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 After launching Honor 8A just a month back, Kratos Technologies (P) LTD, the national distributor for Honor mobile phones, has come out with one more competitive device in the entry-level segment.

The “Honor 8S” is an affordable offer­ing from Honor with competitive speci­fications. The budget phone comes with a 5.71” IPS LCD Dew Drop display with a 19:9 aspect ratio. The dew drop notch at the top hides a 5 MP f/2.2 selfie shooter at the front, and as for the rear cam­era the device has a 13MP sensor with F/1.8 lens which also supports PDAF. Honor 8S is powered by MediaTek MT6761 Helio A22 combined with a 2GB Ram, which makes it perfect for day to day tasks.

The Honor 8S is available in Nepal for Rs 12,500 in retail stores across the country. The phone comes in two basic colors: Blue and Black.

The Backstreet Academy has come up with another creative class that’ll prep you well for making those delicious Sel Rotis on your own. Hosted by Mina Devi Ranabhat, the classes are conducted in a warm and homely environment which makes the learning fun. Get ready to be introduced to the traditional Nepali breakfasts along with your Sel Rotis to add more flavor to your taste buds. All the ingredients will be provided in the class itself along with an English speaking guide. This three-hour course worth $19 per person is definitely something worth a go. Contact: Call & WhatsApp: +62 822 4383 4885; [email protected]

Organized by ethicaltravelportal.com, the Social Tours offer you a yoga trip to Mustang. The portal guarantees a mind-blowing experience to liven up your soul whether you are a novice or an expert. The yoga instructors are experts from Norway and the trip is supposed to be a combination of yoga, trekking, Buddhism, Tibetan beads, and a healthy dose of fun. This 14- day long expedition worth $2,850 includes pick up and drop service from the hotel, transport, accommodation and permit charges. The trip will be of interest to travelers with interest in cultural tourism and spiritualism. Contact: +977 9801123401; [email protected]

If you’re interested in giving a visual treat to your eyes via the scenic beauty of Everest, but unable to walk the five-day-long trails, why not instead sit for a thrilling experience of breakfast by Mt. Everest? This one-day trip consists of pickup from your hotel, flight to Lukla with a five-min stop at Kalapathar to take pictures, followed by another stop of 30 minutes at Syangboche to enjoy your breakfast with a majestic view, and fly back to Kathmandu. The around three-hour-trip costs $2,300. Contact: +977-9851042334; [email protected]

To mark 70 years of Nepal-France diplomatic relations, Alliance Française Kathmandu this week kicked off the France-Nepal Painting Exhibition inside its Jawalakhel premises. With the goal of bringing together contemporary Nepali and French artists, the exhibition displays works of Kiran Manandhar, Sagar Manandhar, B.K Nar Bahadur and Vincent Greby.
What’s most amusing about the exhibition is the variations in techniques between the four painters. B.K Nar Bahadur’s series entitled “Landscape” consists of fine acrylic paintings in cotton canvasses with great many colors. The abstract paintings show close Nepal-France relations, and includes the renowned French jewel, the Eiffel Tower. Kiran Manandhar’s “Love and Emotions” highlight the eyes and the lips, the most expressive parts of the whole human body. The thin, detailed lining of the lips is particularly noteworthy.
Sagar Manandhar’s “Khet Ka Katha Haru” celebrates nature with a contrast color pop in every painting. Besides these three Nepali painters, the only French artist in the exhibition, Vincent Greby, has his “Encounter” series, with its neat and organized lines. The delicate flowers in subtle hues seem to capture every imaginable human sentiment.
Indeed, the exhibition, which ends July 31, is a visual treat for all art lovers. 

With over 70 confirmed deaths from floods and landslides over the past one week, it may be hard to see how the early warning systems installed on the rivers of the Tarai region could have worked. But most of them did. On their basis, the flood forecasting division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology had sent countless flood alerts when rainfall had started crossing dangerous levels in parts of the Tarai in the second week of July. These alerts were broadcast over FM and TV stations, social media and even sent as SMS to those living in flood-prone areas. And yet there was such widespread death and destruction. What
went wrong?

One surprising hindrance to effective long-range communication in Nepal is its unfinished transition from a unitary state to a federal one. There is still no clarity about the distinct functions and responsibilities of each of the three tiers of the government, nor a clear channel of communication from the center to the federal level, or vice versa. Effective flood-control, as Lin Ning argues in an article for APEX this week, is a centralized affair. A central nodal agency must be able to clearly coordinate and communicate with all the affected provinces.

But there is little or no coordination between the two levels in Nepal. It is thus not surprising that most SMS flood alerts sent from Kathmandu to vulnerable Tarai residents never reached them. Another problem has been with the elevated infrastructures built along the border by India, resulting in inundation in Nepal during the monsoons. There are joint commissions to address this kind of issue, but to no avail. The Indians in these commissions seem lukewarm. The Nepalis there, not plucky enough to strongly make their case.

Regional mechanisms like the SAARC Disaster Management Center in Gujarat have been of limited help as well. At a time when a high level of regional coordination is needed to collectively fight the ravages of climate change, even existing regional climate bodies are withering on SAARC’s deathbed. Nepal blaming India for high border infrastructures while the Indian news channels chide Nepal for opening the sluice gates of the Koshi Barrage to flood Bihar will take us nowhere. This is a multifaceted problem. Installing good early warning systems is just a start.

The main opposition Nepali Congress is forging a working alliance with like-minded parties in the parliament in order to strengthen the opposition voice. For the purpose, it has expedited talks with the Rastriya Janata Party. The Congress is also preparing for its 14^th General Convention to elect new leaders and the Central Working Committee meeting has been called for the same purpose. Biswas Baral and Kamal Dev Bhattarai talked to the NC Central Working Committee (CWC) member Shekhar Koirala about the proposed working alliance and about internal party dynamics. Koirala has already started a nation-wide campaign to fight for party presidency (even though he does not admit this openly). Between the three members of the Koirala family, Shekhar, General Secretary Shashank Koirala, and Sujata Koirala, there is an understanding to settle on one name for party president.

There has been a lot of talk about a possible working alliance between the Nepali Congress and Madhes-based parties. What is the progress?

Yes, there has been a talk of formation of some kind of an alliance in the parliament. There have been no party-to-party level talks about forging a working alliance between the Congress and the Madhes-based parties though. The two-third majority government is imposing objectionable draft laws and other agendas by ignoring the opposition and other forces. Hence the NC and the Rastriya Janata Party (RJP) are coming together on issues like the murder of Kumar Poudel, the Sarlahi in-charge of Netra Bikram Chand-led Maoist party.

The Congress is reported to have a soft corner on the constitution amendment issue of Madhes-based parties. Can the two parties stand together on this?

Now, we have not talked in that way. The proposed alliance could create a climate for us to support their demand of constitution amendment. But there is no clarity on the contents of the amendment. Constitution amendment is a sensitive issue, and we should not be discussing about it casually.

It seems the Madhes-based parties are set to make constitution amendment a major demand. What will be the Congress position?

That is what I am talking about. There should be clarity. Upendra Yadav has been talking about leaving the government (laughs) for over a year. I am still unclear about his position. Now the media says he is quitting the government. I doubt he will. In the context of constitution amendment, we will explore the converging issues of the NC, the RJP and the Upendra Yadav-led party. The Yadav-led party has proposed an 11-state provincial model. If we evaluate the politics of past one year, operation of provincial structures has been difficult.

We need provincial governments no doubt. But the question is whether we can sustain 11 provinces and there are also questions about ethnic federalism. The NC and the Madhes-based parties need to sit together and talk. Constitution amendment can move ahead if we can address the aspirations of all sections of the people, whether they live in the mountains, hills or Tarai plains. The current government is not ready to amend the constitution. Even Madhes-based parties have failed to come up with a clear position on it.

What is the Congress bottom-line on it?

We have not prepared any bottom-line yet. If they come with demands, we will sit together, put forth our individual positions, give suggestions, and make our position known.

There is dissatisfaction over the performance of opposition parties in parliament when it comes to opposing the undemocratic government moves. Is there a possibility of all opposition parties coming together on the same platform?

Yes, opposition parties should jointly exert pressure on the government to mend its ways. I am fully confident that the RJP and the Samajbadi Party led by Upendra Yadav would not accept such undemocratic bills. There are certain ideological differences between the NC and Samajbadi Party, and the NC and the RJP. Upendra Yadav and Baburam Bhattarai are talking about presidential system; the RJP is in favor of parliamentary system. On this issue we say ‘No’ but on other issues such as language of the constitution, we should be flexible. The NC and the RJP are coming together on democratic bills; the position of the Samajbadi Party is not clear.

With the Congress mired in disputes, how can it play the role of an effective opposition?

The internal dynamics of the NC and its role in parliament are two different things. The NC role in Parliament is positive as it is trying to prevent some undemocratic bills tabled in parliament from being passed. But it is difficult to say how much the party can do in parliament. We who are outside the parliament should engage people through various programs at district and village levels.

But this can only be done with greater party unity. As it is, the NC is a divided house.  

Some issues regarding internal dynamics are yet to be resolved. The current Central Working Committee will complete its four years next year. The party statute provisions for the extension of its tenure by a year in case of emergencies. But there is no emergency right now. It will take some time but we will surely hold our general convention soon. We are yet to transform our organizational structure in line with the federal setup. We are living with an outdated organizational structure and we should work on war-footing to hold a general convention as soon as possible. The NC will be weak if we do not change our working style and continue with the status quo. The general convention will give energy to the party and benefit it as well.

Would it be right to say that Party President Sher Bahadur Deuba seems to be in no hurry to hold the general convention on time?

There should be a sense of urgency if he wants to save the NC and the country. Things will not progress if there is rift in the party. Now we lack a towering personality like late Girija Prasad Koirala. There was conflict inside the party about bringing the Maoists into peaceful politics but he still managed to take the party ahead together.  

The Congress seems to be going through a leadership crisis. Does the party need new leaders?

People search for new leadership during times of crisis. There is leadership crisis in the Congress right now and the general convention is the only way to elect new leadership. We should follow democratic process. Election results are a strong hint of the capability of party leadership. Recently, there was an election in neighboring India. The Indian National Congress was defeated, its President Rahul Gandhi resigned and the party is looking for a new leadership. The current Nepali Congress leadership cannot lead a 21^st-century polity. Twitter is banned in China but the Chinese Ambassador in Kathmandu is still active in it. Our leadership has failed to move with the change.  

Who do you see as the future president of Nepali Congress?

There are many capable leaders in the NC to lead the party. There is the young generation. But who will win is still uncertain. I am not speaking about individual leaders but the current leadership cannot steer modern-day politics. We should promote the younger ones. For one tenure, the current generation will take the key leadership positions. After the 14^th General Convention, the current generation will lead the party by accommodating youths as office-bearers. But after that I expect party leadership to go to the new generation. The older generation is still useful and we can accommodate them. Now, the major problem is factionalism. If you are not close to this or that leader, you will never get a chance. I want to pick genuine and capable leaders, irrespective of their factions.

Is Koirala family again keen to take over party leadership?

Some people blame us of indulging in dynastic politics. We have not done dynastic politics. At least I do not believe in it. But people say so and I do not have answers for that. If you believe in dynastic politics, why am I going around and visiting all the rural areas? Girija Prasad Koirala and our guardians have taught us some cultures and values. We cannot deviate from those.

Let’s be specific. Are you going to fight for NC presidency?

(A long laugh.) How can I say that right now?

But you are making preparations?

My age and recent canvassing around the country give me energy. Age will not always be on my side. But right now I think I am near the peak of my political career.  

Who will be the common presidential candidate of the Koirala family, you or General Secretary Shashank?

Other leaders are also capable. But I feel a pain when my seniors say Shekhar is junior in the party. I accept that I am junior. But what is the status of the party now being led by seniors? I respect them. But the logic that juniors cannot fight for presidency is unacceptable. See the example of neighboring India. I do not believe in dynastic politics and I also do not believe in junior/senior logic.

Is it true that you are fighting for President and Gagan Thapa for General Secretary on a common ticket?

We are talking to each other. We are also talking to others. As seniors do not want to go with me, I am approaching young ones. I listen to the aspirations of young leaders. In politics, young leaders are my friends and we are not mentally divided between seniors and juniors. My responsibility is to bring the youth in party leadership position and get the party back on track. I entertain all energetic and capable leaders. Now, our fight is with communist forces and without the youth in power we cannot fight them.

 There’s no sugar-coating this one, let's see how hungry those leeches really are! This is a pop-up race by the team behind KTM Series—no bells and whistles, just racing and some food at the checkpoint.