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Turkish Airlines this week announced that in order to meet the growing need for wide-body aircraft, it is purchasing 50 firm and 10 optional aircraft, or a total of 60 wide body aircraft. Of these, will be delivered in 2019, 14 in 2020, 10 in 2021, 12 in 2012, 11 in 2023 and seven in the year 2024. A total of 30 B787-9 aircraft will be purchased from Boeing and 30 A350-900 air­craft will come from Airbus.

Related MoU with Airbus was signed last January at the Élysée Palace, Paris, during Turkish Presi­dent Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s official visit to France. Also last September, during President Erdoğan’s visit to New York, Boeing and Turkish Airlines had announced a deal for 787-9 Dreamliners.

Commenting on the closed orders M. İlker Aycı, Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, Turkish Airlines, said, “This process will bring a land­mark benefit not only to Turkish Airlines, but also to Turkey’s aviation.”  

Kathmandu: A candlelight vigil was observed at Maitighar Mandala on the evening of March 13 in mem­ory of those killed in the recent US-Bangla plane crash at Tribhuvan International Airport. The event organizer, Sakshyam Foundation Nepal, an organization of health practitioners, expressed condolenc­es for the bereaved family members, and wished eternal peace to the departed souls. Doctors, nurses and health workers attended the vigil.

Foundation Chairman Dr CK Singh said the deaths of many students returning home after completing their medical studies in Bangla­desh was an irreparable loss to the country. The foundation demanded that the government provide proper treatment to the injured.

Fifty-one persons died in the crash, while 21 others are receiving treatment at differ­ent hospitals in Kathmandu. Similarly, students from Nepal Law Campus organized their own candlelight vigil on the same day. RSS

APEX BUREAU: Last week saw a unique three-in-one event at Siddhartha Art Gallery, Babar Mahal Revisited. The focus was on Dolpo and one family in particular. Dorje Dolma talked about her book “Yak Girl” which is her memoir as a young girl growing up in Dolpo. Also on display at the gallery were drawings by herself and her sister, Sumchog Kersbergen.

Following her talk and a demonstration of Dolpo dance there was a showing of a Dutch documentary “The Only Son” which follows her brother Pema’s journey back to their village in Dolpa where his parents wish him to marry. It is interesting to note that all three siblings live overseas—Dorje in America and Sumchog and Pema in The Netherlands.

Meantime, one of family members who does remain in Nepal, is Uncle Tenzin Norbu, a renowned artist whose work appears in many publications, including National Geographic Magazine, and the film Himalaya. Known for his fusion of the traditional and the contemporary, Norbu has exhibited around the world including in the US, France, Switzerland and Japan. While working to preserve the culture and traditions of Dolpo, Norbu supports Shree Siddhartha Kula Mountain Primary School which he founded in his native valley.

Speaking later, Norbu talked about his recent works which incorpo­rate Dolpo and Buddhist dharma into the New York skyline. Anoth­er acknowledges the plight of the planet; informally called Melting Ice Cream, this is about climate change. These works appeal to both his traditional and modern sides and arouse much interest among art critics and students.

It’s only been a month and half since 60-year-old Manmaya Aangbo, a resident of Papundin in the east­ern hill district of Panchthar, started learning to write ka, kha, ga.

“I could already recite the alphabets, now I’m able to write them,” she says. “Can age stop you from learning?”

Aangbo can now write her name and her place of residence. “Only now has my desire to read and write been fulfilled,” she says.

Aangbo intends to be fully liter­ate in the Nepali alphabets. “In the beginning, it was tough even to hold a pen. Writing felt more exhaust­ing than working the land. Now my hands don’t tire while writing. I’m happy that I can write a bit,” she says.

As many as 18 women like Aangbo, all of them above 50, have recently started learning to read and write in a classroom of Papundin Adharb­hoot School. Their goal is to be able to read texts in Nepali and to write them.

“It’s fun,” says 59-year-old Gori­maya Aangbo. “But studying is harder than doing household chores. It’s amazing that children study at all. It was a mistake to beat them up when they struggled at school.”

She’s promised herself that she won’t beat her children anymore when they fail to do well in exams.

Bimanata Aangbo, a local resident who has taken on the responsibility of teaching the old women, cor­roborates their stories. “Yes, they are now used to holding a pen,” she shares.

By BHIM KUMAR BASKOTA, PHIDIM

Dharan, a sub-metropolis in the eastern hills, is planning to generate energy from waste. It has already signed a 20-year agreement with ‘Venture Waste to Energy Pvt Ltd’. The company has said that it will immediately start generating energy after installing a plant with a daily capacity of processing 30 metric tons of trash. According to Dharan’s mayor Tara Subba, the agreement has paved the way for making the town even prettier and cleaner. He added that the plant would create local jobs and help reduce imports.

The plant will have three units, said Jenesh Shrestha, chairman of the power plant company, at its joint press conference with the Dharan sub-metropolitan office. The first plant will separate the trash, the sec­ond will produce natural cooking gas and the third will bottle gas.

Sunil Nepal, project manager at Dharan sub-metropolitan office, said the town produces 35 metric tons of waste every day, of which 22 metric tons can be used to generate gas. He added that the waste Dharan produc­es can generate 1,100 kg of natural cooking gas and 5,600 kg of organic fertilizer every day. “This venture is the first of its kind in Nepal,” said deputy mayor Manju Bhandari.

By RATNAPRASAD ACHARYA, DHARAN

Tires burned, brakes squealed and adrenaline rushed to the peak as stunt riders from all over country competed for the top prize in the first orange stunt competition ‘Roaring Gears’ hosted by Hansraj Hulaschand, the official distributors of KTM bikes in Nepal, at the Satdobato Swimming Complex last Saturday.

22-year-old Bhim Hona bagged the championship title while Ram Sardar and Ramesh Duwal bagged 2nd and 3rd positions respectively. To add to the heat of the competition, world-renowned Slovenian stunt rider and KTM’s official stunt rider Rok Bagaros also performed at the event and gave the Nepali audience a taste of some hardcore bike stunts.

The huge crowd was eager to watch Bagaros, also the judge for the event, perform; he didn’t dissapont them. Bagaros was speechless by the size of the crowd. “I didn’t know so many of you were going to come,” he screamed with joy. The first orange stunt competition, ‘Roaring Gears’ turned out to be a smashing hit amongst the stunt fanatics with a crowd of over 5000 eager fans.

The crowd was very enthusiastic and energetic, making the event lively. APEX BUREAU

APEX Bureau: Momo, the unoffi­cial national food of Nepal, is set to make Australia its second home with “Momo Fest—Nepalese Dumpling Festival” being organized at Coburg Cycling Velodrome in Melbourne from Mar 23-Mar 25.

The three-day culinary extrava­ganza is expecting a bigger audi­ence compared to last year’s 15,000 attendees, as the organizers gear up for one of the biggest festivals for Nepalis in Australia.

The Momo Fest 2018 boasts over 30 varieties of momo—ranging from buff momo (a favorite in Kathman­du), to goat, lamb, beef, chicken, pork, seafood, and various vegetar­ian and vegan options. With enter­tainment divided between two stag­es, one can expect a full spectrum of eastern-influenced entertainment and grooves.

Momo Fest 2018 will have different concept for every day—Momo Dinner with Movies on Friday; Main Festival with Momo, live music, colors, multi­cultural performances on Saturday; and Momo Brunch with DJ music on Sunday.

The main stage is headlined by internationally-acclaimed Nepali tra­ditional folk band, Kutumba, whose combination of explosive high-ener­gy percussion and mystical sound­scapes—inspired by the spectacular Nepali landscape—will be something to watch. Adding to the vibrant entertainment will be popular local bands, workshop and performances in Latin moves, Bhangra beats, Hip hop dance, colorful Chinese lion dancers, energetic Nepali Lakhey Dance, and rhythmic Nepali steps.

“We want to share the joy of momo with the world,” says Raju Shakya, the organizer of the event. “Nepali cuisines have not been able to get international recognition. With this festival, we will promote Nepali food, music and culture in the diverse Australian community.”

The festival will also see an excit­ing celebration of Holi colors, as a symbol of multiculturalism. The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of a new season, and a festive day to meet others, play and laugh.

Under a rainbow sky, the aroma of dumplings and the hustle and bustle of food trucks, the fest is the ultimate love letter goodbye to another lazy Melbourne summer. “Momo Fest believes in celebration of life and culture by sharing love and giv­ing back to the communities in need,” Shakya says. “We are aim­ing for 25,000 attendees this year. Melbourne is going crazy for momo right now.”

KATHMANDU: Forty eight out of the 55 LPG industries operating in the country have not yet taken the Nepal Standard certification. Although the government has made the NS certification mark mandatory for all LPG bottlers, 48 companies have not been certified. Among the few that have the certification are Manoj Gas Industry (Birgunj), Shree Krishna Gas Industry (Dhading), Saibaba Gas Industry (Dhading), Nepal Gas Industry (Balaju), Janaki Gas Industry (Nawalparasi), Metro Gas Industry (Dhading) and NL Gas Industry (Birgunj). RSS