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If you are consuming the right kind of content, social media has a lot of good things for you. From turning someone who can’t make an omelet to a passionate cook to making a painter out of someone who thought she couldn’t hold a brush, it’s a treasure trove of skill-based learning opportunities and finding inspiration to do the things you always wished you could do. Instagram, especially, has a vast range of bite-sized content that you can pursue at leisure to pick up a skill, learn something interesting, get book recommendations or recipes and be inspired to live your best life. Here are some of our favorites to get you started.

Food by Maria

Maria Koutsogiannis is a Greek food blogger who has over 2.4 followers on Instagram. She creates delicious recipes inspired by her Greek heritage and Mediterranean roots. She initially started the blog Food by Maria as a way to create a healthy relationship with food as she was battling an eating disorder back in 2014. It was a hobby and she was shooting and editing on her phone. Soon, people took notice and it became an award-winning idea filled with recipes for delicious, comforting meals. Follow her on Instagram to get your daily dose of food inspiration. The recipes are easy to follow and the end result looks like gourmet cuisine.

Nona Uppal

Nona Uppal is 20-something-year-old who is the author of the book ‘Fool Me Twice’ published by Penguin Random House India in 2024. We, at ApEx, haven’t read her book but we are quite inclined to get a copy, as on Instagram she comes across as fun, smart, and honest. If she writes as well as she speaks, then we might be in for a treat. She has over 1000 posts on Instagram and most of them are book recommendations or reviews of books she has read. What we especially like and appreciate about her is the fact that in most of her posts she speaks into her headphone’s microphone, showing an unpretentious side of her. Her voice is also soothing and she speaks with such enthusiasm and a sparkle in her eyes that you can’t help but take her seriously.

Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju

She is an actor, doctor, and trans rights activist whose page on Instagram will inspire you to embrace yourself and be true to who you are. She came into the limelight with her role in the Amazon Prime Original Series ‘Made in Heaven’ and has since then has been a part of various other series and documentaries as well. She’s unapologetically herself and to find someone who speaks their mind and calls out problematic things in life with reckless abandon is absolutely wonderful and uplifting. Apart from documenting her transition journey (she’s a trans woman), her page is filled with aesthetic decor posts, notes where she writes down lessons she’s learnt, conversations on skincare, and many other things that will have you scrolling for hours on end.

Her Happy Face

A positive person through and through, Ridhi Arora is the face behind the page Her Happy Face on Instagram and a YouTube channel by the same name. She documents her exercise journey on Instagram and there are also a day in my life blogs. As a plus sized person, she’s honest about her struggles with weight loss. But Ridhi is someone who celebrates life and that shines through in her posts. But she keeps track of her food habits by consistently posting ‘what I eat in a day’ videos. They are fun to watch and give you some idea about what to eat if you want to lose weight or incorporate more protein in your diet. The posts give a glimpse of life with all its ups and down. Ridhi has also been brave enough to share stories of her pregnancy losses, giving voice to women who choose to suffer in silence.

Fries to Fit

Deepsikha Jain has a MSc in Global Public Health Nutrition and uses her Instagram account to educate people about food and the right way to eat. She has over 900 posts on Instagram and they all deal with nutrition and healthy eating. She doesn’t tell you to make difficult lifestyle changes but rather motivates you to make simple sustainable swaps. By following her posts, you will understand your body better, know when is a good time to workout, learn how to drink water, what foods you must have daily to improve your health, and how to store food properly among many other things. There are many nutritionists and food experts on Instagram but Jain makes complicated information accessible. 

The 10th Cancer Awareness Cycle Rally, organized by Annapurna Media Network in collaboration with Nepal Cancer Care Foundation, was successfully held on Saturday. The rally, inaugurated at Annapurna Corporate Tower, Tinkune, was flagged off by Minister for Health and Population Pradeep Paudel and Capt Rameshwar Thapa, Chairperson of Annapurna Media Network. The event saw an overwhelming response, with 5,000 registered participants cycling a total distance of 22 kilometers to raise awareness about cancer prevention.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Minister Paudel emphasized the need for public awareness to prevent cancer and reduce the increasing number of patients. “The growing number of cancer cases in Nepal demands urgent attention. We need to work towards a future where cancer does not become a threat to Nepali lives,” he said. He also stressed the importance of preventive measures over curative treatments, noting that the government is working with the Ministry of Education to make health education mandatory in schools.

Highlighting the seriousness of cancer in Nepal, he revealed that 14,000 people died from cancer last year. “This is not a small number. Cancer is becoming a major public health challenge, and the government must prioritize investments in advanced treatment facilities,” he added.

Capt Thapa reiterated the organization's commitment to promoting public health through awareness campaigns. “For a healthy nation, a healthy population is crucial. Through our decade-long collaboration with Nepal Cancer Care Foundation, we have continuously worked to educate and inform the public about cancer prevention,” he said. He also praised the foundation’s efforts in saving thousands of lives, particularly young girls, from cancer.

The Cancer Awareness Cycle Rally has been organized annually for the past 10 years under the theme ‘Ride for Life’. It remains a key initiative in the fight against cancer, encouraging a healthier lifestyle and raising awareness about early detection and prevention.

The preparations for the ‘Ride for Life 2025’ cancer awareness cycle rally, organized in collaboration with Annapurna Media Network and Nepal Cancer Care Foundation, have been completed. The rally will kick off on Saturday at 6:30 am, with the goal of raising awareness about cancer. A total of 5,000 participants have registered for the event, and 33 corporate houses are supporting the initiative to make it a grand success. Annapurna Media Network has been organizing this rally annually to mark World Cancer Day, and this year marks its 10th edition.  

Speaking about the event, Manoj Basnet, General Manager of Annapurna Media Network, stated that the rally is an effort to spread awareness about cancer and encourage unity in the fight against the disease. He emphasized that the campaign aims to send a positive message to society, urging collective action against cancer. This year, the rally also highlights environmental sustainability under the theme "Climate-Friendly Action for a Cancer-Free Life." Over the past nine editions, more than 20,000 people have participated in this campaign.  

This year’s rally has received support from 28 corporate partners. The event’s main sponsor is KEI Nepal Laxmi E-Mobility Pvt. Ltd., while EV Nepal Motors and Ncell Foundation are power sponsors. Other key sponsors include Nepal Investment Mega Bank Ltd and Siddhartha Bank Ltd as banking partners, Shikhar Insurance as the insurance partner, DishHome as the internet partner, and eSewa as the payment partner. NAMI College is the education partner, while Upendra Devkota Memorial National Institute of Neurological and Allied Sciences is the medical partner. Additional support comes from companies like Quest Pharmaceuticals, Asian Paints, Mahalaxmi Bikas Bank, Muktinath Bikas Bank, Nepal Bank Ltd, Creative Abroad Studies, PABSON Nepal, Pankh Bike, Quality Durbar Banquet Restaurant, MIT College, Nepal Jaycees, Annapurna Ventures, and Simrik Air. Mato Nepal is the hydration partner, Fruit Agro is the beverage partner, and Dusit Thani Himalayan Resort Dhulikhel and Dusit Princess Kathmandu are the recreation partners. Nepal Cycling Association, Nepal Cycle Society, and Cycle City Network Nepal are providing technical support for the event. Basnet highlighted that collaborating with corporate houses provides unique and attractive exposure for advertisers.  

The rally will feature several key highlights. The ‘Climate-Friendly Action for a Cancer-Free Life’ Deck will be led by Miss Nepal 2023, Srichha Pradhan, and Shilshila Acharya, who was recognized among the BBC 100 Influential Women. Several renowned medical professionals will also participate, including Dr Manisha Ghimire from OAKMED Hospital, USA, and Dr Narayan Adhikari, a cancer specialist from Medanta Hospital, India. All participants will receive jackets and breakfast as part of the event.  

An additional attraction of the rally is the AMN-USA Deck, where the AMN-USA YouTube channel will host a video contest. Participants who subscribe to the channel and submit videos will have the chance to win cash prizes: $1,000 for first place, $500 for second place, and $250 for third place. The rally will also include an exciting lucky draw, with prizes such as a Pankh bicycle, a one-night stay for a couple at Dusit Thani Himalayan Resort Dhulikhel, a one-night stay and dinner package at Dusit Princess Kathmandu, a Tranquility Spa annual membership worth Rs 250,000, a 32-inch Panasonic TV, and 4K streaming devices from DishHome for three winners.  

The entire event will be broadcast live on AP1 TV, Annapurna Post Online (annapurnapost.com), Radio Annapurna Nepal 94 MHz, Annapurna Post’s Facebook page, and the AMN-USA YouTube channel, which is operated from the US. With its strong message of cancer awareness and environmental sustainability, the Ride for Life 2025 cycle rally aims to inspire a healthier, more conscious society.

The Non-Resident Ambassador of Nepal to Cambodia, Dhan Bahadur Oli, on Thursday presented his letter of credence to Norodom Sihamoni, the King of Cambodia, amidst a ceremony held at the Royal Palace in Phnom.

Following the presentation of the letter of credence, Ambassador Oli was granted an audience with the King of Cambodia, the Embassy of Nepal in Thailand said in a press statement.

During the audience, the Ambassador conveyed warm greetings and best wishes from President Ramchandra Paudel as well as from the people of Nepal for personal good health and happiness of the King and for the continued progress and prosperity of the people of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

Likewise, the King extended his greetings and best wishes for the personal good health and happiness of President Paudel as well as for the prosperity of Nepali people.

On the occasion, the Cambodian King expressed his confidence that the friendly, cordial and cooperative relations between Nepal and Cambodia would be further strengthened during the tenure of the Ambassador, according to the Embassy of Nepal in Thailand.

The country has received Rs 763.08 billion in remittance in the first six months of the current fiscal year.

Releasing the mid-term review report of the current fiscal year on Thursday, the Ministry of Finance stated that remittance inflows increased 4.1 percent in the review period compared to the same period of the last year. However, the remittance inflows had increased 22.2 percent in the same period of the last year.

Likewise, net secondary income, also known as net transfer, reached Rs 832.76 billion in the review period by increasing 4.2 percent, while the net transfer had increased 21.1 percent in the same period of the last year. 

According to the Ministry, the number of Nepalis taking first-time approval for foreign employment stands at 230,439 with an increase of 11.7 percent and those for renew entry stands at 162,628 increasing 21.4 percent in the review period compared to the same period of the last fiscal year.

The Ministry shared that the balance of payment in the review period remained at a surplus of Rs 249.26 billion while the balance of payment was at a surplus of Rs 273.52 billion in the same period of the last fiscal year.

A person died and five others were injured in a car accident at Golanjor Municipality-5 in Sindhuli district along the BP Highway this morning. The car was heading to Kathmandu from Jhapa.

According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Govinda Raj Kafle of Sindhuli District Police Office, the deceased has been identified as 27-year-old Sushant Nepali, the driver of the car, of Gaurishankar Rural Municipality in Dolakha district.

The condition of 34-year-old Devi Limbu of Letang Municipality–2 in Morang district is critical. She is currently receiving treatment at Sindhuli Hospital.

Others injured in the accident include San Bahadur Tamang (53) of Deumai Municipality–8, Ilam, Shweta Giri (28) and Sanjaya Rokka from Kageshwori Manohara Municipality–5, Kathmandu and Kiskhu Mandal (27) of Bahraghadi Rural Municipality–1 in Jhapa district, according to SP Kafle.

The impacts of lengthy grounding of aircraft due to management incompetence have been reflected in the balance sheet of Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC). The revenue of the national flag carrier fell by 23.58 percent to Rs 6.09bn in the first six months of fiscal year 2024/25. According to the NAC, revenue fell by Rs 1.87bn from Rs 7.97bn in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year. International passenger numbers also fell by over 49,000 during the period.

NAC’s sole source of revenue is from international flight passengers and cargo services. Its operation in domestic sectors was negligible in the review period. The NAC last month halted its domestic operations after its sole Twin Otter had to be grounded due to technical reasons. Its other Twin Otter has been grounded for years due to the inability of the management to repair it.

Over the first six months of 2024/25, NAC flew 253,000 international passengers. The international passenger number was down compared to the same period of the previous fiscal year when the NAC handled 302,000 passengers. A monthly breakdown of revenue shows, the national flag carrier earned Rs 940m in mid-July to mid-August, Rs 680m in mid-August to mid-September, Rs 1.42bn in (mid-September to mid-October, Rs 1.45bn in mid-October to mid-November, Rs 1.73bn in mid-November to mid-December and Rs 1.3bn in mid-December to mid-January.

Average monthly revenue of the NAC has dropped to around Rs 1bn in the current fiscal year, compared to around Rs 1.5bn in the previous fiscal year, according to NAC officials. NAC’s flights were affected in the review quarter as its aircraft had to be grounded for a long time for scheduled C-checks or other repairs. Out of four aircraft for international operation, one double-aisle and one single-aisle aircraft had to go to Italy for scheduled C-checks during the review period, while the third aircraft remained grounded for nearly three months.

The grounding of aircraft during peak tourist and festive seasons led to decline in both revenue and passengers, according to NAC.

The government is set to raise Rs 10bn in domestic debt through a development bond auction. The Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) issued a notice regarding the six-year ‘Development Bond-2087’ on Wednesday. This will raise the amount that the government has raised in the form of domestic debt in the month of Magh (mid-January to mid-February) to Rs 50bn. The government earlier raised Rs 10bn through treasury bills and Rs 30bn through development bonds.

Banks and financial institutions, non-banking financial institutions, insurance companies, organized groups, and the general public participated in the auction between 10 am and 3 pm on Wednesday. The bonds will be issued on Thursday. According to the PDMO, competitive and non-competitive bidders have been allocated 85 percent and 15 percent of the total amount, respectively, i.e., Rs 8.5bn and Rs 1.5bn. If the full amount is not received from non-competitive bidders, the remaining amount will be sold to competitive bidders. The interest rate will be determined through the auction process.

Interest payments on the bond will be made every six months, while the principal amount will be repaid on 7 Feb 2031. According to the PDMO, interested institutions and Nepali citizens can buy bonds for a minimum of Rs 500,000 and up to the total issued amount in multiples of Rs 500,000. The certificate of this loan or bond can be used as collateral to obtain loans and can be traded in the secondary market.

Taking advantage of the high liquidity and lower interest rates in the financial system, the government has expedited the process of raising domestic debt by revising its schedule. The PDMO has revised the quarterly domestic debt schedule for the current fiscal year. The government plans to raise Rs 113bn in the third quarter (mid-January to mid-April) of the current fiscal year. As per the revised schedule, only Rs 35bn will be raised in the fourth quarter.

According to the PDMO, the government raised Rs 115bn in the first quarter and Rs 66.5bn in domestic debt in the second quarter of the current fiscal year. It has set a target to raise Rs 330bn in domestic debt in the current fiscal year. Of this, it has already raised Rs 221.5bn.