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Good Bad Girl

Alice Feeney

Thriller | Mystery

Twenty years after a baby is stolen from a stroller, a woman is murdered in a care home. The two crimes are somehow linked, and a good bad girl may be the key to discovering the truth. Edith may have been tricked into a nursing home, but at 80, she’s planning her escape. Patience works there, cleaning messes and bonding with Edith, a kindred spirit. But Patience is lying to Edith about almost everything. Edith’s daughter, Clio, won’t speak to her. And someone new is about to knock on Clio’s door and their intentions aren’t good. With every reason to distrust each other, the women must solve a mystery with three suspects, two murders, and one victim. If they do, they might just find out what happened to the baby who disappeared, the mother who lost her, and the connections that bind them.

Welcome To Paradise

Twinkle Khanna

Short Stories

These are rich narratives that explore the depth of loneliness, heartbreak, and deception. Huma’s divided family – Team Cemetery and Team Crematorium – clash hilariously over matters involving pigs and penises as they decide what to do with Amma’s body. Madhura Desai writes an email to the chief justice of India, urging him to choose a ‘nice cut-off age’ to die, sending shockwaves across the nation. Along the shores of Satpati, Nusrat grapples with the loss of her son, and her voice. Amita tells her husband about her breast implants but not about Bua, Bangalore, and beautiful men. Perfectly observed, shot through with light and shadow and wry humor, Welcome to Paradise confirms Khanna’s reputation as one of India’s most masterful storytellers.

Independence

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Historical Fiction 

Priya: intelligent and idealistic, resolved to follow in her father's footsteps and become a doctor, though society frowns on it. Deepa: the beauty, determined to make a marriage that will bring her family joy and status. Jamini: devout, sharp-eyed, and a talented quiltmaker, with deeper passions than she reveals. Theirs is a home of love and safety, a refuge from the violent events taking shape in the nation. Then their father is killed during a riot, and even their neighbors turn against them, bringing the events of their country closer to home. When the partition of India is officially decided, a drastic—and dangerous—change is in the air. India is now for Hindus, and Pakistan for Muslims. The sisters find themselves separated from one another, each on different paths. They fear for what will happen to not just themselves, but each other.

Thick pants, jackets, and boots might be winter staples but that doesn’t mean your winter style has to be boring. You don’t have to compromise on fashion for warmth and comfort. Invest in some key pieces and learn how to put together some good outfits so that you look sensible and stylish at the same time. We bring to you some ideas to get you started. These are just some tips and suggestions and not rules. The key to looking good is feeling good in what you wear.

Start with thermal basics

It’s getting colder by the day and the trick to staying warm is wearing good quality thermals underneath your clothes. No one looks good when they are cold and shivering, no matter how nice their clothes are. This tip might sound basic but it’s easy to overlook. Buy a pair of thermal or wool tights that you can wear under your jeans and a nice cotton camisole to wear under your top (this will give you a layer of warmth without the bulkiness) and you’ve got the basics of winter style sorted. If you opt for a thin thermal layer underneath your outfit, you can get away with wearing what you usually would without worrying about being cold. 

Invest in some important pieces

A long coat, a warm jacket, and a couple of sweaters in neutral colors like brown, beige, or white and you have laid the foundation of winter dressing. A trench coat is one of the most iconic and timeless pieces of clothing. You can wear it as a dress, with high boots. Or pair it with tapered denim or even bell bottoms. It’s also good to have at least one denim jacket and a puffer jacket in your winter wardrobe arsenal. Denim jackets work well with woolen cardigans as well as lighter inner layers. Puffer jackets are perfect for freezing winter when you don’t want the cold to get you. Plus, it looks stylish and works well with all kinds of clothes. 

Layer your clothes

Layering can make you look put together while giving you the option to put on or take off clothes according to how cold or hot you feel. But it doesn’t just serve a purpose, it can make quite a statement too. You need a base layer, a middle layer, and an outer layer. What’s important is to plan your look from the base to the outmost layer so that each layer works on its own too. Find some lightweight options to use this technique with during winter. A cotton shirt with a cropped sweater on top and a long coat to finish with can make for a great look. Purposeful layering allows you to play with a mixture of patterns or textures and curate different looks every single time. You can also play around with the length of your layers like wearing a shorter jacket over a longer top. 

Don’t forget footwear

It’s easy to overlook footwear and slide into that pair of comfortable boots or running shoes when you have to go out. But put in some effort to match footwear to your ensemble.

For an edgy look, go for some chunky heeled ankle boots and thick wool socks. Long boots work well with skin-tight jeans or skirts. Sometimes just switching your footwear can make a huge difference in your outfit. Some styles to include in your wardrobe for this season would be chunky soles and lace-ups. In terms of color, red and brown are also great choices instead of the regular black. Shoes need to be practical but there’s no harm in having at least one fun pair of boots in your wardrobe. 

Pick the right accessories

A great winter jacket or trench coat might be the foundation of your winter outfit but accessories are what complete your look. With the right accessories, you can express your personality and create a more polished look. Gloves, hats, scarves, and belts among others can elevate your look and take it to a whole new level. Buy your accessories in neutral colors so that they can be paired with most of the outfits. You can go for bright-colored scarves and hats to add a bit of cheer to your neutral ensemble. A scarf can be a beautiful accent piece. Think soft cashmere, chunky knit pieces, or neck wraps. Belts can do a lot more than just hold your pants in place. Accentuate your look by using a great belt to cinch your long coat at the waist.

Former Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand, who is to be released on bail by the order of the high court in connection to the fake Bhutanese refugee cases, has posted a bail of Rs 3 million on Friday.

Now, Khand has been taken to the Department of Money Laundering.

The central jail administration presented Khand before the department to fulfill the due legal process.

Police had suggested that the Department of Money Laundering and the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority should also investigate against Khand who was arrested in the fake Bhutanese refugee scam.

That is why, the department and CIAA will re-investigate against Khand.

Khand will be released if both the agencies agreed to release him on bail.

A single bench of Judge Krishna Ram Koirala on Thursday had issued an order to release Khand on bail.

After the Kathmandu District Court issued an order to send 16 individuals including former Home Minister Khand to the prison in the fake Bhutanese refugee scam, they filed an appeal at the high court on August 1, 2023.

Hearing the same petition, the Patan High Court on December 1 issued an order to keep the then Home Secretary Tek Narayan Pandey, former minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, Indrajit Rai, security advisor of the then Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, Angtawa Sherpa, Keshav Dulal, Sanu Bhandari, Sagar Rai, Govinda Kumar Chaudhary aka Bikram and Sandesh Sharma in custody.

Similarly, the court issued an order to release Teknath Rijal on a bail of Rs 1.5 million, Sandeep Rayamajhi on a bail of Rs 3 million and Narendra KC on a bail of Rs 1 million.

The high court also issued an order to release Hari Bhakta Maharjan, Laxmi Maharjan, Shumsher Miya, Ashish Budhathoki, Tek Gurung, Ram Sharan KC and Keshav Tuladhar on bail.

Kathmandu Metropolitan City has started confiscating tobacco products from shops, a day after imposing a blanket ban on the storage, sale, distribution and use of such products. On Thursday, it raided shops in the metropolis, seizing betel quid, gutkha, cigarettes and other chewing tobacco products. KMC has warned that it will shut shops violating the ban.

Acting chief of the Metropolitan Police, SP Bishnu Joshi, informed that they seized two sackfuls of tobacco products from Balaju area, two bagfuls from the Jadibuti-Koteshwar area and three sackfuls from other places in the Kathmandu valley on Thursday.

The metropolis has mobilized five teams comprising 10 people each to keep a tab on selling tobacco products along with police personnel in plainclothes.

“For up to two instances of violation of the ban, tobacco products will be confiscated from the shops in question. The third instance of violation will lead to the shop’s closure,” said SP Joshi.

KMC had published a 15-day notice on Nov 28 announcing a ban on public consumption, sale and storage of all types of tobacco products, including raw tobacco and gutkha, in accordance with the Tobacco Control and Regulation Act, 2011.

Section 11 (4) of the Act states that the government of Nepal may prohibit the retail sales and distribution of cigarettes, quid of tobacco (Bidi) or cigar sticks by publishing a notice in the Nepal Gazette.

KMC has banned the sale of cigarettes and smoking at a perimeter of 100 meters around public places, slapping a fine of up to Rs 100 on each violation. 

Meanwhile, KMC has also requested citizens to use KMC Police Force’s hotline 18105000060 or telephone numbers 01-5901763/01-5901764 to inform them about the violation of the ban.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has completed one year in office. In this period, Dahal visited the key countries India, China and US, and also attended some multilateral platforms. In this context, ApEx  talked with Rupak Sapkota, prime minister’s foreign affairs advisor, about the Dahal’s accomplishments and foreign policy. 

How do you assess the situation of Nepal’s foreign policy under the leadership of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal?

The foreign policy of Nepal, under the leadership of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, has been independent, balanced, and committed to non-alignment movement. The nation has successfully cultivated friendly and balanced relations with neighboring countries, development partners, and major powers. This has fostered an environment of mutual trust, conducive to international cooperation and economic collaboration.

Prime Minister Dahal conducted official visits to India and China, and also visited the US to attend the United Nations General Assembly. At the UN General Assembly, he highlighted Nepal's achievements in the peace process and underscored the adverse impacts of climate change faced by the country. Additionally, in his capacity as the President of the 47 Least Developed Countries (LDCs), the prime minister effectively advocated for the interests of LDCs on the international stage. 

Many see this government as pro-Indian and pro-Western, do you agree?

Early on, there were speculations regarding the foreign policy that Dahal might adopt. But Prime Minister Dahal proved them wrong, as he has already undertaken visits to various countries, including both neighboring nations and the United Nations. These visits have resulted in crucial agreements and understandings.

Notably, a historic agreement has been reached with India to export 10,000 MW of power within a 10-year timeframe. During the visit to China, long-term agreements of importance, particularly in the realm of connectivity, were reached. These include the operation of new trading points and an agreement on a power transmission line. The agreement to open the Korala border has recently been put into operation. The Covid-19 pandemic, natural calamities, etc. had affected Nepal's cooperation with China for some years, but after Prime Minister Dahal’s visit, the relationship between the two countries has gained a new momentum.

Furthermore, the prime minister’s participation in the United Nations General Assembly was noteworthy. UN Secretary-General Guterres also visited Nepal at the prime minister's invitation. During Guterres's four-day visit, Nepal’s key agendas were presented to the global audience. The discussions covered topics such as Nepal’s aspiration to graduate from least developed countries by 2026, the unique and original character of Nepal’s peace process, and the pressing issue of climate change.

But some critics say the prime minister failed to take up key issues with major powers, what is your take on it?

On the contrary, Prime Minister Dahal's tenure has seen notable achievements, thanks to his prudent and mature foreign policy leadership in the face of challenging global circumstances. 

The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted international relations for a considerable period, and ongoing conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars, along with heightened global power competition, has added complexity. Against the backdrop of the Galwan Valley clash between China and India in 2020, regional tensions escalated which affected Nepal due to its geographical proximity with China and India. Major world powers sought to enlist Nepal into their strategic plans and alliances, creating a challenging and intricate situation. 

Despite these challenges, the current government has steadfastly pursued an independent, balanced, and non-aligned foreign policy. It has effectively communicated that Nepal aims to avoid entanglement in any geopolitical camp. This stance has laid the groundwork for Nepal’s future international relations, focusing on economic and political development aspirations.

Are you suggesting that Nepal has successfully resisted attempts by powerful nations to influence its alliances, and there are no such risks moving forward?

Not definitively. The nation faces a pressing need to chart its own course in the coming days. The evolving dynamics among major powers indicate a trend towards rivalry, disrupting the existing international security system. This can lead to challenges for Nepal. We should be able to steer clear of these challenges while steadfastly pursuing the chosen path of economic and political cooperation.

What are these challenges, could you please explain them ?

First, there is the heightened military competition and the potential for strategic conflicts. This is a growing concern globally, with superpowers engaging in a military showdown that raises alarms in countries, both large and small. Like Nepal, many countries in the southern hemisphere are hesitant to engage in the current geopolitical conflict and are more concerned about their own economic development. They want to avoid unnecessary entanglements between the eastern and western hemispheres, recognizing the potential negative impact on economic cooperation.

Upholding this policy is crucial to ensuring stability and avoiding distractions in the future. 

Second challenge is the emergence of new political polarization. Unlike the Cold War era, today's rivalry is characterized by ideological competition through trade and technology wars. This shift in political dynamics can lead to the creation of camps. 

And lastly, there is the shift of strategic interests towards economic and political cooperation. Nepal should strive to avoid being caught in such dynamics. The country has already conveyed its stance that it won't participate in such polarization.

After taking both neighbors into confidence, where will be the emphasis of the government in terms of foreign policy?

We must prioritize international cooperation for economic development. Determining the key agenda and effectively managing cooperation are imperative aspects of reshaping our foreign policy and international relations. For a long time, Nepal has championed economic diplomacy as its central approach for development. However, the current global scenario reveals a shift towards military engagements among international powers. This shift has prompted countries, irrespective of size, to escalate military spending. This may affect the dynamics of financial grants and aid that Nepal has historically received. Despite this evolving landscape, Nepal will stick to economic diplomacy. But the pillars of 'economic diplomacy' which we are adopting should be refined and made more comprehensive. So far we have promoted foreign aid, trade, investment, tourism and labor as important pillars of economic diplomacy. Now, the government is broadening the scope of ‘economic diplomacy’ by incorporating ‘climate diplomacy.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 300 per tola in the domestic market on Friday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 119, 100 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 118, 800 per tola on Thursday.

Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 118, 550 per tola. It was traded at Rs 118, 250 per tola.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1,470 per tola today.

A five-year-old girl has been murdered after rape in Dhanusha.

According to a preliminary investigation, the girl of Kushamaha-5, Sabaila Municipality-9 of the district was raped and later strangled to death.

The District Police Office, Dhanush said that the girl’s body was found in a pit at around 8 pm on Thursday.

The parents of the girl informed the police after she, who had gone with a neighbor of the village on a motorbike, did not return home till 9 pm on Wednesday.

Later, a police team deployed from the District Police Office, Dhanusha started searching for the girl and found her body at Sabaila Municipality-9 on Thursday night.

Meanwhile, police have arrested two persons for their alleged involvement in the incident.

Police said that they are looking into the case.

Two persons died and another sustained injuries when a motorbike they were riding on met with an accident in Dhanusha on Friday.

The deceased have been identified as Bharat Sahani (25) of Kamala Municipality-8 and Bijay Kumar Sahani (30) of Bideha Municipality-1 of Dhanusha, DSP Ranjan Awa, spokesperson at the District Police Office, Dhanusha, said.

DSP Awa said that Satrughan Sahani of Janakpurdham Sub-Metropolitan City-12 was injured in the incident.

He has been taken to the Kathmandu-based Neuro Hospital for further treatment.

The incident occurred when the two-wheeler (Pradesh 2-02-002 Pa 4092) heading towards Dhalewar from Janakpurdham went out of control at Sapahi in Laxminiya Rural Municipality-4 at around 3 am today.

Police said that they are looking into the case.