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Shabdabimbama Satyamohan, a commemorative book on the late culture expert and writer Satyamohan Joshi, was launched in the capital on Saturday. Compiled and edited by writer and journalist Gopi Krishna Dhungana, the book was launched by senior journalist Bhairav Risal at a ceremony organized at Nepal Academy. Speaking on the occasion, journalist Risal said, “There is a lot to be written and researched about the late Joshi. There is no end to telling and writing about him.” Senior writer and former chief editor of the Gorkhapatra daily, Shriom Shrestha Rodan, termed the initiative ‘historic’ because late Joshi was someone who had maintained 11 different archives. He said, “Equally popular among everyone, Joshi was indeed a living museum.” Joshi’s son Anu Raj said compiling a book on his father was akin to creating a great resource for those willing to conduct more research on him. Senior critic, Professor Gyanu Pandey, appreciated the late Joshi as someone who bequeathed light for everyone. “The book that accommodates various aspects of the life of someone who always worked for the nation will indeed be meaningful till eternity,” she observed. Another speaker, Prof Lekh Prasad Niraula, commemorated Joshi as an exponent of Nepal’s history, culture, literature and humanity. He said, “It is salutary on the part of a journalist to do a book on someone, who worked for the country and culture, instead of picking up a political subject.” Editor Gopi Krishna Dhungana said his study had led him to the conclusion that time shaped the personality of Satya Mohan Joshi, who in turn steered time. The book has been published by Bhudipuran Prakashan and incorporates articles by various scholars.

I’m a 53-year-old woman and I’m not happy with the relationship I have with my son. His behavior towards me has drastically changed since he got married. He isn’t kind to me and thinks of me as his rival. He left the house and never came back. I have been blaming myself for that. I feel so lonely. There are times where I have had suicidal thoughts. There was a time when I couldn’t even recognize my own sister and was put in rehabilitation for a month. I was a bit better after that, but I still get aggressive most of the time, especially if I’m around people. I think I’ve really gone mad. How do I free myself from this pain?—LJ  Answered by Dr Rishav Koirala, psychiatrist and researcher I’m sorry to hear that you are going through such a tough time. It’s important for you to realize that you’re not alone and you should know that there are people who care about you. You should try accepting that this isn’t your fault. It’s okay to feel angry, hurt, and sad. But the first thing you must do is stop blaming yourself.  Generally, we can divide mental disorders in two groups for basic understanding purposes. One is a soft mental disorder. It includes anxiety and mild forms of depression. The other is hard mental disorders such as severe depression, mania and different forms of psychosis. Symptomatically, to understand it in simpler form, in soft mental disorders a person doesn’t completely disconnect from reality, whereas in hard mental disorders, they are disconnected with reality in one or many aspects of life. People with psychosis may also have hallucinations. Hearing about your situation, I understand your son and daughter-in-law leaving home after their marriage has been quite stressful. That has the potential to make mental disorders worse and might also trigger anxiety and depression. If you are predisposed to it, it may also lead to psychosis. To get to the root of the problem we need to evaluate in detail as aggressive or irritable behavior might be a symptom of milder mental disorders such as anxiety and depression but it might also be present in harder mental disorders.  Usually, the intensity of symptoms differs. Since you mentioned that you didn’t recognize your own sister, tried to hurt yourself, and were admitted at a rehabilitation center, I would say you need expert care and guidance. To be honest, we don’t usually recommend anyone to be admitted to rehabilitation centers in Nepal as they don’t have proper psychiatric care. However, there are a few good rehabilitation centers. But after hearing what you’ve said, I can say without a doubt that you need to seek professional support—a psychiatrist, to be precise. Only when there’s proper diagnosis, can we start looking for solutions. In your case, it’s best not to resort to solving the issue on your own.  Whatever degree of complexity an illness might have, diagnosis and some form of support are always possible. If only you could get rid of your aggression and suicidal thoughts, you could hopefully improve your family environment too. The sooner you see a psychiatrist, the better.

Newly appointed ambassadors of Pakistan and South Korea presented their credentials to President Ram Chandra Paudel on Monday. Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Nepal Abrar Hussain Hashmi and Ambassador of Republic of Korea to Nepal Park Taeyoung presented their credentials to President Paudel amidst a special ceremony organized in Sheetal Niwas this afternoon, Shailaja Regmi Bhattarai, spokesperson at the President’s Office, said. Foreign Minister NP Saud among high-ranking government officials was present in the program.  

Eight persons died in a jeep accident in Pyuthan on Monday. The District Police Office, Pyuthan said that the jeep carrying pilgrims was returning from Swargadwari when the incident occurred this afternoon. Police said that the jeep (Lu 1 Cha 6345) met with an accident at Takura near Bhingri. Police said that all the eight persons traveling in the jeep died on the spot. Further investigation into the incident is underway.

Discussion on the complaints filed against acting Chief Justice Hari Krishna Karki will be held from June 14. Today's meeting of the Parliamentary Hearing Committee of the Federal Parliament decided to study the complaints from Wednesday. Twenty-nine complaints have been filed against acting CJ Karki.  The complaints have been distributed to committee members in the meeting and discussion will be held on complaints from Wednesday after calling complainants. The Parliamentary Hearing Committee has made preparations to conduct the hearing next day after calling acting CJ Karki. Today's meeting passed the Committee's meeting procedure with revision.

The Finance Committee under the House of Representatives is set to seek response from the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) on the process of issuing licenses for a new stock exchange and brokers. Today's meeting of the Finance Committee decided to call the SEBON for a deliberation on the issue and seek its response, said Santosh Chalise, who chairs the Committee as the senior-most member. The process of issuing a license for a new stock exchange has been halted following the government's direction. "The subcommittee under the Finance Committee has submitted a report after carrying out a study on the stock market. It has been decided to call the SEBON to discuss the matter of issuing licenses for a new stock exchange and brokers and its implementation," he said. Earlier on May 21, the Finance Committee wrote to the SEBON seeking details of the process for issuing licenses for a new stock exchange and stock brokerage firms, and the situation of the implementation of the suggestion report prepared by the Committee.  Following this, the SEBON responded to the Committee on May 26. In today's meeting, lawmakers put their view of calling the SEBON for its response. Stating that the SEBON was issuing licenses for additional stock brokers although the Committee had written to it on the matter, Padam Giri demanded investigation into it. "Recommendation by the subcommittee under the Finance Committee about issuing licenses for a new stock exchange has not been heard. License for stock brokers has been issued the same day or after the Committee wrote to the SEBON. Question about transparency in the issuance of license is being raised," he said. Saying that cases relating to license for a new stock exchange and brokers have been lodged with the Finance Committee, and the matter should be investigated after forming a subcommittee, he added.  

Civil servants making TikTok videos during office time will face action. Issuing a notice on Monday, the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration said that action will be taken against those found making TikTok during the office time. Making TikTok videos in prescribed dress code, using office vehicles and within the premises of the respective office has been banned, said Ministry's Joint Secretary and spokesperson Kamal Prasad Bhattarai. "We have also directed government employees not to make TikTok videos even about office work related activities," he said. The initiative follows complaints about government employees doing 'indecent activities' in TikTok lately, according to the Ministry.    

The Nepal Insurance Authority (NIA) has initiated the process to establish the Insurance Information Center in a bid to control fraudulent activities in the insurance sector. NIA is creating a new body in line with the Credit Information Bureau (CIB) which provides credit information-related services to banks and financial institutions (BFIs). In 2019, the authority had planned for establishing the center but could not set it up since the then Insurance Act, 2049 did not envisage such a body. NIA initiated the process now as the new Insurance Act, 2079, which came into implementation last November, has envisioned the Insurance Information Center. According to the authority, a separate procedure will also be issued for the operation of the center. A separate organization will be established to run the center. The center will function as CIB which takes action against loan defaulters and people committing banking fraud by blacklisting them and barring them from getting loans from BFIs. NIA Executive Director Raju Raman Poudel said once the center is established, it will help to control fraud in the insurance sector. The center, according to Poudel, will blacklist insured persons and persons involved in fraud, forgery, and other crimes, and questionable insurance activities in the insurance sector. Then, the insurance companies will bring a policy of not providing more insurance services to such people. Of late, various types of fraud and criminal activities have been rising in the insurance sector. Many people have been found involved in double claims payment, rampant use of forged documents for claims, and even killing or physically harming the insured to get the money in insurance coverage. Once the center is established, it is expected to help in controlling such activities. Since the center will have information about people involved in fraudulent activities, such individuals will not be able to cheat insurance companies. The center will publish the blacklisted people, making it easier for insurance companies to screen such individuals. The insurance companies will also have to cross-check the person taking insurance services with the center to find out whether he/she has been blacklisted or not. According to the NIA, the Insurance Information Center will be established in collaboration with insurance companies. The center will be set up as a public company where insurance companies will have a stake. Currently, there are 15 life insurance companies, 14 non-life insurance companies, and 2 reinsurance companies operating in Nepal. Besides, seven microinsurance companies are also coming into operation. All these companies will be stakeholders of the center.