Among the vibrant tapestry of culture and history that adorns Nepal's busy streets is a story that is sometimes ignored: the labour rights of individuals who propel the country's advancement. As the nation conti
Malaria is still a scourge for humanity. The disease is primarily transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. The disease not only continues to directly endanger our health and cos
It is a sad fact that the different political parties in the parliament are busy in a bitter power struggle and not allowing parliamentary proceedings to take place smoothly. But it was encouraging to read reports about how
Bini Dahal While small nations like Nepal continue to put stress on international peace and security, the global reality is totally different. Today, nearly every continent is suffering from some sort of violence and tension, be it within the country or beyond. Especially, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the Hamas-Israel hostility have further disrupted the possibility of establishing peace in their respective regions. These protracted confrontations have also directly or indirectly affected other parts of the world. These threats have pushed many countries to increase their military spending. According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), in 2023, the world is said to have spent US$ 2.4 trillion on military. This figure accounts for a 2.3 per cent rise as compared to 2.2 per cent in 2022. The spending, which is mainly concentrated on a small number of countries globally, is led by the United States of America (USA). The globe’s largest economy is said to have spent as much as US$ 916 billion, which is around 37 per cent of the total spending. The USA is followed by China which spent US$ 296 billion in 2023. After the breakout of the Russia-Ukraine war, NATO member nations in Europe have now increased their military budget to US$ 588 billion. This is a 16 per cent rise from 2022. Also, countries in the Central America and the Caribbean Region are also allocating more financial resources to control rising crimes committed by criminal gangs. According to SIPRI, the spending was 54 per cent higher than that of 2014. These figures paint a grim picture of the current international relations. Every nation acts according to its own set of national interests. While doing so, countries are bound to compete and collide just to ensure their own interests are met with. Such a competition pushes countries to safeguard themselves by increasing their power and military capacity. Therefore, not just the countries that are directly involved in war or tension, other nations are also preparing themselves for fending off potential threats. A lack of trust and constant fear and tension has put international peace and security in a difficult situation. What is most disappointing is that concepts like disarmament are no more being practised today. Basically, disarmament refers to eliminating or reducing the use of weapons. After the heavy destruction caused by World War II, a special attention was given to disarmament. However, amid security threats, countries have continued to purchase a lot of weapons for defense purposes. For arm exporters like the USA, export figures have increased significantly. News reports highlight a 16 per cent rise in sales of military weapons to foreign governments in 2023 as countries today are stuck in the cycle of arms race. Within international relations, there is a concept of anarchy. This concept states that there is no global authority to regulate the sovereign states. So the responsibility falls upon the countries to safeguard themselves. International organisations like the United Nations have not been able to fully meet their obligations of maintaining international peace and security. It is high time that countries made collaborative efforts to establish better relations among themselves. Because the world is highly interconnected, the repercussions of actions of any country on another can happen immediately. It is crucial that we identify the root problems, solve them and establish peace and order. The world must move towards promoting brotherhood and establishing sustainable peace.
The by-election that is going to be held in Ilam next week indicates that actual democratic politics is a fierce, no-holds-barred competition for political space. Political parties are battling tooth and nail to secure
In the global arena of politics, social democracy stands as a beacon of hope, advocating a system that prioritises the well-being of its citizens over narrow economic interests. This progressive approach to govern
Public libraries are an essential part of any community, offering a welcoming and safe space for people from all backgrounds to explore, learn, and discover new ideas. They are the heart of any community, playin
Foreign policy is said to be the extension of domestic policy. Sometimes, it may be otherwise. External events in certain cases may influence country’s domestic policy. In the present globalised and heavily interconnecte
Baishakh is the first month of the lunar calendar observed according to the Vikram Sambat. It is a month where the New Year is celebrated by different communities and nationalities all over South Asia. Nepal observ
However ideal human aspirations might be, the current times mired in uncertainty continue to harbinger daily news embroiled in war, famine, conflict and humanitarian crisis. As Gaza deteriorates further from air missiles fired by Israel, millions have become a refugee, thousands have died and many have been injured. Countless children of war in Gaza today face a doomed future without basic necessities and rights. It is tragic
Our southern neighbour, known as the world's largest democracy, is currently holding general elections in staggering seven phases. The destiny of political parties competing in elections, for which around 970 million
The Kathmandu Valley is famous for temples, shrines and other religious sites. Some important temples and shrines are located along the banks of rivers. The Bagmati River located in the valley is one of the promine