Many cities in neighboring India have successfully adopted BRT systems to improve their transportation situation. Examples can be seen in Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Indore, and Surat. Looking at the current transportation and related pollution problems in the Kathmandu Valley, a realistic possibility will be to start with an electric BRT system and gradually move to streetcar and eventually to metro rail.

Women who experience recurrent miscarriages may be good candidates for IVF with preimplantation genetic screening (PGS), which enables fertility specialists to test an embryo for genetic and chromosomal problems that can lead to miscarriage. Those couples who have struggled with recurrent miscarriage, failed IVF, or unexplained infertility can strongly prefer PGS to help identify chromosomally-sound embryos for transfer back into the uterus.

Coffee consumption, overfishing, plastic pollution, and groundwater overuse are some of the examples of the “tragedy of the commons.” Humans drink over two billion cups of coffee every day contributing to habitat loss that has endangered 60 percent of plant species. Similarly, overhunting and overfishing will likely push many species to extinction.

Our frontline healthcare workers have remained dedicated and risked their lives to fight against this pandemic. A few thousand of them have already been infected with the virus while working with coronavirus patients. They have worked long hours, sacrificed their personal time with the loved ones in their families, and showed empathy to the infected persons. Therefore, we should recognize their contributions and show a sense of gratitude for their efforts, time, and dedication instead of shunning them.

The agencies concerned can enlist help from the Community Forestry Executive Committee to facilitate the smooth delivery of health support to the needy population. The district-level FECOFUN can also coordinate and cooperate with district-level health centers for medical rescue of the infected people.

MCC must come with some amendments and the clauses must be written more clearly, respecting the sovereignty and voices of Nepal or else, the US must keep its popularity by engaging in other philanthropic activities that it has been doing for many decades. Since the US is the global center for democratic values, questions arising over the US are also the questions arising over free speech, independence and democracy that Nepalis strongly believe in.

Technology has eased human lives but not defeated geography. The case of repeated casualties from lightning and thunderstorm in the Siwalik/Churia range and fewer cases of such casualties in the mountainous region is an example of how despite the emergence of 21st century technology, it has not defeated geography.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and China nearly 66 years ago, the two countries have always trusted, respected and supported each other. In recent times, the Chinese government has provided Nepal with urgently-needed medical supplies including vaccines and liquid oxygen, demonstrating once again that China and Nepal share weal and woe.

Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has announced an assessment of the country's total assets. He has said that he will launch a campaign to assess the country's wealth and will not back down from it. In Nepal, for the first time in 2067 BS, an attempt was made to start a program to assess the country's wealth. Although the then finance minister announced the program, it did not start.

The need of the hour is to take the first step and subsidize menstrual hygiene products and remove the 13% VAT on them. Even the import taxes on raw materials required to manufacture period products need to be relaxed from extra taxation so as to promote a greater market for locally manufactured menstruation products.