Miss Nicaragua wins 2023 Miss Universe pageant
Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua was crowned the 2023 Miss Universe at the culmination of the annual beauty pageant, which took place on Saturday night in El Salvador’s capital, San Salvador. Anntonia Porsild of Thailand placed as first runner-up, CNN reported.
The winners of 84 countries’ national pageants had competed at this year’s Miss Universe, judged by a panel including model Halima Aden, “Queer Eye” star Carson Kressley, TikTok influencer Avani Gregg and two former Miss Universe winners, Janelle Commissiong of Trinidad & Tobago (Miss Universe 1977) and Iris Mittenaere of France (Miss Universe 2016).
Twenty semi-finalists were announced at the beginning of Saturday night’s proceedings following the results of the preliminary competition (and a global fan vote). After the swimsuit round, the field was narrowed to 10 — seeing the elimination of the first “curvy” contestant to make the pageant’s semi finals, Miss Nepal, as well as the first contestant to choose a burkini as their swimsuit, Miss Pakistan. The evening gown round cut the number of contestants in half again.
Two rounds of hot topic Q&As then left just three women in contention: Palacios, Porsild and second runner-up Moraya Wilson of Australia, according to CNN.
Asked in the final round who she would choose to spend a day in the life of, Palacios chose the 18th-century British philosopher and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft, who she said broke boundaries and “gave an opportunity to many women.”
“There are no limitations for women today,” she added, via a translator.
Miss Colombia, Camila Avella, and Miss Puerto Rico, Karla Guilfú, rounded out the top five, while another member of the top 10, Spain’s Athenea Pérez, was crowned the pageant’s Miss Congeniality.
Palacios succeeds the 2022 Miss Universe, R’Bonney Gabriel of the USA, CNN reported.
Chhath festival being observed today
Chhath festival, one of the major festivals of the country and predominantly observed in the Tarai region, is being celebrated today by worshiping the sun.
As a major part of the festival, the setting sun is worshiped by offering argha while the same process is followed to worship the rising sun on Monday morning to bring the festival to an end.
Tonight, the revelers observe a fast and stay awake all night and offer prayers to the rising sun tomorrow morning.
Banks of rivers, streams and ponds across the country are decorated for the Chhath festival.
It is widely believed that observing a fast in obeisance of Chhathi goddess will bring desired results and well-being for the family and all of their sorrows and troubles will vanish away.
Meanwhile, the federal government has announced a public holiday today to mark the festival.
Two elderly men die of cold in quake-hit Jajarkot
Two elderly men died of cold in quake-hit Jajarkot district.
The deceased have been identified as Bhuleshwor Karki (88) of Bheri Municipality-2 and Narendra Bahadur Singh of Barekot Rural Municipality-4. They were residing under the tent after an earthquake destroyed their houses.
A 6.4 magnitude earthquake with its epicenter in Ramidanda of Jajarkot jolted Jajarkot and Rukum West districts on November 3, killing at least 157 persons and destroying properties worth millions.
Both of them were patients of asthma and died due to increasing cold, said Chairperson of Barekot Rural Municipality, Bir Bahadur Giri.
He said that more than 34,000 families of Jajarkot district are living under tents after their houses were completely damaged by the earthquake. Children, new mothers, patients suffering from chronic diseases and elderly persons are mostly affected by the cold.
Chief District Officer of Jajarkot, Suresh Sunar, said that children and elderly persons are found suffering from respiratory problems.
He stated that two chronic disease patients also lost their lives from cold at Nalgad-4 last week.
Media Action Nepal joins GFMD to advance media development
Media Action Nepal, a prominent civil society organization (CSO) defending free and accountable media in Nepal, has joined the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) to promote and advance media development worldwide.
Along with thirty-one other new members, on November 2, GFMD welcomed Media Action Nepal to their community of journalism support and media development organizations. "We are thrilled to introduce our newest members, who have joined us on our mission to promote and advance media development worldwide," the GFMD announcement reads. These dynamic organizations bring diverse perspectives and expertise to our network, enriching the collaborative spirit that defines GFMD. Together, we will continue to drive positive change in the global media landscape, GFMD added.
"We are happy to join the largest global network of media development organizations and look forward to contributing in the area with our local, regional and international experiences," shared Laxman Datt Pant, Chairperson of Media Action Nepal.
The GFMD Chairperson Zoé Titus said she is pleased to have Media Action Nepal as a new member of the GFMD. "I look forward to collaborating with Media Action Nepal to further enrich the global network of media development," she added.
Through collective action, the GFMD network of 171 members delivers policies and programmes to sustain journalism as a public good. A member of the Media Freedom Coalition-Consultative Network and ACOS Alliance, Media Action Nepal is a vibrant CSO promoting independent and accountable media in Nepal through direct interventions and across the world through its collaborations with international media rights advocacy organizations.
