WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 290 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 25.7 C -7.5 C Friday, December 18, 2020 | 03-09-2077 Bhairahawa Jumla

Kathmandu-Delhi flights resume Oli keeps mum on without need for revoking ordinance, quarantine Passengers need negative leaving all confused virus test done less than 72 hours before departure. and guessing SANGAM PRASAIN KATHMANDU, DEC 17 A day after agreeing to withdraw the ordinance, Oli called Nepalis and Indians flying to each other’s countries are not required to and then cancelled the Constitutional Council meeting, stay in quarantine if they have tested negative for the coronavirus within later refusing to even discuss it in the Cabinet. the last 72 hours before departure, Nepal Airlines said on Thursday, as it TIKA R PRADHAN Padma Kumari Aryal told the Post. resumed services to New Delhi after a KATHMANDU, DEC 17 Many in the ruling Nepal nine-month break. Communist Party (NCP) say Oli has “People are confused about the “If you cannot convince them, confuse “his own style” of functioning. That’s quarantine requirement. Travellers them.” the reason the opponent faction is from both countries will not have to Prime Minister and Nepal demanding Oli’s resignation, accord- quarantine themselves if they have a Communist Party chair KP Sharma ing to them. valid negative RT-PCR [reverse tran- Oli seems to have not only been heavi- With the faction led by Dahal and scription-polymerase chain reaction] ly inspired by this saying, attributed Madhav Kumar Nepal upping the test report,” said Anil Ghimire, depu- to the 33rd American President Harry ante against Oli, the latter has been ty director of the national flag carri- S Truman, but also been implement- trying every trick in the book to hold er’s customer service department at ing it in earnest. on to power. Tribhuvan International Airport. A day after agreeing to withdraw The sudden issuance of ordinance According to the guidelines for the ordinance on the Constitutional on Tuesday was one of the measures international arrivals issued by the Council Act that stirred backlash Oli tried to put their opponents in Indian Ministry of Health and Family within his party and outside, Oli on check. But the move backfired, as Welfare, all travellers should submit a Thursday called a Council meeting for leaders from his own party as well as self-declaration form on the online 5pm. But within hours, after his meet- analysts and experts on constitutional portal (www.newdelhiairport.in) at ing with Pushpa Kamal Dahal, his fel- matters described it as something tan- least 72 hours before the scheduled low chair in the party, he called off the tamount to committing a fraud on the travel or physically after arrival at the Council meeting. constitution. respective health counters. RSS Questions were being asked as to The Dahal faction’s major gripe >> Continued on page 2 People cross the Tamor river using a makeshift bamboo bridge that connects wards 3 and 4 of Phaktanglung Rural Municipality in Taplejung. why Oli called the meeting at 5pm about Oli is he has refused to abide by when a Cabinet meeting was sched- party decisions. uled for 6pm which was expected to But by not taking any decision on take a decision on recommending to withdrawing the ordinance, Oli has the President the repealment of the once again defied the party order. ordinance. The Cabinet meeting did After Wednesday’s Standing As Oli finds strong opposition in his own party, take place late in the evening, but no Committee meeting, party spokesper- discussion was held on withdrawing son Narayan Kaji Shrestha told the ordinance. reporters that the committee meeting “Today’s Cabinet meeting did not had unanimously decided to withdraw Congress yet to realise it is the main opposition discuss anything regarding the ordi- the ordinance. nance,” Minister for Land Management >> Continued on page 2 The leadership’s failure is the reason behind Nepali Congress’ floundering in performing the role of an effective opposition in a democratic dispensation, leaders and analysts say.

chief justice and the chair of the National Assembly are present. After Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota did not attend the council’s meeting on Tuesday morning and the quorum was not fulfilled, the prime minister said he was thinking of bringing a new ordinance to reduce the quorum to take the decision, according to Bishwo Prakash Sharma, the Nepali Congress spokesman. “Deuba then told the prime minis- ter that he should manage the dispute inside his party but the meeting of the council should not become hostage to your internal party conflict,” Sharma told the Post. There have been reports that there is a deal between Oli and Deuba over the sharing of seats in constitutional POST ILLUSTRATOIN commissions. The Congress has failed even to effectively counter the regime’s wrong moves, analysts say. According to Nepali Congress lead- ers, during the Tuesday morning ANIL GIRI In other words, despite sitting on meeting of the Constitutional Council, KATHMANDU, DEC 17 the other side of the aisle in Deuba recommended the name of Parliament for three years, the Nepali former Nepal Police Additional When the KP Sharma Oli-led govern- Congress has failed to play the role of Inspector General Jay Bahadur Chand ment decided to introduce an ordi- the main opposition. for a commissioner of the Commission nance concerning the Constitutional It was the police manhandling of for Investigation for Abuse of Council on Tuesday, one question senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel in Authority and Ganesh Karki, a former that arose was whether the leader Tanahun on December 2 and his sub- joint-secretary, for an election com- of the main opposition, Sher sequent detention for three hours that missioner. Bahadur Deuba, was aware of what spurred the grand old party to protest Another meeting of the Council was coming. across the country on December 14, was scheduled for Tuesday evening Apparently, he was, according to despite the fear that the rallies could which Deuba did not attend. two senior Nepali Congress leaders. spread the coronavirus. Deuba refused to attend the meeting “The ordinance came with Deuba’s Even after Oli’s worst misadventure only after strong opposition to the backing and in the interest of Oli,” to go against the fundamental spirit of ordinance from various quarters said a senior Nepali Congress leader the constitution of a system of checks including his own party, according to on condition of anonymity. “As soon and balances to weaken the political party insiders. as the ordinance was issued, we found system and institutions, Deuba was “It seems our party’s leadership has out the truth about the role of our reluctant to oppose Oli, leaders of his failed to realise that we are on the party president: that Deuba was fully own party claimed. opposition bench and we need to stand aware of it.” “Instead, he quietly backed the ordi- up against the anti-democratic move This was corroborated by another nance,” said one NC central working of the Oli government,” senior Nepali senior leader. committee member. Congress leader Dr Shekhar Koirala The Nepali Congress has not stood According to two knowledgeable told the Post. up to the Oli government despite its sources, the first draft of the In the last three years, the main failure in governance as exemplified Constitutional Council ordinance was opposition has hit the streets only by its inability to fight the spread of forwarded to the Office of the three times, disrupted only a few the Covid-19 pandemic and corruption President last Thursday in which it House proceedings and has failed scandals. was explicitly mentioned that the to hold regular meetings of the “There are several other decisions leader of the opposition party would party’s parliamentary committee, made by the Oli government in the have to participate in the Council’s Central Working Committee and the past where the opposition party has meeting and that the Council’s recom- shadow government led by party pres- remained largely silent,” said a mendations would be based on a ident Deuba. Congress Central Working Committee majority vote. This failure of the Nepali Congress member. “This time, when this ordi- But when the text of the ordinance has helped Oli create a conducive nance episode was exposed, we could was made public, there was no environment to destroy the political not play the role of a constructive mention of the mandatory participa- system by bringing controversial ordi- opposition.” tion of the leader of the opposition nances one after another, and to limit party. the scope of civil liberties, party lead- As per new provisions, intro- ers and political commentators said. duced through an ordinance on Despite failing to deliver services to Tuesday, the meeting does not the people, the administration has not require the presence of either been held to account. the Speaker or the leader of the “It is true that in these three years, opposition and the presence of a we failed to play the role of the opposi- simple majority of the existing tion party on the streets and in the members of the council is suffi- House. We do not hold party meetings cient quorum. regularly. We are weak because Oli As the post deputy Speaker is and Deuba have some tacit under- vacant, even in the absence of standing,” said Koirala. “We could not the two, the council would be deliver as a powerful opposition.” able to make the decision if the >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2020 | 02 NATIONAL Rights groups say Miklajung teacher murder premeditated Two weeks on, police have yet to arrest the members of the Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal who abducted and murdered Rajendra Kumar Shrestha.

BINOD BHANDARI because the abductors had tied both had threatened to kill Shrestha for his BIRATNAGAR, DEC 17 his hands with a rope. We found that non-compliance. When they returned he was excessively tortured before for the second time, Shrestha had paid The school principal at Miklajung being murdered,” said Somraj Thapa, Rs 5,000,” said Thapa. Rural Municipality in Morang was the Province 1 coordinator of INSEC. The Chand-led party claimed murdered by the cadres of Communist Six cadres of the Netra Bikram responsibility for Shrestha’s murder Party of Nepal on December 4 because Chand-led party had abducted on the day of the incident. he refused to pay donation to the party Shrestha from his house at Barkhe in The party’s Mechi-Koshi bureau in and was spearheading an initiative to Miklajung-1 on the morning of charge said in a statement that the set up a police post in the village, December 4. He was found murdered party “took action” against Shrestha rights groups have said. with his throat slit on the same day in for working as a police informant and The abduction and subsequent mur- a nearby forest. helping police in the arrest of party der of Rajendra Kumar Shrestha was According to the report, Shrestha’s members. premeditated, according to a report refusal to pay donation to the party Two weeks have passed since published on Thursday. and his initiative to set up a police Shrestha’s murder, but police have not Human rights groups, including post in the village were the main rea- made any arrests so far. Informal Sector Service Centre sons behind his murder. The Chand-led party has been active (INSEC), Forum for Human Rights The Chand activists had demanded in Ramite, a remote area in Miklajung POST PHOTO: MANOJ PAUDEL and Environment, Advocacy Forum Rs 150,000 and Rs 10,000 as donations that shares its borders with Ilam, A flock of lesser whistling ducks flies over Jagdishhpur Lake in Kapilvastu. and Tarai Human Rights Defenders from Shrestha on two occasions, Panchthar and Dhankuta districts, in Alliance, had visited the incident site Thapa said. recent times, owing to its strategic to investigate the case. “On both instances, Shrestha had location and low presence of law “Shrestha could not fight back refused to pay. The Chand activists enforcement agencies. As Oli finds strong opposition in his own Oli keeps mum on revoking ordinance ... party, Congress yet to realise ... >> Continued from page 1 would decide on withdrawing the ordinance only after Party insiders say leaders are now running out of consulting the President,” the member told the Post. >> Continued from page 1 his failure from the public forum.” the Nepali Congress can’t take to the patience as instead of mending ways, Oli is engaged in more After his meeting with Oli at Baluwatar, Dahal had After opposition from various quar- On December 14, while addressing a streets when even the Kamal Thapa- mischief. briefed leaders of his faction that Oli was still “dilly-dally- ters to the controversial ordinance, public function in Hetauda, Deuba led Rastriya Prajatantra Party can “It’s high time the party took a decision about him,” said ing” to withdraw the ordinance. Deuba called a meeting of present and came heavily on pro-monarchy rallies hold nationwide protests. Ashta Laxmi Shakya, a Standing Committee member. Oli’s move of issuing the ordinance on Tuesday has put former office bearers to discuss the taking place across the country in the Professor of political science and “There is no point in waiting until Sunday for the Standing the Office of the President also in a tight spot. Earlier in steps that the party is required to take recent past but never spoke about the former ambassador Lokraj Baral said Committee meeting to convene. If Oli has no intentions to April also Oli had issued the same ordinance only to with- next. The meeting called on the gov- wrongdoings of the Oli administra- that the Nepali Congress has spent withdraw the ordinance, the party should call an emergency draw it within five days after criticism. The President then ernment to withdraw the ordinance tion, according to the leader. three years doing nothing but seems a meeting and take action against him for not abiding by the had repealed the ordinance as swiftly as he had endorsed it, and asked for a special House session, “This shows, ruling and opposition bit active these days and that in itself party decision.” based on the recommendation of the Cabinet. according to a statement issued by the leaders are on the same page,” he said. does not do justice to its role as the None of the party leaders could provide a concrete The President has already drawn a lot of flak for failing party on Wednesday. The Nepali Congress was not always main opposition. answer to why Oli decided to call the Council meeting as per to maintain the dignity of the office she holds. Some lawmakers including Gagan so inept when it came to political mat- “Even if Deuba decides to join the the new provisions of the ordinance despite agreeing to If the Oli government recommends repealment of the Thapa have been demanding a special ters, according to Thapa. Oli government, I do not think Nepali withdraw it. ordinance, the President will have no option than to repeal House session to discuss various “When Girija Prasad Koirala was Congress will support Oli because Speculations were rife earlier in the afternoon that the it, which is likely to cause furore once again. pressing issues but the party leader- the party president, we used to have there is strong opposition to such a Council meeting could make some recommendations to fill Insiders say Oli’s wayward actions are not only bringing ship did not heed it. political and organisational activities move inside the party,” Baral said. some constitutional body vacancies. the office he holds into disrepute but also giving ample “Several times, many party leaders together. Later when Sushil Koirala “The only chance of the Congress Until the ordinance is revoked, the amended clauses on ground to people to question his legitimacy to govern. had urged Deuba to take a lead to became the party president, we had being in government is to lead the holding the meeting and taking decisions will remain in “All his moves are aimed at clinging on to power. demand the special House session but organisational activities at the ground next government by practising poli- force. So at times he dangles the bait of the prime minister’s he never listened to them,” a senior level but now, we neither have politi- tics based on people’s issues. Any There were chances that Oli could have convened the chair before [Bamdev] Gautam while other times he leader from the anti-Deuba camp said. cal activities nor organisational move- manoeuvring will not work and there- meeting in the presence of the chief justice and National pretends to be forging a secret deal with Dahal, seeding “He was always soft on Oli and never ment,” said Thapa. fore it has to be careful while playing Assembly chair and taken decisions. suspicion in the [Madhav] Nepal group,” said Matrika uttered any strong statement against Observers and analysts wonder why the role of the opposition.” As per the amended provisions, the Council can hold a Yadav, a Standing Committee member. “Gradually he meeting if the majority of the is losing the support of his own people. The party does not existing members are present have full confidence in him now.” and decisions can be taken Many say Oli was not keen to withdraw the ordinance through majority. until late evening on Wednesday. He agreed only after some Other members in the leaders, including his close confidantes Subas Nembang, Council are Speaker, leader of Shankar Pokhrel and Bishnu Poudel convinced him to con- the opposition and deputy sider the far-reaching complications of the ordinance. Speaker. Leelamani Pokhrel, also a Standing Committee member, According to sources, Oli said questions have now arisen over Oli’s competence to decided to call off the meeting govern. after his meeting with Dahal “How can a person who leads the party and the govern- and intimation from the chief ment display such erratic behaviour?” said Pokhrel. “Why justice about his inability to on earth would anyone call a meeting of the Council based join in. on the provisions of an ordinance which he agreed to with- What exactly transpired draw a day before? Oli has lost the moral ground to lead the between Oli and Dahal on party and to govern the country.” Thursday afternoon was not Though some believe Oli had introduced the ordinance in immediately known. But a bid to put his opponents in check, the move worked as a sources said Dahal reminded catalyst to unite them even more strongly. As many as 83 Oli of the party decision a lawmakers from the Dahal-Nepal faction on Wednesday had day before on revoking the reached the Office of the President to demand a special ordinance and asked him not session of the House. to hold the Council meeting. The party’s Standing Committee on Wednesday evening According to a Standing decided to stall the plan to call the special House session Committee member, Oli told after Oli agreed to withdraw the ordinance. Dahal that he would “But if Oli refuses to withdraw the ordinance, the party withdraw the ordinance only will head towards confrontation,” said Raghuji Pant, also a after meeting with the Standing Committee member. “The longer Oli refuses to President. abide by party decisions, the more tussles we will have in “Oli told Dahal that he the party, which won’t benefit anyone.” Kathmandu-Delhi flights ... >> Continued from page 1 The air bubble is a system established “Nepalis travelling to India are not between two countries that perceive each required to undergo a two-week quarantine, other to be safe and allow carriers of both and Indians coming to Nepal are too not the countries to fly their citizens either way required to undergo a seven-day hotel quar- without any restrictions on the number of antine, as per the circulars issued by the two passengers. governments under the air bubble arrange- Meanwhile, Nepal Airlines has reported ment,” Ghimire told the Post. low bookings for Friday and Saturday and Nepali authorities are mindful of cases of therefore the next flight to the Indian capital fake test results in the past. will only be on Sunday, according to Ghimire. “As cases of fake RT-PCR reports have “The Kathmandu-Delhi sector sees fewer been rising, we have made it mandatory for passengers during the winter,” he said. travellers to bring the original report that is Flights to India can carry Indians and stamped or certified by the lab,” he said. Nepalis, overseas citizens of India “Several passengers holding scanned copies cardholders and persons of Indian origin were found to have falsified reports.” card holders with passports of any country Under the air bubble arrangement which while those from India can carry Indian and allows airlines of the two countries to oper- Nepali nationals. ate services between them by complying Third country nationals including with safety protocols, two daily flights will be diplomats intending to travel to India for conducted between Kathmandu and New any purpose and their dependants will also Delhi initially, one each by Nepal Airlines be allowed under certain conditions, and Air India. according to Indian media reports. Third While Nepal Airlines began its service on country travellers with a valid permit to Thursday, the Indian carrier has postponed enter Nepal can also take the flights out of the launch till next week. India. Raj Kumar Chettri, spokesperson for the India has signed air bubble agreements Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, said they with 22 countries globally. In South Asia, it have approved Air India flights from has air bubble agreements with Afghanistan, December 24. Bhutan, Bangladesh and the Maldives. A Nepal Airlines flight took off from According to officials, hundreds of Kathmandu for the Indian capital with 141 Nepalis working, studying and receiving passengers on Thursday afternoon and medical treatment in India, could benefit returned with 111 passengers. The cheapest from the scheme. The nine-month restriction ticket cost Rs14,600. on the roughly one-hour flights between the According to airport officials, Air India two capitals has affected hundreds of may postpone its flights further because of thousands of citizens from both countries as the low passenger turnout. The quarantine they have had to face many hassles while requirement has put off travellers from both travelling overland in case of an emergency. countries, they said. Many Nepalis have been travelling to While regular commercial flights between Bagdogra International Airport in northern Nepal and other countries—notably destina- West Bengal to fly to New Delhi as there are tion countries for Nepali migrant workers— no flights out of Kathmandu. began on September 1, flights between the The Kathmandu-New Delhi sector is the two neighbours had not resumed because busiest and one of the most lucrative routes India continued to restrict regular interna- for different airlines. Nearly a dozen flights tional passenger flights as it allowed flights used to take place daily on the route before through air bubbles only. the Covid-19 pandemic shut down air links.

C M Y K 03 | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2020 NATIONAL Officials, conservationists Odd-even rules on Valley traffic lifted ANUP OJHA Although the Valley’s authorities Lalitpur and Bhaktapur have record- KATHMANDU, DEC 17 had put in place odd and even rules in ed 139 and 97 deaths respectively. public and private vehicles plying on However, transport entrepreneurs debate fate of elephant that After transport entrepreneurs’ the streets in the first week of August had been protesting against the announcement that they would diso- to contain the Covid-19, the decision government’s decision calling for bey the odd and even rule for vehicu- was not effectively implemented. the lifting of the government restric- lar traffic from Friday, all the three On the other hand, the number of tions as their incomes had been recently killed man in Sunsari district administration offices of infections continued to rise. curtailed. They had earlier had to Kathmandu Valley have officially According to the Ministry of Health face losses as they had to park their announced to end the system. and Population, Kathmandu Valley vehicles in garages for four months The district administration is considering killing the animal as an option, but wildlife Chief District Officer at Kathmandu recorded 363 new infections in the since the nationwide lockdown was Kali Prasad Parajuli said that the deci- past 24 hours. Of them, 273 cases were imposed on March 24 and lasted till conservationists say it is unethical and will set an ugly precedent. sion of lifting odd-even was made see- confirmed in Kathmandu, 49 in July 21. ing overcrowding on public transport Lalitpur and 41 in Bhaktapur. As of Earlier, Nepal Transport Workers CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL government body which is responsible are often caught between human set- as people have started moving around Thursday, the number of confirmed Association, Nepal Transport KATHMANDU, DEC 17 for the management of protected tlements leading to human-elephant with the businesses and offices open. cases in the Valley has reached Workers Association-Independent and areas and conservation of wild lives— interactions. Such interactions lead to “All vehicles can ply in the 117, 305. All Nepal Transport Workers Union Sunsari District Administration to deal with the elephant. loss of lives and damage to crops and Valley following health protocols,” While Kathmandu has reported 452 announced defiance of government Office is considering putting down a The department has communicated properties. said Parajuli. Covid-19-related fatalities so far, rules if it was not lifted by Friday. male wild elephant that has over the that it is against the idea of killing the Every year, around two to three ele- years killed several people and elephant. phants are killed in retaliatory actions damaged homes and properties in Haribhadra Acharya, spokesperson by humans, which experts say is eastern Nepal. for the department, said elephants are alarming for Nepal, whose wild ele- The idea has raised alarm among protected mammals under the coun- phant population is below 150. wildlife conservationists who say try’s law and they cannot be killed. According to Ram, elephants have such an extreme action will set an “The local administration might killed more than 200 people in the last ugly precedent and harm the coun- have considered killing the animal as 20 years while 27 elephants have been try’s wildlife conservation reputation. one of the options due to the pressure killed by humans in retaliation. The elephant from Koshi Tappu from local residents. But we cannot “Five have been the victim of poach- Wildlife Reserve most recently killed simply authorise the killing of a pro- ing. But elephants are still trying to 28-year-old Pramod Yadav of tected animal just because there is a coexist with humans although they Koshi Rural Municipality on Monday pressure,” Acharya told the Post. have lost their habitat to humans,” morning. “A wild elephant can be put down if said Ram. “Local authorities should In order to placate Yadav’s family it is deemed dangerous to the public, actually be protecting these animals members and the villagers, Sunsari but the current case does not warrant rather than devising plans to local administration has suggested such an action. We cannot say for kill them.” executing the elephant as one of the certain whether the elephant has Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve has options to end its menace. gone mad.” also tried to control this particular Wildlife conservationists, however, Proving that the elephant has gone elephant in the past through measures say there are many other ways to tame crazy and killing people needs an like real-time monitoring, among the elephant. extensive study of the animal and its others. Dinesh Neupane, who has been behaviour. However, experts stress the need for studying elephants for over a decade, “The elephant is a teenager and has identifying problems behind ele- says killing a wild animal is unethical simply come into interaction with a phants encroaching into human set- and outright wrong. human during its mating time. Killing tlements rather than adopting a meas- “Killing the elephant or any other the elephant or any wildlife to com- ure to kill the wild animal based on animal cannot be a solution. Even in pensate for lives claimed by wildlife is one particular incident. the past, we have had cases of wild not the solution,” said Acharya. “Almost every wild animal behaves animals killing people and damaging The department has mobilised a aggressively during such a phase, but properties,” Neupane said. “Even if team of wildlife technicians from that doesn’t mean we have to kill the elephant is killed, there will be Chitwan to look into the matter and to them. We have to look at specific rea- other animals to cause trouble.” immobilise the wild elephant for sons. Fencing is not properly main- Wild elephants from the Koshi some time. tained to thwart elephants’ entry into Tappu Wildlife Reserve, which spans “We have to consider other meas- settlements,” said Neupane, the ele- the three districts Sunsari, Saptari ures first. We also have to find out the phant researcher. “ and Udayapur, have for long been root cause of increased human-wild- Their habitat is not managed. responsible for loss of human lives life conflicts,” said Acharya. “Killing Elephant breeding centre is inside the and properties in settlements adjacent the elephant cannot be the solution park premise which can be set up to the protected area. and the department is against it.” inside the core area of the park so that The elephant that killed Yadav on Phanindra Mani Pokharel, chief elephants do not have to come outside Monday morning is a makhna ele- district officer of Sunsari, said the for mating. This way we could mini- phant, a lone male tuskless elephant. team from Chitwan will decide the mise the chances of conflict between “Over the years, the same elephant fate of the elephant which, he said, humans and elephants.” has claimed several lives and caused has killed 20-25 people over the years. Neupane also suggested installing massive property damage around the “The life of an elephant cannot be an early warning system to inform protected areas. But killing the animal more valuable than human beings. villages about the impending danger is not the solution,” said Sanjib The elephant has gone mad. If the sit- when the elephant is roaming around Acharya, a resident of Barahakshetra uation arises where the elephant or translocating the animal to areas Municipality in Sunsari, who is also should be killed, then it will be killed,” where their chance of contacting the president of Koshi Bird Society. Pokharel told the Post, over the phone. humans are minimum. The society has condemned the “If the elephant can be treated, then it “Only if there were an early warn- authorities’ plan to kill the elephant is fine. If not, then there will be no ing system in place and local people without even considering other option than to kill the elephant.” were made aware of the movement of measures. Wild elephants are already feeling elephants, which is mostly at night “The local authorities should have the threat of habitat loss in the coun- and in the morning, the man who died sought other measures for taming the try. Ever-expanding human settle- recently would not be out of his house wild elephants. Rather than finding ments, deforestation and development early in the morning. His life could other solutions, calling the elephant projects are posing threats to their have been saved,” said Neupane. mad and preparing to kill it is unac- habitats, forcing these terrestrial “Before taking any extreme actions ceptable,” Acharya said. “The govern- mammoth mammals to come out of like killing the elephant, we should ment and various conservation part- their territory. have enforced measures earlier so that ners have been spending a huge When they wander outside the pro- such a situation could have been budget for the protection of these ele- tected areas and nearby jungles, they averted.” phants. How can we kill them?” Wildlife experts say there is a biological explanation why elephants go on a rampage. “Every year, male ele- phants hit the musth period twice—in winter and sum- mer—when they roam around for mating. They tend to be aggressive during such times as finding a mat- ing partner is not often easy,” said Ashok Kumar Ram, chief conservation officer at Khaptad National Park. “When these elephants are disturbed by humans, get irritated or sense they are being attacked, they charge on humans in an act of defence.” Musth is a natural and healthy phenomenon in adult bull elephants. The musth period can typically last between 2-3 months and occurs in three stages. When roaming around in search of mating partners, there have been many instances of musth elephants killing their mahouts. According to Ram, he has dealt with the same elephant during his tenure as a chief conservation officer of Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve a few years ago. He suspects the authori- ties’ plan to put down the elephant was influenced by the pressure exerted by local residents. “The elephant has not gone mad as suggested by media reports that quoted local residents and officials,” he said. “The animal is sim- ply aggressive and walking around due to mating urge.” “The elephant has killed people, but five have of the victims were killed inside the core area of the park and the others lost their lives while trying to chase the ani- mal away,” he added. T he District Administration Office of Sunsari has approached the Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation—the central

C M Y K FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2020 | 04 OPINION EDITORIAL The duel within the Nepal Communist Party Give them space In Nepal’s political We cannot mitigate elephant-human conflicts culture, leaders never without addressing their shrinking habitats. retire because politics has paid them well. On Monday, 28-year-old Pramod Yadav was killed by an adult male elephant while working on his wheat field in Koshi Rural Municipality. The tragedy is the latest incident of human-ani- NARESH KOIRALA mal wildlife conflict in the buffer zones of Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, where 24 people have lost their lives, and some 250 people have been injured in the past four years in separate incidents involving wild elephants in Sunsari, Saptari and Udayapur districts. Municipality officials say the lone elephant identified as Makhna or tuskless elephant has already killed 18 people The duel between Prime Minister KP Oli and his co-chair in the Nepal including Yadav, and is wreaking havoc in the buffer zone Communist Party, Pushpa Kamal areas across the three districts. Affected residents have even Dahal, intensified in November with claimed that the elephant has gone mad and demanded that it Dahal accusing Oli of perfidy, insubor- be killed. On Tuesday, affected local units and district officials dination, incompetence, corruption, met the reserve administration to discuss plans to control the egotism and hubris. In response, Oli characterised the co-chair as lazy, con- tuskless elephant, and decided on killing it. The call has raised niving, corrupt, untrustworthy and alarm among conservationists who say such an extreme devoid of conscience and moral com- action will set an ugly precedent, and send a wrong message to pass. The exchange is beyond the cut POST FILE PHOTO the world while many alternatives to tame the elephant or and thrust of normal power politics records show these splinter groups ‘People’s Multiparty Democracy’ as the ure in government. This uncertainty reduce conflict with the tuskers have been ignored. and included accusations of criminal often clash with each other. Christianity ideology of the Communist Party of creates the environment for political behaviour. and Islam provide more severe exam- Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), corruption we are witnessing in the Oli In what is a sensible move, the Department of National The Nepal Communist Party’s rank ples of disintegration and murderous which was Oli’s party before the Nepal government. Everyone seems to be on Parks and Wildlife Conservation has communicated that it is and file are worried the confrontation infighting. Communist Party was formed. the take before the government falls. against the idea of killing the elephant, which is a protected may split the party. Should that hap- Communist parties follow a pattern Bhandari wanted his party to at once Dahal was right in pointing to unbri- mammal under the country’s laws. However, under Clause 10 pen, they would be deprived of the similar to that of religious groups. In embrace the contradictory ideals of dled corruption under Oli’s watch. But (A) of the National Park and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973, a power, prestige and financial gains that the late 1950s, the Chinese and Soviet democracy and communism. The two it was like the pot calling the kettle rogue elephant can be killed to save people’s lives and proper- the party’s control of the government communists disagreed on the interpre- are antithetical. There is no place for black, as Pushpa Kamal Dahal himself has brought. They are scrambling for a tation of their scripture in respect of multiparty liberal democracy in com- is alleged to be one of the most corrupt ties. But proving whether the elephant has gone mad requires ‘unity’ formula. But long-term ‘unity’ the strategy to advance the movement, munist evolution. The UML made politicians in the country. extensive study, and amidst mounting pressure to kill the lone in a communist party is hard to come and the world’s communist movement Bhandari its demi-god, but the hybrid In Nepal’s political culture, leaders jumbo, a team of wildlife technicians and experts from by. It has eluded communists all over split into two major camps. It impacted he created made the UML bereft of any never retire because politics has paid Chitwan National Park is currently studying its behaviour the world since the Bolsheviks Nepal’s communist movement as well. ideological underpinning. them well (they are all very rich), and and mental state before coming to any conclusion. took power in Russia in 1918. It broke into pro-Chinese and pro-Sovi- The Maoist party led by Dahal also they have no employable skills for life Communist parties are, by nature, et factions. And as time went on, they became enmeshed in the same ideolog- outside politics. The Nepal Communist Wildlife habitat in Nepal is constantly under threat due to prone to ideological conflict, frequent disintegrated into more factions, all ical confusion when they accepted mul- Party’s ‘Senior Leaders’ include two expanding human settlements and deforestation for agricul- break-ups and mergers. Within the calling themselves ‘communists’. tiparty parliamentary democracy as ex-prime ministers and one who lost ture and mega infrastructure projects across the country. Nepal Communist Party, this propensi- Between 1962 and 2013, 50 Nepali the country’s governance model whilst the last election. They have all been Habitat loss compounded by fragmentation has not only ty for conflict is aggravated by the par- communist parties passed through the refusing to shake off their communist given elevated positions in the party. resulted in a decline in the wildlife population, but it has also ty’s ideological contortions and the cycle of breakage and merger. Indian past. The Nepal Communist Party, Regardless of their age or success as competing vested interests of its age- communists are no different. The last formed by the merger of the UML and leaders, they stay active in the party, increased the rate of human-wildlife conflict, often resulting ing senior leaders. time I checked, over 100 communist the Maoists, inherited the same con- create factions, and bargain for a in death and injury to people. But killing an elephant, or any parties had run through the cycle there. torted ideology. The lack of ideological share in government or powerful wildlife for that matter, is not a solution. It’s outrageous The elusive unity The communist parties in China and clarity is part of the reason for the bodies within the party, something that because the elephants are not the problem. We are. A communist party is like a religious the old Soviet Union also have factional party’s current crisis. is extensively practised by other politi- Some 200 wild elephants live in small herds across the Tarai group. It has its scriptures (The fights. However, since more than one In a communist system, the govern- cal parties. belt, mostly in west and far west Nepal. It is important to note Communist Manifesto and related lit- communist party cannot exist in these ment takes orders from the party in the The charges and counter-charges in erature), its gods and demi-gods who countries, the dissenting voices are exercise of its executive functions. In a Dahal and Oli’s recent exchanges have that most elephant-human encounters have occurred outside can never be crossed (Marx, Engels, crushed before they gather momenta parliamentary democracy, the govern- as much to do with their personalities the protected areas in human settlements, and incidents have Lenin, Stalin and some local incarna- such as the Kronstadt Revolt in 1921 ment operates with full independence and personal ambitions as with the been increasing every year. But there are proven strategies tions, for example, Madan Bhandari); in Russia, and the ‘Let a hundred in exercising its authority. The party’s religion-like structure of the commu- that we can adapt to coexist. According to the World Wildlife places of worship (party conferences) flowers bloom; let a hundred schools role is to support the government and nist movement. The Nepal Communist Fund, growing crops that deter elephants and restoring and preachers (the party operatives). of thought contend’ episode in audit its performance. Party may come up with some band-aid When the community fails to realise China. Both movements resulted in One of Dahal’s charges against the solution to avert its immediate split, degraded biological corridors to facilitate their movement the lofty goals set in the scriptures (and thousands of executions and numerous prime minister is that Oli does not con- but long-term unity in the party is away from human settlements could mitigate elephant-human this invariably happens) or the leaders imprisonments. sult the party when he appoints his impossible within Nepal’s democratic conflict, and save lives and properties. do not live by the code of ethics Disunity is in a communist party’s Cabinet members and office bearers in set-up and political culture, particular- It would be wise if we look at our own actions that have required by the scriptures, priests and DNA. It is built into the party’s struc- senior positions within the bureaucra- ly when the party is bereft of any invited these bloody circumstances by encroaching on wildlife pastors (party leaders) are accused of ture and feeds on its ideological contor- cy. Oli is a ‘revisionist’, says Dahal, coherent ideology. Should the Nepal heresy, the reinterpretation of the tion when it tries to adapt to a liberal meaning he is reinterpreting The Communist Party genuinely want territories and taking up more space to chase our development scriptures begins, and eventually, fac- democratic order. Comparatively, the Communist Manifesto in collusion unity, they should first free themselves aspirations. Our efforts in the past decade to double the tiger tions develop much like religious sects frequency at which political parties of with the bourgeoisie. This would be a of the ideological bondage of their population has been lauded worldwide, so much so that as offshoots of mainstream religions. other ideological persuasions break is serious infraction in a communist set- communist past, and make their par- Nepal’s habitat management for the endangered tigers has Hinduism splintered into Shaivism, much less. up but, in a parliamentary democracy, ty’s operation compatible with a multi- become a model for the world to follow. We need to replicate Vaishnavism and many, many cults. it is a non-issue. party democratic set-up. Then let the Though the followers of each cult iden- Ideological contortion The lack of ideological clarity under- oldies go! this model for elephants and give them their space because it tify themselves as Hindus and swear The ideological contortion within cuts the party’s sense of purpose, and is clear that without addressing their shrinking habitats, we allegiance to the primary Hindu scrip- Nepali communists started with the the unending conflict saps confidence Koirala is a geotechnical consultant cannot mitigate elephant-human conflicts and deaths. tures like the Vedas and the Gita, late Madan Bhandari declaring that the party will survive its full ten- in Vancouver, Canada.

Kick-Starting FDI in Africa

increase diaspora investment in inno- African leaders must vative African projects are underway. One such initiative is Future Africa attract hundreds of Collective (FAC), a members-only crowdfunding investment platform billions of dollars in FDI founded in January 2020 by the veter- an African entrepreneur Iyinoluwa to alleviate poverty. Aboyeji. FAC aims to leverage the African diaspora’s financial, human, and CARL MANLAN & EFOSA OJOMO social capital by connecting investors with Africa’s innovators. Specifically, the platform gives diaspora Africans and others an opportunity to invest a minimum of $5,000 in some of the continent’s most promising startups. So far, FAC has helped companies including Tambua Health, Evolve In the United Nations’ 2020 World Credit, Bamboo, and Releaf to raise Investment Report, Secretary-General millions of dollars. António Guterres noted that global Aboyeji’s platform is just one foreign direct investment (FDI) this example of how crowdfunding year is ‘expected to fall sharply from from a diverse group of investors is 2019 levels of $1.5 trillion’ to below the quickly gaining popularity in Africa. trough it hit during the global finan- A recent report by AfricArena high- cial crisis. This decline will have a lighted several startups that have suc- devastating effect on emerging cessfully raised hundreds of thou- economies, many of which are already sands of dollars via similar platforms. in crisis as a result of the Covid-19 China’s experience suggests that the pandemic. key to jumpstarting FDI in Africa will Few regions will struggle more than be to use these platforms to target Africa. Not only does the continent diaspora Africans. account for just 3 percent of global With Covid-19 continuing to take its GDP, but it currently attracts less than toll on Africa, the continent’s pros- 3 percent of global FDI, which has pects increasingly depend on mem- been a critical factor in propelling bers of the diaspora pooling their other regions to prosperity. resources. Opportunities for innova- To catalyse growth and potentially NATALY REINCH/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM tion abound because a growing num- help to rid the continent of extreme tional firms such as Apple or Tesla accounted for half of the $307.6 billion their projects’ success rate, which con- benefits of having a vast diaspora by ber of Africans lack access to afforda- poverty once and for all, African decide to build manufacturing facili- in FDI that China received between tributed to the country’s attractive- developing a viable strategy to attract ble products and services that could leaders must try to beat the odds ties, distribution networks, retail 1979 and 1999, and Taiwan for roughly ness to other investors. Soon, FDI inflows that support long-term devel- improve their lives. With their net- and attract hundreds of billions of stores, and service operations in 8 percent. Overall, 77 percent of skyrocketed: having contributed sig- opment projects. works, local know-how, and deep dollars in FDI. They should China, for example, they provide China’s total FDI inflows during this nificantly to China’s rapid growth True, Africa will find it difficult to desire to see Africa prosper, diaspora start by seeking investments from employment, technology, and know- period came from Asia, while the US over the past four decades, and match China’s FDI totals. Global sup- Africans can build a strong founda- the 165 million members of the how to local Chinese, as well as oppor- and European Union member states thus to lifting close to one billion ply chains have already been estab- tion of investment that enables African diaspora. And they can tunities for smaller businesses to sup- were responsible for just 16 percent Chinese out of poverty, $141 billion lished, the pandemic has devastated the region to attract other new draw inspiration from China’s mete- ply large factories. combined. As one commentator has poured in during 2019, as foreign many African economies, and Africa, sources of FDI and accelerate its oric rise to become the world’s sec- China’s path to attracting signifi- noted, ‘From the outset of China’s investors continued to bet on Chinese unlike China, comprises 54 sovereign economic growth. ond-largest FDI recipient, after the cant amounts of FDI began four dec- economic reform era, diaspora consumers’ growing demand for goods states. But the continent may yet suc- United States. ades ago, when Deng Xiaoping came to Chinese have provided the lion’s share and services. ceed with the help of government pol- Manlan, a 2016 New Voices Fellow at Economists and policymakers power and introduced market-based of inward foreign investment’. African leaders should seek to emu- icies that—as in China—encourage the Aspen Institute, is Chief Operating are well aware of the economic-devel- reforms. Some might assume that Early diaspora investors brought late China’s example. Diaspora diaspora investments in productive Officer at the Ecobank Foundation. opment benefits at stake. In addition much of the country’s inward FDI has with them a unique set of strengths: Africans sent home $48 billion in enterprises. Ojomo, Senior Research Fellow at the to providing emerging economies since come from non-Chinese inves- close ties with the local population, an remittances in 2019. Although this When it comes to increasing nation- Clayton Christensen Institute, is a with a much-needed influx of tors and companies. In fact, according understanding of local customs, year’s total will likely fall below $40 al prosperity, research shows that co-author of The Prosperity Paradox: capital, FDI is generally long term and to Alan Smart of the University of and, perhaps most important of all, a billion, owing to the pandemic, innovators are responsible for light- How Innovation Can Lift Nations drives local skills development and Calgary and Jinn-yuh Hsu of National vested interest in China’s develop- African governments, investors, and ing the match, while governments fan Out of Poverty. technology transfer. When interna- Taiwan University, Hong Kong ment. These advantages increased entrepreneurs can reap the long-term the flame. Encouragingly, efforts to —Project Syndicate

C M Y K 05 | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2020 MONEY

FOREX

US Dollar 118.06 House panel wants sugar mills US to support Nepal in Euro 144.39 Pound Sterling 160.36 to clear all arrears within a week increasing production Japanese Yen 11.46 Chinese Yuan 18.08 The House committee directs the government to take action against mills Qatari Riyal 32.43 showing laxity in settling farmers’ dues. of exportable goods Australian Dollar 90.12 KRISHANA PRASAIN POST REPORT Malaysian Ringit 29.26 KATHMANDU, DEC 17 KATHMANDU, DEC 17 Nepal has not been Saudi Arab Riyal 31.47 The parliamentary Industry, The US has agreed to provide techni- able to produce Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank Commerce, Labour and Consumer cal support for capacity building of Interest Protection Committee on Nepali producers in order to increase exportable goods Thursday directed the government to the volume of exportable goods dur- Shares make sugar mills liable to clear all ing the fifth meeting of the Trade and on a large scale. arrears of farmers within a week. Investment Framework Agreement 2,032.51pts Nepse -1.10% The House committee has directed (TIFA) Council held virtually between the government to take action against Nepal and the US on Tuesday. Similarly, the US highlighted the HIGHEST LOSERS mills showing laxity in settling the The Trade and Investment problems in exporting pork and poul- NABBC NBL KKHC NRIC UPPER RBCLPO -7.51% -6.25% -5.93% -5.81% -4.98% -4.5% farmers’ dues. Framework Agreement (TIFA) try to Nepal and the Nepali delegation “As per the orders, if the sugar meeting led by Baikuntha Aryal, sec- responded by saying that no ban has MODERATE LOSERS mills fail to clear farmers’ arrears, retary at the Ministry of Industry, been imposed on the import of pork OHL NCCB NMFBS SFCL MPFL RBCL -4.11% -4% -3.78% -3.76% -3.66% -3.62% they will be arrested on a fraud Commerce and Supplies and and poultry. charge,” Bimal Prasad Shrivastav, Christopher Wilson, assistant US The Nepali side said that pork and MODERATE GAINERS SMFDB NFS SIFC CIT MMFDB SLBS chairperson of the committee told the Trade Representative for South and poultry products from the US need 3.49% 3.56% 4.52% 4.68% 4.71% 5.38% Post. “The Ministry of Industry has to POST PHOTO: KESHAV THAPA Central-Asia, also agreed for mutual to be certified by USDA’s Food Safety

HIGHEST GAINERS initiate a process to clear farmers’ The farmers, who had staged a demonstration with sugarcane on Wednesday, protested with coordination to foster a digital econo- and Inspection Services and accredit- RMDC SNLB CHL MEN EICPO MSLB dues at any cost,” he said. ploughs demanding payment of their outstanding dues on Thursday. my in Nepal based on digital comput- ed by Nepal’s Department of Food 5.88% 6.22% 9.66% 9.79% 9.8% 9.93% He said that the Prime Minister’s ing technologies. Technology and Quality Control Office and the Ministry of Home pay them years of outstanding dues. Rs170 million in outstanding dues to Although the trade of 77 Nepali before they are allowed to be imported Affairs were informed of Thursday’s They have asked the government farmers, followed by Lumbini Sugar products, like carpets, pashmina and to Nepal. decision. that if they cannot make mills liable Mill Rs80.41 million and Indira Sugar travel goods enjoy preferential treat- The US welcomed Nepal’s progress PRICE PER TOLA “We have formally written to the then the government itself should pay Mill Nawalparasi Rs40.70 million. ment from the US, Nepal has not been in implementing a labour law that BULLION Industry Ministry recommending a their dues with interest through the Similarly, Shree Ram Sugar Mill has able to take advantage of the facility. preserves labour rights. The US com- stern action against mills showing Prime Minister’s Relief Fund or any farmers arrears amounting to Rs350 The country has not been able to pro- mented that more entrepreneurs and Fine Gold Rs 93,500 laxity in settling farmers’ dues,” said other fund. million. duce them on a large scale, properly investors would be encouraged to Shrivastav. More than 10 months have passed The sugar mills have said they owe market them, enhance the quality and invest in Nepal if the country Silver Rs 1,255 The decision to this effect was made since the government had promised farmers around Rs550 million in dues ensure assurance of the standard of improved intellectual property preser- in coordination with Sashi Kant farmers that their dues would be to farmers. But sugarcane farmers say the products. vation and implementation.The meet- SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA Agrawal, president of Nepal Sugar cleared. But the promise has been bro- mills owe them Rs900 million in out- In 2015, the US granted duty-free ing also decided to hold bilateral talks Producers Association. ken, said farmers. standing dues. On October 11, the sug- access to 66 products by enforcing the in the coming days and agreed to The committee also directed the Responding to the invitation of the arcane producers knocked the door of Trade Preferences Act and later it organise the 6th TIFA Council meet- GASOLINE WATCH Ministry of Labour, Employment and Industry Ministry to hold talks, the parliamentary committee request- extended that to 77 products. Nepal ing in Nepal. Social Security to clear the dues of the farmers’ group submitted a letter ing it to make efforts to get the mills to will be receiving this facility through The virtual meeting discussed cus- labourers working in sugar mills to the ministry stating that the last pay their dues. 2025. These products include certain toms and trade, intellectual property, pending from the last 8 months within time they decided to hold talks, Although the ministry had asked carpets and pashmina, headgear, trademark and e-commerce, financial 15 days. The committee has asked they “did not receive anything except the sugar mills to provide details of shawls, scarves and travel goods. service, investment promotion, trade the labour ministry to submit the consolation”. the dues owed to the farmers by According to a press statement concessions provided by the US to report within 15 days after conducting Farmers said they are firm and Tuesday, they have not received any, issued by the Industry Ministry, Nepal Nepal and different subjects regard- a field report whether the mill’s would protest until they get paid. said Urmila KC, spokesperson at the and the US will work together in pro- ing investment. workers have been paid within the In January, the government, mills Industry Ministry. moting digital trade to grow the TIFA is a bilateral pact aimed to stipulated time. and the farmers agreed on a five-point According to KC, Shree Ram Sugar economy. During the meeting, Nepal expand trade, increase investment The sugarcane farmers have been deal to clear the farmers’ dues. has said that it will clear the payment pointed out that the investment envi- and technical cooperation and holding protests in Kathmandu since According to the Ministry of by Friday. Shree Ram Sugar Mill in ronment had improved in the country strengthen the economic ties between the last five days demanding the gov- Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Rautahat was forced to shut down due and requested the US to increase their two countries which Nepal and the US ernment to make the sugar producers Annapurna Sugar Mill, Sarlahi owes to its piling losses five months ago. investment. signed in April 2011. ‘There is hardly any gas’: Liquefied natural gas Thailand relaxes travel curbs for price rally exacerbates gas crunch in Asia tourists from over REUTERS SINGAPORE, DEC 17 50 countries BIZLINE Surging spot prices for liquefied natu- REUTERS ral gas (LNG) are exacerbating a gas BANGKOK, DEC 17 supply crunch in key fast-growing Hyatt Regency Kathmandu emerging markets in Asia just as a Thailand on Thursday eased travel achieves GBAC STAR facility cold spell in other parts of the region restrictions for citizens from 56 coun- boosts demand for the fuel. tries in a bid to boost the country’s accreditation Companies from Pakistan to China pandemic-hit tourism industry, KATHMANDU: Hyatt Regency have cancelled a flurry of LNG ten- though visitors will be required to Kathmandu has achieved the Global ders this week, several trade sources undergo a mandatory two-week hotel Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) said, as lofty prices risk pushing up quarantine. Star accreditation, the gold standard the input costs of industries, which Tourists from countries including for prepared facilities. Under the could make energy more expensive for Australia, France and the United guidance of GBAC, a Division of consumers. States can travel without visas, but ISSA, the worldwide cleaning indus- Benchmark Asia spot LNG prices would need a certificate to show they try association, Hyatt Regency have soared sevenfold since May to were free of Covid-19 72 hours before Kathmandu has implemented the six-year highs, driven by production travel and a place at a quarantine most stringent protocols for cleaning, losses in Australia, Malaysia, Norway hotel, Taweesin Wisanuyothin, a disinfection and infectious disease and Qatar combined with accelerating spokesman for Thailand’s Covid-19 prevention in its premises, states the use in China, India and elsewhere. taskforce said. press release issued by the hotel. The “Buyers with no alternatives are Visitors would then be subject to a programme verifies that Hyatt now paying top-dollar for prompt car- two-week quarantine period after Regency Kathmandu implements best goes in January,” said Chong Zhi Xin, REUTERS arriving, he said, adding that the nor- practices to prepare for, respond to a director at consultancy IHS Markit. A liquefied natural gas tanker is tugged towards a thermal power station in Futtsu, east of Tokyo, Japan. mal 30-day visa would be extended to and recover from outbreaks and pan- The state buyer for Pakistan—one 45 days. While in quarantine, arrivals demics. To achieve GBAC STAR™ of the fastest growing LNG markets— Corp (GSPC) and Indian Oil Corp did said Sumi Akter, a mother of two in high prices,” the official added. would undergo three Covid-19 tests, up accreditation, Hyatt Regency did not award an emergency tender not award tenders seeking cargoes for the capital, Dhaka. Buyers in China, the world’s second from two required previously, Kathmandu was required to demon- seeking three cargoes for delivery in January to February delivery, trade Bangladesh has only imported one largest LNG importer after Japan, Taweesin said, adding that more test- strate compliance with the pro- January after it received high prices, sources said. spot cargo this winter despite issuing are also feeling the pinch, with one ing could potentially lead to shorter gramme’s 20 core elements, which according to sources. In Bangladesh, gas shortages are several tenders over the past few steel trader reporting a rise of around quarantine times in the future. range from standard operating proce- Power plants may opt to burn dirti- already apparent. months, a senior energy ministry offi- 2 percent in billet prices in steelmak- dures and risk assessment strategies er but cheaper fuel oil instead, the “We don’t have gas for cooking until cial said. ing hub Tangshan, due to the rise of to personal protective equipment and sources said, but are also facing rising [the] afternoon during the winter sea- “We have started importing from natural gas prices. Steel mills use emergency preparedness and prices in that market. son. There is hardly any gas. I can’t the spot market but the effort was not natural gas to fuel their furnace for response measures. In India, Gujarat State Petroleum even boil water, let alone cook food,” successful because of the abnormally production. Stimulus hopes boost stocks to record

REUTERS “While we expect stocks to benefit economist at Mizuho in Singapore, LONDON/SINGAPORE, DEC 17 further from positive news on vaccine citing US monetary policy support rollouts and US fiscal support, the and vaccine rollouts. World stocks scaled new peaks and oil same cannot be said for the US dollar,” “If new infection numbers don’t go marched higher on Thursday as inves- said Mark Haefele, Chief Investment crazy...I think there is some scope for a tors lapped up risky assets on hopes of Officer at UBS Global Wealth so-called Santa rally into the end of a US fiscal stimulus and the Federal Management. the year,” he said. US Federal Reserve Reserve’s pledge to keep pumping “We see further [dollar] weakness Chairman Jerome Powell vowed on cash into markets. ahead.” Wednesday to keep pouring cash in to REUTERS From stocks to safe-haven gold and European stocks and the euro ral- markets until the US economic recov- A man wearing a protective face mask walks volatile bitcoin, financial assets were lied for the fourth straight session as ery is secure. in Chinatown, one of the city’s top tourist in festive mood. Bitcoin hit another investors built up positions in riskier Bond traders were disappointed he spots, in Bangkok, Thailand. all-time high after first shattering the assets, anticipating a sharp economic did not extend the Fed’s purchase pro- $20,000 level on Wednesday. recovery in 2021 backed by wider vac- gram deeper down the yield curve, The revisions come as the tour- US congressional negotiators were cine rollouts and ultra-easy monetary and US Treasuries sold off at longer ism-reliant economy struggles to “closing in on” a $900 billion Covid-19 policy. The British pound hit May 2018 tenors, but others took it as a signal encourage more domestic activity, but aid bill expected to include $600-$700 highs on hopes of a post-Brexit trade the bank will have their back. an ongoing travel ban continues to stimulus checks to individuals, law- deal. In Asia, MSCI’s broadest index The Swiss National Bank kept its keep most foreign tourists away. makers said on Wednesday. of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan ultra-expansive monetary policy on “The entry of tourists will stimu- Such checks issued during Spring rose 0.6 percent to a record high. hold, keeping the world’s lowest inter- late the economy,” Foreign Ministry led to money pouring into stock mar- Japan’s Nikkei rose 0.2 percent - just est rates and staying ready to launch spokesman, Tanee Sangrat, told kets and bitcoin from punters, helping shy of a 29-year peak. currency interventions despite being Reuters. Travellers from other coun- stocks recover quickly from the Covid- Wall Street stock futures were point- labelled a currency manipulator by tries not included in Thursday’s 19 blow. A trader in London pointed to ing to more upside, with S&P 500 the United States. announcement could still be eligible chances of a new retail-led boost to futures hitting a record high after the The Swiss Franc was last at 0.8835. for a 90-day special tourist visa and a stock markets. Nasdaq’s record close on Wednesday. Better-than-expected labour data in certificate of entry. The general risk-on mood sent dol- Brent crude oil futures rose 1.2 per- Australia pushed the Aussie as high as Thailand’s entry restrictions have lar to 2-1/2-year lows against major cent to $51.71 a barrel, their highest $0.7624, its strongest since mid-2018. helped keep its Covid-19 cases at a low peers, while the MSCI world stock since early March - before over-pro- The Aussie is also riding high on 4,281, but caused widespread econom- index reached a new high of 639.64. duction fears and virus worries surging prices for iron ore and a mood ic damage and many job losses. The index has climbed 16 percent pushed oil prices off a cliff. that has pushed currencies in “We are confident in the Thai public REUTERS since the end of October. Since then, “My suspicion is markets are Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, health system, before this we were not Pedestrians wearing facial masks are reflected on an electronic board showing stock prices multiple Covid-19 vaccine break- inclined to extend this rally for two Taiwan, Sweden and Norway to mile- sure, but now we are confident in the outside a brokerage at a business district in Tokyo, Japan. throughs have been announced. reasons,” said Vishnu Varathan, head stone peaks. system,” Tanee said.

C M Y K FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2020 | 06 WORLD BRIEFING Wuhan residents hope WHO finds virus origins India’s Supreme Court suggests Beijing has strongly opposed calls for an international inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus, but said it has been open to a WHO-led investigation. government delay farm laws NEW DELHI: India’s Supreme Court on Thursday suggested that the govern- ment consider delaying implementa- French President tion of new agricultural reform laws to restore a dialogue with tens of thousands of protesting farmers who Macron tests say the legislation will drive down crop prices and devastate their earn- positive for Covid-19 ings. Chief Justice SA Bobde also deferred a proposal by the court to set ASSOCIATED PRESS up a mediation panel until justices PARIS, DEC 17 receive the government’s response and hear arguments from lawyers French President Emmanuel Macron representing the protesting farmers, tested positive for Covid-19 on possibly next week. Attorney-General Thursday, following a week when he KK Venugopal said he will get back to has met with numerous European the court after discussing the matter leaders. The French and Spanish with the government. prime ministers are among those self-isolating because they had recent contact with him. Fiji declares state of natural Macron took a test “as soon as the disaster as powerful cyclone hits first symptoms appeared” and will SYDNEY: Fiji ordered its entire popula- self-isolate for seven days, the presi- tion to take shelter on Thursday in dency said in a brief statement. It did not detail what symptoms Macron the path of what is expected to be the experienced or any treatment he worst storm in its recorded history. might be receiving. Cyclone Yasa, a top category five The 42-year-old president “will con- storm expected to bring winds of up tinue to work and take care of his to 250 km per hour and torrential activities at a distance,” the statement rain, made landfall over Bua province added. His wife, Brigitte, 67, will also on the northern island of Vanua self-isolate but has no symptoms and Levu at about 6 pm local time. “The tested negative on Tuesday ahead of a impact for this super storm is more visit to a Paris hospital, her office or less the entire country,” Prime said. Minister Frank Bainimarama said in Macron attended a European Union a video posted on Facebook. He told summit at the end of last week, where the country’s near 1 million popula- he notably had a bilateral meeting tion to find safe shelter ahead of a with German Chancellor Angela 14-hour curfew beginning 4 pm. Merkel. It was not immediately clear what contact tracing efforts were in Putin denies involvement in progress.

Navalny’s poisoning REUTERS MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir A man wearing a mask stands near a street, almost a year after the start of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak, in Wuhan, Hubei province, China on Thursday. food packaging as a risk of spreading Putin on Thursday rejected allega- Covid-19. tions that the Kremlin was behind the REUTERS ically where it came from, if the build on their initial studies. have played in it. “There is a strong possibility it was poisoning of his top political foe, WUHAN, CHINA, DEC 17 source of the virus is here,” said a Beijing has strongly opposed Although authorities closed the brought in via wholesale seafood from opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and Wuhan resident surnamed Wan, as he calls for an international inquiry into Huanan market in January, there is a elsewhere. Wuhan has no seafood,” accused US intelligence agencies of With investigators from the World walked to work on Thursday morning. the origins of the coronavirus, but growing scientific consensus that the said 20-year-old Wuhan student Jiang fomenting the claims. Speaking via Health Organization (WHO) set to “My feeling is that it is not from said it has been open to a WHO-led virus did not originate there. Some Yongcheng. video call during an annual marathon visit China next year, residents of there,” he added, referring to the sea- investigation. studies suggest it was already in circu- Others said a WHO visit is an oppor- news conference, the Russian leader Wuhan are saying they want the team food market. China’s foreign ministry did not lation by the time it reached the mar- tunity to show how well the city had countered the accusations by saying to come to the central city, hoping they The WHO did not confirm whether directly comment on the WHO visit ket, with more than one transmission done battling the virus. Wuhan has that if the Kremlin wanted to poison could prove the virus did not originate its team will go to Wuhan, saying that during a daily media briefing on route. not reported a locally transmitted Navalny it would have pressed the there. discussions on the itinerary were Thursday. China still tightly restricts access to case since May 10, after a 76-day lock- attack home. “If there was such a An international team of investiga- ongoing. A two-member WHO team “China stands ready to enhance its locations such as the Huanan market, down that was one of the strictest desire, it would have been done,” tors is expected to travel to China in visited China in July, but did not visit cooperation with WHO to advance the which stands empty and locked even worldwide. Putin said with a chuckle. Navalny January, the WHO said on Thursday, Wuhan. global tracing efforts and contribute though normal life has largely “We are not afraid of their investi- fell sick on August 20 during a domes- more than a year after the first identi- Reuters reported earlier, citing a our share in our early victory against resumed in Wuhan and throughout gation,” said Liu Qin, who works in tic flight in Russia, and was flown fied cluster of Covid-19 infections was member and diplomats, that a team of the pandemic,” spokesman Wang China. real estate. “Because you can see from while he was in a coma to Germany linked to the Huanan seafood market 12-15 international experts will visit Wenbin said. Beijing has also been pushing a nar- the epidemic this year, in Wuhan for treatment two days later. He was in Wuhan. Wuhan to examine evidence, includ- Many questions remain about the rative that the virus existed abroad things were done well, if not the epi- exposed to a Soviet-era Novichok “I welcome them to come. We also ing human and animal samples col- origins of Covid-19 and the role before it was found in Wuhan, and demic would not have been controlled nerve agent. (AGENCIES) want to know how it developed, specif- lected by Chinese researchers, and to Wuhan’s exotic wildlife trade may unlike other countries cites frozen quickly.” Alibaba facial recognition tech specifically Families of kidnapped picks out Uighur minority, report says Nigerian boys fear time

REUTERS containing pornography, politics, SHANGHAI, DEC 17 violent terrorism, advertisements, and spam, and provides verifica- running out Technology giant Alibaba Group tion, marking, custom configura- Holding Ltd has facial recognition tion and other capabilities.” REUTERS The abduction echoes Boko Haram’s technology which can specifically An archived record of the tech- KANKARA, NIGERIA, DEC 17 2014 kidnapping of more than 270 pick out members of China’s Uighur nology shows it can perform such schoolgirls in the northeastern town of minority, surveillance industry tasks as “glasses inspection”, “smile Families of more than 300 kidnapped Chibok. The attack gave rise to a global researcher IPVM said in a report. detection”, whether the subject is Nigerian schoolboys worried they may be #BringBackOurGirls campaign. The report comes as human “ethnic” and, specifically, “Is it radicalised or held for years as security Six years on, only about half the girls rights groups accuse China of forc- Uighur”. forces combed a vast forest on Wednesday have been found or freed. Others ing over 1 million Muslim Uighurs Consequently, if a Uighur lives- for armed captors possibly from the jihad- were married off to fighters, while some into labour camps, and calls out treams a video on a website signed ist Boko Haram movement. are assumed to be dead. firms suspected of complicity. up to Cloud Shield, the software can According to an unverified audio “We pray it’s not going to be another An Alibaba Cloud spokeswoman detect that the user is Uighur and clip, the group—whose name means situation of the Chibok girls’ abduction,” said the technology was only flag the video for review or removal, “Western education is forbidden”—was said Ahmed Bakori, a farmer whose confined to testing. “The ethnicity REUTERS IPVM researcher Charles Rollet told responsible for last week’s raid on an 14-year-old son, Abubakar, was among mention refers to a feature/function Alibaba is one of the world’s biggest cloud computing vendors. Reuters. all-boys school in the town of Kankara in those taken. that was used within a testing envi- IPVM said mention of Uighurs in northwestern Katsina state. About two dozen parents came to the ronment during an exploration of Islamist militants. US-based IPVM in a report pub- the software disappeared near the Parents fear time may be running Government Science compound on our technical capability. It Still, sensitivities have prompted lished on Wednesday said software time it published its report. out: Boko Haram has a history of turning Wednesday and prayed in the school was never used outside the testing caution among Chinese internet capable of identifying Uighurs Alibaba is listed on both the New captives into jihadist fighters. mosque. The compound, composed of environment.” firms which often self-censor to appears in Alibaba’s Cloud Shield York and Hong Kong stock exchang- “They will radicalise our children if the white single-storey buildings built on China has repeatedly denied avoid running afoul of a govern- content moderation service for web- es. It is the biggest cloud computing government does not act fast to help us dusty red soil, was quiet. forcing anyone into what it has ment which strictly controls online sites. vendor in China and the fourth rescue them,” said trader Shuaibu Abubakar Lawal, who has two children called vocational training centres, speech, and which last month pub- Alibaba describes Cloud Shield as worldwide, showed data from Kankara, crying as he spoke from home. among the captives, said he did not and has also said the region of lished draft rules to police lives- a system that “detects and recognis- researcher Canalys. His 13-year-old son, Annas, was among believe Boko Haram’s claim and would Xinjiang is under threat from treaming. es text, pictures, videos, and voices Earlier this month, US lawmak- those abducted from the Government wait with patience and prayers. ers sent letters to Intel Corp and Science school on Friday night. “The government has to do diplomacy in Nvidia Corp following reports Two other sons managed to escape, he a way to rescue these people,” he said out- of their computer chips being added, when men on motorbikes side the school. used in the surveillance of with AK-47 assault rifles stormed the The attack is awkward for President Uighurs. school and marched the boys into a forest. Muhammadu Buhari, who comes from Some experts feared the boys could Katsina and arrived on a private visit be taken over the border into Niger or at hours before the kidnapping. Buhari least split into groups to make finding has repeatedly said that Boko Haram has them harder. Late on Wednesday, Katsina been “technically defeated.” state Governor Aminu Bello Masari A former military ruler, Buhari was told the BBC Hausa service that the elected in 2015 in large part due to his estimated 320 missing boys were in the pledge to crush the insurgency. Under forests of neighbouring Zamfara state. his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, Earlier in the day, an aide to Masari said Boko Haram grew in strength and con- soldiers and intelligence officers had been trolled territory around the size of combing the Rugu forest, which stretches Belgium. across Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna and Across the nation, anger and Niger states, in search of the boys. anxiety were building over the abductions, Boko Haram and its offshoot, Islamic with #BringBackOurBoys trending on State West Africa Province, have waged Twitter. a decade-long insurgency estimated to Military spokesman John Enenche said have displaced about 2 million people and troops were determined to rescue the boys killed more than 30,000. They want to alive and had no evidence any were dead. create states based on their extreme inter- He gave new details of the school pretation of sharia law. attack and subsequent firefight with If Boko Haram carried out the guards. Soldiers arrived but could only kidnapping in an area where it had not shoot in the air as the assailants previously claimed attacks, it would used the boys as shields. Jacob Zenn, a mark an alarming expansion beyond its Boko Haram expert at the northeastern base, security experts US-based Jamestown Foundation say. But it may alternatively have think tank, said the longer the boys were purchased the boys from criminal gangs in with their captors, the likelier their the northwest with which it has been indoctrination would be. He cited building ties. the example of some Chibok girls who Vincent Foucher, a security analyst at chose to stay with Boko Haram. the French National Centre for Scientific “The longer this goes on, the more Research, said Boko Haram earlier this pressure will grow on the government year released videos in which it said to negotiate, and the more leverage groups in the northwest had pledged alle- the militants will have over the govern- giance to its movement. ment,” he added.

C M Y K 07 | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2020 SPORTS | MEDLEY BRIEFING World Cup-winning coach Mourinho wants killer West Brom sack coach Bilic, appoint Allardyce instinct from Tottenham LONDON: West Bromwich Albion have Dav Whatmore to take charge AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE opening goal when Mohamed Salah’s appointed Sam Allardyce as manager LIVERPOOL, DEC 17 shot took a huge deflection off Toby after sacking Slaven Bilic following Alderweireld and looped beyond the their poor start to the season, the Jose Mourinho said Tottenham must helpless Hugo Lloris. But the moment Premier League club said on learn to kill games off if they are to Tottenham had been waiting for to Wednesday. “West Bromwich Albion of national cricket squad win a first league title in 60 years after launch the counter-attack that has are delighted to confirm the appoint- Roberto Firmino’s late winner earned thrust them into title contention, beat- ment of Sam Allardyce as the club’s The Australian, who won the 1996 World Cup for Sri Lanka, starts his stint from New Year. Liverpool a 2-1 win over his side on ing Manchester United, Manchester new head coach. The experienced Wednesday. City and Arsenal in recent weeks, boss, who has 512 Premier League PRAJWAL OLI The Brazilian’s towering header arrived on 33 minutes. Giovani Lo games to his name, arrives at Albion KATHMANDU, DEC 17 ended an 11-game unbeaten league Celso’s brilliant pass opened up a with his long-time assistant, Sammy run for Mourinho’s men and opened makeshift Liverpool backline with Lee,” the club said in a statement. Former World Cup-winning coach Dav up a three-point lead for the defending 19-year-old Rhys Williams partnering Bilic was the first top-flight manager Whatmore has been appointed head champions at the top of the Premier midfielder Fabinho in central defence. in England to be fired this season coach of the Nepali national men’s League table. Liverpool enjoyed 76 Son Heung-min timed his run to per- after his team picked up only seven cricket team. percent possession and had 11 shots fection to stay onside and coolly slot- points to sit second-bottom of the The Sri Lanka-born Australian on target to Tottenham’s two, but ted past Alisson Becker for his 14th standings with one win in 13 games. national, who coached Sri Lanka to a Mourinho still believed Spurs would goal of the season. “West Bromwich Albion have today World Cup win in 1996, takes charge of have been deserving winners had they Mourinho’s side were eventually parted company with head coach the squad from the New Year. He suc- taken their chances early in the sec- undone by a set-piece as from Andy Slaven Bilic,” the club said in a state- ceeds India’s Umesh Patwal, who ond half. Steven Bergwijn hit the post Robertson’s corner, Firmino rose ment, adding that his assistants were resigned from the post in February. and Harry Kane uncharacteristically highest for what could be one of the also leaving with immediate effect. Whatmore, who played seven Tests headed a huge opportunity over at 1-1. most important all season. and a lone ODI for Australia between “We were so close to a win, not so At the Emirates, troubled Arsenal 1979-1980, has coached the national close to a draw,” said Mourinho, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Southamp- Barcelona down Real sides of Bangladesh, Pakistan and had an exchange of words with ton. Defeat would have seen Arsenal Sociedad to reignite title push Zimbabwe and the Indian Premier Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp. “A draw lose five consecutive home league BARCELONA: Barcelona reignited their League franchise Kolkata Knight would be a bad result in relation to the games for the first time in the club’s La Liga title push on Wednesday Riders. The national teams he coached performance, so you can imagine how history. Theo Walcott opened the scor- when they came back from a goal have played 87 Tests and 315 ODIs we feel withdefeat. Of course they had ing on his return to the Emirates for down to defeat Real Sociedad 2-1. The between 1996-2016 under his watch. more of the ball but when we had it, Southampton. Arsenal scored just a win allowed Barcelona to move six The 66-year-old, however, is not a we knew how to hurt them. We have to third goal in their last nine league points off the top of the table where- new name for Nepal as he had con- score to kill the game, which we games and Pierre-Emerick Aubameya- as defeat meant Sociedad lost their ducted a two-week high performance didn’t.” ng’s first from open play since the first place as leaders to be replaced by training camp in 2017 for 32 players, Liverpool are now 66 games unbeat- day of the season ensured the draw. Atletico Madrid. Sociedad, without a including members of the national en in the league at the Anfield and Elsewhere, fifth-placed Everton won point at Barcelona in 25 years, took cricket team. showed why they remain the favour- 2-0 at fourth-placed Leicester thanks the lead through Willian Jose in the In an interview with this scribe in ites in a wide-open title race. to goals from Richarlison and Mason 26th minute. Jordi Alba’s equaliser 2017, the Australian had said: “You Liverpool earned their luck for the Holgate. arrived on the half-hour mark after a (Nepal) are at the highest level of the fine interchange of passes between World Cricket League (on the eve of Antoine Griezmann and Pedri. De Nepal’s Cricket League ICC World Jong then gave Barca a 42nd-minute Cricket League Championship match lead for his first goal since February. against Kenya in 2017).” The goal, however, was only allowed “You participated in the 50-over Captain Kohli rescues India after a VAR consultation for a possi- competition of the highest league. ble offside. You have the chance to play in the REUTERS ing to Nathan Lyon. World Cup. In the future, Nepal even ADELAIDE, DEC 17 “For a 300-plus total, it’s important has chance to get Test membership to play well in the first two sessions,” Pakistan’s Mohammad Amir but there is a long way to go. A num- India captain Virat Kohli forged two Pujara said to explain his dour bat- ber of things have to be on track,” he half-century partnerships to rescue ting. “The wicket was fresh, the bowl- quits international cricket had said. his side against Australia before fall- ers were fresh, so you could not play ISLAMABAD: Pakistan fast bowler As coach, Whatmore’s first assign- ing victim to an almighty mix-up on your shots so early... it was important Mohammad Amir announced his ment is to prepare the squad for the an attritional opening day of the day- to be patient at that stage.” retirement from international cricket ICC World Cricket League 2 against POST FILES night first Test at Adelaide Oval on The usually aggressive Kohli proved at the age of 28 on Thursday, claiming Oman and the US set to take place in Dav Whatmore will be the highest profile coach to take over the national team of Nepal. Thursday. he could be an excellent accumulator he could no longer play in an atmos- March 2021 in Oman. The right-hander sacrificed flair for too as he followed his 68-run partner- phere where he did not feel welcome Despite exceeding the maximum On his appointment as Nepal head date to present their plans and pro- efficiency in his industrious 74 as the ship with the obdurate Pujara with an in the national team. Amir, who was age limit of 60 years set by CAN for coach, Whatmore’s manager Kaustav grammes. But he was so excited that tourists reached 233-6 at stumps after 88-run collaboration with deputy jailed in 2011 for his part in a spot-fix- the job, the office bearers of the Lahiri said: “Dav is extremely keen to he spoke for 25 minutes,” said Chand. opting to bat in the series opener. Rahane before being sold down the ing scandal, served three months in national cricket governing body were take this new challenge as he strongly Whatmore will get a monthly pay- Wriddhiman Saha, on nine, and river. Rahane’s indecision over a sin- prison and a five-year ban from all so impressed with the Australian that believes Nepal has some great talent cheque of $8,000-12,000 for his servic- Ravichandran Ashwin, who is 15 not gle resulted in Kohli being run out forms of cricket before returning to they decided to waive the provision. and has a very bright future in cricket. es. The government had allocated out, will return on Friday hoping to after a resolute knock which included the Pakistan squad in January 2016. “After a lot of discussions, we unan- Nepal is a beautiful country and Dav $10,000 for the previous foreign cricket continue India’s march towards the eight fours. The left-arm bowler has since imously decided to appoint him is looking forward to his new chal- coach through the National Sports 300-mark. On a day when boundaries were excelled in limited-overs cricket, (Whatmore),” CAN President Chatur lenge with a bunch of young talent in Council and the Ministry of Youth Earlier, Mitchell Starc removed the scarce against Australia’s disciplined helping Pakistan to the Champions Bahadur Chand said. “We have high Nepal.” and Sports. scoreless Prithvi Shaw with the sec- bowling, Kohli had looked determined Trophy title in 2017, but last month expectations from him. He said Nepal Altogether 72 individuals, including Along with Dassanayake, who led ond delivery of the day and Pat to make his mark on the series in his he was dropped from the squad to has high potential as a cricketing former coach Pubudu Dassanayake, the Nepali team to World Twenty20 in Cummins castled fellow opener only test before he returns to India for tour New Zealand. Asked if he was nation and was eager to join team had applied for the post of head coach 2014, Indian’s Apurva Desai was also Mayank Agarwal (17) later in the the birth of his first child. It triggered leaving the sport altogether he said: Nepal.” since a vacancy announcement was one of the favourites to land the job. opening session to give Australia a a mini-collapse with Rahane, who “No, I’m not going away from cricket. “Though we had set a maximum age made on September 3. CAN had cho- Meanwhile, CAN has appointed strong start to the four-match series. made 42, and Hanuma Vihari (16) join- If you have seen the atmosphere limit of 60 in the vacancy announce- sen 12 coaches for a final round of Raunaq Bahadur Malla its general Cheteshwar Pujara, Australia’s neme- ing Kohli in the hut as the hosts struck here and the way I’ve been sidelined, ment, we decided to choose him. The interviews. “He was also very much manager, Ramesh Kumar Neupane sis when India won their first series with the new ball in front of a restrict- I got a wake-up call when I was International Cricket Council (ICC) excited about the coaching job in chief finance officer and former Down Under two years ago, proved ed crowd of 21,000. not selected in the 35-man squad,” has given its nod for his appointment,” Nepal. During the interview, we had national captain Binod Kumar Das more difficult to dislodge and eked out All-rounder Cameron Green debut- Amir said. (AGENCIES) said Chand. allocated 20 minutes for each candi- cricket manager. 43 runs from 160 deliveries before fall- ed for Australia in the match. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) **** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** You’ll be the consummate student today. Your mind Why spend all of your energy making other people You’re finally going to start seeing some positive Romantic opportunities may come to your attention, is inquisitive and your energy is focused on acquir- happy? Today you have to switch your focus and start results today. Your current projects seem to be turn- particularly if you have been biding your time since ing new knowledge. You’re also already smart working harder at making yourself happy! Do at ing the corner at the same time. And while you are your last relationship. There’s anticipation in the air, enough to know that you don’t know everything, so least one nice thing for yourself today. Cancel an certainly going to be busy right now, you are going to which could turn into a mild obsession, particularly why not just admit it? appointment you’ve been dreading. feel exhilarated by all of the activity too. if there’s a special someone.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** No matter what behavior you encounter in others Your future lies ahead of you, so why are you so busy A good friend may be going through a life change Tell someone what you really want from them. Stop today, nothing will stop you from getting on with the thinking about what is behind you? You can’t change that has caused you to look at your own life different- expecting them to read your mind because they’ll good times! Your mind is wide open, you’re thinking what has already happened! If you don’t like what ly. This kind of self-examination is very valuable, but only disappoint you. And keep in mind that having positively, and you’re ready to connect with other went down, the only thing you can do is move away it can also be a bit of a trap. Don’t spend too much clear communication requires more than just hones- people in a new way. from it quickly. time dwelling on the future. ty and simple language.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) **** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) **** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** Your opinions are valid, but so are everyone else’s— Right now, there’s a focus on health, wellness, and Everyone will be delighted with your answers and You have every right to your viewpoint on the topic even the ones that clash with yours. Listen to what work. It’s a time to find out what works for you. Your ideas today. Enjoy the confidence that other of the day even if an authority figure has a different other people have to say. Having a dogmatic attitude inquisitive nature suggests that you may be looking people have in your abilities, and then maybe you opinion on the issue. You can’t just agree with the about life might make things simpler, but it will also for new ideas as a way to boost your confidence while might start having a little more confidence in people who hold the power. It’s weak and it’s not make them a lot more boring. enhancing your inner peace. them too! being true to who you are. CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2020 | 08 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 Sundance Film Festival unveils slate for first virtual edition Organisers unveiled a robust and diverse slate for the festival, which will be largely virtual due to the pandemic.

AP/RSS An image released by the Sundance Institute shows a scene from ‘Passing’, which will debut at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.

LINDSEY BAHR “In the Same Breath,” she said, is a And there are others that might not lucky and many other filmmakers wer- NEW YORK “search for the truth. And it is a bold have the flashy celebrity subjects but are en’t as lucky in getting their work buzzed indictment of the response of leadership The festival will kick gems worth checking out. One, Jackson about, written about and seen,” Jackson Questlove-directed docu- in China and the US.” said, is “Writing With Fire” about India’s said. “We deeply feel the responsibility mentary about the other Questlove’s film uses never-before-seen off on January 28 only newspaper run by Dalit women, who this year of doubling down on our com- major music event of the footage that had been sitting in a base- showcasing 72 films. are breaking traditions and norms to tell mitment to emerging voices.” summer of 1969 and docu- ment for 50 years. the truth about what is happening to Sundance founder Robert Redford said mentaries about the crea- “It’s an incredible debut from a first- women in the country. Another is about in a statement that under Jackson’s lead- tors of Sesame Street and time director, a vitally important histori- the legal trailblazer Pauli Murray, who ership, “We’ve forged a new collective theA coronavirus pandemic in China are cal document and it’s a kind of reclaim- who choose to live on opposite sides of the influenced Ruth Bader Ginsburg and vision: one that honors the spirit and tra- among the 72 feature films debuting at the ing of history to reframe the present,” colour line in 1929 New York. Thurgood Marshall from “RGB” directors dition of these invigorating yearly gath- 2021 Sundance Film Festival. Organisers said Tabitha Jackson, the director of the Based on a novella by Nella Larsen, Julie Cohen and Betsy West. erings in Utah, while making room for on Tuesday unveiled a robust and diverse festival. “But most important of all for us “Passing” is the directorial debut of actor As always, Sundance is a festival of imaginative new possibilities in a new slate for the festival, which will be largely was just that it’s a stunning watch. It is Rebecca Hall. discovery spotlighting new and emerging online format.” virtual due to the pandemic. joyful and vibrant and colourful and “The way that Rebecca has directed it voices in film. Over half of the feature The festival “going virtual” also opens The festival will kick off on January 28 socially engaging and so beautifully craft- feels utterly contemporary,” Jackson said. films this year are from first-time direc- up the experience to curious audiences with the premieres of Nanfu Wang’s docu- ed and put together.” “It really speaks to this current moment.” tors and across the 140 total projects, 50 who may not have had the time or money mentary about propaganda and Covid-19 Opening night will also see the pre- Robin Wright is also making her direc- percent were directed by one or more to make it out to Park City, which between in China, “In the Same Breath,” and miere of Sian Heder’s film “CODA,” torial debut with “Land,” about a search women and 51 percent by one or more lodging, food and passes can be an expen- Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s “Summer about the hearing child of deaf parents for meaning in the American wilderness artists of colour. sive endeavour. of Soul (...Or, When The Revolution Could co-starring Marlee Matlin. after an “unfathomable event” starring The 2020 Sundance Film Festival was “We all are so excited about the possi- Not Be Televised)” about the forgotten “I think it’s going to be one of the big herself and Demián Bichir. home to some of this year’s most bility of encountering people who’ve 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, which cele- stories out of the festival this year,” There are high-profile documentaries acclaimed films, including “Promising never been to the festival,” Jackson said. brated Black music and culture and Yutani said. about “The Joy Luck Club” author Amy Young Woman,” “Minari,” “Never Rarely “Suddenly, people from around the coun- attracted over 300,000 people. In addition to “CODA,” the U.S. Tan and EGOT-winning actor Rita Sometimes Always,” “Boys State,” “Crip try and around the world can be at “We’re starting the festival with a bang Dramatic Competition section will fea- Moreno. Yutani said that the Sesame Camp” and “Kajillionaire.” It was also Sundance for the first time, be part of for sure,” said Kim Yutani, the festival’s ture films with Tiffany Haddish and Street documentary, “Street Gang: How one of the only major festivals to happen that first audience who can talk about director of programming. “We felt that Jerrod Carmichael (“On the Count of We Got To Sesame Street” is likely to be a before the pandemic hit. this work which will in some ways define was important to have something that Three) and Ruth Negga and Tessa crowd favourite. Edgar Wright has also “We were so lucky to be able to go when the conversation around cinema in the 12 just really just directly reflects what we Thompson who co-star in “Passing,” directed a documentary about the pop we did in January, just before the pan- months afterwards.” have been through this past year.” about two light-skinned Black women rock duo Sparks. demic hit. Other festivals weren’t that —Associated Press Forceful lyrics on domestic violence strike chord in China Chinese singer Tan Weiwei’s song, Xiao Juan, has sparked national discussion and calls for better legal protection.

man in Shanxi apparently beating his wife to death while bystanders stood by looking on. “With fists, with kerosene, with acid... Flushed down the sewer, from the marriage house to sinking in the riverbed,” Tan sings. “Imprisoned my body and cut my tongue, silently weaving tears into the silk and bro- cade.” Victims of domestic violence in the country frequently have little recourse to finding justice and reporting is low. China only passed a law specifically criminalising domestic violence in 2015. The state-run All-China Women’s Federation estimates that about one in three married Chinese women will experience domestic violence. Yet in 2018, the federation only logged 39,371 official reports from the nation’s estimated 270 million families. In recent years more women have been willing to speak up. With the spread of the global #MeToo movements, dozens of young Chinese women brought public accusations AP/RSS of sexual harassment against high-profile Singer Tan Weiwei (centre) gives a singing lesson to students in a rural primary school in Dabo village in men, with some even bringing the accusa- Lianyuan city in southern China’s Hunan Province. tions to court. That boldness, however, has yet to transfer to cases of domestic violence. HUIZHONG WU On Weibo, a widely used microblogging TAIPEI platform, a hashtag called “Tan Weiwei’s song Many are praising Tan lyrics are really brave” has been viewed more uarrel, rape, adultery. Tricky, for speaking out and than 340 million times, far more than the 5.2 greedy, sycophantic. Chinese million views for the song’s music video. Many singer Tan Weiwei chants calling attention to observed that her song could be linked to real each word methodically in a cases of deaths reported in news media. two-line string of vulgarities something that many do Tan’s latest album 3811, tells different and insults. not discuss publicly. women’s stories through 11 songs, from a Q The 16 words in her new Tang-dynasty female poet to a 12-year old girl song share something in common: The char- named Aguo who marries a tree in a ritual acter for woman, “nu,” is part of the Chinese ceremony to transition to a woman. But it’s, character for each word. calling attention to something that many do “Xiao Juan,” the last song on the album, Tan’s forceful and shocking use of these not discuss publicly. with its tribute to victims of domestic vio- words—often used to disparage women—is Her song, “Xiao Juan,” refers to some recent lence that’s garnered the most attention. meant to draw attention to the issue of high-profile cases that have sparked national Tan demands that these victims be remem- domestic violence and has struck a chord in discussion and calls for better legal protection. bered not as “Xiao Juan,” which is similar to China, where despite growing public aware- In September, a young Tibetan woman Jane Doe, or other anonymous names that ness and anger, victims have a hard time died after her ex-husband came after her are often used in media or police reports. getting justice. with gasoline and set her on fire while she “Our names are not ‘Xiao Juan,’” she sings. Across multiple social media platforms, was broadcasting a livestream from her “Know my name. Remember my name.” many are praising Tan for speaking out and kitchen. In October, a video circulated of a — Associated Press

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