WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 285 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 25.8 C -1.5 C Sunday, December 13, 2020 | 28-08-2077 Janakpur Jumla It’s there, not here yet. As the jab is still far away, precaution is vaccine, experts say With countries racing to vaccinate their populations, there are concerns Nepal may be left behind, as the end of the pandemic is still nowhere in sight.

ARJUN POUDEL KATHMANDU, DEC 12

The United Kingdom rolled out a Covid-19 vaccine for its people last week. Russia too has started inocula- tion. The US Food and Drug Administration has authorised Pfizer- BioNTech vaccine for emergency use. Indian regulators are considering issuing emergency use authorisation AP to three vaccine candidates—Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Bharat Biotech, five vaccine manufacturing countries according to Reuters. Sixty percent of for early availability of the vaccine the world’s vaccines are manufac- produced in those countries. tured in India. “Yes, a lot of homework has been The vaccine developed by done. But we still do not know which Sinopharma, China’s leading vaccine vaccine will come and when it will maker, is likely to get approval in come,” Dr Shyam Raj Upreti, coordi- POST PHOTO: PRAKASH CHANDRA TIMILSENA China within December and be nator of the government’s Covid-19 Gajmaya BK, 30, carries her five-month-old baby, the youngest of her four children, while cutting millet hay in Ruby Valley Rural Municipality, Dhading. Her husband has gone abroad to work. available in the market there, vaccine advisory committee, told the The family owns a small piece of land, which produces only enough grains to feed the family for a month. according to Global Times. At least Post. “No vaccine is available in the three other candidates made by market as of today.” Chinese companies are also in the For any vaccine to come to Nepal, it phase III trials. needs to get the World Health The Nepal government too has Organisation’s pre-qualification sta- started some initial homework to inoc- tus, after the UN health agency assess- Tigers sighted high in the hills. Wildlife experts ulate Nepalis against the coronavirus es its quality, safety and efficacy. by amending the existing law through Under the COVAX programme, the an ordinance to facilitate the procure- World Health Organisation (WHO) ment of suitable vaccine, formed sev- will provide vaccines for 20 percent of eral committees for necessary prepa- the population of Nepal. wonder why they are moving up north ration and sent diplomatic notes to the >> Continued on page 2 Improved green cover, less disturbance in upper regions compared to the Tarai, where they are facing habitat loss and decline in prey, could be encouraging tigers to move up.

PHOTOS COURTESY: RED PANDA NETWORK AND DIVISION FOREST OFFICE, DADELDHURA This year tigers have been sighted at record high altitudes in the forests of Ilam (left) and Dadeldhura.

CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL “Our history shows that big cats had has conducted extensive research on KATHMANDU, DEC 12 gone extinct in areas east of the tigers, finds the spotting of the tiger Bagmati river.” in Ilam surprising for its location. A few years ago, there were anecdotal The Bagmati river marks the east- “Altitude and climate-wise, this is reports of sightings of a royal Bengal ern border of Rautahat district with not surprising for me as tigers have tiger in Dadeldhura, a hill district in Sarlahi. lived in higher altitudes. What sur- the far west. Then in mid-2018, a tiger Despite the sightings in Dadeldhura prised me was that it was seen in Ilam was spotted on camera in Beldangi of and Ilam, conventional wisdom has it as we have no evidence of tigers east Jogbudha area of the district. that tigers live in the country’s pro- of Bagmati in recent years,” said A year before that sighting, wildlife tected areas in southern plains— Lamichhane. conservationists had managed to cap- Parsa National Park, Chitwan Tigers have been spotted at even ture footage of a big cat prowling a National Park, Banke National Park, higher altitudes in India and Bhutan. community forest in Dadeldhura. Bardiya National Park and In India, the Royal Bengal Tiger has Then in April this year, a tiger was Shuklaphanta National Park—as well been sighted at an altitude of 3,630 once again captured on camera trap at forests adjoining them. metres and in Bhutan at above 4,000 an altitude of 2,500 metres in a The latest tiger census, in 2018, metres. Dadeldhura forest—the highest ever detected signs of tiger presence in 12 “Even when we study the possibili- recorded sighting of the big cat in the districts—Bara, Parsa, Makwanpur, ty of tigers in the eastern part, focus country of 235 tigers. Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Dang, Salyan, has been on districts like Sarlahi, Now another tiger has been photo- Banke, Bardiya, Surkhet, Kailali and Mahottari, Sindhuli, Saptari and graphed on camera. This time at the Kanchanpur—of the 18 districts sur- Udayapur,” said Lamichhane, who is other end of the country—in Ilam. veyed across all potential tiger habi- the chief of the Biodiversity This latest spotting of the tiger at an tats in the Terai Arc Landscape. Conservation Centre, Sauraha, under elevation of 3,165 metres beat the pre- “How amazing [it is] to detect tigers the National Trust for Nature vious record of a tiger sighting. returning to the upper edge of their Conservation. “Although there had Government agencies confirmed range,” Eric Dinerstein, who has been anecdotal reports of sightings of that never before had a tiger been worked in tiger conservation in Nepal tigers in Udayapur in the early 1990s, spotted and captured on camera at since the 1970s, was quoted as saying capturing of a tiger on camera in Ilam such an altitude in the country’s docu- in Red Panda Network’s press release. is unexpected.” mented history. Dinerstein, the author of ‘Tigerland However, wildlife experts do not The sighting in Ilam has left wild- and Other Unintended Destinations’, entirely discard the possibility of life experts baffled once again. described the sighting as “yet another tigers roaming hill areas as in “It has come as a surprise that a accomplishment for Nepal, leading Dadeldhura and Ilam. tiger was spotted in Ilam,” Haribhadra the world in wildlife restoration.” “There were always anecdotal refer- Acharya, a spokesperson for the Nepal has showcased a remarkable ences to tigers dwelling in hilly Department of National Park and achievement in conserving its tiger regions,” said Acharya, the spokes- Wildlife Conservation, told the Post. population. man, who is also the ecologist with the Along with 12 other countries, Department of National Park and Nepal had pledged to double the Wildlife Conservation. “Now we are population of tigers between getting reports of tigers being spotted 2009 and 2022, the “TX2” target in hills—from the far east in Ilam to of the 2010 Saint Petersburg the far west in Dadeldhura.” Declaration on Tiger The latest photographs of the tiger Conservation. in Ilam were captured by one of 20 While the country’s tiger pop- camera traps set up to monitor the ulation was 121 in 2009, the 2018 movements of ten red pandas tiger census put the number of equipped with GPS-satellite collars in big cats in the country at 235, a Kanchenjunga Conservation Area in landmark achievement in being eastern Nepal by Red Panda Network, ahead of the pack. a conservation organisation. Baburam Lamichhane, who >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 | 02 NATIONAL Transportation of subsidised rice to upper Dolpa begins Last year, 3,000 quintals of foodgrains was allocated to the region but the grains are yet to be supplied.

HARI GAUTAM IN RUKUM (WEST) & allocated 3,000 quintals of foodgrains RAJ BAHADUR SHAHI IN MUGU to upper Dolpa. But the food company DEC 12 failed to supply food to the region, resulting in a food shortage. The Food Management and Trading Food shortage is a long-standing Company Limited has begun the pro- problem in upper Dolpa, a remote cess of supplying subsidised rice to region in the Karnali Province that is upper Dolpa. In the lack of subsidised not connected with the road network. rice, the local residents of Only potato, wheat and uwa can be Dolpobuddha, Shey-phoksundo and grown in the region and the local food Chharkatangsong rural municipali- production is not enough to feed all ties were compelled to buy rice in the the residents. market at an exorbitant price. Chief District Officer of Dolpa “Transportation of 3,074 quintals of Suresh Sunar, who is also the chair- rice meant for Dolpobuddha, Shey- man of the District Food Management phoksundo and Chharkatangsong Committee, said that the supply of has already begun. Around 440 quin- subsidised food grains to upper Dolpa tals of rice has already reached Dunai, has finally begun following repeated the district headquarters of Dolpa, requests. while 100 quintals of rice has been “The local residents were compelled transported to Dhargaun of to buy rice at an exorbitant price in Chharkatangsong,” said Kamalraj the market, as the food depots Pandey, Dolpa chief of the Food remained empty for months. We are Management and Trading Company working to make sure that there are POST PHOTO: ANISH REGMI Limited. According to him, around enough food grains in all three local A visitor feeds fish at Taudaha in Kathmandu on Saturday. The only remaining natural lake in Kathmandu Valley is home to many different species of fish. 1,000 quintals of rice is on its way units of upper Dolpa,” Sunar said. to Dunai. However, Pulu food depot “The subsidised rice will be trans- in Mugumkarmarong Rural ported to Dunai on vehicles. From Municipality of Mugu, which is often Dunai, we will use mules to supply the hit by food insecurity due to less crop rice to food depots in remote areas,” production, has been empty since May. Businesses in said Pandey. “This is the first time The authorities have failed to trans- Tigers sighted high in the hills. that we are transporting rice to upper port subsidised foodgrains to Pulu a border town Dolpa through our own land. Earlier, depot that provides food to around the rice used to be transported via 1,300 families of Mugumkarmarong China, as the district is not connected Rural Municipality. yet to reopen Wildlife experts wonder ... with the national road network.” Sharma Transportation Service, This year, we are transporting sub- which was recently caught transport- >> CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 National Park in Sikkim where the With the latest sighting of a tiger, sidised rice to Dolpa from Surkhet ing subsidised rice meant for Mugu after lockdown “Historically, tigers lived in the mid- presence of tigers was reported only conservationists say the corridor since the Nepal-China border has to Bhaktapur, is responsible for sup- hills as well. It is believed that tigers last year. Although there has been no needs to be conserved for it to be func- been closed to contain the spread of plying foodgrains to Pulu depot. But BHAWANI BHATTA roamed in the hill areas 500-600 years photographic evidence of tigers in tional for wildlife. coronavirus. the company has yet to supply rice KANCHANPUR, DEC 12 ago before their population remained Sikkim since the 1980s, there were This tiger sighting in Ilam district Dinesh Construction Materials there. confined to low-lying areas,” said Hem anecdotal reports of tiger sighting. brings the total number of cat species Suppliers, a Banke-based transporta- “We have to buy one kilogram of Rajendra Dhanuk, a local resident Sagar Baral, a wildlife expert and Baral asserts the tiger was not from in the Kangchenjunga Landscape in tion company, has been awarded the rice at Rs85 in the market while it can of Jogbudha in Dadeldhura, has Nepal head for the Zoological Society Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, the pro- eastern Nepal to eight, including leop- contract to transport the subsidised be bought at Rs50 in the food depot. been running a fancy shop in of London. “Once they could not sur- tected area in eastern Nepal. Nor had ard, clouded leopard, snow leopard, rice to Dho of Dolpobuddha, Dhargaun But the food depot has been empty for Brahmadev of Kanchanpur for vive in the hills, where there were no it travelled from Parsa National Park, Asiatic golden cat, leopard cat, jungle of Chharkatangsong and Saldang of the past eight months. There is a the past two decades. He lives in a more dense forests, they must have the eastern most national park of the cat, and marbled cat. Shey-phoksundo this year. As per the shortage of rice in the market as well, rented flat in Brahmadev with his come down south and remained country with the tiger population, “Ilam and Panchthar areas have agreement, the transportation compa- as transportation is often disrupted in family of six. there.” according to him. dense forests which may also provide ny will supply 8,480 quintals of rice to winter due to snowfall,” said Urgin However, his business took a hit due According to Baral, tigers might “It seems the tiger has come from enough prey besides cattle in human Dho, 9,490 quintals to Dhargaun and Lama, a local resident of Chittaigaun. to the Covid-19 pandemic and the sub- have started climbing up mountains India. The tiger must be a young one settlements. The latest sighting shows 10,995 quintals to Saldang. The Food Management and Trading sequent lockdown. Now, Dhanuk has with the rise in their population, and of exploratory nature,” said tigers are moving up from where they According to the Food Management Company Limited has allocated 1,750 taken up daily wage jobs to provide for improved conservation efforts and Baral. “Undoubtedly, the main habitat had descended after massive deforest- and Trading Company Limited, the quintals of rice for Pulu depot in the his family. improvement in green cover in the of tigers is plains and inner Madhes ation and increase in human settle- local residents of upper Dolpa can buy current fiscal year. “My shop has been shut down for country. in Nepal. But they can travel up to ments,” said Acharya. “Now distur- subsidised mota rice at Rs 4,900 and “But the subsidised rice is yet to be the last nine months. I don’t have “As there is an increase in their hills in a radius if we keep inner bances from human activities and the jira masino rice at Rs 6,600 per quintal supplied here despite repeated money to pay bank loans that I took to population, tigers will definitely go Madhes as its central habitat.” growing population is in the southern from the food depot. Earlier, they had requests to the Food Management and open the shop,” said Dhanuk. “I have somewhere,” said Baral. “Although Lamichhane, too, said it is less like- plains but increase in green cover in to spend Rs 12,000 to 20,000 to buy one Trading Company Limited,” said started to work as a daily wage worker there may not be adequate prey densi- ly that a tiger from Parsa National the hills, seem to have encouraged quintal of rice in the local market. Tsering Kyapne Lama, the chairman in Jogbuda and Bramhadev to look ty in community forests, these forest Park had travelled to Ilam. them to travel north.” Last year, the District Food of Mugumkarmarong Rural after my family.” areas work as corridors and make it “But it is not impossible either. It’s Lamichhane also agrees that Management Committee in Dolpa had Municipality. Brahmadev bazaar is the bordering easier for tigers to travel further.” not that there is no corridor connec- deforestation, hunting and loss of market place in Ward No. 9 of With the increase in tiger popula- tivity from Parsa to Ilam as tigers can prey base in the past in the hills, Bhimdatta Municipality in tion, habitat loss and decline in prey walk through unusual areas like forced tigers to come down. Kanchanpur district. Businesses in base in their natural habitat, tigers human settlement and agricultural Wildlife experts have also been the bazaar area that relies heavily on are found to be straying into human lands during the night without anyone connecting the impact of climate Indian customers have been badly settlements. Depredation of cattle and noticing,” said Lamichhane. “Tigers change on tiger behaviour and their affected ever since the Nepal-India killing of locals have been observed in can travel for hundreds of kilometres dispersal. border was sealed to contain the areas adjoining protected areas. and their presence cannot be detected “Climate change, mainly drying up spread of the coronavirus. However, tigers coming out of the jun- because common people cannot of water resources, might force tigers “The shops that were closed in the gle had largely remained limited to study their pugmarks. But this par- to leave their original habitat and lockdown have yet to reopen,” said the Tarai only. ticular tiger must have come from the migrate elsewhere,” said Baral, whose Karna Bahadur Chand, a business Conservationists are not sure where Indian side, as tiger presence has been organisation along with National owner in Brahmadev. “Some of this tiger in Ilam came from and found in the low-lying areas of West Trust for Nature Conservation has our friends have started other busi- whether there could be more tigers in Bengal too.” started studying the effects of climate nesses while some are working as the area. Presence of thriving wildlife in the change on the tiger population in the daily wage earners. Economic “This particular tiger might have Panchthar-Ilam-Taplejung corridor, country. “It has been observed that transactions in the bazaar area have crossed over into Nepal as there are where the tiger was photographed, tigers have started moving up in come to a halt since the start of the tiger habitats in the Indian state of has already been established with search of water, walking along the lockdown.” Assam and also in Bhutan,” said camera traps deployed by the Red river that originates in hills.” According to him, many business Acharya. “We cannot say about the Panda Network in the past as well. Government agencies have realised owners in Brahmadev are currently origin of this tiger as of now, but there “Lack of evidence-based studies in the need to study why tigers are walk- engaged in agriculture, some have are records of tigers travelling hun- the past may have deprived us from ing up to the hills and if there could be become street vendors and others are dreds of kilometres.” such unusual sightings,” Damber more tigers there. working in mining sites. The Kanchenjunga Conservation Bista from the University of “The latest incident recommends a There are around 150 shops in Area, where the tiger was photo- Queensland, who is leading the GPS- detailed study on why tigers are fre- Brahmadev bazaar. Among them, graphed twice in November, is bor- collar red panda study in Ilam district, quently sighted in hill areas,” said only a dozen have reopened after the dered by the Tibet Autonomous was quoted in Network’s statement. Acharya, the ecologist. “A study is also PHOTO COURTESY: PEMA GURUNG lockdown. But even those reopened Region of China to the north and “Camera-trapping in other potential required to ascertain whether Food insecurity is a long-standing problem in upper Dolpa, a remote region in the Karnali shops are not doing good business, Sikkim, India to the east. sites at mid- and high-mountain rang- areas like Ilam and Dadheldhura have Province that is not connected with the road network. Chand said. It adjoins Khangchendzonga es may reveal more.” more tigers.” It’s there, not here yet. As the jab is still far away, precaution is vaccine ...

>> CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 But the existing storage facility of According to Dr Bhagwan Koirala, putes while setting the priority. It will vaccinate their populations, reports stands at 11,673. Once vaccines are COVAX is a collaboration, with more Nepal does not work for the Pfizer- chairman of Nepal Medical Council, be tough but we have to do it.” suggesting that rich nations “have available, inoculating the Nepali pop- than two-thirds of the world engaged, BioNTech vaccine, as it needs to be the regulatory body of all medical Doctors say the dynamics of vac- hoarded” vaccines come as a cause for ulation, however, may not be a that has the world’s largest and most stored in minus 70 degrees Celsius. doctors, authorities should continue cines will change in the days to come. concern for countries like Nepal. problem, according to officials, as diverse portfolio of potential Covid-19 Existing cold chain facilities in the their efforts to acquire the vaccine as The vaccines, which are expensive According to Reuters, Amnesty immunisation has been one of the vaccines. It is co-led by Gavi, the glob- country can only store vaccines at 2 to financial arrangements will not be a at present, will be less expensive later. International and other groups said major successes of Nepal’s public al vaccine alliance, and WHO. 8 degrees Celsius. big deal once the government makes New vaccines will enter the world on Wednesday that rich countries health programme. Of Nepal’s total population, 72 per- None of the vaccines, which can be necessary decisions. market. Efficacy of the vaccines have secured enough coronavirus vac- Nepal’s mass immunisation pro- cent needs to be vaccinated since chil- stored in plus temperatures, has got will also change. Administering of cines to protect their populations, pos- gramme has been credited for reduc- dren under 14 cannot be inoculated. licences yet in the countries that some vaccines might have to halt due sibly depriving billions of people in ing child mortality rates from prevent- As the vaccine against coronavirus have tested them successfully, accord- 72 percent of Nepal’s to side effects. poorer areas. The UN health agency able childhood diseases like measles, has not been tested on children, a ing to Upreti. “We should have multiple options has repeatedly called on governments rubella and Japanese encephalitis and huge percent of the population would But none of the vaccines that can be population needs to to acquire vaccines—be prepared to to make the vaccine against Covid-19 a the government has a long experience remain out of the vaccination pro- stored in temperatures above freezing purchase, continue dialogue with “public good.” of conducting mass campaigns for gramme. Doctors, however, say chanc- point has successfully conducted clin- be vaccinated since manufacturers and mobilise our Dr Jagadish Agrawal, former dean vaccinations. es of the virus spreading through ical trials. diplomatic channel to talk with the at the Institute of Medicine, said According to the Ministry of Health children do exist. “Preparations are being made to children cannot be manufacturing countries,” Dr Sarad that it will take another six months to and Population, over 90 percent of the Of the 52 percent of the vaccine the purchase vaccines as they come into Onta, a public health expert, told one year for Nepal to have access to a children have received the first dose government needs to procure, it can the world market,” Dr Jhalak Sharma, inoculated. the Post. vaccine. of BCG vaccine. It says it aims to use also purchase one which has got chief of the immunisation section at He warned that there should not be “We have to keep ourselves safe the existing channel of immunisation emergency use approval in the coun- the Family Welfare Division under the a fiasco like the case of free testing, until then,” said Dr Agrawal. to administer the coronavirus vac- try it is produced, according to the Department of Health Services, told On Friday, the Asian Development referring to the government decision “Authorities have formed several com- cine. But till then precautions need to amended law. the Post. “But we don’t know how long Bank said it had launched a $9 billion to stop free testing in October, which it mittees. They will bring vaccines one be taken, doctors warn. On November 18, President Bidya it will take for the vaccines to be avail- vaccine initiative offering rapid and later had to reverse following a day but we do not know when. We have “We have already passed nine Devi Bhandari endorsed an ordinance able in the global market.” equitable support to its developing Supreme Court order. to keep safe until we get a vaccine.” months of the pandemic and we did to amend the Drug Act (1978) to facili- Public health experts say that country members, including Nepal, to “Authorities cannot give up in the Nepal so far has reported 1,689 coro- not face the worst but there is a chance tate the use of emergency medicines authorities should continue efforts to procure and deliver effective and safe middle and it is also not like changing navirus deaths. of facing it in the days to come if we and vaccines for Covid-19 that have acquire the vaccines at the earliest, Covid-19 vaccines. rules of the polymerase chain As of Saturday, 247,593 people have become careless,” said Koirala. been tested and approved in other and meanwhile they will be ready “We should not forget an equitable reaction tests and contact tracing,” tested positive for the coronavirus “We should not become overly confi- countries. with the spade work like getting distribution of the vaccine to all the said Onta. “Government should throughout the country. According to dent about the news of vaccines. As of today only a few countries, finances available as well as preparing people,” said Dr Koirala. “It will be ensure that all Nepali citizens are vac- the Health Ministry, 234,231 people, Getting a vaccine is a gradual process. including the United Kingdom and the on the technical part like storage facil- impossible to immunise all people at cinated. Time has come to learn from who were infected with the virus, have Unless all people become immune United States, have given emergency ities, supply systems and the human once and therefore authorities have to our failure.” recovered as of Saturday. with safe vaccines, we should strictly approval for Pfizer-BioNTec’s vaccine. resource for inoculation. prioritise. There will be a lot of dis- As governments are in the race to The total number of active cases follow the safety measures.”

C M Y K 03 | SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 NATIONAL Constitutional Council should be held above partisan interests, analysts say Experts say dozens of constitutional body vacancies give the council an opportunity to ensure proportional representation while recommending candidates. BINOD GHIMIRE meeting needs to be decided unanimous- KATHMANDU, DEC 12 ly. A decision on the majority basis can be taken but only after attempts at con- Prime Minister KP Oli on Thursday sensus fails. called a meeting of the Constitutional Bipin Adhikari, a constitutional law- Council for Sunday after holding several yer and former dean of Kathmandu rounds of negotiations with Nepali University School of Law, said the very Congress President Sher Bahadur provision to make the decision unani- Deuba, who is a member of the council mously is breached when the council’s as the leader of the main opposition. meeting is held without the election of The two held a meeting even on Friday the deputy Speaker. to discuss the appointments at a number The position of the deputy Speaker, of constitutional commissions. which traditionally goes to the opposi- But with Debua announcing on tion, has been vacant since Shiva Maya Saturday that he won’t be attending the Tumbahangphe resigned in January. meeting, Sunday’s meeting is going to be “The main opposition would have postponed. The Constitutional Council raised the issue if Oli called the meeting cannot convene a meeting in the absence without consensus,” Adhikari told the of the leader of the main opposition. On Post. “As Oli and Deuba seem to have a POST PHOTO: SANJOG MANANDHAR top of that, for the meeting to convene, at deal, the Congress is not concerned The Vaisha Dev stump (also known as the Toothache Tree Stump) at Bangemuda, Kathmandu, was damaged in a fire on Friday night. It is believed that nailing a coin to this holy stump helps least four members must be present about it.” cure dental pain. besides the prime minister, who chairs As many as 45 positions are vacant at the council. 13 constitutional commissions. Deuba has said he won’t attend the While all the five positions including meeting because it would give a negative chairperson are vacant in National message as it is holding a mass Human Rights Commission, Women demonstration against the government a Commission, Dalit Commission, Bhim Rawal: There’s no other way than to day later. Indigenous Nationalities Commission “Participating in Sunday’s meeting is and Inclusive Commissions, others not feasible for the party president either don’t have chairpersons or mem- [Deuba]. He will participate whenever bers. For instance, three positions the meeting is called next time,” Ramesh including Chief Commissioner are abide by party’s statute, principles, processes Lekhak, a Nepali Congress leader, told vacant in the Commission for the Post. Investigation of Abuse of Authority Analysts, however, say the Congress while Election Commission lacks two The Standing Committee member on whether the ruling Nepal Communist Party is heading towards a split, how the party’s statement that participation of commissioners. its chief in the meeting “might send a Senior advocate Chandra Kant party formed by a merger can remain united and what could be the opponent factions’ possible moves. negative” message itself tells how the Gyawali, who specialises on constitu- Constitutional Council is undermined tional law, said commissions cannot per- The ruling Nepal Communist Party’s Standing What have the second-rung leaders done to ensure by the parties. form their constitutional responsibility Committee meets on Sunday amid a deepening party unity? No meeting of the Constitutional when their leadership is appointed after crisis. The two chairs, KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa INTERVIEW Council has been held since March last negotiations between the executive head Kamal Dahal, are locked into a battle and both have We have been repeatedly asking concerned leaders year, even as dozens of constitutional and the leader of the main opposition. presented their documents levelling charges to remember what they promised when they were positions remain vacant. “The constitutional commissions too against each other. The faction led by Dahal has elected to Parliament. Therefore, at this difficult Though Oli in October and November have a role to play in holding the execu- upped the ante against Oli, demanding that the juncture, when the country is facing the pandemic last year had called the council’s meet- tive to account,” he told the Post. latter follow party procedures or step down. and the challenge of dealing with an encroachment Oli, however, has maintained his stance, at times of our territory, we have to be realistic and remem- even challenging his opponents to do whatever ber our duty to work in the interest of the country they can. Against this backdrop, the Post’s Tika R and the people. So our efforts are on to remind Pradhan spoke with Bhim Rawal, a Standing them of the situation we are facing today. We have Committee member, on the ongoing crisis, how the been asking Oli to come to the meetings with an party meeting will move ahead and what the Dahal open heart and win over Standing Committee and faction’s next move will be. Central Committee members to inject confidence This interview has been condensed for clarity. into the party.

Your party is holding a crucial meeting on Sunday. Do you think there is a possibility of forming What do you expect from this meeting? another task force like the previous meeting?

The agenda for the sixth Standing Committee meet- It will be premature to say anything about another ing, which started last week, has already been task force. The decisions of the earlier task force finalised... that is solving existing problems within have remained unimplemented. Especially, Oli did the party. Therefore, the meeting tomorrow will not show required interest towards implementa- directly get into the agenda. According to the party tion of those decisions. So I am not sure if there statute, it has to deal with those problems and find will be another task force. their logical conclusion. If Oli skips Sunday’s meeting, how will the POST FILE PHOTO Can you provide details on what all happened over meeting go? Analysts say if not on Sunday, the meeting now will be held anytime soon, as they suspect some the past week as the party prepared for the kind of a ‘deal’ between Prime Minister Oli and Congress President Deuba. meeting? The meeting will convene and hold deliberations on all issues set by the party. ings three times, Deuba boycotted them “However, over the years such constitu- I haven’t seen any substantial progress made owing to the political wrangling over tional commissions haven’t been able to towards sorting out the problems the party is fac- Will it take decisions by majority vote? power-sharing. perform their responsibility as appoint- ing even though the two chairs met at Baluwatar. Analysts say if not on Sunday, the ments are being made on political So I can’t say there were special preparations. I can’t say the party will take a decision by meeting now will be held anytime soon, sharing.” However, all members of the Standing Committee, tomorrow, but sooner or later, the party will as there seems to be some kind of a ‘deal’ The experts say, Nabin Ghimire, including the two party chairs, appear to be ready have to make a decision. The party can’t remain in between Oli and Deuba. immediate past chief of the constitu- to participate in deliberations and express their a state of indecision. The first priority is “It is clear that the meeting was called tional anti-graft body, was criticised for opinion. POST FILE PHOTO to take necessary decisions at the earliest to end after negotiations yielded positive turning a blind eye to the corruption law… the party statute. When we have already the ongoing confusion in the country and in results,” Daman Nath Dhungana, for- charges against the government and the Will Oli attend the meeting tomorrow? agreed to follow the rule of law, a party leader can’t the party. mer Speaker of the House of people close to the executive because he say he/she won’t attend the meetings or abide by Representatives and a civil society lead- was considered close to the Nepal Of course. As party chair, he has to. It is his duty to party decisions. I think Oli as a responsible leader With both the factions sticking to their own stance, er, told the Post. “Only the party sympa- Communist Party (NCP). participate [in the meeting] and listen to what and prime minister will demonstrate magnanimity don’t you think the party is heading towards thisers have chances to lead the constitu- Senior advocate Bhimarjun Acharya, party members have to say. It is incumbent upon and agree to follow democratic practices. a split? tional bodies when appointments are who also specialises on constitutional him to help the party find a logical conclusion to based on political sharing. This is com- law, says the people will gradually lose the problems it is facing. What will the party do if he continues to violate Why would anyone split the party? Our party has pletely against the spirit of the statute.” faith in these commissions if proximity He hasn’t said he won’t participate. He was not party decisions? already decided to follow the principle of people’s He said the composition of the coun- to the party and the leaders prevails over present at the last meeting, but he had sent a letter democracy until we hold a general convention. cil, which has the representation of all capability and competence during the saying that he fully trusts the Standing Committee I don’t think a person who is the party chair will During the national congress, we will decide the the organs of the state in addition to the appointment process. members. So I believe he will join the meeting. do so. party’s guiding principle. leader of the opposition, was designed to “Those appointed by the grace of Oli However, the Standing Committee in itself has And we have a majority government. What will ensure that nominations are done fairly. or Deuba will be loyal to them, not to the What do you think is the root cause of the ongoing every authority to deal with the problems and come be its fate? If the party splits, neither Oli nor Dahal The six-member council led by the institution,” Acharya told the Post. “The problem in the party? up with decisions. will have any position. Most importantly, the party prime minister has the chief justice, the parties have turned the commissions rank and file is against any split. And there are Speaker and the deputy Speaker of the into agencies to dole out appointments The root cause of the problem is failure to follow clear constitutional provisions on splitting a party House of Representatives, chairman of to people close to them.” established rules and regulations. In addition, ‘I don’t think senior leader or registration of a new party. So, given these con- the National Assembly, and leader of the The experts say never before were so there is a lack of coordination between the party ditions, I don’t think there is any possibility of a main opposition as members. many positions vacant in the constitu- and the government and among party leaders. Nepal is afraid of taking party split. The Parliament is yet to elect its depu- tional bodies and this gives the council Failure to comply with decisions taken by different ty Speaker. an opportunity to make the recommen- meetings too has led to the problems the party is decisions as he is of the But the way the party chairs have presented their Analysts say a decision on appoint- dations adhering to proportional facing today. opinion that party should documents, it looks like remaining together has ments as per agreement between Oli and representation of Nepal’s diverse become untenable. What can help the party unity Deuba rather than following the true population. Who is responsible for non-implementation of the be run based on rules.’ remain intact? spirit of the objective of the “This is an opportunity to set an decisions then? Constitutional Council will turn it into a example by ensuring all the communi- Communist parties believe in dialectics—debates rubber stamp. ties have proportional representation in It is clear that those who are at the top are respon- Do you mean to say that the Dahal-Nepal faction on issues. We have adopted a democratic system Dhungana says the constitutional constitutional bodies,” said Adhikari. sible. But to be precise, it’s KP Sharma Oli because will go by decision of the majority? with full freedom to debate. Hence, why should one commissions are envisioned to hold the “Ensuring representations is not he is the party chair and prime minister. That said, worry about the documents? Members of the government to account. Therefore, those possible when there are fewer vacancies it doesn’t mean that Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is The question of majority and minority may not Standing Committee and Central Committees have getting appointed must be capable and to fill.” also the party chair, is not responsible. appear if both the chairs and other leaders agree to every right to debate on all the issues. The have a high level of integrity who follow Article 42 of the constitution makes it follow the rules and promise to abide by party deci- party committees will take decisions in an the constitutional provisions in letter mandatory for the government to ensure What do you think is the solution to these problems sions. But if differences persist, Clause 60 of our appropriate way on the basis of facts. So I don’t see and spirit. proportional representation of all com- then? party statute says that the meeting can decide by any problem with those documents though both “You cannot expect people handpicked munities in the state machinery. majority. That is the process leaders have agreed to chairs have used very strong language and are by the prime minister and the leader of Appointments to the constitutional The solution is very easy. If Oli agrees to abide by follow if differences can’t be ironed out. quite critical of each other. But such things happen the opposition to maintain the dignity of commissions don’t have proportional the party statute and directives approved by the when there are differences in any party. But they the commissions,” he said. “They will representation so far. For instance, party’s political report or if he is ready to follow If so, why despite commanding a majority, the can be resolved through discussions. That is the only weaken them.” among five members of the National the party’s established practices, we will reach a Dahal-Nepal faction is afraid of taking decisions? process. Experts on constitutional affairs say Human Rights Commission, except solution. The main problem is his refusal to follow making decisions through the council Mohna Ansari, all others belonged to the the party statute, rules and regulations. I don’t think senior leader Madhav Nepal is afraid How will the party decide on the documents? without electing the deputy Speaker, Bhramin/Chhetri community. The of taking decisions as he is of the opinion that the who also is a member of the council, is Parliamentary Hearing Committee has But Oli has time and again said he won’t follow party should be run as per the rules. And leaders The fate of the documents will be decided by the not justifiable because the council’s deci- often raised the issue. It has decided to party decisions. What makes you think he will now? should abide by the party statute, processes and party committee. The committee has every right to sions are expected to be done unani- summon the prime minister to ask why principles. accept or reject any proposal or document present- mously. the constitutional provision of propor- These kinds of statements are unthinkable from a Either it is Oli or Dahal, both should also follow ed to it. If there is no consensus, then the statute Clause 6 of the Constitutional Council tional representation is not being fol- person who is party chair. Every leader and mem- the rule that is applicable to other members of has provisions for a decision based on majority. Act says each matter in the council’s lowed while recommending candidates. ber should comply with them. Nobody is above the the party. That is the process.

C M Y K SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 | 04 OPINION A better way to ensure accountability A single Integrated Financial Management Information System needs to be implemented.

PRAKASH MAHARJAN

The Constitution of Nepal grants a series of exclusive and concurrent rights to local governments. A majority of the financing they need to carry out their functions according to their rights and responsibilities comes as transfers from the federal and state governments. This sharing of finance keeps local gov- ernments accountable to the federal and provincial governments. With a view to assist local govern- ments in the reporting mechanism for their accountability purposes, the Financial Comptroller General Office has mandated local governments to use the Sub-National Treasury Regulatory Application (SuTRA) so that better control over planning, budgeting and accounting can be achieved. However, the implementa- tion of SuTRA has not been able to achieve the desired result as local governments are yet to completely use the software as a reporting system.

Persisting problem The Mid-Term Budget Review Report produced by the Ministry of Finance discloses that out of the 753 local gov- ernments, only 666 used SuTRA. Even among those that used it, transactions are only partially recorded. Moreover, as per the website of SuTRA, the infor- mation fed into and produced by it has been limited to the Ministry of Finance, Financial Comptroller SHUTTERSTOCK General Office and National Natural bring efficiency when the entire sys- redundancy and inefficiency. The ina- faced by local governments, a single IFMIS is thus a centralised system SuTRA to frame a holistic design that Resource and Fiscal Commission. tem lacks it. If the Ministry of Federal bility of other state agencies to access Integrated Financial Management where different other systems are provides public financial information Local governments are required to Affairs truly wishes to achieve effi- SuTRA compels local governments to Information System (IFMIS) needs to linked together to record and produce to the concerned agencies and the report to different federal and provin- ciency, it has to implement a sustaina- prepare separate reports manually for be implemented. The International financial information by involving all general public. Doing so will also save cial agencies in addition to the afore- ble solution which is fiscal devolution which they have to set aside a substan- Monetary Fund defines IFMIS as a government agencies and constitution- budgetary costs for the government as mentioned ones. and institutionalisation of accounta- tial amount of time that could have system to support the management of al bodies along with the general public. a single one-time cost will incur for its The Ministry of Federal Affairs and bility. And this can be done only by been spent on public service delivery. public sector budgetary, financial and Its successful implementation will not implementation and training when General Administration, one of the instilling the importance of an effi- Preparing reports with similar accounting operations and promote only produce timely, relevant and relia- compared with implementing multi- state agencies lacking access to cient reporting mechanism through- sub-components only results in dupli- better public financial management ble financial data to promote fiscal dis- ple systems. Most importantly, bicker- SuTRA, is planning to make chief out all levels of government. cation of work for local governments. with a centralised registry of public cipline, but also assist resource alloca- ing between local and provincial gov- administrative officers sign an SuTRA is an automated informa- From a taxpayer’s perspective, the sector revenues and expenditures. tion and improve operational efficiency ernments and the federal government 18-point commitment to reduce the tion system. The data fed into it can absence of efficient service delivery is and fiscal transparency. will finally end, and the sub-national inefficiency of local governments. generate the desired information and an absence of accountability. When Fiscal transparency In the context of Nepal, SuTRA can governments will finally be able to This move from the federal ministry reports for the concerned agencies. taxpayer rupees are going towards IFMIS integrates budgetary, account- be modified into IFMIS because of its function as autonomous agencies. can be viewed as a therapeutic or The limited implementation of SuTRA funding an inefficient system and ing, treasury and public debt manage- wide applicability and also because it short-term solution to the persisting and its inability to incorporate agen- local governments are unable to deliv- ment processes besides generating cor- is designed to incorporate provincial Maharjan is a researcher at problem of accountability and trans- cies which receive the reports pro- er service in a timely manner, it shows responding reporting documents, main- governments too. The different sys- Samriddhi Foundation, an independ- parency. Forcing chief administrative duced by local governments have a case of low accountability. ly the financial statements necessary tems developed to facilitate govern- ent research and educational public officers to sign a commitment will not brought forward two challenges— In order to address the challenges for all the agencies that use the system. ment operations can be linked with policy institute based in Kathmandu.

A dispatch from India’s culture war

Hindutva warriors’ fury. Arguing that India’s culture has always the occasion is un-Indian because it celebrates romantic love, they have been capacious, expanding attacked couples holding hands on February 14, trashed stores selling to include new and varied Valentine’s Day greeting cards, and shouted slogans outside cafes while influences. couples canoodled inside. Ironically, the Hindutva brigade has no real idea of Hindu tradition—their SHASHI THAROOR idea of Indian values is not only prim- itive and narrow-minded but also pro- foundly ahistorical. India’s culture has always been capacious, expanding to include new and varied influences, from the Greek and Muslim invasions to the British. The central battle in Indian civilisa- As if the raging Covid-19 pandemic, a tion today is between those who sputtering economy, record-high acknowledge that, as a result of unemployment, and massive farmers’ India’s historical experience, our cul- protests besieging the country’s capi- ture is as diverse as it is vast, and tal weren’t enough, India’s ruling those who have presumptuously taken Hindu-chauvinist Bharatiya Janata it upon themselves to define, in ever Party (BJP) has now incited a new narrower terms, what and who is crisis: a culture war. ‘truly’ Indian. In late November, India’s largest Modern Hinduism has always prid- state, BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh, intro- ed itself on its tolerance of differenc- duced a new law to combat the largely es. In fact, the modern era’s most imaginary crime of ‘love jihad’—a con- famous Hindu sage, Swami spiracy theory claiming that Muslim Vivekananda, persuasively taught men seduce Hindu women as a ploy to that the hallmark of Hindu civilisa- oblige them to convert to Islam through tion was not just tolerance but accept- marriage. The Uttar Pradesh ance. With their narrow-minded bigot- Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of ry, today’s Hindu chauvinists are fun- Religion Ordinance stipulates that a damentally betraying their faith, as marriage will be declared ‘null and well as assaulting the constitution. void’ if a woman converts to Islam The issue is not trivial. If intolerant solely for marriage. Women wishing to bullies, now enjoying the blessing of change their religion after getting mar- elected BJP governments, are allowed ried need to apply to the District to get away with their acts of intoler- Magistrate for permission, a breath- ance and ‘lawful’ intimidation, India taking assault on individual liberty would suffer violence to an ethos pro- that combines misogyny, patriarchy, foundly vital to its survival as a civili- and religious bigotry. SAIKAT PAUL/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM sation, and as a liberal democracy. The measure is the brainchild of tion of the two faiths’ practitioners is All these steps have reinforced the actor kissed briefly in front of a tem- withdraw a television commercial Pluralist and democratic India Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi now under assault from officially party’s ‘tough on Muslims’ image, and ple. The leader, Gaurav Tiwari, that portrayed a happy interfaith mar- must, by definition, tolerate plural Adityanath, a saffron-robed monk fomented bigotry. The BJP derives its Uttar Pradesh’s new anti-conversion demanded an apology from Netflix riage between a Hindu woman and a expressions of its many identities. If whose inflammatory rhetoric has political strength from campaigning law fits that pattern. and the removal of ‘objectionable Muslim man. we permit the self-appointed arbiters made him one of the BJP’s best-known aggressively as the vehicle of an In recent weeks, other BJP-run scenes’ that he alleged were also Although Islam remains its of Hindu culture to impose their and most polarising figures. And it assertive Hindu community and states in India’s Hindi-speaking heart- ‘encouraging love jihad’. Instead of favoured target, the BJP’s Hindu chau- hypocrisy and double standards on takes a sledgehammer to the freedom regards stoking anti-Muslim senti- land have whipped up hysteria over dismissing the case as preposterous, vinists have taken umbrage at the the rest of us, they will define down of worship enjoyed by Indian citizens ment as a vote-winner. ‘love jihad’, reflecting the party’s the state’s home minister, Narottam cultural practices of India’s Christian Indianness until it ceases to be Indian. under the country’s constitution. By The BJP had previously cam- deeply entrenched Islamophobia. Mishra, ordered an investigation. minority, too. A group of zealots called The BJP-led culture war must be the first week of December, state paigned successfully to build a Hindu State governments in Madhya Pradesh Even reports that police in Uttar the Bajrang Dal, one of the BJP- fought in the courts, but it will be won police had arrested and filed charges temple on the site of a demolished and Haryana have announced plans to Pradesh have already dropped, for aligned Hindutva (Hinduness) move- only in the hearts of all Indians. against seven people. Conviction car- mosque in Ayodhya, criminalise the enact laws to that of Uttar Pradesh. lack of evidence, eight of the 14 ‘love ment’s many affiliated organisations, ries a maximum sentence of 10 years’ Muslim divorce practise known as A BJP ‘youth leader’ in Madhya jihad’ cases they had opened are high- recently threatened violence against Tharoor, a former UN under-secre- imprisonment. ‘triple talaq’, dismantle the special Pradesh has gone further, persuading ly unlikely to dampen the BJP’s sec- Hindus who visited churches during tary-general and former Indian Much of India has long celebrated protections afforded to the Muslim- the police to file a case against two tarian ardour. A few months ago, the Christmas. Whereas Hinduism teach- Minister of State for External Affairs the intermingling of Hindu and majority state of Jammu and Kashmir, Netflix executives for allegedly offend- jewellery brand Tanishq, which mar- es reverence for other faiths, those and Minister of State for Human Muslim cultural practices. But the and enact a law that excludes Muslims ing Hindu religious sensibilities with kets itself as the choice of ‘modern’ who claim to be its doughty warriors Resource Development, is an MP for Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb, or ‘composite from the fast-track Indian citizenship a scene in the series A Suitable Boy in young consumers, was pressured, admit no such ecumenism. the Indian National Congress. culture’, emerging from the interac- available to refugees of other faiths. which a Hindu actress and a Muslim including by threats of violence, to Valentine’s Day is another object of —Project Syndicate

C M Y K 05 | SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 MONEY

FOREX Government US Dollar 118.15 A lot on the plate for both sides when Euro 143.35 focused on farmers’ Pound Sterling 156.22 Japanese Yen 11.36 welfare: Modi Chinese Yuan 18.06 Nepal and US hold trade talks this week Qatari Riyal 32.44 Australian Dollar 89.07 While Nepal will seek to take advantage of duty-free access to 77 different goods, the US will seek clarity Malaysian Ringit 29.16 on customs valuation, intellectual property rights, repatriation from investment, officials say. Saudi Arab Riyal 31.50 KRISHANA PRASAIN Although the trade of 77 Nepali raising the issue regarding labour. In investment in Nepal, Dahal said. Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank KATHMANDU, DEC 12 products, like carpets, pashmina prod- particular, they are concerned about The US is looking for harmonisa- ucts and travel goods have been given an article on the SEZ Act that tion of technical measures like lab During the fifth virtual meeting of the preference by the US, Nepal has not states there is the provision for trade tests and lab certificate accreditation BULLION PRICE PER TOLA Trade and Investment Framework been able to take advantage of the union rights but they cannot protest in the export and import of pork and Agreement (TIFA) Council between facility and find a market for them or strike. According to Dahal, the US poultry and discussions on capacity Fine Gold Rs 92,500 Nepal and the United States, sched- since it has not been able to mass-pro- also wants to know the jurisdiction of enhancement to meet the required REUTERS uled for December 15, Nepal will focus duce them, enhance the quality and the federal and provincial govern- standards during the December 15 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Silver Rs 1,200 on investment promotion and techni- ensure assurance of standard of the ments regarding labour regulation. meeting, according to Dahal. cal assistance from the US. listed goods. It has also raised the issue of child As Nepal banned the import of REUTERS SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA The delegation from Nepal and the Therefore, Nepal is seeking techni- labour and forced labour. energy drinks, the US is looking NEW DELHI, DEC 12 US will be discussing issues regarding cal support and trade capacity support “The US wants that the goods it for more clarity although Nepal has customs and trade facilitation, prefer- so that the country can utilise this imports, especially carpet, should not notified the WTO of this. Nepal Indian Prime Minister Narendra GASOLINE WATCH ence programme and technical assis- facility, according to Dahal. use child labour and forced labour and has also banned the import of peas, Modi assured farmers on Saturday tance and intellectual property rights, “We have linked technical assis- they have raised questions about it,” black pepper, betel nuts, dates, that reforms in the agrarian Prakash Dahal, joint secretary of tance to enhance trade competitive- he said. Nepal has said that by 2021 it from the US and it is expressing its sector were aimed at helping them as Ministry of Industry, Commerce and ness and seek support from the US,” will abolish all forms of child labour concern as it is against WTO provi- thousands of farmers continued Supplies told the Post. he said. “We have already sent a draft and forced labour. The government sions, said Dahal. protests against three new laws to TIFA is a bilateral pact aimed to of a concept note for support on tech- has focused on its implementation According to the Trade and Export overhaul procurement and sale of expand trade, increase investment nical assistance to promote small and through inspection and improvement Promotion Center, Nepal exported produce. and technical cooperation and medium entrepreneurship.” has been achieved, Dahal said. goods worth Rs4.7 billion in the first “Reforms will help draw investment strengthen the economic ties between The US has said that they will The US is also concerned about four months of the current fiscal year in agriculture and benefit two countries which Nepal and the US respond to it after assessing it, he said. financial transactions done digitally to the US, a rise of 21.9 percent farmers,” he said at the annual signed in April 2011. Besides customs valuation, the US and the e-commerce bill which is compared to the same time period in meeting of the Federation of Indian In 2015, the US granted duty-free has raised concern regarding intellec- being drafted which will have provi- the last fiscal year as export stood at Chambers of Commerce and Industry access to 66 products by enforcing tual property rights in Nepal which sions on digital transactions, accord- Rs3.9 billion. in New Delhi. the Trade Preferences Act and includes copyright, patent right and ing to Dahal. Similarly, imports from the US “The aim of the all government later it extended that to 77 products. trademark right. These are under the “The US delegation is willing to declined by 41.5 percent during the reforms is to make farmers’ prosper- Nepal will be receiving the facility jurisdiction of the IT Bill which is give input on the e-commerce Bill,” review period as imports plunged to ous,” he said adding that private sec- through 2025. under consideration in Parliament. he said. Meanwhile, a national pay- Rs3.7 billion from Rs6.3 billion. tor must help improve the country’s Commerce Secretary Baikuntha “The US delegation has been saying ment gateway has been established as Exports to the US declined by 12.9 agriculture sector. Aryal will lead the Nepali delegation. that it will be easy for the investors if it will come into operation soon which percent in the fiscal year 2019-20 as it But protesting farmers in northern According to Dahal, as for the US, intellectual property rights are invest- will allow international investors to stood at Rs9.44 billion from Rs10.85 states fear the new legislation its concern is the issue of Customs ment-friendly,” Dahal said. repatriate money easily, he added. billion in 2018-19. Similarly, imports will eventually dismantle India’s Valuation Agreement of the World The US has also said that they are “The US delegation is looking for from the US sharply increased regulated markets and stop the Trade Organization (WTO). The US willing to give suggestions on protect- more clarity regarding it,” he said. by 75 percent as the import bill government from buying wheat had in 2016 raised eight points regard- ing intellectual property rights, The process and provision for accounted for Rs23.5 billion in 2019-20 and rice at guaranteed prices, ing the compliance process and Nepal according to him. investment promotion will also be dis- from Rs13.43 billion in the previous leaving them at the mercy of private responded to five of them in 2017. The US delegation has always been cussed for assurance of potential fiscal year. buyers.

Indian gold buyers Exclusion of some Chinese put off by price rebound, Chinese firms from major stock jewellers stock up exchanges creates headache REUTERS REUTERS month, barred US investors from BENGALURU/MUMBAI, DEC 12 SINGAPORE/SHANGHAI/BOSTON, DEC 12 buying securities of restricted firms starting in November 2021, Retail consumers in India slowed gold Investors face uncertain rules and based on their alleged ties to the purchases this week put off by higher could miss out on promising opportu- Chinese military. local prices, while top consumer nities after index makers cut some Most selling will probably come China saw a slight pick-up in demand blocked Chinese firms from their from passive managers who track as jewellers stocked up going into books, according to money managers major indexes and exchange-traded- year-end. and attorneys. funds, since FTSE Russell and Local gold futures rebounded to The exclusions, a response to a ban S&P Dow Jones Indices have said they around 49,100 rupees per 10 grams on on American investment in compa- will drop certain companies from Friday, from its lowest since June 19, nies named on a Pentagon list, their products. at 47,550 rupees, touched last week. could weigh on prices for some S&P is also culling blocked firms’ “Retail jewellery demand has stocks—though only for as long bonds from its credit indexes, and been coming down due to volatile pric- as it takes for foreign buyers to pick other index providers including es,” said Anoop Chemmanur, manag- up the spoils. MSCI and Nasdaq are expected to take ing director of Chemmanur Jewellers Tariq Dennison, managing director similar steps. in Bangalore. at GFM Asset Management in Hong But several investors said they Premiums eased to $2.5 an ounce Kong, said the index exclusions were are waiting for the US Treasury over official domestic prices, inclusive understandable but had created a to publish more details about the of 12.5percent import and 3percent headache for investors. sanctions to fully assess the market sales levies, from $3.5 last week. “It’s been more than the average impact. “Jewellers are confused. There’s no annoyance because some of those “As the executive order sits there is clear trend,” said a Mumbai-based names are names we own,” he no required forced selling per se,” said bullion dealer with a private bullion said, referring to China Mobile, Salman Niaz, a bond fund manager importing bank. which is on the Defense Department and head of Asian credit at Goldman In China, gold was sold at a list and which he still considers a Sachs Asset Management in discount of $19-$24 an ounce against good investment. Singapore, “When the detailed regula- international spot prices, versus $20 The executive order by US President tions come out we will know exactly last week. Donald Trump, published last what it means.” Brexit uncertainty leaves French fishermen fearing for their future

ASSOCIATED PRESS BOULOGNE-SUR-MER (FRANCE), DEC 12

Long lines of trucks carrying stock- piles for British companies jam the highways leading to France’s north- ern port of Calais, while in the coastal town of Boulogne-sur-Mer, French fishermen pull in their lines and fear that battles over fishing rights will soon erupt. Up and down France’s northern coast, the uncertainty of Brexit is causing ripples of chaos and frustration. With just three weeks left to go before Britain is completely out of the European Union, no one knows if there will be a post-Brexit trade deal or a chaotic economic rupture between the two sides. Britain left the EU on January 31 but remains in its massive AP/RSS market until the end of the year. That A fisherman unloads his catch at the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer, northern France. means, barring a trade agreement, New Year’s Day could herald quite a “[A no-deal Brexit] will already Under current EU rules, EU coun- hangover for businesses on both sides impact us hugely. And then we tries can currently fish in British of the English Channel. are going to have to share our French maritime territory, as they have For Mathieu Pinto, a 28-year-old waters with foreigners as well,” for decades. But the overexploitation French fisherman, a no-deal Brexit he said. of these rules—and the seas—have will disastrously impact his right to That would mean fighting for fish in meant that fish numbers have declined fish in British waters, where he says French maritime territory alongside sharply. And so, too, did British he makes “between 70 percent and 80 northern EU neighbours from the fisherman. percent” of his yearly income. Netherlands and Belgium, which he Saving British waters for UK fisher- Pinto is based in France’s coastal says could create an impossibly tense men became a rallying cry, fuelling town of Boulogne, home to Europe’s situation. There is simply is not the Brexit vote for the UK to leave the largest fish-processing centre. He enough catch to go around without bloc. Since then, fishing rules have had just returned from a night access to UK waters, he said. remained a major issue at the heart of fishing sea-snails or whelk when he “There will be war. Let’s not hide it. the Brexit impasse. spoke to The Associated Press. He There will be war,” Pinto said. Meanwhile in Calais, trails of truck worries that his days of making Ireland and Denmark are also exhaust fumes on the roadside illus- a living in the family business could among those directly affected by the trate the path to Brexit is, literally, be numbered. potential closing off of UK waters. jammed with uncertainty.

C M Y K SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 |06 WORLD BRIEFING India readies for 600 million Covid-19 Indian farmers Iran executes journalist and police in road TEHRAN: Iranian dissident journalist Ruhollah Zam, who was convicted of vaccine jabs, to use standard cold storage showdowns as fomenting violence during the 2017 anti-government protests, was execut- ed on Saturday, Iran’s state television protests worsen reported. Iran’s Supreme Court on REUTERS Tuesday upheld the death sentence of NEW DELHI, DEC 12 Zam, who was captured in 2019 after AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE years in exile. His Amadnews feed India will deploy its vast election NEW DELHI, DEC 12 had more than one million followers. machinery to deliver 600 million doses State broadcaster Seda va Sima said of Covid-19 vaccines to the most vul- Indian police stopped farmers block- on Saturday Zam, “director of the nerable people in the next six to eight ing major highways and taking over counter-revolutionary Amadnews months through conventional cold more roads into the capital on network, was hanged this morning.” chain systems, the expert leading the Saturday as a two-week campaign France and human rights groups had initiative said. against market reform laws intensi- condemned the Supreme Court’s deci- The government has lined up cold fied. sion. The son of a pro-reform Shi’ite storage facilities with temperatures Police deployed in large numbers cleric, Zam fled Iran and was given between 2 to 8 degrees Celsius, said stopped groups of hundreds of farm- asylum in France. VK Paul, who heads the group of ers from blocking the main highways experts on vaccine administration for from Delhi to the northern cities of Covid-19 that advises India’s Prime Agra—the home of the Taj Mahal— Ex-king dents monarchy’s Minister Narendra Modi. and Jaipur. Paul said these preparations meet Some farmers were detained on the image with settlement the requirements of what he said were expressway to Agra while other MADRID: By settling a back tax bill, the four emerging candidates in the groups took over at least two toll Spain’s former king Juan Carlos I is race for India’s vaccine. booths and let cars and trucks pass trying to avoid an embarrassing law- “The four that I can see, including without paying. suit, but he has further dented the Serum, Bharat, Zydus, and Sputnik Thousands of farmers have already image of the monarchy and deepened need normal cold chain. I see no prob- blocked two key roads into Delhi and tensions within the country’s leftist lem for these vaccines,” he told tried to take over more Saturday but coalition government. His lawyer Reuters in an interview. were again stopped by police who put issued a two-paragraph statement on Serum Institute of India, the world’s up security cordons. Wednesday night announcing that largest vaccine maker, is already mass Farmers squatted in the service Juan Carlos, who fled into self-im- producing and stockpiling lane at Ghazipur on the edge of Delhi posed exile in the United Arab AstraZeneca’s Covishield shot, while chanting slogans against the right Emirates in August, had “presented Indian biotech players Bharat Biotech REUTERS wing government. the fiscal authorities with a spontane- and Zydus Cadila are developing their An employee removes vials of AstraZeneca’s Covishield coronavirus disease vaccine from a visual inspection machine inside a lab at Serum Farmers’ leaders and ministers ous declaration” which “settled” a tax own vaccine candidates. Institute of India, in Pune, on November 30. have held several rounds of talks but debt amounting to 678,393 euros, And last month, Indian pharmaceu- they have broken down without agree- including interest and fines. The set- tical player Hetero inked a deal with from either Pfizer or Moderna until ment. tlement is linked to a probe made Russia’s RDIF to manufacture over 100 the second half of next year, said Paul. Agriculture unions want three laws public last month by Spain’s attorney million doses of the Russian Sputnik US prepares for Covid-19 inoculation rollout “We would like to work with them which allow farmers to sell their pro- general into whether the scandal-hit V Covid-19 vaccine per year in India. (Moderna) to make that vaccine avail- duce on free markets to be repealed former king used cards linked to The government expects the first NEW YORK/INDIANAPOLIS: US health 2,902 US deaths were reported on able in India, and (ensure) that vac- and a decades-old guaranteed mini- accounts not registered in his name. approvals “very soon” from the inde- authorities, shipping services and Thursday, a day after a record 3,253, cine is also manufactured in India-- mum price system to be maintained. pendent drug regulator for emergency hospitals stood ready on Friday to a pace projected to continue over for us and for other countries. This is The government has said it is only use, he said. immediately launch a mass-inocula- the next two to three months even the call we have given to Pfizer also ready to make some amendments. South Korea issues nationwide “I am hoping at the earliest because tion campaign of unparalleled as distribution of available vaccine and we are in touch with them as Food and Consumer Affairs order to contain bird flu we are ready.” dimension, as federal regulators supplies ramps up. The first shots well.” Minister Piyush Goyal said Friday SEOUL: South Korea’s agriculture min- The government, however, was yet granted emergency approval to the are expected to be administered Paul said India may still consider that the protests had been hijacked by istry issued a temporary nationwide to have formal talks on pricing and first Covid-19 vaccine in the United within days, spearheading an effort granting Pfizer emergency use author- “Maoist elements” but Prime Minister standstill order for poultry farms and had no firm purchase orders, he said. States. Last-minute preparations widely seen as pivotal in ultimately isation, despite it not having conduct- Narendra Modi sought to reassure related transport on Saturday in a bid “The Indian companies know the for the vaccine rollout came as the vanquishing a pandemic that has ed safety and immune response trials farmers that the changes would boost to contain a wider spread of highly government will give a fair and rea- US death toll from the coronavirus upended daily life in the United in India, but said that decision would their incomes. pathogenic bird flu. The movement sonable price.” pandemic approached 300,000 to States and devastated its economy. be taken by the drugs regulator. “Reforms will help draw investment control order has been put in place At present, Indian regulators are date, capping weeks of ominously President Donald Trump said “As of now, it is a norm or standard in the agriculture sector and benefit for 48 hours, effective from 1500 GMT considering three vaccines for emer- surging infections and hospitaliza- on Friday night that operating procedure that any vaccine farmers,” he told an industry body on Friday - midnight in South Korea - for gency use authorisation, including tions that have strained healthcare vaccinations would begin in less marketed in India should have human Saturday. all poultry farms and livestock pro- those from Pfizer Inc, AstraZeneca systems to their limits. Another than 24 hours. (Reuters) study results from the Indian sub- Economists say reforms are needed duction facilities, including their and Bharat Biotech. jects,” he said. in the rural sector which provides jobs vehicles and personnel. The move- But, Pfizer’s limited stockpiles and Still, Paul said the immediate task for about 70 percent of the 1.3 billion ment comes as the number of highly its extreme storage condition require- “In a theoretical scenario, where said. was to protect lives and the govern- population but only contributes about pathogenic bird flu cases at poultry ments at minus 70 degrees Celsius or there is no vaccine with conventional Paul said the government is also in ment had prepared a plan to adminis- 15 percent of the $2.7-trillion economy. farms rose to 10 on Friday since late below, would likely limit its use in cold chain requirement, minus 70 talks with Moderna, which also has ter vaccines to 300 million people--or Farmers leaders say the reforms India, which lacks such degrees Celsius capacities will have to requirements for ultra-cold storage. 600 million doses at two jabs each--in will only benefit big corporations who November. (AGENCIES) infrastructure. be created, and we will do so,” Paul India does not anticipate supplies the first part of the programme. will be allowed to buy produce. Europeans, US accuse North Korea of Five years on, signs that using pandemic to crack down on rights Paris climate change REUTERS the issue was raised by seven North Korea’s formal name is Between 2014 and 2017 the NEW YORK, DEC 12 members who accused Pyongyang the Democratic People’s Republic Security Council held annual pub- of using the coronavirus of Korea (DPRK). North Korea’s lic meetings on human rights The United Nations Security pandemic “to crack down further UN mission in New York did not abuses in North Korea. accord is working Council has discussed human on the human rights of its own immediately respond to a request In 2018 the council did not rights abuses in North Korea after people.” for comment on the Security discuss the issue amid now ASSOCIATED PRESS countries already face existential threats Germany, Britain, France, Council meeting. failed efforts by North Korea WASHINGTON, DEC 12 from rising seas and other impacts of climate Belgium, Estonia, the United North Korea has repeatedly leader Kim Jong Un and US change. States and the Dominican Republic rejected accusations of human President Donald Trump to work The forecast for global warming is looking a “I’m alarmed by the growing evidence of brought up the issue in a closed- rights abuses and blames sanc- toward Pyongyang’s denucleariza- little less bleak in the long term, but not so accelerating climate destruction and injus- door virtual meeting after diplo- tions for a dire humanitarian situ- tion. rosy in the short term. tice,” UN Secretary-General Antonio mats said Russia and China object- ation. Pyongyang has been under Last year at least eight council With numerous countries pledging to clean Guterres told The Associated Press in an ed to a public briefing on the situa- U.N. sanctions since 2006 over its members pushed for a meeting on up their act and projected temperature email. “But I’m also optimistic by the grow- tion. ballistic missiles and nuclear pro- human rights abuses, sparking rises now smaller than they once were, scien- ing coalition to achieve net zero emissions ... “The DPRK’s human rights vio- grams. Pyongyang to warn it would con- tists and diplomats say the outlook for mid-to- This is a tribute to the resilience of the Paris lations pose an imminent threat to “The government’s decision sider such a move a “serious prov- late century is not as gloomy as it was when Agreement.” international peace and security. to prioritize its weapons ocation” to which it would the historic 2015 Paris climate accord was In 2015, Climate Action Tracker, a group of The DPRK government diverts programs over the needs of its “respond strongly.” signed. scientists who scrutinise emission pledges resources away from its people to people and their isolation The United States instead con- But they caution that impacts of warming and translate them into temperature its illicit ballistic missile and from the international community, vened a meeting on the threat already are hitting Earth harder than scien- projections, said the world was on path nuclear programs,” the seven is inevitably worsening the of escalation by North Korea tists predicted. And they say the use of coal, to 3.6 degrees Celsius of warming countries said in a statement, read impacts of the pandemic on the amid growing tensions oil and natural gas that fuels climate change since pre-industrial times—far beyond the by German UN Ambassador North Korean population,” between Pyongyang and is not dropping as much as needed, despite Paris goals for limiting global temperature Christoph Heusgen. Heusgen said. Washington. cheaper renewable energy. rise. On Saturday, exactly five years after the Now the group says the world is currently Paris climate agreement was struck, heading to 2.9 degrees of warming (5.2 Government of Nepal (GoN) world leaders were to gather virtually Fahrenheit), but if the 127 nations pledging to both celebrate progress and chart the next to go to net-zero carbon emissions actually do National Reconstruction Authority steps. it, warming would only be 2.1 degrees. That’s The summit, hosted by the France, the just shy of one of the Paris goals. Central Level Project Implementation Unit (Building) United Kingdom and the UN, is designed to “In the last five years, we moved from press leaders to ramp up their ambitions for totally catastrophic to still-catastrophic cli- Babarmahal, Kathmandu the coming years and make good on past com- mate change, which is the 2.9 degrees. But it

mitments. is definitely much better than it used to Re-Invitation for Bids More than 100 countries—and even more look,” said the tracker’s Niklas Hohne, a companies, states and cities—have pledged to German scientist with the New Climate Contract Identification No : NRA/CLPIU/2076-77/Works/ICB/1 achieve net zero carbon emissions by the Institute. Date of Publication : 2020/12/13 (2077/08/28 BS) middle of the century. Most of those promis- This year—with record Atlantic storms, es aren’t yet official targets of the Paris pact, wildfires in Australia, America and the 1. The Government of Nepal [GoN] has allocated funds or received a Line of Credit from Export- Import Bank of India towards the cost of which is geared toward goals by 2030. Amazon, and Arctic warming—is on track to Reconstruction of Two Buildings in Nepal: Hariharbhawan at Pulchowk Lalitpur and Balmiki Campus at Exhibition Road, Kathmandu and The European Union, as a group the be in the top two or three warmest intends to apply part of the funds to cover eligible payments under the Contract for NRA/CLPIU/2076-77/Works/ICB/1. Online Bidding is world’s third largest emitter, Friday beefed on record. After this year is finished, the 10 up the continent’s 2030 carbon cut targets hottest years on record will all have been in open to following Foreign Bidders that are prequalified for the same work under prequalification exercise undertaken by the Exim Bank: from 40 percent to 55 percent of 1990 emission the last 16 years. a. KEC International Limited, 1st Floor, RPG house. 463, Dr. Annie Besant Road, Worli, Mumbai. levels. Getting countries to turn promises into The United States government, which action remains a challenge, as does fixing the b. NBCC (India) Ltd. NBCC Bhawan, 5th Floor, Lodhi Road, New Delhi. under President Barack Obama was instru- rules for the global trade in carbon emissions c. Shapoorji Pallonji and Company Private Limited, P.S. Srijan Corporative Park, Tower1, 7th Floor, Plot No. G-2, Block –GP, Sector V, mental in forging the accord, won’t be pres- that will be key to reducing emissions effi- Bidhan Nagar, Salt Lake Kolkata- 700091. ent Saturday. The Trump administration ciently and tackling inequality, UN chief pulled the US out of the Paris agreement. Guterres said. Bid Cost of Bidding President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to “Globally the top 1% of income earners Last Date of Bid Bid Opening S N Description of Works Contract ID security in Document rejoin and put the US on a track to stop add- emit more than twice the combined share of Submission Date and Time ing more carbon to the atmosphere than can the poorest 50 percent of the global popula- USD NRs. be removed by 2050. tion,” said UN Environment Programme pol- Reconstruction of Two Buildings in The climate change landscape has changed icy and planning chief Ann Olhoff. For the 2021-01-27 2021-01-27, in five years, and UN officials credit both world to reach the most stringent Paris goal, Nepal, Hariharbhawan at Pulchowk, NRA/CLPIU/2076- 1 550,000.00 12:00 hours 14:00 hours 20,000.00 cold, hard economics and a push from an she said, “The richest 1%” would need to cut Lalitpur and Balmiki campus at 77/Works/ICB/1 idealistic younger generation. But Swedish their emissions to one-thirtieth of what it is Nepal Standard time Nepal Standard time Exhibition Road, Kathmandu. teen environmentalist Greta Thunberg on n o w. Thursday blasted world leaders for setting But Christiana Figueres, the former UN 2. Apart from BoQ that could be quoted online, an additional BoQ to quote the amount offered to employer (after dismantling, clearing, storage “distant hypothetical targets” while “speed- climate chief who was a driving force at the and auction of scraps of building materials) is attached in the Bidding document. The Eligible Bidders are required to fill this additional BoQ ing in the wrong direction.” Paris negotiations, said the undercurrents Carbon pollution barely rose globally from have shifted since 2015—evidenced by the and upload scanned copy of additional BoQ. 2018 to 2019, then dropped 7 percent this year decisions of major investors, such as New 3. This office reserves the right to accept or reject, wholly or partly any or all the bids without assigning reason whatsoever. because of the pandemic, although it’ll likely York’s public pension fund, to stop funding Eligible Bidders May obtain Further information from the office of Central Level Project Implementation Unit ( Building), Babarmahal, rise again. Wind and solar power costs fossil fuel power. dropped so fast that renewable energy is “We’re moving faster than we ever were Kathmandu, during Office hours or may visit PPMO web portal www.bolpatra.gov.np/egp. often cheaper than dirtier fossil fuels. and will continue to increase the speed,” said Project Director Such developments, however, are tempered Figueres. “So am I optimistic? Yes, by choice by the reality that poor, sometimes low-lying and by evidence.”

C M Y K 07 | SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 SPORTS | MEDLEY BRIEFING Aston Villa sink Wolves with late penalty Jamieson’s five 10-man Sassuolo beat puts New Zealand Benevento 1-0 in Serie A Substitute Anwar El-Ghazi scores the stoppage time penalty as Villa climb to eighth place in the standings from 10 games. SASSUOLO: Sassuolo held on for REUTERS in control more than 40 minutes with 10 men to WOLVERHAMPTON, DEC 12 beat Benevento 1-0 in Serie A on REUTERS Friday. Domenico Berardi scored Aston Villa snatched a 1-0 win at WELLINGTON, DEC 12 from the penalty spot in the eighth Wolverhampton Wanderers in the minute. It was the Sassuolo captain’s Premier League on Saturday after Kyle Jamieson took his second fifth goal in 10 games in Serie A substitute Anwar El-Ghazi drilled in a five-wicket haul as New Zealand this season. It marked a return to stoppage-time penalty as both sides ripped through the West Indies bat- winning ways for Sassuolo after the finished the game with 10 men. ting lineup to leave them in dire straits team’s impressive start to the season Villa had Douglas Luiz sent off in on 124-8 at the close of play of the sec- was blunted by losing to Inter Milan the 85th minute and Wolves midfielder ond day of the second Test at the 3-0 and drawing with Roma 0-0. Joao Moutinho was dismissed shortly Basin Reserve on Saturday. Sassuolo played most of the second after the visitors scored against the Chemar Holder was on five with half with 10 men after winger run of play to register their fourth Joshua Da Silva on two but still 336 Lukas Haraslin was sent off in the away win of the season. The result runs behind the hosts’ 460 and facing 49th. Sassuolo goalkeeper Andrea lifted Villa up to eighth on 18 points the possibility of another heavy defeat Consigli made two key saves in from 10 games while Wolves, again after they lost the first Test in added time off Gianluca Lapadula’s sorely missing injured striker Raul Hamilton by an innings and 134 runs. header and Riccardo Impronta’s Jimenez, stayed 11th on 17 points from Only a stubborn Jermaine effort from a narrow angle to 12 games. Blackwood, who defied New Zealand keep the three points with The home side looked more likely to in the first Test at the Seddon Park to his team. grab the winner in a dour clash, with score his second Test century, provid- their 18-year old striker Fabio Silva ed any real resistance, with 69 before New Zealand drop Taylor hitting the post midway through the he became Tim Southee’s third wicket second half as he made his first start about 30 minutes before stumps. for Pakistan T20 series for the club. Villa keeper Emiliano New Zealand had been dismissed WELLINGTON: Veteran New Zealand Martinez pulled off several fine saves, after lunch, with Henry Nicholls pro- batsman Ross Taylor has been taming a stinging low shot from ducing a career-best 174, while Neil dropped for the Twenty20 series Daniel Podence before he somehow Wagner finished on a pugnacious 66 against Pakistan, while Kane kept out a fierce Leander Dendoncker not out, his first Test half century. Williamson and Trent Boult have volley 10 minutes from time. Southee dismissed Kraigg been recalled after they were rested When the match seemed to be head- Brathwaite and Darren Bravo cheaply for last month’s series against West ing for a draw, Nelson Semedo hauled before Jamieson ripped the heart out Indies. Taylor’s omission was down John McGinn in the penalty of their remaining top order in his because of the form of Devon area and El-Ghazi made no mistake first over. He had John Campbell Conway and Glenn Phillips, selector with the spot-kick as he blasted the caught at second slip by Tom Latham Gavin Larsen told reporters at the ball past keeper Rui Patricio. REUTERS for 14, then bowled Roston Chase for a Basin Reserve on Saturday. “Ross Two headed goals from set pieces by Jack Grealish, who has scored five goals for Aston Villa in the Premier League this season, jumps (right) for a header against Wolves on Saturday. golden duck. has done a great job for us over the midfielder Tomas Soucek and defend- With his side 29-4, Blackwood was years,” Larsen said. “He has been er Angelo Ogbonna helped West Ham struck on the pad on the hat-trick very consistent in that number five United fight back from a goal down to scored at the second attempt. Cresswell free kick ten minutes Cresswell told Sky Sports after his delivery but given not out by umpire role but what Glenn Phillips and beat Leeds United 2-1 at Elland Road West Ham’s French striker from time. side joined Chelsea as the league’s Chris Brown, with the television Devon Conway have done against on Friday. Sebastien Haller had two early chanc- Ogbonna almost turned provider most potent team from dead balls with review upholding the decision. West Indies was compelling.” Larsen West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz es blocked before Soucek put West late on, crossing for centre-back part- eight goals each. We didn’t lose our Blackwood survived another review added, however, that it was not the Fabianski conceded a penalty in the Ham level in the 25th minute, out-mus- ner Fabian Balbuena to head against heads and Angelo Ogbonna stepped on the next delivery with another full end of the road for Taylor in the second minute when he brought down cling defender Stuart Dallas to head the far post, and Leeds midfielder up. We have got to keep looking for- swinging delivery that cannoned into shortest form of the game and Patrick Bamford and seemed to have the ball into the net. Two substitutions Rodrigo almost made them pay with a ward but not get too far ahead of our- his pads. Jamieson returned at the that he expected the 36-year-old redeemed himself by saving Mateusz at the break briefly gave Leeds a late header of his own, but he couldn’t selves,” he added. end of the day to dismiss Shamarh would “fight” to get his place back Klich’s spot kick. However, after a new lease of life but the visitors steer the ball past Fabianski. The win lifts the Hammers to fifth Brooks (14), Jason Holder (nine) and in the squad. The three-match review by the video assistant referee soon took over again, and they eventu- “You look at our set pieces and it’s a spot in the standings with 20 points Alzarri Joseph for a duck, to finish series starts at the Eden Park on (VAR) a retake was ordered due to ally went ahead thanks to Ogbonna’s massive part of our game, it’s worked after 12 games. Leeds remain in 14th with 5-34. He took a career best 5-45 December 18. (AGENCIES) Fabianski leaving his line, and Klich far-post header from an Aaron again tonight,” West Ham left back place on 14 points. against India earlier this year. Sharma fit to join Indian squad Khakurel’s Narayani edge Malla-led Bagmati in Super Over

REUTERS BCCI subsequently added him to the SPORTS BUREAU the sixth ball. In reply, skipper Malla Rashid Khan was the third batsman scored nine runs scoring nine runs in MUMBAI, DEC 12 Test squad, while monitoring his KATHMANDU, DEC 12 hit three sixes to KC in the first four to manage in double figures as he all four deliveries he faced in the final recovery at the National Cricket deliveries and also got an extra run as scored 27 runs. over to tie the score. India batsman Rohit Sharma has Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, having Subash Khakurel-led Narayani edged the match took an entertaining turn Shahab Alam claimed three wickets For Bagmati, Kami pocketed two recovered from a hamstring injury deemed him still unfit to travel with national team skipper Gyanendra with 19 runs on the board. But Malla for Bagmati and Dipendra Shrestha wickets. He conceded 27 runs in his and will fly to Australia to join the the rest of the team to Australia. Malla’s Bagmati in Super Over in the failed to collect a run in the next ball sent two batsmen to pavilion. four over spell with a maiden over. Test squad Down Under, the Indian “The NCA medical Team was satis- curtain raiser of the Gautam Buddha before he ended up with a single in the Narayani too made a shaky start to The three-team tournament is cricket board (BCCI) said on Saturday. fied with the physical fitness of Mr Cup twenty20 cricket tournament that last delivery of the over. their innings as they lost first three organised by Bagmati Province Rohit was initially ruled out of the Sharma after assessing him on differ- kicked off on Saturday in Bharatpur. Earlier, put to bat first, Narayani set batsmen—openers Rit Gautam (5), Cricket Association (BPCA) to bring entire Australia tour with a high- ent metrics that tested his skills relat- Narayani saw off Bagmati by five the meagre target, losing wickets in a skipper Khakurel (11) and Ishan the game back on pitch as no competi- grade left hamstring injury, which ed to batting, fielding and running runs in the Super Over, courtesy to regular interval. Opener Sunil Pandey (13)—cheaply at 3-46. Aarif tive game was held for nearly a year kept him out of four Indian Premier between the wickets,” BCCI secretary four sixes by national player Karan Dhamala and lower order batsman Sheikh consolidated the innings with owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. League (IPL) matches in the United Jay Shah said in a statement. KC after both teams got tied at 117 Bikram Sob collected equal 37 runs. a patient 44-ball 45 runs before being In the event being organised in the Arab Emirates. The 33-year-old, who Rohit will have to undergo a manda- runs at the end of 20 overs. Both Dhamala and Sob hit two caught by Pawan Sarraf off Sompal round robin league, top two teams opens the batting for India, returned tory 14-day quarantine on arrival in In the Super Over, KC smashed boundaries and three sixes as the for- Kami. He hit a six and four fences. would make into the final. The teams to lead the Mumbai Indians to a record Australia, which will rule him out of Sompal Kami for sixes in the first mer faced 32 balls before being caught Siddhant Lohani, who was run out have players from the national team fifth IPL title, prompting questions the first two Tests set to take place three and last delivery of the over by Sundeep Jora. Sob, who played 31 for 20 runs in the last ball of the training camp, age group teams and about the extent of his injury. The Adelaide on Thursday. before the bowler gave away wide in balls, remained unbeaten. innings, played a crucial knock. He those of Chitwan. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) **** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** Someone you admire a lot but don’t know very well is You can make tremendous progress if you can focus The sun shines for only so many hours on any given If you fear that your energy burst is going to bust moving into your orbit today. This is your chance to your energy in the right direction today. To get the day, and it’s up to you to make the most of it! If the today, don’t look on it as a negative thing. Ratcheting make an effort to learn more about them. While you most out of this, be conscious of your motivation for weather cooperates, you should try to spend as much down can be very positive! By slowing down, you can shouldn’t barrage them with questions, you should doing certain things. It can sometimes be difficult to time outside as possible. This is a great time for get a lot more grounded with friends and family make it known that you are a big fan of theirs. change course once you set out on a path. socializing outdoors. members. It’s time for some downtime anyway.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** Spend time somewhere you can enjoy beauty today. It’s Your eye for detail is bringing the little things into This is the start of a repositioning period among the There is an invisible barrier between you and some- important to appreciate aesthetically pleasing things, sharp focus today. There is always a benefit to looking people in your social circle. Folks are shifting alli- one else right now, walls that you can’t see or touch, especially now when your creativity could use some at things in a deeper way. Breezing along and being ances and old friendship ties are breaking, but just but which are holding you back. If you really want to inspiration. and right now you need to tilt things shallow only leads to an empty and unrewarding life. temporarily speaking. It’s perfectly natural for peo- break through to this person, you have to do it with toward the more attractive end of the spectrum. ple to want to mix up who they spend time with. charm and patience, not a big old wrecking ball!

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) **** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) **** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** Your obsession with fairness is going to cause you When a surge of positive thinking hits you early A co-worker is experiencing some relationship prob- Receiving credit is sometimes overrated, and besides, more stress than generate benefits right now, so don’t today, you should use it to help others. A blue friend lems and bringing them to work. Now, instead of fame shouldn’t be the reason for doing what you do. spend so much time trying to calculate whether could use a few words of encouragement, and few talking about projects or customers, the conversa- If someone else tries to take credit for your project’s everything is completely equal. It’s probably not people can deliver them with as much compassion tion is dominated by their tale of woe. But you need success, don’t let it get to you. Those in authority going to be. And that’s okay. and kindness as you. to stay focused on the work that’s in front of you. already know that you were behind it. CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 | 08 BLACKBOARD (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 The free child A letter to myself from 2030 PRAKASH PANT

Deep dark into the forest, I found myself alone Even in 2030, problems are alive, and advancing technologies have stung human beings. Trees here and there, but no elders in sight Woohoo! I am alone, can do anything I want SAPNA GAUTAM some ailments in the lungs of the Play the whole day and sing my heart out globe; pollution and harmful Swim in the little pond, roam here and there he world of 2030 is smoke emitted from factories. Play carelessly in the mud, still no punishment to bear moving in an orbit of When a country is advancing into Go anywhere I like, with no “out of bound” signs peace and justice. prosperity, it carries cons with it. Here I’m all alone, no rule no barrier Peace and justice are I am bogged down by the serrated “This is the life I want,” I cry not like a divorceable teeth of anxiety, because still “This is the life I want!” couple. They are tied some problems of the world are Until I see the sun set and the sky turn a little grey together. not retired. T From the bush I hear a hush and the evening growing darker Isn’t it peaceful when the envi- My mind is saturated with ronment is not humiliated by the ideas and compassion on how to Deep down inside me, fear grows stronger noisy hovering of pollution? Our lift humanity. I’ve opened an I remember the tasty dish prepared on the dinner table ecosystem is now balanced, many organisation, which aims for Oh! Life is too hard, not what says the fable new resources have been discov- human progress, education, pov- I swear I’ll do homework but let me be at home ered and we live in a peaceful erty alleviation etc. I‘ve written And then I wake up hearing mum scold state. Our world is like a juicy SHUTTERSTOCK many books on educational mat- But I felt happy and more peach that is nourishing and nur- Furthermore, education chang- ward, paving the path for peace. ters--through the channel of But I felt happy and more turing and obtains a mesocarp of es the blind faith of a decaying They have tinged the world with word, I am draining wisdom into facilities and services. Peace human mind, by releasing huge the colours of creative opportuni- society. I am trying to winnow Pant is a class 10 student at Gandaki Boarding School, Pokhara. flows through our life with every volts of intelligence. It has main- ties for both sexes. They are monstrous thoughts of people beat of our diligence, our promo- tained gender equality. How could everything that beautifies this through my books. My organisa- tion of peace is continuous. Our a person be tyrannous by world. Today my heart is burning tion has collected funds for the world is nourished by it. Rain of acknowledging one’s body part as like firewood. It is burned with well being of society, to murder curriculum education is washing important or unimportant? Is it bliss to hear the news of gender poverty. I am doing this work so dusty cultures. Education is the wise to treat our two hands as equality in the universe. Wishing that I could provide prosthetics fire that has incinerated every unequal in its value? No. Gender for peace and equality between for the amputated lives of the embarrassing feature of our past. inequality muffles the breath of genders is no longer like trying to poor people. This world is my Students are no longer wasting development. Male and female burn wet wood. family and all the members of the their time parroting historical working in equal harmony are The smoke of poverty does not world are my affinities, what I am dates. The root of education is the building blocks of peace and penetrate the lungs of the world. doing is all for them. now deeply rooted. Long shoots development. They have their Our world is not in emphysema Even in 2030, problems are sprout there; unlimited growth of own unique characters. They can due to poverty. People’s minds are alive. But their presence encour- children’s brains from the main thrust the vessel of antediluvian not obese by the weight of hap- ages human nature to surf on the stem of education. Education is thoughts and they are the sole hazard thoughts: ‘this work is tide of discovery, invention etc. the central axis of which benefactors of prosperity to the superior, that work is inferior’. We are cuddling worries: what if everything revolves and travels world if they work together. It’s Whatever you do, you need profes- a gigantic tsunami, a volcanic through. Knowledge can irrigate muggish to look at two hands as sional skill in 2030. eruption or big earthquake every forked branch of society: being less or more important of Humans have not misbehaved comes? We are thriving to make health, population, environment one’s own body. with water resources. They uti- this adolescent world even better, etc. We are like a complete whorl When we fail to realise the lise it wisely. Because of the ade- even more gorgeous. We are con- of a flower because all petals, results we could achieve together quacy of water resources, our tinuing to sharpen the blade of such as a sound environment, that means we have not realised quench is satisfied by happiness. dexterity. We are sowing luscious equality and quality healthcare, the formula to pilot us to the peak Advancing technologies have seeds of hard work to harvest, are in attachment. When all peo- of prosperity. We are ever work- stung human beings. I can see a satisfying progress. ple are educated, a membrane ing together in this time to flock of flying cars in the sky. forms in society, which acts as a embrace peace and to promote Despite the many innovations, Gautam is class 12 student at protective layer and helps with sustainable development. These the world is clamped by whooping Kathmandu University High peace maintenance. factors are ever marching for- cough due to the availability of School, Kavre. SHUTTERSTOCK FICTION PARK A drive down memory lane Mrs Pradhan, like thousands all over the world, had forgotten New her place in her world and her destiny had been obscured.

INDU CHEMJONG faded his wrinkles and today he looked as handsome as ever. Maybe, he, too, missed driving to his job along oday for a change she was going to take a with the excitement of carrying out day-to-day busi- break. ness, meeting varieties of interesting people and The hours of watching television, hold- above all, being productive. ing telephone conversations, and drown- The drive continued and her hungry eyes devoured ing in household chores were taking a toll what they saw. Then suddenly Mrs Pradhan noticed on her. The humdrum blues of doing the clothes spread out on the grass to be dried. By the Tsame things repeatedly had almost turned her into a side of the river, there were two young girls. She robot. noticed their long hair and the smiles on their happy Because of the pandemic, she was confined to her faces. The taller girl sat down on the grass and waved residence 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. As a at their car. “Oh! What was she trying to say?” won- result: she was suffering from cabin fever. Mrs dered Mrs Pradhan. She seemed to be in a happy Pradhan was having to grapple with the new reali- mood and Mrs Pradhan waved back at them, enthusi- ties, emotions and thoughts of a million kinds. astically! She was so grateful for that human connec- She had started feeling dreary. Today, after many tion though it was only a wave and for a minute! How days, when her husband decided to take her out on a she craved interaction and missed her friends and long drive to her favourite place in the hills to visit a family! Maybe after the pandemic, happier days will temple, she was overjoyed. This could be the return! much-needed change I was thinking of, she thought The two girls were Sunita and Binita. Sunita, the to herself. elder one, was eighteen and the younger one was Yesterday, when she remarked to her friend, thirteen. They had gone to the river to wash their “Apsara, haven’t we become hamsters on a wheel clothes that afternoon. After washing their clothes, Aloe Vera with the daily grind?” Apsara had tried to cheer up they were planning to sunbathe and rest a bit. A by putting her distress to perspective. Her friend young teenager, Sunita often daydreamed of how a pointed out that only a small change in the daily rou- car would come by and she would wave her hands to tine would change her newly acquired pessimist out- the driver in the car. The driver would be the hero, look towards her life. Her husband, too, had been her prince charming, and in her imagination, she home for months like her. would fall in love with him and she would be married to him and would go to the city! The silence by the river side was beautiful but the This could be the silence was also a little frightening. There was just the sound of the flowing river and the circling of a much-needed change I was hawk high above the far trees. And, lo, how the two sisters would talk and sing as they did their washing thinking of, she thought. in the river and when they returned home, they would be rejuvenated and revitalised. Perhaps nature z worked her magic on them every single time! The fear of Covid had dragged on and on and a Mrs Pradhan’s thoughts flew away and for a z large part of the economy had slipped into paralysis moment she kept looking outside the window. Her and so had the tourist business of Mr Pradhan. Both husband inquired if she was enjoying the scene. She z their children, Amit and Archana, had already commented, “Yes, it has been a long time that the two

migrated to foreign lands and the couple were having of us had come out on a long drive like this.” He //BrandLogiQ-Pm1// to deal with the empty-nest syndrome. The pandemic acknowledged her observation and smiled. had only added fuel to fire. Mrs Pranita Pradhan again went back in time. She In some ways, Mr and Mrs Pradhan had forgotten was Pranita and how everything she had ever wanted how they often bounced back from their dampened to do had turned out to be successful. She was content spirits and got their otherwise, strong and jovial spir- with her life. However, at the back of her mind, she its back over and over again all their lives. now suddenly craved solitude. She longed to let her Mrs Pradhan had spent her childhood in the hills mind slip into her more creative corners and write a racing towards her future, hurrying to be a college poem. But she remembered that she was also Mrs student and had daydreamed so many times about Pradhan and not only Pranita, the writer. It was now moving to the city when she was older. She was impa- her turn to make a remark at her husband’s remark. tient in every way. She was hungry for life and He was saying, “What’s up with you today? You don’t couldn’t wait to enjoy the beauties of it. After college, seem to be enjoying this drive?” She just nodded her she started to work as a receptionist in a travel agen- head and politely said, “Oh no, that’s not the case. In cy and got married at an early age of 22. fact, I feel so elated that I am going down on memory Her parents were happy and like a dutiful wife, she lane in a parallel way.” raised her children well, with the help of her gentle Back home, Mrs Pradhan smiled at herself husband. Now both her children have good jobs and and asked herself, ”How many women have the wonderful married lives. However, today, as she was luxury of living their happy past and live a life of about to go out for a long drive with her husband, her zero regret like herself ?” She said a quick prayer of rhetorical ruffles subsided, and she did not think of gratitude. anything. She was over the moon with the thought She had led a meaningful and fulfilling life, that she would have a change, perhaps a break in the one that she had always envisioned. Today, the clouds! beautiful long drive with her loving husband gave Off they went out for a drive. Dressed in her red her a big, precious bouquet of memories of her teen- kurta-suruwal, her hair tied up with a fancy red hair- age years. clip, even at a ripe age of 60, she glowed in the after- Mrs Pradhan, like thousands all over the world, noon sun. She forgot about the anxieties that Covid-19 had forgotten her place in her world and her destiny has given humanity and the uncertain tomorrows had been obscured. Thankfully, the drive had turned that it has brought along. out to be a tonic that much needed change and helped She pushed away the wicker easy-chairs by the her reset her compass. That evening, her chirpiness front door near the kitchen hurriedly and got out of seemed to have returned along with the bounce in her the main door. Mr Pradhan looked cheerful that the steps and the sparkle in her eyes. day was sunny and started the ignition of the car. Later that night, Mrs Pradhan disappeared in her Off they went on this much awaited drive! study. She seemed to be writing something. Who Mrs Pradhan enjoyed seeing the sights of the knows what she was writing about? Perhaps, it was #SleepLikeAPampersBaby familiar road-side houses, the trees, the bushes, the about her drive down memory lane. fallen leaves and the green hills in the distance. She looked at her husband. His youthful energy and spark Chemjong is an educator who likes writing fiction.

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