KATHMANDU, SEP 28 -
The government has opened up 326 peaks for mountaineering activities, however only a few have been exploited.
The ministry manages peaks above 7,000 metres, while the Nepal Mountaineering Associati-on manages 33 popular peaks between 5,587 metres to 6,654 metres. Eight of the world’s 14 eight-thousanders are located in Nepal, including the third pole—Mt Everest. The government collects over $20 million in revenue annually from foreigners by issuing mountain climbing permits.
Expressing concern over the recent tragedy on Mt Manaslu, in which nine mountaineers were killed, Bogati said Nepal is an adventurous destination and the country cannot bar the rights of tourists for adventure. “However, to make adventure activities safer, there is a need for creating a wide-impact awareness among visitors,” he said, speaking at a function to mark the 33rd World Tourism Day.
Saying that the government was not in a position to exempt taxes on tourism development activities, the minister, however, said the government could facilitate the private sector to manage the country’s resources.
On the same occasion, the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) launched a redesigned website of the Great Himalaya Trail (GHT) and a CD and map of Dolpa. TAAN President Mahendra Singh Thapa highlighted the potential of Dolpa, saying the region has the potential to become an adventure tourist destination.
Thapa also said tourism was the only way to alleviate poverty in Dolpa and that the government should promote the region. “We can market Dolpa. But there should be road and air connectivity.” The upper and lower Dolpa attracted 1,205 tourists last year.
Meanwhile, the government and travel trade organisations held rituals to welcome tourists at various entry points, airports and hotels. Tara Gaon Development Board (TGDB) provided 20 percent discount on food and a 50 percent discount on accommodation at its member hotels and restaurants for tourists arriving between September 23 and September 27 and free food and accommodation to the first two tourists on Thursday.
The Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) offered a 25 percent discount on food to all tourists at its member hotels on September 27. The Nepal Association of Rafting Agents had announced providing free vouchers to first two foreign visitors and a 20 percent discount to rafters on September 27, while the Tourist Guide Association of Nepal provided free tour guide services for half-day sightseeing on Thursday.
However, private sector representatives said these activities were not enough to sustain tourism, which needs big initiatives from the government, particularly on infrastructure development front.
The team of 11 students, all of whom act in the play, are the first batch of trainees produced by Sarwanaam, and Mrigatrishna is a concluding finale of sorts to all that was taught to the students over those two months. The play was staged at the Sarwanam premises in Kalikasthan at 5 pm everyday from September 22-25. Almost without dialogue (the play has only two of these) and beautifully executed, Mrigatrishna was a very successfully presented story; one that relied heavily on the physical movements and gestures of the actors on stage.
The play tells the tale of a village that existed in calm and peace before the arrival of a stranger changed it all. It acknowledges the unsatisfactory nature of human beings, and attempts to explore how this dissatisfaction leads to unhappiness in life. One of the most obvious questions asked in the play is if modern technology and equipments have obviously made life easier, have they really been able to bring satisfaction to human lives?
Mrigatrishna answers this question by pointing towards how people are turning more selfish and hence more depressed with the passing of time. The many attractive elements of modern technology that the stranger brings along with him to the village lure its innocent inhabitants; their fascination with, and desire for, these objects becomes so strong that these once happy villagers turn into evil, dissatisfied creatures whose greed and desire are hard to satiate. The inhabitants destroy their village; plundering its natural resources for infrastructural development, and ultimately transforming their once beautiful village to into a concrete jungle.
The immensely talented trainee team was made up of Ambika Nepali, Khemraj Bhandari, Dipankar Shrestha Tamang, Dikhsya Shah. Prakash Nepal, Pujan Lamichhane, Pradeep Shahi, Basanta Bhandari, Binita Thapa, Shyam Karki, and Shishir Aryal. And despite this being their first ever theatrical venture, Mrigratrishna was as good, if not better, than other plays presented at theatres around Kathmandu by professional troupes.
The training the group received at Sarwanam has obviously honed their skills, encouraging them to explore all aspects of theatre; from acting, direction and production, to light and sound design, and stage setting. Their hard-work and effort were clearly discernible on the stage. One of the best things about the play, in fact, was its background music. The score, composed by the students themselves, was very relevant to the story, added to its meaning, and made the entire production very engaging. Even the dance sequences in-between were quite interesting to watch. The physical and mental effort the team put into the play certainly did not go unnoticed.
Audiences applauded the effort. Student Reshma Shrestha, who was among the audience, said something that might very well be a common consensus on Mrigatrishna, “I liked the play very much. It must have been a difficult task to come up with something like this; a play where you have to make people understand you through physical movements and gestures.”
The precious metal price had plunged by Rs. 700 per tola to Rs. 59,801 per tola on Monday.
It was traded at Rs. 60,501 per tola on Sunday, the first trading day this week. However, the price of silver remained static at Rs. 1,185 per tola today as Monday, which had plunged from Rs. 1200 per tola on Sunday.
The statement, which apologized for the abrupt and acrimonious end to the band's appearance on Friday, came as Green Day is due to launch on Tuesday an ambitious trilogy of albums, their first collection of new music since 2009.
Performing at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas, Armstrong, 40, suddenly quit playing and launched into an expletive-laden tirade when signalled mid-song that the band had one minute left.
"Gimme a ... break. One minute left? ... You gotta be ... kidding me," Armstrong shouted from stage in seeming disbelief. "Let me show you what one ... minute means," he finally said, before he and bass player Mike Dirnt smashed their instruments and walked off.
Footage of the incident, which drew cheers of support for the band, was posted on YouTube.
Three weeks ago, the Green Day frontman was briefly hospitalized in Italy for what was later described by Dirnt as a severe case of dehydration, forcing cancellation of a weekend concert. But Armstrong was well enough to perform with Dirnt and drummer Tre Cool several days later at the MTV Video Music Awards show on September 6.
No details were given about the nature of Armstrong's latest difficulties, and the band's representatives could not immediately be reached for comment to elaborate on the terse website statement.
"Billie Joe is seeking treatment for substance abuse," it said, adding: "We would like everyone to know that our set was not cut short by (event promoter) Clear Channel and to apologize to those we offended at the iHeartRadio Festival in Las Vegas."
The statement concluded by saying the band "regretfully must postpone some of our upcoming promotional appearances," but gave no details.
The flap over Las Vegas show and the disclosure that Armstrong is entering rehab comes as the band was preparing to release its latest album, "Uno!" on Tuesday, to be followed in November and January by two more LPs, "Dos!" and "Tre."
Green Day also is scheduled to begin a U.S. tour on November 26 in Seattle.
The band's last album of new music, "21st Century Breakdown," came out in 2009, and the following year its wildly successful and politically charged 2004 rock opera, "American Idiot," was transformed into a hit Broadway musical that starred Armstrong himself.
The California-based punk rock band, formed in the late 1980s, has sold more than 65 million records worldwide and won five Grammys, including best alternative album for its 1994 major-label debut, "Dookie," and best rock album for "American Idiot" and "21st Century Breakdown."
The team at the Medical College of Wisconsin, led by Carol Everson, Ph.D., professor of neurology, cell biology, neurobiology and anatomy, found abnormalities in serum markers of bone metabolism in sleep-deprived rats, which led them to conduct direct measurements of bone parameters; this time in rats experiencing recurrent sleep restriction during a large portion of their young adulthood.
The results showed a dramatic imbalance between bone apposition and reabsorption, marked by an arrest in bone formation without reduced absorption.
Furthermore, fat in the red marrow is greatly diminished and platelet-generating cells are doubled in number, indicating changes to marrow plasticity.
“If the same processes are evoked in humans,” said Dr. Everson, “the potential medical implications are far-reaching and may include poor repair of microdamage from activities of daily living, introduction of osteoporotic processes, and changes to progenitor cells that may affect disease predisposition and disease resistance.”
The researchers observed changes in intramembranous ossification and marrow hypercellularity resulting from chronic sleep loss.
“Marrow fat was greatly diminished and reflected increased blood cell production and differentiation. Our findings of increased megakaryocyte numbers, for example, suggest that there is an increased demand for cell delivery to the circulation consistent with an inflammatory response, and conceivably the promotion of thrombocytosis,” said Dr. Everson.
The results appear in the September 2012 issue of Experimental Biology and Medicine.
Jinling High School in downtown Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu, has provided 30 students with the Apple tablets to reduce the burden of school bags from at least five kg to less than one kg while saving book expenses by thousands of yuan a year.
According to Modern Express newspaper, 21 public primary and middle schools in Nanjing are planning to promote the use of iPads or laptops.
The cost of the equipment would not be borne by students.
‘I`ve to confess we`re toying with the idea of putting out an English version of the film,’ said Basu in an interview.
‘Barfi!’, starring Ranbir Kapoor as a deaf and mute boy, Priyanka Chopra as an autistic girl, and Ileana D`Cruz in the role of a Bengali girl, has tugged at the heartstrings of the audiences with its simplicity and heartwarming narrative.
What`s next?
‘Ranbir and I are committed to make the Kishore Kumar biopic together. That will take some time. So in the meanwhile, I am making a small film,’ he said:
Excerpts from the interview:
Q. How do you plan to take `Barfi!` ahead of the non-Hindi audience?
Well, I`ve to confess we`re toying with the idea of putting out an English version of the film. I can`t say much about that right now. Let`s see. The film has been to the Pusan and Marrakesh film festivals. The only reason it wasn`t at the Toronto International Film Festival is because we were too busy releasing the film worldwide to take it to Toronto. But those sections of non-Indian viewers who have seen `Barfi!` say it has the potential to break through the language barrier.
Q. You had a frightening brush with mortality when you fell ill with cancer. Is that what gave you the strength to celebrate life so vigorously in `Barfi!`?
Yes, I think so. After my illness, I wrote other darker films namely `Gangster` and `Life... In a Metro`. But I think `Barfi!` is my coming-of-age film. It`s not a perfect film. But this is my most personal film.
Q. Did you ever fear Ranbir`s deaf-and-mute act would fall flat?
I think we give too much importance to words in our cinema. Surely there has to be a difference between radio plays and cinema! I`d have had even less dialogues. But since there was a complicated crime involved in the storytelling, I had to offer explanations through voiceovers by Ileana d`Cruz and Saurabh Shukla. But not for a minute did I feel handicapped because Ranbir had no dialogues. In my earlier films too, I`ve experimented with a lot of silences.
Q. Priyanka Chopra as the autistic girl is flawless. Did you have to work hard on stripping her glamour?
It`s so ironical that we Indian filmmakers get complimented when our actors give credible performances. Isn`t that a given for any film? I think my actors trusted me with what I had in mind. Priyanka shed her vanity completely.
Q. You earlier made some unoriginal films like ‘Saaya’, ‘Kucch To Hai’ and ‘Tumsa Nahin Dekha’?
You know I don`t know why `Kuchh To Hai` and `Tumsa Nahin Dekha` are credited to me. The former I gave up, and the latter I fell ill and left.
Q. Today you are the most original voice in Hindi cinema?
I am not going to change my priorities after `Barfi!`. And to say I am the most original is not correct. The credit for doing an original get-happy film goes to Rajkumar Hirani long before I made `Barfi!`.
Q. I saw a lot of Kamal Haasan and Sridevi from `Sadma` in Ranbir and Priyanka.
`Sadma` was never a reference point. But I love that film. It`s one of my favourites. So maybe subconsciously I was influenced. In `Sadma`, Sridevi was like a 10-year old child. Priyanka is not a child in my film.
Q. But you can`t deny the influence of Charlie Chaplin on Ranbir`s performance?
I won`t even try to deny it. Even before Ranbir started, I told him to watch Chaplin`s silent films. There`s a definite influence of Chaplin in Ranbir`s character.
Q. What next?
Ranbir and I are committed to make the Kishore Kumar biopic together. That will take some time. So in the meanwhile, I am making a small film.
Q. No film of yours can be small after `Barfi!`.
Not in idea and thought. But in budget. It would be a positive, happy film. But you can`t slot me as a happy filmmaker. I consciously try to make different films each time.
Q. One critic asks, if `Barfi!` is Anurag Basu`s, then who directed `Kites`?
Ha ha. I am proud of `Kites` too. And I am not being diplomatic. It wasn`t so bad. It`s my film. I don`t disown it. True, it was made in the democratic spirit and the producer Rakesh Roshan was also present during the shooting. But I called the shots. `Kites` is as much my film as `Barfi!`.
The actress was spotted at the Mumbai International airport on Monday while leaving for Chicago. Accompanying Ash was her baby girl Aaradhya. The mother-daughter duo was on their way to join Abhishek, who is at present shooting for ‘Dhoom 3’ in Chicago.
Like the usual, Ash had to be escorted by some Airport officials inside the airport as the paparazzi swarmed the actress. Ace celebrity photographer Viral Bhayani managed to click a few shots of Ash holding Aardhya and guarding the little one from the prying lenses.
From what appears from the pics, Aaradhya seem to be equally perturbed by the flashing cameras just like her mother.
But then, the entire country has been waiting to get a glimpse of baby Bachchan. So here it goes, the first glimpse of Aaradhya Bachchan. Hopefully by the next time, Aaradhya may be at ease with the lenses and not look this perturbed. We don’t blame her though!
Justin Bieber may only be 18 years old, but in a new interview with Radio Disney’s Celebrity Take with Jake, he proves that he’s wise beyond his years when it comes to knowing the key to a successful relationship. For Bieber, the secret ingredient to a healthy love life can be summed up in just one word: honesty.
“You just have to be honest, that’s the first thing, because if you’re not honest, then the relationship is just not a good relationship,” Biebs shares. “At the end of the day, your girl would appreciate you being honest more than lying to her and vice versa.”
Bieber, whose latest single “Boyfriend” hit the airwaves on March 26, also went on to describe a few other qualities that help make him suitable boyfriend material for his adorable girlfriend Selena Gomez, who he began dating in 2010. “I’m loving and patient and kind and gentle,” the pop singer admitted. No wonder Gomez, 19, and the rest of the world, is so smitten with the Biebs.
The rest of Hollywood would do well to follow in this couple’s wise footsteps. If their relationship can survive apaternity scandal and fandeath threats at such a young age, then they just might be able to seriously withstand the Hollywood test of time.
“You just have to be honest, that’s the first thing, because if you’re not honest, then the relationship is just not a good relationship,” Biebs shares. “At the end of the day, your girl would appreciate you being honest more than lying to her and vice versa.”
Bieber, whose latest single “Boyfriend” hit the airwaves on March 26, also went on to describe a few other qualities that help make him suitable boyfriend material for his adorable girlfriend Selena Gomez, who he began dating in 2010. “I’m loving and patient and kind and gentle,” the pop singer admitted. No wonder Gomez, 19, and the rest of the world, is so smitten with the Biebs.
The rest of Hollywood would do well to follow in this couple’s wise footsteps. If their relationship can survive apaternity scandal and fandeath threats at such a young age, then they just might be able to seriously withstand the Hollywood test of time.
Dwayne Johnson and Gina Carano are back in action on Fast & Furious 6. The final film will either be called Fast Six or Fast & Furious 6.The Fast and the Furious is a series of action films which centres on illegal street racing and heists. Produced by Universal Studios, the series was established in 2001 with the eponymous first instalment, which has since been followed by five sequels, and two short films that tie into the series.
Justin Lin has directed the film. In fact, he turned down Terminator 5 to make two more Fast & Furious films. Joining the likes of Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Paul Walker and Michelle Rodrigues this time around is Gina Carano.
Dwayne Johnson recently tweeted the first picture of Fast & Furious 6. The picture shows him suited and booted besides Gina Carano.
Fast & Furious 6 is expected to release this summer.
Hollywood actor Robert Pattinson is said to have sold his 5.8 million-dollar home in Los Feliz. Reports suggest that the Twilight star has taken this decision following the news of his ex-girlfriend Kristen Stewart's cheating scandal with director Rupert Sanders. Robert's friend reveals that the actor is sad to give up his Los Angeles estate.
According to sources, Robert Pattinson wanted to set up house with Kristen Stewart in the UK in late 2012, but he changed his plans after she betrayed him for Rupert Sanders. Now, RoPa is reconsidering relocation plans that he made earlier in the year.
Talking to the Star magazine, a friend of Robert Pattinson revealed, "There's too many memories there for him." He added, "He loves that house, but he keeps thinking of that day when she snuck away for her make out session with Rupert, leaving him in front of the telly thinking she was having a business meeting."
According to sources, Robert Pattinson wanted to set up house with Kristen Stewart in the UK in late 2012, but he changed his plans after she betrayed him for Rupert Sanders. Now, RoPa is reconsidering relocation plans that he made earlier in the year.Talking to the Star magazine, a friend of Robert Pattinson revealed, "There's too many memories there for him." He added, "He loves that house, but he keeps thinking of that day when she snuck away for her make out session with Rupert, leaving him in front of the telly thinking she was having a business meeting."
Bollywood movie Ek Tha Tiger (ETT) starring Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif in the leads, has done wonderful collection in the second weekend too and once again topped the Indian Box Office chart. The Kabir Khan directed film was expected to cross Rs 200 crore mark in the domestic business centres in 16 days, but it has failed to surpass this mark.
Ek Tha Tiger opened to an overwhelming response at the collection centres across the country. The romantic action flick had set a new record at the desi Box Office by collecting Rs 154.21 crores nett in the nine day extended first week. Its business dropped by 80% in the second weekend when compared to its first weekend collection. It added Rs 21.74 crores nett to its 12 day total earning Rs 174.95 crore nett.
The collection of Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif starrer movie further witnessed fall from Rs 9 crore to Rs 2.92 crore on the second Monday. Its business continued to drop on the following days in the second week. Ek Tha Tiger added Rs 10.10 crore on weekdays to its 16 day total Rs 185.05 crore nett. The breakup of its weekdays collection is Rs 2.92 cr on Mon, Rs 2.60 cr on Tue, Rs 2.39 cr on Wed and Rs 2.19 cr on Thur.
However, Ek Tha Tiger has to collect Rs 15 crore nett to surpass Rs 200 crore mark at the domestic Box Office. But the movie has to face tough competition from Akshay Kumar's Joker, which is releasing in theatres today. It may not be able to cross this mark in the third weekend. It should be seen whether it would achieve these required figures at the collection centres. Stay locked to this space to read its latest collection reports.
Ek Tha Tiger opened to an overwhelming response at the collection centres across the country. The romantic action flick had set a new record at the desi Box Office by collecting Rs 154.21 crores nett in the nine day extended first week. Its business dropped by 80% in the second weekend when compared to its first weekend collection. It added Rs 21.74 crores nett to its 12 day total earning Rs 174.95 crore nett.
The collection of Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif starrer movie further witnessed fall from Rs 9 crore to Rs 2.92 crore on the second Monday. Its business continued to drop on the following days in the second week. Ek Tha Tiger added Rs 10.10 crore on weekdays to its 16 day total Rs 185.05 crore nett. The breakup of its weekdays collection is Rs 2.92 cr on Mon, Rs 2.60 cr on Tue, Rs 2.39 cr on Wed and Rs 2.19 cr on Thur.
However, Ek Tha Tiger has to collect Rs 15 crore nett to surpass Rs 200 crore mark at the domestic Box Office. But the movie has to face tough competition from Akshay Kumar's Joker, which is releasing in theatres today. It may not be able to cross this mark in the third weekend. It should be seen whether it would achieve these required figures at the collection centres. Stay locked to this space to read its latest collection reports.
Akshay Kumar and Sonakshi Sinha starrer Joker has had a very bad opening at the Indian as well as International Box Office. The fantasy adventure film, which was expected to break the record of Akki's previous movie Rowdy Rathore, has a shocking figure at the collection centres across the country on the first day of its release.
Joker had a grand release on August 31 with its theatre count crossing 2,200 in India. The movie was expected to start with a bang at the collection centres. But it shockingly opened to a very low response. It registered 20% to 25% occupancy at the single screens across the country in the morning and matinee shows on the first day.
The Shirish Kunder directed movie also had worst beginning at the multiplexes, where it had occupancy ranging between 15% and 20% in the morning and matinee shows on the first day. Reports suggest in many multiplexes, a few shows were cancelled after Joker failed to draw the crowds.
Joker has collected approximately Rs 5 crores at the domestic Box Office on its first day. It is the worst collection that Akshay's films ever had. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted, "#Joker Friday numbers are poor in India and international markets. Amongst @akshaykumar's lowest openers."
However, Joker, which has been produced by Akshay Kumar, Shirish Kunder and Farah Khan, has been made with a whopping budget of Rs 50 crore. But its dismal opening has disappointed the makers. If it has to recover its production cost, the movie has to show a big jump in its business on Saturday and Sunday. Stay locked to this space to read its collection reports.
Joker had a grand release on August 31 with its theatre count crossing 2,200 in India. The movie was expected to start with a bang at the collection centres. But it shockingly opened to a very low response. It registered 20% to 25% occupancy at the single screens across the country in the morning and matinee shows on the first day.
The Shirish Kunder directed movie also had worst beginning at the multiplexes, where it had occupancy ranging between 15% and 20% in the morning and matinee shows on the first day. Reports suggest in many multiplexes, a few shows were cancelled after Joker failed to draw the crowds.
Joker has collected approximately Rs 5 crores at the domestic Box Office on its first day. It is the worst collection that Akshay's films ever had. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted, "#Joker Friday numbers are poor in India and international markets. Amongst @akshaykumar's lowest openers."
However, Joker, which has been produced by Akshay Kumar, Shirish Kunder and Farah Khan, has been made with a whopping budget of Rs 50 crore. But its dismal opening has disappointed the makers. If it has to recover its production cost, the movie has to show a big jump in its business on Saturday and Sunday. Stay locked to this space to read its collection reports.
