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Kathmandu: According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, today will see partly cloudy conditions in the hilly areas of the country, while the weather will remain clear in other regions. The division predicts generally clear weather, despite the influence of the westerly wind.

Meteorologist Raju Pradhananga concurs, forecasting partly cloudy conditions in the hilly areas and clear weather in the remaining regions. There's a possibility of isolated light rain accompanied by thunderstorms in a few places within the hilly areas of Sudurpaschim, Karnali, and Gandaki provinces.

Additionally, snowfall is expected in the high hilly and mountainous regions of Sudurpaschim, Karnali, and Gandaki provinces.

Maha Navami, the ninth day of Bada Dashain, is being observed today by offering special worship to Goddess Durga.

Special worship is performed at the Dashainghar and Kota as well as different temples of Goddesses where billy goats, ducks, pigeons, and he-buffaloes are sacrificed today. Similarly, Durga Saptashati and Devi Stotra are recited at home as well as in different shrines today.

A large number of devotees gather at various shrines of the country to perform worship today, the last day of Navaratra.

On this day, security forces also perform kot puja or worship of armories.

Similarly, the Taleju temple located at Hanumandhoka in the federal capital is also opened for devotees to pay homage on this day. Preparations have been completed for devotees to pay homage at the temple, it has been said.

A Young Wandering Mudlark in Old Kathmandu

Peter J Karthak

Historical Fiction 

Set against the backdrop of 1968 to 1972, this riveting autofiction follows the life of John as he navigates the vibrant streets of Kathmandu, leaving behind his roots in Darjeeling. The lead guitarist of The Hillians, dubbed as ‘the Beatles of Sikkim’ by Time magazine, John finds himself transported to Kathmandu, a city yet untouched by the excesses of modernity but embraced by hippies in search of spiritual solace, often found in cannabis and Eastern wisdom. It’s within Kathmandu’s tapestry that John forges his new path, initially as a trainee croupier at Casino Kathmandu, the sole licensed gaming establishment between Beirut and Macao, all the while nursing his dreams of becoming a novelist. Through prose that dances with delight, the narrative paints an exquisite portrait of a city poised on the brink of transformation.

King of Wrath

Ana Huang

Romance | Fantasy 

Ruthless. Meticulous. Arrogant. Dante Russo thrives on control, both personally and professionally. The billionaire CEO never planned to marry— until the threat of blackmail forces him into an engagement with a woman he barely knows. Vivian Lau, jewelry heiress and daughter of his newest enemy. It doesn’t matter how beautiful or charming she is. He will do everything in his power to destroy the evidence and their betrothal. There’s only one problem, now that he has her, he can’t bring himself to let her go. King of Wrath is a steamy billionaire/arranged marriage romance. It contains explicit sexual content, profanity, and mild violence. Recommended for mature readers only.

Declutter Your Mind

SJ Scott

Self-Help | Psychology       

The truth is we all experience the occasional negative thought. But if you always feel overwhelmed, then you need to closely examine how these thoughts are negatively impacting your lifestyle. The solution is to practice specific mindfulness techniques that create more ‘space’ in your mind to enjoy inner peace and happiness. With these habits, you’ll have the clarity to prioritize what’s most important in your life, what no longer serves your goals, and how you want to live on a daily basis. And that’s what you will learn in Declutter Your Mind.

We will teach you the habits, actions, and mindsets to clean up the mental clutter that’s holding you back from living a meaningful life. Declutter Your Mind is full of exercises that will have an immediate, positive impact on your mindset.

We strongly believe that when it comes to home décor, there are no rules. The key is to have fun and experiment. And what better time could there be to play around and spruce up your décor than Dashain and Tihar? This is that time of the year when you will be home and you will also have guests over so it’s important you make your living space a well-loved and cared for one. We bring to you some easy tips and tricks that can help elevate your lifestyle this festive season.

Have fun with lights

Lights are the easiest way to revamp your space. You can consider switching out the light fixtures at home to more elaborate ones. Or even swap the ones you have to change the look of a room. For a more non-fuss, easy-on-the-pocket option, invest in some string lights and hang them in strategic locations, like the entryway of your home or over bookshelves and such. You can use them to accentuate specific areas of your home or create an overall festive atmosphere. The choice is yours. 

Candles, too, can be another cheap alternative. Buy some chunky ones and spread them throughout your home. Floating candles, paired with some flower petals, can add charm to your space without making it look over the top. You can also add some stick candles on the dining table. The good thing about candles is that they come in many colors and sizes and can be placed in holders or on stands. They can create a warm and inviting ambiance without clashing with any kind of décor style.

Flower power

Flowers instantly brighten up a home. But they can be a tad on the expensive side, especially during festivals. A good idea would be to purchase a few long stems of roses, gerberas, and sunflowers, stick one or two in small vases or glass jars, and spread them around the house. You can repurpose old liquor bottles for this or even use tall cocktail glasses. Flower petals in small bowls also look great. Make sure to use transparent glass bowls for this though. 

While we don’t really advocate the use of artificial flowers, used sparingly they can add a certain charm to your space without you having to take care of them. Find some to match your décor and create an arrangement but don’t go overboard with them. Look for ones that aren’t too loud and are as close to the real ones. Lilies and sunflowers can be good options. The idea is to have them blend in with the real ones.

Bring out the brass

Brass can be a really good way to add a touch of oomph to your space. So, bring out your puja items, like that bell, incense holders, diyas, and thaalis, and get creative with them. You can use them in various ways around the house. Use your puja thaali to create a coffee table centerpiece. Add a candle, some incense sticks, and maybe a flower or two to decorate the tray. Use brass diyas in place of candles or place tea lights on them and use them together. Brass light fixtures, the ones that are used as oil lamps in pujas, make for an interesting dining table décor.

Original style with origami

Origami can be great fun. There are many YouTube tutorials on how to make different shapes and designs. Buy a bunch of colored paper. They are available at stationery stores around town. You can also get special origami paper at many of these places. Pick a design you like—we recommend cranes, butterflies, or flowers—and make a bunch of them first and then string them together. You can use this in place of garlands against the wall or in an archway. Origami in blues, yellows, and pinks make up a beautiful ensemble and can also be used as decorative items throughout the house. 

Another really cool option would be to hang different colored kites from your balcony to give your home a festive look. They add a fun element to your home. So, buy a bunch or make some miniature ones yourself.

New Delhi: ​​​​​​​India successfully carried out Saturday the first of a series of key test flights after overcoming a technical glitch ahead of its planned mission to take astronauts into space by 2025, the space agency said.

The test involved launching a module to outer space and bringing it back to earth to test the spacecraft’s crew escape system, said the Indian Space Research Organization chief S. Somanath, and was being recovered after its touchdown in the Bay of Bengal.

The launch was delayed by 45 minutes in the morning because of weather conditions. The attempt was again deferred by more than an hour because of an issue with the engine, and the ground computer put the module's lift-off on hold, said Somanath.

The glitch caused by a monitoring anomaly in the system was rectified and the test was carried out successfully 75 minutes later from the Sriharikota satellite launching station in southern India, Somanath told reporters.

It would pave the way for other unmanned missions, including sending a robot into space next year.

In September, India successfully launched its first space mission to study the sun, less than two weeks after a successful uncrewed landing near the south pole region of the moon.

After a failed attempt to land on the moon in 2019, India in September joined the United States, the Soviet Union and China as only the fourth country to achieve the milestone.

The successful mission showcased India’s rising standing as a technology and space powerhouse and dovetails with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's desire to project an image of an ascendant country asserting its place among the global elite.

Signaling a roadmap for India’s future space ambitions, Modi earlier this week announced that India’s space agency will set up an Indian-crafted space station by 2035 and land an Indian astronaut on the moon by 2040.

Active since the 1960s, India has launched satellites for itself and other countries, and successfully put one in orbit around Mars in 2014. India is planning its first mission to the International Space Station next year in collaboration with the United States.

AP

Dubai: A court in Iran sentenced two female journalists to up to seven years in prison for “collaborating” with the United States government among other charges, local reports said. Both have been imprisoned for over a year following their coverage of the death of Mahsa Amini while in police custody in Sept. 2022.

This is a preliminary sentencing that can be appealed in 20 days.

The two journalists, Niloufar Hamedi, who broke the news of Amini’s death for wearing her headscarf too loosely, and Elaheh Mohammadi, who wrote about her funeral, were sentenced to seven and six years in jail respectively, reported the judiciary news website, Mizan on Sunday.

Tehran Revolutionary Court charged them with “collaborating with the hostile American government,” “colluding against national security” and “propaganda against the system,” according to Mezan.

Hamedi worked for the reformist newspaper Shargh while Mohammadi for Ham-Mihan. They were detained in September 2022.

In May, the United Nations awarded them both its premier prize for press freedom “for their commitment to truth and accountability.”

Amini’s death touched off months-long protests in dozens of cities across Iran. The demonstrations posed one of the most serious challenges to the Islamic Republic since the 2009 Green Movement protests drew millions to the streets.

While nearly 100 journalists were arrested amid the demonstrations, Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi’s reporting was crucial in the days after Amini’s death to spread the word about the anger that followed.

Their detentions have sparked international criticism over the bloody security force crackdown that lasted months after Amini’s death.

Since the protests began, at least 529 people have been killed in demonstrations, according to Human Rights activists in Iran. Over 19,700 others have been detained by authorities amid a violent crackdown trying to suppress the dissent. Iran for months has not offered any overall casualty figures, while acknowledging tens of thousands had been detained.

AP

Kathmandu: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has issued a tender for the acquisition of three aircraft. The national flag-carrier has announced this tender to procure three planes intended for operating flights in remote regions.

NAC is in the midst of acquiring three Twin Otter planes for this specific purpose. It's worth noting that NAC is financing the purchase of these aircraft through its internal resources. As of now, NAC possesses just two Twin Otter aircraft for its domestic flight operations.

Dhading: An earthquake that occurred this morning has resulted in the destruction of twenty houses and the development of cracks in 75 more at Kumaltari, within the Jwalamukhi rural municipality of Dhading. 

Former ward chair Krishna Prasad Kapri mentioned that more information regarding the extent of the damage caused by the tremor is expected. Local resident Rajesh Adhikari reported that people had to evacuate their homes due to frequent aftershocks, some of which measured over 4 on the Richter scale.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Santulal Prasad Jaiswar, the Information Officer at the District Police Office, stated that the process of gathering details about the houses with cracks is currently underway.

This morning, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 on the Richter scale, centered at Khari, shook Dhading and the surrounding districts.