Here are some of the top stories from The Kathmandu Post (September 10, 2019).

Fair or not, some say it’s time to talk about skin colour discrimination

Colourism in Nepali society is also being perpetuated by people’s general attitudes and treatment of others. When a person casually refers to someone else as “kali or kaley” or “gori or gorey,” they fail to consider that they are identifying that person as a whole on the basis of a single element—their skin colour.

When Nikita Chandak was crowned Miss Nepal in 2017, she faced immediate backlash from the public for not being fair enough, and was constantly told how her darker skin tone, along with the fact that she was from the Marwadi community, made her undeserving of the title.

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As dengue spreads, officials scramble to contain the disease

The dengue fever outbreak is nearing epidemic levels, with over 8,000 people hospitalised this season alone. At least six people have died in an outbreak that began some four months ago in Dharan in Sunsari. The outbreak has since spread to 56 districts, including mountainous districts like Manang.

According to data provided by the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, two people have died of dengue fever in Kathmandu district while Sindhupalchowk, Sunsari, Chitwan, and Doti districts have reported at least one death each. Officials say the number of deaths could increase, as they are in the process of investigating several deaths that could possibly be due to the virus.

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Here’s what happens on each day of Indra Jatra

The wooden log, called Ya Sin in Nepal Bhasa, is worshipped during Yenya (Indra Jatra) after it is erected outside Hanuman Dhoka Palace amidst a ritual that marks the beginning of Kathmandu’s biggest festival. Ya Sin travels to Hanuman Dhoka from a forest in Suryabinayak, Bhaktapur, called Lingo Guthi Community Forest—formerly known as Nala Ban.

Dragging the giant wooden log more than 20 kilometres is only one part of the preparation for the eight-day festival, which marks the onset of winter. And the lingo—as the legend goes—is a gift to the King of Kathmandu by the goddess Dangi herself, for releasing her son Lord Indra from his custody. Lord Indra’s crime was that he had stolen a Parijat flower from the mortal king's garden.

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As private sector introduces e-buses, experts say onus to promote green vehicles lies on government

A private sector transport company on Monday rolled out two electric buses for public transport in Kathmandu.

The arrival of the buses grabbed huge public attention as it was the first-ever instance when a private sector firm had imported electric buses for public transport.

Two ministers, various government officials, private sector representatives and public participated in a programme to flag off the e-buses.

The two buses, brought by Sundar Yatayat Pvt Ltd, will operate on the Ring Road.

Announcing the company’s ambitious plan, Chairperson of Sundar Yatayat Bhesh Bahadur Thapa said, “For now, four buses are already here for immediate operation. We plan to bring in 50 more buses this year.”

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From BRI projects to investments, Nepal presents a wishlist to China

Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi began his official engagements on Monday by holding a series of meetings with President Bidya Devi Bhandari, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali.

All three leaders, according to officials familiar with the meetings, presented separate wishlists to Wang and requested that Beijing expedite projects to be funded by China.

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