Having had a long experience in the practice of law in the corporate sector, senior advocate Dr. Gandhi Pandit, who graduated from the University of Columbia, is now working with investors to settle the current challenges arising from the spread of COVID-19 in the industrial and particularly the hotel sector. At a time when hospitality related industries are completely shut down following the spread of pandemic globally, the income of the hotels has virtually gone down to zero. However, the government issued a notice for them to pay the full salary of Chaitra and Baisakh to their employees. This unilateral government decision, without consulting Hotelier, has created a deep rift between employees and employers. Dr. Pandit, who also teaches law at Tribhuwan University, spoke to New Spotlight on the issue of industrial relations in Nepal in the context of COVID-19 Pandemic. Excerpts:
By NEW SPOTLIGHT ONLINE May 14, 2020
Having worked in various development sectors of Nepal, particularly in remote and rural parts, to uplift the life of poor and marginalized people, World Vision International Nepal (WVIN) has its own reputation. As WVIN recently celebrated its annual program, JANES IMANUEL GINTING, National Director of WVIN, spoke with NEW SPOTLIGHT. Excerpts:
By A Correspondent Mar 17, 2020
George Goh Ching Wah is a Singaporean Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Ambassador, Honorary Advisor and Institution Founder. Internationally renowned, Ching is also the Founder and Chairman of Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship of BMU. BMU is mentored by Imperial College London, the 108-year old university that is currently ranked 8th in the QS World University Rankings (2018). Goh is the Founder and First Vice Chairman of Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship of Tribhuvan University, Nepal (TU). TU and Singapore Management University (SMU) have decided to establish Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IIE) for entrepreneurship development and innovation in Nepal. George spoke to New Spotlight on various issues: Excerpts:
By A Correspondent Mar 15, 2020
Having worked in various development offices during his long career in civil service up to being the special class secretary, Financial Comptroller General of Financial Comptroller General Office Gopi Nath Mainali has earned immense experiences. As Nepal has transformed from a unitary state to federal state, Mainali spoke to New Spotlight on various issues regarding the need to fiscal discipline at different levels of government. Excerpts of the interview:
By A Correspondent Mar 15, 2020
Having worked in several positions of Nepali civil service, Eaknarayan Aryal, Consul General, in the Consulate General of Nepal in Kolkata, is known for his personal capability to perform well. As Kolkata port has been a gateway to Nepal's export and import from the third countries, it remains very important for Nepal's economic development. In his three years of tenure in Kolkata, Aryal has posted some significant progress to improve the transit of export and import of Nepali goods. Aryal spoke to New Spotlight on various issues. Excerpts:
By A Correspondent Feb 07, 2020
With the imposition of restriction by India on the imports of Palm oil from Nepal, there is a hue and cry from a group of exporters. Having more than 25 years of experience of working on the issue of trade, renowned trade expert Dr. POSH RAJ PANDEY, who is the Chairman at South Asia Watch on Trade Economics and Environment (SAWTEE), a consortium of South Asian NGOs, spoke to KESHAB POUDEL on the implication of Nepal’s trade with India. Excerpts:
By Keshab Poudel Jan 24, 2020
Having worked for long in the banking sector, Chief Executive Officer of Himalyan Bank Ashoke Sumsher Rana is of the most experienced CEO of any commercial bank. Leader of the country’s oldest private sector bank as CEO, Rana recently spoke to NEW SPOTLIGHT on various issues related to banking sector. Excerpts:
By A Correspondent Dec 20, 2019
In September 2015, Nepal promulgated a new Constitution mandating the country’s transition from a centralized unitary state to a federal state. The goal was to bring democracy to the doorstep of citizens and assign more power and responsibility to local governments. Four years on, how is the reform progressing and what role does knowledge play in informing such a complex and political reform? To discuss the answers to these questions I spoke to The Asia Foundation’s BISHNU ADHIKARI, Program Director of the Strategic Partnership on Sub-national Governance Program, funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and implemented by The Asia Foundation in Nepal.
By NEW SPOTLIGHT ONLINE Nov 22, 2019
The Ambassador of Luxembourg Jean Claude Kugener is the carrier diplomat of Luxembourg. He is the Residential ambassador to India and non residential ambassador to Nepal. Few months back, he came to Nepal to present letter of credence to president Bidya Devi Bhandari. Despite his busy schedule, the Ambassador of Luxembourg Jean Claude Kugener shared his view with New Spotlight.
By NEW SPOTLIGHT ONLINE Oct 17, 2019
As temperature has gone up around the world, the heat is melting ice in the Himalayas and glaciers are receding. At a time when scientists have been expressing concern over the situation, a source of inspiration, spiritual in nature, Bhikkhu Sanghasena, a world renowned Buddhist and founder of the Save the Himalaya Foundation (SHF), from Ladakh, India, is hosting an international conference in Nepal next year. As Bhikkhu Sanghasena was recently in Kathmandu to prepare for the international conference in partnership with Binod Chaudhary’s Chaudhary Foundation, BHIKKHU SANGHASENA spoke to KESHAB POUDEL about the importance of his mission at the residence of Dr. Susanne Von Der Heide, a renowned Buddhist scholar and director of SHF’s international relations. Bhikkhu Sanghasena, a simple and humble human being, is renowned for his immense knowledge and wisdom. Excerpts of half an hour interview
By Keshab Poudel Sep 29, 2019
Nepal has completed the fourth year of its new constitution and has celebrated this with a lot of fanfare. While the government gave the Constitution Day (September 20) all emphasis it deserves, it is true that some political parties and civil society groups protested against the new Constitution while it was being promulgated in 2015. Some of them gave the constitutional anniversary a cold response, and some observed the day of promulgation as a black day. The concern about the future of the Constitution of Nepal, 2015, the seventh constitution, has been open to discussion, given that Nepal bid goodbye to six written constitutions for various reasons, internal and external, in the span of 65 years. On this occasion, Spotlight spoke with constitutional expert Dr Bipin Adhikari, who is also a senior lawyer of Nepal, about the issues surrounding the new constitution and its development.
By NEW SPOTLIGHT ONLINE Sep 25, 2019
As Nepal government celebrated Constitution Day with fanfare, veteran politician and leader of Rashtriya Janta Party Sarvendra Nath Shukla is terming the day as a Black Day boycotting official ceremony and commemorating the day as a martyr’s day. Shukla spoke to NEW SPOTLIGHT from Dhangadhi. Excerpts:
By NEW SPOTLIGHT ONLINE Sep 22, 2019
ANN BURGESS has worked supporting schools in a variety of contexts: she has been a Local Authority advisor for Primary schools where her responsibilities included leadership training and induction of Head Teachers as well as an Ofsted inspector in the UK. She has worked for British Council since 2002 as a Specialist Advisor in School Leadership and as a Senior Advisor and now as a consultant. She has an extensive international experience in most regions of the world; amongst the countries she has worked with are; Brazil, China, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Thailand, Argentina, Mexico, Jordan, Ethiopia, Ghana, Tunisia and Europe. Ann also presented about importance of embedding internationalism into school curriculum during a Policy Dialogue on “Embedding International Dimension in the Curriculum” held by the British Council Nepal on 20 August 2019 along with the International School Award Ceremony where 41 schools from all over Nepal received the award. During her visit Ann spoke various issues. Excerpts:
By NEW SPOTLIGHT ONLINE Aug 30, 2019
Ambika P. Adhikari, DDes., who is a Principal Planner at City of Tempe, AZ, USA heading its long-range planning division, is a well known name in Nepalese Diaspora. Obtained Doctorate in Urban Planning and Design from Harvard University, and Master of Architecture from University of Hawaii, he is a Sr. Sustainability Scientist, a frequent Faculty Associate, and was a former Program Manager, and a former Research Professor at Arizona State University (ASU). In Nepal, he was Associate Professor at Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, and Country Representative of IUCN (International Union of Conservation of Nature). He is a Fellow of American Society of Nepalese Engineers (ASNEngr), a Member of American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), LEED Accredited Professional and has a certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP). Dr. Adhikari, who has authored one, and co-edited five books related to planning, environment and development. He is active in many Nepali community organizations in North America, spoke to New Spotlight.
By NEW SPOTLIGHT ONLINE Aug 13, 2019
Herta Däubler-Gmelin is a German lawyer, academic and a former politician of the Social Democratic Party. She served as Federal Minister of Justice from 1998 to 2002, and as a Member of the Bundestag from 1972 to 2009. She currently teaches as an honorary professor of political science at the Free University of Berlin, particularly on international relations and human rights. In 2011 she was the Hemmerle Professor at RWTH Aachen University. She spoke to New Spotlight on various issues. Excerpts:
By A Correspondent Jul 19, 2019
Shailendra Sigdel, an Independent Management Consulting Professional, has over three decades of experience in governance sector. Executive Director of Foundation for Development Management with a demonstrated history of working in the management consulting industry, he has skills in Policy Analysis, Organizational Development, Public Policy, Economic Development, and Capacity Building. Strong business development professional, a graduate from the University of Birmingham, Sigdel spoke to New Spotlight on current political and structural transformation in Nepal. Excerpts of his interview:
By A Correspondent Jun 30, 2019