Domestic Airline Companies Slash Airfare by 40 Percent

Mar 23, 2020 0 2 minutes 4 seconds to read

March 23: Airline companies of Nepal have agreed to reduce the domestic airfare at the request of the…

Non-Essential Services Come to a Grinding Halt

Mar 23, 2020 0 1 minutes 33 seconds to read

March 23: All non-essential services have been closed since Sunday (March 22) as per the government announcement to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the…

Government Bans Export of Essential Medicines

Mar 23, 2020 0 1 minutes 52 seconds to read

March 23: The government has imposed a ban on export of materials essential for preventing the spread of…

World Bank Likely to Release Fast-Track Funds to Deal with Pandemic this Week

Mar 23, 2020 0 2 minutes 21 seconds to read

March 23: The World Bank’s executive board is expected to consider later this week the first fast-track funds to help Afghanistan and Ethiopia respond to the coronavirus pandemic, Reuters reported citing the bank’s president on…

Nepal Importing Medical Kits and Equipment from Immediate Neighbours

Mar 23, 2020 0 40 seconds to read

March 23: Nepal is all set to import medical kits and equipment from China and India to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the…

Government Seals International Borders for Human Mobility for a Week

Mar 23, 2020 0 3 minutes 40 seconds to read

…

Hotels in Pokhara Start Laying off Staff Members

Mar 22, 2020 0 3 minutes 55 seconds to read

March 22: The streets of Pokhara, a prime destination of tourists, look deserted these…

NAC Suspends Flights to 3 Indian Cities

Mar 22, 2020 0 56 seconds to read

March 22: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NCA) has suspended its regular flights to New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore effective from March…

BFIs to Promote Free Digital Transaction Amid Coronavirus Crisis

Mar 22, 2020 0 1 minutes 26 seconds to read

March 22: Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) have decided not to charge any amount for any kind of digital transaction due to concerns regarding coronavirus.…

Domestic Airline Companies Agree to Reduce Air Fare

Mar 22, 2020 0 1 minutes 59 seconds to read

March 22: Airline operators of Nepal have agreed to review the fare of domestic flights following severe criticism from all quarters for the sudden hike in prices of air tickets amid coronavirus outbreak in the…

Bandipur Waives 50% Tax for Business Firms

Mar 22, 2020 0 1 minutes 44 seconds to read

March 22: Bandipur Rural Municipality in Tanahun district has announced to waive 50 per cent tax to the commercial firms after the business enterprises suffered from the effects of…

Covid-19 Outbreak in India causes Influx of Homebound Nepali Workers and Students

Mar 22, 2020 0 2 minutes 7 seconds to read

March 22: The number of Nepali nationals, mostly migrant workers, returning from across the border in India is increasing day by day amid concerns of…

Police Arrest Youth for Spreading Fake News About COVID-19

Mar 22, 2020 0 1 minutes 27 seconds to read

March 22: Police have arrested a person for spreading fake news about…

Coronavirus Deaths in Italy Overtake China as Economic Damage Mounts

Mar 20, 2020 0 3 minutes 13 seconds to read

March 20: The world’s richest nations poured unprecedented aid into the global economy on Thursday as coronavirus cases ballooned in the new epicentre Europe, with the number of deaths in Italy outstripping those in mainland China, where the virus originated, according to a news report published by…

Banks Preparing to Promote Cashless Transaction to Curb Coronavirus

Mar 20, 2020 0 2 minutes 26 seconds to read

March 20: Banks are preparing to start cashless transaction through electronic means in an effort to stop the possible spread of coronavirus from paper money.…

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NEPSE

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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11813',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Domestic Airline Companies Slash Airfare by 40 Percent',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 23: Airline companies of Nepal have agreed to reduce the domestic airfare at the request of the government.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 23: Airline companies of Nepal have agreed to reduce the domestic airfare at the request of the government. A meeting of the Airline Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) on Sunday decided to slash the airfare by 40 percent along domestic trunk routes considering the crisis created by coronavrius.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Buddha Air, Shree Airlines and Yeti Airlines have reduced the airfare as of Sunday evening (March 22).</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Issuing separate statements, Buddha Air and Yeti Airlines informed about the companies&rsquo; decisions to reduce the airfare to Pokhara, Biratnagar and other destinations within the country. Meanwhile, Shree Airlines informed about the decision to slash the fare on Saturday. &nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The airline companies said they decided to slash the airfare due to the inconvenience caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government has imposed a ban on long-route vehicles from Monday (March 23) in a bid to prevent the possible spread of the deadly disease which has already killed at least 14,000 people worldwide.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Passengers are left with the only option of air route to return home after the government banned long-route vehicles. Therefore, the airline companies said they decided to reduce the airfare as long as the government enforces the ban on land routes. The ban will remain effective until April 3.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Meanwhile, the airline companies complained that the government did not provide any relief at a time when they were facing crisis due to lack of passengers amid fear of coronavirus outbreak.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Buddha Air expressed its dissatisfaction in a statement arguing that the airline companies have to bear 40 percent of their expenses just for fuel. According to the airline company, they can further reduce the airfare if Nepal Oil Corporation provides them fuel at a lower price without taking any profit.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/222%284%29.jpg" style="height:292px; width:800px" /></span></span></p>
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			'id' => '11815',
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			'title' => 'Non-Essential Services Come to a Grinding Halt',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 23: All non-essential services have been closed since Sunday (March 22) as per the government announcement to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 23: All non-essential services have been closed since Sunday (March 22) as per the government announcement to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Addressing the nation in a televised speech on Friday, Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli had announced the closure of all non-essential services including schools and educational institutions, community and private offices among others from March 22 to April 3 in an attempt to contain the deadly disease, which has also surfaced in Nepal.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Issuing a public notice on the Nepal Gazette, the government has instructed all the service providers including public and private companies to halt their services from march 22 to April 3 unless those services fall under essential category. The essential services include food supply, health service, security and communication, media among others.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government has also suspended all passenger flights to and from the Tribhuvan International Airport for ten days starting from March 22. Altogether 28 airline companies including two from Nepal have been operating flights from the TIA.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Likewise, operation of all long-route vehicles has also been halted for the time being. However, private vehicles can travel long distance, according to a decision taken by the Council of Ministers.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government has already closed cinema halls and other entertainments while the gathering of more than 25 people is also not allowed. All the courts have remained closed since Sunday for two weeks. &nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11812',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Bans Export of Essential Medicines',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 23: The government has imposed a ban on export of materials essential for preventing the spread of coronavirus.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 23: The government has imposed a ban on export of materials essential for preventing the spread of coronavirus. The Department of Customs has stopped the export of materials such as masks, sanitizers, PPE, gloves among others effective from Sunday (March 22).</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Likewise, the government has also decided to make customs pass available for the import of essential goods within two hours. The Department of Customs has already issued circulars to all the units in this regard, said Director General Suman Dahal.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The department has formed a &ldquo;quick-response team&rdquo; to sort out any problem that might occur at the customs points. The five-member team headed by Deputy Director General of the Department of Customs, Shyam Prasad Bhandari, will resolve any problem that might surface while importing or exporting essential goods.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;The quick response team has been tasked to sort out any problems related to customs immediately,&rdquo; said Dahal.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to Dahal, the import of medicines and other related materials to Nepal exceeds the export of these essential goods. Basically, Nepal exports pharmaceuticals and other similar goods after re-packaging the imported items, said Dahal.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&nbsp;President of the Association of Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal&nbsp; (APPON) Narayan Bahadur Chhetri welcomed the decision of government to ban the export of essential medical goods saying that the country itself is struggling to meet its demand for raw materials required for producing medicines.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He urged the government to facilitate in making the active pharmaceutical ingredients available.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">However, Chhetri claimed that the drug producers of Nepal have adequate stock of raw materials to manufacture medicines for the next three months. &nbsp;</span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11809',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'World Bank Likely to Release Fast-Track Funds to Deal with Pandemic this Week',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 23: The World Bank’s executive board is expected to consider later this week the first fast-track funds to help Afghanistan and Ethiopia respond to the coronavirus pandemic, Reuters reported citing the bank’s president on Sunday.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 23: The World Bank&rsquo;s executive board is expected to consider later this week the first fast-track funds to help Afghanistan and Ethiopia respond to the coronavirus pandemic, Reuters reported citing the bank&rsquo;s president on Sunday.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">World Bank&rsquo;s President David Malpass said in a blog post on the bank that funding for the projects could come out of a $14 billion Fast Track Facility (FTF) approved last week (March 17) to help countries deal with the health and economic impact of the coronavirus.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to the latest tally of Reuters, the respiratory disease has infected more than 337,524 people around the world, and killed at least 14,651.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In the blog, Malpass said World Bank teams were preparing projects in 40 countries for up to $1.7 billion under the FTF at the end of the week.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Projects in Afghanistan and Ethiopia were the most advanced and would be presented to the board this week, he said, adding that meetings for 14 other countries will take place next week as well, and will create a framework for rapid responses in other countries without naming them.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&nbsp;&ldquo;This approach will allow us to quickly replicate operations in multiple countries,&rdquo; he said.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In addition to the fast track facility, the World Bank is also providing COVID-19 support via restructuring of the existing projects.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">So far, projects in 24 countries for up to $1.5 billion are in the works and span every region where the bank operates..</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to Malpass, the IFC is also working to start extending trade finance and working capital lines to clients, with regular board action expected on those efforts in the next two to four weeks.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Malpass further said World Bank officials were in close touch with finance ministers and central bankers from around the world to discuss their needs and responses to the crisis.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Bank officials had also identified ways to support countries as they race to procure much-needed medical equipment and upgrade medical facilities.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11811',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal Importing Medical Kits and Equipment from Immediate Neighbours',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 23: Nepal is all set to import medical kits and equipment from China and India to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 23: Nepal is all set to import medical kits and equipment from China and India to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government has initiated the process to bring in 200,000 units of personal protective equipment (PPE), 100,000 units of PCR test kit, 150,000 units of N95 mask among others. Likewise, Nepal is also importing 10 sets of ambulances equipped with labs and five sets of mobile ambulances from the northern neighbor.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Meanwhile, the government has sought 160,000 units of PPE, 500,000 units of PCR test kit, 100,000 units of VTM and 150,000 units of N95 masks from India.</span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-03-23',
			'modified' => '2020-03-23',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11560',
			'image' => '20200323112451_Clipboard01.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-03-23 11:24:19',
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11810',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Seals International Borders for Human Mobility for a Week   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => '',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 23: In order to control the possible spread of coronavirus in the country, the government on Sunday decided to close the international borders for human mobility for a week from 10:00 am on Monday (March 23).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">A meeting of the Council of Ministers took a decision to this effect on Sunday evening, informed Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada, who is also the government spokesperson and looks after the portfolio of Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;As this infection is spread from the mobility of large number of people and across the borders, the mobility (of people) is postponed by considering the current issue and interests of the neighbouring countries,&quot; Khatiwada said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">This decision was taken to prevent the spread of the infection, reduce risks, and increase mutual cooperation and understanding, he said adding, &quot;We have to advance multilateral and bilateral cooperation.&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The government also decided to transform Chandragiri-based hospital of Armed Police Force into a dedicated hospital for the treatment of coronavirus patients in case the COVID-19 surfaces in Nepal. The doctors of the Nepal Army and Nepal Police would be mobilised for the operations of the dedicated hospital if needed, Minister Khatiwada added.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Likewise, the cabinet meeting decided to establish a fund by allocating Rs 500 million for combating the deadly coronavirus. All the ministers would provide a month&#39;s salary in the fund, Dr Khatiwada shared. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The cabinet has also urged government employees, business persons, social workers, organizations and individuals to contribute to the fund.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Likewise, in order to motivate the health workers working in the frontline during this dire state would be provided with 50 per cent to cent per cent allowances, the cabinet meeting decided.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The government would also provide all the equipment necessary to safeguard the health workers in course of their duty. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The security personnel and health workers have been instructed to bring COVID-19 infected persons to the treatment facilities.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Furthermore, decision was made to set up quarantine centres at Federal, State and local levels in coordination among the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Home, Ministry of Defence and Ministry for Federal Affairs and General Administration. Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation would take the lead for this.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, decision was taken to make the storage of essential goods systematic and ease the supplies as well as carry out market monitoring.&nbsp; &nbsp;- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11808',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Hotels in Pokhara Start Laying off Staff Members',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 22: The streets of Pokhara, a prime destination of tourists, look deserted these days.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 22: The streets of Pokhara, a prime destination of tourists, look deserted these days. This lake city is generally full of life and with lots of tourists during normal days. But the coronavirus pandemic has taken toll on the major source of income of the city which relies on tourism.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government&rsquo;s order to close all sectors except the essential ones has resulted in decline in the number of domestic tourists as well in major tourist destinations in the city. Most of the people have preferred to stay indoors due to the fear of contracting the deadly disease.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The flow of international tourists has almost come to a complete halt after the government and various other countries imposed travel bans to curb the spread of the virus. The government has banned international flights to the Tribhuvan International Airport from countries with confirmed cases.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The country&rsquo;s economy was getting back on track after the devastating earthquakes of 2015 as the coronavirus outbreak played the spoilsport this time.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The months of March, April and May are considered peak tourist season in Nepal. Tourism entrepreneurs make most of the profit during this season. But the tourism industry has suffered a great setback this year due to the lack of tourists in the peak season. &nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tourism entrepreneurs are deeply worried about the current crisis. They were hopeful of a good season due to the announcement of Visit Nepal 2020 campaign by the government this year. But all hopes have now faded as their worst nightmare has instead come true.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The halt in arrival of tourists has brought the hotel and restaurant businesses as well as travel and trekking expeditions to a standstill. It has also risked the closure of the entire tourism industry.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Binod Poudel, who has been operating a trekking agency since the last two decades, says his business in on the brink of collapse. He said tourism industry is his main source of income and he has had to remain idle since the last one and a half months.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;My whole business is at stake. I am worried how will I pay the school fees of my children. I am equally worried about paying the house rent,&rdquo; he said.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Poudel said he even failed to get any loan at this time of crisis.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Another tourism entrepreneur Netra Poudel says the coronavirus outbreak has caused much more problems than the havoc created by the 2015 earthquakes.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;Back in 2015, we still had some business. But our business has now come to a complete halt,&rdquo; he said.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">With the nosedive in arrival of tourists, the hotel industry in Pokhara has started sending the staffers home.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Prithvi Lamichhane, who runs Durbar Inn Hotel in Lakeside, Pokhara, says his business is nil since one and a half months. He said that he gave home leave to seven of his hotel staffers due to cancellation of bookings one after another.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The situation of Yatra Courtyard Hotel and Resort is no different at all. Almost all the 40 rooms of the hotel are unoccupied since more than a month now. The proprietor of the hotel is preparing to lay off more than five dozens staff of the hotel for at least a month.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;We are planning to provide non-paid leave for one month for the time being. We will decide our next move as per the situation,&rdquo; said Arun Giri, general manager of the hotel.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11558',
			'image' => '20200322124915_20190511105700_Clipboard37.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-03-22 12:48:48',
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11806',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'NAC Suspends Flights to 3 Indian Cities',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 22: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NCA) has suspended its regular flights to New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore effective from March 22.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 22: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NCA) has suspended its regular flights to New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore effective from March 22.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The state-owned airline company of Nepal said in a statement that it decided to suspend the flights to India after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of India issued a notice to halt flights to those destinations in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Indian aviation regulatory body has imposed a ban till March 29.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The flag carrier of Nepal said it will suspend flights to those destinations in India until the ban expires after March 29.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">NAC has assured the passengers that it will refund the amount to anyone who has purchased the ticket in advance.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-03-22',
			'modified' => '2020-03-22',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11557',
			'image' => '20200322104408_20190826123900_wide body_nepal airlines (1).jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-03-22 10:43:39',
			'homepage' => false,
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11803',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'BFIs to Promote Free Digital Transaction Amid Coronavirus Crisis',
			'sub_title' => 'Debit card of any bank can be used in any of the ATMs within the country free of cost',
			'summary' => 'March 22: Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) have decided not to charge any amount for any kind of digital transaction due to concerns regarding coronavirus. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 22: Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) have decided not to charge any amount for any kind of digital transaction&nbsp;due to concerns regarding coronavirus. The BFIs decided to provide such facility to their customers after it was revealed that the deadly virus can spread from paper currency.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Nepal Bankers&rsquo; Association, Development Bankers&rsquo; Association Nepal and Nepal Micro Finance Association issued a joint statement on Friday informing about their decision to promote cashless transaction.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">For the time being, BFIs have decide to provide free internet and mobile banking services.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During normal days, BFIs used to charge a minimum of Rs 10 for such transactions.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">BFIs have also decided not to take any charge for using debit card of one bank at ATM of another bank. It means that the debit card of any bank can be used in any of the ATMs within the country free of cost. Banks had been charging a minimum of Rs 25 for allowing withdrawal of money from their ATMs by customers of other banks.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">They have also decided not to charge for the connect IPS services provided by Nepal Clearing House Limited.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">These facilities will remain in place until further notice.</span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-03-22',
			'modified' => '2020-03-22',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11556',
			'image' => '20200322094915_aaaa.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-03-22 09:48:39',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => true,
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	),
	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11802',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Domestic Airline Companies Agree to Reduce Air Fare',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 22: Airline operators of Nepal have agreed to review the fare of domestic flights following severe criticism from all quarters for the sudden hike in prices of air tickets amid coronavirus outbreak in the world.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 22: Airline operators of Nepal have agreed to review the fare of domestic flights following severe criticism from all quarters for the sudden hike in prices of air tickets amid coronavirus outbreak in the world.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">After receiving a number of complaints, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai had held a meeting with airline operators of the country on Saturday (March 21).</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During the meeting, the domestic air service providers agreed to review the air fare.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The domestic airline companies had reduced the air fare some days ago due to lack of foreign passengers due to the fear of coronavirus. But the airline companies all of a sudden increased the fare after the government imposed a ban on long-route vehicles effective from March 22.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government has taken a number of measures including closure of educational institutions, restaurants and bars among others for at least two weeks in an effort to contain the possible spread of the deadly virus. This does not bar essential service providers from operating their business. Essential service includes food supply, security, health, water and sanitation as well as air service, with exception of arrivals from coronavirus-affected countries and long-route vehicles within the country.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Considering the current crisis, Minister Bhattarai had urged the airline operators not to charge maximum amount to the air passengers. Responding to the request of the minister, the airline operators made commitment to review the air fare. However, they have not yet agreed on how much the air fare will be reduced. A separate meeting of the Airline Operators Association of Nepal is taking place on Sunday (March 22) to fix the rate.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Spokesperson of AOAN Yograj Bhattarai said that they have reached an understanding with the government to reduce the air fare. But he added that they are yet to decide on how much amount shall be reduced.</span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-03-22',
			'modified' => '2020-03-22',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
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			'image' => '20200322092059_1111.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-03-22 09:20:29',
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11804',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Bandipur Waives 50% Tax for Business Firms   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 22: Bandipur Rural Municipality in Tanahun district has announced to waive 50 per cent tax to the commercial firms after the business enterprises suffered from the effects of COVID-19.   ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 22: Bandipur Rural Municipality in Tanahun district has announced to waive 50 per cent tax to the commercial firms after the business enterprises suffered from the effects of COVID-19.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The rural municipality&#39;s decision on tax exemption would be in force for the fiscal year 2076/077.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">With the announcement of the local government, the entrepreneurs here have expressed happiness calling it a &#39;welcome step&#39;.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Chairman of Tanahun Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Bandipur, Baisha Gurung said that the move to exempt tax to the business firms would act as a relief to the business people.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Despite being a tourist season, tourist arrival in Bandipur is almost nil owing to Covid-19 fears.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Hotelier Basanta Poudel said that the rural municipality&#39;s decision would be a small sigh of relief as they are struggling even to pay the interest to the bank due to slowdown in business.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Likewise, vice-chair of rural municipality Karuna Gurung said that the step was taken to stop the business people from being discouraged amid the threat of coronavirus outbreak.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">She said that the rural municipality has also requested to the financial institutions to lower the interest rates and the house owners to ensure subsidy in house rent. &nbsp;- RSS&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-03-22',
			'modified' => '2020-03-22',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11554',
			'image' => '20200322100341_aaaadfggg.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-03-22 10:01:44',
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	),
	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11807',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Covid-19 Outbreak in India causes Influx of Homebound Nepali Workers and Students',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 22: The number of Nepali nationals, mostly migrant workers, returning from across the border in India is increasing day by day amid concerns of coronavirus.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 22: The number of Nepali nationals, mostly migrant workers, returning from across the border in India is increasing day by day amid concerns of coronavirus infection. Large number of Nepali migrant workers and students have started returning from India, which is grappling with COVID-19 outbreak. India has imposed a 14-hour curfew on Sunday to test the effectiveness of the draconian rule that has proved to be effective in containing the deadly virus in China, where the disease is believed to have originated in late December last year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It has become a great challenge for the health officials stationed at the border check points to assess the health condition of a large number of people returning home from India. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On Saturday, more than 18,000 people entered Nepal from the Rani transit point in Biratnagar alone. Nepal Police and Armed Police Force helped in crowd management as the health workers screened the people entering Nepal. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Sanjay Kumar Singh, a health worker at Rani transit point, says that they have been lenient in allowing the mass to enter Nepal as they are sent across the border after screening by the Indian officials. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the officials, around 14,000 people entered Nepal from Gaddachauki check post in Kanchanpur district. There was a large gathering at the check point since early morning on Saturday. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Chief District Officer of Kanchanpur Narahari Khatiwada said that the lack of adequate health officials had caused some problems in crowd management at the check point in the morning but the situation was brought under control after mobilizing police and APF later in the day. Likewise, around 4000 people entered Nepal from Gauriphanta check point on Saturday. </span></span></span></p>
',
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			'created' => '2020-03-22',
			'modified' => '2020-03-22',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11553',
			'image' => '20200322121509_1584829140.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-03-22 12:14:29',
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	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11805',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Police Arrest Youth for Spreading Fake News About COVID-19   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 22: Police have arrested a person for spreading fake news about coronavirus.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 22: Police have arrested a person for spreading fake news about coronavirus.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police on Saturday arrested Bibek Thapa Magar of Ramechhap district from Sipadol in Bhaktapur for his involvement in producing a misleading audio clip regarding COVID-19 and sharing it on social media.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The arrested person talks about the outbreak of coronavirus and death toll in Nepal in the one-minute audio clip that has become viral on social media. In the clip, the 20-year-old Magar says he received the information from a staffer at Norvic International Hospital but the hospital has refuted the allegation.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The hospital said in a press statement that it was surprised by the groundless rumor that eight patients of the hospital were infected with COVID-19. The hospital clarified that none of its patients have been infected with the virus.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&nbsp;Police investigation has revealed that Thapa was running an unregistered news website, jhorle news.com.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The cyber bureau of the police is reportedly investigating Magar under charge of public offense.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&nbsp;Meanwhile, the police administration has urged the people not to believe in any unauthorised news and information and to follow the government&#39;s authorised update on coronavirus. &nbsp;</span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-03-22',
			'modified' => '2020-03-22',
			'keywords' => '',
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			'sortorder' => '11552',
			'image' => '20200322103400_Fake News.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-03-22 10:33:33',
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	(int) 13 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11800',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Coronavirus Deaths in Italy Overtake China as Economic Damage Mounts',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: The world’s richest nations poured unprecedented aid into the global economy on Thursday as coronavirus cases ballooned in the new epicentre Europe, with the number of deaths in Italy outstripping those in mainland China, where the virus originated, according to a news report published by Reuters.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 20: The world&rsquo;s richest nations poured unprecedented aid into the global economy on Thursday as coronavirus cases ballooned in the new epicentre Europe, with the number of deaths in Italy outstripping those in mainland China, where the virus originated, according to a news report published by Reuters.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">With over 242,000 infections and nearly 10,000 deaths, the epidemic has stunned the world and drawn comparisons with painful periods such as World War Two, the 2008 financial crisis and the 1918 Spanish flu, the news agency further reported.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">UN chief Antonio Guterres has reportedly warned that a global recession is a near certainty.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;This is a moment that demands coordinated, decisive, and innovative policy action from the world&rsquo;s leading economies,&rdquo; Reuters quoted Guterres as telling reporters in a video conference, adding, &ldquo;We are in an unprecedented situation and the normal rules no longer apply.&rdquo;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to Reuters, tourism and airlines have been particularly battered, as the world&rsquo;s citizens hunker down to minimize contact and curb the spread of the highly contagious COVID-19 respiratory illness. But few sectors have been spared by a crisis threatening a lengthy global recession.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The United States has reportedly urged the Americans not to travel abroad at all.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Markets have suffered routs unseen since the 2008 financial debacle, with investors rushing to the US dollar as a safe haven.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Policymakers in the United States, Europe and Asia have slashed interest rates and opened liquidity taps to try to stabilise economies hit by quarantined consumers, broken supply chains, disrupted transport and paralysed businesses, according to Reuters.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The virus, thought to have originated from wildlife in Wuhan of mainland China late last year, has jumped to 172 other nations and territories.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;Cases in Germany, Iran and Spain rose to more than 12,000 each. An official in Tehran tweeted that the coronavirus was killing one person every 10 minutes,&rdquo; the news agency further said.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Italian soldiers transported corpses from an overwhelmed cemetery in Europe&rsquo;s worst-hit nation where 3,405 people have died, more than in mainland China.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Supermarkets in many countries were besieged with shoppers stocking up on food staples and hygiene products. Some rationed sales and fixed special hours for the elderly, who are particularly vulnerable to severe illness, according to Reuters.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Amid the gloom, China provided a ray of hope as it reported zero new local transmissions of the virus, a sign of success for its draconian containment policies since January. Imported cases accounted for all 34 new infections in China.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;China was to unleash trillions of yuan of fiscal stimulus and South Korea pledged 50 trillion won ($39 billion). With some economists fearing prolonged pain akin to the 1930s Great Depression and others anticipating a bounceback, gloomy data and forecasts abounded.&rdquo;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'created' => '2020-03-20',
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			'sortorder' => '11551',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11799',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Banks Preparing to Promote Cashless Transaction to Curb Coronavirus',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: Banks are preparing to start cashless transaction through electronic means in an effort to stop the possible spread of coronavirus from paper money. ',
			'content' => '<p><em><span style="font-size:12px">This screenshot image taken from the website of Global IME Bank shows a promotional material to encourage digital transaction. Photo Courtesy: Global IME Bank</span></em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 20: Banks are preparing to start cashless transaction through electronic means in an effort to stop the possible spread of coronavirus from paper money. This move would also significantly reduce the number of customers in BFIs as well as the threat of the deadly virus, that has caused havoc across the globe.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Bankers have taken the initiative to promote digital banking in collaboration with the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the regulatory body of banks in the country, after realizing that there is high chance of spreading the disease through paper money and in crowded areas.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Most of the banks are making effort to discourage the use of paper money by focusing on the use of mobile or online service for transactions.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Nepal Bankers&rsquo; Association held an initial discussion on this topic on Thursday (March 19) and has called for a meeting of CEOs of all the member banks on Friday (today).</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Executive Director of the association Anil Sharma told New Business Age that the bankers are preparing to make the use of digital transaction more effective after discussions among the stakeholders.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;The counters of banks are mostly crowded but the government has issued an order not to allow a gathering of more than 25 people,&rdquo; said Sharma.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;We are trying to promote digital transaction in such a situation,&rdquo; he added.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Nepal Rastra Bank is also ready to help the BFIs promote digital transaction. Executive Director of the Banks and Financial Institution Regulation Department of NRB, Dev Kumar Dhakal, says there is high risk of transmission of coronavirus from cash transaction so the central bank has pressed for digital transaction.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;We do not have adequate infrastructure for digital payment, but we discussed about promoting digital transaction wherever possible,&rdquo; said Dhakal.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Giving reference to China destroying 600 billion yuan in a bid to control the spread of coronavirus, Dhakal said it is time to shift to digital transaction.</span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11813',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Domestic Airline Companies Slash Airfare by 40 Percent',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 23: Airline companies of Nepal have agreed to reduce the domestic airfare at the request of the government.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 23: Airline companies of Nepal have agreed to reduce the domestic airfare at the request of the government. A meeting of the Airline Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) on Sunday decided to slash the airfare by 40 percent along domestic trunk routes considering the crisis created by coronavrius.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Buddha Air, Shree Airlines and Yeti Airlines have reduced the airfare as of Sunday evening (March 22).</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Issuing separate statements, Buddha Air and Yeti Airlines informed about the companies&rsquo; decisions to reduce the airfare to Pokhara, Biratnagar and other destinations within the country. Meanwhile, Shree Airlines informed about the decision to slash the fare on Saturday. &nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The airline companies said they decided to slash the airfare due to the inconvenience caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government has imposed a ban on long-route vehicles from Monday (March 23) in a bid to prevent the possible spread of the deadly disease which has already killed at least 14,000 people worldwide.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Passengers are left with the only option of air route to return home after the government banned long-route vehicles. Therefore, the airline companies said they decided to reduce the airfare as long as the government enforces the ban on land routes. The ban will remain effective until April 3.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Meanwhile, the airline companies complained that the government did not provide any relief at a time when they were facing crisis due to lack of passengers amid fear of coronavirus outbreak.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Buddha Air expressed its dissatisfaction in a statement arguing that the airline companies have to bear 40 percent of their expenses just for fuel. According to the airline company, they can further reduce the airfare if Nepal Oil Corporation provides them fuel at a lower price without taking any profit.</span></span></p>

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			'sortorder' => '11564',
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			'article_date' => '2020-03-23 12:33:18',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11815',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Non-Essential Services Come to a Grinding Halt',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 23: All non-essential services have been closed since Sunday (March 22) as per the government announcement to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 23: All non-essential services have been closed since Sunday (March 22) as per the government announcement to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Addressing the nation in a televised speech on Friday, Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli had announced the closure of all non-essential services including schools and educational institutions, community and private offices among others from March 22 to April 3 in an attempt to contain the deadly disease, which has also surfaced in Nepal.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Issuing a public notice on the Nepal Gazette, the government has instructed all the service providers including public and private companies to halt their services from march 22 to April 3 unless those services fall under essential category. The essential services include food supply, health service, security and communication, media among others.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government has also suspended all passenger flights to and from the Tribhuvan International Airport for ten days starting from March 22. Altogether 28 airline companies including two from Nepal have been operating flights from the TIA.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Likewise, operation of all long-route vehicles has also been halted for the time being. However, private vehicles can travel long distance, according to a decision taken by the Council of Ministers.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government has already closed cinema halls and other entertainments while the gathering of more than 25 people is also not allowed. All the courts have remained closed since Sunday for two weeks. &nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'sortorder' => '11563',
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			'id' => '11812',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Bans Export of Essential Medicines',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 23: The government has imposed a ban on export of materials essential for preventing the spread of coronavirus.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 23: The government has imposed a ban on export of materials essential for preventing the spread of coronavirus. The Department of Customs has stopped the export of materials such as masks, sanitizers, PPE, gloves among others effective from Sunday (March 22).</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Likewise, the government has also decided to make customs pass available for the import of essential goods within two hours. The Department of Customs has already issued circulars to all the units in this regard, said Director General Suman Dahal.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The department has formed a &ldquo;quick-response team&rdquo; to sort out any problem that might occur at the customs points. The five-member team headed by Deputy Director General of the Department of Customs, Shyam Prasad Bhandari, will resolve any problem that might surface while importing or exporting essential goods.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;The quick response team has been tasked to sort out any problems related to customs immediately,&rdquo; said Dahal.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to Dahal, the import of medicines and other related materials to Nepal exceeds the export of these essential goods. Basically, Nepal exports pharmaceuticals and other similar goods after re-packaging the imported items, said Dahal.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&nbsp;President of the Association of Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal&nbsp; (APPON) Narayan Bahadur Chhetri welcomed the decision of government to ban the export of essential medical goods saying that the country itself is struggling to meet its demand for raw materials required for producing medicines.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He urged the government to facilitate in making the active pharmaceutical ingredients available.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">However, Chhetri claimed that the drug producers of Nepal have adequate stock of raw materials to manufacture medicines for the next three months. &nbsp;</span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11809',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'World Bank Likely to Release Fast-Track Funds to Deal with Pandemic this Week',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 23: The World Bank’s executive board is expected to consider later this week the first fast-track funds to help Afghanistan and Ethiopia respond to the coronavirus pandemic, Reuters reported citing the bank’s president on Sunday.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 23: The World Bank&rsquo;s executive board is expected to consider later this week the first fast-track funds to help Afghanistan and Ethiopia respond to the coronavirus pandemic, Reuters reported citing the bank&rsquo;s president on Sunday.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">World Bank&rsquo;s President David Malpass said in a blog post on the bank that funding for the projects could come out of a $14 billion Fast Track Facility (FTF) approved last week (March 17) to help countries deal with the health and economic impact of the coronavirus.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to the latest tally of Reuters, the respiratory disease has infected more than 337,524 people around the world, and killed at least 14,651.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In the blog, Malpass said World Bank teams were preparing projects in 40 countries for up to $1.7 billion under the FTF at the end of the week.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Projects in Afghanistan and Ethiopia were the most advanced and would be presented to the board this week, he said, adding that meetings for 14 other countries will take place next week as well, and will create a framework for rapid responses in other countries without naming them.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&nbsp;&ldquo;This approach will allow us to quickly replicate operations in multiple countries,&rdquo; he said.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In addition to the fast track facility, the World Bank is also providing COVID-19 support via restructuring of the existing projects.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">So far, projects in 24 countries for up to $1.5 billion are in the works and span every region where the bank operates..</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to Malpass, the IFC is also working to start extending trade finance and working capital lines to clients, with regular board action expected on those efforts in the next two to four weeks.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Malpass further said World Bank officials were in close touch with finance ministers and central bankers from around the world to discuss their needs and responses to the crisis.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Bank officials had also identified ways to support countries as they race to procure much-needed medical equipment and upgrade medical facilities.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11811',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal Importing Medical Kits and Equipment from Immediate Neighbours',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 23: Nepal is all set to import medical kits and equipment from China and India to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 23: Nepal is all set to import medical kits and equipment from China and India to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government has initiated the process to bring in 200,000 units of personal protective equipment (PPE), 100,000 units of PCR test kit, 150,000 units of N95 mask among others. Likewise, Nepal is also importing 10 sets of ambulances equipped with labs and five sets of mobile ambulances from the northern neighbor.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Meanwhile, the government has sought 160,000 units of PPE, 500,000 units of PCR test kit, 100,000 units of VTM and 150,000 units of N95 masks from India.</span></span></p>
',
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			'sortorder' => '11560',
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			'article_date' => '2020-03-23 11:24:19',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11810',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Seals International Borders for Human Mobility for a Week   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => '',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 23: In order to control the possible spread of coronavirus in the country, the government on Sunday decided to close the international borders for human mobility for a week from 10:00 am on Monday (March 23).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">A meeting of the Council of Ministers took a decision to this effect on Sunday evening, informed Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada, who is also the government spokesperson and looks after the portfolio of Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;As this infection is spread from the mobility of large number of people and across the borders, the mobility (of people) is postponed by considering the current issue and interests of the neighbouring countries,&quot; Khatiwada said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">This decision was taken to prevent the spread of the infection, reduce risks, and increase mutual cooperation and understanding, he said adding, &quot;We have to advance multilateral and bilateral cooperation.&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The government also decided to transform Chandragiri-based hospital of Armed Police Force into a dedicated hospital for the treatment of coronavirus patients in case the COVID-19 surfaces in Nepal. The doctors of the Nepal Army and Nepal Police would be mobilised for the operations of the dedicated hospital if needed, Minister Khatiwada added.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Likewise, the cabinet meeting decided to establish a fund by allocating Rs 500 million for combating the deadly coronavirus. All the ministers would provide a month&#39;s salary in the fund, Dr Khatiwada shared. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The cabinet has also urged government employees, business persons, social workers, organizations and individuals to contribute to the fund.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Likewise, in order to motivate the health workers working in the frontline during this dire state would be provided with 50 per cent to cent per cent allowances, the cabinet meeting decided.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The government would also provide all the equipment necessary to safeguard the health workers in course of their duty. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The security personnel and health workers have been instructed to bring COVID-19 infected persons to the treatment facilities.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Furthermore, decision was made to set up quarantine centres at Federal, State and local levels in coordination among the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Home, Ministry of Defence and Ministry for Federal Affairs and General Administration. Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation would take the lead for this.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, decision was taken to make the storage of essential goods systematic and ease the supplies as well as carry out market monitoring.&nbsp; &nbsp;- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-03-23',
			'modified' => '2020-03-23',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11559',
			'image' => '20200323100921_aaa.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-03-23 10:08:51',
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11808',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Hotels in Pokhara Start Laying off Staff Members',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 22: The streets of Pokhara, a prime destination of tourists, look deserted these days.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 22: The streets of Pokhara, a prime destination of tourists, look deserted these days. This lake city is generally full of life and with lots of tourists during normal days. But the coronavirus pandemic has taken toll on the major source of income of the city which relies on tourism.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government&rsquo;s order to close all sectors except the essential ones has resulted in decline in the number of domestic tourists as well in major tourist destinations in the city. Most of the people have preferred to stay indoors due to the fear of contracting the deadly disease.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The flow of international tourists has almost come to a complete halt after the government and various other countries imposed travel bans to curb the spread of the virus. The government has banned international flights to the Tribhuvan International Airport from countries with confirmed cases.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The country&rsquo;s economy was getting back on track after the devastating earthquakes of 2015 as the coronavirus outbreak played the spoilsport this time.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The months of March, April and May are considered peak tourist season in Nepal. Tourism entrepreneurs make most of the profit during this season. But the tourism industry has suffered a great setback this year due to the lack of tourists in the peak season. &nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tourism entrepreneurs are deeply worried about the current crisis. They were hopeful of a good season due to the announcement of Visit Nepal 2020 campaign by the government this year. But all hopes have now faded as their worst nightmare has instead come true.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The halt in arrival of tourists has brought the hotel and restaurant businesses as well as travel and trekking expeditions to a standstill. It has also risked the closure of the entire tourism industry.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Binod Poudel, who has been operating a trekking agency since the last two decades, says his business in on the brink of collapse. He said tourism industry is his main source of income and he has had to remain idle since the last one and a half months.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;My whole business is at stake. I am worried how will I pay the school fees of my children. I am equally worried about paying the house rent,&rdquo; he said.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Poudel said he even failed to get any loan at this time of crisis.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Another tourism entrepreneur Netra Poudel says the coronavirus outbreak has caused much more problems than the havoc created by the 2015 earthquakes.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;Back in 2015, we still had some business. But our business has now come to a complete halt,&rdquo; he said.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">With the nosedive in arrival of tourists, the hotel industry in Pokhara has started sending the staffers home.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Prithvi Lamichhane, who runs Durbar Inn Hotel in Lakeside, Pokhara, says his business is nil since one and a half months. He said that he gave home leave to seven of his hotel staffers due to cancellation of bookings one after another.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The situation of Yatra Courtyard Hotel and Resort is no different at all. Almost all the 40 rooms of the hotel are unoccupied since more than a month now. The proprietor of the hotel is preparing to lay off more than five dozens staff of the hotel for at least a month.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;We are planning to provide non-paid leave for one month for the time being. We will decide our next move as per the situation,&rdquo; said Arun Giri, general manager of the hotel.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-03-22',
			'modified' => '2020-03-22',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11558',
			'image' => '20200322124915_20190511105700_Clipboard37.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-03-22 12:48:48',
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11806',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'NAC Suspends Flights to 3 Indian Cities',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 22: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NCA) has suspended its regular flights to New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore effective from March 22.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 22: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NCA) has suspended its regular flights to New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore effective from March 22.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The state-owned airline company of Nepal said in a statement that it decided to suspend the flights to India after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of India issued a notice to halt flights to those destinations in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Indian aviation regulatory body has imposed a ban till March 29.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The flag carrier of Nepal said it will suspend flights to those destinations in India until the ban expires after March 29.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">NAC has assured the passengers that it will refund the amount to anyone who has purchased the ticket in advance.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-03-22',
			'modified' => '2020-03-22',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11557',
			'image' => '20200322104408_20190826123900_wide body_nepal airlines (1).jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-03-22 10:43:39',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11803',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'BFIs to Promote Free Digital Transaction Amid Coronavirus Crisis',
			'sub_title' => 'Debit card of any bank can be used in any of the ATMs within the country free of cost',
			'summary' => 'March 22: Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) have decided not to charge any amount for any kind of digital transaction due to concerns regarding coronavirus. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 22: Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) have decided not to charge any amount for any kind of digital transaction&nbsp;due to concerns regarding coronavirus. The BFIs decided to provide such facility to their customers after it was revealed that the deadly virus can spread from paper currency.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Nepal Bankers&rsquo; Association, Development Bankers&rsquo; Association Nepal and Nepal Micro Finance Association issued a joint statement on Friday informing about their decision to promote cashless transaction.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">For the time being, BFIs have decide to provide free internet and mobile banking services.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During normal days, BFIs used to charge a minimum of Rs 10 for such transactions.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">BFIs have also decided not to take any charge for using debit card of one bank at ATM of another bank. It means that the debit card of any bank can be used in any of the ATMs within the country free of cost. Banks had been charging a minimum of Rs 25 for allowing withdrawal of money from their ATMs by customers of other banks.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">They have also decided not to charge for the connect IPS services provided by Nepal Clearing House Limited.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">These facilities will remain in place until further notice.</span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-03-22',
			'modified' => '2020-03-22',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11556',
			'image' => '20200322094915_aaaa.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-03-22 09:48:39',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => true,
			'in_scroller' => false,
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	),
	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11802',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Domestic Airline Companies Agree to Reduce Air Fare',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 22: Airline operators of Nepal have agreed to review the fare of domestic flights following severe criticism from all quarters for the sudden hike in prices of air tickets amid coronavirus outbreak in the world.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 22: Airline operators of Nepal have agreed to review the fare of domestic flights following severe criticism from all quarters for the sudden hike in prices of air tickets amid coronavirus outbreak in the world.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">After receiving a number of complaints, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai had held a meeting with airline operators of the country on Saturday (March 21).</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During the meeting, the domestic air service providers agreed to review the air fare.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The domestic airline companies had reduced the air fare some days ago due to lack of foreign passengers due to the fear of coronavirus. But the airline companies all of a sudden increased the fare after the government imposed a ban on long-route vehicles effective from March 22.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government has taken a number of measures including closure of educational institutions, restaurants and bars among others for at least two weeks in an effort to contain the possible spread of the deadly virus. This does not bar essential service providers from operating their business. Essential service includes food supply, security, health, water and sanitation as well as air service, with exception of arrivals from coronavirus-affected countries and long-route vehicles within the country.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Considering the current crisis, Minister Bhattarai had urged the airline operators not to charge maximum amount to the air passengers. Responding to the request of the minister, the airline operators made commitment to review the air fare. However, they have not yet agreed on how much the air fare will be reduced. A separate meeting of the Airline Operators Association of Nepal is taking place on Sunday (March 22) to fix the rate.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Spokesperson of AOAN Yograj Bhattarai said that they have reached an understanding with the government to reduce the air fare. But he added that they are yet to decide on how much amount shall be reduced.</span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-03-22',
			'modified' => '2020-03-22',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11555',
			'image' => '20200322092059_1111.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-03-22 09:20:29',
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11804',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Bandipur Waives 50% Tax for Business Firms   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 22: Bandipur Rural Municipality in Tanahun district has announced to waive 50 per cent tax to the commercial firms after the business enterprises suffered from the effects of COVID-19.   ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 22: Bandipur Rural Municipality in Tanahun district has announced to waive 50 per cent tax to the commercial firms after the business enterprises suffered from the effects of COVID-19.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The rural municipality&#39;s decision on tax exemption would be in force for the fiscal year 2076/077.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">With the announcement of the local government, the entrepreneurs here have expressed happiness calling it a &#39;welcome step&#39;.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Chairman of Tanahun Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Bandipur, Baisha Gurung said that the move to exempt tax to the business firms would act as a relief to the business people.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Despite being a tourist season, tourist arrival in Bandipur is almost nil owing to Covid-19 fears.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Hotelier Basanta Poudel said that the rural municipality&#39;s decision would be a small sigh of relief as they are struggling even to pay the interest to the bank due to slowdown in business.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Likewise, vice-chair of rural municipality Karuna Gurung said that the step was taken to stop the business people from being discouraged amid the threat of coronavirus outbreak.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">She said that the rural municipality has also requested to the financial institutions to lower the interest rates and the house owners to ensure subsidy in house rent. &nbsp;- RSS&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-03-22',
			'modified' => '2020-03-22',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11554',
			'image' => '20200322100341_aaaadfggg.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-03-22 10:01:44',
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11807',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Covid-19 Outbreak in India causes Influx of Homebound Nepali Workers and Students',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 22: The number of Nepali nationals, mostly migrant workers, returning from across the border in India is increasing day by day amid concerns of coronavirus.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 22: The number of Nepali nationals, mostly migrant workers, returning from across the border in India is increasing day by day amid concerns of coronavirus infection. Large number of Nepali migrant workers and students have started returning from India, which is grappling with COVID-19 outbreak. India has imposed a 14-hour curfew on Sunday to test the effectiveness of the draconian rule that has proved to be effective in containing the deadly virus in China, where the disease is believed to have originated in late December last year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It has become a great challenge for the health officials stationed at the border check points to assess the health condition of a large number of people returning home from India. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On Saturday, more than 18,000 people entered Nepal from the Rani transit point in Biratnagar alone. Nepal Police and Armed Police Force helped in crowd management as the health workers screened the people entering Nepal. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Sanjay Kumar Singh, a health worker at Rani transit point, says that they have been lenient in allowing the mass to enter Nepal as they are sent across the border after screening by the Indian officials. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the officials, around 14,000 people entered Nepal from Gaddachauki check post in Kanchanpur district. There was a large gathering at the check point since early morning on Saturday. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Chief District Officer of Kanchanpur Narahari Khatiwada said that the lack of adequate health officials had caused some problems in crowd management at the check point in the morning but the situation was brought under control after mobilizing police and APF later in the day. Likewise, around 4000 people entered Nepal from Gauriphanta check point on Saturday. </span></span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-03-22',
			'modified' => '2020-03-22',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11553',
			'image' => '20200322121509_1584829140.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-03-22 12:14:29',
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	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11805',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Police Arrest Youth for Spreading Fake News About COVID-19   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 22: Police have arrested a person for spreading fake news about coronavirus.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 22: Police have arrested a person for spreading fake news about coronavirus.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police on Saturday arrested Bibek Thapa Magar of Ramechhap district from Sipadol in Bhaktapur for his involvement in producing a misleading audio clip regarding COVID-19 and sharing it on social media.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The arrested person talks about the outbreak of coronavirus and death toll in Nepal in the one-minute audio clip that has become viral on social media. In the clip, the 20-year-old Magar says he received the information from a staffer at Norvic International Hospital but the hospital has refuted the allegation.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The hospital said in a press statement that it was surprised by the groundless rumor that eight patients of the hospital were infected with COVID-19. The hospital clarified that none of its patients have been infected with the virus.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&nbsp;Police investigation has revealed that Thapa was running an unregistered news website, jhorle news.com.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The cyber bureau of the police is reportedly investigating Magar under charge of public offense.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&nbsp;Meanwhile, the police administration has urged the people not to believe in any unauthorised news and information and to follow the government&#39;s authorised update on coronavirus. &nbsp;</span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-03-22',
			'modified' => '2020-03-22',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11552',
			'image' => '20200322103400_Fake News.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-03-22 10:33:33',
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	(int) 13 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11800',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Coronavirus Deaths in Italy Overtake China as Economic Damage Mounts',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: The world’s richest nations poured unprecedented aid into the global economy on Thursday as coronavirus cases ballooned in the new epicentre Europe, with the number of deaths in Italy outstripping those in mainland China, where the virus originated, according to a news report published by Reuters.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 20: The world&rsquo;s richest nations poured unprecedented aid into the global economy on Thursday as coronavirus cases ballooned in the new epicentre Europe, with the number of deaths in Italy outstripping those in mainland China, where the virus originated, according to a news report published by Reuters.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">With over 242,000 infections and nearly 10,000 deaths, the epidemic has stunned the world and drawn comparisons with painful periods such as World War Two, the 2008 financial crisis and the 1918 Spanish flu, the news agency further reported.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">UN chief Antonio Guterres has reportedly warned that a global recession is a near certainty.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;This is a moment that demands coordinated, decisive, and innovative policy action from the world&rsquo;s leading economies,&rdquo; Reuters quoted Guterres as telling reporters in a video conference, adding, &ldquo;We are in an unprecedented situation and the normal rules no longer apply.&rdquo;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to Reuters, tourism and airlines have been particularly battered, as the world&rsquo;s citizens hunker down to minimize contact and curb the spread of the highly contagious COVID-19 respiratory illness. But few sectors have been spared by a crisis threatening a lengthy global recession.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The United States has reportedly urged the Americans not to travel abroad at all.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Markets have suffered routs unseen since the 2008 financial debacle, with investors rushing to the US dollar as a safe haven.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Policymakers in the United States, Europe and Asia have slashed interest rates and opened liquidity taps to try to stabilise economies hit by quarantined consumers, broken supply chains, disrupted transport and paralysed businesses, according to Reuters.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The virus, thought to have originated from wildlife in Wuhan of mainland China late last year, has jumped to 172 other nations and territories.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;Cases in Germany, Iran and Spain rose to more than 12,000 each. An official in Tehran tweeted that the coronavirus was killing one person every 10 minutes,&rdquo; the news agency further said.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Italian soldiers transported corpses from an overwhelmed cemetery in Europe&rsquo;s worst-hit nation where 3,405 people have died, more than in mainland China.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Supermarkets in many countries were besieged with shoppers stocking up on food staples and hygiene products. Some rationed sales and fixed special hours for the elderly, who are particularly vulnerable to severe illness, according to Reuters.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Amid the gloom, China provided a ray of hope as it reported zero new local transmissions of the virus, a sign of success for its draconian containment policies since January. Imported cases accounted for all 34 new infections in China.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;China was to unleash trillions of yuan of fiscal stimulus and South Korea pledged 50 trillion won ($39 billion). With some economists fearing prolonged pain akin to the 1930s Great Depression and others anticipating a bounceback, gloomy data and forecasts abounded.&rdquo;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11799',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Banks Preparing to Promote Cashless Transaction to Curb Coronavirus',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: Banks are preparing to start cashless transaction through electronic means in an effort to stop the possible spread of coronavirus from paper money. ',
			'content' => '<p><em><span style="font-size:12px">This screenshot image taken from the website of Global IME Bank shows a promotional material to encourage digital transaction. Photo Courtesy: Global IME Bank</span></em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 20: Banks are preparing to start cashless transaction through electronic means in an effort to stop the possible spread of coronavirus from paper money. This move would also significantly reduce the number of customers in BFIs as well as the threat of the deadly virus, that has caused havoc across the globe.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Bankers have taken the initiative to promote digital banking in collaboration with the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the regulatory body of banks in the country, after realizing that there is high chance of spreading the disease through paper money and in crowded areas.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Most of the banks are making effort to discourage the use of paper money by focusing on the use of mobile or online service for transactions.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Nepal Bankers&rsquo; Association held an initial discussion on this topic on Thursday (March 19) and has called for a meeting of CEOs of all the member banks on Friday (today).</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Executive Director of the association Anil Sharma told New Business Age that the bankers are preparing to make the use of digital transaction more effective after discussions among the stakeholders.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;The counters of banks are mostly crowded but the government has issued an order not to allow a gathering of more than 25 people,&rdquo; said Sharma.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;We are trying to promote digital transaction in such a situation,&rdquo; he added.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Nepal Rastra Bank is also ready to help the BFIs promote digital transaction. Executive Director of the Banks and Financial Institution Regulation Department of NRB, Dev Kumar Dhakal, says there is high risk of transmission of coronavirus from cash transaction so the central bank has pressed for digital transaction.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;We do not have adequate infrastructure for digital payment, but we discussed about promoting digital transaction wherever possible,&rdquo; said Dhakal.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Giving reference to China destroying 600 billion yuan in a bid to control the spread of coronavirus, Dhakal said it is time to shift to digital transaction.</span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11813',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Domestic Airline Companies Slash Airfare by 40 Percent',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 23: Airline companies of Nepal have agreed to reduce the domestic airfare at the request of the government.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 23: Airline companies of Nepal have agreed to reduce the domestic airfare at the request of the government. A meeting of the Airline Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) on Sunday decided to slash the airfare by 40 percent along domestic trunk routes considering the crisis created by coronavrius.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Buddha Air, Shree Airlines and Yeti Airlines have reduced the airfare as of Sunday evening (March 22).</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Issuing separate statements, Buddha Air and Yeti Airlines informed about the companies&rsquo; decisions to reduce the airfare to Pokhara, Biratnagar and other destinations within the country. Meanwhile, Shree Airlines informed about the decision to slash the fare on Saturday. &nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The airline companies said they decided to slash the airfare due to the inconvenience caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government has imposed a ban on long-route vehicles from Monday (March 23) in a bid to prevent the possible spread of the deadly disease which has already killed at least 14,000 people worldwide.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Passengers are left with the only option of air route to return home after the government banned long-route vehicles. Therefore, the airline companies said they decided to reduce the airfare as long as the government enforces the ban on land routes. The ban will remain effective until April 3.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Meanwhile, the airline companies complained that the government did not provide any relief at a time when they were facing crisis due to lack of passengers amid fear of coronavirus outbreak.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Buddha Air expressed its dissatisfaction in a statement arguing that the airline companies have to bear 40 percent of their expenses just for fuel. According to the airline company, they can further reduce the airfare if Nepal Oil Corporation provides them fuel at a lower price without taking any profit.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/222%284%29.jpg" style="height:292px; width:800px" /></span></span></p>
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			'sortorder' => '11564',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11815',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Non-Essential Services Come to a Grinding Halt',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 23: All non-essential services have been closed since Sunday (March 22) as per the government announcement to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 23: All non-essential services have been closed since Sunday (March 22) as per the government announcement to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Addressing the nation in a televised speech on Friday, Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli had announced the closure of all non-essential services including schools and educational institutions, community and private offices among others from March 22 to April 3 in an attempt to contain the deadly disease, which has also surfaced in Nepal.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Issuing a public notice on the Nepal Gazette, the government has instructed all the service providers including public and private companies to halt their services from march 22 to April 3 unless those services fall under essential category. The essential services include food supply, health service, security and communication, media among others.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government has also suspended all passenger flights to and from the Tribhuvan International Airport for ten days starting from March 22. Altogether 28 airline companies including two from Nepal have been operating flights from the TIA.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Likewise, operation of all long-route vehicles has also been halted for the time being. However, private vehicles can travel long distance, according to a decision taken by the Council of Ministers.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government has already closed cinema halls and other entertainments while the gathering of more than 25 people is also not allowed. All the courts have remained closed since Sunday for two weeks. &nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'created' => '2020-03-23',
			'modified' => '2020-03-23',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11563',
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	(int) 2 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11812',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Bans Export of Essential Medicines',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 23: The government has imposed a ban on export of materials essential for preventing the spread of coronavirus.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 23: The government has imposed a ban on export of materials essential for preventing the spread of coronavirus. The Department of Customs has stopped the export of materials such as masks, sanitizers, PPE, gloves among others effective from Sunday (March 22).</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Likewise, the government has also decided to make customs pass available for the import of essential goods within two hours. The Department of Customs has already issued circulars to all the units in this regard, said Director General Suman Dahal.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The department has formed a &ldquo;quick-response team&rdquo; to sort out any problem that might occur at the customs points. The five-member team headed by Deputy Director General of the Department of Customs, Shyam Prasad Bhandari, will resolve any problem that might surface while importing or exporting essential goods.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;The quick response team has been tasked to sort out any problems related to customs immediately,&rdquo; said Dahal.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to Dahal, the import of medicines and other related materials to Nepal exceeds the export of these essential goods. Basically, Nepal exports pharmaceuticals and other similar goods after re-packaging the imported items, said Dahal.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&nbsp;President of the Association of Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal&nbsp; (APPON) Narayan Bahadur Chhetri welcomed the decision of government to ban the export of essential medical goods saying that the country itself is struggling to meet its demand for raw materials required for producing medicines.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He urged the government to facilitate in making the active pharmaceutical ingredients available.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">However, Chhetri claimed that the drug producers of Nepal have adequate stock of raw materials to manufacture medicines for the next three months. &nbsp;</span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11809',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'World Bank Likely to Release Fast-Track Funds to Deal with Pandemic this Week',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 23: The World Bank’s executive board is expected to consider later this week the first fast-track funds to help Afghanistan and Ethiopia respond to the coronavirus pandemic, Reuters reported citing the bank’s president on Sunday.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 23: The World Bank&rsquo;s executive board is expected to consider later this week the first fast-track funds to help Afghanistan and Ethiopia respond to the coronavirus pandemic, Reuters reported citing the bank&rsquo;s president on Sunday.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">World Bank&rsquo;s President David Malpass said in a blog post on the bank that funding for the projects could come out of a $14 billion Fast Track Facility (FTF) approved last week (March 17) to help countries deal with the health and economic impact of the coronavirus.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to the latest tally of Reuters, the respiratory disease has infected more than 337,524 people around the world, and killed at least 14,651.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In the blog, Malpass said World Bank teams were preparing projects in 40 countries for up to $1.7 billion under the FTF at the end of the week.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Projects in Afghanistan and Ethiopia were the most advanced and would be presented to the board this week, he said, adding that meetings for 14 other countries will take place next week as well, and will create a framework for rapid responses in other countries without naming them.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&nbsp;&ldquo;This approach will allow us to quickly replicate operations in multiple countries,&rdquo; he said.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In addition to the fast track facility, the World Bank is also providing COVID-19 support via restructuring of the existing projects.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">So far, projects in 24 countries for up to $1.5 billion are in the works and span every region where the bank operates..</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to Malpass, the IFC is also working to start extending trade finance and working capital lines to clients, with regular board action expected on those efforts in the next two to four weeks.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Malpass further said World Bank officials were in close touch with finance ministers and central bankers from around the world to discuss their needs and responses to the crisis.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Bank officials had also identified ways to support countries as they race to procure much-needed medical equipment and upgrade medical facilities.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11811',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal Importing Medical Kits and Equipment from Immediate Neighbours',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 23: Nepal is all set to import medical kits and equipment from China and India to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 23: Nepal is all set to import medical kits and equipment from China and India to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government has initiated the process to bring in 200,000 units of personal protective equipment (PPE), 100,000 units of PCR test kit, 150,000 units of N95 mask among others. Likewise, Nepal is also importing 10 sets of ambulances equipped with labs and five sets of mobile ambulances from the northern neighbor.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Meanwhile, the government has sought 160,000 units of PPE, 500,000 units of PCR test kit, 100,000 units of VTM and 150,000 units of N95 masks from India.</span></span></p>
',
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			'created' => '2020-03-23',
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			'sortorder' => '11560',
			'image' => '20200323112451_Clipboard01.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-03-23 11:24:19',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11810',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Seals International Borders for Human Mobility for a Week   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => '',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 23: In order to control the possible spread of coronavirus in the country, the government on Sunday decided to close the international borders for human mobility for a week from 10:00 am on Monday (March 23).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">A meeting of the Council of Ministers took a decision to this effect on Sunday evening, informed Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada, who is also the government spokesperson and looks after the portfolio of Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;As this infection is spread from the mobility of large number of people and across the borders, the mobility (of people) is postponed by considering the current issue and interests of the neighbouring countries,&quot; Khatiwada said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">This decision was taken to prevent the spread of the infection, reduce risks, and increase mutual cooperation and understanding, he said adding, &quot;We have to advance multilateral and bilateral cooperation.&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The government also decided to transform Chandragiri-based hospital of Armed Police Force into a dedicated hospital for the treatment of coronavirus patients in case the COVID-19 surfaces in Nepal. The doctors of the Nepal Army and Nepal Police would be mobilised for the operations of the dedicated hospital if needed, Minister Khatiwada added.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Likewise, the cabinet meeting decided to establish a fund by allocating Rs 500 million for combating the deadly coronavirus. All the ministers would provide a month&#39;s salary in the fund, Dr Khatiwada shared. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The cabinet has also urged government employees, business persons, social workers, organizations and individuals to contribute to the fund.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Likewise, in order to motivate the health workers working in the frontline during this dire state would be provided with 50 per cent to cent per cent allowances, the cabinet meeting decided.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The government would also provide all the equipment necessary to safeguard the health workers in course of their duty. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The security personnel and health workers have been instructed to bring COVID-19 infected persons to the treatment facilities.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Furthermore, decision was made to set up quarantine centres at Federal, State and local levels in coordination among the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Home, Ministry of Defence and Ministry for Federal Affairs and General Administration. Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation would take the lead for this.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, decision was taken to make the storage of essential goods systematic and ease the supplies as well as carry out market monitoring.&nbsp; &nbsp;- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-03-23',
			'modified' => '2020-03-23',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11808',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Hotels in Pokhara Start Laying off Staff Members',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 22: The streets of Pokhara, a prime destination of tourists, look deserted these days.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 22: The streets of Pokhara, a prime destination of tourists, look deserted these days. This lake city is generally full of life and with lots of tourists during normal days. But the coronavirus pandemic has taken toll on the major source of income of the city which relies on tourism.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government&rsquo;s order to close all sectors except the essential ones has resulted in decline in the number of domestic tourists as well in major tourist destinations in the city. Most of the people have preferred to stay indoors due to the fear of contracting the deadly disease.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The flow of international tourists has almost come to a complete halt after the government and various other countries imposed travel bans to curb the spread of the virus. The government has banned international flights to the Tribhuvan International Airport from countries with confirmed cases.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The country&rsquo;s economy was getting back on track after the devastating earthquakes of 2015 as the coronavirus outbreak played the spoilsport this time.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The months of March, April and May are considered peak tourist season in Nepal. Tourism entrepreneurs make most of the profit during this season. But the tourism industry has suffered a great setback this year due to the lack of tourists in the peak season. &nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tourism entrepreneurs are deeply worried about the current crisis. They were hopeful of a good season due to the announcement of Visit Nepal 2020 campaign by the government this year. But all hopes have now faded as their worst nightmare has instead come true.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The halt in arrival of tourists has brought the hotel and restaurant businesses as well as travel and trekking expeditions to a standstill. It has also risked the closure of the entire tourism industry.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Binod Poudel, who has been operating a trekking agency since the last two decades, says his business in on the brink of collapse. He said tourism industry is his main source of income and he has had to remain idle since the last one and a half months.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;My whole business is at stake. I am worried how will I pay the school fees of my children. I am equally worried about paying the house rent,&rdquo; he said.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Poudel said he even failed to get any loan at this time of crisis.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Another tourism entrepreneur Netra Poudel says the coronavirus outbreak has caused much more problems than the havoc created by the 2015 earthquakes.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;Back in 2015, we still had some business. But our business has now come to a complete halt,&rdquo; he said.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">With the nosedive in arrival of tourists, the hotel industry in Pokhara has started sending the staffers home.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Prithvi Lamichhane, who runs Durbar Inn Hotel in Lakeside, Pokhara, says his business is nil since one and a half months. He said that he gave home leave to seven of his hotel staffers due to cancellation of bookings one after another.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The situation of Yatra Courtyard Hotel and Resort is no different at all. Almost all the 40 rooms of the hotel are unoccupied since more than a month now. The proprietor of the hotel is preparing to lay off more than five dozens staff of the hotel for at least a month.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;We are planning to provide non-paid leave for one month for the time being. We will decide our next move as per the situation,&rdquo; said Arun Giri, general manager of the hotel.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'created' => '2020-03-22',
			'modified' => '2020-03-22',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11558',
			'image' => '20200322124915_20190511105700_Clipboard37.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-03-22 12:48:48',
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11806',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'NAC Suspends Flights to 3 Indian Cities',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 22: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NCA) has suspended its regular flights to New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore effective from March 22.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 22: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NCA) has suspended its regular flights to New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore effective from March 22.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The state-owned airline company of Nepal said in a statement that it decided to suspend the flights to India after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of India issued a notice to halt flights to those destinations in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Indian aviation regulatory body has imposed a ban till March 29.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The flag carrier of Nepal said it will suspend flights to those destinations in India until the ban expires after March 29.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">NAC has assured the passengers that it will refund the amount to anyone who has purchased the ticket in advance.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-03-22',
			'modified' => '2020-03-22',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11557',
			'image' => '20200322104408_20190826123900_wide body_nepal airlines (1).jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-03-22 10:43:39',
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11803',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'BFIs to Promote Free Digital Transaction Amid Coronavirus Crisis',
			'sub_title' => 'Debit card of any bank can be used in any of the ATMs within the country free of cost',
			'summary' => 'March 22: Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) have decided not to charge any amount for any kind of digital transaction due to concerns regarding coronavirus. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 22: Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) have decided not to charge any amount for any kind of digital transaction&nbsp;due to concerns regarding coronavirus. The BFIs decided to provide such facility to their customers after it was revealed that the deadly virus can spread from paper currency.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Nepal Bankers&rsquo; Association, Development Bankers&rsquo; Association Nepal and Nepal Micro Finance Association issued a joint statement on Friday informing about their decision to promote cashless transaction.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">For the time being, BFIs have decide to provide free internet and mobile banking services.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During normal days, BFIs used to charge a minimum of Rs 10 for such transactions.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">BFIs have also decided not to take any charge for using debit card of one bank at ATM of another bank. It means that the debit card of any bank can be used in any of the ATMs within the country free of cost. Banks had been charging a minimum of Rs 25 for allowing withdrawal of money from their ATMs by customers of other banks.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">They have also decided not to charge for the connect IPS services provided by Nepal Clearing House Limited.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">These facilities will remain in place until further notice.</span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-03-22',
			'modified' => '2020-03-22',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11556',
			'image' => '20200322094915_aaaa.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-03-22 09:48:39',
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11802',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Domestic Airline Companies Agree to Reduce Air Fare',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 22: Airline operators of Nepal have agreed to review the fare of domestic flights following severe criticism from all quarters for the sudden hike in prices of air tickets amid coronavirus outbreak in the world.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 22: Airline operators of Nepal have agreed to review the fare of domestic flights following severe criticism from all quarters for the sudden hike in prices of air tickets amid coronavirus outbreak in the world.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">After receiving a number of complaints, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai had held a meeting with airline operators of the country on Saturday (March 21).</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During the meeting, the domestic air service providers agreed to review the air fare.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The domestic airline companies had reduced the air fare some days ago due to lack of foreign passengers due to the fear of coronavirus. But the airline companies all of a sudden increased the fare after the government imposed a ban on long-route vehicles effective from March 22.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government has taken a number of measures including closure of educational institutions, restaurants and bars among others for at least two weeks in an effort to contain the possible spread of the deadly virus. This does not bar essential service providers from operating their business. Essential service includes food supply, security, health, water and sanitation as well as air service, with exception of arrivals from coronavirus-affected countries and long-route vehicles within the country.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Considering the current crisis, Minister Bhattarai had urged the airline operators not to charge maximum amount to the air passengers. Responding to the request of the minister, the airline operators made commitment to review the air fare. However, they have not yet agreed on how much the air fare will be reduced. A separate meeting of the Airline Operators Association of Nepal is taking place on Sunday (March 22) to fix the rate.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Spokesperson of AOAN Yograj Bhattarai said that they have reached an understanding with the government to reduce the air fare. But he added that they are yet to decide on how much amount shall be reduced.</span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-03-22',
			'modified' => '2020-03-22',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11555',
			'image' => '20200322092059_1111.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-03-22 09:20:29',
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11804',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Bandipur Waives 50% Tax for Business Firms   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 22: Bandipur Rural Municipality in Tanahun district has announced to waive 50 per cent tax to the commercial firms after the business enterprises suffered from the effects of COVID-19.   ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 22: Bandipur Rural Municipality in Tanahun district has announced to waive 50 per cent tax to the commercial firms after the business enterprises suffered from the effects of COVID-19.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The rural municipality&#39;s decision on tax exemption would be in force for the fiscal year 2076/077.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">With the announcement of the local government, the entrepreneurs here have expressed happiness calling it a &#39;welcome step&#39;.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Chairman of Tanahun Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Bandipur, Baisha Gurung said that the move to exempt tax to the business firms would act as a relief to the business people.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Despite being a tourist season, tourist arrival in Bandipur is almost nil owing to Covid-19 fears.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Hotelier Basanta Poudel said that the rural municipality&#39;s decision would be a small sigh of relief as they are struggling even to pay the interest to the bank due to slowdown in business.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Likewise, vice-chair of rural municipality Karuna Gurung said that the step was taken to stop the business people from being discouraged amid the threat of coronavirus outbreak.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">She said that the rural municipality has also requested to the financial institutions to lower the interest rates and the house owners to ensure subsidy in house rent. &nbsp;- RSS&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-03-22',
			'modified' => '2020-03-22',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11554',
			'image' => '20200322100341_aaaadfggg.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-03-22 10:01:44',
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11807',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Covid-19 Outbreak in India causes Influx of Homebound Nepali Workers and Students',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 22: The number of Nepali nationals, mostly migrant workers, returning from across the border in India is increasing day by day amid concerns of coronavirus.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 22: The number of Nepali nationals, mostly migrant workers, returning from across the border in India is increasing day by day amid concerns of coronavirus infection. Large number of Nepali migrant workers and students have started returning from India, which is grappling with COVID-19 outbreak. India has imposed a 14-hour curfew on Sunday to test the effectiveness of the draconian rule that has proved to be effective in containing the deadly virus in China, where the disease is believed to have originated in late December last year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It has become a great challenge for the health officials stationed at the border check points to assess the health condition of a large number of people returning home from India. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On Saturday, more than 18,000 people entered Nepal from the Rani transit point in Biratnagar alone. Nepal Police and Armed Police Force helped in crowd management as the health workers screened the people entering Nepal. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Sanjay Kumar Singh, a health worker at Rani transit point, says that they have been lenient in allowing the mass to enter Nepal as they are sent across the border after screening by the Indian officials. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the officials, around 14,000 people entered Nepal from Gaddachauki check post in Kanchanpur district. There was a large gathering at the check point since early morning on Saturday. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Chief District Officer of Kanchanpur Narahari Khatiwada said that the lack of adequate health officials had caused some problems in crowd management at the check point in the morning but the situation was brought under control after mobilizing police and APF later in the day. Likewise, around 4000 people entered Nepal from Gauriphanta check point on Saturday. </span></span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-03-22',
			'modified' => '2020-03-22',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11553',
			'image' => '20200322121509_1584829140.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-03-22 12:14:29',
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	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11805',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Police Arrest Youth for Spreading Fake News About COVID-19   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 22: Police have arrested a person for spreading fake news about coronavirus.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 22: Police have arrested a person for spreading fake news about coronavirus.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police on Saturday arrested Bibek Thapa Magar of Ramechhap district from Sipadol in Bhaktapur for his involvement in producing a misleading audio clip regarding COVID-19 and sharing it on social media.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The arrested person talks about the outbreak of coronavirus and death toll in Nepal in the one-minute audio clip that has become viral on social media. In the clip, the 20-year-old Magar says he received the information from a staffer at Norvic International Hospital but the hospital has refuted the allegation.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The hospital said in a press statement that it was surprised by the groundless rumor that eight patients of the hospital were infected with COVID-19. The hospital clarified that none of its patients have been infected with the virus.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&nbsp;Police investigation has revealed that Thapa was running an unregistered news website, jhorle news.com.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The cyber bureau of the police is reportedly investigating Magar under charge of public offense.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&nbsp;Meanwhile, the police administration has urged the people not to believe in any unauthorised news and information and to follow the government&#39;s authorised update on coronavirus. &nbsp;</span></span></p>
',
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			'created' => '2020-03-22',
			'modified' => '2020-03-22',
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			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11552',
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			'article_date' => '2020-03-22 10:33:33',
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	(int) 13 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11800',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Coronavirus Deaths in Italy Overtake China as Economic Damage Mounts',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: The world’s richest nations poured unprecedented aid into the global economy on Thursday as coronavirus cases ballooned in the new epicentre Europe, with the number of deaths in Italy outstripping those in mainland China, where the virus originated, according to a news report published by Reuters.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 20: The world&rsquo;s richest nations poured unprecedented aid into the global economy on Thursday as coronavirus cases ballooned in the new epicentre Europe, with the number of deaths in Italy outstripping those in mainland China, where the virus originated, according to a news report published by Reuters.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">With over 242,000 infections and nearly 10,000 deaths, the epidemic has stunned the world and drawn comparisons with painful periods such as World War Two, the 2008 financial crisis and the 1918 Spanish flu, the news agency further reported.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">UN chief Antonio Guterres has reportedly warned that a global recession is a near certainty.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;This is a moment that demands coordinated, decisive, and innovative policy action from the world&rsquo;s leading economies,&rdquo; Reuters quoted Guterres as telling reporters in a video conference, adding, &ldquo;We are in an unprecedented situation and the normal rules no longer apply.&rdquo;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to Reuters, tourism and airlines have been particularly battered, as the world&rsquo;s citizens hunker down to minimize contact and curb the spread of the highly contagious COVID-19 respiratory illness. But few sectors have been spared by a crisis threatening a lengthy global recession.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The United States has reportedly urged the Americans not to travel abroad at all.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Markets have suffered routs unseen since the 2008 financial debacle, with investors rushing to the US dollar as a safe haven.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Policymakers in the United States, Europe and Asia have slashed interest rates and opened liquidity taps to try to stabilise economies hit by quarantined consumers, broken supply chains, disrupted transport and paralysed businesses, according to Reuters.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The virus, thought to have originated from wildlife in Wuhan of mainland China late last year, has jumped to 172 other nations and territories.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;Cases in Germany, Iran and Spain rose to more than 12,000 each. An official in Tehran tweeted that the coronavirus was killing one person every 10 minutes,&rdquo; the news agency further said.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Italian soldiers transported corpses from an overwhelmed cemetery in Europe&rsquo;s worst-hit nation where 3,405 people have died, more than in mainland China.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Supermarkets in many countries were besieged with shoppers stocking up on food staples and hygiene products. Some rationed sales and fixed special hours for the elderly, who are particularly vulnerable to severe illness, according to Reuters.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Amid the gloom, China provided a ray of hope as it reported zero new local transmissions of the virus, a sign of success for its draconian containment policies since January. Imported cases accounted for all 34 new infections in China.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;China was to unleash trillions of yuan of fiscal stimulus and South Korea pledged 50 trillion won ($39 billion). With some economists fearing prolonged pain akin to the 1930s Great Depression and others anticipating a bounceback, gloomy data and forecasts abounded.&rdquo;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11799',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Banks Preparing to Promote Cashless Transaction to Curb Coronavirus',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: Banks are preparing to start cashless transaction through electronic means in an effort to stop the possible spread of coronavirus from paper money. ',
			'content' => '<p><em><span style="font-size:12px">This screenshot image taken from the website of Global IME Bank shows a promotional material to encourage digital transaction. Photo Courtesy: Global IME Bank</span></em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 20: Banks are preparing to start cashless transaction through electronic means in an effort to stop the possible spread of coronavirus from paper money. This move would also significantly reduce the number of customers in BFIs as well as the threat of the deadly virus, that has caused havoc across the globe.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Bankers have taken the initiative to promote digital banking in collaboration with the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the regulatory body of banks in the country, after realizing that there is high chance of spreading the disease through paper money and in crowded areas.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Most of the banks are making effort to discourage the use of paper money by focusing on the use of mobile or online service for transactions.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Nepal Bankers&rsquo; Association held an initial discussion on this topic on Thursday (March 19) and has called for a meeting of CEOs of all the member banks on Friday (today).</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Executive Director of the association Anil Sharma told New Business Age that the bankers are preparing to make the use of digital transaction more effective after discussions among the stakeholders.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;The counters of banks are mostly crowded but the government has issued an order not to allow a gathering of more than 25 people,&rdquo; said Sharma.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;We are trying to promote digital transaction in such a situation,&rdquo; he added.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Nepal Rastra Bank is also ready to help the BFIs promote digital transaction. Executive Director of the Banks and Financial Institution Regulation Department of NRB, Dev Kumar Dhakal, says there is high risk of transmission of coronavirus from cash transaction so the central bank has pressed for digital transaction.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;We do not have adequate infrastructure for digital payment, but we discussed about promoting digital transaction wherever possible,&rdquo; said Dhakal.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Giving reference to China destroying 600 billion yuan in a bid to control the spread of coronavirus, Dhakal said it is time to shift to digital transaction.</span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11813',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Domestic Airline Companies Slash Airfare by 40 Percent',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 23: Airline companies of Nepal have agreed to reduce the domestic airfare at the request of the government.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 23: Airline companies of Nepal have agreed to reduce the domestic airfare at the request of the government. A meeting of the Airline Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) on Sunday decided to slash the airfare by 40 percent along domestic trunk routes considering the crisis created by coronavrius.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Buddha Air, Shree Airlines and Yeti Airlines have reduced the airfare as of Sunday evening (March 22).</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Issuing separate statements, Buddha Air and Yeti Airlines informed about the companies&rsquo; decisions to reduce the airfare to Pokhara, Biratnagar and other destinations within the country. Meanwhile, Shree Airlines informed about the decision to slash the fare on Saturday. &nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The airline companies said they decided to slash the airfare due to the inconvenience caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government has imposed a ban on long-route vehicles from Monday (March 23) in a bid to prevent the possible spread of the deadly disease which has already killed at least 14,000 people worldwide.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Passengers are left with the only option of air route to return home after the government banned long-route vehicles. Therefore, the airline companies said they decided to reduce the airfare as long as the government enforces the ban on land routes. The ban will remain effective until April 3.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Meanwhile, the airline companies complained that the government did not provide any relief at a time when they were facing crisis due to lack of passengers amid fear of coronavirus outbreak.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Buddha Air expressed its dissatisfaction in a statement arguing that the airline companies have to bear 40 percent of their expenses just for fuel. According to the airline company, they can further reduce the airfare if Nepal Oil Corporation provides them fuel at a lower price without taking any profit.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/222%284%29.jpg" style="height:292px; width:800px" /></span></span></p>
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			'sortorder' => '11564',
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			'article_date' => '2020-03-23 12:33:18',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11815',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Non-Essential Services Come to a Grinding Halt',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 23: All non-essential services have been closed since Sunday (March 22) as per the government announcement to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 23: All non-essential services have been closed since Sunday (March 22) as per the government announcement to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Addressing the nation in a televised speech on Friday, Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli had announced the closure of all non-essential services including schools and educational institutions, community and private offices among others from March 22 to April 3 in an attempt to contain the deadly disease, which has also surfaced in Nepal.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Issuing a public notice on the Nepal Gazette, the government has instructed all the service providers including public and private companies to halt their services from march 22 to April 3 unless those services fall under essential category. The essential services include food supply, health service, security and communication, media among others.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government has also suspended all passenger flights to and from the Tribhuvan International Airport for ten days starting from March 22. Altogether 28 airline companies including two from Nepal have been operating flights from the TIA.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Likewise, operation of all long-route vehicles has also been halted for the time being. However, private vehicles can travel long distance, according to a decision taken by the Council of Ministers.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government has already closed cinema halls and other entertainments while the gathering of more than 25 people is also not allowed. All the courts have remained closed since Sunday for two weeks. &nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'created' => '2020-03-23',
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			'sortorder' => '11563',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11812',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Bans Export of Essential Medicines',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 23: The government has imposed a ban on export of materials essential for preventing the spread of coronavirus.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 23: The government has imposed a ban on export of materials essential for preventing the spread of coronavirus. The Department of Customs has stopped the export of materials such as masks, sanitizers, PPE, gloves among others effective from Sunday (March 22).</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Likewise, the government has also decided to make customs pass available for the import of essential goods within two hours. The Department of Customs has already issued circulars to all the units in this regard, said Director General Suman Dahal.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The department has formed a &ldquo;quick-response team&rdquo; to sort out any problem that might occur at the customs points. The five-member team headed by Deputy Director General of the Department of Customs, Shyam Prasad Bhandari, will resolve any problem that might surface while importing or exporting essential goods.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;The quick response team has been tasked to sort out any problems related to customs immediately,&rdquo; said Dahal.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to Dahal, the import of medicines and other related materials to Nepal exceeds the export of these essential goods. Basically, Nepal exports pharmaceuticals and other similar goods after re-packaging the imported items, said Dahal.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&nbsp;President of the Association of Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal&nbsp; (APPON) Narayan Bahadur Chhetri welcomed the decision of government to ban the export of essential medical goods saying that the country itself is struggling to meet its demand for raw materials required for producing medicines.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">He urged the government to facilitate in making the active pharmaceutical ingredients available.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">However, Chhetri claimed that the drug producers of Nepal have adequate stock of raw materials to manufacture medicines for the next three months. &nbsp;</span></span></p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11809',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'World Bank Likely to Release Fast-Track Funds to Deal with Pandemic this Week',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 23: The World Bank’s executive board is expected to consider later this week the first fast-track funds to help Afghanistan and Ethiopia respond to the coronavirus pandemic, Reuters reported citing the bank’s president on Sunday.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 23: The World Bank&rsquo;s executive board is expected to consider later this week the first fast-track funds to help Afghanistan and Ethiopia respond to the coronavirus pandemic, Reuters reported citing the bank&rsquo;s president on Sunday.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">World Bank&rsquo;s President David Malpass said in a blog post on the bank that funding for the projects could come out of a $14 billion Fast Track Facility (FTF) approved last week (March 17) to help countries deal with the health and economic impact of the coronavirus.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to the latest tally of Reuters, the respiratory disease has infected more than 337,524 people around the world, and killed at least 14,651.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In the blog, Malpass said World Bank teams were preparing projects in 40 countries for up to $1.7 billion under the FTF at the end of the week.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Projects in Afghanistan and Ethiopia were the most advanced and would be presented to the board this week, he said, adding that meetings for 14 other countries will take place next week as well, and will create a framework for rapid responses in other countries without naming them.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&nbsp;&ldquo;This approach will allow us to quickly replicate operations in multiple countries,&rdquo; he said.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In addition to the fast track facility, the World Bank is also providing COVID-19 support via restructuring of the existing projects.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">So far, projects in 24 countries for up to $1.5 billion are in the works and span every region where the bank operates..</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to Malpass, the IFC is also working to start extending trade finance and working capital lines to clients, with regular board action expected on those efforts in the next two to four weeks.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Malpass further said World Bank officials were in close touch with finance ministers and central bankers from around the world to discuss their needs and responses to the crisis.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Bank officials had also identified ways to support countries as they race to procure much-needed medical equipment and upgrade medical facilities.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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			'id' => '11811',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Nepal Importing Medical Kits and Equipment from Immediate Neighbours',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 23: Nepal is all set to import medical kits and equipment from China and India to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 23: Nepal is all set to import medical kits and equipment from China and India to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government has initiated the process to bring in 200,000 units of personal protective equipment (PPE), 100,000 units of PCR test kit, 150,000 units of N95 mask among others. Likewise, Nepal is also importing 10 sets of ambulances equipped with labs and five sets of mobile ambulances from the northern neighbor.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Meanwhile, the government has sought 160,000 units of PPE, 500,000 units of PCR test kit, 100,000 units of VTM and 150,000 units of N95 masks from India.</span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-03-23',
			'modified' => '2020-03-23',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11560',
			'image' => '20200323112451_Clipboard01.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-03-23 11:24:19',
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11810',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Government Seals International Borders for Human Mobility for a Week   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => '',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 23: In order to control the possible spread of coronavirus in the country, the government on Sunday decided to close the international borders for human mobility for a week from 10:00 am on Monday (March 23).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">A meeting of the Council of Ministers took a decision to this effect on Sunday evening, informed Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada, who is also the government spokesperson and looks after the portfolio of Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;As this infection is spread from the mobility of large number of people and across the borders, the mobility (of people) is postponed by considering the current issue and interests of the neighbouring countries,&quot; Khatiwada said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">This decision was taken to prevent the spread of the infection, reduce risks, and increase mutual cooperation and understanding, he said adding, &quot;We have to advance multilateral and bilateral cooperation.&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The government also decided to transform Chandragiri-based hospital of Armed Police Force into a dedicated hospital for the treatment of coronavirus patients in case the COVID-19 surfaces in Nepal. The doctors of the Nepal Army and Nepal Police would be mobilised for the operations of the dedicated hospital if needed, Minister Khatiwada added.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Likewise, the cabinet meeting decided to establish a fund by allocating Rs 500 million for combating the deadly coronavirus. All the ministers would provide a month&#39;s salary in the fund, Dr Khatiwada shared. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The cabinet has also urged government employees, business persons, social workers, organizations and individuals to contribute to the fund.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Likewise, in order to motivate the health workers working in the frontline during this dire state would be provided with 50 per cent to cent per cent allowances, the cabinet meeting decided.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The government would also provide all the equipment necessary to safeguard the health workers in course of their duty. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The security personnel and health workers have been instructed to bring COVID-19 infected persons to the treatment facilities.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Furthermore, decision was made to set up quarantine centres at Federal, State and local levels in coordination among the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Home, Ministry of Defence and Ministry for Federal Affairs and General Administration. Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation would take the lead for this.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Similarly, decision was taken to make the storage of essential goods systematic and ease the supplies as well as carry out market monitoring.&nbsp; &nbsp;- RSS&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-03-23',
			'modified' => '2020-03-23',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11559',
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			'article_date' => '2020-03-23 10:08:51',
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11808',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Hotels in Pokhara Start Laying off Staff Members',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 22: The streets of Pokhara, a prime destination of tourists, look deserted these days.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 22: The streets of Pokhara, a prime destination of tourists, look deserted these days. This lake city is generally full of life and with lots of tourists during normal days. But the coronavirus pandemic has taken toll on the major source of income of the city which relies on tourism.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government&rsquo;s order to close all sectors except the essential ones has resulted in decline in the number of domestic tourists as well in major tourist destinations in the city. Most of the people have preferred to stay indoors due to the fear of contracting the deadly disease.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The flow of international tourists has almost come to a complete halt after the government and various other countries imposed travel bans to curb the spread of the virus. The government has banned international flights to the Tribhuvan International Airport from countries with confirmed cases.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The country&rsquo;s economy was getting back on track after the devastating earthquakes of 2015 as the coronavirus outbreak played the spoilsport this time.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The months of March, April and May are considered peak tourist season in Nepal. Tourism entrepreneurs make most of the profit during this season. But the tourism industry has suffered a great setback this year due to the lack of tourists in the peak season. &nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tourism entrepreneurs are deeply worried about the current crisis. They were hopeful of a good season due to the announcement of Visit Nepal 2020 campaign by the government this year. But all hopes have now faded as their worst nightmare has instead come true.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The halt in arrival of tourists has brought the hotel and restaurant businesses as well as travel and trekking expeditions to a standstill. It has also risked the closure of the entire tourism industry.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Binod Poudel, who has been operating a trekking agency since the last two decades, says his business in on the brink of collapse. He said tourism industry is his main source of income and he has had to remain idle since the last one and a half months.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;My whole business is at stake. I am worried how will I pay the school fees of my children. I am equally worried about paying the house rent,&rdquo; he said.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Poudel said he even failed to get any loan at this time of crisis.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Another tourism entrepreneur Netra Poudel says the coronavirus outbreak has caused much more problems than the havoc created by the 2015 earthquakes.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;Back in 2015, we still had some business. But our business has now come to a complete halt,&rdquo; he said.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">With the nosedive in arrival of tourists, the hotel industry in Pokhara has started sending the staffers home.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Prithvi Lamichhane, who runs Durbar Inn Hotel in Lakeside, Pokhara, says his business is nil since one and a half months. He said that he gave home leave to seven of his hotel staffers due to cancellation of bookings one after another.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The situation of Yatra Courtyard Hotel and Resort is no different at all. Almost all the 40 rooms of the hotel are unoccupied since more than a month now. The proprietor of the hotel is preparing to lay off more than five dozens staff of the hotel for at least a month.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;We are planning to provide non-paid leave for one month for the time being. We will decide our next move as per the situation,&rdquo; said Arun Giri, general manager of the hotel.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
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			'created' => '2020-03-22',
			'modified' => '2020-03-22',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11558',
			'image' => '20200322124915_20190511105700_Clipboard37.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-03-22 12:48:48',
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11806',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'NAC Suspends Flights to 3 Indian Cities',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 22: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NCA) has suspended its regular flights to New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore effective from March 22.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 22: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NCA) has suspended its regular flights to New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore effective from March 22.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The state-owned airline company of Nepal said in a statement that it decided to suspend the flights to India after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of India issued a notice to halt flights to those destinations in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Indian aviation regulatory body has imposed a ban till March 29.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The flag carrier of Nepal said it will suspend flights to those destinations in India until the ban expires after March 29.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">NAC has assured the passengers that it will refund the amount to anyone who has purchased the ticket in advance.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-03-22',
			'modified' => '2020-03-22',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11557',
			'image' => '20200322104408_20190826123900_wide body_nepal airlines (1).jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-03-22 10:43:39',
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11803',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'BFIs to Promote Free Digital Transaction Amid Coronavirus Crisis',
			'sub_title' => 'Debit card of any bank can be used in any of the ATMs within the country free of cost',
			'summary' => 'March 22: Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) have decided not to charge any amount for any kind of digital transaction due to concerns regarding coronavirus. ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 22: Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) have decided not to charge any amount for any kind of digital transaction&nbsp;due to concerns regarding coronavirus. The BFIs decided to provide such facility to their customers after it was revealed that the deadly virus can spread from paper currency.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Nepal Bankers&rsquo; Association, Development Bankers&rsquo; Association Nepal and Nepal Micro Finance Association issued a joint statement on Friday informing about their decision to promote cashless transaction.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">For the time being, BFIs have decide to provide free internet and mobile banking services.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During normal days, BFIs used to charge a minimum of Rs 10 for such transactions.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">BFIs have also decided not to take any charge for using debit card of one bank at ATM of another bank. It means that the debit card of any bank can be used in any of the ATMs within the country free of cost. Banks had been charging a minimum of Rs 25 for allowing withdrawal of money from their ATMs by customers of other banks.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">They have also decided not to charge for the connect IPS services provided by Nepal Clearing House Limited.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">These facilities will remain in place until further notice.</span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-03-22',
			'modified' => '2020-03-22',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11556',
			'image' => '20200322094915_aaaa.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-03-22 09:48:39',
			'homepage' => false,
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11802',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Domestic Airline Companies Agree to Reduce Air Fare',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 22: Airline operators of Nepal have agreed to review the fare of domestic flights following severe criticism from all quarters for the sudden hike in prices of air tickets amid coronavirus outbreak in the world.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 22: Airline operators of Nepal have agreed to review the fare of domestic flights following severe criticism from all quarters for the sudden hike in prices of air tickets amid coronavirus outbreak in the world.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">After receiving a number of complaints, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai had held a meeting with airline operators of the country on Saturday (March 21).</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During the meeting, the domestic air service providers agreed to review the air fare.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The domestic airline companies had reduced the air fare some days ago due to lack of foreign passengers due to the fear of coronavirus. But the airline companies all of a sudden increased the fare after the government imposed a ban on long-route vehicles effective from March 22.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government has taken a number of measures including closure of educational institutions, restaurants and bars among others for at least two weeks in an effort to contain the possible spread of the deadly virus. This does not bar essential service providers from operating their business. Essential service includes food supply, security, health, water and sanitation as well as air service, with exception of arrivals from coronavirus-affected countries and long-route vehicles within the country.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Considering the current crisis, Minister Bhattarai had urged the airline operators not to charge maximum amount to the air passengers. Responding to the request of the minister, the airline operators made commitment to review the air fare. However, they have not yet agreed on how much the air fare will be reduced. A separate meeting of the Airline Operators Association of Nepal is taking place on Sunday (March 22) to fix the rate.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Spokesperson of AOAN Yograj Bhattarai said that they have reached an understanding with the government to reduce the air fare. But he added that they are yet to decide on how much amount shall be reduced.</span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-03-22',
			'modified' => '2020-03-22',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11555',
			'image' => '20200322092059_1111.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-03-22 09:20:29',
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11804',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Bandipur Waives 50% Tax for Business Firms   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 22: Bandipur Rural Municipality in Tanahun district has announced to waive 50 per cent tax to the commercial firms after the business enterprises suffered from the effects of COVID-19.   ',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 22: Bandipur Rural Municipality in Tanahun district has announced to waive 50 per cent tax to the commercial firms after the business enterprises suffered from the effects of COVID-19.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The rural municipality&#39;s decision on tax exemption would be in force for the fiscal year 2076/077.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">With the announcement of the local government, the entrepreneurs here have expressed happiness calling it a &#39;welcome step&#39;.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Chairman of Tanahun Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Bandipur, Baisha Gurung said that the move to exempt tax to the business firms would act as a relief to the business people.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Despite being a tourist season, tourist arrival in Bandipur is almost nil owing to Covid-19 fears.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Hotelier Basanta Poudel said that the rural municipality&#39;s decision would be a small sigh of relief as they are struggling even to pay the interest to the bank due to slowdown in business.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Likewise, vice-chair of rural municipality Karuna Gurung said that the step was taken to stop the business people from being discouraged amid the threat of coronavirus outbreak.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br />
<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">She said that the rural municipality has also requested to the financial institutions to lower the interest rates and the house owners to ensure subsidy in house rent. &nbsp;- RSS&nbsp; </span></span></span></p>
',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2020-03-22',
			'modified' => '2020-03-22',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => '',
			'sortorder' => '11554',
			'image' => '20200322100341_aaaadfggg.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-03-22 10:01:44',
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11807',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Covid-19 Outbreak in India causes Influx of Homebound Nepali Workers and Students',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 22: The number of Nepali nationals, mostly migrant workers, returning from across the border in India is increasing day by day amid concerns of coronavirus.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">March 22: The number of Nepali nationals, mostly migrant workers, returning from across the border in India is increasing day by day amid concerns of coronavirus infection. Large number of Nepali migrant workers and students have started returning from India, which is grappling with COVID-19 outbreak. India has imposed a 14-hour curfew on Sunday to test the effectiveness of the draconian rule that has proved to be effective in containing the deadly virus in China, where the disease is believed to have originated in late December last year.</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">It has become a great challenge for the health officials stationed at the border check points to assess the health condition of a large number of people returning home from India. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">On Saturday, more than 18,000 people entered Nepal from the Rani transit point in Biratnagar alone. Nepal Police and Armed Police Force helped in crowd management as the health workers screened the people entering Nepal. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Sanjay Kumar Singh, a health worker at Rani transit point, says that they have been lenient in allowing the mass to enter Nepal as they are sent across the border after screening by the Indian officials. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">According to the officials, around 14,000 people entered Nepal from Gaddachauki check post in Kanchanpur district. There was a large gathering at the check point since early morning on Saturday. </span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Chief District Officer of Kanchanpur Narahari Khatiwada said that the lack of adequate health officials had caused some problems in crowd management at the check point in the morning but the situation was brought under control after mobilizing police and APF later in the day. Likewise, around 4000 people entered Nepal from Gauriphanta check point on Saturday. </span></span></span></p>
',
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			'sortorder' => '11553',
			'image' => '20200322121509_1584829140.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-03-22 12:14:29',
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	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11805',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Police Arrest Youth for Spreading Fake News About COVID-19   ',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 22: Police have arrested a person for spreading fake news about coronavirus.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 22: Police have arrested a person for spreading fake news about coronavirus.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police on Saturday arrested Bibek Thapa Magar of Ramechhap district from Sipadol in Bhaktapur for his involvement in producing a misleading audio clip regarding COVID-19 and sharing it on social media.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The arrested person talks about the outbreak of coronavirus and death toll in Nepal in the one-minute audio clip that has become viral on social media. In the clip, the 20-year-old Magar says he received the information from a staffer at Norvic International Hospital but the hospital has refuted the allegation.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The hospital said in a press statement that it was surprised by the groundless rumor that eight patients of the hospital were infected with COVID-19. The hospital clarified that none of its patients have been infected with the virus.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&nbsp;Police investigation has revealed that Thapa was running an unregistered news website, jhorle news.com.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The cyber bureau of the police is reportedly investigating Magar under charge of public offense.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&nbsp;Meanwhile, the police administration has urged the people not to believe in any unauthorised news and information and to follow the government&#39;s authorised update on coronavirus. &nbsp;</span></span></p>
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			'sortorder' => '11552',
			'image' => '20200322103400_Fake News.jpg',
			'article_date' => '2020-03-22 10:33:33',
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	(int) 13 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11800',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Coronavirus Deaths in Italy Overtake China as Economic Damage Mounts',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: The world’s richest nations poured unprecedented aid into the global economy on Thursday as coronavirus cases ballooned in the new epicentre Europe, with the number of deaths in Italy outstripping those in mainland China, where the virus originated, according to a news report published by Reuters.',
			'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 20: The world&rsquo;s richest nations poured unprecedented aid into the global economy on Thursday as coronavirus cases ballooned in the new epicentre Europe, with the number of deaths in Italy outstripping those in mainland China, where the virus originated, according to a news report published by Reuters.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">With over 242,000 infections and nearly 10,000 deaths, the epidemic has stunned the world and drawn comparisons with painful periods such as World War Two, the 2008 financial crisis and the 1918 Spanish flu, the news agency further reported.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">UN chief Antonio Guterres has reportedly warned that a global recession is a near certainty.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;This is a moment that demands coordinated, decisive, and innovative policy action from the world&rsquo;s leading economies,&rdquo; Reuters quoted Guterres as telling reporters in a video conference, adding, &ldquo;We are in an unprecedented situation and the normal rules no longer apply.&rdquo;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to Reuters, tourism and airlines have been particularly battered, as the world&rsquo;s citizens hunker down to minimize contact and curb the spread of the highly contagious COVID-19 respiratory illness. But few sectors have been spared by a crisis threatening a lengthy global recession.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The United States has reportedly urged the Americans not to travel abroad at all.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Markets have suffered routs unseen since the 2008 financial debacle, with investors rushing to the US dollar as a safe haven.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Policymakers in the United States, Europe and Asia have slashed interest rates and opened liquidity taps to try to stabilise economies hit by quarantined consumers, broken supply chains, disrupted transport and paralysed businesses, according to Reuters.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The virus, thought to have originated from wildlife in Wuhan of mainland China late last year, has jumped to 172 other nations and territories.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;Cases in Germany, Iran and Spain rose to more than 12,000 each. An official in Tehran tweeted that the coronavirus was killing one person every 10 minutes,&rdquo; the news agency further said.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Italian soldiers transported corpses from an overwhelmed cemetery in Europe&rsquo;s worst-hit nation where 3,405 people have died, more than in mainland China.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Supermarkets in many countries were besieged with shoppers stocking up on food staples and hygiene products. Some rationed sales and fixed special hours for the elderly, who are particularly vulnerable to severe illness, according to Reuters.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Amid the gloom, China provided a ray of hope as it reported zero new local transmissions of the virus, a sign of success for its draconian containment policies since January. Imported cases accounted for all 34 new infections in China.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;China was to unleash trillions of yuan of fiscal stimulus and South Korea pledged 50 trillion won ($39 billion). With some economists fearing prolonged pain akin to the 1930s Great Depression and others anticipating a bounceback, gloomy data and forecasts abounded.&rdquo;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '11799',
			'article_category_id' => '1',
			'title' => 'Banks Preparing to Promote Cashless Transaction to Curb Coronavirus',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => 'March 20: Banks are preparing to start cashless transaction through electronic means in an effort to stop the possible spread of coronavirus from paper money. ',
			'content' => '<p><em><span style="font-size:12px">This screenshot image taken from the website of Global IME Bank shows a promotional material to encourage digital transaction. Photo Courtesy: Global IME Bank</span></em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">March 20: Banks are preparing to start cashless transaction through electronic means in an effort to stop the possible spread of coronavirus from paper money. This move would also significantly reduce the number of customers in BFIs as well as the threat of the deadly virus, that has caused havoc across the globe.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Bankers have taken the initiative to promote digital banking in collaboration with the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the regulatory body of banks in the country, after realizing that there is high chance of spreading the disease through paper money and in crowded areas.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Most of the banks are making effort to discourage the use of paper money by focusing on the use of mobile or online service for transactions.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Nepal Bankers&rsquo; Association held an initial discussion on this topic on Thursday (March 19) and has called for a meeting of CEOs of all the member banks on Friday (today).</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Executive Director of the association Anil Sharma told New Business Age that the bankers are preparing to make the use of digital transaction more effective after discussions among the stakeholders.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;The counters of banks are mostly crowded but the government has issued an order not to allow a gathering of more than 25 people,&rdquo; said Sharma.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;We are trying to promote digital transaction in such a situation,&rdquo; he added.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Nepal Rastra Bank is also ready to help the BFIs promote digital transaction. Executive Director of the Banks and Financial Institution Regulation Department of NRB, Dev Kumar Dhakal, says there is high risk of transmission of coronavirus from cash transaction so the central bank has pressed for digital transaction.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">&ldquo;We do not have adequate infrastructure for digital payment, but we discussed about promoting digital transaction wherever possible,&rdquo; said Dhakal.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Giving reference to China destroying 600 billion yuan in a bid to control the spread of coronavirus, Dhakal said it is time to shift to digital transaction.</span></span></p>
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FOREX

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)

Bullion

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

Petroleum

Petrol	1 Liter	106.00
Diesel	1 Liter	95.00
Kerosene	1 Liter	95.00
LP Gas	1 Cylinder	1375.00