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Shivering hands gathered in the snow, Searching the rare roses of December, Some were firmly placed in a lover's palms, Some were secrets covered in thorns, A secret no one will ever know, Nor will the time remember. Yet you sit on top Of a mountain of wilting red roses Still awaiting for a white rose To blossom in spring.   Abhigya Shrestha Grade: 10 Rato Bangala School, Patan

Dark sky in the night Thousands of stars in the sky Twinkling stars in the dark in the sky Shining stars in the nights   Lots of stars in the dark night A beautiful moon in the middle of sky Star light bright in my eyes As I wish all my might   Dark sky in the night Thousands of stars in the sky The dark clouds cover the moon Looks beautiful like a swan   Abza Dhakal Grade 5, Brihaspati Vidyasadan, Naxal 

Nepal is a country that has faced challenges in achieving balanced regional development, with much of the development being concentrated in the capital city of Kathmandu while other parts of the country have lagged. Despite various efforts made by the government to address this issue, there has been limited progress in achieving equitable development across the country. Nepal has made several attempts in the past to promote regional development through administrative divisions. In 1962, the country was split into 14 zones to decentralize development and governance, but the approach was deemed bureaucratic and ineffective. In 1972, Nepal was restructured into developed regions, each with its development plans, but this approach also failed. Despite creating seven provinces in 2015 under a new constitution, the development gap between Kathmandu and other regions remains significant. The World Bank reports that poverty rates in rural Nepal are nearly triple those in urban areas.  When comparing the least developed districts to Kathmandu, the disparity is vast. The 2022 UNDP Multidimensional Poverty Index shows that Nepal’s poverty rate is 42.5 percent, with more than half of those below the poverty line residing in rural areas. The Human Development Index, which measures life expectancy, education, and income, highlights significant regional variations. Kathmandu’s HDI is above 0.6, while the rural districts of Rautahat and Mahottari score less than 0.4. Moreover, rural areas have limited access to essential services, such as electricity and healthcare. The 2019 Nepal Living Standards Survey indicates that only 61.8 percent of rural households have electricity access, compared to 94.3 percent in urban areas. Additionally, only 34.8 percent of health facilities are available in rural areas. The country’s interest in big projects is evident, but the ground-level work doesn't always match up. A case in point is Gautam Buddha International Airport, one of the country's megaprojects. Despite being inaugurated ten months ago, as of Feb 2023, the airport has failed to attract international passengers or airlines. This is because most administrative offices, embassies, and institutions are located in Kathmandu, making it the preferred destination for international travel. This highlights the lesson that building infrastructure alone doesn’t guarantee positive outcomes. Therefore, it's crucial to promote regional development across the country to achieve inclusive and equitable growth. While infrastructure development is essential, it must be accompanied by efforts to ensure balanced growth across the nation. The repercussions of a failed project should not be overlooked when considering another large-scale project like the Nijgadh International Airport, which not only has an estimated cost of $6.7bn but also entails the destruction of 2.4m trees, resulting in irreparable damage to the environment and wildlife. It is crucial to redirect resources and funds toward constructing essential facilities for residents instead of risking such damage. Rather, inspiration can be taken from our neighboring country Bangladesh, which has made smart investments to achieve a strong economic condition. Bangladesh offers a valuable lesson in economic growth. Its recent success can be attributed in part to the government’s investment in technology and digital infrastructure, which has led to connectivity in remote areas. The Bangladesh government has laid over 40,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable, expanding access to broadband internet and digital services. As a result, a vibrant digital economy has emerged, with the country’s e-commerce market projected to reach $14.24bn by 2025. The investment has also led to a rise in entrepreneurship and job creation, with the number of technology startups growing rapidly. Initiatives like the ‘Digital Bangladesh’ program have been launched to boost digital literacy and support entrepreneurship. Nepal, a country that shares a similar geographical size with its neighbor, Bangladesh, can draw inspiration from its successful investment in digital infrastructure and technology to enhance connectivity in remote regions. As of Jan 2022, only 37.7 percent of Nepal’s population has access to the internet, leaving ample opportunity to expand digital connectivity throughout the country.  When it comes to Nepal's infrastructural development. It has long been hampered by bureaucracy and corruption, resulting in inflated costs and delays. However, technology offers a ray of hope in overcoming these challenges, as increased connectivity and technological advancement can go a long way in solving these issues. While the country may still require significant infrastructure, policymakers must prioritize initiatives that can deliver tangible improvements in people's lives in a shorter timeframe. Notably, Mahabir Pun's achievement in connecting Nangi village to the internet in 2001 serves as a testament to the efficacy of this approach, and with technological advancements, such projects are now even more feasible. Expanding on the given information, Nepal can benefit greatly from leveraging the expertise of its diaspora living abroad to drive sustainable and regional development. With a significant number of educated Nepalese residing in countries such as the USA, Europe, and Australia, their knowledge and skills can be tapped into to drive technological advancements in their home country. National initiatives, such as Digital Nepal, can be adopted as a blueprint, just as Bangladesh did with Digital Bangladesh, to attract tech experts back to Nepal and invest in sustainable development projects. Not only can this help bridge the technology gap, but it can also curb the brain drain, enabling the country to harness the global talent pool to drive growth and development. This can lead to new job opportunities and economic growth, creating a win-win situation for both the country and its diaspora. By capitalizing on the potential of its experts and investing in technology, Nepal can pave the way for a brighter and more prosperous future. Shivang Chalise Gettysburg College, USA

Sushma Adhikari is among the busiest artists in Nepal. Not only in Nepali movies and music videos, she has also played a couple of Bhojpuri movies. Indian newspaper The Indian Express has also covered her story a couple of times which made her trending in Nepali and the Indian film industry. ApEx talked to her to know about her career. Excerpts: Why did you come to Kathmandu? I came to Kathmandu for higher studies after completing under-grad education from my hometown Dhangadhi. Since my school days, I have been interested in dancing but in Dhangadhi, training opportunities were not available. At school cultural programs and local festivals, I used to get the opportunity to show my skills. My parents would always ask me to focus on studies and get a job. My interest to become an artist somehow drove me to Kathmandu, where I pursued both my studies and a modeling career. How did your career start? I was thinking of pursuing modeling along with studies. So, after coming to Kathmandu, the first thing I did was a photo shoot. After my photos were published in a magazine, I got an opportunity to act in a music video of composer Sagar Thapa. ‘Phulbari Ko Bato Hidchhau’ gave me a much-needed breakthrough. These days, I act in at least 3-4 music videos a month. So far, I have worked in over 300 music videos, acting in music videos of almost every famous singer. Among them, Anju Pant’s ‘Timile Bhulna Sake’ and Shiva Pariyar’s ‘Timilai Bhulne Bahanama’ are my favorite performances.  How did you come to the movies? After becoming a hit in the music videos, I felt the need to do the films as well. I then gave it a try and acted in ‘Anautho Prem Katha’ and ‘Pipal’.  In my film career, I have met a variety of people, who claim to be producers and directors. They do this to hang out with female actors. I have bitter experiences too. Some of the film producers and directors I met at the beginning of my career have not yet made a single film. Later I realized that modeling for music videos is a better choice than acting in movies as music videos offer a better income and, unlike in a movie shoot, you don’t have to invest a huge amount of time.  How was the reaction of your parents when they knew about your career? My parents found out that I was a model by watching my music video on TV. Even when my music videos were released, I didn’t tell my parents about it. But as soon as they found out, I convinced them by clarifying that I was also continuing my studies. They are now happy as I have completed my graduation and am even earning and assisting my parents financially.  How’s your life going? My life has become synonymous with modeling. And I am enjoying it to the fullest. Besides music videos and movies, I have also acted in many commercials. I am equally busy with stage shows and cultural programs. I am earning good money from programs in Nepal and abroad. And above all, the love and support from the audiences inspires me to work hard.  Models like me are getting more work these days as songs get less views without music videos. It is possible for models like me to make a decent living in Kathmandu by giving full time in modeling.   

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 26. 85 points to close at 1,888.29 points on Sunday. Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 5. 02 points to close at 355. 99 points. A total of 3,754,334-unit shares of 259 companies were traded for Rs 1. 28 billion. Meanwhile, Maya Khola Hydropower Company Limited was the top gainer today with its price surging by 9. 99 percent. Likewise, Jeevan Bikas Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited, Jalpa Samudayik Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited and Unique Nepal Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited were the top losers with their price dropped by 10. 00 percent. At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 2. 73 trillion.

The CPN (Maoist Center) withdrew support extended to the CPN-UML-led government in the Lumbini Province on Sunday. The three ministers of the Maoist Center have submitted a resignation to Chief Minister Leela Giri this afternoon. Jokh Bahadur Mahara, Indrajit Chaudhary and Krishna KC were appointed as the ministers in the Giri-led government from the Maoist Center. UML Parliamentary Party leader Giri was appointed as the Chief Minister on January 11. Giri, who sought a vote of confidence on January 19, was given the vote of confidence by 58 lawmakers. With the Maoist Center withdrawing the support, the Giri-led government has fallen into minority. He will have to seek a vote of confidence within a month. The Lumbini Province has 87 lawmakers. Giri needs 44 votes for the majority. There are 27 lawmakers of the Nepali Congress, 29 of the CPN-UML, 10 of the CPN (Maoist Center), four of Rastriya Prajatantra Party, one the CPN (Unified Socialist), three of the Janamat Party and four of the Nagarik Unmukti Party in the Lumbini Province.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 600 per tola in the domestic market on Sunday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow bullion is being traded at Rs 109, 200 per tola today. The yellow metal was traded at Rs 109, 800 per tola on Friday. Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 108, 700 per tola. Similarly, the price silver has dropped by Rs 10 and is being traded at Rs 1,370 per tola today.

A couple of days ago, Speaker Dev Raj Ghimire made the headlines.  His remarks that Nepal’s journalists are for sale created some stir in the gradually calming waters of Nepal’s fourth estate. If getting media publicity was his intent, he should pat himself on his back.   Interestingly, the Speaker’s ‘quotable quote’ came during his meeting with a delegation from the Federation of Nepali Journalists that had gone all the way to the Parliament Secretariat last Friday to meet him.  The harsh remarks coming from Speaker Ghimire during a courtesy call perhaps show how disenchanted he is with the independent media.  Had it not been for ‘up for sale remarks’, the free media could have thanked itself, at least, for making the helmsman of one of the three organs of the state uncomfortable. The lion’s share of the credit would surely have gone to the FNJ. What a proud moment that would have been! Lambasting the remarks, FNJ demanded that the Speaker either substantiate the allegation or apologize for such irresponsible comments.  With no word coming from the Speaker since then, the chapter remains pretty open.  The Speaker is neither the only high-profile figure to attack the media, nor he will be the last. Not so long ago, it was on the cross-hairs of an up-and-coming politician. Before him too, many politicians have spared no opportunity to target the media.    Whenever such attacks come from vantage points, the independent media faces increased hostilities on social media and much beyond, putting media houses and journalists associated with them at heightened risks. The media has seen it all, in Nepal and beyond.    While the Speaker should have been more specific instead of coming up with a generalized remark against the entire fraternity, his remarks should prompt some soul-searching.  How effective has the FNJ been when it comes to playing the role of the umbrella organization of journalists? What can it do to raise genuine concerns of journalists related to their safety, security and livelihoods more powerfully? Have its office-bearers indeed been playing apolitical roles, snapping their umbilical cords with political parties of different hues and shades? Introspection makes more sense at a time when the free press is facing increased threats in the region and much beyond, from the state and non-state actors enjoying the support of the government, in many cases.  Soul-searching should not end there, though. High officials like the Speaker have it in their powers to make the state more accountable to the public. As the permanent opposition, the free media can play a crucial role in this, especially in times of soaring inflation and plummeting faith in the state.  Some management Guru has rightly said: If you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem.