WI THOUT F EAR O R F A V O U R

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXIX No. 182 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in , , Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 33.2 C 13.5 C Thursday, August 19, 2021 | 03-05-2078 Nepalgunj Jomsom Aided by Deuba ordinance, dissidents split two parties Madhav applies for CPN UML (Samajbadi) and Mahantha Thakur for Janata Samajbadi Party (Loktantrik).

ANIL GIRI UML (Samajbadi). I urge all to partici- KATHMANDU, AUG 18 pate in this movement and support us. I appeal to all to mobilise to strength- An ordinance introduced by the Sher en the communist movement and Bahadur Deuba government has led to mega campaign for democracy and splits in at least two parties, marking nationalism,” said Nepal. what observers say an unprecedented Oli has called Nepal’s move a ‘black political event. day in Nepal’s communist movement’. After , a Though the Nepal faction has not senior communist leader, applied made it clear yet how many parlia- for a new party—Communist Party mentarians it commands, one of its of Nepal Unified Marxist Leninist leaders said they have support of at (Samajbadi)—at the Election least 30 lawmakers. Commission, following the promulga- Some senior UML leaders who had tion of the ordinance, the country’s earlier supported Nepal have not largest party, the CPN-UML, has split. joined the new party. The UML is led by KP Sharma Oli. The new party will be led by Nepal, Similarly, the Janata Samajbadi with , a senior com- Party, the fourth latest force in munist leader and former prime min- Parliament also lost a chunk after ister, ranking second. Khanal is cur- Mahantha Thakur registered Janata rently undergoing treatment in Delhi. Samajbadi Party Nepal (Loktantrik). Bhim Rawal, Surendra Pandey, “We decided to form a new party , Ashta Laxmai Shakya due to the discriminatory attitudes of and Raghuji Pant are some of the lead- KP Oli,” said Rajendra Pandey, who is ers who were with the Nepal faction close to Nepal. “Oli refused to correct but have not joined the new party yet. his mistakes. He did not even admit As per the application for party reg- Post Photo: ELite Joshi his mistakes.” istration at the Election Commission, A man splashes saffron paint to create a lotus pattern on the dome of the Swayambhunath Stupa in Kathmandu on Wednesday. The registration of a new the proposed strength of the new par- party by Nepal brings to end a ty’s central committee is 95. long-standing feud between him The ordinance on Wednesday also and Oli in the UML. On Tuesday, facilitated the formation of a party led Oli had expelled Nepal and 13 by Thakur, a senior leader from the other lawmakers. After applying Madhes. In what may be dubbed an Inside How photojournalism for the new party, Nepal issued a irony, Thakur’s Rastriya Janata Party statement alleging that Oli had had merged with Upendra Yadav’s pushed the communist move- Sanghiya Samajbadi Party in April Pandemic may leave Nepal’s ment towards dissolution. last year because of a similar ordi- poor more deprived, says has evolved in Nepal “There is a need to reorganise nance the erstwhile Oli government and transform the UML. So we had brought. planning commission report have decided to register the CPN >> Continued on page 2 KATHMANDU: Although Nepal made significant progress in reducing mul- On World Photography Day, Nepali photojournalists tidimensional poverty for five years prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the share what it was and is like to work in the country. pandemic could disrupt the past gains, a new report on Multidimensional Poverty in Nepal has warned. Multidimensional pover- ty covers the various deprivations experienced by the poor in their daily lives. According to the report titled ‘Nepal: Multidimensional Poverty Index 2021’ released on Wednesday by the National Planning Commission, some 18 million people in Nepal – 63.5 percent faced vulnerability of depri- vation in at least one of 10 areas determining the status of multidi- mensional poverty. Multidimensional Poverty Index (PMI) is measured based on deprivation across three sec- tors and 10 sub-sectors. (Details on Pg 2)

Most parties faring poorly on internal democracy KATHMANDU: For the - led government, formed last month, governance does not seem to be a pri- ority. The Congress party, which was in opposition for three and a half years after the 2017 elections, was critical of the KP Sharma Oli govern- ment over its governance failure. The Post file Photo Nepali photojournalists have played a crucial role in covering Nepal’s historic events. Congress currently is embroiled in its internal issues, and the most Pinki Sris Rana prominent one is its 14th general con- daily newspaper. Lalitpur, Aug 18 vention. On Saturday, it decided to “Gorkhapatra started publication postpone its general convention, for in 1901 and it took the paper 26 years the fourth time, to the last week of Monika Deupala was a high to publish its first photo of a common- November. As per the party statute, school student when she first got er, and when it finally did, it marked the Congress should hold its periodic interested in photography. By the time the beginning of Nepal’s photojour- general convention every four years. she was pursuing her undergraduate nalism,” says Min Ratna Bajracharya, The 13th general convention that degree in media studies, she had a veteran photojournalist. elected as party already set her mind on becoming a Over the years, photojournalism in president was held in March 2016. photojournalist. During her final year, Nepal has grown exponentially and Had the party followed its statute, the she interned as a photojournalist at there are now more active photojour- convention would have been held the Nepali Times, an English weekly nalists than ever. But many photojour- before March last year. Owing to newspaper. nalists say that the media industry internal differences and citing the “For me, the internship served as a still overlooks the significance of domestic political situation, the party window to the world of photojournal- photojournalism and does not give the postponed the national jamboree by a ism and I thoroughly enjoyed the expe- profession its due importance. rience,” says Deupala. Bajracharya is one of the few year to March 2021. (Details on Pg 3) Impressed by Deupala’s work, her people who have closely observed the editor offered her a full-time photo- country’s photojournalism landscape Traders ordering goods for journalist position at the newspaper. over the years. Fifty-six-year-old Since then, she has covered a wide Bajracharya got interested in pho- Dashain well in advance range of issues from acid attack vic- tography in his teens while working KATHMANDU: Nepali traders have start- tims, labour and migration to tourism as an assistant at his uncle’s curio ed placing early bird orders for mer- and culture. shop at Swayambhu. chandise from China to prevent a At just 25 years old, Deupala is one “I used to interact with foreign tour- repeat of last year’s fiasco, when they of the few female photojournalists ists and many of them carried camer- were left without inventory during in Nepal. as which as a young boy I found really the peak shopping season due to “Since many of my relatives are fascinating,” says Bajracharya. delayed shipments, insiders said. Last used to seeing me walking around Cameras at the time were expensive year, hundreds of inbound containers with a camera, I often get asked by and the young Bajracharya didn’t were held up at the northern border them to come and take pictures of have the means to purchase one, leav- point due to Covid-19 restrictions in their social events,” says Deupala. ing him with no option but to seek China, with the result that they “Many are still unaware of the differ- help from those who owned cameras. missed the Dashain shopping spree. ence between a photographer and a “Since I couldn’t afford a camera, Traders said that goods ordered for photojournalist. While photography is I started asking people who had one the summer season arrived in the all about visuals, photojournalism is to teach me photography but nobody winter and vice versa, resulting in using photos to tell stories.” agreed. So I started taking cameras on big losses. Nearly 2,000 containers Although photography in Nepal rent and learning the craft on my holding clothes, shoes, cosmetics, dates back to the mid-1800s, own,” says Bajracharya. electronics and industrial raw mate- photojournalism traces its root to But this was just his fascination rials were stuck at the Chinese bor- a photo of a commoner (a woman) with the camera. It was only in 1987 der, and most of them arrived in the using a charkha that was published that Bajracharya got into photojour- country after the Dashain festival had on the April 26, 1927 issue of nalism. ended. (Details on Pg 5) Gorkhapatra, Nepal’s oldest national >> Continued on page 8

C M Y K THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 | 02 National Briefing Pandemic may leave Nepal’s Landslides obstruct Flooded river inundates Saptari settlements Dang-Salyan road SAPTARI: poor more deprived, report says Over 150 households have been displaced after the flooded Jita BIPLAB MAHARJAN road section,” said Nabin Roka, a resi- river entered Ram Tol and Sardar Tol SALYAN, AUG 18 dent of Kapurkot. “Dozers clearing in Tilathi Koiladi Ward No 7 of the landslide debris has become a com- district on Tuesday. According to Landslides triggered by continuous mon sight in the area.” local residents, six houses were rainfall for the past few days have The road section is the only way washed away by the flooded river in obstructed vehicular movement along that connects Rukum, Salyan and the ward. Chairman of the rural the Kapurkot section of the Dang- Rolpa to Tulsipur in Dang. municipality Satish Kumar Singh Salyan road. “It is risky to operate vehicles in the said, “The flooded river has breached Vehicles travelling between the two Kapurkot area during the monsoon, as the embankment in the western part districts have been stranded due to the road section gets slippery after of the rural municipality. landslides in several places. rainfall because of mud and landslide Embankment repair work will start Devendra Kumar Sen, a resident of debris. We face long traffic jams until after the water level recedes.” The Kapurkot Rural Municipality, on the landslide debris is cleared,” said rural municipal office is collecting Sunday travelled to Tulsipur in Dang. Nirmal Bohara, a transport entrepre- details of the destruction, he said. The journey, which usually takes half neur in Salyan. an hour, took seven hours to complete, According to transport workers, 16-year-old girl found dead he says. almost the entire stretch of the “Kapurkot has been seeing continu- 176-kilometre-long Rapti Highway is under suspicious circumstances ous rainfall for the past few days. A in a dilapidated condition because of SARLAHI: A 16-year-old girl was found half-an-hour journey took an entire potholes and landslides. dead in suspicious circumstances at day because of disruptions along the “Every year, the highway undergoes Raniganj of Sarlahi district on Kapurkot road section,” Sen said. repair works in April and May only to Tuesday night. The girl had gone Two dozers have been mobilised to be damaged again by floodwaters in missing since August 15. According to clear landslide debris from the road. the monsoon. There’s no improvement the District Police Office, the body of “I had to drag my motorcycle for on the condition of the road,” said the girl was found buried in Kalinjor around one kilometre, as the road was Bohara. stream, around three kilometres from very muddy and slippery,” said Sen. Over 200 vehicles operate along the her home. Santosh Singh Rathour, The Division Road Office in Dang Dang-Salyan road section on a daily superintendent of police in Sarlahi, has been widening the road, leading to basis. said, “We are investigating the case. muddy and unmotorable paths during “We have requested transport work- The details of the incident will be dis- Post file Photo the monsoon season, Kapurkot resi- ers and road users to stay on high closed once we have the post mortem A social organisation distributes free meals to the needy at Lagankhel, Lalitpur in April last year. dents say. alert while passing the damaged road report.” The father of the deceased “Road expansion work has led to section Kapurkot. These days, the had filed a complaint of rape and PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA particularly in the areas of nutrition, while more than 57 percent of those several landslides along the road that road section witnesses traffic jams murder at the District Police Office. KATHMANDU, AUG 18 water, and cooking fuel due to the pan- suffering deprivation in two areas passes through a forest,” said Tilak almost every day due to its poor condi- Two individuals of the same village demic, according to the report. were also the poor, the report says. Sharma, a resident of Kapurkot. tion,” said Deputy Superintendent of have been arrested in connection Although Nepal made significant pro- The report has, however, not report- Kewal Prasad Bhandari, mem- “A month ago, four vehicles were Police in the District Police Office in with the incident, said police. gress in reducing multidimensional ed the impact of Covid-19 on multidi- ber-secretary at the commission buried by landslides in the Kapurkot Salyan Govinda Thapa. poverty for five years prior to the mensional poverty in Nepal as it is admitted that many people might have

Covid-19 pandemic, the pandemic based on the data collected under the been pushed to multidimensional pov- Prohibitory orders made could disrupt the past gains, a new Nepal Multiple Indicator Cluster erty due to the first and second waves stricter in Gorkha report on Multidimensional Poverty Survey-2019, before the pandemic. of Covid-19. “This report could not in Nepal has warned. As per the report, Nepal reduced incorporate the impact of Covid-19 GORKHA: The District Administration Multidimensional poverty covers multidimensional poverty drastically but this shows that the country made Office in Gorkha has decided to inten- the various deprivations experienced to 17.4 percent in 2019 from 30.1 per- rapid progress in reducing multidi- sify prohibitory orders from by the poor in their daily lives. cent in 2014. Based on a similar survey mensional poverty before the pandem- Wednesday amid soaring Covid-19 According to the report titled conducted in 2014, the commission ic,” he said during the launching of cases in the district. The administra- ‘Nepal: Multidimensional Poverty had produced the country’s first the report. tion imposed a ban on both public Index 2021’ released on Wednesday by Multidimensional Poverty Index According to the report, 17.5 per- and private vehicles and decided to the National Planning Commission, Report in 2018. cent of the overall population is close educational and financial insti- some 18 million people in Nepal – 63.5 This progress is now in doubt with already affected by overcrowded hous- tutions and market places. Shops sell- percent faced vulnerability of depri- the pandemic creating further depri- ing conditions and this could impede ing daily essentials are allowed to vation in at least one of 10 areas deter- vation for the poor, according to the effective disease prevention like open from 5am to 10am. “We have mining the status of multidimension- report. Covid-19. decided to enforce the ban with fur- al poverty. The report says that 17 percent of Likewise, 36 percent of the multidi- ther restrictions for 11 days starting Multidimensional Poverty Index the population (4.9 million) faces dep- mensionally poor people in Nepal live Wednesday hoping that it will help (PMI) is measured based on depriva- rivation in two areas and 1.31 percent in crowded households. Similarly, 38.2 break the chain of transmission,” tion across three sectors and 10 of the population (375,000 ) in all three percent of people in Nepal do not have said Chief District Officer Shaligram sub-sectors—health (child mortality, areas due to the Covid-19. access to a handwashing facility with Sharma. According to him, security nutrition), education (years of school- Even under the Nepal Multiple soap on their household’s premises. personnel have been deployed at vari- ing, enrolment), and living standards Indicator Cluster Survey-2019, nearly Such deprivation among the multidi- ous border points and health units (water, sanitation, electricity, cooking all highly-vulnerable people with dep- mensionally poor stands at 65.2 percent have been set up. The district current- fuel, floor, assets). rivation in the three areas were and this makes them more vulnerable Post Photo: BIPLAB MAHARJAN ly has 603 active cases of Covid-19. But, people are facing deprivation already multidimensionally poor and to diseases, according to the report. A backhoe loader works at a landslide-hit section of Dang-Salyan road. More than half of Shakya becomes first woman Salyan district still chief minister without electricity Dozens of electrification projects have been left incomplete in most rural areas of the district.

BIPLAB MAHARJAN aged within a year of its operation. SALYAN, AUG 18 Devilal Ghartimagar, a resident of Damdawali, Ward 5 in Kalimati Post Photo More than half of the population in Rural Municipality, said, “Using kero- SUBAS BIDARI Salyan depend on kerosene lamps and sene lamps and pine wood for a long MAKWANPUR, AUG 18 pinewood for lighting up homes. time has had adverse effects on our According to data from the Salyan health. A majority of our elders in our CPN-UML Vice-chair Ashta Laxmi Electricity Distribution Centre, out of village are patients of asthma and Shakya has become the first woman 51,000 households in the district, other respiratory diseases. Our chief minister of Nepal. 36,034 are still deprived of electricity. children have to depend on kerosene Shakya was appointed chief minis- Only 14,966 households regularly use lamps to study.” ter of Bagmati on Wednesday. Bagmati electricity in the district. According to Salyan distribution Province chief Bishnu Prasai admin- Five years ago, Nepal Electricity centre of the Nepal Electricity istered the oath of office and secrecy Authority had started the installation Authority, around 79 percent house- to Shakya amid a ceremony at the Post Photo: Deepak kc of utility poles in Putalibazar of holds in Kalimati, 75 percent each in Office of the Province Chief in the Workers are reflected in a rain puddle at the construction site of Bagmati Corridor at Tripureshwar, Kathmandu on Wednesday. Kalimati Rural Municipality. However, Darma and Kumakh, 70 percent in evening. the installation works have come to a Bangadkupinde, 60 percent in The Province chief appointed halt due to incomplete road networks Bagchaur, 53 percent in Siddakumakh, Shakya as chief minister as per in Putalibazaar. 40 percent in Kapurkot and 15 percent Article 168 (1) of the Constitution. The each in Sharada and Tribeni are article states that the provincial chief Aided by Deuba ordinance ... deprived of electricity in the district. shall appoint the leader of the parlia- Dharmapati Yadav, chief of the cen- mentary party commanding a majori- All 10 local units tre, said most of the electrification ty in the provincial assembly as the >> Continued from page 1 and Parliamentary Party. been sacrificed for political parties’ in Salyan have projects are left incomplete without chief minister, and the provincial Thakur parted ways with Yadav 16 When the Oli government had issued vested interests.” funds. According to him, eight council of ministers shall be consti- months later on Wednesday—also a similar ordinance in April last year, According to Dhungana, the Nepali made electrification different projects were in operation tuted under his or her chairperson- because of a similar ordinance, now it had sought to change the “and” pro- Congress has failed in its duty to with a Rs60 million budget issued in ship. introduced by the Deuba government. vision to “or”, keeping the 40 percent uphold parliamentary supremacy. programme their the fiscal year 2020-21. Earlier in the day, Dormani Poudel “We have registered a new party, but provision the same. However, after In what looked like a deliberate “A total of 3,189 households benefit- had resigned as both the chief minis- we have not decided yet on joining the widespread criticism, including from attempt to undermine the parliamen- priority. ed through six electrification projects ter and parliamentary party leader of government,” said Rajendra Mahato, Deuba’s Nepali Congress, the ordi- tary system, the Deuba government last fiscal year,” claimed Yadav. the UML. a leader close to Thakur. “The support nance was withdrawn. introduced the ordinance on The Salyan office of NEA estimates A meeting of the UML parliamenta- extended by our lawmakers to Deuba, Deuba now has attracted opprobri- Wednesday, two days after proroguing Even the installation of electricity that around Rs1.25 billion is needed to ry party held at the province assembly however, continues.” um for introducing a similar ordi- the House, which had reconvened on poles hardly ensures power supply as provide electricity to all households in secretariat, earlier on Wednesday, Mahato told the Post that they have nance, which his party, the Nepali July 18 following its restoration by the is the case with Malta in the district. “A huge amount of budget unanimously elected Shakya as the support of 15 lawmakers—out of 32 of Congress, had called an undemocratic Supreme Court on July 12. Oli had Bangadkupinde Municipality where is required to accomplish a single pro- parliamentary party leader on the Janata Samajbadi Party. move and irresponsible attitude that dissolved the House on May 21, for a electricity poles were installed two ject due to geographical remoteness Poudel’s proposal. “We were facing difficulties in the undermined the parliamentary sys- second time in less than six months. years ago but households are yet to be and scattered settlements. But only Poudel’s resignation came on the Janata Samajbadi Party as we had tem. Earlier in December also, Oli had dis- lit up. Rs60 to Rs150 million is issued in one heels of political developments at the issues with the Yadav group,” Mahato “With the issuance of the ordinance solved the House. It was reinstated on Only the district headquarters, fiscal year,” said Yadav. federal level after President Bidya told the Post. “We had differences on a by the Deuba government, I don’t February 23 by the Supreme Court. Khalanga, was supplied with electrici- All 10 local units in Salyan have Devi Bhandari promulgated an ordi- host of issues. The ordinance paved think there is constitutional morality Observers say the Deuba govern- ty some 35 years ago. Dozens of elec- prioritised electrification for the past nance to amend Political Parties Act- the way for us to form a new party.” anymore in the country,” said Daman ment has committed a political crime tricity supply projects have been left few years. According to Suresh 2017 on the recommendation of the The Janata Samajbadi Party will be Nath Dhungana, a civil society mem- by proroguing the House with a unattended in most rural areas of the Adhikari, mayor of Sharada Sher Bahadur Deuba government. led by Thakur and Mahato is likely to ber and former House Speaker. “We malafide intention to issue the ordi- district for many years now. Municipality, the local body issued a The ordinance seeks to amend pro- have the position of “senior leader”. will see more instability now.” nance, which is aimed purely at serv- Dipak Khadka, a resident of total of Rs30 million budget since the visions related to party split, making The ordinance issued by the Deuba Nepali political parties’ excessive ing some vested political interests. Okhareni which is yet to see local government was formed in 2017. it easier to break a political party and government amended the provisions focus on stability had led to enacting Nepali Congress leaders, who had electricity, said, “We have been “Around 85 percent of households in form a new one. related to party split of the Political tough laws on party splits, as they launched an all-out attack on Oli for demanding the government authori- Sharada Municipality have electricity The promulgation of the ordinance Parties Act-2017. As per the new provi- believed frequent party splits were the issuing the ordinance last year, how- ties supply electricity to our village connections now,” he said. prompted the Nepal faction to split sion, any group that can prove the cause of instability in the country. ever, are trying to defend Deuba’s ordi- for many years now but nothing has Bangadkupinde, another munici- away from the CPN-UML and register support of 20 percent of members in “With the decision to promulgate nance now. happened. We still use kerosene lamps pality in the district, spent Rs70 a new party— the Central Committee or the ordinance, Deuba may have man- “The ordinance is a compulsion,” and pine wood for lighting. We have million to extend power supply in (Samajbadi). Likewise, the Mahantha Parliamentary Party can quit the aged to secure a majority and pro- said Prakash Sharan Mahat, joint gen- spent our whole life waiting for elec- the past three years. Mayor Gobind Thakur faction of the Janata mother party and register a new party. longed his stay in power. The Nepali eral secretary of the Congress party. tricity.” Pun said the electrification Samajbadi Party also parted ways Before the amendment, such a group Congress will benefit out of it. But at “We are for ensuring stability, as the According to him, a micro hydro- programme was launched in Wards 1, with the establishment faction to form had to prove the support of 40 percent what cost?” said Dhungana. country has already seen frequent power project, which was constructed 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the municipality last the Janata Samajbadi Party of members in the Central Committee “Ultimately it’s democracy that has House dissolutions.” five years ago in Okhareni, was dam- fiscal year. (Loktantrik).

C M Y K 03 | THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 National Most parties fare poorly on internal democracy Many people aged 65 and Parties have been postponing their conventions under various pretexts. Observers say this must end. above in Kathmandu are not BINOD GHIMIRE cy, observers say. general conventions to the extent pos- can easily be raised over the Congress KATHMANDU, AUG 18 However, the Nepali Congress is not sible. party’s commitment to democratic the only political party in Nepal that “Not just the major ‘traditional’ values and principles if it cannot hold For the Nepali Congress-led govern- pays little attention to its general con- parties’, even those political forces its own general convention in five seeking second Covishield jab ment, formed last month, governance vention, which is held to elect new which emerged later to challenge years. does not seem to be a priority. The leadership and strengthen internal them too have a similar problem,” Before it postponed the convention Congress party, which was in opposi- democracy. said Ayodhee Prasad Yadav, former to November, the Nepali Congress was tion for three and a half years after The CPN-UML, the largest party in chief election commissioner. The last even mulling over paying a fine of the 2017 elections, was critical of the Parliament, held its last convention in time the Upendra Yadav-led Madhesi Rs50,000 to skip the September dead- KP Sharma Oli government over its 2014, electing Oli as the new party Janadhikar Forum-Nepal held its con- line so that it could avoid the risk of governance failure. chair. It has been seven years since. vention was in 2009. As his party has being invalidated. The Congress currently is embroiled The party has said it is planning to gone through several splits and merg- “The Congress has found a loop- in its internal issues, and the most hold its convention in December. ers leading to name changes, Yadav’s hole. However, the constitution means prominent one is its 14th general con- The party has argued that the five- party has been avoiding general con- all the party conventions must be com- vention. On Saturday, it decided to year provision is not applicable to it, ventions.” pleted within five and [an additional] postpone its general convention, for as it merged with the Communist Yadav currently leads the Janata half years at the maximum,” Dolakh the fourth time, to the last week of Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) in May Samajbadi Party, which is on the verge Bahadur Gurung, a former November. 2018. of a split with Mahantha Thakur reg- commissioner at the Election As per the party statute, the UML and the Maoist Centre had istering a new party. Commission, told the Post. “The party, Congress should hold its periodic gen- merged to become the Nepal General conventions, or some call it which claims itself the champion of eral convention every four years. The Communist Party (NCP), but it was national conventions, play an impor- democracy, is trying to set a negative 13th general convention that elected invalidated on March 7 this year by tant role in maintaining internal precedent.” Sher Bahadur Deuba as party presi- the Supreme Court. The UML argues democracy in parties and they give an The Congress though has set the dent was held in March 2016. Had the that since three years cannot be count- opportunity to the members to elect date for its convention for November, party followed its statute, the conven- ed, it still has not elapsed the five the new leadership and open the door it has said it will hold ward level con- Post file Photo tion would have been held before years since it held its last convention. for democratically transferring power. ventions on September 3. The party A health worker holds a vial of Covid-19 vaccine at a vaccination centre in Kathmandu. March last year. Owing to internal When it comes to the Maoist Centre, Such conventions help guide parties claims that it cannot be invalidated for differences and citing the domestic the third largest force in Parliament, and determine their course of action missing the September 8 deadline, as ARJUN POUDEL patients with renal failure who have political situation, the party post- its last convention was held almost a for a period until the next such con- the ward-level conventions from KATHMANDU, AUG 18 to undergo dialysis, those having poned the national jamboree by a year decade ago--in February 2013. Pushpa ventions are held. September 3 will mark the beginning organ transplantation and cancer to March 2021. The party’s statute Kamal Dahal, who has led the Maoist But parties in Nepal pay little atten- of the party convention. Around 50 percent of the people above patients are on the priority list for the allows an extension of the convention party for over three decades now, was tion to such an important event, According to Gurung, the Congress 65 years old from Kathmandu, who first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. by a year and the Constitution of re-elected the party chair. The party according to Krishna Pokhrel, a pro- is using this “tactic” to get more lee- took their first dose of the Covishield Those residing in rehabs and the staff Nepal also envisions the political par- had said it would hold a “special con- fessor of political science at the way to delay the process of transfer of vaccine have not been seeking a serving there, workers serving in the ties to hold their convention every five vention” within one year. The party Tribhuvan University. power within the party. second dose. industrial areas, women and girls years. was then named UCPN (Maoist “This not only shows a lack of dem- Observers say crossing the five-year The Health Ministry started admin- sheltering at Maiti Nepal, family Article 269 (4) (b) of the constitution Centre). ocratic culture within the parties but deadline means the elected leadership istering a second dose of the members of security personnel and makes it mandatory for a political The special convention was never also the undemocratic mindset of the has already lost their mandate and AstraZeneca vaccine to the people those above 30 are also on the list. party to hold its general convention at held. The party has been postponing leadership,” Pokhrel told the Post. letting those elected run the party above 65 years old, from August 9. “We have also been instructed to least once in five years. In special cir- the convention for over eight years “And this tendency is prevalent across without any mandate is undemocratic “Around 50 percent of the people provide jabs to those, who have taken cumstances, the constitution allows saying it merged with various parties the political spectrum in Nepal.” culture. above 65 years, who took the first dose the first dose but not come for the sec- postponement of the convention by a in different time periods and this has It is to ensure that parties in Nepal “The conventions give a mandate to of Covishield in March have not been ond dose due to various reasons,” said maximum of six months. Citing the even led to the change in the name of periodically hold their conventions, a set of leaders to run the parties for seeking a second dose,” Badri Bahadur Khadka. adverse situation created by the Covid- the party. the constitution and laws have set the five years. As soon as the five years’ Khadka, chief of the Health Office, Health Ministry officials concede 19 pandemic, the party decided to hold The UCPN (Maoist) was converted five-year deadline. Failing to hold the time is over, their mandate is over,” Kathmandu, told the Post. “We have that a lot of people, who had taken the its general convention from September into Communist Party of Nepal conventions on time is also tanta- Puranjan Acharya, a political analyst been urging all to take the second dose.” first dose of the Covishield vaccine in 1 to 4 in Kathmandu. The final consti- (Maoist Centre) in May 2016 after a mount to undermining the constitu- who follows Congress politics closely, The number of people not seeking a March are not seeking a second dose. tutional deadline for the jamboree merger of 10 different political par- tion and laws, say observers. told the Post. “Such practices are second dose of the AstraZeneca vac- “I don’t have exact data of the peo- ends on September 8, however, the ties. The Nepali Congress’ indecision on undemocratic. It is unfortunate that cine is significant in other districts as ple who have not taken the second party has decided to hold its general Though the party had proposed its holding the general convention for the parties like the Congress and the well but the Health Ministry said that dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, but convention on September 25-29 now. national convention from December months, largely due to infighting, UML which used to hold their conven- it does not have the exact data. their number is significant,” Dr The Congress’ failure to hold its 26 to 28 it is yet to be finalised. reflects badly upon the democratic tions on time in the past are these days Around 1.4 million people took the Jhalak Gautam, chief of the National periodic general convention is indica- Experts say there is a tendency culture the party claims to espouse, seeking excuses to delay power trans- first dose of the Covishield vaccine Immunisation Programme, told tive of the waning internal democra- among parties in Nepal to avoid according to them. They say questions fers in the party.” between March 7 and 15. Those who the Post. “We have asked the were supposed to take the second dose immunisation centres to provide the after 12 to 16 weeks had been deprived vaccine to those who took the first of the vaccine for a long time. dose earlier.” The Health Ministry had started Public health experts said people administering a second dose of the above 65 years who had taken AstraZeneca vaccine to those who had Covishield five months ago not taken the first dose of the vaccine, seeking a second dose is a concerning after Japan and Bhutan supplied issue. 1,077,320 doses (847,320 from Japan “It is very serious that around half and 230,000 doses from Bhutan) of the of the people above 65 years in AstraZeneca vaccine. Kathmandu have not been seeking a The Health Office, Kathmandu has second dose,” Dr Shyam Raj Upreti, started administering first dose of the coordinator of the Covid-19 Vaccine vaccine to other groups from Tuesday, Advisory Committee, told the Post. “If after people above 65 years old did not the second dose is not taken, the status show up for the second dose. of full vaccination is not achieved and “We can use the vaccine for about 12 the risk of severity and death will days only, as the vaccine supplied to us increase as people above 65 years are a is close to expiry date,” said Khadka. “It high risk group.” will be better to use the vaccine in other The Health Ministry said that the age groups instead of letting it expire.” risk is high among the said age group All the 230,000 doses of the as highly contagious Delta variants of AstraZeneca vaccine, supplied from the coronavirus have been circulating Bhutan have an expiry date of August. in the country. The Department of Health Services On Wednesday, 2,613 people tested had supplied 102,000 doses of the positive in 11,839 polymerase chain AstraZeneca vaccine to the Health reaction tests and an additional 790 Office, Kathmandu but only less than people tested positive in 4,999 antigen half have been used. tests. In the last 24 hours, 42 people The Health Office, Kathmandu said succumbed to Covid-19. Active cases that people above 18 years of the prior- stand at 40,338 on Wednesday. ity groups can take the first dose of “Even if the first dose of the vac- AstraZeneca vaccine from Radha cine provides some level of protection, Swami Isolation Centre, Samakhusi, a second dose is needed,’’ said Gautam. Nepal Police Hospital, Bir Hospital, “I would like to request everyone to Army Hospital, Civil Hospital, take a second dose of the vaccine.” Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Officials suspect that some people Hospital, National Ayurveda Research might have already taken a second and Training Centre and Armed dose from India and some might have Police Force Hospital. been infected again, due to which they The first dose of the AstraZencea are not seeking a second dose. vaccine is also being administered “We do not have a system to track from Municipality, the people who are not seeking a sec- Municipality, ond dose of the vaccine,” Dr Samir , Kumar Adhikari, joint spokesperson Municipality, for the Health Ministry, told the Post. Municipality, Kageshwari Manohara It has been reported that some peo- Municipality and Municipality. ple who had taken the first dose of According to Khadka, college stu- Covishield have taken the Chinese dents, who have taken exam admit Vero Cell vaccine as the second dose. cards, employees and labourers work- So far, 4,785,902 people have taken ing in the construction of new parlia- their first dose of vaccine (around Post Photo: Anish Regmi mentary building, migrant workers 15.92.percent) and 3,649,760 (12.1 per- Children play a game of hopscotch at Godamchaur, Lalitpur on Wednesday. and students and others going abroad, cent) have been fully immunised. Nepali pharmaceutical companies mull setting up vaccine plants

PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA Santosh KC, information officer at pany was in discussion with three explored to sustain such plants. 19 and other infectious diseases, to least five years and ensuring KATHMANDU, AUG 18 the Department of Drug domestic pharmaceutical companies “Because relying only on the domes- make such plants economically feasi- reimbursement of 75 percent of the Administration, the drug regulatory and a foreign company for setting up a tic market involves big risks, we are ble. cost borne by the vaccine plant in A number of Nepali pharmaceutical body under the Health Ministry, said plant to produce vaccines for humans. preparing to partner with a foreign According to the government’s building an access road and installing companies have approached the some domestic pharmaceutical “We are trying to secure foreign investor with a buyback guarantee,” announcement, it would procure a a dedicated line of electricity. Department of Drug Administration companies approached the department investment and a buyback guarantee said Shrestha. maximum of 60 percent of the The history of vaccine production after the government announced to discuss the matter but nobody has from potential foreign investors if we They are also concerned about national demand for vaccines from in Nepal dates back to 1961 when incentives for firms that produce sought approval for producing are to go ahead with the plan to set up whether they would get a potential the plant established in line with the Nepal had started producing animal vaccines for infectious diseases vaccines. a vaccine plant,” he said. “Our initial market in Nepal itself, with the coun- government announcement after each vaccines. including Covid-19. “We are ready to help the estimate is that it may cost Rs5 to 6 try receiving most of the children of the vaccines completes the third An animal vaccine production unit On August 9, the Ministry of companies willing to set up a vaccine billion to establish a vaccine plant.” vaccines in donations. phase of the clinical trial. named ‘Veterinary Investigation Industry, Commerce, and Supplies manufacturing facility,” KC said. According to Shrestha, they aim to Deepak Prasad Dahal, immediate The safety and effectiveness of Laboratory’ was established at announced through a notice in the According to the department, the produce vaccines for diseases such as past president of the Association of such vaccines should be above Tripureshwar, Kathmandu in 1961 Nepal Gazette a number of incentives government-run National Vaccine pneumonia and flu, including Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal, the threshold set by the World Health which produced Goat Tissue Vaccine including a procurement guarantee for Production Laboratory and two Covid-19. Nepal is basically reliant on said several pharmaceutical compa- Organisation and they should have (GTV) to be used in the Rinderpest 60 percent of the total vaccine demand private companies—Hester Bio- donated doses of most vaccines nies had shown interest in producing been listed by the global health body. Eradication Program. in the country while assuring credit at Science and Biovac Nepal—are pro- against long-prevailing diseases to vaccines in the country. As per the government’s The production of anti-rabies vac- subsidised interest, tax and duty ducing vaccines for animal diseases in inoculate children. “I am also interested in the project. announcement, it will give a full cine was started in 1970. Until 1987, exemption on the import of machinery the country. According to the Department of But we are concerned about how the waiver of the value-added tax, cus- these vaccines were used only in ani- and electricity tariff waiver. Some pharmaceutical companies Customs, the country imported vac- market for the domestically-produced toms duty, and excise duty on the mals for pre- and post-exposure treat- The government came up with the told the Post that they were also cines for human diseases worth Rs7.67 vaccines is guaranteed. If the import of machinery for three years ments. From 1987, anti-rabies vaccines incentive package considering that exploring the potential of producing billion in the fiscal year 2020-21. government accepts donated vaccines after the plant is registered. were also used in the post-exposure countries without access to vaccines vaccines for human diseases. Pharmaceutical companies say the and refuses to procure from domestic Other facilities announced by the treatment of rabies in humans with have suffered badly during the Quest Pharmaceuticals is one of the domestic market alone would not vaccine manufacturers, what will government include the availability of approval from the WHO. This vaccine Covid-19 pandemic. domestic pharma companies guarantee the recovery of investment happen to the vaccine plants?” he credits at just three percent interest was used in humans from 1987 to 2006. Currently, no pharmaceutical exploring this option along with a few in vaccine plants. Even though the asked. He also said that the vaccine rate (the interest rate fixed for “There are certain human resourc- company in Nepal produces vaccines other domestic and foreign government has committed to procur- manufacturer should be licenced to special refinance by the central bank); es who had worked to produce rabies for human diseases. However, a few investment partners. ing 60 percent of the national vaccine produce all biological and biotechno- availability of credit against the vaccines for humans. They can be companies produce vaccines against Umesh Lal Shrestha, managing demand, pharmaceutical companies logical products instead of limiting collateral of the project itself; used for vaccine plants for human animal diseases. director of the company, said his com- say the external market should also be them to producing vaccines for Covid- electricity demand fee waiver for at diseases,” said Dahal.

C M Y K THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 | 04 Opinion EDITORIAL Angling for the sympathy of conservatives The pot and the kettle Rabindra Mishra’s ‘alternative’ thoughts seem to have been Deuba’s selfish act will go down in history as yet fossilised in the bygone another beginning of the undoing of democracy. decades of the Panchayat era.

When Sher Bahadur Deuba returned to Baluwatar as prime minister for the fifth time this July, there was little excite- DEEPAK THAPA ment among the public. And that was expected, given his long history of political blunders and attacks against democracy. AS I LIKE But those who wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt and a final chance to salvage his image as an “inefficient” prime minister were not wrong altogether. Deuba became the unanimous prime ministerial candidate of the opposition alliance, not because of his political acumen or any hope that When Rabindra Mishra, head of the he would do any good for Nepal’s ailing democratic process. purported alternative political force, But he never gets tired of making the same mistakes many the Bibeksheel Sajha Party, recently times over and failing the already low expectations of the put out his somewhat infamous thesis people again and again. calling for, among other things, dis- Former prime minister KP Sharma Oli’s relentless attack banding federalism and holding a pleb- iscite on secularism, it was received against democracy had made possible a coming together of with mixed emotions. As anywhere strange bedfellows. As the leader of the second largest politi- else in the world, there is a powerful cal party in Parliament, Deuba got an opportunity to take the conservative strand among Nepalis, reins of the country. Despite his inability to give any hope to and Mishra must have angling for sym- the people, the last that was expected of him was a repeat of pathy from this group (and their votes Oli’s political adventurism. And yet, here we are, wondering when the time comes). That his person- what to do with an ordinance to amend laws to ease a party al proclivities tended along those very lines was probably an added bonus. split when there are more pressing issues, ranging from han- There were also very strong reac- Shutterstock dling the coronavirus pandemic to reviving the economy, to tions to Mishra’s propositions on how had actually led a movement for seces- The Bibeksheel Sajha leadership structural issues being tackled has deal with. we should move forward as a nation. sion before being granted statehood in quartet certainly hit the nail on the struck deeper roots. Take the example Just a little over a year ago, a Nepali Congress statement, An insightful takedown by Pranaya the 1950s), there is indeed a compara- head by identifying the false, albeit still of Umesh Prasad Mainali, former signed by none other than Deuba himself, called Oli’s act of Rana in The Record is worth a read. tively stronger feeling of regionalism strongly believed, conflation of the chairperson of the Public Service introducing the same ordinance an “unacceptable move, irre- There were numerous other articles than in the rest of India. At the same demand (by a handful) for ethnic feder- Commission, who was sometimes sponsible tendency”. The difference this time is that the highly critical of Mishra’s rather sim- time, though, Tamils also expressed alism with the issue of inclusion (for reviled for taking policy decisions requirement for a party split has been changed as per how plistic arguments, the kind that would much higher levels of trust in the cen- all the marginalised). What comes against the spirit of inclusion. In a sit well with an audience for a Mr tral government and the Indian army. through in this perhaps much-needed recent article, Mainali discusses the much they needed to help the Madhav Kumar Nepal faction Know-All holding forth during the all- Stepan et al write: “[I]t is likely that tussle of ideas is the growing accept- importance of inclusion and how the break away from the CPN-UML. As per the current provi- male, morning tea street-side congrega- citizens in the multinational society ance of the need to further strengthen states inclusive policies have fared so sions of the Political Parties Act 2017, any faction of a party tions. But certainly not for someone would strongly identify with, and the inclusive state that came into exist- far, and ends with the categorical sug- can register a new party if it can show it has the support of whose claim to fame has been his sup- remain loyal to, both their culturally ence 15 years ago and which was rati- gestion: “Mend it but do not end it.” 40 percent of the members of the central committee and the posed worldliness, mainly from having powerful ethnofederal unit and the pol- fied to a large extent by the 2015 Such sentiments from members of parliamentary party. The ordinance changed it to 20 percent, worked for the BBC in London for ity-wide center. Most citizens would Constitution. the dominant minority were in short and the “and” provision has been changed to “or”. many years. have such complementary identities The mood has definitely changed supply just a few years ago. We also saw Perhaps most unexpected for Mishra because the center has recognized and from two decades ago when political-so- strong exceptions to a recent Supreme President , did not fail to disappoint was how his views did not sit well with defended many of their cultural cial activist Govinda Neupane injected Court ruling on the constitutional pro- once again. And no sooner had President Bhandari given the others in his own party. Within days, demands and, in addition, helped struc- a new dimension into the debate on visions on reservations. Using the green signal than Madhav Kumar Nepal rushed to the four in the leadership team, including ture and protect their full participation exclusion with his book, The hoary but discredited ‘creamy layer’ Election Commission to register a new party, CPN-UML the co-chair, came up with a forceful in the overall politics of the polity.” Nationalities’ Question in Nepal: Social argument, the learned judges appear to (Samajbadi), with an open book as the proposed election sym- rebuttal, stating: “[I]n a multi-religious That statement neatly encapsulates Texture and Possibilities of Partnership have constricted the scope of the coun- bol. Mahantha Thakur, the beleaguered leader of the Janata and multicultural country like ours, our own journey, one that has only just (my literal translation of the original try’s affirmative action policies. It was Samajbadi Party, did not want to be left behind either, as he federalism, secularism and inclusive begun and too soon to be summarily Nepali title). Given his own ethnic the reactions that came as a pleasant registered Janata Samajbadi Party (Loktantrik), with a bicy- proportional representation are beauti- dismissed as Mishra has tried to do. background, so novel were his ideas at surprise, including in an editorial of ful manifestations of democracy. That The source of his disenchantment with the time that the political scientist the influential . “Reservation cle as the proposed election symbol. is the basis of social harmony [and] federalism has also been identified by Mahendra Lawoti wrote: “In a society is a measure to bring the discriminated When it comes to committing crimes against democracy, unity…” the document brought out by his party where Khas intellectuals either and backward castes/ethnicities, com- Oli is Deuba, and Deuba is Oli. What Oli started, Deuba has comrades. They write: “In the initial denounce multiculturalism or at the munities, classes on par with the com- completed. Just a little over a month after Oli was defenes- Federalism and inclusion debate on federalism, there were sharp most accept the inequalities but do munity dominating the mainstream,” trated for committing a political crime against democracy— Mishra’s main grouse with federalism but ideological disagreements for and nothing, it is enlightened people like it argued. “If it is attacked from with- not unlike Deuba two decades ago—Deuba has committed the is seemingly the prominence sub-na- against it. On the question of the kind Govinda Neupane who will contribute out having achieved its target, it will same crime that he had vehemently opposed just a little over tional identities have received since the of federalism, there were debates towards producing a more just and hinder the prosperity of the country 2006 political change. Like many other drives by various biases. At that time, equitable society.” and it will not be possible to achieve a year ago. So much so that Oli and his acolytes have now extremists on either side of the politi- some had interpreted the right of the As shown by Brihat Nagarik lasting peace.” found a way to decry Deuba’s move and put themselves in a cal aisle, he has convinced himself that states to self-determination as being Andolan, the nascent social movement Enough said but that is also why morally superior position—after all, they had withdrawn the the end result will be the disintegration the right to secede. There were some comprising a diverse group of intellec- Mishra’s unnecessary provocation ordinance after a public outcry. of the country. Unlike his hunch, how- who had advocated for ethnic states. tuals but led mainly by those who are struck many by its dissonance with With the passing of the ordinance and the impending split ever, there is plenty of empirical evi- These were all issues for debate. The Khas-Arya, to use Lawoti’s formula- present realities. Despite claims to of his party, Oli may have finally got a taste of his own medi- dence to show the opposite to be true. federalism we have today is not of a tion, enlightenment on the need for a bringing a fresh perspective to politics, cine. But the ordinance itself is an affront to the political One prominent instance comes from divisive character but one based on just and equitable society has become his thoughts seem to have been fossil- culture of the country. With a single ordinance, Deuba has India, as political scientists Alfred coordination and partnership. There is much more widespread now. Part of ised in the bygone decades of the Stepan, Juan Linz and Yogendra Yadav no need to remember those early that surely springs from the advocacy Panchayat era. For all his personable shown gratitude to his newfound ally, Madhav Kumar Nepal, have demonstrated in their book, debates on federalism or be frightened of the cause of inclusion being characteristics, and he has many as as well as orchestrated the weakening of the CPN-UML, the Crafting State-Nations: India and Other by them. To try and overturn federal- unshackled after 2015 from the spectre anyone who has met would have to Congress Party’s primary competitor in electoral politics. Multinational Democracies. They pres- ism by harking back on those demands of ethnofederalism. But there is no admit, one cannot but agree with what But Deuba’s selfish act will go down in history as yet another ent the results of a national survey is to fail to understand the relevance doubt that the understanding that pro- an opinion writer called him to do: beginning of the undoing of democracy. which showed that among Tamils (who and importance of federalism.” gress is not possible without deeper Retire from politics. The biometric trap

tion and digital security, but these We’re victims of attitudes are not supported in their behaviour. Several explanations our own psychology exist for this, with some researchers arguing that people employ a privacy in making calculus to assess the costs and bene- fits of disclosing particular informa- privacy decisions. tion. The problem, as always, is that cer- tain types of cognitive or social bias PAM BRIGGS begin to creep into this calculus. We know, for example, that people will underestimate the risks associated with things they like and overestimate the risks associated with things they dislike (something known as the “affect heuristic”). As a consequence, people tend to The online retail giant Amazon has share more personal data than they moved from our screens to our streets, should, and the amount of such data with the introduction of Amazon gro- in circulation grows exponentially. cery and book stores. With this expan- The same is true for biometrics. sion came the introduction of Amazon People will say that only trusted One—a service that lets customers use organisations should hold biometric their handprint to pay, rather than data, but then go on to give their biom- tapping or swiping a card. According etrics up with a small incentive. In my to recent reports, Amazon is now own research, I’ve linked this behav- offering promotional credit to users ioural paradox to the fact that security who enroll. and privacy are things we need to do, In the UK we’re quickly becoming but they don’t give us any joy, so our used to biometric-based identifica- motivation to act is low. tion. Many of us use a thumbprint or Any warnings about the longer- facial recognition to access our smart- term risks of taking the Amazon shil- phones, authorise payments or cross ling might be futile, but I leave you international borders. with this: your biometrics don’t just Using a biometric (part of your confirm your identity, they are more body) rather than a credit card (some- revealing than that. They say some- thing you own) to make a purchase thing very clearly about ethnicity and might offer a lot more convenience age, but may also unknowingly reveal for what feels like very little cost. information about disability or even But there are several complex Shutterstock mood (in the example of, say, a voice issues involved in giving up your ically include a “liveness” test so that nantly white faces. Fingerprint sys- poses—but not simply because it ty provider … but are you sure you biometric). biometric data to another party, which no attacker would be tempted to chop tems may fail older adults, who have seems convenient. want to do that? Biometric analysis can be done is why we should be wary of compa- a finger off or make latex copies). thinner skin and less marked whorls, The UK government is currently without permission (state regulations nies such as Amazon incentivising us They’re also easy to use—gone are the and all systems would fail those with consulting on a new digital identity Privacy paradox permitting) and, in some cases, at to use biometrics for everyday problems of remembering multiple certain disabilities—arthritis, for and attributes trust framework where Unfortunately we’re victims of our scale. China leads the way in the use transactions. passwords to access different systems example, could make it difficult to firms can be certified to offer biomet- own psychology in this process. We of face recognition to identify individ- Amazon’s handprint incentive adds and services. yield a palm print. ric and other forms of identity man- will often say we value our privacy uals in a crowd, even when wearing to an ongoing academic and policy What about the costs? You don’t agement services. and want to protect our data, but then, masks. Exchanging a palm print for debate about when and where to use have many hands—and you can’t get a Who should we trust? As the number of daily digital with the promise of a quick reward, the equivalent of a free book may biometrics to “authenticate” yourself new one—so one biometric will have A key issue for biometrics “identity transactions we make grows, so does we will simply click on that link, seem like a vastly different thing, but to a system (to prove that you are who to serve as an entry point to multiple providers” is that they can be trusted. the need for simple, seamless authen- accept those cookies, login via it is the thin end of the biometric you say you are). systems. That becomes a real problem This means that they will keep tication, so it is not surprising that Facebook, offer up that fingerprint wedge. On the benefits side, you’re never if a biometric is hacked. the data secure and will be “propor- Amazon might want to become a and buy into that shiny new thing. without your biometric identifier— Biometrics can also be discrimina- tional” in their use of biometrics as a major player in this space. Offering to Researchers have a name for this: Briggs is a Research Chair in Applied your face, hand or finger travel with tory. Many facial recognition systems means of identification. In other pay for you to use a biometric sign-in the privacy paradox. In survey after Psychology, Northumbria University, you. Biometrics are pretty hard to fail ethnic minorities (because the sys- words, they will use biometrics when is a quick means of getting you to survey, people will argue that they Newcastle. steal (modern fingerprint systems typ- tems have been trained with predomi- it is necessary—say, for security pur- choose Amazon as your trusted identi- care deeply about privacy, data protec- — The Conversation

C M Y K 05 | THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 Money

FOREX US Dollar 119.09 Traders ordering goods for Dashain well in advance Euro 139.52

Pound Sterling 163.78 Last year, inbound containers were held up at the northern border point due to Covid-19 curbs, and they arrived too late for the festival shopping spree.

Japanese Yen 10.86 KRISHANA PRASAIN clothing from India, London, Chinese Yuan 18.37 KATHMANDU, AUG 18 Singapore and Taiwan.Katuwal added that shipments had not arrived as per Qatari Riyal 32.19 Nepali traders have started placing their expectation due to the strict Australian Dollar 86.29 early bird orders for merchandise restriction at the northern border from China to prevent a repeat of last points.Ram Hari Karki, senior Malaysian Ringit 28.10 year’s fiasco, when they were left with- vice-president of the Nepal Trans out inventory during the peak shop- Himalayan Border Commerce Saudi Arab Riyal 31.75 ping season due to delayed shipments, Association, said that as Nepali trad- Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank insiders said. ers are not getting visas to travel to Last year, hundreds of inbound con- China and purchase goods, there are tainers were held up at the northern chances that clothing items might not Shares border point due to Covid-19 restric- be up to date in terms of fashion and tions in China, with the result that designs that customers are looking for. Nepse 3,198.60pts 1.21% they missed the Dashain shopping Two key trade gateways from China— spree. Traders said that goods ordered Rasuwagadhi and Tatopani—are not highest gainers for the summer season arrived in the fully functional. AHPC JBLB SHIVM AKPL AKJCL MLBL 10% 10% 10% 10% 9.98% 9.96% winter and vice versa, resulting in big “The Rasuwagadhi point is almost losses.Nearly 2,000 containers holding closed while six to seven cargo freights moderate gainers GFCL LBBL NRN KRBL NSLB CHDC clothes, shoes, cosmetics, electronics are allowed daily from Tatopani. The 9.4% 9.13% 9.09% 8.71% 8.58% 8.43% and industrial raw materials were road to Kathmandu is also not in good

moderate losers stuck at the Chinese border, and most condition,” Karki said. SIGS2 NICGF HURJA NMBHF1 LEMF RMDC of them arrived in the country after “With the rise in freight charges -2.58% -2.59% -2.64% -2.68% -2.8% -2.87% the Dashain festival had ended. globally and hike in local transporta- highest losers “Traders are now ordering clothing tion costs and customs duty, retail NIBSF1 KKHC RSDC NICAD8283 NIBLPF SBLD2082 items by looking at online catalogue prices of clothing items are expected -3.06% -3.1% -3.35% -3.96% -4.61% -5.86% photos and negotiating prices by mes- to be around 35 percent higher this saging apps, particularly with Chinese festive season,” he added. traders. The trade gateways in China Traders said that Covid-19 had continue to be restricted for Nepali changed consumption patterns as peo- Price Per tola traders,” Naresh Katuwal, president ple are focusing more on food items bullion of the Nepal National Traders’ SHUTTERSTOCK than on other stuff; and also due to Federation, told the Post. Nearly 80 percent of the readymade garments sold in are imported from China. The rest come from India, Bangladesh, virus fears, people tend to celebrate Fine Gold Rs 91,200 China, Nepal’s major trading part- Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. the festival at home. Katuwal said that ner in clothing items, has denied entry clothing sales during last year’s festi- Silver Rs 1,205 to Nepalis and even their citizens who are imported from China. The rest September and October with the festi- ed apparels and clothing accessories val were not as good as expected due to have been stranded here since come from India, Bangladesh, val season. worth Rs30 billion in the last fiscal delayed arrival of goods and falling Source: FENEGOSIDA February. Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. “The Covid-19 situation is still year 2020-21, up 25 percent year-on- consumer income. “Nepali traders will not be able to Traders said that imports fell to uncertain. There is political uncer- year, despite Covid restrictions. “The Dashain market will definitely go to China this year too due to restric- almost zero last year. tainty too. So traders started ordering Rupesh Pandey, chairman and man- not be as it used to be before the pan- gasoline watch tions, but as they have placed orders According to the Central Bureau goods earlier than usual. We expect aging director of the RP Group that demic; but as people manage to cele- well in advance, we expect that the of Statistics, in the last fiscal year the clothing items that will be in deals in international brands of cloth- brate the festival with the budget they market will not see a shortage of fash- ended mid-July, Nepal’s final con- demand during the festival to arrive ing, footwear and accessories, said have, we are expecting an average ionable goods,” said Katuwal. But, sumption expenditure at current pric- within three weeks,” Katuwal said. that observing the market, they had amount of business,” he said. according to him, prices have risen es amounted to Rs3.98 trillion, repre- Among many kinds of products, reduced import orders by 50 percent. Ashok Kumar Shrestha, president this festive season. senting 93.38 percent of the gross apparels are the fastest selling items “The goods that we have ordered will of the Nepal Trans Himalayan Border Ghatasthapana, the first day of domestic product. as people customarily wear new arrive within two weeks.” Commerce Association, said that ship- Vijaya Dashami, falls on October 7 In national accounts, final con- clothes during the two-week-long Market confidence has still not ments of winter clothing items had this year. sumption expenditure is expenditure Dashain festival. According to the picked up, as a result, orders for new also started arriving. “Most of the Nearly 80 percent of the readymade on goods and services. This consump- import data of the Trade and Export goods are almost half compared to last goods imported from China are arriv- garments sold in Kathmandu Valley tion is significantly higher in Promotion Centre, the country import- year, Pandey said, who is importing ing by sea through India,” he said. Tax concerns delay India’s overseas listing rules Vietnam to consider cutting rice REUTERS such trades abroad will be liable to NEW DELHI, AUG 18 face taxation as per local laws, they added. production area India will take around six months to The debate comes as local firms see announce rules allowing companies to improved prospects that they can list overseas, taking longer than some achieve big valuations with domestic due to low prices expected as the finance ministry irons listings following the stellar debut on out issues related to taxation, two gov- Indian bourses of Ant Group-backed REUTERS ernment officials and four industry Indian food delivery firm Zomato HANOI, AUG 18 sources told Reuters. which valued the firm at $13 billion. Chinese ports choke The delay is likely to dampen hopes But many investors and startups Vietnam will consider cutting of investors like Tiger Global, Sequoia want the option of a foreign listing as the area under rice cultivation if Capital, Lightspeed and many Indian they say companies get better access prices of the grain fall further, the over ‘zero tolerance’ startups who last month urged Prime to capital and higher valuations. Some country’s agriculture minister said, Minister Narendra Modi to swiftly 22 investors and top Indian startups as farmers struggle to offload announce rules governing foreign list- urged Modi in a July letter to expedite their new harvest due to weak demand Covid-19 policy ings that were given the go-ahead the overseas listing rules, calling it an and strict coronavirus movement almost a year ago. “unfinished reform agenda”. curbs. REUTERS Two senior government officials “Further delay in rules will hurt the “We have to consider plans to BEIJING, Aug 18 said the rules will only be announced startup ecosystem as many companies reduce the rice growing area to make with the February federal budget as are at the verge of deciding their for- way for other crops that are more prof- Several Chinese ports are facing con- there was no decision yet on how the eign listing plans,” said one ven- itable,” Le Minh Hoan said in a state- gestion as vessels due to call at Ningbo government should tax big investors ture-capital industry source. ment posted on the government’s web- are being diverted and cargo process- and retail traders when they trade Overseas listing is a controversial site late on Tuesday. ing is slowed partly due to stricter Indian companies listed abroad. subject in India. Prices for Vietnam’s 5 percent disinfection measures under China’s A key concern is to ensure that big Its opponents include Swadeshi broken rice have fallen to around $390 “zero-tolerance” coronavirus policy. venture capital and foreign investors Jagran Manch—the economic wing of per tonne, the lowest since February On Tuesday, more than 50 container pay an equal long-term capital gains the ideological parent of Modi’s rul- 2020, due to weak demand. Vietnam is vessels were queuing at Ningbo port, tax—roughly around 10 percent—even ing party—which fears such listings the world’s third-largest exporter of China’s second largest marine centre, if they exit an Indian company listed will mean less Indian regulatory over- the commodity after India and Refinitiv data showed, up from 28 on on foreign bourses like Nasdaq, said REUTERS sight of domestic firms and could hit Thailand. August 10 when a Covid-19 case was the six sources familiar with these A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. the growth ambitions of capital mar- Hoan did not say by how much reported at one of its terminals. private discussions. kets in India. Vietnam planned to cut the rice Leading international shipping Three industry sources said that to A senior government official said: Another concern the government “Indian investors also will not get production area, but state media groups have warned their clients of convince the Indian government, “We haven’t reached a final decision was trying to address was whether it [the] same access to these companies reports cited the ministry as delays and route adjustments. At some investors, merchant bankers yet or decided the structure ... We can garner tax from foreign retail if they only list abroad,” the group’s saying earlier this year that it could least 14 vessels operated by CMA and startups have suggested that would want to get the tax if any inves- investors trading in an Indian stock co-convener Ashwani Mahajan told cut the rice growing area by 5.4 per- CGM, five Maersk vessels and four an investor’s exit from an Indian tor exits, does not matter where it is listed abroad, but it has decided to Reuters. cent to 3.5 million hectares (8.6 million Hapag-Lloyd ships have decided to company that may list abroad can be planning to list.” exempt such transactions, said the The London Stock Exchange told acres) by 2030. skip Ningbo, while dozens of vessels taxed as per Indian laws, if that inves- India’s finance ministry, which is two government officials. Reuters last year it had been in talks “We cannot place farmers at are adjusting their schedules, the tor has a significant shareholding of working on the new rules, did not The rules though will clarify that with several Indian tech firms on risk to fulfil our rice export target,” shipping groups said. 10-20 percent. respond to a request for comment. Indian nationals making profits on overseas listings. Hoan said.

International shipping groups have warned their Renault-Nissan ordered to pay additional wages, clients of delays and route adjustments. despite warning India unit could become ‘unviable’

REUTERS The petitions filed by the unions of 500 rupees, hike in allowances China’s economy is losing momen- CHENNAI, AUG 18 and the management—which have and insurance cover, and appointing tum as a result of new coronavirus been reviewed by Reuters and previ- an additional member in assembly restrictions and global supply chains An Indian arbitrator has issued an ously not reported—expose the wide- lines to cover for workers taking face further strains with the curbs order asking Nissan Motor Co to pay spread disagreements between the restroom breaks. adding to queues at major Chinese its factory workers additional wages, workers and Renault-Nissan. “The demands made on the worker transportation hubs, already stretched despite warnings from the automaker Nissan said in a statement to Renault-Nissan Ford Hyundai for sacrifice for the viability of the by a resurgence of consumer spend- that a higher payout could make its Reuters on Tuesday it was committed company is much more than the sacri- ing, shortage of container ships and business “unviable in the long run”. to offering a competitive package to its fice made by the supervisory and man- logjams at ports. Nissan and its union have been workers, and was open to a retrospec- agerial personnel and the directors,” China’s Ministry of Transportation locked in an industrial arbitration tive payment at its southern India the union said in the filing. has ordered all ports to have special dispute since July after the two sides plant, it said. The union also said that a spike in teams to deal with foreign vessels and failed to reach a mutual agreement The ongoing legal tussle exposes the the price of food and fuel has also required their crews to have health over several issues including higher business challenges Nissan faces in forced them to ask for more pay. certificates or negative tests before wages. A previous wage agreement the world’s fifth-largest car market Renault-Nissan, however, said that allowing them to load and discharge expired in March 2019. where, despite investing about $1 bil- local competition, migration of man- cargos. A tribunal has ordered Renault- lion, it has been elbowed out by agement-level talent to other compa- Ports also have their own rules, Nissan to pay its 3,542 workers an competitors and is struggling to woo nies, an increase in raw material costs with some applying additional average of over 7,100 rupees ($96) a car buyers. and poor response to some of its car precautions to vessels that stopped month in backdated dues as interim The ruling comes despite argu- models has hurt business. at ports in high-risk regions, such relief, according to an Aug. 16 order ments by Renault-Nissan that it is The company also argued that its as India, Laos or Russia, in the past seen by Reuters. making “huge losses” in India and has petition that total wages paid by conclude that there is a case for workers’ wages cannot be compared to 21 days. The payments, higher than the con- “no financial capacity” to meet the Renault-Nissan are less than half of granting interim relief to the work- Hyundai and Ford because they had “China’s zero tolerance policy is sortium’s initial offer of $30 a month demands. what peers in the region such as men,” P Jyothimani, the arbitrator, set up factories in the state much ear- good for the pandemic but bad for the but lower than the union’s demand of Any pressure to pay higher wages Hyundai Motor and Ford pay. said in his order. lier, have higher production levels and supply chain,” said Dawn Tiura, chief $270, would cost Renault-Nissan about “could potentially make the very In the August 16 order, the arbitra- Nissan has been trying to restruc- better plant utilisation. executive officer of Sourcing Industry $9.53 million in total. sustenance of the unit unviable in tor ordered Renault-Nissan to pay $134 ture some of its key international “The demand of the union was Group. “This timing is very tough The arbitrator will continue to hear the long run”, the carmaker had said per month for the 12 months ending markets such as India—where it is yet only a desire to have an increment considering the uptick in back-to- over 50 other demands by the workers in its 147-page filing to the arbitrator March 2020, and $67 rupees a month to decide on a future strategy for its without considering the business school and return-to-work shopping in over the coming days, which if agreed in July. for the 16 months ending July 2021 in under-utilised factory. reality, market salary range and addition to the upcoming holiday to could together cost the company 93 The workers had sought a wage three monthly instalments starting in The workers’ demands include affordability,” Renault-Nissan said in shopping season.” percent more per worker, Nissan said. increase arguing in their 123-page September. “I strongly believe and higher basic pay, an annual increment its filing.

C M Y K THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 | 06 world Briefing Deadly Jalalabad protests as Taliban Israel tightens Death toll since Myanmar coup restrictions as tops 1,000, activist group says virus cases leap YANGON: The death toll as a result of consolidate Islamist rule in Afghanistan Myanmar’s February 1 coup topped AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE 1,000 on Wednesday, according to an In their first news briefing since return to Kabul on Tuesday, Taliban suggested they would impose their laws more softly. JERUSALEM, AUG 18 official of the Assistance Association of Political Prisoners (AAPP) activist REUTERS New restrictions aimed at curbing the group, which has been recording KABUL, AUG 18 spread of Covid-19 took effect in Israel killings by security forces. A spokes- on Wednesday, after the largely vacci- man for the ruling junta did not At least three people were killed in nated country saw the highest daily respond to a call to request comment. anti-Taliban protests in the Afghan infection rate since January. The military authorities have city of Jalalabad on Wednesday, wit- The measures, announced on previously said the AAPP figures, nesses said, as the militant group Sunday, require vaccination certifi- widely cited by international organi- tried to set up a government and cates or negative coronavirus tests to sations, are exaggerated. The army Western countries stepped up evacua- enter a range of public spaces, includ- has also said scores of members of tions of diplomats and civilians. ing restaurants and bars, cultural and the security forces have been killed. More than a dozen people were sports venues, hotels and gyms, the The AAPP does not include them in injured after Taliban militants opened health ministry said. its count. “According to AAPP fire on protesters in the eastern city, The same applies to worshippers records, 1,001 innocent people have two witnesses and a former police wishing to enter synagogues, mosques been killed,” AAPP secretary Tate official told Reuters. or churches with more than 50 people Naing told Reuters. The Taliban have promised peace in attendance. following their sweep into Kabul, say- In addition, the capacity of stores, ing they will not take revenge against shopping malls and industrial parks Polish prime minister accuses old enemies and will respect the rights will be limited to one person per seven Belarus of ‘blackmail’ of women within the framework of square metres. After its launch last WARSAW: Poland’s prime minister on Islamic law. December, Israel’s widely praised vac- Wednesday accused Belarus of The witnesses said the deaths took cination drive helped to drastically “blackmail” over a group of migrants place when local residents tried to bring down infections. stranded on the border between the install Afghanistan’s national flag at a According to the health ministry, 58 two countries and said Warsaw would square in the city, some 150 km (90 percent of Israel’s roughly 9.3 million not let them in. Mateusz Morawiecki miles) from the capital on the main residents have received two shots of said the migrants were being road to Pakistan. the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. “exploited” by Belarusian strongman Taliban spokesmen were not imme- But infections are surging again, Alexander Lukashenko. “It cannot be diately reachable for comment. driven by the spread of the more con- that Mr Lukashenko’s blackmail forc- As the Taliban consolidated power, tagious Delta variant of the virus, es us to accept anyone,” Morawiecki one of their leaders and co-founders, REUTERS with restrictions that were lifted in told reporters. Thousands of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid speaks during a news conference in Kabul, Afghanistan on Tuesday. June reimposed since July. migrants—mostly from the Middle returned to Afghanistan for the first According to the health ministry, East—have in recent months crossed time in more than 10 years. A Taliban and the rights of girls to receive an more than 8,700 people tested positive or tried to cross into the three EU official said leaders would show them- UAE says hosting Ghani ‘on humanitarian grounds’ education,” Johnson told parliament. for coronavirus on Tuesday, the high- countries bordering Belarus: selves to the world, unlike in the past Britain has said it will welcome up est number for a single day since Lithuania, Latvia and Poland. when they lived in secret. Abu Dhabi: The United Arab Emirates can confirm that the UAE has wel- to 5,000 Afghans during the first year January. In recent weeks, the state has “Slowly, gradually, the world will said on Wednesday that it is hosting comed President Ashraf Ghani and of a new resettlement programme begun administering booster shots to see all our leaders,” the senior Taliban former Afghan president Ashraf his family into the country on human- that will prioritise women, girls and Israelis aged 50 and over, while urging Hong Kong students arrested official told Reuters. “There will be no Ghani “on humanitarian grounds”, itarian grounds,” the ministry said in religious and other minorities. the vaccination of children as young shadow of secrecy.” after he fled his country amid a a brief statement. Many Afghans are sceptical of the as 12. About one million Israelis have for ‘advocating terrorism’ But thousands of Afghans, many of Taliban takeover. Ghani left Afghanistan on Sunday Taliban promises. Some said they not been vaccinated even though they HONG KONG: Four student leaders from whom helped US-led foreign forces Ghani’s whereabouts had been as the Taliban closed in on Kabul, could only wait and see. are eligible. Hong Kong’s top university were over two decades, are desperate to unknown after he fled Afghanistan at before the insurgents walked into the “My family lived under the Taliban Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has arrested on Wednesday for “advocat- leave the country. the weekend in the face of a sweeping Afghan capital unopposed. and maybe they really want to change been imploring Israelis to get vacci- ing terrorism”, police said. A contro- More than 2,200 diplomats and advance by the Taliban. In a Facebook post, Ghani said the or have changed but only time will tell nated, warning of a possible lockdown versial student union statement fol- civilians have been evacuated from “The UAE Ministry of Foreign “Taliban have won” and that he fled to and it’s going to become clear very that could affect the Jewish high holi- lowing a lone wolf attack on a police Afghanistan on military flights, a Affairs and International Cooperation avoid a “flood of bloodshed”. (AFP) soon,” said Ferishta Karimi, who runs days next month unless inoculation officer last month sparked the Western security official said on a tailoring shop for women. numbers rise. arrests, according to senior superin- Wednesday. Mujahid said the Taliban would not Appearing before an Israeli parlia- tendent Steve Li, from the city’s “We are continuing at a very fast Mujahid, the Taliban’s main spokes- and then only when accompanied by a seek retribution against former sol- mentary committee on Wednesday, national security police unit. “Four momentum, logistics show no glitches man, told reporters. male relative. diers and government officials, and coronavirus response coordinator men aged between 18 and 20 were as of now,” the Western security offi- Women would be allowed to work British Prime Minister Boris were granting an amnesty for ex-sol- Salman Zarka said the lead-up to the arrested today, they are members of cial told Reuters. and study and “will be very active in Johnson, echoing leaders of other diers as well as contractors and trans- start of the Jewish New Year on the student union and the student The Taliban held their first news society but within the framework of Western countries, said the Taliban lators who worked for international September 6 would be “critical.” union council,” he told reporters. On briefing since their return to Kabul on Islam”, he said. would be judged on their actions. forces. If things don’t improve, “we will July 1, a man stabbed and wounded a Tuesday, suggesting they would During their rule, also guided by “We will judge this regime based on “Nobody is going to harm you, get a lockdown like the first and police officer in a busy shopping dis- impose their laws more softly than sharia religious law, women were pre- the choices it makes, and by its actions nobody is going to knock on your second ones, where we don’t go fur- trict before taking his own life in during their harsh 1996-2001 rule. vented from working, girls were not rather than by its words, on its atti- doors,” he said, adding that there was ther than 100 metres from our homes,” what authorities called an act of “We don’t want any internal or allowed to go to school and women had tude to terrorism, to crime and narcot- a “huge difference” between the he told lawmakers, according to the “domestic terrorism”. (Agencies) external enemies,” Zabihullah to wear all-enveloping burqas to go out ics, as well as humanitarian access Taliban now and 20 years ago. Jerusalem Post. Devastating wildfires advancing Death toll from Haiti’s weekend through Northern California earthquake rises to 1,941 ASSOCIATED PRESS ASSOCIATED PRESS who have waited days for help from Sarah Charles, assistant adminis- GRIZZLY FLATS, CALIFORNIA, AUG 18 LES CAYES, HAITI, AUG 18 the government. trator for the US Agency for “The photographers come International Development’s Northern California wildfires that Haitian officials raised the death through, the press, but we have no Bureau for Humanitarian incinerated two mountain communities toll from a deadly weekend earth- tarps for our roofs,” said one man, Assistance, said its disaster continued marching through the Sierra quake by more than 500 on Tuesday who refused to give his name. response teams were forced to sus- Nevada on Wednesday while a utility after Tropical Storm Grace forced a The head of Haiti’s office of civil pend operations as the storm purposely blacked out as many as 51,000 temporary halt to search and rescue protection, Jerry Chandler, acknowl- arrived Monday, but members were customers to prevent new blazes. efforts, a delay that fed growing edged the situation. Earthquake back Tuesday to assess its impact Two weeks after the Dixie Fire anger and frustration among thou- assessments had to be paused and continue helping. destroyed most of the Gold Rush-era sands who were left homeless. because of the heavy rain, “and peo- “We do not anticipate that the town of Greenville, the Caldor Fire a Grace battered southwestern ple are getting aggressive,” Chandler death toll related to this earthquake few miles southeast exploded through Haiti, which was hit hardest by said on Tuesday. will be anywhere near the 2010 tinder-dry trees and ravaged Grizzly Saturday’s quake, and officials Some children were orphaned in earthquake, where more than Flats, a forest community of around warned some areas could get 15 the quake and some youngsters 200,000 people were killed,” Charles 1,200 people. inches of rain before the storm were starting to go hungry, said told reporters. Fire officials estimated that at least 50 moved on. Intermittent rain fell Carl-Henry Petit-Frère, a field man- The scale of the damage also was homes had burned in the area in the earthquake-damaged city of ager for Save the Children, which not as severe as that earthquake, she since the fire erupted Saturday and two Les Cayes and in the capital of Port- said in a statement that it was dis- said, adding: “That’s not what we’re people were hospitalized with serious au-Prince. tributing what it could to people liv- seeing on the ground right now.” injuries. Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed Late on Tuesday afternoon, the ing on the streets without protection In a statement, the US military’s a state of emergency in El Dorado AP/rss Civil Protection Agency raised the from the wind and rain. Southern Command said it was County, where authorities were consid- Seen in a long exposure photograph, embers light up hillsides as the Dixie Fire burns near Milford death toll to 1,941 and the number of “I see children crying on the moving eight helicopters from ering closing the entire El Dorado in Lassen County, California, on Tuesday. injured to 9,900, many of whom have street, people asking us for food, but Honduras to Haiti and that seven US National Forest. had to wait for medical help lying we are low on food ourselves as Coast Guard cutters were en route “We know this fire has done things poles. Houses were reduced to smoulder- At the Dixie Fire, numerous resourc- outside in wilting heat. well,” Petit-Frère said, adding that to support the USAID team. Two that nobody could have predicted, but ing ash and twisted metal with only es were put into the Susanville area, The devastation is centered in the children were warned not to go into cutters already are there along with that’s how firefighting has been in the chimneys rising above the ruins. A post a city of about 18,000 a few miles from country’s southwestern area, where houses because they could collapse. two Coast Guard helicopters and US state this year,” El Dorado National office and elementary school were also the northeastern edge of the blaze. health care has reached capacity “The organisations that are here are Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft that are Forest Supervisor Chief Jeff Marsolais destroyed. Residents were warned to be ready and people have lost homes and doing what they can, but we need taking aerial images of earthquake said at a briefing. Both fires grew by Derek Shaves, who had evacuated late to evacuate and new evacuations loved ones. more supplies. Food, clean water devastated areas, the statement tens of thousands of acres from Monday Monday, said he visited the were ordered on Tuesday for the month- Patience was running out in the and shelter are needed most, and we said. The effort was being mounted afternoon through Tuesday, torching town Tuesday and saw his home and old blaze, which was only a third sur- Western Hemisphere’s poorest need them fast.” “to provide the kind of emergency trees and burning up brush left tin- most of the houses in his neighbour- rounded. nation. Haitians already were strug- About 20 soldiers finally showed response that is necessary in a der-dry by high temperatures, low hood had been destroyed. Late Tuesday, Pacific Gas & Electric gling with the coronavirus, gang up to help rescuers at the collapsed human tragedy and catastrophe like humidity and drought. Afternoon gusts “It’s a pile of ash,” he said. “Everybody said it has begun shutting off power to violence, worsening poverty and the apartment building. Prior to that, this,” US national security adviser drove the flames. on my block is a pile of ash and every as many as 51,000 customers in 18 July 7 assassination of President the only help that arrived was from Jake Sullivan told reporters at the Few homes were left standing in block that I visited—but for five sepa- Northern California counties to prevent Jovenel Moïse when the quake hit. poorly equipped volunteers. White House. Grizzly Flats, where streets were lit- rate homes that were safe—was totally wildfires for the first time since last Bodies continued to be pulled “All we have are sledgehammers John Morrison, public informa- tered with downed power lines and devastated.” year’s historically bad fire season. from the rubble, and the smell of and hands. That’s the plan,” said tion officer for the Fairfax Co The utility said the shut- death hung heavily over a pancaked, Canadian volunteer Randy Lodder, (Virginia) Urban Search and Rescue, offs were focused in the three-story apartment building. A director of the Adoration Christian said its team was still trying to find Sierra Nevada foothills, the simple bed sheet covered the body of School in Haiti. survivors. North Coast, the North a 3-year-old girl that firefighters had Valley and the North Bay found an hour earlier. mountains and could last Neighbour Joseph Boyer, 53, said into Wednesday afternoon. he knew the girl’s family. The nation’s largest utili- “The mother and father are in the ty announced the blackouts hospital, but all three kids died,” he as a precaution to prevent said. The bodies of the other two gusts from damaging power siblings were found earlier. lines and sparking blazes. Illustrating the lack of govern- PG&E has notified utility ment presence, volunteer firefight- regulators that the Dixie fire ers from the nearby city of Cap- may have been caused by Haitien had left the body out in the trees falling into its power rain because police have to be pres- lines. ent before a body can be taken away. Another neighbour, James Luxama, 24, repeated a popular rumour at many disaster scenes, saying that someone was sending text messages for help from inside the rubble. But Luxama had not personally seen or received such a message. A throng of angry, shout- ing men gathered in front of the AP/rss collapsed building, a sign that Earthquake-displaced people sit inside a church the morning after Tropical Storm Grace patience was running out for people swept over Les Cayes, Haiti, on Tuesday, three days after a 7.2 magnitude quake.

C M Y K 07 | THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 Sports | Medley Briefing Nagelsmann wants to win more Coach Mourinho’s Roma Ronaldo says his Real Madrid story has been written stint looks set for fireworks MADRID: Juventus forward Cristiano trophies with Bayern Munich Reuters side Real Betis earlier this month Ronaldo has put to rest rumours that ROME, Aug 18 in a friendly. They finished a bad he is returning to Real Madrid, insist- tempered match with just eight men, ing that his story at the Spanish club The 3-1 win over Dortmund gave the new coach his first trophy with the Bavarian giants. Jose Mourinho was never going to having seen three of their players “has been written”. In an Instagram walk into a new job quietly, with all sent off. post on Tuesday, the 36-year-old said Agence France-Presse eyes on the new AS Roma coach on the Not to be outdone, Mourinho him- that the frivolous way in which his DORTMUND, Aug 18 eve of the Serie A campaign after a self was sent off by the referee for future is being discussed is disre- close season full of fireworks. being over-zealous in his protests, get- spectful to the clubs involved, as well Julian Nagelsmann joked that he The final enduring image of ting right in the face of the official, as other players and staff. Ronaldo, wants to hoard titles like a ‘hamster’ Mourinho’s first and trophy-laden despite the match being a friendly. who was top scorer in Serie A last after winning his first trophy at spell in Italy, was of distraught Inter All the histrionics that come with season, has 12 months remaining on Bayern Munich with his debut victory Milan defender Marco Materazzi Mourinho will all be in vain if the his contract at Juventus but has as head coach of the Bundesliga being consoled by the Portuguese after results do not go Roma’s way, however, expressed no desire to leave. Ronaldo giants. hearing of his coach’s decision to such is the expectation that the club added: “My story at Real Madrid has Bayern swept aside league rivals leave for Real Madrid. need to be challenging at the top of been written. It’s been recorded. In Borussia Dortmund 3-1 on Tuesday to Having steered Inter to an unprece- the table. words and numbers, in trophies and win the German Super Cup with dented treble in 2010, Mourinho, also There is already a huge mural of titles, in records and in headlines... I Robert Lewandowski scoring twice in in tears, departed after winning Mourinho on a Vespa scooter in the know that the true Real Madrid fans a stellar performance. everything he could in a short two- Testaccio neighbourhood of Rome, will continue to have me in their Nagelsmann, 34, is under pressure year tenure. Now back in Serie A with with the Portuguese also having a fla- hearts.” Real Madrid manager Carlo to win a tenth straight Bundesliga Roma, he returns a different proposi- vour of ice cream named after him in Ancelotti also denied reports that the title for Bayern in only his first season tion entirely. one of the Italian capital’s gelato club were interested in bringing the in charge—the champions drew Mourinho has suffered declining parlours. Portugal captain back. Friday’s opening league game at levels of success since leaving Italy 11 With champions Inter Milan having Moenchengladbach. years ago, having won two league lost several star players as they were He celebrated with his team after titles in that time, compared to six in forced to cut costs this summer, and Juventus sign Kaio Jorge captain Manuel Neuer lifted the Super the previous eight campaigns. Juventus entering the new campaign TURIN: Juventus have completed the Cup in Dortmund and joked that he ap/rss After several much publicised on the back of a below par 2020-21 sea- signing of Brazilian striker Kaio hopes to hoard titles in the way ham- Robert Lewandowski netted the opening goal in the 41st and the decisive third in the 74th in bust-ups with players during his pre- son, there is renewed hope that Jorge from Santos, the Italian side sters store food. the German Super Cup final. He has now scored in 14 consecutive competitive games. vious two jobs in England, the new Mourinho can get Roma challenging said. Kaio Jorge signed a deal until “You can see that I have such small image of Mourinho is not one of play- quickly. 2026 on Tuesday, two weeks after hamster teeth—I’d like to be a title ruled offside, as did Dortmund striker many of them”. er adulation and unrivalled glory, but “Here I go on another Mission: Santos said Juventus had agreed hamster,” joked Nagelsmann. “The Youssoufa Moukoko, 16, while the Both teams wore black armbands in one of a fiery, confrontational figure Impossible,” Mourinho said in an terms to sign the 19-year-old. “I am title is a reward for our pre-season hosts pulled a goal back when their honour of legendary Bayern striker who is back in Italy to ruffle some interview with GQ magazine last very happy to be here ... It’s a big work. I am still happy, but it belongs captain Marco Reus curled a long- Gerd Mueller who died last Sunday, feathers. month. “I say impossible because peo- club, one of the biggest in Europe, more to others than to me,” range shot inside the post. aged 75. He is, however, fully aware, that the ple tend to look at me and in their eyes and it’s always been my dream to play Nagelsmann added after Bayern’s Nagelsmann described Robert Before kick-off, Lewandowski—who Italian media will be hanging on his there’s only one way to measure suc- for Juve,” he said. Italian media impressive display. Lewandowski, who turns 33 on broke Mueller’s record by scoring every word. cess, which is that I have to win.” reported Juventus would pay up to 4 Nevertheless, Bayern’s sixth Saturday, as “better” than Haaland. 41 Bundesliga goals last season—held “I am smiling because I had a record Tammy Abraham’s big-money million euros ($4.69 million) for the straight win over Dortmund was a The Polish goal-machine has now up an old jersey of the Bayern of 40 days without interviews,” arrival from Chelsea gives Mourinho player. Kaio Jorge broke into the clear reminder of their status as scored 24 times in as many games icon. Mourinho joked on Instagram this an immediate replacement for outgo- Santos first team aged 16, becoming Germany’s top club. against his former club Dortmund, “He meant so much to the whole week. “(I had an) Amazing time where ing veteran striker Edin Dzeko, while their sixth-youngest league debutant Dortmund striker Erling Braut who were left licking their wounds as world and to the history of football,” I only focused on work and forgot my the return to full fitness of Nicolo when he made his professional bow Haaland, who dazzled last Saturday defensive mistakes contributed to said Lewandowski, who has now friends from the press. Nothing inter- Zaniolo has provided his coach with a in September 2018. The striker scored with three assists and two goals in a Bayern’s goals. scored in 14 consecutive competitive esting really to be honest. Love the further boost. 17 goals in 80 games and follows the 5-2 thrashing of Frankfurt, had a Dortmund head coach Marco games. press, (I have) missed them a lot.” But without other major arrivals likes of Robinho, Neymar and frustrating night against the Bayern Rose acknowledged there are certain The only player to top that was He has already been causing a stir, this summer, it is the coach that fans Rodrygo to leave Santos for a major defence. mistakes “you can’t make” against Mueller, who scored in 16 straight even before the season is under way. will be turning to for that immediate European side. (AGENCIES) The towering Norwegian had a goal Bayern and there were “one or two too games for Bayern in 1969/70. Roma were beaten 5-2 by Spanish improvement. Nepal to open SAFF campaign Cricket Australia defends ‘grumpy’ Langer’s leadership Agence France-Presse ist following a poor white-ball tour of and cricketers living in bio-secure While Langer has been widely against the Maldives on Oct 1 SYDNEY, Aug 18 the West Indies and Bangladesh. The bubbles. praised for restoring the culture of confrontation is said to have taken “Despite those challenges the side the Australian team, rumours of SPORTS BUREAU Stadium in Male. Cricket Australia chief Nick Hockley place in the team hotel, with players has had great success in one-day, Test dressing-room friction have never KATHMANDU, Aug 18 Among seven members of the SAFF, defended Justin Langer Wednesday and staff watching, leading to feverish and T20 cricket, when all players were been far away. Pakistan are ineligible to compete in after mounting concern over his man- media speculation over his future. available,” he said. “Justin, his coach- Malcolm Conn, who was media Nepali national football team will the event due to FIFA suspension agement style sparked uncertainty Hockley praised the “incredible ing staff and the leaders within the manager for the Australian team dur- begin their SAFF Championship tak- while Bhutan withdrew their partici- around his position heading into the job” Langer had done in rebuilding team have an equally important part ing their 2019 Ashes tour of England, ing on hosts Maldives in the tourna- pation. Twenty20 World Cup and a home the culture of Australian cricket since to play in ensuring a successful sum- said he respected Langer but quickly ment opener on October 1. Nepal are currently in closed camp Ashes series. being hired in the aftermath of the mer ahead for the Australian cricket learned to stay out of his way. “You According to the fixtures released training in to prepare for the The Australian head coach was notorious “Sandpaper-gate” ball-tam- team.” were never certain whether your ques- by the South Asian Football Federation Championship under Kuwaiti coach forced to address negative feedback pering tour of South Africa in 2018. White ball skipper Aaron Finch tion was going to be met with an (SAFF) on Wednesday, Nepal will vie Abdullah Almutairi. earlier this year when discontent sur- “His efforts have restored public faith said he believed Australia’s recent answer or an explosion,” he wrote in against Sri Lanka on October 3, India Nepal have never progressed faced about his “headmaster-like” in the national team, which is a side poor form had amplified tension relat- an opinion piece for the Sydney on October 8 before playing their final beyond semi-finals in the tournament leadership and shifting moods. He all Australians can be incredibly ed to Langer, but it wasn’t “a great Morning Herald. “Like many of these league round match against and it will be the second occasion the took the criticism on board and admit- proud of,” he said in a statement. look” that teammates were leaking minor incidents, Langer’s latest blow- Bangladesh on October 10. biennial tournament will be played in ted he had been “grumpy and intense” Hockley didn’t directly address details. “There’s always tension when up at a Cricket Australia digital jour- The top two finishers of the league the league format after the inaugural most of his life. Langer’s management style but noted results don’t go your way,” he told SEN nalist during the recent tour of stage will compete in the final on edition in 1993. Langer faced controversy again last it had been an “extremely disruptive commercial radio Wednesday. “It’s dis- Bangladesh is nothing in isolation, October 13. All the games will be India are the most successful team week after reports of a heated argu- and challenging 18 months” during appointing that things are coming to but contributes to a pattern of erratic played at the National Football lifting the title on seven occasions. ment with a Cricket Australia journal- the pandemic with border closures the front the way that they are.” behaviour,” he added. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) *** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) **** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) *** You’ve been working hard to make headway You’ve been tirelessly exploring the art of rela- The universe has been on a mission to teach you The universe has been demanding that you hon- toward your goals.Today’s skies illuminate that tionships. It’s been years of digging and re-in- about the art of love, Libra. You’ve been in the our your self-confidence in a new light. Jupiter, ongoing story, as the sun locks into an opposi- venting your approach. Today’s skies work to process of embracing new creative elements in the planet of growth and expansion, has been tion with aspirational Jupiter. This pairing deepen this story and reveal your progress, as your life, while also learning to dismantle long- working on deepening your connection to your shines on the progress you’ve made so far. the sun locks into an illuminating opposition. held blockages around the heart. own personal talents.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) **** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** The universe knows you’re prone to holding You look faithfully to the sun for cosmic guid- Your foundations have been changing beneath You’ve been like a beautiful diamond in the back. That’s why the times has been pushing ance. Thursday’s skies find the sun locked into your feet.Where do you want to plant your roots rough in all of your life. Thursday’s skies find you to reach for new heights.Thursday’s skies an opposition, highlighting the changing and what family members are worth keeping? the sun in opposition to growth-giving Jupiter, double-down on this story, as the sun locks into dynamics in your relationships. Today you will The sun’s illuminating opposition with expan- shining its illuminating light onto this an illuminating opposition. realise where you’ve overestimated. sive Jupiter today highlights this very story. ongoing story around self-development.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) *** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) *** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) ** As a Gemini, your world revolves around the The world has been testing your lifestyle.You’ve Clarity is beginning to dawn on you in a new Pisces, you’re cosmically guided by the expan- messages, conversations and information you been working hard to deepen your relationship capacity.The life-giving sun shines upon your sive planet, Jupiter. Today’s skies find the sun take in. That gathering of data, in the long run, with your work and body. Thursday’s skies act ruling planet, jovial Jupiter, today. This pairing locked into an illuminating opposition with is intended to help you formulate meaning for as a progress check, as the illuminating sun works to show you what changes need to be Jupiter, bringing a potent sense of self-aware- the way the world works. locks eyes with growth-giving Jupiter. embraced in your life. ness to your own self-sabotaging behaviours. Crossword Sudoku

Yesterday’s Solution

C M Y K THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 | 08 Culture & Lifestyle (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 How photojournalism has evolved in Nepal On World Photography Day, Nepali photojournalists share what it is like to work in the country. a hary c ra j atna Ba atna Joshi e sy: Min r sy: e ourt Photo C Photo Post Photo: Elit Photo: Post One of the photos Min Ratna Bajracharya took of the fatal stampede during a football tournament at Dasharath Stadium in 1988. A photojournalist takes pictures as firefighters attempt to douse a fire in Teku in June 2021.

>> Continued from page 1 But a shift, Bajracharya more accessible and popular than “I was often the only female for photojournalists available in journalist, I do not want to limit “On the July 17, 1987 issue, the believes, began to happen during ever. The photojournalists the photojournalist in the room and Nepal. my work only to what’s happening daily newspaper ‘The Commoner’ the 1990 People’s Movement. Post spoke to say this change has there were a lot of occasions when “Unlike many professions, pho- in and around the Valley,” says published a photo I had taken of “Many foreign photojournalists had a direct impact on Nepal’s I felt left out of conversations. At tojournalists have to update their Gautam. “But media outlets here an accused criminal being brought from leading media houses as well photojournalism landscape. times, I didn’t feel I had people to gears if they are to continue to are very reluctant when it comes to Charkhaal court. It felt so good as from renowned news agencies When Skanda Gautam, who share things with,” says Bista. “It produce quality work. But given to investing time and money seeing my work and byline in the like the Associated Press, Agence works at The Himalayan Times, a was my determination to succeed how expensive photography equip- required to send photojournalists newspaper, and it was the driving France-Presse, and Reuters land- daily English newspaper, started as a photojournalist that got me ment is and how little photojour- to far-flung regions of the country force behind my decision to ed in Nepal to cover the historic working as a photojournalist eight through those days. Over the nalists get paid, the investment where the real stories are.” become a photojournalist,” says event. Nepal’s photos got pub- years ago, he admits that the only years, the number of female pho- often doesn’t make sense. And for Despite the many challenges Bajrachraya. lished internationally. This, I thing going for him was his pho- tojournalists in the country has someone like me who comes from that the current crop of photo- Over the years, he has covered think, made people realise the tography skills and his desire to definitely increased but the a middle-class background, no journalists in Nepal work with, the fatal stampede at Dashrath potential of photojournalism as a better his craft. male-female photojournalistsratio matter how much I would want to many are hopeful that things will Stadium during a football tourna- career option and Nepal started “I had very little knowledge on is still very lopsided.” better my craft, not being able to change for the better. ment in 1988, the People’s seeing a gradual increase in pho- what the job entailed,” he admits. Deupala, who started her career afford gears is a huge professional “In the three years that I have Movement of 1990, and taken pho- tojournalists from there on,” says “I didn’t have any knowledge on in photojournalism three years setback,” says Bista. worked as a photojournalist, tos of leading personalities like Bajracharya. current affairs of the country, ago, represents the newer genera- This issue, says Bajracharya, is I have realised how important Ganesh Man Singh and Toni “A lot has changed since then. which I think is important for a tion of women photojournalists. not new and even photojournalists photos are as a story-telling Hagen. Even the way people look at this photojournalist,” says Gautam. When it comes to gender inequali- of his generation had to deal with medium. Photojournalists I know “To be a photojournalist, you profession has changed. Recently, I “During my initial days, I would ty in her profession, Deupala says it. are passionate about their work have to have a professional camera met someone who took pride in be assigned to cover political that it varies from organisation to “Back in those days, media out- and go to great lengths to provide but in the 80s, such cameras would the fact that his son-in-law is events but I didn’t even know who organisation. lets often times would not pay pho- quality and impactful work. This cost an arm and a leg. This was working as a photojournalist. the country’s leading political fig- “I have never faced gender ine- tographers, they would refuse to profession deserves respect like one of the reasons there weren’t Today there are so many promis- ures were. It took me a while to quality at work but I do feel that as give them credit for their works,” any other line of work and many photojournalists,” says ing young photojournalists in the understand the difference between a woman I have to try harder to says Bajracharya. it should be taken seriously Bajracharya. “Another reason was country and many of them are photography and photojournal- prove myself. Of course, I want to Many of the issues that are by the entire industry,” says since Nepal’s media industry was doing great work and this makes ism.” be known because of my work and plaguing the profession, says pho- Deupala. “I am hopeful that such just developing at the time, there me happy.” However, for Uma Bista, who my craft, not because I am a tojournalists, stem from the fact a day will come soon and the weren’t many opportunities for The fact that entry-level profes- was one of the handful of female woman,” says Deupala. that the Nepali media industry do profession and the professionals photojournalists. Many didn’t sional cameras are no longer photojournalists when she started An issue that almost all photo- not deem photography an impor- involved in it will see much even consider photojournalism as as expensive as they once used more than a decade ago, her chal- journalists unanimously agree tant aspect of storytelling. more talented people delivering a career option.” to be has made photography lenges were completely different. with is the lack of well-paying jobs “As a Kathmandu-based photo- quality work.”

Published and Printed by Kantipur Publications Limited, Central Business Park, Thapathali, Kathmandu, Nepal, P. B. No. 8559, Phone: 5135000, Fax: 977-1-5135057, e-mail: [email protected], Regd. No. 32/049/050, Chairman & Managing Director: Kailash Sirohiya, Director: Swastika Sirohiya, Editor: Sanjeev Satgainya