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Chhath festival is being observed today by worshipping and making offerings to the setting sun. The festive fanfare has been seen in different parts including Ranipokhari, Gaurighat, Kupondole of the Kathmandu Valley as well. The festival is dedicated to the sun God, with offerings made to the rising and setting sun. It is observed for four days, from Kartik Shukala Chaturthi to Kartik Shukla Saptami as per the lunar calendar. It usually falls between October and November in the Gregorian calendar. The Sun considered as the god of energy and of the life-force, is worshiped during the Chhath festival to promote well-being, prosperity and progress. The ritual of Chhath Parba includes taking holy bath, fasting, standing and worshiping the sun for a long time and offering Prasad and Argha to the ‘Rising and setting Sun”. Chhath is a festival of bathing and worshipping that follows a period of abstinence and segregation of the worshiper from the main household for four days. During this period, the worshiper observes purity and sleeps on the floor on a single blanket. This is the only holy festival which has no involvement of any pandit (priest). The devotees offer their prayers to the setting sun and then the rising sun in celebrating its glory as the cycle of birth starts with death. It is seen as the most glorious form of Sun worship.

The death toll in the horrific Seoul Halloween stampede rose to 151, with 19 of them identified as foreigners, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported citing fire authorities, ANI reported.

The agency also reported that the victims in their 20s accounted for the age group most affected by the horrific Seoul Halloween stampede. Moreover, the agency, citing the Seoul metropolitan government, said Sunday it has received about 270 reports of missing persons related to the deadly stampede during Halloween parties in the Itaewon district. At least 151 people were killed and 76 others were injured after a deadly stampede during Halloween celebrations in Seoul’s Itaewon district on Saturday at 10:20 pm (13:20 GMT), Al Jazeera reported citing the officials. The incident reportedly occurred after a large group of people rushed to an Itaewon bar after hearing an unidentified celebrity visited there, Al Jazeera reported citing the local media. Social media footage showed several people being assisted by rescue officials and private citizens at the scene, and numerous ones performing CPR on people lying in poor condition on the streets. A large crowd pushed forward on a narrow street during Halloween festivities, resulting in dozens needing first aid. South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol ordered the dispatch of the emergency medical team to the area and said hospital beds should be prepared to minimize casualties, his office said. Numerous people had trouble breathing when the chaotic stampede occurred as dozens were seen giving CPR to people lying lifeless on streets post-incident. South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol presided over an emergency response meeting Sunday over the deadly stampede, as per the officials. “Shortly after the accident, Yoon came to the presidential office in Yongsan and presided over a response meeting related to the Seoul Itaewon Halloween accident,” the presidential office said, according to ANI. “The top priority is transporting and rescuing the patients and providing prompt medical treatment for the affected people,” local media reported quoting Yoon as saying. Authorities are still looking into the exact cause of the accident as the investigation is underway. Emergency forces were dispatched following the crowd surge which resulted in fatalities. Firefighters and police officers also reached the Itaewon neighbourhood in Seoul to bring the situation under control, ANI reported.

Soon after Xi Jinping was elected for the third term, China is all set to unveil diplomatic events. According to The Global Times, Beijing is all set to welcome several foreign leaders from countries with different political systems and economic development paths, illustrating that more countries hold positive views on China's future development and welcome the country's foreign policy embedded with the concept of humanity's shared values pursued by the CPC. At the invitation of Premier Li Keqiang, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will pay an official visit to China on November 4, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin announced on Friday. He also became the latest foreign leader set to visit China, as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif  and Samia Suluhu Hassan, president of the United Republic of Tanzania are scheduled to visit the country in the coming days. The Global Times reports Vietnam's communist party chief will pay an official visit to China from October 30 to November 2 at the invitation of Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese President. Trong will also be the first foreign leader to visit China after the 20th National Congress of the CPC. Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will also visit China from November 1, which will also be his first visit to China since taking office in April, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced earlier this week. It demonstrates the special friendship and strategic mutual trust between China and Pakistan, which is also a continuation of the positive momentum of close high-level contacts between the two countries, according to the ministry. Meanwhile, Samia Suluhu Hassan, president of the United Republic of Tanzania, will pay a state visit to China from November 2 to November 4, who will also be the first head of state from Africa to visit China after the CPC National Congress. . In addition to leaders from Asia and Africa, German Chancellor Scholz's trip to China will make him the first G7 leader to travel to the country since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, media reports said.

The ruling Nepali Congress has unveiled its election manifesto for November 20 federal and provincial assembly elections. NC has said that a post-election government will be formed under the party's leadership. If you do not have time to read the full text, here are the major highlights of the election manifesto in 30-point. 1. KP Sharma Oli-led government which was formed in 2018 and ruled since 2021 tried to make parliament a rubber stamp. Oli took a series of measures to sabotage the constitution and Parliament 2. Five-party coalition was formed in order to protect the democracy and constitution which helped to bring back the constitution on track 3. Border disputes with both India and China will be resolved through diplomatic dialogue and NC will remain committed not to allow to use of Nepali soil against any neighboring countries 4. Nepal will not join any military blocs and will not engage in any geopolitical competition of major powers 5. In the changing geopolitical situation, Nepal will employ soft power and public diplomacy to advance Nepal’s foreign policy 6. NC will take initiative to enhance the ownership of the constitution by the wider section of the population 7. Nepali Congress will take the initiative to resolve the looming economic crisis such as trade imbalance and low domestic productivity 8. Expansion of current highways and construction of new ones will be the high priority 9. NC has committed to take measures in the areas of energy, and water. Drinking water, communication 10. The current federal structures will be enhanced and strengthened. Provincial structures will be made even more effective 11. Women’s literacy rate will reach 95 percent. Federal Education Act will be introduced within a year 12. Provisions will be made for free of cost medical treatment for children below three and adults above 75. The area of health insurance will be expanded 13. 1.2 million jobs will be created within the next five years 14. At least 7 percent economic growth will be achieved 15. High-speed internet facilities for the local bodies 16. To achieve net zero carbon by 2045, a roadmap of the green economy will be developed 17. Climate Change Research Center will be established 18. The production of good grains will be increased to ensure self-reliance 19. The production of 10000 Mega Watt electricity 20. 2 million tourists in the next five years and the tourism sector will contribute 5 percent to the country’s GDP 21. Cultural museums will be established in the provincial assemblies 22. Senior citizens above 65 will get senior citizen allowances 23. Free of cost electricity for up to 50 units of electricity 24. A law will be promulgated to address the conflict of interest issues 25. 80 percent of schools will get internet facilities 26. Free of cost sanitary pad for women 27. Expedite the construction of hydropower projects 28. Law will be formulated to force the people holding public positions to make their property public 29. Parliament will be allowed to complete its five-year tenure 30. Constructions of railway lines

German Ambassador Dr. Thomas Prinz inaugurated Nepal-German Mart 22 at the German Embassy in Gyaneshwor, Kathmandu on Saturday. The main objective of the exhibition is to promote business between Nepal and Germany, read a statement issued by the German Embassy in Kathmandu. It showcases products as well as food and culture of Nepal and Germany. The exhibition is organized by the Nepal German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NGCCI) in cooperation with the German Embassy Kathmandu. On the occasion,  German Ambassador Dr. Prinz said, “Our aim is to continue the positive development in bilateral trade which was interrupted by 2 years of Covid.” As many as 40 companies from Nepal and Germany are going to participate in the exhibition. There are stalls from companies representing hydropower, automobile and tourism sector along with stalls showcasing carpets, felts, handicrafts etc. Nepali and German culinary stalls are also present in the exhibition. There will be a cultural dance program on Sunday. The goal of the exhibition is to create a networking platform between Nepal and Germany and contribute to the bilateral economic relations. It is also showcased in the virtual form at the www.nepal-germanmart22.com from 29th October 29th to November 4th, 2022. Around 800 people are expected to participate in the physical exhibition

There’s “no credible pathway to 1.5C in place” today, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) insisted in a new report, despite legally binding promises made at the 2015 Paris Climate Conference to prevent average temperatures rising by more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.

Uncomfortable truth

“This report tells us in cold scientific terms what nature has been telling us all year, through deadly floods, storms and raging fires: we have to stop filling our atmosphere with greenhouse gases, and stop doing it fast,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP. “We had our chance to make incremental changes, but that time is over. Only a root-and-branch transformation of our economies and societies can save us from accelerating climate disaster.” Despite Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) promises made by governments in favour of reducing their carbon footprint, pledges made since the last climate summit in Glasgow in 2021 will lead to cuts of less than one per cent of projected 2030 greenhouse gas emissions, according to UNEP.

Paltry reductions

This is the equivalent of just 0.5 gigatonnes of CO2, UNEP calculated, adding that only a 45 per cent emissions reduction will limit global warming to 1.5C. As it stands today, latest data indicates that the world is on track for a temperature rise of between 2.4C and 2.6C by the end of this century. “In the best-case scenario, full implementation of unconditional NDCs and additional net-zero emissions commitments point to only a 1.8C increase, so there is hope. However, this scenario is not currently credible based on the discrepancy between current emissions, short-term NDC targets and long-term net-zero targets,” UNEP said.

Fossil fuel-free solution

For the situation to improve, a “large-scale, rapid” and fossil fuel-free shake-up is needed of our “electricity supply, industry, transport and buildings sectors, and the food and financial systems” to cut emissions by 45 per cent to limit global warming to 1.5C, and by 30 per cent to keep average temperature rise to 2C, the UN agency explained. And although the transformation towards net-zero greenhouse gas emissions is underway in electricity supply, industry, transportation and buildings, it needs to move “much faster”, the report concludes.

Three people died in separate road accidents in Sunsari Thursday night. The deceased have been identified as Tej Narayan Sah (45) of Itahari-17, Geevan Raut (27) of Barahchhetra-8 and Gulab Mehata (35) of Supaul Banauli Panchayat, India. Sah died when a motorcycle (Pradesh 1-02-043 P 9087) heading towards east from west hit a cart at Pakali of Itahari-17 along the East-West highway. Bike Bikram Khadka (45) of Belbari-8, Morang was injured in the accident and he is being treated at the Biratnagar-based Neuro Hospital. Similarly, Raut, who was severely injured when an unidentified motorbike hit his bicycle along the Duahabi-Inaruwa road section in Inaruwa-5, breathed his last in the course of treatment at the District Hospital, Inaruwa. Police said that they are searching for the motorcycle. Likewise, Mehata, who was critically injured when a car (Ga 3 Cha 5576) hit a bicycle at Bhokraha Narsingh Rural Municipality-4, died while undergoing treatment at the District Hospital Inaruwa, DSP Raj Kumar Rai said. Police said that they have impounded the car and arrested its driver for investigation.

Prof Rahul Mukherji is associated with South Asia Institute of Heidelberg University, Germany.  He teaches and conducts research in the area of comparative and South Asian politics and international relations. His current research involves democratic backsliding, politics of welfare and India’s emergence in the global order. In September, Mukherji visited Nepal to share his view on the status of democracy in South Asia. Kamal Dev Bhattarai of ApEx talked to him about the latest trend of democracy in South Asia and Nepal. What is your view on the current state of democracy in South Asia?  The status of democracy in South Asia is quite precarious in many respects. India’s situation in 2016 and 2021 is comparatively worse than Poland and Hungary, the two countries that the world is talking about because their democracies are falling short of expectations. Sri Lanka and India are very close to each other, but India has been ranked worse than Sri Lanka in the V-Dem report.  The global report shows that India’s democracy is declining in this period. Pakistan’s status of democracy is even worse and Bangladesh seems to be backsliding even more.  So, this is a sort of negative side of the story. The positive story is that Nepal and Bhutan are consolidating their democracy.  In many ways, it is difficult to make a comparison between Nepal and India. In terms of democracy, Nepal has a positive trajectory, while India has a somewhat negative trajectory. India’s trajectory in the South Asian region is very important because other countries in this region look at India’s democracy. India’s democracy is important not only for India itself but also for the entire region. If India’s democracy declines, it will not be good for Nepal. How does India’s backsliding democracy affect the region?  It will certainly have a huge impact for the countries in this region. For example, In Bangladesh, the Awami League government, considered to be more secular, could find it difficult to sustain itself if Hindu nationalism in India is pursued in a certain way. If there are leaders with an autocratic bent in Nepal, Sri Lanka, or any other country in the region, they will draw inspiration from India, and there are already some indications of it. What is the role of civil society in protecting democracy in South Asia?  Civil society organizations in South Asia are becoming weak and that is partly because the state is not letting them grow. Civil Society needs the state.  Several legislations introduced by India over the past few years have led to cutting off of foreign lending to non-governmental organizations. The Prevention of Money-Laundering Act has been used to attack both opposition politicians and non-governmental organizations. Likewise, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act has been used to catch many people from civil society and some of them are in prison. These are only but a few of the facets that I have been discussing now. In Bangladesh, the situation is even worse than India. Civil society organizations there are harshly dealt with, which is why the V-Dem ranking of Bangladesh is very low than that of India and Sri Lanka. Civil society is not certainly dead because we have seen farmers’ protests, which led the Indian government to repeal the controversial farm laws. In Sri Lanka, too, the civil society movement led to the ouster of the Rajapaksa family. I guess Nepal must be in a better position, as it has a lot of civil society organizations. Despite some problems, civil society is more alive in Nepal.  In India, too, civil society is active, but it is becoming more and more difficult for it to sustain because the state is trying to restrain them, which is not good for democracy. How do you observe the state of democracy in Nepal?  Nepali democracy is currently in the transitional phase. It seems that Nepal is trying to consolidate its democracy. It took a long time to promulgate the constitution. Before that I was wondering whether the Nepali politicians were actually interested in the constitution. When the constitution was finally endorsed, many people hailed it for its many good features. But only having a good constitution is not enough. Nepal is sandwiched between India and China. Along with a good constitution, Nepal needs strong political parties, which carry a certain agenda. Now it seems that power is the main goal for every political party of Nepal rather than a real agenda. No matter what your ideology, you can come together for a coalition to ascend to power. If power becomes the goal, then it does not matter how good a constitution you have. Consequently, the people of the country will be the ones who will suffer. How optimistic are you about the future of democracy in South Asia?  The future of democracy in South Asia will certainly depend on countries like India, Nepal and Bhutan. India, because it led the way for democracy in the region. When India became a democracy in 1947, no recognized global scholars thought that the country could consolidate as a democracy. Because modernization theory and a lot of statistics suggest democracy comes only after a certain level of per capita income is secured. At that time, India was very poor, it hardly had a middle class. But there was democracy nonetheless. In many ways, India challenged the world sustaining its democracy. India had a coalition government after 1980 and people thought that there was a need for a strong politician.  And today, they have such a strong leader that democracy itself is getting a challenge. In many ways, India is going to become an important country in the region. If it is able to secure its democracy, it will have a good impact on other South Asian countries. If not, it is going to become difficult for the region. Meanwhile, the trajectory of democracy in Nepal and Bhutan are reasons to be hopeful. I hope democratic Nepal and Bhutan will not follow India. Some countries are consolidating democracy on their own but if India does not do so, it will have a negative impact in the region. I am still hopeful that India’s democracy will rise.