 7: The total number of people infected with coronavirus has reached 99 in the country. The number climbed to 99 from 82 a day earlier, after 17 people tested positive to COVID-19 in Parsa on Wednesday (May 6). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Furthermore, three people who had been discharged from hospital after recovery have tested positive again. A man discharged from a hospital in Kathmandu on April 23 tested positive again, said Dr Bikash Devkota at a regular press briefing held at the Ministry of Health and Population on Wednesday. Likewise, a 19-year-old youth from Rautahat and 44-year-old man from Parsa also tested positive in a re-test carried out more than a week after they had been discharged from hospital. All of them have been re-admitted to hospital. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Meanwhile, health authorities have conducted 14,096 tests through the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method whereas 52,970 tests have been conducted through the Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) method, Dr Devkota shared. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The number of people in quarantine is 18,734 with 136 in isolation in the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Meanwhile, six people undergoing treatment for COVID-19 at Koshi Hospital were discharged on Wednesday, after they tested negative. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-07', 'modified' => '2020-05-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11779', 'image' => '20200507065939_infographic-mers-689.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-07 06:58:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12028', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB to Revise Refinancing Limit to Rs 100 million', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 6: Nepal Rastra Bank is preparing to reduce the refinancing limit. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">May 6: Nepal Rastra Bank is preparing to reduce the refinancing limit. According to NRB, only limited industries and businesspersons are getting access to renewal of loan facility. So, NRB has decided to reduce the refinancing limit to Rs 100 million from the proposed Rs 500 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">NRB Governor Maha Prashad Adhikari said that with the introduction of this policy, businesspersons cannot take refinancing of more than Rs 100 million. He said that current policy has facilitated only the big industrialists. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">“NRB’s current focus is to encourage the small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs),” said Adhikari. He said that downsizing the refinancing limit to Rs 100 million will benefit SMEs. NRB is planning to create a fund of Rs 100 billion and mobilize it in productive sector. Presently, only Rs 180 million has been mobilized from the Refinancing Fund. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">“We have instructed the banks to reduce interest rate and postpone the deadline for repayment. However, we can’t instruct the BFIs to give up the interest altogether,” he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">According to him microfinance companies have not been able to renew loans. In the new work procedure, all BFIs will get access to the facility. “The enterprises which meet the criteria can benefit from refinancing easily. We will also work on making the facility easily accessible so that people don’t need to come to NRB for any process,” said Adhikari. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">According to NRB, BFIs have collected deposits of Rs 3600.78 billion and have already mobilized Rs 3200.46 billion for loan. According to Adhikari, maximum amount of loan worth Rs 600.60 billion has been mobilized in the wholesale and retail sectors. Similarly, agriculture sector has been given Rs 200.20 billion loan and other productive sectors has been given a loan of Rs 500.32 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-06', 'modified' => '2020-05-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11778', 'image' => '20200506033111_1588716058.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-06 15:30:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12027', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Focus on Big Tourism Projects ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 6: The federal government is planning to move ahead bigger tourism projects under 'Investment Partnership and Return on Investment’ policy rather than focusing on smaller tourism projects.', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 6: The federal government is planning to move ahead bigger tourism projects under 'Investment Partnership and Return on Investment’ policy rather than focusing on smaller tourism projects.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai said that the ministry is planning to formulate next year's budget in line with this policy among the three levels of government for the sustainability of the projects.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Addressing the leaders of the opposition parties in the federal parliament on Tuesday, May 5, regarding the budget and policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year 2020/21, Minister Bhattarai opined that allocating the budget for small projects would be less efficient and there won't be any local participation.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">However, lawmakers of the opposition parties urged the government to focus on tourism rehabilitation programmes to combat the impacts of coronavirus in this sector. They suggested that coronavirus has had a major impact on the tourism sector the most. They also informed that job creation and protection of existing industries should be the top priority right now.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepali Congress lawmaker and Minister for Tourism of the shadow government Devendra Raj Kandel suggested that the government should allocate budget in tourism projects that can bring prosperity to the nation. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Kandel suggested to include a programme to promote domestic tourism in the context of the postponement of the Visit Nepal 2020 campaign. During the discussion program, Prem Suwal from NWPP, Durga Poudel from Rastriya Janamorcha and Amrita Devi Agrahari from RJPN suggested to introduce programmes that would restore tourism.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Minister Bhattarai informed that he will try his best to address the suggestions received from the parliamentarians as much as possible. Stating that the construction of new airports is the topmost priority of all, Minister Bhattarai added that the ministry will aim in building new airports on the basis of justification, necessity and professionalism.</span></span></h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span></h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-06', 'modified' => '2020-05-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11777', 'image' => '20200506031951_120_1571271950.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-06 15:19:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12024', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'DoL to Monitor Whether Hotels are Giving Salary to Employees or not', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 6: The Department of Labour (DoL) is monitoring whether or not the hotel entrepreneurs have given salary for the month of Chaitra (mid-March to mid-April) to their workers. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 6: The Department of Labour (DoL) is monitoring whether or not the hotel entrepreneurs have given salary for the month of Chaitra (mid-March to mid-April) to their workers. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Department is carrying out monitoring in this regard after complaints that some hotel entrepreneurs have not given the remuneration for the month of Chaitra despite the government's directives calling on all industries and enterprises to compulsorily give the salary for the month of the specified month to their employees. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The entrepreneurs had agreed to pay the salary during discussions with the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security on Monday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">DoL said the Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) and the Joint Trade Union Coordination Committee will facilitate in the monitoring. Likewise, the Labour and Occupational Security Department, and the Labour and Employment Office would follow-up on this, Ministry's spokesperson Suman Ghimire said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Ministry has urged all the sides concerned to make arrangements for paying the salary of workers by utilising the economic facilities provided by the government. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-06', 'modified' => '2020-05-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11776', 'image' => '20200506090255_90511105700_Clipboard37 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-06 09:01:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12026', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB to Prepare Monetary Policy after Lockdown Ends', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 6: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has decided to prepare the monetary policy in around mid-July as it is currently busy studying the impact of coronavirus on the country’s economy. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 6: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has decided to prepare the monetary policy in around mid-July as it is currently busy studying the impact of coronavirus on the country’s economy. Officials at the central bank informed that they will be able to get a clear picture of the crisis only after the lockdown ends.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Deputy Governor Chintamani Shivkoti informed that the central bank’s board meeting will take further decision on Wednesday (May 6).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The initial relief package was aimed at providing support up to mid-March,” said Shivakoti, adding, “The second relief package was until mid-July.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The central bank is now waiting for the lockdown to end to ascertain the exact impact on different sectors in order to prepare the monetary policy.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A committee headed by the Executive Director of the Research Department of NRB, Dr Gunakar Bhatta, is currently collecting data to study the impact of coronavirus on tourism, hotel, aviation and industrial sectors to provide loan assistance.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The effects of coronavirus on different sectors will have an impact on the overall economy of the country,” said Bhatta.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The committee includes representatives from the BFI Regulation Department, Foreign Exchange Management Department, Payment Department and Supervision Department of NRB as well as chairman of Nepal Bankers Association Bhuvan Dahal as members.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-06', 'modified' => '2020-05-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11775', 'image' => '20200506100208_1588717198.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-06 10:01:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 11: Minister for Finance Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada on Sunday (May 10) presented the proposal seeking deliberation on the principles and priorities (except tax proposal) of the Appropriation Bill for the fiscal year 2020/21 in the meeting of House of Representatives (HoR). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has aimed to minimize the COVID-10’s adverse impacts on the country’s economy and to usher the country towards economic growth, good-governance and prosperity by keeping these things in mind while allocating the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Khatiwada said that the new budget would be centered on achieving prosperous and socialism-oriented economy and it would also take into account establishing social justice through private, public and cooperatives. Outlining the government’s economic policies, the finance minister said that the government’s main priority was implementing the fundamental rights of the citizens as enshrined in the constitution and providing effective and quality healthcare services to the people. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government also underscored the establishment of an able health organization which would tackle any health related pandemic in future. Mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 and its fallout and making the economy more dynamic were also high in priority for the government for which the budget for the new fiscal year would be prudently mobilized, according to the minister. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Khatiwada was confident that the government would be successful in utilizing national and international resources and capitalizing on the international communities’ commitment to Nepal for helping in prevention and control of COVID-19. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Furthermore, he was of the belief that the private sectors’ issues could be addressed through various measures and relief packages. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The lower House of the Federal Parliament is scheduled to deliberate on the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill for the fiscal year 2020/21 on May 11 and 12. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The HoR is scheduled to meet at 11 am Monday (May 11). -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-11', 'modified' => '2020-05-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11789', 'image' => '20200511090536_1589147822.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-11 09:04:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12039', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Storm, Rainfall Predicated till Tuesday', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 11: The Meteorological Forecasting Division has predicted storm coupled with rainfall with the weather remaining mostly cloudy in most of the places across the country till Tuesday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 11: The Meteorological Forecasting Division has predicted storm coupled with rainfall with the weather remaining mostly cloudy in most of the places across the country till Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">This phenomena is caused by the influence of the westerly wind and local wind as well as due to the moisture-laden wind coming from the Bay of Bengal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Division has also published an advisory, urging caution as the impact of westerly and local winds will continue to cause storm and rainfall in most of the places in the country. Furthermore, there are also chances of thunderstorm, lightning and light to moderate rainfall in majority of the places across the country till Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The western parts of the country is currently experiencing storm, lightning and thunderstorm along with rainfall, according to the Division. The Division has forecast generally cloudy weather throughout the country on Monday while some places in the mountainous areas of the country and a couple of areas in Terai region will witness thunderstorm accompanied with hailstorm and storm. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, the weather will remain generally cloudy throughout the country while thunderstorm coupled with gusty winds and lightning are likely to occur in some areas in the country on Tuesday. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-11', 'modified' => '2020-05-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11788', 'image' => '20200511091310_Storm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-11 09:12:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12037', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Directs Banks to Lower Interest on Loan by 2 Percentage Points', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 8: Banks are facing dilemma over implementation of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)’s directive to lower the interest rate on loan for the affected businesses by 2 percentage points.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">May 8: Banks are facing dilemma over implementation of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)’s directive to lower the interest rate on loan for the affected businesses by 2 percentage points. As the banks have already made public announcement about reduction of interest rate on deposit by 1 percentage point, they are hesitant to implement the directive of the central bank.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">As NRB has reduced the rate of interest by 1 percentage points, all commercial banks had decided to reduce the interest rate on deposits accordingly. Apparently, they reduced the interest rate in savings, fixed deposits and call deposits by 1 to 1.5 percentage points. According to Bhuwan Dahal, chairman of Nepal Bankers’ Association, NRB’s directive has made them confused. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">He said that NRB took this decision despite being informed about their preparation to reduce the interest rate by 1 percentage point. “After the directive from NRB, we even shared our concern with them. However, we did not get any response,” said Dahal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">It is estimated that if the decision is implemented around 10 commercial banks will go in loss in the fourth quarter. “We were planning to reduce the interest rate. But NRB took a unilateral decision without consulting with us,” he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">NRB had directed the BFIs on April 28 to lower the interest rate on loan given to affected sectors by 2 percentage points. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">According to Gunakar Bhatta, spokesperson of NRB, currently everyone should give high priority to saving national economy rather than looking for one’s own profit. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif""> “Bankers should give relief to the affected sectors,” Bhatta said. As NRB has given facility to reduce the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) to 5 percent, banks will have liquidity of Rs 35 billion. According to Bhatta they can invest the amount in government securities and bond as well. So, they should provide interest relief till mid-July. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-08', 'modified' => '2020-05-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11787', 'image' => '20200508040331_20160909042218_nrb.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-08 16:02:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12036', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Allows various Industries to Resume Operation from Today', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 8: The government has decided to allow 44 different categories of enterprises to resume operation from Friday, May 8. ', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 8: The government has decided to allow 44 different categories of enterprises to resume operation from Friday, May 8. A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on May 6 took a decision to this effect.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Despite the risk of coronavirus infection, the government has decided to allow industries and businesses in non-infected zones to operate from Friday as the country is heading to an economic crisis.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Entrepreneurs and industrialists are getting ready to reopen the industries following the government's decision to allow industries to open after 43 days of lockdown.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Industries producing cement, iron, rods as well as food processing industries are currently engaged in managing workers to restart production.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The 44 types of enterprises include construction companies, health and education services, national pride projects, agriculture sector, hydropower projects and special economic zones (SEZ) and industrial estates.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">However, industries in border areas and coronavirus-affected zones will remain closed. Meanwhile, people have demand that the government allow hardware stores to open for limited period during lockdown.</span></span></h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span></h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-08', 'modified' => '2020-05-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11786', 'image' => '20200508035032_90201015612_sej pic (2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-08 15:49:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12033', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Budget Session of Federal Parliament to begin from Today', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 8: The budget session of the federal parliament will start at 4:00 pm Friday (May 8) at the federal parliament building in New Baneshwor, Kathmandu. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 8: The budget session of the federal parliament will start at 4:00 pm Friday (May 8) at the federal parliament building in New Baneshwor, Kathmandu. Also known as monsoon session, this session will see the introduction of the policies and programmes as well as budget for the new fiscal year 2020/21. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to general-secretary of the Federal Parliament Secretariat, Dr Bharatraj Gautam, a letter received from the Office of the President regarding addressing of joint meeting of the Federal House session will be read out apart from the letter about beginning of the sixth session on Friday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The leaders representing various political parties in the parliament will also deliver their speeches on Friday, informed Gautam. According to the Federal Parliament Secretariat, President Bidya Devi Bhandari will present the government’s policies and programmes on May 17 at the joint meeting of the House of Representatives and National Assembly. </span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The subsequent meetings will then discuss about the policies and programmmes, while the Prime Minister will respond queries of lawmakers regarding such policy and programmes and the House will endorse them. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, Minister for Finance Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada will present the budget for the upcoming fiscal year on May 28. President Bhandari had summoned the session for tomorrow on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers on May 3. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The federal parliament’s budget session will be held in consideration of the COVID-19 pandemic and its potential transmission, according to Federal Parliament Secretariat. Necessary measures have been taken and all the criteria as recommended by the WHO have been followed to maintain physical distancing during the session to prevent the infection. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Each parliamentarian will maintain at least one metre of physical distancing and every member of national Assembly will be seated in their respective seats every time they convene for the meeting. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, the rostrum will be only used by the PM, ministers and members of the National Assembly and each member will use their own mike arranged in their respective seats. Any type of gathering inside and outside the federal parliament building is prohibited for the parliamentarians and the meeting hall will be sanitized properly. Use of sanitizers and masks have been made mandatory for those attending the meeting. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The secretariat will provide photos to the media persons electronically and no audiences will be allowed to witness the meeting. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The throat and nasal swab of 441 parliamentarians, staffers and guards at the federal secretariat have been collected and sent for test, according to the federal parliament secretariat. There are 275 members in House of Representatives and 58 members in National Assembly. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-08', 'modified' => '2020-05-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11785', 'image' => '20200508075145_20200426021504_1587852541.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-08 07:51:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12034', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Confirms 101 Cases of Coronavirus', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 8: Two more persons have tested positive for coronavirus in Kapilbastu district on Thursday (May 7).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">May 8: Two more persons have tested positive for coronavirus in Kapilbastu district on Thursday (May 7). With this, the number of coronavirus cases has reached 101 in the country. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">The Ministry of Health and Population on Thursday confirmed the new cases, according to the national news agency RSS. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, health authorities intensified tests by conducting over 1450 tests for coronavirus on Thursday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the Ministry of Health and Population, they carried out 1451 tests but none of then turned out positive. Among the infected, 73 are male and 28 female. The infected also includes a two-month old child, who tested positive in Parsa on Wednesday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">Altogether 31 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported in Province 1 followed by 30 in Province 2 and 26 in Province 5. Likewise, Bagmati Province has reported 7 cases, Sudur Paschim Province has 5 cases and Gandaki Province has 2 cases, according to Dr Bikas Devkota, spokesperson at the health ministry.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">The government has so far tested 14,509 samples through PCR method while 54,093 tests have been conducted through RDT method.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to Devkota, a total of 17,372 people are currently in quarantine across the country. Likewise, three suspects in the Kathmandu Valley and 130 outside the valley have been kept in isolation.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-08', 'modified' => '2020-05-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11784', 'image' => '20200508080149_Toll Rises4.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-08 08:00:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12032', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'BFIs Focusing on Online Banking', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 7: With the extension of lockdown, banks and financial institutions (BFIs) are encouraging customers to open savings and deposit accounts through online medium.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">May 7: With the extension of lockdown, banks and financial institutions (BFIs) are encouraging customers to open savings and deposit accounts through online medium.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Though almost all the banks have been providing the online service, the BFIs have been promoting online banking as most customers are not able to use banking service physically. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Nabil Bank had started online system for bank account opening for the first time eight years ago. “However, due to lockdown, now all the banks are focusing on online banking,” said Bhuwan Kumar Dahal, president of Bankers Association of Nepal. Especially Nabil Bank, NIC Asia Bank, Citizens Banks and NMB Bank have been promoting online banking. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">Mostly, Nepali nationals in foreign countries used to apply online for opening account. However, most Nepalis in the country preferred to go to bank to take any service. But, due to the lockdown most of the banks have been creating facilities so that people can open their accounts online. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Sanima Bank had brought the system around six years ago. But most customers did not use it. According to president Dahal, who is also the chairperson of Sanima Bank, only a handful of Nepalis in foreign countries had used the service before lockdown. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Now, the most effective medium is to open bank account from home. After all the process, the customer needs to come to the bank once. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">“The customer can deposit money in the bank. But they need to come for identity confirmation once before releasing the money for the first time,” said Dahal. He said that this is an opportunity for the banks to go cashless. “Gradually, all the transactions need to be cashless,” he opined. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Citizens Bank International had also brought this service last week. “The system was already there, but now we have upgraded it,” said Ganesh Raj Pokhrel, CEO of the bank. A year ago, around 100 Nepalis from abroad used the service every month, he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">According to the bankers, opening account from bank is quick, secured and safe process.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Nepal Rastra Bank(NRB) has been focusing on the need of digital transaction and has been encouraging the banks to do so. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">“As the new generation is more familiar about these concepts, they should start using it,” added Chnitamani Shiwakoti, deputy governor of NRB. “Also, banks should work on making the process convenient for customers.” Nevertheless, the market needs much time to go cashless to the full extent. “We cannot immediately switch to cashless system right now,” he said. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-07', 'modified' => '2020-05-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11783', 'image' => '20200507113521_vector-20452770 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-07 11:34:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12031', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Extends Lockdown until May 18 but Eases Restrictions', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 7: The government has extended the lockdown till May 18 but has eased the restrictions to some extent, allowing operation of some industries producing basic needs under certain terms and conditions. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 7: The government has extended the lockdown till May 18 but has eased the restrictions to some extent, allowing operation of some industries producing basic needs under certain terms and conditions. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Wednesday decided to reopen industries producing essential goods by adopting safety measures and maintaining physical distancing as a precaution against coronavirus infection.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">With the latest cabinet decision, most of the closed industries will now be able to resume operation under strict conditions set by the government. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Pharmaceutical companies, industries producing daily essentials, transportation of raw materials for construction works, banking service among others would be allowed to operate even during the lockdown.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Government Spokesperson Yuba Raj Khatiwada made the announcement during a press conference after the cabinet meeting.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has also decided to allow operation of industries that process drinking water, companies manufacturing soaps, packaging industries, gas bottling plants, small and cottage industries, cement and steel industries and other industries that produce export materials. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Council of Ministers took such decision upon the recommendation of the High Level Committee to Prevent Coronavirus. The committee had recommended the government to extend the lockdown and ease the restrictions.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“Besides the industries, the government has decided to resume national pride projects, hydropower projects, construction of airports, roads, and bridges,” said Minister Khatiwada, who holds the portfolio of finance and communication ministries.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has made it mandatory for daily health check-up of workers involved in development projects. The projects must also arrange for the accommodation of the workers at a fixed place in order to prevent them from contracting the disease.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Khatiwada said that the government would allow farmers to harvest their crop and sell their produce as well as other products like poultry, fish, vegetables, milk in the market without any hindrance. The government has ensured hassle-free transportation for vehicles carrying such goods. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">However, the cabinet has decided to not to allow cargo vehicles to carry passengers and to maintain strict record of the drivers and helpers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The drivers and helpers entering Kathmandu Valley must enter their names which will be verified while they leave the valley. Any discrepancy would be strictly dealt with,” said Khatiwada.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, the government has allowed banks and financial institutions (BFIs), insurance companies and share market to operate with a maximum of one-third workforce. Only some limited branches of BFIs were operational during the lockdown period so far.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS""> The government has also allowed operation of government and private hospital, nursing homes, polyclinics, labs, and diagnostic centres. The cabinet decision also allows resumption of vaccination drives and all essential medical services.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS""> Meanwhile, the international borders and all entry points will remain closed until May 31. The government has strictly barred cross-border movement until the period to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Regular international flights will also remain suspended until May 31. However, government has decided to allow the movement of cargo vehicles through the international transit points.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-07', 'modified' => '2020-05-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11782', 'image' => '20200507101757_1588777825.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-07 10:16:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12035', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepali Congress Studying Impacts of Coronavirus on Economy', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 8: The main opposition party, Nepali Congress, has initiated a study on the impact of the coronavirus and lockdown on the country's economy.', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 8: The main opposition party, Nepali Congress, has initiated a study on the impact of the coronavirus and lockdown on the country's economy. The study also focuses on determining the priorities for the budget of upcoming fiscal year.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">With the objective of analyzing the impact of coronavirus and lockdown and formulating the necessary approach, Nepali Congress on Wednesday (May 6) formed a 14-member special committee lead by former Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat to conduct the study.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The political party informed that it will give suggestions to the government and raise the issues in the parliament accordingly.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepali Congress in a statement informed that the committee will study the impact of the coronavirus and lockdown on the country's economy. Likewise, it will also formulate the party’s perspectives on building the current economy, policies and programs for the upcoming fiscal year’s budget. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The party after concluding its study will make suggestions to the government.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The committee will make recommendations for immediate relief, set short-term priorities, and suggest a long-term solution for the post-coronavirus economy.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepali Congress informed that the study will help the party to make their concept and role more effective. On April 29, the party had decided to form various committees to study the impacts of coronavirus on various sectors of the country. A committee under the coordination of former Finance Minister Mahat was formed on Wednesday based on the decision.</span></span></h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-08', 'modified' => '2020-05-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11781', 'image' => '20200508081942_20150731013431_1433670488 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-08 08:19:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12030', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Private Sector Demands Resumption of Industries Affected by Lockdown ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 7: Stakeholders of private sector have demanded resumption of industries severely affected by lockdown amid coronavirus outbreak. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 7: Stakeholders of private sector have demanded resumption of industries severely affected by lockdown amid coronavirus outbreak. At an interaction with the theme of 'policies, programmes and budget for the fiscal year, 2077/78' organised by Nepali Congress on Wednesday at party office in Sanepa, they demanded that the government seek alternatives to lockdown and reduce interests on loan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">On the occasion, senior vice president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Shekhar Golchha said that the country's economy would go two years backward due to lockdown. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">"Private sector should be improved to recover country's economy. For that, the government should take steps like facility on property record, concession on electricity, bringing down bank loans to five percent and value added tax rate to 10 percent and 20 percent exemption on income and corporate taxes." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Saying that approximately 5,000 construction projects were operating before lockdown, president of the Federation of Contractors Association Nepal (FCAN) Rabi Singh said they have incurred losses of around Rs 35 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">President of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) Sirjana Rana demanded that time to repay loans should be extended, loan interests capitalised and loans re-tabulated. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">President of Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents Achyut Guragain demanded that an arrangement should be made to provide loans at two percent interest rate to manage salaries to tourism employees. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">On the occasion, NC president Sher Bahadur Deuba pledged that NC would take up demands of private sector with the Parliament and the government and create pressure on the government to address them. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-07', 'modified' => '2020-05-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11780', 'image' => '20200507092819_sg(2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-07 09:27:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12029', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'COVID-19 Cases Climb to 99', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 7: The total number of people infected with coronavirus has reached 99 in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 7: The total number of people infected with coronavirus has reached 99 in the country. The number climbed to 99 from 82 a day earlier, after 17 people tested positive to COVID-19 in Parsa on Wednesday (May 6). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Furthermore, three people who had been discharged from hospital after recovery have tested positive again. A man discharged from a hospital in Kathmandu on April 23 tested positive again, said Dr Bikash Devkota at a regular press briefing held at the Ministry of Health and Population on Wednesday. Likewise, a 19-year-old youth from Rautahat and 44-year-old man from Parsa also tested positive in a re-test carried out more than a week after they had been discharged from hospital. All of them have been re-admitted to hospital. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Meanwhile, health authorities have conducted 14,096 tests through the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method whereas 52,970 tests have been conducted through the Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) method, Dr Devkota shared. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The number of people in quarantine is 18,734 with 136 in isolation in the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Meanwhile, six people undergoing treatment for COVID-19 at Koshi Hospital were discharged on Wednesday, after they tested negative. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-07', 'modified' => '2020-05-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11779', 'image' => '20200507065939_infographic-mers-689.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-07 06:58:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12028', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB to Revise Refinancing Limit to Rs 100 million', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 6: Nepal Rastra Bank is preparing to reduce the refinancing limit. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">May 6: Nepal Rastra Bank is preparing to reduce the refinancing limit. According to NRB, only limited industries and businesspersons are getting access to renewal of loan facility. So, NRB has decided to reduce the refinancing limit to Rs 100 million from the proposed Rs 500 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">NRB Governor Maha Prashad Adhikari said that with the introduction of this policy, businesspersons cannot take refinancing of more than Rs 100 million. He said that current policy has facilitated only the big industrialists. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">“NRB’s current focus is to encourage the small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs),” said Adhikari. He said that downsizing the refinancing limit to Rs 100 million will benefit SMEs. NRB is planning to create a fund of Rs 100 billion and mobilize it in productive sector. Presently, only Rs 180 million has been mobilized from the Refinancing Fund. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">“We have instructed the banks to reduce interest rate and postpone the deadline for repayment. However, we can’t instruct the BFIs to give up the interest altogether,” he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">According to him microfinance companies have not been able to renew loans. In the new work procedure, all BFIs will get access to the facility. “The enterprises which meet the criteria can benefit from refinancing easily. We will also work on making the facility easily accessible so that people don’t need to come to NRB for any process,” said Adhikari. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">According to NRB, BFIs have collected deposits of Rs 3600.78 billion and have already mobilized Rs 3200.46 billion for loan. According to Adhikari, maximum amount of loan worth Rs 600.60 billion has been mobilized in the wholesale and retail sectors. Similarly, agriculture sector has been given Rs 200.20 billion loan and other productive sectors has been given a loan of Rs 500.32 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-06', 'modified' => '2020-05-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11778', 'image' => '20200506033111_1588716058.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-06 15:30:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12027', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Focus on Big Tourism Projects ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 6: The federal government is planning to move ahead bigger tourism projects under 'Investment Partnership and Return on Investment’ policy rather than focusing on smaller tourism projects.', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 6: The federal government is planning to move ahead bigger tourism projects under 'Investment Partnership and Return on Investment’ policy rather than focusing on smaller tourism projects.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai said that the ministry is planning to formulate next year's budget in line with this policy among the three levels of government for the sustainability of the projects.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Addressing the leaders of the opposition parties in the federal parliament on Tuesday, May 5, regarding the budget and policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year 2020/21, Minister Bhattarai opined that allocating the budget for small projects would be less efficient and there won't be any local participation.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">However, lawmakers of the opposition parties urged the government to focus on tourism rehabilitation programmes to combat the impacts of coronavirus in this sector. They suggested that coronavirus has had a major impact on the tourism sector the most. They also informed that job creation and protection of existing industries should be the top priority right now.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepali Congress lawmaker and Minister for Tourism of the shadow government Devendra Raj Kandel suggested that the government should allocate budget in tourism projects that can bring prosperity to the nation. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Kandel suggested to include a programme to promote domestic tourism in the context of the postponement of the Visit Nepal 2020 campaign. During the discussion program, Prem Suwal from NWPP, Durga Poudel from Rastriya Janamorcha and Amrita Devi Agrahari from RJPN suggested to introduce programmes that would restore tourism.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Minister Bhattarai informed that he will try his best to address the suggestions received from the parliamentarians as much as possible. Stating that the construction of new airports is the topmost priority of all, Minister Bhattarai added that the ministry will aim in building new airports on the basis of justification, necessity and professionalism.</span></span></h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span></h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-06', 'modified' => '2020-05-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11777', 'image' => '20200506031951_120_1571271950.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-06 15:19:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12024', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'DoL to Monitor Whether Hotels are Giving Salary to Employees or not', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 6: The Department of Labour (DoL) is monitoring whether or not the hotel entrepreneurs have given salary for the month of Chaitra (mid-March to mid-April) to their workers. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 6: The Department of Labour (DoL) is monitoring whether or not the hotel entrepreneurs have given salary for the month of Chaitra (mid-March to mid-April) to their workers. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Department is carrying out monitoring in this regard after complaints that some hotel entrepreneurs have not given the remuneration for the month of Chaitra despite the government's directives calling on all industries and enterprises to compulsorily give the salary for the month of the specified month to their employees. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The entrepreneurs had agreed to pay the salary during discussions with the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security on Monday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">DoL said the Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) and the Joint Trade Union Coordination Committee will facilitate in the monitoring. Likewise, the Labour and Occupational Security Department, and the Labour and Employment Office would follow-up on this, Ministry's spokesperson Suman Ghimire said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Ministry has urged all the sides concerned to make arrangements for paying the salary of workers by utilising the economic facilities provided by the government. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-06', 'modified' => '2020-05-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11776', 'image' => '20200506090255_90511105700_Clipboard37 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-06 09:01:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12026', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB to Prepare Monetary Policy after Lockdown Ends', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 6: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has decided to prepare the monetary policy in around mid-July as it is currently busy studying the impact of coronavirus on the country’s economy. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 6: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has decided to prepare the monetary policy in around mid-July as it is currently busy studying the impact of coronavirus on the country’s economy. Officials at the central bank informed that they will be able to get a clear picture of the crisis only after the lockdown ends.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Deputy Governor Chintamani Shivkoti informed that the central bank’s board meeting will take further decision on Wednesday (May 6).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The initial relief package was aimed at providing support up to mid-March,” said Shivakoti, adding, “The second relief package was until mid-July.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The central bank is now waiting for the lockdown to end to ascertain the exact impact on different sectors in order to prepare the monetary policy.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A committee headed by the Executive Director of the Research Department of NRB, Dr Gunakar Bhatta, is currently collecting data to study the impact of coronavirus on tourism, hotel, aviation and industrial sectors to provide loan assistance.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The effects of coronavirus on different sectors will have an impact on the overall economy of the country,” said Bhatta.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The committee includes representatives from the BFI Regulation Department, Foreign Exchange Management Department, Payment Department and Supervision Department of NRB as well as chairman of Nepal Bankers Association Bhuvan Dahal as members.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-06', 'modified' => '2020-05-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11775', 'image' => '20200506100208_1588717198.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-06 10:01:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ) ) $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' => '12038', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Finance Minister Presents Proposal on Priorities and Principles of budget ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 11: Minister for Finance Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada on Sunday (May 10) presented the proposal seeking deliberation on the principles and priorities (except tax proposal) of the Appropriation Bill for the fiscal year 2020/21 in the meeting of House of Representatives (HoR). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 11: Minister for Finance Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada on Sunday (May 10) presented the proposal seeking deliberation on the principles and priorities (except tax proposal) of the Appropriation Bill for the fiscal year 2020/21 in the meeting of House of Representatives (HoR). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has aimed to minimize the COVID-10’s adverse impacts on the country’s economy and to usher the country towards economic growth, good-governance and prosperity by keeping these things in mind while allocating the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Khatiwada said that the new budget would be centered on achieving prosperous and socialism-oriented economy and it would also take into account establishing social justice through private, public and cooperatives. Outlining the government’s economic policies, the finance minister said that the government’s main priority was implementing the fundamental rights of the citizens as enshrined in the constitution and providing effective and quality healthcare services to the people. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government also underscored the establishment of an able health organization which would tackle any health related pandemic in future. Mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 and its fallout and making the economy more dynamic were also high in priority for the government for which the budget for the new fiscal year would be prudently mobilized, according to the minister. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Khatiwada was confident that the government would be successful in utilizing national and international resources and capitalizing on the international communities’ commitment to Nepal for helping in prevention and control of COVID-19. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Furthermore, he was of the belief that the private sectors’ issues could be addressed through various measures and relief packages. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The lower House of the Federal Parliament is scheduled to deliberate on the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill for the fiscal year 2020/21 on May 11 and 12. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The HoR is scheduled to meet at 11 am Monday (May 11). -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-11', 'modified' => '2020-05-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11789', 'image' => '20200511090536_1589147822.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-11 09:04:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12039', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Storm, Rainfall Predicated till Tuesday', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 11: The Meteorological Forecasting Division has predicted storm coupled with rainfall with the weather remaining mostly cloudy in most of the places across the country till Tuesday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 11: The Meteorological Forecasting Division has predicted storm coupled with rainfall with the weather remaining mostly cloudy in most of the places across the country till Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">This phenomena is caused by the influence of the westerly wind and local wind as well as due to the moisture-laden wind coming from the Bay of Bengal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Division has also published an advisory, urging caution as the impact of westerly and local winds will continue to cause storm and rainfall in most of the places in the country. Furthermore, there are also chances of thunderstorm, lightning and light to moderate rainfall in majority of the places across the country till Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The western parts of the country is currently experiencing storm, lightning and thunderstorm along with rainfall, according to the Division. The Division has forecast generally cloudy weather throughout the country on Monday while some places in the mountainous areas of the country and a couple of areas in Terai region will witness thunderstorm accompanied with hailstorm and storm. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, the weather will remain generally cloudy throughout the country while thunderstorm coupled with gusty winds and lightning are likely to occur in some areas in the country on Tuesday. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-11', 'modified' => '2020-05-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11788', 'image' => '20200511091310_Storm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-11 09:12:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12037', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Directs Banks to Lower Interest on Loan by 2 Percentage Points', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 8: Banks are facing dilemma over implementation of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)’s directive to lower the interest rate on loan for the affected businesses by 2 percentage points.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">May 8: Banks are facing dilemma over implementation of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)’s directive to lower the interest rate on loan for the affected businesses by 2 percentage points. As the banks have already made public announcement about reduction of interest rate on deposit by 1 percentage point, they are hesitant to implement the directive of the central bank.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">As NRB has reduced the rate of interest by 1 percentage points, all commercial banks had decided to reduce the interest rate on deposits accordingly. Apparently, they reduced the interest rate in savings, fixed deposits and call deposits by 1 to 1.5 percentage points. According to Bhuwan Dahal, chairman of Nepal Bankers’ Association, NRB’s directive has made them confused. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">He said that NRB took this decision despite being informed about their preparation to reduce the interest rate by 1 percentage point. “After the directive from NRB, we even shared our concern with them. However, we did not get any response,” said Dahal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">It is estimated that if the decision is implemented around 10 commercial banks will go in loss in the fourth quarter. “We were planning to reduce the interest rate. But NRB took a unilateral decision without consulting with us,” he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">NRB had directed the BFIs on April 28 to lower the interest rate on loan given to affected sectors by 2 percentage points. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">According to Gunakar Bhatta, spokesperson of NRB, currently everyone should give high priority to saving national economy rather than looking for one’s own profit. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif""> “Bankers should give relief to the affected sectors,” Bhatta said. As NRB has given facility to reduce the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) to 5 percent, banks will have liquidity of Rs 35 billion. According to Bhatta they can invest the amount in government securities and bond as well. So, they should provide interest relief till mid-July. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-08', 'modified' => '2020-05-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11787', 'image' => '20200508040331_20160909042218_nrb.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-08 16:02:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12036', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Allows various Industries to Resume Operation from Today', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 8: The government has decided to allow 44 different categories of enterprises to resume operation from Friday, May 8. ', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 8: The government has decided to allow 44 different categories of enterprises to resume operation from Friday, May 8. A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on May 6 took a decision to this effect.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Despite the risk of coronavirus infection, the government has decided to allow industries and businesses in non-infected zones to operate from Friday as the country is heading to an economic crisis.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Entrepreneurs and industrialists are getting ready to reopen the industries following the government's decision to allow industries to open after 43 days of lockdown.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Industries producing cement, iron, rods as well as food processing industries are currently engaged in managing workers to restart production.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The 44 types of enterprises include construction companies, health and education services, national pride projects, agriculture sector, hydropower projects and special economic zones (SEZ) and industrial estates.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">However, industries in border areas and coronavirus-affected zones will remain closed. Meanwhile, people have demand that the government allow hardware stores to open for limited period during lockdown.</span></span></h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span></h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-08', 'modified' => '2020-05-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11786', 'image' => '20200508035032_90201015612_sej pic (2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-08 15:49:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12033', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Budget Session of Federal Parliament to begin from Today', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 8: The budget session of the federal parliament will start at 4:00 pm Friday (May 8) at the federal parliament building in New Baneshwor, Kathmandu. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 8: The budget session of the federal parliament will start at 4:00 pm Friday (May 8) at the federal parliament building in New Baneshwor, Kathmandu. Also known as monsoon session, this session will see the introduction of the policies and programmes as well as budget for the new fiscal year 2020/21. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to general-secretary of the Federal Parliament Secretariat, Dr Bharatraj Gautam, a letter received from the Office of the President regarding addressing of joint meeting of the Federal House session will be read out apart from the letter about beginning of the sixth session on Friday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The leaders representing various political parties in the parliament will also deliver their speeches on Friday, informed Gautam. According to the Federal Parliament Secretariat, President Bidya Devi Bhandari will present the government’s policies and programmes on May 17 at the joint meeting of the House of Representatives and National Assembly. </span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The subsequent meetings will then discuss about the policies and programmmes, while the Prime Minister will respond queries of lawmakers regarding such policy and programmes and the House will endorse them. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, Minister for Finance Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada will present the budget for the upcoming fiscal year on May 28. President Bhandari had summoned the session for tomorrow on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers on May 3. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The federal parliament’s budget session will be held in consideration of the COVID-19 pandemic and its potential transmission, according to Federal Parliament Secretariat. Necessary measures have been taken and all the criteria as recommended by the WHO have been followed to maintain physical distancing during the session to prevent the infection. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Each parliamentarian will maintain at least one metre of physical distancing and every member of national Assembly will be seated in their respective seats every time they convene for the meeting. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, the rostrum will be only used by the PM, ministers and members of the National Assembly and each member will use their own mike arranged in their respective seats. Any type of gathering inside and outside the federal parliament building is prohibited for the parliamentarians and the meeting hall will be sanitized properly. Use of sanitizers and masks have been made mandatory for those attending the meeting. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The secretariat will provide photos to the media persons electronically and no audiences will be allowed to witness the meeting. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The throat and nasal swab of 441 parliamentarians, staffers and guards at the federal secretariat have been collected and sent for test, according to the federal parliament secretariat. There are 275 members in House of Representatives and 58 members in National Assembly. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-08', 'modified' => '2020-05-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11785', 'image' => '20200508075145_20200426021504_1587852541.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-08 07:51:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12034', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Confirms 101 Cases of Coronavirus', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 8: Two more persons have tested positive for coronavirus in Kapilbastu district on Thursday (May 7).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">May 8: Two more persons have tested positive for coronavirus in Kapilbastu district on Thursday (May 7). With this, the number of coronavirus cases has reached 101 in the country. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">The Ministry of Health and Population on Thursday confirmed the new cases, according to the national news agency RSS. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, health authorities intensified tests by conducting over 1450 tests for coronavirus on Thursday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the Ministry of Health and Population, they carried out 1451 tests but none of then turned out positive. Among the infected, 73 are male and 28 female. The infected also includes a two-month old child, who tested positive in Parsa on Wednesday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">Altogether 31 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported in Province 1 followed by 30 in Province 2 and 26 in Province 5. Likewise, Bagmati Province has reported 7 cases, Sudur Paschim Province has 5 cases and Gandaki Province has 2 cases, according to Dr Bikas Devkota, spokesperson at the health ministry.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">The government has so far tested 14,509 samples through PCR method while 54,093 tests have been conducted through RDT method.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to Devkota, a total of 17,372 people are currently in quarantine across the country. Likewise, three suspects in the Kathmandu Valley and 130 outside the valley have been kept in isolation.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-08', 'modified' => '2020-05-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11784', 'image' => '20200508080149_Toll Rises4.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-08 08:00:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12032', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'BFIs Focusing on Online Banking', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 7: With the extension of lockdown, banks and financial institutions (BFIs) are encouraging customers to open savings and deposit accounts through online medium.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">May 7: With the extension of lockdown, banks and financial institutions (BFIs) are encouraging customers to open savings and deposit accounts through online medium.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Though almost all the banks have been providing the online service, the BFIs have been promoting online banking as most customers are not able to use banking service physically. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Nabil Bank had started online system for bank account opening for the first time eight years ago. “However, due to lockdown, now all the banks are focusing on online banking,” said Bhuwan Kumar Dahal, president of Bankers Association of Nepal. Especially Nabil Bank, NIC Asia Bank, Citizens Banks and NMB Bank have been promoting online banking. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">Mostly, Nepali nationals in foreign countries used to apply online for opening account. However, most Nepalis in the country preferred to go to bank to take any service. But, due to the lockdown most of the banks have been creating facilities so that people can open their accounts online. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Sanima Bank had brought the system around six years ago. But most customers did not use it. According to president Dahal, who is also the chairperson of Sanima Bank, only a handful of Nepalis in foreign countries had used the service before lockdown. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Now, the most effective medium is to open bank account from home. After all the process, the customer needs to come to the bank once. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">“The customer can deposit money in the bank. But they need to come for identity confirmation once before releasing the money for the first time,” said Dahal. He said that this is an opportunity for the banks to go cashless. “Gradually, all the transactions need to be cashless,” he opined. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Citizens Bank International had also brought this service last week. “The system was already there, but now we have upgraded it,” said Ganesh Raj Pokhrel, CEO of the bank. A year ago, around 100 Nepalis from abroad used the service every month, he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">According to the bankers, opening account from bank is quick, secured and safe process.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Nepal Rastra Bank(NRB) has been focusing on the need of digital transaction and has been encouraging the banks to do so. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">“As the new generation is more familiar about these concepts, they should start using it,” added Chnitamani Shiwakoti, deputy governor of NRB. “Also, banks should work on making the process convenient for customers.” Nevertheless, the market needs much time to go cashless to the full extent. “We cannot immediately switch to cashless system right now,” he said. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-07', 'modified' => '2020-05-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11783', 'image' => '20200507113521_vector-20452770 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-07 11:34:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12031', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Extends Lockdown until May 18 but Eases Restrictions', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 7: The government has extended the lockdown till May 18 but has eased the restrictions to some extent, allowing operation of some industries producing basic needs under certain terms and conditions. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 7: The government has extended the lockdown till May 18 but has eased the restrictions to some extent, allowing operation of some industries producing basic needs under certain terms and conditions. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Wednesday decided to reopen industries producing essential goods by adopting safety measures and maintaining physical distancing as a precaution against coronavirus infection.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">With the latest cabinet decision, most of the closed industries will now be able to resume operation under strict conditions set by the government. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Pharmaceutical companies, industries producing daily essentials, transportation of raw materials for construction works, banking service among others would be allowed to operate even during the lockdown.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Government Spokesperson Yuba Raj Khatiwada made the announcement during a press conference after the cabinet meeting.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has also decided to allow operation of industries that process drinking water, companies manufacturing soaps, packaging industries, gas bottling plants, small and cottage industries, cement and steel industries and other industries that produce export materials. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Council of Ministers took such decision upon the recommendation of the High Level Committee to Prevent Coronavirus. The committee had recommended the government to extend the lockdown and ease the restrictions.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“Besides the industries, the government has decided to resume national pride projects, hydropower projects, construction of airports, roads, and bridges,” said Minister Khatiwada, who holds the portfolio of finance and communication ministries.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has made it mandatory for daily health check-up of workers involved in development projects. The projects must also arrange for the accommodation of the workers at a fixed place in order to prevent them from contracting the disease.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Khatiwada said that the government would allow farmers to harvest their crop and sell their produce as well as other products like poultry, fish, vegetables, milk in the market without any hindrance. The government has ensured hassle-free transportation for vehicles carrying such goods. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">However, the cabinet has decided to not to allow cargo vehicles to carry passengers and to maintain strict record of the drivers and helpers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The drivers and helpers entering Kathmandu Valley must enter their names which will be verified while they leave the valley. Any discrepancy would be strictly dealt with,” said Khatiwada.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, the government has allowed banks and financial institutions (BFIs), insurance companies and share market to operate with a maximum of one-third workforce. Only some limited branches of BFIs were operational during the lockdown period so far.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS""> The government has also allowed operation of government and private hospital, nursing homes, polyclinics, labs, and diagnostic centres. The cabinet decision also allows resumption of vaccination drives and all essential medical services.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS""> Meanwhile, the international borders and all entry points will remain closed until May 31. The government has strictly barred cross-border movement until the period to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Regular international flights will also remain suspended until May 31. However, government has decided to allow the movement of cargo vehicles through the international transit points.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-07', 'modified' => '2020-05-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11782', 'image' => '20200507101757_1588777825.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-07 10:16:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12035', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepali Congress Studying Impacts of Coronavirus on Economy', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 8: The main opposition party, Nepali Congress, has initiated a study on the impact of the coronavirus and lockdown on the country's economy.', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 8: The main opposition party, Nepali Congress, has initiated a study on the impact of the coronavirus and lockdown on the country's economy. The study also focuses on determining the priorities for the budget of upcoming fiscal year.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">With the objective of analyzing the impact of coronavirus and lockdown and formulating the necessary approach, Nepali Congress on Wednesday (May 6) formed a 14-member special committee lead by former Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat to conduct the study.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The political party informed that it will give suggestions to the government and raise the issues in the parliament accordingly.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepali Congress in a statement informed that the committee will study the impact of the coronavirus and lockdown on the country's economy. Likewise, it will also formulate the party’s perspectives on building the current economy, policies and programs for the upcoming fiscal year’s budget. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The party after concluding its study will make suggestions to the government.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The committee will make recommendations for immediate relief, set short-term priorities, and suggest a long-term solution for the post-coronavirus economy.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepali Congress informed that the study will help the party to make their concept and role more effective. On April 29, the party had decided to form various committees to study the impacts of coronavirus on various sectors of the country. A committee under the coordination of former Finance Minister Mahat was formed on Wednesday based on the decision.</span></span></h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-08', 'modified' => '2020-05-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11781', 'image' => '20200508081942_20150731013431_1433670488 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-08 08:19:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12030', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Private Sector Demands Resumption of Industries Affected by Lockdown ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 7: Stakeholders of private sector have demanded resumption of industries severely affected by lockdown amid coronavirus outbreak. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 7: Stakeholders of private sector have demanded resumption of industries severely affected by lockdown amid coronavirus outbreak. At an interaction with the theme of 'policies, programmes and budget for the fiscal year, 2077/78' organised by Nepali Congress on Wednesday at party office in Sanepa, they demanded that the government seek alternatives to lockdown and reduce interests on loan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">On the occasion, senior vice president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Shekhar Golchha said that the country's economy would go two years backward due to lockdown. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">"Private sector should be improved to recover country's economy. For that, the government should take steps like facility on property record, concession on electricity, bringing down bank loans to five percent and value added tax rate to 10 percent and 20 percent exemption on income and corporate taxes." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Saying that approximately 5,000 construction projects were operating before lockdown, president of the Federation of Contractors Association Nepal (FCAN) Rabi Singh said they have incurred losses of around Rs 35 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">President of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) Sirjana Rana demanded that time to repay loans should be extended, loan interests capitalised and loans re-tabulated. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">President of Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents Achyut Guragain demanded that an arrangement should be made to provide loans at two percent interest rate to manage salaries to tourism employees. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">On the occasion, NC president Sher Bahadur Deuba pledged that NC would take up demands of private sector with the Parliament and the government and create pressure on the government to address them. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-07', 'modified' => '2020-05-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11780', 'image' => '20200507092819_sg(2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-07 09:27:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12029', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'COVID-19 Cases Climb to 99', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 7: The total number of people infected with coronavirus has reached 99 in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 7: The total number of people infected with coronavirus has reached 99 in the country. The number climbed to 99 from 82 a day earlier, after 17 people tested positive to COVID-19 in Parsa on Wednesday (May 6). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Furthermore, three people who had been discharged from hospital after recovery have tested positive again. A man discharged from a hospital in Kathmandu on April 23 tested positive again, said Dr Bikash Devkota at a regular press briefing held at the Ministry of Health and Population on Wednesday. Likewise, a 19-year-old youth from Rautahat and 44-year-old man from Parsa also tested positive in a re-test carried out more than a week after they had been discharged from hospital. All of them have been re-admitted to hospital. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Meanwhile, health authorities have conducted 14,096 tests through the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method whereas 52,970 tests have been conducted through the Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) method, Dr Devkota shared. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The number of people in quarantine is 18,734 with 136 in isolation in the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Meanwhile, six people undergoing treatment for COVID-19 at Koshi Hospital were discharged on Wednesday, after they tested negative. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-07', 'modified' => '2020-05-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11779', 'image' => '20200507065939_infographic-mers-689.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-07 06:58:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12028', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB to Revise Refinancing Limit to Rs 100 million', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 6: Nepal Rastra Bank is preparing to reduce the refinancing limit. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">May 6: Nepal Rastra Bank is preparing to reduce the refinancing limit. According to NRB, only limited industries and businesspersons are getting access to renewal of loan facility. So, NRB has decided to reduce the refinancing limit to Rs 100 million from the proposed Rs 500 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">NRB Governor Maha Prashad Adhikari said that with the introduction of this policy, businesspersons cannot take refinancing of more than Rs 100 million. He said that current policy has facilitated only the big industrialists. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">“NRB’s current focus is to encourage the small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs),” said Adhikari. He said that downsizing the refinancing limit to Rs 100 million will benefit SMEs. NRB is planning to create a fund of Rs 100 billion and mobilize it in productive sector. Presently, only Rs 180 million has been mobilized from the Refinancing Fund. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">“We have instructed the banks to reduce interest rate and postpone the deadline for repayment. However, we can’t instruct the BFIs to give up the interest altogether,” he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">According to him microfinance companies have not been able to renew loans. In the new work procedure, all BFIs will get access to the facility. “The enterprises which meet the criteria can benefit from refinancing easily. We will also work on making the facility easily accessible so that people don’t need to come to NRB for any process,” said Adhikari. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">According to NRB, BFIs have collected deposits of Rs 3600.78 billion and have already mobilized Rs 3200.46 billion for loan. According to Adhikari, maximum amount of loan worth Rs 600.60 billion has been mobilized in the wholesale and retail sectors. Similarly, agriculture sector has been given Rs 200.20 billion loan and other productive sectors has been given a loan of Rs 500.32 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-06', 'modified' => '2020-05-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11778', 'image' => '20200506033111_1588716058.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-06 15:30:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12027', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Focus on Big Tourism Projects ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 6: The federal government is planning to move ahead bigger tourism projects under 'Investment Partnership and Return on Investment’ policy rather than focusing on smaller tourism projects.', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 6: The federal government is planning to move ahead bigger tourism projects under 'Investment Partnership and Return on Investment’ policy rather than focusing on smaller tourism projects.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai said that the ministry is planning to formulate next year's budget in line with this policy among the three levels of government for the sustainability of the projects.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Addressing the leaders of the opposition parties in the federal parliament on Tuesday, May 5, regarding the budget and policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year 2020/21, Minister Bhattarai opined that allocating the budget for small projects would be less efficient and there won't be any local participation.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">However, lawmakers of the opposition parties urged the government to focus on tourism rehabilitation programmes to combat the impacts of coronavirus in this sector. They suggested that coronavirus has had a major impact on the tourism sector the most. They also informed that job creation and protection of existing industries should be the top priority right now.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepali Congress lawmaker and Minister for Tourism of the shadow government Devendra Raj Kandel suggested that the government should allocate budget in tourism projects that can bring prosperity to the nation. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Kandel suggested to include a programme to promote domestic tourism in the context of the postponement of the Visit Nepal 2020 campaign. During the discussion program, Prem Suwal from NWPP, Durga Poudel from Rastriya Janamorcha and Amrita Devi Agrahari from RJPN suggested to introduce programmes that would restore tourism.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Minister Bhattarai informed that he will try his best to address the suggestions received from the parliamentarians as much as possible. Stating that the construction of new airports is the topmost priority of all, Minister Bhattarai added that the ministry will aim in building new airports on the basis of justification, necessity and professionalism.</span></span></h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span></h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-06', 'modified' => '2020-05-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11777', 'image' => '20200506031951_120_1571271950.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-06 15:19:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12024', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'DoL to Monitor Whether Hotels are Giving Salary to Employees or not', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 6: The Department of Labour (DoL) is monitoring whether or not the hotel entrepreneurs have given salary for the month of Chaitra (mid-March to mid-April) to their workers. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 6: The Department of Labour (DoL) is monitoring whether or not the hotel entrepreneurs have given salary for the month of Chaitra (mid-March to mid-April) to their workers. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Department is carrying out monitoring in this regard after complaints that some hotel entrepreneurs have not given the remuneration for the month of Chaitra despite the government's directives calling on all industries and enterprises to compulsorily give the salary for the month of the specified month to their employees. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The entrepreneurs had agreed to pay the salary during discussions with the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security on Monday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">DoL said the Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) and the Joint Trade Union Coordination Committee will facilitate in the monitoring. Likewise, the Labour and Occupational Security Department, and the Labour and Employment Office would follow-up on this, Ministry's spokesperson Suman Ghimire said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Ministry has urged all the sides concerned to make arrangements for paying the salary of workers by utilising the economic facilities provided by the government. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-06', 'modified' => '2020-05-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11776', 'image' => '20200506090255_90511105700_Clipboard37 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-06 09:01:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12026', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB to Prepare Monetary Policy after Lockdown Ends', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 6: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has decided to prepare the monetary policy in around mid-July as it is currently busy studying the impact of coronavirus on the country’s economy. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 6: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has decided to prepare the monetary policy in around mid-July as it is currently busy studying the impact of coronavirus on the country’s economy. Officials at the central bank informed that they will be able to get a clear picture of the crisis only after the lockdown ends.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Deputy Governor Chintamani Shivkoti informed that the central bank’s board meeting will take further decision on Wednesday (May 6).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The initial relief package was aimed at providing support up to mid-March,” said Shivakoti, adding, “The second relief package was until mid-July.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The central bank is now waiting for the lockdown to end to ascertain the exact impact on different sectors in order to prepare the monetary policy.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A committee headed by the Executive Director of the Research Department of NRB, Dr Gunakar Bhatta, is currently collecting data to study the impact of coronavirus on tourism, hotel, aviation and industrial sectors to provide loan assistance.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The effects of coronavirus on different sectors will have an impact on the overall economy of the country,” said Bhatta.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The committee includes representatives from the BFI Regulation Department, Foreign Exchange Management Department, Payment Department and Supervision Department of NRB as well as chairman of Nepal Bankers Association Bhuvan Dahal as members.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-06', 'modified' => '2020-05-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11775', 'image' => '20200506100208_1588717198.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-06 10:01:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ) ) $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' => '12038', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Finance Minister Presents Proposal on Priorities and Principles of budget ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 11: Minister for Finance Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada on Sunday (May 10) presented the proposal seeking deliberation on the principles and priorities (except tax proposal) of the Appropriation Bill for the fiscal year 2020/21 in the meeting of House of Representatives (HoR). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 11: Minister for Finance Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada on Sunday (May 10) presented the proposal seeking deliberation on the principles and priorities (except tax proposal) of the Appropriation Bill for the fiscal year 2020/21 in the meeting of House of Representatives (HoR). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has aimed to minimize the COVID-10’s adverse impacts on the country’s economy and to usher the country towards economic growth, good-governance and prosperity by keeping these things in mind while allocating the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Khatiwada said that the new budget would be centered on achieving prosperous and socialism-oriented economy and it would also take into account establishing social justice through private, public and cooperatives. Outlining the government’s economic policies, the finance minister said that the government’s main priority was implementing the fundamental rights of the citizens as enshrined in the constitution and providing effective and quality healthcare services to the people. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government also underscored the establishment of an able health organization which would tackle any health related pandemic in future. Mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 and its fallout and making the economy more dynamic were also high in priority for the government for which the budget for the new fiscal year would be prudently mobilized, according to the minister. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Khatiwada was confident that the government would be successful in utilizing national and international resources and capitalizing on the international communities’ commitment to Nepal for helping in prevention and control of COVID-19. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Furthermore, he was of the belief that the private sectors’ issues could be addressed through various measures and relief packages. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The lower House of the Federal Parliament is scheduled to deliberate on the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill for the fiscal year 2020/21 on May 11 and 12. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The HoR is scheduled to meet at 11 am Monday (May 11). -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-11', 'modified' => '2020-05-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11789', 'image' => '20200511090536_1589147822.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-11 09:04:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12039', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Storm, Rainfall Predicated till Tuesday', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 11: The Meteorological Forecasting Division has predicted storm coupled with rainfall with the weather remaining mostly cloudy in most of the places across the country till Tuesday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 11: The Meteorological Forecasting Division has predicted storm coupled with rainfall with the weather remaining mostly cloudy in most of the places across the country till Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">This phenomena is caused by the influence of the westerly wind and local wind as well as due to the moisture-laden wind coming from the Bay of Bengal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Division has also published an advisory, urging caution as the impact of westerly and local winds will continue to cause storm and rainfall in most of the places in the country. Furthermore, there are also chances of thunderstorm, lightning and light to moderate rainfall in majority of the places across the country till Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The western parts of the country is currently experiencing storm, lightning and thunderstorm along with rainfall, according to the Division. The Division has forecast generally cloudy weather throughout the country on Monday while some places in the mountainous areas of the country and a couple of areas in Terai region will witness thunderstorm accompanied with hailstorm and storm. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, the weather will remain generally cloudy throughout the country while thunderstorm coupled with gusty winds and lightning are likely to occur in some areas in the country on Tuesday. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-11', 'modified' => '2020-05-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11788', 'image' => '20200511091310_Storm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-11 09:12:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12037', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Directs Banks to Lower Interest on Loan by 2 Percentage Points', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 8: Banks are facing dilemma over implementation of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)’s directive to lower the interest rate on loan for the affected businesses by 2 percentage points.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">May 8: Banks are facing dilemma over implementation of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)’s directive to lower the interest rate on loan for the affected businesses by 2 percentage points. As the banks have already made public announcement about reduction of interest rate on deposit by 1 percentage point, they are hesitant to implement the directive of the central bank.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">As NRB has reduced the rate of interest by 1 percentage points, all commercial banks had decided to reduce the interest rate on deposits accordingly. Apparently, they reduced the interest rate in savings, fixed deposits and call deposits by 1 to 1.5 percentage points. According to Bhuwan Dahal, chairman of Nepal Bankers’ Association, NRB’s directive has made them confused. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">He said that NRB took this decision despite being informed about their preparation to reduce the interest rate by 1 percentage point. “After the directive from NRB, we even shared our concern with them. However, we did not get any response,” said Dahal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">It is estimated that if the decision is implemented around 10 commercial banks will go in loss in the fourth quarter. “We were planning to reduce the interest rate. But NRB took a unilateral decision without consulting with us,” he said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">NRB had directed the BFIs on April 28 to lower the interest rate on loan given to affected sectors by 2 percentage points. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">According to Gunakar Bhatta, spokesperson of NRB, currently everyone should give high priority to saving national economy rather than looking for one’s own profit. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif""> “Bankers should give relief to the affected sectors,” Bhatta said. As NRB has given facility to reduce the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) to 5 percent, banks will have liquidity of Rs 35 billion. According to Bhatta they can invest the amount in government securities and bond as well. So, they should provide interest relief till mid-July. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-08', 'modified' => '2020-05-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11787', 'image' => '20200508040331_20160909042218_nrb.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-08 16:02:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12036', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Allows various Industries to Resume Operation from Today', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 8: The government has decided to allow 44 different categories of enterprises to resume operation from Friday, May 8. ', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 8: The government has decided to allow 44 different categories of enterprises to resume operation from Friday, May 8. A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on May 6 took a decision to this effect.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Despite the risk of coronavirus infection, the government has decided to allow industries and businesses in non-infected zones to operate from Friday as the country is heading to an economic crisis.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Entrepreneurs and industrialists are getting ready to reopen the industries following the government's decision to allow industries to open after 43 days of lockdown.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Industries producing cement, iron, rods as well as food processing industries are currently engaged in managing workers to restart production.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The 44 types of enterprises include construction companies, health and education services, national pride projects, agriculture sector, hydropower projects and special economic zones (SEZ) and industrial estates.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">However, industries in border areas and coronavirus-affected zones will remain closed. Meanwhile, people have demand that the government allow hardware stores to open for limited period during lockdown.</span></span></h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span></h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-08', 'modified' => '2020-05-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11786', 'image' => '20200508035032_90201015612_sej pic (2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-08 15:49:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12033', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Budget Session of Federal Parliament to begin from Today', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 8: The budget session of the federal parliament will start at 4:00 pm Friday (May 8) at the federal parliament building in New Baneshwor, Kathmandu. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 8: The budget session of the federal parliament will start at 4:00 pm Friday (May 8) at the federal parliament building in New Baneshwor, Kathmandu. Also known as monsoon session, this session will see the introduction of the policies and programmes as well as budget for the new fiscal year 2020/21. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to general-secretary of the Federal Parliament Secretariat, Dr Bharatraj Gautam, a letter received from the Office of the President regarding addressing of joint meeting of the Federal House session will be read out apart from the letter about beginning of the sixth session on Friday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The leaders representing various political parties in the parliament will also deliver their speeches on Friday, informed Gautam. According to the Federal Parliament Secretariat, President Bidya Devi Bhandari will present the government’s policies and programmes on May 17 at the joint meeting of the House of Representatives and National Assembly. </span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The subsequent meetings will then discuss about the policies and programmmes, while the Prime Minister will respond queries of lawmakers regarding such policy and programmes and the House will endorse them. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, Minister for Finance Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada will present the budget for the upcoming fiscal year on May 28. President Bhandari had summoned the session for tomorrow on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers on May 3. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The federal parliament’s budget session will be held in consideration of the COVID-19 pandemic and its potential transmission, according to Federal Parliament Secretariat. Necessary measures have been taken and all the criteria as recommended by the WHO have been followed to maintain physical distancing during the session to prevent the infection. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Each parliamentarian will maintain at least one metre of physical distancing and every member of national Assembly will be seated in their respective seats every time they convene for the meeting. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, the rostrum will be only used by the PM, ministers and members of the National Assembly and each member will use their own mike arranged in their respective seats. Any type of gathering inside and outside the federal parliament building is prohibited for the parliamentarians and the meeting hall will be sanitized properly. Use of sanitizers and masks have been made mandatory for those attending the meeting. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The secretariat will provide photos to the media persons electronically and no audiences will be allowed to witness the meeting. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The throat and nasal swab of 441 parliamentarians, staffers and guards at the federal secretariat have been collected and sent for test, according to the federal parliament secretariat. There are 275 members in House of Representatives and 58 members in National Assembly. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-08', 'modified' => '2020-05-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11785', 'image' => '20200508075145_20200426021504_1587852541.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-08 07:51:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12034', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Confirms 101 Cases of Coronavirus', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 8: Two more persons have tested positive for coronavirus in Kapilbastu district on Thursday (May 7).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">May 8: Two more persons have tested positive for coronavirus in Kapilbastu district on Thursday (May 7). With this, the number of coronavirus cases has reached 101 in the country. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">The Ministry of Health and Population on Thursday confirmed the new cases, according to the national news agency RSS. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, health authorities intensified tests by conducting over 1450 tests for coronavirus on Thursday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the Ministry of Health and Population, they carried out 1451 tests but none of then turned out positive. Among the infected, 73 are male and 28 female. The infected also includes a two-month old child, who tested positive in Parsa on Wednesday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">Altogether 31 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported in Province 1 followed by 30 in Province 2 and 26 in Province 5. Likewise, Bagmati Province has reported 7 cases, Sudur Paschim Province has 5 cases and Gandaki Province has 2 cases, according to Dr Bikas Devkota, spokesperson at the health ministry.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">The government has so far tested 14,509 samples through PCR method while 54,093 tests have been conducted through RDT method.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to Devkota, a total of 17,372 people are currently in quarantine across the country. Likewise, three suspects in the Kathmandu Valley and 130 outside the valley have been kept in isolation.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-08', 'modified' => '2020-05-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11784', 'image' => '20200508080149_Toll Rises4.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-08 08:00:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12032', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'BFIs Focusing on Online Banking', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 7: With the extension of lockdown, banks and financial institutions (BFIs) are encouraging customers to open savings and deposit accounts through online medium.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">May 7: With the extension of lockdown, banks and financial institutions (BFIs) are encouraging customers to open savings and deposit accounts through online medium.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Though almost all the banks have been providing the online service, the BFIs have been promoting online banking as most customers are not able to use banking service physically. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Nabil Bank had started online system for bank account opening for the first time eight years ago. “However, due to lockdown, now all the banks are focusing on online banking,” said Bhuwan Kumar Dahal, president of Bankers Association of Nepal. Especially Nabil Bank, NIC Asia Bank, Citizens Banks and NMB Bank have been promoting online banking. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">Mostly, Nepali nationals in foreign countries used to apply online for opening account. However, most Nepalis in the country preferred to go to bank to take any service. But, due to the lockdown most of the banks have been creating facilities so that people can open their accounts online. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Sanima Bank had brought the system around six years ago. But most customers did not use it. According to president Dahal, who is also the chairperson of Sanima Bank, only a handful of Nepalis in foreign countries had used the service before lockdown. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Now, the most effective medium is to open bank account from home. After all the process, the customer needs to come to the bank once. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">“The customer can deposit money in the bank. But they need to come for identity confirmation once before releasing the money for the first time,” said Dahal. He said that this is an opportunity for the banks to go cashless. “Gradually, all the transactions need to be cashless,” he opined. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Citizens Bank International had also brought this service last week. “The system was already there, but now we have upgraded it,” said Ganesh Raj Pokhrel, CEO of the bank. A year ago, around 100 Nepalis from abroad used the service every month, he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">According to the bankers, opening account from bank is quick, secured and safe process.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">Nepal Rastra Bank(NRB) has been focusing on the need of digital transaction and has been encouraging the banks to do so. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">“As the new generation is more familiar about these concepts, they should start using it,” added Chnitamani Shiwakoti, deputy governor of NRB. “Also, banks should work on making the process convenient for customers.” Nevertheless, the market needs much time to go cashless to the full extent. “We cannot immediately switch to cashless system right now,” he said. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-07', 'modified' => '2020-05-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11783', 'image' => '20200507113521_vector-20452770 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-07 11:34:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12031', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Extends Lockdown until May 18 but Eases Restrictions', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 7: The government has extended the lockdown till May 18 but has eased the restrictions to some extent, allowing operation of some industries producing basic needs under certain terms and conditions. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 7: The government has extended the lockdown till May 18 but has eased the restrictions to some extent, allowing operation of some industries producing basic needs under certain terms and conditions. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Wednesday decided to reopen industries producing essential goods by adopting safety measures and maintaining physical distancing as a precaution against coronavirus infection.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">With the latest cabinet decision, most of the closed industries will now be able to resume operation under strict conditions set by the government. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Pharmaceutical companies, industries producing daily essentials, transportation of raw materials for construction works, banking service among others would be allowed to operate even during the lockdown.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Government Spokesperson Yuba Raj Khatiwada made the announcement during a press conference after the cabinet meeting.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has also decided to allow operation of industries that process drinking water, companies manufacturing soaps, packaging industries, gas bottling plants, small and cottage industries, cement and steel industries and other industries that produce export materials. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Council of Ministers took such decision upon the recommendation of the High Level Committee to Prevent Coronavirus. The committee had recommended the government to extend the lockdown and ease the restrictions.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“Besides the industries, the government has decided to resume national pride projects, hydropower projects, construction of airports, roads, and bridges,” said Minister Khatiwada, who holds the portfolio of finance and communication ministries.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has made it mandatory for daily health check-up of workers involved in development projects. The projects must also arrange for the accommodation of the workers at a fixed place in order to prevent them from contracting the disease.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Khatiwada said that the government would allow farmers to harvest their crop and sell their produce as well as other products like poultry, fish, vegetables, milk in the market without any hindrance. The government has ensured hassle-free transportation for vehicles carrying such goods. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">However, the cabinet has decided to not to allow cargo vehicles to carry passengers and to maintain strict record of the drivers and helpers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The drivers and helpers entering Kathmandu Valley must enter their names which will be verified while they leave the valley. Any discrepancy would be strictly dealt with,” said Khatiwada.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, the government has allowed banks and financial institutions (BFIs), insurance companies and share market to operate with a maximum of one-third workforce. Only some limited branches of BFIs were operational during the lockdown period so far.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS""> The government has also allowed operation of government and private hospital, nursing homes, polyclinics, labs, and diagnostic centres. The cabinet decision also allows resumption of vaccination drives and all essential medical services.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS""> Meanwhile, the international borders and all entry points will remain closed until May 31. The government has strictly barred cross-border movement until the period to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Regular international flights will also remain suspended until May 31. However, government has decided to allow the movement of cargo vehicles through the international transit points.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-07', 'modified' => '2020-05-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11782', 'image' => '20200507101757_1588777825.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-07 10:16:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12035', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepali Congress Studying Impacts of Coronavirus on Economy', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 8: The main opposition party, Nepali Congress, has initiated a study on the impact of the coronavirus and lockdown on the country's economy.', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 8: The main opposition party, Nepali Congress, has initiated a study on the impact of the coronavirus and lockdown on the country's economy. The study also focuses on determining the priorities for the budget of upcoming fiscal year.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">With the objective of analyzing the impact of coronavirus and lockdown and formulating the necessary approach, Nepali Congress on Wednesday (May 6) formed a 14-member special committee lead by former Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat to conduct the study.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The political party informed that it will give suggestions to the government and raise the issues in the parliament accordingly.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepali Congress in a statement informed that the committee will study the impact of the coronavirus and lockdown on the country's economy. Likewise, it will also formulate the party’s perspectives on building the current economy, policies and programs for the upcoming fiscal year’s budget. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The party after concluding its study will make suggestions to the government.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The committee will make recommendations for immediate relief, set short-term priorities, and suggest a long-term solution for the post-coronavirus economy.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepali Congress informed that the study will help the party to make their concept and role more effective. On April 29, the party had decided to form various committees to study the impacts of coronavirus on various sectors of the country. A committee under the coordination of former Finance Minister Mahat was formed on Wednesday based on the decision.</span></span></h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-08', 'modified' => '2020-05-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11781', 'image' => '20200508081942_20150731013431_1433670488 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-08 08:19:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12030', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Private Sector Demands Resumption of Industries Affected by Lockdown ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 7: Stakeholders of private sector have demanded resumption of industries severely affected by lockdown amid coronavirus outbreak. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 7: Stakeholders of private sector have demanded resumption of industries severely affected by lockdown amid coronavirus outbreak. At an interaction with the theme of 'policies, programmes and budget for the fiscal year, 2077/78' organised by Nepali Congress on Wednesday at party office in Sanepa, they demanded that the government seek alternatives to lockdown and reduce interests on loan. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">On the occasion, senior vice president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Shekhar Golchha said that the country's economy would go two years backward due to lockdown. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">"Private sector should be improved to recover country's economy. For that, the government should take steps like facility on property record, concession on electricity, bringing down bank loans to five percent and value added tax rate to 10 percent and 20 percent exemption on income and corporate taxes." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Saying that approximately 5,000 construction projects were operating before lockdown, president of the Federation of Contractors Association Nepal (FCAN) Rabi Singh said they have incurred losses of around Rs 35 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">President of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) Sirjana Rana demanded that time to repay loans should be extended, loan interests capitalised and loans re-tabulated. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">President of Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents Achyut Guragain demanded that an arrangement should be made to provide loans at two percent interest rate to manage salaries to tourism employees. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">On the occasion, NC president Sher Bahadur Deuba pledged that NC would take up demands of private sector with the Parliament and the government and create pressure on the government to address them. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-07', 'modified' => '2020-05-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11780', 'image' => '20200507092819_sg(2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-07 09:27:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12029', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'COVID-19 Cases Climb to 99', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 7: The total number of people infected with coronavirus has reached 99 in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 7: The total number of people infected with coronavirus has reached 99 in the country. The number climbed to 99 from 82 a day earlier, after 17 people tested positive to COVID-19 in Parsa on Wednesday (May 6). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Furthermore, three people who had been discharged from hospital after recovery have tested positive again. A man discharged from a hospital in Kathmandu on April 23 tested positive again, said Dr Bikash Devkota at a regular press briefing held at the Ministry of Health and Population on Wednesday. Likewise, a 19-year-old youth from Rautahat and 44-year-old man from Parsa also tested positive in a re-test carried out more than a week after they had been discharged from hospital. All of them have been re-admitted to hospital. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Meanwhile, health authorities have conducted 14,096 tests through the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method whereas 52,970 tests have been conducted through the Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) method, Dr Devkota shared. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The number of people in quarantine is 18,734 with 136 in isolation in the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Meanwhile, six people undergoing treatment for COVID-19 at Koshi Hospital were discharged on Wednesday, after they tested negative. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-07', 'modified' => '2020-05-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11779', 'image' => '20200507065939_infographic-mers-689.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-07 06:58:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12028', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB to Revise Refinancing Limit to Rs 100 million', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 6: Nepal Rastra Bank is preparing to reduce the refinancing limit. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">May 6: Nepal Rastra Bank is preparing to reduce the refinancing limit. According to NRB, only limited industries and businesspersons are getting access to renewal of loan facility. So, NRB has decided to reduce the refinancing limit to Rs 100 million from the proposed Rs 500 million.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">NRB Governor Maha Prashad Adhikari said that with the introduction of this policy, businesspersons cannot take refinancing of more than Rs 100 million. He said that current policy has facilitated only the big industrialists. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">“NRB’s current focus is to encourage the small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs),” said Adhikari. He said that downsizing the refinancing limit to Rs 100 million will benefit SMEs. NRB is planning to create a fund of Rs 100 billion and mobilize it in productive sector. Presently, only Rs 180 million has been mobilized from the Refinancing Fund. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">“We have instructed the banks to reduce interest rate and postpone the deadline for repayment. However, we can’t instruct the BFIs to give up the interest altogether,” he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">According to him microfinance companies have not been able to renew loans. In the new work procedure, all BFIs will get access to the facility. “The enterprises which meet the criteria can benefit from refinancing easily. We will also work on making the facility easily accessible so that people don’t need to come to NRB for any process,” said Adhikari. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">According to NRB, BFIs have collected deposits of Rs 3600.78 billion and have already mobilized Rs 3200.46 billion for loan. According to Adhikari, maximum amount of loan worth Rs 600.60 billion has been mobilized in the wholesale and retail sectors. Similarly, agriculture sector has been given Rs 200.20 billion loan and other productive sectors has been given a loan of Rs 500.32 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-06', 'modified' => '2020-05-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11778', 'image' => '20200506033111_1588716058.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-06 15:30:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12027', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Focus on Big Tourism Projects ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 6: The federal government is planning to move ahead bigger tourism projects under 'Investment Partnership and Return on Investment’ policy rather than focusing on smaller tourism projects.', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 6: The federal government is planning to move ahead bigger tourism projects under 'Investment Partnership and Return on Investment’ policy rather than focusing on smaller tourism projects.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai said that the ministry is planning to formulate next year's budget in line with this policy among the three levels of government for the sustainability of the projects.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Addressing the leaders of the opposition parties in the federal parliament on Tuesday, May 5, regarding the budget and policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year 2020/21, Minister Bhattarai opined that allocating the budget for small projects would be less efficient and there won't be any local participation.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">However, lawmakers of the opposition parties urged the government to focus on tourism rehabilitation programmes to combat the impacts of coronavirus in this sector. They suggested that coronavirus has had a major impact on the tourism sector the most. They also informed that job creation and protection of existing industries should be the top priority right now.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepali Congress lawmaker and Minister for Tourism of the shadow government Devendra Raj Kandel suggested that the government should allocate budget in tourism projects that can bring prosperity to the nation. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Kandel suggested to include a programme to promote domestic tourism in the context of the postponement of the Visit Nepal 2020 campaign. During the discussion program, Prem Suwal from NWPP, Durga Poudel from Rastriya Janamorcha and Amrita Devi Agrahari from RJPN suggested to introduce programmes that would restore tourism.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Minister Bhattarai informed that he will try his best to address the suggestions received from the parliamentarians as much as possible. Stating that the construction of new airports is the topmost priority of all, Minister Bhattarai added that the ministry will aim in building new airports on the basis of justification, necessity and professionalism.</span></span></h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1> </h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span></h1> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-06', 'modified' => '2020-05-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11777', 'image' => '20200506031951_120_1571271950.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-06 15:19:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12024', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'DoL to Monitor Whether Hotels are Giving Salary to Employees or not', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 6: The Department of Labour (DoL) is monitoring whether or not the hotel entrepreneurs have given salary for the month of Chaitra (mid-March to mid-April) to their workers. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 6: The Department of Labour (DoL) is monitoring whether or not the hotel entrepreneurs have given salary for the month of Chaitra (mid-March to mid-April) to their workers. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Department is carrying out monitoring in this regard after complaints that some hotel entrepreneurs have not given the remuneration for the month of Chaitra despite the government's directives calling on all industries and enterprises to compulsorily give the salary for the month of the specified month to their employees. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The entrepreneurs had agreed to pay the salary during discussions with the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security on Monday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">DoL said the Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) and the Joint Trade Union Coordination Committee will facilitate in the monitoring. Likewise, the Labour and Occupational Security Department, and the Labour and Employment Office would follow-up on this, Ministry's spokesperson Suman Ghimire said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Ministry has urged all the sides concerned to make arrangements for paying the salary of workers by utilising the economic facilities provided by the government. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-06', 'modified' => '2020-05-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11776', 'image' => '20200506090255_90511105700_Clipboard37 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-06 09:01:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12026', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB to Prepare Monetary Policy after Lockdown Ends', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 6: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has decided to prepare the monetary policy in around mid-July as it is currently busy studying the impact of coronavirus on the country’s economy. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 6: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has decided to prepare the monetary policy in around mid-July as it is currently busy studying the impact of coronavirus on the country’s economy. Officials at the central bank informed that they will be able to get a clear picture of the crisis only after the lockdown ends.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Deputy Governor Chintamani Shivkoti informed that the central bank’s board meeting will take further decision on Wednesday (May 6).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The initial relief package was aimed at providing support up to mid-March,” said Shivakoti, adding, “The second relief package was until mid-July.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The central bank is now waiting for the lockdown to end to ascertain the exact impact on different sectors in order to prepare the monetary policy.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A committee headed by the Executive Director of the Research Department of NRB, Dr Gunakar Bhatta, is currently collecting data to study the impact of coronavirus on tourism, hotel, aviation and industrial sectors to provide loan assistance.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The effects of coronavirus on different sectors will have an impact on the overall economy of the country,” said Bhatta.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The committee includes representatives from the BFI Regulation Department, Foreign Exchange Management Department, Payment Department and Supervision Department of NRB as well as chairman of Nepal Bankers Association Bhuvan Dahal as members.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-05-06', 'modified' => '2020-05-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11775', 'image' => '20200506100208_1588717198.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-05-06 10:01:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ) ) $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
