Submit your Article

Nepal defeated Maldives by 138 runs to reach quarter-finals of the Asian Games underway in Hangzhou, China.

In the match played on Sunday, Maldives scored 74 runs losing all with the wickets with two balls to spare.

Abinash Bohara of Nepal took a record six wickets.

Similarly, Gulsan Jha, Sompal Kami, Sandeep Lamichhane and Kushal Burtel claimed one wicket each.

Earlier, Nepal had set a target of 213 runs against Maldives.

Captain Rohit Paudel scored a half-century off 27 balls hitting three sixes and three fours while Kushal Malla made unbeaten 47 runs off 20 balls with two sixes and three fours.

Likewise, Kushal Bhurtel and Gulsan Jha scored 35 runs each and Binod Bhandari added 13 runs to the scoreboard. Other batsmen failed to score in double figures.

Nawaj Islam took the highest three wickets for Maldives.

Prophet Song

Paul Lynch

Fiction | Dystopia

Ireland is falling apart. The country is in the grips of a government turning towards tyranny and Eilish can only watch helplessly as the world she knew disappears. When first her husband and then her eldest son vanish, Eilish finds herself caught in the nightmare logic of a collapsing society. How far will she go to save her family? And what – or who – is she willing to leave behind? Exhilarating, terrifying, and propulsive, Prophet Song is a work of breathtaking originality, offering a devastating vision of a country at war and a deeply human portrait of a mother’s fight to hold her family together. 

Elon Musk

Walter Isaacson

Biography

From the author of Steve Jobs and other bestselling biographies, this is the astonishingly intimate story of the most fascinating and controversial innovator of our era—a rule-breaking visionary who helped to lead the world into the era of electric vehicles, private space exploration, and artificial intelligence. Oh, and took over Twitter. For two years, Isaacson shadowed Musk, attended his meetings, walked his factories with him, and spent hours interviewing him, his family, friends, coworkers, and adversaries. The result is the revealing inside story filled with amazing tales of triumphs and turmoil that address the demons that drive Musk.

The Architect’s Apprentice

Elif Shafak

Historical Fiction

In 1540, 12-year-old Jahan arrived in Istanbul. As an animal tamer in the sultan’s menagerie, he looks after the exceptionally smart elephant Chota and befriends (and falls for) the sultan’s beautiful daughter, Princess Mihrimah. A palace education leads Jahan to Mimar Sinan, the empire’s chief architect, who takes Jahan under his wing as they construct (with Chota’s help) some of the most magnificent buildings in history. Yet even as they build Sinan’s triumphant masterpieces—the incredible Suleymaniye and Selimiye mosques—dangerous undercurrents begin to emerge, with jealousy erupting among Sinan’s four apprentices.

Shafak’s intricate novel brims with vibrant characters, intriguing adventure, and the lavish backdrop of the Ottoman court, where love and loyalty are no match for raw power.

I’m a 27-year-old woman and I have an issue with self-esteem. I say that because I am always worried about what people will think of me and go to extreme lengths to seem kind and polite in group settings. I hardly ever say no, and I’m always compromising even when I feel really bad about it. People tend to take me for granted and I allow it to happen. How do I change myself and become more confident about who I am? 

Answered by Rishav Koirala, psychiatrist and researcher

As a 27-year-old woman grappling with self-esteem issues, your tendency to excessively concern yourself with others' opinions and consistently prioritize their needs at your own could be indicative of underlying self-esteem challenges. These behaviors, including an inability to say no and a propensity to over compromise, may stem from a fear of rejection or a desire for approval. Recognizing these patterns is an important first step towards personal growth and self-confidence. Exploring potential root causes, such as past experiences or influences, including past relationships that may have impacted your sense of self-worth, can help you gain insight into your behavior. Embracing the concept of abundance, where you believe in your inherent worth and the availability of positive opportunities and relationships, can also be transformative in your journey towards building confidence. It’s important to remember that seeking to change and build confidence is a gradual process, and it can be valuable to seek professional support, such as therapy or counseling.

Individuals with personality disorders, like Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) or Avoidant Personality Disorder (AvPD), often grapple with low self-esteem and difficulties in assertiveness. Building self-esteem and learning to say no assertively are critical skills for them. Assertive responses can take various forms, such as direct refusal, empathetic declines, or offering alternatives. It’s vital to respect one's needs and feelings while considering the feelings of others. Seeking professional guidance and practicing assertive communication can help individuals with personality disorders enhance their self-esteem and navigate social interactions more effectively, ultimately fostering healthier relationships.

Consulting a therapist or counselor is a valuable step to consider, as they can provide you with professional guidance, support, and tailored strategies to navigate these challenges and foster a more assertive and self-assured self. It’s important to note that sometimes these symptoms of low self-esteem, excessive worrying about what others think, and people-pleasing may occur alongside other symptoms of anxiety, potentially indicative of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is currently on an official visit to China, held a bilateral meeting with Communist Party of China (CPC) Secretary of the Sichuan Province Wang Xiaohui-led Chinese delegation on Friday.

Communist Party of China (CPC) Secretary of the Sichuan Province

Recalling the high-level meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang and the agreements signed between the two countries, Prime Minister Dahal expressed his belief that the visit to Chongqing, Tibet and Sichuan and the meeting with party chiefs will be a new milestone in the implementation of the agreement and the development of a new and high-level relations between the two countries.

On the occasion, Secretary Wang expressed his belief that Dahal is a good friend of China and that Nepal-China relations will be developed on a new basis.

Wang said that they are committed to implement the agreements signed between Nepal and China.

Prime Minister Dahal-led delegation is scheduled to return home from Chengdu on Saturday.

Actor Anmol KC has been arrested on Friday.

The Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office apprehended KC from Sanga of Bhaktapur.

Office Chief SSP Somendra Singh Rathaur confirmed the arrest of KC.

Supriya Katuwal, the producer of Ramayana, had filed a complaint with the police against KC saying that he didn't appear for the shooting of the movie after signing the contract.

SSP Rathaur said that KC was arrested on the basis of the same complaint.

The government and the agitating relief teachers reached an agreement on Friday.

The agreement was signed between the two sides in Singha Durbar this afternoon after the government assured the agitating teachers that the issues missing in the school education bill will be included through the parliamentary process.

Education Minister Ashok Rai said that the demands of agitating relief teachers will be addressed through parliamentary process.

“All the teachers have come to an agreement. The responsibility has been added to the Education Ministry. The issues missing the school education bill will be included through the parliamentary process,” he said.

Similarly, Nepal Relief Teachers Central Struggle Committee Chairman Khemraj Adhikari said that a five-point agreement has been signed with the government including that the Education Ministry would take an initiative to formulate necessary laws for teachers.

He said all the programs of protest have been withdrawn for now.

Centre for Social Inclusion and Federalism (CESIF) organized a round table discussion on ‘Geopolitics and Information Disorder in Nepal’ with the motive to initiate a wider engagement of stakeholders to discuss the role of infrastructure governance in Nepal and to disseminate the research findings on “Geopolitics and Information Disorder in Nepal” on Friday at Basera Boutique Hotel in Kathmandu.

The discussion brought together journalists, researchers, academicians and members from the Civil Society to discuss the issues surrounding the misinformation, disinformation and fake news in Nepali media, especially in the foreign policy aspect of journalism, reads a statement issued by the Centre for Social Inclusion and Federalism.

The discussion began with Research and Program Coordinator at CESIF Arpan Gelal addressing the distinguished guests and sharing his views on the misinformation and disinformation prevailing in the Nepali media sector.

“Misleading or fabricated media content on recent issues of geopolitical imports, foreign relations and diplomacy has led to the polarization of the public in several instances, including geopolitical and geostrategic implications. This was particularly evident in the media coverage of fabricated contents surrounding the ratification of the United States’ Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact from the parliament and even in the vaccine diplomacy during COVID-19 pandemic.”, said Gelal, according to the statement.

Following the welcome remarks, Research Advisor at CESIF, Ajaya Bhadra Khanal presented the research findings. “The study found that in most cases more misinformation correlated with more negative portrayals of a country, hurting its reputation globally with an exception of just one country where more misinformation aligned with more positive coverage.

Along with some important insights on the detrimental impacts of geopolitical misinformation, the study highlights the need for expanded research and collaborative efforts to bring balance and thoughtful discussion.”, said Khanal during the presentation, the statement reads.

Editor at Republica, Kosh Raj Koirala, stressed that foreign affairs and news related to foreign policy is covered and printed based on the political ideology of the editors. He further said, “There have been instances where ideological bias nesses while the stories are covered and printed; the role of editor plays an important role in any media house and news coverage.”

While talking about the Chinese presence in the Nepali media, Parshuram Kafle, Chief Reporter at Nayapatrika, said “There is no pressure from the Chinese side in Nepali newsroom but there is a perceived threat.”

He further stated, “Nepali China experts are rigid and difficult to talk to in comparison to others. However, they blame Nepal for the lack of BRI implementation,” the statement further said.

Furthermore, Professor Lekhnath Pandey talked about images, cartoons and memes being weaponized these days with the use of social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube to set false narratives among the general public and spread misinformation.

Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava has said that the proposed Ramayana Circuit will further boost the number of Indian tourists visiting Nepal.

Addressing an event organized by Pokhara Tourism Council on the occasion of Tourism Day 2023 in Pokhara, Kaski, the Indian ambassador said that tourism flow from India will further boost tourism in Nepal.

During Nepali PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s visit to India, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that the Ramayana Circuit works as a connection between Nepal and India. "Last year, a Ramayana Train also came to Nepal’s Janakpur which ensured the flow of Indian tourists to Janakpur," he said. “We have also pinned high hopes that the railways which we have operated between Janakpur-Kurtha-Bijulpura would further increase the footfall of tourists.” 

The Ramayana Circuit includes the major pilgrim sites in India and Nepal that are related to the era of Ramayana, including Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh and Janakpur in Nepal. The Ramayana Circuit is one of the 15 thematic circuits identified for development under the Swadesh Darshan scheme by the Indian government’s Ministry of Tourism.