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Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said the government's policies and programs for the new fiscal year are in the interests of the citizens and Nepal.

Talking to the media at Bharatpur Airport today, the Prime Minister said that overall, the budget is satisfactory. "I hope it will be endorsed by the House of Representatives smoothly."

The Prime Minister claimed that the budget highlighted several government initiatives for good governance, social justice and prosperity. "I feel that more initiatives are needed to meet the people's aspirations."

Responding to a query about the possibility of the change of Inspector General of Police, he said no such thing would happen. "This is just a rumor," he said, adding that he recently summoned chiefs of security bodies and urged them to work confidently.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 600 per tola in the domestic market on Monday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 142, 200 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 142, 800 per tola on Sunday.

Similarly, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 141, 500 per tola. It was traded at Rs 142, 100 per tola.

Meanwhile, the price of silver has dropped by Rs 20 and is being traded at Rs 1,800 per tola today.

Muslims across the country are celebrating Bakra-Eid with zest and zeal on Monday.

The festival, also known as Eid al-Adha, falls on the 70th day after Ramadan, the nine months of the Hijri (Islamic lunar calendar).

The festival is observed commemorating the moment when Ibrahim, the first of the Old Testament who became ready to sacrifice his son at the command of Allah, the Muslim God, some 1435 years back as per the Hijri calendar, said Mohammad Khursid of Ghantaghar-Jame Mosque.

On this day, Muslims visit mosques, madrasas and Eidgah and offer their prayers to Allah, observe Namaj and exchange greetings to each other. They also observe a stringent dawn-to-dusk fast today.

Reading Namaj, observing Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca Medina), Roja (fasting), offering donations and sacrifices are the five main good deeds supposed to be followed by the Muslim people.

Nepal suffered a 21-run defeat at the hands of Bangladesh in the ICC T20 World Cup on Monday.

The match was held at the Ornos Vale stadium of St Vincent, the West Indies.

Sent to bat first after losing the toss, Bangladesh posted a total of 106 runs in 19.3 overs losing all the wickets.

Chasing the target, Nepal made 85 runs in 19.2 overs losing all the wickets.

Kushal Malla contributed 27 runs off 40 balls, hitting one four and one six for Nepal.

Similarly, Dipendra Singh Airee scored 25 runs off 31 balls with one six and two fours.

Opener Asif Sheikh made 17 runs off 14 balls hitting four boundaries while other batters failed to score in double digits.

Meanwhile, Tanzim Hasan Sakib claimed the highest four wickets for Bangladesh.

Likewise, Mustafizur Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan and Taskin Ahmed took three, two and one wickets respectively.

Earlier, Shakib Al Hasan scored 17 runs, Mahmudullah and Rishad Hossain made 13 runs each and Jaker Ali and Taskin Ahmed contributed 12 runs each. Other batters failed to score in double figures.

For Nepal, Rohit Kumar Paudel, Sandeep Lamichhane, Sompal Kami and Dipendra Singh Airee claimed two wickets each.

With the win, Bangladesh have advanced to the Super Eight.

Meanwhile, Sandeep Lamichhane has become the first Nepali bowler to complete 100 wickets in T20Is. He completed the 100 wickets in 56 matches.

The Malekhu-Muglin road section along with Prithvi Highway has been obstructed due to a landslide on Monday.

Landslide occurred between Fisling, Ichhakamana Rural Municipality-3 and Mauwakhola rivulet this morning has caused the road disruption

Chief of the Area Police Office, Muglin, Nirala Bhandari informed that a landslide occurred in the sites which were dug during the construction of the road.

He said that the task of removing landslide debris is currently underway.

Due to the landslide, the vehicles bound to the destination have been stopped on the way.

Throughout my life, I’ve faced challenges in communicating with others. I’ve often found myself selectively mute, feeling comfortable speaking only to those I’ve developed close bonds with, while remaining silent around others. This silence isn’t by choice, rather, I struggle to initiate conversations and engage in meaningful dialogue. This pattern has been a constant in my life, making it difficult for me to interact with new people, including some family members. Consequently, I’ve encountered difficulties in forming and maintaining relationships with friends, family, and others. How can I address this issue and improve my ability to communicate effectively?

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

You’ve demonstrated great courage in acknowledging and sharing your communication challenges, as dealing with such issues can be incredibly tough. I truly appreciate you opening up to us about your difficulties.

Psychologically, this could be due to a variety of factors, including anxiety or a fear of judgment about potential outcomes, lack of communication skills or past experience of not being heard. These factors can create a sense of apprehension that makes social interactions daunting. Your past experiences might also play a significant role, influencing your preference to wait for others to initiate conversations rather than starting them yourself. These experiences can create a feeling that it’s safer to let others take the lead in interactions.

If neither a fear of judgment nor negative past experiences are contributing factors, it might be due to a lack of social skills. For instance, you might feel uncertain about how to start or when to initiate a conversation. Even in the absence of negative past experiences, this uncertainty can lead to difficulties in navigating present social scenarios.

If you feel like anxiety is one of the root causes of your problems, you should consider practicing mindfulness and relaxation techniques. Practicing breathing exercises and engaging in mindfulness activities before starting a conversation could be inhaling on the count 1-2-3-4 and exhaling on the same count. These exercises can help calm your mind and reduce anxiety, making it easier for you to initiate and engage in conversations with greater ease and confidence. By regularly practicing these techniques, you might find yourself becoming more comfortable and effective in social interactions.

If you frequently feel a fear of judgment from those in your social circle, it would be advantageous to seek out a more supportive relationship. This kind of relationship will not only encourage you but also validate your efforts to communicate more effectively. For instance, by spending time with people who truly understand your challenges and refrain from judging you, can create a more positive and affirming environment.

Sometimes, you might notice a recurring pattern of knowing you should start a conversation but failing to do so. In such cases, it’s helpful to challenge your thoughts and strive to increase your social interactions, which can reduce anxiety and enhance your communication skills. There are various techniques to eliminate cognitive distortions, such as cognitive restructuring, where we identify and address these distortions. Additionally, we can utilize different therapeutic models to tackle negative self-perceptions by employing cognitive restructuring methods.

Journaling can also be beneficial. You should try to be specific about which interactions you found challenging and the difficulties you encountered. Note the judgments that hindered you in various settings of your daily life. Reflect on what is holding you back by keeping a self-reflection journal, focusing on distinguishing facts from fiction.

Skill building, thought restructuring, and self-care are essential. By understanding the psychological reasons behind your issues, we can enhance your communication abilities. Progress will be gradual, steadily increasing your confidence. The good news is that, despite the various underlying causes of your problems, there is a way to address and improve them.

Nepal are scheduled to play the 'Group D' final match against Bangladesh in the ICC T20 World Cup on Monday.

The match will begin at 5:15 am (Nepali time) in the Ornos Vale stadium of St Vincent, the West Indies.

As Nepal failed to advance to the quarter finals, the match did not count for the score. It is, however, considered significant for Bangladesh.

South Africa clinched top position with eight points from Group ‘D’, thereby entering the second round of the World Cup. The second group to reach super eight from Group ‘D’ is yet to be finalized.

Bangladesh will secure second position and enter into the Super Eight if they defeat Nepal.

Bangladesh have four points.

The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Vice Chairman Bater met with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal at the latter's office in Singhadurbar on Sunday.

During the meeting, issues of bilateral relations, mutual cooperation and implementation of the bilateral agreements and consensus were discussed.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Dahal expressed pleasure at the gradual implementation of different agreements signed between Nepal and China during his latest China visit, the PM's Foreign Advisor Dr Rupak Sapkota said.

The PM also thanked the Chinese government for its decision to resume 14 traditional points along the Nepal-China border.

The PM also expressed confidence for the gradual implementation of other agreements signed between the two countries. 

Likewise, discussions were held to further expand the exchanges of parliamentary exercises between Nepal and China.

On the occasion, the CPPCC Vice Chairman Bater said China attaches top priority to its relations with Nepal and the areas of cooperation would be further deepened in the coming days.