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False information online has left one in five girls (20 percent) feeling physically unsafe, according to The Truth Gap, a new report by Plan International.

The research includes a landmark survey of over 26,000 girls and young women from 26 countries, which also found that exposure to lies and mistruths are having a profound impact on how they engage with issues ranging from Covid-19 to politics.

Plan International, which says the findings lay bare the ‘real life consequences’ of misinformation and disinformation on girls and young women, is calling on governments to educate children and young people in digital literacy.

One in three report that false information is affecting their mental health, leaving them feeling stressed, worried and anxious.

In-depth interviews carried out by Plan International suggest that girls are feeling unsafe because online exchanges are increasing social tensions within communities.

Others reported concerns about bogus events advertised on social media placing them at physical risk, or unreliable medical advice that could harm their health.

More than a quarter (28 percent) of those surveyed have been led to believe a myth or ‘fake fact’ about COVID-19, and one in four (25 percent) have questioned whether to get vaccinated against the virus.

One in five (19 percent) say mistruths are so rife that they have distrusted election results, while one in five (18 percent) have stopped engaging in politics or current affairs as a result.

Girls and young women from low and middle-income countries were more likely to be affected by unreliable or false information online, and twice as likely to have questioned whether to get the vaccine (31 percent) than those in high income countries (16 percent).

In the first large-scale global study to examine the gendered impact of misinformation and disinformation online, it was found that nearly nine in 10 (87 percent) of girls and young women think it has had a negative impact on their lives.

Globally, there was no online source that the majority of those surveyed trusted to provide reliable information.

The most trusted source was mainstream news media, selected by 48 percent, above educational institutions, family members and national governments.

The survey found that Facebook was the social media platform that girls believe to have the most misinformation and disinformation, selected by 65 percent of respondents, followed by TikTok, WhatsApp and YouTube–all at 27 percent.

According to Charlotte*, 23, from Wales, the abundance of false information on the internet can leave people “very, very vulnerable”.

“I think sometimes there’s that lack of accountability in the online world where people can just do things without getting repercussions,” she explains.

Bhagyashri Dengle, Executive Director of Gender Transformative Policy at Plan International said:

“The internet shapes girls’ opinions about themselves, the issues they care about and the world around them. Our research makes clear that the spread of false information online has real life consequences. It is dangerous, it affects girls’ mental health, and it’s yet another thing holding them back from engaging in public life.

“Every day, girls and young women in all their diversity are bombarded online with lies and stereotypes about their bodies, who they are and how they should behave. Images and videos are manipulated to objectify and shame them. Rumours are spread as a form of abuse. And girls have a very real fear that fake events and profiles will lure and trick them into danger offline.”

As part of its Girls Get Equal campaign, Plan International is supporting girls worldwide in calling on governments to take immediate action to increase children and young people’s digital literacy, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to identify false information and engage confidently in online spaces.

The organisation’s survey found that seven out of 10 girls and young women (67 percent) have never been taught how to spot misinformation or disinformation at school.

Mia, 20, from Kenya said: “We are in a world where everything is being done on the internet. We are doing everything digitally. So I think [digital literacy] should be taught in the schools from…the primary schools to secondary schools to universities. So that when we grow up, we have a better view on how to use our digital platforms.”

Dengle continued: “The truth is crucial for girls to make safe decisions and to have power and control over their lives. But right now, girls don’t know what to believe, who to trust and where to find the truth.

“We need to equip girls and all children for an increasingly digital world. That’s why we are backing girls’ calls for digital literacy to be included in their education.”

The girls’ petition can be signed at this link: https://plan-international.org/sign-girls-petition

(Names have been changed)

MAW Life, the authorised importer of Jeep Brand in Nepal rolled out the iconic off-roading SUV Jeep Wrangler in Nepal. His Excellency Mr Randy Berry, Ambassador of USA to Nepal, has unveiled the Jeep Wrangler in an exclusive launch event organised at Jeep Showroom, Naxal.

The most instantly identified vehicle in the world, Jeep Wrangler comes in both two-door and four door. The two door Wrangler is available in Rubicon trim while the four door Wrangler also known as ‘Wrangler Unlimited’ is available in Rubicon and Sahara trim.

Commenting on the launch of the Wrangler, His Excellency Randy Berry, said, “It is a matter of pride to us that the vehicle that is linked to US history has come to Nepal. We wish that US-Nepal trade and investment relations will flourish in the future.”

Likewise, Mr Vishnu Agarwal- Managing Director, MAW Group said, “We are delighted to offer the Jeep Wrangler in Nepal. Jeep Wrangler is the most iconic model and brings JEEP brand heritage along with it.”

“We had been working hard to bring it to Nepal as we were receiving lots of enquiry for it since we launched Jeep Compass in 2018,” he added.

The most capable SUV ever made

The most capable 4x4 SUV ever made, the Jeep Wrangler comes with a Trail Rated badge pointing to its impressive off-road capabilities.

Powering Jeep Wrangler is a 4-cylinder, inline, 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that delivers 201 Kw and 400 Nm of peak torque. The engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The Rubicon trim gets a Jeep RockTrac 4x4 AWD system featuring a two-speed transfer case. The vehicle boasts of a 217mm ground clearance.

The iconic design

The Wrangler sports the typical Jeep look with the Jeep CJ-inspired keystone-shaped seven-slot grille and round reflector LED headlights with LED DRLs. Also available are LED front fog lamps and square LED tail lamps. It also has a fold-down windshield and removable hard roof and doors in the Wrangler Rubicon. There are 17-inch alloy wheels with mid-gloss black pockets with trapezoidal wheel arches. All these styles make the Jeep Wrangler, the most recognised vehicle.

Premium interior

Inside the cabin of Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, you will come across a leather dashboard, leather seats and leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, gear selector, transfer case and parking brake. There is the fourth-generation 8.4-inch UConnect touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Also available are features like 7-inch driver MID, dual-zone air conditioning, engine stop/start, cruise control, ambient lighting and weather-proof push-button start.

Loaded with best safety features

Jeep Wrangler comes with 75 passive and active safety and security features. Some of these features include park assist system, rear backup camera, ESC (electronic stability control), TSC (trailer sway control), HSA (hill start assist), HDC (hill descent control), ERM (electronic roll mitigation) and TPMS (tyre pressure monitoring system).

Price

Jeep Wrangler Rubicon: Rs 2,69,00,000/-
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara: Rs 2,67,00,000/-
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon: Rs 2,79,00,000/-

Key notes for Jeep Wrangler

• The iconic Wrangler- the most capable production 4X4 vehicle in the world.

• Its style is original, authentic and capable, and is rooted to the Willys' MB 1941. 

• An authentic off-roader that inspires its owner to dream and delivers on the values of Freedom and Adventure time and again.

• The iconic design of the Wrangler is legendary.

• Customers around the world immediately identify with its legendary styling cues- the vertical seven-slot grille, flanking round headlamps, trapezoidal wheel arches, detachable roof and doors, square shaped tail lamps and fold-down windshield.

• Wrangler is built in line with Jeep's tagline that ‘Go Anywhere, Do Anything’. Its objective is simple: delivering the Freedom.

LaLiga, also known as the Primera Division, is Spain's top professional football league for men. It was founded in 1929 and is one of the oldest and most popular leagues in the world. The LaLiga season began in August and will conclude in May 2022. There are a total of 20 clubs competing in a Double Round-Robin format with each team playing 38 matches.

With the promotion and relegation system, a total of 380 league matches were played. One of the most intriguing facts about LaLiga is that the ‘El Clasico,' the match between Real Madrid and Barcelona, is the most viewed sporting event in the world (650 million viewers). Some of the top teams of LaLiga are Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Valencia, Sevilla and so on which is every famous club in European competition.

Dish Media Network Ltd. has obtained an exclusive broadcast right of LaLiga season 2021-22 for Nepal. Over 270 matches will be live telecasted on DishHome Action Sports HD2 in DishHome in DTH and OTT platform in course of 9 months spreading 38 footbal match weeks.

LaLiga will be exclusively broadcasted only on DishHome Action Sports HD2. It will be available for viewers on a “Season Ticket” scheme. The “Season Ticket” scheme will be available in DishHome DTH and OTT platforms. Customers can also enjoy LaLiga on SIM TV and Prabhu TV & OTT platforms.

Customers with DishHome can purchase season tickets to activate Action Sports HD2 by contacting customer support. Laliga is also available on the web and on the DishHome GO mobile app. Prabhu Pay is where you can get a DishHome Go Season Ticket. DishHome subscribers will have to pay Rs. 2000 for a Season ticket, while for non DishHome user Rs. 3000 for season ticket to activate LaLiga on DishHome OTT Platform. Along with all LaLiga matches, a LaLiga Season Ticket for the DishHome Go app gives you access to 69 TV channels and on-demand entertainment.

Nepal Teen Leaders, a group of teenagers, has performed a flash mob—‘Mahinawariko Mulya’—against the ‘luxury tax’ on mensturational products at Basantapur, Kathmandu on October 6. The street show included theme-related songs, dances, and drama.

“The one-hour program was successfully conducted as there were more spectators than we expected”, says Bishal KC, coordinator of the event.

Also read: What if… sanitary pads were made free?

Since the Nepali market has unofficially hiked the price of sanitary pads, different groups and activists are requesting the government to waive off the taxes on mensturational products.

Different other organizations—Career Point Education Pvt. Ltd., We Newars, Little Sisters Fund, Lions Club of Kathmandu Matribhumi, and Leo Club of Kathmandu Matribhum supported the event.

No surprise that the richest man in Nepal, Binod Chaudhary, finds himself in the company of 15 other Nepalis whose illegally stashed wealth abroad has been exposed. The Nepali Congress parliamentarian and the head of the Chaudhary Group (CG) likes to boast of his adeptness at using loopholes in Nepali laws to expand his business empire abroad. The latest exposé by the Washington DC-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) identifies CG and Golcha Organization, two of Nepal’s biggest conglomerates, as among the companies that have set up shells in international tax havens, apparently to launder money.

Chaudhary has built companies in the British Virgin Islands under his and family members’ names—his wife Sarika Devi, and three sons, Nirvana, Varun, and Rahul. Likewise, those related to Golcha Organization—chairman Lokmanya Golchha, his two brothers Mahendra Kumar Golchha and Diwakar Golchha, their cousin Chandra Kumar Golchha and Diwakar’s son Hitesh Golchha—set up similar companies in the BVI. Among other prominent names flagged by the ICIJ report are Ajeya Raj Sumargi Parajuli, Arjun Prasad Sharma, and Sudhir Mittal, all of whom have parked wealth outside the country by breaking Nepali laws.

Also read: Editorial: KP Oli’s misgivings

Despite such repeated exposures of their wrongdoing—before this, most famously in the 2016 Panama Papers—nothing happens. These ultra-rich businesspersons buy their way out of any kind of legal trouble. In the past decade, in particular, the influence of money in politics and even in the judiciary is getting pronounced. Members of the traditionally marginalized communities were supposed to be elected under the PR quota in national and regional parliaments yet many such seats are bought off by powerful businessmen, who invariably also finance the election campaigns of big political parties.

As Gerard Ryle, director of ICIJ, puts it: “The offshore world exacerbates poverty. It leads to inequality… there doesn’t seem to be a purpose to this system except to enrich some people.” This visible inequality fuels anger and resentment, which in turn offers the perfect platform for the rise of authoritarians. Such shameless wealth inequality, if left unaddressed, could well doom the nascent Nepali democracy.

Four years ago, when the poster of the ‘Rudane: Bidroha ko Nepali nam’ was made public, it was highly appreciated, not only because it would be a movie based on the life of Rup Chandra Bista, the promoter of the Thaha movement, but also because of actor Divyadev’s looks.

But the film got stuck for various reasons and could not start its shooting on time. Meanwhile, there were rumors that film production would not be completed. After four years, the film’s teaser has been made public, and like the poster, it has gotten a lot of attention. 

The movie is co-written and directed by Amit Kishor Subedi and Vikas Dhakal. Alongside Divyadev, Namrata Shrestha, Ravi Giri, Subhash Gajurel and Amar Subedi are in the lead roles.

As you enter the Kirtipur area, through the bustling streets, welcoming you is the majestic aroma of baked goodies of Eliz Chautari Cafe. Located under the chautari of Nayabazar, Kirtipur, this outdoor cafe is the perfect blend of a traditional Nepali hangout and good, affordable food.

Eliz Chautari Cafe has been in business for seven years and its lively spirit, delightful setting, and reasonable prices have won many hearts over time. It has unique recipes of baked goods and other food that stand out from most other eateries. From hot baked items with tea in the morning to a quiet evening bite of a luscious burger with friends, this cafe has it all. There is sufficient parking as well.  

Eliz Chautari Cafe

Chef’s Special Dishes:

Crispy Fried Chicken Burger
Brownies
Custard Bun 

Opening time: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Location: Nayabazar, Kathmandu 
Meal for two: 400
Phone pay: Yes
Pre-order: Yes

Leapfrog, an IT company based in the country, is conducting a survey to understand how tech professionals in Nepal are entering the world of technology, right from when they get their first computer.

“The goal is to figure out the shortcomings of academic courses in Nepal and how they lack in preparing the students for their career in real life,” says Kailash Bijayananda, CTO of Leapfrog Tech. Students of computer science, working professionals and under graduates in the subject, are requested to take part in this survey.

Click here for the survey form.