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Former Speaker Mahara, a gold smuggling suspect, arrested at last

The vice-chair of the ruling Maoist Centre has been remanded to four days in custody.
- Post Report

KATHMANDU,
Police on Monday arrested Maoist Centre vice-chair and former Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara in connection with a gold smuggling case.
Mahara, who was arrested from Pakadi of Kapilvastu district, was later flown to Kathmandu from Bhairahawa airport for investigation.
Sudarshan Baral, chairman of the Lumbini Province chapter of the ruling Maoist Centre, said that Mahara was travelling to Rolpa via Bhairahawa.
Upon his arrival in Kathmandu, Mahara was taken to the Central Investigation Bureau’s office at Lazimpat.
Later, he was produced before the Kathmandu District Court, which remanded him to four days in custody for investigation. A single bench of judge Durga Prasad Khanal remanded him in custody, according to Chandra Prasad Panthi, information officer at the court.
Citing his health condition, the court has also allowed him to stay at a hospital during the custody period. Following the order, he was admitted to the Thapathali-based Norvic Hospital.
Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane had on Sunday ordered police to implement the inquiry commission’s report on a large-scale gold smuggling scam that implicated Mahara.
The commission, headed by former High Court chief judge Dilli Raj Acharya, submitted its report on Thursday accusing the CIB of making deliberate efforts not to investigate Mahara, the then director general of the Department of Immigration Jhalak Ram Adhikari, and former Nepal Police chief and UML leader Sarbendra Khanal in the gold scam.
After receiving the report, Home Minister Lamichhane submitted it to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. On Friday, the Cabinet decided to implement the report’s recommendations.
The commission submitted its report after studying the lapses in police investigation into the scam that involved smuggling of 60kg gold by hiding it inside motorcycle brake shoes last year, and also into another scam wherein 9kg of gold was smuggled by concealing it inside electronic cigarettes in December 2022.
The District Attorney’s Office filed a case against Rahul, son of former Speaker Mahara, in October last year for his alleged role in smuggling 9kg gold. The CIB had taken Rahul into custody on August 30 last year for investigation.
As per a government report, the father-son duo had been in regular contact with Chinese gold smugglers, with a total of 256 phone conversations between them.
Previously, police had inquired with senior Mahara about the smuggling after he was found to be in constant touch with Chinese smugglers. Though Mahara was a suspect, police didn’t record his statement in the presence of the government attorney as required by the law.

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NC seeks probe into home minister over cooperative scam

Swatantra Party lawmaker urges Congress to accept Lamichhane as home minister citing his public support.
- Post Report

Kathmandu,
Several Nepali Congress and other opposition lawmakers have demanded an investigation into Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane over his alleged involvement in the misuse of funds from a Pokhara-based cooperative firm.
“We demand an answer from Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal whether the government is ready to investigate the massive misuse of cooperative funds and Lamichhane’s alleged involvement,” Congress lawmaker Gagan Kumar Thapa, who is also the party’s general secretary, said at Monday’s meeting of Parliament. “We urge the government to take the issue and the plight of victims of cooperative frauds seriously.”
Reports are pouring in from different parts of the country that billions of rupees of the general public have been embezzled by cooperative owners and management committees and the culprits have been absconding.
A complaint was registered at the District Police Office in Kaski last month against Lamichhane, accusing him of embezzling cooperative funds.
Lamichhane, a former television host and managing director of a television channel co-founded by Gitendra Babu (GB) Rai, has been accused of embezzling hundreds of millions of rupees in collusion with Rai from cooperatives in Kaski, Chitwan and Butwal. Rai, who was the chairman of the Gorkha Media Network, the mother company of the channel, is accused of illegally transferring Rs300 million from Kaski-based Surya Darshan Cooperative, Rs110.71 million from Chitwan-based Sahara Cooperative, and Rs 100.74 million from Supreme Cooperative in Butwal, without providing any collateral.
On Sunday, the swindled depositors of Surya Darshan submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Dahal in Pokhara and urged him to investigate Rai and probe the role of home minister Lamichhane in the scam.
Now the Congress has taken the issue seriously and voiced concerns at the Parliament meeting on Monday.
“No one, whether they are powerful, popular or new, should be exempted if they have made a mistake. Do we have the courage to acknowledge this or not? This is the question for the House. Should we advocate for the truth or not ? This is not a question for one section; it is about the integrity of the House. So the prime minister should give answers,” said Thapa.
“We have raised this issue seriously and we want a response from the prime minister, and this is also my request to the Speaker. Do not let this agenda fade away,” said Thapa. “We want to hear from the prime minister that the probe into the embezzlement of the cooperative funds will be impartial and free from any influence.”
The Congress has been raising its concerns over a conflict of interest arising from Lamichhane’s appointment as home minister, especially as Nepal Police that falls under the ministry’s jurisdiction is currently investigating his alleged involvement in embezzling cooperative deposits while serving at the Gorkha Media Network.
A probe committee launched by the Pokhara Metropolitan City found that over Rs1.35 billion in public deposits at Surya Darshan Cooperative in Pokhara was misappropriated.
The probe found that Lamichhane had obtained a loan of Rs10 million from the cooperative by creating a fake account. Lamichhane has vehemently denied the charge.
While the cooperatives regulations bar non-members from borrowing money, Lamichhane, who was neither a member nor a depositor of the cooperative, still managed to obtain the loan, the probe found.
Thapa stated that no one should be exempt from corruption cases, including those related to the fake Bhutanese refugee case, the illegal transfer of 10 ropani land of Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory, the Teramocs scam, Ncell share transfer scam, and gold smuggling case, among others.
“We demand a fair and impartial investigation into the embezzlement of the cooperative funds,” said Thapa while targeting home minister Lamichhane.
“Not a single piece of evidence should be destroyed as police have the evidence of embezzlement of cooperative funds,” said Thapa. “The victims have handed over evidence to the police for further investigation.”
“How can we believe that those who were involved in the embezzlement of the funds will carry out fair and impartial investigation,” said Thapa while questioning the credibility and moral authority of Home Minister Lamichhane.
“That is why we need an answer from the prime minister.”  
Thapa said he does not want superficial answers from the prime minister and they should come in a responsible manner.
He claimed that over 100 people including Lamichhane had opened fake accounts at Surya Darshan Cooperative and they embezzled over Rs1.45 billion.
But Ashok Kumar Chaudhary of the Rastriya Swatantra Party urged the Congress to accept Lamichhane as home minister.
“Lamichhane became the home minister after winning the trust, vote and confidence of the people,” he said, adding, “The Congress should have the courage to accept him as home minister. He has restored people’s hope, and the Congress should focus on self-reflection rather than blaming others.”
Other Nepali Congress lawmakers like Dikpal Kumar Shahi and Pratima Gautam also urged a fair probe against Lamichhane while casting doubt over such fairness given Lamichhane’s leadership of home ministry.
“The victims of cooperatives are fed up with the state’s approach and no longer feel they will get justice under the current system,” said Gautam. She questioned how victims could believe they would get justice when the man heading the home ministry is implicated in embezzling cooperative funds.
Meanwhile, chairman of the Rastriya Janamorcha Chitra Bahadur KC issued a statement on Monday demanding that the home minister be sacked. “If Lamichanne continues as home minister, the ongoing investigation on the cooperative fraud will be affected,” said KC. “This will be injustice to the victims of the cooperatives.”

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Putin re-elected with historic landslide in preordained election

The poll body said with nearly all precincts counted, Putin got 87 percent of the vote.
- EMMA BURROWS,DASHA LITVINOVA,Jim Heintz,ASSOCIATED PRESS

President Vladimir Putin sealed his control over Russia for six more years on Monday with a highly orchestrated landslide in an election that followed the harshest crackdown on the opposition and?free speech since Soviet times.
While the result was never in doubt, Russians attempted to defy the inevitable outcome, heeding a call to protest Putin’s repression at home and his war in Ukraine by showing up at polling stations at noon on Sunday. But from the earliest returns, it was clear Putin would extend his nearly quarter-century rule with a fifth term.
With nearly all the precincts counted Monday, election officials said Putin had secured a record number of votes—an unsurprising development underlining the Russian leader’s total control of the country’s political system.
Putin has led Russia as president or prime minister since December 1999, a tenure marked by international military aggression and an increasing intolerance for dissent. At the end of his fifth term, Putin would be the longest-serving Russian leader since Catherine the Great, who ruled during the 18th century.
As early results came in, Putin hailed them as an indication of “trust” and “hope” in him — while critics saw them as another reflection of the preordained nature of the election.
“Of course, we have lots of tasks ahead. But I want to make it clear for everyone: When we were consolidated, no one has ever managed to frighten us, to suppress our will and our self-conscience. They failed in the past and they will fail in the future,” he said at a meeting with his campaign staff after polls closed.
Any public criticism of Putin or his war in Ukraine has been stifled. Independent media have been crippled. His fiercest political foe, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic prison last month, and other critics are either in jail or in exile.
Beyond the fact that voters had virtually no choice, independent monitoring of the election was extremely limited.
Russia’s Central Election Commission said Monday that with nearly 100% of precincts counted, Putin got 87% of the vote. Central Election Commission chief Ella Pamfilova said that nearly 76 million voters cast their ballots for Putin, his highest vote tally ever.
Western leaders have denounced the election as a sham, while President Volodymyr Zelenskyy particularly criticized voting in Ukrainian areas that Russia has illegally annexed, saying “everything Russia does on the occupied territory of Ukraine is a crime.”
France’s Foreign Ministry said “the conditions for a free, pluralist and democratic election were not met,” while paying tribute to “the courage of many Russian citizens who peacefully show their opposition.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un quickly congratulated Putin, along with some Central and South American leaders and presidents of nations that have historic and close current ties to Russia, such as Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
In the tightly controlled environment, Navalny’s associates urged those unhappy with Putin or the war to go to the polls at noon on Sunday — and lines outside a number of polling stations both inside Russia and at its embassies around the world appeared to swell at that time.
Among those heeding call was Yulia Navalnaya, Navalny’s widow, who spent more than five hours in the line at the Russian Embassy in Berlin. She told reporters that she wrote her late husband’s name on her ballot.
Asked whether she had a message for Putin, Navalnaya replied: “Please stop asking for messages from me or from somebody for Mr. Putin. There could be no negotiations and nothing with Mr. Putin, because he’s a killer, he’s a gangster.”
A voter in Moscow, who identified himself only as Vadim, said he hoped for change, but added that “unfortunately, it’s unlikely.” Like others, he didn’t give his full name because of security concerns.
Meanwhile, supporters of Navalny streamed to his grave in Moscow, some bringing ballots with his name written on them.
Putin brushed off the effectiveness of the apparent protest and rejected Western criticism of the vote as he tried to turn the tables on the West, charging that the four criminal cases against U.S. Republican candidate Donald Trump were a use of the judiciary for political aims and describing denigrating democracy in the US as a “catastrophe.”
“The whole world is laughing at it,” he said.
Putin referenced Navalny by name for the first time in public at the news conference, declaring that he was ready to release him in a swap for unidentified inmates in Western custody just days before the opposition leader’s death.
Some people told the AP that they were happy to vote for Putin — unsurprising in a country where state TV airs a drumbeat of praise for the Russian leader and voicing any other opinion is risky.
Dmitry Sergienko, who cast his ballot in Moscow, said, “I am happy with everything and want everything to continue as it is now.”
Voting took place over three days at polling stations across the vast country, in illegally annexed regions of Ukraine and online.
Several people were arrested, including in Moscow and St. Petersburg, after they tried to start fires or set off explosives at polling stations while others were detained for throwing green antiseptic or ink into ballot boxes.
Stanislav Andreychuk, co-chair of the Golos independent election watchdog, said Russians were searched when entering polling stations, there were attempts to check filled-out ballots before they were cast, and one report said police demanded a ballot box be opened to remove a ballot.
That left little room for people to express themselves. Still, huge lines formed around noon outside diplomatic missions in London, Berlin, Paris and other cities with large Russian communities, many of whom left home after Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
“If we have some option to protest I think it’s important to utilize any opportunity,” said 23-year-old Tatiana, who was voting in the Estonian capital of Tallinn and said she came to take part in the protest.

Page 2
NATIONAL

Nepali lawmakers bat for both SAARC and Bimstec

Say Bimstec should be no replacement to SAARC and Nepal should push for convening the stalled summit.
- Post Report

Kathmandu,
Lawmakers from across political parties on Monday voiced concerns over the stalled SAARC process and urged the government to take diplomatic initiative to revive it. The SAARC summit has not been held since 2014.
Following a terrorist attack on an Indian military base in 2016, India was the first country to pull out from the scheduled 19th SAARC Summit in Islamabad, Pakistan. Later, other SAARC countries followed the Indian decision, throwing the entire SAARC process in jeopardy.
Cross-party lawmakers expressed their concerns during the regular House session on Monday after Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha tabled the Bimstec Charter approved by the Bimstec Summit in Colombo in 2022.
Shrestha said Bimstec can't replace SAARC, another regional organisation. While tabling the Bimstec Charter adopted in March 2022 at the House of Representatives, he said both regional organisations have their own importance. Nepal is a member of both SAARC and Bimstec and it has been chairing SAARC since 2014, thus becoming the longest-serving chair of the regional grouping.
Due to the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan, SAARC has not been able to convene its summit.
“Nepal is clear… Bimstec cannot replace SAARC, which is still important. The government is working to reinvigorate SAARC and actively working to convene the SAARC summit,” said Shrestha.
With the SAARC summit not happening and its meetings being irregular, the standing of Nepal as SAARC chair will also be questioned, Raghuji Pant, a CPN-UML lawmaker said. “As Pakistan is not in Bimstec, it could be India’s desire to move forward with Bimstec by shadowing SAARC. If we push Bimstec, we should also push SAARC,” he added. Another UML lawmaker Yogesh Bhattarai said Bimestc is instrumental for tourism development and promotion as well as for building transport networks and connectivity. “The stalled SAARC summit should be held on time and together we should also push for Bimstec. A fast changing geopolitical shift is taking place in South Asia and we should be careful about the emerging geopolitical competition. The way Bimstec is emerging to negate SAARC, we have to be cautious. Bimstec should not replace SAARC,” said Bhattarai.
Nepali Congress lawmaker Pradip Poudel said Bimstec cannot be an alternative to SAARC. SAARC is important in and of itself, he added. Sanjay Gautam, also of the Congress, stated that Nepal should take a lead to reinvigorate the stalled SAARC process and as the chair of SAARC, Nepal should not let SAARC be a passive organisation.
Ideas were also floated on Nepal’s role in Bimstec. “It is up to Nepal about how much it can achieve from Bimstec,” Sishir Khanal of the Rastriya Swatantra Party said. “There is no meaning of only participating in such regional forums. How can we increase the mobility of tourists, how can we cooperate in the energy sector and what are the other possibilities? If we can identify the areas of cooperation under the framework of Bimstec, it would benefit the country.”
Another Rastriya Swatantra Party lawmaker Manish Jha said Nepal should learn from other Bimstec member states. “What can we learn from Bimstec member states ? From India, the fifth largest economy of the world, what can we learn? What can we learn from the stability and exclusivity of Bhutan? What can we learn from Sri Lanka that has just overcome an economic crisis? What can we learn from Thailand’s tourism development?” said Jha. We should chart out our strategic vision to benefit from Bimsetc, said Jha. “Nepal should identify and fix its strategic goals on how to cooperate under the framework of Bimstec.”
Foreign Minister Shrestha said Nepal is working to benefit from Bimstec. Each of its seven members is preparing an action plan on how to take maximum benefit from Bimestc, he said while addressing the House.
On SAARC also, there have been some positive developments and Nepal is continuously pushing for the summit that has been stalled since 2014, he said.

NATIONAL

Forest fire raising concern

District Digest

TAPLEJUNG/MYAGDI: A forest fire, which started on Sunday afternoon, has destroyed five houses in ward 8 of Phungling Municipality, Taplejung. There were no human casualties but the fire has caused huge damage to properties, said Kshitij Sunuwar, ward-8 chair of Phungling Municipality. Even though they have controlled the fire in the ward, the fire is still spreading in the nearby forests, Sunuwar added. Meanwhile, in Myagdi, forest fires have spread over more than 55 community forests in all six local units of the district for the past five days. Chandramani Sapkota, divisional forest officer of Myagdi, said it has become very hard to control the forest fire in the district.

NATIONAL

Two die in Myagdi jeep crash

District Digest

MYAGDI: Two people died in a jeep crash in Pauduwar village of Myagdi district on Sunday evening. Driver Ganesh Shrestha and a local man Lal Bahadur Tilija were killed after the vehicle, which was en route to the Annapurna Rural Municipality-5 from Pokharebagar, fell some 50 metres from the road. According to ward-5 member Purna Bahadur Paija, the vehicle and the bodies were recovered on Monday morning. Further investigation into the matter is underway, said police.

NATIONAL

Two injured in elephant attack

District Digest

MORANG: Two people sustained serious injuries in an attack of a wild elephant in Sundar Haraicha Municipality-6 of Morang district on Sunday. According to the District Police Office, Ram Kumar Shrestha, aged 50, and Santosh Raya, 19, were injured when the tusker attacked them in Shivam Collaborative Forest. The victims went to the forest to collect grass. Shrestha is receiving treatment at Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences while Raya has been admitted at Nobel Teaching Hospital in Biratnagar.

NATIONAL

Palpa road comes into operation after 48 days

District Digest

PALPA: The 10-km Hattidhunga section of Tansen-Ranimahal road, which was closed for maintenance for 48 days, came into operation on Monday. According to Basudev Bhandari, head of the Road Infrastructure Development Office, Palpa, due to the road’s closure, tourists and travellers were forced to use an alternative way to reach Ranimahal. Over 500 travellers used to travel through Hattidhunga to reach Ranimahal.

NATIONAL

8 die, 25 injured in Baglung bus crash

- PRAKASH BARAL

BAGLUNG,
At least eight people died and 25 others were injured, some critically, when a passenger bus crashed in Nisikhola Rural Municipality-6 of Baglung district on Monday.
The bus, en route to Kathmandu from Rukum West, veered off the road and plunged approximately 150 metres down at Jaulepani along the Mid-Hill Highway around 5:20 pm.
According to Police Inspector Hari Bhattarai of Rukum East, seven
people died on the spot while one died while being rushed to Burtibang. “Among the deceased, five are male and three female. The deceased are yet to be identified,” said Bhattarai. Reports say there were 33 people on board the bus when the fatal crash occurred.
A police team, under the leadership of Inspector Raj Kumar BK from the Burtibang Area Police Office, conducted the initial rescue operation and took seven injured individuals to the primary health centre at Burtibang. The rescue work was quite difficult as the bus plunged into a gorge, BK said.
Security personnel of the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force also reached the incident site for the rescue operation.
Seven of the bodies were taken to Rukum West for postmortem examination.
The injured are receiving treatment at the primary health centre in Burtibang. Preparation is underway to take the critically injured victims to Pokhara for treatment, said police.
The incident site is located 130 km west of the Baglung district headquarters. Detailed investigation into the incident is underway, said Madan KC, information officer at the District Police Office in Baglung.

Page 3
NATIONAL

Russia may terminate contracts of Nepalis serving in its army

DPM Shrestha says Russian foreign ministry has agreed in principle to end contracts of those wishing to return home.
- Post Report

Kathmandu,
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha has claimed that Russia has in principle agreed to terminate the contracts of Nepali citizens currently serving in the Russian Army. “For this, we have yet to fix the modality and the Nepali Embassy in Russia is working out such modality in coordination with the Russian authorities,” Shrestha said while addressing the House of Representatives on Monday.
The government is facing a daunting challenge to return its citizens from the Russian Army as over 600 Nepalis are estimated to be serving in the Russian Army as mercenaries in the ongoing war against Ukraine.
Actual number of Nepalis could be higher, according to officials.
Despite Nepal’s repeated requests, the Russian side has not disclosed how many Nepalis are serving in the Russian Army, and how many are dead or injured.
“The Russian foreign ministry in principle has agreed to terminate the contracts of Nepali nationals who want to come back,” said Shrestha.
Recently, Shrestha had a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, and discussed the issue of recruitment of Nepali citizens in the Russian forces without the knowledge of Nepal government, compensation for those killed while serving in the  Russian Army and termination of contract for Nepalis who wish to return, among other issues.  Shrestha said that the process has begun to provide compensation to the family members of the Nepali citizens killed in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
The Nepal government does not permit its citizens to serve in armies except for those of India and the United Kingdom.
“During our correspondence with Russian authorities and in my discussion with the Russian foreign minister, we
have urged them not to recruit Nepali nationals into the Russian army and terminate the contracts of those individuals who are currently serving in their forces,” Shrestha said.
He said that the Nepal government has also urged the Russian side to promptly provide compensation and insurance amounts, and repatriate the dead bodies as quickly as possible.
“I spoke to the Russian foreign minister over the phone. I also had a meeting with the Russian ambassador. During these conversations, I urged them not to recruit Nepali nationals into their army, terminate the contracts of Nepalis serving in the Russian Army and send them back to Nepal, provide compensation to the families of those who died in the war, and send the dead bodies back so that their family members can perform the funeral rites as per the tradition,” he said.
As many as 21 Nepalis have been killed in the Russian Army and over 100 Nepalis nationals have been injured and are currently undergoing treatment in different hospitals in Russia. Shrestha also informed that Russia has started providing compensation to Nepali nationals.
He also pointed out the need for broader national consensus on the issue of foreign policy and diplomacy.
Shrestha also vowed to rigorously enforce the diplomatic code of conduct that was first introduced in 2011 during his tenure as foreign minister. However, successive governments failed to enforce it later on.
“We are going to take a bold step in implementing the diplomatic code of conduct,” he added. “We should have a broader consensus on foreign relations and diplomacy, therefore we need an effective diplomatic code of conduct.”
He urged the party leaders, parliamentarians, elected representatives to keep national interest at the core while being engaged in foreign relations and diplomacy.  “While keeping national interest at the core we should be careful of others imposing their own agendas. Our independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity given to us by our ancestors could face serious challenges. So on the issue of foreign relations, its policy and conducting diplomacy, we should have a common voice and national consensus,” said Shrestha.
He also stated that Nepal always maintains good relations with India, China and other countries, and the trajectory of bilateral relations with India and China is upward.
“If someone prioritises the interests and influences of others while conducting foreign relations, it will add challenges to our sovereignty,” said Shrestha emphasising the government’s seriousness about such issues.
“As a foreign minister of this country, I assure you that I will work without bias, prioritising national interest as our overarching goal. We will conduct foreign policy based on the changing global context, geopolitical location of Nepal, and associated challenges. We will pursue an independent foreign policy.”

NATIONAL

Manange appointed minister in Gandaki province

- Post Report

KATHMANDU,
Rajeev Gurung, the gangster-turned-politician more commonly known as Deepak Manange, was inducted into the Gandaki provincial government on Monday.
Gandaki Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey appointed Gurung as the minister for physical infrastructure development and transport management. Province Head Dilli Raj Bhatta administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly appointed minister.
Manange had recently quit the CPN (Unified Socialist). Gurung, an independent candidate who was elected unopposed as a provincial lawmaker from Manang Constituency 1 (B), joined the Unified Socialist in December 2022. It’s Manange’s fourth stint as a minister.
The Nepali Congress-led government has been left in the minority position after the Maoist Centre pulled out of the government following changes in the ruling coalition at the centre earlier this month.

Page 4
OPINION

Nuwakot Dalits: A grim tale

Water is considered a superconductor of ‘caste pollution’ in our Hindu-dominated society.
- MITRA PARIYAR

It was the warm and sunny morning of March 9, and our team (Dalit activists with the Caste Watch Network and a journalist) gathered at the Machhapokhari junction in Kathmandu. An electric van took us across Balaju Bypass and Tokha before we climbed the hill of Shivapuri, dotted with red rhododendrons. As we descended towards the other side of the hill, our eyes, lungs and ears sang joyfully. The scenery was great, and we had left the hustle and bustle of the capital city behind.
We were also increasingly conscious that while the physical environment had become much cleaner, the social environment was getting increasingly filthy. Caste bites harder in rural areas. An unbelievable incident associated with this caste pollution prompted two-and-a-half-day trip to Chainpur village in ward 12 of Bidur Municipality, Nuwakot district.

Water: Superconductor of caste
It is common knowledge that access to drinking water has been a principal source of conflict between nations, people, ethnic groups, cities, villages, settlements, neighbourhoods and even households. A cruel principle and practice of many Hindu communities in South Asia and beyond has been to deny the Shudra access to clean drinking water.
In Nepal, the very definition of “low caste”—published in the 1854 Civil Code, the nation’s first written constitution—is “someone whose water cannot be used by others”—pani nachalne jat. In religious and cultural terms, the same principle is strongly held in society today, even though the formal laws have changed over time.
Water is considered a superconductor of “caste pollution” in our Hindu-dominated society. Caste pollution through contact with low castes is purified, for example, by sprinkling water that has been sanctified by dipping a piece of gold in it. Not everyone would practise this now, of course, particularly in towns, but the traditional belief is still strong in society.
It is commonly held that upper castes’ lineage deities and other gods will get angry if the Shudra touches their water. Many homes in Kathmandu and other towns refuse to rent their rooms or flats to the low castes because they fear the Shudra’s touch contaminating their water, mainly the water used for daily worship.
Across the swathes of the countryside, sources of water have been the principal sites of caste domination and humiliation. Even today, we hear stories of Dalits being openly excluded and humiliated, if not physically assaulted, when they attempt to share the wells and taps with other castes. Dalits are told to either use the wells and taps after other castes have used them or to drink the dirty water from these sources.

The Nuwakot story
The things happening in the Chainpur village of the Nuwakot district are quite extraordinary, something not seen or heard about in some of the most casteist societies of the far western and Karnali regions. This village on a dry slope suffers from an acute shortage of clean drinking water, and the municipality has done little to resolve the crisis.
A little spring in the field of a Damai family has caused much contention in the community. It has potentially risked the life and property of the family there. This is what we had come to observe and report that day and, if possible, to resolve the dispute. We had been invited to the site by relatives and friends of the victims.
The Dalit family has collected and used fresh, clean spring water for generations. A Chhetri man wants to use it as well, but not share it with the Dalit family! The Dalits are happy to construct a small reservoir and share water with the Chhetri family, but the Chhetri man does not accept this proposal. He believes using water from the same source would be ritually polluting, thus potentially offending his deities.
The upper-caste man has been using every tactic, including money and muscle, to harass the Dalit family so that he will be able to gain full control of the spring. He has tried to beat the Dalit man into submission.
He has showered rocks on the Dalit home. Emboldened by his own nephew as the ward chairman, he has also filed a case in the district court, accusing the Dalits of denying his use of the spring. He has concocted the myth that his family has used the water for decades.
The victim family is living in grave danger, but they are not going to give up easily. They have sought the help of the ward office, the local police and the local judicial committee to resolve the crisis. The Dalit couple is happy to share water with the Chhetri family, but they cannot afford to let the bully fully appropriate it.

Our efforts
Typically, local Dalit households have been unable to come together to seek justice for the victims. Local political economy means that the relatives and friends of the suffering Dalits are unable to speak up. After all, dominant Chhetris are often the sources of their livelihoods.
The place is less than 80 km away from Kathmandu and overlooks the growing town of Bidur—yet the traditional patron-client system is still strong here. The tailors—who cannot enter homes and who must wash their own dishes after eating and drinking there—visit upper-caste clients in their homes to make new dresses or to mend the old ones. They are paid little, often in the form of grains and old clothes, for their services. In a word, caste discrimination is strong here, and nobody seems bothered.
We visited the spring, interviewed the victims and organised a small gathering on a common platform. The alleged victimiser did not turn up to discuss the matter. The victims were quite vociferous about their plight and adamant that they wouldn’t relinquish their right to use the natural spring on their own property, no matter what. They directly accused the ward chairman of not protecting the victims and throwing his weight behind his abusive uncle instead.
The gathering also involved the district representatives of the Dalit wings of the major parties—the Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML and the Maoist Centre. They did offer some lip service but clearly were not able to defend the rights of the victims. The incident was tricky for them, too, as the offender belonged to the Congress party and was the uncle of the ward chairman of the Maoist party. Partisan interests often render Dalit activists ineffective, which has also been the case in this village.
As activists, we did our best to convince the gathering to protect the lives and properties of the Dalit family and ensure their right to use the water originating on their own property. We posted a video clip of the whole affair, including the views of the victims, chairman and Dalit representatives on the Facebook page of the Ujyaalo Network channel which has thus far been watched by over 1.3 million.
My hope is that with the video going viral, the suffering Dalits will finally get justice. If anything, the video will discourage the perpetrators and encourage those, both Dalits and non-Dalits, on the side of justice. Hopefully, this will also influence the district judge’s decision, who will rule on the case filed by the aggressor himself.

OPINION

Indian democracy’s moment of truth

The BJP government represents a grave threat to India’s long-term prospects.
- SHASHI THAROOR

With around 968 million people registered to vote, India’s upcoming general election (to be held over several weeks in April and May) will be the largest democratic exercise in human history. Yet hovering over the occasion are questions about the future of Indian democracy itself.
After a decade of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) holding power, the country’s democratic culture and institutions have been substantially eroded. BJP rule has featured frequent threats to dissent and a cultural shift away from pluralism. Civil liberties and press freedoms have visibly come under strain, with the party repressing and intimidating political opponents, student protestors, media organisations, individual journalists and human rights organisations.
Among other things, the authorities have targeted and arrested journalists and activists on charges of sedition simply because they covered farmers’ protests or exposed abuses of power. They have pressured social media platforms and mainstream newspapers to remove critical content. They have shut down social media accounts and internet access in areas where protesters are mobilising. And they have arrested opposition leaders and misused anti-terrorism laws to deny critics’ bail.
Meanwhile, minority rights have been weakened, leading to heightened social and sectarian tensions. By abandoning the commitment to secularism established by Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister, and rejecting India’s pluralist legacy in favour of the doctrine of “Hindutva” (which seeks to redefine India as a Hindu nation), Modi has allowed discrimination against minorities to intensify.
For example, for the first time in India’s history, the 2019 Citizenship Amendment Act introduced religion as a criterion for refugees from neighbouring countries to receive citizenship, explicitly excluding Muslims. This is part of a broader pattern. India’s 200 million Muslims (representing 14 percent of the population) have consistently been singled out in the ruling party’s targeting of minorities.
Many democratic institutions have also faced significant challenges. The government’s efforts to co-opt the Central Bureau of Investigation, which investigates corruption, have been so successful that the Supreme Court has called the agency a “caged parrot speaking in its master’s voice.” The BJP regularly dangles the threat of a corruption investigation to coerce vulnerable opposition figures to defect to its side. It is no accident that tax audits and investigations by the (appropriately named) Enforcement Directorate have almost exclusively targeted opposition leaders and political critics.
Nor has the widely respected Reserve Bank of India been spared. Owing to disputes with the government, two RBI governors have departed prematurely, raising concerns about the central bank’s independence. The erosion of federalism is also worrying. Over time, the BJP has increasingly centralised power and undermined regional ruling parties by commandeering an ever-larger share of the country’s tax revenues and installing partisan governors in opposition-ruled states.
Even the Election Commission of India has drawn criticism, with some scholars arguing that it is now an agent of the government. That, of course, raises concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and the ECI’s adherence to the democratic principles of fairness and equity.
Given all these developments, India no longer stands out as a model democracy. Where once it was admired for its commitment to pluralism, it has since slid down the global democracy rankings. In 2020, it fell from 27th to 53rd in The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index, and organisations such as Freedom House and the Varieties of Democracy Institute (V-Dem) have questioned whether it can still be called a democracy at all. V-Dem, for example, describes India as an “electoral autocracy.”
By constantly disparaging any disagreement with the government as “anti-national,” and any criticism of Hindutva as “anti-Hindu,” the BJP has managed to delegitimise opposition to its rule. With a large share of the public coming to believe that dissent runs counter to India’s national interest, popular support for repressive measures has grown.
Hence, in the Pew Research Center’s 2023 Global Attitudes Survey, a stunning 85 percent of Indian respondents said that authoritarian rule would be good for the country—the highest such response among the 24 countries surveyed. Equally, the share of Indians who believe that it is essential for opposition parties to be able to operate freely was the third-smallest. Modi and the BJP regularly exploit the public’s exasperation with democracy to create the image of a decisive and powerful leader who has the nation’s best interests at heart. The implication is that he should be able to operate freely, without any interference from a hostile parliament or judiciary.
This democratic backsliding is the curtain-raiser to India’s 2024 general election. In their book To Kill a Democracy, Debasish Roy Chowdhury and John Keane describe the BJP’s challenges to the judiciary and increasing constraints on press freedom as signs of “Democide.” They offer a comprehensive, and very worrying, account of how the country’s democratic governance has steadily been eroded. With its relentless efforts to criminalise dissent, undermine free speech, and curb any political opposition, the BJP government represents a grave threat to India’s long-term prospects.
And yet India’s democratic spirit remains resilient. Its citizens are highly engaged in political debates and determined to advocate for their rights. This general election offers a major opportunity for nearly a billion Indians to return their country to the path that it proudly followed for nearly three-quarters of a century.


Tharoor is an MP for the Indian National Congress.
— Project Syndicate

OUR VIEW

Let House function

The ruling and opposition parties shouldn’t waste time before trying to hammer out a compromise.

When this Parliament session commenced on February 6, political leaders, parliament secretariat and the government all committed to make the new session of the legislature more productive. The prime minister and the then law minister, among other top officials, pledged to give enough business to the House and train its focus on law-making and deliberations on pressing issues. Political leaders and lawmakers were widely criticised for the unproductive previous session. Besides engaging in routine endorsement of annual budget bills, only a single other bill (on usury) was passed during the session spanning 65 meetings over 180 days.
In response to widespread public criticism, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal repeatedly vowed the executive as well as the legislative would learn from past mistakes and work rigorously to make the new session productive. A week before the commencement of the winter session, which is also regarded as a bill session, the prime minister called a meeting of the officials from the ministry of law, justice and federal affairs and directed them to finalise as many bills as possible and forward them to the House at the earliest. Also, the Parliament secretariat came up with a couple of ideas to make the legislature more effective, such as running the House meetings as per a strict calendar. The parliament started a practice of presenting the principles and priorities of the government’s annual budget in the winter session with a view to discuss the budget’s guidelines months before the government prepares it and presents it in the budget session at the end of May. These initiatives and commitments made at the outset of the session were widely lauded.
But there is now room for doubt again. The change in the governing coalition appears to have ripple effects on House proceedings. The main opposition Nepali Congress, which was the biggest ruling coalition partner until the start of this month, has made a strong demand for the resignation of newly appointed Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane. They have asked for Lamichhane’s resignation over his alleged involvement in embezzling money from cooperatives. They argue that Lamichhane should be removed from the Cabinet as police can’t properly investigate the charges against him when he remains in the position. The Congress lawmakers have threatened to obstruct House proceedings if the prime minister fails to convince them by his answers and action.
Prolonged disruption of the House proceedings is an old and sordid aspect of Nepali politics. Nepal’s political parties have found parliament obstruction the easiest way to press their demands. Last year, the then main opposition CPN-UML obstructed parliament for weeks demanding formation of a high level commission to probe gold smuggling cases. The ruling and opposition parties reached an agreement on the commission only after UML lawmakers obstructed the House for nearly a month. Now the Congress seems to be resorting to the same tactics.
Repetition of the same scenes in the House floor would further disappoint the people and add to the unpopularity of political forces. The Parliament has some important bills to pass in this session. Now the prime minister should reach out to the opposition and talk to them without wasting a single day while the leaders of the opposition should also act responsibly. They shouldn’t repeat the mistake of wasting weeks and months before trying to hammer out a compromise.

THEIR VIEW

Growing rabies concern

Amid a surfeit of public health challenges, rabies now seems poised to become an epidemic.

Dog bite is an old problem in Pakistan. Incidents of dog attacks have shot up recently, claiming 10 lives in two months at two Karachi hospitals, with “over 230 cases of injuries by undomesticated dogs reported on two consecutive days at the Civil Hospital this week”. The hospital receives more than 1,000 dog-bite cases per month, the JPMC logged some 2,400 patients in recent times and the Indus Hospital’s Rabies Prevention and Training Centre saw over 3,000 new cases this year. Last year, 35,000 cases were recorded by the National Institute of Health.
These numbers should set alarm bells ringing, as the scourge extends beyond Sindh. According to media reports, Peshawar recorded 15,574 dog-bite cases in the first quarter of 2023 and inoculated 1,500 stray dogs, whereas Punjab’s pye-dog population exceeds 460,000. Official figures show 1,480 cases in Azad Kashmir, 3,138 in Balochistan, 12,257 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, nine in Gilgit-Baltistan and three in Islamabad.
Despite a Special Branch report released in 2019, which exposed the acute dearth of anti-rabies vaccines in Punjab, preventive action has been insignificant. A more tragic aspect is that a majority of victims make the journey from rural recesses to cities for treatment; often their lack of awareness turns fatal with the prolonged use of traditional potions, and by the time they make it to hospital, the damage is too far gone.
Therefore, authorities must swing into action with awareness drives, ramp up vaccination and sterilisation and strengthen the Trap Neuter Vaccinate and Return programme for feral dogs. Rabies spread is a ‘mammal to mammal’ phenomenon and health officials are clear that the immunisation of 70pc of street dogs can avert an impending crisis. But none of these measures will come to pass if basic health units remain devoid of emergency apparatus.

— Dawn (Pakistan)/ANN

Page 5
MONEY

FDI pledges jump 93.34 percent to Rs29.13 billion

But actual FDI typically hovers around a third. Private sector representatives attribute the growth to the base effect.
- Post Report

KATHMANDU,
Foreign direct investment (FDI) commitments jumped by a whopping 93.34 percent in the first eight months of the current fiscal year, with investment pouring into small-scale businesses following the government’s move to lower the FDI threshold.
According to the Department of Industry, FDI commitments totalled Rs29.13 billion for 253 projects during the review period. The proposed investments have been envisaged to generate employment for 13,169 people.
Most of the proposed FDI is for the establishment of small-scale business ventures, the department’s data shows.
The country received pledges totalling Rs21.83 billion for establishing 238 small-scale business ventures in the review period, which is 74.93 percent of the total pledge made by foreign investors.
In September 2012, the government increased the minimum amount of FDI to Rs5 million for each investor from Rs1.6 million.
Again in June 2019, following criticism by the Nepali private sector, the government jacked up the minimum limit for FDI from Rs5 million to Rs50 million.
The move was initiated after the private sector complained that the minimum threshold should be increased because a lower ceiling would allow foreigners to invest in small businesses such as restaurants and coffee shops rather than encouraging large investments.
However, FDI commitments started to decline after the threshold was raised and the problem was further compounded by the Covid pandemic. It was again revised in 2022.
On May 29, 2022, through the annual budget for the fiscal year 2022-23, the government reduced the minimum threshold for FDI to Rs20 million, from earlier Rs50 million, to attract additional foreign investment amid slowed economic growth.
The department’s statistics show that FDI commitments totalling Rs3.63 billion came for 12 medium-scale ventures during the review period.
FDI commitments for Rs3.66 billion came for three large-scale ventures.
Officials at the department say that South Korean companies have proposed setting up investment companies in Nepal.
Sector-wise, Nepal received the highest investment commitment in the service sector amounting to Rs18.95 billion for 90 projects, followed by Rs6.14 billion in the tourism sector for 115 projects.
The FDI commitment in the manufacturing sector was Rs3 billion for 30 projects.
Officials have been saying that investment pledges by foreigners have increased due to a revision of some policies by the government. The budget for the current fiscal year had made a slew of changes to attract FDI.
The budget statement said that an arrangement would be made to approve foreign investments of up to Rs100 million through an automated system within seven days. The remaining procedures for investment approval and operation take six months.
Private sector representatives said that the growth in FDI commitments was due to the base effect. For example, FDI commitments in the fiscal year 2022-23 were Rs33 billion, significantly down from Rs54 billion in 2021-22.
In the last fiscal year, the actual FDI to Nepal plunged to a nine-year low, due to lax enforcement of trade infringement laws and rampant corruption in the country which drove away potential investors, analysts said. According to the central bank, capital inflow fell by a steep 67.88 percent year-on-year to Rs5.96 billion in the last fiscal ended mid-July 2023.
“Investors are still in a wait-and-see situation,” said Rajesh Kumar Agrawal, president of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries. “The level of commitment fluctuates every year. This exhibits the state of uncertainty.”
Nepal is a “raw market” and there is immense potential in every sector--from education to health and manufacturing to tourism and hydropower, Agrawal said. “However, political instability is the key challenge. In any country, political instability is deemed as a major discouraging factor for investment.”
Insiders say there is political instability and uncertainties in policies. That is, one government’s priority is usually not continued by another. The perfect example is the FDI threshold, they say. “Foreign investment needs to be allowed in all sectors which helps bring technology,” said Agrawal.
Industry experts said that foreign investors are looking for government assurance and policy stability to invest in Nepal.
According to them, the entry of foreign investors has eased to some extent. “Now, Nepal needs to ease the process to make foreign investors feel that the exit process too is equally simple,” they said.
The government is organising the 3rd Investment Summit on April 28.
According to the department, in the first eight months of the current fiscal year, the country received FDI commitments of Rs240 million for four agro and forestry ventures, Rs340.67 million for eight communication and information technology ventures, and Rs360 million for four infrastructure-related ventures. The minerals sector received commitments totalling Rs85.94 million for two projects.
During the review period, the department recommended 1,581 business visas for foreign investors, 208 for representatives, and 628 for their dependents.
The approved repatriation amount of royalty was Rs1.53 billion in the first eight months of the current fiscal year, a decrease from Rs2.08 billion in the same period last fiscal year. Likewise, the government approved repatriation of dividends worth Rs9.01 billion during the review period.
Interestingly, despite the huge pledges, the actual FDI inflows remained disappointing.
According to the Nepal Rastra Bank, the net FDI inflow remained at Rs5.18 billion in the first seven months of the current fiscal year, ending mid-February.
According to the survey report on Foreign Direct Investment in Nepal 2021-22 published by the central bank, there is a significant gap between approved FDI and actual net FDI inflows in Nepal. Between 1995-96 and 2021-22, the total actual net FDI inflow stood at around 36.2 percent of total FDI approval.

MONEY

TikTok and its ‘secret sauce’ caught in US-China tussle

- AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

SEOUL, 
As a US campaign to sever TikTok from its Chinese parent heads to the Senate, analysts say Beijing’s response to a forced sale of the app — and its ‘secret sauce’ algorithm — will be clear: Hands off.
Under new legislation that passed the House of Representatives last week, TikTok could be banned in the United States if it does not cut all ties with Chinese tech giant ByteDance.
But in the battle over TikTok’s future in the United States, what strikes many as a contradiction has emerged: while the company tries to convince Congress of its independence from Beijing, China has come out swinging in its defence.
Beijing does not want a precedent to be set where a Chinese company is strong-armed into selling one of its most valuable assets, including an algorithm that is the envy of competitors, analysts say.
“This kind of threat is like daylight robbery,” Mei Xinyu, a Beijing-based economist, told AFP. “All things considered, the Chinese government’s actions so far have been very mild.”
“What the US government is proposing is way over the line.”
US lawmakers and security agencies say TikTok presents a threat because China can access and use the vast troves of data the app collects for influence and espionage.
TikTok has denied the allegations, saying it has spent around $1.5 billion on “Project Texas”, under which US user data would be stored in the United States. However, many lawmakers and bodies including the FBI remain unconvinced.
Some critics have said the data itself is only part of the issue, and that the algorithm that produces personalised recommendations for TikTok users must also be disconnected from ByteDance.
That ByteDance algorithm has helped drive TikTok’s stratospheric success since the app was launched for the international market in 2017.
It crunches huge amounts of user data, such as their interactions on the app and their location, to provide more content tailored for them.
Its precise details are a closely guarded secret, but it helped propel TikTok to one billion users in just four years. Facebook, by comparison, took more than eight years to reach that milestone.
Other social media platforms also deploy tailored recommendations based on algorithms that analyse user data, but analysts say TikTok’s has been so successful that it is considered by some to be the company’s most precious asset.
The algorithm is “valuable because TikTok is sticky. People spend more time on TikTok than they do on other social media”, James Andrew Lewis, a technology expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), told AFP.
“This is the secret sauce that makes TikTok a success.”
The algorithm has been at the centre of discussions about any potential sale of TikTok since the administration of then US president Donald Trump sought to ban TikTok in 2020.
That year, the Chinese government designated algorithms that provide recommendations based on user data analysis as a protected technology, meaning their export would require Beijing’s approval.

MONEY

Cubans stage rare protests demanding electricity, food

- AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

HAVANA,
Cubans staged rare street protests Sunday over food and electricity shortages as the island suffered long outages that left some areas without power for up to 14 hours a day.
“People were shouting ‘food and electricity’,” a 65-year-old resident, who asked not to be identified, told AFP by phone from the island’s second-largest city Santiago de Cuba, 800 kilometers (500 miles) east of the capital Havana.
Electricity was restored to the city later in the day and “two truckloads of rice” were delivered, the resident said.
Social media platforms were filled with images of protests in Santiago de Cuba, a city of 510,000 people. There were also images of protests in another large city, Bayamo.
Unprecedented mass anti-government protests by citizens clamoring for food and greater freedoms amid deep economic and social woes in communist Cuba in July 2021 were forcefully put down.
Nearly 500 protesters were sentenced to prison terms of up to 25 years, according to the authorities, on charges including sedition.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel responded to Sunday’s protests by urging “dialogue” with the people in an “atmosphere of tranquility”.
“Several people have expressed their dissatisfaction with the electricity situation and food distribution,” Diaz-Canel said on X, warning that “enemies of the Revolution” aimed to exploit the situation.
“The disposition of the authorities of the Party.... and the Government is to attend to the complaints of our people, to listen, to dialogue, to explain the numerous steps being taken to improve the situation, always in an atmosphere of tranquility,” he said.
Diaz-Canel also denounced “terrorists based in the United States... who are encouraging actions that go against the internal order of the country.”
The US embassy in Havana said on X it was aware of reports of “peaceful protests” in Santiago, Bayamo and other parts of Cuba. It urged the Cuban government to “respect the human rights of the protestors and address the legitimate needs of the Cuban people.”

MONEY

Iranians tighten belts for Persian New Year festivities

- AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

TEHRAN,
Millions of Iranians will travel to be with their families for Nowruz, the Persian New Year, on Wednesday but economic troubles in the sanctions-hit country are weighing on the festivities.
Iranians will celebrate the start of the year 1403 at exactly 26 seconds past 6:36am (0406 GMT) on March 20, matching the astronomical time of the spring equinox.
Globally, some 300 million people will wish each other “Happy New Year” (“Nowruz mobarak”) including in Iran, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan and among Kurds in Turkey, Iraq, Syria and elsewhere.
“It’s the most important holiday of the year, the one where we forget our problems to get together with our loved ones and dream of a better year,” said Marjan, a young woman from Tehran who, like the other people AFP spoke to, declined to give her full name.
Celebrated for 3,000 years, Nowruz marks a two-week break when Iranians travel within the country or, for the more fortunate, abroad. Yet many have plans for diminished feasts this year.
“Food products are far too expensive because of inflation,” Afshar, a 44-year-old accountant, told AFP at the Tajrish bazaar in northern Tehran.
Annual inflation officially stands at 44 percent, according to local media, after hitting 46 percent last year.
“I bought meat at 700,000 toman (around $12) per kilo, but I only earn 9.8 million ($160) per month after a 30-year career,” said a 68-year-old resident of Tehran who did not wish to be named.
In a bid to simplify transactions, Iranians have long referred to their currency as the toman and chopped off a zero.
“The situation is deplorable,” said Ghassemi, a 28-year-old real estate agent, calling on the government “to mobilise to improve the situation and better manage the country”.
Last Nowruz, Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei acknowledged that Iranians felt “bitterness” due to “high prices, particularly of food and basic necessities”.
He then tasked the government with measures to implement “inflation control”.
Authorities in Iran have blamed Western economic sanctions for the surge in prices.
The sanctions were reimposed by the United States in 2018 after Washington unilaterally withdrew from a 2015 agreement that eased sanctions in return for curbs on Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Since then, the Islamic republic has suffered from the continued devaluations of its currency and a surge in prices.
Despite the headwinds, Iran recorded stronger growth than expected in 2023.
The International Monetary Fund estimated that growth reached 5.4 percent last year and increased its 2024 forecast from 2.5 percent to 3.7 percent.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi recently denounced “the enemy’s strategy” which he said aimed “to create despair within society”.
He was speaking two weeks after the March 1 legislative elections, which had a turnout of just 41 percent, the lowest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
“Dissatisfaction” is high with the “economic, employment, poverty or inequality” situation, Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini who founded the Islamic republic, told reformist newspaper Etemad on Saturday.
Many experts in Iran have attributed the low voter turnout to popular dissatisfaction, in particular over economic issues.
For the second year in a row, Nowruz festivities coincide with the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which began on March 11 in Iran.
Eating, drinking and smoking in public are banned in the Islamic republic during Ramadan, when the faithful fast from dawn to dusk.
In recent years, however, the authorities have somewhat relaxed the strict rules during Ramadan.
Certain cafes and restaurants, in specified areas, such as in the vicinity of hospitals, are allowed to open during the day.
The restaurants however must observe strict conditions, including covering their windows so that the interior is not visible to fasting passers-by.

MONEY

China retail sales show shaky economic recovery

Bizline

BEIJING: The performance of China’s economy in the first two months of 2024 was mixed, official figures showed Monday, with sluggish household consumption alongside increased industrial production reflecting an uneven recovery. The highly anticipated comeback after Beijing lifted stringent Covid control measures in late 2022 was less robust than expected, and the world’s second-largest economy now grapples with turbulence in the property sector, high youth unemployment and flagging consumption. In January and February combined, retail sales — the main indicator of household consumption — increased 5.5 percent year on year, China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said. But the figure was down from December, which saw an increase of 7.4 percent, and was slightly below the result anticipated by a Bloomberg survey of analysts, who had predicted a rise of 5.6 percent. (AFP)

MONEY

Australian taxi drivers win $178 million payout from Uber

Bizline

SYDNEY: Australian taxi drivers impacted by the rise of ridesharing giant Uber have won US$178 million in compensation, their lawyers said Monday after settling a gruelling legal battle. More than 8,000 taxi drivers and hire car owners banded together to launch legal action in 2019, arguing they lost substantial income when Uber entered Australia in 2012. Lead lawyer Michael Donelly said the A$271.8 million (US$178.3 million) settlement was the “fifth highest class action settlement in Australian legal history”. “Uber fought tooth and nail at every point along the way, every day, for the five years this has been on foot — trying at every turn to deny our group members any form of remedy or compensation for their losses,” said Donelly, from legal firm Maurice Blackburn. “But on the courtroom steps and after years of refusing to do the right thing by those we say they harmed, Uber has blinked, and thousands of everyday Australians joined together to stare down a global giant.” (AFP)

MONEY

Asian stocks rise after strong China production data

Bizline

HONG KONG: Asian stocks gained on Monday after China posted stronger-than-expected industrial production data in an uneven recovery for the world’s second-largest economy. Investors also have their eyes on a Bank of Japan decision on Tuesday, with policymakers expected to finally ditch the bank’s negative interest rate. Shanghai closed up 1.0 percent and Hong Kong added 0.1 percent after Beijing released industrial production and fixed-asset investment figures that were “surprisingly spritely”, said Harry Murphy Cruise of Moody’s Analytics. “China’s economy had a stronger start to the year than expected,” he told AFP, but warned that “we should take the latest data with a grain of salt”. “Today’s prints are inflated by this year’s bigger Lunar New Year celebrations compared to those last year marred by rapidly rising Covid-19 cases,” Cruise said.  (AFP)

Page 6
WORLD

Afghanistan retaliates against Pakistan after air strikes kill 8

Border tensions between the two countries have steadily escalated since the Taliban seized power in 2021.
- AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

KABUL,
Eight civilians were killed Monday in “reckless” air strikes by Pakistan’s military in the border regions of Afghanistan, prompting Afghan forces to retaliate against Pakistani military outposts, Taliban officials said.
Border tensions between the two countries have steadily escalated since the Taliban government seized power in 2021, with Islamabad claiming militant groups are carrying out regular attacks from Afghanistan.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistani aircraft “bombed civilian homes” in Khost and Paktika provinces near the border with Pakistan at around 3:00 am (2230 GMT Sunday), adding that all of the dead were women and children.
Afghanistan’s defence ministry said its border forces retaliated in response to the airstrikes, targeting Pakistan’s military posts along the disputed border with “heavy weapons”.
Cross-border skirmishes in the region were reported by both sides on Monday, the latest in a string of incidents on the disputed frontier.
The Taliban government “strongly condemns these attacks and calls this reckless action a violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty”, Mujahid said in his statement.
“Such incidents can have very bad consequences which will be out (of) Pakistan’s control.”
The Pakistani foreign ministry confirmed on Monday evening it had carried out “anti-terrorist operations in the border regions inside Afghanistan”.
It said in a statement it was targeting the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, one of several factions of the homegrown Pakistani Taliban, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), that are responsible for a surge in border violence against police and security officials.
Malak Noor Khan, a tribal elder in the Sperah district of Khost, said he saw at least four explosives dropped from drones and jets and that multiple homes were destroyed, one with a woman and her children inside.
“When the drone came first, we all, including women and children, left our homes and went into the trees on the mountainside, it was very cold as there was snow on the ground,” he told AFP.
A local government official in Pakistan’s border regions, who asked not to be identified, told AFP residents had been instructed to evacuate the area during the skirmishes.
Islamabad has accused Kabul’s Taliban government of harbouring militant fighters, allowing them to strike on Pakistani soil with impunity.
Kabul has denied the allegations.
In the first half of 2023, attacks rose by 80 percent, with 112 people killed in August, according to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.
A senior government official based in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who asked not to be identified, told AFP that, despite repeated complaints, “Afghanistan does not seem to be taking the matter seriously”.
Regional analyst Saira Aqil said that, while increased attacks in Pakistan are “prompting inevitable retaliation”, the country “cannot afford to lose Afghanistan as an ally”.
“Pakistan must bear this in mind, as maintaining a friendly relationship with Afghanistan presents greater opportunities than having them as an adversary,” said Aqil, a professor at the defence and strategic studies department of Quaid I Azam University in Islamabad.
The Afghan foreign ministry said in a statement posted on X it had summoned the head of the Pakistani embassy in Kabul to protest against Monday’s strikes.
It called on Pakistan’s new government to “not allow some circles to complicate the relationship between two neighbouring Muslim countries”—an apparent reference to certain Pakistani military leaders.
The Pakistan foreign ministry in turn said that “certain elements among those in power in Afghanistan are actively patronising TTP and using them as a proxy against Pakistan”, urging them “to make a clear choice to stand with the people of Pakistan”.
Monday’s strikes came after seven Pakistani troops were killed in an attack by an armed group inside Pakistan’s territory on Saturday, for which President Asif Ali Zardari vowed retaliation.
“Pakistan has decided that whoever will enter our borders, homes or country and commit terror, we will respond to them strongly, regardless of who it is or from which country,” he said while attending the funeral prayers of the soldiers, who included a lieutenant colonel.
A Pakistani military statement said security forces also carried out an operation overnight Sunday in North Waziristan district, which borders Khost and Paktika, killing eight militants accused of being involved in Saturday’s attack.

WORLD

UN says ‘famine is imminent’ in north Gaza as Israel launches another raid

World Food Programme says virtually everyone in Gaza is struggling to get enough food, and that around a third of the population are experiencing the highest level of catastrophic hunger.
- ASSOCIATED PRESS

RAFAH, Gaza Strip,
The UN food agency said Monday that “famine is imminent” in northern Gaza, where 70% of the remaining population is experiencing catastrophic hunger, and that a further escalation of the war could push around half of Gaza’s total population to the brink of starvation.
The alarming report came as Israel faces mounting pressure from even its closest allies to streamline the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip and open more crossings. The European Union’s top diplomat said the impending famine was “entirely man-made” as “starvation is used as a weapon of war.”
Israeli forces meanwhile launched another raid on the Gaza Strip’s largest hospital early Monday, saying Hamas militants had regrouped there and had fired on them from inside the compound, where Palestinian officials say tens of thousands of people have been sheltering.
The military said it killed a Hamas commander who was armed and hiding inside the medical center, and that one of its own soldiers was killed in the operation.
The army last raided Shifa Hospital in November after claiming that Hamas maintained an elaborate command center within and beneath the facility. The military revealed a tunnel leading to some underground rooms, as well as weapons it said were found inside the hospital. But the evidence fell short of the earlier claims, and critics accused the army of recklessly endangering the lives of civilians.
The World Food Programme on Monday released the latest findings of its Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, an international process for estimating the scale of hunger crises.
It says virtually everyone in Gaza is struggling to get enough food, and that around 677,000 people—nearly a third of the population of 2.3 million—are experiencing the highest level of catastrophic hunger. That includes around 210,000 people in the north.
It warned that if Israel broadens its offensive to the packed southern city of Rafah, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly vowed, the fighting could drive over a million people—half of Gaza’s population—into catastrophic hunger.
“This is the largest number of people facing imminent famine in the world today, and it has only taken five months to occur,” said Matthew Hollingworth, the acting World Food Programme country director for the Palestinian territories.
“It’s still possible to turn this around but there has to be a cease-fire and there has to be massive amounts of food aid to flow consistently, and people need to have access to clean water and health care,” he said.
Northern Gaza, including Gaza City, was the first target of the invasion and entire neighborhoods have been obliterated. It is now the epicenter of Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe, with many residents reduced to eating animal feed. At least 20 people, mostly children, have died from malnutrition and dehydration in the north, the Health Ministry said earlier this month.
Airdrops by the U.S. and other nations continue, while deliveries on a new sea route have begun, but aid groups say it’s essential that Israel open up more land routes and ease restrictions. The WFP report said airdrops account for a “negligible share” of aid compared with what is brought in on trucks.
Israeli authorities say they place no limits on the entry of aid and accuse U.N. bodies of failing to distribute it in a timely manner. Aid groups say distribution is impossible in much of Gaza because of ongoing hostilities, the difficulty of coordinating with the military and the breakdown of law and order.
Alex de Waal, the executive director of the World Peace Foundation at Tufts University and an expert on global famines, said Israel has had “ample warning” that if it continued to launch massive operations that destroy key infrastructure, displace large numbers of people and obstruct aid operations, the results would be catastrophic.
“In failing to change course, it is culpable for these deaths,” he said.
Ahead of the report’s release, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said it was up to Israel to facilitate more aid.
“Israel has to do it. It is not a question of logistics. It is not because the United Nations has not provided enough support,” he said. “Trucks are stopped. People are dying, while the land crossings are artificially closed.”

WORLD

The spring equinox is here. What does that mean?

The vernal equinox arrives on Tuesday, marking the start of the spring season for the Northern Hemisphere.
- ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK,
Spring is almost here—officially, at least. The vernal equinox arrives on Tuesday, marking the start of the spring season for the Northern Hemisphere. But what does that actually mean? Here’s what to know about how we split up the year using the Earth’s orbit.

What is the equinox?
As the Earth travels around the sun, it does so at an angle.
For most of the year, the Earth’s axis is tilted either toward or away from the sun. That means the sun’s warmth and light fall unequally on the northern and southern halves of the planet.
During the equinox, the Earth’s axis and its orbit line up so that both hemispheres get an equal amount of sunlight. The word equinox comes from two Latin words meaning equal and night. That’s because on the equinox, day and night last almost the same amount of time—though one may get a few extra minutes, depending on where you are on the planet.The Northern Hemisphere’s spring—or vernal—equinox can land between March 19 and 21, depending on the year. Its fall – or autumnal—equinox can land between Sept. 21 and 24.

What is the solstice?
The solstices mark the times during the year when the Earth is at its most extreme tilt toward or away from the sun. This means the hemispheres are getting very different amounts of sunlight—and days and nights are at their most unequal.
During the Northern Hemisphere’s summer solstice, the upper half of the earth is tilted in toward the sun, creating the longest day and shortest night of the year. This solstice falls between June 20 and 22.
Meanwhile, at the winter solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is leaning away from the sun—leading to the shortest day and longest night of the year. The winter solstice falls between December 20 and 23.

What’s the difference between meteorological and astronomical seasons?
These are just two different ways to carve up the year.
Meteorological seasons are defined by the weather. They break down the year into three-month seasons based on annual temperature cycles. By that calendar, spring starts on March 1, summer on June 1, fall on Sept. 1 and winter on Dec. 1.
Astronomical seasons depend on how the Earth moves around the sun.
Equinoxes mark the start of spring and autumn. Solstices kick off summer and winter.

WORLD

Controversial ‘Civil War’ movie prompts debate over US schism

‘Civil War,’ which premiered this week and hits theaters on April 12, pictures a three-term US president battling secessionist forces.
- AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

LOS ANGELES,
A major film that imagines a second civil war in the near-future United States has highlighted fears about the divided state of the nation ahead of November’s presidential election.
“Civil War,” which premiered at the SXSW Festival this week and hits theaters April 12, pictures a three-term US president in Washington DC battling secessionist forces from California and Texas.
The movie stars Kirsten Dunst as a journalist travelling through a broken, dystopian nation. The FBI has been disbanded, and military drone strikes launched on US citizens.
In early reviews, The Atlantic noted an “uncomfortable resonance in these politically polarized times.” Rolling Stone said “you might accidentally mistake” the film’s futuristic premise for the present.
So, just how plausible is the film’s scenario?
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, was recently criticized for seemingly joking he would be a “dictator” on “day one” if he wins a second term as president. He faces charges of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.
Biden has accused his predecessor of embracing “political violence.”
A survey by the Brookings Institution and the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) last year showed 23 percent of Americans agree “true American patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country.”
But William Howell, a University of Chicago political science professor, said while there is cause for concern about rising political violence, “talk about 21st-century muskets being fired at one another isn’t very helpful.”
Political elites and Congress are more divided than ever, but polarization among the public is “overstated,” said Howell.
Survey responses to vaguely worded questions do not necessarily speak to on-the-ground realities about how people will actually behave, he added.
“I don’t think we’re on the brink of a civil war,” said Howell.
“It’s more diffuse than that... a hollowing out of the state, a sabotage of administrative agencies, the disaffection of the larger public.”
“All that can be true, and it also not be the case that we’re about to line up as we did in 1861, and en masse begin slaughtering one another.”

‘Horrific’
On the other hand, author Stephen Marche believes “the United States is a textbook case of a country headed for civil war”—just not in the way depicted by the movie.
Marche’s book, “The Next Civil War: Dispatches from the American Future,” uses political science models to suggest five scenarios that could plausibly trigger widespread internecine conflict.
These include anti-government militias clashing with federal forces, or a president being assassinated.
Political violence “becomes acceptable, and in a certain sense, inevitable, because people don’t feel that their government is legitimate, and that therefore violence is the only response,” said Marche.
“I would say that to a certain extent, that has already happened in America.”
Cautioning that he has not yet seen the movie, Marche says a conflict fought along geographical lines like the North-South civil war of the 1860s is unlikely.
More likely than state-on-state violence would be a “massive, splintering chaos,” reminiscent of the late 20th-century “Troubles” in Northern Ireland.
In Marche’s book, retired US Army colonel Peter Mansoor says a new conflict “would not be like the first civil war, with armies maneuvering on the battlefield.”
“I think it would very much be a free-for-all, neighbor-on-neighbor, based on beliefs and skin colors and religion. And it would be horrific.”


‘Fault lines’
In the film, director Alex Garland deliberately leaves the specific origins and politics of the conflict vague. He has said the movie is intended to be “a conversation” about polarization and populism.
It offers little exposition, and focuses on the horrific daily reality for American citizens and journalists.
“We don’t need it explained—we know exactly why it might happen, we know exactly what the fault lines and the pressures are,” Garland told the audience at Thursday’s premiere in Texas.
The movie’s “three-term president” appears to invoke the fears held by many Americans that Trump—if re-elected—could ignore the US Constitution’s two-term maximum, and refuse to step down after four years.
“It’s hard to think otherwise, if you just take him at his word—and I think we would be mistaken not to,” said Howell.
If that scenario was reached, said Marche, talk of a civil war may already be redundant.
“If there’s a three-term president, America has already ended,” he said. “There’s no United States anymore.”

Page 7
SPORTS

Alcaraz retains Indian Wells title. Swiatek is women’s champion

Alcaraz becomes first man to defend BNP Paribas Open title since Djokovic won three in a row from 2014-16. It is a second title for the women’s top seed in the California desert.
- ASSOCIATED PRESS

INDIAN WELLS,
Carlos Alcaraz arrived at Indian Wells full of doubt about his twisted right ankle. He’s leaving as a two-time champion.
He defeated Daniil Medvedev 7-6 (5), 6-1 for the second straight year in the BNP Paribas Open final on Sunday, earning his first title since winning Wimbledon last year.
Iga Swiatek beat Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-0 in just over an hour to win the women’s title, with Swiatek losing just 21 games in six matches during the 12-day tournament—an average of 3.5 games per match.
Alcaraz sprained his ankle at the Rio Open in late February. His first practice at Indian Wells lasted 30 minutes without any movement. His first practice with his fellow pros “was really tough for me,” he said in a Tennis Channel interview.
Alcaraz outlasted Jannik Sinner in a three-set semi-final after needing three sets to get out of his second-round match.
“After every match I was feeling better,” Alcaraz said. “I was getting more confident after every match. Winning a Master 1000 again, a really important tournament to win, gives you motivation to keep going.”
Alcaraz became the first man to defend his Indian Wells title since Novak Djokovic won three in a row from 2014-16. He beat Medvedev 6-3, 6-2 last year in the Southern California desert.
“It’s definitely your court, you like it here,” Medvedev told Alcaraz during the victory ceremony. “Hopefully you can one day let me play a little bit better here.”
Medvedev led 3-0 in the first set while Alcaraz had eight unforced errors over those games. The Spaniard won three games in a row to tie it, 3-3. The players held serve the rest of the set, with Alcaraz serving a love game to get into the tiebreaker. He led 3-0 and 5-2 before Medvedev tied it 5-5. Alcaraz won the next two points to close it out.
Alcaraz got the only two breaks in the second set, when Medvedev had one winner and nine errors. For the match, Alcaraz hit 25 winners and had 26 unforced errors, while Medvedev had 11 winners and 23 unforced errors.
Swiatek improved to 20-2 this year, with her wins leading the WTA Tour.
It was a repeat of the 2022 final, in which Swiatek beat Sakkari 6-4, 6-1. Sakkari hasn’t defeated the Polish star since 2021.
Swiatek raced to a 3-0 lead in the opening set. Sakkari recovered to win three straight games, including a break of Swiatek. She served a love game to tie it, 4-4. Swiatek lost just two points on her serve the rest of the set, wrapping it up with a forehand winner in the corner. Swiatek was more dominant in the second set, breaking Sakkari three times all in love games. She lost just five points in the set. Swiatek hit 15 winners and had 11 unforced errors in the 1 hour, 8-minute match. Sakkari had eight winners and 18 unforced errors.
Alcaraz and Swiatek earned $1.1 million each for their wins. That’s less than the $1.26 million the women’s and men’s champions received in 2023. This year more prize money was allocated to the earlier rounds, reducing the champions’ prize money by nearly 13%.

SPORTS

There’s still some fight left in Man United

Ten Hag’s men beat Liverpool 4-3 after extra time to advance into FA Cup semis, ending Liverpool’s bid for a quadruple of trophies.
- ASSOCIATED PRESS

MANCHESTER,
With the season hanging in the balance, Erik ten Hag’s team produced one of the most important wins of his tenure to beat Liverpool 4-3 after extra time in a thrilling FA Cup quarter-final match on Sunday.
With nearly the last kick of the match, substitute Amad Diallo sent Old Trafford into raptures, ended Liverpool’s bid for a quadruple of trophies and fired United into the semis.
“Listen to the noise, you can tell what a big game it is,” said Marcus Rashford, who missed a golden chance to win it at the end of regulation but levelled for 3-3 in extra time.
Ten Hag has faced mounting speculation about his position in the face of a troubled campaign and restructuring at the club. The FA Cup represents his last chance of silverware this season, while Champions League qualification is in doubt with United sixth in the Premier League.
Defeat against the club’s fiercest rivals would likely have seen pressure on the Dutchman grow. TV cameras focused on new director Dave Brailsford as the clock ticked down with Liverpool leading 2-1 as the game approached 90 minutes.
Brailsford is part of the team overseeing United’s football operations following British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe’s recent investment in the club. He looked stone-faced with United seemingly headed out of the competition and Liverpool’s away fans making the loudest noise.
Emotions changed drastically inside Old Trafford, however, when Antony equalised in the 87th to make the score 2-2. That set up a white-knuckle ride through to the first minute of stoppage time in extra time, with big chances missed and momentum swinging one way and then another until United’s winner.
Ten Hag hopes it can be a turning point for his team.
“Every team needs its moment into a season and we never had that moment,” the United manager said. “This could be that moment where the team believe and (has) energy that we can do amazing things. I think when you can beat Liverpool the way we did, then you can beat any opponent.”
Twelve-time FA Cup winners United were later drawn against second-tier Coventry in the semi-finals and defending champions Manchester City will play Chelsea, who beat Leicester 4-2 earlier.
The game had looked like going to a penalty shootout until Diallo fired low into the bottom corner to beat Caoimhin Kelleher following a late Liverpool corner. The substitute was so caught up in the moment that he was shown a second yellow card and sent off for taking off his jersey during wild celebrations.
United’s pursuit of a top-four finish was also helped after fourth-place Aston Villa drew 1-1 at West Ham in the Premier League earlier in the day. Tottenham, in fifth, lost 3-0 at Fulham on Saturday.
Ten Hag’s team are still nine points adrift of Villa, but have a game in hand, and perhaps momentum after such a morale-boosting win.
He described the opening 35 minutes of Sunday’s match as the best his team had played all season.
Scott McTominay put United ahead in the 10th minute before goals from Alexis Mac Allister in the 44th and Mohamed Salah in the second minute of first-half stoppage time gave Liverpool the lead at the break.
After Antony levelled, Harvey Elliott hit the post for Liverpool and Rashford fired wide with only the keeper to beat with the final kick in regulation. In extra time Elliott restored Liverpool’s lead in the 105th and Rashford levelled for United seven minutes later. Diallo’s winner killed off Jurgen Klopp’s hopes of winning four trophies before he steps down at the end of the season.
Liverpool have already won the League Cup, are second in the league and through to the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

MEDLEY

Horoscope

ARIES (March 21-April 19)
You’ll struggle to get out of bed for anything or anyone that doesn’t inspire and stir passions. Allow your emotions to guide you, even if doing so means hiding away from certain situations or people. Your spirits lift this afternoon.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)
You’ll feel called to connect with friends both far and wide this morning. Let in the appropriate amount of distractions when navigating the day, loosening restrictions around phone usage when the sun and moon align to promote socialisation and community.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21)
You’ll feel elevated and in control today, dearest Gemini, reminding you of your current blessings and the rewards to come. Take centre stage within your professional ambitions as the sun and moon align, demonstrating your worth and refined skill set.

CANCER (June 22-July 22)
Start your day with a few moments of spiritual practice. You’ll sparkle today, helping others see how multifaceted, talented, and graceful you truly are. Lean into these vibes by pushing for major goals and trust in your abilities and charisma.

LEO (July 23-August 22)
Give yourself plenty of space to shake off slumber and find release. The cleansing nature of this climate offers empowerment when you let go of that which does not serve you. Swapped secrets could bring you closer to someone special.

VIRGO (August 23-September 22)
You can elevate moods and put others at ease today. Consider playing the role of a matchmaker if you’re aware of two friends who may be well-suited. It’s a good time to branch out in search of a mate.

LIBRA (September 23-October 22)
You’ll feel elevated and in control with each task completed. Lean into these vibes by demonstrating your strengths around the office, gaining recognition that could lead to professional growth. Your charisma and ability to make friends will increase today.

SCORPIO (October 23-November 21)
Suspend in a moment of hope this morning, releasing emotions that have left you feeling tense or on edge. The stars nudge you to spread your wings and seek great adventures. A more serious energy takes hold this afternoon.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21)
Don’t run from emotional intimacy, dear Archer, making it easier to dissolve boundaries and solidify bonds. Consider what your heart desires most and what transformations must take place to reach these goals. A sparkle fills your world this afternoon.

CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19)
Allow sweet sentiments to pass your lips, dear Capricorn, opening you up to love and connection. These vibes pair well with flirting and sharing visions, though you should be mindful to say plenty of nice things to yourself as well.

AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18)
Slow down your morning routine to focus on what your mind, body, and spirit need to thrive, sweet Aquarius. Connecting with the present through gratitude practices can contribute to your overall happiness, so be sure to relish simple pleasures.

PISCES (February 19-March 20)
Allow your dreamier side to take the reins. A childlike whimsy washes over you, marking the perfect excuse to indulge in a bit of creative fun. You’ll have a chance to catch up on tasks that fell by the wayside.

Page 8
CULTURE & LIFESTYLE

The dangers of toxic positivity

Emotions are essential signals that help us navigate life. Without experiencing sadness and despair, we can’t fully appreciate happiness and hope.
- Tashi Gurung

How can I be more positive?”
“I want to have a positive mindset and not have any negativity in my life anymore.”
These are common concerns voiced in therapy sessions. Clients often come seeking therapy to overcome their “negative” feelings and embrace the positive.
However, it’s essential for those seeking therapy to ask: is this goal truly healthy? Consider the example of a new mother living abroad with her supportive husband. Despite her comfortable life, the birth of her child has intensified her feelings of loneliness and isolation, especially since she’s far from her family. Similarly, a woman in her 30s feels a lack of energy and enthusiasm for her household chores, despite her mother-in-law’s encouragement to cheer up and be more active.
These scenarios illustrate what is known as “toxic positivity.” It involves negating and avoiding unpleasant emotions while emphasising pleasant ones. It’s like a compulsion to always feel good, regardless of the circumstances. While embracing positivity, such as gratitude, can be healthy, it becomes detrimental when used to dismiss unpleasant emotions.
Toxic positivity often creeps in when we seek emotional support from others. Phrases like “You have so much to be grateful for” or “You should consider yourself lucky” can push us to bury our true feelings and pretend everything is fine. This pressure we internalise can make us avoid and deny our emotions.
Consequently, this belief influences our thoughts and actions. Both the individuals in the examples above feel compelled to push away their unpleasant emotions. They want to escape from them and stop feeling that way.
This is actually a common misunderstanding. We don’t need to fix our feelings of despair, anxiety, and sorrow. In fact, we might even benefit from therapy when we experience these emotions. Emotions are essential signals that help us navigate life. Both pleasant and unpleasant emotions serve a purpose and bring balance to our lives. Without experiencing sadness and despair, we can’t fully appreciate happiness and hope.
Furthermore, toxic positivity can set up unrealistic expectations and feed into feelings of inadequacy. We might feel pressured to keep up a facade of happiness, even when we’re struggling internally. This gap between our true feelings and our outward appearance can strain relationships and weaken trust.
For the new mother, feeling lonely is valid despite the material comfort she might have. It’s natural to feel homesick when living far from home, especially during significant life events like childbirth. Acknowledging her loneliness can encourage her to seek connections and support in her community.
Similarly, feeling lazy and tired while doing household chores is understandable. Acknowledging these feelings can help the elderly woman prioritise self-care and rest instead of pushing herself too hard.
Negative emotions offer insights into our needs, desires, and boundaries. By embracing and exploring these emotions, we build resilience and develop healthier coping mechanisms. This process enables us to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves.
Being authentic fosters genuine connections and enhances emotional intimacy. When we share our pain, difficulties, and insecurities, we find solace and the support we deserve. This openness encourages others to do the same, strengthening bonds and fostering empathy. In this supportive environment, personal growth and healing thrive.
While positivity has its benefits, it’s crucial to acknowledge the dangers of toxic positivity. Suppressing negative emotions not only harms our mental health but also robs us of opportunities for growth and self-discovery. Every negative experience isn’t necessarily bad; it can be a catalyst for resilience and character development, even if it doesn’t feel that way at the time.
Rather than chasing constant happiness, it’s important to embrace all our emotions and be authentic with ourselves and those around us. By acknowledging our true feelings and being open to vulnerability, we become more understanding, empathetic, and humane.

Gurung is a counselling psychologist who works at Happy Minds,a mental health and well-being platform.

CULTURE & LIFESTYLE

Insights into imposter syndrome

People dealing with the phenomenon believe their achievements are mistakes or caused by luck and that they don’t deserve success.
- Aarati Ray

Kathmandu,
Do you ever accomplish things but still feel like you need to prove your competence? Do you ever doubt your success and worry that you might not deserve it? If so, you might be experiencing imposter syndrome.
Imposter syndrome is when you feel like you’re not as good at something as others perceive you to be, even if you’re successful. You doubt your abilities and fear being exposed as a fraud despite evidence of your achievements.
Counsellor and psychologist Bina Shrestha, who specialises in gestalt therapy, shares her insights on the phenomenon.

What is imposter syndrome?
Imagine passing your scooter driving test after putting in a lot of effort, but instead of feeling proud, you think it was just luck. That’s imposter syndrome. It’s when you don’t credit yourself for your hard work and success. People with imposter syndrome believe their achievements are mistakes or luck and don’t deserve them.
It’s normal to have some self-doubt, but usually, it fades away with time. But the doubt doesn’t go away for those with imposter syndrome, and they can’t enjoy their success. Instead, it becomes stressful as they always question whether they deserve their accomplishments.

What are its signs and symptoms?
When you have imposter syndrome, you might feel like you’re not as good as others and have very low self-esteem. You might also always feel like an imposter and worry that if others find out, they’ll treat you badly. When given new tasks, you might be scared that someone else could do them better.
Feeling incapable makes you work harder than needed, even for simple tasks. Suppose your office gives you a task, and you’re dealing with imposter syndrome. In that case, you might put in a lot of effort to make it perfect, even if a little effort would be enough. This leads to anxiety and stress. People with imposter syndrome are also often very critical of themselves.

Imposter syndrome is more commonly associated with women; some even think it only happens to women. Is it true?
If we look at the origin of many mental health problems diagnoses, we will find the misconception that mental disorders only affect weak individuals or women. This is incorrect.
Take conversion disorder as an example—it used to be called hysteria, which was wrongly linked only to women. Now, the name has been changed to conversion disorder to reflect a more accurate understanding that mental health challenges can affect anyone, regardless of their strength or gender.
Similarly, imposter syndrome can affect anyone, not just women. The idea that it is more common in women stems from social views that favour men. When I worked on the helpline section of counselling, many men would first talk about problems, saying their female friends were going through them. But after three or four sessions, they admitted they were facing those issues themselves. So, it’s essential to recognise that imposter syndrome can affect everyone, regardless of gender.

What factors can contribute to imposter syndrome?
Childhood experiences, particularly those involving pressure to be perfect, can play a significant role. For example, growing up with constant expectations to achieve top grades can fuel imposter syndrome.
In some families, children may feel they’re never good enough, even when they succeed. Parents may inadvertently reinforce this belief by suggesting that they should achieve more. This can lead children to seek validation through hard work and perfectionism, laying the groundwork for imposter syndrome later in life.
Gender stereotypes also contribute to imposter syndrome, particularly when girls are told they can’t excel in certain areas simply because of their gender. Constantly striving to prove themselves, girls may develop a sense of uncertainty and never feel truly confident in their abilities.
Similarly, societal and familial expectations can exacerbate imposter syndrome, as individuals feel pressured to meet external standards. It’s crucial to remember that your worth should not be determined by others’ expectations. Trying to fulfil everyone else’s ideals can lead to a loss of identity and exacerbate feelings of inadequacy.
It’s important to recognise that experiencing stress, anxiety, and occasional sadness is normal for everyone. Feeling these emotions doesn’t necessarily indicate a mental health disorder. Instead, it’s essential to understand how these feelings affect your daily life and mental well-being.

Are certain personality types more prone to imposter syndrome than others?
No. It can affect individuals of any personality or temperament.

What role do things like gender, cultural background and personal experiences play in imposter syndrome, and is it accurate to assume that certain groups are more susceptible to it based on these factors?
Research suggests that our experiences can contribute to mental health challenges, and early findings linked imposter syndrome more with black women. However, I believe it’s not solely determined by someone’s identity. Assuming certain groups are more prone to mental health issues overlooks individuals’ unique ability to cope with stress. People vary in how they handle challenges, so generalising a specific group is inaccurate. While imposter syndrome was initially associated more with females, it’s important not to assume it’s exclusive to women.

Is it true that imposter syndrome happens only in the workplace?
No, it’s not. While it may be common in jobs with high-performance expectations, it can occur in any setting.
For example, receiving inconsistent feedback on your cooking at home might trigger feelings of inadequacy, even if praised unexpectedly. Imposter syndrome can manifest in various situations, not just in professional environments.

What are other misconceptions related to imposter syndrome?
Some believe imposter syndrome only affects those with low economic status or self-esteem, which is incorrect. It can impact anyone, including celebrities. Additionally, there’s a misconception that individuals will perpetually doubt themselves, but this isn’t true. Imposter syndrome can be managed with counselling and support from friends and family.

What suggestions would you give to someone struggling with it?
One significant aspect of mental health problems is acceptance. You have to accept what you are feeling because denial is prevalent. When dealing with imposter syndrome or feeling unsure about yourself, it’s crucial to start by acknowledging your emotions. Don’t deny what you’re feeling, whether fear or doubt. Take a moment to reflect on your hard work and achievements, giving yourself credit for what you’ve accomplished.
Talking to trusted friends, family, or relatives can also be helpful.
If self-doubt creeps in, take a closer look at your capabilities. Make a list of what you’ve achieved, recall your past successes and the challenges you’ve overcome. This can help you express yourself and address your doubts.
Lastly, use positive statements to encourage a more optimistic mindset. Remember, it’s okay to seek support and recognise your strengths.

How can friends and family help people with imposter syndrome?
One big way friends and family can help is by listening carefully. When someone shares their feelings, it’s important to pay full attention and hear what they’re saying. This person may have gone through a lot to gather the courage to talk, so listening actively is crucial.
Providing constructive feedback and positive, comforting words can also make a difference. People dealing with imposter syndrome often doubt their achievements, so highlighting and recognising their hard work, whether it’s big or small, can be supportive.

CULTURE & LIFESTYLE

RB Diamond to dazzle on the ramp

Bollywood actress Jaqueline Fernandez and Thai actor Kim Goodburn are set to walk the runway.
- Post Report

Kathmandu,
RB Diamond Jewellers, founded in 1997, is Nepal’s one of the most recognised houses of diamond jewellery. The company has recently announced a series of developments as part of its 27th-anniversary celebration. At a press meet organised at the Hotel Yak and Yeti in Durbar Marg, Kathmandu, on Monday, the company unveiled a new logo.
Riken Maharjan, chairman of RB Diamond Jewellers, said about the new logo, “The circular emblem’s root-like lines are an ode to my father; the late founder of this company, Ramesh Maharjan,” His background as a farmer before his entrepreneurial journey into the industry is depicted in the logo.
The design motif also bears an intentional semblance to the refractive facets of a round diamond. The redesigned logo reflects RB Diamond’s commitment to craftsmanship and its deep-rooted heritage. The logo’s intricate design pays homage to the brand’s history and its vision for the future, symbolising a blend of tradition and modernity.
Alongside the logo unveiling, the company announced the appointment of Rehan Shrestha as its new brand ambassador. Shrestha, a creative content creator, designer and a popular figure in Nepal’s fashion industry, is expected to bring his unique vision and style to the brand. With this partnership, the company hopes to build on their history of creativity and innovation.
“I have been privileged to be a part of this project. I love the products of RB Diamond and have worn their accessories on many occasions,” Shrestha said.
To celebrate the anniversary, RB Diamonds will host a jewellery fashion show on March 30. The event will showcase the latest
collections from the company, highlighting the brand’s craftsmanship, innovative designs and commitment to excellence.
Bollywood actress Jaqueline Fernandez will also be present at the fashion show. Known for her charismatic presence, the organisers claim Fernandez embodies the essence of RB Diamond’s brand values. Additionally, Thai actor and model Kim Goodburn will open the Men’s collection.
“We are thrilled to put together such an event and welcome our new brand ambassador. We look forward to showcasing our
exquisite collection soon,” said chairman Maharjan.

CULTURE & LIFESTYLE

Veteran guitarist debuts single

- Post Report

Kathmandu,
Suren Lama, who has been active in the music industry for over two-and-a-half decades, has released his debut single, ‘The Dawn’. Lama is popularly known for his guitar playing, having played for artists including Robin Tamang, Dev Rana, Mira Rana, Prakash Shrestha, Kiran Pradhan and Lochan Bhattarai.
Lama is recognised for exploring different genres, including funk, blues, rock, reggae, fusion, Adhunik music, eastern classical, and jazz, among others. Throughout his two-and-a-half decade-long career, he has been a part of many bands like Connection, Rock Sitar, Prana Mundi, Trikaal Tantriks and Suren Lama Global Fusion Solo.
‘The Dawn’ features a blend of Eastern melodies and Western harmonies, accompanied by the tabala. The track, according to Lama, is an exploration of cultural fusion through music. The track is available on all music streaming platforms, including Spotify and YouTube.