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In our thriving communities, where green spaces offer solace and shared environments foster companionship, responsible dog ownership becomes paramount. While the joy of canine companionship is undeniable, it comes with the duty to ensure that our furry friends leave no trace behind, especially in areas frequented by neighbors.

Owning a dog is not solely a personal choice; it entails committing to a larger social fabric. When dog owners take the responsibility to clean up after their pets, they contribute to a cleaner and more pleasant environment for everyone. This simple act fosters a sense of community and shared responsibility. Despite the shared understanding of pet care responsibilities, a few individuals choose to shroud their actions in the obscurity of night, neglecting their dogs' needs until the late hours. The consequence? A morning revelation for neighbors who wake to find dog waste left unattended, right at their doorsteps or in open areas nearby.

A local resident, expressing the sentiments of many, shares, “I have witnessed numerous instances of people discarding their dogs' waste in open areas. Sometimes, they even choose to do this thoughtlessly right in front of our homes, creating an unsightly and unsanitary situation for those of us living nearby.”

This revelation raises significant questions about the commitment of a few dog owners to the well-being and cleanliness of the community. In a neighborhood where shared spaces contribute to the overall quality of life, responsible pet ownership is not merely a suggestion but an essential obligation.

Aditi Parajuli

AS Level

Chelsea International Academy

The express bus service on Ratnapark-Suryabinayak route which was halted after coming into operation for a month has resumed from today.

Director General of the Department of Transport Management, Uddhav Prasad Rijal, said the buses will leave for the Ratnapark-Suryabinayak at an interval of every three minutes from 8.30 am each day beginning today.

"Thirty-six buses will operate on Ratnapark-Suryabinayak route. Buses have been operated on a regular basis from 8.30 am today," he added. Twenty-five buses were operated to and from the two destinations before this.

Director General Rijal said a schedule has been prepared, according to which the bus service will be operated from 8.30 am to 10.30 am and from 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm at an interval of three minutes.

According to him, buses have been added to make the bus rapid transit service more effective and the schedule has also been slightly changed.

The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport had launched this service on September 20, 2023 coinciding with the Constitution Day for the convenience of commuters so that they can reach their destinations quickly.

The service was suspended within a month of its operation as it was not effective.

Rijal claimed that it takes 45 minutes for buses operating under the bus rapid transit on the Ratnapark-Suryabinayak route whereas it takes one and a half hours for other public buses.

According to him, buses on this service will not have to stop even at cross-roads like Maitighar, Koteshwar, Jadibuti, among others where there is a lot of traffic jam.

The bus fare on the Ratnapark-Suryabinayak route bus rapid transit service is the same as the other public buses have been charging, the Transport Management Department Minbhawan said.

The telecommunication landscape is rapidly evolving, enabling information dissemination to every corner of the world. Under the liberalization framework established by the Telecommunications Act, 1996, Nepal Telecom and Ncell currently offer mobile services, while approximately 120 companies provide internet services.

The Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) regulates these service providers. Despite widespread mobile usage, revenue generation, and contributions to the government, there are looming uncertainties in the telecommunication sector.

Of the six telecom companies licensed by the government, only Nepal Telecom and Ncell remain operational. The current discussion in the sector revolves around the affordability and reliability of the services provided, the incorporation of new technologies, and how consumer interests are prioritized in these services. To address these contemporary issues, AP1 HD  organized a day-long discussion on the current status and future trajectory of telecommunications. Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka inaugurated the program. 

Speaking at the discussion, Captain Rameshwar Thapa, chairman of Annapurna Media, said there is a need to assess the present state of the telecommunication sector and plan for the future.

“I am confident that the collaborative discussions involving all stakeholders would guide the telecommunications sector,” Captain Thapa said. “We need to put focus on communication technology to achieve the government's goal of a digital Nepal, contributing not only to the prosperity of the telecommunication sector but also to the overall development of the country.”

Captain Thapa also said embracing technology to enhance accessibility will empower citizens and facilitate responsible governance for the government. “I urged the concerned entities to eliminate policy ambiguities and actively support the expansion of telecommunication services for the benefit of the public,” he added.

Addressing the program, Deputy Prime Minister Khadka said information and communication technology has become a crucial component of power in today's context. He also highlighted the significance of telecommunication in the challenging and remote terrains of Nepal. “Telecommunication holds greater importance than other infrastructures in Nepal,” he said, adding: 

“The rapid advancement of modern technology in the telecommunication sector and the dynamic changes in its structure is creating new opportunities. The government will prioritize the development and management of the telecommunication sector and ensure secure and accessible telecommunication services for all.”

Khadka said continuous investments in cutting-edge technology and unwavering efforts in innovation are opening new avenues for economic growth, social development, and overall progress. “The government will facilitate the sector by addressing political ambiguities and resolving legal complications in the telecommunication sector,” he added.

Additionally, Finance Secretary Dr. Krishna Hari Pushkar pointed out that the service providers in the telecommunication sector have yet to fully realize their potential, and the experts in the field have not effectively demonstrated their expertise. “The government remains committed to facilitating development, expansion, and business growth of the telecommunication sector. “If you think there are things that the government needs to look into, do inform us in writing. The ministry will promptly address them,” he added. 

Also speaking at the program, former minister and Nepali Congress leader Dr. Minendra Rijal highlighted the transformative impact of telecommunication technology in the Nepali society. “The key challenge in the sector is infrastructure development and expansion. I want to ask the NTA, who will undertake the construction of telecommunication infrastructure, and where will the funding come from? Given global investments in this sector, we need a thorough debate and discussion on this matter,” he added.

The second session of the program comprised four panel discussions. In the first panel discussion, titled “Mobile Telecommunication and Licensing Regime in Nepal,” moderated by telecommunication expert Anand Raj Khanal, Netra Subedi, joint secretary of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, said a new telecommunications bill is in the process of being introduced. He expressed confidence that the new bill would address existing challenges within the telecommunications sector. Similarly, Gorkna Prasad Sitaula, a member of the Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA), added that the new bill aims at clarifying the ambiguity surrounding the renewal fees for telecommunications companies.

 According to the Telecommunications Act, 1996, licenses must be renewed every 25 years with a renewal fee of Rs 20bn. This implies that Nepal Telecom and Ncell would need to renew their licenses in 2024/25 and 2028/29, respectively.

Sudhir Parajuli, President of the Internet Service Providers Association of Nepal, underlined the need to create an environment favorable not only for mobile phones but also for internet service providers in the new law. Bishal Upadhyay, head of Law and Regulation at Ncell, said that the Act of 1996 is outdated as technology has progressed from 2G to 5G. He said that service providers were increasing their investment with technological advancements.

The second panel discussion, titled ‘Telecommunication and Digital Nepal Framework’, moderated by information technology expert Manohar Bhattarai, featured discussions on the achievements of the Digital Nepal Framework released in 2019. Anil Dutt, joint secretary of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, said that 90 percent of the specified targets had been achieved. He also mentioned that an amendment to the Nepal Telecommunications Act was in progress. Meen Prasad Aryal, director of NTA, shared that infrastructure expansion in rural areas was being funded by utilizing two percent of the amount collected from service providers. Rajesh Lal Nyachhyon of Ncell called for collaboration between the government and the private sector in the telecommunication sector. Sudeep Acharya, Director-General of DisHome Fiber Net, called for reduction of high taxes imposed for Internet service providers.\

The third panel discussion, titled ‘Consumers, Makers, and Quality of Service’, moderated by journalist Sama Thapa, addressed concerns about service quality. Speaking at the discussion, Arjun Ghimire, a director of NTA, said the regulator has been giving strict instructions to service providers to address service sector complaints. Kamal Lamichhane, manager of Nepal Telecom, acknowledged existing problems but assured that service quality was improving gradually. 

Likewise, Jyoti Dahal, customer service manager of Ncell, noted that services are becoming cheaper with improved quality over time. Consumer activist Madhav Timilsina highlighted that there are more complaints about services than goods, particularly in mobile services, urging stakeholders to uphold consumer rights.

The final panel discussion, ‘Role of Spectrum and Infrastructure in Telecommunication’, was moderated by telecommunication expert Anand Raj Khanal. Speaking at the discussion, Rabindra Jha, a board member of the NTA, said that the government determines mobile frequency allocations, and the NTA implements them accordingly. Lena Keshari Kansakar, CTO of Ncell, underlined the need for a frequency policy based on a thorough market study. She said that frequency limitations have hindered telecom operators from expanding into new areas. C Mani Choulagai, a telecommunications expert, however, said that frequency limitations are not a pressing issue as the demand is primarily for 900 and 1800 MHz bands.

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

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 116, 900 per tola today.

Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 116, 350 per tola.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1,485 per tola today.

Hamas militants on Saturday released 17 hostages, including 13 Israelis, from captivity in the Gaza Strip, while Israel freed 39 Palestinian prisoners in the latest stage of a four-day cease-fire, Associated Press reported.

The late-night exchange was held up for several hours after Hamas accused Israel of violating the agreement. The delay underscored the fragility of the cease-fire, which has halted a war that has shocked and shaken Israel, caused widespread destruction across the Gaza Strip, and threatened to unleash wider fighting across the region.

The war erupted on Oct. 7, when Hamas militants in Gaza burst across the border into southern Israel, killing at least 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting some 240 others, including, women, children and older people. Israel immediately declared war, carrying out weeks of airstrikes and a ground offensive that have left over 13,300 Palestinians dead, according to health authorities in the Hamas-controlled territory. Roughly two-thirds of those killed in Gaza have been women and minors.

The cease-fire, brokered by Qatar and the United States, is the first extended break in fighting since the war began. Overall, Hamas is to release at least 50 Israeli hostages, and Israel 150 Palestinian prisoners. All are women and minors.

Israel has said the truce can be extended by an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed, but has vowed to quickly resume its offensive and complete its goals of returning all hostages and destroying Hamas’ military and governing capabilities.

The plight of the hostages has gripped the Israeli public’s attention. Thousands of people gathered in central Tel Aviv on Saturday in solidarity with the hostages andtheir families. Many accuse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of not doing enough to bring the hostages home. The releases have triggered mixed emotions: happiness, coupled with angst over the scores of hostages who remain in captivity, according to Associated Press.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced early Sunday that it had received a new list of hostages slated to be released later in the day in the third of four scheduled swaps.

In the West Bank, hundreds of people burst into wild celebrations for a second night as a busload of Palestinian prisoners arrived early Sunday. Teenage boys released in the deal were carried on the shoulders of well-wishers in the main square of the town of Al Bireh. But the mood of celebration was dampened by scenes of destruction and suffering in Gaza.

The start of the pause brought quiet for 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza, who are reeling from relentless Israeli bombardment that has killed thousands, driven three-quarters of the population from their homes and leveled residential areas. Rocket fire from Gaza militants into Israel also went silent.

War-weary Palestinians in northern Gaza, where the offensive has been focused, returned to the streets, crunching over rubble between shattered buildings and at times digging through it with bare hands.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal emphasized Nepal’s commitment to prioritizing compensation for communities most vulnerable to climate change. He announced the government’s intention to advocate for this cause at the upcoming UN climate event, COP28.

Acknowledging the severe impacts of climate change on indigenous communities, women, and children in Nepal, PM Dahal highlighted that international assistance and grants would be directed specifically to support these vulnerable groups.

PM Dahal conveyed these intentions during a meeting with a delegation from the Sathsathai Foundation earlier today. Chairperson Prajita Karki presented a memorandum to the PM, urging him to ensure compensation for the worst-affected communities.

The Foundation informed that it would host two events at Nepal’s pavilion during the COP28 sideline. Additionally, Foreign Minister NP Saud expressed Nepal’s pleasure in hosting the Princess of Qatar as a guest in an upcoming program at the country’s pavilion. He mentioned that Nepali Embassies in Doha, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, would collaborate accordingly.

The memorandum submitted to PM Dahal highlighted the increased snowmelt in mountains and the potential risks of glacial lake outbursts due to climate change. It urged Nepal to advocate strongly for climate justice in international forums, stressing that the livelihoods, health, education, and employment of local communities have been severely impacted by climate change-induced disasters.

JUMLA: A Nurse’s Story

Radha Paudel
Memoir 

The book is an account of the Maoist war in Khalanga, West Nepal. It’s basically a nurse’s diary. It is the English translation of Madan Puraskar winning book ‘Khalangama Hamala’. Radha Paudel, a trained nurse,  was in Khalanga, the Jumla district headquarters when the Maoists launched a massive attack in November 2002. Here, she recollects the stories of trauma that she came face to face with. She won the prestigious literary award Madan Puraskar for Khalangama Hamala, the original Nepali version of the book, in 2014.

I Wish You All The Best

Mason Deaver
Young Adult

When Ben De Backer comes out to their parents as nonbinary, they’re thrown out of their house and forced to move in with their estranged older sister, Hannah, and her husband, Thomas, whom Ben has never even met. Struggling with an anxiety disorder compounded by their parents’ rejection, they come out only to Hannah, Thomas, and their therapist and try to keep a low profile in a new school. But Ben’s attempts to survive the last half of senior year unnoticed are thwarted when Nathan Allan, a funny and charismatic student, decides to take Ben under his wing. As Ben and Nathan's friendship grows, their feelings for each other begin to change, and what started as a disastrous turn of events looks like it might just be a chance to start a happier new life.

Agony to Ecstasy

Sagar Parajuli
Spirituality

Agony to Ecstasy breaks down the esoteric yogic knowledge discovered in the lap of the Himalayas into eight simple practical steps that can be applied by anyone for self-discovery—to unleash one’s inner potential. By blending his own experience with the ancient secrets of health and wellness, the author shows how to find balance in a fast-paced modern world—the cause of many physical and mental health disorders. The author also clarifies various misconceptions about spirituality and brings clear, scientific insight into the not-so-discussed topics of life, death, and consciousness.

 ​​​​All these titles and more are available at Bookverse, Civil Mall, 4th floor, Sundhara, Kathmandu.

You will get 15% off when you buy five or more books and 15% off on Nepali books.

Leonardo Da Vinci (1452 – 1519)

Leonardo da Vinci is probably the most important Renaissance artist. He painted the iconic Mona Lisa which now hangs permanently in the Louvre Museum in Paris. It’s protected behind a bulletproof glass. It’s an oil painting with a cottonwood panel as the surface. It’s believed this choice of medium is the reason why the Mona Lisa has survived for more than six centuries without ever having been restored. Apart from the sitter’s mysterious smile, the fact that there are no visible brush marks on the painting makes it even more intriguing. 

His other famous masterpieces are The Last Supper and The Lady with an Ermine. The Last Supper is the most reproduced religious painting of all time. da Vinci was also a scientist and inventor and he made many drawings of the human body. He had an insatiable curiosity about the natural world. He made many scientific observations and sketches that were far ahead of his time. He is even credited with designing a rudimentary form of aircraft.

Michelangelo (1465 – 1564)

Michelangelo is one of the most well-known artists of all time. He was a painter, a sculptor, and an architect who also happened to write poetry occasionally. He grew up in Florence, a city that was a center of art and culture during the Renaissance period. His most famous artwork is the fresco painting of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. It took him four years to make it. Twenty years after painting the ceiling of the chapel, he returned to create one of the greatest frescoes of the Renaissance, The Last Judgment.

Michelangelo’s other creations, the sculpture David and Pietà, the St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, and the famous carving of Moses on the tomb of Pope Julian II serve as inspirations for young artists of the 21st century.

Johannes Vermeer (1632 – 1675)

Johannes Vermeer was a Dutch Baroque Period painter who mostly painted domestic interior scenes of middle-class life. His work depicts scenes of everyday life in 17th-century Holland. The popular phrase ‘Vermeer’s women’ comes from the fact that many of his works feature women engaged in household tasks. They are pouring milk, reading a letter, or playing musical instruments. Among his most famous works are the Girl With a Pearl Earring, The Milkmaid, and View of Delft.

Vermeer was a moderately successful artist but he produced few paintings. He worked slowly and with great care, and frequently used expensive pigments. But he never made much money from them, leaving his wife and children in debt upon his death. He is known for his expert treatment and use of light in his work. He was also an avid art collector and dealer. Though he was modestly popular during his time, he was forgotten after his death. He was only rediscovered in the 19th century and went on to be acknowledged as one of the greatest painters of the Dutch Golden Age.

Vincent Van Gogh (1853 – 1890)

Vincent Willem van Gogh was a Dutch post-impressionist painter. He is one of the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art. In his lifetime, he made 2,100 artworks, including 860 paintings. These include landscapes, still life, portraits, and self-portraits. Most of his works have bold colors and dramatic and expressive brushwork. His paintings include Starry Night, Cafe Terrace at Night, Sunflowers, and Self Portrait among others. 

Starry Night is perhaps one of the most recognized pieces of art in the world. You can see it everywhere, from coffee mugs and magnets to cushion covers and t-shirts. Its bright yellow and blue tones are unmissable. But despite the paintings’ fame, Van Gogh was pretty much unknown when he died by suicide at the age of 37. He was battling depression and poverty. He is today widely known for being the artist who cut off part of his ear. He inspired upcoming artists through his technique of painting with thick brushstrokes made up of bright colors squeezed straight from the tube.

Pablo Picasso (1881 – 1973)

Pablo Picasso was a Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, and theater designer. His father was an academic painter and thus he began to draw at an early age. He was in his twenties he experimented with different ideas and techniques.

The total number of artworks he produced has been estimated at 50,000, comprising 1,885 paintings, 1,228 sculptures, 2,880 ceramics, roughly 12,000 drawings, many thousands of prints, and numerous tapestries and rugs. But painting was where he stood out. His career spanned nearly eight decades. His work reflects his evolving artistic vision as well as the changing landscape of the 20th century. Some of his most famous works include Guernica (a dramatic portrayal of the bombing of Guernica by German and Italian air forces during the Spanish Civil War), Bird of Peace, and Woman with Fan.

Picasso changed the very definition of classic art by introducing concepts such as collaging and Cubism. His distinctive take on the creation of art in every medium makes him one of the most impactful artists ever.