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The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a show cause notice on the writ filed by House of Representatives independent lawmaker Amresh Kumar Singh against the Ncell share buyout.

Hearing the petition filed by Singh on December 6, Justice Prakash Man Singh issued such order.

Issuing a show cause notice, a single bench of Justice ordered both sides to be present on January 1 for discussion.

Singh had filed a writ petition demanding that the efforts of Malaysian company Axiata to sell its shares in the Nepal-based telecom company Ncell be halted at the earliest.

In the writ, he demanded a mandamus order not to give recognition to the agreement to sell 80 percent shares of Ncell by maintaining low value, violating Nepal’s rules and regulations.

No matter your age, it’s important to keep your breasts healthy and have a basic understanding of what’s normal. That way you can nip problems in the bud, should they arise. Dr Sundar Shrestha, general consultant at Bir Hospital in Kathmandu, who specializes in Endocrine, GI, and Laparoscopic surgery, runs us through the basics of breast care in a conversation with ApEx.

What are the symptoms of breast health issues?

Usually, breast health issues come with the symptoms of breast pain, heaviness, and nipple discharge, whether bloody, watery, or black/blue. Also, you should pay attention to changes in your breasts, like lumps, changes in size or shape, persistent pain, tenderness, and skin texture. One should be mindful of changes in breast temperature as well, as heat could be indicative of some problems. To avoid risks, it’s better to do routine self-checks and seek medical help if you notice any unusual signs.

How do you differentiate between a normal breast and an abnormal one?

During puberty, girls typically experience natural breast growth and some women may feel like their breasts are getting heavier before, during, or after their menstrual period. These are normal. However, unusual discharges (bloody or greenish), the presence of breast lumps, tenderness, hot areas (with or without fever), and uneven nipple position or size (either up and down or the nipple turning inward or to the side) can indicate some abnormality within the breast tissues.

What are some of the common breast health issues?

Some women have breast abscesses. These are usually common in lactating mothers. Fibroadenoma are little lumps which are also called ‘breast mice’ and they are usually found in women aged 15 to 35. It’s important to take notice of these issues and consult a doctor. A retracted nipple, where your nipple dips into the areola and doesn’t stick out as it should, can be a cause for concern. Breast eczema may cause itchy and scaly areas around the nipple. Uneven breast size can be considered normal unless there are other signs and symptoms or it’s congenital. Ductal ectasia, causing discharge from some nipple ducts, is another issue you should be aware of. If you’re facing any of these problems, it’s very crucial to seek medical help as soon as possible.

What are the main risk factors for breast cancer?

It’s important to know if breast cancer runs in your family. If you haven’t had children, you should pay extra attention to your breast health as nulliparity comes with a higher breast cancer risk. If you have been exposed to radiation, whether for medical reasons or at work, that’s something to think about too. 

As we get older, the chances of breast cancer increases. Carrying heavy loads can also increase your risk. Drinking alcohol and smoking are also risk factors. The onset of menstruation before the early age of 12 or experiencing menopause after 55 can also impact breast cancer risk. It also depends on ethnicity, with white women at higher risk. 

Do the menstrual cycle and contraceptives affect breast health?

The menstrual cycle and the use of contraceptives impact a woman’s breasts in different ways. During menopause, the decline in estrogen and progesterone levels may affect breast tissue, while the reduction in breast density can result in abnormalities later. Throughout the menstrual cycle, hormonal fluctuations can alter breast tissue density and sensitivity, causing breast tenderness in some women. While modern contraceptives with low estrogen are safe and don’t increase the risk like some pills do, it’s important to consult a doctor before taking anything. Also, be careful with other hormone treatments and try to avoid radiation exposure. 

What can be done to prevent breast health issues?

To keep your breasts healthy and lower the chance of getting breast cancer, you can do a few things. First, make sure to go for regular check-ups, like mammograms, which are x-ray checks for breast health. Catching problems early can help fix them with minimal hassle. Also, check your breasts yourself each month and look for any changes. Eating good, nutritious food, not smoking or drinking too much alcohol, and staying active by exercising can also go a long way. 

How can we self-check for problems and what’s the right age to start regular mammogram screenings?

It’s a good idea for women in their reproductive years to check their breasts for any changes every month. For that, stand in front of a mirror and look at your breasts. Check if they look different in size, shape, or skin texture. Lift your arms and use your fingers to feel your breasts for lumps or anything unusual. You can start with mammograms after you turn 40, and I recommend the test every couple of years. 

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal held a meeting with President Ram Chandra Paudel on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Dahal had reached Sheetal Niwas this morning to meet President Paudel.

During the meeting, they discussed the contemporary political situation of the country, the President’s Secretariat said.

President Paudel has continuously been showing interest in the works of the government.

On the occasion, President Paudel also showed concern about the National Assembly election.

The tenure of the 20 National Assembly members including a female member nominated by the President is expiring soon.

There is a provision to nominate one female member at the recommendation of the Cabinet.

The government has fixed January 25 as the date of the election for 19 seats.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 200 per tola in the domestic market on Tuesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 118, 000 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 117, 800 per tola on Monday. Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 117, 450 per tola. It was traded at Rs 117, 250 per tola.

Similarly, the price of silver has dropped by Rs 5 and is being traded at Rs 1,450 per tola today.

Former Indian Army Chief Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane has said that China is following “wolf-warrior diplomacy” and “salami-slicing” tactics with impunity browbeating smaller neighbors.  In his memoirs ‘Four Stars of Destiny’, Naravane,  He further stated that it took the Indian Army to show to the world that “enough is enough” and challenge the “neighborhood bully”. 

“They had been following wolf-warrior diplomacy and salami-slicing tactics everywhere with impunity, browbeating smaller neighbors like Nepal and Bhutan, while staking their ever-increasing claims in the South China Sea, without having to pay any costs, especially in terms of human lives.” 

It took India and the Indian Army to show to the world that enough is enough and to challenge the neighborhood bully, he said.  Naravane, one of the foremost Army Generals, provided a gripping account of the India-China confrontation before and after the deadly Galwan Valley incident, India’s overall response to the Chinese action and how it served as a catalyst to firm up the Army’s combat readiness along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry is visiting Nepal on Dec 20-22 to attend the inaugural session of the Nepal-Sri Lanka Joint Commission. 

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the commission will focus on a wide range of areas of bilateral cooperation between Sri Lanka and Nepal, including trade and investment, tourism, education, defense, culture, connectivity and people-to-people contacts. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation will also be signed during the visit. On the sidelines, Foreign Minister Sabry is scheduled to have bilateral talks with his Nepali counterpart Narayan Prakash Saud. He will pay courtesy calls on President Ram Chandra Paudel and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, apart from meeting the Sri Lankan expatriate community.

A team of Federal Parliament members left for Beijing on a 10-day visit to China on Tuesday. 

The 20-member delegation under CPN (Maoist Centre) Chief Whip Hitraj Pandey comprises five lawmakers each from the Nepali Congress, CPN (UML) and the Maoist Centre, and one each from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) and the CPN (Unified Socialist). 

The delegates are Yub Raj Sharma, Ramnath  Adhikari, Ain Bahadur Shahi, Saraswoti Bajimaya and Kusum Devi Thapa from the NC, Damodar Bairagi, Manbir Rai, Nirmala Koirala, Rukmini Rana Baraili and Bhagawati Neupane from the UML, and Chief Whip Pandey, Jaga Prasad Sharma and Narayani Sharma from the Maoist Centre.   

RSP Chief Whip Santosh Pariyar, Anisha Nepali of RPP, Prakash Adhikari of JSP and Unified Socialist Chief Whip Metmani Chaudhary are other delegation members. 

The purpose of the visit to the northern neighbor is to participate in an event to be organized by the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under the Ministry of Commerce, China. The team is scheduled to visit Nanjing, the capital city of Jiangsu province, and Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou province, according to the Federal Parliament Secretariat. 

The Socialist Front Nepal has urged the government and the concerned sides to fully implement the three-point agreement reached between the Government of Nepal and the Communist Party of Nepal.  

Issuing a statement here today, the Front Chair Madhav Kumar Nepal called on one and all not to allow situations giving rise to any conflict in the country's present political context.

The Front has said its serious attention is drawn towards the arrest warrant issued some days back by the District Court, Kathmandu against leaders of the Communist Party of Nepal, including the party General Secretary Netra Bikram Chand and spokesperson Khadka Bahadur Bishwokarma.

The CPN (Maoist Center), Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal, CPN (Unified Socialist) and the Chand-led NCP had announced the front on June 20, 2023.