International Nuclear Elimination Day being observed today

The International Day for Total Elimination of Weapons is to be observed in different countries with various awareness creating programs on disarmament of nuclear weapons. 

This day has been observed at the call of the United Nations since 2013. 

However, the first proposal for global nuclear disarmament was presented at the UN General Assembly in 1946. 

This Day provides an occasion for the world community to reaffirm its commitment to global nuclear disarmament as a priority. 

It provides an opportunity to educate the public - and their leaders - about the real benefits of eliminating such weapons, and the social and economic costs of perpetuating them, the UN website noted. 

The purpose of the International Day is to further the objective of the total elimination of nuclear weapons through enhancing public awareness and education about the threat posed to humanity by nuclear weapons and the necessity for their total elimination. 

According to the United Nations, approximately 12,241 nuclear weapons remain in various countries today. 

On this occasion, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called upon nations with nuclear weapons to make pledges for the total elimination of these arms.

 

Weather likely to remain clear in most parts of the country today

The influence of the monsoon winds across the country has lost its strength with a partial effect of local winds. 

Most parts of the country is likely to have clear weather. 

This afternoon the hilly regions of the country will generally be cloudy while the remaining areas will be partially cloudy, according to the Meteorological Forecasting Division. 

There is a possibility of moderate rainfall in some hilly areas of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Karnali Provinces, while light rain is likely to occur in one or two places of the remaining areas. 

Tonight the hilly regions of the country, including Koshi province will be partially cloudy, while the rest of the areas will have clear weather, it is stated in the weather bulletin. 

There is a chance of moderate rainfall in one or two places in the hilly areas of the country, including Koshi Province. 

 

AI and human artistry

We’ve all seen it: people using ChatGPT, Gemini, and other AI tools to enhance their pictures, making them appear more authentic and attractive. But have we really considered the consequences? Most of the time, we don’t. These days, we see AI generated images and videos flooding our social media. Recently, I came across a clip by influencer Bhanu Pathak talking about the risk of uploading images on AI tools. He criticized the practice, calling it unethical, creepy, and unsafe. He warned that AI companies could keep personal data of users.

The situation became even more alarming when one instagram user shared her experience of using AI to enhance her photo. She discovered something disturbing: a photo where she was fully sleeve was transformed by AI into a sleeveless version. Not only that, the AI even replicated a mole on her right hand. Shockingly, she confirmed that she actually does have a mole in the same spot in real life.

Dipayan Ghosh, who writes about cyber security, explains AI can generate images of real people without consent, posing a serious privacy risk. 

“It allows anyone to alter photos and create false scenarios, making it appear as though someone did something they never actually did.”

To detect if an image is AI-generated or not, Ghosh suggests using reverse image search to trace the source of the picture. “Be mindful about what you share online, and avoid believing every photo you come across on social media,” he adds, while urging people to use AI tools responsibly and ethically.

Osmond Chia, a technology reporter at The Straits Times, has written a piece on OpenAI facing several lawsuits, including one from The New York Times, for using the paper’s content without permission to train AI models. In response, OpenAI argued that the data was publicly accessible and therefore permissible for research purposes.

While non-commercial ChatGPT users may not face direct copyright issues, Chia also noted that “freely uploading personal photos onto the platform still carries significant risks, particularly concerning privacy and misuse of data.”

The advent of AI has also impacted the creative world. Legendary Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki has called the technology “an insult to life itself.” He argued that though faster, AI cannot come close to the artistry and soul found in the works of creative minds.

Shristi Prajapati, a tattoo and visual artist, understands where Miyazaki is coming from. She says AI art has taken over so much of the space that once belonged to human hands and hearts. 

“While artists like us spend hours mixing colors, shaping ideas, and pouring emotion into every detail, AI can replicate something similar in mere seconds. It’s painful to watch years of practice, love, and identity getting pushed aside.” 

For centuries, art has been a sacred expression—not just a product for sale. Even when artists didn’t make money, they created to preserve beauty, truth, culture, and emotion. Now, they are up against machines that don’t feel, don’t struggle, don’t dream. 

Still, despite the pressure and the heartbreak, artists like Prajapati continue. “I believe there are still people who recognize the difference, who still value the human touch,” she says.

Visual artist Rudrakshya Man Pradhan expresses similar sentiment. He says that AI should remain as a tool for inspiration, not a replacement for genuine expression. “It is essential to teach people the true value of art, so that society learns to see beyond surface-level images and appreciate the stories, emotions, and individuality only human hands can create,” he adds. 

But not everyone sees AI art as a threat. Sajira Shrestha, 26, says as long as you know what you are doing, AI can be a fun experimenting platform. “I don’t think it will hurt anyone as long as you are using AI for fun stuff. But at the same time, I don’t discount the harm it can do in the wrong hands.”

Pradhan says despite concerns surrounding AI technology, it is impossible to escape its presence and we must learn to live with it. 

“We know that AI always depends on prompts and borrowed data, while human art emerges from individuality and authenticity. So, I see that the future lies in balancing tradition with technology, and fostering awareness of art’s true value..”

The craze over AI images reflects both the excitement and the dangers of new technology. While AI can produce quick, attractive, and trendy results, it also raises serious questions about privacy, ethics, and the future of human creativity. For artists, it poses the painful risk of being overshadowed, yet it also offers opportunities if used wisely as a tool for inspiration. 

To safeguard creativity, society needs to value authentic art, educate younger generations about its deeper meaning, and use AI responsibly. In the end, the true challenge lies in striking a balance—embracing technology without losing sight of the human touch that makes art sacred. Prajapati aptly says: “Handmade art holds imperfections, emotions, and stories that no AI can ever truly replicate.” 

Nepal Police providing free bus service to rescue stranded passengers at Tuinkhola

A free bus service has been operated for the passengers stuck in a landslide at Tuinkhola under the Narayangadh-Muglin road section.

The Nepal Police has started a free bus service targeting passengers stranded due to the landslide over the past two days. 

According to District Police Office Chief Deputy Superintendent Govinda Puri, the bus service for passengers stranded by the landslide has been started since Tuesday. Two school buses belonging to the Police School Shantipur are being used for this purpose. 

The bus service has been launched targeting passengers who have arrived at the bridge at Panchkilo via the Tanahun route. 

He said, "We have launched a free bus service to Bharatpur for the stranded passengers who have arrived at the bridge at Panchkilo on foot or via the alternative Tanahu route." 

The police have been sending a bus from Bharatpur after the stranded passengers have gathered at Panchkilo and transporting them to Bhartpur.

After the road was blocked, passengers had to walk and take an alternative route. 

Frequent landslides have made it difficult to clear the road at times.

It is expected that the landslide at Tuinkhola will be cleared by Friday.

Although the landslide that occurred last Friday was cleared to reopen the road, another landslide blocked the road again on Tuesday. Work to clear the landslide has also been going on since early this morning.