KATHMANDU // Nepal sank into political turmoil yesterday after parliamentarians failed to agree on a new constitution, leaving the country with no legal government.
The premier, Baburam Bhattarai, called new elections, but critics claim he lacks the power to do so.
Security forces were on high alert but Kathmandu was largely quiet due to a national holiday.
Riot police patrolled the streets after several political parties called for rallies to demand the resignation of Mr Bhattarai, and to protest against his unilateral decision to call elections for November.
"The country has plunged into a serious crisis," said Ram Sharan Mahat, a high-ranking member of the country's second-largest party, the Nepali Congress.
He added that six months would not be enough time to prepare for polling. "This government has no legitimate grounds to continue," he said.
The squabbling political parties in the Constituent Assembly had failed to agree on a new blueprint for the nation by their own deadline of midnight on Sunday, despite repeated extensions of the due date over the past four years.
A key sticking point was whether the country's states should be drawn to give regional power bases to ethnic minorities.
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ICC T20 Team of 2021
Jos Buttler, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, David Miller, Tabraiz Shamsi, Josh Hazlewood, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mustafizur Rahman, Shaheen Afridi
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
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Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
The five pillars of Islam
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SPECS
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Racecard
6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah Group Two (PA) US$55,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm: Meydan Trophy (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,900m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (D) 1,200m
8.15pm: Balanchine Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,000m
9.25pm: Firebreak Stakes Group Three (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,600m
10pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m
The National selections: 6.30pm: RM Lam Tara, 7.05pm: Al Mukhtar Star, 7.40pm: Bochart, 8.15pm: Magic Lily, 8.50pm: Roulston Scar, 9.25pm: Quip, 10pm: Jalmoud
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Company Profile
Company name: Big Farm Brothers
Started: September 2020
Founders: Vishal Mahajan and Navneet Kaur
Based: Dubai Investment Park 1
Industry: food and agriculture
Initial investment: $205,000
Current staff: eight to 10
Future plan: to expand to other GCC markets