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Devotees have been thronging Krishna temple in Patan, Lalitpur since early this morning to worship Lord Krishna on the occasion of Shree Krishna Janmashtami.

Devotees of Vedic Sanatan Hindu religion are celebrating 'Shree Krishna Janmashtami (birth anniversary of Lord Krishna)' with reverence and devotion across the country today.

Lord Krishna - the pioneer of Knowledge Yoga, Karma Yoga and Bhakti Yoga was born in the midnight of Bhadrakrishna Ashtami in the Dwapar era, so the day today is called 'Krishna Janmashtami' and the night is called 'Mohratri'.

On this day, worship is offered to Lord Krishna in Krishna temples across the country with citation of hymns and scriptures. Devotees stay awake throughout the night.

Born as the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu to protect all human beings from injustice, tyranny and demonic tendencies, Shri Krishna inspired the human community to do good deeds by being in favor of truth throughout his life.

'Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta' is considered to be a holy book in Hindu mythology. The book is believed to have been translated into the largest number of languages in the world.

Lines have been arranged for the devotees in the south and north sides of the temple.

Nepal Scouts volunteers as well as Lalitpur Metropolitan Police personnel have been mobilized to manage the lines of devotees.

Shree Krishna Janmashtami, the birthday of Lord Krishna, is being celebrated by the Hindus throughout the country today with devotion and veneration amidst a variety of programs.

According to scriptures, Lord Shree Krishna was born in the midnight of Bhadrakrishna Ashtami day as per the lunar calendar during the Dwapar era.

Lord Krishna is considered as the incarnation of Lord Bishnu, the protector of human beings from evil, injustice and devilish forces. He is also regarded as the proponent of the three principles of Gyanayog, Karmayog and Bhaktiyog.

Shree Krishna Janmastami is celebrated to cherish the good deeds of Lord Krishna for a happy and prosperous life. Lord Krishna, born to Basudev and Devaki and held prisoner by Kansha in Mathura, guided humanity on the path of knowledge, truth and immortality, the legend says.

Lord Krishna is also known as "Gopal" for his dedicated service to the cows as a herder. He is also known as "Manmohan" for the melodies he used to play on his flute, charming everyone.

Devotees throng the temples of Lord Krishna including the famous Shree Krishna Temple of Mangal Bazaar in Lalitpur. The renowned and artistic Shree Krishna Temple made up of stones was built by the then King of Patan, Siddhi Narsingh Malla.

Various religious organizations and institutions celebrate the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna by organizing colorful processions with the idols of Lord Krishna flanked by decorative portraits.

Devotees, especially women, spend the night chanting prayers and devotional songs, dancing and lighting oil-fed lamps.

Three weeks until exams and you’re all set to conquer that mountain of notes. But somehow the internet’s irresistible trap pulls you in. One minute, you’re telling yourself you’ll just check Instagram for a second, next, you’re deep into a Netflix binge and—poof! your prep time is gone. With just one day left, you skim through the entire syllabus, promising you’ll start early next time. But this cycle is like your persistent ex—it just won’t stop chasing you. Sounds familiar?

In today’s hyper-connected world, our phones have become like those sirens from Greek mythology. It is luring us into the digital Bermuda Triangle. Our notifications buzz, and before we know it, we're in this whirlpool of mindless scrolling. But let’s face it, we all know that watching viral cat videos or the maddening Tiktok trends, isn’t going to help us write our assignments or pass our exams. So, why do we keep diving into this self-sabotaging scroll-fest?

Here are a few reasons that spring to mind: Smartphones are designed in such a way, they are meant to be addictive. With every little notification, our brain’s reward system, which is driven by several neurotransmitters, releases a little hit of the ‘feel-good’ chemical called dopamine, the same chemical that makes gambling or drugs so alluring. Interestingly, as time goes by, the pleasure from these small dopamine hits can decline, which can turn into a need for more frequent stimulation to get the same level of pleasure. This creates a loop where we continue to scroll, not because it particularly makes us feel good, but because it helps us distract ourselves as a form of escapism. 

Also, most of us often have a tendency to believe that we can control our time spent on social media and will get back to our tasks shortly. This cognitive bias leads us to underestimating how much time we spent scrolling and overestimating our ability to manage it effectively. Another propensity is that we focus on immediate gratification over prioritizing long-term goals like academic achievements, which takes consistent effort and dedication and is mostly not very enjoyable as well. This need for instant gratification that we get from surfing social media with its bottomless bowls is more enticing than the gradual satisfaction that comes from doing significant tasks.

Now here’s the kicker, screen addiction isn’t just a harmless distraction. Much research has shown that excessive use of smartphones can severely hamper our focus and memory while also altering the volume and density of gray matter in our brain, which are crucial for processing information and cognitive functioning. When we are glued to our phone, our brain is on a constant dopamine drip, making it nearly impossible to concentrate. The result? You’re skimming through the entire syllabus at the last minute, and those solid study plans you made? They’re now just a faint memory.

There’s more. This silent epidemic doesn’t just wreck our grades; it’s also a stealthy assassin of our overall wellbeing. It has also been seen that excessive phone use is highly linked with anxiety, depression, insomnia, feeling of never-ending restlessness, the list goes on…. That constant need to check our phone is like a hamster wheel, making us feel mentally and emotionally exhausted, which prevents us from being productive and getting better results.

A willpower issue?

Some people might say, ‘Just stop doing that!’ But if we were to acknowledge it’s an addiction, that is like telling a smoker, ‘Hey, just quit smoking!’ Sure, it makes sense, but it doesn’t work. Relying on willpower alone is like bringing a butter knife to a sword fight.

So, how do we fix this compulsive overconsumption? Simple. Fight fire with fire. No pun intended!

There are technologies designed specifically to help us quit our tech addiction. Personally, I use an app called Opal, which has been a game-changer. It tracks our screen time and also blocks distracting sites for the next 24-hours when we reach a certain time limit, acting as a digital personal trainer for our brain. 

Turning off less important notifications is another smart move. Our phone doesn’t need to buzz every time someone likes our post or sends us a message or we get a new email. By silencing the noise, we can reset our focus and stay on track with our important tasks.

Another nifty trick is to use the Pomodoro Technique. It is a time management method, which helps to improve productivity and focus by breaking work into intervals, typically 25 minutes. Instead of working for just 25 minutes and taking a 5-minute break, we can try working for 50 minutes and then rewarding ourselves with a 10-minute break for better attention and efficiency. 

Additionally, we can designate certain areas in our house where gadgets are off-limits, like our study space or the dining table. This physical separation can help us reduce mindless checking. Avoid taking the phone to bed. It interferes with the sleep we need to function fully the next day. Instead, buying an alarm clock is a much better option. Lastly, digital detoxing is another way to mitigate the problem. We need to have a life outside of our screen. Dedicating two or three days a week to going screen-free and using that time connecting with friends or family in real life, enjoying nature, or getting into a new hobby can be a refreshing reset that can work wonders for our cognitive functioning. 

It is important to remember that there are people behind the screen, who are cashing in on our attention, hooking us to keep us distracted. So, we must take it upon ourselves to set boundaries and do better.

Aishwarya Koirala

BA IIIrd Year

St Xavier’s College, Maitighar

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Oman Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi is arriving in Nepal on Monday for an official visit at the invitation of his Nepali counterpart Arzu Rana Deuba. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the visit of Oman's Foreign Minister by issuing a press release today.

It has been learnt that the two foreign ministers are scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting and discuss matters on further strengthening Nepal-Oman relations.

During the visit, Oman's Foreign Minister would pay courtesy calls on President Ram Chandra Paudel and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

The Foreign Minister of Oman will leave Kathmandu on 27 August, the Ministry stated.

HG Hotels & Resorts has launched Holiday Inn Resort Kathmandu. Situated in the tranquil hills of Budhanilkantha, the resort features 104 spacious rooms and suites with modern amenities, including 55-inch smart TVs, high-speed Wi-Fi, and stunning views of the surrounding landscape. “The resort offers a range of facilities, including a gym, outdoor swimming pool, spa, and a Kids’ Club, making it a perfect choice for families,” says the hotel. “Children aged 12 and below can stay and eat for free.” For business travelers, the resort provides 9,300 square feet of versatile event space equipped with modern technology.

Binita Khadka, representing the resort’s ownership, stated, “This resort is a testament to our commitment to delivering exceptional hospitality experiences and positioning Nepal as a premier destination for both leisure and business travelers.” “Our vision was to create a retreat where true hospitality seamlessly blends with the breathtaking natural beauty of Budhanilkantha,” said Arya SJB Rana, General Manager of the resort. “It’s immensely gratifying to see this vision come to life, offering guests an unmatched experience in a setting that truly embodies serenity and elegance.”

Brigadier General Gaurav Kumar KC, spokesperson for the Nepali Army, confirmed that Nepali peacekeepers deployed in Lebanon are safe following recent airstrikes by Israel. 

On Sunday, Israel launched air strikes into Lebanon, claiming to have thwarted a large-scale Hezbollah attack. In response, Hezbollah announced its own cross-border raids to avenge the killing of a top commander. The Israeli military reported that its fighter jets destroyed ‘thousands’ of Hezbollah rocket launchers aimed at both northern and central Israel.

Brigadier General KC stated, “Approximately 850 Nepali peacekeepers are stationed in various parts of Lebanon, but the Israeli attacks did not occur near their locations. The United Nations has already briefed the peacekeepers on safety measures, and Nepali personnel are in contact with the Nepali Army headquarters.”

The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, and the UNIFIL peacekeeping force have urged all parties to cease fire and avoid further escalation. Lebanon’s health ministry reported at least three fatalities in the Israeli strikes in the country’s south, while no casualties were immediately reported in Israel.

Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel has said the Bill to amend the Banking Offense and Punishment Act-2064 BS has been registered in the parliament.

He said the Bill aims to make investigation, prosecution and punishment against the banking offense including the case of cheque bounce more systematized and effective.

In his address to a meeting of the Finance Committee, House of Representatives (HoR), today, he said reports regarding banking frauds including cheque are on the rise.

The finance minister apprised the meeting that the Bill has prioritized the provision of fine in cases relating to banking fraud including the cheque bounce.

Putting his view in the meeting, lawmaker Dr Swarnim Wagle proposed to prioritize the provision of fine instead of jail sentence in case of banking fraud. He said such provision has been in global practice as well, underlining the need to conclude the Bill soon.

Another lawmaker Padam Giri alleged of a negligible legislative role of the parliament, leading to the pending of numerous bills in the Committee.

The Bill was registered by the then Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat on September 2, 2023.

It is said the government realized the need to amend the Act bearing in mind the need of different legal treatment to cases of cheque bounce, the order from the Supreme Court to maintain uniformity in the legal approach to the case and the assessment of the Office of the Attorney General.

The Bill proposed that if the account holder does not have sufficient deposits in the bank for payment as demanded by a cheque, such cheque be returned to the bearer.

If the bearer wants to prove it is a case of cheque bounce, the respective bank should inform the account holder to make sure the deposits of the amount sufficient for the payment as demanded by the cheque by not exceeding 30 days.

It has warranted any account holder not to issue a cheque requesting for the payment exceeding the deposit amount.  The procedures to establish the case of a cheque bounce will be initiated if the demanded amount is not deposited in the bank by the next 30 days.

The existing Banking Offense and Punishment Act incorporates the provisions for fine and an imprisonment up to three months if a cheque is bounced. However, the proposed bill has a provision that an issuer of a cheque will be required to pay five percent of a due amount in fine to the check bearer including imprisonment on the basis of the amount mentioned in the cheque if the cheque is proved to be bounced.

In case of a due amount up to Rs 500, 000 imprisonment up to one month has been proposed, it has been proposed up to six months in case of the amount ranging from Rs one to five million and up to two years for amount over five million.  The Bill proposed the provision allowing the registration of a case at the respective District Court within the three months if the case of cheque bounce is proved.

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit scheduled to be held in Thailand on September 4-5 has been postponed.

The summit was postponed due to the change of prime minister in Thailand and internal conflict in Thailand and Myanmar.

According to a source at the Foreign Ministry, the BIMSTEC member countries have been verbally informed about the postponement of the BIMSTEC Summit scheduled to be held in Thailand.

The Foreign Ministry, however, said that the official letter is yet to be received.

BIMSTEC member countries include Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Myanmar and Thailand.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was preparing to attend the summit.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra was appointed as the Prime Minister of Thailand after the constitutional court removed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from the office on August 14.

Muhammad Yunus was appointed as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina tendered her resignation.

The head-of-the-state of all the countries were preparing to attend the meeting.

BIMSTEC was formed in 1997 with the aim of promoting trade and cooperation among South and Southeast Asian countries.