WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 299 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in , , Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 24.6 C -6.4 C Sunday, December 27, 2020 | 12-09-2077 Biratnagar Jumla Beijing is sending a senior party leader to as political crisis unfolds Guo Yenzhou, a vice-minister in the Chinese Communist Party, is arriving today, days after split following the House dissolution by Prime Minister Oli.

ANIL GIRI team to Nepal for a four-day visit, KATHMANDU, DEC 26 according to sources in both factions of the Nepal Communist Party. In May this year, when the wrangling Bishnu Rijal, deputy head of the within the Nepal Communist Party Department of Foreign Affairs of the was at its peak, Chinese Ambassador Nepal Communist Party (Dahal-Nepal Hou Yanqi visited the ruling party’s faction), confirmed to the Post that the top brass and President Bidya Devi Chinese had communicated about Bhandari. Gou’s visit to Kathmandu. “I don’t There was a temporary truce in the have much detail to share with you at party. this point of time,” said Rijal. Again in July, Hou had to do the The Chinese leadership, observers rounds as the bitter infighting within say, made a lot of efforts to bring the the party erupted once again. then CPN-UML and Maoist Centre Subsequently, matters settled down together so as to form the Nepal once again. Communist Party, and their interest But Prime Minister KP Sharma to keep their unity intact continues. Oli’s decision to dissolve the House of “They have invested hugely in Representatives on Sunday, knowing Nepal and are competing with India so POST PHOTO: HEMANTA SHRESTHA well enough that it could lead to a split their interest is growing,” said Dinesh Writers, poets, artists, intellectuals and citizens protest against the Oli government’s decision to dissolve the House of Representatives, at Maitighar in Kathmandu on Saturday. in the party, seems to have caught Hou Bhattarai, a former ambassador who and her political masters in Beijing by served as foreign relations adviser to surprise. prime ministers Beijing is now sending a senior and . “Now, with the Chinese Communist Party leader to sudden political changes in Kathmandu. Kathmandu, they must be concerned.” Tired of Oli’s actions, Dahal and Nepal decide Guo Yezhou, a vice-minister of the After a gap of almost a year, Delhi, International Department of the with which Oli’s relations had soured Chinese Communist Party, is arriving over border issues, in October sudden- in Kathmandu on Sunday, according ly began to show its renewed interest to at least two Nepal Communist Party in Nepal. to join hands. But can they coexist? leaders. He is leading a four-member >> Continued on page 2 Unless and Madhav Nepal make their unity a result of conviction rather than convenience and fight for the larger interest of common people rather than their personal gains, their association may not last long, analysts and insiders say.

there between Oli and Dahal and that is likely to be seen between Dahal and Nepal too, according to Dulal. “It’s just a matter of time.” Though Dahal and Nepal may have known each other for a long time by virtue of both being communist lead- ers, they got closer when then sev- en-party alliance, a grouping of politi- cal parties practising the parliamenta- ry system in Nepal, was in a bid to end the conflict and bring the Maoists overground. Nepal, as one of the interlocutors appointed by the seven-party alliance, had met with Dahal on a number of occasions and in various places with- in Nepal and India. After the 2006 peace deal, when the country voted to elect the Constituent Assembly in 2008, Nepal, just like many other UML leaders including Oli, lost. POST PHOTO: ANGAD DHAKAL Taking responsibility for the drub- Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Madhav Kumar Nepal have declared a war on KP Sharma Oli and his bing of his party, the UML, Nepal move of dissolving the House of Representatives. stepped down as its general secretary. By then, he had led the party for 15 TIKA R PRADHAN Oli’s move unconstitutional. The mat- years. KATHMANDU, DEC 26 ter is with the Supreme Court now. Though Oli had assumed ministeri- Observers say Dahal and Nepal al portfolios after the restoration of Politics makes strange bedfellows, and coming together against Oli may gain democracy in 1990, he was dominated Nepal’s communist movement has some traction for a while. But since by leaders like Nepal and Khanal seen this happening a lot. both the leaders have followed differ- within the UML. After Nepal, Khanal uHhasf] speed This time, a dramatic turn of events ent principles during their political took the mantle of the UML. in the Nepal Communist Party, which careers, it will be too early to say how When Oli won the 2013 Constituent had emerged as the strongest commu- long they will go along as leaders of a Assembly elections, he had also risen nist force in the country just two and a party. in the party. In 2014, he defeated Nepal dHhfsf] internet experience half years ago, has brought together Bishwa Bhakta Dulal, a former and became the chair of the UML. Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Madhav Maoist leader who writes extensively When he became prime minister in Kumar Nepal. Both are now crying on contemporary political and social 2018, for a second time, Oli had become foul at KP Sharma Oli, whom Dahal matters, said Dahal and Nepal’s unity strong in the party. His high-handed- xfd|f] gofF Dual Band Router sf] ;fydf, had embraced 31 months ago and with lacks any ideological basis, just like ness was becoming quite apparent, whom Nepal spent more than four the unity between Oli and Dahal did. much to the chagrin of some UML decades in one party. “It’s as clear as day that Dahal and leaders like Nepal and Khanal. On one On Friday, while addressing a press Nepal joined hands out of compul- occasion, in July 2019, he even relegat- meet of the Dahal-Nepal-led Nepal sion, as they were trying to fight one ed Nepal to the fourth rank in the Communist Party, enemy,” Dulal told the Post. unified part y. Blazing Uninterrupted said both the chairs will have an equal When Oli and Dahal announced the After the Nepal Communist Party status in the party. Dahal and Nepal birth of the Nepal Communist Party was born, Oli and Dahal declared Speed Video Streaming have declared war on Oli and his move after merging their CPN-UML and themselves the party chairs. But as of dissolving the House of Maoist Centre in May 2018, it was seen Oli ran the government and the party Representatives. as a historic moment for Nepal’s com- unilaterally, he continued to alienate Oli’s sudden move of dissolving the munist movement. Nepali communist Dahal as well as some of his UML-day Lag-Free Seamless House after he came under intense leaders have a notorious history of colleagues, including Nepal, thereby pressure from Dahal and Nepal to step failing to be under the same roof ever providing an opportunity for them to Gaming Connectivity down resulted in a split in the Nepal since the first Nepal Communist Party unite. Communist Party (NCP). Various was established seven decades ago by Dahal and Nepal, however, hold soft political parties, lawyers and experts Pushpa Lal Shrestha. corners for each other, unlike the hos- on constitutional matters have termed Oli, 69, and Nepal, 68, shared the tility that existed between Oli and same party for over four decades Dahal. and in the UML until recently While Nepal had come to know For more Information Dial : 9801523050 , 01-5970050 when it merged with Dahal’s Dahal closely during the insurgency Maoist party. days, it was Dahal who brought Nepal Or Visit : www.worldlink.com.np Both Oli and Nepal had into the first Constituent Assembly embraced the People’s even though the latter was defeated. Multi-party Democracy as their Unlike Oli, Nepal has not been criti- guiding principle and accepted cal of Dahal’s “people’s war”. the multi-party parliamentary As Dahal and Nepal appear to be system, something Dahal was controlling the majority members, averse to. they might also feel comfortable to Dahal, 66, led a decade-long share the post of chair in “their” “people’s war” from 1996 to 2006. party. The clash of ideologies was >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2020 | 02 NATIONAL With Gulf countries banning commercial flights, labour migration sector stares at uncertainty The emergence of a new strain of coronavirus has forced many countries to once again close their borders.

CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL Nepali workers once again can’t travel KATHMANDU, DEC 26 to work in these countries until these restrictions remain in force. Nepal’s foreign employment sector, Earlier this year, when the corona- which was slowly recovering after virus had spread in the Gulf coun- months of shock from the Covid-19 tries, they had also banned the entry pandemic, has hit another snag, as of outsiders. Such a ban stalled Nepali labour destination countries, mainly migrant workers’ movement, as the in the Persian Gulf, have closed their government also stopped issuing borders over fears of new variants of labour permits in mid-March. the coronavirus. The latest ban is likely to hit the A new and potentially more infec- foreign employment sector, which was tious variant of the novel coronavirus slowly recuperating with the resump- was discovered in the UK, leading tion of labour migration after five several countries to seal their borders months of complete shutdown. once again and ban entry for outsid- “We faced a hard time for several ers. The latest travel restrictions months due to the pandemic. imposed by several countries are rem- Recruiting agencies had started iniscent of the early days of Covid-19 receiving demands for workers from pandemic. these countries after they had slowly “Some countries in the Gulf have opened up,” said Shrestha. “Agencies cancelled flights. We don’t know how had started the hiring process of POST PHOTO: DEEPAK KC long the new measures will last, and workers who could not go abroad for A man carries logs of wood across a suspension bridge at Khokana, Lalitpur on Saturday. how the new strain will affect these many months. However, if the new countries in the days to come,” said ban persists, things will get worse for Sujit Kumar Shrestha, general secre- workers who have not recovered well tary of the Nepal Association of from months of slowdown.” Foreign Employment Agencies, an As per the statistics of the Technical courses umbrella organisation of recruiting Department of Foreign Employment, Beijing is sending a senior party agencies in the country. “If things 23,065 Nepalis have received labour remain the same for a long time, then permits to work abroad until mid-No- help many get jobs it can seriously impact our labour vember after labour migration par- migration sector once again.” tially resumed in June. According to Saudi Arabia, one of the leading Shrestha, more workers could have leader to Nepal as political crisis ... in Hetauda labour destination countries for gone abroad if workers’ demand attes- Nepali migrant workers, on Sunday tation for Saudi Arabia had begun. >> CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 ment by the Chinese private sector PRATAP BISTA announced that it will cancel all The government has not yet thought The absence of official exchanges were hit hard but overall progress is HETAUDA, DEC 26 flights to and from the country and of halting the issuance of labour between Nepal and India ended after Beijing has never not bad,” said a Finance Ministry offi- also ban entry for foreigners through permits for countries which have Delhi sent the chief of the Research & cial on condition of anonymity. Janapriya Secondary School in Hatiya its land and sea entry points for at closed their borders, said Tikamani Analysis Wing, Samant Goel, to been as visible as of China has its own security con- Chisapani, which is around seven least a week, with the possibility of Neupane, spokesperson for the Kathmandu. The visit was followed by late, especially since cerns and it wanted to see political kilometrs from Hetauda bazaar, had extending the rule for another week. Foreign Employment Department. visits by Manoj Mukund Naravane, stability and a stable government in started Junior Technical Assistant Two other Gulf countries—Kuwait “If the second wave of coronavirus the chief of the Indian Army, and NCP came to power Nepal, according to observers. (JTA) courses 15 years ago. Until now, and Oman—also followed in the foot- comes with the new strain, it will Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan “The Chinese are concerned about the school has produced 3,500 techni- steps of Saudi Arabia and decided to make it difficult for us as well. Some Shringla in November. three years ago. the Nepal Communist Party, chances cal students, said Namaraj Aryal, shut their borders to stop the spread countries have already banned entry Delhi broke the ice with Kathmandu of party unity in the future,” Sundar headmaster of the school. of the virus with the new strain. for outsiders,” Neupane told the Post. days before it hosted US Secretary of Nath Bhattarai, chairman of China The course has helped hundreds Kuwait suspended all commercial “Issuance of labour permits for those State Mike Pompeo. Pompeo and US On Tuesday evening, hours after the Study Center, told the Post. “Any of students in the district get jobs. One flights and closed its land and sea bor- countries that have banned flights has Defence Chief Mark Esper’s visit was party virtually split, Chinese changes or political turmoil can easily of them is Mana Maya Thing, a resi- ders starting 11 pm on Monday. not stopped. Even if workers receive aimed at strengthening strategic ties Ambassador Hou called on President be cause for concern for Being as it dent of Makwanpurgadhi Rural Likewise, Oman closed its land, air labour permits, they can’t travel, as in the face of growing Chinese influ- Bhandari. has its own security interests.” Municipality, who recently got a job in and sea borders starting from Tuesday. those countries have already restrict- ence in the region. On Thursday, Hou met with Dahal Despite having relations with her village after completing the course. The flight bans in West Asia mean ed commercial flights.” Concerns grew in China. and then on Friday, she held talks with Kathmandu for the last six decades, According to Aryal, the school head- Beijing decided to rush its Defence Madhav Nepal. She also held meetings Beijing has never been as visible as of master, technicians from Janapriya Minister Wei Fenghe to Nepal on with Krishna Bahadur Mahara, the late, especially since the Nepal have easily received jobs in various November 29, two days after Indian former Speaker of the House of Communist Party government was government and non-governmental foreign secretary concluded his visit. Representatives and a confidant of installed nearly three years ago. organisations. But an advance team from China had Dahal, and Barsha Man Pun, another The Nepal Communist Party and “Some of the technicians are already done the rounds among the Dahal ally and energy minister until the Chinese Communist Party had engaged in vegetable farming while Nepal Communist Party leadership. he resigned in protest against the increased engagements. In September some are in animal husbandry. Some A Nepal Communist Party leader House dissolution on Sunday. last year, a month ahead of Chinese students who passed JTA courses have admits that the larger Chinese inter- “Besides other matters, she President Xi Jinping’s visit to also launched their own businesses in est in Nepal is also in the context of inquired about recent developments Kathmandu, the Nepal Communist poultry farming and animal husband- India’s influence in the country. in our party and wanted to know Party had even organised a two-day ry,” said Aryal. “The Chinese were concerned about whether there was any chance of symposium on the Xi Jinping The government has already a series of visits from India in the past reconciliation [in our party],” Pun Thought. declared Janapriya Secondary School few months,” a Standing Committee told the Post. “She was also interested Ambassador Hou too had suddenly as a model school. “The school has member who is aware of the Chinese to know if Chinese investment in increased her meetings with Nepali also started diploma courses in elec- position on Nepal told the Post. “But Nepal would suffer in the changed communist leaders. trical, veterinary and agriculture sec- [Oli’s] decision to dissolve the House scenario.” “By their very nature, the Chinese tors. Currently, there are 400 students seems to have caught the Chinese Chinese investments include the were not involved in micro-manage- in our school,” Aryal said. unwares.” construction of an international air- ment of Nepali politics like the The school also provides practical Even though the Chinese concerns port in Pokhara, which is on track, Indians,” said former ambassador knowledge to its students of plant and were there about the infighting in the and the second phase of Ring Road Bhattarai. “They were against this animal sciences. Under the practical Nepal Communist Party, by dissolving expansion in Kathmandu is also mov- split. They thought there would education, students are taught to grow the House on Sunday, Oli dropped a ing ahead, according to Finance be some give and take between the vegetables and other food grains and bombshell. Ministry officials. Nepal Communist Party leadership raise cows and cattle. The produced POST FILE PHOTO The House dissolution had an “Due to the Covid pandemic, some but that did not happen. So they must agricultural products are sold in local Saudi Arabia, one of the leading labour destination countries for Nepali migrant workers, on immediate impact on the party. China-funded projects with invest- be unhappy.” markets, said Aryal. Sunday announced that it will cancel all flights to and from the country. Tired of Oli’s actions, Dahal and Nepal decide to join hands. But can they coexist?

>> CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 were not happy with Oli because he ferent parts of the country. ed lieutenants. Ram Bahadur Thapa, takes, they can maintain their unity. his and Oli’s interests did not match, Insiders say the likelihood of a per- was reluctant to share power, posi- They are likely to get support from who served as Dahal’s key aide during “Their unity is as fragile as the one it could happen with Nepal also.” sonality clash between Dahal and tions and the spoils. other forces like the the “people’s war”, has deserted Dahal between Oli and Dahal,” Baidya told Leaders from the Dahal-Nepal fac- Nepal is low given their nature. But since the two leaders have come and the Janata Samajbadi Party, as to side with Oli and retained the home the Post. tion, however, appear to be confident Dahal may be unpredictable but he together, according to Mainali, they these two are also planning protests minister’s position. Top Bahadur Dahal, Nepal, and Khanal are all about a lasting relationship between has a tendency of exhibiting an have a fair chance of making this against Oli’s move. With large sec- Rayamajhi, Lekhraj Bhatta, Mani former prime ministers. Dahal has the two leaders. extreme level of flexibility as well, unity last longer because they now tions of the society, and people from Thapa and Prabhu Sah are other lead- served twice, but in total just for about “Both are seasoned leaders with a so he and Nepal can coexist, according have a common cause, which is in various walks of life, too uniting ers from the former Maoist party to two years. Nepal served for 22 months long experience of organisational to them. larger national interest also, of fight- against the House dissolution, the part ways with Dahal. This, however, while Khanal’s prime ministership skills. Both have seen several ups It, however, all depends on what ing against Oli’s totalitarian style. Dahal-Nepal faction is likely to gain is not the first time Thapa has left did not last even one year. and downs,” said Raghuji Pant, a their end-goal is, according to a veter- “As long as they keep their personal sympathy. Dahal. In 2012 also, Thapa, along with Analysts say all three have their Standing Committee member who is an communist leader who is not interests and lust for power aside and “That Oli and Dahal will part ways Mohan Baidya, had decided to walk own political ambitions. By bringing now with the Dahal-Nepal faction. “So actively involved in politics. work together, they can build their some day was foreseen long ago as the away, saying Dahal had deviated from up a deal between him and Oli, Dahal I don’t think they will make any wrong Radha Krishna Mainali, a long time party,” Mainali told the Post. Nepal Communist Party was never a the party ideology and left the revolu- had last year made his ambitions to move.” colleague of Oli and Nepal, said According to Mainali, Dahal and united force in true sense,” said tion halfway. become prime minister, even though Though Oli’s move caused a split in Dahal’s association with Nepal at this Nepal are not much divided ideologi- Rajendra Maharjan, a political com- Baidya, 74, who has known Dahal he later made statements from public the Nepal Communist Party, in effect, time is out of convenience rather than cally also, given that both have accept- mentator who writes for the Post’s for decades, said ideological issues forums, saying he did not wish to lead leaders admit, the split was seen in the conviction. ed the parliamentary system. sister paper Kantipur. “The party split may not come between Dahal and the government. Nepal though has not former UML. “Their personal interests may “The important thing is their per- because Oli continuously humiliated Nepal but personal egos may. made any prime ministerial ambi- Most of the former Maoist members clash,” Mainali told the Post. “Oli’s sonal behaviour and interests,” said Dahal and Nepal and refused to share “Since the UML and Maoist Centre tions public, he does have his own have come to the Dahal-Nepal fold, but refusal to share power and access to Mainali. “If they can decide on resources.” announced merger, I have been saying political ambitions like leading a former UML leaders are divided. state shares has brought Dahal and a common end-goal and work on the Maharjan, however, believes that that Dahal had dissolved his party party. Multiple reports suggest But since most of the leaders had Nepal together. How long their associ- larger interest of the party, people and the association between Dahal and into the UML,” Baidya, Dahal’s men- Khanal, 71, wants to see himself at remained and worked under the same ation will last will depend on how the the country, they can become com- Nepal can continue for some time, tor, told the Post. Sheetal Niwas once. roof over the last two and a half years, two behave with each other.” rades in arms.” as both know they are left with not Dahal had taken over the mantle But that’s what politics is all about, there should not be much of a prob- Insiders say after Oli was driven After the split, Dahal and Nepal’s many options. of then Nepal Communist Party analysts say. There is nothing wrong lem, according to Pant. into a corner by Dahal and Nepal, first and foremost aim is to get “their” “They know that they will lose (Masal) from Baidya in 1986 after in harbouring ambitions, but it is of “There is some reality in the he was working on some schemes so Nepal Communist Party as the legiti- everything if they are divided what is known as “sector scandal”—a utmost importance whether politi- statement that it’s actually a UML that he could tame both. Oli had an mate one. Even if elections do not and now they will try to join hands failed attempt to launch an armed cians are indeed committed to serving division along the factions created ace or two up his sleeve which he happen on the dates–April 30 and May with other forces including insurgency. the people and the country or they are during the ninth general convention could have hung above the two leaders 10– declared by Oli, they would want the Congress,” said Maharjan. “We “Dahal was an opportunist and he just inclined to attain power, accord- [which elected Oli as the party as the sword of Democles, according to take control of the “sun” election have to see if they want to form a will remain an opportunist,” Baidya ing to them. chair],” said Pant. “It’s too early and to them. symbol. pro-people party and work in the told the Post in an interview earlier Dulal, the former Maoist leader and hypothetical to discuss whether the A leader who did not wish to be The Dahal-Nepal faction, which cause of democracy and democratic this year. a commentator, said Dahal could not Dahal-Nepal association will last long named said while both Dahal and held a protest in Kathmandu against values.” In a brief interview with the Post stay with Oli even after abandoning or not. They, however, need to improve Nepal, irrespective of their constant the House dissolution on Friday, is The recent turn of events, however, on Saturday, Baidya, 74, said if Dahal the Maoist party. “The problem is not their working styles and shed their refrain of building the party system, planning to hold more protests in dif- has led Dahal to lose some of his trust- and Nepal learn from their past mis- with ideology or any other issue. If old habits.”

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C M Y K SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2020 | 04 OPINION The fight for public space

place at Tundikhel every Saturday From Morocco’s Jemaa el-Fna until the Covid-19 pandemic started. Disseminating information, gathering to Nepal’s Tundikhel, people and organising programmes were mostly done through social people are raising media. Before November, the people engaged in this group successfully their voices. demolished illegal construction at Khula Manch and cleared out encroachment from the temple of Dui MONALISA MAHARJAN Maju at Khula Manch. Tundikhel once extended from Rani Pokhari to Dashrath Rangasala. From the 1960s, this open space saw encroachment by the government itself. Saraswati Sadan on the eastern side of Rani Pokhari, Ratna Park, Khula Manch, Sainik Manch, Shahid Public spaces are becoming scarce Gate and Dashrath Rangasala are a everywhere in the world, especially in few of the landmarks that were built megacities and economic hubs. by encroaching upon Tundikhel. The Kathmandu is not so different. rest of Tundikhel is occupied by the Tundikhel is a prime example of the Nepal Army which has built several public being expelled from a public buildings. Even the small spaces space. Now people are raising their remaining for the general public are voices to reclaim it. We can look at the at risk of disappearing. success stories of similar cases in other countries, this time not from the Property of the people developed world, but from a country Open spaces in Kathmandu should not similar to ours—Morocco. The coun- be treated as a luxury; they are vital try has its own social, economic and for existence. People supported this political problems of cheap labour, movement, as everyone is aware of the unemployment and poverty. need for open grounds. Even though Morocco’s Jemaa el-Fna is one of the the programmes at Tundikhel are on few public squares in the world that hold due to Covid-19, social media have been in continuous use since pages are still active. Through social ancient times. It is in the medina quar- media, Occupy Tundikhel is actively ter of Marrakech, a historic city of advocating and creating awareness of Morocco. Founded in the 11th century, this place with old pictures, stories the city was an economic, cultural and and some online events. Sanjay political centre. The ancient city of Adhikari, legal officer at Pro Public Marrakech still shows remnants of its and one of the activists in the cam- glorious past—mosques, palaces, mina- paign, explains that there is little rets, squares and gardens. Like awareness among people about public Kathmandu, Marrakech is not only and government lands. The space known for monuments, gates, palaces accessible to the public is public prop- and gardens, but also for its traditional erty and belongs to the people. houses with interior gardens (riad), The story of Tundikhel could be a narrow alleys and traditional suks case of resistance by the people of (markets). It has a vibrant culture. Kathmandu against the destruction of Amidst the amazing architecture in open spaces, and the resistance of the Jemaa el-Fna, we can see a mixture of people of Kathmandu for the right to ancient and new Moroccan culture. open spaces and the right to use them for everyday social and cultural pur- Save the square poses. We are now taking the path of All day long, storytellers, snake ‘development’ with high-rise build- charmers, traditional dentists, acro- ings, underground parking and wide bats, performers, shops and food stalls NEPAL PHOTO HISTORY PROJECT/PEACE CORP roads. But we are forgetting the people can be seen here. In the evening, fami- An aerial view of Tundikhel in 1970. and spaces for them. Our course of lies go out for food in this square. This development is still exactly on the place has become a hangout for locals swept away by the wind of modernity. ars, writers and politicians. People out- Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. hands. The campaign Occupy same track that many developed coun- and tourists alike. In the 1990s, Morocco’s intellectuals like Juan side Morocco praising this square was With this listing, the square contin- Tundikhel/ Mukta Tundikhel was ini- tries are turning their back on. If we Marrakech authorities with local Goytisolo and his friends foresaw the important in changing the perception ued; its death was averted. The recog- tiated to get back what belonged to the don’t resist now, we will be living in a businessmen and contractors planned looming disaster. In order to save the of Moroccans towards their own cul- nition by UNESCO as a heritage of people. It held its first programme at huge concrete maze. Open spaces are to demolish several houses around square, they formed a non-governmen- tural space. The group was also able to humanity gave Jemaa el-Fna more Tundikhel on November 9, 2019. A important for our survival in Jemaa el-Fna to build a shopping mall. tal organisation named Les Amis de la convince influential businessmen visibility; and even among Moroccans, large throng from different walks of Kathmandu, for a liveable city. One They wanted a multi-storey Place (Friends of the Square). They about the importance of the square pride to safeguard this square. Now, life poured in to support the open day, we should be telling our own suc- glass-fronted shopping mall and held several awareness programmes and its relationship with locals. The this square is one of the most visited space and the huge media coverage cess story of Tundikhel like the underground parking, which would be for local residents on the importance support that UNESCO’s Cultural places in Marrakech by tourists. brought public attention. Not only Moroccans who proudly narrate the a symbol of development and pro- of traditional places that bear the testi- Heritage Division gave to Juan Similar to Jemaa el-Fna, we have locals, activists and intellectuals, but story of resistance of Jemaa el-Fna. gress. If this plan had been executed, mony of the Moroccan lifestyle. The Goytisolo and his friends played an our own struggle going on to save also many politicians came to support the cultural space of Jemaa el-Fna group organised various programmes influential role in saving the square. Kathmandu’s open space—Tundikhel. this campaign. They formed a human Maharjan is a researcher for the would not have survived. The small and activities to keep the square in the In 2008, after several years of work, The repeated encroachment of the chain around Tundikhel as a symbolic UNESCO Chair in Intangible Cultural shops, storytellers, snake charmers spotlight such as storytelling competi- Jemaa el-Fna was listed in the repre- public place and exclusion of people gesture to reclaim the space. Heritage and Traditional Know-How, and much more would have been tions, international events with schol- sentative list of Intangible Cultural from their space made them join Since then, different events took Portugal.

The magic of the syllabus

teacher the chance to do what good Using the pandemic to writers do, and engage empathetically with others’ experiences. That way, reimagine the goals of teachers can create classes that take students through difficulty and teaching might be the change to somewhere new. We are not advocating making every unexpected upside. class somehow ‘vocational’, much less sentimentalising the hard work of learning. Rather, teachers should plan WILLIAM GERMANO & KIT NICHOLLS their courses backwards by develop- ing assignments—readings, experi- ments, and projects—in a progression so that students learn how as much as what, week by week, even class by class. Technology of all kinds can be crit- ical, and especially now, when almost During the 2007-08 financial crisis, all of us are teaching on screen. But it many experienced what literary schol- is, and must be, a tool, not a proxy. No ars call a ‘crisis of representation’. classroom teacher ever thought that Globally, more than $15 trillion seemed the blackboard or chalk was doing the to evaporate, and people wondered, teaching, yet today we risk imagining ‘Wait a second, what is money? How that our sophisticated technology can could all of this value just disappear? make up for the lack of a robust, prac- If this thing that represented that tical pedagogy. Professors who are other thing can vanish, was there ever asking how tech can improve their anything there in the first place?’ teaching are asking the wrong ques- Those of us who teach at universi- tion. ties are currently going through some- Using the pandemic to reimagine thing similar because of Covid-19. the goals of teaching might be the Losing most of the physical markers unexpected upside of a miserable situ- of academic life—no classrooms or ation. Teachers can find within this offices, and students instead beamed crisis the opportunity to rethink the into our homes via Zoom—has forced precious classroom dynamic. After all, us to question what a university is and teaching students how to learn, and to what higher education means. learn how to do things themselves In 2020, the answer is not obvious— beyond the classroom, is education’s and not only because the pandemic-in- necessary gift to society. duced economic crisis will probably Giving that gift, and making sure it cause a host of small colleges, espe- is received, will require a lot of good cially in the United States, to vanish writing—not the bureaucratic or dis- like so much money. Virtual teaching, posable kind, but something more like online business, socialising, or imaginative. That may not sound like prayer, is nothing like the real thing. the syllabus you remember from your Subtract dorm life, parties, physical own university days, but it is what we classrooms, and office hours in actual need now. offices from the higher-education As Winston Churchill famously said experience, and what remains is quite near the end of World War II, ‘Never sterile. let a good crisis go to waste’. The But this pared-down environment SHUTTERSTOCK Covid-19 crisis is the most serious that may also be revealing something stages. This simple idea is not exactly ments, and ‘student outcomes’ are resources managers had more job the syllabus is a piece of writing that American higher education has ever essential that had been hidden by all new, but it is not at the centre of cur- standardised at the institutional level. security than professors, US higher a teacher crafts in order to imagine a faced. The opportunity is ours to the climbing walls, cafeterias, and cul- rent higher-education debates. Many professors fear that these education had its own planning docu- classroom community into being. squander. ture wars—namely, the mechanism by Partly because faculty have not administrative structures and stric- ment: the humble course syllabus. That is not the traditional view, of which learning happens. What should organised themselves to answer the tures are gaining greater purchase Many professors worry that the syl- course. Back in the mid-20th century, Germano is Professor of English at students be able to do at the end of the essential question of what and how during the pandemic. Online courses labus has itself fallen prey to too the syllabus was mostly a list of the The Cooper Union for the Advancement course that they can’t do at the begin- universities teach, that task has fallen can be monitored and recorded, and many bureaucratic requirements, knowledge a professor would deliver of Science and Art. ning? What happens when we ask that increasingly to administrators respon- may come to resemble algorithms including quasi-legal disclaimers to students. But today, the syllabus is Kit Nicholls is Director of the Centre question? By building their courses sible for ‘assessment’. A set of ‘meas- rather than learning communities. about academic honesty, accommoda- an opportunity to plot a story in which for Writing at The Cooper Union for the backwards in this way, professors urable objectives’ is set in various But long before college presidents tions for special learning needs, and the students—not teachers—are the Advancement of Science and Art. could then add the needed skills in planning and accreditation docu- had MBAs and academic human grievance policies. Yet, at its heart, protagonists. Devising one gives any —Project Syndicate

C M Y K 05 | SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2020 MONEY

FOREX US Dollar 117.98 Domestic steel and iron prices rise as India seeks ban Euro 143.58

Pound Sterling 159.86 Nepal has been majorly importing raw material for iron and steel and finished products from India mainly for construction purposes.

Japanese Yen 11.40 KRISHANA PRASAIN don’t think it will list Nepal in Chinese Yuan 18.04 KATHMANDU, DEC 26 the banned country,” Singh said. But in case it happens then the gov- Qatari Riyal 32.40 Representatives from the steel and ernment should ease the import of Australian Dollar 89.73 iron ore sectors, including the forging steel and iron ore from third coun- industry in India, have been urging tries, he said. There will be chances of Malaysian Ringit 29.06 their government to impose a ban on smuggling of raw material from steel and iron exports to Nepal. As a Indian and the prices will increase Saudi Arab Riyal 31.44 result, the steel and iron prices have unnaturally increasing the construc- Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank increased in the domestic market but tion expenses. domestic steel manufacturers and “I do not think that India will have contractors are hoping that India will any benefit by imposing a ban as PRICE PER TOLA not impose the ban, as Nepal has min- Nepali market is small,” he said. BULLION imal import share of steel and iron The price hike usually takes place compared to other countries. with the difference in customs Fine Gold Rs 94,200 Ananda Nepal, CEO of Jagdamba charges, as the country charges 5 per- Steel, said that the chances of India cent customs duty on MS billet and Silver Rs 1,280 imposing the ban was little. “Nepal’s 30 percent finished product. The import of iron and steel is very little manufacturer fluctuates the price SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA anyway, so the Indian government will with the difference in custom rate not ban the export of steel and iron according to demand. ore,” he said. According to the Economic Times, GASOLINE WATCH “But if India does enforce the ban the forging industry has written to the then it will create scarcity in the government of India seeking a ban on domestic market,” he said, adding the export of steel and iron ore with that India traders are creating the sharp price hikes of more than chaos to raise the profitability but the 25-30 percent within the past three Indian manufacturers do not want it months. “Due to the increase in export to happen. to neighbouring countries and the Nepal said that the country does not resultant reduction in supply within even require one million tonnes the domestic market, the price has of steel and iron annually, yet the hike increased,” the report said. The indus- in raw material price will have a try made the request so that steel direct impact here. demand within the country can be met However, the price has been POST FILE PHOTO in a cost/price-effective manner. increased to the same ratio as in the The country imported iron and steel and products worth Rs37.11 billion in the first four months of the current fiscal year, a decline of 13.8 percent According to the Trade and Export Indian market, the domestic manufac- compared to the same period last fiscal, according to the Trade and Export Promotion Center. Promotion Center, the country import- turer said. “But with the political ed iron and steel and products worth instability and less expenditure in of Contractors Association of Nepal, India then the domestic iron and steel Rs30-35 percent,” he said. As the raw Rs37.11 billion in the first four months development projects, the consump- said the construction work and manu- manufacturing and construction sec- material import has declined and due of the current fiscal year, a decline of tion will decline,” he said. facturing sector has gradually started tor will collapse, he said. to the increase in trade price, the price 13.8 percent compared to the same Nepal has been majorly importing opening, pushing high demand for According to Singh, the price has has been hiked. The highest iron and time period last fiscal as import stood raw material for iron and steel and iron and steel in India and other coun- been hiked to Rs57 per kg of iron and steel prices recorded has been Rs114 at Rs43 billion. products thereof from India mainly tries as well. “However, domestic man- steel has reached to Rs86 per kg. “It per kg in the past in the domestic mar- One of the major imported com- for construction purposes like iron ufacturers said that the import of raw should not have increased more than ket, he said. modities, the country imported iron and steel, pipes, corrugated sheets. material has lessened,” he said. If the Rs8-10 per kg observing the interna- “India has not banned import in and steel and products thereof worth Rabi Singh, president of Federation raw material does not arrive from tional price but it has been hiked by steel and iron ore previously and I Rs121 billion. Asian business Brexit trade deal sparks relief China to leapfrog US as world’s confidence growing, pandemic still top but UK market will bear scars biggest economy by 2028 longer need to hold as many UK REUTERS While the United States was likely to stocks, said Caroline Simmons, LONDON, DEC 26 have a strong post-pandemic rebound in risk, survey shows CIO, UK, at UBS Global Wealth 2021, its growth would slow to 1.9 percent a Management, British equities may China will overtake the United States to year between 2022 and 2024, and then to 1.6 REUTERS perform well against a backdrop become the world’s biggest economy in percent after that. Japan would remain the SINGAPORE, DEC 26 where other markets look expen- 2028, five years earlier than previously esti- world’s third-biggest economy, in dollar sive—Simmons says UK shares mated due to the contrasting recoveries of terms, until the early 2030s when it would Asian firms turned most optimistic in trade at a 30 percent discount rela- the two countries from the Covid-19 pan- be overtaken by India, pushing Germany the fourth quarter this year, a tive to global markets against a demic, a think tank said. down from fourth to fifth. Thomson Reuters/INSEAD survey typical 10 percent discount. “For some time, an overarching theme of The United Kingdom, currently the showed, as business activity picked up But she does not expect them to global economics has been the economic fifth-biggest economy by the CEBR’s meas- in the region and Covid-19 vaccines recover fully. and soft power struggle between the United ure, would slip to sixth place from 2024. started rolling out in Western coun- “As for the Brexit discount, I do States and China,” the Centre for Economics However, despite a hit in 2021 from its tries ahead of their Asian launch. think some of it goes away but will and Business Research said in an annual exit from the European Union’s single mar- The outlook for Asian companies in it completely disappear? The drag report published on Saturday. ket, British GDP in dollars was forecast to the next six months tracked by the on cumulative UK GDP as a result “The Covid-19 pandemic and correspond- be 23 percent higher than France’s by 2035, Thomson Reuters/INSEAD Asian of Brexit is still sizeable,” she ing economic fallout have certainly tipped helped by Britain’s lead in the increasingly Business Sentiment Index jumped said. As further shadow on the this rivalry in China’s favour.”The CEBR important digital economy. to 62 this quarter from 53 in the outlook, Britain’s economy, said China’s “skilful management of the Europe accounted for 19 percent of out- third quarter. The latest number already weakened by Brexit uncer- pandemic”, with its strict early lockdown, put in the top 10 global economies in 2020 according to the survey of 101 firms tainty, has suffered the worst dam- and hits to long-term growth in the West but that will fall to 12 percent by 2035, or across 11 Asia-Pacific countries was age of any major country from the meant China’s relative economic perfor- lower if there is an acrimonious split the highest since the fourth quarter of Covid-19 pandemic, with the sec- mance had improved. China looked set for between the EU and Britain, the CEBR said. 2019. A reading above 50 indicates a REUTERS ond-quarter of 2020 witnessing the average economic growth of 5.7 percent a It also said the pandemic’s impact on the positive outlook. A file photo shows people walking through the lobby of the London Stock Exchange. worst recession in 300 years. year from 2021-25 before slowing to 4.5 per- global economy was likely to show up in That has forced the government cent a year from 2026-30. higher inflation, not slower growth. REUTERS “Brexit does mean that the UK to lift its borrowing to a peacetime Few Asian nations LONDON, DEC 26 will likely lose some of its sheen,” record. said Seema Shah, chief strategist Economic recovery is complicat- expect to get Britain’s trade agreement with the at Principal Global Investors. ed by weak “bricks-and-mortar” European Union removes a 4-1/2- While the news could lend some foreign direct investment. The net UPPER TAMAKOSHI HYDROPOWER LIMITED significant amounts year old fear of crashing out of the traction to British markets it value of foreign direct investment bloc without trading arrange- would not protect the economy (FDI) into the United Kingdom Notice of Prequalification of Covid vaccines ments in place, but it will take UK from long-term scarring, inflicted dropped to 49.3 billion pounds in Name of Project : Rolwaling Khola Hydroelectric Project financial markets years to lose by a combination of Brexit and 2018, a quarter of 2016 levels, offi- in coming weeks. their Brexit-inflicted scars. Covid-19, she said.“Being excluded cial data shows. Name of Contract : EPC Construction of Rolwaling Khola The “no-deal Brexit” risk has from the world’s largest single This year will have seen 30 Hydroelectric Project weighed on Britain’s growth and market area will see jobs, people, percent-45 percent fewer FDI pro- Contract Identification No : RKHEP/ICB/02/2076/77 “There’s a sense of optimism going investment prospects since June and capital flows trickle away from jects than 2019, consultancy EY Date of Publication : 27 December 2020 forward,” said Antonio Fatas, 2016, when citizens voted to sever the UK, in search of destinations estimates, mostly because of the Singapore-based economics professor ties with the country’s biggest which instead embrace globalisa- pandemic. With reference to the “Reinvitation for Prequalification” published in the at global business school INSEAD. financial services customer that tion,” Shah added. Hinesh Patel, a portfolio manag- Kathmandu Post and official website of Public Procurement Monitoring office “Things are getting better but they accounts for $1 trillion of bilateral Ilustrating the discount, UK er at Quilter Investors, said the (www.bolpatra.gov.np) on 26 April 2020 for the above-mentioned Contract and are getting better with still a dose of commerce a year. stocks have underperformed since Brexit deal “could unblock the Contract Identification No, the following applicants have been prequalified to uncertainty. The effect of the crisis is So Thursday’s deal, seven days 2016 and lagged the global recov- backlog of international invest- very different across sectors,” he before the deadline, is an undoubt- ery since March that has sent rival ment that has been waiting for participate in the bidding process of “EPC Construction of Rolwaling Khola added, noting the weakness in the ed relief. Analysts are urging cli- indexes to record highs. some sort of outcome before insti- Hydroelectric Project”. transport sector due to curbs on ents to snap up undervalued UK The British currency remains tutions begin investing in UK plc S.No. Name of Prequalified Applicants global travel. stocks, the worst performing of around 20 percent below its long- once again.” Still, more than half the respond- any major market since 2016 and term fair value. Few expect it to Others are less optimistic and 1. SSCE-High Himalaya JV, Nepal ents polled flagged persistent cases of many say they been buying ster- recover fully in the near term. say the watered-down ties with 2. Sinohydro Corporation Ltd., China the novel coronavirus as well as the ling, which is near 2-1/2-year highs The underperformance is large- Brussels will inflict lasting possible scarcity of vaccines in parts above $1.36. But those hoping the ly driven by foreign investors damage. 3. China International Water & Electric Corporation (CWE), China of the world—at least initially—as deal will allow British assets to dumping UK assets. Financial data “There’s a bit of short term ver- 4. Shaanxi Water Resources & Hydropower Engineering Group Co. Ltd., China their biggest risk. While the United catch up with high-flying overseas provider eVestment estimates sus long term story here,” Morgan The Prequalified applicants will be notified shortly for bid invitation. The bids States and Britain have already start- markets may be disappointed. European and US-domiciled inves- Stanley head of cross asset strate- ed vaccinating their populations, few The bare-bones nature of the tors have pulled more money than gy Andrew Sheets said, speaking by prequalified applicants will be subjected to verification of all information Asian countries expect to get signifi- deal leaves Britain far more they have added into UK stocks before the deal announcement. submitted for prequalification at the time of bidding. cant amounts of coronavirus vaccines detached from the EU than was almost every quarter between the Removing the no-deal risk will Address in coming weeks. thought likely in 2016. Further referendum and the third 2020 raise average asset prices, Sheets Some Asian countries are still run- negotiations are inevitable in 2021 quarter. And because the size of said, but said: “It doesn’t fix the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Limited (UTKHPL) ning their own late-stage trials of vac- to flesh out the agreement. the UK market has shrunk as a underlying economic challenges... Bishnudhan Niwas, Annapurna Marga cines, while others are allowing time It all means the discount that percentage of the global index, to 4 You are facing a negative shock to Gyaneswor, Kathmandu, Nepal to check for any side effects in people has dogged UK assets since 2016 percent from 10 percent pre-ref- services which are a large majori- Tel. No.: 977-1-4420658, 4420295, Fax No.: 977-1-4412569 inoculated elsewhere. will not vanish soon. erendum, foreign investors no ty of the UK economy.” UTKHPL Email: [email protected]; www.tamakoshihydro.org.np No tourists: Virus empties streets of Athens

ASSOCIATED PRESS sually devoid of pedestrians and mer rise in reported cases and as of ATHENS (GREECE), DEC 26 motorists before Christmas. Christmas Eve has seen 4,4,57 con- In their absence, ancient monu- firmed virus-related deaths. The It’s been a while since visitors to ments are a little easier to make out restrictions have closed bars, restau- Greece sought out souvenirs in from a distance, fewer horns are rants, coffee shops and many other Athens’ oldest neighbourhood. sounding in traffic and homeless businesses considered non-essential The winding streets of Plaka, laid cats parked in front of cafes are a little but which make up a large slice of out long before the city imported a less aloof. Greece’s tourism-dependent economy. grid system, are lined with closed Greece so far has imposed two The number of visitors traveling to stores behind aluminum shutters. The nationwide lockdowns since the start the country plummeted 76.1 percent coronavirus pandemic has kept tour- of the pandemic. The first, in the during the first 10 months of 2020 com- ists away from the historic city centre spring, kept the country’s infection pared to a year earlier. Spending sank that forms a semi-circle around the rates low. Authorities ordered the sec- 77 percent, according to central bank Acropolis, and the area remained unu- ond in response to a rapid post-sum- data released this week.

C M Y K SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2020 | 06 WORLD BRIEFING After success against China lowers age of criminal liability for ‘abominable’ crimes virus, South Korea SHANGHAI: China has lowered the age of criminal responsibility to 12 years old for “abominable” crimes such as murder or causing injury that leads sleepwalks into crisis to death or severe disabilities by extremely cruel means, the China Daily said. The revision was passed ASSOCIATED PRESS by the National People’s Congress SEOUL, DEC 26 First case of new Covid variant Standing Committee on Saturday found in France after a third review and will be effec- South Korea had seemed to be win- tive from March 1. It applies to chil- ning the fight against the coronavirus: PARIS: France recorded its first case dren aged between 12 and 14, the Quickly ramping up its testing, con- of the new variant of coronavirus, state-backed newspaper said. tact-tracing and quarantine efforts as the number of cases and deaths Children in China aged 14-16 can be paid off when it weathered an early from Covid-19 mounted in the coun- held criminally liable if they inten- outbreak without the economic pain try, increasing concerns of a new tionally commit serious violent of a lockdown. wave of the virus hitting the euro crimes such as murder and rape. For But a deadly resurgence has reached zone’s second-biggest economy. The most other offences, the age of crimi- new heights during Christmas week, French health ministry said a nal liability is 16. prompting soul-searching on how the Frenchman who recently arrived nation sleepwalked into a crisis. back in France from London had The 1,241 infections on Christmas tested positive for the new variant Judge delays execution of only Day were the largest daily increase. of the coronavirus. The ministry woman on US death row Another 1,132 cases were reported said the case—the first in France— WASHINGTON: A federal judge said the AP/RSS Saturday, bringing South Korea’s case- had been found in the city of Tours. Justice Department unlawfully People warm themselves around a fire while heavy fog envelopes Lahore, Pakistan, on Saturday. Various cities in eastern and central parts of load to 55,902. The man in question rescheduled the execution of the only the country continue to experience heavy fog, disrupting air and road transportation. Over 15,000 were added in the last 15 arrived from London on December woman on federal death row, poten- days alone. An additional 221 fatalities 19. He was currently self-isolating tially setting up the Trump adminis- over the same period, the deadliest and felt alright, the ministry added. tration to schedule the execution stretch, took the death toll to 793. British Health Secretary Matt after president-elect Joe Biden takes As the numbers keep rising, the Hancock had said on December office. US. District Court Judge shock to people’s livelihoods is deep- 14 that a spike in Covid cases in the Randolph Moss also vacated an order ening and public confidence in the United Kingdom might have been China hails its ‘extraordinary’ government eroding. Officials could linked to the new variant of the from the director of the Bureau of Prisons that had set Lisa decide to increase social distancing virus in the country. Hancock said Montgomery’s execution date for measures to maximum levels on more than 1,000 cases of the new January 12. Montgomery had previ- Sunday, after resisting for weeks. variant had been identified, mainly ously been scheduled to be put to success curbing virus pandemic Tighter restrictions could be inevi- in southeastern England. Countries death this month, but Moss delayed table because transmissions have around the world have in recent the execution. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Xinhua reported, citing a statement team of World Health Organization been outpacing efforts to expand hos- days closed their borders to both BEIJING, DEC 26 issued after the two-day meeting. experts is expected to arrive in China pital capacities. Britain and South Africa following China has largely curbed the spread to investigate the animal origins of In the greater Seoul area, more the identification of cases of the India detains 75 in Kashmir China’s ruling Communist Party lead- of the virus, and was one of the only Covid-19, during which trip they will facilities have been designated for new, fast-spreading variant of the SRINAGAR: India’s government ers have congratulated themselves on major economies to report growth this visit Wuhan. Covid-19 treatment and dozens of gen- coronavirus in those countries. detained at least 75 Kashmiri political their “extremely extraordinary” suc- year. An expert from the team told AFP eral hospitals have been ordered to Japan has reported its first cases of leaders and activists to forestall polit- cess in handling the Covid-19 outbreak But it has been accused of covering this week that the investigation was allocate more ICUs for virus patients. a fast-spreading variant in passen- ical unrest after an alliance of domestically, ahead of a World Health up the initial outbreak, and so contrib- “not about finding a guilty country or Hundreds of troops have been gers arriving from Britain. (Reuters) Kashmir’s regional political parties Organization probe into the disease’s uting to the virus’ spread internation- a guilty authority”, but about “about deployed to help with contract trac- won a local election, leaders and a origins. ally. understanding what happened to ing. police official said on Saturday. The China faced a barrage of criticism At home, Beijing has attempted to avoid that in the future”. At least four patients have died at have done more to prepare hospitals District Council election, concluded at home and abroad over its initial stifle criticism by punishing at least Beijing has recently attempted to their homes or long-term care facili- for a winter surge. early this week, was the first such handling of the virus, which emerged eight whistleblowers. cast doubts on the origins of the ties while waiting for admission this “We have patients with all kinds of exercise since Prime Minister in the central city of Wuhan last A Chinese citizen journalist who virus—the state-run People’s Daily month, said Kwak Jin, an official at serious illnesses at our ICUs and they Narendra Modi’s government last December. reported on Wuhan’s outbreak, Zhang newspaper said in a Facebook post in the Korea Disease Control and can’t share any space with Covid-19 year revoked the special status of the China’s Politburo, the top deci- Zhan, has been detained since May early November that “all available evi- Prevention Agency. The agency said patients, so it’s hard,” Choi said. Muslim-majority, Indian-controlled sion-making body of the Communist and is expected to go on trial on dence suggests that the coronavirus 299 among 16,577 active patients were “It’s the same medical staff that has region. New Delhi then cracked down Party, said late Friday that the party Monday. did not start in central China’s in serious or critical condition. been fighting the virus for all these on the opposition and rounded up leadership “played a decisive role in Zhang is a former lawyer who trav- Wuhan”. “Our hospital system isn’t going to months. There’s an accumulation of hundreds of people to preempt pro- leading ... China in prevailing over the elled to the city in February to report China has also tried to enhance its collapse, but the crush in Covid-19 fatigue.” tests and violence. The new deten- rare risks and challenges this year.” on the chaotic initial stages of the soft power push during the pandem- patients has significantly hampered Critics say the government of tions, including separatist leaders “At the critical moment ... the Party outbreak through livestreams and ic—promising to share its vaccines our response,” said Choi Won Suk, an President Moon Jae-in became com- and members of the banned Jamat-e- Central Committee took a long-term critical essays widely shared on social with developing countries, and engag- infectious disease professor at the placent after swiftly containing the Islami group, were for preventive cus- view ...achieving an extremely media platforms banned in China. ing in “mask diplomacy”—donating Korea University Ansan Hospital, outbreak this spring that was cen- tody, said a police official. (AGENCIES) extraordinary glory in this extremely The two-day Politburo meeting personal protective gear to countries west of Seoul. tered in the southeastern city of unusual year,” state news agency comes shortly before an international in need. Choi said the government should Daegu. Covid-19 vaccine shipments arrive India’s fabled farmers fear across EU before expected rollout what new law may reap ASSOCIATED PRESS underway across Europe, across cost more than 30,000 lives, will begin WARSAW, DEC 26 Germany and its regions, to deliver with those over 80 and people who the first vaccine. More deliveries will take care of vulnerable groups. The first shipments of coronavirus follow the day after tomorrow. This Spanish authorities said early vaccines have arrived across the vaccine is the decisive key to end this Saturday that the first batch of the European Union as authorities pre- pandemic.” coronavirus vaccine to reach the pared to administer the first shots to “It is the key to getting our lives country had arrived in the central city the most vulnerable people in a coor- back,” Spahn said. of Guadalajara—where the first shots dinated effort on Sunday. The rollout is the result of coordi- will be administered on Sunday morn- The vaccines developed by nation on the part of all 27 member ing at a nursing home. BioNTech and Pfizer arrived by truck states, helping the bloc to also project A nurse in Rome at Spallanzani in warehouses across the continent on a sense of unity in a lifesaving mis- Hospital, the main infectious diseases Friday and early Saturday after being sion of logistical complexity after dif- facility in Italy’s capital, should be the sent from a manufacturing centre in ficulties in negotiating a post-Brexit first in the country to receive the vac- Belgium before Christmas. trade deal with Britain. cine, followed by other health person- The rollout marks a moment of The first doses, however, are limited nel. hope for a region that includes some to nearly 10,000 doses in most coun- In Poland, the first two people to be of the world’s earliest and worst-hit tries, with the mass vaccination pro- vaccinated on Sunday will be a nurse virus hot spots, including Italy and grams expected to begin only in and a doctor at the Interior Ministry Spain, and others, like the Czech January. hospital in Warsaw, the main corona- Republic, that were spared the worst Each country is deciding on its own virus hospital in the capital, followed early on only to see their health care who will get the first shots—but they by medical personnel in dozens of systems near their breaking points in are all making the most vulnerable other hospitals. the fall. first in line. Prime Minister Mateusz Altogether, the 27 EU member states French authorities announced this Morawiecki recently called it the have seen at least 16 million cases of week that will prioritise the elderly, patriotic duty of Poles to get vaccinat- the coronavirus and more than 336,000 based on the high impact on older ed. deaths. populations in previous virus surges In Bulgaria, the first person to get “It’s here, the good news at in France. The French medical safety the shot will be Health Minister Christmas,” German Health Minister agency will monitor for eventual prob- Kostadin Angelov, who has promised Jens Spahn said at a news conference lems. an aggressive campaign will start Saturday. “At this moment, trucks are Germany, where the pandemic has soon to promote benefits of the shots.

AP/RSS Indian farmer Ram Singh Patel shows his yield of chillies at his farm in Fatehpur district, 180 km south of Lucknow, India, on December 19. Every day, Patel toils on the farm, where he grows chili peppers, onions, garlic, tomatoes and papayas.

ASSOCIATED PRESS tural laws introduced by Prime Delhi, the capital, for nearly a month FATEHPUR, DEC 26 Minister Narendra Modi’s govern- and hunkered down with food and fuel ment will favor big corporations supplies that can last weeks. They Ram Singh Patel’s day starts at 6 in the that will push down prices and have threatened to not leave until morning, when he walks into his make family-owned farms unviable, their demands to abolish the laws are farmland tucked next to a railway eventually leaving millions like him met. line. For hours he toils on the farm, landless. The government says the new laws where he grows chili peppers, onions, “The farmers will survive this provide much-needed reform for the garlic, tomatoes and papayas. onslaught by any means,” said Patel, agricultural sector. It has tried to pla- Sometimes his wife, two sons and two who supports Modi but opposes the cate the angry farmers, but several daughters join him to lend a helping new laws. “But the future generations rounds of talks to try to get them to hand or have lunch with him. will have no food because there will be end the protests have failed. Once home after sunset, he packs no one to grow the grain. What will Many of the protesting farmers are the cultivated crops in jute bags and the prime minister eat then?” from the northern states of Punjab cardboard boxes, ready to be driven by India’s fabled farmers, often called and Haryana, two of India’s largest a trailer to a nearby wholesale market “annadatta,” or “providers,” have long agricultural states. But the rumbles where the produce is sold. been seen as the heart and soul of a have now started to grow in other This is the daily life of Patel, a country where the agriculture indus- states too. 55-year-old generational farmer in try supports more than half of the “Modi’s government is for the rich,” India’s heartland state of Uttar people. But farmers have also seen Patel said. “His government is forcing Pradesh. The life is laborious and their economic clout diminish over these laws on us when we didn’t even repetitive, but it is one of an unknown the last three decades. Once account- ask for them.” hero who, like millions of other small ing for a third of India’s gross domes- The laws have exacerbated existing farmers, grows grain to feed India’s tic product, they now account for only resentment from farmers, who often ever-growing population of more than 15 percent of the country’s $2.9 trillion complain of being ignored by the gov- 1.3 billion. economy. ernment. But of late, Patel has been a worried Compounding their worries are the “The common public is against man. His earnings have started to fall. new laws that have stoked widespread these laws,” Patel said. “I don’t under- His kids don’t want to work on the anger among the farmers. Tens of stand why the prime minister is not farm. And he fears that new agricul- thousands of them have besieged New listening to them.”

C M Y K 07 | SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2020 SPORTS | MEDLEY India dominate Manday Kaji credits Australia on opening Leicester pull late equaliser to day of second Test frustrate Manchester United patience and hard REUTERS MELBOURNE, DEC 26 The Foxes come from behind twice as the Red Devils fail to hold out for a record-equalling work for his success India proved there is life without cap- 11th consecutive away Premier League win, and move within two points of leaders Liverpool. tain Virat Kohli as they bowled Australia out for 195 to dominate the half as he swept Fernandes’s prodded opening day of the second Test in through ball into the bottom corner Melbourne. for his 13th goal of the season. India, who made four changes to Leicester’s only threat before falling their 11 from Adelaide, were 36 for one behind had come from a mishit clear- at stumps, with debutant Shubman ance from David De Gea from which Gill 28 not out and Cheteshwar Pujara Barnes could not pick out a teammate on seven after the loss of opener in the middle. However, Barnes hauled Mayank Argarwal for a duck. his side back into the game with one After Australia won the toss and moment of brilliance as his powerful elected to bat, pace spearhead Jasprit blast from outside the box had too Bumrah grabbed four wickets and much power for De Gea on 31 minutes. seamer Mohammed Siraj took two on United continued to pose the great- his Test debut. With the wounds still er threat, but lacked the killer instinct raw from India’s humiliating dismiss- on the counter-attack that has played a al for 36 at the Adelaide Oval, their major role when they have had suc- lowest innings total in Tests, the focus cess this season. Paul Pogba again had shifted quickly to their batsmen and to make do with a place on the bench, how they would fare against but the Frenchman made an instant POST FILE PHOTO Australia’s fired-up pace attack. The impact when he was introduced just Manday Kaji Shrestha won two gold medals in karate in the 13th South Asian Games. pressure proved too much for before the hour mark and helped Argarwal, who was out lbw on the United take control of the midfield. SPORTS BUREAU The next edition of the Games, held sixth ball of the innings after a with- Solskjaer’s men were still most dan- KATHMANDU, DEC 26 in 2016 in India, was painful not just ering opening salvo from paceman gerous when given space to run in for him but the whole karate fraterni- Mitchell Starc. REUTERS behind as Fred fed Rashford whose A player would be called the best only ty. The organisers scrapped karate Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin Jamie Vardy’s (left) deflected shot five minutes from time secured a 2-2 draw for Leicester. fierce shot was repelled by a brilliant when s/he passes hurdles one after from the Games owing to an infight- (3-35) did early damage with two wick- save by Schmeichel. Moments later another. But the story of 13th South ing in the Indian karate body. ets including that of Australia’s star AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE thought he had claimed another away Rashford was the creator as Anthony Asian Games (SAG) twin gold medal- But amid uncertainty and last hour batsman Steve Smith for a duck. LEICESTER, DEC 26 win 11 minutes from time, but Jamie Martial coolly slotted beyond the giant list Manday Kaji Shrestha is different. rush, the 13th SAG took place in Nepal Reeling at 65 for three at lunch, Vardy’s predatory instincts kept Dane in the Leicester goal, but this He not only had to pass the hur- last year and it was an ideal Australia rallied with an 86-run part- Manchester United missed out on the Leicester one point and one place time the offside flag, backed up by a dles of his professional career opportunity for Shrestha to nership between Labuschagne and chance to move within two points of above United in the table as his shot VAR review, denied United. but also win the fight against prove himself at the home Travis Head, but neither could go on Premier League leaders Liverpool as deflected in off Tuanzebe. Liverpool’s Edinson Cavani was also brought his luck. ground. He left no stone with it. Bumrah had Head caught in Axel Tuanzebe’s own goal five min- lead at the top now stands at three off the bench by Solskjaer in search of The hardwork- unturned to grab the histor- the gully by Rahane for 38 before Siraj, utes from time earned second-placed points and Jurgen Klopp’s men can a winner in the final 15 minutes and ing player ic gold medals. Having held back until after lunch, savoured Leicester a 2-2 draw on Saturday. move further clear when they host the Uruguayan made a big impact as took spent more than two his first Test wicket when Labuschagne Slow starts had been a feature for West Brom at the Anfield on Sunday. he fed Fernandes for the Portuguese to many decades in the was pouched for 48 by Gill at back- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men on the Solskjaer has been keen to put an drill home his 14th goal of the season. tests game since he ward square leg. road this season as they had won their end to his side’s sluggish starts and But United failed to hold out for a before took up Tim Paine was caught in close off previous six away league games should have been celebrating inside 90 record-equalling 11th consecutive he ulti- karate the bowling of Ashwin for 13. Siraj despite conceding first. However, this seconds when Rashford headed over away Premier League win as Vardy’s mately became when he had young all-rounder Cameron Green time it was the Red Devils who twice Fernandes’s inch-perfect cross with movement outfoxed the visitor’s one of the greatest was just 10, out lbw for 12 before Bumrah and failed to hold onto the lead. only Kasper Schmeichel to beat. The defence as he turned Ayoze Perez’s Nepali karate players of his achievement all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja combined Harvey Barnes’s fierce strike can- England international was not so for- cross towards goal and the ball all time. Had he not waited last year brought him to wrap up the tail after some lusty celled out Marcus Rashford’s opener giving to the Foxes when given a sec- bounced in off the unfortunate patiently for years, he would have recognition as one of the slogging from Nathan Lyon (20). before half-time. Bruno Fernandes ond chance midway through the first- Tuanzebe. been just another player who left the most successful karatekas of ring unnoticed. the country. But Shrestha achieved the historic “Now I have transformed into a new mark when he became the first Nepali Manday Kaji. Patience, hard work and karateka to bag double gold medals in family support are key to my success,” the regional sports meet held last year said the native of Madhyapur, Thimi Lumbini, Armed Police Force off to flying starts from December 1 to 10 in the country. who also secured gold and bronze in He clinched gold medals in the indi- the South Asian Karate Championship vidual and team kata events. held last year in Bangladesh and sil- DURGA LAL KC Anuradha Chaudhary and Sana eries. Skipper Nary Thapa contribut- Sarita Magar scored an unbeaten 44 Going by the past incidents of the ver in Thailand Open. DANG, DEC 26 Prabin contributed equal 21 runs each ed a not out 15 runs. runs from 34 deliveries while Indu 36-year-old as a player, even luck was For his achievement and popularity for Province 2. Bimala Rana, who In the late fixture, APF elected to Barna contributed 22 runs. not by his side. Whenever he got close in the past year, Shrestha has been Lumbini Province and Nepal Armed scored 10 runs, was the other player to bat first and ran riot over Karnali Dikshya Puri of Karnali claimed to any achievement, it drifted away. nominated for the peoples’ choice cat- Police Force (APF) Sports Club earned contribute in double figures as they Province scoring 235-4 before restrict- two wickets while Nisha Parajuli and Nearly one and a half decades back, egory of the annual Pulsar Sports resounding victories in the Prime lost the remaining batters cheaply. ing Karnali Province at 31 runs in 14.1 Anju Gurung had one wicket each. while he was a member of the nation- Award to be held on January 12. Minister Cup Women’s National twen- Lumbini’s Sushmita Bhusal, named overs. APF Captain Sita Rana Magar Karnali, who got 15 extra runs, al karate team, he was axed from final Volleyball captain Aruna Shahi, bas- ty20 cricket tournament that kicked player-of-the-match, pocketed three shone with bat scoring 68 off 59 before looked miserable in batting as none of selection for the 2006 SAG. ketball captain Sadina Shrestha, foot- off in Lamahi, Dang, on Saturday. wickets in her four-over spell conced- she was bowled out by Anju Gurung. their batters scored in double figures. He was in the Nepali team for the ball’s Sabitra Bhandari and swimmer Lumbini edged Province 2 by nine ing 10 runs. Rana Magar played 97-run stand for Karuna Bhandari was the most suc- 2010 SAG and even travelled with the Gaurika Singh are the other nominees wickets while the departmental giants In the run chase, openers Gita Gosai the first wicket with Jyoti Pandey and cessful bowler for APF claiming five team to Dhaka. Unfortunately, he had of the category. thrashed Karnali Province by 204 and Saraswati Ganga Magar created 99-run stand for second with Sarita wickets. She gave away two runs in to return home without competing. The winner among them will be runs. the base for the winning 53-run part- Magar. Opener Rana Magar, also play- her 3.1 over bowling with two maiden Of the 11 Nepali karatekas, only 10 decided on the basis of votes received In the opening match, electing to nership for the first wicket. Magar er-of-the-match, cracked eight bounda- overs. were allowed to compete and Shrestha through eSewa, Facebook likes, votes bowl first, Lumbini restricted scored 22 runs off 42 before she was ries before she was sent to the pavilion Lumbini will vie against Karnali was the 11th player. “It was really a from organiser Nepal Sports Province 2 at 77-7 and chased the tar- bowled by Kabita Gautam while Gosai in the 17.4 over. Her opening partner and APF will take on Province 2 on bitter experience and I cried all the Journalists Forum members and get losing one wicket at 16.1. Opener scored an unbeaten 23 facing 42 deliv- Jyoti Pandey contributed 32 off 30. Sunday. way back home,” he recalls. chief coaches of sports associations. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) **** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** You might feel like taking an impromptu break. This You could be clearing up issues that may have caused You could be very honest in your ideas now. You The stars are encouraging you to put energy into will do wonders to boost your mood and recharge a lot of discontent over the years. It’s possible that might feel like rebelling in order to stir things up fulfilling your ambitions. You could decide to focus your spirits. However, feelings could come to the one or two misunderstandings could occur. If some- and make life more exciting. While this might be fine on one particular goal and see it through to the end. surface, so try to avoid doing or saying anything that one you care about seems to withdraw for a while, on a small scale, it could have major repercussions if You could also be a lot more competitive when it you might come to regret later. try not to take it personally. it affects more important areas of your life. comes to job interviews or getting a promotion.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** Talk about a delectable dilemma! The stars are mak- Over the coming weeks and months, your attention You’re so ready to relax that you’re feeling torn This is a time when the cosmos encourages you to ing an impulse the name of the game, and they’ve set could be drawn to exploring issues or experiences between spending yet another evening with that unwind and recharge. It’s an opportunity to see your up shop in your house of secret desires. It’s easy to that have troubled you for some time. There may have delectable new admirer and taking the night off to life in perspective and make a few key decisions. It see how you could get yourself into a bit of trouble if been long periods when you pushed these to the back get some sleep. Obviously, you must be really, really also offers you the chance to let go of anything that you’re not careful. of your mind and simply got on with life. tired here. may be getting in the way of your progress.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) **** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) **** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** You know how you’ve had the feeling lately that This is your chance to clear the decks and make the A very soulful vibe could encourage you to reach out Expect to get a dose of reality that could encourage a something big is coming along? As usual, you’re space for new things to enter your life in the future. to others and help in whatever way you can. However, restructuring of your goals, ambitions, or career. right. A group is about to ask, if not outright beg, For instance, if there is something you have always there might be a tendency to give too much away Also, a lot of rewards and honors could come to you that you become more involved. A lot more involved. wanted to do but never got around to it, consider or offer help to those who are able to help for all your hard work, but a lot will likely be expect- Does this mean your fun is over? putting this at the top of your list. themselves. ed of you too. CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2020 | 08 BLACKBOARD (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 Unrealistic beauty standards of today The physical appearance of a person should never define his qualities; real beauty always comes from within.

BIBEK GAUTAM that you are ugly. Being slim or ripped should not be the golden standard of aving fair complexion is beauty, and it is very wrong of individu- lovely. Dark complexion als to try to achieve such fake perfection. is ugly. Slim is perfect. Chasing beauty for most of us is an ideal Boys must have ripped game but in reality it is just a distraction, bodies. Fat and skinny are and we shouldn’t live for appreciation for just the definitions of the appearance of our outer body. Hunattractive.” And yet, we choose thousands of beau- These types of clichés still tyrannise ty products just to make sure our skin the mindset of most Nepali people. Body glows, we buy fad diets for rapid weight shaming, especially fat shaming and col- loss and there is even reported use of ourism, which are prevalent in our socie- steroids by the boys to increase their ty, has shattered the self-confidence of muscle size. Yes, quality beauty products teenagers. They are forced to believe the can actually enhance your appearance fake beauty standards set by society and even personality but there is no guar- which in reality is unattainable and only antee that what suits someone will also be decrease the self-esteem of an individual. suitable for another skin type. Putting on The physical appearance of a person too many products without even consult- should never define his qualities, real ing a dermatologist often lead to worsen- beauty always comes from within and it is ing of the skin, and this further leads to the attributes like character, moral values degraded self-worth and ultimately one and skills that make up a person’s person- starts to hate themselves. Even the con- ality. A person should be praised for his sumption of fad diets and regular fasting personality and not for how his outer can be beneficial, but what teenagers appearance is. But even in this 21st centu- these days are trying is nothing but dan- ry, we let our identities sway in accord- gerous in every way. It’s not always about ance to social conventions, and hence we calories but the right nutrition, and by run after the false idea of perfection, try- counting calories and having minimal ing out various makeup products and calories required for surviving, many even editing our photos with hundreds of individuals have suffered from anorexia apps app-store has to offer. And in all nervosa and even worse. this chaos, we forget to hone our skills, The fake standards of beauty which we forget about our personality, and we society has set is what has led teenagers basically live to emulate someone else’s to harshly treat themselves without con- personality. sulting anyone, and the results are never Beauty has always been a vague sub- good. Before using any product, one must ject. Different people have different ideas ensure that it is not harmful to the human and definitions of beauty. For me, beauty body but today flashy advertisements are is not a quality of a subject but an idea what a person looks for while choosing a which solely exists in the mind which product—not its pros or its cons. contemplates it. In more clichéd words, We are born to make society better, “Beauty is something that lies in the eyes better than when we found it, better for of the beholder.” And this statement has the coming generations--not to run after been much accepted by a lot of people, some erroneous perfection. Guilt poisons and in reality too, a masterpiece for some- everything, and we should never feel one can be an overrated piece of garbage SHUTTERSTOCK guilty of how we look. Our eyes are meant for another. their own businesses, study, and work for worms are considered nerdy, ugly, and to see the magnificence of the universe, Nothing is beautiful until we see it. their own good but today, everyone has Beauty has always even abnormal. This has put an enor- not to search imperfections that lie in a Even the most beautiful of mountains, this wrong concept of posting everything mous pressure in today’s generation, and human body. If we start to seek solace in lakes, and forests are dangerous lands online. The sense of success doesn’t come been a vague subject. they work so hard for something that the beauty of our appearance, our exist- until we see them with our very own eyes. from working hard but from the com- doesn’t even exist. Also, the stunning pho- ence will be completely useless. But even when it is quite understandable ments one gets in his post. For instance, Different people have tos one puts online after editing in hun- We all are destined for greatness, our that beauty is nothing but an idea which weddings in the past just used to be wed- dreds of software is one of the reasons deeds define us and not how we look. We lies in the mind, Nepali society has dings but today, it is less of a wedding and different definitions why thousands of teenagers are insecure are born to achieve our destination and to objectified and conditioned beauty forc- more of a photo-shoot and it is not of beauty. about their own bodies leading them to do great deeds, to make this world a better ing everyone to believe that everything in because the traditions or culture demand the constant state of depression. place for the next generations, but for this a person is determined by his outer them, but because they need to post the Being dark skinned should not give we first need to accept ourselves for who appearance. pictures online, and the real candid wed- Similarly, teenagers working very hard anyone inferiority complex and being fair we are, and this acceptance is what will This age of social media has also played ding shots are too ‘ugly’ to be posted to make their Instagram and Facebook skinned doesn’t mean they are more lead us to our success. a significant role to make people believe online. Once again, the fake standards wall aesthetic are totally normal but beautiful. Every skin tone is beautiful the fake standards of beauty. There was society has created has forced an individ- somewhat chubby teenagers with glasses and attractive in its own way. Having a Gautam is a class 12 student at Capital once a time when people used to mind ual to try to achieve the unachievable. who are not on social media and are book- skinny body or a fat body doesn’t mean College and Research Centre, Kathmandu. Mother SHASHI SHARMA

Mother can do all things Can act to tell a fact Mother can be a singer or dancer For you, she can be a motivator.

For you, she can die But she can never lie The country is full of them Sacrificing their life for us.

Mothers are legends But they don’t call themselves that She loves us very much We feel more safe than heaven.

If we are ill She can be a nurse There is nothing That can’t be done by them.

If we can’t fly She gives her wings to us We should feel proud To be a son/daughter of them.

Sharma is a class 7 student at Araniko English Medium Secondary School, Kathmandu.

SHUTTERSTOCK

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