Vaccines Arriving in Nepal One Year After the Country Reported Its First

WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 324 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 24.8 C -4.2 C Thursday, January 21, 2021 | 08-10-2077 Nepalgunj Jumla Vaccines arriving in Nepal one year after the country reported its first Covid-19 case One million doses of coronavirus vaccine to land in Nepal today under grant assistance from India, which, officials say would be used for frontline workers.

ARJUN POUDEL KATHMANDU, JAN 20

Nepal is going to get the first lot of Covid-19 vaccines on Thursday, just days before the country marks one year since the first coronavirus case. “India is providing one million doses of Covid-19 vaccine to Nepal under grant assistance,” Health Minister Hridayesh Tripathi said on Wednesday at a joint press meet organised by the Health Ministry and the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu. “The first consignment will arrive on Thursday.” Indian Ambassador to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra said that Nepal is among few countries to receive the vaccine manufactured in India. “This is a gift from the government of India and the people of India to PHOTOS: AP/RSS Nepal,” said Kwatra. “Nepal is getting POST PHOTO: ANGAD DHAKAL Kamala Harris made history on Wednesday as she was sworn in as the first woman vice president of the United States of America. the vaccines within a week after India Health Minister Hridayesh Tripathi makes an announcement about the vaccines during a joint (Below) Biden’s inauguration came at a time of national tumult and uncertainty as a ceremony of resilience at the US Capitol. rolled out its vaccination drive, which press conference with Indian Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra at the ministry on Wednesday. signifies the friendship between India and Nepal and the importance India 268,310 have been infected and 1,975 our population, we will need addition- attaches to Nepal.” have died of Covid-19. al doses of the vaccines which we will Biden takes the The vaccines that India, which According to Tripathi, vaccines pro- procure very soon,” said Tripathi. launched its vaccination drive against vided by India will be administered to Nepal has been planning to procure Covid-19 on Saturday, is providing to frontline workers—health workers, vaccines from India after the southern Nepal are developed by the University supporting staff serving in the hospi- neighbour cleared phase III trial for helm as president: of Oxford and drug manufacturing tals, ambulance drivers, security per- Covishield a few days ago. giant AstraZeneca and produced by sonnel, those deployed in body man- During Foreign Minister Pradeep the Serum Institute of India. agement and others. Gywali’s visit to New Delhi last week, “This is a historic day for us and a The announcement that the first lot securing a deal on getting some ‘Democracy has unique example of Nepal-India friend- of vaccines will arrive in Nepal comes doses of vaccine under grant assis- ship,” said Tripathi. days after Nepal’s drug regulator tance and easing procurement of the The coronavirus, which was first granted emergency use approval for vaccines from India were high on the detected in Wuhan of China in Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines. agenda. prevailed’ December 2019, became a menace in The government is planning to However, no deal was signed during the entire 2020, forcing countries to inoculate 20 percent (or 6 million) of Gyawali’s Delhi visit. race for a cure. its population in the first phase to >> Continued on page 2 Harris breaks the barrier that has kept It took companies almost a year to immunise people above the age manufacture vaccines and complete of 60 in addition to frontline men at the top ranks of American three phases of trials before they health workers, for which the could be rolled out for inoculation. country will need at least 12 mil- power for more than two centuries. As the United Kingdom, the United lion doses of Covid-19 vaccine. States, Russia, China and some other Nepal will have to inoculate 72 ASSOCIATED PRESS countries launched their vaccination percent of its 29 million popula- WASHINGTON, JAN 20 drives against the coronavirus which tion against the coronavirus as has infected 96,722,769 and killed 28 percent are children under the Joe Biden became the 46th president of the United States 2,068,154 people across the world, age of 14. on Wednesday, declaring that “democracy has prevailed” there were concerns in Nepal over Children under 14 years can’t as he took the helm of a deeply divided nation and inherit- when the vaccines will arrive. be immunised as vaccines hav- ed a confluence of crises arguably greater than any faced Nepal confirmed its first Covid-19 en’t been tested on them. by his predecessors. case on January 24 last year. So far, “To inoculate 72 percent of History was made at his side, as Kamala Harris became the first woman to be vice president. The former US senator from California is also the first Black person and the first person of South Asian descent elected to the vice presidency and will become the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in government. Harris broke the barrier that has kept men at the top ranks of American power for more than two New centuries when she took the oath to hold the nation’s second-highest office. xh'/sf] lzz' x'g]5 The moment was steeped in history and significance in more ways than one. She was escorted to the podium by Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, the officer who single-handedly took on a mob of Trump supporters as 2021 sf] nflu k"0f{ tof/ they tried to breach the Senate floor during the Capitol insurrection that sought to overturn the election results. Harris was wearing clothes from two young, emerging Black designers—a deep purple dress and coat. Biden’s inauguration came at a time of national tumult and uncertainty, a ceremony of resilience as the hallowed American democratic rite unfurled at a US Capitol bat- tered by an insurrectionist siege just two weeks ago. The chilly Washington morning was dotted with snow flurries, but the sun emerged just before Biden took the oath of office, the quadrennial ceremony persevering even though it was encircled by security forces evocative of a war zone and devoid of crowds because of the coronavirus pandemic. “The will of the people has been heard, and the will of the people has been heeded. We’ve learned again that democracy is precious and democracy is fragile. At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed,” Biden said. “This is America’s day. This is democracy’s day. A day in history and hope, of renewal and resolve.” And then he pivoted to challenges ahead, acknowledging the surging virus that has claimed more than 400,000 lives in the United States. Biden looked out over a capital city dotted with empty storefronts that attest to the pandemic’s deep economic toll and where summer protests laid bare the nation’s renewed reckoning on racial injustice. “We have much to do in this winter of peril, and significant possibilities: much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build and much to gain,” Biden said. “Few people in our nation’s history have more challenged, or found a time more challenging or difficult than the time we’re in now.” Harris’ rise is historic in any context, another moment when a stubborn boundary falls away, expanding the idea of what’s possible in American politics. But it’s particularly meaningful because Harris is taking office at a moment of deep consequence, with Americans grappling over the role of institutional racism and confronting a pandemic that has disproportionately devastated Black and brown communities. Those close to Harris say she’ll bring an important—and often missing—perspective in the debates on how to overcome the many hurdles facing the new administration. “In many folks’ lifetimes, we experienced a segregated United States,” said Lateefah Simon, a civil rights advocate and longtime Harris friend and mentee. “You will now have a Black woman who will walk into the White House not as #SleepLikeAPampersBaby a guest but as a second in command of the free world.” >> Continued on page 6

C M Y K THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021 | 02 NATIONAL Shuklaphanta National Park fails to attract visitors Lack of infrastructure and neglect in maintenance have contributed to the dwindling number of visitors.

BHAWANI BHATTA seen in the grasslands of KANCHANPUR, JAN 20 Shuklaphanta, according to conservationists. Shuklaphanta National Park, which In the past, the park would main- closed its gates to visitors last year tain the flora of the grassland with the when the country buckled under the onset of winter so as to make swamp Covid-19 pandemic, reopened three deer sightings easy for visitors but months ago. But the park has not been this year no maintenance work has able to attract visitors given its poor been done in the park, said Rana. infrastructure and internal misman- According to Rabin Chaudhary, the agement. assistant conservation officer of the According to the data of the park’s park, there’s been a delay in the main- administration, 1,775 tourists had vis- tenance of the grassland due to the ited the park in the last fiscal year contractor’s negligence. while the number was over 6,000 in the “We have been notifying the con- fiscal year 2018/2019. However, the tractor time and again but the works park got only 600 tourists in the last have not started yet,” Chaudhary said. three months. According to the agreement, the con- “There were some tourists during tractor has to beautify the grassland Dashain and Tihar festivals but now within March 28. “The park has also there are no visitors at all,” said started the construction of grasslands Kumkaran Thakur, a nature guide at in an additional 150 bighas of land.” the park. According to him, there are Chaudhary agrees that the national only occasional visitors entering the park does not have the required infra- park these days. structure to facilitate tourists. Sightings of swamp deer are what “There are hardly any hotels with draw visitors to the park but this year good accommodation and food around there have been fewer numbers of this area. The park has also not been such sightings, says Parsuram Rana, able to introduce new activities for chairman of Ranatharu Homestay. tourists,” he said. “The park has a “The grass in the grasslands has huge potential to be developed into a POST PHOTO: BEEJU MAHARJAN grown very tall. It’s very hard to see popular tourist destination. We can An excavator drains water from a construction site next to a river at Chobhar, Kathmandu on Wednesday. deer through all that foliage,” Rana introduce rafting activities in Bahuni said. Established as a national park in Khola, which is inside the park area.” 1976, Shuklaphanta is the country’s According to the census of 2019, second youngest national park, after there were 82 blue bulls in the park. Parsa National Park, and is the main The park is also home to tigers, rhi- habitat of swamp deer. The largest nos, reptiles, amphibians and various Students launch protest against alleged herd of swamp deer in Asia can be bird species. swindling by two colleges in Rukum (West) The agitating students have padlocked TNT Technical College and Syarputal Engineering College.

HARI GAUTAM the coordination of assistant Chief RUKUM (WEST), JAN 20 District Officer Sher Bahadur Pun. According to Pun, the taskforce has Students of TNT Technical got a time frame of 10 days to carry College and Syarputal Engineering out the investigation. College in Musikot, the district head- The students of TNT College said quarters of Rukum (West), staged each of them had paid Rs 3,000 to Rs demonstrations on Monday citing that 61,000 as fees. they were swindled by the colleges “But the college has only taught us on the pretext of teaching technical basic computer skills,” said Rasaili. education. There are 33 students studying at TNT On Monday, the agitated students College. padlocked the TNT Technical College Similarly, 10 students of Syarputal whereas Syarputal Engineering Engineering College said that they College was closed a few days ago. had also paid Rs 6,000 to Rs 20,000 as They have launched a street protest admission fees. demanding action against their colleg- Meanwhile, Tilak Dangi, manager es and refund of their fees. of the TNT College, denied the allega- “The colleges had taken fees from tions of the students. us earlier citing that they had “Students are in protest under the launched an 18-month-long course and influence of student unions,” said a 3year course under technical educa- Dangi, claiming that the college has tion. But those courses are shorter an affiliation with CTEVT to teach than we were told. We have not sat for courses for computer operators, tele- any exams in the last two years,” said com technicians and electricians. Sharmila Rasaili, one of the students POST PHOTO: HARI GAUTAM “The investigation of the District from the TNT College. “We got The students are demanding action against their colleges and refund of their fees. Administration Office will also reveal duped and that is why we are protest- the truth in the coming days. Some of POST PHOTO: BHAWANI BHATTA ing. We will continue until our protest programmes started in (West) about the matter,” he said. the courses are free of cost and some Shuklaphanta is the country’s second youngest national park and is the main habitat of demands are met,” Musikot from Sunday. The District Administration Office of them have fixed fees. We had swamp deer. Rambabu Devkota, the coordinator “We had also notified the District has also formed a taskforce to conduct charged fees on the basis of such of the protest programme, said the Administration Office in Rukum an investigation into the case under courses,” he said. Vaccines arriving in Nepal Wild boars wreak havoc in settlements near Langtang park one year after the country BALARAM GHIMIRE increased of late. According to her, the other measures to stop wild boars wild animals has been doubled to RASUWA, JAN 20 park distributed around Rs 4 million from entering the farmlands. There Rs 20,000. To claim the compensation as compensation to 431 farmers in the are many herds of wild boars in the amount, the affected person has to Wild boars have been wreaking havoc last fiscal year. Langtang area and they cannot be file a formal request to the reported its first ... in the settlements of Khanjing in “In the current fiscal year, we have easily controlled,” she said. concerned authorities within 35 days Gosaikunda Rural Municipality, already distributed around Rs 1 mil- As per the existing legal provisions of the incident. >> Continued from page 1 to administer the vaccine. Rasuwa, forcing villagers to leave lion to 142 farmers. Most of the farm- of the country, the family of a person Wild boars are not protected ani- Officials and diplomats, however, “We have 911,000 people on the first their fields barren. ers who received compensation are killed in a wildlife attack is entitled to mals per se. The National Park and had told the Post that India had given priority list,” Dr Roshan Pokhrel, The villagers say wild boars enter those whose crops were destroyed by receive Rs 1 million. An individual Wildlife Conservation Act only enu- assurances that it would soon supply chief specialist at the Health Ministry, their fields at night and destroy ready- wild boars,” said Rana. who suffers from serious injuries in merates a total of 26 mammals as pro- some doses of the vaccines to Nepal told the Post. “If we get all doses at to-harvest crops. According to Rana, the park pro- wildlife attacks will get a compensa- tected species. But it is still illegal to under grant assistance. once on Thursday, we will supply them “We used to cultivate crops in four vides compensation to farmers after tion of Rs 200,000 whereas a victim kill wild animals that are not on the It was on Tuesday evening India’s to all 77 districts within two to three to five different fields but this year we evaluating the loss they incurred from with minor injuries will receive Rs list of protected species, as per the Ministry of External Affairs days.” have limited ourselves to just one wild boar attacks. 20,000. Similarly, the compensation National Parks and Wildlife announced that Nepal is on the list of The ministry is working on holding field. We can’t sit guard in all the “The park has not adopted any amount in case of crop depredation by Conservation Act-1973. countries to which it will start supply- discussions with experts about wheth- fields to chase away wild boars,” said ing the vaccines produced by the er to immunise all the people on the Duktar Tamang, a local resident. Serum Institute of India. The minis- first priority list or half of them, as Farmers living in the settlements try said that India will supply Covid- the vaccines gifted by India will be near Langtang National Park have 19 vaccines to Nepal, Bhutan, the sufficient for just less than 500,000 been badly affected by the menace Maldives, Bangladesh, Myanmar and people. caused by wild boars. Seychelles from January 20. Each person needs two doses of Phinjo Tamang, a local resident of Kwatra said that India has coordi- vaccine and some doses of vaccine Thangsyap, says he has not cultivated nated with Nepal since day one to help may be wasted due to various factors. potatoes for the last six years because Nepal in the fight against the According to doctors, around 10 per- of wild boar menace. coronavirus, by providing safety cent of the vaccines get wasted in “This year, the animals are destroy- gears, polymerase chain reaction general during all vaccination drives. ing crops like buckwheat and barley,” machines and reagents and ventila- “The consignment we are receiving Tamang said. tors, among others. on Thursday is part of India’s commit- According to the study performed “Cooperation on Covid-19 was one ment to help us in the fight against the by the Friends of Nature, an organisa- of the important issues during pandemic,” said Pokhrel. “As we can tion working in the field of environ- Foreign Minister Gyawali’s visit to administer a second dose within a ment and conservation, an estimated New Delhi last week with his counter- month we can administer all people 1,300 to 2,200 wild boars were reported part S Jaishankar,” said Kwatra at on the first list from health in Langtang National Park in 2013. Wednesday’s press conference. facilities throughout the country The study was conducted in the then Covishield is the preferred choice simultaneously.” Langtang, Buddim, Dhunche and of the vaccine of Nepali authorities The ministry has planned to admin- Yarsa VDCs. According to the study, since the existing storage and trans- ister coronavirus vaccines from dis- Langtang is home to the most number portation infrastructure used in the trict hospitals across the country. of wild boars in the region. country to immunise children can be Public health experts say the arriv- Villagers in Ghoda Tabela, utilised. Covishield vaccines have to al of the coronavirus vaccine is a pos- Thangsyap, Gumba Danda, Langtang, be stored in plus temperature between itive move when Nepal is trying to Mundu and Singdum settlements have 2 to 8 degree Celsius. fight the pandemic. also left their farmlands barren. Nepal has also been assured that “Arrival of vaccines and the deci- “I own 14 ropanis of land. But I have vaccines to inncoulcate 3 percent of sion to immunise frontline workers in cultivated crops in only four ropanis. I the population will be received from the first phase is very good news,” Dr don’t have the resources to secure all the World Health Organisation’s Sher Bahadur Pun, chief of Clinical my farmland from wild boar attacks,” COVAX programme by April. The UN Research Unit at the Sukraraj Tropical said Gwang Tamang of Buddim. “No body will provide enough vaccines for and Infectious Disease Hospital, told one has paid heed to our problems.” 20 percent of the population in the the Post. “Authorities should also Susma Rana, the chief conservation form of a grant, according to officials expedite the process to bring addition- officer of Langtang National Park, at the Health Ministry. al doses so as to protect the people who said the number of farmers filing POST PHOTO: BALARAM GHIMIRE Agencies under the Health Ministry are in high risk groups and those who applications for compensation has Villagers have left their fields barren due to the menace caused by wild boars from Langtang National Park. have made a priority list of the people are vulnerable.”

C M Y K 03 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021 NATIONAL BRIEFING All’s not well inside Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal Police to Assembly meeting postponed in While Bhattarai and Yadav want to protest against the dissolution of the House, Thakur and Mahato have other plans. recruit temporary Province 1, Bagmati MORANG: Owing to the dispute ANIL GIRI personnel for between the two factions of the rul- KATHMANDU, JAN 20 ing Nepal Community Party, the pro- elections vincial assembly meeting of Province The Janata Samajbadi Party held 1 has been postponed for an indefinite nationwide protests on Wednesday ANUP OJHA period. Speaker Pradeep Kumar against Prime Minister KP Sharma KATHMANDU, JAN 20 Bhandari announced that the seventh Oli’s decision to dissolve the House of session of the provincial assembly Representatives. Even amid uncertainty over the snap will be postponed. Similarly, the pro- The party, which termed Oli’s move elections announced by President vincial assembly meeting of Bagmati “unconstitutional and undemocratic”, Bidya Devi Bhandari after the dissolu- Province has also been postponed has announced more protests. But the tion of the House, Nepal Police is pre- indefinitely. The Dahal-Nepal group party formed after a merger between paring to recruit temporary person- has filed the no-confidence motion two different political forces last nel. against the chief ministers of both year has a problem of its own: Preparations are on to recruit 96,000 the provinces. Its leaders are at odds over Oli’s deci- temporary police personnel for the sion to dissolve the House and hold upcoming polls, said Senior the snap elections on April 30 and May Superintendent of Police Basanta Woman dies in elephant attack 10. Bahadur Kunwar, who is also the MORANG: A 32-year-old woman has “We have already condemned Oli’s force’s spokesperson. The proposed died of a wild elephant attack in move by calling it ‘undemocratic and numbers are less than that of 2017. Sundarharaicha Municipality-10, unconstitutional’,” said party leader “We are committed to holding elec- Morang. Sita Parajuli was attacked Anil Jha. “But as we believe in tions on the stipulated date announced by the wild tusker while she was col- democracy, rule of law and constitu- by the government,” said Kunwar. lecting firewood and fodder at tionalism, we are ready to go for polls In 2017—when the federal and pro- Sukuna Community Forest on if the Supreme Court validates Oli’s vincial elections were held on Tuesday. Critically injured Parajuli decision to dissolve the House,” he November 26 and December 7—the died in the course of treatment at added. government had hired 98,168 tempo- Koshi Hospital on Wednesday morn- Party leaders admit that the differ- rary police personnel to provide secu- ing, said police. ence of opinion between top leaders rity to polling stations. A source at the over Oli’s decision to dissolve the Ministry of Finance told the Post that House can be attributed to their differ- around Rs3 billion was spent on the 108 children suffer from severe ent political ideologies and personal temporary personnel. malnutrition in Mugu preferences. He said that a meeting at the MUGU: As many as 108 children in The party was formed following a Ministry of Home Affairs two weeks Mugu district are suffering from merger on April 22 between Samajbadi ago had asked Nepal Police to prepare severe malnutrition for the past six Party and Rashtriya Janata Party— plans to recruit temporary police. months. As per the data available at largely prompted by an ordinance Oli “We are yet to confirm the total budget the District Health Office, 66 girls and had introduced to ease provisions POST FILE PHOTO for it, this is going to be minimum this 42 boys aged six months to five years related to the split and registration of Experts say it is beyond their comprehension that a united political party has failed to take up a firm position on the dissolution of the House. time,” said Kunwar. have been suffering from severe mal- parties. Most of the political parties, includ- nutrition. Of the total 108 children Experts closely following the inter- tional forces such as Nepal Communist former Maoist leader, Pushpa Kamal sive campaign against Oli, but former ing the Pushpa Kamal Dahal and suffering from severe malnutrition, nal dynamics of the JSP for long said Party and the Nepali Congress. Dahal,” another senior JSP leader told RJPN leaders such as Mahantha Madhav Nepal faction of the Nepal 75 are from the Dalit community. that it is beyond their comprehension Some senior party leaders such as the Post. “Yadav has had a very bad Thakur, Rajendra Mahato want the Communist Party, the Nepali that a united political party fails to former Prime Minister Baburam experience with Oli, who ‘unceremo- party to wait for the Supreme Court’s Congress, and the Janata Samajbadi take up a firm position on a sensitive Bhattarai and former Deputy Prime niously’ removed him from his minis- verdict on the petitions filed against Party have been terming the dissolu- Local unit not to provide political issue such as the dissolution Minister Yadav are opposing Oli’s terial stint. the dissolution of the House of tion of the House and the announce- of the House of Representatives. move and have been calling for the “It is true that we have to complete Representatives.” ment of snap elections as an unconsti- services to electricity pilferers “If you ask me, this JSP is yet to be restoration of the House. But other the merger process. So there could be “But, Yadav as current party chair, tutional move. SINDHUPALCHOK: Indrawati Rural unified as a political party,” said leaders such as Mahantha Thakur and a difference of opinion between lead- should have consulted other party As many as 13 writ petitions have Municipality in Sindhupalchok dis- Chandra Kishore, a Madhes-based Rajendra Mahato are of the view that ers, but it is also true that our political leaders before commenting on Oli’s been filed against Oli’s administra- trict has announced that it will stop observer, and political analyst. “The there is no doubt Oli’s decision may be credentials are democratic,” said Jha. move. So I see some difficulties inside tion’s House dissolution move and providing its services to those found merger happened as Upendra Yadav “ undemocratic and unconstitutional” “But we have termed Oli’s move our party,” said Karna. those writs have been sent to the stealing electricity. The rural munici- was running his old Samajbadi Party but what happened was a result of unconstitutional and undemocratic, Thakur and Mahato are of the view Constitutional Bench. A large group pality and Helambu Melamchi elec- as his own ‘company’ while the flaws in the constitution. and that’s why we are hitting the that as the constitution has several of people, including members of vari- tricity distribution centre of the Rashtriya Janata Party (formed after Under the banner of various politi- streets now,” he added. “Since we flaws, it needs to be amended. ous political parties and citizens, have Nepal Electricity Authority have a merger between six Madhes-based cal outfits, six Madhes-based political believe in democracy, rule of law, and “We all know the difference in criticised Oli’s move as being uncon- reached an agreement to launch a parties), had their own political agen- parties had resorted to violent pro- constitutionalism, we have to accept schooling among leaders inside the stitutional, and are waiting for the campaign to keep in check das,” Kishore told the Post. tests and imposed an economic block- the court’s verdict too.” JSP. A section of leaders thinks that if court’s verdict on the petitions.. electricity leakage in the area. “The The party was formed on April 22 as ade on the Nepal-India border after Former Nepali Ambassador to elections take place, they might get a “Nepal Police’s role is to provide distribution centre will provide elec- the then Samajbadi Party Nepal and the promulgation of the new constitu- Denmark Vijay Kant Karna, who good share in the distribution of the security for the upcoming elections, tricity metre boxes to impoverished the Rashtriya Janata Party announced tion in September 2015. teaches political science at Tribhuvan candidacies. Another section thinks which should be held in a peaceful families for free,” said Banshalal their merger at midnight vowing to “It is well known that both Bhattarai University says that JSP is in trouble that if the House is reinstated, they manner,” said Kunwar. “We are hav- Tamang, the chairman of the local transform themselves into a strong and Yadav are left-leaning in terms of due to Oli’s move. will get their fair share of the Cabinet ing an extended discussion over the body. alternative force to challenge tradi- ideology. That’s why they are close to “Yadav wants to launch an aggres- pie,” said Kishore. topic.” After House dissolution, questions raised Wildlife rescue operations over local infrastructure programme in Palpa unsafe due to PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA federal affairs ministry. KATHMANDU, JAN 20 “The working procedure has the ill-equipped forest offices provision that the implementation of Questions have been raised over the the programme would not be affected lawmaker-led Local Infrastructure in the absence of lawmakers,” he said. Forest officials and security personnel lack tranquiliser Development Partnership Programme Even though the lawmakers of the following the dissolution of the House dissolved House were involved in the guns and various other equipment required for a safe and of Representatives and announce- selection of projects, they won’t be ment of fresh elections. able to monitor the programmes if the immediate rescue of wildlife. The programme, which has long Supreme Court does not restore the been facing criticism for being distrib- House of Representatives. utive and promoting misuse of the “In such a situation, the govern- MADHAV ARYAL centre for the effective rehabilitation funds, is mainly run by local consum- ment may take some decision for the PALPA, JAN 20 of wildlife. er committees usually led by cadres of monitoring purpose,” said Panthi. “We have difficulties in rescuing various political parties. Jhapat Bahadur Rawal, a lawmaker An adult leopard fell into a snare that wild animals, as we do not have But, successive governments in the of the dissolved House of some villagers had set up to trap por- the necessary infrastructures past three decades, have continued the Representatives, insisted that projects cupines at Bhuwanpokhari in and facilities where we can rehabili- programme, previously known as under this Local Infrastructure Rainadevi Chhahara Rural tate the rescued animals,” said Constituency Infrastructure Special Development Partnership programme Municipality, Palpa in November last Pokharel. Programme and the Constituency should be implemented. year. The local residents of Development Programme, due to pres- POST FILE PHOTO Rawal, who had moved the court in After spotting the leopard entangled Bhuwanpokhari say wild animals sure from lawmakers. The government’s budget for the current fiscal year has reduced the amount allocated for the 2017 over the same issue as elections in barbed wires, the villagers immedi- have begun entering human settle- According to the working procedure programme to Rs40 million per constituency from Rs60 million in the last fiscal year amid a were round the corner, said that the ately informed the Division Forest ments in search of food and water of governing the programme, a directive resource crunch faced by the government due to the coronavirus pandemic. situation is different from the one Office. The forest officials reached the late. The forest consumers’ groups committee headed by the directly seen in 2017. On January 14, 2018, the site but they did not have a tranquilis- and the villagers use sticks and elected lawmaker concerned and rep- coronavirus pandemic. This still dates,” he said. Supreme Court through interim order er gun to dart the leopard and rescue other tools to chase the wild animals resented by a lawmaker elected under translates to Rs6.6 billion. According to him, it is the responsi- had stopped the implementation of it. The ill-equipped team of forest offi- away. the proportional category, and a “This is a huge amount which bility of the Election Commission to the projects which were selected after cials and security personnel rescued “We chase away the straying wild National Assembly member is respon- could have been utilised in various ensure that the elections are fair. “If October 14, 2017. the leopard four hours later with the animals by ourselves and inform the sible for selecting and monitoring pro- projects, including anti-Covid-19 the commission finds that the imple- “At that time, lawmakers who had help of an excavator. By then, the leop- forest office if an animal is found jects under the programme. efforts, that give tangible results,” mentation of the programme does not lost the elections could have been ard had sustained serious injuries and injured or trapped. But the forest offi- “After dissolution of the House of said Acharya. provide a level playing field to candi- involved in the selection and imple- had to be taken to Chitwan for treat- cials cannot always rescue the trapped Representatives, there is a question After the people’s representatives dates and could potentially affect the mentation process,” he said. “Now, I ment the next day. He died a couple of wildlife to safety, as they do not have about how the lawmakers of dissolved took charge of the local governments integrity of the polls, it should take am confident that the House has not days later. tranquiliser guns and other tools House can discharge their duties in 2017, questions are being asked necessary action,” he said. been dissolved despite an ‘unconstitu- “The leopard could have survived if required,” said Jhabindra Neupane, a under the programme,” said Bhanu whether the country needs pro- In 2017, during the run-up to the tional’ move from the Prime Minister.” we had been able to tranquilise it and consumer of a local community forest Acharya, former auditor general. grammes such as the Local federal and provincial elections, the He said that there was no need to remove him from the trap on time. But in Ribdikot Rural Municipality-1. “The programme also seems out of Infrastructure Development commission had ordered the govern- halt the implementation of the pro- the rescue operation took too long. Paudel admits that wildlife rescue place as the government is seeking Partnership Programme, which was ment to discontinue the programme jects under the programme as projects The forest office does not have the in Palpa is ineffective and unsuccess- external assistance and donations to continued in the name of connecting for the same reason. have already been selected and law- necessary tools and technologies ful due to a lack of modern technolo- procure Covid-19 vaccines,” Acharya people with their elected representa- But, Election Commissioner makers won’t be involved in the imple- required for wildlife rescue,” said gies and equipment in the district for- told the Post. tives in the absence of local govern- Narendra Dahal said that it is not yet mentation process like in the past. Mohan Paudel, chief at the est offices. Following widespread criticism, the ments. time to make a call over the pro- However, the government has added Division Forest Office in Palpa. “As a “We have to rescue wild animals by government in June decided to invest Critics have also raised questions gramme as a lot of things related to a provision to the working procedure result, most of the animals die while using traditional tools and technolo- unused funds from the Local about the programme’s impact on the the elections are undecided. “Once we that gives more space for irregulari- being rescued or shortly after their gies. So many wild animals die Infrastructure Development elections. As members of the now-dis- roll out a code of conduct and publi- ties. The amendment says that only rescue.” because of that,” said Paudel, adding Partnership Programme for its solved House can spend money from cise the election programme, the com- consumer committees can implement Bhuwanpokhari’s incident of leop- that the forest office has informed the anti-Covid-19 responses. the programme to influence voters, mission will make a decision on the the projects. The programme has also ard rescue is just a case in point. The higher authorities about the need for The Cabinet on June 16 had their opponents will not get a level programme,” Dahal told the Post. been made more distributive as per rescue of wildlife is a difficult task for tranquiliser guns and other tools. approved an amendment to the regula- playing field in the upcoming elec- Even though the government decid- the new provision despite past efforts the forest officials and security per- “But they are yet to address our issue.” tion governing the programme, tions, they say. ed to divert the unspent resources to make it more result-oriented. sonnel due to a lack of tranquiliser The conservation of various wild allowing the transfer of its unused On December 20, upon the recom- under the programme to anti-Covid-19 The new working procedure has guns and various other equipment animals has been challenging across funds to Covid-19 accounts at the local mendation of the Cabinet President efforts last year, it has not taken any removed the provision that required required for a safe and immediate res- the country, mainly due to poaching level. Bidya Devi Bhandari dissolved the further decision on it. projects with a Rs5 million price cue work. and smuggling. The unsafe rescue of The programme should not have House of Representatives and According to the Ministry of tag to be implemented through a con- According to the data available at wildlife further worsens the wildlife been continued at all,” said Acharya. announced the snap elections on April Federal Affairs and General tractor selected through a tender pro- the forest office, around 50 leopards conservation efforts, conservationists “When there is a greater need for 30 and May 10. Whether the govern- Administration, the contact ministry cess. This leaves space for irregulari- were rescued in Palpa district in the s a y. resources for purchasing vaccines and ment’s move was constitutional or not for local governments projects to be ties. past year. “Various wild animals, including even holding elections, it is not right is being debated at the Supreme Court. implemented under this programme It has also removed the provision “More than 40 of them died while leopards and bears, are tortured and to distribute funds under such a pro- Former Chief Election have already been finalised in almost from the working procedure that being rescued or due to delay in res- even killed during rescue operations. gramme that does not contribute sig- Commissioner Bhojraj Pokharel said all electoral constituencies. requires the committees to spend half cue,” said Yamlal Pokharel, the infor- The necessary tools and equipment nificantly to economic growth.” the continuation of the programme The lawmaker-led directive commit- of the budget on programmes that are mation officer at the Division Forest are required for their safe rescue,” The government’s budget for the would be unfair for candidates who tees were supposed to select the pro- estimated to cost more than Rs5 mil- Office. According to him, the rescue said Dil Bahadur Khangaha, another current fiscal year has reduced the are not lawmakers of the dissolved jects by mid-December. “Except the lion. The newly amended working pro- work of other animals, including consumer of a local community forest amount allocated for this programme House, in case elections are held. decision is taken otherwise, the procedure approved in October last year snakes, bears, wild boars, porcupines in the district. He urged the concerned to Rs40 million per constituency from “For the elections to be considered jects under the Local Infrastructure by the Cabinet states that a maximum and barking deer, among others, are authorities to manage the tools and Rs60 million per constituency in the fair, all candidates should get a level Development Partnership Programme of 30 projects, each having an estimat- equally difficult. set up a rescue and treatment facility last fiscal year amid a resource crunch playing field. Such programmes don’t will go into implementation,” said ed cost of over Rs1 million, can be Pokharel also underscored the need for the rescued wildlife’s rehabilita- faced by the government due to the give equal opportunities to all candi- Dilaram Panthi, undersecretary at the implemented in each constituency. for a wildlife rescue and treatment tion in the district.

C M Y K THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021 | 04 OPINION EDITORIAL Oli’s legacy of shame Relief for the returnees KP Oli put Nepal’s young There should be no delay in the disbursement of democracy to the test, and financial relief to migrant workers. the political class helped him do it. The pandemic continues to disrupt our lives, more so for migrant workers and their families who took a direct hit as the world enforced stringent measures, including the closure of DEEPAK THAPA borders to contain the spread of the coronavirus. In March AS I LIKE 2020, when the Oli administration enforced a nationwide lockdown with little planning or preparedness to deal with a public health emergency of this scale, migrant workers in the destination countries were left to fend for themselves, with little or no support from our diplomatic missions there. To a section of Nepali society, the ejec- Migrant workers have long been exploited and duped by bro- tion of Sher Bahadur Deuba from kers, manpower agencies and recruiters in the destination prime ministership in October 2002 by countries. They have often found themselves living and work- king Gyanendra heralded a Panchayat redux. For those of us who had lived ing in slavelike conditions with little attention and support through the Panchayat years, the days from the government. The economic crisis that followed the that followed the royal move certainly spread of Covid-19 across the world just aggravated their situa- felt like being transported to pre-1990 tion. Jobs disappeared overnight, workers were broke and even Nepal—mainly through the monoto- dwelled on the streets, and had no means to return home. While nous recital on TV and radio of names of individuals and organisations sup- workers who still had their jobs continued to work, most of porting Gyanendra’s putsch. As was to them were slaving for reduced wages or no salaries at all. be expected, government newspapers Countless stories of their miseries over the past nine months also followed up by publishing long continue to be ignored and sidelined while the unfolding crisis lists of those selfsame along with the words they used to welcome their mon- affects workers and their families disproportionately. arch’s actions. As the government continues to repatriate migrant workers, Given a political class that never there is scant assessment of how the crisis has impacted them seemed to tire of the perennial game of POST FILE PHOTO and their families or how it will unfold in 2021. There is no one-upmanship even in the face of a growing Maoist insurgency, it was had become that it did not even bother danger. Therein lies the rub. Any suc- blatant centralising of state power in roadmap to follow through on the ambitious commitments and somewhat natural that there would be to take a position for so long on an issue cessful civic movement against Oli’s his office at precisely the time the cen- tall claims made repeatedly to reintegrate migrant workers and some who would welcome anything with direct implications on its constitu- blatant power grab will necessarily tre was supposed to be delegating create jobs. There is a failure to understand that ignoring these that interrupted the downward drift of ents. Fortunately, when it finally did, result in someone else taking his place. authority all the way down to the vil- issues upfront will only bring severe implications to the coun- the country. Since it was also the pal- the NEFIN leadership appears to have But when it comes to a betrayal of the lages. We certainly do not know the full ace’s imperative that the list of pre- understood that the answer to an promises of a ‘New Nepal’ and the cre- content of the periodic tête-à-têtes try and communities affected the most. The government con- sumed supporters continue to grow or imperfect democracy can never be its ation of a more just and inclusive soci- between Deuba and Oli but media tinues to neglect the migrants who bear the brunt of an uncer- at least appear to do so, the ritual suit- total abandonment. ety, none of the possible contenders to reports suggest these have focused on tain future. ed both sides. Hence, while those That is a realisation that does not take his place have a record that is haggling over the apportionment of Time is an invaluable resource as much as it is irreversible. known for their royalist sympathies seem to have been lost to at least one much better. Not even Pushpa Kamal government positions between their It is unclear how the next several months will unfold for figured in the media so did many oth- group of influential actors. Among the Dahal even though it has to be admitted own supporters. ers not that well known, but who none- first to raise the spectre of the prime that the Maoist movement certainly Writer Narayan Wagle hit home migrant workers deep in debt and whose only source of liveli- theless were given equal prominence minister’s move being the beginning of provided the initial momentum when he recently said that people are hood has evaporated. But there are no indications of timely by the government mouthpieces. a new round of retrogression was an towards it. The only difference is that not going to come into the streets if the interventions to fix this worrying situation as their financial One unexpected surprise was the impromptu coalition of mainly writers Oli at least has had the honesty to spell current civic movement was going to situation deteriorates. There are already reports that returnees Nepal Federation of Indigenous and activists calling themselves the it out while the others generally hide result only in a change in the prime Nationalities (NEFIN), the umbrella ‘Grand Citizens’ Movement’. Led by behind obfuscating rhetoric. The end minister. He called on the party leaders struggle to purchase daily food and face difficulties to pay back body representing Nepal’s Janajatis. writer Yug Pathak, the Movement put result has been the same—the backslid- to declare that they are against this their loans with high interest. There is an urgent need to create As a group that had been very instru- out a statement, stating that while they ing on inclusion in the 2015 constitu- backward step and draft a charter iden- livelihood opportunities for the returnees by utilising their mental in propagating the narrative of could not be less bothered about the tion compared to the 2007 one is there tifying where they went remiss after skill and ensuring that their rights, benefits and any compensa- how the centuries’ old marginalisation inner workings of a political party, for all to see. the 2006 People’s Movement. The last is of the country’s various social groups they were very concerned about the Another example is how the rollout not such a tall order since we were tions they are entitled to by law are honoured. was a result of the exclusive nature of grave danger posed by the outfall of of federalism has proceeded. The prime treated to some show of contrition in The government must develop sustainable programmes and the monarchical state, it came as a this intra-party wrangling to republi- minister has been lambasted from var- the lead up to the 2006 movement, initiatives and mobilise resources to implement a support sys- shock that NEFIN should side with the canism, federalism, secularism and ious quarters, even from some of his including one of the famous 12 points tem that ensures economic opportunities for workers who have king instead of clamouring for a more inclusion; that it was a step likely sup- most stout defenders like the Gandaki in the agreement that spawned the returned with skills and experiences. It’s not going to be easy to meaningful democracy. I came to know press the voices of the marginalised Chief Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung movement dealing specifically with it. later that many of those affiliated with groups and the impoverished; and that that at almost every step he has under- The sad fact is we have no choice but create jobs amid an unfolding crisis, but the government must NEFIN were livid that such a statement since it is the political parties them- mined the spirit of federalism. Yet over to go with the political parties and also take this as an opportunity to right the wrongs, which have had gone out in their name. But at the selves collectively responsible for tak- these three years, I do not ever recall those who lead them and just hope we made the country vulnerable in the first place. time it appeared to be a sign of frustra- ing the country to this brink, the par- Messrs Nepal and Dahal taking Oli to get lucky. Following the physical The government must start with clear intentions and take tion that after years of government ties should renew their commitment to task over it. If, as they now argue, the assault on their national legislature, soft-pedalling the promise of creating the people once again and take a strong latter needs to be removed since he the American political class looked and stock of the developing situation while parallelly use its diplo- mechanisms to help Janajatis merge stance against the regressive step. violated the principle of collective sounded visibly shaken. They can be matic channels to negotiate rightful compensation from the into the national mainstream, there Given its representation of an impres- party leadership, it is a wonder that thankful that their institutions were labour destination countries. It must also maintain robust were some in NEFIN who believed that sive cross-section of Nepali society, this they never made an issue of the need to able to withstand the stress test visited documentation of the returnees and exercise existing legal the king could be their saviour— group’s claim that the parliamentary strengthen federalism given its basic upon them by an outgoing president, despite all the historical evidence to dissolution is a direct assault on the premise of promoting greater inclu- with the nearly two and a half centu- provisions to utilise the Foreign Employment Welfare Fund, the contrary. gains of the past decade and a half sion. That they got worked up every ries of legal traditions and political which can be spent on welfare projects and compensation to Unlike two decades ago, NEFIN certainly provided it with greater cre- time Oli handed out plum posts only to norms to fall back on. Ours is a very assist workers and their families in these tumbling times. The remained uncharacteristically quiet dence than a group like NEFIN’s would. those in his own coterie says a lot about young democracy and we have an even fund was envisioned for situations as we have right now, and it for a full month over the dissolution of Despite all the misgivings about the where their real interests lay. younger polity. Oli’s crime has been to Parliament by Prime Minister KP Oli. 2015 constitution among those who The same is true of the Nepali subject both to a similar test when the is the workers themselves who contributed to it. There should It is probably a sign of how irrelevant believed that it had short-changed the Congress leadership. Neither Sher foundations have not even been set be no delay in the disbursement of financial relief to migrant an organisation that claims to speak excluded, there is now growing realisa- Bahadur Deuba nor Ram Chandra property. History will not be kind to workers when they need it the most. for nearly 40 percent of the population tion that even those gains may be in Poudel have spoken out against Oli’s him. Do we want FDI in agriculture?

as a routine phenomenon. Several jects is just Rs133.75 million and the There are few studies conspiracy theories have surfaced per-unit employment is just 45 people. regarding the intention of the govern- Empirical results suggest that FDI showing that foreign ment in making this sudden amend- inflow is not significant even in coun- ment. tries having a good track record in investment in farming For a long time, Nepal has been pro- agricultural exports. Brazil, the tecting the primary agriculture sector Netherlands, India, Thailand, stimulates growth. from FDI. However, the secondary sec- Australia and the United States are a tor of agriculture was still open to few among them. According to the lat- foreign investors. For example, estab- est statistics of the Department of ARUN GC lishing a dairy industry, juice factory Industry, there were 5,052 FDI-funded or tea processing plant, among others, projects in Nepal as of the fiscal year was not prohibited under this act. The 2019-20. Among them, the services sec- 20-year vision document for the agri- tor attracted the highest number of cultural sector, Agriculture projects whereas agriculture and for- Development Strategy 2015-35, which estry-based sectors received just 288 has been endorsed by the Cabinet, has projects. Furthermore, the cost per also prohibited FDI in primary sec- project (Rs30.73 million ) and employ- Foreign direct investment (FDI) in tors. Several interest groups had ment per project (36 jobs) were also agriculture has several dimensions. actively, but unsuccessfully, lobbied to the lowest in agriculture and forest- Scholars around the world are debat- have FDI opened in the primary sector ry-based projects. ing whether FDI in agriculture is during the preparation phase of the desirable or not. This division is part- Agriculture Development Strategy. Few takers ly associated with a particular school Those statistics are of secondary agri- of thought. The capitalist school, gen- Do we benefit? culture industries. More interestingly, erally, does favour FDI in agriculture It is worth discussing the potential the profit margin for the secondary as any investment. The socialist advantages and disadvantages of FDI sector is far greater than for the pri- school opposes it. But these dogmatic in agriculture. Theoretically, econo- mary sector (production). India has views changed after the 2007-08 global mists believe that FDI not only brings also opened agriculture to FDI. food price hike. Currently, most capital but also technology and Despite having larger landholdings food-deficit countries are interested in employment to the recipient. Most and various benefits and subsidies FDI in agriculture for food security FDI was found to be directed towards compared to Nepal, a significant purposes. areas where investment in agriculture amount of FDI has not been observed In the traditional view, the highest is extremely low. In Nepal’s case, pub- in India. negative magnitude of opposition is lic investment is much lower. The Strong screening, monitoring and related to the access to land which is farm budget has never crossed 3 per- evaluation are critical factors for suc- generally depicted as land grabbing. cent of the gross domestic product cess. Moreover, FDI should be restrict- Other worrisome aspects are water even though agriculture accounts for ed in the Nepal Trade Integration and the environment. However, people two-thirds of the jobs. In this scenario, Strategy priority crops if the real think that employment, market FDI can be looked at positively; but the SHUTTERSTOCK intention of the government is to pro- access, infrastructure, food security, issue is whether any big deal can be gap in the agriculture sector. But poor rank (Getting Credit) to 175th rank to be a stable period in Nepali politics. mote export. Further, there is not technology transfer, education, work- expected from foreign capital, consid- demand for such credit facilities part- (Paying Taxes). Nepal ranks in a rela- However, the recent political turmoil much empirical evidence showing ing conditions and health aspects of ering the existing political and ly indicates that, in the current situa- tively lower position regarding enforc- has destabilised the political setting. that FDI in agriculture stimulates eco- FDI in agriculture are positive facets. socio-economic setting. tion, investment deficiency might not ing contracts, getting electricity, start- An unstable political system has a sig- nomic growth. Therefore, both Transparency, social justice and the Currently, capital is not a primary be an immediate issue. If Nepal gets ing a business, dealing with construc- nificant and direct effect on the confi- extreme instigation and frustration environment are major concerns asso- issue in Nepal’s farm sector. Many technological inputs from FDI, tion permits, registering property, dence of the business community. are not necessary for FDI in agricul- ciated with FDI in agriculture. Still, motivated youths, and even some cor- demand for capital may also increase. resolving insolvency and protecting Furthermore, the landholding structure. Even then, a strong safety net scholars are struggling to access the porations, are investing in agricul- Doing Business is one of the most minority investors. Similarly, trading ture and cost of labour and other fac- must be in place to ensure that no exact data on FDI due to hesitation to ture. Furthermore, despite a low budg- important indexes which reflects the across borders is also a relatively diffi- tors are not attractive for significant single marginal farmer is harmed disclose all information for fear of etary allocation, the government has perspective of FDI inflow. In the latest cult task to perform in Nepal. FDI. In the last fiscal year, despite the from FDI in agriculture. capital flight. Interestingly, a recent instituted the provision of subsidised Doing Business Report 2020, Nepal Considering these issues, a huge strong message of political stability, amendment to the Foreign Direct credit facilities for the target sector ranks 94 with a Doing Business score inflow of FDI, especially in agricul- just four foreign-funded agro and for- GC is an officer at the Ministry of Investment and Technology Transfer including agriculture. This provision of 63.2 which is a weighted average of ture, is not likely to happen. estry-based industries were registered Agriculture and Livestock Act in Nepal has not been considered is pivotal for offsetting the investment several sub-indexes ranging from 37th The last three years were considered in Nepal. The per-unit cost of the pro- Development.

C M Y K 05 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021 MONEY

FOREX US Dollar 117.16 Nepal issues new regulations Pandemic, surging food Euro 142.02 Pound Sterling 160.51 Japanese Yen 11.29 prices leave many in Asia Chinese Yuan 18.12 regarding foreign investment Qatari Riyal 32.17 Australian Dollar 90.56 Foreign investors need to bring 70 percent of their proposed investment before hungry, UN report says Malaysian Ringit 28.96 beginning operations, and the rest in the next two years. Saudi Arab Riyal 31.23 ASSOCIATED PRESS said the report issued by the U.N. Food Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank NEW YORK, JAN 20 and Agriculture Organization, changes in the earned property, assets UNICEF, the World Food Programme Shares or shares, it should apply with the United Nations agencies are warning and the World Health Organization. related documents within 30 days of that more than 350 million people Disruptions and job losses due to Nepse 2,342.76pts 0.68% the transaction. in the Asia-Pacific region are going the pandemic are preventing families If any foreign investor wants to hungry as the coronavirus pandemic from getting enough to eat in many HIGHEST GAINERS repatriate the profits, the decision destroys jobs and pushes food prices places. That’s evident in the long BFC CORBL SAPDBL GRDBL NABBC NFS 9.94% 9.93% 9.88% 9.88% 9.87% 9.76% should be approved by the company’s higher. lines seen at food banks even in the annual general meeting. The report issued on Wednesday by United States. MODERATE GAINERS If foreign investors, who have four agencies says the pandemic is In India, broken supply chains NHDL PLI KRBL SIFC RLFL CFCL 9.75% 9.75% 9.74% 9.72% 9.6% 9.55% received approval to invest in the making it difficult for 1.9 billion peo- and transport problems, especially energy, production, infrastructure or ple to afford healthy diets. It follows an during pandemic lockdowns, have pre- MODERATE LOSERS NBL SDLBSL NLG MFIL TRH GLBSL mine sectors, are unable to buy the earlier report that forecast that in a vented surplus grain stocks from -1.94% -2% -2.22% -2.3% -2.42% -2.58% required land through their own worst case scenario that 828 million reaching all those in need. Day

HIGHEST LOSERS efforts, they can apply to a govern- people might suffer from acute hunger labourers and migrants are the most SMFDB BARUN SAND2085 CLBSL KSBBL BBC ment agency with the proper because of the crisis. vulnerable, despite a massive public -2.79% -3.23% -3.35% -3.38% -3.82% -3.95% documents. The new regulation has The latest estimate is that nearly distribution system that entitles 75 POST PHOTO allowed manufacturing industries 688 million people globally are percent of the rural population and The five-star standard 45 Keys Boutique Resort in Kaskikot, Pokhara built with foreign direct with foreign investment to open retail undernourished, more than half of half of those living in cities to subsi- investment from Singapore has postponed its opening date due to the coronavirus. sales desks on their premises after them in Asia. The largest share is in dized food grains. PRICE PER TOLA BULLION getting approval from the related gov- South Asian countries like Since eligibility for such pro- KRISHANA PRASAIN and extending the deadline,” said ernment bodies. Afghanistan, where four in 10 people grammes is based on a census that is Fine Gold Rs 92,500 KATHMANDU, JAN 20 Jiblal Bhusal, director general of the The director general of the are malnourished. nearly a decade old, many urban poor Department of Industry. Department of Industry can order an The report is mostly based on data and migrants cannot tap those Silver Rs 1,260 Foreign investors in Nepal need to Under the new regulation, foreign investigation in response to com- up to 2019, before the pandemic struck. resources. bring 70 percent of their proposed investors whose firms have been reg- plaints from foreign investors regard- But it also estimates that an addition- Across Asia, high prices for fruits, SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA investment before beginning opera- istered in Nepal for more than a year ing industry registration, regulation al 140 million people were likely to vegetables and dairy products have tions, and the rest in the next two must submit their working procedure and inspection, have fallen into extreme poverty in made it “nearly impossible” for low years, according to a new regulation within six months. The director general can order any 2020 due to the impact of virus income families to have healthy diets, GASOLINE WATCH issued under the Foreign Investment Foreign investors are categorised head of the Department of Industry to outbreaks and lockdowns. By the the report said. FAO data show food and Technology Transfer Act (FITTA). according to the amount of capital conduct an investigation if it receives end of last year, some 265 million prices rose to their highest level in The regulation, which was pub- they bring into the country, and information that any company with were estimated to be facing acute food nearly six years in November. lished in the Nepal Gazette on January they receive facilities accordingly, foreign investment has engaged in insecurity. Many in the region instead end up 11, also says that investors have to Bhusal said. activities beyond the conditions laid A key factor is food affordability, a consuming high-calorie, cheap pro- transfer the capital they have pledged “The regulation is clear about the down by it. problem in wealthy nations like Japan cessed foods that contribute to prob- within a year of their project being repatriation of royalties and profits, Bhusal expects that the new regula- as well as impoverished places like lems with obesity and diabetes but approved. and the process of expanding their tion will facilitate foreign investment. East Timor and Papua New Guinea, lack vitamins and minerals. And for the first time, foreign inves- enterprises.” The FITTA was amend- The department received foreign tors will be issued identity cards ed in 2019, and the regulation was investment pledges of around Rs38 according to the size of their introduced to define it with greater billion in the last fiscal year 2019-20. investment. clarity, he said. Investment commitments in the first Investors putting in Rs50 million to As per the recently issued regula- half of the current fiscal year totalled Rs250 million are categorised as ‘gen- tion, foreign investors can buy 100 around Rs21 billion, said Bhusal. eral foreign investors’. Those spend- percent of the stock of companies Nepal aims to become a middle-in- ing between Rs250 million and Rs1 registered in Nepal. They can make come country and achieve the billion are classified as ‘special for- lease investments in aircraft, ships, Sustainable Development Goals by eign investors’, and investors making construction equipment and machin- 2030. But the current level of invest- an investment of more than Rs1 bil- eries with certain restrictions. ment is not enough for the country lion are called ‘very special foreign If any Nepali company has made a to reach the middle-income stage investors’. technology transfer agreement from the current low-income status The identity cards will be provided with more than one investor, the repa- as targeted, according to a World to all foreign investors and their offi- triation of royalty in one fiscal year Bank report. cial representatives. may not exceed 5 percent of total One of the major sources of bridg- Business visas will be issued to for- sales, excluding taxes, in case of ing the financing gap is foreign direct eign investors or their official repre- goods sold within the country, and 10 investment, but Nepal is among the sentatives and their family members percent of total sales, excluding taxes, countries attracting the lowest as per the investment portfolio. in case of goods exported to foreign amount of investment in recent years. Investors or their official represent- countries. The Systematic Country Diagnostic BIZLINE atives and their family members will The regulation allows any foreign Report published by the World Bank get residential visas if they make an company to open a branch in Nepal by in February last year revealed that investment of $1 million at one time. getting its foreign direct investment foreign direct investment averaged Vivo launches Y51 in Nepal “The new provision will eliminate approved as per existing law. just 0.2 percent of the gross domestic AP/RSS the practice of delaying the invest- According to the new regulation, if product over the last decade, which is A file photo shows a labourer eating a tomato at one of Asia’s biggest wholesale markets, ment plan after getting the go-ahead any foreign invested company makes one of the lowest in the world. Azadpur mandi, in New Delhi, India. IMF chief sees ‘high degree of India asks Facebook’s WhatsApp uncertainty’ in global outlook to withdraw privacy policy update REUTERS of the IMF’s steering committee WASHINGTON, JAN 20 speaking at an online news conference REUTERS such as Signal and Telegram, down- with Georgieva, said it was clear NEW DELHI, JAN 20 loads of which have surged after The head of the International the need for liquidity remained great, The company said WhatsApp said on January 4 it could KATHMANDU: Vivo has announced the Monetary Fund on Monday said and she would consult with member India’s technology ministry has asked last week it would share limited user data with Facebook launch of its latest mid-range smart- the global lender needed more countries on options for expanding WhatsApp to withdraw changes to its and its group firms. phone, the Y51, in Nepal. This new resources to help heavily indebted liquidity. privacy policy the messaging platform delay the new policy It is of “great concern” that Indian addition to the youth-oriented Y countries, citing a highly uncertain Andersson, the first European to announced earlier this month, saying users have not been given the choice to series will house 8GB RAM+128GB global economic outlook and a grow- head the International Monetary and the new terms take away choice from launch to May from opt out of this data sharing with ROM for the usage of multiple apps ing divergence between rich and poor Financial Committee in more than 12 Indian users. Facebook companies and they are with ease, states the press release countries. years and the first women, started her The demand creates a new head- February. being given less choice compared to issued by the company. The new IMF Managing Director Kristalina three-year term https://www.reuters. ache for WhatsApp and its US parent the app’s European users, the tech smartphone features an AI triple Georgieva, who has long advocated a com/article/us-imf-leadership/imf- Facebook, which have placed big bets ministry letter said. camera set up. The device sports a new allocation of the IMF’s own cur- steering-committee-names-swedish-fi- on the South Asian nation to expand this update does not expand our “This differential and discriminato- 48MP main rear camera with various rency, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), nance-minister-as-next-chair-idINKB- their payments and other businesses. ability to share data with Facebook,” ry treatment of Indian and European built-in shooting modes including said doing so now would give more N28R360 in the role on Monday. “The proposed changes raise grave it said. users is attracting serious criticism Super Night Camera, stylish night fil- funds to use address both the health Georgieva said the IMF had rapidly concerns regarding the implications California-based Facebook invested and betrays a lack of respect for the ter to enable users to capture ultra- and economic crisis, and accelerate increased concessional financing to for the choice and autonomy of Indian $5.7 billion last year in the digital unit rights and interest of Indian citizens clear shots, day and night. It also moves to a digital and green economy. emerging market and developing citizens,” the Ministry of Electronics of Indian conglomerate Reliance with who form a substantial portion of comes equipped with a massive Under outgoing President Donald economies, including through dona- and Information Technology wrote in a huge part of that aimed at drawing WhatsApp’s user base,” it said. 5,000mAh battery complemented by Trump, the United States, the IMF’s tions by member countries of some an email to WhatsApp boss Will in tens of millions of traditional shop The ministry asked WhatsApp to 18W fast charge technology. The largest shareholder, has blocked $20 billion in existing SDRs. That Cathcart dated January 18. owners to use digital payments via respond to 14 questions including on device is launching exclusively in such a new SDR allocation, a move would continue to play an important “Therefore, you are called upon WhatsApp. the categories of user data it collected, Daraz at an attractive price of akin to a central bank printing money, role, but further steps were needed, to withdraw the proposed changes,” With 400 million users in India, whether it profiled customers based Rs33,499. since it would provide more resources she said. the ministry wrote in the letter seen WhatsApp has big plans for the coun- on usage and cross-border data flows. to richer countries since the alloca- “It will continue to be so important, by Reuters. try’s growing digital payments The company said last week it tion would be proportionate to their even more important, for us to be able WhatsApp said in a statement it was space, including selling health insur- would delay the new policy launch to Ncell to give free bonus shareholding. to expand our capacity to support working to address misinformation ance via partners. May from February, after facing criti- Swedish Finance Minister countries that have fallen behind,” and remains available to answer any Those aspirations could take a hit if cism from users in India and else- data when upgrading Magdalena Andersson, the new chair Georgieva said. questions. “We wish to reinforce that Indians switch to rival messengers where to the new terms. SIM from 3G to 4G Biden’s first year could see record job growth. More will be needed

REUTERS recouping what could have been,” said tailwind: Easy monetary policy from WASHINGTON, JAN 20 Diane Swonk, chief economist for the Fed. Grant Thornton. “You need a lot of Fed officials committed last year to Joe Biden’s first year in office could go tail wind to get there.”Biden unveiled a new framework that aims for “broad- down in history as a record-breaker an ambitious $1.9 trillion plan last based and inclusive” employment. on the job-creation front, with an week for shoring up the economy by Under the new approach, policymak- explosion in hiring expected as the enhancing jobless benefits and provid- ers will no longer raise interest KATHMANDU: Ncell Axiata Limited coronavirus vaccine rollout allows ing more direct cash payments to rates pre-emptively when the labour launched a new exciting scheme for Americans to emerge from a year in households. market is heating up in anticipation customers who change their SIM hiding. A second phase of his plan is expect- of faster inflation. Instead, rates will from 3G to 4G. Customers who It may not be enough. ed to boost job creation through stay low for longer, giving the econo- upgrade their SIM to 4G will now get Only slightly more than half of the investments in infrastructure, clean my more time to benefit disadvan- 2GB 4G data for free. The new offer 22 million jobs lost in the pandemic energy projects and education. It is taged workers. has been launched as part of the com- were regained by the end of last year. unclear how many of his proposals “They’re going to keep their foot on pany’s ongoing campaign Even if 2021 hiring shatters the post- will pass through Congress, but the accelerator even beyond the time #FastForwardLife that aims to World War Two record of 4.27 million Democrats’ slim majority in the when we’re at full employment,” said encourage everyone to reimagine the jobs created in 1984, roughly a quarter Senate may help. Janet Yellen, the Mark Zandi, the chief economist at future and fast forward their life with of those who lost work could still be former Federal Reserve Chair and Moody’s Analytics. Combine that with the power of digital, reads the press on the sidelines, with bleak prospects Biden’s nominee for Treasury additional fiscal support, and you sud- release issued by the company. With for regaining their vocations in an REUTERS Secretary, urged lawmakers on denly have “a lot of policy juice to the 4G, customers can experience high- economy reshaped by the pandemic. US President-elect Joe Biden talks with workers as he tours the Wisconsin Aluminium Foundry Tuesday to act aggressively. “Without economy,” he said. It took more than speed internet for many online activi- As Biden takes the oath of office in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, US. further action, we risk a longer, more six years for the US labour market to ties including gaming, streaming on Wednesday, the job market await- painful recession now—and long-term recoup all of the jobs lost during the video, social media, online classes, ing him presents a monumental and higher pay for women, minorities harmed by pandemic job losses in scarring of the economy later,” Yellen last recession. Policymakers are and many more. The bonus 4G data challenge. and other workers on the margins. service-sector jobs that face the long- said during her confirmation hearing. expecting the recovery to happen that customers get in this offer is Just a year ago, a record-long expan- These same groups—key to his elec- est road to recovery.“It’s not only That fiscal support, if delivered, more quickly this time around with valid for 7 days. sion was creating more opportunities tion victory—were disproportionately about recouping what we’ve lost, it’s could be bolstered by another the help of effective vaccines.

C M Y K THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021 | 06 WORLD India, ‘pharmacy of the world’, starts Trump pardons ex-strategist Covid-19 vaccine shipments to neighbours Bannon, dozens of others ASSOCIATED PRESS ise to build a wall along the southern WASHINGTON, JAN 20 border. Instead, he allegedly diverted India initially will only ship the AstraZeneca vaccine, made by Serum Institute of India, the world’s biggest vaccine maker. over a million dollars, paying a salary President Donald Trump pardoned to one campaign official and REUTERS former chief strategist Steve Bannon personal expenses for himself. His NEW DELHI, JAN 20 in the final hours of his White House co-defendants were not pardoned. term as part of a flurry of clemency “Steve Bannon is getting a pardon India started delivering coronavirus action that benefited more than 140 from Trump after defrauding Trump’s vaccines to its neighbours on people, including rap performers, own supporters into paying for Wednesday, the foreign ministry said, ex-members of Congress and other a wall that Trump promised Mexico flagging off a drive to garner goodwill allies of him and his family. would pay for,” Rep Adam Schiff, in an often fractious region with the The last-minute clemency, D-Calif, said on Twitter. “And if that first shipment sent to the tiny announced after midnight on all sounds crazy, that’s because it is. Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. Wednesday, follows separate waves of Thank God we have only 12 more Bangladesh and Nepal said they pardons over the past month for hours of this den of thieves.” expected deliveries on Thursday. The Trump associates convicted in the only neighbour absent from India’s FBI’s Russia investigation as well as list apart from China, is regional rival for the father of his son-in-law. Pakistan, which had not requested Taken together, the actions under- Bannon’s pardon assistance, according to an Indian gov- score the president’s willingness, all was notable given ernment official. the way through his four years in the Many low and middle-income coun- White House, to flex his constitutional that the prosecution tries are relying on India, the world’s powers in ways that defy convention biggest vaccine maker, for supplies to and explicitly aid his friends was still in its start Covid-19 immunisation pro- and supporters. grammes and bring an end to their The final list was full of more con- early stages. outbreaks. ventional candidates whose cases had “The Pharmacy of the World will been championed by criminal justice deliver to overcome the Covid chal- activists. One man who has spent Other presidents have issued lenge,” Foreign Minister S Jaishankar nearly 24 years in prison on drug and controversial pardons before leaving said on Twitter, adding the first vac- weapons charges but had shown exem- the White House. But perhaps no other cine lots had reached Bhutan and the plary behaviour behind bars had his commander in chief has so enjoyed Maldives. sentence commuted. So did a former using the clemency authority to His ministry said on Tuesday “sup- Marine sentenced in 2000 in connec- benefit not only friends and plies under grant assistance” would tion with a cocaine conviction. acquaintances but also celebrity be shipped to Bangladesh, Nepal, Even so, the names of prominent defendants and those championed Myanmar and the Seychelles also. Trump allies nonetheless stood out. by allies. Shipments to Sri Lanka, Afghanistan REUTERS One pardon recipients was Elliott Wednesday’s list includes its share and Mauritius were awaiting regula- A healthcare worker receives a dose of AstraZeneca’s COVISHIELD vaccine, produced by the Serum Institute of India, during the coronavirus Broidy, a prominent Republican fund- of high-profile defendants. tory clearances. disease (Covid-19) vaccination campaign at a medical centre in Mumbai, India. raiser who pleaded guilty last fall in a Among them were rappers Lil India authorised two vaccines this scheme to lobby the Trump adminis- Wayne and Kodak Black, both convict- month for emergency use at home, one tration to drop an investigation into ed in Florida on weapons charges. licensed from Oxford University and Europe’s Covid-19 Covidshot party gives way to Pfizer vaccine delay headache the looting of a Malaysian wealth Others on the list included Death Row AstraZeneca and another developed at fund. Another was Ken Kurson, a Records co-founder Michael Harris home by Bharat Biotech in partner- ZURICH: Pfizer Inc is facing criticism, early-2021 anxiety as the reality sets in Spahn was annoyed at the hiccup, as friend of Trump son-in-law Jared and New York art dealer and collector ship with the state-run Indian Council and potential legal action, over its that vaccinating billions across the at least one state pushes back vaccina- Kushner who was charged last Hillel Nahmad. of Medical Research. Both are manu- surprise move to temporarily delay world will be fraught with unforeseen tion centre openings as a consequence. October with cyberstalking during a Pardoned were former Rep factured locally. Covid-19 vaccine shipments to hurdles. Pfizer and BioNTech announced heated divorce. Rick Renzi, an Arizona Republican At least two other vaccines are European countries that fear disrup- In Italy, the Covid-19 special com- last week that to scale up manufactur- Bannon’s pardon was especially who was sentenced to three years expected to be authorised by India in tions could throw their inoculation missioner is considering legal action ing in Europe to deliver many more notable given that the prosecution was for corruption, money laundering and the next few months. campaigns into disarr a y. against Pfizer Inc after the US drug- doses in the second quarter they must still in its early stages and any trial other charges, and former Rep Randy India initially will only ship the British, then US and European maker and its German partner told first trim production at a Puurs, was months away. Whereas pardon “Duke” Cunningham of California, AstraZeneca vaccine, made by the approvals of Pfizer and BioNTech’s the country it was cutting its deliver- Belgium, vaccine-making plant. recipients are conventionally thought who was convicted of accepting bribes Serum Institute of India, the world’s mRNA vaccine late last year prompted ies by 29 percent. They aim to be back on schedule by of as defendants who have faced jus- from defence contractors. biggest vaccine maker, which brands celebrations, only to be followed by German Health Minister Jens January 25, the companies said. tice, often by having served at least Cunningham, who was released the shot as COVISHIELD. some prison time, the pardon nullifies from prison in 2013, received a condi- Bangladesh said it expected to the prosecution and effectively elimi- tional pardon. receive a gift of two million doses of million doses of the shot. 19 vaccine and another developed by after the United States, has so far vac- nates any prospect for punishment. Trump commuted the prison sen- COVISHIELD from India on Thursday. Nepal said it has been pledged one AstraZeneca and Oxford University, cinated 786,842 frontline workers after Bannon was charged in August with tence of former Detroit Mayor Kwame The country of more than 160 million million doses free of charge by India. but has not got any supplies yet. starting the campaign on Saturday, duping thousands of donors who Kilpatrick, who has served about has yet to start its vaccination pro- Pakistan has approved for emergen- India, which has reported the high- the federal health ministry said on believed their money would be used to seven years behind bars for a racket- gramme and has ordered a further 30 cy use the Chinese Sinopharm Covid- est number of coronavirus infections Wednesday. fulfil Trump’s chief campaign prom- eering and bribery scheme.

BRIEFING Biden takes the helm as president: ‘Democracy has ... Alibaba’s Jack Ma >> Continued from page 1 sang the National Anthem accompa- makes his first Six suspected militants killed Harris—the child of immigrants, a nied by the US Marine Corps band. in Russia’s Chechnya stepmother of two and the wife of a Biden oversaw a “Pass in Review,” a Jewish man—“carries an intersec- military tradition that honours the public appearance MOSCOW: Chechnya’s Kremlin-backed tional story of so many Americans peaceful transfer of power to a new leader said on Wednesday that his who are never seen and heard.” commander in chief. Later, Biden, forces have killed six suspected Harris, 56, moves into the vice pres- Harris and their spouses were to be in three months militants, including a warlord idency just four years after she first joined by that trio of former presi- accused of organizing a 2011 suicide came to Washington as a senator from dents to lay a wreath at the Tomb of REUTERS attack at a Moscow airport. Ramzan California, where she’d served as the Unknown Soldier at Arlington SHANGHAI, JAN 20 Kadyrov, the regional leader of attorney general and as San National Ceremony. Chechnya, said that troops under his Francisco’s district attorney. She had Trump is the first president in more Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma made command had tracked down the expected to work with a White House than a century to skip the inaugura- his first public appearance since suspects in the village of Katar-Yurt run by Hillary Clinton, but President tion of his successor. In a cold wind, October on Wednesday when he spoke and killed all of them on the spot. Donald Trump’s victory quickly Marine One took off from the White to a group of teachers by video, easing Kadyrov claimed that the raid scrambled the nation’s capital and set House and soared above a deserted concern about his unusual absence marked the elimination of the last the stage for the rise of a new class of capital city to his own farewell cele- from the limelight and sending shares group of militants that remained in Democratic stars. bration at nearby Joint Base Andrews. in the e-commerce giant surging. the region. “All underground After Harris’ own presidential bid There, he boarded Air Force One for Speculation over Ma’s whereabouts bands in Chechnya have now been fizzled, her rise continued when Biden the final time as president for the has swirled in the wake of news this eliminated,” Kadyrov said on his chose her as his running mate last flight to his Florida estate. month that he was replaced in the blog. He added that the security August. Harris had been a close friend “I will always fight for you. I will be final episode of a reality TV show he sweep had been planned long ago and of Beau Biden, the elder son of Joe watching. I will be listening and I will had been a judge on, and amid a regu- followed two previous unsuccessful Biden and a former Delaware attorney tell you that the future of this country latory clampdown by Beijing on his attempts to hunt down the militants. general who died in 2015 of cancer. has never been better,” said Trump, sprawling business empire. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov Biden, in his inaugural address, who wished the incoming administra- The billionaire, who commands a said that Russian President Vladimir reflected on the 1913 march for wom- tion well but once again declined to cult-like reverence in China, had not Putin called to congratulate Kadyrov, en’s suffrage the day before President mention Biden’s name. appeared in public since October 24, who personally took part in the Woodrow Wilson’s inauguration, dur- The symbolism was striking: The when he blasted China’s regulatory security sweep. ing which some marchers were heck- very moment Trump disappeared into system in a speech at a Shanghai led and attacked. the doorway of Air Force One, Biden forum. That set him on a collision Zimbabwe’s foreign minister “Today, we mark the swearing in of stepped out of the Blair House, the course with officials and led to the the first woman in American history AP/RSS traditional guest lodging for presi- suspension of a blockbuster $37 bil- dies of Covid-19 elected to national office, Vice President Joe Biden speaks during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol in dents-in-waiting, and into his motor- lion IPO for Alibaba’s financial affili- HARARE: Zimbabwe’s Foreign President Kamala Harris. Don’t tell Washington on Wednesday. cade for the short ride to church. ate Ant Group. Minister Sibusiso Moyo, who gained me things can’t change,” Biden said. Trump did adhere to one tradition Until then Ma often appeared in prominence in 2017 as the military Harris has often reflected on her former presidents—Bill Clinton, with few parallels in history. and left a note for Biden in the Oval public, speaking at conferences and general who announced the coup rise through politics by recalling the George W Bush and Barack Obama— Tens of thousands of troops are on Office, according to the White House, other events, though less frequently against then-president Robert lessons of her mother, who taught her gathered to watch the ceremonial the streets to provide security precise- which did not release its contents. than in 2019 due to the coronavirus Mugabe on television, has died from to take on a larger cause and push transfer of power, Trump, awaiting ly two weeks after a violent mob of And Trump, in his farewell remarks, pandemic. Covid-19, the government announced through adversity. his second impeachment trial, instead Trump supporters, incited by the hinted at a political return, saying Alibaba and his charitable founda- on Wednesday. He was 61. Moyo, “I was raised to not hear ‘no.’ Let me flew to Florida after stoking grievance Republican president, stormed the “we will be back in some form.” tion both confirmed Ma, a former previously little known to the public, be clear about it. So it wasn’t like, “Oh, among his supporters with the lie that Capitol in an attempt to prevent the And he, without question, will shad- English teacher, participated in an became the face of the coup when the possibilities are immense. Biden’s win was illegitimate. certification of Biden’s victory. ow Biden’s first days in office. online ceremony for rural teachers he announced that the military had Whatever you want to do, you can do,’” Biden, in his third run for the presi- “Here we stand, just days after a Trump’s second impeachment trial organised by the foundation on placed Mugabe under house arrest she recalled during a “CBS Sunday dency, staked his candidacy less on riotous mob thought they could use could start as early as this week. That Wednesday. They declined to provide as the military’s armoured vehicles Morning” interview that aired Sunday. any distinctive political ideology than violence to silence the will of the peo- could test the ability of the Senate, further comment. rolled into the capital, Harare. The “No, I was raised to understand many on galvanising a broad coalition of ple,” Biden said. “To stop the work of poised to come under Democratic con- In the 50-second video, Ma, wearing coup ended Mugabe’s 37-year rule people will tell you, ‘It is impossible,’ voters around the notion that Trump our democracy. To drive us from this trol, to balance impeachment proceed- a navy pullover, spoke from a room in Zimbabwe and he later died in but don’t listen.’” posed an existential threat to sacred ground. It did not happen. It ings with confirmation hearings and with grey walls, a large painting and September 2019. Moyo was Harris’ swearing-in holds more American democracy. Biden did not will never happen. Not today, not votes on Biden’s Cabinet choices. floral arrangements. It was not clear appointed foreign affairs minister symbolic weight than that of any vice mention Trump by name in the early tomorrow. Not ever. Not ever.” Biden was eager to go big early, with where the room was. after President Emerson Mnangagwa president in modern times. moments of his inaugural address but The tense atmosphere evoked the an ambitious first 100 days that “It was good to see that Jack Ma has took power with military She will expand the definition of alluded to the rifts his predecessor 1861 inauguration of Lincoln, who includes a push to speed up the distri- resurfaced – my assumption was that backing. Moyo “succumbed to who gets to hold power in American had helped create. was secretly transported to bution of Covid-19 vaccinations to he decided (with some encourage- Covid-19 at a local hospital” on politics, said Martha S Jones, a profes- “I know the forces that divide us are Washington to avoid assassins on the anxious Americans and pass a $1.9 ment) to take a temporarily lower Wednesday. (AGENCIES) sor of history at Johns Hopkins deep and they are real. But I also know eve of the Civil War, or Roosevelt’s trillion virus relief package. On Day profile after making comments that University and the author of they are not new. Our history has been inaugural in 1945, when he opted for a One, he’ll also send an immigration annoyed the government,” said Dan “Vanguard: How Black Women Broke a constant struggle between the small, secure ceremony at the White proposal to Capitol Hill that would Kern, chief investment officer of Barriers, Won the Vote, and Insisted American ideal that we all are created House in the waning months of World create an eight-year path to citizen- Alibaba investor TFC Financial on Equality for All.” equal and the harsh, ugly reality of War II. ship for immigrants living in the Management in Boston whose funds Her election to the vice presidency racism, nativism, fear, demonisation The day began with a reach across country illegally. hold positions in the stock. should be just the beginning of put- that have long torn us apart,” Biden the aisle after four years of bitter He also planned a 10-day blitz of Alibaba’s Hong Kong-listed shares ting Black women in leadership posi- said. “This is our historic moment of partisan battles under Trump. At executive orders on matters that don’t jumped to finish 8.5 percent higher on tions, Jones said, particularly after crisis and challenge, and unity is the Biden’s invitation, congressional lead- require congressional approval—a the news, which was first reported by the role Black women played in organ- path forward and we must meet this ers from both parties bowed their mix of substantive and symbolic steps Tianmu News, a media outlet backed izing and turning out voters in the moment as the United States of heads in prayer in the socially dis- to unwind the Trump years. Among by the government of Zhejiang, the November election. America.” tanced service just a few blocks from the planned steps: rescinding travel province where Alibaba’s headquar- Biden’s predecessor’s absence Biden came to office with a well of the White House. restrictions on people from several ters are based. underscored the healing that is empathy and resolve born by personal Biden was sworn in by Chief Justice predominantly Muslim countries; The company’s American needed. tragedy as well as a depth of experi- John Roberts; Harris was sworn in by rejoining the Paris climate accord; Depositary Receipts (ADRs) rose near- Flouting tradition, Donald Trump ence forged from more than four dec- Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first issuing a mask mandate for those on ly 5 percent. The video also contained departed Washington on Wednesday ades in Washington. At age 78, he was Latina member of the Supreme Court. federal property; and ordering agen- footage, dated January 10, of Ma visit- morning ahead of the inauguration the oldest president inaugurated. Vice President Mike Pence, standing cies to figure out how to reunite chil- ing with colleagues a school in Tonglu rather than accompany his successor Biden and Harris were sworn in in for Trump, sat nearby as Lady dren separated from their families county, part of Hangzhou city, the to the Capitol. Though three other during an inauguration ceremony Gaga, holding a gold microphone, after crossing the border. capital of Zhejiang.

C M Y K 07 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021 SPORTS | MEDLEY BRIEFING Army secure second win, Police bounce Leicester pile Messi handed two-match ban more misery BARCELONA: Barcelona captain Lionel Messi has escaped a lengthy ban for back after opening loss in PM Cup cricket on Chelsea lashing out at Athletic Bilbao’s Asier Villalibre in Sunday’s Spanish Super ASSOCIATED PRESS Cup final defeat and will only serve a Army sit on top of Group ‘A’ standings with four points while Police thump Sudurpaschim to register their first victory. LEICESTER, JAN 20 two-game suspension. The Spanish football federation (RFEF) said on Five years after achieving the Tuesday Messi had been banned for SPORTS BUREAU half centuries each as they made light unthinkable, Leicester are making two matches, meaning he will miss KATHMANDU, JAN 20 work of the provincial team. The duo another improbable run at the title. Thursday’s Copa del Rey last-32 tie at shared a 97-run partnership before For big-spending Chelsea and its Cornella and Sunday’s La Liga match Tribhuvan Army Club recorded their Dhamala was caught by Airee off under-pressure manager, Frank at Elche. Barca said they will appeal third win in a row to inch closer to Hemant Dhami. He hit six boundaries Lampard, any ambitions of winning the ban. The Argentine was sent off semi-finals while Nepal Police Club and two sixes in his 57-ball knock. the league already appear to be at the end of extra time in the Super bounced back from their opening Bhurtel contributed an unbeaten 51 dashed. Cup final, which Barca lost 3-2, for match defeat in the Prime Minister runs facing 44 deliveries. He hit nine Leicester beat Chelsea 2-0 on striking Villalibre in the face. Cup National one-day cricket tourna- fences and a six. Tuesday to end the day at the top of ment in Kathmandu on Wednesday. At the Mulpani grounds, Bibek table. Even if their latest time at the Army, who had overcome Gandaki Meheta scored 50 runs for Province 1. summit lasts just one night, Leicester Leverkusen beat Dortmund 2-1 and Karnali in their previous match- He shared a 77-run fourth wicket part- are showing it means business again. LEVERKUSEN: Moussa Diaby scored one es, saw off Province 1 by four wickets nership with Firdosh Ansari before Just like in the 2015-16 season, when goal and set up the winner for Florian to climb on top of Group ‘A’ with six being caught and bowled by Shahab the team managed by Claudio Ranieri Wirtz as Bayer Leverkusen beat points after third match at the Alam. He hit seven boundaries and a famously delivered one of the biggest Borussia Dortmund 2-1 on Tuesday to Mulpani grounds. Province 1 are at six. Ansari contributed 32 off 90 while underdog triumphs in sporting histo- snap a four-game winless run this the bottom of the table without any opener Deepak Paswan (19 runs) and ry to win the league at odds of 5,000-1. year. The 21-year-old Frenchman ter- points after three matches. Province 1 Dipesh Kandel (11 runs) were the Leicester manager Brendan rorised the Dortmund defence elected to bat first and were bowled other players to touch double digit Rodgers said it was “still too early” to throughout a one-sided first half out for 131 runs in 40.1 overs. In reply, figures. talk about his team as title contenders. when he fired the hosts in front, fin- Army made 135-6 in 29.5 overs for the Alam was the peak of Army bowl- “We’re at the top of the league ishing off a quick break in the 14th loss of six wickets. ing claiming four wickets. The man of because we work hard, we’re not there minute. Dortmund’s attack briefly Police, who have lost their first the match gave away 23 runs in his 9.1 by fluke,” said James Maddison, who sprung to life after the break and match against Bagmati Province over bowling with three maiden scored Leicester’s second goal. Julian Brandt curled in an equaliser by seven wickets, registered a overs. Aakash Chand claimed three Wilfred Ndidi and Maddison scored in the 67th minute. Leverkusen resounding nine-wicket win over wickets. in the first half as Leicester extended rebounded, with Diaby launching Sudurpaschim Province to open their In the run chase, Army too made a their unbeaten run in the league to six another quick move and setting up account after second match at the TU shaky start and were tottering at 41-4. games, the last three all being wins. Wirtz for the winner in the 80th to grounds in Kirtipur. Police are third But Rohit Paudel and Bhim Sarki lift- Chelsea were carved open time and earn their first win in five league in Group ‘B’ standings with two points ed the innings playing a 50-run part- again at the King Power Stadium and games. In another match, Borussia from as many matches while nership for the fifth wicket. Paudel fell to a fifth loss in their last eight Moenchengladbach defeated Werder Sudurpaschim hit the bottom of the POST PHOTO: HEMANTA SHRESTHA scored the highest 36 runs for Army games in the league, a run of results Sunil Dhamala (left) and Kushal Bhurtel hit half-centuries each, sharing a 97-run partnership, Bremen 1-0, thanks to Nico Elvedi’s table and are pointless after two while Sarki contributed 29 runs. that leaves Lampard’s position precar- to steer Nepal Police Club to a nine-wicket win over Sudurpaschim Province on Wednesday. second-half header. matches. Rajesh Pulami remained unbeaten at ious after the club’s spending spree of Put into bat first, Sudurpaschim 24 runs. approaching $300 million ahead of were bowled out for 110 runs in 33.1 ies with 91-3 on board. He hit five wickets apiece. The man-of-the-match Province 1 bowlers Firdosh Ansari, this season. Huntelaar rejoins Schalke overs. Opener Khadak Bohara scored boundaries. But Sudurpaschim lost Dhakal gave away 18 runs in his Gyanendra Shrestha, Dipesh Kandel “It intensified for me a while ago,” the highest 40 off 53 for Sudurpaschim the remaining seven wickets for just 10-over bowling with three maiden and Shuvankar Urao claimed one Lampard said. “Because the expecta- GELSENKIRCHEN: Dutch striker Klaas- before he was trapped leg before by 19 runs. Arun Airee (13 runs) and overs. Airee conceded 10 runs in his wicket each. tions at this club, whether they are Jan Huntelaar rejoined Schalke 04 Sagar Dhakal. He hit eight boundaries Arjun Saud (10 runs) were the other 6.1 over bowling with two maiden Lumbini will take on Police on right or wrong, are always high. It’s from Ajax Amsterdam on a short- in his 53-ball knock. batsmen to touch double digits. overs. Thursday at the Kirtipur grounds not my decision [about whether he’ll term deal on Tuesday, with the Wicketkeeper batsman Sanju Damai Police bowlers Sagar Dhakal and In the run chase, Police openers while Nepal APF Club will vie with stay as manager]. That’s something 37-year-old tasked with adding fire- contributed 35 runs facing 58 deliver- Dipendra Singh Airee grabbed four Sunil Dhamala and Kushal Bhurtel hit Gandaki at the Mulpani grounds. that will always be there.” power to the Bundesliga club to help Lampard’s side dropped to eighth in their relegation fight. Huntelaar place, nine points behind Leicester. returns to Schalke having played for “Yeah, I’m worried,” Lampard said. the German club from 2010-17. He “From the form we were in to get so scored more than 100 goals for the quickly into the form that we are now Bundesliga side and also won the Army, Police share spoils in opener in ... we should be better than that. It German Cup in 2011. takes character to turn from that.” SPORTS BUREAU Rai in a one-on-one situation. In the 65th, Police’s As it stands, West Ham are heading Two more Australian Open KATHMANDU, JAN 20 Rekha Paudel ended up firing wide from the area. into the second half of their Premier In the 71st, Police custodian Rai made a long League campaign with just one senior players test positive for virus Departmental teams Tribhuvan Army Club and stretch dive to deny Indira Rai’s strike from the edge striker. Fortunately for manager MELBOURNE: Two more Australian Nepal Police Club shared points after a 0-0 draw in of the area. David Moyes, that striker is in-form Open players tested positive for the curtain raiser of National Women’s League foot- On Thursday Nepal Armed Police Force Club will Michail Antonio. He scored a Covid-19, an official said on ball tournament played at the Dasharath Stadium in vie with Chandrapur Municipality while Biratnagar match-winning goal for the second Wednesday. Victoria state police min- Tripureshwor on Thursday. Metropolitan will take on Waling Municipality. Both time in four days, his 66th-minute vol- ister Lisa Neville said two players Army came closer to scoring early in the fourth matches will be played at the ANFA Complex in ley earning West Ham a 2-1 victory and a non-playing Australian Open minute when Police custodian Sapana Rai denied Satdobato. over West Bromwich Albion. participant comprised three new Bimala Chaudhary’s strike from outside the area. The tournament features seven teams in the dou- His winner against Burnley on infections reported on Wednesday. A Sapana Lama again squandered scoring chances in ble-leg format. It is the first time that women’s Saturday came on his first league start total of 10 people associated with the one-versus-one situation with goalie Rai. league is organised in the country in the double-leg since recovering from a hamstring Grand Slam, including four players, In the 31st, Niru Thapa of Police ended up firing format. The winners of the tournament will get a problem, the latest fitness issue to have now tested positive for the virus. inches wide after collecting poor clearance by Army purse of Rs 1.5 million while the second placed team affect an injury-prone player who was More than 70 players and their entou- defenders. Police thought they had taken the lead will get Rs 800,000. one of the league’s best players after rage are confined to their hotel rooms seven minutes later when Thapa’s strike on goal Third and fourth positioned teams will walk away lockdown last summer. If Moyes can for 14 days and unable to train for the while goalie Rai was momentarily away from her with Rs 500,000 and Rs 300,000 respectively. The best keep Antonio fit—and that’s always a February 8-21 Australian Open after position was defended by Kabita Dhimal. player will ride a two wheeler and best players in POST PHOTO: HEMANTA SHRESTHA big if—it isn’t too fanciful to see West passengers on three charter flights One minute before the break, Army wasted a scor- each of the four positions—goalkeeping, defence, Tribhuvan Army Club’s Sharmila Thapa (left) and Ham remaining in the vicinity of returned positive tests. (AGENCIES) ing chance when Rashi Ghising was denied by goalie midfield and forward—will earn Rs 50,000 apiece. Nepal Police Club’s Amrita Jaisi in action on Wednesday. their current position of seventh. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) *** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) ***** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) *** If people came with warning labels, yours You’ve always had a great relationship with Relationships are always your number one pri- You’ve never been shy, no matter what the sub- would say something like “Danger. Do not test your superiors. In fact, they often treat you as if ority, but today that’s going to go double. Your ject. You won’t be shy now, but if you start to feel me!” Heaven help anyone who decides that it you’re a peer, even like you’re part of a family. lucky other half will enjoy all kinds of wonder- a bit of it coming on, remind yourself that if might be fun to see just how far you can be That’s exactly how you’ll feel now when the ful attention, all aimed at ensuring that they anyone has the right to be confident, it’s you. pushed today. higher-ups come to you for advice. know how deeply you care.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) **** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** Making a new friend isn’t easy for you, especial- When you’re happy, everyone’s happy. Your fiery If anyone can make good plans and see them If you’re at all worried that you might say or do ly now. You’re feeling even more secretive lately, nature just won’t allow anyone to be depressed through to the end without even thinking about something to offend someone, especially if so if you do decide to let someone in on what in your immediate vicinity, not if you can do aborting the mission, it’s definitely you. You’re you’re pretty sure about who it is, take someone you’re feeling, they’d better understand just anything about it. At the moment, you’re feeling a planner and a plotter, equal parts detective along for the ride who’s equipped to mediate in how special that makes them. pretty darned fine. and analyst. situations such as this.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) **** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) *** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) **** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** If anyone knows how wonderful it is to have If you’re not sure about how to handle a certain Generosity and excess make a dangerous pair You’re not in the mood to shop at the moment, entertaining friends, it’s you. You’ve spent a situation that’s far too delicate for prime time, of qualities to tote around, and it takes a special but that doesn’t mean there isn’t something out whole lot of time cultivating such a crew, and don’t mention it to anyone yet. You know as well kind of person to do it. Those are your burdens. there that will appeal to you so much that you you don’t take their affection lightly. as they do that there are still issues to be For the most part, you’re up for the challenge won’t go through hell to have it delivered to your resolved, and until then, keeping quiet is best. and happy about it. door within 24 hours. CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021 | 08 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 What we now know—and don’t know—about the coronavirus variants Here’s why the variants are getting so much attention, and what they mean for the trajectory of the pandemic.

ANDREW JOSEPH sense among some experts that new variants are being announced he coronavirus vari- without much helpful informa- ants are, in a word, tion. Lots of mutations will be confusing. discovered; it can take some time By now, you have to figure out what, if anything, likely heard about dif- each one means. ferent variants that In California, for example, offi- Tfirst raised trouble in the United cials held a press conference Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil, Sunday to discuss the L452R vari- and now maybe California— ant. “We do not know whether it’s though the jury is very much out more infectious yet,” UCSF virol- on whether that last one is cause ogist Charles Chiu said, though for concern. To make a messy he added, “it is concerning that it alphabet soup even more jumbled, may potentially be more infec- these variants have unwieldy tious.” names, and they each contain Outside experts were quick to mutations with unwieldy names say that more evidence is needed of their own. The result is that before such a claim can be veri- people are left trying to differenti- fied. The variant was first seen in ate among B.1.1.7 and N501Y and California in May, and hovered at E484K and C-3PO. low levels while the state was at Wait, sorry, that last one is from low levels of virus overall. Then, “Star Wars.” it started to increase as the state The point is that all of this is was suffering from major out- difficult to keep track of, and it breaks. This can create the illu- will only grow more confusing sion that the variant—because it’s with more variants likely to turn so much more prevalent—was up. “It’s becoming a mutation-of- perhaps driving the cases. But the-week game,” said Stephen without more data, it’s just as Goldstein, a corona virologist at likely the variant didn’t cause the the University of Utah. wave, but simply “went along for Below, STAT explains what’s the ride,” Goldstein said. known about the variants, why they’re getting so much attention, And what can I do about it?

and what they mean for the trajec- SHUTTERSTOCK tory of the pandemic. Commit to the same precautions tious diseases at Imperial College available in the coming weeks. caveat: Widespread vaccinations Manaus, which could be playing that have been recommended for Why are variants popping up London. But many experts have a fairly could prevent some of those.) out together. They’re investigat- months, experts say. Perhaps now? The variant that first appeared optimistic outlook on the vaccine Faster-spreading viruses also ing. invest in a better mask than a in the UK—and perhaps others as question. The vaccines generate a require a greater proportion of a Maybe P.1 is indeed able to evade fabric face covering. Get vaccinat- Well, they are and they aren’t. well—is a bit of a special situa- multi-pronged immune response population to be protected for some existing immune protection, ed when you can. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that tion. Most people who have an that recognises and targets differ- herd immunity to be achieved. leaving people more susceptible to Public health authorities have causes Covid-19, has been mutat- acute case of Covid-19 will van- ent parts of the virus; changes Vaccine campaigns will have to reinfection. Scientists on Sunday been stressing that the new vari- ing all along; that’s just what quish the virus after a relatively caused by one mutation likely reach even more people. confirmed a case of reinfection ants aren’t solely responsible for viruses do. Many of those muta- short period of time. But it’s won’t make the virus invisible to The arrival of more transmissi- caused by P.1 in Amazonas. the raging epidemics happening tions don’t change the virus sub- thought that this variant, dubbed protective antibodies generated ble variants is “bad news, because Or perhaps P.1 is so transmissi- around the world. The United stantively, and some might actual- B.1.1.7, came from a person who by immunisations. And even if a that means some places that had ble that it can spread just fine States has never really had a han- ly be detrimental to the virus, was immunocompromised and mutation reduces the vaccines’ already started to see protective even in communities with 75 per- dle on its epidemic, and the most making that variant likely to die had a rare chronic case, essential- effectiveness a bit, the shots have effects become vulnerable again,” cent protection. recent surge in cases was driven out. ly providing an incubator for the been shown to be so powerful that said Caitlin Rivers, an infectious Or what if some people in not by a more transmissible itera- But every so often, a mutation virus to accrue mutations as it they should work just fine even if diseases epidemiologist at the Amazonas who were infected tion of the virus, but because of or combination of mutations will replicated for weeks or months in their potency is taken down a Johns Hopkins Center for Health months ago are just generally lax policies and a lack of precau- give rise to a new form of the virus that person’s body. The virus, the notch. Security. becoming susceptible again to tions. with an evolutionary edge, like hypothesis goes, then spread from Eventually, scientists think, the any form of reinfection, regard- “It’s too easy to just lay the being able to infect cells better or that person to others. virus will accumulate the right What’s happening in Brazil? less of variants? Though immune blame on the variant and say, it’s spread faster. This new variant combination of mutations to war- responses vary, it’s thought that the virus that did it,” Mike Ryan, can outpace earlier iterations of If the virus is changing all the rant updating the vaccines, a A recent study estimated that most people who fend off the the head of the World Health the virus and become dominant. time, why are these variants not-that-difficult process for vac- three-quarters of residents of the virus will have lasting protection Organization’s emergencies pro- Early on in the pandemic, a setting off alarms? cine makers. But it doesn’t appear city of Manaus, Brazil had been for some time—but that it will gram, said Friday. “Unfortunately, mutation known as D614G seems wane. Already, some reinfections it’s also what we didn’t do that did to have given the virus a boost in For now, let’s focus on the vari- have been reported around the it, and we have to be able to accept its infectiousness, and variants ants that emerged first in the UK, world, without the involvement of our share individually and as with the mutation became the South Africa, and Brazil. (There SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes more transmissible variants. (It’s communities, as governments, most prevalent around the world. are at least two variants in Brazil thought that reinfections with our share of the responsibility in Beyond the fact that the virus is scientists are keeping an eye on). Covid-19, has been mutating all along; SARS-2 will generally be milder this virus getting out of control, constantly changing, there are These have the most evidence that’s just what viruses do. for most people than their initial while recognizing the variants in other reasons why these “fitter” of greater transmissibility or case because they still have some the virus make it difficult.” variants have started to emerge. some other characteristic that immune memory to the virus, The emergence of the variants In the early days of the pandemic, might be cause for concern. And, even if their systems couldn’t has given experts a new line of when just about all of us were what’s more, they share some of we’re at that point now (though infected by SARS-2 by October. block infection entirely. Scientists argument in their regular pleas vulnerable to Covid-19, any infec- the same mutations despite aris- plenty of studies are ongoing, and The hope was that this level of will be looking out to see if that that people and governments tious variant had a pretty easy ing independently. To scientists, some are more anxious than oth- protection might act as a buffer holds with different variants.) should do all they can to drive time circulating. But as more peo- that’s a clue that the mutations ers). against more transmission. But down transmission generally. ple in certain areas have become might confer some evolutionary When it comes to transmissibil- last month, cases started rising in What are scientists doing about Slowing spread can buy time for protected—either after an initial advantage. ity, it seems that these variants do the city and its state of Amazonas, all this? more people to get vaccinated infection or vaccination—pres- When scientists assess the spread more easily—though there straining local health systems before one of the more transmis- sure on the virus has increased. A impact of a new viral variant, are wide-ranging estimates for once again. Studying it from all angles. One sible variants becomes dominant so-so spreader might no longer be they consider at least three fac- just how much more infectious When researchers dug into the line of inquiry is examining the — which could happen in the able to find new hosts (that’s us) tors: disease severity, protection, they are. viral sequences, they found many effects of mutations in isolation United States as soon as March, a to infect, but variants with muta- and transmissibility. cases involved a new variant, and in concert with the other model released by the Centers for tions that help them spread can For now, none of the variants What does a more called P.1, as reported last week. changes dotting the virus’ RNA Disease Control and Prevention still transmit, and can take off seems to change how sick people transmissible virus mean? (P.1. has also been identified in genome. Essentially, a mutation last week showed. from there. get with Covid-19. people who travelled from Brazil on its own may not have much of And the more the virus spreads, “We’ve reached a point one year Answering the question of Because a more transmissible to Japan.) They warned the muta- an impact, but it can help a virus the higher likelihood that even on and in certain parts of the whether people with existing variant can infect more people tions it contained (including spread better or replicate faster if fitter variants will emerge. world where the density of natu- immunity to SARS-2 are still pro- more quickly, it leads to more E484K) are “potentially associat- it’s paired with certain other Evolution is driven not only by ral immunity is sufficient so that tected—and whether the vaccines cases overall without mitigation ed with an increase in transmissi- mutations. the environment the virus finds the variants that have got a fit- still work—is a bit more compli- efforts. Even if people individual- bility or propensity for re-infec- Scientists are also on the look- itself in, but also, as Barclay put ness advantage … are more likely cated. Scientists are testing vac- ly aren’t likely to get sicker, the tion of individuals.” out for other potential variants of it, “the number of times you roll to emerge and spread,” said cines against the mutations and result is that there will be more Scientists suspect there are sev- concern as they comb through the dice.” Wendy Barclay, the head of infec- variants, and results should be hospitalisations and deaths. (One eral potential factors at work in sequencing data. But there’s a — Stat News Netflix forecasts an end to borrowing binge, shares surge From October to December alone, Netflix signed up 8.5 million new paying streaming customers.

LISA RICHWINE & EVA MATHEWS playbook by announcing it would send all 2021 mov- NEW YORK ies straight to HBO Max alongside theaters. Disney said in December it had already signed etflix Inc said on Tuesday its global up 86.8 million subscribers to Disney+ in just over subscriber rolls crossed 200 million at a year. the end of 2020 and projected it will no “It’s super-impressive what Disney’s done,” Netflix longer need to borrow billions of dol- Co-Chief Executive Reed Hastings said in a post-earn- lars to finance its broad slate of TV ings analyst interview. Disney’s success, he added, shows and movies. “gets us fired up about increasing our membership, NShares of Netflix rose nearly 13 percent in extend- increasing our content budget.” ed trading as the financial milestone validated the company’s strategy of going into debt to take on big Hollywood studios with a flood of its own program- The world’s largest ming in multiple languages. The world’s largest streaming service had raised streaming service had raised $15 billion through debt in less than a decade. On Tuesday, the company said it expected free cash flow $15 billion through debt in to break even in 2021, adding in a letter to shareholders, “We believe we no longer have a need to raise less than a decade. external financing for our day-to-day operations.” Netflix said it will explore returning excess cash to shareholders via share buybacks. It plans to main- Netflix said most of its growth last year--83 percent tain $10 billion to $15 billion in gross debt. of new customers—came from outside the United “This is in sharp contrast to Disney and many States and Canada. Forty-one percent joined from other new entrants into the streaming market who Europe, the Middle East and Africa. expect to lose money on streaming for the next few For January through March, Netflix projected it years,” said eMarketer analyst Eric Haggstrom. would sign up 6 million more global subscribers, From October to December, Netflix signed up 8.5 behind analyst expectations of roughly 8 million. million new paying streaming customers as it debut- Revenue for the fourth quarter rose to $6.64 billion ed widely praised series “The Queen’s Gambit” and REUTERS compared with $5.47 billion a year ago, edging past “Bridgerton,” a new season of “The Crown” and the tions of $1.39. Competition heats up estimates of $6.63 billion. George Clooney film “The Midnight Sky.” With the new customers, Netflix’s worldwide mem- Now, Netflix is working to add customers around Net income fell to $542.2 million, or $1.19 per share, The additions topped Wall Street estimates of 6.1 bership reached 203.7 million. The company that pio- the globe as big media companies amp up competi- from $587 million, or $1.30 per share, a year earlier. million, according to Refinitiv data, despite increased neered streaming in 2007 added more subscribers in tion. Walt Disney Co in December unveiled a hefty Netflix shares jumped 12.5 percent to $564.32 in competition and a US price increase. Fourth-quarter 2020 than in any other year, boosted by viewers who slate of new programming for Disney+, while AT&T extended trading on Tuesday. earnings per share of $1.19 missed analyst expecta- stayed home to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Inc’s Warner Bros scrapped the traditional Hollywood — Reuters

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