Leaders confident about win-win package deal

Nepal’s No. 1 

English Daily 

www.thehimalayantimes.com 

Printed simultaneously from 

Kathmandu and Itahari 

Dharan-based BPKIHS sans neurosurgeon for years Page 6 Six ultras killed in Pakistan Page 9 Policemen hit new low Page 12 

The Himalayan 

T I M E S 

Vol. XII No.25 • Kathmandu, Monday, December 17, 2012, Poush 2, 2069, Nepal Sambat 1133 

• SHORT TAKES 

Reuters 

A woman crying at a memorial near the 

Sandy Hook Elementary School for the 

victims of a school shooting in Newtown, 

Connecticut, on Sunday. • Report on Page 7 

NEPAL 

Tusker tramples two 

CHITWAN: An elderly couple were killed by a 

wild tusker at Chitwan's Madib area on Saturday 

night. The deceased, identified as 65year-old 

Buddhi Ram Bote and his wife Jharali, 

60, of Gardi VDC, Pandavnagar, died on 

the spot after being attacked by an wild elephant 

named Dhurbe from the Chitwan National 

Park. Dhurbe which has been at the 

national park for the last five years has attacked 

even tourists in the past. For the past 

three years he has been creating havoc by destroying 

cultivation and people's huts, locals 

said. (Details on Page 5) 

Hostel guidelines enforced 

KATHMANDU: Kathmandu District Administration 

Office today enforced a 29-point criteria 

relating to Hostel Operation-2012. 

The criteria was brought into operation to 

ensure transparency, safety, good management 

and uniformity in hostel operation. 

(Details on Page 3) 

CURRENCY UNIT BUYING (in Rs) SELLING (in Rs) 

Indian Rs 100 160.00 160.15 

Chinese Yuan 1 13.91 14.01 

U.S. Dollar 1 86.85 87.45 

Euro 1 114.32 115.11 

Pound Sterling 1 140.41 141.38 

Japanese Yen 10 10.40 10.48 

The foreign exchange rates are fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank 

Leaders confident about 

win-win package deal 

Say consensus in a day or two,mum on details 

Himalayan News Service 

Kathmandu, December 16 

Unified CPN-Maoist Chairman 

Pushpa Kamal Dahal today met 

President Ram 

Baran Yadav 

and reported 

that parties 

were inching 

closer to consensus 

and 

they would 

agree on a 

package deal 

in a day or 

two, sources at the Office of the 

President said. 

Emerging from the meeting, 

Dahal said, “The talks are moving 

in a positive direction and 

we will most probably reach 

consensus by tomorrow.” Dahal 

said the parties had no way but 

to reach consensus at the earliest, 

as the country could not 

sustain the deadlock any more. 

Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya 

Kumar Gachhadar also briefed 

the President and expressed 

hope that the parties would 

reach consensus in a day or two. 

The President’s Press Adviser 

Rajendra Dahal said President 

Yadav urged the leaders to reach 

consensus by tomorrow, when 

the fourth deadline given to parties 

to find a solution, ends. 

Ram Kumar Kamat 

Sapkota 


United Democratic Madhesi 

Front, a key ally of the Baburam 

Bhattarai-led coalition government 

may boycott the national 

consensus government to be 

formed if the front did not get its 

pound of flesh in the new deal 

and the government. 

The UDMF is likely to ask the 

Nepali Congress, which is a 

strong contender for the new 

government to clarify its position 

on federalism and the fourpoint 

deal that the front reached 

with the UCPN-M that helped 

form Bhattarai-led government. 

The NC, CPN-UML and the Mohan 

Baidhya faction of the 

Maoist party had termed the 

four-point deal ‘anti-national.’ If 

NC stuck to its old stance of dividing 

Madhes into five 

pradeshes, UDMF might not 

support NC President Sushil 

Koirala for premiership. 

“We cannot support a new 

deal without settling the issue of 

“The President is keenly expecting 

the parties to reach consensus 

by tomorrow,” Dahal said. 

Notwithstanding the optimismexpressed 

in 

briefings to the 

President, as 

well as the 

many rounds 

of talks between 

political 

parties, consensus 

still appears 

to be 

elusive. 

Sources said 

they were negotiating 

on issues 

to be included 

in the 

consensus 

document and 

portfolio distribution 

in 

the new government. 

Unified 

CPN-Maoist 

Spokesman Agni Sapkota 

claimed the parties were heading 

towards a win-win package 

deal and that both the UCPN-M 

and Nepali Congress had shown 

flexibility. 

Addressing a press briefing 

today at party headquarters 

Paris Danda, Sapkota expressed 

federalism,” said Rameshwor 

Roy Yadav, Vice Chairman, Madhesi 

Janaadhikar Forum-Democratic. 

“A new agreement should 

resolve all outstanding issues,” 

he added. 

Madhesi leaders have been 

saying that the 14, 10 and sixpradesh 

models that were proposed 

in the dissolved Constituent 

Assembly should be the 

property of the apex body and 

the next CA should choose one 

of these three models. “We can 

go for two pradeshes in Madhes 

but not more,” Yadav added. 

One of the chiefs of Madhesi 

parties that are the constituents 

of UDMF said the front was 

conscious of not spoiling parties’ 

effort to forge consensus, 

but it cannot surrender to opposition 

parties. “The four-point 

agreement and federalism are 

our major concerns. We will demand 

our rights,” the leader 

said and added that if the front 

did not get its due share in the 

new deal, the front could stay 

away from the new government. 

Reading the 

leaders’ 

confidence 

we can assume 

they are 

heading 

towards a 

win-win deal. 

— Agni Sapkota, 

Spokesman, UCPN-M 

confidence about a possible 

deal but refused to divulge 

details. 

“Reading the leaders’ confidence 

we can 

assume they 

are heading to- 

wards a winwin 

deal. So 

things are developing 

very 

positively,” he 

told reporters. 

Sapkota, 

however, said 

the party 

would not accept 

NC leadership 

without 

fulfilling their 

conditions. He 

also said leaders 

were doing 

necessary 

groundwork to 

ensure the 

polls would 

take place as 

scheduled. 

He further said his party 

would not object to Nepali Congress 

President Sushil Koirala’s 

leadership of a consensus government 

if a package deal was 

forged, adding that the leaders 

are working to resolve the political 

and constitutional crises at 

one go. 

UDMF may boycott new govt 

• Seeks NC’s views on federalism,four-point deal 

• Against more than two pradeshes in Madhes 

“We might sit in the opposition 

and contest the election making 

our concerns as our election 

plank,” the leader added. 

Another leader of the UDMF 

offered contrasting views. He 

said the front should be ready to 

be flexible because the prime 

concern should be to frame a 

new constitution through a new 

CA for which elections must be 

held by mid-May. 

NC Spokesperson Dilendra 

Prasad Badu said if UDMF had 

any concerns, his party would 

dwell on them and form an official 

position. 

“But our understanding is to 

hold fresh elections, remove legal 

and constitutional difficulties 

to hold elections and form a 

new unity government,” he 

added. “Parties should not 

ratchet up new issues particularly 

those issues that proved to 

be contentious in the dissolved 

CA. If we seek resolution to contentious 

issues, why should 

there be fresh CA elections?” he 

asked. 

Weather: Partly cloudy 

Max: 18-20 o 

C Min: 02-04 o 

C 

Sunrise 06:49 Sunset 17:12 

Capital ★ 16 pages Rs 3 

Labourers working at an illegal sand mine in Bhaktapur’s Jhaukhel VDC on Sunday. 

Authorities have shut down two illegal sand mines in Bhaktapur. • Report on Page 3 

KFC imported banned chicken, 

claims livestock department 



Department of Livestock 

Services has blamed Devyani 

International Nepal — 

the promoter of Kentucky 

Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut 

in Nepal — for importing 

banned chicken. 

The government has 

banned import of chicken 

from India, as it is under the 

bird flu surveillance list of 

World Organisation for Animal 

Health. “India has been 

in the bird flu surveillance 

list since October 12 and the 

ban has not been lifted till 

date, so we dumped the 

chicken,” said deputy director 

general of the Department 

of Livestock Services 

Ramkrishna Khatiwada. 

“People or companies 

cannot import livestock 

items from bird flu prone 

countries, according to Livestock 

Services Act 1998,” he 

said, “The import documents 

showed that the 

chicken was imported from 

India. Devyani International 

Nepal had imported 5,248 kg 

chicken that was dumped in 

Dhading yesterday. We inspected 

the chicken and 

dumped it on the spot according 

to jurisdiction of the 

law. The decision was taken 

to safeguard public health,” 

Khatiwada added. 

A team led by Khatiwada 

also dumped about 5,619.5 

kg chicken imported by 

Mango Tree International in 

Dhading the same day. 

According to Ministry of 

Agriculture Development, 

importing chicken from India 

is illegal. Nepal Gazette, 

published on September 24, 

has banned livestock import 

from bird flu affected countries 

and India is not out of 

the surveillance list of World 

Organisation for Animal 

Health, said Dr Prabhakar 

Pathak. Countries affected 

by bird flu put their names 

voluntary in the World Organisation 

for Animal Health 

list and they withdraw their 

names once the epidemic is 

THT 

controlled. Other countries 

take the list as reference for 

livestock trade. 

The department has taken 

action against four staffers 

working in the Birgunj quarantine 

post for their negligence. 

“We have suspended 

them for further investigation,” 

said director general of 

the department Dr Narbahadur 

Rajawar. “Investigation 

is also on with regard to 

Devyani International and 

Mango Tree International. 

We will have more details in 

a few days,” Dr Rajawar said. 

The Himalayan Times 

contacted Devyani International 

over phone and sent 

an email for their side of the 

story. Kathmandu-based officials 

refused to talk over 

phone and asked that questions 

be e-mailed. However, 

the company’s answers were 

not satisfactory. They just 

wrote, “We have forwarded 

the mail to the concerned 

authority at our Head Office, 

India. They will reply in the 

near future.”

PAGE 2 www.thehimalayantimes.com 

THE HIMALAYAN TIMES, MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2012

THE HIMALAYAN TIMES, MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2012 www.thehimalayantimes.com 

CAPITAL 

• IN BRIEF 

A schoolgirl enjoying an ice cream 

bar while returning home after 

school in Mangalbazaar, Lalitpur, 

on Sunday. 

Police workshop 

KATHMANDU: Nepal Police headquarters 

organised an administration 

workshop on Sunday. The workshop 

aims to bring uniformity in proceedings 

of the internal administrative 

functions of the law enforcement 

agency. DIG Pratap Singh Thapa inaugurated 

the workshop. As many as 

29 senior and junior police officials 

are participating. — HNS 

Woman found dead 

KATHMANDU: Saraswoti Giri, 31, of 

Dhading was found hanging from a 

rope inside a bathroom in the house 

of Krishna Prasai in Anamnagar on 

Saturday. She used to work as a domestic 

help in the house. Giri’s kin 

have alleged it was a homicide and 

demanded investigation. Police said 

they would come up with a conclusion 

after the post-mortem report 

from TU Teaching Hospital. — HNS 

Burglary in Bhaktapur 

BHAKTAPUR: An unidentified gang 

broke into Shyam Bhakta Kayastha’s 

house in Bhaktapur- 8 and fled with 

cash and valuables worth Rs 240,000 

on Saturday. A complaint lodged with 

police said Rs 2,000 and gold ornaments 

weighing four tola were burgled 

from the unattended house. — HNS 

Colliding bikers hurt 

KATHMANDU: Two persons were 

hurt when the motorcycles they were 

riding collided in Tripureshwor on 

Sunday. The injured are Saroj Niraula, 

36, of Lalitpur and Ramila Shrestha, 

39, of Kirtipur. They have suffered leg 

injury and are being treatment in 

Kathmandu Hospital. The bikes have 

been impounded. —HNS 

Put country, people 

first: US delegates 



Visiting US professionals 

and civil society leaders today 

urged Nepali leaders to 

put the country and people 

first while deciding national 

political issues. 

The young leaders, who 

have been in Nepal for the 

last two weeks under Legislative 

Fellows Programme 

of US-based organisation 

World Learning, 

today met officials of the 

Legislature Parliament secretariat 

and held discussions 

with former Constituent 

Assembly members 

in Singha Durbar. 

During the meetings they 

said they wanted to see 

promulgation of the new 

constitution and settlement 

of political problems 

at the earliest. 

State Representative 

Matt Dollar said, “I would 

urge leaders to put the 

country and people first 

and take decision to end 

the political impasse.” 

Election campaign manager 

Joey Longley suggested 

that Nepal should not 

go for ethnicity-based fed- 

THT 

eralism. “The basis of federalism 

should not be ethnicity 

because it divides 

the country,” he said. 

Civil society leader 

Claire Adamsick said she 

got the opportunity to 

learn about Nepal’s conflict 

management and 

would share her Nepal experiences 

with US colleagues 

and civil society 

members. 

Matt Bailey, Director of 

Legislative Affairs and 

Communications for 

Chicago’s first Ward Alderman, 

Proco Joe Moreno, 

said he was delighted with 

the culture and geographical 

situation in Nepal and 

had got an opportunity to 

know about the ongoing 

political process in Nepal. 

World Learning’s senior 

programme coordinator 

Amanda Bischoping informed 

the US team visited 

the Election Commission, 

Legislature Parliament and 

other places and met political 

leaders of different 

parties, commission officials, 

former parliament 

members and general people 

to know about Nepal 

and Nepalis. 

B’desh V-Day observed 



Bangladesh Embassy in 

Kathmandu today observed 

the 41st Anniversary 

of the Great Victory 

Day of Bangladesh with a 

number of programmes. 

The National flag was 

hoisted, parts of holy 

books (The Qoran, Geeta, 

Tripitok and Bible) were recited, 

martyrs were 

praised, discussion on the 

importance of the day was 

held and cultural Programnes 

and sports events 

were held. 

A press release said, 

“Nepal’s support for the independence 

of Bangladesh 

during the war of 1971 was 

vividly recollected.” 

Criteria for hostel 

operation-2012 

comes into force 



Kathmandu District Administration 

Office today enforced a 29point 

criteria relating to Hostel Operation-2012. 

According to Kathmandu Chief 

District Officer (CDO) Chunamani 

Sharma, the criteria was brought 

into operation to ensure transparency, 

safety, good management 

and uniformity in hostel operation. 

“It will now be mandatory for 

all hostels in Kathmandu to follow 

these criteria or face action,” he 

added. 

On October 14, 2012, a ninemember 

committee relating to 

Hostel Operation Draft Recommendation 

Committee was 

formed under the coordination of 

Prem Lal Lamichhane, assistant 

Chief District Officer of Kathmandu 

to draft and recommend the 

criteria. 

After conducting rounds of 

meeting with concerned authorities, 

the draft was publicised today 

and enforced in Kathmandu district. 

The recommendation committee 

members include Local Development 

Office, Kathmandu; District 

Education Office, Kathmandu; 

Chief Industry Officer, Small 

Scale and Cottage Industry, Kathmandu 

office; Officer level representative 

from Kathmandu Metropolitan 

City, Kirtipur Municipality; 

and Office of Company Registrar 

and president of Nepal Hostel 

Business Association. 

DSP Bhim Prasad Dhakal, incharge, 

Metropolitan Police Circle, 

New Baneshwor, also a member 

secretary of the recommendation 



Sleuths from Metropolitan Police 

Range, Hanumandhoka 

nabbed two persons including 

a woman, who were on the run 

after stealing cash and valuables 

from the house of Lazimpat-based 

businessman Rajendra 

Ghiraiya. 

They were arrested from 

Chakhel Jhyaindanda in Makwanpur 

yesterday. 

The arrested are Loknath 

Sapkota, 39, of Kusahadevi, 

Regulations for 

hostels 

• No one below age of 16 is eligible 

to stay in hostel. 

• Registered hostels are only allowed 

to admit students, interns 

or those with examination admit 

cards. 

• Hostels should have capacity to 

accommodate at least 50 persons. 

• Boys and girls hostels should be 

operated separately in separate 

places. 

• Boys hostels should have male 

security guards and girls hostel 

should have female security 

guards. 

• Hostels must be far from hotels, 

restaurant, industrial areas, airport 

and areas that produce 

noise and pollution. 

• Hostels must be differentlyabled 

friendly. 

• Hostels must update information 

about students with his/her 

recent passport size photo and 

a photocopy of citizenship. 

• Consumption or peddling of any 

kind of drug, alcohol and tobacco 

is prohibited in the hostel. 

committee said the criteria was 

forwarded as various indecent activities 

including drug use were 

taking place in hostels of late. 

As many as 300 hostels are operating 

in Kathmandu district, but 

only 180 of them are registered. 

The criteria comes into effect 

from today, but a Cabinet decision 

is a must to enforce the criteria in 

other districts, said Sharma. 

Kavre and 

Reshma Rai, 

26, of Sane, 

Dhankuta, 

who were 

employed as 

domestic 

helpers in 

62-year-old 

Ghiraiya’s 

house. 

They were made public today 

at a press meet in Hanumandhoka. 

A police team arrested 

the duo from Sapkota’s 

in-laws’ house, where they 

The proprietor of a sand mine showing his mine to the monitoring committee in Jhaukhel of Bhaktapur on Sunday. 

Two illegal sand mines shut 

down in Bhaktapur village 


Bhaktapur, December 16 

The government today 

shut down two sand mines 

that were illegally operating 

in Bhaktapur district. 

A monitoring team led 

by District Administration 

Office, Bhaktapur locked 

up the Jhaukhel-based Mahakali 

Sand Mine of Udesh 

Shakhkarmi and Jhaukhel 

Sand Mine of Rajendra 

Aganja after they were 

found to be mining sand in 

contravention of an earlier 

agreement reached with 

the District Development 

Committee. 

Assistant Chief District 

Officer Bhojraj Bhattarai 

said the sand mines were 

being operated without 

keeping them benched or 

were hiding. 

SP Ganesh 

Bahadur 

Thapa said, 

Sapkota and 

Rai had 

made three 

duplicate 

keys of a 

cupboard 

and stolen 

cash, diamond, gold jewellery 

and antique coins worth six 

million rupees when the family 

members were away for the 

day’s business. 

sloped as part of safety 

measures against potential 

cave-in and other accidents. 

“They had also not 

hung a signboard with a 

map of the mine,” he informed. 

As many as 250 and 12 

labourers were employed 

in Mahakali Sand Mine and 

Jhaukhel Sand Mine. 

The authorities have intensified 

monitoring of 

sand mines in the district 

following the death of two 

labourers in an illegal sand 

mine in Duwakot on December 

8. A meeting of 

sand mine operators and 

government authorities on 

December 12 had agreed to 

place sign boards with 

maps and to keep the 

mines benched or sloped 

while excavating sand for 

Sapkota was cook at Ghiraiya’s 

house, while Rai was a 

cleaner hired just one-andhalf 

month ago. 

Sapkota, who was the mastermind 

behind the theft, had 

convinced Ghiraiya’s family to 

employ Rai saying women 

took better care of the household 

than men. 

Sapkota conceded he had 

hatched the plan to steal the 

cash and jewellery and he took 

Rai’s help to execute his plan. 

“We had planned to sell the 

diamond jewellery and share 

the safety of labourers. 

Owners of sand mines had 

agreed in writing that they 

would comply with terms 

and conditions prescribed 

by the concerned agency. 

The monitoring team 

had given two days to Mahakali 

Sand Mine and 

Jhaukhel Sand Mine to 

place signboard with a map 

of the mining site and keep 

it benched or sloped. 

The team also inspected 

two other sand mines in 

and found they had not 

placed sign boards. “We 

have asked them to place 

sign boards by tomorrow. 

The authority will shut 

down the mines if they do 

not correct themselves,” an 

official of the District Development 

Committee 

warned. 

Absconding domestic helpers held with cash, jewellery 

Sapkota Rai 

the cash between us. Rai and 

myself were hiding at my inlaws’ 

house,” Sapkota said. 

“I had first met Rai four years 

ago when my wife had given 

birth to a child. At that time, 

she had looked after my wife 

and newborn,” he added. 

Police have recovered INR 

80,000, US$ 400, 30 antique 

coins (100 to 200 years old), a 

Rolex watch, a Titan watch, an 

NK6 watch, a Swatch watch, a 

Rado watch, a CK watch and a 

cache of gold and diamond ornaments. 

PAGE 3 

Asia Pacific 

leaders’ 

conference 

in January 



THT 

Lawmakers from 46 countries 

will gather in Kathmandu 

for the Asia Pacific Parliamentarian 

Conference to be 

held between January 14 to 

17 . 

The theme of the conference 

this year is ‘Economic 

Development and Environmental 

Challenges’. 

More than one hundred 

parliamentarians from Asia 

Pacific countries, Nepali political 

leaders and former 

lawmakers will take part in 

the event, which will be organised 

at Hyatt Regency 

Hotel in Kathmandu, said 

Mahalaxmi Upadhyaya 

Dina, General Secretary of 

Asia-Pacific Parliamentarians’ 

Conference on Environment 

and Development (AP- 

PCED). 

Upadhyaya is also a former 

Constituent Assembly 

member from Nepali Congress. 

At a press meet today, 

Upadhyaya said developmental 

and environmental 

agendas will be inserted in 

the declaration of the conference. 

“Our agendas may 

get included in the UN charter. 

If that happens, it will 

boost developmental and 

environmental activities in 

our country.”

PAGE 4 

BLONDIE Dean Young and Denis Lebrun 

HAGAR Chris Browne 

BEETLE BAILEY Mort Walker 

BEAU PEEP Andrew Christine and Roger Kettle 

• ENGAGEMENTS 

EXHIBITION, CLASS AND WORKSHOP 

KJC Winter Camp for Kids 2012/13, December 30th, 2012 - January 11th, 

2013,Age Group: 6–14 yrs. For more info, contact: 01-5013554, Email: 

info@katjazz.com.np, www.katjazz.com.np 

FINE CUISINE 

Noel by the firepace in our highly decorated warm dining room. Traditinal 

Turkey Dinner available Dec 24, 25 & 26 with a free glass of Mulled wine 

and a surprise visit from Santa on Dec 25 with free gifts for all. Kilroy’s of 

Kathmandu Restaurant,Thamel – 4250440-41. 

Enjoy Gyakok a hotpot Tibetian delicacy all the way from the roof of the world 

@ Shambala Garden only @ NPR 650 per person excluding applicable taxes. 

Contact: Hotel Shangri-La, Kathmandu at 4412999 Extn. 7520, 7515. 

Bubbly Brunch: Every Saturday from 11 am to 3 pm @ Shambala Garden & 

Club Sundhara where you can enjoy Live Shawarma & Pasta only @ 

Rs.1100 Nett per person ( Includes a glass of Sparkling Wine). For further 

details call Hotel Shangri~La, Kathmandu at 4412999 Extn. 7520,7515. 

Starry Night BBQ: Every Friday Evening from 7:00 pm onwards at Shambala 

Garden Café, Hotel Shangri~La only @ Rs.1299 Nett per person and live 

performance by Ciney Gurung. For more details and Reservation: 4412999 

Extn. 7520,7515. 

Bar-Be-Que Brunch Bazaar: Make your gourmet journey memorable for lifetime 

with all live counters serving in one place. Every Saturday at poolside 

garden of Gokarna Forest Resort, Kathmandu from 12 noon to 2:30PM at 

NRs. 1999 NET per person. For more information contact: 4451212 

Event 

"Party till the end of the world: the beginning of 46 miles”: All of you are invited 

to a beaning of new resort in a new tourist location of Nepal. i.e. 

Nepalthok. on 21st December 2012. Find us "46 miles" on facebook. For 

registration contact: 9841-475870 

Enjoy our weekly event: 

• Sunday: Live Instrumental Piano By Sunil Singh 

• Monday: Live Instrumental Piano By Sunil Singh 

• Tuesday: Salsa Workshop with Riyaz Shrestha 

• Wednesday: Live Sufi music by Hemanta Rana 

• Thursday: Live Instrumental Piano By Sunil Singh 

• Friday: Live Acoustic performance by Dharmendra Sewan 

• Saturday: Live preformance by Hem Lama 

Venue: Tamarind Restro and bar; Jamshikhel, Lalitpur; Damkal road; Opposite 

st Mary’s school, Ph -5522626 (for bookings) 

For listing in this column, mail your events to 

engagements@thehimalayantimes.com 

1 2 3 4 5 6 

8 

11 12 

16 17 

21 

23 

15 

Quick Clues 

Across: 1 A game of _____ : a 

game which is decided by luck not 

skill ? (6) - 7 Felt deep sorrow (7) - 8 

The eleventh month (8) - 9 They are 

worn to keep neckwear in place (3,4) 

- 11 Do extremely well, better than 

most (5) - 12 Questions, inquires or 

invites (4) - 13 It has roads, towns, 

etc., marked on it (3) - 15 Young unmarried 

women (5) - 16 Freezing, 

very cold (3) - 18 Prefix for rotation - 

“orgy” anagram ? (4) - 20 Head of a 

monastery (5) - 21 Sitting room in a 

• WHAT’S ON 

NTV 

1505 Jeevan Chakra 

1530 Chahari 

1600 News 

1625 Samabesi Karyakram 

1700 News 

1705 Mission Point 

1730 Bimbha Pratibimbha 

1800 News 

1805 Sangharsha 

1825 Hamro Kathmandu 

1838 Krishi 

1900 News 

1925 Paribartan 

2000 News 

2050 Jeeray Khursani 

2130 Aaja Ko Bigyan 

2200 Ujyalo Tira 

2230 News 

STARPLUS 

1945 Mujhse Kuch 

Kehti...Yeh 

Khamoshiyan 

2045 Ek Hazaaron Mein 

Meri Behna Hain 

2115 Diya aur Baati Hum 

2145 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata 

Hai 

2215 Pyaar Ka Dard 

Meetha Meetha Pyara 

Pyara 

2245 Veera 

2315 Kaali: Ek Punar Avtar 

STARWORLD 

1315 Packed to the Rafters 

1415 Grey’s Anatomy 

1515 Two And A Half Men 

1545 Last Man Standing: 

Last Baby Proofing 

Stan 

1615 Two and a Half Men 

(Season 10) 

1645 How I Met Your Mother: 

The Three Days 

Rule 




7 

9 10 

18 19 20 

22 

24 

13 14 

private house (7) - 22 Searching 

rapidly and thoroughly (8) - 23 Relate 

a story; tell facts about (7) - 24 Unintelligible 

or meaningless language 

(6). 

Down: 1 Paper for brides (8) - 2 Support 

of a cause (8) - 3 Humped animal 

(5) - 4 To __ __ human and forgive 

divine ? (3,2) - 5 Piles, stacks or 

loads (5) - 6 Abdominal defect (6) - 7 

Have a legal separation from one’s 

spouse (3,1,7) - 10 Supplements 

with difficulty (4) - 13 Speaking indistinctly 

(8) - 14 U.S. military headquarters 

(8) - 15 Irish county (4) - 17 


Last Baby Proofing 

Stan 

2015 The New Normal 

2045 How I Met Your Mother: 

Right Place Right 

Time 





Grandparents Day 

ZEE TV 

1415 Phir Subah Hogi 

1445 Sapne Suhane 

Ladakpan Ke 

1515 Mrs. Kaushik Ki 

Paanch Bahuein 

1545 Pavitra Rishta 

1615 Qubool Hai 

1645 Hitler Didi 

1845 Punar Vivaah 

1915 Afsar Bitiya 

1945 Sapne Suhane 

Ladakpan Ke 

2015 Rab Se Sohna Isshq 


2115 Pavitra Rishta 

2145 Qubool Hai 

2215 Mrs. Kaushik Ki 

Paanch Bahuein 

2245 Punar Vivaah 

2315 Phir Subah Hogi 

1020 ON CINEMAX 


STARSPORTS 

0945 England Tour of India 

2012: 4th Test Day 5 

1645 Cricket Extra: Post 

Show 

1715 Laureus Spirit of 

Sport 

1745 Game 

1815 TNA Xplosion 

1915 MotoGP World Championship 

2012 

2015 Best of Australian 

Open Tennis H/ls: 

Caroline Wozniacki 

vs. Kim Clijsters 

2115 Score Tonight 

2145 Motorsports: Petronas 

2215 Italian Serie A 

2012/13 H/ls 

2315 Best of Australian 

Open Tennis H/ls: 

Juan Martin Del Petro 

vs. Roger Federer 

HBO 

0800 It’s Kind Of A Funny 

Story 

0945 Abduction 

1135 Beastly 

1325 Batman 

1530 Batman Returns 

1740 The Mummy 

1945 2012 Rock And Roll 

Hall Of Fame Induction 

Ceremony 

2215 Bad Teacher 

CINEMAX 

0615 The Losers 

0830 The River Wild 

1020 Gladiator 

1205 The American 

1345 Madigan 

1555 Firewalker 

1805 Hush 

1945 Behemoth 

2115 True Blood 

2210 Circuitry Man 


POTPOURRI 

DENNIS Hank Ketcham 

HOCUS FOCUS Henry Boltinoff 

Himalayan Double Crossword — 5801 

Short scarf or necktie (6) - 18 Look 

fiercely or fixedly at (5) - 19 Covered 

with a layer of iron oxide ? (5) - 20 

Caribbean island - “Au Bar” anagram 

? (5). 

Cryptic Clues 

Across: 1 Small dog or cat, perhaps - 

it has energy (6) - 7 Make a mistake 

taking a vehicle over part of Spain (7) 

- 8 The tube taken by a churchwarden, 

possibly (4-4) - 9 Crosby upset 

about ageing but valuable writer 

(4,3) - 11 Peer’s spot for cricketers 

(5) - 12 For a change, also, an Asian 

city (4) - 13 Fairy queen in dream 

abode (3) - 15 Provides a subscription 

(5) - 16 Chicken out when one’s 

given a break, maybe (3) - 18 Tin 

containing first of yellow colour (4) - 

20 Pigs or snakes crossing river (5) - 

21 Quintet with fever have a way to 

be most obscure (7) - 22 Not fully 

adult, I’m a teenager at last (8) - 23 

Detailed analysis of a toy a man 

makes ? (7) - 24 Reformed - after 

kicking over the traces? (6). 

Down: 1 Father! You not in time to 

colonise this? (8) - 2 How long thin 

spill is getting smaller? (8) - 3 Jobs 

put questions in a back-street (5) - 4 

Indian grub shedding chrysalis finally 

to emerge in independent state (5) - 

5 Poets start drinking in pubs (5) - 6 

Ring I see ocurring in historic period 

and symphony (6) - 7 How carelessly 

is Nigel bashed with a soft touch? 

(11) - 10 Look at more dresses (4) - 

13 Team annoyed a little about computer 

storage information (8) - 14 In 

tip-top environs chance being most 

energetic (8) - 15 In the heavens, by 

the sound of it? No, over the sea (4) - 

17 Old lady’s angry to be troubled 

about a point (6) - 18 Tobacco pipe, 

short in Scotland (5) - 19 Like the 

referee to have a receptacle ? (1,4) - 

20 Second go as a spouse (5). 

Yesterday’s solution 

D E M E H O I S T S 

I P R O N O T 

I G N I N A T I O N A L 

H T E D R L K 

A T T A A D A M S R I B 

H P O H N 

A L P H A A N D O M E G A 

E T O O T 

A T A L A N T A A C H E 

T O E L E N E 

F E E L U P T O E A R S 

R L A F A R A 

E Y E L E T S I P S 

QUICK 

A D A M S T R U C K 

E A R M E R P 

A C I S I M A G I N E S 

O C O L D E P 

I N C A E Y E D R O P S 

T R O E E 

G R O A N I N G B O A R D 

O I K D S 

P L U M P I S H D O G S 

L I N O A F H 

M E A T B A L L I C O N 

D E I E M S S 

A S T R I D H U T S 

CRYPTIC 

• FLIGHT SCHEDULE 

FROM-TO 

AGNI AIR 

NATIONAL 

DEPARTURE 

ARRIVAL 

KTM-PKR-KTM DAILY 0900/1010 AG701/702 



KTM-BIR-KTM DAILY 0900/1030 AG801/802 

KTM-BIR-KTM DAILY 1230/1400 AG805/806 

KTM-LUK-KTM DAILY 0630/0745 AG101/102 

KTM-LUK-KTM 

BUDDHA AIR 

DAILY 0800/0915 AG103/104 

KTM-BDP-KTM DAILY 1050/1250 U4951/952 

KTM-BDP-KTM DAILY 1335/1535 U4953/954 

KTM-BWA-KTM DAILY 0920/1030 U4851/852 

KTM-BWA-KTM DAILY 1350/1520 U4855/856 

KTM-BIR-KTM DAILY 0750/0930 U4703/704 

KTM-BIR-KTM DAILY 1000/1150 U4705/706 

KTM-DHI-KTM DAILY 1100/1335 U4251/252 

KTM-JKP-KTM DAILY 0930/1040 U4501/502 

KTM-JKP-KTM DAILY 1530/1635 U4505/506 

KTM-NPJ-KTM DAILY 0800/1020 U4451/452 

KTM-NPJ-KTM DAILY 1610/1840 U4405/406 

KTM-PKR-KTM DAILY 0730/0850 U4603/604 

KTM-PKR-KTM DAILY 0830/0950 U4605/606 

KTM-SIM-KTM DAILY 0930/1005 U4551/552 

KTM-SIM-KTM 

GUNA AIRLINES 

DAILY 1030/1105 U4553/554 

KTM-PKR-KTM DAILY 0940/1105 GNA051/052 

KTM-PKR-KTM DAILY 1105/1220 GNA053/054 

KTM-BIR-KTM DAILY 1100/1235 GNA041/042 

KTM-BIR-KTM DAILY 1615/1750 GNA043/044 

KTM-SIF-KTM DAILY 0855/0940 GNA011/012 

KTM-SIF-KTM DAILY 1500/1545 GNA013/014 

KTM-BWA-KTM 

NEPAL AIRLINES 

DAILY 1250/1415 GNA071/072 

KTM-PPL-KTM SUN, FRI 0700/0825 RA117/118 

KTM-KDN-KTM WED 0700/0835 RA137/138 

KTM-TMK-KTM SUN 1020/1155 RA113/114 

KTM-LDN-KTM TUE 1020/1145 RA135/136 

KTM-LDN-KTM WED 0850/1155 RA135/136 

KTM-KGL-KTM MON 0840/1005 RA107/108 

KTM-SKH-KTM WED 1210/1515 RA153/154 

KTM-PKR MON,TUE 1500 RA167 

PKR-KTM TUE, WED 1225 RA168 

KTM-TMI-KTM 

YETI AIRLINES 

SAT 1000/1130 RA191/192 

KTM-PKR-KTM DAILY 0800/0910 NYT671/672 

KTM-PKR-KTM DAILY 0910/1020 NYT675/676 

KTM-BIR-KTM DAILY 0900/1040 NYT787/788 

KTM-BIR-KTM DAILY 1150/1330 NYT791/792 

KTM-BDP-KTM DAILY 1010/1200 NYT921/922 

KTM-BDP-KTM DAILY 1350/1500 NYT925/926 

KTM-BWA-KTM DAILY 0840/1000 NYT891/892 

KTM-BWA-KTM DAILY 1610/1730 NYT893/894 

KTM-JKR-KTM DAILY 1030/1140 NYT571/572 

KTM-JKR-KTM DAILY 1540/1650 NYT573/574 

KTM-TMI-KTM DAILY 1030/1200 NYT751/752 

KTM-DHI-KTM DAILY 1230/1510 NYT231/232 

**Please check with airlines for any change in schedule 

THE HIMALAYAN TIMES, MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2012


• ONCE-OVER 

Polls only option: PM 

THT 

A Saraswotimata’s Temple being 

constructed by the Mother Group at 

Lete in Mustang, on Sunday. 

MUGU: Prime Minister Baburam 

Bhattarai on Sunday accused the traditional 

political forces of being 

scared of going to election to the 

Constituent Assembly in April. Inaugurating 

the Nagma-Gamgadhi road 

section along Karnali Highway, Bhattarai 

pledged to demonstrate maximum 

flexibility to reach a consensus. 

Nothing that country has little choice 

but to hold election to the Constituent 

Assembly within April, Bhattarai 

said that he was ready to make 

any sort of sacrifice for the same. — HNS 

Contraband seized 

BIRGUNJ: A joint team of the Nepal 

Police and Armed Police Force have 

raided on Sunday morning and 

seized the dust that is used for making 

the hashish in three different 

houses at Sugauli VDC in Parsa district. 

District police office Parsa said 

the police seized 2.5 quintal of contraband 

and 50 gram of dust that has 

been used for making hashish. The 

police team has seized the contraband 

after they received the information 

about the smugglers as they have 

stored in their house in a large quantity 

of the illegal drugs. Police team 

has raided the houses of the locals 

and seized the contraband from the 

houses. The seized hashish has handed 

over to district police office. – HNS 

• WEATHER 

FORECAST: Partly cloudy in the hilly region with chances 

of snowfall at one or two places of the far western region. 

Mainly fair in the rest of the country. 

PLACES MAX TEMP MIN TEMP 

Dadeldhura 16.3 5.5 

Dipayal 22.0 9.4 

Dhangadi 23.8 10.2 

Birendranagar 24.2 7.4 

Nepalgunj 27.3 10.7 

Jumla 17.2 -2.0 

Dang 23.0 8.0 

Pokhara 21.6 8.1 

Bhairahawa 22.0 17.0 

Simra 19.5 10.5 

Kathmandu 19.0 2.2 

Okhaldhunga 18.8 2.5 

Taplejung 17.0 5.6 

Dhankuta na 8.0 

Biratnagar 26.3 10.5 

Dharan 25.3 14.5 

Source: Meteorological Forecasting Division, 

Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Kathmandu. 

NATIONAL 

‘UCPN-M relents, accepts Koirala as PM’ 


Biratnagar, December 16 

Nepali Congress central member 

Sujata Koirala today said the Unified 

CPN-Maoist has shown flexibility in 

accepting party President Sushil 

Koirala as the next prime ministerial 

candidate. 

In view of that a national consensus 

government would be formed 

soon under the leadership of Sushil 

Koirala, she added. Speaking to mediapersons 

in Biratnagar, Sujata 

said there was already a buzz in the 

party to accept the Koirala for the 

new prime minister of the nation. 

Sujata said election would be held 

after the national consensus government 

was formed led by the NC. 

She went on to reiterate, the Unified 

CPN-Maoist party showed its flexibility 

to accept Sushil Koirala’s candidacy 

for the prime minister. 

She said an agreement among all 

political parties would be reached 

CPN-M doesn’t 

rules out 

people’s revolt 

Tika R Pradhan 


CPN-Maoist has not ruled out the 

possibility of a people’s revolt and 

has reiterated today the only way of 

revolution is the way of a protracted 

people’s war. 

The proposed political report prepared 

by party Chairman Mohan 

Baidhya, to be presented at the upcoming 

seventh national convention 

has mentioned the political 

programme saying the only way of 

revolution is the way of a protracted 

people’s war although it requires a 

long preparation. 

Similarly, the proposal does not 

put aside the possibility of a people’s 

revolt and says necessary attention 

should be paid. The proposal also 

insists on a revolutionary communist 

party, a people’s army and a 

joint front is necessary in today’s 

world. The Communist Party of 

Nepal-Maoist headed by Baidya 

group has floated a draft political report 

and party statute among its 

committed cadres for the Seventh 

General Convention. 

The ‘confidential’ report has been 

sent to lower committees and cadres 

have been told to return after reading 

the document. The report tries to 

make a case for a revolution despite 

the propaganda by defeatist and 

self-surrendering forces that it is impossible 

to raise a revolution. 

“In totality, although the physical 

situation is becoming ripe, the subjective 

situation remains weak,” the 

report insists. The document proposes 

that a policy should be adopted 

to primarily fight a propaganda 

war against American imperialism, 

and prepare for a revolution. 

According to the Maoists, since 

imperialism is dependent on financial 

capital, it is weaker than before. 

It also proposes that the second 

main target of its ideological struggle 

would be rightist revisionism, a 

tendency revealed by the current 

UCPN-Maoist headed by Pushpa 

Kamal Dahal. 

The convention is being held after 

21 years. 

Corruption probe moves at 

snail’s pace, admits CIAA 



Commission for the Investigation 

of Abuse of Authority 

(CIAA) today failed to 

take any decision on graft 

charges following the delay 

by the Unified CPN-Maoist 

probe report on corruption 

within the party. 

“The investigation is still 

going on,” Keshav Prasad 

Ghimire, Joint-Spokesperson 

of CIAA told The Himalayan 

Times. According 

to him, although the investigation 

will take it own 

time, various factors including 

the investigation 

from the party and the 

reshuffling in the CIAA officials 

have also been delayed 

the process of completing 

the probe. 

After the retirement of 

Bhagawati Kumar Kafle, 

Ganesh Raj Joshi took 

charge as CIAA Secretary, 

and the transfer of Joint 

Secretary Ishwori Prasad 

Paudel to the Department 

of Drinking Water Supply 

and Sewerage have delayed 

the investigation. 

“The Secretary is taking 

time to proceed with the 

process,” Ghimire said, 

adding, “The party investigation 

into the cantonment 

corruption is also delaying 

the investigation because 

the CIAA wants to go 

through the party reports as 

well.” 

The government has 

transferred Paudel to the 

Department 

of 

Drinking 

W a t e r 

Supply 

and Sewerage 

two 

weeks ago. 

When 

the party 

rank and 

f i l e 

charged 

the leaders 

and 

cadres of 

embezzling 

the amount, the party 

formed two investigative 

panels: one led by Amik 

Sherchan and another by 

Posta Bahadur Botati. 

The panels have already 

completed the investigation 

but they are yet to submit 

the reports. They have 

investigated the leaders’ 

corruption after joining the 

government and embezzle- 

ment of funds released by 

the government meant for 

the combatants. 

It is alleged that Maoist 

leaders and commanders 

embezzled millions of rupees 

from state coffers 

when the government released 

the amount for combatants, 

who took 

voluntary 

retirement 

in February. 

CIAA officials 

have alr 

e a d y 

made it 

clear that 

the party’s 

investigationreports 

will 

only be 

the preliminary sources for 

further investigation. The 

Nepali Congress and UML 

demanded investigation 

into alleged corruption in 

the cantonments as a complaint 

was filed at the antigraft 

body by the UML 

Youth Association Nepal on 

September 21 seeking the 

CIAA intervention into the 

matter. 

Panels have 

completed the 

investigation but 

they are yet to 

submit the 

reports 

within the given deadline by the 

President. As the UCPN-M has 

agreed to accept the NC candidate 

for the next prime minister there 

should not be any kind of dispute 

for the same, she added. 

Sujata also said PM Baburam Bhattarai 

has to resign first to give a 

way out to the nation. She said it 

was necessary to reach an agreement 

rather than putting condition 

by her party. “There will be the consensus 

soon among all after the PM 

resigns,” she said. She made it clear 

that her party made the name public 

of Sushil Koirala for the new 

prime minister as other parties have 

also shown interest to involve in the 

government led by NC. 

“There is no option for the PM as 

the party had already been made 

the name public,” she said. Sujata 

urged the UCPN-M to set aside all 

its obstinacies and come to the national 

consensus to give a way out to 

the nation. 

Time to bridge trust deficit: Deuba 



Former prime minister Sher Bahadur 

Deuba today said if the Unified CPN- 

Maoist was not intending to deceive the 

Nepali Congress, then his party should 

accept the conditions put forward by 

Maoists for consensus in the larger interest 

of the country. 

Talking to the office bearers of the Reporters 

Club who had gone to submit a 

memorandum to him, Deuba, who is 

also a senior leader of the Nepali Congress, 

said there was no reason to always 

doubt UCPN-M’s intention. “UCPN-M 

Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said 

consensus would be forged within the 

extended deadline. We should not always 

doubt Dahal if we have to forge 

consensus,” he added. 

In response to a question, the NC 

leader said it would be difficult for the 

party to agree on the contents of a new 

constitution, but if there was an agreement 

for the same, then reinstatement 

of the CA would be the best alternative. 

“I do not think agreement on the contents 

of the constitution is possible now. 

Therefore, there is hardly any alternative 

to fresh election,” he added. 

However, Deuba made it clear that all 

parties should contest elections by adhering 

to the basic principles of the constitution-federalism 

and republicanism. 

“Everybody has accepted federalism. 

As far as republicanism is concerned, 

it was the NC leadership that 

had proposed it in the Constituent Assembly,” 

he clarified. 

He went on to say that there was no 

possibility of reaching a compromise on 

forms of governance at this stage. He 

urged the UCPN-M to make honest efforts 

to forge consensus with other 

stakeholders. 

CPN-Maoist Mohan Baidhya inaugurating the first Tamuwan Rajya Conference in Pokhara, on Sunday. 



Ministry of Health and Population 

is planning to extend 

One-Stop Crisis Management 

Centre (OCMC) at hospitals 

of eight more districts 

this fiscal year. 

The centre will provide integrated 

services to victims of 

Gender Based Violence. 

OCMC will be established at 

district hospitals of Saptari, 

Sarlahi, Kavre, Nawalparasi, 

Dang, Tanahu, Jumla and 

Solukhumbhu district. 

Last year, the government 

had established the centres 

at Makwanpur, Bardiya, Kanchanpur, 

Doti, Baglung, 

Panchthar Sunsari district 

hospital and Kathmandu 

based Paropakar Prasuti Griha 

Hospital. 

The centres were established 

as per the National 

Plan of Action for ‘year 

against gender-based vio- 

lence 2010’. The action plan 

had directed the government 

to establish a separate centre 

in district hospital to address 

GBV, to provide security, 

health care service, psychological 

counseling, legal supports 

and rehabilitation to 

the victims. 

Dr Bhuwan Poudel, focal 

person of ‘Gender Equality 

and Inclusion’ at the Population 

division of the ministry 

said the government has established 

the centres to control 

the physical, psychological 

and sexual violences 

against women. 

He said the OCMC-driven 

principles are respect for 

women’s needs, their privacy 

and confidentiality, focusing 

on a holistic approach. He 

said the centre has made an 

arrangement for physical 

health care, referral for psy- 

chological counselling and 

legal support. 

“The objective to establish 

the centre is not only to provide 

wide 

range of integrated 

services in 

health, legal, 

welfare 

and counsellingservices 

in one 

location but 

also to control 

GBV in 

the society,” 

P o u d e l 

added. 

The operational 

manual of OCMC 

planned to establish the centre 

at 15 districts where there 

are safe homes for domestic 

violence victims established 

by Ministry of Women, Chil- 

THT 

dren and Social Welfare in the 

first phase. 

According to a study done 

by UNFPA on Health Sector 

Response to 

GenderbasedVio- 

lence -2010, 

80 per cent 

of women 

reported 

psychological 

violence, 

32 per cent 

reported 

physical violence 

and 

ten per cent 

reported 

sexual vio- 

lence in Nepal. 

According to Nepal Demographic 

Health Survey 2011, 

55 per cent of women aged 

between 25-49 were married 

by 18 years of age. The num- 


Pokhara, December 16 

PAGE 5 

Dahal dumped 

federalism 

for power, 

says Baidhya 

CPN-Maoist Chairman Mohan 

Baidhya today accused the 

Unified CPN-Maoist of shedding 

the agenda of federalism 

for the sake of power. 

Inaugurating first conference 

of CPN-Maoist Tamuwan 

State in Pokhara, Baidhya alleged, 

“Since Dahal and his 

party is opportunist and reformist, 

the party has quit the 

agenda of federalism in the 

name of reaching an agreement 

with the Nepali Congress 

and CPN-UML. 

Coming down heavily on the 

UCPN-Maoist chief, Baidhya 

accused Dahal of running after 

the CPN-UML and NC on the 

temptation of becoming Prime 

Minister and President. He 

urged the party rank and file to 

be wary of the UCPN-Maoist 

moves. 

On a different note, he 

warned of waging an armed revolt 

if people’s demands were 

not addressed. “CPN-Maoist 

will continue fighting for the 

people’s rights,” Baidhya 

added. He ruled out the possibility 

of his party’s merger with 

the UCPN-Maoist unless and 

until the party mends its ways. 

Venting ire on the three major 

political forces, Baidhya accused 

them of being powercentric. 

“These parties hardly 

discuss anything on new 

Nepal. Their only focus is on 

grabbing the power,” he added. 

He said the CPN-Maoist will 

going to organise the general 

convention after 21 years following 

the parting from the 

UCPN-Maoist. “We will move 

ahead by correcting our mistakes 

through the convention,” 

Baidhya added. 

Eight crisis management centres on cards 

• GENDER BASED VIOLENCE 

Two in 10 women 

have suffered 

from physical 

violence after 15 

years of age 

ber is second highest in 

South Asia after Bangladesh 

which is 66. 

The survey further showed 

more than two in ten women 

(22 per cent) in Nepal have 

suffered from physical violence 

at some point after age 

15. It further said more than 

60 per cent of women who 

have ever experienced physical 

or sexual violence have 

never told anyone about the 

violence whereas 23 per cent 

have sought help from some 

sources. 

The centre’s role has been 

appreciated so far by women 

and it is encouraging them to 

approach the centre, Poudel 

further added. 

The record shows that girl 

children from three years of 

age to 70-year-old elderly 

women are suffering from 

domestic violence in the 

country. Last year, the division 

recorded about 60 cases 

each from eight districts.


NATIONAL 

• ONCE-OVER 

Journalist Bhimjwala Rai 

inaugurating Dharan Street 

Festival, on Sunday. 

Office work obstructed 

RUKUM: Administrative work in 

Rukum has come to a standstill in the 

absence of office chief, sources said 

today. According to locals, Bhupendra 

Pandey, who was appointed as 

the chief of Rukumkot Area Administration 

by the Home Ministry on 

March 27, 2012, has been absent 

from office since. As many as 22 VDCs 

in Rukum have been deprived of 

making recommendation letters for 

citizenship, birth and death certificates 

among others. “This has forced 

us to travel to the District Administration 

Office for even a simple task,” 

said locals. According to CDO Krishna 

Prasad Acharya, his office has 

written to the Home Ministry thrice 

already, however no action has been 

taken so far. Meanwhile, Pandey is 

learnt to have been staying in Dang 

for periodic service. — HNS 

Police seize gold 

SINDHUPALCHOWK: Armed Police 

Force confiscated three kg of gold 

from Paithari gate near Tatopani 

Customs Office in Sindhupalchowk 

district on Sunday. The APF boarder 

security team seized the gold at 11:00 

am on a tip-off that illegal golds were 

being imported to Nepal via Khasa, 

said APF base chief SP Kamalraj Giri. 

The smuggler fled after they saw the 

police, Giri said. Security has been 

tighetened in the border area after 

nine kg of illegal gold was seized 

from Dhulikhel a week ago. — HNS 


Chitwan, December 16 

An elderly couple was killed 

by a wild tusker at Chitwan’s 

Madib area yesterday night. 

The deceased, identified 

as 65-year-old Buddhi Ram 

Bote and his wife Jharali, 60, 

of Gardi VDC, Pandavnagar, 

died on the spot after being 

attacked by an wild elephant 

named, ‘Dhurbe’ from the 

Chitwan National Park. 

‘Dhurbe’ which has been 

at the national park for the 

last five years has attacked 

tourists even in the past. For 

THT 

Authorities swing 

into action after 

KFC fracas 

Issue directives to quarantine 

office posts for strict monitoring 


Dhading, December 16 

A day after the revelation that the 

KFC, an international chain 

restaurant, has been importing 

chicken from India, authorities today 

swung into action by issuing 

strict instructions to all quarantine 

check posts across the country to 

monitor the inflow of chicken. 

Central Livestock Quarantine 

Office today confirmed that it had 

issued directives to the concerned 

offices. Dr Bodh Prasad Parajuli, 

chief at the Central Livestock 

Quarantine Office, said his office 

has decided to implement the decision 

to tighten the check up after 

the government banned on the import 

of the chickens following the 

detection of bird flu in the Capital 

and other parts of the country. 

Parajuli said his office had issued 

necessary instructions to quarantine 

offices to beef up the security 

check up. According to him, his office 

has also issued directive to 

quarantine offices to pay special 

vigil on birds and animal-related 

matters. 

Twenty-four quarantine check 

posts located across the country 

will carry out the check up of animals 

and animal related materials. 

Chicken farmers of Dharke, 

Dhading, had destroyed about 

5,104 kg of chicken loaded in two 

containers yesterday. 

The Livestock Service Department 

Deputy Director Dr Ramkrishna 

Khatiwada said they had destroyed 

the chickens after it was 

confirmed that they were imported 

from India as per the local farmers’ 

demand. 

According to Khatiwada, after 

the investigation by the team of ex- 

perts from the Central Livestock 

Service Department found that the 

chicken was imported from India 

breaching the country’s laws, and 

it had informed the the same to the 

Central Quarantine Office. 

Nepal Veterinary Association 

General Secretary Dr Shitalkaji 

Shrestha said the KFC had imported 

the chicken from India saying 

that chicken in Nepal was ‘substandard’. 

He added they had destroyed 

the chickens after it was 

confirmed that chickens were imported 

from India. 

Nepal Hatchery Industry Union’s 

chairman Shiva Prasad Sharma 

said local farmers were keeping 

vigil at the highway after knowing 

that chicken was being brought 

through the highway for a long 

time. He said local farmers had 

protested spontaneously against 

the chicken import. 

Local chicken farmer Kumar 

Regmi said illegal import of the 

chickens had lessened the price 

despite the fact that chicken production 

in the country is enough to 

meet the demand. 

Police had resorted to lath 

charge and fired three rounds of 

tear gas to bring the situation under 

control after the tension broke 

out between the police and farmers 

over the two container chickens. 

Dipak Bahadur Adhikary, a 

farmer, who was arrested on 

charges of vandalising the container 

loaded with chickens yesterday 

was freed today. Irate farmers vandalised 

a container. Two mediapersons 

were also injured in the incident. 

Dhading District Police Office 

today released five persons 

who were detained for investigation 

along with containers. 

Tusker claims elderly couple in Chitwan 

the past three years he has 

been creating ruckus by destroying 

cultivation and people’s 

huts, locals said. 

As per Chitwan National 

Park Assistant Conservation 

Officer Bishnu Thapaliya, 

following the incident, a 

team from the national park 

along with the Nepali Army 

and Nepal Police have been 

mobilised to catch the elephant. 

“Dhurbe was spotted 

at the Bankatte post yesterday 

at around 7 pm. He remained 

there for two/three 

hours after being hit with a 

dart,” Thapaliya said, 

adding, “After that he had 

entered the human settlement 

at midnight and killed 

the elderly couple. 

Dhurbe’s whereabouts are 

still unknown. The elephant 

was christened as ‘Dhurbe’ 

after he killed an army constable 

of Gorakh Battalion, 

Dhurba, three years ago. 

Moreover, the wild elephant 

had also killed two 

persons last year. “During 

then he was held by the administration 

but was freed 

later after he was fitted with 

a ‘radio caller’ to track him 

from a distance of one kilo- 

metre,” Thapaliya said, 

adding, “But due to the geographical 

and natural condition 

of the park the signal 

cannot be received from beyond 

500 meters.” 

According to Thapaliya, 

Dhurbe runs away when he 

sees armed security personnel. 

“Dhurbe comes to 

places where she-elephants 

live,” he said, adding, “To 

catch hold of Dhurbe we 

have kept she-elephants in 

Park’s Bankatta, Baghmara, 

Bhimle, Sukibhar, Khoriya 

and other posts and have 

beefed up monitoring.” 


Dharan, December 16 

Dharan-based BP Koirala 

Institute of Health has been 

running without neurosurgeons 

for the past five 

years, sources said today. 

Given the dearth of neurosurgeons, 

hundreds of 

patients visiting the hospital 

on daily basis are forced 

to head elsewhere for treatment. 

Patients from various 

districts and even India 

regularly visit the institute. 

Despite patients pouring in 

large numbers, the institute 

has not appointed any 

neuro doctors since neurosurgeon 

Dr Yam Bahadur 

Rokka left the institute 

about five years ago. 

As a result, patients are 

forced to bear extra expenses 

to go to Biratnagar 

or Kathmandu-based hospitals, 

or even Siliguri of India 

in some cases. 

“It is the weakness on the 

part of the institute and the 

government that one of the 

most renowned hospitals 

of the country is running 

without a neuro surgeon,” 

said Civil Monitoring and 

Concern Forum Dharan 

chairperson Tilak Rai, demanding 

that the government 

take immediate initiatives 

to fill the vacant 

post of neurosurgeons at 

the hospital. 

According to patients, 

doctors from other departments 

are attending patients 

suffering from minor 

neuro problems in absence 

of neurosurgeons. For serious 

cases, the institute has 

been referring the patients 

to Kathmandu, Biratnagar 

or India. 

Speaking on the issue, 

BPKIHS Vice-chancellor Dr 

BP Das accused the government 

of being apathetic 

towards the institute’s frequent 

pleas to provide 

neuro doctors for years. 

“We are losing patients due 

to the lack of concerned 

doctors,” he said. 

THE HIMALAYAN TIMES, MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2012 

Children from Newar community and their parents at a mass belbibaha programme in Birgunj, on Sunday. 

Dharan-based BPKIHS sans 

neurosurgeon for years 

Meanwhile, the institute 

is making internal preparations 

to rope in a neurosurgeon 

from India, BPKIHS 

Vice-chancellor Das 

added. 

The hospital was a joint 

venture of Nepal and Indian 

government. 

Patients left in the 

lurch in Achham 


Achham, December 16 

Achham District Hospital, 

which receives as many as 

100 patients on a daily basis, 

is being run by assistant 

health workers in absence 

of doctors, sources said today. 

The shortage of doctors 

has led the locals to travel 

to other districts for treatment. 

Service seekers have 

been hit hard after Dr Arjun 

Shrestha whose two-year 

contract with the hospital 

ended on Friday and 

moved to another hospital 

in Tikapur. 

Meanwhile, the hospital 

chief, Dr Ram Bahadur KC, 

who had gone to Kathmandu 

on November 25 to participate 

in a training programme, 

is yet to return. 

According to Hospital’s 

Acting Chief Tirtha Raj 

Gautam, three other Public 

Health Inspectors have 

gone to Kathmandu to take 

part in the training. Staffers 

from the Family Planning 

Department are attending 

the OPD patients due to the 

scarcity of doctors, he 

added. 

The post of medical superintendent 

in the hospital 

has remained vacant for 

the last 11 years. “Though 

the Ministry of Health and 

Population had appointed 

Dr Nandalal Sikarmi as the 

medical superintendent at 

the District Hospital on 

January 24, 2011, sadly only 

the appointment letter has 

arrived,” said a staffer. 

Locals accused the government 

of neglecting the 

people of Achham by not 

sending the appointed 

doctors to the respective 

hospitals and health centres. 

“Though the government 

has assured health as 

a fundamental right of 

every Nepali citizen, it is 

only limited within papers,” 

Achham Chamber of 

Commerce and Industry 

Chairperson Chandra 

Prasad Dhungana said. 

Although the total number 

of appointments of 

health workers in Accham 

is 277 but at present 79 

posts, including medical 

superintendent, doctors, 

staff nurse, assistant health 

workers and lab technicians 

are vacant, District 

Health Office said. 

Jaymangalpur 

girl abducted, 

raped by 

neighbour 


Birgunj, December 16 

THT 

A 17-year-old girl of Jaymangalpur 

VDC, Parsa, was allegedly 

abducted and raped 

by a youth from the neighbourhood 

on Friday, police 

said. 

SP Pitambar Adhikari said 

the victim’s relatives have 

lodged a complaint at 

Pokhariya Area Police Office 

against Kailash Yadav, 35, of 

Jaymangalpur. Kin of the victim 

also accused Kailash’s elder 

brother, Bishal of being 

involved in the rape. 

According to the victim’s 

family, the girl was abducted 

when she had gone out of 

the house and was raped in a 

nearby isolated place on Friday 

night. 

Meanwhile, victim’s family 

has also complained that the 

accused Kailash’s father has 

been threatening them to 

sort out the issue without the 

involvement of police. 

Pokhariya Area Police Office 

Inspector Khem 

Narayan Chaudhary said 

both the accused have been 

absconding since the incident 

occurred on Friday. 

He said, “Police team had 

reached their house immediately 

after receiving the 

complaint, but by then they 

had already fled their home.” 

Dsitrict Police Office, 

Parsa Women and Children 

Cell said the victim’s medical 

check-up has been done and 

it will take some time for the 

report to come. 

Inspector Khem Narayan 

Chaudhary said they will 

proceed with the legal 

process against the two accused 

after receiving the 

medical report.


INTERNATIONAL 

Newtown gunman broke in, 

shot kids many times: Probe 

A memorial wreath is placed in the centre of town for the victims of the shooting at the 

Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, on Sunday. 

Associated Press 

Newtown, December 16 

The gunman behind the 

Connecticut elementary 

school massacre stormed 

into the building and shot 

20 children at least twice 

with a high-powered rifle, 

executing some at close 

range and killing adults who 

tried to stop the carnage, 

authorities said today. 

Police shed no light on 

what triggered Adam Lanza, 

20, to carry out the seconddeadliest 

school shooting in 

US history, though state police 

Lieutenant Paul Vance 

said investigators had 

found “very good evidence 

... that our investigators will 

be able to use in painting 

the complete picture, the 

how and, more importantly, 

the why.” 

Lanza forced his way into 

the school by breaking a 

window, officials said. 

Asked whether the children 

suffered, Chief Medical Examiner 

Dr H Wayne Carver 

paused. “If so,” he said, “not 

for very long.” 

The terrible details about 

the last moments of young 

children emerged as au- 

• THE WORLD OVER 

A rainbow is formed in front of a 

lighthouse in Geneva on Sunday. 

AP / RSS 

Egypt Islamists’ claim 

CAIRO: Islamists backing a new constitution 

for Egypt claimed victory on 

Sunday in an initial phase of a referendum, 

but the opposition alleged 

polling violations. A majority of 56.5 

per cent voted for the draft charter 

put to half of Egypt’s 51 million voters 

on Saturday, according to the Freedom 

and Justice Party, the political 

branch of President Mohamed Morsi’s 

Muslim Brotherhood. — AFP 

Whale of a tale 

THE HAGUE: A 12-metre humpback 

whale dubbed "Johannes" has died 

after being stranded near a northern 

Dutch island, officials said on Sunday, 

ending a four-day saga that's 

gripped animal-loving Netherlands. 

"We have received confirmation from 

an expert appointed by the government 

that the humpback has died," 

said the municipality of Texel. — AFP 

Killer and his weapons 

NEWTON: The gunman 

in the Newton school 

shooting was prepared for 

a massacre: An official 

with knowledge of the investigation 

said three 

weapons were found inside 

Sandy Hook Elementary 

School and a fourth 

weapon was found outside. 

These weapons are 

critical evidence as investigators 

try to unravel why 

Adam Lanza killed 20 

children and six school 

workers on Friday after 

killing his mother at their 

home. 

The murder weapon: 

Bushmaster .223-calibre: 

Lightweight with a 

high capacity, it also is 

popular with law enforce- 

thorities released the victims’ 

names and ages — the 

youngest 6 and 7, the oldest 

56. They included Ana Marquez-Greene, 

a little girl 

who had just moved to 

Newtown from Canada; Victoria 

Soto, a 27-year-old 


ment and the military, 

and is commonly seen at 

shooting competitions. 

Some models have a detachable 

magazine that 

can hold up to 30 rounds. 

Also found in the school: 

Glock 10 mm: A larger 

and more powerful 

weapon than the widely 

popular 9 mm. It is a lightweight 

and comparatively 

affordable weapon that is 

often used for target 

shooting and for personal 

protection. 

Sig Sauer 9 mm: Considered 

an upper-tier, 

quality product, it’s comparatively 

expensive, and 

its range of uses include 

elite military and police 

units. 

teacher who apparently 

died while trying to hide her 

pupils; and principal Dawn 

Hochsprung, who authorities 

said lunged at the gunman 

in an attempt to overtake 

him and paid with her 

life. 

Southbury, December 16 

At Newtown High School, Adam 

Lanza had trouble relating to fellow 

students and teachers, but 

that was only part of his problem. 

He seemed not to feel physical or 

psychological pain in the same 

way as classmates. 

Richard Novia, the school district’s 

head of security until 2008, 

who also served as adviser for the 

school technology club, said 

Lanza clearly “had some disabilities.” 

“If that boy would’ve burned 

himself, he would not have 

known it or felt it physically,” 

Novia said in a phone interview. 

“It was my job to pay close attention 

to that.” 

Novia was responsible for 

monitoring students as they used 

soldering tools and other poten- 

Agence France Presse 

Tokyo, December 16 

Shinzo Abe, who piloted his Liberal 

Democratic Party to victory 

in today’s election, said there is 

no doubt about Japan’s ownership 

of islands at the centre of a 

dispute with China. “China is 

challenging the fact that (the islands) 

are Japan’s inherent territory,” 

said Abe, who is expected 

to become prime minister. “Our 

objective is to stop the challenge. 

We don’t intend to worsen relations 

between Japan and China.” 

Japan and China have been at 

loggerheads for decades over the 

sovereignty of a small chain of islands 

in the East China Sea. 

The dispute flared badly in 

September after Tokyo nationalised 

islands that it calls the 

Senkakus, but China knows as 

the Diaoyus. 

Chinese boats have plied waters 

near the chain most days 

since and on Thursday Beijing 

AP / RSS 

Obama to 

speak at vigil 

WASHINGTON: President 

Barack Obama 

will attend an evening 

vigil in Newtown on 

Sunday to mourn with 

a town still seeking to 

comprehend the 

unimaginable massacre 

of its children and 

teachers. His visit to 

this western Connecticut 

community comes 

two days after Adam 

Lanza opened fire inside 

Sandy Hook Elementary 

School killing 

26 people, including 20 

boys and girls just 6 or 7 

years old. — AP 

Faced with the unimaginable, 

townspeople took 

down some of their Christmas 

decorations and struggled 

with how to go on. 

Signs around town read, 

“Hug a teacher today,” 

“Please pray for Newtown” 

and “Love will get us 

through.” Amid the confusion 

and sorrow, stories of 

heroism emerged, including 

an account of 

Hochsprung, 47, and the 

school psychologist, Mary 

Sherlach, 56, rushing towards 

Lanza in an attempt 

to stop him. Both died. 

There was also 27-yearold 

teacher Victoria Soto, 

whose name has been invoked 

as a portrait of selflessness 

and humanity 

among unfathomable evil. 

Investigators told relatives 

she was killed while shielding 

her first-graders from 

danger. She reportedly hid 

some students in a bathroom 

or closet, ensuring 

they were safe, a cousin, Jim 

Wiltsie, told ABC News. 

There was also 6-year-old 

Emilie Parker, whose grieving 

father, Robbie, talked to 

reporters not long after police 

released the names of 

the victims but expressed 

no animosity, offering sympathy 

for Lanza’s family. 

“I can’t imagine how hard 

this experience must be for 

you,” he said. 

A loner who felt no pain 

tially dangerous electrical equipment. 

He recalled meeting with 

school guidance counsellors, administrators 

and with the boy’s 

mother, Nancy Lanza, to understand 

his problems and find ways 

to ensure his safety. But there 

were other crises only a mother 

could solve. 

“He would have an episode, 

and she’d have to return or come 

to the high school and deal with 

it,” Novia said, describing how 

the young man would sometimes 

withdraw completely 

“from whatever he was supposed 

to be doing,” whether it was sitting 

in class or reading a book. 

A law enforcement official said 

Lanza had been diagnosed with 

Asperger’s, a milder form of 

autism. People with the disorder 

tend to function poorly socially 

but can be highly intelligent. 

Disputed islands are 

Japan’s: PM-in-waiting 

sent a plane to overfly them. 

Japan scrambled fighter jets to 

head it off. 

“Japan and China need to 

share the recognition that having 

good relations is in the national 

interests of both countries. China 

lacks this recognition a little bit. I 

want them to think anew about 

mutually beneficial strategic relations,” 

Abe said. 

Abe, who has struck a hawkish 

pose throughout the election 

campaign, said his first port of 

call as prime minister would be 

the United States. 

“We must rebuild the ties of 

the Japan-US alliance. The 

Japan-US alliance must come 

first,” he told private broadcaster 

Nippon TV. Tokyo relies on Washington 

for its security under a 

post-World War II treaty that allows 

the US to station tens of 

thousands of troops in Japan. But 

that alliance has been seen to 

drift under the three-year rule of 

the Democratic Party of Japan. 

Assad rivals capture 

Aleppo infantry base 


Beirut, December 16 

An Islamist faction of Syrian 

rebels captured an infantry 

base in the northern city of 

Aleppo, its fighters said today, 

as rebels fighting to 

topple President Bashar Assad 

advance on the country’s 

largest city. 

It was the second major 

army installation the rebels 

overran in a week in Aleppo, 

as the civil war closes in 

on Assad’s troops and fighting 

intensifies in and 

around the capital, Damascus. 

A statement by the al- 

Tawheed Brigade said the 

rebels “fully liberated” the 

military facility in Aleppo 

yesterday. It was posted on 

al-Tawheed’s official website 

today and said the 

brigade’s commander, 

Colonel Youssef al-Jader 

know as Abu Furat, was 

killed in the battle for the 

military facility. 

Al-Tawheed Brigade is 

one of the largest rebel 

groups operating in Aleppo, 

which has been a major 

front in the civil war since 

July. One of the videos posted 

on the group’s website 

shows the body of a man 

the narrator says is “the 

hero and martyr who was 

killed on the day of liberating 

the infantry school.” 

Meanwhile, a report from 

Beirut said warplanes bombarded 

a Palestinian 

refugee camp in southern 

Damascus today for the 

first time since the start of 

Syria’s more than 21-month 

conflict, the Syrian Observatory 

for Human Rights 

said. “Warplanes staged an 

air strike on an area near Al- 

Bassel hospital in Yarmuk 

camp, hurting several people,” 

it said. 

‘Germany still divided’ 

Reuters 

Berlin, December 16 

The majority of eastern Germans 

regard their western 

compatriots as "arrogant" 

and mostly interested in 

money, according to a new 

survey that highlights distinct 

identities. More than 22 years 

after reunification of Germany 

following the collapse 

of the Berlin Wall, a major 

study by the Allensbach Institute 

showed that easterners 

held negative views of westerners 

but high opinions of 

themselves. 

The study found 71 per 

PAGE 7 

cent easterners believe westerners 

are "arrogant", 57 per 

cent see westerners as interested 

in money, and 45 percent 

believe westerners are 

"shallow". 

"East Germans have only 

negative views of west Germans," 

wrote Welt am Sonntag 

newspaper, which published 

excerpts of the study 

today. The survey showed 

“strong perceptions” of separate 

identities between east 

Germans and west Germans 

more than two decades after 

the end of the Cold War that 

led to German unification on 

October 3, 1990.


TheHimalayan 

T I M E S 

A THOUGHT FOR T ODAY 

Life is divided into the horrible 

and the miserable. 

—Woody Allen 

Consensus now? 

Finally it looks like the various political parties are 

close to a deal. A package deal looks likely with the 

ruling coalition and the opposition backing down 

from their rigid stances. As things stand now, it is possible 

that a national consensus government led by 

Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala would be 

formed to hold the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections 

in April-May. It is understood that such a package 

deal would be reached by the parties within a 

week. What is indeed heartening is that the UML and 

NC would actually agree to some conditions that had 

been set by Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai for 

approving Koirala as the new prime minster. Now 

that as it looks that the deal is near there is every reason 

to expect the peace process to progress towards 

its logical end. The package that the parties were 

making apparently included the provision for a 

meeting of the present cabinet on the same day of the 

deal to recommend to the president the date of the 

fresh CA polls and to make amendments in the Interim 

Constitution to make way for the polls. The President 

would then okay the past ordinances made by 

the present government and upon the recommendations 

made by the political parties would appoint a 

new prime minister. 

Consensus is now near in that all the major political 

parties would be included in the new government. 

At the same time 

they would be making 

People are 

commitments to past 

fed up with the achievements as demanded 

by the ruling 

power game 

coalition that include fea- 

and also dirty tures such as republicanism, 

inclusion, federalism 

politics claiming and secularism. It is es- 

that they are sential that a consensus 

on the holding of the 

being betrayed by elections be reached 

each other 

within a week, otherwise 

it would be too late to 

hold the polls on April-May because of the logistics 

involved. Since now that a compromise to end the 

political impasse looks possible within the stipulated 

deadline, it behooves on all the stakeholders to contribute 

from their respective side to make consensus 

possible. The package deal would mean the solving 

of many serious impediments that the political parties 

could not overcome. However, with positive 

statements coming from the leaders of all the political 

parties, including the fringe ones we can expect a 

breakthrough sometime soon. 

Even Mohan Baidhya Chairman of the CPN- 

Maoists has now made it known that he is against 

armed revolt at present. Baidhya’s party is regarded to 

belong to hardliners who were previously not ruling 

out armed struggles to have their demands met. 

Baidhya’s statement of his intentions could not have 

come at a more opportune time for the ruling coalition 

and major opposition parties. The opportunity 

provided for a consensus which has been eluding the 

country’s political parties for sometime now should 

not be allowed to go in vain. It is high time that the 

leaders of the major political parties in particular 

shed their partisan and personal interests and acted 

on behalf of the country. The people are fed up with 

their power game and also dirty politics claiming that 

they are being betrayed by each other. The time now 

is to strike when the iron is hot and clinch a deal 

which after all upholds the interests of the various 

political parties and concerned stakeholders. 

Medical waste 

It is found that most of the hospitals, nursing 

homes, clinics and medical colleges are mixing 

medical wastes with general wastes. This is a dangerous 

practice for medical wastes are very toxic, and 

they could easily spread various diseases. Therefore, 

medical wastes should be treated with extra caution. 

So far only a few hospitals are abiding by the regulation 

that prohibits the mixing of hospital wastes with 

general wastes. Thus, it is laudable that the Solid 

Waste Management Technical Support Center 

(SWMTSC) is all set to study medical waste management 

soon. The hospitals should have medical waste 

management mechanisms in place, but most of 

them do not possess them. Hospitals are required to 

adhere by the law on waste management. The authorities 

should take stern steps against erring hospitals. 

Such hospitals could even face closure with the 

offenders receiving stiff punishments. After the study 

of hospital waste management in the country, the 

recommendations that the study would come up 

with should be implemented without further delay. 

• LETTERS 

Shameful 

coincidence 

This refers to “Shiwa sccumbs 

to burn injuries “(THT, Dec. 13, 

Page 1) and also the editorial 

“Primitive deal” (THT, Dec13, 

Page 8). While a 16-day 

campaign against all forms of 

violence against women was 

going on, at the same time a 

16-year old teenager Shiwa 

Hasmi was taking her last 

breath. What a shameful 

coincidence! My heart bled and 

tears rolled over my cheeks 

when I heard this news. I was 

shocked to know that she was 

doused with petrol and set on 

fire by her lover. The reason was 

she denied to elope with him. 

The lover also accepted that he 

did it to make her ugly enough 

so that no one would marry her 

in future. But worse was to 

come. She died with pouring 

tears from her eyes and 

wearing a garment of very 

painful blisters. However, even 

after this dreadful incident both 

the police department and her 

family members are mute and 

this has made the case more 

suspicious. So, the right time 

has come for all the concerned 

authorities, including human 

right workers, social workers, 

civil society members and 

the general public like us to 

make our voice louder for the 

necessary investigations and 

the utmost punishment to the 

culprit. 

Trilok Sharma, Tri-chandra 

Campus, Kathmandu 

Commonsense 

We as the trustee of time 

need to conserve and preserve 

SURATH GIRI 

Since the fall of the Soviet 

Union and dire performance 

of centrally planned 

economies, the world in 

general is moving towards 

open and market 

economies. The trend is 

highlighted by the increasing 

economic freedom 

around the world. According 

to the Economic Freedom 

of the World Report, 

the average economic freedom 

score of the world in 

1980 was 5.30 which has 

ever since increased steadily 

to 6.83 in 2010. One of the 

important aspects of a market 

based economy is the 

crucial role entrepreneurs 

and the private sector play 

in the economic growth and 

development. Entrepreneurship 

is slowly getting 

the recognition it deserves 

for its role in, among other 

things, poverty alleviation. 

United Nations’ Commission 

on the Private Sector 

and Development has acknowledged 

that “the private 

sector can alleviate 

poverty by contributing to 

economic growth, job creation 

and poor people’s incomes. 

It can also empower 

poor people by providing a 

broad range of products and 

services at lower prices.” 

India and China alone are 

home to more than 200 million 

small firm owners and 

• TOPICS 

RAJNI UPADHYAYA 

We have witnessed a string of 

changes over a relatively 

short number of years - be it political, 

social, cultural or infrastructural. 

Most of these 

changes have been dramatic 

and we have been unusually 

calm about it. A couple of 

months ago, talks of road expansion 

within the capital were rigorously 

put in action; houses 

were pulled down, pavements 

were dismantled and walls were 

redefined. Despite the discontentment 

amongst many who 

lost property without compensation, 

people were, and still are, 

hopeful. New roads meant new 

beginnings. The overall sentiment 

was to put the past behind 

the cultural heritage as 

inherited from our ancestors. 

The cultural heritage is linked 

with and epitomize the history 

of a society and that is rightly 

emphasized in the article 

“Thought on Heritage 

Preservation” (THT, Dec 12, 

Page 8). The commonsense 

knowledge is that it is essential 

to preserve the cultural heritage 

of a community, or for that 

matter of the nation, in order to 

ensure mankind’s survival with 

its identity. 

Zenith Sherstha, 

via e-mail 

Necessity 

This is with the reference to 

Adarsha Dhakal’s article 

“Prithu, Pradeep to hone 

batting skills with Mumbai 

Tour” (THT. Dec. 12, Page 14). 

entrepreneurs currently. India 

is said to be already enjoying 

the third wave of entrepreneurship 

that has 

transcended the national 

boundaries and is vying for 

international supremacy. 

Unfortunately, Nepal till 

date seems to be caught up 

in that particular phase. Entrepreneurship 

as a means 

of poverty alleviation and 

economic growth as of now 

does not resonate well with 

the government, intelligentsia 

and the development 

sector of Nepal. 

The first step to building 

an entrepreneurial ecosystem 

would be finding ways 

to tackle the stigma held by 

our society towards entrepreneurship 

and profitmaking. 

Society’s attitude 

towards business and profit-making 

as immoral and 

tantamount to cheating and 

robbing people can be a 

self-fulfilling prophecy and 

encourage the already pervasive 

crony capitalism in 

Nepal that has been benefiting 

a few at the cost of many. 

Values of entrepreneurship 

and innovation can be instilled 

in the students by introducing 

entrepreneurship 

in the curriculum from 

school level. Lack of any encounter 

with the idea of entrepreneurship 

during 

school curriculum has resulted 

in students seeking 

good employment as career 

Into the manhole 

and move forward. 

The keyword here was forward. 

Where? Into the manholes 

dug up by every single figure of 

authority who refuses to take responsibility 

for their actions? 

Right now, there is a lot of madness 

without any method to it. 

In just a few months we might 

have inhaled enough dust to get 

us bed-ridden with some chronic 

lung-disease and sadly, the 

near-certainty of ill health in the 

future is not even the most immediate 

of our concerns. In addition 

to the dust, the chaos and 

the debris that hasn’t been removed 

from the streets, there are 

electric wires dangling around in 

the main roads, and many, many 

uncovered manholes. Recently, 

someone I know fell into a 12 

• BLOG SURF • CARTOON 

Yep... 

Ican’t believe how lazy I’ve been about posting. 

Knowing how much time I have squandered 

religiously following late night talk 

shows (especially now that Conan’s on), I cannot 

pretend I was too occupied to update my 

blog either. 

No surprise here though, indolence can be 

counted among my defining characteristics. 

That and bursts of inspiration that keep me 

going for days without sleep. So I guess at the 

moment I am in an uninspired lull. 

The lull can’t last very long though, as I am 

now entering the final phase of my time here 

in Germany. 

My final exam dates have been finalized 

and my flights have been booked. The 

thought that I have less than two months remaining 

stirs up a weird feeling in the pit of 

my stomach. 

There is so much more I still want to do and 

see. I cannot go back yet! I have classes until 

the very last week of July and my exams are interspersed 

throughout the month. Not 

enough weekends to visit all the places I still 

want to go... —legalcrime.blogspot.com 

Growing enterprises in Nepal 

Entrepreneurship development 

CAN should even arrange such 

training camps to other players 

like openers, middle order 

batsmen and bowlers from 

right now if we want to see 

Nepal playing in the World 

Cup. It is an utmost necessity 

to act from now than to think 

about the Bermuda 

The first step to building an 

entrepreneurial ecosystem would 

be finding ways to tackle the stigma 

held by our society towards 

entrepreneurship and 

profit-making 

goals rather than starting a 

venture on their own. 

Next, in the entrepreneurial 

ecosystem is the access 

to capital and mentorship 

required for aspiring entrepreneurs. 

Venues for aspiring 

entrepreneurs to pitch 

their ideas and acquire necessary 

funding, to network 

with other entrepreneurs 

working in similar fields and 

practical suggestions and 

guidelines from a more ex- 

feet deep hole that was left uncovered 

and had no warning 

sign around it. He did get out of it 

because he had company who 

went looking out for him, only to 

find a faint voice echo from the 

pit hole. In the days that followed, 

the most common reaction 

to this was- “Couldn’t he 

have watched his steps?” He 

would, if he could. Unfortunately 

it was pitch dark, thanks to the 

load-shedding schedule. 

This problem isn’t yours or 

mine, it’s ours and there is no 

single person to blame for it. All I 

know is that this madness has to 

stop. The government should 

rise above their petty (who 

wants to occupy the chair next) 

problems and work collectively 

towards the betterment of the 

Tournament because the 

competition is going to be 

tougher than we think. CAN 

should bring more national 

level tournaments that 

would help us hunt other new 

talents because the present 

performance is depending on a 

certain pool of players. It seems 

perienced entrepreneur or 

leader have to be created to 

turn the ideas of entrepreneurship 

into reality. Private 

sector, especially non-governmental 

organizations 

and even self-help styled 

groups that aspiring entrepreneurs 

can form on their 

own can achieve this step in 

the ecosystem. 

The rising popularity of 

interaction and story sharing 

programs like Entrepre- 

citizens. And it should start with 

small things that are doable right 

now, which don’t require a lot of 

resources and which should certainly 

not require multiple high 

level meetings to resolve. For all 

the destruction and chaos that 

the government has put upon 

us, and which we have accepted 

without much fuss in hopes of a 

better future, they owe us at least 

this much to keep us safe. 

With all the pent up frustration 

against the inefficiency of 

the government, that day isn’t far 

when Nepal will face the consequences 

of another revolution. 

This time around it won’t need 

people fighting from the jungles 

to outdo a system: all we need is 

freedom of speech and expression 

and we already have that! 

that such training campaigns 

are initiated by our coach which 

should be done from CAN. 

Professionalism is only possible 

with better perks, incentives 

and enough training and 

exposure that secures lives of 

players, attracts them to play 

increasing their morale. The 

sports governing body should 

give special privilege and 

corporate sectors also should 

sponsor cricket so that it 

becomes professional like 

soccer because it is the only 

hope that brings Nepal to the 

World Cup. 

Weid Bhandary, via e-mail 


neur for Nepal’s Last Thursdays 

with an Entrepreneur 

shows that there is huge demand 

for such initiatives. 

Similarly, Biruwa Ventures, 

an attempt by 3 Nepali students 

to adopt the model of 

venture capitalism and provide 

support mechanism for 

aspiring entrepreneurs is 

getting wide appreciation. 

The concept of mentorship 

of young aspiring entrepreneurs 

by well-established 

entrepreneurs is slowly getting 

popular. Entrepreneurial 

journey does not stop 

here. Expansion and sustainability 

of the business 

venture that comes next is a 

crucial step for ensuring 

that businesses have a significant 

impact in the society 

through creation of long 

term job opportunities and 

capital formation. Commercial 

banks play a major 

role in this step. Financial 

institutions as of now are 

not eager to invest in areas 

outside of their traditional 

domains and businesses 

outside the well-established 

business houses although a 

few banks like Mega Bank 

have come up with loan 

mechanisms for aspiring 

small scale ventures. Government 

and civil society 

should also start focusing 

on recognizing entrepreneurs 

for their contribution 

in the economy and nation’s 

prosperity. The recently 

Letters to this column should be addressed to 

Letters C/o Edit Page Editor,The Himalayan Times, 

Post Box 11651,APCA House, 

Baidya Khana Road, Kathmandu, Nepal 

email: edit@thehimalayantimes.com, 

Fax 0977-1-4771959 

concluded Global Entrepreneurship 

Week which had 

35000 activities being organized 

around the world 

bringing message of entrepreneurship 

across to more 

than 7 million participants 

in 130 countries including 

Nepal is one such platform. 

Similarly, increasing recognition 

of social entrepreneurs 

and their contribution 

in solving society’s 

problems can be harnessed 

by complimenting such efforts 

with efforts from government 

as well. 

Last but not the least important 

aspect of entrepreneurship 

development is 

the policy regime of a country. 

Regulatory hurdles, corruption, 

political intervention 

in the economy has 

made Nepal one of the 

toughest countries to do 

business. The poor performance 

of Nepal is the Doing 

Business Report is a wellknown 

fact for our private 

sector as well as policymakers. 

Being the domain of the 

government, policy reforms 

and business environment 

enhancements have to be 

carried out by the government. 

The government’s 

priority should be on how to 

create a nation of entrepreneurs 

rather than a nation 

of job-seekers or providing 

employment to everyone. 

surath_giri@hotmail.com 

• THT 10 YEARS AGO 

Progress in bandh 

talks 


Kathmandu,December 16,2002 

Three days after formation of a committee 

for mediating talks between 

the All Nepal National Free Students’ 

Union -Revolutionary (ANNFSU-R) and 

the government to end the shutdown of 

schools, a committee member today disclosed 

that they had a formal talkwith a 

high level ANNFSU-R member over the 

issue today. Earlier, the committee had 

discussed the issue with top government 

officials at the ministry of education and 

sports. “Both the government and the 

students union have shown interest in 

solving the present chaos by holding 

talks. The discussions held till now are 

positive steps towards a solution of the 

problem,” said the Padma Ratna Tuladhar 

who is heading the three- member 

committee. The other members of the 

committee are Sudeep Pathak and Birendra 

Keshari Pokharel. However, Tuladhar 

said that further discussions with the assistant 

minister for education and sports 

Rabindra Khanal will take place once the 

minister and the other two members of 

the mediating committee return to town. 

He also said that the preliminary talks 

with both the parties were held on condition 

that nothing regarding the talks 

would be disclosed until a date is set for 

talks between the government and the 

pro-Maoist student union. 

Govt prescription riles 

druggists 

Razen Manandhar 

Kathmandu,December 16,2002 

The urban residents were hopeful that 

the government’s attempt to include 

pharmacists in druggists and chemists 

stores would provide better medication 

services, but it has rather stopped the 

growth of such stores in cities. The Department 

of Drug Administration (DDA), 

a government institution to control distribution 

of medicine, issued a public notice 

in June stating that certificate in 

pharmacy was a prerequisite qualification 

for opening a new druggists’ and 

chemists’ store in metropolitan, submetropolitan 

and municipal areas of the 

country.Earlier, the owners could get a license 

for a new store with 21-day orientation 

training provided by the DDA. The 

trainees had to pass SLC.As a result, according 

to DDA officials, very few new 

medical stores were opened in past five 

months in urban areas.” It is absolutely 

an impractical provision. A owner of a 

drugstore only provides the medicine to 

the patients according the the medical 

prescription. He or she need not be an 

expert in medicine,” said Krishna Ram 

Syasa, the owner of the Bajra Pharmacy 

at Dallu.”And how can you expect a pharmacist 

to open a shop and sell the medicine 

following the doctors’ prescription? 

Such a kind of manpower must be in factories, 

not in drugstores,” asked he. A 

druggist at Bangemuda, Kathmandu, 

who refused to be identified, said that the 

new provision has only opened a door for 

the government officials to demand 

bribe for providing illegal permission to 

open drugstores.


NEIGHBOURS 

Six ultras killed in Pakistan 


Peshawar, December 16 

Six people were killed today 

as police and troops battled 

militants armed with automatic 

weapons, grenades 

and mortars in northwest 

Pakistan’s Peshawar, a day 

after the deadly Taliban raid 

on the city’s airport. 

Fierce firing broke out after 

the police stormed a 

building near the airport, 

where a suicide and rocket 

attack yesterday killed five 

civilians, five attackers and 

50 others were injured. 

Late yesterday’s assault, 

claimed by the Pakistani 

Taliban, sparked prolonged 

gunfire and forced authorities 

to close the airport, a 

commercial hub and Pakistan 

Air Force (PAF) base in 

Peshawar on the edge of the 

tribal belt. It was the second 

Islamist militant attack in 

four months on a military 

air base in Pakistan. 

Police backed by troops 

had launched a raid early 

today on a building under 

construction near the airport 

following reports that 

five militants who fled after 

the airport attack had taken 

refuge there, said provincial 

information minister Mian 

Iftikhar Hussain. 

In the subsequent 

shootout three militants 

and a policemen were killed 

while two other officers 

were wounded, police said. 

The clashes ended after six 

hours when the two remaining 

militants detonated 

their suicide vests inside 

the building. “All five militants 

are dead now and the 

area has been cleared,” Altaf 

said. “All of them were wearing 

suicide jackets. Three 

were killed in a shootout, 

while two others blew 

themselves up in the underconstruction 

building,” he 

added. A PAF statement 

said five attackers were 

killed yesterday and no 

damage was done to any air 

force personnel or equipment, 

though Taliban 

spokesman Ehsanullah 

Ehsan claimed the assault 

had damaged “several helicopters 

and aircraft”. 

The air force said yesterday’s 

attackers used two vehicles 

loaded with explosives, 

hand grenades, rocket-propelled 

grenades and 

automatic weapons. One 

vehicle was destroyed and 

the second badly damaged. 

Taliban spokesman 

Ehsan said the target was 

not the civilian airport but 

the military. 

A dancer of London's the Dream Engine performing under the heliosphere, a massive helium balloon, with the 

backdrop of Hong Kong's skyline on Sunday. 

Body of royal hoax call victim 

arrives in her hometown 


Mangalore, December 16 

The body of an Indianborn 

nurse who was found 

hanged after taking a hoax 

call to the hospital treating 

Prince William’s wife arrived 

in Mangalore today 

following a memorial mass 

in London. 

Jacintha Saldanha, 46, 

apparently committed suicide 

after answering the 

prank telephone call from 

two Australian radio DJs to 

the hospital where Catherine 

was admitted during 

the early stages of her pregnancy. 

Saldanha’s funeral is expected 

to take place on 

Monday near Mangalore in 

Shirva, the home town of 

her husband Benedict Barboza, 

who accompanied 

her body on today’s flight 

to India along with their 

son, 16, and daughter, 14. 

“Jacintha and her family, 

they were working in the 

UK to earn their daily 

bread,” Stany Tauro, priest 

of the Our Lady of Health 

Church in Shirva, said. 

“The community is sad 

over the death.” 

He said locals were 

proud that she had been a 

successful nurse who 

worked in a hospital where 

the British royal family 

were treated, but that many 

were shocked at the 

tragedy. 

Tauro said residents 

would be able to pay their 

final respects to the body 

before the service of mass 

scheduled at 1030 GMT 

and the burial ceremony. 

C Mutthiah, deputy 

commissioner of police in 

Mangalore, confirmed the 

body had landed in Mangalore, 

while a family 

source said it would be 

kept in a mortuary 

overnight and taken to 

Shirva tomorrow. 

Saldanha’s body arrived 

a day after the nurse’s children 

told a service at London’s 

Westminster Cathe- 

dral that her death had created 

“an unfillable void” in 

their lives. 

“We will miss your 

laughter, the loving memories 

and the good times we 

had together. The house is 

an empty dwelling without 

your presence,” her daughter 

Lisha said. 

A London inquest last 

week heard that Saldanha, 

who moved to Britain 

around 12 years ago, had 

been found hanged in staff 

accommodation on December 

7 and that there 

were no suspicious circumstances 

over her death. 

A few days earlier she put 

the prank call from a Australian 

radio station 

through to a colleague who 

relayed confidential details 

about Catherine’s severe 

morning sickness to the 

DJs. Saldanha left three 

notes, one reportedly criticised 

her colleagues over 

her treatment at the King 

Edward VII private hospital 

after the hoax call. 

A Bangladeshi girl waving a national flag and flowers while paying tribute to 

liberation war martyrs during the Victory Day celebrations, in Dhaka, on Sunday. 

Reuters 

Reuters 

Delhi under 

pressure to 

free Italian 

marines 

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 16 

Italy’s Defence Minister Giampaolo 

Di Paolo today 

visited two Italian marines 

accused of killing two fishermen 

off the coast of 

southern India, stepping up 

pressure to allow the men 

home for Christmas after 

the case flared into a diplomatic 

spat. 

The sailors, members of a 

military security team protecting 

the cargo ship Enrica 

Lexie from pirate attacks, 

open fired on a fishing boat 

they mistook for a pirate 

craft off the southern state 

of Kerala in February. The 

killings of the unarmed 

fishermen triggered outrage 

in India. 

Earlier in the week, Italy 

summoned India’s ambassador 

in Rome and expressed 

“strong disappointment” 

that India’s Supreme 

Court had delayed a decision 

on which country the 

two marines should be 

tried in. 

Italy wants the Supreme 

Court to rule that the shooting 

took place in international 

waters, outside India’ 

jurisdiction. That would 

open the way for the 

marines to be tried in Italy, 

where their case has become 

a national cause celebre. 

The two marines, Massimiliano 

Latorre and Salvatore 

Girone, have filed a 

petition with Kerala’s High 

Court, seeking permission 

to return to Italy for two 

weeks over Christmas. 

Alms rules to keep monks in great shape 


Colombo, December 16 

Sri Lanka today unveiled new guidelines 

encouraging devotees to donate 

low-sugar, healthier food to the 

country’s Buddhist monks after 

warnings that half of them risk developing 

diabetes. 

Sri Lanka’s monks eat food containing 

on average 12 teaspoons of 

sugar a day, but it should be reduced 

to a maximum of eight, while salt intake 

must also come down sharply, 

the health ministry said in its new 

diet guidelines. 

“Diabetes and other non-communicable 

diseases among Buddhist 

monks can be reduced if the faithful 

follow the new diet guidelines,” the 

ministry said. It further said that 

alms should not include more than 

one dish containing cooking oil. 

Fifty per cent of the island’s 40,000 

venerated monks face the risk of diabetes 

compared to the national average 

of 10 per cent and the clergy also 

suffers a higher risk of heart disease, 

the ministry noted. Buddhism is the 

religion of the majority of Sri Lanka’s 

AP / RSS 

20 million people, who believe offering 

meals, cakes, biscuits and sweets 

to monks will bring them good karma 

in this life as well as in the next. 

The food is made with great care 

and is often extremely rich. 

The new guidelines suggest there 

should be long-grain rice, three vegetables 

and two types of fruit served 

to monks. Buddhists who believe in 

reincarnation also offer food to 

monks in a bid to transfer good luck 

to departed loved ones. Worshippers 

book up to a year in advance to be 

given the chance to cook for monks. 

PAGE 9


Business 

• BIZ BRIEFS 

AFP / RSS 

People protesting the government's 

austerity measures, in Lisbon, on 

Sunday. 

RIM out of Nasdaq 100 

WASHINGTON: Canadian company 

Research in Motion (RIM) — the 

makers of BlackBerry mobilephones 

— will no longer be part of the Nasdaq 

100 index, the market operator 

reported on its website. The index — 

which includes the 100 largest non-financial 

companies listed on the electronic 

exchange — said RIM was one 

of 10 firms to be removed from the index 

in its annual revision process. 

RIM has seen its star fade over the 

past several years as it faced stiff 

competition from the advent of smart 

phones like the iPhone and others 

running the Android platform. Facing 

difficulties, it is pinning its hopes on 

the BlackBerry 10, to be unveiled January 

30 — a new generation of 

phones and operating system. 

Among the firms joining the Nasdaq 

100 on Monday are semi-conductor 

maker Analog Devices and internet 

infrastructure company VeriSign. —AFP 

Chevron to pay fine 

RIO DE JANEIRO: US oil giant 

Chevron has agreed to pay 310 million 

reales ($155 million) to Brazil for 

an oil spill last year that fouled beaches 

in Rio de Janeiro, officials said. 

Government news service Agencia 

Brasil said 90 million reales would be 

used exclusively for environmental 

cleanup and 220 million reales would 

serve for measures to prevent future 

spills. Federal prosecutor Gisele Porto 

said that the fine should send a message 

to all oil producers that ‘it is better 

to invest in preventive measures 

than to pay a fine for polluting.’ An 

official from Chevron Brazil, Rafael 

Jaen Williamson, said the firm admitted 

guilt for the disaster and made 

the payment to show that it was prepared 

to make amends. The November 

2011 spill saw some 3,000 barrels 

of crude soil the waters of the Atlantic 

near the Frade oil field, located some 

370 kilometers northwest of Rio. — AFP 

Pak to plant olive trees 

ISLAMABAD: Four million olive 

saplings will be planted in Pakistan’s 

northwest tribal province of Khyber 

Pakhtunkhwa for the region to become 

self-sufficient in cooking oil, a 

minister said. Provincial minister for 

Agriculture Arbab Ayub Jan said the 

government has launched a Pakistani 

Rs 500 million mechanised farming 

plan to bring in an agriculture revolution. 

Problems like poverty, lawlessness 

and unemployment could be 

partly overcome with agricultural development, 

as Pakistan could grow 

different crops, fruits and vegetables 

through the year. The minister said 

the government was also focusing on 

new fruit orchards. New cold storages 

and plants for grading and polishing 

of fruits will be built. — Agencies 

Voestalpine to expand 

VIENNA: Austria’s group Voestalpine 

is considering a plan to build a $1 billion 

plant in the United States that 

would convert iron ore into concentrate 

used in steelmaking, Trend magazine 

reported. Voestalpine declined 

to comment on the report, which was 

released ahead of publication on 

Monday. Trend said the plant was envisioned 

for a coastal city in the 

southern United States, given cheap 

and reliable supplies of natural gas, 

political stability and efficient port 

infrastructure. A source familiar with 

the situation said such a plan was under 

consideration but no decisions 

were imminent. Voestalpine CEO 

Wolfgang Eder has been pushing for 

foreign expansion to help diversify 

from Europe, where he says political 

opposition to closing plants is weighing 

on efforts to address chronic 

overcapacity in the steel sector. — Reuters 

AFP / RSS 

THE HIMALAYAN TIMES, MONDAY,DECEMBER 17, 2012 

NRB recognises mobile payment portals 



Mobile payment portals can 

now gain momentum as the 

central bank has officially 

recognised it as part of the 

branchless banking model. 

Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) issued 

a circular today allowing 

branchless banking agents of 

banks to make payments 

through mobile phone technology. 

Earlier, the central 

bank had only authorised 

banks to consider Point-of- 

Sale (PoS) machine transactions 

under the branchless 

banking system. 

Earlier in June, NRB had 

spelt out the services that financial 

institutions could allow 

their customers to undertake 

through business agents, 

mobile, internet and e-card 

banking along with defining 

their area of operation, but the 

central bank had missed allowing 

mobile payments as part of 

branchless banking. 

The circular has said that 

banks can provide mobile 

phone services to make deposits 

and payments for their 

customers through the banks’ 

appointed agents. However, 

banks need to incorporate the 

system that will make real time 

changes in the customers’ accounts 

accordingly immediately 

after the transactions. 

“As NRB has officially recognised 

mobile phone payments 

as part of branchless banking, 

mobile payment portals will be 

popular among financial institutions,” 

said executive chairman 

of Finaccess Sanjay B 

Shah. Finaccess operates Hello 

Paisa, a mobile financial service 

platform that allows access 

to mobile wallet through 

mobile banking. 

The multi-bank mobile 

banking portal, Hello Paisa, 

has also launched a facility 

that allows mobile holders to 

transact through mobile 

phones even without a bank 

account. “This directive has 

given service providers like us 

a clear path and we are hopeful 

more banks will be involved in 

mobile banking payments that 

increases their outreach at 

minimum cost,” he added. 

Branchless banking and mobile 

money have become prudent 

choices for financial institutions 

worldwide to expand 

their service base instead of 

competing to open more 

brick-and-mortar branches in 

the already crowded town 

hubs. Amidst this situation, 

branchless banking and mo- 

A Chinese customer shopping at Harrods department store, in London, on Sunday ahead of Christmas.With their shelves spilling 

over with festive goodies, London's department stores are working hard to attract Christmas shoppers. 

Nepse index crosses 500 points 

Surges due to positive political development 



The positive political development 

has once again 

launched the stock market to 

a new high, making the 

benchmark index approach 

510 points, today. 

As the major political parties 

have agreed to reach a 

new deal within this week to 

form a new government, investors 

once again are betting 

on stocks based on future 

prospects following the 

political consensus. 

The index jumped by 

12.11 points today sending 

the index to another 30month 

high to 509.03 points. 

On November 10, the index 

had crossed 500 points after 

two and a half years. 

The index had reached 

this height in May 2010. 

Since December 2010, the 

index had plunged below 

400 points and even reached 

292 points back in June 2011. 

In the last one year, it was 

hovering around 300 points 

which started to rise since 

April. In the past seven 

months, the index has scaled 

up by more than 67 per cent 

after the political parties finally 

agreed on the integration 

of combatants in mid- 

April this year. 

Investors are buying 

shares in expectations that a 

solution to the current politi- 


Rome, December 16 

One of Ernest Hemingway’s 

favourite watering holes, the 

legendary Harry’s Bar in Venice, 

is being forced to slash costs 

due to rising debts and a sharp 

drop in visitors. 

The canalside bar opened in 

1931 in a narrow alley next to 

the city’s famous St Mark’s 

Square and quickly became a 

popular stop on the celebrity 

circuit, counting Truman 

Capote, Charlie Chaplin and 

cal deadlock will once again 

help in the surge of share 

prices in a similar manner. 

Even a small step towards 

political deals have been 

swaying the capital market 

in the last half year. 

Today, all the subgroups 

except for hotels were able to 

register gains. The hydropower 

subgroup was the 

biggest earner of the day by 

gaining 21.45 points as 

Chilime Hydropower and 

Butwal Power Company 

gained Rs 26 and Rs 15 per 

unit share, respectively. 

Commercial banks gained 

16.88 points as share prices 

of major commercial banks 

appreciated. Development 

banks earned 0.19 points 

and insurance companies 

earned 2.35 points, while finance 

companies earned 

0.63 points. Nepal Telecom 

gained Rs 10 per unit share 

but its shares were traded in 

a small amount and the others 

subgroup gained only 

2.35 points. 

Hotels subgroup lost 0.38 

points. Due to the increased 

share prices, market capitalisation 

of the stock exchange 

increased to Rs 482.87 billion 

today. Likewise, the transaction 

volume reached Rs 

153.2 million today, while 

last week’s average transaction 

at Nepse amounted to 

Rs 70 million only. 

Today, 361,282 unit shares 

of 78 companies were traded 

in 1451 transactions at the 

stock exchange. Global IME 

Bank’s shares were the 

biggest earner of the day, 

while Nirdhan Utthan Bank 

was the biggest loser. 

Shares of Nepal Investment 

Bank and Everest Bank 

witnessed the highest trading 

in the day. 

H & B Bank’s trading suspended 

KATHMANDU: Nepal 

Stock Exchange (Nepse) 

suspended the trading of 

H & B Development Bank 

Ltd. The development 

bank is now dealing with a 

crisis following the involvement 

of a bank official 

in issuing bogus ‘good 

for payment’ cheques 

which were later used as 

Orson Welles among its regulars. 

An international luxury 

brand, one of its claims to fame 

is the pink-coloured Bellini 

cocktail — a mixture of peach 

juice and Prosecco sparkling 

wine that is now a global staple. 

“Those were good times,” Arrigo 

Cipriani, the 80-year-old 

son of founder Giuseppe Cipriani, 

was quoted as saying by the 

Corriere della Sera daily on Sunday. 

But the bar’s accounts have 

plunged into the red in recent 

years. “From 2008 to now we 

have seen a 20- to 30-per cent 

collateral by the accomplices 

to take loans from 

other financial institutions 

and cooperatives. As a result, 

the development 

bank is in trouble. There 

are 8.98 million unit shares 

of the bank listed at Nepse 

whose market capitalisation 

stands at Rs 826.09 

million. — HNS 

drop in clients. Venice now gets 

a lot of day trippers, not quality 

tourists,” Cipriani said. 

“The new rich arriving from 

China and Russia do not make 

up for the Americans who used 

to be a regular presence all year 

round,” he added. 

Blue Sky Investment, the 

group that controls the bar together 

with the Cipriani family, 

has now stepped in and will act 

as ‘an external administrator’ to 

cut salary costs at the bar, which 

employs 75 people, Corriere 

della Sera reported. 

EU, Singapore 

agree terms on 

free trade deal 

Reuters 

Brussels, December 16 

European Union (EU) and Singapore 

agreed terms of a free trade deal on 

Sunday, a move that should further 

open Singapore’s markets for financial 

services and make it easier for European 

automakers to export there. 

“We have finalised the negotiations, 

and I’m very pleased with the result,” 

EU Trade Commissioner Karel De 

Gucht told Reuters by telephone from 

Singapore. After the completion of negotiations 

by European Commission, 

the EU executive, member states and 

European Parliament need to sign off 

for the agreement to come into force. 

Though EU countries have in the 

past sometimes rejected such deals 

for political reasons, this is unlikely 

to happen with Singapore, as EU leaders 

in October called for a swift conclusion 

of negotiations. 

“I don’t expect that many problems,” 

De Gucht said, adding he hoped for finalisation 

by the end of 2013. 

The bloc hopes the agreement will 

give it better access to Singapore, one 

of Asia’s richest countries per head of 

population, where currently the United 

States enjoys preferential access. 

Singapore has a population of only 5 

million, but it is also a gateway to the 

600 million people in the fast-growing 

economies of the 10-member Association 

of South East Asian Nations 

(ASEAN). EU is the city state’s second 

biggest trade partner after neighbouring 

Malaysia, with bilateral trade in 

goods amounting to 46 billion euros. 

Crisis threatens historic Harry’s Bar in Venice 

The bar traces its origins back 

to when Cipriani’s father was a 

hotel bartender in Venice who 

came across Harry Pickering, a 

young American who had been 

cut off by his wealthy family in 

Boston because of his drinking 

habit. Cipriani lent Pickering 

some money and grateful Pickering 

returned the favour years 

later, giving Cipriani enough 

money to open his own bar. 

Cipriani bars, clubs and 

restaurants operate in Abu 

Dhabi, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, 

Moscow and New York. 

bile banking have become important 

instruments to reach a 

wider mass at a relatively lower 

cost rather than setting up 

branches in villages that do not 

have a sizable population. 

“Since mobile penetration in 

Nepal is more than 55 per cent 

of the total population, mobile 

banking is a suitable method 

to increase financial access,” 

said Shah. 

“NRB is promoting mobile 

banking so that financial access 

in remote areas where 

bank branches are not viable 

will also be included in the financial 

service net,” said 

spokesperson for the central 



Migrant workers from 

Nepal, Indonesia, Philippines 

and other Asian nations 

protested in Hong 

Kong for their rights. About 

2,000 workers took part in a 

rally organised to mark the 

International Migrants Day 

that falls on December 18. 

They shouted slogans at 

the government headquarters. 

“The government is 

trying very hard to exclude 

Asian migrant workers from 

equal benefits,” Eni Lestari 

an Indonesia activist from 

• STOCK 

SN NAME OF THE COMPANY SHARE VALUE IN RUPEES SHARES QTY 

Maximum Minimum Closing 

1 Ace Development Bank Limited 123 121 123 652 

2 Agricultural Development Bank Ltd 224 207 215 5,244 

3 Arun Valley Hydropower Dev. Co. Ltd. 346 330 334 8,710 

4 Asian Life Insurance Co. Limited 243 243 243 70 

5 Bottlers Nepal (Terai)Ltd. 1,100 1,100 1,100 100 

6 Bank of Kathmandu 664 642 647 14,073 

7 Butwal Power Co. Ltd.814 794 800 4,069 

8 Bishwa Bikas Bank Limited 152 151 151 140 

9 Business Universal Dev. Bank Ltd. 111 111 111 200 

10 Chhimek Laghubitta Bikas Bank Ltd. 421 405 421 255 

11 City Development Bank Limited 167 167 167 11 

12 Clean Energy Development Bank Ltd. 182 180 180 690 

13 Chilime Hydro power Co. 1,170 1,130 1,154 9,116 

14 Citizen Investment Trust 1,000 1,000 1,000 60 

15 Country Development Bank Ltd. 69 67 68 320 

16 Citizens Bank International Limited 271 259 270 11,623 

17 Diprox Development Bank 300 300 300 190 

18 Everest Bank Ltd 1,269 1,218 1,255 15,378 

19 Everest Bank Ltd. Convertible Pre. 769 740 769 84 

20 Excel Development Bank Ltd. 348 348 348 80 

21 Garima Bikas Bank Limited 163 163 163 100 

22 Global IME Bank Limited 430 396 429 27,653 

23 Guras Life Insurance Co. Ltd. 155 150 155 2,490 

24 Grand Bank Nepal Ltd. 208 198 208 8,671 

25 H & B Development Bank Ltd. 92 92 92 500 

26 Himalayan Bank Ltd. 815 800 802 564 

27 Himalayan Fin. Ltd. (Bittiya Sanstha) 37 37 37 20 

28 International Leasing And Fin. Co. 112 110 111 2,218 

29 Jyoti Bikas Bank Limited 89 87 89 790 

30 Janata Bank Nepal Ltd. 166 156 162 53,110 

31 Janaki Finance Ltd. 275 270 274 900 

32 Kaski Finance Limited 107 105 105 259 

33 Kumari Bank Ltd 270 259 270 3,546 

34 Kasthamandap Dev. Bank Ltd. 80 79 79 213 

35 KIST Bank Limited 148 141 145 33,610 

36 Laxmi Bank Limited 369 362 366 5,930 

37 Lumbini General Insurance 118 118 118 320 

38 Lumbini Bank Ltd. 265 256 263 5,522 

39 Machhachapuchhre Bank Ltd 203 194 199 7,142 

40 Malika Bikash Bank Limited 138 138 138 200 

41 Manakamana Dev. Bank Limited 69 66 69 1,110 

42 Muktinath Bikas Bank Ltd. 271 266 271 760 

43 Multipurpose Finance Co. Ltd. 87 87 87 400 

44 Nabil Bank Ltd. 1,534 1,500 1,528 4,987 

45 NABIL Bank Limited Promotor Share 999 950 969 2,101 

46 Nepal Bangladesh Bank Ltd. 267 253 259 37,916 

47 Nepal Credit And Com. Bank 195 185 195 3,230 

48 NIDC Capital Markets Ltd. 151 151 151 200 

49 Nilgiri Bikas Bank Limited 130 130 130 90 

50 Nepal Investment Bank Ltd. 906 875 904 23,485 

51 Nepal Insurance Co.Ltd. 290 290 290 13 

52 Nerude Laghubita Bikas Bank Limited 400 400 400 264 

53 Nepal Life Insurance Co. Ltd. 1,455 1,430 1,455 300 

54 National LifeInsu. Co.Ltd. 480 480 480 153 

55 NMB Bank Ltd. 258 245 255 4,859 

56 Nepal Doorsanchar Company Limited 671 662 670 5,860 

57 Nirdhan Utthan Bank Ltd. 200 200 200 500 

58 Oriental Hotel Ltd. 113 111 111 140 

59 Prime Commercial Bank Limited 295 281 295 2,004 

60 Prime Life Insurance Co. Limited 310 296 307 1,480 

61 Prabhu Finance Company Limited 148 143 146 1,352 

62 Purnima Bikas Bank Limited 79 79 79 200 

63 Reliable Finance Limited 150 150 150 800 

64 Sanima Bank Ltd. 272 257 272 12,179 

65 Nepal SBI Bank Limited 743 692 743 10,100 

66 Siddhartha Bank Limited 331 322 323 1,579 

67 Standard Chartered Bank Ltd. 2,109 1,990 2,045 3,502 

68 Sagarmatha Insurance Co.Ltd 724 715 724 191 

69 Shikhar Insurance Co. Ltd. 395 381 395 60 

70 Sagarmatha Mer. B. And Fi. Ltd. 118 114 118 400 

71 Sunrise Bank Limited 186 174 184 6,109 

72 Subhechha Bikas Bank Limited 144 144 144 13 

73 Supreme Development Bank Ltd. 79 79 79 10 

74 Triveni Bikash B. Ltd Promoter Share 165 162 162 7,894 

75 Tourism Development Bank Ltd. 108 106 108 1,600 

76 Western Development Bank Limited 89 88 88 536 

77 Yeti Finance Limited 123 123 123 82 

Float Index: 35.66 (0.681) 

Base: 24/08/2008=100 

bank Bhaskar Mani Gyanwali. 

The central bank allows financial 

institutions of all categories 

to provide banking services 

using mobile devices 

through SMS or use of mobile 

banking platforms. However, 

they can operate the service in 

rural areas only. 

Everest Bank, Siddhartha 

Bank and Mega Bank use 

smart cards and agents to provide 

financial services to the 

rural clientèle. Likewise, Kumari 

Bank’s Mobile Cash and 

Laxmi Bank’s Mobile Money 

use the mobile network as a 

platform to allow banking 

transactions. 

Migrants protest in HK 

Asia Migrants Coordinating 

Body said. There are more 

than 300,000 foreign domestic 

helpers in Hong 

Kong, mainly from Indonesia 

and the Philippines, and 

also from Thailand, Sri Lanka 

and Nepal. 

About 3,000 Nepalis are 

believed to be working in 

Hong Kong. It has banned 

Nepalis from joining jobs 

there because of the problem 

of illegal stay or as asylum 

seekers since 2006. 

Nepali women have been 

working in the country as 

domestic helps and earn 

about HK$3,920 monthly. 

Total Traded Amount Rs: 153,253,396 

Total Market Cap Rs: 482,887.99 millions 

Total Shares: 361,282 

Total Transactions: 1,447 

Nepse Index: 509.03 (12.11) 

Base: 16/07/2006, (Adjusted on 10/04/2007) = 100 Date: December 16, 2012


BUSINESS 

• BIZ BRIEFS 

AFP / RSS 

Palestinians protesting the Paris 

Protocol and Oslo Agreement, both 

key accords which govern economic 

ties between Palestinians and 

Israelis, in West Bank, on Sunday. 

Komatsu holds meet 

KATHMANDU: Continental Trading 

Enterprises — the sole authorised 

distributor of Komatsu Heavy Equipment 

in 

the country 

— organised 

‘Komatsu 

Parts 

Conference 

and 

Road 

Show 

2012’. The 

company 

has been organising the programme 

for the past three years with an objective 

to make customers aware of the 

benefits of using genuine spare parts 

instead of the spurious and cheaper 

parts available in the market. It was 

organised in Kathmandu by Continental 

and in Bhairahawa in association 

with the Western Regional dealer 

Pathak International Trading. Guest 

technical representatives from Komatsu 

Asia Pacific had informed the 

attendees about the new developments 

in equipment and technology 

in new spare parts. — HNS 

Italy’s recovery in 2013 

ROME: Italy’s economic recovery is 

likely to begin in the third or fourth 

quarter of 2013, central bank governor 

said on Sunday, urging any new 

government to continue reforms and 

cut red tape for businesses. “Our 

analyses suggest that there is a higher 

than 50 percent probability that the 

turnaround will come in the third or 

fourth quarter of 2013,” Bank of Italy 

chief Ignazio Visco said. Visco also 

said there had been a ‘significant’ 

lowering of tensions on the debt market 

for Italy in recent months due to 

the return of foreign investors and 

Italian banks that enabled the treasury 

to sell long-term bonds. — AFP 

H&M under pressure 

LONDON: Rights activists in Britain 

launched a campaign on Sunday calling 

on Swedish retail giant H&M to 

take concrete action to stop using 

cotton harvested by forced labour in 

Uzbekistan. H&M, the world’s second-largest 

fashion retailer, is one of 

more than 100 firms that have signed 

a global pledge in past year promising 

to ‘not knowingly’ use Uzbek cotton 

in their clothes, but campaigners 

said they want it to do more. “We 

want to know what’s behind that 

pledge, what steps have firms taken 

to actually ensure Uzbek cotton isn’t 

in their supply chain,” said Joanna 

Ewart-James, programme coordinator 

at Anti-Slavery International. — AFP 

A380 as ‘flying palace’ 

DUBAI: Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed 

bin Talal will soon take delivery 

of the world’s first customised 

A380 superjumbo, dubbed ‘the flying 

palace’ for its luxury. Alwaleed, estimated 

to be worth around $21.3 billion, 

has reportedly paid $485 million 

for the world’s biggest private jet expected 

for delivery next year. The 

A380 jumbo is believed to include 

four-poster beds, five suites with 

king-size beds, a prayer room featuring 

‘computer generated prayer mats’ 

which face Makkah. “The A380 is 

planned for next year 2013.” — Agencies 

• FOREX RATES 

The foreign exchange rates for December 17 as fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank are as follows: 

CURRENCY UNIT BUYING (in Rs.) SELLING (in Rs.) 

Swiss Franc 1 94.62 95.27 

Australian Dollar 1 91.74 92.37 

Canadian Dollar 1 88.16 88.77 

Singapore Dollar 1 71.21 71.70 

Saudi Arab Riyal 1 23.16 23.32 

Qatari Riyal 1 23.85 24.02 

Thai Bhat 1 2.84 2.86 

UAE Dihram 1 23.65 23.81 

Malaysian Ringit 1 28.41 28.61 

Swedish Krona 1 13.00 

Danish Krona 1 15.32 

Hong Kong Dollar 1 11.21 

Note: Under the present system the open market exchange rates quoted by 

different /commercial banks may differ. 

Fertiliser crunch 

to continue next 

year, says AIC 

No budget to import additional 

170,000 metric tonnes 



The country will face an acute 

shortage of fertilisers next year. 

The government has not allocated 

sufficient funds to purchase subsidised 

chemical fertilisers for the 

next paddy plantation season. 

Agriculture Inputs Company 

(AIC) does not have funds to buy 

chemical fertilisers, said managing 

director of the company Shashiraj 

Tuladhar. “AIC has bought 130,000 

metric tonnes (MT) of chemical 

fertilisers from the subsidy provided 

in the special budget,” he said, 

adding that the budget has provided 

Rs 283 million in subsidy. However, 

the government entity has already 

spent Rs 291 million. 

“We will face fertiliser shortage 

next year, if it is not worked out on 

time,” he said, “AIC needs Rs 298 

million to import 105,000 MT of 

fertilisers for paddy.” According to 

Tuladhar, it takes about three to 

four months to import chemical 

fertilisers from the international 

market. However, AIC does not 

have the money to import such a 

large consignment, he added. 

The government has planned to 

import about 300,000 MT subsidised 

chemical fertilisers in fiscal 

year 2012-13, when the total demand 

will be about 800,000 MT. 

Though subsidised chemical fertilisers 

is just 37.5 per cent of demand, 

the government is not realising 

the budget on time. 

Meanwhile, AIC has been distributing 

organic fertilisers to reduce 

the dependency on chemical 

fertilisers. “So far, AIC has distributed 

about 5,000 MT organic fertilisers 

according to the government 

plan,” Tuladhar said. 

The company has been selling 

DAP fertilisers at Rs 45,000 per MT 

and potash at Rs 30,547 per MT 

across the country. The company 

has collected Rs 133.78 million 

compensation from Indian Potash 

Ltd as the company had supplied 

less quantity last year. However, we 

have to distribute it to farmers, he 

added. 

STC to start the 

business 

KATHMANDU: Government 

is planning to give a large 

share of the chemical fertiliser 

business to Salt Trading Corporation 

(STC). Government 

is granting right to STC without 

consulting stakeholders, 

said president of Agriculture 

Input Employees’ Association 

Shiva Prasad Khatiwada on 

Sunday. Officials at Ministry of 

Agriculture Development 

(MoAD) have admitted to the 

development but refused to 

comment. It is a high-level decision 

and MoAD does not 

know details, an official said. 

According to him, the process 

was started at Ministry of 

Commerce and Supplies. — HNS 

Malware to affect Android system 



Cyber security analysts have 

warned that mobile malware 

will affect more smartphones 

working on Android operating 

system in 2013. They have said 

that the security of smartphones 

will worsen and people 

will have to be more careful. 

“The trend for 2013 will be 

an exponential growth in mobile 

malware,” cyber security 

software maker Eset predicted 

this week in its 2013 trends report. 

Driving the interest of cybercriminals 

in mobile market, 

Eset says, is the rapid adoption 

of smartphones, particularly 


Manila, December 16 

Asian countries have a 

unique opportunity to 

use their new-found 

prosperity to make 

progress on social issues 

and promote fairness, 

the head of the International 

Labour Organisation 

(ILO) said in an interview 

on Sunday. 

Director general Guy 

Ryder said Asian nations 

were turning away from 

reliance on cheap 

labour and exports to 

fuel growth, and had realised 

the value of higher 

wages and boosting 

domestic demand. 

“It is time for Asia to 

turn its attention to 

matching its economic 

success with social 

progress. It has that 

margin open to it and 

now is the time to take 

those steps,” he told AFP 

in an interview. 

Ryder, who is in the 

Philippines as part of his 

first visit to Asia after being 

elected in October, 

said social protections 

like higher wages and 

pensions could actually 

make economic growth 

those running Android, and 

increased use of the devices for 

monetary transactions. 

The volume of malware designed 

for mobiles is a direct 

response to the speed at which 

the technology is being adopted, 

according to Eset’s report. 

“If the market grows and 

technology is enhanced, then 

as long as users who use these 

devices to store an increasing 

amount of sensitive information 

do not adopt the necessary 

measures, it is logical to 

expect cybercriminals to create 

computer threats to profit 

from this situation.” 

Eset researchers also observe, 

“There is a direct parallel 

more sustainable. 

He said that between 

2000-2011 real wages in 

Asia had doubled while 

in China, the region’s 

economic powerhouse, 

they had tripled. 

In contrast, real wages 

worldwide had risen by 

23 per cent in the same 

period and by just five 

per cent in developed 

industrialised countries. 

“There is a lot going 

on in Asia and a lot to be 

optimistic about,” Ryder 

said, citing recent efforts 

to improve wages 

and benefits. 

China was setting up 

A migrant worker from Southeast Asia holding a placard as she attends a workers rights rally, in Hong Kong, on 

Sunday. About a thousand migrant domestic workers from Southeast Asia rallied to mark International Migrants 

Day and push for better working conditions and higher wages. 

here to what has happened 

with personal computers, but 

at a much slower pace over a 

much longer period.” 

The report notes that Android 

now has more than 64 

per cent of the smartphone 

market, compared to 43 per 

cent in 2011. “As Android’s 

market share rises and people 

use it more and more to store 

personal and corporate information, 

or for online banking 

or related services, cyber criminals 

will develop more malware 

to steal information, thus 

gaining illicit revenue.” 

The researchers predict that 

next year, 530 million people 

will access banking services. 

‘Use Asian growth for social change’ 

International Labour Organisation Director General Guy Ryder during an 

interview with AFP, in Manila, on Sunday. 

pension schemes and 

‘giving greater attention 

to the wage levels of 

people’ instead of keeping 

salaries low to encourage 

exports, he 

said. Thailand had recently 

put a minimum 

wage in place and was 

also setting up other so- 

Delhi Metro 

to honour 200 

top smart 

card users 

AFP / RSS 

Agencies 

New Delhi, December 16 

The Delhi Metro will felicitate 

the top 200 users of its smart 

card in the past one year as 

part of its celebrations of 

completing 10 years of operations, 

a Delhi Metro statement 

said on Sunday. 

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation 

(DMRC) has identified 

top 200 smart cards 

users, who have travelled the 

maximum from Nov 2011- 

Oct 2012. 

“We have selected and 

come out with a list of top 200 

smart card users who have 

utilised or travelled extensively 

on the Metro from Nov 

2011 to Oct 2012,” DMRC 

spokesman Anuj Dayal said. 

The selected users will be felicitated 

at a function. 

Commuters can check 

their smart card physical ID 

number on the top righthand 

side corner on the reverse 

side of the cards and 

check whether it is on the list 

put up at all Metro stations. 

They can also contact station 

managers or visit the 

website — www.delhimetrorail.com 

— to check whether 

their number is on the list. 

Nearly 1.5 million smart 

cards are at present in circulation. 

About 1.8 million 

commuters ride Metro trains 

daily in the city. While 55 per 

cent of commuters use smart 

cards, the rest use tokens. 

cial protection schemes, 

said Ryder. ‘Countries 

are seeing that in the 

long term, low wages, 

competing on the bottom 

end of the market, 

is not the best way to go 

forward,’ he said. 

This would encourage 

other Asian countries 

like the Philippines also 

to let wages rise, he 

added. He said the challenge 

in the Philippines 

was the large number of 

people in ‘vulnerable’ 

sectors who could not 

rely on a regular income. 

Ryder said the Geneva-based 

ILO was working 

with Manila to address 

this by attracting 

the right investment, 

improving education 

and reforming fiscal 

policies. He warned that 

letting wage levels stagnate 

had contributed to 

such problems as the 

latest financial crisis. 

Ryder said US real 

wages had remained 

virtually flat for the entire 

decade, forcing 

many Americans to go 

into debt to buy homes 

and creating the conditions 

for the crisis. 

China plans to 

boost domestic 

demand in 2013 


Beijing, December 16 

China will make increasing 

domestic demand a top priority 

in 2013, state media said 

on Sunday following a key 

conference that sets the 

country’s economic goals. 

“Expanding domestic demand 

will be a strategic basis 

for China’s 

develop- 

ment next 

year,” said 

the Xinhua 

n e w s 

agency, 

quoting an 

official 

statement 

released at 

the end of 

the two-day 

central economic 

work 

conference. 

The report also said China 

will ‘deepen reforms in its 

economy’ and ‘firmly promote 

opening-up next year’. 

The conference is closely 

watched as a key indicator of 

the government’s economic 

policies for the coming year. 

This meeting comes weeks 

after China concluded a 

closely watched ruling Communist 

Party leadership transition. 

During the party’s once-adecade 

leadership makeover 

in November, President Hu 

Jintao said the country needed 

to create a new economic 

model with increased emphasis 

on the country’s consumers. 

China’s once red-hot economy 

that saw annual growth 

rates exceeding by 10 per 

cent has slowed markedly 

this year. The government expects 

gross domestic product 

to expand by 7.5 per cent in 

2012, down from 9.3 per cent 

in 2011. 

China’s economy has for 

most of the past three 

decades relied on taking advantage 

of a large and cheap 

Beijing hopes 

to achieve a 

balanced growth 

and needs to tap 

into potential of 

its consumers 

PAGE 11 

AFP / RSS 

labour force to become the 

world’s largest manufacturer 

by exporting to global consumer 

markets. 

But Beijing now hopes to 

achieve a more balanced 

growth and needs to tap into 

the potential of its own consumers 

to do so, as big 

economies such as the United 

States and Europe face difficulties. 

Major 

economies 

including 

the United 

States, the 

European 

Union and 

Japan have 

all slowed in 

the aftermath 

of the 

2008-2009 

financial 

turmoil. Europe’s 

debt 

crisis has also weighed on 

global growth. 

Toward that end, China 

will boost imports ‘to support 

the country’s economic restructuring’, 

Xinhua said. 

But it said ‘China will also 

stabilise and increase its 

share of world markets’, suggesting 

the country will seek 

to remain an export powerhouse. 

Xi Jinping replaced Hu at 

the meeting as party chief 

and is set to take over as president 

of the country in 

March. 

Xinhua also said China 

‘will continue to implement 

the proactive fiscal policy 

and prudent monetary policy 

in 2013’ as well as continue 

controls on the country’s 

property market. 

‘China will take enhancing 

quality and efficiency of economic 

growth as a central 

task in 2013,’ Xinhua said, citing 

the statement, adding 

that the country would seek 

to protect the rights and interests 

of foreign investors, 

including intellectual property 

rights.


Sports 

• TIME OUT 

Nepal Police Club skipper Jumanu 

Rai (right) vies for the ball against a 

Bansbari FC player during their 

Martyrs Memorial Red Bull ‘A’ 

Division League match at the 

Dasharath Stadium on Sunday. 

TAC rout Western 

THT 

DHANGADHI: Tribhuvan Army Club 

(TAC) inflicted a humiliating 14-0 defeat 

to Western Region while Central 

Region eased past Eastern Region 5-2 

in the first Women’s Football League 

on Sunday. Dipa Adhikari and Anchali 

Waiba struck four goals each 

while Krishna Karki also completed a 

hat-trick for the Army club. Kabita 

Dhimal, Kalpana Karki and Sharmila 

Thapa also joined in the goal scoring 

spree for TAC. In the other match, 

Sapana Lama struck four goals alone 

with Roshani Rakhal scoring another 

for Central Region. Samrachana 

Pradhan and Sapana Rai replied for 

Eastern Region. — HNS 

Miraj finishes 132nd 

KATHMANDU: Miraj Prajapati timed 

1:00.54 while Sirish Gurung was disqualified 

in the men’s 100m freestyle 

heats during the 11th FINA World 

Short-course Swimming Championships 

in Istanbul on Saturday. Miraj 

finished in 132nd position in heats 

participated in by 147 swimmers. 

Evgeny Lagunov of Russia top the 

heats with the timings of 47.34. 

Amaury Leveaux of France holds the 

world record in the distance at 44.94, 

set on December 13, 2008. — HNS 

Chandbagh in final 

KATHMANDU: Chandbagh and Pennwood 

set the girls’ section title 

showdown of the fourth Jiten Memorial 

Inter-school Basketball Championships 

here on Sunday. Chandbagh 

defeated Skylark, while Pennwood 

beat defending champions Daffodil 

Public School with an identical 20-15 

scoreline. Sunita Gurung of Chandbagh 

and Elisa Budhathoki of Pennwood 

posted 10 points each for the 

winners. Defending champions 

Niten Memorial School (NIMS) and 

Daffodil made it to the boys’ category 

final. Hosts NIMS hammered Deepjyoti 

48-30 with Samir Tamang scoring 

25 points, while Chhonde Lama netted 

18 points as Daffodil overcame 

Oasis 41-34. — HNS 

U2,VS advance 

KATHMANDU: U2 and VS Niketan 

College entered the Martyr Benoj 

Memorial fifth Inter-college (+2) Basketball 

Tournament quarter-finals 

here at the National Sports Council 

covered hall on Sunday. U2 beat St 

Lawrence 33-31 with Sonam Sherpa 

contributing 11 points while Sejar 

Awale’s 20 points saw VS Niketan 

record a thrilling 42-41 win over Himalayan 

White House College. Likewise, 

Premier saw off Nobel 41-28 riding 

on 17 points from Devid Maharjan 

and Sange scored 10 points as 

Trinity overcame Golden Gate 55-48 

to advance to the quarter-finals. — HNS 

MARTYRS MEMORIAL A DIVISION LEAGUE 

TEAM P W D L GF GA PTS 

Machhindra 6 5 1 0 12 1 16 

Three Star 6 5 0 1 14 5 15 

MMC 6 4 2 0 10 3 14 

RCT 6 4 2 0 9 4 14 

Sankata 6 2 3 1 7 5 9 

APF 6 3 0 3 10 11 9 

NRT 6 2 2 2 8 7 8 

Tribhuvan Army 6 2 2 2 5 3 8 

NPC 7 2 2 3 7 7 8 

Saraswoti 6 2 2 2 7 10 8 

MYA 6 1 4 1 7 6 7 

Friends 7 1 4 2 6 7 7 

JYC 6 2 0 4 9 16 6 

Himalayan Sherpa 6 1 1 4 6 8 4 

Bansbari 7 0 2 5 6 17 2 

Bouddha 7 0 1 6 6 19 1 

Policemen hit new low 



A miserable run of Nepal Police 

Club (NPC) continued as 

the three-time defending 

champions played out a disappointing 

goalless stalemate 

with relegation-threatened 

Mahindra Bansbari 

Football Club, while bottomplaced 

Bouddha Football 

Club failed to preserve a twogoal 

lead to draw 3-3 against 

NIBL Friends Club in the 

Martyrs Memorial Red Bull 

‘A’ Division League at the 

Dasharath Stadium today. 

Bansbari earned only their 

second point a day after 

sacking coach Hari Om 

Shrestha and replacing him 

with Dipesh Yonjan Lama. 

Club General Secretary Madhusudan 

Upadhyaya said 

they terminated the contract 

due to Hari Om’s failure to 

provide a desired results. 

“Moreover, he (Hari Om) was 

more busy on his personal 

affairs than his coaching responsibilities,” 

said Upadhyaya. 

Shrestha is currently 

taking part in the AFC ‘B’ License 

Coaching Course. 

Bansbari new coach Lama 

was satisfaction to earn a 

point. “I am happy with the 

result in my first match,” said 

the former Bouddha assistant 

coach. “My priority will 

be to ensure the club’s stay in 

top-flight,” said Lama, who 

guided Far-Western Region 

to the men’s football gold 

medal in the sixth National 

Games earlier this year. 

Policemen were themselves 

to blame for the outcome 

after squandering numerous 

scoring chances. 

Bansbari goalkeeper Ajeet 

Prajapati was standout per- 

former as he made string of 

brilliant saves to deny NPC. 

“A team gets hardly threefour 

scoring chances and 

when you fail to convert 

them, the team comes under 

pressure,” said NPC coach 

Birat Krishna Shrestha. 

Ajeet denied NPC skipper 

Jumanu Rai and midfielder 

Parbat Pandey twice in the 

match apart from preventing 

Chetan Ghimire and Bhola 

Silwal. Defender Charles Rai 

rescued Bansbari making a 

goalline clearance to prevent 

Jumanu Rai’s strike in the dying 

moments of the first half 

injury time. 

With the result, NPC — 

tied on eight points with 

New Road Team (seventh), 

Tribhuvan Army Club 

(eighth) and Simrik Saraswoti 

Youth Club (10th) — 

jumped two spots up to 

ninth place on goal difference, 

while Bansbari (two) 

stay put on 15th position. 

In the other match, Subin 

Shrestha struck home from 

six yards in a Buddha Lama 

pass to provide Bouddha a 

32nd minute lead. Their joy 

was shortlived when skipper 

Sagar Thapa headed a Ritesh 

Malla pass to level the scores 

in the 40th minute. 

Subin restored Bouddha’s 

lead scoring from the area after 

he was denied by the 

Friends goalkeeper Bashir in 

one-on-one encounter in 

the dying moments of first 

half. Subin collected a long 

range pass from Rajan Adhikari 

and shot from the area 

only for Bashir to block the 

forward. He then directed 

the ball into an open net 

with Friends keeper yet to recover 

from ground. 

Skipper Susan made it 3-1 

converting the spot kick, 

awarded after Friends defender 

Peter tripped the forward 

inside the area in the 

48th minute. First half substitute 

Bishnu KC made it 3-2 

from the edge in the 61st 

minute before Bouddha gift- 

ed Friends the equaliser 

eight minutes later. Skipper 

Susan directed the ball into 

the post in an attempt to 

clear Diwas Gurung strike. 

Bouddha coach Kiran 

Shrestha believed that his 

players were unable to cope 

up with the pressure and 

failed to preserve the twogoal 

cushion. Friends coach 

Dil Kaji Gurung once again 

blamed the inefficiency 

strikers for the result. Gurung 

said his boys showed 

the fighting spirit only after 

conceding goals. 

TODAY’S MATCHES 

• TAC vs APF @ 12:30PM 

• Saraswoti vs NRT @ 

2:30PM 

Rana sisters enter U-14 quarters 

Mayanka Rana returns to Era Rawat during the U-14 girls’ 

singles match of the 11th Jayakar Memorial Junior National 

Open Tennis Tournament in Lalitpur on Sunday. 


Lalitpur, December 16 

Twins Rana sisters Mayanka and 

Mahika advanced to the Under- 

14 girls’ singles quarter-finals of 

the 11th Jayakar Memorial Junior 

National Open Tennis Tournament 

here today. 

Mayanka defeated Ira Raut 6- 



Defending champions Nepal 

APF Club and Region-VII 

(Janakpur) entered the semifinals 

of the Pepsi Standard 

Chartered One Day National 

Cricket Tournament today. 

Gyanendra Malla hit an unbeaten 

century as Nepal APF 

Club trounced Region-VIII 

(Pokhara) by 154 runs to enter 

the semi-final as Group ‘A’ winners 

at the TU Stadium. APF 

finished the league stage winning 

all their four matches. 

Janakpur, meanwhile, 

crushed Region-II (Birgunj) by 

80 runs to top the Group ‘B’ 

standings winning all three 

matches. Pokhara (four) and 

Birgunj (two) lie second in 

their respective groups and 

still have chances to qualify. 

In Kirtipur, APF were dealt a 

massive blow when Dipesh 

Khatri dismissed openers 

Paresh Lohani (10) and Subash 

Khakurel (naught) with just 29 

runs on the board. But, Gyanendra 

— leading the team in 

absence of injured skipper 

3, 7-6, while Mahika thrashed 

Medhavi Giri 6-1, 6-1. Joining 

them in the last eight were 

Khushi Pandey, Shivalika Rana, 

Ani Mathema and Kyathi Mathema. 

Khushi outplayed Amisha 

Rayamajhi 6-0, 6-1, Shivalika 

beat Suchi Gupta 6-2, 6-0, Ani 

edged Karuna Gauchan 6-2, 6-4 

and Kyathi overwhelmed 

Paras Khadka — involved in 

three big partnerships to help 

APF reach 288-4 with his 109 

not out. Pokhara were restricted 

to 134-9 in a match where 

all 11 APF players bowled. 

Gyanendra shared 89 runs 

for the third wicket with Sanjay 

Shrestha, playing his first 

match of the tournament. Sanjay 

was the most aggressive of 

the two clobbering 83 in just 58 

balls with 11 boundaries and 

four sixes before Chandra Gurung 

had him stumped by 

Akash Thapa. Gyanendra then 

played some sensible cricket to 

add another 123 runs with 

Sharad Vesawkar with the acting 

skipper completing his half 

century in 79 balls. 

Sharad made 51 off 71 with 

five fours before losing his 

wicket to Nischal Pandey. Gyanendra 

completed his century 

in 129 balls and with Sunam 

Gautam (22) shared an unbroken 

fifth wicket stand of 47 

runs. Man-of-the-match Gyanendra 

hit seven fours and two 

sixes in his 133 ball knock. 

Pokhara were never in contention 

as they not only lost 

Harisita Jugeli 6-0, 6-0. 

Bibek Shrestha outplayed 

Anusthan Bahadur Singh, Renjen 

Lama crushed Abhinav 

Acharya and Kastup Pandey 

thumped Shubham Thakur 

with an identical 6-0, 6-0 scoreline 

to make it to the U-14 boys’ 

singles pre-quarterfinals. Likewise, 

Anish Bande defeated Emmanuel 

Lim 6-0, 6-1. Sajan Rai 

beat Harsha Rauniyar 6-4, 7-5 

and Arjan Dhungel beat Siril Raj 

Satyal 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 to reach the 

round of 16 in the category. 

Rahul Singh overcame Piyush 

Singh 8-5, Binaya Batas saw off 

Gajin Jugeli 8-1, Sudan Lamichhane 

edged Sreyasth 9-7, Saharsha 

Chand dispatched Aditya 

Subedi 8-4, Prasiddha Panjiyar 

beat Ansul Thapa 8-0, Bibek 

Khetan edged Joseph Basnet 8-5 

and Nitesh Kumar Thakur 

pipped Aki Juven Raut 9-7 to 

make it to the U-10 boys’ singles 

pre-quarterfinals. In the girls’ 

section, Saloni Tamang defeated 

Asiyana Prasain 8-0, while Arya 

Prasain earned a walkover win 

from Agrima Mainali. 


Ritesh Malla (centre) of Friends Club battles for the ball against Bouddha FC goalkeeper during 

their Martyrs Memorial Red Bull ‘A’ Division League match in Kathmandu on Sunday. 

Junior badminton from Dec 25 



The Kathmandu District 

Badminton Association 

(KDBA), under the auspices 

of Nepal Badminton Association 

(NBA) and Tim Nikhil 

Academy of Bangladesh, is 

organising the Chelsea Junior 

International Badminton 

Championships 

here on December 25-27. 

A total of 32 players — 16 

from Nepal and eight each 

from India and Bangladesh 

— will take part in the championships. 

The tournament 

features four categories — 

U-15 and U-17 in both boys 

and girls’ sections, informed 

the organisers here today. 

“The tournament is a first 

step towards the development 

of the sport, especially 

in junior section, after our 

agreement with the Tim 

Mawer Academy,” said 

Deepak Thapa, President of 

KDBA. The KDBA earlier this 

year had joined hands with 

the Tim Mawer Academy — 

which has branches in India 

and Bangladesh — to develop 

junior badminton by setting 

up an academy here. 

NBA General Secretary 

Ramji Bahadur Shrestha said 

the association will select 

players as per their performance 

in the past events. According 

to Shrestha, the winners 

of the junior tournament 

— that began today in 

Dhangadhi — would earn 

automatic berths for the 

Championships. “We will assess 

the players’ performance 

in the past events before 

selecting the other four 

players,” said Shrestha. 

Former NBA President 

and Member of Badminton 

Asian Confederation (BAC) 

Prakash Bahadur Shahi 

opined that hosting of such 

events would send positive 

message to international 

sector. “At the time when 

BAC is concerned about fewer 

tournaments in Nepal, 

such event will definitely 

Defending champions APF, Janakpur secure semi-final berths 

Raj Mohammed (left) of Janakpur celebrates after reaching 

half century against Birgunj during the Pepsi Standard 

Chartered One Day National Cricket Tournament on Sunday. 

THT 

wickets frequently but also 

failed to play freely. Only Rijan 

Prajoo managed to put some 

runs with a 74-ball 37 hitting 

three boundaries and a six. 

Basanta Regmi and Sanjam 

Regmi took two wickets each, 

while Amrit Bhattarai, Sunam, 

Gyanendra and wicketkeeper 

Subash had one scalp apiece. 

At Pulchowk, Janakpur 

made 287-8 and Birgunj were 

all out for 207 in 40.2 overs 

with opener Amit Shrestha’s 

fine century going in vain. 

Amit — the only man to impress 

for Birgunj — made 101 

of just 98 balls but couldn’t 

avert his team’s loss. The only 

bright spot for Birgunj in the 

match was Amit’s 55-run partnership 

with Suraj Kurmi 

(three) for the second and 47run 

stand with Rabin Gurung 

(21) for the third wicket but 

other failed to give the opener 

good support. 

Anil Mandal picked up four 

wickets for Janakpur with part 

time spin, while skipper Kumar 

Prasun had two scalps. 

Sanjog Karn, Abhishek Jha and 

Raj Mohammad also took one 

Uma Bista / THT 

give good image in international 

arena,” said Shahi, 

who is in the legal committee 

in the Asian body. 

He also praised KDBA’s efforts 

to acquire the educational 

institution as the 

sponsors of the championships. 

“It is a good start to 

penetrate into educational 

sector, which will not only 

inspire others to come forward 

but also help in the 

overall development of the 

sport,” said Shahi. Chelsea 

International Academy, the 

main sponsor of the event, 

would make Rs 500,000 

worth contribution for the 

event in cash and kind form. 

“We accepted the proposal 

as the approach was inspiring 

and it came from a 

team of professionals,” said 

Chelsea Principal Sudhir Kumar 

Jha. National Sports 

Council Vice-president Pitamber 

Timsina said he would 

try his best to obtain help for 

the championships from the 

sports governing body. 

wicket apiece. 

Earlier, Janakpur lost opener 

Pravash Jha for a duck but Hari 

Shankar Sah’s patient 94-run 

innings helped them post a 

formidable total. Hari anchored 

Janakpur innings with 

an 85-run stand for the second 

wicket with Anil. Anil — whose 

previous two unbeaten innings’ 

read 106 (against Kathmandu) 

and 86 (against Nepalgunj) 

made a 62-ball 36 with 

six boundaries. 

Birgunj were relieved when 

Hasim Ansari trapped Anil leg 

before and Kumar Thapa dismissed 

Chandan Jha (11) reducing 

Janakpur to 115-3. 

However, Hari gave a real 

nightmare to Birgunj and 

along with Raj Mohammad 

shared 121 runs for the fourth 

wicket. Raj made 64 off 60 with 

nine boundaries before Hasim 

ran him out, while Hari fell six 

short of his first century in national 

cricket, dismissed by Jatta 

Shankar Sarraf. Hari hit 12 

boundaries in his marathon 

120-ball innings. Avinash and 

Jatta took two wickets each for 

Birgunj.


• TIME OUT 

Reuters 

Amir Khan (left) lands a punch on 

Carlos Molina during their WBC 

Silver Super Lightweight title bout 

in Los Angeles on Saturday. 

Nepal bag silver in KL 

KATHMANDU: The Nepali team of 

Kabita Paudel, Malika Thapa Chhetri, 

Anupama Magar and Niru Rana Magar 

won the senior team kumite silver 

medal in the KOI Open Karate Championships 

in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. 

According to team leader Dhruba 

Bikram Malla, the Nepali players 

lost to hosts Malaysia in the gold 

medal bout. Earlier, they defeated India 

in quarter-finals and Iran in semifinals. 

On Saturday, Kabita had won 

gold in 48kg weight category. — HNS 

Gurung felicitated 

KATHMANDU: The Nepal Amateur 

Veterans Athlete Committee felicitated 

the 17th Masters Athletics Championships 

bronze medallist Krishna 

Gurung on Sunday. The committee 

honoured the Krishna with Rs 25,000. 

National Sports Council Member 

Secretary Yubaraj Lama handed over 

the award money to the athlete. Krishna 

had claimed the above 45yrs 

men’s 10,000m bronze medal in the 

championships held in Chinese 

Taipei from November 2-7. — HNS 

Neric outplay Galaxy 

KATHMANDU: Neric Academy advanced 

to the senior boys’ quarter-finals 

of the second Neric-Zenith Interschool 

Basketball Championships 

defeating Galaxy Public School 25-11 

here on Sunday. Likewise, TIA recorded 

double wins beating Divya Gyan 

32-26 and Kathmandu Valley 25-20. 

Also, Mt Kailash saw off Golden Peak 

31-20. In senior girls’ section, Teresa 

edged Gyan Niketan 19-16 before 

seeing off New Vision 12-10. Also, 

Galaxy pipped Innovative 16-14, Valley 

Public cruised past Children 

Heaven 31-20 and Mt Kailash overcame 

Gyan Niketan 29-22. — HNS 

Spurs defeat Swansea 

LONDON: Jan Vertonghen lashed 

home a second-half winner as Tottenham 

beat Swansea 1-0 in the Premier 

League on Sunday. The Belgium 

centre-back latched onto a rightwing 

freekick from Kyle Walker and 

sent a low shot into the corner in the 

75th minute. The victory lifted Andre 

Villas-Boas' side above Everton into 

fourth position and level on points 

with third-place Chelsea. — AP 

Malaga tighten grip 

BARCELONA: Malaga strengthened 

their hold on fourth place in the 

Spanish League with a 2-0 win at 

Sevilla in Andalusian derby based 

on yet another impressive defensive 

performance away from home. 

Manuel Pellegrini's Malaga kept their 

fifth clean sheet through eight road 

games this season as they climbed to 

within four points of Real Madrid. 

Also on Saturday, Athletic Bilbao won 

1-0 at Mallorca, Getafe drew 1-1 with 

visiting Osasuna, and Real Sociedad 

drew 0-0 at Granada. — AP 

Khan beats Molina 

LOS ANGELES: Britain's Amir Khan 

returned to winning ways after two 

tough defeats with a comprehensive 

10th round stoppage of previously 

unbeaten American Carlos Molina in 

a light-welterweight contest on Saturday. 

Khan (27-3, 19 KOs) dominated 

every round and after telling Molina 

he was close to stopping the bout 

after the ninth, referee Jack Reiss 

waved off the fight at the end of the 

10th following another one-sided 

round. When the end came, Molina 

had asked the referee to allow the 

fight to continue and sounded 

stunned in defeat. — Reuters 

Memorabilia sold 

SYDNEY: Items belonging to the great 

Australian cricketer Donald Bradman 

were sold at bargain prices to an Indian 

collector on Saturday at an auction 

which failed to attract bids from 

the Bradman Museum. Bradman’s 

1946 Baggy Green cap was expected 

to sell for $180,000 but made only 

$100,000 and the 1946 bat Bradman 

used to score 234 in a world record, 

fifth-wicket, 405-run partnership 

with Sid Barnes sold for $65,000, well 

below its estimate of $120,000. A bat 

used by Bradman on a tour of Canada 

and the US was sold for $8,000. — AP 


Lalitpur, December 16 

The last remaining hopes of 

Nepal were shattered when the 

women’s team lost to 

Bangladesh in the semi-finals of 

the IHF Trophy International 

Handball Championships here 

at the Nepal Army Fitness and 

Sports Centre here today. 

The Nepali women’s team 

trailed 18-7 in the first half, while 

they could score just six goals in 

the second half conceding 

whopping 22 goals to 

Bangladesh. Bandana Rai scored 

six goals for Nepal. 

Earlier, both the Indian teams 

entered the finals. India 

thrashed Yemen 65-9 in the 

women’s semi-final match. Sonam 

Singh scored nine goals for 

India, who took a 42-6 lead going 

into the break. In the second period, 

India scored 23 goals conceding 

just three. 

In men’s section, India beat 

Afghanistan 58-25 to set the 

championship date with Pakistan. 

India scored 27 goals conceding 

10 in the first half, while 

they added 31 in the second half 

and Afghanistan netted 15. 

Naveen was the highest scorer 

for India with nine goals, while 

Mohammed Sabir top scored in 

the match with 12 goals. 

In another semi-final, Pakistan 

edged Yemen 30-28. Pakistan 

took a 13-10 lead in the first 

half, while in the second half 

Yemen staged a comeback with 

18 goals but was not enough for 

them to prevent the loss after 

Pakistan netted 17 goals. Sahazad 

Tariq of Pakistan and Nawaf 

Mohammed of Yemen scored 11 

goals each in the match. 

Meanwhile, the Nepali men’s 

team finished at the bottom of 

the six-team tournament after 

losing to Bangladesh in the fifthplace 

playoff match. In women’s 

section, Pakistan defeated 

Afghanistan to finish fifth. 

Both the final matches of the 

tournament organised by Nepal 

Handball Association under the 

auspices of International Handball 

Federation (IHF) are scheduled 

for Sunday. 


SPORTS 

Nepali teams lose to Bangladesh 

Both Indian teams enter Int’l Handball Championships finals 

A player of Afghanistan attempts to score against Pakistan during the IHF Trophy International 

Championships at the Nepal Army Fitness and Sports Centre in Lalitpur on Sunday. 

Corinthians stun Chelsea in final 

Reuters 

Yokohama, December 16 

Paolo Guerrero snatched 

a 69th-minute winner as 

South American champions 

Corinthians stunned 

Chelsea to win Club 

World Cup on Sunday. 

Chelsea, who had been 

under pressure to win 

the tournament after becoming 

the first holders 

to exit the Champions 

League at the group 

stage, missed a string of 

chances to win the final. 

“It’s an incredible feeling,” 

Guerrero said after 

his goal sparked wild celebrations 

among more 

than 15,000 Brazilian 

fans in the crowd of 

68,000. “To win in front of 

so many Corinthians 

fans who came all this 

way. It’s tremendous, unbelievable,” 

he said. 

Gary Cahill, sent off in 

the last minute, Fernando 

Torres and Victor 

Moses were denied by 

brilliant saves from 

Corinthians goalkeeper 

Cassio. Corinthians, who 

won the first Club World 

Cup in 2000, caught 

Chelsea cold when Peru 

striker Guerrero headed 

Reuters 

Players of Corinthians after defeating Chelsea in 

the Club World Cup final in Yokohama on Sunday. 

home from close range 

after Danilo’s shot 

looped up off Cahill’s 

boot. “We’re coming 

away with that bad feeling 

after creating enough 

chances to at least draw 

the game,” said Chelsea 

captain Frank Lampard. 

“It’s a big disappointment 

to come all this way 

and not to win. We knew 

it would be a tough game 

and we knew what they 

would bring,” added 

Lampard after making 

his first start since returning 

from injury. 

“Now we have to go back 

and win a run of games 

to keep ourselves in the 

(Premier) league (fight) 

and push on in every 

competition.” 

European sides had 

won the last five Club 

World Cups, with 

Chelsea’s interim manager 

Rafael Benitez winning 

it with Inter Milan 

in 2010 and a runner-up 

with Liverpool in 2005. 

The Spaniard, an unpopular 

appointment among 

fans after the sacking of 

Roberto Di Matteo last 

month, could face a hostile 

return after the 

team’s failure in Japan. 

Uma Bista / THT 

Rajesh helps KCC 

enter semi-finals 


Bhaktapur, December 16 

Rajesh Pulami struck an 

unbeaten half century 

as Kantipur City College 

(KCC) beat Laboratory 

College by 19 runs to enter 

the semi-finals of the 

College Premier League 

Nepal Qualifiers here at 

the Sainik Awasiya Vidhyalaya 

grounds today. 

Put into bat first after 

losing the toss, KCC 

scored 150-4 in their allotted 

20 overs. Laboratory 

were dismissed for 

131 runs in the penultimate 

ball of their innings. 

Rajesh led the assault 

scoring a fiery 66 

runs from 34 deliveries 

with six fours and three 

sixes for KCC. Shubu 

Budhathoki also contributed 

31-ball 22 and 

Riwaz Shrestha 20 off 34 

balls. Nabin Pradhan 

and Srijan Subedi took 

one wicket each for Laboratory 

College. 

Man-of-the-match 

Nagendra Upadhyaya 

(4-23) and Md Riyaz 

Alam (3-22) shared seven 

wickets between 

them to restrict Laboratory 

to 131 runs in 19.5 

overs. Thupten top 

scored for Laboratory 

with 14-ball 23, while Biplov 

Mani Pokharel and 

Pawan Shrestha 

chipped in 13 runs each. 

Anand Sagar also picked 

up one wicket for KCC. 

Golden Gate will take 

on Advance Engineering 

College on Monday. 

Trott, Bell bat England towards draw in final Test 

Agencies 

the batsman caught behind. 

Nagpur, December 16 

If Trott did get an edge it was 

virtually impossible to judge, 

England face a nervy last day 

and umpire Kumar Dharmase- 

in the final Test as they seek a 

na’s decision to turn down In- 

first series victory in India for 

dia’s vociferous appeal was the 

27 years. The tourists, who lead 

correct one. Mahendra 

the series 2-1, need a draw and 

Dhoni’s side felt aggrieved and 

ended the fourth day 165 runs 

sledged the unperturbed Trott 

ahead on 161-3 today. 

for the final hour of the 

After India declared on 326- 

evening session, but England, 

9, England stumbled to 94-3 in 

and captain Alastair Cook in 

their second innings, losing 

particular, are the ones who 

Alastair Cook, Nick Compton 

should be feeling hard done by. 

and Kevin Pietersen. But 

After putting on 48 for the 

Jonathan Trott (66 not out) and 

first wicket with Compton, 

Ian Bell (24 not out) steadied 

Cook, who made 13 from 93 

England with a watchful part- 

balls, was given out caught benership 

of 67 runs. 

hind off Ravichandran Ashwin 

The Warwickshire pair will 

despite replays showing the 

be key to England’s chances of 

skipper’s bat was nowhere 

batting themselves into a safe 

near a ball. Compton followed 

position on the fifth day, 

for 34 just before tea — given 

against an Indian side desper- 

out leg before wicket to 

ate to level the series. Trott, 

Pragyan Ojha — and when 

who relishes such situations, 

Kevin Pietersen played no shot 

looked assured at the crease as 

at a straight one from Ravindra 

he expertly combined his 

famed powers of concentration 

with a fluency which 

Ravichandran Ashwin of India celebrates the dismissal of England’s Alastair Cook during the 

fourth day of their fourth and final Test match at VCA ground in Nagpur on Sunday. 

Jadeja and was bowled, England 

were in a spot of trouble. 

However, the assured inter- 

brought nine fours, while Bell 

vention of Trott and Bell stead- 

was equally as resilient as he to bat, England will be confi- dangers a batting collapse away, though, judging by a ied any nerves and blunted the 

looks to return to form after dent of staying at the crease could bring and the threat of fiery evening session which Indian attack. Dhoni may now 

scoring just 56 runs in five pre- long enough to secure the re- an Indian run chase on a pitch saw a number of their players rue the hour he wasted at the 

vious Test innings on tour. sult they need to match the which still offers very little to exchange words with Trott. start of the day, when the Indi- 

With Joe Root and Matt Pri- achievements of their prede- the bowlers. 

The animosity stemmed from an tail added just 29 runs in 13 

or, who shared a 103-run partcessors in 1984-85. However, The hosts can sense the an unsuccessful appeal when overs to get within four runs of 

nership in the first innings, still they will also be aware of the match and series is slipping Ishant Sharma thought he had England’s first innings total. 

Siddle mops up 

Aussies at Hobart 

Reuters 

Hobart, December 16 

Peter Siddle grabbed five 

wickets to help Australia to 

a 141-run lead at the end of 

the third day of the first Test 

on Sunday but only after a 

brilliant 147 from Sri Lanka’s 

Tillakaratne Dilshan 

had stalled the hosts for 

much of the day. 

Openers Ed Cowan (16) 

and David Warner (eight) 

added 27 without loss to 

Australia’s first innings tally 

of 450-5 declared before the 

close of play, despite a rain 

disruption and some tight 

bowling from the Sri 

Lankans. 

Dilshan earlier put on 

161 in a record partnership 

with all rounder Angelo 

Mathews (75) to drive the 

tourists to 336 all out after 

they had resumed in a big 

hole at 87-4 in the morning. 

Siddle finally separated 

them when he trapped 

Mathews leg before wicket 

(LBW) before tea after two 

sessions of frustration for 

Australia, which were compounded 

by an injury to 

seamer Ben Hilfenhaus. 

Opener Dilshan followed 

soon afterwards — the victim 

of a superb yorker from 

left-armer Mitchell Starc — 

and Siddle then skittled the 

tail to finish with 5-54. 

Hilfenhaus managed just 

two balls of the eighth over 

of the day before pulling up 

with a side strain and being 

taken to hospital for scans. 

He was rated as “doubtful” 

to bowl again in the Test by 

Australia’s physio Alex 

Kountouris. Barring a couple 

of run-out chances and 

a few loose shots, the remaining 

Australian bowlers 

failed to create many opportunities 

before lunch on 

a good Hobart track. 

Dilshan, resuming on 50, 

had to temper his aggressive 

instincts but moved 

steadily towards his 15th 

Popovic 

holds on 

for victory 


Coolum, December 16 

PAGE 13 

AP / RSS 

Australia's Peter Siddle 

holds up the ball after 

taking five wickets against 

Sri Lanka on Sunday. 

Test century, spending a 

nervous half an hour in the 

nineties before finally 

reaching the hundred with 

his 16th four. The 36-yearold’s 

delight at completing 

his first century in Australia 

was made clear to everyone 

in the ground by the huge 

yelp he emitted as he 

skipped down the wicket in 

celebration. 

Dilshan’s hundred came 

off 148 balls and the scoring 

rate slowed even further after 

lunch as Australia’s 

bowlers took the new ball 

and made the batsmen 

work for every run. Siddle 

finally made the breakthrough 

when he sent 

down a delivery that caught 

Mathews on the back leg 

with the TV umpire confirming 

upon appeal that 

the ball would have clipped 

the top of middle stump. 

The 161-run partnership 

was the highest for Sri Lanka 

in Australia, beating the 

144 Aravinda da Silva and 

Ravi Ratnayeke put on for 

the seventh wicket at Brisbane 

in 1998. Dilshan’s departure 

precipitated something 

of a collapse for the 

tourists with the last four 

wickets tumbling for the 

addition of just 47 runs. 

It was a feel-good situation 

for a guy who’s had precious 

few this year. And for Daniel 

Popovic, it lasted for all four 

rounds of Australian PGA. 

First-year Australasian 

PGA tour player Popovic 

completed an improbable 

wire-to-wire victory at the 

Palmer Coolum Resort, 

shooting 3-under 69 on Sunday 

for a four-stroke victory. 

The 26-year-old Popovic, 

ranked outside the top 1,000 

— who only made seven of 

12 cuts in his first year on the 

Australasian tour — collected 

$225,000 on Sunday, more 

than $200,000 above his previous 

tour earnings. 

Fellow Australian Rod 

Pampling birdied the first six 

holes to take the lead after 

nine holes, but bogeys on 16 

and 17 and a double-bogey 

on the 18th dropped him 

back into a tie for second after 

a 69. Anthony Brown shot 

71 to finish level with Pampling. 

Popovic finished with 

a 16-under total of 272 and 

led or had a share of the lead 

since Thursday. 

Popovic, who will now 

have an invitation to the US 

PGA Tour’s Bridgestone Invitational, 

received a phone 

call from Greg Norman after 

his media conference. 

Pampling looked set for 

his first win since the Australian 

Masters in 2008 — he 

has two wins on the US PGA 

tour, the last in 2006 at the 

Bay Hill. This year, he finished 

just outside top 125 to 

lose his PGA tour card, then 

failed at qualifying school, 

meaning he will have only 

conditional status next year 

in the US. But errant tee 

shots on 16 and 17 led to bogeys, 

then his approach to 18 

went into the water, all but 

handing the win to Popovic. 

Geoff Ogilvy, trying to be 

among the top three here to 

ensure he’d finish inside the 

top 50 in year-end world 

rankings thereby get a US 

Masters berth next year, almost 

got there. He shot 69 on 

Sunday and finished tied for 

fourth, just one stroke away.


THThi-tech hi-tech 

Maidens 

voyage 

to the 

virtual 

world 


Kathmandu 

The evolution in technology has 

opened numerous opportunities 

and women are now starting 

to make their presence felt 

in this male dominated sector. 

Changing the conservative mentality 

that women are responsible for 

the household chores and men are 

the bread earners in the family, they 

are dedicatedly carrying out tasks 

assigned to them. 

Niju Shrestha, software engineer 

at Verisk Information Technologies 

(VIT) says, “More women are warming 

up to the IT sector as it is safe, 

secured and stable. However, it may 

be a while before women are able to 

break the glass ceiling.” According to 

her, rather than limited number of 

women engaged in the sector, the 

crux of the problem is them dropping 

out at the peak of their careers 

due to various reasons — child birth, 

household duties, et cetera. 

Clarifying about the challenges 

faced by women in IT, Shrestha says, 

“Women who decide to pursue their 

career in this sector need to be 

perseverant, determined and have a 

strong family support — which, in 

Nepal, can be a tall order. Also, IT 

organisations should incorporate 

flexible timings for women staff and 

give them a leeway of starting over 

even after a break in their career.” 

SHREYA SOTANG started singing four 

years ago with ‘Shuruwat’ as her debut 

album and now is working on the next. 

Her most liked song is ‘Polcha mutu’. 

With awards like ‘Best new artist’ and 

‘Vocal performance of the year’ for her 

first album and other numerous awards 

under her belt, Sotang has also sung 

the soundtrack for movies like First 

Love, Mero Euta Sathi Cha, Visa Girl, 

Mero Valentine and Rang. For her, 

technology is the simplest medium to 

enhance day-to-day life. She spoke to 

THT Hi-Tech Plus about her choice 

of gadgets. 

Which is your favourite gadget? 

Why? 

My favourite 

gadget is my 

Dell Studio 

laptop 

because of its 

convenient use 

at work and home. 

Which of its features do you like 

the most? 

I like its audio quality the most. Its 

other features include integrated 

graphics, long lasting battery, and the 

latest instilled processor technology. 

Which is the one gadget in your 

wish list? 

I would like to own an iPhone 4 and 

Macbook Pro in the future. 

• CELEB’S CORNER 

Shrestha is working in the company 

since August 2010 and develops 

the core backend business logics in 

Pl/Sql scripts and also is an Oracle 

Pl/Sql programmer. Her responsibilities 

include software related works 

namely — requirement analysis, 

implementation, unit testing, documentation 

and research and training 

during seminars. 

Highlighting the importance of 

moving away from the traditional 

mindset, Pratibha Kunwar, associate 

software engineer at VIT, says, “Even 

though I work evening shifts, I 

haven’t had to face any kind of 

hassles.” According to her, what is 

needed at the moment is for women 

to stop undermining their own capabilities 

and be ready to take the bulls 

by its horns. “If backed by family 

support and quality education, 

women will be able to get the right 

exposure and hence, advance in 

their career — and not just in technical, 

but in any sector,” she asserts. 

Tanu Regmi, technical officer at 

SmartChoice Technologies Pvt Ltd 

(SCT) says, “My major tasks include 

providing and preparing various 

kind of transaction reports to our 

member banks, handling any glitches 

that may occur in ATM and 

POS terminals, networking, settling 

different kind of e-commerce transactions.” 

She believes the IT sector 

has not been able to attract a large 

number of women because technical 

jobs are very different from other 

nine-to-fives. Regmi has been working 

in the company since 2008 and 

has completed BE in Electronics and 

Communication. 

Shepherd College (SC) is a prominent 

media education and training 

institute affiliated with Purvanchal 

University. Ananta Mainali, executive 

director of the college, says, 

“With the newest inventions, there is 

a tremendous scope for the media 

students in the country. These days 

as courses equip them with theoretical 

plus practical knowledge. This 

has attracted large number of 

Personal productivity 

10 best apps and tools to do more, faster 

Five-time entrepreneur 

Frank Addante lists the 

digital gems that helps 

organise and save time: 

Sanebox: It uses algorithms to 

organise your e-mail on priority 

basis. You will be hooked. 

Tips: Trust it. Check 

@SaneLater, @SaneBulk, 

@SaneBlackHole. 

Evernote: Store your notes in 

the cloud — allowing access 

— from any computer or mobile 

device. 

Tips: Scan or fax 

documents to Evernote. 

Keep copies of all critical 

identification in a notebook 

called Wallet. 

Dropbox: Securely file away 

your digital documents in the 

cloud, and work on them 

from any computer or mobile 

device. 

Tips: Create folders and put 

them on your PC or smartphone. 

Use Working Draft 

like a desktop and never 

actually store anything on 

computer desktop, then 

drag it to To File. 

Action Method: An online app 

that helps you organise to-do 

lists, track and delegate tasks. 

Tips: Use Action Method’s 

three colour codes to set 

your priorities. Download 

the desktop, iPad, and 

mobile apps and set to 

open at login. 

TripIt: Files all your itineraries 

in one place. You can even 

automatically send itineraries 

to your always-worried mom. 

The Pro version alerts flight 

delays and gate changes. 

Tips: Download the mobile 

app and put it on your home 

screen. Create a contact for 

plans@tripit.com and 

forward all itineraries to that 

contact. 

YouMail: This voice-mail service 

transcribes your voicemail 

messages and sends 

them by e-mail or text, or 

both. The mobile app makes 

it easy to view, listen, read, 

and forward your voice mails. 

HootSuite: This website 

allows you to use Twitter, FB, 

LinkedIn, Yammer, and others 

all from one place. 

Tips: Stay connected, read 

and post on social media. 

students in the recent days.” 

SC started its Bachelor in Media 

Technology (BMT) in 2002 and 

Master in Media Technology (MMT) 

in 2010. Around 200 BIT students 

have already graduated from SC till 

Try HootSuite’s new ‘auto 

schedule’ feature, so you 

can spread out your posts 

and do not flood your networks 

with many in a row. 

Yammer: It is like a private 

Twitter stream just for your 

company. 

Tips: Get everyone in your 

company to sign up. Use it 

as your main means of 

communicating information. 

This way, everyone will 

adapt to Yammer, because 

no one wants to miss out. 

Allow employees to post 

‘business’ and ‘fun’ material. 

The fun material makes it 

more entertaining, and, in 

turn, the business material 

is more likely to be read. 

miCoach: Exercise keeps your 

mind sharp. The miCoach 

iPhone app acts like your 

personal trainer. 

Tips: Set up your workouts 

in advance. Buy the heartrate 

monitor and stride 

sensor; it is worth it. What 

gets measured gets done. 

iSleep: It is important to get a 

good night’s rest. Your mind is 

constantly racing, and the 

day’s work never ends. The 

iSleep meditation app helps 

you fall asleep and stay 

asleep. It is particularly helpful 

when you have jet lag or 

cannot fall asleep. — Agencies 

date. Although female enrolments 

have increased every session, 

according to Mainali, the ratio of 

male and female students stands at 

about 75 to 25 per cent. However, 

due to outsourced jobs in IT 

sector there is more charm for 

both genders in the country, he says. 

SC claims more than 50 per cent of 

its graduates are employed in 

different organisations, while few 

have applied for specialisation in 

areas not available in the country. 

While the statistics about the 

number of women in technology 

can seem discouraging, it 

means there are many 

opportunities for 

women to join tech 

companies and make 

their mark. It is a very fast-paced 

field and one that is constantly 

evolving, thereby offering a challenging 

career path. That said, 

women entering this field have to 

get used to often being the only 

female in the room and they need 

to speak up so their opinions are 

heard and considered. 


It’s not that we use technology, 

we live technology 

— Godfrey Reggio 

Women making their presence 

felt in the IT sector 

Cut the cord 

The future of your 

office is wireless 

BEAVERTON: Someday in the not-too-distant future, 

you will bring your laptop or tablet to work, 

set it on your desk, and magically your display, 

hard drive, and peripherals will automatically 

connect to it wirelessly with no need for all those ugly 

cords now under your desk. 

This wire-free future will be the result of several 

technologies that exist or are in development, including 

one called WiGig — a multi-gigabit wireless docking 

technology capable of speeds of up to 7Gbps — 

runs on spectrum in the unlicensed 60 GHz frequency 

band. These frequencies are great for short-range 

communications and require line of sight between 

devices and it does not work well between rooms. 

But that is not a problem, says Steve Koenig, director 

of industry analysis with the Consumer Electronics 

Association. “Some of these technologies are 

specifically designed for certain use case scenarios,” 

he says.Some examples are Z-Wave and ZigBee, both 

used in the context of lighting controls and other 

home automation technologies.” Dr Ali Sadri demoed 

WiGig at the Intel Developer Forum last month. Sadri 

is president and chairman of the Wireless Gigabit Alliance, 

the standards organisation that is developing 

the technology. 

He showed how an Ultrabook, external hard drive, 

and two monitors were able to communicate with 

each other without being physically connected. 

“Since the inception of the WiGig Alliance back in 

2009, we always had the vision that we need to develop 

a very high throughput wireless technology that is 

capable of doing things beyond what Wi-Fi can do. 

In addition to WiGig, other technologies that communicate 

wirelessly include WirelessHD, Wireless 

Home Digital Interface, Apple’s Airplay, and Intel’s 

WiDi. “There’s an awful lot of innovation in terms of 

wireless connectivity technologies. During the Consumer 

Electronics Show to be held in January 2013, 

we’ll see them on display,” says Koenig. — Agencies 

tech 

terse 

Facebook helps FBI 

bust cybercriminals 

SAN FRANCISCO: Investigation led by 

the FBI and aided by Facebook Inc, 

uncovered an international criminal 

ring that infected 11 million computers 

around the world, caused more 

than USD 850 million losses in one of 

the largest cybercrime hauls in history. 

The FBI, working with FB and several 

international law enforcement agencies, 

arrested 10 people who infected 

computers with ‘Yahos’ malicious soft- 

ware, stole credit card, bank and other 

personal information. FB’s security 

team assisted the FBI from 2010 to 

October 2012. “Its security systems 

were able to detect affected accounts 

and provide tools to remove these 

threats,” the FBI said. The accused 

hackers employed the ‘Butterfly Botnet 

— networks of compromised 

computers, potential victims of a 

variety of cyber attacks. — Reuters 

Dropbox Acquires 

Audiogalaxy 

SEATTLE: Reported acquisition of 

peer-to-peer music start-up Audiogalaxy 

signals the Inc 30 under 30 

alums may see a future in streaming 

digital music files from the cloud. 

Dropbox has not yet confirmed the acquisition. 

But the start-up did confirm 

that their service — no longer accepting 

new users — will shut down at the 

end of the year, according to a blog 

post ‘Hello, Dropbox’. “They have incredible 

customer growth, a fantastic 

vision, and a first class team of people 

creating Dropbox”, Merhej said. When 

asked about his vision for moving 

Cloud forward, he gave hints on how 

the service would look post-acquisi- 

tion. “At the end of the day, I believe 

customers want to have two musical 

experiences available to them, a lean 

forward experience — you can choose 

any track to play right now, and a lean 

back experience — some system, human 

DJ, or playlist selects tracks you 

want to hear right now, and plays them 

without you doing any work. Dropbox 

did not return request for comment in 

time for this article to publish. — Agencies 

Google Maps back 

in iPhone 

NEW YORK: Google’s navigation tool 

has returned to the iPhone, months after 

Apple’s home-grown mapping 

service flopped, prompting user complaints, 

the firing of an executive and a 

public apology from Apple’s CEO. The 

Google Maps app will be compatible 

with any iPhone or iPod Touch that 

runs iOS 5.1 or higher, the company 

said in a blog post. Apple launched its 

own service in early September, and 

dropped Google Maps, when it 

launched the iPhone 5 and rolled out 

iOS 6, an upgrade to its mobile software 

platform. Users complained that 

Apple’s new map service contained 

errors and lacked features. Apple Maps 

offered soaring ‘flyover’ views of major 

cities; it had no public transit directions, 

limited traffic information, and 

obvious mistakes such as putting one 

city in the middle of the ocean. This 

led Apple chief executive Tim Cook to 

apologise to customers frustrated with 

the service and in an unusual move for 

the US consumer group, directed 

them to rival services such as Google’s 

Maps instead. — Reuters


POSITIVE LIVING 

Variety 

PAGE 15 

Even after many years, 

she still has not forgotten 

the last day her 

whole class got together 

to say goodbye 

to their dearest schooldays. The 

gloomy faces, the watery eyes, 

the loving embraces, the firm 

handshakes promising to seek 

each other again ... those unforgettable 

memories always become 

vivid every time nostalgia 

drives her feet towards the old 

school, only to find a big, old 

tree with all of their names 

carved deep into the trunk. 

She wonders if any of them 

still remembers their promises, 

now that time has cloaked the 

past memories with layers of 

dust and transformed each fate 

beyond any expectations. 

The jolly ‘dwarf’ of the class 

has now turned into a successful 

businessman. The shy, skinny 

‘bookworm’ is now a talented 

PhD trying his luck in some distant 

land in the Western atmosphere. 

The naughty, giggly 

tomboy has thrown away her 

carefree laughter in exchange 

for a sheltered, comfortable life 

beside a caring husband. And 

she, a literature addict, was driven 

by an inner force to put her 

pen aside and become a teacher 

instead. That’s a life-choice, an 

abandonment of her dream 

about which she will never feel 

regret. 

She decided to follow her old 

teacher, who had sown the seed 

for the cause of nurturing people 

in her directionless mind 

through his poetical lessons. 

She used to dream of the enlightened 

faces of her students 

engrossed in her lessons full of 

sunlight and sea waves. 

She had also dreamed of their 

round eyes running over every 

page of the books containing 

expanses of the light and darkness 

of life. Yet, at the most decisive 

turn of her life’s course, she 

didn’t choose literature for her 

career, for she had been told 

that literature is just like a magical 

paradise to which the way is 

extremely rough. 

Travellers always keep in their 

heart a boundless aspiration for 

happiness, though they know 

very well that their ultimate goal 

will never be achieved. Her 

hands are so small; how can 

they hold the immensity, the 

“Race again,” 

replied the 

wise man, 

“this time, 

finish together, 

all three of 

you, finish 

together” 

The lasting 

LESSON 

Don’t care for what you give 

or receive. Learn to live 

generously to enjoy life, 

even when it’s not gene 

rous toward us 

depths and the fullness that literature 

can bring? 0, she 

promises herself to go ahead, 

bearing in mind the last words 

of her dear teacher: “Don’t care 

for what you give or receive. 

Learn to live generously to enjoy 

life, even when it’s not generous 

toward us.” 

This teaching was not written 

in his lesson plan, but she knew 

it would stay with her until the 

end of time. Now, she is a 

teacher, yet she has to continue 

learning numerous difficult 

lessons of life. The more she experiences, 

the better she under- 

Winning 

much more than 

a race 

In old times, fable retells 

the story of the young 

athletic boy hungry for 

success, for whom winning 

was everything and success 

was measured by such a result. 

One day, he was 

preparing for a competition 

in his small native village, 

himself and two other 

young boys to compete. A 

large crowd had congregated 

to witness the sporting 

spectacle and a wise old 

man, upon hearing of the 

little boy, had travelled far 

to bear witness also. 

The race commenced, 

looking like a level heat at 

the finishing line, but the 

boy dug deep and called on 

his determination, strength 

and power. He took the 

winning line and was first. 

The crowd was ecstatic and 

cheered and waved at the 

boy. The wise man remained 

still and calm, expressing 

no sentiment. The 

little boy, however, felt 

proud and important. 

A second race was called, 

and two new young, fit, 

challengers came forward. 

The race started and sure 

enough the little boy finished 

first again. The crowd 

was ecstatic and cheered 

and waved at the boy. The 

wise man remained still 

and calm, again expressing 

no sentiment. 

The little boy, however, 

felt proud and important. 

“Another race, another 

race!” pleaded the little boy. 

The wise old man stepped 

forward and presented the 

little boy with two new 

challengers, an elderly frail 

stands the value of her teacher’s 

last lesson. 

And now, among the heaps of 

unemotional personal pronouns, 

possessive pronouns 

and language structures in her 

own lesson plans, no leafy afternoons 

or sunny skies can be 

found yet the lessons of the old 

days have never faded away. Instead, 

they are revived in her 

teaching style. She has given her 

students the whole-hearted enthusiasm 

and tenderness that 

she once received from her 

teacher. 

Now and then, she catches 

lady and a blind man. 

“What is this?” quizzed the 

little boy. “This is no race.” 

“Race!” said the wise man. 

The race was started and 

the boy was the only finisher, 

the other two challengers 

left standing at the 

starting line. The little boy 

was ecstatic, he raised his 

arms in delight. The crowd, 

however, was silent showing 

no sentiment toward 

the little boy. “What has 

happened? Why do the people 

not join in my success?” 

he asked the wise old man. 

“Race again,” replied the 

wise man, “this time, finish 

together, all three of you, 

finish together.” 

The little boy thought a 

little, stood in the middle of 

the blind man and the frail 

old lady, and then took 

them by the hand. The race 

began and the little boy 

walked slowly, ever so slowly, 

to the finishing line and 

crossed it. The crowd were 

ecstatic and cheered and 

waved at the boy. The wise 

man smiled, gently nodding 

his head. The little boy 

felt proud and important. 

“Old man, I understand 

not! Who are the crowd 

cheering for? Which one of 

us three?” asked the little 

boy. The wise old man 

looked into the little boy’s 

eyes, placing his hands on 

the boy’s shoulders, and 

replied softly, “Little boy, for 

this race you have won 

much more than in any 

race you have ever ran before, 

and for this race the 

crowd cheer not for any 

winner!” — Darren Edwards 

sight of a warm look in the eyes 

of her students, which encourages 

her to carry on. She hopes 

to find herself again in her students: 

always listening carefully 

and appreciating each lesson. 

To her, that will be the noblest 

award she could ever receive in 

her teaching years. 

She tells herself to try her best 

to understand and take life at its 

deepest. And some day, when 

she has enough experience and 

confidence, she will give her 

students the teachings that are 

not written in the lesson plans, 

as her teacher used to do. — Author 

Unknown 

Scars that matter 

Some years ago in south 

Florida a little boy decided 

to go for a swim in 

the swimming hole behind 

his house. He ran out the 

back door, leaving behind 

shoes, socks, and shirt. 

He flew into the water, not 

realising that as he swam toward 

the middle of the lake, 

an alligator was swimming 

toward the shore. His mother, 

looking out the window, 

saw the two as they got closer 

together. In fear, she ran toward 

the water, yelling to her 

son as loudly as she could. 

Hearing her voice, the little 

boy became alarmed and 

made a U-turn to swim to his 

mother. It was too late. Just as 

he reached her, the alligator 

reached him. From the dock, 

the mother grabbed her little 

boy by the arms just as the alligator 

snatched his legs. 

That began an incredible 

tug-of-war between the two. 

The alligator was much 

stronger than the mother, 

but the mother was much 

too passionate to let go. A 

farmer happened to drive by, 

positive 

For physically weak 

people, Vitamins 

are of high value as 

they remove deficiencies 

and provide 

them essential 

nutritive components. 

But the mere 

talk of Vitamins, 

without taking the 

required one in our 

physical system, would not help us. The same 

also may be said of Values. 

People talk about Values for two reasons. 

One of these is that it has become fashionable 

to talk about them. Secondly, we use different 

masks in order to get acceptance, commendation 

and praise. However, this mask does not 

represent our real self. 

So, even though a person talks of Values, he 

may, in reality, be the very opposite of it. In his 

personal life, he might not be practising it. In 

that case, it would be mere hypocrisy and it will 

do dis-service to the society where he exists. 

Hence, when people discover that men in 

power and high positions merely talk of Values 

but do not practice them, they then become 

disillusioned. They lose hope and feel frustrated. 

Under such a situation, hypocrisy becomes 

the worst enemy and sincerity turns out to be 

the real friend and real promoter of values. 

Sincerity prepares our mind to imbibe other 

Values too. It wins the hearts of others and enables 

a person to be nearer to the Supreme Being. 

This virtue is a fast friend of Honesty, 

Integrity, Truthfulness, Simplicity and Cleanheartedness. 

As it comes — Crookedness, Deceit, 

Hypocrisy, the habit to Hide and Seek, Dishonesty, 

et cetera leave their nest and run away 

from a person’s mind. It gives a great relief, a 

Rajyogi unique experience of lightness and peace and 

Brahmakumar is the fore-runner of complete purity. So, let sin- 

Nikunj ji 

cerity in our mind be cultivated earnestly and 

enthusiastically to bring about the ‘Real 

Change’ in society. 

nikunjji@brahmakumaris.in www.brahmakumaris.com 

Sincerity for real change Life 

heard her screams, raced 

from his truck, took aim and 

shot the alligator. Remarkably, 

after weeks and weeks 

in the hospital, the little boy 

survived. His legs were extremely 

scarred by the vi- 

cious attack of the animal. 

And, on his arms, were deep 

scratches where his mother’s 

fingernails dug into his flesh 

in her effort to hang on to the 

son she loved. The newspaper 

reporter, who interviewed 

the boy after the trauma, 

asked if he would show 

him his scars. 

The boy lifted his pant legs. 

And then, with obvious 

pride, he said to the reporter, 

“But look at my arms. I have 

great scars on my arms, too. I 

have them because my mom 

wouldn’t let go.” — Author Unknown


VARIETY 

YOUR LUCK 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: This year you hear and learn so much that you 

might experience an information overload.You do not always understand 

why people do what they do. Be aware of the fact that sometimes 

they don’t either. Your drive to learn more marks your year. 

Some of you will go back to school, while others will find that learning 

about different lifestyles is helpful. If you are single, you could 

discover that you have too many potential suitors. Enjoy the process 

of choosing the right person. If you are attached, your home life remains 

pivotal. You even might decide to buy a home or change 

where you live. PISCES is often a source of stress for you. 

A baby born today has a Sun in Sagittarius and a Moon in Aquarius if 

born before 7:48 pm (PST).Afterward, the Moon will be in Pisces. 

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Schedule meetings 

quickly, even if you feel pushed to do so. Others can’t 

seem to handle business matters right now. You could 

be overwhelmed by the many hats you need to wear. 

Messages could get mixed, and others might be into control games. 

Tonight: Vanish quickly! ✹✹✹✹ 

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You step up to the plate 

and take the lead at work, school and/or within your 

immediate circle. You could feel stretched to the limit. 

A loved one will make an effort to help, but he or she 

will succeed only in irritating you. Walk away from someone’s power 

play. Tonight: Where you want to be. ✹✹✹✹ 

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Reach out to someone 

who can be a lightning rod of enlightenment. You appreciate 

this person’s different perspective. When you 

work with a situation and use more expansive thinking, 

you will incorporate what you’ve learned. Tonight: Catch up with 

an older relative. ✹✹✹✹ 

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You get bored by the 

same old conversations.Toss in a new idea or two, and 

observe the responses you get. You will know right 

away whether you can open up this interaction. At 

least you will be able to get a feel for the possibilities. Tonight: Put 

on a piece of Christmas music. ✹✹✹✹ 

LEO (July 23-Aug 22): Others seek you out for a 

plethora of reasons. You might be so overwhelmed by 

everything you hear that you might want to hide. Consider 

taking a walk or signing up for a yoga class. 

Someone in your daily environment decides to be very controlling. 

Tonight: Dinner for two. ✹✹✹✹ 

VIRGO (Aug 23-Sept 22): You are able to make 

others laugh. Your ability to dive into a problem and 

find the solution also emerges. Your creativity tends 

to bubble up in problem-solving situations, and you’ll 

feel more confident than you have in a while. Tonight: Go 

with a suggestion. ✹✹✹✹✹ 

LIBRA (Sept 23-Oct 22): Your quirky, fun personality 

might emerge at a most inappropriate moment. Make 

calls to a key person at a distance. This person’s perspective 

adds dimension to a situation. Touch base 

with a family member when you have a few moments. Tonight: 

Slow down. Relax. ✹✹✹✹✹ 

SCORPIO (Oct 23-Nov 21): Make it OK to vanish for a 

while. Home might be the perfect place to hang out. 

Return a call to a neighbour or family member. This 

person knows how to manipulate people, and he or 

she often likes to practice on you. Be careful! Tonight: Choose what 

you most love to do. ✹✹✹ 

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22-Dec 21): Stay tuned in to a 

family member’s needs. Certain feelings will emerge, 

and you could become more verbal than in the recent 

past. Others will respond. Do not get involved in a petty 

struggle happening around you. Go out and do errands instead. 

Tonight: Head on home. ✹✹✹✹ 

CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19): Stay open to someone 

who can — and probably will — be difficult. You’ll 

move through this situation with ease if you consider 

how strong you have been in the past. Refuse to make 

this situation more provocative. Tonight: Run holiday errands before 

meeting a friend. ✹✹✹✹ 

AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 18): Curb a need to overspend 

on loved ones. Know that you can make great 

choices within your budget. Be careful if you suddenly 

feel resentful of someone. You have been suppressing 

your feelings for a while. You also have been giving too much. 

Tonight: Treat yourself, too. ✹✹✹ 

PISCES (Feb 19-March 20): Act on a friend’s suggestion. 

When discussing it with others, you’ll discover 

that they also like this idea. Stress could be an issue 

with so much to do. Give yourself permission not to get 

every detail done. Take some much-needed personal time. Tonight: 

You can do no wrong.. ✹✹✹✹✹ 

Born today: Actor Bill Pullman (1953), singer/songwriter Gordon Lightfoot 

(1938), orchestra conductor Arthur Fiedler (1894)) 

By Jacqueline Bigar 

Note: Bigar’s Stars is based on the degree of your sun at birth.The sign 

name is simply a label astrologers put on a set of degrees for convenience. 

For best results, readers should refer to the dates following each sign. 

Salman doesn’t 

think about 

getting married 

NEW DELHI: Salman 

Khan, whom the 

whole world wants 

to see getting married, has 

revealed that for him marriage 

is jinxed and he hopes 

that the jinx continues. 

Hits FM 

Awards 

nominees 

announced 

KATHMANDU: With the 

end of another year, it 

is time to acknowledge 

the best artistes of the Nepali 

music industry. For this sole 

purpose Hero 16th Hits FM 

Music Award 2069 is ready 

and has announced with 

their nominations for 2069 

BS to honour and encourage 

Nepali artistes. The award 

has been honouring artistes 

and their music since 1997. 

And 16th Hits FM Music 

Award will take place in the 

first week of Magh at the 

Army’s Officer’s Club, Sundhara. 

As per the press release issued 

by Hits FM, Deepak 

Ghimire has been nominated 

in six categories including 

Best New Artistd, while Jems 

Pradhan also has six nominations. 

Others who have 

garnered several nominations 

are Adrian Pradhan 

and Rajesh Payal Rai with 

four each. Meanwhile Albert 

Gurung, Reema Gurung 

Hoda, Fedrick N’ the H2O, 

Nhyoo Bajracharya, Dikyi 

Ukyab and Navakranti have 

been listed in three categories 

each, states the statement. 

All these nominations 

make 20 categories 

including Lifetime Achievement. 

— HNS 

Eco concerns 

take front seat 

KATHMANDU: ‘Kamala’ 

a Paubhastyle 

work — a pink 

lotus is growing 

out of the mud and rising 

above the water; then there 

are different coloured lotuses 

in a row on the canvas 

— pink, black, halfblack, 

half-pink. This is 

Nepali artist Lok Chitrakar’s 

work where he has 

used minerals, vegetables, 

gold and silver for colours 

symbolising how in the 

modern day humans 

change according to circumstances. 

This and more are being 

exhibited as the part of 

Second Kathmandu International 

Art Festival from 

November 25 at Metro 

Park, Lazimpat. A total of 

24 artists’ art works from 

Nepal, Japan, USA, Poland, 

Pakistan, Bulgaria, Korea, 

Finland, Egypt, Germany, 

Iran, Estonia, China and 

Australia are on display 

offering an impressivevariation 

on the 

theme Earth, 

B o d y , 

Mind. 

“No, I think about not 

getting married. I was close 

to getting married a long 

time ago. But it didn’t happen 

and since then it has 

not been happening,” 

Salman said during an in- 

TALKING YOUTH EMPOWERMENT 

WITH DARSHAN RAUNIYAR 

KATHMANDU: Sharing 

has always been a special 

tool for people as it 

helps in creating an 

environment of understanding 

and getting ideas. 

Noticing the same importance of 

sharing Hamro Nepal, Nepal 

Connection and Story Cycle 

jointly organised a talk on 

Prospect of Youth in America 

with Darshan Rauniyar at the 

Nepal Tourism Board on December 

16. 

Rauniyar, an entrepreneur and 

politician in the US, shared his 

personal experiences along with 

his professional and political life 

during the discussion programme. 

He remembered his 

In the exhibition, 

the experimental 

video in 

2D/3D animation 

titled 

‘Mountain-Water-Painting’ 

by 

C h r i s t i n 

Bolewski from 

Germany has 

featured mountain 

ranges and 

mountaineers. 

The video scroll 

shows man and 

nature where 

Western mountaineers 

are all 

well equipped 

and climbing 

the mountain 

where Bolewski 

has flipped the 

traditional Chinese 

scroll into 

contemporary 

art. 

Meanwhile Sri Lankan 

artist Pala Pothupitiye’s ‘My 

Ancestral Dress’ is ornaments 

made of 

junk and resin 

and aesthetically 

pleasing 

which somewhat 

looks 

like real jewellery. 

Similarly 

Nepal Investment 

Bank 

Limited, Lazimpat 

is exhibiting 

the artworks 

o f 

Jupiter 

Pradh 

a n 

f r o m 

Nepal, 

Nammeera 

Ahmed from 

Pakistan and 

Ibrahim Jawabreh 

from Palestine. 

terview with Anupama 

Chopra. 

“It is jinxed and I am very 

happy. I hope this jinx continues. 

I am very comfortable 

in my own space now,” 

he added. — IANS 

childhood days that were full of 

hardships and how his continuous 

dedication to his studies 

helped him achieve a height in 

his life. 

Sharing about his personal life 

he remembered his student days 

that were full of struggles. He 

shared his experiences of establishing 

his company ‘Tribeca’ in 

New York and his entry into the 

politics in the United States. 

He said, “I was never interested 

in politics when I was studying in 

Nepal but as I went to the US, I 

was sparked by the unjust war in 

Iran and this was the thing that 

dragged me to politics.” 

During the programme he 

shared about his election cam- 

In Pradhan’s ‘Melting 

Identity, The Socio-cultural 

and Eco-Geological Identity 

Threat’, he has created 

an installation of five human 

torsos using parafin 

wax, fibre glass, ambulance 

light, traditional clay tub 

and iron. One torso that is 

higher than the others is 

cast in the form of a candle, 

placed on a traditional lotus-shaped 

clay tub and 

kept continuously lit during 

the exhibit. Its shape 

changes day by day like the 

melting Himalayan glaciers 

while the other torsos 

hold ambulance lights, a 

symbol of the emergency 

of the situation of global 

warming and climate 

change. 

Jawabreh’s video installation 

is serious while 

Ahmed’s work is humorous 

to watch. 

The exhibition will 

continue till December 

21. — HNS 

Madame 

Tussauds 

puts ring on 

Aniston’s 

waxwork 

LONDON: Madame Tussauds 

has unveiled a new 

waxwork of Jennifer 

Aniston, complete with a 

replica of her massive eightcarat 

engagement ring. The 

43-year-old actress’s lifelike 

statue has immortalised her 

tanned and toned form in a 

sexy halter-neck little black 

dress with floral embroidery 

and strappy black heels. 

Aside from an overall shiny 

sheen, the Friends star’s likeness 

was practically perfect 

down to the minimalist style, 

blown-out locks, and frosty 

eye shadow which brought 

out her baby blue eyes. When 

seen side-by-side with the 

Aniston, the museum clearly 

captured her smirk and delicate 

features after two past efforts 

had fallen short. Her fig- 

ure joined fellow celebs 

Jennifer Lopez, Robert Pattinson, 

Leonardo DiCaprio, as 

well as her former husband 

Brad Pitt and his fiance Angelina 

Jolie at the museum’s 

Big Apple location. —Agencies 


SUDOKU-1472 

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION 

HOW TO SOLVE: Every number from 1 to 9 must appear in each of 

the 9 vertical columns, in each of the 9 horizontal rows and in 

each of the 9 boxes 

THT-DOKU-1282 

Balding gets 

Cooper touch 

LONDON: Actor Bradley Cooper is 

so sensitive about his receding hairline 

that he has apparently told his 

hairstylist keep a lid on rumours about 

his luscious locks. 

“He brought in a special stylist while 

he films The Hangover Part III and is paying 

boucoup bucks for her to sign a confidentiality 

clause,” showbizspy.com 

quoted a source as saying. 

“He comes from a long line of bald 

guys and has used Propecia for year. 

Cooper’s thrown himself into work and is 

desperate for an Oscar nod in February, 

but he’s paranoid about going bald. He 

thinks it could kill his leading-man status. 

He’s been getting a cutting-edge 

hair-loss treatment and taking a battery 

of natural supplements — and he’s only 

washing his hair every three days, with 

expensive organic shampoos,” the 

source added. —IANS 

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION 

HOW TO SOLVE THT-DOKU: Place numbers into the puzzle cells in such a way that each row and 

column contains each of the digits from 1 up to 4. Like a Sudoku puzzle, no number is 

repeated in any row or column. Each bold-outlined group of cells contains a hint consisting of a 

number and one of the mathematical symbols — + x - /. The number is the result of applying the 

mathematical operation represented by the symbol to the digits contained within the domain. 

THIS WEEK’S QUESTION 

There are different festivals celebrated by people of different 

religious communities around the world. And each 

celebration has its own significance to the people of that 

community. But as a person from different cultural or religious 

groups, which festival or aspect of another culture of religion 

do you like the most? Why? 

Send your replies in not more than 200 words by Friday, December 

21 by 2 pm to Features Department, The Himalayan 

Times, e-mail: features@thehimalayantimes.com; 

Log on to www.thehimalayantimes.com 

Published by: International Media Network Nepal (Pvt) Ltd, APCA House, Baidya Khana Road, Anamnagar, Kathmandu, Nepal, PO Box 11651 Phone: 4771489, Fax: 977-1-4770701 / 4771959, E-mail: editorial@thehimalayantimes.com Regd No 143/051/052 Postal Regd. 069-070 Printed at: Sama Printers (Pvt) Ltd, Sainbu VDC, Lalitpur. Editor: Ajaya Bhadra Khanal 

Photos: THT 

THT 

paign in the US. He was a candidate 

for the US House of Representatives 

in Washington’s first 

Congressional District. He 

shared his struggles during his 

election campaigns. “I cannot 

forget those days ... I used to drive 

and walk miles for my election 

campaign. My mother’s role in 

my election campaign is unforgettable.” 

He also compared the political 

scenario of US and Nepal. 

After sharing his experiences, a 

discussion and question-answer 

round took place. The current 

political scenario, problems 

within politicians and the patience 

of Nepalis became a hot 

topic of discussion. He suggested, 

“When people are provided 

education and employment the 

problems in the country will start 

to decrease. Youth empowerment 

helps in the development 

of a nation.” 

Rauniyar grew up in Nepal and 

moved to the United States in 

1991. He graduated with MBA in 

the US. Rauniyar has held various 

public positions such as the 

Democratic Precinct Committee 

Officer and member of the Snohomish 

County Democratic Central 

Committee. He is also a 

member of the Snohomish 

County Human Rights Commission 

and the Snohomish County 

Parks Advisory Board. — HNS

Leaders confident about win-win package deal

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