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The journey of Miss Universe Nepal 2024 began with a Sash Ceremony organized by Global Glamour Venture on Sunday in Kathmandu, featuring 25 contestants. Out of 60 participants selected in the preliminary round, 25 were chosen during auditions to compete in the finale, expected to be held in the first week of September. 

The top 25 contestants are Sampada Ghimire (Contestant 1), Choten Phuntso (Contestant 2), Shriyanka Thapa (Contestant 3), Anushka Wasthi (Contestant 4), Sujal Bam (Contestant 5), Neha Chaudhary (Contestant 6), Manisha Pariyar (Contestant 7), Smriti Singh (Contestant 8), Alina Gurung (Contestant 9), Renata Kattel (Contestant 10), Tulasha Nepal (Contestant 11), Niyukti Arjal (Contestant 12), Hritisha Manandhar (Contestant 13), Puja Bastola (Contestant 14), Khusi Duttraj (Contestant 15), Ayusha Karki (Contestant 16), Asmi Dhakal (Contestant 17), Shivani Karna (Contestant 18), Gajal Karn (Contestant 19), Karren Murray (Contestant 20), Samyukta Malla (Contestant 21), Akshita Chetti (Contestant 22), Nitu Pun (Contestant 23), Tashi Gurung (Contestant 24), and Samriddhi Kc (Contestant 25). National Director of Miss Universe Nepal, Sangita Puri, and Choreographer Dikpal Karki presented sashes to the selected contestants.

This year, the beauty pageant includes mute contestants, transgender individuals, married women, single mothers, non-resident Nepali women, and professionals from fields such as medicine, engineering, and aviation.

The winner of this pageant will go on to compete with contestants from over 100 countries in Mexico this November for the Miss Universe 2024 crown.

Dusit Princess Kathmandu is one of the first five star hotels to offer a blend of Nepali, Asian, and Thai cuisines and cultures. Part of a Thai hotel chain, the Dusit Princess is a cozy and comfortable space, where you can choose to relax both indoors and outdoors.

The hotel, which won the Best Interior Design Award in Nepal, features various affordable rooms that offer a mix of Asian hospitality with numerous modern facilities. The dining and function rooms provide amazing views. There are separate barbecue and bar areas where delicious, mouth-watering food and drinks are served. These are prepared by highly skilled international chefs and bartenders, adding to the hotel’s value and prestige.

The dishes served here focus on Thai cuisine, specially prepared by Chef Subin Phankarasin from Thailand. Chef Phankarasin, currently the head chef at Dusit Princess Kathmandu, has over 16 years of experience in the culinary industry. He started his career in Thailand and has worked in renowned hotels such as Le Meridien Dubai, The Westin Doha, and The Kempinski Hotel Muscat. He specializes in culinary carving, menu creation, and Thai cuisine.

We sampled their famous Prawn Roll, Vegetarian Spring Roll, and Maize Pakoda with Sweet Chili Thai Sauce for starters. The dishes were crunchy and had the right balance of flavors, with the sauces perfectly complementing the food. For the main course, we enjoyed Fried Rice, Sweet and Sour Chicken, Pad Thai Prawn, Black Pepper Prawn, and Ginger Chicken. Each dish had a unique taste and flavor that had us craving for more.

For dessert, we had Baked Juju Dhau, Baked Gulab Jamun with Rabri Jugalbandi, Khao Neow Ma Muang (Thai Mango Sticky Rice), and Vanilla Ice-cream. The desserts were drool-worthy. Every ingredient was fresh and flavorsome. Prarthana Sen, PR and marketing manager, says, “We have focused on offering fine dining with Nepali, Indian, and more international flavors.”

All in all, the hotel is an excellent place to indulge in some quality time with your family and friends. They have ample parking space too.

Their specials:

• Pad Thai (a Thai noodle stir fry with a sweet-savory-sour sauce topped with crushed peanuts)
• Khao Pad (made of jasmine rice, fish sauce, oyster sauce, and veggies)
• Curries like Geeng Kiew Wan (a sweet green curry)
• Geeng Massaman with rice (a curry from South Thailand with rice)
• Mango Sticky Rice

With the increasing frequency of road accidents in Nepal, travel becomes particularly perilous after the monsoon season. The recent incident in Simatal, Chitwan, where two buses went missing, taking 62 lives, underscores the hazards. Nepal experiences frequent accidents throughout the year, with a significant spike during the monsoon season due to natural calamities, damaged roads, slippery surfaces, and reduced tire grip during rainy days.

“Infrastructure expert Ashish Gajurel notes that the monsoon season is a significant contributor to accidents, with half of the 30,000 annual accidents occurring during this period, resulting in 15,000 accidents. The Prithvi Highway and Kathmandu Highway are experiencing higher accident rates due to the heavy traffic.

Increasing awareness programs for both travelers and non-travelers is a crucial first step. Gajurel added, “Buses can fall from heights of 100-500 meters, leading to devastating accidents. We are urging the government to construct road safety barriers in high-risk areas.”

Despite the rising number of incidents, Nepal Police spokesperson DIG Dan Bahadur Karki commented, “Nepal experiences numerous accidents, including the recent Simatal incident, but it’s uncertain if more accidents occur during the monsoon season.” He added, “The Kathmandu-Narayanghat, Muglin-Pokhara, Kathmandu-Hetauda, and Karnali highways are particularly affected during this season.”

Nepal’s geographical challenges, damaged roads, aging infrastructure, and poor timing in road construction contribute to increased destruction and disruption in areas affected by calamities. Karki cautioned, “Bus travelers should be aware of weather and highway conditions, avoid night travel, and stay informed about post-accident road conditions.” Both drivers and passengers should be vigilant and gather information regularly to stay updated.

Spokesperson Karki said, “We are preparing safety precautions in areas where accidents frequently occur.” He recommended timely checks of buses, careful consideration of geographical features during road construction, regular inspection of mechanical systems, and ensuring that only drivers with recent bus maintenance passes are allowed to operate.

According to the data, Provinces with higher population density and more vehicle use, such as Kathmandu Valley and Koshi Province, reported the highest number of accidents, while less populated or less densely trafficked areas like Sudurpaschim Province had fewer incidents.

Data suggests that the highest numbers of deaths and severe injuries were reported in Madhes Province and Gandaki Province reported the lowest numbers in these categories. Overall, the data highlights a serious issue with road safety in various provinces, with a particular need for improved safety measures.

Balkrishna Basnet is the chairperson of the Press Council Nepal (PCN), an autonomous and independent media regulatory body set up by the Government of Nepal. PCN oversees the freedom of the press and advises the government on development of policies for the same. In recent times, the council has given hope to many in the media sector because of the work it has done in promoting professional journalism, strict implementation of journalistic code of conduct and  supporting journalists.

Basnet, who is from Dolakha, was always interested in the media sector. But he pursued a degree in law after high school. He is a licensed attorney who has handled many cases related to the media in his career. His foray into media happened as his interest in the field grew over time. He says he realized the media had the power to change our society and that was fascinating. “The media reflects the society and makes them aware of its issues. Sharing information and knowledge is only possible through media,” he says.

He is now actively contributing to the transformation of the Nepali journalism landscape. Since 2021, he has been in charge of the press council operations, including duties related to regulating and advancing the media in Nepal.

In his 25 years of experience at Chhalphal weekly, Kantipur Daily as well as its online counterpart, he has had the opportunity to deal with many reporters, editors, and publishers. After conducting extensive research and gaining more experience in the field, he became aware of the issues the media faces in Nepal. He also realized that the digital landscape was proving to be a challenge for mainstream media.

“I want to do what I can to address the problems journalism and journalists face in Nepal and make sure the media prospers in all its forms,” he says.

In the past six months, the council has implemented a new code of conduct for content creators on YouTube. Basnet saw there was a dire need for regulation on content on the online platform. It’s a relatively new project that the council has undertaken and it’s garnering a lot of national and international support. In the past month, 83 YouTube channels have been banned, with the channel operators being called in for an orientation class.

“Even in India, there’s no policy to manage YouTube content. So, I’d say what we’ve done is a bold step in ensuring the public only has access to authentic news,” says Basnet, adding that it’s not difficult to regulate online content but it does take time to implement the rules and regulations.

Basnet believes print media can thrive if they focus on innovative content, investigative reporting, and take some of their stories online. He says different media groups could join hands to provide authentic and impactful stories. This, he says, could increase their credibility and popularity.

The council has asked media houses in Nepal to make their own in-house rules and internal code of conduct. This, he says, will help create a strong sense of ethics within the publication houses and ultimately make journalism in Nepal stronger and better.

“I’m also aware about the importance of making journalists in different parts of Nepal more open to becoming digitally savvy. So, the council is conducting various programs for it,” he says. Apart from that, it’s also attempting to collect data on the history of journalism to have a better sense of what can be done to preserve it.

Basnet says the PCN is taking every aspect of journalism seriously, including journalistic integrity. If someone violates the journalistic rights or the code of conduct, they are subjected to an improvement class, their press permit is revoked, and they are placed on a blacklist. The council has been conducting orientation programs for new users of online media platforms, and people aren’t allowed to establish more than one media under the same name.

However, Basnet says that there isn’t a lot of support from the government and that it could do a lot more to ensure the media’s stability. There are many projects that the press council wants to implement and it would be helpful if the government would finalize the budget for those. “Government support is crucial to take the media forward. There is only so much the press council can do,” he says.

The media is an invaluable link between the public and the government. Its importance can’t be ignored, especially where dissemination of information is concerned. But journalism requires patience, dedication, and a genuine effort to stay updated. It isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, he says. “Those who are doing it must be given the support s/he needs,” he says.

Basnet says the council has recently increased discussions and interactions focused on creative and solution-oriented journalism including editor dialogues and newsroom interactions. “It’s the media's responsibility to raise questions and give possible solutions and options. When the media does that instead of just highlighting the problems, it’s considered creative and solution-oriented journalism,” he says, adding there are various campaigns being held to help provide Nepali journalism the edge it needs to thrive.

Under Basnet’s leadership, significant initiatives are being taken to monitor and regulate social media, including YouTube. So far, YouTube has not been able to provide much information or news. Basnet says the council is working to look at YouTube differently and welcome it as a form of media. He clarifies that not all YouTubers are journalists, but all journalists can be good YouTubers. To address this, the council has established a different procedure, following decisions by the Supreme Court. Some controversial content from YouTube channels has been removed or edited.

“There is a lot of negative content along with the good on YouTube and other social networks. It should be separated and identified, like rice and chaff,” he says. “If creative and solution-oriented materials are introduced, some of the current wrong trends will end by themselves.”

The monsoon season, characterized by cool and gloomy weather, has both advantages and disadvantages for individuals and nations. However, it is causing problems in Nepal due to a massive cluster of heavy rains this year.

The weather in comparison to 2023 has significantly changed due to the annual shift in rainfall patterns resulting from La Niña and El Niño. La Nina is a climate pattern occurring by the change in Pacific Ocean temperatures, affecting monsoon rainfall patterns from Indonesia to the west coast of South America while El Nino means the warming of the ocean surface, or above-average sea surface temperatures, in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. The monsoon began on June 10 this year, and due to La Niña’s active transition, there is a high likelihood of heavy rainfall across South Asia. Nepal’s geography also increases the risk of floods and landslides.

According to meteorologist Ujjwal Upadhyay, “This year’s monsoon, likely to last till October, is expected to cause severe drought, agricultural issues, high fungal infections, and frequent illnesses among people, with potential consequences in the future.” This year’s rain pattern, with short duration and high quantity, rainy nights and sunny days can lead to high nighttime casualties and high humidity, affecting human health through issues like excessive sweating, dehydration, heat stroke, eye infections, and brain and kidney problems.

Meteorologist at Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal, Rajan Lamichhane, says, “We are issuing safety notices and bulletins to individuals of high-risk areas.” He also cautioned that August and September will experience heavier precipitation.

Upadhyay added, “This monsoon will also see a significant change, with 15-30 percent more rainfall in eastern Nepal, 10-15 percent more in Central Nepal, and 5-10 percent more in Western Nepal.” According to the increasing percentage from the average percent, each location will have to deal with casualties based on its geographical features.

The forecast can be analyzed only three days before the weather changes, but the changing pattern of this year was anticipated last year itself, according to experts. In 2023, the monsoon arrived in eastern Nepal on June 14, one day later than usual, and ended on Oct 15, a 13-day delay.

According to the data, the number of casualties and impacted families has decreased but remained high between 2023 and the most recent report. This shows an improvement in dealing with and mitigating the effects of monsoon-related calamities. The greatest significant reductions are evident in landslides and thunderstorms, whereas statistics on floods and heavy rainfall show a drop in intensity.

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Monsoon (2023)

Monsoon last week (July 26-Aug 1)

Monsoon (July 2024)

Source: Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal

One of the most serious and infectious diseases that is waterborne, cholera has resurfaced in Nepal this monsoon also, infecting 16 individuals in three districts thus far, according to health authorities.

Lalitpur, so far, has the highest number of cases (8), followed by Kailali (5) and Kathmandu (3), according to the Ministry of Health and Population. At first, a person based in Godavari, Lalitpur, was referred to the Teku Hospital in Kathmandu on the basis of symptoms and the case was confirmed 72 hours later.

According to Spokesperson for the ministry, Dr Prakash Budhathoki, contaminated water and filthy surroundings are the primary causes of cholera. “Contaminated water causes several diseases. Drinking boiled water can keep such diseases at bay,” he said, stressing the need to raise awareness about the importance of drinking boiled water. He said treatment is available at Teku Hospital and other hospitals.

In 2022, the Kathmandu valley witnessed 77 confirmed cases of cholera. In the wake of a cholera outbreak in ward numbers 11, 12 and 13 of Kathmandu Metropolitan City in 2023, concerned ward offices administered oral cholera vaccine in coordination with public health authorities. 

This waterborne disease, caused by Vibrio cholera and coliform bacteria, affects all age groups, though older people and newborns with lower immune systems are particularly susceptible. 

An inadequate sanitation system and poor hygiene are mainly behind cholera in Nepal. Rainwater and leftover water may also contain cholera-causing bacteria. 

Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, chief of the Clinical Research Unit at Sukraraj Hospital, highlights the importance of maintaining the quality of water for curbing waterborne diseases. Ensuring water quality is a basic duty of concerned authorities, he says: Such essential services should not be halted under any pretext.

“Only 80 percent of the patients show clear and common symptoms of cholera whereas 20 percent show rapid symptoms. Cholera can prove fatal if the patient is not rushed to the nearest hospital on time,” according to Budhathoki. 

So, taking a cue from symptoms, there is an urgent need to rush the affected people to nearest health facilities. Administering oral rehydration salt powder like Jeevan Jal from time to time is crucial for saving the patients’ lives. 

Hospitals in Nepal are well-equipped to deal with the cases of cholera and the health ministry is prepared to supply essential facilities and materials to deal with the disease, according to officials.

Nasana Bajracharya, 25, is the co-founder of Re-kriti, a company that customizes and recycles used jeans into bags, blending creativity with sustainability.

Bajracharya grew up in Kathmandu’s main marketplace and has always considered reusing leftover textiles. It was during her college days when she embarked on her entrepreneurial journey. She participated in a startup camp when she was pursuing a BBA degree. She worked on a clothing brand but suffered a huge loss. She then turned her focus to making bags as there seemed to be a lot of demand for that.

“The initial investment was just Rs 30,000,” says Bajracharya. The company has had an additional investment of Rs 2,50,000 till date. The head office is located in New Road, Kathmandu, but the company sells the bags in different locations in Thamel to fulfill customer demands. The co-founder says they have also started sending their bags to retail outlets in Kirtipur.

The main office is where most of the work gets done. From taking orders to cutting and making sample pieces, their office in New Road is always bustling with activity. The sewing, however, happens in Thamel and Kirtipur. Re-kriti sells products through their Instagram page as well as various outlets including thrift stores, bookstores, and co-working spaces. 

Talking about the initial days, Bajracharya says it was difficult to make bags out of denim. It was an expensive endeavor. Brand-new jeans or even thrifted jeans did not come cheap. She says investors as well as clients didn’t really appreciate the undertaking and she frequently got negative feedback. “I only had a profit margin of 10 percent and that wasn’t a lot considering all the time and effort that went into it,” she says.

However, things have turned around now. She is more than happy with the profits that she makes on bulk and custom orders. She learned a lot from several Indian recycling companies that started off small but are now making a name for themselves. “Re-kriti is a pioneer of customized denim bags. I don’t know any other company that does what we do,” says Bajracharya.

The company, she adds, wants to focus on upcycling and being as eco-friendly as possible by creating little to no waste. Leftover fabric is used to customize laptop cases and crafted into other accessories like purses and card holders. Re-kriti is a youthful brand that wants to make an eco-friendly style statement through their innovative designs.

“My goal is to stand out as a brand and be known for good quality work,” she says. And indeed, the company is working with that mission in mind. Bajracharya says she receives a lot of feedback, compliments, and criticisms and that she takes them all seriously. It helps her improve. Going by feedback, she has also started sourcing jeans from customers. This makes the customized pieces unique and people also like the fact that their old clothes didn’t go to waste. However, most of the textiles the company needs still come from thrift stores as well as factories.

Currently, the company has seven women working under it. They are underutilized, says Bajracharya, as they are equipped to handle double the volume of orders they receive at the moment. “We collaborate with a women’s group and they all have diplomas in tailoring and stitching. We also provide basic design training to those who already know how to stitch,” she says.  

Many of these women are married and have different responsibilities. The company allows them to work at their own pace from their homes. “We get one to three orders every day and it’s fairly easy to meet the deadlines as there are so many women working on them,” she explains, adding the team takes a maximum of two days to complete the orders. So far, there have been no issues of delay.

Apart from ensuring employee satisfaction, Bajracharya also wants to ensure the company’s growth. Marketing is thus her main focus at the moment. Since Re-kriti’s target clients are those aged 18 to 35 who often have limited money to spend, she knows her products will have to be budget friendly. Youths, she says, are conscious about the environmental impact of their choices and she wants her brand to cater to those people.

“We receive orders from Pokhara, Biratnagar, Itahari, and Dang as well so I’d say the brand is being noticed,” says Bajracharya. As heartening as that is, it puts pressure on her and the team. They want to ensure customer satisfaction and also be ready to take the business to the next level by making it investor-ready. “It’s not easy to manage all that goes on in a business but I’m ready to do what it takes,” she concludes.