Kabul — As many as seven people were killed and 15 persons were injured in Friday’s suicide attack at the Imam Zaman Mosque in the Pul-e Khumri area of Afghanistan’s Baghlan province, Afghanistan-based Khaama Press reported.
The explosion occurred during Friday prayers at the Shia Mosque. According to the Taliban-led information department in Baghlan province, seven worshippers died and 15 others were injured in the suicide attack at the Imam Zaman Mosque located on the first street of Silo City in Pul-e Khumri. The injured were taken to the local hospital for treatment. Reports have claimed that Taliban members arrived at the spot following the explosion, according to Khaama Press report.
Local sources have indicated that the explosion resulted from a planted bomb, hinting at a deliberate act of sabotage or violence in the area, Khaama Press reported. So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the explosion that took place at the mosque. Earlier in August, two people were killed, and two others were wounded in an explosion in the Darul Aman area of Afghanistan’s Kabul, the city’s police said, Khaama Press reported. According to Taliban-led police, a magnetic bomb embedded in a three-wheeler went off on a roadside in the Darul Aman area of Kabul’s police district 6. According to Taliban-appointed Kabul police spokesperson Khalid Zadran, the explosion occurred near the building of the Taliban-led Ministry of Justice. The incident demonstrated the ongoing challenges and complexities surrounding security in the region, as per the Khaama Press report.
Recently, a rise in attacks has been witnessed in Kabul. The attacks target both Taliban officials and ordinary citizens. These incidents have raised concerns regarding the security situation of the city.
London – Public health experts and academics based in the UK have called upon the Nepal government to intensify its diplomatic endeavours among the regional governments to advocate for Dr. Shambhu Acharya’s candidacy for the post of Regional Director, WHO South East Asia Region (SEAR).
They have also demanded a transparent election process to ensure the selection of the better-qualified candidate for this pivotal position.
Welcoming the Government of Nepal’s nomination, the UK-based professionals and academics said Dr. Acharya’s nomination reflects a concerted effort to garner support for his candidacy, a testament to the Government’s dedication to the cause. “The role of Regional Director carries profound significance, not only for the future health and well-being of the hundreds of millions residing in our region but also for global public health. The intricacies of medical and public health challenges in our region necessitate vigilant oversight and capable leadership within WHO,” the statement said.
“It is abundantly clear to us that Dr. Acharya is the superior candidate among the two nominees competing for this position. His credentials are underpinned by a robust background in public health and extensive leadership experience in addressing global health issues. Dr. Acharya’s familiarity with the public health and medical challenges within our region is exceptional. His three-decade-long career has been dedicated to fortifying responses at local, national, regional, and global levels. He has made substantial contributions in Nepal, Bangladesh, India, as well as at WHO headquarters in Geneva,” said Dr Padam Simkhada, Professor of Global Health & Associate Dean International and Convener of Global Consortium for Public Health Research (GCPHR). University of Huddersfield, UK. “Dr. Acharya successfully managed large-scale World Bank-funded projects in health and population in Bangladesh and played a pivotal role in establishing the Asia-Pacific Health Economics Network, which aimed to enhance the health financing capacity of WHO member states,” he added.
Prominent global health journals, including The Lancet and the British Medical Journal, have underscored the critical importance of appointing a highly qualified candidate to the position of WHO-SEARO Regional Director. Dr. Acharya’s recognition extends far beyond the present competition, as he is acknowledged by numerous global health professionals and leaders as the most qualified candidate for this pivotal position, they said.
“It is imperative to underscore that Dr. Acharya’s appointment as Regional Director would not only be advantageous for the South East Asia region but would also hold global significance. Many of us have had the privilege of witnessing his outstanding work firsthand, and we firmly believe that his leadership would benefit not only this region but also contribute positively to the health and well-being of people worldwide,” the joint statement said.
Prolonged separations and harsh working conditions abroad lead to alarming rates of infertility among returnee migrant workers.
October 11, 2023: At the Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, a troubling trend is emerging as a growing number of married couples sit in the infertility unit, sharing stories of their prolonged separations and the struggles they face in conceiving children. What these couples have in common is that the husbands have spent years working abroad, often in the Gulf.
One such couple, Ramesh and Jyoti, shared their heartbreaking story. Ramesh had left Nepal to work as an electrician in Saudi Arabia for 16 years to provide for his extended family. Although they had a daughter shortly after getting married, they’ve been unable to have another child despite his regular visits home. Ramesh believes the harsh conditions he faced while working in Saudi Arabia’s extreme heat may have contributed to their infertility, The Guardian reported.
According to Dr. Binita Thapa, a gynecologist at the infertility unit, about 45% of the cases she treats involve husbands who have worked in the Gulf. These men often return home after years of labor with severe reproductive issues, leading to heartbreak and emotional distress.
Doctors in Nepal believe that the challenging and abusive living and working conditions faced by migrant workers in the Gulf, especially the extreme heat during the summer months, are significant factors in infertility. These workers often endure high temperatures, poor diet, overcrowded living conditions, and stressful work environments, which may negatively impact their fertility.
The harsh reality is that low-wage migrant workers in the Gulf cannot bring their wives with them due to financial constraints, leading to prolonged separations. They usually live in all-male labor camps, often sharing crowded dormitories.
This alarming crisis is expected to grow as a record number of Nepalis have left the country for work abroad, mainly due to a lack of employment opportunities at home. However, the high rates of infertility among these workers are exacerbated by the long durations of their stays abroad, sometimes spanning decades, with only brief visits back home.
The pressure to have children is immense, especially sons, during their short visits. Doctors suggest that the limited time couples have to conceive, coupled with the stress and anxiety that results, may further contribute to the fertility issues faced by these families.
Many of these men are not even aware of the brief fertility window each month when their wives are most likely to conceive. Dr. Sita Pokhrel, a gynecologist and obstetrician, noted that over 90% of these men lack this knowledge, which further complicates their ability to conceive during their short visits.
As these men spend a significant portion of their prime reproductive years working abroad, they often face secondary infertility, which means they had one child before leaving but struggle to conceive upon returning.
To address these challenges, some doctors advocate semen freezing for artificial insemination while the husbands are away. However, this option is often stigmatized, as couples fear societal judgment. They worry that others might count the months to identify the precise timing of the conception.
The World Health Organization estimates that one in six people of reproductive age face infertility issues at some point in their lives. While this issue is global, individuals in developing countries often suffer more due to limited access to fertility treatment and its high cost.
While affordable fertility treatment is available at government-run facilities like the Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital, it remains unaffordable for many returnee migrant workers, forcing some to return overseas to earn money for the treatment. This situation highlights the urgency of addressing the mental, emotional, and economic toll of infertility on these individuals and their families.
As Nepal grapples with this fertility crisis among its returning migrant workers, it underscores the need for policies and support systems to address the well-being of these individuals who have sacrificed years of their lives for the economic betterment of their families.
Investigation Reveals Labor Trafficking Indicators in McDonald’s, Amazon, Chuck E. Cheese, and InterContinental Hotels Group Operations in the Persian Gulf
October 11, 2023: — A joint investigation led by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), in collaboration with media partners, The Guardian US, NBC News, and Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism, has uncovered disturbing labor abuses faced by nearly 100 migrant laborers from Asia working in the Persian Gulf branches of major American and British brands, including McDonald’s, Amazon, Chuck E. Cheese, and InterContinental Hotels Group.
These laborers have revealed an alarming pattern of repressive labor practices that include coercive recruitment fees, deceptive hiring practices, confiscation of passports, and restrictions on the freedom to leave their jobs. These practices are widely recognized as indicators of labor trafficking, which involves using force, coercion, or fraud to exploit workers.
The investigation, called Trafficking Inc., has brought to light the labor abuses and exploitation suffered by these workers, who were employed through various arrangements. Workers for McDonald’s, Chuck E. Cheese, and InterContinental Hotels in the Persian Gulf region are primarily direct employees of franchise holders or local partners. Meanwhile, those who believed they were employed by Amazon found themselves working for Saudi labor supply firms that placed them in contract positions at the online retail giant.
The revelations have raised questions about the responsibilities of these multinational corporations under U.N. human rights standards to monitor and ensure fair labor practices throughout their global supply chains, even when the component is a franchise holder.
The Trafficking Victims Protection Act, a federal law enacted in 2000 to protect trafficking victims and prosecute traffickers, could potentially apply to these American parent companies if they are found to have been complicit in labor abuses through their overseas subsidiaries, franchises, and business partnerships.
According to Agnieszka Fryszman, chair of the human rights practice at Cohen Milstein, a U.S. law firm, these companies could be held liable under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act if they knew or should have known of the forced labor in their supply chains.
These findings underscore the need for multinational corporations to proactively monitor labor practices in the Persian Gulf region, which is known for weak labor protections and the abuse of migrant workers. The report highlights that despite reforms in labor laws in Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf countries, many foreign workers remain vulnerable due to limited protections and weak enforcement.
In response to these revelations, multinational corporations like McDonald’s, Amazon, InterContinental Hotels Group, and Chuck E. Cheese have expressed their concern over the alleged labor abuses and have pledged to investigate and rectify any issues.
The investigation brings to light the challenges and injustices faced by migrant workers in the Persian Gulf, emphasizing the importance of holding multinational corporations accountable for ensuring the fair treatment of workers throughout their global operations.
Herat, Afghanistan — The aftermath of one of the deadliest earthquakes in Afghanistan’s history continues to grip the nation as rescuers and villagers persistently dig through the rubble in western Herat province, desperately clinging to hope that survivors may still be found, three days after the devastating 6.3 magnitude quake struck the region.
In the city of Herat and across the province, people are grappling with the heartbreaking task of digging graves for loved ones who perished in the earthquake. In the Zinda Jan district, a bulldozer clears earth to create space for a long row of graves as volunteers join forces with locals to help in any way they can.
Mir Agha, a resident of Herat, expressed the emotional toll of the situation, stating, “It is very difficult to find a family member from a destroyed house and a few minutes later bury him or her in a nearby grave, again under the ground.”
The earthquake’s epicenter was approximately 40 kilometers northwest of Herat’s provincial capital. While the exact number of casualties remains difficult to ascertain, Afghan Taliban government’s national disaster authority spokesman Janan Sayiq acknowledged that the quake killed and injured thousands. Earlier reports from Taliban officials indicated more than 2,000 casualties across Herat.
The United Nations reports that the Zinda Jan district suffered the most severe devastation, with 1,294 fatalities and 1,688 injuries. Additionally, 485 individuals, including 191 men and 294 women, remain unaccounted for. The disaster also led to the destruction of six schools in the region.
Nearly 2,000 houses in 20 villages have been reduced to rubble, leaving the affected area with just one government-run hospital. As winter approaches, the situation is expected to worsen, making it even more challenging for people to access basic necessities, including shelter, food, and medicine, as aid organizations have warned.
Foreign aid has been slow to arrive in Herat, possibly due to international reservations regarding the Taliban-led government. However, Pakistan has pledged support in the form of blankets, tents, and medicines, and China is reported to have offered cash and other emergency humanitarian assistance.
Despite global distractions, such as the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, foreign governments have pledged to work with local aid agencies to assist with rescue and recovery efforts. Afghan citizens have also launched fundraising campaigns to provide aid.
In a statement, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies called on the media to focus attention on Afghanistan’s plight. The statement emphasized the importance of highlighting the Afghan people’s untold stories of resilience and need. The organization’s spokesperson, Tommaso Della Longa, stated, “Afghanistan needs you now, more than ever. Please, let’s not add ‘forgotten’ to the long list of tragedies that this resilient nation has already endured.”
The Taliban’s justice ministry has called upon national and international charity foundations, businesses, and the Afghan community to unite and gather aid for the province as the nation rallies to support those affected by this devastating earthquake.
Kathmandu – Despite facing economic challenges, South Asia continues to exhibit robust growth compared to other regions, according to a recent report from the World Bank. However, this growth remains below the pre-pandemic average, signaling a need for sustained efforts in economic recovery.
Growth in South Asia
The report projects that output growth in South Asia, represented by seven countries in the region, will remain stronger than in other emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs). Nevertheless, it falls short of reaching pre-pandemic levels. The findings suggest that while South Asia is on the path to recovery, more concerted efforts are required to regain the economic momentum experienced prior to the global health crisis.
Government Debt
One concerning trend highlighted in the report is the increase in government debt in South Asian countries since 2010. On average, these nations have seen a faster rise in government debt compared to the average EMDE. This underscores the importance of fiscal discipline and prudent economic management to ensure long-term economic stability.
Change in Fiscal Outcomes around Elections
The report also delves into the fiscal outcomes around elections in South Asia. It reveals that primary fiscal deficits and spending tend to rise around election periods. Importantly, these increases often persist beyond the election year, posing challenges for fiscal sustainability. The findings underscore the need for responsible fiscal policies that mitigate the adverse effects of election-induced spending increases.
Adoption of Energy-Efficient Technologies
In the realm of technology adoption, South Asian firms have been early adopters of basic technologies but lag behind in embracing more advanced energy-efficient technologies. The report highlights the importance of fostering innovation and encouraging the adoption of environmentally friendly technologies to promote sustainable economic growth.
Actual and Perceived Energy Savings by Firms
A significant revelation from the report is that firms tend to underestimate the energy-saving benefits of new technologies. This suggests that there is potential for greater energy efficiency in South Asian industries if businesses become aware of the true benefits of adopting advanced technologies.
Green and Pollution-Intensive Jobs in South Asia
The report also sheds light on the job landscape in South Asia, revealing that in all countries in the region except India, pollution-intensive jobs outnumber green jobs. These pollution-intensive roles account for a significant percentage of all jobs, emphasizing the importance of addressing environmental concerns while promoting employment opportunities.
In conclusion, the World Bank’s report highlights both the resilience and challenges facing South Asia’s economic growth. While the region continues to outperform other emerging economies, it is essential to address rising government debt, manage fiscal outcomes around elections, encourage technology adoption, and promote environmentally friendly job opportunities to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for South Asia.
New York – A recent United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report has shed light on the growing crisis of child displacements caused by extreme weather events. Between 2016 and 2021, more than 43 million children were forced to leave their homes due to storms, floods, fires, and other climate-related disasters, according to the UN report.
The report, released on Friday, predicts an even more dire future, estimating that over the next three decades, more than 113 million children will be displaced due to the escalating risks posed by climate change, including flooding rivers, cyclonic winds, and post-storm floods.
One such example is 10-year-old Shukri Mohamed Ibrahim, who, along with her family, left their home in Somalia five months ago. The region suffered from the worst drought in over half a century, rendering once-fertile pastures barren and forcing families like Ibrahim’s to seek refuge in makeshift camps in the capital, Mogadishu. While Ibrahim’s dream of becoming a doctor has led her to a school in the camp, the conditions are far from ideal, lacking proper shelter, sanitation, and adequate food.
The report also highlights the underreporting of long-lasting disasters like droughts. In the years covered by the report, at least 1.3 million children had to leave their homes due to drought, with more than half of them in Somalia. However, this figure is likely an undercount as there are no preemptive evacuations during droughts, unlike during floods or storms.
Climate change has already left millions of people homeless worldwide, with rising seas eroding coastlines, storms impacting megacities, and droughts worsening conflicts. However, despite the intensifying catastrophes, the world has yet to recognize climate migrants and establish formal mechanisms for their protection.
“The reality is that far more children are going to be impacted in the future, as the impacts of climate change continue to intensify,” warns Laura Healy, a migration specialist at UNICEF and one of the report’s authors.
The report reveals that nearly a third of the 134 million displacements caused by extreme weather events between 2016-2021 involved children. Nearly half of these displacements were due to storms, with nearly 4 out of every 10 storm-related displacements occurring in the Philippines. Floods displaced more than 19 million children in places like India and China, while wildfires affected children 810,000 times in the U.S. and Canada.
Data tracking migrations due to weather extremes typically do not differentiate between children and adults. UNICEF collaborated with the Geneva-based non-profit International Displacement Monitoring Centre to map the regions where children were most affected.
Countries like the Philippines, India, and China, with their large populations and robust evacuation systems, accounted for nearly half of child displacements caused by climate hazards. However, on average, children living in vulnerable regions like the Horn of Africa and small Caribbean islands face heightened risks due to “overlapping crises” where climate risks compound with conflict, fragile institutions, and poverty.
The act of leaving home subjects children to additional risks. During the unprecedented flooding of the Yamuna River in New Delhi in July, 10-year-old Garima Kumar’s family lost their hut, along with her school uniform and books, leaving her without a home and causing her to miss a month of school.
BEIJING : China’s State Council Information Office on Tuesday released a white paper titled “The Belt and Road Initiative: A Key Pillar of the Global Community of Shared Future.”
The white paper will give the international community a better understanding of the value of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), facilitate high-quality cooperation under it, and ultimately deliver benefits to more countries and peoples.
Since its launch, the Belt and Road Initiative has evolved from ideas into actions, from a vision into reality, and from a general framework into concrete projects. It has been welcomed by the international community both as a public good and a cooperation platform.
Over the past decade, BRI cooperation has delivered real gains to participating countries. It has contributed to the sound development of economic globalization and helped to resolve global development challenges and improve the global governance system.
It has also opened up a new path for all humanity to realize modernization, and ensured that the efforts of building a global community of shared future are delivering real results, the white paper said.
Looking forward, China stands ready to work with other countries to pursue closer and more fruitful cooperation under the BRI framework, implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative, and build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity. (Xinhua)
Kathmandu: Prominent figures in Nepal have expressed their support for Dr Shambhu Acharya as the candidate for the position of Regional Director of the World Health Organization’s Southeast Asia Regional Office (SEARO).
During a press conference held in Kathmandu on Sunday, eminent individuals warmly embraced the Nepali government’s nomination of Dr Acharya for the prestigious role of regional director for WHO’s Southeast Asia region.
In a joint statement, they emphasized the importance of a transparent selection process to ensure that a highly qualified and deserving candidate is chosen for this crucial position.
Several highly respected global health journals,such as The Lancet, the British MedicalJournal and others have highlighted the importance of the WHO-SEARO Regional Director’s position and called for the appointment of a suitably qualified candidate for the post. Dr. Acharya has been acknowledged by many global health professionals and leaders as the most qualifiedcandidate for this crucial position, even beyond the present contest.
“In contrast, the only other candidate in competition for the position is regarded by the public health and medical fraternity as apolitical protégé with a privileged pedigreewhose thin resumé is not adequate to lead a complex global health institution such as WHO-SEARO. The unabashed, high-profile lobbying at senior most political levels, aided by a mother’s access to global leaders at unrelated summits and conclaves, has generated cautionary commentary not only inpublic health circles but also in journals ofrenown and credible international media,” the joint statement said.
In the current post-Covid public health environment with its numerous challenges, including those related to income disparities, climate crisis, and the potential surge of new vectors with potential for great destruction, UNleaders steering health issues must have strongcredentials and proven dynamism, the statement said.
“Because Dr. Acharya achieving the positionof Regional Director would be beneficial forour entire region, we believe the Government of Nepal must redouble efforts among concerned governments of the region in favour of his outstanding candidacy. Further, we demand a transparent election process so that the better qualified candidate is elected to this important position,” the statement said.
Need for a capable leadership
The eminent personalities also underscored the vital significance of the Regional Director’s role in safeguarding the future health and well-being of the hundreds of millions of people residing in South and South East Asia region. They have emphasised on the need for capable leadership within the WHO to effectively address and monitor numerous medical and public health challenges facing the region.
The organisation’s 11 member countries—Nepal, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, DPR Korea, the Maldives, Timor Leste, Indonesia and Thailand—will nominate the organization’s next regional director through a closed-door SEARO session set to be held between October 30 and November 2.
Nepal and Bangladesh have fielded candidates for the post. Acharya is the senior-most official of the WHO while another candidate Saima Wazed is the daughter of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“It is obvious to us that Dr. Acharya is the better fit between the two candidates nominated for the position. He possesses a very strong public health background and has extensive leadership experience in tackling global health issues. Dr. Acharya has impeccable credentials with a PhD in public health, specialising in health policy and planning from a globally renowned university; a Masters in Sociology focusing on social policy; and an MBA in public finance and strategic management,” they said.
Dr. Acharya knows the public health and medical challenges of our region intimately, having worked for three decades strengthening responses at local, national, regional and global levels, including in Nepal, Bangladesh and India, apart from his responsibilities at WHO headquarters in Geneva. Dr. Acharya managed large-scale World Bank-funded projects in health and population in Bangladesh and played a key role in establishing the Asia-Pacific Health Economics Network to build the health financing capacity of WHO member states, the statement reads.
Working directly with the Director-General WHO, Dr. Acharya has been part of high-level policy and strategy decisions, which have also included interactions with heads of government, ministers, and health professionals all over the Asian continent. Dr Acharya has represented WHO in various UN bodies advocating for universal health coverage within the broader UN development agenda. Most recently, Dr Acharya played a central role in ensuring that WHO was effective in response to the COVID-19 crisis in the most seriously affected countries.
Signatories in the joint statement include former minister and ambassador Nilamber Acharya; former assistant secretary general and deputy executive director at UNICEF Kul Chandra Gautam; Professor Rita Thapa, who was instrumental in Nepal’s Primary Health Care; Dr Bhagwan Koirala, chairman of Nepal Medical Council; Dr Naresh Pratap KC, Executive Director of Family Planning Association of Nepal; Professor Madhu Dixit, former Associate Dean at the Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University; Dr Sudha Sharma, former Health Secretary; Bishow Parajuli, former UNDP resident coordinator; and Dr Badri Pande, a public health expert.
London— In a shocking turn of events, at least 10 Nepali students have tragically lost their lives in the recent Hamas invasion of Israel. This harrowing incident unfolded on Saturday, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. An official from the Nepal Embassy in Israel confirmed this grim news on Sunday, dispelling earlier reports of some Nepali students being unaccounted for in the aftermath of the Hamas attack in southern Israel.
The Nepal Embassy official revealed, “Around 10 Nepali students have fallen victim to the ongoing turmoil in Israel,” as reported by news agency ANI.
The invasion, carried out by Hamas militants, has taken a heavy toll on both Israelis and Palestinians. Since Saturday, more than 600 Israelis have lost their lives in the surprise attack, with approximately 2,000 people sustaining injuries. Heartbreakingly, among the casualties are women and children, with around 100 individuals being held hostage by the Hamas militants.
Israel has declared a state of war in response to the invasion, launching retaliatory strikes on Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed “mighty vengeance” in the face of what he has deemed a “black day” for the nation.
On that fateful Saturday morning, Israelis were jolted awake by blaring sirens as Hamas, an Iran-backed Islamist militant group, unleashed a barrage of approximately 5,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip towards Israel. Remarkably, Israel’s Iron Dome, a renowned air-defense system, intercepted the majority of these rockets, minimizing the damage inflicted.
However, the rocket onslaught caught Israel off guard, and before they could fully grasp the situation, hundreds of heavily armed Hamas militants descended from various directions. Some arrived in SUVs, motorcycles, and trucks via the Gaza border, while others used aerial means, including paragliding into southern Israel. In a chilling similarity to the 26/11 Mumbai attack, one group even employed a sea route, entering the city by boat.
Responding swiftly, the Israeli military initiated “Operation Iron Swords” to regain control of the invaded areas. Retaliatory air strikes targeted Hamas strongholds in the Gaza Strip.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) provided insights into their counteroffensive, detailing several operational activities in Gaza in response to Hamas’s brutal terrorist offensive. These operations included airstrikes on concealed launch sites and terrorists in close proximity. Additionally, air raids struck operational situation rooms located within mosques used by Hamas in Gaza.
Thus far, Israel has decimated numerous Hamas targets and reportedly eliminated approximately 400 Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. As Israel intensifies its efforts to dismantle Hamas, civilians in Gaza have been urged to evacuate their homes in anticipation of further escalations in this ongoing conflict.
Kathmandu — Nepal’s highly anticipated Gautam Buddha International Airport, located in Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, was expected to usher in a tourism boom, but a year after its opening, it is struggling to attract international visitors. The stunning bright orange hotel that offers breathtaking mountain views stands mostly empty, leaving its owner, Bishnu Sharma, in financial distress.
The government invested a significant $76 million to build the airport, aiming to boost tourism in the region. Lumbini witnessed nearly a million visitors in 2022, primarily from domestic tourists, with a minority arriving from neighboring India. The airport aimed to make it easier for international travelers to reach Lumbini directly instead of the arduous 250-kilometer overland journey from Kathmandu.
However, the expected influx of tourists has not materialized, partly due to a lack of early promotion and incentives for international airlines. Bishnu Sharma, owner of the Star Holiday Hotel in Lumbini, expressed his concerns, stating that his hotel is now two-thirds empty, and he is struggling to repay his loans.
Travel industry experts emphasize that the key to attracting more international visitors lies in the operation of regular scheduled international flights from Bhairahawa Airport. However, a significant roadblock exists, as Indian authorities have refused to allow large passenger planes to traverse their airspace, preventing direct flights to Gautam Buddha Airport. Access to Indian airspace would reduce flight costs and duration significantly.
Some in Nepal speculate that India’s reluctance is tied to the airport’s construction by China’s Northwest Civil Aviation Airport and its proximity to the India-Nepal border, where tensions have flared in recent years. The border dispute between India and China, coupled with growing political tensions between the leaders of both nations, has further complicated the situation.
The Gautam Buddha Airport was conceived as part of Nepal’s plan to alleviate congestion at Kathmandu Airport, the country’s primary international gateway. However, it has struggled to attract international flights, much like Pokhara International Airport, which also faces similar challenges. Pokhara Airport, constructed with a $215 million loan from China, has seen limited international traffic since its opening in January.
Currently, the combined traffic at Gautam Buddha and Pokhara airports consists mainly of domestic flights. Aviation experts argue that the terminals require a substantial influx of international travelers to remain financially viable.
Tri Ratna Manandhar, former director-general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, stressed the importance of international flights and called for proactive diplomacy to persuade countries like India to open their airspace to commercial flights destined for Nepal.
While Nepal Airlines has recently launched a weekly flight from Bhairahawa to Kuala Lumpur, signaling potential opportunities, the country’s Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kiranti, remains optimistic about resolving the airspace issue with India through dialogue.
The fate of Nepal’s ambitious plan to boost tourism through its newly built airports now hinges on diplomatic efforts and cooperation from neighboring countries, as the picturesque region continues to wait for the influx of tourists it had hoped for. ( Input form BBC and agencies)
COLOMBO — The number of Sri Lankan workers departing for South Korea so far this year has surpassed 5,000, growing by 44 percent compared to the previous year, a minister said on Wednesday.
Sri Lanka’s Minister of Labor and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara said on social media that the figure showed the country’s commitment to enhancing employment prospects.
During a discussion with Nanayakkara in April, the director of the South Korean human resources department based in Sri Lanka agreed to provide 8,000 job opportunities for Sri Lankans in South Korea this year, exceeding the job quota of 6,500 offered earlier, local media reported.
This year, Sri Lankan workers’ remittance in August surpassed 499 million U.S. dollars, and the cumulative figure for the January-August period was around 3.9 billion dollars, a 74.4 percent increase compared with the same period in 2022, according to official data.
Workers’ remittance is one of main sources of foreign revenues for Sri Lanka. (Xinhua)
Dhaka — South Asia is poised to outpace all other global regions in economic growth this year, with the World Bank forecasting a robust growth rate of 5.8 percent. This optimistic projection comes amid contrasting gloomy outlooks for China and East Asia, where growth rates are expected to be some of the slowest in five decades.
Key Factors Driving South Asia’s Growth
Franziska Ohnsorge, the World Bank’s chief economist for South Asia, points to several factors underpinning the region’s impressive growth prospects:
Demographic Dividend: South Asia boasts a youthful and expanding workforce, a demographic advantage that contributes to economic growth.
Catch-Up Potential: The region has ample room for economic catch-up, enabling it to grow at a faster pace.
However, Ohnsorge issues a cautionary note, stating that the growth in South Asia, while strong, may not be sufficient to meet governments’ ambitious targets of achieving high-income status within a generation. Currently, per capita income in South Asian countries averages around $2,000, only 1/12th of high-income nations. To reach high-income status, South Asian nations would need to maintain average annual growth rates of at least 8 percent over several decades.
Challenges on the Horizon
Ohnsorge highlights several challenges that South Asia must address:
Private Investment: South Asian countries must do more to stimulate private investment and generate employment opportunities for their growing populations.
Vulnerabilities: The region faces vulnerabilities such as climate change, weaker global demand, and high levels of debt.
Despite these challenges, Ohnsorge remains optimistic about South Asia’s potential for growth. The region possesses competitive advantages, including its youthful workforce, expanding middle class, and strategic geographic location.
“If South Asian countries can continue to implement reforms and attract investment, they can achieve their development goals,” she asserts.
This optimistic outlook serves as a reminder of South Asia’s economic potential and the importance of proactive measures to harness it. While hurdles exist, the region’s young population and favorable demographics present opportunities for sustainable growth and development.
Kathmandu — In a recent report titled “Nepal Development Update: Restoring Export Competitiveness,” the World Bank has forecasted a promising economic rebound for Nepal. The country is expected to experience a 3.9 percent growth in fiscal year 2024, primarily attributed to several key factors.
Factors Driving Nepal’s Economic Rebound
Delayed Effects of Import Restrictions: The lifting of import restrictions is beginning to yield positive effects on Nepal’s economy.
Tourism Recovery: The gradual recovery of the tourism sector, a vital contributor to Nepal’s economy, is boosting economic prospects.
Easing Monetary Policies: The gradual relaxation of monetary policies is supporting economic growth.
Projections for Fiscal Year 2025
Looking ahead, the World Bank anticipates even stronger growth for Nepal in fiscal year 2025, with a projected growth rate of 5 percent.
Risks to the Economic Outlook
Despite the positive outlook, the report highlights several risks that could impact Nepal’s economic trajectory. These risks include:
Erratic Monsoon: An unpredictable monsoon could hinder agricultural growth.
Commodity Prices and Export Bans: A resurgence in commodity prices or continued export bans on food products by India could lead to price increases.
Inflation: Rising inflation could result in higher policy rates, increased domestic debt servicing costs, and potentially slow down growth.
Addressing Export Competitiveness
The report also emphasizes the need for Nepal to enhance its external competitiveness, as its exports currently account for only 6.9 percent of GDP, lagging behind other South Asian middle-income countries. The analysis attributes this lag to factors such as real exchange rate appreciation and low labor productivity across all sectors.
Green and Resilient Development Vision
Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank Country Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, commended Nepal’s efforts in pursuing a green, resilient, and inclusive development vision to drive long-term economic recovery. He stressed the importance of improving external competitiveness through reforms aimed at boosting domestic productivity and reducing inflation differentials with trading partners.
South Asia’s Economic Outlook
The report also provides insights into South Asia’s economic prospects. While the region is expected to grow at 5.8 percent, surpassing other developing regions, it remains slower than its pre-pandemic pace and falls short of meeting development goals. Downside risks include fiscal vulnerabilities due to high government debt levels and the potential impact of China’s economic growth slowdown and climate change-induced natural disasters.
Economic Growth in South Asian Countries
The World Bank’s projections for South Asian countries in terms of economic growth for 2024 are as follows:
India: 6.3 percent
Bangladesh: 5.6 percent
Maldives: 5.2 percent
Bhutan: 4 percent
Sri Lanka: 1.7 percent
Pakistan: 1.7 percent
These projections offer valuable insights into the economic landscape of Nepal and South Asia, as the region strives to overcome challenges and achieve sustainable growth.
London — With less than four weeks left to elect a new Regional Director for the WHO South East Asia Regional Office (SEARO), the choice before the voting member countries could not be clearer.
So far, there are only two candidates in the fray. Dr Shambhu Acharya, from Nepal, is competing againstthe Bangaldeshi candidate, Saima Wazed Hossain.
A public health veteran, Dr Acharya holds a PhD in public health and has over three decades of experience of working with the WHO in various capacities around the world. He was instrumental in developing health systems at the local, national, and regional levels in many low and middle income countries in the fields of maternity and child health, family planning, population, infectious and non-communicable diseases. He also led World Bank-funded health and population programs in Bangladesh and helped establish the WHO Asia-Pacific Health Economics Network.
In his manifesto, Acharya has accorded top priority to health promotion, disease and injury prevention, and planetary health, by addressing their root causesin the WHO South East Asia Region.
“The Region’s investments in health have been increasing, exemplified by India’s efforts to bolster health programs. Thailand’s universal healthcare is also commendable. To leverage economic growth, my priority is twofold: first, promoting health investment as an asset, not just an expense, focusing on human capital development,” said Dr Acharya in a recent interview. “Secondly, fostering international partnerships with organizations like the Global Fund, the development banks on climate-focused initiatives. Collaborative investments can bring substantial value to healthcare, helping overcome resource limitations.”
The Bangladeshi candidate, Saima Wazed, doesn’t have any public health degree. Since 2019, she has been an adviser to WHO’s Director General on mental health and autism. She is a Bangaldeshi-Canadian citizen, and has worked as a school psychologist in Florida, United States.
Her manifesto fails to address major public health issues facing the region, observers say.
Interestingly, Saima is the daughter of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Quite predictably,Prime Minister Hasina seems to be leaving no stone unturned to get her daughter elected to the coveted post – that will oversee the public health priorities of nearly two billion people.
Early this year, in a letter to the Lancet – the world’s top medical journal – a group of public health experts called for greater transparency in WHO elections, including public debates rather than closed sessions to choose a new Regional Director. Financial Times, the London-based newspaper, quoted an unnamed senior health policy worker in Bangladesh saying that Ms Wazed’s nomination showed the politicisation of country’s health sector.
“She came from a political family and her mother is prime minister. Every single work that she does is highlighted by the government.”
Prime Minister Hasina took her daughter to regional meetings of BRICS, ASEAN and recently the G-20 summit in Delhi where Bangladesh was one of the invitees. Ms Saima tweeted her photo with US President Biden, herself and her mother.
‘Crossing the Fine Line’
Dr Mukesh Kapila, who has worked in over 100 countries, as a physician and public health specialist, recently wrote thatbeing introduced by her mother at recent high-level summits such as BRICS, ASEAN, G20 and the UN General Assembly to craft deals in exchange for votes may be seen as crossing the fine line between a government’s legitimate lobbying for its candidate and craven nepotism. “Intense political pressure from Bangladesh appears to have dissuaded good competitors from within Bangladesh and other countries. Nepal is now under intensified pressure to withdraw its nominee and allow Wazed to be anointed unopposed,” he added.
As the campaign to garner support from member states enters the last phase, articles supporting Bangladeshi candidate are also appearing in the media. One Prof Quazi M Islam has argued that it is a sovereign right of any member state to nominate a candidate of their choice.
“There could be several other talent pools in Nepal from which the government could have nominated,” he said, insinuating that the candidate from Nepal also may not be the most deserving one.
Nepali officials, however, insist that Nepal government had short-listed Dr Acharya for nomination from a larger list of candidates for the post. Three successive governments from different political backgrounds upheld his candidacy. Given his vast experience in health policy finance, programme management and wide range of public health experience, Dr Acharya was an obvious choice. “We believe that our candidate is far superior to the Bangladeshi candidate in terms of experience, vision and competency,” they said.
Interestingly, Prof Islam claimed that “WHO does not need hardcore technocrats but require politicians who can listen to advisors, make decisions based on evidence and recruit people fairly to achieve the vision and mission.” Some Bangladeshi media reports are, meanwhile, claiming that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is also projecting her daughter as her future political successor.
Nepotism and favoritism is not new in South Asia, where rulers usually tend to promote people usually on the basis of their lineage or loyalty. But to lead an important post like Regional Director, WHO SEARO, member states are expected to choose a candidate who knows public health issues affecting the region by heart and is all set to hit the ground running. The choice is but obvious – Nepotism vs Merit.
The member states of WHO SEARO would do well by promoting merit in the WHO rather than rewarding nepotism.
London – The Royal Asiatic Society has announced that Prof Mark Liechty has been awarded the first Prof Surya Subedi Prize which is awarded to Professor Mark Liechty for his book “What Went Right” (Amazon link), subtitled: “sustainability versus dependence in Nepal’s hydropower development”.
The judges were unanimous in there decision, noting that the book is exceptionally well written as well as diligently researched, a press statement issued by the Society said. “It tells a story -that of the long and patiently determined career of Odd Hoftun who emerges as a development hero – and holds the interest of a non-specialist. Although its focus is hydropower development, it has much resonance into all sectors of development and beyond. It would be valuable reading for anyone in any sector seeking to make a sustainable difference in Nepal,” the judges said.
Mark Liechty is a South Asianist with research specialization in the modern culture and history of Nepal. He is a Professor in the departments of Anthropology and History at the University of Illinois at Chicago, USA. His teaching focuses on world history, South Asian colonial history, culture theory, youth culture, and cultures of the body. Liechty’s research has been supported by various organizations including several Fulbright research awards and a recent Fulbright “Senior Specialist” grant for Nepal.
As part of his application to the prize, Prof Liechty wrote an introduction to his work in What Went Right, which gives a good overview of the book:
What Went Right explores why Nepal’s hydropower sector is one the country’s few development success stories. Unlike almost every other “developing” country, in Nepal local firms design and build complex hydropower facilities using Nepali engineers, contractors, components, and labour. Nepal has largely avoided the trap whereby most poor countries are forced to accept energy infrastructure projects that are foreign designed, funded, and built—typically resulting in debt, dependency, and unsustainability. As a whole, Nepal has no other industrial sector that even comes close to the success of its hydropower industry.
The book examines the history of Nepal’s hydropower sector to ask why it is the conspicuous exception to the rule of Nepal’s woeful underdevelopment. The answer lies in the story of the Butwal Power Company (BPC) and the anti-establishment development logic of its founder, Odd Hoftun, a pioneering Norwegian development worker, missionary, and engineer. From the early 1960s onward, Hoftun insisted that Nepalis should develop technical skills needed to thrive in a modernizing society, a view that eventually led Hoftun to promote hydropower development as the means to literally power Nepal’s industrial future. Counter to prevailing logic, Hoftun insisted that, to the fullest extent possible, hydroelectric design, construction, and equipment should be locally-sourced—even if it was, initially, crude and inefficient. Self-sufficiency and sustainability could only come if every aspect of hydropower development could be done in Nepal, by Nepalis.
Over half a century, Hoftun worked with Nepalis and other foreigners to establish a family of inter-locking companies focused on hydrological design and engineering, equipment manufacturing, deep-mountain tunneling, and project installation. Starting with a tiny 50 kilowatt project in the 1960s and advancing through successively larger and more complex projects, by the 2000s Hoftun’s now independent and Nepali-owned companies, and many subsidiary spin-offs from them, had emerged as the backbone of a robust indigenous hydropower sector able to compete successfully in bidding for projects around Nepal and beyond.
Typically anthropologists and historians engage “development” in order to critique it. Much less often examined are the few bright spots on the global development landscape. The book’s aim is certainly not to hold up Nepal’s hydropower sector as some spotless paragon of development success, but simply to examine how and why it managed to largely overcome the global development odds stacked against it. Nepal’s hydropower experience is a success and one of the few ways that Nepal participates in the global economy aside from as an impoverished exporter of cheap manpower. By focusing on what went right instead of (or in addition to) what went wrong, this book is a useful contribution to ongoing debates over international development, foreign aid, and development philosophy.
This study represents a chance to lay out a particular development vision to examine its strengths and weaknesses. Given that “the BPC model” has arguably borne rich fruit in Nepal’s otherwise relatively barren development landscape, it is high time to bring this vision into vigorous conversation with other development strategies that have proven, repeatedly, to be less productive, the press statement said.
