Good evening from Kathmandu,

Daily Chatpat: Do visit www.nepalcares.com/guff for more chatpats!

Today's Chatpat: September 19th, 2023

1. It seems that India and Canada are now engaged in a diplomatic tussle regarding the killing of a Sikh activist in Canada. The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau has claimed that there might be some link between the Indian government and the death of the activist in Canadian soil. Canada has expelled an Indian diplomat believed to be an intelligence officer whereas the Indians have expelled a senior Canadian diplomat as well.

2. The Maoists are ready to drop their 'brand name' in the name of uniting with other communist parties. According to media reports, the party will decide on this matter in the upcoming general convention. The Maoist party has seen its popular vote dwindle down by 66% in successive elections and are now the third-largest party. The Maoists are currently leading the Socialist Front. The CPN-Maoist and the UML had earlier merged in 2018 but the relationship ended in the election of 2022.

3. The government is celebrating 'National Education Day' today under the slogan, 'inclusive and skill-based education and retention of youths within the country'. Surprisingly, hundreds of thousands of youth leave the country every year for studies abroad and vocational training across the country seem to do little to enhance the skills of the youth as most are run by NGOs who only seem to be interested to get some funding from international donors. The Education Ministry is also organizing a program to award teachers, employees and even students but have no budget for the medals. The Ministry blames late allocation of budget and now says that only prizes will be distributed and medals will be ready later.

4. Golf legend Gary Player has said that government should stay out of politics and not interfere with sports.
Player also supports the proposed merger between Saudi-backed LIV Golf and the PGA Tour, which has been criticized by politicians and even golfers. In Nepal and even in the SAARC region, most of the sports associations are headed by politicians and the athletes are provided limited opportunities and resources while the officials are busy wasting funds attending foreign trips and conferences.

5. The poultry association in the country has raised the price of broiler chickens again, the third increase in less than ten days. Chicken chillies in Kathmandu restaurants will be a little expensive. According to government data, Nepal is self-sufficient when it comes to chickens and eggs but the government looks weak in front of all these trade associations and their price hikes.