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Actor Paul Shah, who got a clean chit from Pokhara District Court in a case related to raping a minor girl, has been released on Monday. Shah’s lawyer Kamala Mohan Wagle said that Shah was released after he was acquitted of all the charges. Shah was in the District Police Office, Tanahun. His supporters and well-wishers had gathered outside the district police office since this morning to welcome him. A joint bench of acting Chief Judge Dilliraj Acharya and Judge Shreedhara Kumari Pudasaini overturned the verdict of the Nawalpur District Court and held that the evidence presented in the court was insufficient to prove the charge against Shah. Earlier, the Nawalpur District Court had sentenced Shah to two-and-half-years in jail and slapped a fine of Rs 25, 000 for sexually abusing a minor girl. Shah has already got a clean chit from the Tanahun District Court. Actor Shah had surrendered himself at the District Police Office, Tanahun on February 27 after a minor singer filed a rape case against him. Shah was sent to custody for seven days for the first time on February 27 and the remand was extended by 12 days on March 5 for the second time for investigation. Based on the complaint filed by a 17-year-old singer, the District Attorney’s Office had filed a case against Shah at Tanahun District Court seeking 14 years of imprisonment. Later, the issue took a twist after the minor singer, who had filed a complaint accusing Shah of raping her, changed her statement at the Tanahun District Court. The girl said that she had not been raped as claimed by her earlier. She said that the information she stated while filing the complaint was false.  

Holi, the festival of colors, began with the installation of a 'Chir' (bamboo pole) decorated with colorful strips of cloths at Hanumandhoka Durbar Square in Basantapur on Monday. The chir was erected at 7:45 am today. Erection of the pole in Basantapur marks the beginning of the festival which lasts for a week. Holi will be celebrated in Kathmandu valley and hilly districts on March 6 and in the Tarai on March 7. The chir will be erected in Patan and Bhaktapur also.    

I’m a 20-year-old student, desperately trying to fit in with my peers. Whether it’s following the latest fashion trends, listening to the same music, or participating in the same activities, I’ve often found myself doing things just because my friends are doing it. It’s exhausting, and I feel like losing my identity. But it’s hard to resist the urge to fit in. What should I do?—A confused guy Answered by Tashi Gurung, counseling psychologist, Happy Minds I think we have all been through a point in life where we do whatever it takes to fit in with a group, be it in school, college, or the workplace. And it mostly happens when we are still in our adolescence. So, the pressure you are feeling right now is natural. We all want to fit in somewhere, be a part of a group, and enjoy the fun experiences that come with it. But, as you said, losing ourselves in the mix becomes easier, which isn’t a good thing for anyone.  So, first of all, it’s important for you to find a balance between fitting in and being true to yourself. It’s not like you can have only one or the other. You can still have friends while not having to follow every trend, hum to every popular song, or be with them all the time. One thing you can do is find a common ground and pursue activities that both you and your friends can genuinely enjoy.  It’s not a bad thing to differ from your peers. Not everyone is the same. After all, it’s your uniqueness that makes you stand out in a crowd. It’s this diversity that makes the world an exciting and vibrant place. So having different interests and hobbies isn’t something you need to hide. Rather, have the courage to be vocal about it. If you want your peers to accept you for who you are, you need to show them your true side. I understand what you mean when you say that keeping up with the latest trends, music, and activities makes you feel exhausted. The pressure to fit in has created a lot of stress. But you need to focus on your mental health before anything else. The stress can even turn into anxiety or depression if it goes on for a long time. So, make your well-being the first priority. The rest comes later.  Since you are struggling to fit in, I think it’s time you analyze if the company you hang out with right now is good for you. A friendship is healthy only when you are able to be yourself with each other. If that’s not the case, you need to surround yourself with people who love and adore you for who you are.  To feel more comfortable among your peers, I suggest you seek out individuals who share your interests and values. Join clubs or groups that cater to your passion and hobbies. This will not only help you make meaningful connections but also stay true to yourself. Lastly, it’s important to remember that fitting in is not a one-time thing. As you grow and evolve, your interests and passions might change. Embrace those changes, and don’t be afraid to move away from your peers’ expectations. Remember that you are the only one who knows what truly makes you happy. 

The years 2022 and 2023 are opening a new chapter in Nepal's hydropower sector with some encouraging developments and breakthroughs taking place. The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) started exporting surplus power to India, the much-debated Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)-Nepal Compact moved toward the implementation phase, Nepal and India agreed to construct two more cross-border transmission lines, and Bangladesh and China formally proposed to buy electricity from Nepal. The biggest breakthrough during this period is power export to India. Nepal earned over Rs 11bn by selling excess power to India from June-December 2022. There has been a huge surge in domestic electricity generation. A total of 735 MW of electricity was added to the national grid in FY 2021/22. NEA has projected that 808 MW of electricity will be added to the national system by the end of FY 2022/23. The latest data shows 300 MW of electricity has already been connected to the national grid in the first seven months of the current fiscal year. Nepal’s installed electricity production capacity has reached 2,400 MW. Government officials estimate that Nepal will become self-sufficient in electricity even in winter in the next two years given that all the under-construction projects start power generation. As the electricity supply will be more than the domestic demand, the country can aim for more power export. The Department of Electricity Development (DoED) has issued construction licenses to 17 hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 519.24 MW till mid-February, 2023. Similarly, the department has issued survey licenses to 14 hydropower companies with a combined capacity of 1412.07 MW. DoED also issued survey licenses to 12 companies that have proposed to generate 236.9 MW of solar electricity. There was renewed Indian interest in Nepali hydropower with NHPC Limited signing an MoU to study and develop two hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 1200 MW. The 750 MW West Seti Hydropower Project and 450-megawatt Seti River (SR-6) are worth a combined USD 2.4 billion. In May 2022, Nepal and India signed an agreement to develop the 490-megawatt Arun-IV Hydropower Project which will be developed as a joint venture between India’s state-owned Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) and Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), with SJVN having a majority share in the company that will operate the proposed project. Two more cross-border transmission lines between Nepal and India The recently concluded 10th joint secretary-level Joint Working Group and the secretary-level Joint Steering Committee meeting between Nepal and India agreed to increase power trade between the two countries and develop more cross-border transmission lines. Currently, the southern neighbor has allowed Nepal to sell 452.6 MW of electricity generated by 10 hydropower projects in the Indian power market. But the approvals given to the 10 hydropower projects need to be renewed every year. India has agreed to review the existing mechanism following a request from Nepal of giving such approvals for at least five years. Nepal and India also agreed to develop two more 400kV cross-border transmission lines--Inaruwa (Duhabi- Purnia (Bihar) and New Lamki (Dodhara)-Bareli. According to the press statement of the ministry, the first one will be completed by 2027-28 and the next one will be completed by 2028-29. Likewise, the two sides also agreed that the 400kv Butwal-Gorkhapur Cross-border Transmission Line would be completed by March 2025. For this, the two countries agreed to sign an implementation and transmission service agreement very soon. China officially proposes to buy electricity from Nepal China has proposed to purchase electricity from Nepal. The northern neighbor wants to purchase power for its autonomous state Tibet which borders Nepal. The Chinese side formally made a proposal to Nepal in the first meeting of the Joint Working Group formed for energy cooperation between Nepal and China held in Kathmandu last Tuesday. According to Nepali government officials close to the matter, China wants to import electricity from Nepal, especially for the winter season. But, both sides are yet to reach any understanding in this regard. "This is the first time China has officially proposed to purchase electricity from Nepal," said an official who took part in the meeting. The meeting of the Joint Technical Group also discussed the proposed Ratamate-Rasuwagadhi-Kerung Transmission Line Project. NEA has already completed a feasibility study of the 400 KV transmission line connecting Nepal and China. Currently, an environmental study of the transmission line is being carried out. NEA Engineering Company, a subsidiary of NEA, is taking charge of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the project.   Construction licenses issued for hydropower project in 2022/23 (First seven months)

Amid talks about energy trade between Nepal, India and Bangladesh, ApEx caught up with Energy Secretary Dinesh Kumar Ghimire to discuss the prospects and challenges ahead. Excerpts from the interview:     What is the current energy scenario of Nepal? The country has been generating about 2,500 MW of energy against the daily demand of 2,500-3,000 MW. Of the total output, 2424 MW is connected to the grid. This output is a mix of hydropower, solar energy and thermal power (53 MW is generated from thermal plants). There is a growing concept about energy mix for sustainable energy transitions in the Ganges river basin. Is the government of Nepal also thinking of switching to hydro-only solutions? Does the concept of energy mix figure in meetings between Nepal, Bangladesh and India? We are committed to energy transition. We need to replace fuelwood, biogas, petrol and biomass with green energy. The need is to switch from other sources of energy to hydropower as we have a good potential in the hydropower sector. But the current situation is such that we have to depend on rainfall patterns and make plans accordingly. Having said this, we must focus on hydro-only solutions. Nepal can play a lead role in energy transition, given its water resources. The topic of energy mix features in these meetings. Different countries are generating energy using a variety of sources. For example, Bangladesh generates energy from gas. Whatever the mode of generation, energy generation cost should go down. Ganges river basin countries are increasingly vulnerable to energy supply shocks, like recent hikes in gas prices. This makes the transition to other renewable energy sources necessary. Your thoughts on this? The countries should maximize the use of available resources. Nepal, for example, can generate hydropower from its rivers. Other sources of energy will be expensive; they will not be viable for us. Instead of panicking, we should rather focus on generating hydropower. How will climate change impact hydropower generation in Nepal? Can the country benefit from India’s solar projects? Climate change will surely have an adverse impact on hydropower. In fact, this global phenomenon has already started impacting Nepal. For example, there has been no rainfall so far this winter. Less rainfall will lead to decreased farm yields. We need to make plans and designs in keeping with changing weather patterns. We need to explore alternative ways of energy generation. For example, we can increase solar power generation and explore the possibility of harnessing wind power. Nepal cannot benefit much from solar projects in India. Hydropower export to India will benefit us. Hydropower projects have impacted the livelihoods of local communities and local environment, biodiversity and river ecology. Have government plans tried to address these issues? Government plans have incorporated these issues. Cost of projects also entails fulfilling corporate social responsibility vis-a-vis local communities living in and around project sites. Projects that generate less than 100 MW have to spend 0.75 percent of total project cost on CSR. Whereas projects generating more than 100 MW must spend 0.5 percent of the total cost toward the mitigation of impact on the environment and on the livelihoods of local communities. Nepal has held talks with Bangladesh and India in recent months. What was discussed and decided? What issues did Bangladesh raise vis-a-vis energy trade with Nepal?  We have been discussing issues related to electricity trade with Bangladesh and India. Nepal and India have agreed to increase power trade. We have decided to increase the volume of power to be transmitted via the Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur transmission line. This started with Nepal and India signing a power trade agreement in 2014, opening up new vistas of cooperation in the hydropower sector. Power trade talks are also going on with Bangladesh. Bangladesh has raised the issue of transmission lines. It is seeking India’s permission for the transmission of electricity generated in Nepal using the Indian infrastructure. It also wants dedicated transmission lines. It will be easy for Bangladesh to pay the holding charge to India for using the latter’s transmission lines to import electricity generated in Nepal. Bangladesh has expressed interest to invest in the 683-MW Sunkoshi-III semi-reservoir project on the Sunkoshi River along the border of Ramechhap and Kavre districts. Both Nepal and Bangladesh have sought permission for the use of Indian infrastructure—the transmission line—for facilitating energy trade between the two countries. Has there been any progress on this front? What do you think are the major challenges hindering energy trade between South Asian countries? How can member countries facilitate this trade? India has issued a cross-border electricity guideline 2018 to facilitate and promote cross-border power trade. Talks are on with India and Bangladesh with regard to power trade with Nepal. We are planning for a trilateral meeting between Nepal, India and Bangladesh on this issue. Lack of cross-border infrastructure is hindering energy trade between the countries in South Asia. So, the focus should be on developing regional infrastructure capable of transmitting a huge quantum of power. Each country has its own set of technical guidelines and those parameters should be met. There should be a common grid between countries, if we are to boost cross-country power trade. South Asia should have a common technical utility to address these issues. Generation of electricity from a single source is insufficient. Countries should not depend on a single source of energy. A country may have surplus energy whereas another country may be suffering from a crunch. For example, during the monsoon, Nepal has surplus energy whereas India may have a shortfall, meaning we can supply the surplus. If there are diverse sources of energy, the price goes down, the reliability of the system increases and energy consumption also goes up.

Foreign Minister Bimala Rai Paudyal’s Geneva visit has been canceled at the direction of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Minister Paudyal was scheduled to leave for Geneva this evening to take part in a program of the Human Rights Council. She took part in the government from the CPN-UML. A source at the Foreign Ministry said that Minister Paudyal’s Geneva visit was canceled at the direction of PM Dahal. During a press conference organized by the Foreign Ministry on Sunday, Minister Paudyal informed about her Geneva visit. Though the alliance between the CPN (Maoist Center) and the CPN-UML had broken down over the presidential election, the UML has not left the government. The UML was expected to pull out of the government after the Maoist Center supported the Nepali Congress candidate in the presidential election. During the Secretariat meeting held on Saturday, the UML had said that it has no plan to leave the government.  

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 4.55 points to close at 2,027.19 points on Sunday. Similarly, the sensitive index plunged by 0.51 points to close at 383. 85 points. A total of 6,515,852 unit shares of 262 companies were traded for Rs 2. 52 billion. Meanwhile, Vijaya Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 7. 94 percent. Citizens Mutual Fund was the top loser as its price fell by 7.85 percent. At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 2. 92 trillion.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 400 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 102, 000 per tola today. The yellow metal was traded at Rs 102, 400 per tola on Friday. Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 101, 500 per tola. It was traded at Rs 101, 900 per tola. Similarly, the price of silver has dropped by Rs 15 and is being traded at Rs 1,260 per tola today.