House panel endorses bill on reconstruction authority

The Legislation Committee of the Legislature-Parliament today endorsed the Reconstruction Authority Bill that had been lying with the panel for around two months due to the dispute between the government and the main opposition party over the provision of appointment of the authority’s chief executive officer.

After the Nepali Congress agreed to forward the bill to the full House by attaching its different opinion, the panel’s meeting today decided to forward it to the full House.

As per the changes made by the new government to the original bill that was registered by the previous NC-led government, a new CEO can be appointed instead of giving continuity to Govinda Raj Pokharel, who was appointed as CEO by the previous government through an ordinance.

His post was discontinued after the ordinance expired and CPN-UML and Unified CPN-Maoist rejected to pass the bill brought to give continuity to the works of the authority formed as per the ordinance.

The NC wants Pokharel to continue as CEO, while UML and UCPN-M want to appoint new CEO.

“The government could have begun reconstruction work two months ago had the UML and UCPN-M allowed the bill to pass during the NC-led government. However, the two parties registered 73 amendment proposals to obstruct the passage of the bill and insisted on appointing a new CEO,” said NC lawmaker Nabindra Raj Joshi.

Joshi said the NC would put forth its views during discussions in the full House and it hoped the government would forge consensus on it rising above political interests, as it is in the national interest.

The bill will be discussed in the full House before it is put to vote after the ongoing obstruction of the House by Madhes-based parties ends.

Sources said the ruling coalition has provisioned in the bill to make leader of the main opposition party the vice-chairperson of the consultative committee and vice-chairperson of the directive committee of the authority in an attempt to woo the NC.

Relations between coalition partners NC and UML had soured after UML opposed NC’s move to make Pokharel the CEO of the authority.

Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Agni Kharel hoped that the agitating parties would help pass the bill by ending their House obstruction.

The next meeting of the House has been scheduled for 3:00pm tomorrow.

Although Nepal’s development partners have pledged $4.4 billion for the reconstruction work, the work has not begun in the absence of reconstruction authority.

Setting up the authority has been affected even after more than seven months of the April 25 devastating earthquake due to government’s lackadaisical approach and dispute among major political parties over key issues.

source=sabkura.pvt.ltd

Protests by Anti-India in Kathmandu Reflect Frustration With Blockade of Nepal

KATHMANDU, Nepal—Protesters protests their frustration with India’s ongoing trade blockade of Nepal, which has created a nationwide fuel and medicine shortage and slowed the country’s economy to a standstill.

Hundreds of protesters filled Lazimpat Road on Friday, marching toward the Indian Embassy, shouting anti-Indian chants and carrying signs in both English and Hindi that admonished India for the blockade.

India is Nepal’s No. 1 trading partner, but it restricted the flow of transport trucks after Nepal adopted a new constitution in September. Deadly protests erupted in Nepal’s southern Terai region following the constitution’s adoption, and more than 40 died in related violence.

India argues that Nepal’s new constitution needs to better represent its southern regions, which have close ethnic ties to India. Officials in Kathmandu and citizens across Nepal, meanwhile, accuse India of violating their country’s sovereignty.

Nepal gets 60 percent of all imports and nearly all of its fuel from India. Consequently, wood is being used to cook food and heat homes throughout the country.

With winter setting in across the Himalayas, many remote villages without road access are in danger of not having enough fuel stockpiled before snow blocks routes accessible only by foot.

India’s unofficial trade blockade also has hampered Nepal’s ongoing efforts to rebuild after two massive earthquakes in 2015. Without fuel, international aid can’t be delivered to some of the most affected areas.

As evidenced by Friday’s protests, the trade dispute has sparked anti-Indian sentiment across Nepal. It has spurred many to demand closer ties with Beijing and to call for the reopening of northern trade routes into China across the Himalayas, which were damaged in the earthquakes.

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Lights out for Rio 2016? Main power supplier pulls Olympic bid

RIO DE JANEIRO: Longtime Olympic power provider Aggreko  has pulled out of a tender to supply generators for the games in Rio de Janeiro next year, the spokesman for Rio 2016 told Reuters, dealing a major blow to organizers rushing to secure an energy source for the world’s largest sporting event.

The temporary power contract is a vital part of Olympic preparations, guaranteeing a stable and secure energy supply for international broadcasters, the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as back-up electricity for the venues.

The most experienced bidder pulling out on such a crucial contract is a worrying sign for Olympic organizers who are under huge pressure to cut spending as Brazil languishes in its worst recession in 25 years. The government has already warned that there is no money to cover any cost overruns.

Preparations for South America’s first Olympics have been dogged by concerns over the polluted bay where the sailing will be held as well as violence spilling over from heavily policed slums, or favelas. Officials say construction of venues and infrastructure remains on track, but recently admitted Brazil’s recession is making delivery more difficult.

Glasgow-based Aggreko, which has been involved in nine Olympics and six World Cups, declined to comment because the result of the tender has not yet been announced. Sector analysts said not being awarded the contract could impact Aggreko’s 2016 earnings and shares in the company closed down 1.8 percent.

For London 2012, Aggreko’s power deal was worth nearly $60 million, although the Rio 2016 contract is expected to be less as it is smaller in scope.

Rio 2016 spokesman Mario Andrada told Reuters he was comfortable with the companies still competing for the tender, the winner of which will be passed to the board for approval on Tuesday.

LACKING CAPACITY

Two other sources with knowledge of the tender process said the companies left in the running were a mix of Brazilian and international firms, but said it was unlikely any of them had the in-country capacity and Olympic experience to fully meet the needs of the contract. It is likely that whoever wins would have to lease generators from Aggreko, they said.

“There is increased risk of it going to someone who doesn’t have the experience. Are there people out there with enough equipment? Probably. But in terms of the operational side of things, Aggreko are pretty good at this,” said Will Kirkness, an analyst at Jefferies.

Heavy equipment maker Caterpillar is one international firm that industry insiders say could be in the running to provide the power equipment. Caterpillar did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Brazilian temporary power supplier Tecnogera said it was bidding for the contract and had the expertise and capacity to fulfil it without leasing third-party equipment.

“We haven’t been hit by the dollar, don’t have to import equipment and can deliver this contract for a better price,” Tecnogera Chief Executive Abraham Curi said. He admitted the company had never provided power for a sporting event of this scale before, but said requirements were similar to jobs it had done for nuclear and water projects in Brazil.

It is unclear why Aggreko pulled its tender, but the sources said they thought the firm had tired of two-year-old negotiations, as well as constant changes in both the scope of the tender and who would be paying – the government or organising committee.

Organizers are trying to find substantial savings, as much as 30 percent in some areas, as Rio 2016 scrimps to avoid going over its 7.4 billion reais ($1.9 billion) budget. But with inflation at 10 percent, the Brazilian currency weakening against the dollar and last-minute work always costing more, cuts are proving difficult.

Time is now tight, too. For London 2012, the winner of the power contract was announced 20 months before the games started. The Aug. 5 to Aug. 21 games in Rio are just eight months away.

In 2012, Aggreko’s pre-tax profits surged 11 percent, helped by its London Olympic contract. Aggreko provided London 2012 with 550 generator sets, 1,500 kilometers of cable and 5,500 distribution panels across 39 venues.

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Nepal seeks additional fuel from China in grant

Nov 30, 2015- Nepal has sought an additional 6,000 tonnes of diesel, petrol and aviation fuel and 5,000 tonnes of cooking gas in grant from China.
As it is taking time to start commercial import of Chinese fuel, Nepal requested the northern for more grant fuel so as to ease supply amid shortages due to India-imposed trade embargo. China had provided 1,000 tonnes of fuel in grant to Nepal earlier this month.
Ministry of Commerce and Supplies (MoCS) said it dispatched a letter two weeks ago requesting the northern neighbour for the fuel under its annual financial and technical grants to Nepal.
“We have requested China to supply the fuel through the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border point,” said Shiva Prasad Tripathi, under-secretary at the ministry.
Nepal has sought 2,000 tonnes each of petrol, diesel and aviation fuel and 5,000 tonnes of cooking gas.
After signing a framework agreement with China on October 28, Nepal transported 1,000 tonnes of the grant fuel from state-owned Petro-China through the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border point.
Although the government plans to sign a commercial deal to import 30-40 percent of the country’s fuel requirement from China, it said the deal was being delayed due to issues related to tax waiver.

Govt requests for tax waiver

KTHMANDU: Ministry of Commerce and Supply has said it has sent a letter to the Chinese government, requesting the latter to waive off tax on petroleum products that Nepal plans to import commercially from the northern neighbour. A ministry official said
the letter was sent through the Foreign Ministry on Friday. “We have also asked the Foreign and Finance Ministries to coordinate on the issue,” he said.  Currently, a two-member technical team of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) is in Beijing to negotiate with Petro-China on a range of issues. After PetroChina told the Nepali team that the tax issues should be dealt at government-level, the government dispatched the formal letter.

Published: 30-11-2015 09:36

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Britain invites Speaker Gharti for visit

KATHMANDU: Britain invited Speaker Onsari Gharti Magar for a visit to the United Kingdom.

Calling on the Speaker today, the British Ambassador to Nepal Richard Morris extended the invitation to her on the occasion of 200th anniversary of the Nepal-Britain ties.

According to Speaker’s Personal Secretary Suraj Kumar Dura, Gharti said she would decide over the invitation considering her schedules and engagement in various parliamentary affairs.

They also agreed to frequently exchange visits of lawmakers between two nations.

Morris had reached the Speaker’s Office in Singhadurbar to congratulate Gharti for her election to the post.

The duo, during the meeting, also discussed other aspects of the bilateral relation, Dura said.

Morris said he has expected the Nepal-Britain relations to consolidate further in the coming days.

He also expressed his concern over the National Reconstruction Authority Bill, currently pending at the Parliament.

Top officials of the Parliament Secretariat and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present during the meeting.

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More fuel-laden tankers enter Nepal via Dhangadhi point

The Banthara Depot of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has loaded all Nepali tankers with fuels in the recent days. The tankers have been supplying the petro products in the far-west belt.

The Regional Office of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), Dhangadhi, said that all the tankers have been given fuel from the Banthara Depot of IOC lately adding that only four-five tankers were provided with fuel earlier.

A total of 16 fuel-laden tankers entered Nepal on Wednesday while 14 tankers entered the country on Thursday.

Likewise, 20 fuel filled tankers entered Nepal on Saturday, the highest quantity after the India imposed unofficial blockade to Nepal, said Information Officer of NOC Dhangadhi Office Shivaraj Bhandari.

Despite the increased amount of fuel imports, the far-west region is still facing the fuel crisis.

Similarly, more goods carrying vehicles have entered via Kailali Customs Office in the recent days, Officer of the Customs Office Man Prasad BK said. He said as high as 60 vehicles carrying commodities have come from India on daily basis. RSS

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27 tankers of fuel enter Nepal via Rasuwagadhi

2015-11-08 19:16

Kathmandu, Nov 8: As many as 27 tankers of fuel granted by China have entered Nepal via Rasuwagadhi check point on Sunday.

Armed Police Force’s Border Security said till date 71 tankers filled with petroleum products have been brought to Nepal from China in the last eight day.

Similarly, the Armed Police said two empty tankers have moved towards Kyirong of Tibet, while 27 fuel-laden tankers will arrive in Kathmandu on Monday. RSS

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New Zealand picks new flag design to challenge current flag

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND:  New Zealanders chose a new flag design Tuesday that will be put up as a challenger to their current flag in a March vote.

The question of whether to change a national symbol that has endured for more than a century has raised plenty of passion, and skepticism, in this nation of 4.6 million.

People submitted more than 10,000 potential new flag designs, including bizarre ones like a kiwi, the iconic native bird, shooting a green laser beam from its eye.

In the end it came down to two flags by Kyle Lockwood that featured the same design of a silver fern and four red stars, but with different background colors.

Lockwood’s black and blue flag just edged his red an

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Demanding pay, perks on a par with civil servants, VDC employees announce stir

Kathmandu, December 14. Village Development Committee Employees’ Association has announced a movement seeking pay and perks on a par with other civil servants.

It announced the first phase of its movement at a press conference at the Reporters’ Club in Kathmandu, on Monday. On the occasion, the association informed that VDC employees will organise regional gatherings in all five development regions on December 20, work by wearing black armbands on December 21-22, close all VDC offices of Lalitpur district onDecember 23, stage pen-downs in all VDC offices of the country on December 23-25 and enforce an indefinite closure of local bodies from December 26.

If our demands go unheard in the first phase, we will launch a decisive movement by holding the association’s central committee meeting on December 29, association President Bikram Maharjan warned.

The association’s demands include pay and perks for VDC employees on a par with civil servants, 50 per cent hike in VDC grant, implementation of past agreements and record keeping of VDC employees at the archives section of the civil servants. It has also demanded that the line ministry concerned (Local Development Ministry) institute an employee welfare fund for VDC employees.

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Nepal quake tough test for ‘world’s most dangerous airport

LUKLA: Flying into Nepal’s Lukla airport — the gateway to Mount Everest — demands courage and precision, thanks to its tiny, treacherous runway perched on a steep cliff.

For half a century, pilots have needed to navigate snow-capped peaks and endure erratic weather to land on a runway just 500 metres long, which has been carved into a mountain ridge and sits by a perilous three-kilometre (two-mile) drop.

A litany of deadly crashes, including one in October 2008 which killed all 18 on board except the pilot, has earned Lukla the nickname of the “world’s most dangerous airport”.

But when a massive earthquake hit Nepal eight months ago, triggering Everest’s deadliest avalanche and leaving hundreds of climbers and trekkers stranded, the tiny airfield faced its toughest test yet.

Helicopter pilot Nischal KC told AFP that even on an average day constant “weather changes and the steep terrain sometimes make landing impossible”.

“It’s high-stakes work and there’s very little room for error,” he added.

Also known as Tenzing-Hillary Airport after the first men to summit Everest, it has no radar system because of the high cost of installation, forcing officials to rely on an outdated voice communications system to track movements in the air.

“The pilots tell us when they are approaching, we give them updates on wind and traffic, then as the aircraft enters Lukla valley, we warn choppers to steer clear for the landing,” said air traffic controller Dinesh Koirala.

– Mass panic –

Things became even tougher in the aftermath of the April 25 earthquake, which killed nearly 8,900 people across the impoverished Himalayan nation.

Rescue pilots seeking to reach Everest base camp, where an avalanche set off by the 7.8-magnitude quake killed 18 people, were held back for a day because of hostile weather.

When they were finally able to fly, rippling aftershocks brought the threat of further damage.

“Aftershocks kept coming that day but I was more stressed out by the weather. I knew that unless it cleared up, we could not send any choppers to rescue people injured by the avalanche,” air traffic controller Koirala told AFP.

Pilot KC, who has been flying in the Everest region for 14 years, recalls starting the day with a prayer.

“My first priority was to get the injured out of base camp but people higher up the mountain were panicking because of all the aftershocks,” the Manang Air pilot said.

He made dozens of trips that day to rescue terrified climbers desperate to get off the mountain, and to base camp to rescue the injured.

The frequency of aftershocks and the precarious terrain made landing even more difficult than usual, prompting the pilots to hover overhead and haul climbers up with ropes instead.

As rescuers carried dozens of quake victims into Lukla on sleeping bags doubling as stretchers, the tiny airport began to swell with hundreds of tourists haggling with airline officials for a ticket out.

Back in the control tower, Koirala and his colleagues embarked on the busiest week of their lives, closely monitoring the movement of planes and helicopters to ensure no accidents occurred mid-air.

“The whole week was a blur of flights — the fact that there were so many more aircraft than usual in the air made the job very stressful,” Koirala said.

– Edmund Hillary –

Prior to the airport’s construction in 1964, porters would spend days walking from Kathmandu to Lukla, carrying hundreds of kilos of expedition gear on their backs.

Mountaineering legend Edmund Hillary originally planned to build the airfield on flat ground — but local farmers refused to part with their fertile land.

Undeterred, he purchased a steep slope for $635 and recruited scores of Sherpa villagers to cut down scrub with knives.

The climber then plied villagers with local liquor and asked them to perform a foot-stomping traditional dance to flatten the land.

“A very festive mood prevailed and the earth received a most resounding thumping. Two days of this rather reduced the Sherpas’ enthusiasm for the dance but produced a firm and smooth surface for our airfield,” Hillary wrote in his 1998 memoir, “View from the Summit”.

As the number of climbers taking on the world’s highest mountain has boomed in recent decades, so traffic at Lukla airport — which can be accessed by helicopter or small aircraft — has increased.

Spring and autumn tourist seasons are the busiest, but closures are common since clear skies are essential for safe landing on the abbreviated clifftop runway.

Despite the challenges, some say its reputation for danger is undeserved.

“It’s unfair to call Lukla the most dangerous airport when there’s not much we can do about the terrain or the weather,” said Koirala.

“I have no doubt many lives were saved because this airport remained open after the quake.”

source=sabkura.pvt.ltd

This 11-year-old girl has one of the sharpest mind on the planet, you cant beat her scores!!!

After an Indian origin girl, Lydia Sebastian made headlines last year by getting a Mensa score of 162, now it is time another Indian origin girl to make a similar record in 2015. 11 year Anushka Binoy from West London has achieved the top possible score of 162 in her Mensa IQ test.

Anushka Binoy, of Isleworth , scored 162 to gain membership of the exclusive society, where entry is reserved for Britain’s brainiest 2%. The average IQ is 100 and a score of over 155 on the Cattell III B scale puts you in the top 1% of the population.

What is this Mensa IQ test and why is it so important:

Mensa is considered to be one of the oldest intelligence society in the world and it accepts only those individuals as members who score in the 98th percentile on an IQ test.

Eligibility criteria for any person to get the membership is to score at least 132 or higher.

A member of Mensa requires to pay an annual fee of £55 to stay connected with other intelligent members of Mensa through conferences, gatherings and other similar interest meets.

Elder daughter of Binoy Joseph and Sheena Binoy, Anushka scored 162 to gain membership of the society that comprises Britain’s brainiest people.

Proud father Binoy Joseph said he always knew his daughter was smart but hadn’t realised quite how remarkable.

“She loves reading quite advanced books and she memorises a lot of what she reads, so I knew she was pretty special but I was amazed when we got the results back. We’re very proud of her,” he said.

Hailing from Kottayam district of Kerala, Anushka’s family has been living in Isleworth in London in 2007. She is a student of St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Isleworth, and enjoys violin, dance, swimming and tennis. Anushka has a younger sister, Andrea Binoy, 3.

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Initial 5 symptoms of cancer Never avoid them

Cancer is the intense disease as it can cost lot of your hardly earned money and you body too. But when the cancer can be figured out in the right time them we can take steps to prevent ourselves from it. You do not have to panic even after you have initial symptoms of the cancer. But regular check-up and consultation of doctors is very important. Here are some of the initial symptom seen in every initial stage of cancer and do not avoid it.

1. Pain – Do not avoid if you are feeling pain in any part of your body. It is foolish thing to take painkiller and avoiding it even fro time being.It is very hard to find the breast cancer in women in its initial stage

Initial 5 symptoms of cancer Never avoid them

2. Fever– Fever is also the indication that your body is not in healthy condition. Occurrence of fever regularly can be the symptom of cancer. You may suffer from the problem of having very long fever when you have cancer in you. Sometime avoiding the fever thinking its seasonal fever can cost you a lot later.

Initial 5 symptoms of cancer Never avoid them

3. Loss of weight– If you are losing you weight insignificantly or 10% of your weight within 1 week then you immediately go for treatment. Loss of weight without any exercise or work out is not good indication. Also sudden weight of loss even if you are dieting is not good.

4. Tiredness– If you are feeling weak and tired then you are not healthy condition. The initial symptom of cancer is tiredness and weakness. Specially those who smokes and take tobacco should be more careful about it.But in some condition due to the blood pressure also you tends to feel tired and weak.

Initial 5 symptoms of cancer Never avoid them

5. Stress– If you feel stress every time and the colour of your urine and stool is changing then you need to be careful. Most of the people thinks that stress is out of busy lifestyle but sometime it can bring intense problem in your health. Out of the symptom of the initial cancer stress and itching are also the symptom.

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Screening your skin under the winter sun

If you believe that the sun can only cause harm to the skin during scorching summers, think again. During winters, the sun can damage our skin and continue bothering us with problems like skin ageing.

To combat these issues, apart from moisturising, apply a cream-based sunscreen that’ll protect your skin while nurturing it from deep within, says an expert.

Here are five different kinds of sunscreen for different types of skin by Bharti Taneja, aesthetician, cosmetologist and founder-director of New Delhi-based Alps Beauty Clinics.

Dry skin: Dry skin tends to be drier in winter months and often shows signs of flakiness and cracks if not treated and nourished properly. To combat these, apart from moisturising, apply a cream-based sunscreen that’ll protect your skin while nurturing it from deep within. So, don’t forget to pat-on some sunscreen cream with adequate Sun Protection Factor (SPF) whenever you step outside.

Oily skin: Winter comes easy for people with oily skin as it behaves like normal skin in this season. The only task that remains for you is to find out the best water-based sunscreen lotion for proper sun protection. The water content in your product will not only hydrate your skin but pacify its thirst as you roam around under the sun this winter. A sun guard with aloe-vera/calendula content can prove to be a safe bet for girls with oily skin.

Combination skin: Combination skin has an oily T-zone along with comparatively drier cheeks and jaw line. Therefore, it is necessary to treat these specific parts with specific care. So, slather some water-based sunscreen on your T-zone — including forehead, nose and chin — and use a rich cream-based one for the rest of your face.

Normal skin: Normal skin tends to be dry in winter and therefore demands extra care. But, you don’t have to worry as just by swapping you regular beauty regime with dry skin regime can make things simpler for you. So, go for a rich-creamy face wash in order not to deprive your skin of its moisture. Similarly, a sunscreen with a little creamy texture might work wonders for you and allow you to have that sunbath!

Sensitive skin: Avoid any sun guard containing harsh chemicals or a lot of fragrance/perfume. Preferably, go for medicated or fragrance-free ones. As sensitivity of skin is majorly due to certain ingredients in the product, figure it out and try to stay away from it. Choose products designed for sensitive skin or reactive skin type to avoid allergies and reactions while soaking under the wintery sun.

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Problem of discrimination: Corrective measures needed

If a Nepali tourist in the Netherlands gets charged double price for a bus fare, this is illegal. Likewise if a Nepali tourist has to pay money to just walk along the main square in Amsterdam, whereas all Dutch people can roam about freely, this would be illegal. And isn’t that the way it is supposed to be?

Last week I travelled with my wife from Pokhara to Kathmandu by bus. At the ticket counter my anger at being discriminated in this country soars to new heights: I have to pay almost double price for sitting in the same bus. ‘Travel with a difference’ is what Greenline calls it. I am Dutch, my wife was born in Nepal, so we travel a lot to Nepal. I love your country but this discrimination is nagging at me. Mind you I am not entering a museum, nor going into any temple, I am just passing through, going from A to B, and I am being charged money for doing nothing more than walking around.

This dual pricing is everywhere and has become so accepted that people forget what it really is: pure and blatant discrimination. Discrimination according to the Oxford dictionary is ‘The unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex’. So what form of discrimination are we facing here? In order to understand this we need to look at some of the justifications I come across when talking to Nepalis, government official etc.

‘It’s not discrimination, it is just because you have a different nationality.’ This remark of Greenline’s manager in Pokhara is so sad it actually becomes laughable. To differentiate according to nationality is of course pure discrimination and condemnable as it is. But if nationality is really the issue here then why do all the Nepalis who have moved abroad and taken on foreign citizenship still pay the Nepali price?

My wife still pays the Nepali bus price, the Nepali man next to us who actually holds an Australian passport pays the Nepali price. Perhaps it is language then or the fact that they see me as a tourist? But no, even if I speak fluent Nepali and hold a residential visa, Greenline refuses to sell me a ticket for ‘Nepali’ price.

‘Foreigners have more money and should therefore pay more for the same product or service.’ Now this I think is a tricky one. I don’t mind the local singing bowl shop keeper being opportunistic and asking a tourist a higher price for his product. Haggling is in this case part of the deal and most probably when the deal is concluded both are happy with its outcome. The tourist thinks it’s a great deal and the shopkeeper is happy that he got a little extra for his product. A win-win situation.

But again I don’t think wealth is really issue here. The Nepali-Australian man next to us owns three businesses and has about 50 employees…I think it’s very likely he has a lot more money to spend than I do. And I have several Nepali friends who own well running businesses here in Nepal, they certainly are wealthier than me and a lot wealthier than the average backpacker.

In most instances of ‘gora’ discrimination, the underlying factor seems to be racial: anyone who looks Nepali will get a Nepali price, anyone who looks like a foreigner will get the foreigner treatment. I am sure that in official dealings with the government a nationality check is done and one is discriminated against according to nationality rather than race. But in day-to-day life racial discrimination is the norm.

In the new Nepali Constitution, the provisions under Right to Equality clearly state that “The State shall not discriminate against citizens on grounds of religion, colour, caste, tribe, sex, sexual orientation, bodily condition, disability, status of health, marital status, pregnancy, financial status, origin, language or region, ideological conviction or any of these.”

‘Hurray!’ was my initial reaction, here it clearly says that discrimination according to race, language or wealth is not allowed. But a second closer look draws my attention to the word ‘citizen’. I am not a citizen of Nepal, nor will I probably ever be. Even if I hold a non-tourist visa, I am still not a citizen of Nepal. So according to the new Constitution discrimination of foreigners on any of the above mentioned grounds is perfectly legal and thus acceptable.

The constitution of my country has a different perspective on the application of equality: “All persons in the Netherlands shall be treated equally in equal circumstances. Discrimination on the grounds of religion, belief, political opinion, race or sex or on any other grounds whatsoever shall not be permitted.”

So if a Nepali tourist in the Netherlands gets charged double price for a bus fare, this is illegal. Likewise if a Nepali tourist has to pay money to just walk along the main square in Amsterdam, whereas all Dutch people can roam about freely, this would be illegal. And isn’t that the way it is supposed to be?

Exactly how far is Nepal going to take this milking of the tourist cash cow? ‘A guest is god’ is a motto I heard a lot in Nepal. Well I certainly felt that way 20 years ago when I came here the first time. Nowadays I feel more like a walking dollar who can be ripped off, double charged, cheated and discriminated against with the consent of, and even stimulated by, the Nepal government.

The fact that this discrimination is even approved of by the new Constitution is outright sad and frustrating. So dear Nepali government, please take your responsibility as defender of human rights, as promoter of equality and stop this overt discrimination against foreigners and treat us as equal human beings.


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Nepali belle wins titles in Miss Heritage Int’l

KATHMANDU: Miss Heritage International 2015, a beauty pageant initiated to preserve the UNESCO heritage and cultural sites of the world, has concluded successfully in New Delhi of India on Saturday.

Among the 17 participants, Vietnamese beauty Victoria Pham bagged the crown in the second season of the pageant followed by Ketisha Williams of Trinidad and Tobago and Chaw Yupar Tsets of Myanmar as first and second runners up respectively.

The show was organised by Eplanet Pvt. Ltd. jointly with WE FOR WE and Kalaimani cares as local partners.

Nepali representative Nisha Pathak secured the third runner up position in the same.

Pathak was also titled as Miss Heritage International Environmental Ambassador and Miss Heritage International Best Environmental Dress.

Apart from Nepal, countries including India, Australia, Malaysia, South Africa, Vietnam, Zambia, Denmark, Russia, Philippines, Myanmar, Tanzania, Central Russia, Botswana, Lesotho, Italy and Trinidad and Tobago had also participated in the contest.

The contest started from December 6 with photo shoots in national costumes, environmental dresses, cultural dresses and swim suits.

They had also visited heritage sites to understand their historical and archaeological values and tourism aspects.

Choreographers Rojin Shakya of Nepal and Simran Deenz Ahuja of India had jointly choreographed the event.

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Shah Rukh Khan is richest Indian celebrity

MUMBAI, Dec 11: After making it at No. 3 last year, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan acquired the No. 1 position in the 2015 Forbes India Celebrity 100 list, making the most amount of money – a whopping Rs. 257.5 crore. Reportedly, 2015 has been the best year for Shah Rukh Khan in terms of financial success as this is the highest any celebrity has ever made in the four years since the Forbes India Celebrity 100 list was instituted.

Coming in close at No. 2 is none other than Bollywood’s bad-boy, Salman Khan who’s making headlines these days with Rs. 202.75 crore. He was followed by megastar Amitabh Bachchan who earned Rs.112.00 crore this 2015.

Indian cricket ODI captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni maintained his position at No. 4 from last year. Aamir Khan made it to the top five for the first time with Rs. 104.25, thanks to the revenue he generated with mega hit, ‘PK’.

Akshay Kumar is at No. 6, while actors Deepika Padukone and Hrithik Roshan came in at 9 and 10.

Actresses Alia Bhatt and Madhuri Dixit have moved up the list compared to last year. The change in position however is due to brand endorsement revenue and their fame quotient, as they had no movie revenue.

In terms of fame, Amitabh Bachchan still reigns at the top of the list with approximately 17.5 million followers on Twitter, the highest-ever for any celebrity on the list.

Here’s the list:
1. Shah Rukh Khan – Rs.257.50
2. Salman Khan – Rs.202.75
3. Amitabh Bachchan – Rs.112.00
4. Mahendra Singh Dhoni – Rs.119.33
5. Aamir Khan – Rs.104.25
6. Akshay Kumar – Rs.127.83
7. Virat Kohli – Rs.104.78
8. Sachin Tendulkar – Rs.40.00
9. Deepika Padukone – Rs.59.00
10. Hrithik Roshan – Rs.74.50

source=sabkura.pvt.ltd

Bollywood rebel Kajol: ‘I never gave a damn what anyone said about me. I still don’t’

Kajol’s isn’t a quiet presence. She talks fast, laughs loudly, and is uncharacteristically goofy for Bollywood royalty, throwing her hands about so much in a modest London hotel suite that her jewellery flies across the room. The actor, 41, began her career 23 years ago and holds the record for winning best actress (six times, tied with her late aunt Nutan) at the Indian Filmfare awards. She has long been considered one of the country’s most unconventional stars for allegedly not conforming to the industry’s narrow beauty ideals, for twice taking long breaks at the peak of her career, and for berating directors for not casting her in parts written for male leads. She is back to acting, after a five-year hiatus (“looking after my kids, being a wife, mother, human”), with Dilwale. The film marks a much-hyped reunion with Shah Rukh Khan – the couple have made their most successful films together over the past two decades and are consistently voted Indian cinema’s best on-screen couple. Their biggest hit, 1995’s Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ), has gone on to be the longest-screened film in Indian cinema history, still showing in Mumbai theatres today.

What’s it like to be back after such a long break?
Well, I do keep having breaks as everyone knows. I’m quite the break person. But it’s great fun. We’ve been shooting in a marathon, six months non stop, and after that long with a crew you want to hit each other and never see those people again. But it’s worth it. I don’t get that same satisfaction doing anything else.

Did you ever worry that taking those breaks and walking away from your huge success as a bankable female lead was a career gamble?
I’m picky; I’ve done very little work compared to my peers. But I can’t work on three films a year. I’ve never felt comfortable doing that. Not at the beginning of my career and definitely not after I got married. [Kajol is married to actor Ajay Devgan. They have a 12-year-old daughter and a five-year-old son.] I need that time out, to look at my kids, go to sleep with them and wake up with them, have breakfast with them. I love my kids, but I like them, too – I need their company to keep me grounded and rooted in every which way.

Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. Facebook Twitter Pinterest
Kajol with Shah Rukh Khan in their biggest hit, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. Photograph: British Film Institute/PR
Your daughter is almost a teenager now. What have you learned from her and what does she learn from you?
There is huge pressure for her, as she puts it, with what other girls are doing and are allowed to do at that age – but they have a natural tendency to lie also. I’ve realised that. “Their mothers are letting them do all this, and you’re not letting me do this” – yeah, that’s a good one. Unfortunately for her, I’m in touch with those mothers and I know their daughters are pulling the same trick. But somewhere down the line, you have to give them some leeway. They are in a different world – I cannot compare what my childhood was like with hers. We were way dumber at their age. We thought we were very smart, but we were very dumb. Fortunately for me, my daughter has always been a strong individual, with very strong likes and dislikes, and she is vocal about them.

The press often say the same of you.
[Laughs] I know. Damn. And I have to live with myself!

Bollywood has changed dramatically since you first started, don’t you think?
It has become huge. Even small things like vanity vans [trailers], we didn’t have that 15 years ago. The machinery has taken on a whole new level. Suddenly you have people with specialisms, suddenly everyone’s more professional and it’s feasible to make different kinds of films. There is an array of scripts that aren’t just ideas in people’s heads any more. And it’s not just about the youngest and the best. Thank God that phase is over.

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Do you miss not occupying that territory anymore?
No, you grow up. After a point, you get sick of running around the trees. There’s only so much thoughtlessness you can manage in your career – you have to be at that stage and in that frame of mind to do it. I often get: “Oh my God, why didn’t you take that part? The role was so good,” but if I can’t feel a character, if I can’t visualise that, then I’m not the right person for it. It’s difficult to explain to someone when I’m saying no to their script.

For a long time, the industry and its press labelled you an “unconventional” leading lady for having a “duskier” complexion, for not plucking your eyebrows, for having “unkempt” hair, for not being size zero. Did it ever bother you?
[Laughs] I never gave a damn about what anyone said about me. I still don’t. Size zero is in, but I don’t understand it. I might be into the fitness game now, but I never paid attention to it back then. The critics pounce on me a little less now than they would anyone else, I’ve earned that. Plus, I can’t afford to give in to that pressure. It would drive me insane and I would need to be locked up. I’m already mad and probably need locking up anyway!

Kajol in 1995’s Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. Facebook Twitter Pinterest
Kajol in 1995’s Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. Photograph: PR
Your biggest hits – Baazigar, DDLJ, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, My Name is Khan – have seen you partnered up with Shah Rukh Khan. Audiences can’t get enough of you together. Why?
We’ve known each other for 22 years, we make films together every few years – it’s simple. His energy hasn’t changed. It’s even more apparent, he’s very passionate about it. He has clear ideas of how things should be, but you get better at anticipating another person’s moves and thoughts. I can almost predict how a scene with him is going to go and he can do the same for me. We automatically know that about each other. He has taught me a lot in life.
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Hollywood’s female actors have consistently campaigned for there to be more roles for women over 40, and more diversity on screen. How does Bollywood’s record compare?
Thank God for the audiences: their views and tastes have changed and it has allowed the industry to move in a new direction. Movies will always reflect what the audience wants and, as long as they want to see different kinds of films, different kinds of films will be made. I have no complaints.

Do you get asked for advice by younger female actors?
Even if I do, I never give it. Advice is a little too free and easy around the world – everyone has to develop their own way. What I did when I was 18 years old is so different to what someone now might do.

Do you consider yourself a feminist?
I do consider myself a feminist, but I am contrary so I can also be considered the opposite. I believe in the equality of men and women, but I don’t object to chivalry. I believe in it; gender equality should not mean women should be ashamed to be feminine. I don’t believe men are made to rule the world in the same way I don’t believe women should be doormats. But the stigma of not wanting to do things “like a man” or being made to feel stupid in traditional gender roles is dumb.

Dilwale is released in cinemas worldwide on 18 December

source=sabkura.pvt.ltd