Author: space4knews

The BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, constructed with support from the Chinese government, had directed employees residing there against regulations to vacate the housing by April 29. Separate accommodations have been arranged for support staff, officers, and doctors, with 18 families currently residing in Chinese-assisted buildings. The hospital administration reminded employees that those with private housing within 25 kilometers are not entitled to hospital accommodation and instructed them to vacate the rooms; however, no one has yet left the premises.

On April 27 in Chitwan, staff living in the hospital residences against the rules refused to vacate despite the administration’s directive issued on April 13 urging immediate relocation. The hospital prioritizes providing housing for medical personnel, including doctors, nurses, and assistants engaged in emergency services, which is why the order to vacate was issued.

According to Shila Regmi, the hospital’s store chief, there are distinct housing provisions for support staff, officers, and doctors. Ten houses are designated for support staff, accommodating up to 60 families. For officers, there are six houses consisting of 10 single rooms and 10 additional units designed for two families each. Additionally, six houses, each capable of housing four families, accommodate two Chinese and four senior local physicians at the officer level.

In two buildings constructed with Chinese aid, 18 families currently reside. Among the 36 rooms allocated for support staff, 18 families have taken shelter. Despite notifications reiterating the policy that employees with private residences within a 25-kilometer radius are ineligible for hospital housing, no residents have vacated to date.

In Pokhara, Wanti Shahi and Bhadra Thapa have been arrested on charges of defrauding NPR 5 million by forging the signature of Wanti’s husband. According to DSP Hari Basnet, the accused secured a loan of NPR 5 million from Siddhartha Bank by forging the signature of Mohan Bahadur Shahi and using land registered in his name as collateral. They are currently under investigation for charges of fraud and criminal breach of trust.

On 27th Baishakh in Kathmandu, police arrested two individuals, including Wanti Shahi, the wife of the victim Mohan Bahadur Shahi, for allegedly defrauding NPR 5 million by forging her husband’s signature. The arrested individuals are 44-year-old Wanti Shahi from Dhungepatan, Pokhara and 44-year-old Bhadra Thapa from Buddhachok, Surkhet. The operation was conducted by teams dispatched from the District Police Office, Kaski, and Area Police Office, Shishu.

DSP Hari Basnet explained that the forgery involved land plots numbered 2444 and 2447 in Pokhara Metropolitan City ward 30, registered in Mohan Bahadur Shahi’s name. The forged signature was used to pledge the land as collateral at Siddhartha Bank to obtain a loan of NPR 5 million through fraudulent means. Investigations are ongoing with extensions into cases of fraud and criminal breach of trust against the accused.

Squatters in Dhalkebar, Dhanusha have staged a protest led by the National Land Rights Forum District Committee of Dhanusha. They gathered with placards bearing slogans such as “Stop evictions, ensure land and housing rights, right to life and livelihood.”

Ichharam Pariyar, a central member of the Land Rights Forum, urged the government not to use bulldozers to demolish squatters’ homes and called for the provision of land ownership certificates for the occupied land. He said, “The government’s policy on squatter management is commendable. However, instead of using bulldozers to demolish squatter homes, proper management should have been carried out earlier. We urge our government to provide land ownership certificates for the land they occupy.”

Govinda Sada from Dinabhadri Squatter Settlement, Ward No. 3, Mithila Municipality, is also calling for a halt to bulldozer demolitions and for the issuance of land ownership documents.

Illustrative image. Scientists at MIT have discovered that the sound of rain signals seeds buried underground to start germinating. Their study revealed that rice seeds exposed to the sound of rain germinate 30 to 40 percent faster. Within the seeds, particles called statoliths detect vibrations caused by rain sounds, helping determine the optimal timing for germination.

Can seeds buried in soil actually hear the sound of rain falling from the sky? Though this might sound like the premise of a fictional story, recent scientific research confirms this phenomenon. Researchers from the esteemed Massachusetts Institute of Technology have made this intriguing finding. According to the scientists, when the first drops of rain hit dry soil, the sound transmits underground and awakens dormant seeds.

That same rain sound acts as a vital signal to start life for the seeds. The study specifically found that rice seeds exposed to rainfall sounds germinate 30 to 40 percent faster than those that are not. In other words, the pitter-patter of rain helps seeds mature more quickly than under normal conditions. This discovery challenges the long-held perception that plants are passive and lack awareness.

The scientists explain that seeds do not simply wait for moisture or water; they also sense environmental cues around them and decide whether it is the right time to germinate. How do seeds hear rain sounds? When raindrops fall on soil or water, they generate sound waves that create vibrations in both the soil and water. Seeds are able to detect these vibrations.

Inside the seeds are tiny particles known as statoliths, made of starch. Vibrations caused by rain sounds shake these statoliths, sending a signal to the seed that sufficient water is likely available and that conditions are favorable for germination. This is why the seeds begin to germinate more rapidly. The researchers tested these effects on approximately 8,000 varieties of rice seeds.

Some seeds were placed in typical cool and moist conditions, while others were subjected to rainfall-like sounds and simulated raindrops. The results were striking: seeds exposed to rain sounds germinated 30 to 40 percent faster. The scientists note that because sound waves propagate well in water, seeds buried in water or moist soil detect rain sounds particularly well.

This study reveals that plants are far more intelligent and sensitive than previously thought, responding not only to light, water, and soil but also to sound and vibrations. Previous research has also shown that plants can perceive sounds; for example, some plants produce bitter chemicals when they hear the sound of insects chewing leaves. Certain plants close their leaves when touched, and others respond to smells. The addition of rain sounds to this list underscores that the gentle tapping of rain is not merely a source of human enjoyment but also a life signal for seeds hidden beneath the soil.

The road in Chhiswang, Ward No. 5 of Mangala Rural Municipality in Myagdi, has been upgraded after 15 years. The federal government allocated a budget of NPR 30 million in the current fiscal year to complete this road improvement project. As an alternative route to the Beni–Dharbang road, this road benefits the residents of Mangala, Malika, and Dhaulagiri rural municipalities. Dated 27th Baishakh, Myagdi.

After 15 years since the route opened, the road in Chhiswang, Ward No. 5 of Mangala Rural Municipality, Myagdi, has now been upgraded. This upgrade took place on the Chhiswang section of the Pok-Serafant-Pipalbot-Chhiswang-Khopti-Chyarchyare-Dharbang route, considered an alternative to the Babiyachaur–Dharbang section of the Beni–Dharbang road that connects Mangala, Malika, and Dhaulagiri rural municipalities with the district headquarters, Beni. The federal government designated NPR 30 million this fiscal year for the project, which was contracted to the Road Division Office Baglung. The project was completed ahead of schedule by Acharya–Padmadip JV.

Mahendra Acharya, a representative of the construction company, stated that though the project officially had a deadline until Ashad, it was completed three months early after commencing in Magh. The contract was signed for NPR 20,555,000. A 1.5-kilometer stretch of road from Khakhare through Chhiswang to Okhola was widened to nine meters with a permanent drainage system and graveled. Durga Bahadur Khatri of Chhiswang stated that since the road first opened in 2010 B.S. (circa 1963/64 AD), travel has become considerably easier after the recent upgrade.

Since the route opened, only minor maintenance had been performed, resulting in a narrow 3–4 meter-width road that allowed single-lane vehicle passage. Local residents voluntarily granted land and removed structures to help widen the road. This road benefits residents of Ward No. 5 of Mangala and Wards 1 and 2 of Malika, and due to landslide disruptions on the Babiyachaur–Dharbang section of the Beni–Dharbang road, it serves as an important alternative route, adding significant strategic value. In the preceding two fiscal years, Mangala Rural Municipality upgraded the Serafant area, Gandaki Province government worked on the Pipalbot section, and the federal government improved the Hilwang–Khakharekhola section. Being a strategically important alternative route, this road has received high priority. Residents of Chhiswang, including Kishor Mall, noted that constructing motorable bridges over Hilwang, Okhola, and Arman rivers would enable year-round regular traffic on this road. Earlier, the federal government constructed a culvert at Khakharekhola.

Last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that, for the first time, Ukrainian forces reclaimed territory from the Russian military using only robots and drones. This event clearly demonstrates both the role and the risks of technology in the future of warfare.

Around 400 million people worldwide suffer from allergic rhinitis, a condition also common in Nepal. This condition occurs when airborne allergens, such as pollen, affect the nasal passages. It usually manifests during the spring and rainy seasons, commonly known as “hay fever.” In North America, it is often referred to as seasonal allergies, caused by various pollen types or other allergens. The number of patients and the severity of hay fever symptoms have been steadily increasing, with climate change considered a major contributing factor. Changes in air quality, temperature, and environmental conditions during seasonal transitions can amplify allergy symptoms. Particularly in spring and autumn, pollen, dust, and pollution levels rise in the air. When these particles enter the body through the nose, eyes, or respiratory tract, the immune system overreacts, causing allergies. Symptoms may include sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, a scratchy throat, or difficulty breathing. A weakened immune system and exposure to dust, smoke, and temperature fluctuations can further increase allergy risks.

Fortunately, you no longer have to silently endure these symptoms. In recent years, new and more effective treatments for hay fever have become available. Research has also clarified the best timing and methods for their use. 1. Nasal sprays are more effective than oral medications. Many people use oral drugs like Claritin or Benadryl at the onset of mild sneezing or allergy symptoms, but these are less effective than nasal sprays. Oral medications must pass through the digestive system before spreading through the body, delivering only a small amount of medication to the nasal area where it is most needed. Nasal sprays, by contrast, are applied directly inside the nose and provide rapid relief by targeting the area causing inflammation, reducing nasal congestion, sneezing, and other symptoms. Therefore, nasal sprays are now recommended as the first line of treatment for both children and adults. 2. Use decongestant nasal sprays with caution. Not all nasal sprays are the same. Many use decongestant sprays to relieve nasal blockage, but these can worsen the problem if used excessively. Sprays containing oxymetazoline, phenylephrine, or xylometazoline shrink blood vessels to reduce nasal swelling, making breathing easier. However, using these sprays for more than five days can cause dependency, leading to rebound congestion. 3. Choose second-generation antihistamines when taking oral medication. If medication is necessary or habitual, newer drugs such as cetirizine, loratadine, or fexofenadine are preferable. 4. Begin treatment before allergy symptoms appear. Many wait for symptoms to show before starting medication, but preemptive treatment is more effective. 5. Continue taking medication regularly even when symptom-free. 6. Use nasal sprays correctly. 7. Administer eye drops properly. 8. Avoid known allergy triggers. 9. If symptoms persist, consult a healthcare professional promptly.

April 27, Dhankuta – Formerly a hub of higher education for the Eastern Development Region, now Koshi Province, Dhankuta Multipurpose Campus has experienced a decline in student enrollment. The expansion of campuses into rural areas has lessened its ability to attract students, resulting in decreasing admission rates. Amidst this, modern and inclusive educational facilities established by the campus have fallen into disuse. The electronic library (e-library) and disability student support center, set up with investments of millions of rupees, have yet to achieve their intended impact due to ineffective operation.

Established nearly a decade ago, the e-library aimed to promote technology-friendly teaching and learning within the campus. Despite equipping the library with 20 computers, internet access, and necessary electronic devices, these resources remain underutilized due to irregular operation. Assistant Campus Chief Dr. Shyam Prasad Wagle attributes the underuse to a lack of technical personnel. He explained, “Without an authorized librarian, the existing staff manages only basic tasks, which prevents effective utilization.”

Similarly, the Disability Student Support Center, established four years ago to provide equal educational opportunities for students with diverse abilities, is also non-operational. Although donor-supported and equipped with computers, digital displays, assistive devices, and disability-friendly infrastructure, the center remains unused. The absence of wheelchair-accessible infrastructure limits access for students with disabilities. Campus Chief Home Bahadur Basnet acknowledged that budget constraints prevent the center from functioning properly.

According to Basnet, some equipment has been transferred to other departments, while some professors are individual users of the devices. Students have reported inadequate infrastructural facilities. He suggested that campus administration should conduct awareness programs to enhance the utilization and accessibility of technology. Youth Timilsina, chairperson of the Independent Students’ Union, emphasized the necessity of developing technological literacy.

Management committee members reportedly have little awareness about the inactivity of the e-library and disability center. Milan Kumar Khadgi, chairperson of Ward No. 6 in Dhankuta Municipality, stated that he was unaware of many issues, having not been invited to relevant meetings. Khadgi criticized the campus management as weak and lacking a clear plan. Meanwhile, Niran Rai, member of the campus management committee and provincial assembly member of Koshi Province, indicated that monitoring and inspection processes aimed at educational and managerial reforms are underway.

Due to the lack of expected outcomes despite substantial investments, the modern study system and inclusive education at Dhankuta Multipurpose Campus have been adversely affected. The electronic equipment installed has become nonfunctional. Local residents and students stress that stakeholders need to prioritize not only the maintenance of infrastructure and equipment but also their effective use.

File photo. April 10, Kathmandu. The Traffic Police Office of the Kathmandu Valley has recommended suspending the driving licenses of 31 drivers for six months due to repeated violations of traffic rules within the valley. These drivers were found to have violated traffic regulations up to 16 times, prompting the office to communicate the suspension recommendation to the Department of Transport Management.

Police spokesperson Navaraj Adhikari stated that despite repeated penalties, these drivers continued to disregard the rules and violated traffic laws as many as 16 times. According to the provisions of the Vehicle and Transport Management Act, 2049 (1992), any driver who violates traffic rules more than five times can have their license suspended for up to six months.

Based on this legal framework, the traffic police have taken a strict stance to discourage habitual traffic offenses. Since drivers showed no compliance even after repeated fines, the police have initiated the process of license suspension. Drivers subjected to this suspension will be prohibited from operating any vehicle for six months. The traffic police believe this action will help reduce road accidents and ensure full compliance with traffic rules within the Kathmandu Valley.