April 9: The government has decided to bring a special package to address the impacts of coronavirus on the country’s economy.…
April 9: The government has decided to bring a special package to address the impacts of coronavirus on the country’s economy.…
April 9: The entry of trucks and lorries carrying imported goods at the Birgunj Customs Point has reduced significantly due to the ongoing lockdown.…
April 9: Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the country's sole operational international airport, has suspended flights for around a month due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus pandemic.…
April 9: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has ordered the sale of full cylinders of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from coming…
April 9: The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has been working actively to make sure that there is smooth supply of essential goods including food items during the ongoing nationwide lockdown.…
April 8: Binod Chaudhary, who was constantly rising in the ranks of global billionaire since he first appeared in the Forbes billionaires list in 2013, has seen his fortune decreased by USD 300 million.…
April 8: The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries not to lift measures put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus too early, Aljazeera…
Startups in Nepal have come out as one of the most vulnerable business entities affected by the Covid 19…
April 8: The government of Nepal is preparing to employ 600,000 people immediately after the lockdown ends.…
April 8: Police have arrested Sulav Agarwal, managing director of Shanker Group, on the charge of black-marketing of thermal guns.…
April 8: The government has decided to extend the suspension of international flights to and from Tribhuvan International Airport till April…
April 8: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged one and all to stay safe wherever they are during the current crisis caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, expressing his hope that the crisis recovery was sure to come.…
April 7: The World Bank has approved a fast-track USD 29 million COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project to help Nepal prevent, detect, and respond to the COVID-19…
April 7: The government has initiated homework to seek financial support of Rs 41 billion from donor agencies to check the spread of coronavirus in the country.…
April 7: Kolkata and Haldiya ports of India have decided to waive the fines on containers and bulk cargoes as a relief to the business hit hard by the coronavirus…
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">April 9: The </span><span style="font-family:Arial">government has decided to bring a special package to address the impacts of coronavirus on the country’s economy. Preparations are underway to launch the package within two weeks, informed sources told New Business Age. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to officials at the Finance Ministry, the stimulus package will be holistic in nature and address the entire aspects of Nepal’s economy. Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada is evaluating the size of economic relief, said an official at the Ministry. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“The economic impacts of Covid-19 lockdown will be evaluated. Provided the lockdown is extended, we will also analyze the anticipated losses,” said the official, adding, “We will prepare a rough estimate within a week.” </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 formed a committee to study the economic impacts of coronavirus in Nepal under the leadership of Revenue Secretary Ram Sharan Pudasaini. The committee consists of officials of Nepal Rastra Bank as members. Similarly, a technical committee has been formed to evaluate the effects under the leadership of Pushpa Kandel, vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“The economic package will be prepared after consulting the reports of the committee,” said Moti Dugar, state minister for industry, commerce and supplies. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to him, the ministry is planning to request the Finance Ministry to cover issues including interests to be paid by businessmen, extending the payment of loan till six months, subsidy in customs duty for the exportable items, subsidized loan to the industries highly affected by coronavirus among others. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“We have asked the private sector to submit proposal regarding their losses and support needed for recovery. We will try our best to address their concern,” said Dugar. </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 President of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) Bhavani Rana, a committee under the leadership of Shekhar Golchha will prepare a report and submit it to the government. “The committee has already prepared the final draft. We will submit the report in two days,” said Rana. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">She said that the proposal demands that that interest for tourism industry be reduced by reduced by 50 percent. According to FNCCI many people have lost their jobs in the tourism sector and so the government must provide relief to the workers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“Now, we can see the effects only on tourism and industry. However, this will affect the overall economy. So, the proposal consists of concerns of all the industries,” said Rana. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to Dr Swarnim Wagle, former vice-chairman of the NPC, the government should bring an economic relief package of minimum Rs 150 billion. “The government should bring a relief package of Rs 100 billion in the initial stage. Later on, with further research, the government should add the relief,” said Wagle. According to him, the concerns of tourism sector, industries and labourers should be addressed first. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">“The workers working in affected sectors should be provided with welfare fund, special facilities from social security fund and their tax payment duration should be extended by at least six months,” said Wagle. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11654', 'image' => '20200409120151_1586383527.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 12:01:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11905', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lockdown Reduces Import Significantly', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: The entry of trucks and lorries carrying imported goods at the Birgunj Customs Point has reduced significantly due to the ongoing lockdown. ', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 9: The entry of trucks and lorries carrying imported goods at the Birgunj Customs Point has reduced significantly due to the ongoing lockdown. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Previously, Birgunj Customs Point used to record entry of around 700 trucks and lorries each day on an average but the number of such vehicles entering the country has now reduced to 50 per day.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Lockdown both in Nepal and India has affected the flow of goods. Due to the growing fear of coronavirus infection, customs staff are not able to work freely in both the countries. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Ramesh Sukmani, senior officer of Birgunj Customs Office, informed New Business Age that the border point in Birgunj used to record entry of 700 trucks regularly in normal days but the number now has reduced to 50 trucks only. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The importers are not able to clear their goods arriving from the customs point. Customs officials informed that the agents of the importers refuse to come to the customs office to clear their goods due to the fear of coronavirus. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">At present, more than 300 trucks with imported goods and 800 new vehicles have been stranded at Inaruwa and Integrated Check Post in Birgunj, Sukmani informed.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The import of medicines also has been reduced by 50 percent. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Importers are facing difficulties bringing in necessary items including medicines, foodstuff and petroleum despite the government’s commitment to ensure smooth supply of these items.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">A total of 429,940 kgs of medicines and raw materials for making medicines have been imported through the Birgunj border point in the last 15 days of the lockdown. Out of them, 182,000 kgs are readymade medicines. The import is half the amount of medicines imported in normal days, Sukamani added. </span></span></h1> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11653', 'image' => '20200409124938_1586383315.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 12:48:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11901', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'TIA Records 19 Int’l Chartered Flights during Lockdown ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the country's sole operational international airport, has suspended flights for around a month due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus pandemic. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 9: Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the country's sole operational international airport, has suspended flights for around a month due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus pandemic. However, the airport continues to see international flights during the nationwide lockdown against the disease for three weeks. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">As informed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), international aviation service providers made 19 flights from TIA till Wednesday since March 23, a day before the lockdown was imposed. They were chartered flights with some cargo flights. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">CAAN Spokesperson Raj Kumar Chhetri said over 3,000 foreigners returned home via those flights during lockdown. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Qatar Airways made the highest nine flights followed by four flights of Nepal Airlines Corporation -- the national flag carrier of Nepal -- and one flight each by Korean, Malaysian, Etihad, Czech Republican and Titan airways. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">They carried people from mainly European countries and from New Zealand, Malaysia, and the US back to their homes. The flights were managed by the embassies of the respective countries in Nepal while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had facilitated towards that end. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11652', 'image' => '20200409094101_20180727021334_2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 09:40:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11900', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Full Cylinders of Cooking Gas to be Available from Sunday ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has ordered the sale of full cylinders of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from coming Sunday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 9: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has ordered the sale of full cylinders of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from coming Sunday. A meeting of the Board of Directors of the NOC took a decision to this effect on Thursday (April 8). Once the half-filled cylinders get sold out, gas-bottling plants will be selling full cylinders weighing 14.2 kg each. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the national news agency RSS (Rastriya Samachar Samiti), NOC spokesperson Binitmani Upadhyay shared that the LPG companies will be allowed to fill LPG cylinders to the full from Thursday. The companies had urged the corporation to allow the sale and distribution of full cylinder citing decline in the sale volume of half-filled cylinder in the recent days. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">RSS reported that the NOC reviewed its earlier decision acting on the demand of companies as well as the lack of storage space and allowed for the sale of full cylinders. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Considering the likelihood of scarcity, the NOC had instructed the gas bottling companies to sell half-filled cylinder weighing 7.1 kg since March 29. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chairperson of Nepal LP Gas Industry Association Gokul Bhandari said gas bullets have been left unloaded as the cylinders of all the gas companies remain occupied. He said that 59 gas industries across the country have a total gas storage capacity of around 10,000 metric tons. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11651', 'image' => '20200409092009_gas_cilinder.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 09:18:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11902', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Industry Minister Inspects Food Stores', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has been working actively to make sure that there is smooth supply of essential goods including food items during the ongoing nationwide lockdown. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 9: The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has been working actively to make sure that there is smooth supply of essential goods including food items during the ongoing nationwide lockdown. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Lekhraj Bhatta and his team have been visiting several food stores in the Kathmandu Valley to inspect the stores and have been instructing the concerned persons to make sure the general public get food items without hindrance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Bhatta told the National News Agency (RSS) that the ministry had been taking stock of the storage and supplies of daily consumable goods including food items regularly. “We have made sure that no inconvenience be caused to the general public to avail the food items.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">At the special initiative of the ministry, the Nepal Oil Corporation has been importing LPG gas more than the regular demand. Anyone can get full cylinders of LGP gas from the National Salt Trading’s office at Teku. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Secretary at the Ministry, Dr Baikuntha Aryal, shared that his team comprising Minister Bhatta made an on-site visit to some food stores at Kalimati and Kuleshwar area on Wednesday (April 8). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Bhatta urged the store keepers for their facilitation to ensure smooth supply of food items to the general public. He also asked them to contact the ministry or directly to him in case of problems. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Store proprietor Devendra Bhakta Shrestha informed the visiting delegation that they had rice, lentils and flour which could cater to the need to the Kathmandu Valley folks for a month. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">He urged the minister for his positive intervention in arranging vehicles and labourers for the supply of food items from their store to other outlets. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11650', 'image' => '20200409095948_20200308093535_aaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 09:59:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11899', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Forbes World’s Billionaires List 2020 ', 'sub_title' => 'Chaudhary Drops 164 Spots, Bezos Retains No 1 Position', 'summary' => 'April 8: Binod Chaudhary, who was constantly rising in the ranks of global billionaire since he first appeared in the Forbes billionaires list in 2013, has seen his fortune decreased by USD 300 million. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">April 8: Binod Chaudhary, who was constantly rising in the ranks of global billionaire since he first appeared in the Forbes billionaires list in 2013, has seen his fortune decreased by USD 300 million. The first and the only dollar-billionaire of Nepal ranked1,513<sup>th</sup> in the Forbes World’s Billionaires List 2020, down 164 spots from 1,349<sup>th</sup> in 2019. As of April 8, 2020, his net worth stood at USD 1.4 billion which was USD 1.7 billion in 2019. The 64-year old corporate czar, who manages his business interests worldwide through CG Corp Global, has a diverse investment portfolio ranging from production of noodles and beer, manufacturing/trading of consumer electronics to hotels and banking sector. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Founder and CEO of the US e-commerce giant Amazon Jeff Bezos retained the no. 1 spot in the list with a net worth of USD 113 billion despite the divorce with his wife MacKenzie Bezos last year that cost him around USD 40 billion. It is for the third year in a row that the tech entrepreneur has hold the top spot in the rich list. According to Forbes, the 15 percent increase in the value of Amazon’s shares helped Bezos to partially offset the loss. In the meantime, Mackenzie debuted in the list at 22<sup>nd</sup> spot with a net worth of USD 36 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Similarly, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates also retained the second position in the list with net worth of USD 98 billion which was USD 96.5 billion in 2019. The French fashion and retail business mogul Bernard Arnault climbed one spot to rank 3<sup>rd</sup> with net worth of USD 76 billion which remained unchanged from 2019. The legendary American investor Warren Buffet slid one spot to land at 4<sup>th</sup> place with net worth of USD 67.5 billion which was USD 82.5 billion last year. Oracle Corporation co-founder Larry Elison jumped two places to rest at 5<sup>th</sup> spot with net worth of USD 59 billion despite a depletion of USD 3.5 billion in his fortune from USD 62.5 billion in 2019. Similarly, Spanish tycoon Amancio Ortega, who owns the luxury fashion brand Zara, remained unchanged at 6<sup>th</sup> position in the list with net worth of USD 55.1 billion which was USD 62.7 billion last year. Facebook co-founder also saw his fortune dwindled to USD 54.7 billion from USD 62.3 billion in 2019 despite climbing up one position to 7<sup>th</sup> spot in this year’s list. The heirs of the Walton family, which owns the world’s largest retail corporation Walmart, occupied the last three places of the top 10 list. Jim Walton made it to the 8<sup>th</sup> position with a net worth of USD 54.6 billion followed by his younger sister Alice Walton (USD 54.4 billion) and elder brother Rob Walton (USD 54.1 billion). Alice also became the world’s richest woman dethroning the French business magnet Françoise Bettencourt Meyers who is in the 15<sup>th</sup> spot in the list with net worth of USD 48.9 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Forbes in its 34<sup>th</sup> edition of billionaires list has highlighted the adverse impact of the coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic on the fortunes of the rich people of the world. According to Forbes, 51 percent of the 2,095 billionaires in the list, have their net worth declined in the past few months. The total net worth of the world’s billionaires amounted to USD 8 trillion, a decline of USD 700 billion from 2019, with 267 individuals, losing their billionaire status who were in the last year’s list. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11649', 'image' => '20200408110130_pic(3).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 23:00:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11896', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'WHO Warns Against Easing Coronavirus Measures 'Too Early'', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries not to lift measures put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus too early, Aljazeera reported.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">April 9: The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries not to lift measures put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus too early, Aljazeera reported.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to Reuters, the WHO has no blanket recommendation for countries and regions for easing measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">The news agency reported citing a WHO spokesperson on Tuesday that lifting the measures too early could have repercussions. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">“One of the most important parts is not to let go of the measures too early in order not to have a fall back again,” the news agencies quoted WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier as saying in a virtual briefing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">“It’s similar to being sick yourself if you get out of bed too early and get running too early you risk falling back and having complications.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">As of Thursday morning (April 9), the coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 1.5 million people globally and claimed over 88,000 lives. The deadly disease that is believed to have originated in China’s Wuhan in late December last year has spread to 209 countries and territories and two international conveyances, according to Worldometer. The website reported that around 300,000 people have recovered so far.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11648', 'image' => '20200408113946_unnamed.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 11:38:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11897', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Startups Urge Government for Support to Stay Afloat', 'sub_title' => 'While many are pausing their operation due to Covid 19 lockdown, their fixed cost including rent, payroll, tax and bank loan interests are issues to worry. ', 'summary' => 'Startups in Nepal have come out as one of the most vulnerable business entities affected by the Covid 19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px"><strong>By Nikeeta Gautam</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px"><strong>Kathmandu: </strong>Startups in Nepal have come out as one of the most vulnerable business entities affected by the Covid 19 pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Startup communities have been regularly engaged in informal conversations to discuss finding ways to save themselves from the ongoing crisis and what the government can do to mitigate the impacts.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">A group of experts, investors and entrepreneurs have come to a conclusion that startups are in dire need of short-term and long-term support from the government. According to them, the government can provide its support by contributing in paying office rents, inventory costs and payrolls to support the survival of startup companies to some extent. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Small businesses suffer quickly as they have little to no cash reserve and are unable to cope with the situation created by big disruptions in their cash flows. Also, startups keep reinvesting their profit, and a situation like a current one dries their income completely. “We don’t make profits immediately. Plus, we need to reinvest whatever is earned,” says Sixit Bhatta, co- founder Tootle, a ride-sharing company. Narottam Aryal, president, King’s College which runs business incubation centre says that main issues among startups now is the cashflow. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">“Now, when government is recognising the value of startups in the economy, supporting them in the time of crisis will be essential to keep them afloat,” says Prakash Tiwari, chief investment manager of Hathway Investment Nepal Limited. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">The economic crisis, which is unfolding due to the global health emergency, is holding back investors to invest in startup projects which they have pledged earlier. “Many companies might not get second round of funding which was earlier committed by the investors,” said Aryal. Experts say that arrangement short-term collateral free loans could help the startup to cope with the economic crisis afterwards. “The government should make an arrangement to enable startups to avail short-term collateral free loan,” said Tiwari. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Capital investment is another major element for the growth of startups. “Startups are like small children who are not being able to stand by themselves right now. While short term stimulus package will help them stand, creating conducive investment environment will help them grow,” expresses Bhatta. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Companies like Foodmandu have pivoted to keep working through innovation and change; the company which delivers food is now delivering groceries. Similarly, Health at Home has been providing consulting service through phone calls for the people who have doubts on Covid 19 infection. Likewise, the e-commerce platform Sastodeal started delivery of groceries and other daily essential items immediately after lockdown. Similarly, startups like NepXpress, a cargo and courier venture, has been providing technical support to departmental stores including Salesberry to delivery daily essential item to their customers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">The severe interruption in supply chain is a challenge for a logistics company like NepXpress. According to its co-founder Sangam Singh, NepXpress is only able to deliver medicines, which is just 2 percent of its service, due to permit related problems. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">On the other hand, some startups are skeptical about their smooth operation for a significant time even after the crisis created by the Covid 19 pandemic subsides. Tootle, which has provided indirect employment to more than 35,000 riders has paused it operation. “Even after the end of the lockdown, movement of people will not be normal because of safety concerns,” says Bhatta. In contrast, there are chances more people will have to depend on ride-sharing platforms for their livelihood. It is because most people will not be able to go to other countries to work, at least for a couple of months,” says Bhatta. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Rohit Tiwari, co-founder of Foodmario says that the service might not take off quickly after the lockdown is lifted. “I think there will be other local problems such as shortage of cooking gas and necessary items to affect our operation,” he predicts. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11647', 'image' => '20200408080149_pic(2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 20:00:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11898', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Preparing to Employ 600,000 Individuals after Lockdown', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: The government of Nepal is preparing to employ 600,000 people immediately after the lockdown ends. ', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 8: The government of Nepal is preparing to employ 600,000 people immediately after the lockdown ends. Those getting employment opportunities include various unemployed individuals as well as migrant workers unable to go abroad for work due to the lockdown. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security, it is preparing to employ the individuals by listing them under the Prime Minister's Employment Program.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The enrolled individuals will be employed for 100 days.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Suman Ghimire, undersecretary at the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security informed that the ministry will include individuals in the programme who are unable to go abroad for work despite receiving the approval. Also, migrant workers coming home in vacation and unemployed individuals will also be listed under the Prime Minister’s Employment Programme. </span></span></h1> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Ghimire further said that the individuals who were not able to go abroad for work will be provided with employment opportunity only by evaluating their economic condition. The local levels will be responsible for such making such evaluation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to Prime Minister’s Employment Programme Office, so far 1.3 million individuals have been listed in the programme. Among them, the government is planning to employee 500,000 individuals this year alone. The government will also include 100,000 individuals unable to go abroad for work and migrant workers returning home in vacation in the programme this year.</span></span></span></p> <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' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11646', 'image' => '20200408081151_axresdefault.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 20:11:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11895', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'MD of Shanker Group Arrested on Charge of Black-marketing', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: Police have arrested Sulav Agarwal, managing director of Shanker Group, on the charge of black-marketing of thermal guns. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">April 8: Police have arrested Sulav Agarwal, managing director of Shanker Group, on the charge of black-marketing of thermal guns. A special team from the Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD) of Nepal Police arrested Agarwal from Baluwatar on Tuesday (April 7). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">According to the police, Agarwal was found selling thermal guns at a price five times higher than the market price. A thermal gun which normally costs around Rs 3500 each was sold for Rs 15,000 by Agrawal, according to police. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Police added that Agarwal has imported 20,000 units of thermal guns from China. However, police seized only 67 thermal guns from him while they are seeking for the remaining cache. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">The demand for thermal guns has increased due to the spread of Covid 19. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Police said that Agarwal imported the guns on Saturday in a chartered plane. According to police, Agrawal was on a car with diplomatic number plate (209 HCC 1) when he was arrested. Agarwal is the honorary consul of Krygyzstan to Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Police said further investigations are underway. The special squad of police was sent to buy thermal guns from Agarwal after they got information about blackmarketing. The undercover team reached a deal with Agarwal to buy a bulk of thermal guns at the rate of Rs 15,000 each. It has been reported that Agarwal was selling the gun for as much as Rs 20,000 per piece. Police arrested Agarwal when both parties met at the rendezvous as per the deal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">However, Agarwal has refuted the allegaions, says Senior Superintendent of Police at the MPCD Sahakul Thapa.<br /> “We have been obtained information that he purchased the thermal guns from China. However, he says that he bought the thermal guns from the local market,” said SSP Thapa</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Agarwal has been kept in custody at the Teku-based office of MPCD. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11645', 'image' => '20200408111456_1586272608.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 11:13:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11893', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'All International Flights Suspended till April 30', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: The government has decided to extend the suspension of international flights to and from Tribhuvan International Airport till April 30.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">April 8: The government has decided to extend the suspension of international flights to and from Tribhuvan International Airport till April 30.<strong> </strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government had earlier announced suspension of all flights – international and domestic – till April 15 considering the threat of posed by the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government took such decision on Tuesday (April 7) upon the recommendation of the high-level committee to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country, informed government spokesperson Yuba Raj Khatiwada.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Khatiwada said after a meeting of the high-level committee that the flight suspension has been extended as the risks of imported cases of coronavirus have not subsided yet. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">He further said that the committee is yet to take any decision on whether to continue suspension of domestic flights or not. According to Khatiwada, a decision regarding domestic flights will be taken within a few days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The meeting also decided to conduct rapid diagnostic tests in the districts identified as highly vulnerable to the disease, especially the ones where new cases were detected on Saturday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Khatiwada, who holds the portfolio of finance and communication minister, said that the government has so far distributed relief to 114,316 families. He added that altogether 30,506 people are currently kept in quarantine facilities across the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Likewise, he said that police have taken action against around 2600 people for defying the lockdown order. All of them have been released after proper counseling, said the minister. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, 2235 vehicles have been impounded for operating without pass or for other purposes emergency. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">“Those vehicles which were misusing their passes or operating for other purpose than the intended ones were also punished,” said Khatiwada in a video post shared on Facebook. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">He said that around 1949 ambulances have been kept on standby in case of emergency.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial"> Likewise, the National Planning Commission is studying the impact of coronavirus on the country’s economy, according to the minister. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11644', 'image' => '20200408101555_Himalaya Airlines.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 10:15:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11894', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Stay Safe Wherever You Are: PM Oli ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged one and all to stay safe wherever they are during the current crisis caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, expressing his hope that the crisis recovery was sure to come. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 8: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged one and all to stay safe wherever they are during the current crisis caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, expressing his hope that the crisis recovery was sure to come. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In his address to the nation on Tuesday, the Prime Minister said the country had waged a war against COVID-19 and the higher risks of the contagion were still pervading through the number of confirmed cases has been limited to just nine since the detection of the first case. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">''It is obvious that we are finding so hard to fight against the pandemic when the developed, resource-rich and wealthy nations with robust health care systems are facing the same," he said adding the biggest challenge of the hour was to ensure the supplies of medical equipment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">''No matter is important than saving the lives of citizens. The regular procedures meant for normal times are not sufficient to tackle the prevailing abnormal situation. Bearing this in mind, special provisions have been made for the smooth supply of medical equipment," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">He went on to say that the protection of the entire human beings and human civilization was the foremost priority of the world and the fight against COVID-19 is our collective battle. "It should be therefore realized that every member in the society was a combatant in this battle to defeat the virus." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Saying that COVID-19 has entered into the second state in the country, the PM urged one and all to remain more aware and cautious. Asking all foreign returnees to stay under quarantines, PM Oli said that worrying situation has been created as some of them have paid no heed to the request and arrangements for staying in quarantine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In the context of curbing corruption, the PM reaffirmed the government’s commitment and added that misinformation could not weaken the government’s firm commitment. The incumbent government will not hesitate to take actions if any cases of irregularities and corruption come up. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“My sufficient attention has been drawn to the media reports and criticisms, comments and recommendations coming in the social networking sites. The publicity materials portray the government failure instead of getting united at a time of national and global crisis which is tantamount to unseasoned celebration and such trends can never be entertained,” the PM said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, PM Oli said that robust national unity between the government and people, political parties, state and all apparatus of the societies was the precondition to get victory over the pandemic. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The PM said that he has taken a common resolution motion of the parliament, all-party consensus and statements of commitment from different political parties including that of main opposition as the national strength. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">PM Oli has also expressed his assurance for the continued cooperation and unity from all in the days to come. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11643', 'image' => '20200408103322_1586298786.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 10:32:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11892', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Signs Financing Agreement with World Bank for COVID-19 Response', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: The World Bank has approved a fast-track USD 29 million COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project to help Nepal prevent, detect, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">April 7: The World Bank has approved a fast-track USD 29 million COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project to help Nepal prevent, detect, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen its public health preparedness. The agreement to this effect was signed on Tuesday (April 7) by Finance Secretary Sishir Kumar Dhungana and Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank’s country manager for Nepal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">A joint press statement issued after the signing of the financing agreement reads that the project is financed from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s concessional credit window for developing countries, through the World Bank Group’s COVID-19 Fast-Track Facility and will be effective immediately after the signing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">“The project provides emergency support to enhance Nepal’s capacity to detect cases and ensure prompt contact tracing consistent with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and Ministry of Health and Population protocols. It will also help set up new intensive care units, beds, and isolation facilities across the country,” says the statement. The project will be implemented by Ministry of Health and Population.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">“We are thankful to the World Bank for the response in a record short period of time, which will help Nepal respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen our capacities to deal with future public health risks,” the statement quoted Finance Secretary Dhungana as saying. He added, “Immediately after the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, the Government of Nepal has made several arrangements to prevent and address the possible crisis. Due to these measures, the socio-economic activities are going to be affected. Further support is being anticipated from the World Bank to cope with the emerging pandemic situation.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">According to the statement, the project will also equip designated health facilities with personal protective equipment and hygienic materials and increase the diagnostic capacity of laboratories for responding to public health emergencies. It will enhance the National Public Health Laboratory to handle harmful infectious diseases and strengthen public institutions to coordinate and better manage response activities in all three levels of government.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">“Given the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government’s rapid response will help save lives across Nepal,” the statement quoted Hadad-Zervos of the World Bank, as saying. “The World Bank and its development partners are committed to helping Nepal beef up its health infrastructure and access the resources it needs to fight the spread of COVID-19 and protect the livelihoods of its people,” he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11642', 'image' => '20200407052329_image001.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 17:22:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11891', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Initiates Homework to Seek Rs 41 Billion from Donor Agencies', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: The government has initiated homework to seek financial support of Rs 41 billion from donor agencies to check the spread of coronavirus in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 7: The government has initiated homework to seek financial support of Rs 41 billion from donor agencies to check the spread of coronavirus in the country. The Ministry of Finance has started discussions with development partners like the World Bank (WB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the support.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government intends to seek the maximum support of Rs 24.22 billion from the World Bank followed by IMF (Rs 13.9 billion) and ADB (Rs 7.26 billion).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A highly-placed source at the finance ministry informed New Business Age that the government has so far initiated the process to avail financial support of Rs 41 billion. He further said that the donor agencies are positive to the government’s demand.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government is all set to sign a deal for concessional loan of Rs 3.43 billion with the World Bank on Tuesday (today). This amount is being taken under the World Bank’s assistance during emergency and pandemic. The bank has already provided loan of Rs 6 billion under the natural disaster and health crisis mitigation head. The government will be utilizing this fund to upgrade its capacity to fight against the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The source further said that the government is in talks with the ADB to avail Rs 7.26 billion at the moment. The government is also discussing mobilizing the fund allocated by the ADB for other projects in the current fiscal year in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The ADB had recently projected the economic growth of Nepal to slump as a result of lockdown, which has brought production and economic activities to a halt and also adversely affected the inflow of remittance.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">The ADB in its recent report had said that growth will also be slower as a result of lower rice production, as well as lack of optimal production by cement, iron and brick industries among others.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Meanwhile, the government is preparing to take loan of Rs 13.9 billion from the IMF under its rapid credit facility at this hour of crisis.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">The government is preparing to make the funds available within the next two months to tackle the rising threat of coronavirus in the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">A meeting of the Council of Ministers on last Sunday (April 29) had decided to expedite talks with donor agencies to seek funds to prevent the spread of coronavirus and to tackle the problems created by the pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">However, the government is yet to assess the impacts of coronavirus on the overall economy. Under secretary at the ministry Uttar Kumar Khatri informed New Business Age that the government is still studying the impacts.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11641', 'image' => '20200407120037_world-bank-1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 11:59:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11890', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Kolkata and Haldiya ports Waive Fines on Containers Stuck due to Lockdown ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: Kolkata and Haldiya ports of India have decided to waive the fines on containers and bulk cargoes as a relief to the business hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">April 7: </span><span style="font-family:Calibri">Kolkata and Haldiya ports of India have decided to waive the fines on containers and bulk cargoes as a relief to the business hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Kolkata Port, which is the preferred destination of Nepali businessmen for third-country trade, issued a notice stating that the facility will be provided to containers unloaded between March 22 to April 14. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">“We have given this facility because of the difficulty created by Covid 19. This facility will be applied in Haldiya port as well,” said Binit Kumar, chairman of the Kolkata Port Trust. Haldiya Port is also operated by Kolkata Port Trust. Kumar said that 50 percent relief has been provided in terminal operation fee. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri"> During the normal times, the charge per containers is Rs 1,000 to 1,500. Almost 60 percent of Nepal-bound containers through India come from Kolkata. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Indian Railways has also deducted fines for demurrage and wharfage. Indian Railways Ministry has already sent notice to all the regional offices regarding the relief. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><strong><span style="font-family:Calibri">Fear created due to corona infection case in Haldiya</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">The staff in Haldiya Port are gripped by fear of corona infection among one of their colleagues. The staff tested positive on Saturday. Due to this, all other workers are kept in quarantine said the port management. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to Binit Kumar, the port is regularly spreading insecticides and sanitizers to maintain safety. He said that the port has facility of doctors for 24 hours a day. Amidst the fear, the importers have not been able to go to the port. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri"><strong>Stockpile of container at Birgunj Dry Port</strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Almost all the containers coming from India and third countries are stuck at the customs office of Birgunj Dry Port due to lockdown. According to Animesh Kumar, senior officer of Himalayan Terminal that looks after the port administration, only 13 containers departed from the Birgunj Dry Port to their respective destinations. The dry port with capacity of 1542 containers now has to stockpile 2,645 containers. According to the dry port, 26 cargo trains carrying 2340 containers are due to arrive at the port. The Birgunj Dry Port is concerned about the management of the containers. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11640', 'image' => '20200407112945_1586230909.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 11:28:36', '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:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">April 9: The </span><span style="font-family:Arial">government has decided to bring a special package to address the impacts of coronavirus on the country’s economy. Preparations are underway to launch the package within two weeks, informed sources told New Business Age. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to officials at the Finance Ministry, the stimulus package will be holistic in nature and address the entire aspects of Nepal’s economy. Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada is evaluating the size of economic relief, said an official at the Ministry. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“The economic impacts of Covid-19 lockdown will be evaluated. Provided the lockdown is extended, we will also analyze the anticipated losses,” said the official, adding, “We will prepare a rough estimate within a week.” </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 formed a committee to study the economic impacts of coronavirus in Nepal under the leadership of Revenue Secretary Ram Sharan Pudasaini. The committee consists of officials of Nepal Rastra Bank as members. Similarly, a technical committee has been formed to evaluate the effects under the leadership of Pushpa Kandel, vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“The economic package will be prepared after consulting the reports of the committee,” said Moti Dugar, state minister for industry, commerce and supplies. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to him, the ministry is planning to request the Finance Ministry to cover issues including interests to be paid by businessmen, extending the payment of loan till six months, subsidy in customs duty for the exportable items, subsidized loan to the industries highly affected by coronavirus among others. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“We have asked the private sector to submit proposal regarding their losses and support needed for recovery. We will try our best to address their concern,” said Dugar. </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 President of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) Bhavani Rana, a committee under the leadership of Shekhar Golchha will prepare a report and submit it to the government. “The committee has already prepared the final draft. We will submit the report in two days,” said Rana. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">She said that the proposal demands that that interest for tourism industry be reduced by reduced by 50 percent. According to FNCCI many people have lost their jobs in the tourism sector and so the government must provide relief to the workers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“Now, we can see the effects only on tourism and industry. However, this will affect the overall economy. So, the proposal consists of concerns of all the industries,” said Rana. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to Dr Swarnim Wagle, former vice-chairman of the NPC, the government should bring an economic relief package of minimum Rs 150 billion. “The government should bring a relief package of Rs 100 billion in the initial stage. Later on, with further research, the government should add the relief,” said Wagle. According to him, the concerns of tourism sector, industries and labourers should be addressed first. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">“The workers working in affected sectors should be provided with welfare fund, special facilities from social security fund and their tax payment duration should be extended by at least six months,” said Wagle. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11654', 'image' => '20200409120151_1586383527.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 12:01:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11905', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lockdown Reduces Import Significantly', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: The entry of trucks and lorries carrying imported goods at the Birgunj Customs Point has reduced significantly due to the ongoing lockdown. ', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 9: The entry of trucks and lorries carrying imported goods at the Birgunj Customs Point has reduced significantly due to the ongoing lockdown. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Previously, Birgunj Customs Point used to record entry of around 700 trucks and lorries each day on an average but the number of such vehicles entering the country has now reduced to 50 per day.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Lockdown both in Nepal and India has affected the flow of goods. Due to the growing fear of coronavirus infection, customs staff are not able to work freely in both the countries. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Ramesh Sukmani, senior officer of Birgunj Customs Office, informed New Business Age that the border point in Birgunj used to record entry of 700 trucks regularly in normal days but the number now has reduced to 50 trucks only. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The importers are not able to clear their goods arriving from the customs point. Customs officials informed that the agents of the importers refuse to come to the customs office to clear their goods due to the fear of coronavirus. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">At present, more than 300 trucks with imported goods and 800 new vehicles have been stranded at Inaruwa and Integrated Check Post in Birgunj, Sukmani informed.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The import of medicines also has been reduced by 50 percent. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Importers are facing difficulties bringing in necessary items including medicines, foodstuff and petroleum despite the government’s commitment to ensure smooth supply of these items.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">A total of 429,940 kgs of medicines and raw materials for making medicines have been imported through the Birgunj border point in the last 15 days of the lockdown. Out of them, 182,000 kgs are readymade medicines. The import is half the amount of medicines imported in normal days, Sukamani added. </span></span></h1> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11653', 'image' => '20200409124938_1586383315.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 12:48:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11901', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'TIA Records 19 Int’l Chartered Flights during Lockdown ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the country's sole operational international airport, has suspended flights for around a month due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus pandemic. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 9: Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the country's sole operational international airport, has suspended flights for around a month due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus pandemic. However, the airport continues to see international flights during the nationwide lockdown against the disease for three weeks. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">As informed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), international aviation service providers made 19 flights from TIA till Wednesday since March 23, a day before the lockdown was imposed. They were chartered flights with some cargo flights. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">CAAN Spokesperson Raj Kumar Chhetri said over 3,000 foreigners returned home via those flights during lockdown. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Qatar Airways made the highest nine flights followed by four flights of Nepal Airlines Corporation -- the national flag carrier of Nepal -- and one flight each by Korean, Malaysian, Etihad, Czech Republican and Titan airways. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">They carried people from mainly European countries and from New Zealand, Malaysia, and the US back to their homes. The flights were managed by the embassies of the respective countries in Nepal while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had facilitated towards that end. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11652', 'image' => '20200409094101_20180727021334_2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 09:40:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11900', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Full Cylinders of Cooking Gas to be Available from Sunday ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has ordered the sale of full cylinders of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from coming Sunday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 9: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has ordered the sale of full cylinders of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from coming Sunday. A meeting of the Board of Directors of the NOC took a decision to this effect on Thursday (April 8). Once the half-filled cylinders get sold out, gas-bottling plants will be selling full cylinders weighing 14.2 kg each. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the national news agency RSS (Rastriya Samachar Samiti), NOC spokesperson Binitmani Upadhyay shared that the LPG companies will be allowed to fill LPG cylinders to the full from Thursday. The companies had urged the corporation to allow the sale and distribution of full cylinder citing decline in the sale volume of half-filled cylinder in the recent days. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">RSS reported that the NOC reviewed its earlier decision acting on the demand of companies as well as the lack of storage space and allowed for the sale of full cylinders. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Considering the likelihood of scarcity, the NOC had instructed the gas bottling companies to sell half-filled cylinder weighing 7.1 kg since March 29. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chairperson of Nepal LP Gas Industry Association Gokul Bhandari said gas bullets have been left unloaded as the cylinders of all the gas companies remain occupied. He said that 59 gas industries across the country have a total gas storage capacity of around 10,000 metric tons. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11651', 'image' => '20200409092009_gas_cilinder.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 09:18:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11902', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Industry Minister Inspects Food Stores', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has been working actively to make sure that there is smooth supply of essential goods including food items during the ongoing nationwide lockdown. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 9: The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has been working actively to make sure that there is smooth supply of essential goods including food items during the ongoing nationwide lockdown. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Lekhraj Bhatta and his team have been visiting several food stores in the Kathmandu Valley to inspect the stores and have been instructing the concerned persons to make sure the general public get food items without hindrance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Bhatta told the National News Agency (RSS) that the ministry had been taking stock of the storage and supplies of daily consumable goods including food items regularly. “We have made sure that no inconvenience be caused to the general public to avail the food items.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">At the special initiative of the ministry, the Nepal Oil Corporation has been importing LPG gas more than the regular demand. Anyone can get full cylinders of LGP gas from the National Salt Trading’s office at Teku. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Secretary at the Ministry, Dr Baikuntha Aryal, shared that his team comprising Minister Bhatta made an on-site visit to some food stores at Kalimati and Kuleshwar area on Wednesday (April 8). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Bhatta urged the store keepers for their facilitation to ensure smooth supply of food items to the general public. He also asked them to contact the ministry or directly to him in case of problems. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Store proprietor Devendra Bhakta Shrestha informed the visiting delegation that they had rice, lentils and flour which could cater to the need to the Kathmandu Valley folks for a month. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">He urged the minister for his positive intervention in arranging vehicles and labourers for the supply of food items from their store to other outlets. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11650', 'image' => '20200409095948_20200308093535_aaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 09:59:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11899', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Forbes World’s Billionaires List 2020 ', 'sub_title' => 'Chaudhary Drops 164 Spots, Bezos Retains No 1 Position', 'summary' => 'April 8: Binod Chaudhary, who was constantly rising in the ranks of global billionaire since he first appeared in the Forbes billionaires list in 2013, has seen his fortune decreased by USD 300 million. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">April 8: Binod Chaudhary, who was constantly rising in the ranks of global billionaire since he first appeared in the Forbes billionaires list in 2013, has seen his fortune decreased by USD 300 million. The first and the only dollar-billionaire of Nepal ranked1,513<sup>th</sup> in the Forbes World’s Billionaires List 2020, down 164 spots from 1,349<sup>th</sup> in 2019. As of April 8, 2020, his net worth stood at USD 1.4 billion which was USD 1.7 billion in 2019. The 64-year old corporate czar, who manages his business interests worldwide through CG Corp Global, has a diverse investment portfolio ranging from production of noodles and beer, manufacturing/trading of consumer electronics to hotels and banking sector. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Founder and CEO of the US e-commerce giant Amazon Jeff Bezos retained the no. 1 spot in the list with a net worth of USD 113 billion despite the divorce with his wife MacKenzie Bezos last year that cost him around USD 40 billion. It is for the third year in a row that the tech entrepreneur has hold the top spot in the rich list. According to Forbes, the 15 percent increase in the value of Amazon’s shares helped Bezos to partially offset the loss. In the meantime, Mackenzie debuted in the list at 22<sup>nd</sup> spot with a net worth of USD 36 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Similarly, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates also retained the second position in the list with net worth of USD 98 billion which was USD 96.5 billion in 2019. The French fashion and retail business mogul Bernard Arnault climbed one spot to rank 3<sup>rd</sup> with net worth of USD 76 billion which remained unchanged from 2019. The legendary American investor Warren Buffet slid one spot to land at 4<sup>th</sup> place with net worth of USD 67.5 billion which was USD 82.5 billion last year. Oracle Corporation co-founder Larry Elison jumped two places to rest at 5<sup>th</sup> spot with net worth of USD 59 billion despite a depletion of USD 3.5 billion in his fortune from USD 62.5 billion in 2019. Similarly, Spanish tycoon Amancio Ortega, who owns the luxury fashion brand Zara, remained unchanged at 6<sup>th</sup> position in the list with net worth of USD 55.1 billion which was USD 62.7 billion last year. Facebook co-founder also saw his fortune dwindled to USD 54.7 billion from USD 62.3 billion in 2019 despite climbing up one position to 7<sup>th</sup> spot in this year’s list. The heirs of the Walton family, which owns the world’s largest retail corporation Walmart, occupied the last three places of the top 10 list. Jim Walton made it to the 8<sup>th</sup> position with a net worth of USD 54.6 billion followed by his younger sister Alice Walton (USD 54.4 billion) and elder brother Rob Walton (USD 54.1 billion). Alice also became the world’s richest woman dethroning the French business magnet Françoise Bettencourt Meyers who is in the 15<sup>th</sup> spot in the list with net worth of USD 48.9 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Forbes in its 34<sup>th</sup> edition of billionaires list has highlighted the adverse impact of the coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic on the fortunes of the rich people of the world. According to Forbes, 51 percent of the 2,095 billionaires in the list, have their net worth declined in the past few months. The total net worth of the world’s billionaires amounted to USD 8 trillion, a decline of USD 700 billion from 2019, with 267 individuals, losing their billionaire status who were in the last year’s list. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11649', 'image' => '20200408110130_pic(3).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 23:00:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11896', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'WHO Warns Against Easing Coronavirus Measures 'Too Early'', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries not to lift measures put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus too early, Aljazeera reported.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">April 9: The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries not to lift measures put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus too early, Aljazeera reported.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to Reuters, the WHO has no blanket recommendation for countries and regions for easing measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">The news agency reported citing a WHO spokesperson on Tuesday that lifting the measures too early could have repercussions. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">“One of the most important parts is not to let go of the measures too early in order not to have a fall back again,” the news agencies quoted WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier as saying in a virtual briefing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">“It’s similar to being sick yourself if you get out of bed too early and get running too early you risk falling back and having complications.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">As of Thursday morning (April 9), the coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 1.5 million people globally and claimed over 88,000 lives. The deadly disease that is believed to have originated in China’s Wuhan in late December last year has spread to 209 countries and territories and two international conveyances, according to Worldometer. The website reported that around 300,000 people have recovered so far.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11648', 'image' => '20200408113946_unnamed.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 11:38:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11897', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Startups Urge Government for Support to Stay Afloat', 'sub_title' => 'While many are pausing their operation due to Covid 19 lockdown, their fixed cost including rent, payroll, tax and bank loan interests are issues to worry. ', 'summary' => 'Startups in Nepal have come out as one of the most vulnerable business entities affected by the Covid 19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px"><strong>By Nikeeta Gautam</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px"><strong>Kathmandu: </strong>Startups in Nepal have come out as one of the most vulnerable business entities affected by the Covid 19 pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Startup communities have been regularly engaged in informal conversations to discuss finding ways to save themselves from the ongoing crisis and what the government can do to mitigate the impacts.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">A group of experts, investors and entrepreneurs have come to a conclusion that startups are in dire need of short-term and long-term support from the government. According to them, the government can provide its support by contributing in paying office rents, inventory costs and payrolls to support the survival of startup companies to some extent. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Small businesses suffer quickly as they have little to no cash reserve and are unable to cope with the situation created by big disruptions in their cash flows. Also, startups keep reinvesting their profit, and a situation like a current one dries their income completely. “We don’t make profits immediately. Plus, we need to reinvest whatever is earned,” says Sixit Bhatta, co- founder Tootle, a ride-sharing company. Narottam Aryal, president, King’s College which runs business incubation centre says that main issues among startups now is the cashflow. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">“Now, when government is recognising the value of startups in the economy, supporting them in the time of crisis will be essential to keep them afloat,” says Prakash Tiwari, chief investment manager of Hathway Investment Nepal Limited. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">The economic crisis, which is unfolding due to the global health emergency, is holding back investors to invest in startup projects which they have pledged earlier. “Many companies might not get second round of funding which was earlier committed by the investors,” said Aryal. Experts say that arrangement short-term collateral free loans could help the startup to cope with the economic crisis afterwards. “The government should make an arrangement to enable startups to avail short-term collateral free loan,” said Tiwari. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Capital investment is another major element for the growth of startups. “Startups are like small children who are not being able to stand by themselves right now. While short term stimulus package will help them stand, creating conducive investment environment will help them grow,” expresses Bhatta. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Companies like Foodmandu have pivoted to keep working through innovation and change; the company which delivers food is now delivering groceries. Similarly, Health at Home has been providing consulting service through phone calls for the people who have doubts on Covid 19 infection. Likewise, the e-commerce platform Sastodeal started delivery of groceries and other daily essential items immediately after lockdown. Similarly, startups like NepXpress, a cargo and courier venture, has been providing technical support to departmental stores including Salesberry to delivery daily essential item to their customers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">The severe interruption in supply chain is a challenge for a logistics company like NepXpress. According to its co-founder Sangam Singh, NepXpress is only able to deliver medicines, which is just 2 percent of its service, due to permit related problems. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">On the other hand, some startups are skeptical about their smooth operation for a significant time even after the crisis created by the Covid 19 pandemic subsides. Tootle, which has provided indirect employment to more than 35,000 riders has paused it operation. “Even after the end of the lockdown, movement of people will not be normal because of safety concerns,” says Bhatta. In contrast, there are chances more people will have to depend on ride-sharing platforms for their livelihood. It is because most people will not be able to go to other countries to work, at least for a couple of months,” says Bhatta. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Rohit Tiwari, co-founder of Foodmario says that the service might not take off quickly after the lockdown is lifted. “I think there will be other local problems such as shortage of cooking gas and necessary items to affect our operation,” he predicts. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11647', 'image' => '20200408080149_pic(2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 20:00:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11898', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Preparing to Employ 600,000 Individuals after Lockdown', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: The government of Nepal is preparing to employ 600,000 people immediately after the lockdown ends. ', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 8: The government of Nepal is preparing to employ 600,000 people immediately after the lockdown ends. Those getting employment opportunities include various unemployed individuals as well as migrant workers unable to go abroad for work due to the lockdown. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security, it is preparing to employ the individuals by listing them under the Prime Minister's Employment Program.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The enrolled individuals will be employed for 100 days.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Suman Ghimire, undersecretary at the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security informed that the ministry will include individuals in the programme who are unable to go abroad for work despite receiving the approval. Also, migrant workers coming home in vacation and unemployed individuals will also be listed under the Prime Minister’s Employment Programme. </span></span></h1> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Ghimire further said that the individuals who were not able to go abroad for work will be provided with employment opportunity only by evaluating their economic condition. The local levels will be responsible for such making such evaluation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to Prime Minister’s Employment Programme Office, so far 1.3 million individuals have been listed in the programme. Among them, the government is planning to employee 500,000 individuals this year alone. The government will also include 100,000 individuals unable to go abroad for work and migrant workers returning home in vacation in the programme this year.</span></span></span></p> <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' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11646', 'image' => '20200408081151_axresdefault.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 20:11:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11895', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'MD of Shanker Group Arrested on Charge of Black-marketing', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: Police have arrested Sulav Agarwal, managing director of Shanker Group, on the charge of black-marketing of thermal guns. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">April 8: Police have arrested Sulav Agarwal, managing director of Shanker Group, on the charge of black-marketing of thermal guns. A special team from the Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD) of Nepal Police arrested Agarwal from Baluwatar on Tuesday (April 7). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">According to the police, Agarwal was found selling thermal guns at a price five times higher than the market price. A thermal gun which normally costs around Rs 3500 each was sold for Rs 15,000 by Agrawal, according to police. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Police added that Agarwal has imported 20,000 units of thermal guns from China. However, police seized only 67 thermal guns from him while they are seeking for the remaining cache. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">The demand for thermal guns has increased due to the spread of Covid 19. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Police said that Agarwal imported the guns on Saturday in a chartered plane. According to police, Agrawal was on a car with diplomatic number plate (209 HCC 1) when he was arrested. Agarwal is the honorary consul of Krygyzstan to Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Police said further investigations are underway. The special squad of police was sent to buy thermal guns from Agarwal after they got information about blackmarketing. The undercover team reached a deal with Agarwal to buy a bulk of thermal guns at the rate of Rs 15,000 each. It has been reported that Agarwal was selling the gun for as much as Rs 20,000 per piece. Police arrested Agarwal when both parties met at the rendezvous as per the deal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">However, Agarwal has refuted the allegaions, says Senior Superintendent of Police at the MPCD Sahakul Thapa.<br /> “We have been obtained information that he purchased the thermal guns from China. However, he says that he bought the thermal guns from the local market,” said SSP Thapa</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Agarwal has been kept in custody at the Teku-based office of MPCD. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11645', 'image' => '20200408111456_1586272608.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 11:13:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11893', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'All International Flights Suspended till April 30', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: The government has decided to extend the suspension of international flights to and from Tribhuvan International Airport till April 30.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">April 8: The government has decided to extend the suspension of international flights to and from Tribhuvan International Airport till April 30.<strong> </strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government had earlier announced suspension of all flights – international and domestic – till April 15 considering the threat of posed by the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government took such decision on Tuesday (April 7) upon the recommendation of the high-level committee to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country, informed government spokesperson Yuba Raj Khatiwada.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Khatiwada said after a meeting of the high-level committee that the flight suspension has been extended as the risks of imported cases of coronavirus have not subsided yet. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">He further said that the committee is yet to take any decision on whether to continue suspension of domestic flights or not. According to Khatiwada, a decision regarding domestic flights will be taken within a few days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The meeting also decided to conduct rapid diagnostic tests in the districts identified as highly vulnerable to the disease, especially the ones where new cases were detected on Saturday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Khatiwada, who holds the portfolio of finance and communication minister, said that the government has so far distributed relief to 114,316 families. He added that altogether 30,506 people are currently kept in quarantine facilities across the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Likewise, he said that police have taken action against around 2600 people for defying the lockdown order. All of them have been released after proper counseling, said the minister. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, 2235 vehicles have been impounded for operating without pass or for other purposes emergency. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">“Those vehicles which were misusing their passes or operating for other purpose than the intended ones were also punished,” said Khatiwada in a video post shared on Facebook. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">He said that around 1949 ambulances have been kept on standby in case of emergency.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial"> Likewise, the National Planning Commission is studying the impact of coronavirus on the country’s economy, according to the minister. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11644', 'image' => '20200408101555_Himalaya Airlines.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 10:15:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11894', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Stay Safe Wherever You Are: PM Oli ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged one and all to stay safe wherever they are during the current crisis caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, expressing his hope that the crisis recovery was sure to come. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 8: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged one and all to stay safe wherever they are during the current crisis caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, expressing his hope that the crisis recovery was sure to come. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In his address to the nation on Tuesday, the Prime Minister said the country had waged a war against COVID-19 and the higher risks of the contagion were still pervading through the number of confirmed cases has been limited to just nine since the detection of the first case. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">''It is obvious that we are finding so hard to fight against the pandemic when the developed, resource-rich and wealthy nations with robust health care systems are facing the same," he said adding the biggest challenge of the hour was to ensure the supplies of medical equipment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">''No matter is important than saving the lives of citizens. The regular procedures meant for normal times are not sufficient to tackle the prevailing abnormal situation. Bearing this in mind, special provisions have been made for the smooth supply of medical equipment," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">He went on to say that the protection of the entire human beings and human civilization was the foremost priority of the world and the fight against COVID-19 is our collective battle. "It should be therefore realized that every member in the society was a combatant in this battle to defeat the virus." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Saying that COVID-19 has entered into the second state in the country, the PM urged one and all to remain more aware and cautious. Asking all foreign returnees to stay under quarantines, PM Oli said that worrying situation has been created as some of them have paid no heed to the request and arrangements for staying in quarantine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In the context of curbing corruption, the PM reaffirmed the government’s commitment and added that misinformation could not weaken the government’s firm commitment. The incumbent government will not hesitate to take actions if any cases of irregularities and corruption come up. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“My sufficient attention has been drawn to the media reports and criticisms, comments and recommendations coming in the social networking sites. The publicity materials portray the government failure instead of getting united at a time of national and global crisis which is tantamount to unseasoned celebration and such trends can never be entertained,” the PM said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, PM Oli said that robust national unity between the government and people, political parties, state and all apparatus of the societies was the precondition to get victory over the pandemic. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The PM said that he has taken a common resolution motion of the parliament, all-party consensus and statements of commitment from different political parties including that of main opposition as the national strength. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">PM Oli has also expressed his assurance for the continued cooperation and unity from all in the days to come. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11643', 'image' => '20200408103322_1586298786.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 10:32:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11892', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Signs Financing Agreement with World Bank for COVID-19 Response', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: The World Bank has approved a fast-track USD 29 million COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project to help Nepal prevent, detect, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">April 7: The World Bank has approved a fast-track USD 29 million COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project to help Nepal prevent, detect, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen its public health preparedness. The agreement to this effect was signed on Tuesday (April 7) by Finance Secretary Sishir Kumar Dhungana and Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank’s country manager for Nepal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">A joint press statement issued after the signing of the financing agreement reads that the project is financed from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s concessional credit window for developing countries, through the World Bank Group’s COVID-19 Fast-Track Facility and will be effective immediately after the signing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">“The project provides emergency support to enhance Nepal’s capacity to detect cases and ensure prompt contact tracing consistent with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and Ministry of Health and Population protocols. It will also help set up new intensive care units, beds, and isolation facilities across the country,” says the statement. The project will be implemented by Ministry of Health and Population.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">“We are thankful to the World Bank for the response in a record short period of time, which will help Nepal respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen our capacities to deal with future public health risks,” the statement quoted Finance Secretary Dhungana as saying. He added, “Immediately after the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, the Government of Nepal has made several arrangements to prevent and address the possible crisis. Due to these measures, the socio-economic activities are going to be affected. Further support is being anticipated from the World Bank to cope with the emerging pandemic situation.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">According to the statement, the project will also equip designated health facilities with personal protective equipment and hygienic materials and increase the diagnostic capacity of laboratories for responding to public health emergencies. It will enhance the National Public Health Laboratory to handle harmful infectious diseases and strengthen public institutions to coordinate and better manage response activities in all three levels of government.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">“Given the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government’s rapid response will help save lives across Nepal,” the statement quoted Hadad-Zervos of the World Bank, as saying. “The World Bank and its development partners are committed to helping Nepal beef up its health infrastructure and access the resources it needs to fight the spread of COVID-19 and protect the livelihoods of its people,” he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11642', 'image' => '20200407052329_image001.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 17:22:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11891', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Initiates Homework to Seek Rs 41 Billion from Donor Agencies', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: The government has initiated homework to seek financial support of Rs 41 billion from donor agencies to check the spread of coronavirus in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 7: The government has initiated homework to seek financial support of Rs 41 billion from donor agencies to check the spread of coronavirus in the country. The Ministry of Finance has started discussions with development partners like the World Bank (WB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the support.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government intends to seek the maximum support of Rs 24.22 billion from the World Bank followed by IMF (Rs 13.9 billion) and ADB (Rs 7.26 billion).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A highly-placed source at the finance ministry informed New Business Age that the government has so far initiated the process to avail financial support of Rs 41 billion. He further said that the donor agencies are positive to the government’s demand.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government is all set to sign a deal for concessional loan of Rs 3.43 billion with the World Bank on Tuesday (today). This amount is being taken under the World Bank’s assistance during emergency and pandemic. The bank has already provided loan of Rs 6 billion under the natural disaster and health crisis mitigation head. The government will be utilizing this fund to upgrade its capacity to fight against the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The source further said that the government is in talks with the ADB to avail Rs 7.26 billion at the moment. The government is also discussing mobilizing the fund allocated by the ADB for other projects in the current fiscal year in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The ADB had recently projected the economic growth of Nepal to slump as a result of lockdown, which has brought production and economic activities to a halt and also adversely affected the inflow of remittance.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">The ADB in its recent report had said that growth will also be slower as a result of lower rice production, as well as lack of optimal production by cement, iron and brick industries among others.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Meanwhile, the government is preparing to take loan of Rs 13.9 billion from the IMF under its rapid credit facility at this hour of crisis.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">The government is preparing to make the funds available within the next two months to tackle the rising threat of coronavirus in the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">A meeting of the Council of Ministers on last Sunday (April 29) had decided to expedite talks with donor agencies to seek funds to prevent the spread of coronavirus and to tackle the problems created by the pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">However, the government is yet to assess the impacts of coronavirus on the overall economy. Under secretary at the ministry Uttar Kumar Khatri informed New Business Age that the government is still studying the impacts.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11641', 'image' => '20200407120037_world-bank-1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 11:59:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11890', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Kolkata and Haldiya ports Waive Fines on Containers Stuck due to Lockdown ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: Kolkata and Haldiya ports of India have decided to waive the fines on containers and bulk cargoes as a relief to the business hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">April 7: </span><span style="font-family:Calibri">Kolkata and Haldiya ports of India have decided to waive the fines on containers and bulk cargoes as a relief to the business hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Kolkata Port, which is the preferred destination of Nepali businessmen for third-country trade, issued a notice stating that the facility will be provided to containers unloaded between March 22 to April 14. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">“We have given this facility because of the difficulty created by Covid 19. This facility will be applied in Haldiya port as well,” said Binit Kumar, chairman of the Kolkata Port Trust. Haldiya Port is also operated by Kolkata Port Trust. Kumar said that 50 percent relief has been provided in terminal operation fee. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri"> During the normal times, the charge per containers is Rs 1,000 to 1,500. Almost 60 percent of Nepal-bound containers through India come from Kolkata. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Indian Railways has also deducted fines for demurrage and wharfage. Indian Railways Ministry has already sent notice to all the regional offices regarding the relief. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><strong><span style="font-family:Calibri">Fear created due to corona infection case in Haldiya</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">The staff in Haldiya Port are gripped by fear of corona infection among one of their colleagues. The staff tested positive on Saturday. Due to this, all other workers are kept in quarantine said the port management. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to Binit Kumar, the port is regularly spreading insecticides and sanitizers to maintain safety. He said that the port has facility of doctors for 24 hours a day. Amidst the fear, the importers have not been able to go to the port. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri"><strong>Stockpile of container at Birgunj Dry Port</strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Almost all the containers coming from India and third countries are stuck at the customs office of Birgunj Dry Port due to lockdown. According to Animesh Kumar, senior officer of Himalayan Terminal that looks after the port administration, only 13 containers departed from the Birgunj Dry Port to their respective destinations. The dry port with capacity of 1542 containers now has to stockpile 2,645 containers. According to the dry port, 26 cargo trains carrying 2340 containers are due to arrive at the port. The Birgunj Dry Port is concerned about the management of the containers. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11640', 'image' => '20200407112945_1586230909.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 11:28:36', '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' => '11903', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Bring Holistic Economic Relief Package ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: The government has decided to bring a special package to address the impacts 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:"Mangal","serif"">April 9: The </span><span style="font-family:Arial">government has decided to bring a special package to address the impacts of coronavirus on the country’s economy. Preparations are underway to launch the package within two weeks, informed sources told New Business Age. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to officials at the Finance Ministry, the stimulus package will be holistic in nature and address the entire aspects of Nepal’s economy. Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada is evaluating the size of economic relief, said an official at the Ministry. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“The economic impacts of Covid-19 lockdown will be evaluated. Provided the lockdown is extended, we will also analyze the anticipated losses,” said the official, adding, “We will prepare a rough estimate within a week.” </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 formed a committee to study the economic impacts of coronavirus in Nepal under the leadership of Revenue Secretary Ram Sharan Pudasaini. The committee consists of officials of Nepal Rastra Bank as members. Similarly, a technical committee has been formed to evaluate the effects under the leadership of Pushpa Kandel, vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“The economic package will be prepared after consulting the reports of the committee,” said Moti Dugar, state minister for industry, commerce and supplies. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to him, the ministry is planning to request the Finance Ministry to cover issues including interests to be paid by businessmen, extending the payment of loan till six months, subsidy in customs duty for the exportable items, subsidized loan to the industries highly affected by coronavirus among others. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“We have asked the private sector to submit proposal regarding their losses and support needed for recovery. We will try our best to address their concern,” said Dugar. </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 President of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) Bhavani Rana, a committee under the leadership of Shekhar Golchha will prepare a report and submit it to the government. “The committee has already prepared the final draft. We will submit the report in two days,” said Rana. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">She said that the proposal demands that that interest for tourism industry be reduced by reduced by 50 percent. According to FNCCI many people have lost their jobs in the tourism sector and so the government must provide relief to the workers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“Now, we can see the effects only on tourism and industry. However, this will affect the overall economy. So, the proposal consists of concerns of all the industries,” said Rana. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to Dr Swarnim Wagle, former vice-chairman of the NPC, the government should bring an economic relief package of minimum Rs 150 billion. “The government should bring a relief package of Rs 100 billion in the initial stage. Later on, with further research, the government should add the relief,” said Wagle. According to him, the concerns of tourism sector, industries and labourers should be addressed first. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">“The workers working in affected sectors should be provided with welfare fund, special facilities from social security fund and their tax payment duration should be extended by at least six months,” said Wagle. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11654', 'image' => '20200409120151_1586383527.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 12:01:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11905', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lockdown Reduces Import Significantly', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: The entry of trucks and lorries carrying imported goods at the Birgunj Customs Point has reduced significantly due to the ongoing lockdown. ', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 9: The entry of trucks and lorries carrying imported goods at the Birgunj Customs Point has reduced significantly due to the ongoing lockdown. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Previously, Birgunj Customs Point used to record entry of around 700 trucks and lorries each day on an average but the number of such vehicles entering the country has now reduced to 50 per day.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Lockdown both in Nepal and India has affected the flow of goods. Due to the growing fear of coronavirus infection, customs staff are not able to work freely in both the countries. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Ramesh Sukmani, senior officer of Birgunj Customs Office, informed New Business Age that the border point in Birgunj used to record entry of 700 trucks regularly in normal days but the number now has reduced to 50 trucks only. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The importers are not able to clear their goods arriving from the customs point. Customs officials informed that the agents of the importers refuse to come to the customs office to clear their goods due to the fear of coronavirus. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">At present, more than 300 trucks with imported goods and 800 new vehicles have been stranded at Inaruwa and Integrated Check Post in Birgunj, Sukmani informed.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The import of medicines also has been reduced by 50 percent. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Importers are facing difficulties bringing in necessary items including medicines, foodstuff and petroleum despite the government’s commitment to ensure smooth supply of these items.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">A total of 429,940 kgs of medicines and raw materials for making medicines have been imported through the Birgunj border point in the last 15 days of the lockdown. Out of them, 182,000 kgs are readymade medicines. The import is half the amount of medicines imported in normal days, Sukamani added. </span></span></h1> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11653', 'image' => '20200409124938_1586383315.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 12:48:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11901', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'TIA Records 19 Int’l Chartered Flights during Lockdown ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the country's sole operational international airport, has suspended flights for around a month due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus pandemic. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 9: Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the country's sole operational international airport, has suspended flights for around a month due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus pandemic. However, the airport continues to see international flights during the nationwide lockdown against the disease for three weeks. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">As informed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), international aviation service providers made 19 flights from TIA till Wednesday since March 23, a day before the lockdown was imposed. They were chartered flights with some cargo flights. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">CAAN Spokesperson Raj Kumar Chhetri said over 3,000 foreigners returned home via those flights during lockdown. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Qatar Airways made the highest nine flights followed by four flights of Nepal Airlines Corporation -- the national flag carrier of Nepal -- and one flight each by Korean, Malaysian, Etihad, Czech Republican and Titan airways. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">They carried people from mainly European countries and from New Zealand, Malaysia, and the US back to their homes. The flights were managed by the embassies of the respective countries in Nepal while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had facilitated towards that end. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11652', 'image' => '20200409094101_20180727021334_2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 09:40:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11900', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Full Cylinders of Cooking Gas to be Available from Sunday ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has ordered the sale of full cylinders of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from coming Sunday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 9: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has ordered the sale of full cylinders of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from coming Sunday. A meeting of the Board of Directors of the NOC took a decision to this effect on Thursday (April 8). Once the half-filled cylinders get sold out, gas-bottling plants will be selling full cylinders weighing 14.2 kg each. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the national news agency RSS (Rastriya Samachar Samiti), NOC spokesperson Binitmani Upadhyay shared that the LPG companies will be allowed to fill LPG cylinders to the full from Thursday. The companies had urged the corporation to allow the sale and distribution of full cylinder citing decline in the sale volume of half-filled cylinder in the recent days. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">RSS reported that the NOC reviewed its earlier decision acting on the demand of companies as well as the lack of storage space and allowed for the sale of full cylinders. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Considering the likelihood of scarcity, the NOC had instructed the gas bottling companies to sell half-filled cylinder weighing 7.1 kg since March 29. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chairperson of Nepal LP Gas Industry Association Gokul Bhandari said gas bullets have been left unloaded as the cylinders of all the gas companies remain occupied. He said that 59 gas industries across the country have a total gas storage capacity of around 10,000 metric tons. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11651', 'image' => '20200409092009_gas_cilinder.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 09:18:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11902', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Industry Minister Inspects Food Stores', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has been working actively to make sure that there is smooth supply of essential goods including food items during the ongoing nationwide lockdown. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 9: The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has been working actively to make sure that there is smooth supply of essential goods including food items during the ongoing nationwide lockdown. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Lekhraj Bhatta and his team have been visiting several food stores in the Kathmandu Valley to inspect the stores and have been instructing the concerned persons to make sure the general public get food items without hindrance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Bhatta told the National News Agency (RSS) that the ministry had been taking stock of the storage and supplies of daily consumable goods including food items regularly. “We have made sure that no inconvenience be caused to the general public to avail the food items.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">At the special initiative of the ministry, the Nepal Oil Corporation has been importing LPG gas more than the regular demand. Anyone can get full cylinders of LGP gas from the National Salt Trading’s office at Teku. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Secretary at the Ministry, Dr Baikuntha Aryal, shared that his team comprising Minister Bhatta made an on-site visit to some food stores at Kalimati and Kuleshwar area on Wednesday (April 8). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Bhatta urged the store keepers for their facilitation to ensure smooth supply of food items to the general public. He also asked them to contact the ministry or directly to him in case of problems. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Store proprietor Devendra Bhakta Shrestha informed the visiting delegation that they had rice, lentils and flour which could cater to the need to the Kathmandu Valley folks for a month. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">He urged the minister for his positive intervention in arranging vehicles and labourers for the supply of food items from their store to other outlets. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11650', 'image' => '20200409095948_20200308093535_aaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 09:59:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11899', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Forbes World’s Billionaires List 2020 ', 'sub_title' => 'Chaudhary Drops 164 Spots, Bezos Retains No 1 Position', 'summary' => 'April 8: Binod Chaudhary, who was constantly rising in the ranks of global billionaire since he first appeared in the Forbes billionaires list in 2013, has seen his fortune decreased by USD 300 million. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">April 8: Binod Chaudhary, who was constantly rising in the ranks of global billionaire since he first appeared in the Forbes billionaires list in 2013, has seen his fortune decreased by USD 300 million. The first and the only dollar-billionaire of Nepal ranked1,513<sup>th</sup> in the Forbes World’s Billionaires List 2020, down 164 spots from 1,349<sup>th</sup> in 2019. As of April 8, 2020, his net worth stood at USD 1.4 billion which was USD 1.7 billion in 2019. The 64-year old corporate czar, who manages his business interests worldwide through CG Corp Global, has a diverse investment portfolio ranging from production of noodles and beer, manufacturing/trading of consumer electronics to hotels and banking sector. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Founder and CEO of the US e-commerce giant Amazon Jeff Bezos retained the no. 1 spot in the list with a net worth of USD 113 billion despite the divorce with his wife MacKenzie Bezos last year that cost him around USD 40 billion. It is for the third year in a row that the tech entrepreneur has hold the top spot in the rich list. According to Forbes, the 15 percent increase in the value of Amazon’s shares helped Bezos to partially offset the loss. In the meantime, Mackenzie debuted in the list at 22<sup>nd</sup> spot with a net worth of USD 36 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Similarly, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates also retained the second position in the list with net worth of USD 98 billion which was USD 96.5 billion in 2019. The French fashion and retail business mogul Bernard Arnault climbed one spot to rank 3<sup>rd</sup> with net worth of USD 76 billion which remained unchanged from 2019. The legendary American investor Warren Buffet slid one spot to land at 4<sup>th</sup> place with net worth of USD 67.5 billion which was USD 82.5 billion last year. Oracle Corporation co-founder Larry Elison jumped two places to rest at 5<sup>th</sup> spot with net worth of USD 59 billion despite a depletion of USD 3.5 billion in his fortune from USD 62.5 billion in 2019. Similarly, Spanish tycoon Amancio Ortega, who owns the luxury fashion brand Zara, remained unchanged at 6<sup>th</sup> position in the list with net worth of USD 55.1 billion which was USD 62.7 billion last year. Facebook co-founder also saw his fortune dwindled to USD 54.7 billion from USD 62.3 billion in 2019 despite climbing up one position to 7<sup>th</sup> spot in this year’s list. The heirs of the Walton family, which owns the world’s largest retail corporation Walmart, occupied the last three places of the top 10 list. Jim Walton made it to the 8<sup>th</sup> position with a net worth of USD 54.6 billion followed by his younger sister Alice Walton (USD 54.4 billion) and elder brother Rob Walton (USD 54.1 billion). Alice also became the world’s richest woman dethroning the French business magnet Françoise Bettencourt Meyers who is in the 15<sup>th</sup> spot in the list with net worth of USD 48.9 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Forbes in its 34<sup>th</sup> edition of billionaires list has highlighted the adverse impact of the coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic on the fortunes of the rich people of the world. According to Forbes, 51 percent of the 2,095 billionaires in the list, have their net worth declined in the past few months. The total net worth of the world’s billionaires amounted to USD 8 trillion, a decline of USD 700 billion from 2019, with 267 individuals, losing their billionaire status who were in the last year’s list. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11649', 'image' => '20200408110130_pic(3).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 23:00:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11896', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'WHO Warns Against Easing Coronavirus Measures 'Too Early'', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries not to lift measures put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus too early, Aljazeera reported.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">April 9: The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries not to lift measures put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus too early, Aljazeera reported.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to Reuters, the WHO has no blanket recommendation for countries and regions for easing measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">The news agency reported citing a WHO spokesperson on Tuesday that lifting the measures too early could have repercussions. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">“One of the most important parts is not to let go of the measures too early in order not to have a fall back again,” the news agencies quoted WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier as saying in a virtual briefing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">“It’s similar to being sick yourself if you get out of bed too early and get running too early you risk falling back and having complications.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">As of Thursday morning (April 9), the coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 1.5 million people globally and claimed over 88,000 lives. The deadly disease that is believed to have originated in China’s Wuhan in late December last year has spread to 209 countries and territories and two international conveyances, according to Worldometer. The website reported that around 300,000 people have recovered so far.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11648', 'image' => '20200408113946_unnamed.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 11:38:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11897', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Startups Urge Government for Support to Stay Afloat', 'sub_title' => 'While many are pausing their operation due to Covid 19 lockdown, their fixed cost including rent, payroll, tax and bank loan interests are issues to worry. ', 'summary' => 'Startups in Nepal have come out as one of the most vulnerable business entities affected by the Covid 19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px"><strong>By Nikeeta Gautam</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px"><strong>Kathmandu: </strong>Startups in Nepal have come out as one of the most vulnerable business entities affected by the Covid 19 pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Startup communities have been regularly engaged in informal conversations to discuss finding ways to save themselves from the ongoing crisis and what the government can do to mitigate the impacts.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">A group of experts, investors and entrepreneurs have come to a conclusion that startups are in dire need of short-term and long-term support from the government. According to them, the government can provide its support by contributing in paying office rents, inventory costs and payrolls to support the survival of startup companies to some extent. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Small businesses suffer quickly as they have little to no cash reserve and are unable to cope with the situation created by big disruptions in their cash flows. Also, startups keep reinvesting their profit, and a situation like a current one dries their income completely. “We don’t make profits immediately. Plus, we need to reinvest whatever is earned,” says Sixit Bhatta, co- founder Tootle, a ride-sharing company. Narottam Aryal, president, King’s College which runs business incubation centre says that main issues among startups now is the cashflow. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">“Now, when government is recognising the value of startups in the economy, supporting them in the time of crisis will be essential to keep them afloat,” says Prakash Tiwari, chief investment manager of Hathway Investment Nepal Limited. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">The economic crisis, which is unfolding due to the global health emergency, is holding back investors to invest in startup projects which they have pledged earlier. “Many companies might not get second round of funding which was earlier committed by the investors,” said Aryal. Experts say that arrangement short-term collateral free loans could help the startup to cope with the economic crisis afterwards. “The government should make an arrangement to enable startups to avail short-term collateral free loan,” said Tiwari. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Capital investment is another major element for the growth of startups. “Startups are like small children who are not being able to stand by themselves right now. While short term stimulus package will help them stand, creating conducive investment environment will help them grow,” expresses Bhatta. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Companies like Foodmandu have pivoted to keep working through innovation and change; the company which delivers food is now delivering groceries. Similarly, Health at Home has been providing consulting service through phone calls for the people who have doubts on Covid 19 infection. Likewise, the e-commerce platform Sastodeal started delivery of groceries and other daily essential items immediately after lockdown. Similarly, startups like NepXpress, a cargo and courier venture, has been providing technical support to departmental stores including Salesberry to delivery daily essential item to their customers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">The severe interruption in supply chain is a challenge for a logistics company like NepXpress. According to its co-founder Sangam Singh, NepXpress is only able to deliver medicines, which is just 2 percent of its service, due to permit related problems. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">On the other hand, some startups are skeptical about their smooth operation for a significant time even after the crisis created by the Covid 19 pandemic subsides. Tootle, which has provided indirect employment to more than 35,000 riders has paused it operation. “Even after the end of the lockdown, movement of people will not be normal because of safety concerns,” says Bhatta. In contrast, there are chances more people will have to depend on ride-sharing platforms for their livelihood. It is because most people will not be able to go to other countries to work, at least for a couple of months,” says Bhatta. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Rohit Tiwari, co-founder of Foodmario says that the service might not take off quickly after the lockdown is lifted. “I think there will be other local problems such as shortage of cooking gas and necessary items to affect our operation,” he predicts. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11647', 'image' => '20200408080149_pic(2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 20:00:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11898', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Preparing to Employ 600,000 Individuals after Lockdown', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: The government of Nepal is preparing to employ 600,000 people immediately after the lockdown ends. ', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 8: The government of Nepal is preparing to employ 600,000 people immediately after the lockdown ends. Those getting employment opportunities include various unemployed individuals as well as migrant workers unable to go abroad for work due to the lockdown. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security, it is preparing to employ the individuals by listing them under the Prime Minister's Employment Program.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The enrolled individuals will be employed for 100 days.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Suman Ghimire, undersecretary at the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security informed that the ministry will include individuals in the programme who are unable to go abroad for work despite receiving the approval. Also, migrant workers coming home in vacation and unemployed individuals will also be listed under the Prime Minister’s Employment Programme. </span></span></h1> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Ghimire further said that the individuals who were not able to go abroad for work will be provided with employment opportunity only by evaluating their economic condition. The local levels will be responsible for such making such evaluation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to Prime Minister’s Employment Programme Office, so far 1.3 million individuals have been listed in the programme. Among them, the government is planning to employee 500,000 individuals this year alone. The government will also include 100,000 individuals unable to go abroad for work and migrant workers returning home in vacation in the programme this year.</span></span></span></p> <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' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11646', 'image' => '20200408081151_axresdefault.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 20:11:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11895', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'MD of Shanker Group Arrested on Charge of Black-marketing', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: Police have arrested Sulav Agarwal, managing director of Shanker Group, on the charge of black-marketing of thermal guns. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">April 8: Police have arrested Sulav Agarwal, managing director of Shanker Group, on the charge of black-marketing of thermal guns. A special team from the Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD) of Nepal Police arrested Agarwal from Baluwatar on Tuesday (April 7). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">According to the police, Agarwal was found selling thermal guns at a price five times higher than the market price. A thermal gun which normally costs around Rs 3500 each was sold for Rs 15,000 by Agrawal, according to police. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Police added that Agarwal has imported 20,000 units of thermal guns from China. However, police seized only 67 thermal guns from him while they are seeking for the remaining cache. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">The demand for thermal guns has increased due to the spread of Covid 19. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Police said that Agarwal imported the guns on Saturday in a chartered plane. According to police, Agrawal was on a car with diplomatic number plate (209 HCC 1) when he was arrested. Agarwal is the honorary consul of Krygyzstan to Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Police said further investigations are underway. The special squad of police was sent to buy thermal guns from Agarwal after they got information about blackmarketing. The undercover team reached a deal with Agarwal to buy a bulk of thermal guns at the rate of Rs 15,000 each. It has been reported that Agarwal was selling the gun for as much as Rs 20,000 per piece. Police arrested Agarwal when both parties met at the rendezvous as per the deal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">However, Agarwal has refuted the allegaions, says Senior Superintendent of Police at the MPCD Sahakul Thapa.<br /> “We have been obtained information that he purchased the thermal guns from China. However, he says that he bought the thermal guns from the local market,” said SSP Thapa</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Agarwal has been kept in custody at the Teku-based office of MPCD. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11645', 'image' => '20200408111456_1586272608.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 11:13:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11893', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'All International Flights Suspended till April 30', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: The government has decided to extend the suspension of international flights to and from Tribhuvan International Airport till April 30.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">April 8: The government has decided to extend the suspension of international flights to and from Tribhuvan International Airport till April 30.<strong> </strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government had earlier announced suspension of all flights – international and domestic – till April 15 considering the threat of posed by the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government took such decision on Tuesday (April 7) upon the recommendation of the high-level committee to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country, informed government spokesperson Yuba Raj Khatiwada.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Khatiwada said after a meeting of the high-level committee that the flight suspension has been extended as the risks of imported cases of coronavirus have not subsided yet. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">He further said that the committee is yet to take any decision on whether to continue suspension of domestic flights or not. According to Khatiwada, a decision regarding domestic flights will be taken within a few days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The meeting also decided to conduct rapid diagnostic tests in the districts identified as highly vulnerable to the disease, especially the ones where new cases were detected on Saturday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Khatiwada, who holds the portfolio of finance and communication minister, said that the government has so far distributed relief to 114,316 families. He added that altogether 30,506 people are currently kept in quarantine facilities across the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Likewise, he said that police have taken action against around 2600 people for defying the lockdown order. All of them have been released after proper counseling, said the minister. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, 2235 vehicles have been impounded for operating without pass or for other purposes emergency. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">“Those vehicles which were misusing their passes or operating for other purpose than the intended ones were also punished,” said Khatiwada in a video post shared on Facebook. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">He said that around 1949 ambulances have been kept on standby in case of emergency.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial"> Likewise, the National Planning Commission is studying the impact of coronavirus on the country’s economy, according to the minister. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11644', 'image' => '20200408101555_Himalaya Airlines.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 10:15:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11894', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Stay Safe Wherever You Are: PM Oli ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged one and all to stay safe wherever they are during the current crisis caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, expressing his hope that the crisis recovery was sure to come. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 8: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged one and all to stay safe wherever they are during the current crisis caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, expressing his hope that the crisis recovery was sure to come. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In his address to the nation on Tuesday, the Prime Minister said the country had waged a war against COVID-19 and the higher risks of the contagion were still pervading through the number of confirmed cases has been limited to just nine since the detection of the first case. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">''It is obvious that we are finding so hard to fight against the pandemic when the developed, resource-rich and wealthy nations with robust health care systems are facing the same," he said adding the biggest challenge of the hour was to ensure the supplies of medical equipment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">''No matter is important than saving the lives of citizens. The regular procedures meant for normal times are not sufficient to tackle the prevailing abnormal situation. Bearing this in mind, special provisions have been made for the smooth supply of medical equipment," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">He went on to say that the protection of the entire human beings and human civilization was the foremost priority of the world and the fight against COVID-19 is our collective battle. "It should be therefore realized that every member in the society was a combatant in this battle to defeat the virus." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Saying that COVID-19 has entered into the second state in the country, the PM urged one and all to remain more aware and cautious. Asking all foreign returnees to stay under quarantines, PM Oli said that worrying situation has been created as some of them have paid no heed to the request and arrangements for staying in quarantine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In the context of curbing corruption, the PM reaffirmed the government’s commitment and added that misinformation could not weaken the government’s firm commitment. The incumbent government will not hesitate to take actions if any cases of irregularities and corruption come up. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“My sufficient attention has been drawn to the media reports and criticisms, comments and recommendations coming in the social networking sites. The publicity materials portray the government failure instead of getting united at a time of national and global crisis which is tantamount to unseasoned celebration and such trends can never be entertained,” the PM said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, PM Oli said that robust national unity between the government and people, political parties, state and all apparatus of the societies was the precondition to get victory over the pandemic. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The PM said that he has taken a common resolution motion of the parliament, all-party consensus and statements of commitment from different political parties including that of main opposition as the national strength. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">PM Oli has also expressed his assurance for the continued cooperation and unity from all in the days to come. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11643', 'image' => '20200408103322_1586298786.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 10:32:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11892', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Signs Financing Agreement with World Bank for COVID-19 Response', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: The World Bank has approved a fast-track USD 29 million COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project to help Nepal prevent, detect, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">April 7: The World Bank has approved a fast-track USD 29 million COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project to help Nepal prevent, detect, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen its public health preparedness. The agreement to this effect was signed on Tuesday (April 7) by Finance Secretary Sishir Kumar Dhungana and Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank’s country manager for Nepal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">A joint press statement issued after the signing of the financing agreement reads that the project is financed from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s concessional credit window for developing countries, through the World Bank Group’s COVID-19 Fast-Track Facility and will be effective immediately after the signing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">“The project provides emergency support to enhance Nepal’s capacity to detect cases and ensure prompt contact tracing consistent with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and Ministry of Health and Population protocols. It will also help set up new intensive care units, beds, and isolation facilities across the country,” says the statement. The project will be implemented by Ministry of Health and Population.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">“We are thankful to the World Bank for the response in a record short period of time, which will help Nepal respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen our capacities to deal with future public health risks,” the statement quoted Finance Secretary Dhungana as saying. He added, “Immediately after the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, the Government of Nepal has made several arrangements to prevent and address the possible crisis. Due to these measures, the socio-economic activities are going to be affected. Further support is being anticipated from the World Bank to cope with the emerging pandemic situation.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">According to the statement, the project will also equip designated health facilities with personal protective equipment and hygienic materials and increase the diagnostic capacity of laboratories for responding to public health emergencies. It will enhance the National Public Health Laboratory to handle harmful infectious diseases and strengthen public institutions to coordinate and better manage response activities in all three levels of government.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">“Given the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government’s rapid response will help save lives across Nepal,” the statement quoted Hadad-Zervos of the World Bank, as saying. “The World Bank and its development partners are committed to helping Nepal beef up its health infrastructure and access the resources it needs to fight the spread of COVID-19 and protect the livelihoods of its people,” he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11642', 'image' => '20200407052329_image001.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 17:22:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11891', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Initiates Homework to Seek Rs 41 Billion from Donor Agencies', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: The government has initiated homework to seek financial support of Rs 41 billion from donor agencies to check the spread of coronavirus in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 7: The government has initiated homework to seek financial support of Rs 41 billion from donor agencies to check the spread of coronavirus in the country. The Ministry of Finance has started discussions with development partners like the World Bank (WB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the support.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government intends to seek the maximum support of Rs 24.22 billion from the World Bank followed by IMF (Rs 13.9 billion) and ADB (Rs 7.26 billion).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A highly-placed source at the finance ministry informed New Business Age that the government has so far initiated the process to avail financial support of Rs 41 billion. He further said that the donor agencies are positive to the government’s demand.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government is all set to sign a deal for concessional loan of Rs 3.43 billion with the World Bank on Tuesday (today). This amount is being taken under the World Bank’s assistance during emergency and pandemic. The bank has already provided loan of Rs 6 billion under the natural disaster and health crisis mitigation head. The government will be utilizing this fund to upgrade its capacity to fight against the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The source further said that the government is in talks with the ADB to avail Rs 7.26 billion at the moment. The government is also discussing mobilizing the fund allocated by the ADB for other projects in the current fiscal year in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The ADB had recently projected the economic growth of Nepal to slump as a result of lockdown, which has brought production and economic activities to a halt and also adversely affected the inflow of remittance.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">The ADB in its recent report had said that growth will also be slower as a result of lower rice production, as well as lack of optimal production by cement, iron and brick industries among others.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Meanwhile, the government is preparing to take loan of Rs 13.9 billion from the IMF under its rapid credit facility at this hour of crisis.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">The government is preparing to make the funds available within the next two months to tackle the rising threat of coronavirus in the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">A meeting of the Council of Ministers on last Sunday (April 29) had decided to expedite talks with donor agencies to seek funds to prevent the spread of coronavirus and to tackle the problems created by the pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">However, the government is yet to assess the impacts of coronavirus on the overall economy. Under secretary at the ministry Uttar Kumar Khatri informed New Business Age that the government is still studying the impacts.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11641', 'image' => '20200407120037_world-bank-1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 11:59:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11890', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Kolkata and Haldiya ports Waive Fines on Containers Stuck due to Lockdown ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: Kolkata and Haldiya ports of India have decided to waive the fines on containers and bulk cargoes as a relief to the business hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">April 7: </span><span style="font-family:Calibri">Kolkata and Haldiya ports of India have decided to waive the fines on containers and bulk cargoes as a relief to the business hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Kolkata Port, which is the preferred destination of Nepali businessmen for third-country trade, issued a notice stating that the facility will be provided to containers unloaded between March 22 to April 14. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">“We have given this facility because of the difficulty created by Covid 19. This facility will be applied in Haldiya port as well,” said Binit Kumar, chairman of the Kolkata Port Trust. Haldiya Port is also operated by Kolkata Port Trust. Kumar said that 50 percent relief has been provided in terminal operation fee. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri"> During the normal times, the charge per containers is Rs 1,000 to 1,500. Almost 60 percent of Nepal-bound containers through India come from Kolkata. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Indian Railways has also deducted fines for demurrage and wharfage. Indian Railways Ministry has already sent notice to all the regional offices regarding the relief. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><strong><span style="font-family:Calibri">Fear created due to corona infection case in Haldiya</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">The staff in Haldiya Port are gripped by fear of corona infection among one of their colleagues. The staff tested positive on Saturday. Due to this, all other workers are kept in quarantine said the port management. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to Binit Kumar, the port is regularly spreading insecticides and sanitizers to maintain safety. He said that the port has facility of doctors for 24 hours a day. Amidst the fear, the importers have not been able to go to the port. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri"><strong>Stockpile of container at Birgunj Dry Port</strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Almost all the containers coming from India and third countries are stuck at the customs office of Birgunj Dry Port due to lockdown. According to Animesh Kumar, senior officer of Himalayan Terminal that looks after the port administration, only 13 containers departed from the Birgunj Dry Port to their respective destinations. The dry port with capacity of 1542 containers now has to stockpile 2,645 containers. According to the dry port, 26 cargo trains carrying 2340 containers are due to arrive at the port. The Birgunj Dry Port is concerned about the management of the containers. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11640', 'image' => '20200407112945_1586230909.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 11:28:36', '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
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">April 9: The </span><span style="font-family:Arial">government has decided to bring a special package to address the impacts of coronavirus on the country’s economy. Preparations are underway to launch the package within two weeks, informed sources told New Business Age. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to officials at the Finance Ministry, the stimulus package will be holistic in nature and address the entire aspects of Nepal’s economy. Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada is evaluating the size of economic relief, said an official at the Ministry. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“The economic impacts of Covid-19 lockdown will be evaluated. Provided the lockdown is extended, we will also analyze the anticipated losses,” said the official, adding, “We will prepare a rough estimate within a week.” </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 formed a committee to study the economic impacts of coronavirus in Nepal under the leadership of Revenue Secretary Ram Sharan Pudasaini. The committee consists of officials of Nepal Rastra Bank as members. Similarly, a technical committee has been formed to evaluate the effects under the leadership of Pushpa Kandel, vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“The economic package will be prepared after consulting the reports of the committee,” said Moti Dugar, state minister for industry, commerce and supplies. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to him, the ministry is planning to request the Finance Ministry to cover issues including interests to be paid by businessmen, extending the payment of loan till six months, subsidy in customs duty for the exportable items, subsidized loan to the industries highly affected by coronavirus among others. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“We have asked the private sector to submit proposal regarding their losses and support needed for recovery. We will try our best to address their concern,” said Dugar. </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 President of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) Bhavani Rana, a committee under the leadership of Shekhar Golchha will prepare a report and submit it to the government. “The committee has already prepared the final draft. We will submit the report in two days,” said Rana. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">She said that the proposal demands that that interest for tourism industry be reduced by reduced by 50 percent. According to FNCCI many people have lost their jobs in the tourism sector and so the government must provide relief to the workers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">“Now, we can see the effects only on tourism and industry. However, this will affect the overall economy. So, the proposal consists of concerns of all the industries,” said Rana. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Arial">According to Dr Swarnim Wagle, former vice-chairman of the NPC, the government should bring an economic relief package of minimum Rs 150 billion. “The government should bring a relief package of Rs 100 billion in the initial stage. Later on, with further research, the government should add the relief,” said Wagle. According to him, the concerns of tourism sector, industries and labourers should be addressed first. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:"Mangal","serif"">“The workers working in affected sectors should be provided with welfare fund, special facilities from social security fund and their tax payment duration should be extended by at least six months,” said Wagle. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11654', 'image' => '20200409120151_1586383527.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 12:01:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11905', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lockdown Reduces Import Significantly', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: The entry of trucks and lorries carrying imported goods at the Birgunj Customs Point has reduced significantly due to the ongoing lockdown. ', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 9: The entry of trucks and lorries carrying imported goods at the Birgunj Customs Point has reduced significantly due to the ongoing lockdown. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Previously, Birgunj Customs Point used to record entry of around 700 trucks and lorries each day on an average but the number of such vehicles entering the country has now reduced to 50 per day.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Lockdown both in Nepal and India has affected the flow of goods. Due to the growing fear of coronavirus infection, customs staff are not able to work freely in both the countries. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Ramesh Sukmani, senior officer of Birgunj Customs Office, informed New Business Age that the border point in Birgunj used to record entry of 700 trucks regularly in normal days but the number now has reduced to 50 trucks only. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The importers are not able to clear their goods arriving from the customs point. Customs officials informed that the agents of the importers refuse to come to the customs office to clear their goods due to the fear of coronavirus. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">At present, more than 300 trucks with imported goods and 800 new vehicles have been stranded at Inaruwa and Integrated Check Post in Birgunj, Sukmani informed.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The import of medicines also has been reduced by 50 percent. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Importers are facing difficulties bringing in necessary items including medicines, foodstuff and petroleum despite the government’s commitment to ensure smooth supply of these items.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">A total of 429,940 kgs of medicines and raw materials for making medicines have been imported through the Birgunj border point in the last 15 days of the lockdown. Out of them, 182,000 kgs are readymade medicines. The import is half the amount of medicines imported in normal days, Sukamani added. </span></span></h1> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11653', 'image' => '20200409124938_1586383315.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 12:48:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11901', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'TIA Records 19 Int’l Chartered Flights during Lockdown ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the country's sole operational international airport, has suspended flights for around a month due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus pandemic. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 9: Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the country's sole operational international airport, has suspended flights for around a month due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus pandemic. However, the airport continues to see international flights during the nationwide lockdown against the disease for three weeks. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">As informed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), international aviation service providers made 19 flights from TIA till Wednesday since March 23, a day before the lockdown was imposed. They were chartered flights with some cargo flights. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">CAAN Spokesperson Raj Kumar Chhetri said over 3,000 foreigners returned home via those flights during lockdown. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Qatar Airways made the highest nine flights followed by four flights of Nepal Airlines Corporation -- the national flag carrier of Nepal -- and one flight each by Korean, Malaysian, Etihad, Czech Republican and Titan airways. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">They carried people from mainly European countries and from New Zealand, Malaysia, and the US back to their homes. The flights were managed by the embassies of the respective countries in Nepal while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had facilitated towards that end. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11652', 'image' => '20200409094101_20180727021334_2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 09:40:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11900', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Full Cylinders of Cooking Gas to be Available from Sunday ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has ordered the sale of full cylinders of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from coming Sunday.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 9: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has ordered the sale of full cylinders of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from coming Sunday. A meeting of the Board of Directors of the NOC took a decision to this effect on Thursday (April 8). Once the half-filled cylinders get sold out, gas-bottling plants will be selling full cylinders weighing 14.2 kg each. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the national news agency RSS (Rastriya Samachar Samiti), NOC spokesperson Binitmani Upadhyay shared that the LPG companies will be allowed to fill LPG cylinders to the full from Thursday. The companies had urged the corporation to allow the sale and distribution of full cylinder citing decline in the sale volume of half-filled cylinder in the recent days. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">RSS reported that the NOC reviewed its earlier decision acting on the demand of companies as well as the lack of storage space and allowed for the sale of full cylinders. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Considering the likelihood of scarcity, the NOC had instructed the gas bottling companies to sell half-filled cylinder weighing 7.1 kg since March 29. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chairperson of Nepal LP Gas Industry Association Gokul Bhandari said gas bullets have been left unloaded as the cylinders of all the gas companies remain occupied. He said that 59 gas industries across the country have a total gas storage capacity of around 10,000 metric tons. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11651', 'image' => '20200409092009_gas_cilinder.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 09:18:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11902', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Industry Minister Inspects Food Stores', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 9: The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has been working actively to make sure that there is smooth supply of essential goods including food items during the ongoing nationwide lockdown. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 9: The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has been working actively to make sure that there is smooth supply of essential goods including food items during the ongoing nationwide lockdown. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Lekhraj Bhatta and his team have been visiting several food stores in the Kathmandu Valley to inspect the stores and have been instructing the concerned persons to make sure the general public get food items without hindrance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Bhatta told the National News Agency (RSS) that the ministry had been taking stock of the storage and supplies of daily consumable goods including food items regularly. “We have made sure that no inconvenience be caused to the general public to avail the food items.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">At the special initiative of the ministry, the Nepal Oil Corporation has been importing LPG gas more than the regular demand. Anyone can get full cylinders of LGP gas from the National Salt Trading’s office at Teku. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Secretary at the Ministry, Dr Baikuntha Aryal, shared that his team comprising Minister Bhatta made an on-site visit to some food stores at Kalimati and Kuleshwar area on Wednesday (April 8). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Minister Bhatta urged the store keepers for their facilitation to ensure smooth supply of food items to the general public. He also asked them to contact the ministry or directly to him in case of problems. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Store proprietor Devendra Bhakta Shrestha informed the visiting delegation that they had rice, lentils and flour which could cater to the need to the Kathmandu Valley folks for a month. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">He urged the minister for his positive intervention in arranging vehicles and labourers for the supply of food items from their store to other outlets. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-09', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11650', 'image' => '20200409095948_20200308093535_aaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-09 09:59:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11899', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Forbes World’s Billionaires List 2020 ', 'sub_title' => 'Chaudhary Drops 164 Spots, Bezos Retains No 1 Position', 'summary' => 'April 8: Binod Chaudhary, who was constantly rising in the ranks of global billionaire since he first appeared in the Forbes billionaires list in 2013, has seen his fortune decreased by USD 300 million. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">April 8: Binod Chaudhary, who was constantly rising in the ranks of global billionaire since he first appeared in the Forbes billionaires list in 2013, has seen his fortune decreased by USD 300 million. The first and the only dollar-billionaire of Nepal ranked1,513<sup>th</sup> in the Forbes World’s Billionaires List 2020, down 164 spots from 1,349<sup>th</sup> in 2019. As of April 8, 2020, his net worth stood at USD 1.4 billion which was USD 1.7 billion in 2019. The 64-year old corporate czar, who manages his business interests worldwide through CG Corp Global, has a diverse investment portfolio ranging from production of noodles and beer, manufacturing/trading of consumer electronics to hotels and banking sector. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Founder and CEO of the US e-commerce giant Amazon Jeff Bezos retained the no. 1 spot in the list with a net worth of USD 113 billion despite the divorce with his wife MacKenzie Bezos last year that cost him around USD 40 billion. It is for the third year in a row that the tech entrepreneur has hold the top spot in the rich list. According to Forbes, the 15 percent increase in the value of Amazon’s shares helped Bezos to partially offset the loss. In the meantime, Mackenzie debuted in the list at 22<sup>nd</sup> spot with a net worth of USD 36 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Similarly, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates also retained the second position in the list with net worth of USD 98 billion which was USD 96.5 billion in 2019. The French fashion and retail business mogul Bernard Arnault climbed one spot to rank 3<sup>rd</sup> with net worth of USD 76 billion which remained unchanged from 2019. The legendary American investor Warren Buffet slid one spot to land at 4<sup>th</sup> place with net worth of USD 67.5 billion which was USD 82.5 billion last year. Oracle Corporation co-founder Larry Elison jumped two places to rest at 5<sup>th</sup> spot with net worth of USD 59 billion despite a depletion of USD 3.5 billion in his fortune from USD 62.5 billion in 2019. Similarly, Spanish tycoon Amancio Ortega, who owns the luxury fashion brand Zara, remained unchanged at 6<sup>th</sup> position in the list with net worth of USD 55.1 billion which was USD 62.7 billion last year. Facebook co-founder also saw his fortune dwindled to USD 54.7 billion from USD 62.3 billion in 2019 despite climbing up one position to 7<sup>th</sup> spot in this year’s list. The heirs of the Walton family, which owns the world’s largest retail corporation Walmart, occupied the last three places of the top 10 list. Jim Walton made it to the 8<sup>th</sup> position with a net worth of USD 54.6 billion followed by his younger sister Alice Walton (USD 54.4 billion) and elder brother Rob Walton (USD 54.1 billion). Alice also became the world’s richest woman dethroning the French business magnet Françoise Bettencourt Meyers who is in the 15<sup>th</sup> spot in the list with net worth of USD 48.9 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Forbes in its 34<sup>th</sup> edition of billionaires list has highlighted the adverse impact of the coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic on the fortunes of the rich people of the world. According to Forbes, 51 percent of the 2,095 billionaires in the list, have their net worth declined in the past few months. The total net worth of the world’s billionaires amounted to USD 8 trillion, a decline of USD 700 billion from 2019, with 267 individuals, losing their billionaire status who were in the last year’s list. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11649', 'image' => '20200408110130_pic(3).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 23:00:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11896', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'WHO Warns Against Easing Coronavirus Measures 'Too Early'', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries not to lift measures put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus too early, Aljazeera reported.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">April 9: The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries not to lift measures put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus too early, Aljazeera reported.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to Reuters, the WHO has no blanket recommendation for countries and regions for easing measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">The news agency reported citing a WHO spokesperson on Tuesday that lifting the measures too early could have repercussions. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">“One of the most important parts is not to let go of the measures too early in order not to have a fall back again,” the news agencies quoted WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier as saying in a virtual briefing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">“It’s similar to being sick yourself if you get out of bed too early and get running too early you risk falling back and having complications.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Arial">As of Thursday morning (April 9), the coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 1.5 million people globally and claimed over 88,000 lives. The deadly disease that is believed to have originated in China’s Wuhan in late December last year has spread to 209 countries and territories and two international conveyances, according to Worldometer. The website reported that around 300,000 people have recovered so far.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11648', 'image' => '20200408113946_unnamed.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 11:38:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11897', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Startups Urge Government for Support to Stay Afloat', 'sub_title' => 'While many are pausing their operation due to Covid 19 lockdown, their fixed cost including rent, payroll, tax and bank loan interests are issues to worry. ', 'summary' => 'Startups in Nepal have come out as one of the most vulnerable business entities affected by the Covid 19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px"><strong>By Nikeeta Gautam</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px"><strong>Kathmandu: </strong>Startups in Nepal have come out as one of the most vulnerable business entities affected by the Covid 19 pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Startup communities have been regularly engaged in informal conversations to discuss finding ways to save themselves from the ongoing crisis and what the government can do to mitigate the impacts.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">A group of experts, investors and entrepreneurs have come to a conclusion that startups are in dire need of short-term and long-term support from the government. According to them, the government can provide its support by contributing in paying office rents, inventory costs and payrolls to support the survival of startup companies to some extent. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Small businesses suffer quickly as they have little to no cash reserve and are unable to cope with the situation created by big disruptions in their cash flows. Also, startups keep reinvesting their profit, and a situation like a current one dries their income completely. “We don’t make profits immediately. Plus, we need to reinvest whatever is earned,” says Sixit Bhatta, co- founder Tootle, a ride-sharing company. Narottam Aryal, president, King’s College which runs business incubation centre says that main issues among startups now is the cashflow. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">“Now, when government is recognising the value of startups in the economy, supporting them in the time of crisis will be essential to keep them afloat,” says Prakash Tiwari, chief investment manager of Hathway Investment Nepal Limited. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">The economic crisis, which is unfolding due to the global health emergency, is holding back investors to invest in startup projects which they have pledged earlier. “Many companies might not get second round of funding which was earlier committed by the investors,” said Aryal. Experts say that arrangement short-term collateral free loans could help the startup to cope with the economic crisis afterwards. “The government should make an arrangement to enable startups to avail short-term collateral free loan,” said Tiwari. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Capital investment is another major element for the growth of startups. “Startups are like small children who are not being able to stand by themselves right now. While short term stimulus package will help them stand, creating conducive investment environment will help them grow,” expresses Bhatta. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Companies like Foodmandu have pivoted to keep working through innovation and change; the company which delivers food is now delivering groceries. Similarly, Health at Home has been providing consulting service through phone calls for the people who have doubts on Covid 19 infection. Likewise, the e-commerce platform Sastodeal started delivery of groceries and other daily essential items immediately after lockdown. Similarly, startups like NepXpress, a cargo and courier venture, has been providing technical support to departmental stores including Salesberry to delivery daily essential item to their customers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">The severe interruption in supply chain is a challenge for a logistics company like NepXpress. According to its co-founder Sangam Singh, NepXpress is only able to deliver medicines, which is just 2 percent of its service, due to permit related problems. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">On the other hand, some startups are skeptical about their smooth operation for a significant time even after the crisis created by the Covid 19 pandemic subsides. Tootle, which has provided indirect employment to more than 35,000 riders has paused it operation. “Even after the end of the lockdown, movement of people will not be normal because of safety concerns,” says Bhatta. In contrast, there are chances more people will have to depend on ride-sharing platforms for their livelihood. It is because most people will not be able to go to other countries to work, at least for a couple of months,” says Bhatta. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20px">Rohit Tiwari, co-founder of Foodmario says that the service might not take off quickly after the lockdown is lifted. “I think there will be other local problems such as shortage of cooking gas and necessary items to affect our operation,” he predicts. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11647', 'image' => '20200408080149_pic(2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 20:00:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11898', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Preparing to Employ 600,000 Individuals after Lockdown', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: The government of Nepal is preparing to employ 600,000 people immediately after the lockdown ends. ', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">April 8: The government of Nepal is preparing to employ 600,000 people immediately after the lockdown ends. Those getting employment opportunities include various unemployed individuals as well as migrant workers unable to go abroad for work due to the lockdown. </span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security, it is preparing to employ the individuals by listing them under the Prime Minister's Employment Program.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The enrolled individuals will be employed for 100 days.</span></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Suman Ghimire, undersecretary at the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security informed that the ministry will include individuals in the programme who are unable to go abroad for work despite receiving the approval. Also, migrant workers coming home in vacation and unemployed individuals will also be listed under the Prime Minister’s Employment Programme. </span></span></h1> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Ghimire further said that the individuals who were not able to go abroad for work will be provided with employment opportunity only by evaluating their economic condition. The local levels will be responsible for such making such evaluation.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to Prime Minister’s Employment Programme Office, so far 1.3 million individuals have been listed in the programme. Among them, the government is planning to employee 500,000 individuals this year alone. The government will also include 100,000 individuals unable to go abroad for work and migrant workers returning home in vacation in the programme this year.</span></span></span></p> <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' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11646', 'image' => '20200408081151_axresdefault.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 20:11:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11895', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'MD of Shanker Group Arrested on Charge of Black-marketing', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: Police have arrested Sulav Agarwal, managing director of Shanker Group, on the charge of black-marketing of thermal guns. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">April 8: Police have arrested Sulav Agarwal, managing director of Shanker Group, on the charge of black-marketing of thermal guns. A special team from the Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD) of Nepal Police arrested Agarwal from Baluwatar on Tuesday (April 7). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">According to the police, Agarwal was found selling thermal guns at a price five times higher than the market price. A thermal gun which normally costs around Rs 3500 each was sold for Rs 15,000 by Agrawal, according to police. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Police added that Agarwal has imported 20,000 units of thermal guns from China. However, police seized only 67 thermal guns from him while they are seeking for the remaining cache. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">The demand for thermal guns has increased due to the spread of Covid 19. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Police said that Agarwal imported the guns on Saturday in a chartered plane. According to police, Agrawal was on a car with diplomatic number plate (209 HCC 1) when he was arrested. Agarwal is the honorary consul of Krygyzstan to Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Police said further investigations are underway. The special squad of police was sent to buy thermal guns from Agarwal after they got information about blackmarketing. The undercover team reached a deal with Agarwal to buy a bulk of thermal guns at the rate of Rs 15,000 each. It has been reported that Agarwal was selling the gun for as much as Rs 20,000 per piece. Police arrested Agarwal when both parties met at the rendezvous as per the deal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">However, Agarwal has refuted the allegaions, says Senior Superintendent of Police at the MPCD Sahakul Thapa.<br /> “We have been obtained information that he purchased the thermal guns from China. However, he says that he bought the thermal guns from the local market,” said SSP Thapa</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Agarwal has been kept in custody at the Teku-based office of MPCD. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11645', 'image' => '20200408111456_1586272608.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 11:13:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11893', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'All International Flights Suspended till April 30', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: The government has decided to extend the suspension of international flights to and from Tribhuvan International Airport till April 30.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">April 8: The government has decided to extend the suspension of international flights to and from Tribhuvan International Airport till April 30.<strong> </strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government had earlier announced suspension of all flights – international and domestic – till April 15 considering the threat of posed by the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government took such decision on Tuesday (April 7) upon the recommendation of the high-level committee to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country, informed government spokesperson Yuba Raj Khatiwada.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Khatiwada said after a meeting of the high-level committee that the flight suspension has been extended as the risks of imported cases of coronavirus have not subsided yet. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">He further said that the committee is yet to take any decision on whether to continue suspension of domestic flights or not. According to Khatiwada, a decision regarding domestic flights will be taken within a few days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The meeting also decided to conduct rapid diagnostic tests in the districts identified as highly vulnerable to the disease, especially the ones where new cases were detected on Saturday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Khatiwada, who holds the portfolio of finance and communication minister, said that the government has so far distributed relief to 114,316 families. He added that altogether 30,506 people are currently kept in quarantine facilities across the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Likewise, he said that police have taken action against around 2600 people for defying the lockdown order. All of them have been released after proper counseling, said the minister. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, 2235 vehicles have been impounded for operating without pass or for other purposes emergency. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">“Those vehicles which were misusing their passes or operating for other purpose than the intended ones were also punished,” said Khatiwada in a video post shared on Facebook. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">He said that around 1949 ambulances have been kept on standby in case of emergency.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial"> Likewise, the National Planning Commission is studying the impact of coronavirus on the country’s economy, according to the minister. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11644', 'image' => '20200408101555_Himalaya Airlines.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 10:15:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11894', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Stay Safe Wherever You Are: PM Oli ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 8: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged one and all to stay safe wherever they are during the current crisis caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, expressing his hope that the crisis recovery was sure to come. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 8: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged one and all to stay safe wherever they are during the current crisis caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, expressing his hope that the crisis recovery was sure to come. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In his address to the nation on Tuesday, the Prime Minister said the country had waged a war against COVID-19 and the higher risks of the contagion were still pervading through the number of confirmed cases has been limited to just nine since the detection of the first case. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">''It is obvious that we are finding so hard to fight against the pandemic when the developed, resource-rich and wealthy nations with robust health care systems are facing the same," he said adding the biggest challenge of the hour was to ensure the supplies of medical equipment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">''No matter is important than saving the lives of citizens. The regular procedures meant for normal times are not sufficient to tackle the prevailing abnormal situation. Bearing this in mind, special provisions have been made for the smooth supply of medical equipment," he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">He went on to say that the protection of the entire human beings and human civilization was the foremost priority of the world and the fight against COVID-19 is our collective battle. "It should be therefore realized that every member in the society was a combatant in this battle to defeat the virus." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Saying that COVID-19 has entered into the second state in the country, the PM urged one and all to remain more aware and cautious. Asking all foreign returnees to stay under quarantines, PM Oli said that worrying situation has been created as some of them have paid no heed to the request and arrangements for staying in quarantine. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">In the context of curbing corruption, the PM reaffirmed the government’s commitment and added that misinformation could not weaken the government’s firm commitment. The incumbent government will not hesitate to take actions if any cases of irregularities and corruption come up. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“My sufficient attention has been drawn to the media reports and criticisms, comments and recommendations coming in the social networking sites. The publicity materials portray the government failure instead of getting united at a time of national and global crisis which is tantamount to unseasoned celebration and such trends can never be entertained,” the PM said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, PM Oli said that robust national unity between the government and people, political parties, state and all apparatus of the societies was the precondition to get victory over the pandemic. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The PM said that he has taken a common resolution motion of the parliament, all-party consensus and statements of commitment from different political parties including that of main opposition as the national strength. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">PM Oli has also expressed his assurance for the continued cooperation and unity from all in the days to come. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-08', 'modified' => '2020-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11643', 'image' => '20200408103322_1586298786.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-08 10:32:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11892', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Signs Financing Agreement with World Bank for COVID-19 Response', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: The World Bank has approved a fast-track USD 29 million COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project to help Nepal prevent, detect, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">April 7: The World Bank has approved a fast-track USD 29 million COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project to help Nepal prevent, detect, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen its public health preparedness. The agreement to this effect was signed on Tuesday (April 7) by Finance Secretary Sishir Kumar Dhungana and Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank’s country manager for Nepal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">A joint press statement issued after the signing of the financing agreement reads that the project is financed from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s concessional credit window for developing countries, through the World Bank Group’s COVID-19 Fast-Track Facility and will be effective immediately after the signing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Arial">“The project provides emergency support to enhance Nepal’s capacity to detect cases and ensure prompt contact tracing consistent with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and Ministry of Health and Population protocols. It will also help set up new intensive care units, beds, and isolation facilities across the country,” says the statement. The project will be implemented by Ministry of Health and Population.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">“We are thankful to the World Bank for the response in a record short period of time, which will help Nepal respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen our capacities to deal with future public health risks,” the statement quoted Finance Secretary Dhungana as saying. He added, “Immediately after the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, the Government of Nepal has made several arrangements to prevent and address the possible crisis. Due to these measures, the socio-economic activities are going to be affected. Further support is being anticipated from the World Bank to cope with the emerging pandemic situation.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">According to the statement, the project will also equip designated health facilities with personal protective equipment and hygienic materials and increase the diagnostic capacity of laboratories for responding to public health emergencies. It will enhance the National Public Health Laboratory to handle harmful infectious diseases and strengthen public institutions to coordinate and better manage response activities in all three levels of government.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <span style="font-family:Arial">“Given the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government’s rapid response will help save lives across Nepal,” the statement quoted Hadad-Zervos of the World Bank, as saying. “The World Bank and its development partners are committed to helping Nepal beef up its health infrastructure and access the resources it needs to fight the spread of COVID-19 and protect the livelihoods of its people,” he said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11642', 'image' => '20200407052329_image001.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 17:22:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11891', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Initiates Homework to Seek Rs 41 Billion from Donor Agencies', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: The government has initiated homework to seek financial support of Rs 41 billion from donor agencies to check the spread of coronavirus in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">April 7: The government has initiated homework to seek financial support of Rs 41 billion from donor agencies to check the spread of coronavirus in the country. The Ministry of Finance has started discussions with development partners like the World Bank (WB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the support.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government intends to seek the maximum support of Rs 24.22 billion from the World Bank followed by IMF (Rs 13.9 billion) and ADB (Rs 7.26 billion).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">A highly-placed source at the finance ministry informed New Business Age that the government has so far initiated the process to avail financial support of Rs 41 billion. He further said that the donor agencies are positive to the government’s demand.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government is all set to sign a deal for concessional loan of Rs 3.43 billion with the World Bank on Tuesday (today). This amount is being taken under the World Bank’s assistance during emergency and pandemic. The bank has already provided loan of Rs 6 billion under the natural disaster and health crisis mitigation head. The government will be utilizing this fund to upgrade its capacity to fight against the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The source further said that the government is in talks with the ADB to avail Rs 7.26 billion at the moment. The government is also discussing mobilizing the fund allocated by the ADB for other projects in the current fiscal year in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The ADB had recently projected the economic growth of Nepal to slump as a result of lockdown, which has brought production and economic activities to a halt and also adversely affected the inflow of remittance.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">The ADB in its recent report had said that growth will also be slower as a result of lower rice production, as well as lack of optimal production by cement, iron and brick industries among others.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">Meanwhile, the government is preparing to take loan of Rs 13.9 billion from the IMF under its rapid credit facility at this hour of crisis.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">The government is preparing to make the funds available within the next two months to tackle the rising threat of coronavirus in the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">A meeting of the Council of Ministers on last Sunday (April 29) had decided to expedite talks with donor agencies to seek funds to prevent the spread of coronavirus and to tackle the problems created by the pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:Helvetica">However, the government is yet to assess the impacts of coronavirus on the overall economy. Under secretary at the ministry Uttar Kumar Khatri informed New Business Age that the government is still studying the impacts.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11641', 'image' => '20200407120037_world-bank-1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 11:59:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '11890', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Kolkata and Haldiya ports Waive Fines on Containers Stuck due to Lockdown ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: Kolkata and Haldiya ports of India have decided to waive the fines on containers and bulk cargoes as a relief to the business hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">April 7: </span><span style="font-family:Calibri">Kolkata and Haldiya ports of India have decided to waive the fines on containers and bulk cargoes as a relief to the business hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Kolkata Port, which is the preferred destination of Nepali businessmen for third-country trade, issued a notice stating that the facility will be provided to containers unloaded between March 22 to April 14. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">“We have given this facility because of the difficulty created by Covid 19. This facility will be applied in Haldiya port as well,” said Binit Kumar, chairman of the Kolkata Port Trust. Haldiya Port is also operated by Kolkata Port Trust. Kumar said that 50 percent relief has been provided in terminal operation fee. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri"> During the normal times, the charge per containers is Rs 1,000 to 1,500. Almost 60 percent of Nepal-bound containers through India come from Kolkata. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Indian Railways has also deducted fines for demurrage and wharfage. Indian Railways Ministry has already sent notice to all the regional offices regarding the relief. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><strong><span style="font-family:Calibri">Fear created due to corona infection case in Haldiya</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">The staff in Haldiya Port are gripped by fear of corona infection among one of their colleagues. The staff tested positive on Saturday. Due to this, all other workers are kept in quarantine said the port management. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to Binit Kumar, the port is regularly spreading insecticides and sanitizers to maintain safety. He said that the port has facility of doctors for 24 hours a day. Amidst the fear, the importers have not been able to go to the port. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri"><strong>Stockpile of container at Birgunj Dry Port</strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="font-family:Calibri">Almost all the containers coming from India and third countries are stuck at the customs office of Birgunj Dry Port due to lockdown. According to Animesh Kumar, senior officer of Himalayan Terminal that looks after the port administration, only 13 containers departed from the Birgunj Dry Port to their respective destinations. The dry port with capacity of 1542 containers now has to stockpile 2,645 containers. According to the dry port, 26 cargo trains carrying 2340 containers are due to arrive at the port. The Birgunj Dry Port is concerned about the management of the containers. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-04-07', 'modified' => '2020-04-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '11640', 'image' => '20200407112945_1586230909.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-04-07 11:28:36', '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
