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The ‘Empowering Youth: Igniting Change’ panel discussion, organized by Youth for Change-Kathmandu University, is set to take place at CV Raman Hall, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel on June 27. This event aims to inspire and mobilize young individuals to become catalysts for positive change in their communities, according to the organizer.

Panelists include MPs Pradeep Poudel, Sobita Gautam, Vidushi Rana, Executive Director of Goldstar Nepal, Nishchal Basnet, Director and Actor; and Neelesh Man Singh Pradhan, CEO of Nepal Clearing House Limited. 

“Youth for Change-Kathmandu University is a student-led organization dedicated to promoting social welfare and community engagement,” the club says. “The event will facilitate engaging dialogues and interactive exchanges, equipping attendees with the knowledge and tools to lead effective change initiatives.”

Karan Pariyar from Bardiya has won the fifth edition of the 'Nepal Idol', a singing competition.

He became the winner based on the votes received from the audience, after defeating Mohit Bhujel, Salomi Gurung and Sachin Bishwakarma in the finals held on Saturday evening.

Winner Pariyar received a cash prize of Rs.2.5 million while Salomi Gurung of Pokhara came second to win a cash prize of Rs 1 million, Sachin Bishwakarma of Darjeeling came third and received Rs 500,000. Likewise, Mohit Bhujel of Darjeeling won the fourth place and received a scooter as the prize.

The judges for the fifth edition of 'Nepal Idol' were Nhu Bajracharya, Kali Prasad Baskota and Indira Joshi.

Heavy rain is likely in some places of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini this afternoon and night.

According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, currently there is an influence of Monsoon system in most parts of Koshi, Madhesh, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces and eastern part of Lumbini Province and partial influence of local and westerly winds in the rest of the country.

The weather at present is generally cloudy with some places in Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini experiencing light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning.

Later this afternoon, the weather will be partly to mostly cloudy across the country with a possibility of light to moderate rain in some places of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini provinces as well as some places in the rest of the country. There is also a possibility of heavy rain at one or two places in Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini.

Similarly, tonight the weather will remain partly cloudy to mostly clear in hilly parts of the country including Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini. There is a possibility of light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning at some places of Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini Provinces as well as at some places of Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces.

In the next 24 hours, there is a possibility of light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning in some places of Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini Provinces as well as in some places of Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces.

Nepali Ambassador to Thailand Dhan Bahadur Oli presented his Letters of Credence to His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua of Thailand amidst a special ceremony held at the Amphorn Royal Palace.

Following the presentation of credentials, Ambassador Oli received an audience with His Majesty the King and conveyed the warm greetings and best wishes from President Ram Chandra Paudel for good health and happiness of His Majesty the King and for the continued peace, progress, and prosperity of the friendly people of the Kingdom of Thailand.

The Ambassador mentioned that Nepal and Thailand enjoy close and friendly relations, which so happily subsist between the two Government and Peoples, bound by common culture and shared values historically and demonstrating support for each other in regional and international forums. Strong linkages between the peoples of Nepal and Thailand dates back to ancient times with the flourishing of Buddhism, he said.

Ambassador Oli conveyed the wish of the President of Nepal to welcome His Majesty the King in the birthplace of Lord Buddha, Lumbini and the capital city of the Maharaja Rajarshi Janaka, Janakpur, Nepal at the convenient time of His Majesty the King.

His Majesty the King welcomed Ambassador Oli to the Kingdom of Thailand to assume his new post and wished him success in his assignment. His Majesty the King asked the Ambassador to convey warm greetings to the President of Nepal and best wishes for the continued progress and prosperity of the people of Nepal.

Her Majesty Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana was present during the credentials presentation ceremony.

St Xavier’s College, Maitighar, celebrated its annual ‘Survaahini: A Musical Bliss’ event by honoring renowned fusion guitarist Anil Shahi with ‘10th Fr EL The Watrin Memorial Cultural Award’. 

Shahi, known for his blend of classical and contemporary guitar styles over a career spanning 25 years, emphasized the importance of preserving classical music in Nepal. “It is concerning that there are few listeners of classical music in Nepal.  But with dedication and effort, we can promote  it both at home and abroad”. 

The event, on Wednesday, featured musical performances including a fusion of Indian classical music with Western elements by Dr Neepa Chaudhary and Sudesh Subedi from the Fusion Roof Band.

Program director Sudhakar Pant and assistant Saurabh Sharma were also recognized for their significant contributions to the success of the event.

St. Xavier’s College has been honoring musicians annually since 2005 for their efforts in popularizing Nepali classical music among the youth. Artists honored through this program include Bhajan Shiromani Bhaktaraj Acharya, Kunti Moktan and Sila Bahadur Moktan, Prem Dhoj Pradhan, and Shambhujit Baskota.

I have a job at my college and an internship elsewhere. Juggling work and studies has caused my social life to suffer, and I’m spending less time with my family. I find it challenging to balance everything, but I worry about missing out on opportunities if I give something up. How can I manage everything while still maintaining my social life and making sure I spend quality time with my family?

Answered by Kapil Sharma, counseling psychologist, Nepal Institute of Mental Health

Balancing work, studies, and an internship, alongside maintaining a social life and making time for yourself and family is undoubtedly a challenging feat, especially at your age. It requires exceptional time management skills and dedication. Your effort to juggle these responsibilities and make the most out of each aspect of your life is truly commendable.

There are several psychological factors that might be contributing to your situation, one of which could be perfectionism coupled with a fear of missing out. You might feel the need to excel in everything you do and be the best in every aspect of your life. This can lead to a state of being overly available and constantly on high alert. Such a personality trait is indeed challenging. This often results in taking on multiple roles, which can be emotionally exhausting.

Another reason for your situation could be feelings of guilt and obligation. You may feel guilty about not spending enough time with your family and friends, leading to a persistent sense of obligation. These thoughts create a cycle where you constantly worry about not meeting their expectations. This sense of duty can be overwhelming.

If you feel your situation stems from a fear of missing out at work, which puts you in a constant state of high alert, leading to distraction, stress, and the feeling that there’s never enough time to complete everything, it’s important to reassess your priorities.

Start by prioritizing your tasks and clearly defining what needs to be done, how to do it, and when. Learning and applying effective time management techniques can help significantly. For instance, try time-blocking, where you dedicate specific blocks of time exclusively for work, study, and personal life. This way, you can avoid letting these different aspects of your life overlap and cause further stress.

Communication is also crucial. Try talking to your family and friends, explaining that your work commitments leave you with less time to spend quality time with them. You might be surprised at how understanding and supportive they can be. Without this communication, you might feel even guiltier, thinking your family believes you’re neglecting them, which can lead to feelings of double burden and anxiety. Regularly checking in with them, asking how they’re doing, and ensuring they’re okay in small, consistent interactions can bridge this communication gap and alleviate some of your stress.

You should focus on setting boundaries, especially if you feel overwhelmed by taking on too much at once. Reflect on whether your situation is driven by uncertainty, insecurity, or fear, as understanding this is equally important for your emotional well-being.

Seeking professional support might be beneficial. A therapist can help you manage stress, responsibilities, and provide guidance on coping strategies and techniques to restructure your thought patterns. This professional assistance can be invaluable in navigating your current challenges.

Annapurna Media Network (AMN) and the Music Research and Development Forum Nepal (MRDF) jointly organized a live musical performance on Friday in celebration of World Music Day and Yoga Day.

At the Tinkune-based AMN office, MRDF artists performed popular Nepali folk songs for media personnel using live instruments such as the flute, sarangi, madal, tungna, and guitar. The performers included Geeta Pandey, Rajesh Kumar Shrestha, KC Raja, Amrita Limbu, Sarad Rai, and Shubham Bhetwal.

Speaking at the event, Akhanda Bhandari, Editor-in-Chief of Annapurna Post, emphasized that music is closely intertwined with human life and should be considered an integral part of it. Shiromani Dawadi, Station Manager of Radio Annapurna Nepal, highlighted the significance of World Yoga Day and Music Day, noting that music brings joy and refreshment to both the mind and the brain.

Soman Sainju, a music promotion activist, added that the experience and feeling of musical performances, including live singing with instruments, help foster positive thinking.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that Nepal is a beautiful country from the nature perspective for practicing yoga for the people around the world.

Addressing a program marking the International Day of Yoga today, he expressed the belief that Nepal could be the main destination for researchers and academics throughout the world who are studying the knowledge and science related to yoga. 

Stating that yoga is not only to do with physical exercise, but it also is about a scientific lifestyle and living system to be adopted, remaining in certain rules, procedures and process, the Prime Minister said yoga helps make an individual physically, mentally and spiritually strong, and to lead a healthy life.

"Yoga is the best way to make the body healthy and agile, and the mind pure and peaceful. A person can build strong health and become free from mental tension through regular practice of yoga. This also enhances a person's work performance and immune power, a positive mindset, self-discipline and inner energy," he said. 

Noting that yoga has a significant role to play in the development of a tension-free calm mind and a healthy body, PM Dahal said the regular practice of yoga and meditation can make important contributions to the prevention and cure of non-communicable diseases and in rehabilitation of health.

"Nepal is a country having immense possibilities for yoga tourism. Therefore, we should emphasize the globalization of yoga. I heartily appeal to the yoga activists and the yoga gurus to take planned initiatives towards this direction," he added.

Reiterating that yoga is the general lifestyle and an invaluable asset of Nepal, Prime Minister Dahal expressed the confidence the proposed Yogmaya Ayurveda University would establish itself as a world-class university in future.