ICYMI: Here are our top stories from Wednesday, May 1

Here are some of the top stories from The Kathmandu Post (May 1, 2019).

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Post Report

Published at : May 1, 2019

Updated at : May 2, 2019 07:24

Kathmandu

ICYMI: Here are our top stories from Wednesday, May 1

Here are some of the top stories from The Kathmandu Post (May 1, 2019).

Legal experts doubt success of Ncell and Axiata’s international arbitration move

Although Ncell and its parent company, Axiata, have sought international arbitration over the capital gains tax determined by the Nepal government citing Bilateral Investment Treaty between Nepal and the United Kingdom, legal experts doubt success of the mobile company’s move, saying that the treaty does not allow international arbitration on the issue of taxation.

On April 26, the Malaysia-based Axiata, the parent company of Ncell, made an announcement in the name of its shareholders that Axiata Investments (UK) Limited and Ncell Private Limited have filed a Request for Arbitration with the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) pursuant to the Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Nepal for the Promotion and Protection of Investments.

The Bilateral Investment Treaty between Nepal and the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland has made the provision of referring the dispute over investment to the ICSID, a body under the World Bank Group founded in 1966 based on a multilateral treaty formulated by the executive directors of the World Bank to further its objective of promoting international investment.

The ICSID Convention came into force for Nepal on February 6, 1969.

Meet the people who keep Kathmandu running

Every May 1, Nepal’s various communist parties indulge in rallies and parades. The worker as an archetype is feted and paid homage to.

But it is all a farce, Ram Rana, a road repairman, says. The only people who celebrate International Workers’ Day are those who don’t need to work, he says. Workers continue to work, keeping the city functioning.

This May Day, the Post profiles five men and women who tirelessly work Kathmandu’s streets every day, keeping this city from falling apart.

Indian Army ‘discovers’ footprints of the mythical Yeti, inviting ridicule on social media

The Indian Army has finally found footprints of the mythical Yeti, according to a tweet by the Additional Directorate General of Public Information for the Indian Army.

In the tweet, accompanied by a photo of the expedition team and three photos of what appear to be footprints in the snow, the Indian Army on Monday night said it had “sited [sic] Mysterious Footprints of mythical beast ‘Yeti’ measuring 32X15 inches close to Makalu Base Camp on 09 April 2019”.

The “elusive snowman had only been sighted at Makalu-Barun National Park in the past”, the tweet continued, sending social media into a frenzy of skeptical hilarity.

“This is a late April Fool’s Day joke, right?” tweeted one Shantanu Chikara while another made references to the Night King, a mysterious snow-dwelling being from the HBO show, Game of Thrones. Yet others drew attention to the fact that the photos appeared to only show footprints from one leg: “Mystery solved...Yeti is using a pogo stick,” said one tweet.

Social security scheme, after being launched with pomp, receives lukewarm response

Employers have shown little interest in joining the Contribution Based Social Security Scheme, which was hailed as a landmark scheme for the welfare of private sector workers when it was launched in November last year.

The launching of the scheme had seen massive promotions from the government, which claimed the scheme as the beginning of a new era in the country.

Rallies led by workers and their unions were taken out in various parts of the country and promotional banners and posters were plastered all across the Capital.

All three parties—workers, government agencies and employers—had celebrated the scheme from one stage.

However, the extravagant celebration has failed to reflect in its implementation on the ground, as employers, who had once praised the scheme as a landmark move in protecting the labour’s rights and safety.

Murder cases over petty issues on the rise in Province 5

The number of murders has increased in Province-5, as per the data of the Provincial Police Office, Tulsipur, Dang.

According to the Provincial Police Office, in a period of nine months—from mid-July last year to mid-April this fiscal year—the province has witnessed 68 murders. In relation to the murders, police have arrested 114 suspects, while 25 others are still on the run.

The Tarai districts in the province, especially the districts that border India, have reported more murders than hilly districts. In bordering Banke district alone, 13 people lost their lives in the last 9 months. Most of the murders have been over petty issues, such as dispute between persons, families, friends and neighbours and easy availability of small weapons.

Many murders have also taken place over disputes in economic transactions. The murder of one Triveni Yadav, 70, of Kapilvastu on March 20 this year highlights the case of petty disputes leading to violence.