WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXIX No. 130 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 36.0 C 11.5 C Monday, June 28, 2021 | 14-03-2078 Nepalgunj Jomsom Court should order Deuba be appointed prime minister, lawyers argue As Article 75 (5) has already been activated, the question now is who should lead the government on its basis, they say. The defendants’ arguments begin today.

TIKA R PRADHAN dence vote in Parliament on May 10, KATHMANDU, JUNE 27 and no one made a claim on forming a coalition government as per Article 76 Lawyers representing writ petitioners (2) of the constitution, the President against the May 21 House dissolution reappointed Oli as prime minister as have demanded that President Bidya per Article 76 (3) on May 13 as he leads Devi Bhandari appoint Nepali CPN-UML, the largest party in parlia- Congress President Sher Bahadur ment with 121 seats. Deuba as prime minister. Although such a minority govern- They asked the five-member ment needs to win a confidence vote Constitutional Bench led by Chief within 30 days, Oli instead recom- Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana to mended to the President to call for the issue a mandamus order in the name formation of a government as per of the President to appoint Deuba as Article 76 (5) of the constitution on per Article 76 (5) since he had the sup- May 20. port of 149 lawmakers of the 275-mem- Both Oli and Deuba had staked ber House of Representatives. their claims on the basis of Article 76 As the lawyers representing the (5). While Deuba had signed support petitioners finished their arguments of 149 lawmakers—61 from his Nepali POST PHOTO: DEEPAK KC on Sunday, senior advocate Congress, 49 from Communist Party People cross a suspension bridge at Sanga, Bhaktapur with the statue of the Hindu god Shiva in the background, on Sunday. The authorities in Satish Krishna Kharel said of Nepal (Maoist Centre), 26 from Kathmandu Valley are mulling further relaxation of Covid-19 prohibitory orders. that the President failed to com- Madhav Nepal faction of CPN-UML, ply with her constitutional 12 from Upendra Yadav led faction of responsibilities. Janata Samajbadi Party and one from “Oli went to the President with Rastriya Janamorcha—Oli claimed decisions of the parties but support of his party’s 121 lawmakers Deuba with the signatures of 149 and Janata Samajbadi Party’s 32. INSIDE As black fungus cases rise, lawmakers. Deuba made the legit- But the President invalidated both imate claim but the President claims and subsequently, on Oli’s rec- didn’t follow her constitutional ommendation, dissolved the House On duty doctor, employee duty to appoint the prime minis- and announced midterm polls for attacked at Covid-19 hospital country faces shortage of ter,” Kharel said at the bench. November 13 and 20. After he failed to get a confi- >> Continued on page 2 DOLAKHA: A group of four people attacked health workers at a Covid-19- dedicated hospital in Tamakoshi drugs for treatment Rural Municipality, Dolakha on Saturday night. The hospital adminis- tration said medical officer Dr Robis India has put a ban on export of the drugs. So far around Karki and office assistant Top Bahadur Mijar were attacked by the two dozen cases of black fungus among diabetic Covid-19 group. “The group had come to the hospital seeking treatment for one of patients and at least six deaths have been reported. them with an injured leg,” said Karki. “I told them I will step outside and have a look since there are coronavi- rus patients receiving treatment inside the hospital building. They got angry for not being allowed into the hospital.” Karki said the group man- handled the health workers, saying they can’t be stopped from entering the hospital they built. (Details on Pg 2)

Valley authorities mull allowing public vehicles KATHMANDU: The prohibitory orders in place in the three districts of Kathmandu Valley since April 29 have been extended by a week start- ing Monday but the ban on public vehicles is to be lifted. The chief dis- AFP trict officers of Kathmandu, Lalitpur Blurred or double vision is one of the symptoms of mucormycosis or black fungus infection. and Bhaktapur are for allowing pub- lic vehicles to resume services but PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA before India imposed a blanket ban on they are yet to decide the modality. KATHMANDU, JUNE 27 the export of Amphotericin B drugs “We have agreed to allow public vehi- amid surging cases of mucormycosis cles. Most probably buses having The Tribhuvan University Teaching in India in early June. more than 20 seats will be permitted Hospital on Saturday admitted two “All three drugs—Liposomal to run, ” said Dhundi Prasad Niraula, new patients—a 56-year-old woman Amphotericin B, Deoxycholate and the chief district officer of Lalitpur. and a 65-year-old man—with mucor- Posaconazole—come under “Regarding the modality of operating mycosis, a rare fungal infection com- Amphotericin B and all of them come public vehicles, the Valley’s CDOs monly known as ‘black fungus’ and under India’s restrictive category,” will be sitting for another meeting mostly found among diabetic Covid-19 said Dr Pradhananga. tomorrow at 10am. That will give a patients. The government does not have any decision,” said Niraula. Last week the With the new cases, the number of these drugs in its store to distribute three district administrators had of patients with mucormycosis at to its hospitals at the moment. eased prohibitory orders to allow pri- the government-run hospital has “We had received 1,000 doses of vate vehicles to run on odd-even num- reached 14. Liposomal Amphotericin B in early ber basis and business to operate on According to the hospital, the condi- June from the World Health alternate days. (Details on Pg 3) tion of both patients admitted on Organization but they have been used Saturday is critical. up,” said Krishna Prasad Paudel, But the hospital does not have spokesperson at the Ministry of Paddy farmers happy as Liposomal Amphotericin B, the pri- Health and Population. “Alternative fertiliser arrives in time mary drug used for treating the black drugs can be found in the market but fungus infection. they are not as good as Liposomal LUMBINI: Farmer Hari Narayan India, the main source of the drug, Amphotericin B. The government Chaudhary of Tilottama-13 laughed has banned its export. does not have a stock of these alterna- all the way home with seven bags of “In the absence of this drug, we are tive drugs either.” precious fertiliser he had finally got treating the patients with an alterna- In a notification dated June 1, the from a cooperative. The paddy trans- tive drug—Deoxycholate,” said Dr Directorate General of Foreign Trade plantation season had set in, and Rabindra Pradhananga, coordinator under India’s Commerce Ministry cat- Chaudhary had been waiting anx- of the Mucormycosis Management egorised Amphotericin B under the iously for more than a month as fer- Committee at the Teaching Hospital. restricted category for export with tiliser supply had stopped because of Mucormycosis affects the brain, immediate effect. the coronavirus lockdown. The Covid- sinuses and lungs and can be According to an NDTV report as of 19 Crisis Management Operations life-threatening to diabetic or severely June 11, over 31,000 black fungus cases Centre, which has blanket authorisa- immunocompromised individuals like had been identified in India with the tion to take measures against Covid- cancer and HIV/AIDS patients. Such death of over 2,100 people from the 19 spread, had removed chemical fer- cases have appeared mostly among infection. tiliser from the list of “essential com- Covid-19 patients in Nepal and neigh- With the stock of the Deoxycholate modities”, barring it from being bouring India. and Posaconazole also running out in transported when the stay-home Amid the shortage of Liposomal the market, doctors said that it would order was issued on April 29. The Amphotericin B, Deoxycholate and be difficult for Nepali patients to decision had affected Nepali farmers Posaconazole are two other drugs secure these drugs if cases of black as they feared a repeat of last year’s available in the Nepali market to treat fungus rose sharply. fertiliser shortage, which made them patients of mucormycosis. A patient needs many vials of this miss out on a super harvest since But Dr Pradhananga said that the scarce drug and the 1,000 vials of rains were good and labour plentiful, patients’ families need to procure Liposomal Amphotericin B received with Nepalis working in various Deoxycholate and Posaconazole from from the World Health Organization parts of India returning home to the markets and these drugs are avail- in early June were used up early. escape the pandemic. (Details on Pg 5) able only because they were in stock >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K MONDAY, JUNE 28, 2021 | 02 NATIONAL Health workers attacked at Dolakha Covid-19 hospital Three assailants in police custody, search for the fourth underway, police say.

Rural Municipality-4 on Sunday. He has demanded legal action against the accused in accordance with a recently issued ordinance related to the securi- ty of health workers and institutions. Tamokoshi Rural Municipality has also demanded legal action against the group who attacked the health workers. Seven health workers, including a doctor, work at the five-bed hospital. Meanwhile, security personnel detained three of the four accused involved in the attack on Sunday. “We have taken three suspects in custody. Search is underway for the fourth suspect,” said DSP Bheshraj POST PHOTO: ANISH REGMI Rijal. A vendor walks on the road carrying acrylic rugs at Chhetrapati, Kathmandu on Sunday. PHOTO COURTESY: KEDAR SHIWAKOTI Earlier in May, family members of a Seven health workers, including a doctor, work at the five-bed hospital. 53-year-old man from Dang had barged into the ward of Nepalgunj-based KEDAR SHIWAKOTI for not being allowed to enter the hos- Bheri Hospital, vandalised the inten- DOLAKHA, JUNE 27 pital.” sive care unit and assaulted a team of Karki said the group manhandled doctors and nurses on duty. The assail- As black fungus cases rise, country ... A group of four people attacked health the health workers, saying they can’t ants claimed that the 53-year-old workers at a Covid-19-dedicated hospi- be stopped from entering the hospital patient of Covid-19 died due to the tal in Tamakoshi Rural Municipality, that they built. negligence of the medical team. >> CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 she will end up paying around for some Covid-19 patients could be Dolakha on Saturday night. Karki and Mijar escaped the assail- On June 6, an ordinance was issued “All the vials of the medicines were Rs800,000 for this medicine only,” said linked to mucormycosis or other fun- The hospital administration said ants. by amending the existing security of spent in treating 16 black fungus Paudel. gal infections, doctors say. medical officer Dr Robis Karki and “All of us closed the main door and health workers and health organisa- patients at government-run hospi- Given the shortage of the medicine “Of the 14 patients admitted at the office assistant Top Bahadur Mijar went to the roof of the building as tions act with the provision of strong tals,” said Paudel, who is also the in the market, the cost might be even Teaching Hospital, one died and six were attacked by the group. they threatened to set the hospital on legal action against attacks on health director of the Epidemiology and higher in the black market. were discharged, four of them after “The group had come to the hospital fire and kill us. We immediately workers or health institutions. As per Disease Control Division under the Meanwhile, the number of black recovery and two without completing seeking treatment for one of them informed the police and the rural the ordinance, an assailant involved Health Ministry. “A single patient fungus cases has been rising. In treatment as per their own request,” with an injured leg,” said Karki. “I municipal office about the incident,” in vandalising the health sector or required as many as 80 vials.” early June, the fungal infection was said Dr Pradhananga. told them I will step outside and have said Karki. hurting health workers and staffers of According to him, the government seen in about a dozen people. The other seven are undergoing a look since there are coronavirus Karki lodged a complaint at the the health sector can be jailed up to had requested 3,000 vials with the Now, the number has reached around treatment. patients receiving treatment inside District Police Office against the four three years or be fined upto Rs 300,000 WHO but only received 1,000. two dozens even though the The Tribhuvan University Teaching the hospital building. They got angry assailants from Malu in Tamakoshi or both. Unified Covid-19 Hospital, run on number of daily new coronavirus Hospital has so far conducted surger- the premises of Bir Hospital, also infections in the country has been ies on seven mucormycosis patients to treated four patients of mucormycosis falling sharply. remove the mucor fungus. and most of the drugs made available On Sunday, 1,353 new Covid-19 cases Likewise, two patients admitted at Rajbiraj Municipality by the Health Ministry were used, the were reported, the second lowest fig- Unified Covid-19 Hospital have died hospital authority said. ure since April 20. On Saturday, 1,174 while two others were discharged, Office of Municipal Executive Dr Nabin Pokharel, deputy director new cases were reported. The Ministry according to Dr Pokharel. Saptari at the Unified Covid-19 Hospital, said of Health and Population reported 34 One patient who had been admitted that his hospital has a few vials of more deaths from Covid-19 complica- at Seti Zonal Hospital died on June 3. Invitation for Bids Liposomal Amphotericin B remaining tions, taking the total toll to 9,009. The A patient who was hospitalised at to treat any new patients. number of cases reported since the Lumbini Provincial hospital died in Invitation for Bids for the Construction of Rajbiraj Craft Village and Museum, Rajbiraj “Initially, we failed to get pandemic began stands at 633,679. The late May. Notice No.: NCB/2077/78/07 Liposomal Amphotericin B to treat number of active cases stands at In May, four Covid-19 patients were Contract Identification No: Rmun/Saptari/Work/ NCB/2077/78/07 patients and used alternative drugs,” 40,336. found with the black fungus infection First Date of Publication: 2078-03-14 [28-06-2021] said Pokharel. The black fungus infection is most- at the Nepalgunj-based Bheri Hospital The drugs to treat mucormycosis ly seen in people with pre-existing of which one had died. 1. Rajbiraj Municipality, Office of the Municipal Executive, Saptari invites electronic bid from eligible and qualified bidders for are expensive, which the poor will not diabetic conditions who have been But with the Indian ban on exports, the Construction of Rajbiraj Craft Village and Museum under National Competitive Bidding – Single Stage Two Envelope be able to afford. infected with the coronavirus. It caus- it is uncertain when the drugs treat- Bidding procedure. Some of the qualification criteria are mentioned below, though the details are According to an Indian media es blackening or discoloration over ing the disease will be available in report, one vial of Amphotericin B the nose, blurred or double vision, Nepal. S. Contract Description Specific nature of similar work Average Bid Last date of Bid costs as high as INR (5,000-6,000) or chest pain, breathing difficulties and “It is not certain when we can get N. No. of works experience Annual security bid Document almost Rs10,000 in the Indian market. coughing blood. additional vials,” said Paudel, the Turnover Amount submission price “If a patient needs 80 vials, he or The indiscriminate use of steroids spokesperson. in(NRS) 1. Rmun/ Construction At least Two RCC frame structure NRs. 17,00,000 2078/04/13 NRs. 5,000/- Saptari/ of Rajbiraj with minimum one double 93millions (28th July, Work/ Craft Village basement building value of at 2021) Up to NCB/2077/ and Museum least NRs 49.6 million within last 12:00 pm Court should order Deuba be ... 78/07 3 years. noon Should have comp-leted following >> CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 the UML and the Yadav faction of tures of 149 members, he seems to key activities: On May 24, 146 of the 149 members Janata Samajbadi Party would be have a clear majority,” said Kunwar, Ø Reinforcement (Fe-415/500) of the dissolved House who had signed taken and they wouldn’t remain law- who has also served as provincial work in building: 40MT in one in support of Deuba, had filed a joint makers. chief of Gandaki Province and is also contract within last 3 years. writ petition at the Supreme However, according to the Political a former attorney general. “But since Ø Flooring (Tiles/Marble/Granite) Court with at least seven demands, Parties Act 2017, if a lawmaker vio- 76(5) was already active, Prime Work: 4000 Sq.m. in one including reinstatement of the House lates a party’s decision, the Central Minister Oli cannot go for a floor test contract within last 3 years. of Representatives and an order of Committee of the party will have to anymore.” mandamus to appoint the Nepali inform the Parliament Secretariat Reiterating arguments of other 2. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased from E-procurement section of PPMO website http:// Congress president as the new prime about the action taken by the party lawyers last week, Kunwar also www.bolpatra.gov.np/egp only, on payment of bid document price of NRs. 5,000 on given below account on or before 3:00 hour minister. and that will be announced in said that framers of the constitution on 2078/04/12 (27th July, 2021):- Kharel claimed that the constitu- Parliament and unless the parliament had included Article 76 (5) so that the  Rajaswa (Revenue) Shirshak No: tional bench should not only reinstate informs its full house, the action taken individual lawmakers elected by the Office’s Account No.: 2180100301010006 Name of the Bank: Rastriya Banijya Bank Limited, Rajbiraj, Saptari the House of Representatives but also by the party as per the Political Parties sovereign people of the country could Name of Office: . Rajbiraj Municipality Municipal Executive Office issue an order to appoint Deuba as Act 2017, action against them cannot save Parliament even if the parties 3. Bidder shall submit their bid electronically on or before 12:00 hour on 2078/04/13 (28th July, 2021). Bids received after this prime minister. be implemented. failed. “While issuing an order the bench Lawyers also argued on Sunday that “Since the utility of 76(5) was auton- deadline will be rejected. should not say that the reinstated the same person cannot be prime min- omous, any member of parliament 4. Eligible Bidders may obtain further information from the office of Rajbiraj Municipality Municipal Executive Office Contact No.: House will do the needful but it is ister on the basis of all the relevant can become the prime minister and 031-520643/ 9852842111 Email:- [email protected] essential to issue an order to appoint articles of the constitution. the party whip is not applicable,” 5. Bidder shall quote the item rates in the BOQ (in figure as well as in words) exclusive of VAT. Deuba, who has shown majority sup- “The prime minister must go for a Kunwar said. “With Deuba showing a 6. Bid must be valid for a period of 120 days after bid opening and must be accompanied by scanned copy of the bid security in port, as prime minister,” Kharel said. floor test as per 76(4) within a month,” clear majority, there is no alternative pdf format amounting to a minimum of NRs 17,00,000.00, which shall be valid for 30 days beyond the validity period of the bid “Oli has breached constitutional lim- said advocate Bhimarjun Acharya. to appointing Deuba as prime minis- (i.e. total 150 days of bid security) its many times and the problem was “It’s written nowhere that a person ter.” 7. The technical Bids will be opened electronically immediately in the presence of Bidders’ representatives, who choose to attend created after he dissolved the House can become prime minister from all Likewise, senior advocate Sabita for the second time. Neither has the the provisions of the constitution in a Bhandari, the only female law practi- at 14:00 hour on the last day of bid submission 2078/04/13 (28th July, 2021) at at the office of Rajbiraj Municipality Municipal President accomplished her constitu- single term.” tioner pleading on behalf of the peti- Executive Office. tional duties.” Prime Minister Oli first became tioners, said Oli, who had surrendered 8. In case, the last date of purchase, submission or opening of Bid happens to be a holiday, the next working day will be deemed He said the President had tried to prime minister of Article 76(2) in saying he could not garner confidence as the due date but the time will be the same as stipulated. interfere with the issues which should February 2018 and then became prime vote, cannot lay claim to premiership 9. After the completion of evaluations of technical Bids, which are substantially Responsive Evaluated Bidders will be invited to be sorted out by Parliament. minister as per Article 76(1) after the again. attend the opening of price bids. The date, time and location of opening of price bid shall be notified in writing. “Which office will take action merger of his CPN-UML with the “Not appointing Deuba as prime 10. Other related rules and regulations are as per Public Procurement Act-2063(revised) and Public Procurement Regulations- against the lawmakers violating the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist minister shows the mala fide 2064 (revised). party’s decisions — is it the President’s Centre) in May 2018. After losing the intention of the President,” Bhandari 11. Bidders are advised to visit site and assess the actual site conditions before attending pre bid meeting and submitting their bid. office or parliament,” Kharel asked. confidence on May 10 he was appoint- said. 12. The Employer deserves the right to accept or reject any bid, and to annual the process and reject all bids at any time prior to While invalidating Deuba’s claim, ed prime minister of 76(3) on May 13. As many as 16 lawyers pleaded on the President had said action against “For Article 76(5) to come into effect Sunday while many advocates, includ- contract award. the lawmakers of the Nepal faction of the position of the prime minister ing advocate Om Prakash Aryal, were must be vacant,” deprived of pleading due to the time said Acharya. “The limit of 15 hours allocated to each of process of forming the two sides, including 3 hours for a new government counterarguments later. cannot begin But more than 250 lawyers had sub- unless the prime mitted their names to participate in minister goes for a the hearing on behalf of the petition- floor test in parlia- ers. Aryal accused a ‘syndicate’ of the ment.” lawyers close to political parties as Therefore, the being responsible for his inability to House must be plead and made his notes public reinstated first, he through various media. said. The defendants’ lawyers will begin Oli never went their arguments on Monday with law- for a floor test yers of Speaker Agni Sapkota plead- although Article 76 ing at the end. (3), under which Besides the Speaker, the Office of Oli was serving the President, Prime Minister Oli and since May 13, says the Office of the Prime Minister and he must do so. Council of Ministers are the defend- But senior advo- ants. While the President and the cate Baburam prime minister have, in their separate Kunwar said written responses to the Constitutional Article 76(5) has Bench on June 17, defended the House already been acti- dissolution and call for midterm elec- vated by the tions, the Speaker has termed the President and now move unconstitutional. the question is Following the arguments of the whose claim defendants the four members of the between Oli and amicus curiae will put forward their Deuba is valid. views for a total of two hours. “Since Deuba After that the petitioners’ lawyers has already pre- will be given three hours for rebuttal sented the signa- before the verdict on the case.

C M Y K 03 | MONDAY, JUNE 28, 2021 NATIONAL Nepal hasn’t seen a single conviction for torture Oldest varsity plans stalled exams next and custodial deaths in the past three years month but students Police cannot be trusted to conduct impartial investigation into cases where own officers are involved, says a 2020 Supreme Court ruling. BINOD GHIMIRE any one in custody or detention in accord- National Human Rights Commission. issued in December) directed the govern- harbour doubts KATHMANDU, JUNE 27 ance with law shall subject, or cause to be In October last year, the constitutional ment to constitute a separate entity, inde- subjected, any one to physical or mental tor- human rights watchdog had concluded that pendent of Nepal Police, to investigate the SHUVAM DHUNGANA The National Penal Code that came into force ture or to cruel, brutal, inhuman or degrad- the police extrajudicially killed Gopal cases where the police officials are involved. KATHMANDU, JUNE 27 in 2018 has criminalised torture and includes ing treatment. Tamang, 23, of Sindhupalchok and Ajay The ruling by the division bench of justic- a provision of up to five years of imprison- A person who commits the offence referred Tamang, 24, from Nuwakot in a forest in es Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada and Kumar On Thursday, the Tribhuvan University published rou- ment for the perpetrators in addition to com- to in subsection as per the section is liable to Bhaktapur. Regmi said a separate mechanism compris- tines for the stalled exams of first and second years of pensation for the victims. a sentence of imprisonment for a term not The commission had recommended action ing experts from different sectors is neces- various bachelor’s level programmes. Nepal in 1996 adopted the Compensation exceeding five years or a fine not exceeding against the police officials including a depu- sary as the police cannot be trusted to con- A notice issued by the Office of the Controller of Relating to Torture Act following pressure to fifty thousand rupees or both the sentences, ty superintendent of police who had shot the duct impartial investigation into cases where Examinations states that bachelor second year’s fulfil its international commitment. As the according to the penal code. two alleged kidnappers dead after their its own officers are involved. exams will start from July 20 and first year government is a party to the UN Convention Despite such a provision in place, not a arrest in August 2018. “The government must form an independ- exams (old batch) from July 25. According to the notice against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman single perpetrator of torture has been con- ent agency with specially trained experts to all the exams will be held in person. or Degrading Treatment or Punishment victed over the past three years although investigate allegations of a serious and vio- Although the exams are a month away, students are 1991, having a domestic law was necessary. cases of torture are reported in significant Over dozen cases of lent nature,” read the verdict. “It must estab- still concerned whether the exams will actually be con- The convention treats all acts of torture as numbers every year, according to organisa- lish a legal and institutional framework to ducted on the scheduled date as they had been post- criminal offence and envisions punishment tions working on human rights. custodial deaths and facilitate investigations that are independ- poned earlier citing the Covid-19 pandemic. for the perpetrators and compensation for Over a dozen cases of custodial deaths and ent, impartial and effective.” Swastika Shrestha, a second year student of Bachelor the victims. several cases of torture have been reported several of torture have However, instead of abiding by the court of Social Work from Kathmandu, said the university’s Article 14 of the convention says each in the three years since the enforcement of order, the government has moved the plan to conduct the exams in person may fail any time. state party shall ensure in its legal the National Penal Code. been reported in past Supreme Court demanding a review of the “Even last time our exam was scheduled nearly after system that the victim of an act of torture The death of Bijay Ram Mahara from verdict. But hearing in the case has yet a year but it was postponed due to the rise in Covid-19 obtains redress and has an enforceable right Garuda in Rautahat in August 2020, Raj three years. to begin. cases,” said Shrestha. to fair and adequate compensation, includ- Kumar Chepang in July 2020 in Chitwan and “Formation of a separate mechanism “The university should have learnt from the past ing the means for as full rehabilitation as Shambhu Sada Musahar in Janakpur in would have been instrumental in providing but they are still insisting on holding in-person possible. In the event of the death of the vic- June last year are some of the cases where The commission’s investigation also found justice to the victims of torture, custodial exams which could fail at any time as the pandemic is tim as a result of an act of torture, his there have been no prosecution. that police had killed Kumar Paudel, Sarlahi deaths and extrajudicial killings,” said advo- still here.” dependants shall be entitled to compensa- Although the police reluctantly received district in-charge of the Netra Bikram cate Sunil Ranjan Singh, who had moved the The final exams of various disciplines and pro- tion, it says. complaints from the victims’ families, there Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal, after court demanding such a mechanism. “The grammes at the country’s oldest and largest university However, the 1996 Act didn’t reflect the have not been any investigations. “Firstly, it his arrest in June, 2019. The commission government, however, is looking for ways not have been delayed by over a year due to the Covid-19 spirit of the convention as it was limited to is extremely difficult to file a police com- termed it extrajudicial killing and recom- to implement it.” pandemic, subsequent restrictions in movement and providing compensation up to Rs 100,000 to plaint of custodial death due to torture mended actions against the perpetrators According to the Advocacy Forum, the university’s insistence on holding the exams in the victims with the provision of some because police themselves are involved in including a police inspector. The police non-implementation of court orders too are physical presence of students. departmental actions against the govern- the torture so they are reluctant to register didn’t adhere to the recommendations. barriers to providing justice to torture vic- While other universities including Kathmandu ment employees involved in torture but it the complaint,” Bikash Basnet, a programme “Cases of torture and extrajudicial killings tims. In the last two decades, the Forum University, Pokhara University and Agriculture and lacked the provisions of prosecution. manager at the Advocacy Forum, a non-gov- are continuing because there is no action facilitated 152 victims of torture claiming Forestry University, have conducted the exams virtual- The issue was addressed in the National ernmental organisation advocating for against the perpetrators,” Govinda Sharma compensation. Out of them the court ordered ly, the Tribhuvan University does not have any plans to Penal Code-2017, which came into force in human rights in Nepal, told the Post. “Even Poudyal, a former member of the National compensation in 46 cases. conduct the exams online. August 2018. if a complaint is registered with the police, Human Rights Commission, told the Post. “However, only 7 (15.22 percent) of them When asked about the possibility of conducting Section 167 (1) of the code says no authori- prosecution doesn’t happen.” Following the police reluctance actually received the monetary compensa- the exams online, Shiva Lal Bhusal, rector of the uni- ty who is competent under the law in force to The police are reluctant to book their offi- in investigating the cases of torture, custodi- tion,” reads the report by the forum issued versity said it is impossible to conduct the exams virtu- investigate or prosecute any offence, imple- cials even in the cases which have been al deaths and extrajudicial killings, the on the occasion of International Day Against ally as many of the students were unable even to fill up ment law, take any one into control, or hold termed as “extrajudicial killings” by the Supreme Court in January 2020 (full text was Torture on Saturday. the online form, so they surely cannot take examina- tions online. “The number of examinees is very high so it would be difficult to monitor them online and in lack of prop- er monitoring the validity of online exams could come under question so we are conducting the exams in person,” said Bhusal. The university administration though has shifted the teaching-learning activities to virtual medium amid the pandemic. Kriti Dangal, 20, a first year Bachelor in Social Work student in Kathmandu, regrets joining the Tribhuvan University. “If I had joined other universities for my bachelor studies, I would have nearly completed my second year exams. But here they are planning to conduct the first year exams after nearly 19 months and I am still not sure whether the exams will be conducted as per the newly announced schedule,” said Dangal. “If they can teach us in online class why can’t they conduct exams online?” questioned Dangal. When the Post asked Rector Bhusal if the new exam schedule also could be affected if Covid-19 cases surged again, he said decisions will be made accordingly. “We decided to conduct exams physically because the Covid cases are on the decline,” said Bhusal.“If cases rise again, the university will hold emergency meetings and make necessary decisions.” However, according to health experts, the situation has not come under control yet, so any sort of gather- ing is risky until and unless the government vacci- nates everyone or they figure out what is the possible reason for cases decline. “Though the covid-19 cases are on the decline, the risk has not gone yet because we don’t know the reason behind the decline,” said Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, a virol- ogist at Teku Hospital. “If the cases have slowed down due to a break in the chain of transmission as a result of the restrictions on movement and gatherings, then they could soar again if gatherings are allowed. Even those who were not infected could catch infection.” Until and unless, government vaccinates everyone, the risk will remain the same, he added. The daily Covid-19 cases have been coming down after peaking on May 11 when the country confirmed a record 9,317 new infections. On April 29, when the pro- hibitory orders were imposed in the Valley, 4,831 cases had been reported countrywide. On Sunday, the daily new infection numbers in the country had come down to 1,353 with 34 fatalities. The Tribhuvan University, which has 1,124 affiliate and 61 constituent colleges, is the largest university in the country with over 400,000 regular students. The number of examinees, however, exceeds 500,000 as there are students sitting exams for back papers. The POST PHOTO: ELITE JOSHI university runs 125 programmes in the bachelor’s and Young people play football at a park at Chobhar in Kirtipur, Kathmandu. the master’s levels. Valley authorities mull allowing public vehicles as restrictions stay for another week As daily nationwide coronavirus cases fall below 2,000, transport entrepreneurs say the sector faces another crisis this year and seek permission for all large vehicles.

ANUP OJHA coronavirus wave in late April, pro- to be more conscious as the Delta Plus year’s lockdown. Now it’s been over KATHMANDU, JUNE 27 hibitory orders have been in place in virus has already entered the coun- two months. They have bank loans to Kathmandu Valley for two months. try,” The Valley’s authorities took up pay and families to look after. It seems The prohibitory orders in place in the After permission for private and gov- the agenda after transport entrepre- that the government is not concerned three districts of Kathmandu Valley ernment vehicles, the Valley’s roads neurs held a meeting and submitted a about the problem of public vehicle since April 29 have been extended by a have already witnessed traffic jams. memorandum to them. operators,” said Karmacharya. week starting Monday but the ban on Across the country, district authori- “We reached Kathmandu CDO The federation has demanded that public vehicles is to be lifted. ties have adopted the model practised office and held a meeting with the government not restrict public The chief district officers of in Kathmandu Valley. The nationwide Valley’s chiefs on Friday about allow- vehicles on odd-even basis after Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur Covid-19 infection tally has reached ing public vehicles, as the sector is reopening. Because doing this are for allowing public vehicles to 633,679, with 9,009 deaths reported as linked with the livelihood of thou- will leave vehicles crowded, said resume services but they are yet to of Sunday. sands of families,” said Yogendra Karmacharya. decide the modality. The notice published by the District Karmacharya, chairman of the “Instead, all public vehicles should “We have agreed to allow public Administration Office, Kathmandu Federation of Nepalese National be allowed to run following the health vehicles. Most probably buses having last week allows shops selling jewel- Transport Entrepreneurs. protocols strictly,” said Karmacharya. more than 20 seats will be permitted to lery, electronic appliances and auto- Millions more depend on the trans- Daily Covid-19 cases have been com- run, ” said Dhundi Prasad Niraula, mobiles to open on Sundays, Tuesdays portation sector as a number of other ing down after peaking on May 11 the chief district officer of Lalitpur. and Thursdays. Shopping malls, cloth- businesses rely on it. According to the when the country confirmed a record “Regarding the modality of operat- ing stores, gift shops, sports apparel federation, over 400,000 public vehi- 9,317 new infections. On April 29, ing public vehicles, the Valley’s CDOs stores and cosmetics shops are allowed cles have been garaged for two months. when the prohibitory orders were will be sitting for another meeting to do business on Mondays, Tuesdays Last year, when the country went imposed in the Valley, nationwide tomorrow at 10am. That will give a and Fridays. under lockdown from March 24 for daily cases numbered 4,831. decision,” said Niraula. Grocery shops and department four months, public vehicles were On Sunday, the country reported Last week the three district admin- stores are allowed to open until 11am forced out of roads, and vehicle own- 1,352 new Covid-19 cases and 34 deaths. istrators had eased prohibitory orders every day. ers had complained of them rusting In the past 24 hours, Kathmandu to allow private vehicles to run on odd- There is no change in the decisions away. Long-route vehicles remained in Valley recorded 424 new infections. Of even number basis and businesses to other than resuming public transport the garage for nine months. these, 292 cases were confirmed in operate on alternate days. services, said Niraula, the Lalitpur “The owners of public vehicles are Kathmandu, 100 in Lalitpur and 32 in POST PHOTO: ANGAD DHAKAL Following the outbreak of a second district administrator. “We still need already at a great loss due to last Bhaktapur. Private and essential service vehicles and taxis are currently allowed on the Valley roads.

C M Y K MONDAY, JUNE 28, 2021 | 04 OPINION EDITORIAL Dalit rights: No respite at the top Get the point? Those in power are allowed to get away with Nepali migrant workers cannot travel to labour perpetuating atrocities destinations as they are yet to be inoculated. against Dalits.

The fallout of the unimpressive vaccine rollout in Nepal is becoming more apparent each successive day, the latest instance DEEPAK THAPA being the failure of Nepali migrant workers to travel to labour destination countries as they are yet to be inoculated. One of AS I LIKE the most devastating effects of the long spell of lockdowns, trav- el restrictions and border sealings in much of the world in the past year and a half has been in the lives of Nepali migrant workers working in labour destination countries in the Persian There is somewhat of a broad agree- Gulf and Southeast Asia. While thousands of workers who had ment among political scientists that lost their jobs were left stranded in the destination countries, democracy has swept the world in thousands of others have now been left stuck in the home coun- waves. Samuel P Huntington is credit- try even if they hold valid travel documents. ed with popularising the concept while The reason: Even though international flights to labour desti- arguing that the third, and so far the last, wave of democratisation began in nations have resumed and the countries are gradually reopen- the mid-1970s and lasted for around 15 ing their borders to labour migrants, the migrants themselves years, ending with the break-up of the are unable to travel as they have yet to be inoculated against the Soviet empire. Explaining the reasons coronavirus. Dubai, for instance, has said foreign nationals for its success, besides factors such as erosion of legitimacy of authoritarian with UAE residency visas who are stuck in specified nations states and the unprecedented economic could return if they have been inoculated with vaccines growth worldwide in the preceding era, approved by the UAE. Kuwait has said it would allow foreign Huntington also mentions the ‘demon- nationals into the country if they are inoculated with Oxford- stration effect of transitions earlier in the third wave in stimulating and pro- AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson and Johnson and viding models for subsequent efforts at carry valid residence permits. Saudi Arabia is also set to reopen democratisation’, a fact most relevant its borders to labour migrants, but non-vaccinated people have to us since we ourselves rode the third SRIZU BAJRACHARYA/TKP to be quarantined. wave’s coattails to usher in the second fizzled out since. Yet, we fail not to be practice; the NDC was (and continues with adjoining Rolpa, Rukum was one As countries worldwide attempt to resuscitate their econo- coming of democracy in 1990. outraged again. This time, in the case to remain) fangless. While that has not of the districts most strongly affected The power of the demonstration of Rupa Sunar, a young woman who prevented Deuba from crowing at every by their insurgency and where their mies while also considering the possibility of yet another wave effect was on full display last year with faced no physical violence but an expe- given opportunity of his being a cham- writ against casteism held sway the of the Covid-19 pandemic, the balance they are trying to main- the Black Lives Matter protests erupt- rience that cannot have been any less pion of Dalit rights, the 2001 declara- longest. In fact, it has been reported tain by keeping vaccination at the centre is understandable. But ing globally following the killing of traumatic. tion marked the beginning, albeit much that BK was given to understand by the that very balance is now proving a dead end for the young George Floyd, an African-American, at belated, of attempts to criminalise girl he loved that since they came from the hands of a white police officer in State vs Dalits atrocities against Dalits. a family of Maoists, caste differences Nepali labour workforce that is seeking its luck in labour desti- the United States. The very fact that Earlier this year, Nepal underwent its Unfortunately, the state is Janus- would not matter. She was probably nations abroad. The fact that Nepal has faced a sharp economic multi-racial groups of Americans felt third Universal Periodic Review (UPR), faced with regard to Dalits, and it is as naïve enough to believe that rhetoric; downturn means that more Nepalis are seeking to go abroad in impelled in the middle of a pandemic the mechanism established in 2006 by the oppressor of Dalits that is present- for, like much of their agenda that took search of work. However, it is not only the new aspirants but to go out onto the streets to demand the UN Human Rights Council to look ed foremost. Thus, it took Sunar hours a backseat after the Maoists joined also those who already have valid residence permits in the des- changes, prompted similar movements at all member states’ human rights in the heart of the capital before the mainstream politics, their attitude in other parts of the world, and for a record. The report submitted by the police even registered her complaint. towards gender equality and continued tination countries who have been stuck in the home country. few weeks, it seemed as if we were on government included a separate sec- Far away in Rukum, the state was pres- atrocities against Dalits has also taken There is some point in the argument that the workers who the verge of a revolutionary moment. tion on ‘Non-discrimination’, which ent in the person of Dambar Bahadur a regressive turn. It was reported at the have valid travel permits to labour destination countries should Ultimately how far the cause of racial made much of what the law says. It also Malla, the ward chairperson who is time that powerful Maoist leaders did be inoculated because, after all, they are going abroad to make justice was advanced will only become threw in the trump card of the Caste- reported to have led the attack on BK their best to get Malla off the hook, and apparent over time, and the portents so based Discrimination and and his friends. I do not know whether it was only due to the sheer pressure of money and will ultimately send remittance home. But at a time far are mixed. Untouchability (Offence and readers noticed it or not but in all the public opinion that they failed. when the country is unable even to inoculate the most vulnera- Just two days before the Floyd mur- Punishment) Act, 2011 as further proof reporting on the Rukum killings that To complete the circle, we needed a ble population—the elderly—the idea of inoculating the youth der in May 2020, a perhaps more hei- of the state’s commitment towards end- mentioned Malla’s complicity in it not CPN-UML example of protecting caste just to send them abroad also sounds unethical. The only way nous killing rooted equally in history ing everyday violence against Dalits. once was it explicitly stated that he had privilege, and sure enough along came had taken place in Nepal. News of the The irony that there were fewer than been elected on a Communist Party of Education Minister Krishna Gopal out of this imbroglio is to ramp up the vaccination drive itself. multiple homicides of Nawaraj BK and 100 cases filed in the three years men- Nepal (Maoist Centre) ticket and at that Shrestha standing firmly on the side of In the cut-throat world of migrant labour work, Nepalis cannot five of his friends in Chaurjahari tioned in the report cannot have been time belonged to the ruling Nepal the perpetrator and against Sunar. afford to be left behind for lack of inoculation, because the work Municipality in Rukum West left us lost on whoever compiled it. Communist Party (NCP). I do not know That is the crux of the problem. The will go to the labourers of other countries who have been inoc- quite shaken as a nation. That he had It was in 2001 that in response to the if that was an oversight or a deliberate backlash against Sunar on social media ulated. fallen in love with an ‘upper-caste’ girl Maoist juggernaut and its appeal omission but that is a pattern evident is painful enough to even read but per- and was planning an elopement with among marginalised groups, including in other cases as well, most notably not petuating the environment to make it If the Nepal government cannot inoculate outbound migrant her was incidental to the fact that the Dalits, the Nepali Congress govern- long after the Rukum case of the death even possible are those very individu- labourers immediately, it could at least request authorities in one and only reason he was set upon by ment under Sher Bahadur Deuba of Angira Pasi of Devdaha Municipality als whose stated mission in life should the labour destinations to allow them safe passage into the a crazed mob was that he was a Dalit. declared the ‘practice of social discrim- in Rupandehi district. Here, too, an have been to fight against it. So long as country with a negative PCR test and a quarantine facility paid Our national consciousness appeared ination and untouchability’ to be ‘grave elected official was implicated but his politicians in power are allowed to get quite thoroughly outraged by the bra- and punishable crimes’ and also party affiliation was kept out of the away with visiting atrocities for by the recruiting agencies. It is understandable that the zenness of the act, giving hope it might announced the formation of a National reporting. (For the record, the ward against Dalits, either through action or labour destination countries are concerned about keeping the lead to a collective reckoning on the Dalit Commission (NDC) to ‘work for chair involved, Amar Bahadur otherwise, and so long as those virus at bay. But it is not enough for rich countries to continue question of both discrimination and the interest and welfare of Dalits Chaudhary, is from the Nepali at the top of the party hierarchy grant living in a cocoon anymore, having fully vaccinated their citi- offences against Dalits. Unfortunately, throughout the country’. Of course, the Congress.) them leave to do so, we will continue to that did not happend, and it is perhaps declaration changed practically noth- As far as I know, neither official has be served platitudes like our UPR zens alone. The failure of poor countries like Nepal to inoculate telling of where we are as a nation that ing on the ground for Dalits, and it been denounced by his respective party, report that does show progress but a large section of their citizens is also reflective of the global the incipient Dalit Lives Matter cam- would take a full decade before the law and this reflects poorly on the Maoists which in reality is an infinitesimal one vaccine inequality in which the rich countries are complicit. paign got no traction and has all but was finally enacted to put its spirit into more than any other party. Together at best. The death of free speech in Hong Kong

subversive. The populist tabloid It was in fact unusual for a Hong Kong tycoon to defy the Communist was an indispensable government and promote democracy. Most businessmen keep quiet or do pillar of freedom. their best to please and placate the government in Beijing. Local busi- And now it is gone. nesses stopped advertising in Lai’s publications, and pro-China newspa- pers in Hong Kong published cartoons IAN BURUMA of Lai as a monstrous beast wrapped in the American flag. Lai faced physical danger as well. His house in Hong Kong was fire- bombed. He was threatened with machetes, and he was under constant surveillance and followed wherever he went. The Hong Kong newspaper Apple Yet he never gave up. Lai turned up Daily has been forced to close. On the every year to commemorate the day it was shuttered, people queued to Tiananmen Square Massacre. He buy one last copy; a million were marched in pro-democracy demon- printed. The paper was doomed since strations. He visited Britain and the last year, when China’s Communist United States to elicit support for government imposed a harsh National maintaining Hong Kong’s freedoms. Security Law on Hong Kong. Its offices Although he was ridiculed for meeting were raided by the police. Its journal- US Vice President Mike Pence during ists were threatened with violence. Its Trump’s presidency, he went to see the assets were frozen. Salaries could no Democratic Speaker of the House longer be paid. Senior editors and a Nancy Pelosi, too. And his tabloid, chief columnist were arrested. with its peculiar blend of scandal, The paper’s alleged crime was ‘col- gossip, and serious political reporting, lusion with foreign powers,’ or as the was Hong Kong’s indispensable voice former Chief Executive of Hong Kong, of free speech. CY Leung, crassly put it, ‘collusion Now that voice has been silenced, with scum from foreign countries.’ Its and Lai is in prison with others who real crime was its highly critical cov- tried to protect the right of Hong erage of the Communist Party of Kong’s citizens to speak and write China, of the Hong Kong government, freely, to be ruled by law, and to vote and of corrupt local tycoons and poli- for their own autonomous govern- ticians ever since Jimmy Lai founded LEWIS TSE PUI LUNG/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM ment. Their politics are diverse: the paper in 1995. free speech. The British tabloid press, Trump and a devout Catholic convert, well all over China and elsewhere in freedom,’ he said. Martin Lee is a venerable barrister Lai himself has already been in for example, is hardly progressive, he holds rather strident views on the Asia. He became a very rich man. Lai wrote articles calling Li Peng, and moderate liberal democrat, prison for almost a year, charged with high-minded, or principled. superiority of Western Christian civi- Everything changed radically for who carried out the savage crackdown Joshua Wong is a young leftist fire- fraud, collusion with foreign coun- But Apple Daily was principled in lisation over what he sees as the tyran- Lai after the savage crackdown on the in 1989, an ‘idiot’ and ‘the son of a brand, and Lai is a red-baiting, Trump- tries, and taking part in unlawful its way. True, the paper’s tone was nical nature of Chinese civilisation. pro-democracy demonstrations in turtle egg’ (a particularly nasty insult admiring conservative Christian. Yet demonstrations. He could in theory be populist and not always civil. People This opinion is not uncommon among China in 1989. He had supported the among mainland Chinese). Since Li they stand together. When freedom is locked up for life. from mainland China arriving in Christian Chinese political activists, student protesters occupying was rumoured to have been adopted under siege, people cannot afford the Neither Lai, nor his paper, fit the Hong Kong to share in its riches were but it tends to find more backing from Tiananmen Square and sent them free by Zhou Enlai after his own father was narcissism of small differences that high-minded ideal of progressive once compared to ‘locusts.’ But Apple the far right in the West than from T-shirts. When the Chinese authori- killed—a claim Li has denied—calling are tearing apart liberal politics in activism. Apple Daily is partly a sensa- Daily also offered some of Asia’s liberals. ties sent in troops to crush the pro- his parentage into question was an countries where people think democ- tionalist tabloid full of stories about sharpest political reporting and was Lai is what might be described as a tests, killing thousands, Lai became a especially stinging affront. The gov- racy can be taken for granted. the sexual transgressions of movie often the only publication in Hong rough diamond. After fleeing China in vocal opponent of the Communist ernment denounced Lai as a ‘traitor,’ a stars and other local celebrities, sala- Kong that regularly exposed 1959 at the age of 12, in less than 30 regime. He sold his garment ‘black hand,’ a ‘rotten apple,’ and so Buruma is the author, most recently, of cious gossip, and general muckraking. and analysed financial or political years he worked his way up from business, which was threatened with on, and viewed his support of demo- The Churchill Complex: The Curse of In most liberal democracies, such pub- wrongdoing. being a child labourer in a garment closure in China anyway, and started a cratic politicians and activists in Being Special, From Winston and FDR lications are usually seen as the unfor- Lai is a fascinating and complicated factory to become a textile magnate magazine called Next, and then Hong Kong, and his efforts to keep the to Trump and Brexit. tunate price to be paid for the right to figure. An avowed admirer of Donald whose jeans brand, Giordano, sold Apple Daily. ‘Information to me is memory of 1989 alive, as dangerously — Project Syndicate

C M Y K 05 | MONDAY, JUNE 28, 2021 MONEY

FOREX

US Dollar 119.03 Paddy farmers happy as fertiliser arrives in time Euro 142.06 The ban on the transportation of plant nutrients was lifted in the first week of June, just as farmers were preparing to transplant paddy. Pound Sterling 165.20

Japanese Yen 10.74 SANJU PAUDEL said. The local government has fixed LUMBINI, JUNE 27 the price of urea at Rs800 per 50 kg, Chinese Yuan 18.44 DAP at Rs2,250 per 50 kg and potash at Farmer Hari Narayan Chaudhary of Rs1,650 per 50 kg. Qatari Riyal 32.69 Tilottama-13 laughed all the way home This year, despite the delay in the with seven bags of precious fertiliser supply of fertiliser due to the lock- Australian Dollar 90.31 he had finally got from a cooperative. down, paddy transplantation is going Malaysian Ringit 28.64 The paddy transplantation season on in full swing. had set in, and Chaudhary had been Ganesh Prasad Ghimire, assistant Saudi Arab Riyal 31.74 waiting anxiously for more than a manager of the Bhairahawa branch month as fertiliser supply had stopped of Agriculture Inputs Company, said Swiss Franc 129.70 because of the coronavirus lockdown. that cooperatives and farmers had The Covid-19 Crisis Management been stockpiling fertiliser since Thai Bhat 3.74 Operations Centre, which has blanket mid-January. “We don’t see a shortage Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank authorisation to take measures to stop of fertiliser this year.” the spread of Covid-19, had removed Agriculture Inputs Company, which chemical fertiliser from the list of is tasked with distribution in Lumbini PRICE PER TOLA “essential commodities”, barring it province, has a stock of 13,717 tonnes BULLION from being transported when the stay- of chemical fertiliser--5,656 tonnes home order was issued on April 29. of urea, 7,000 tonnes of DAP and Fine Gold Rs 90,700 The decision had affected tens of 762 tonnes of potash, according to thousands of Nepali farmers as they Ghimire. Silver Rs 1,305 feared that there could be a repeat of A shipment of 5,000 tonnes will be last year’s fertiliser shortage, which arriving soon to shore up inventory, SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA made them miss out on a super har- he said, adding that the company had vest since the monsoon rains were sold 8,083 tonnes of urea, 7,621 tonnes good and labour was plentiful, as of DAP and 1,078 tonnes of potash in Nepalis working in various parts Gulmi, Arghakhanchi and Pyuthan as GASOLINE WATCH of India had returned home to escape of mid-June. Most of the fertiliser was the pandemic. consumed in Rupandehi district as But the ban on the transportation there are many farms there. of fertiliser was lifted in the first week Ghimire said that demand for DAP of June, just as farmers were prepar- and potash will decline once the paddy ing to transplant paddy, allowing them transplantation is completed, and to heave a sigh of relief. farmers will want urea next to apply “This time, we got fertiliser,” POST FILE PHOTO to their fields. Chaudhary said. He bought seven The annual demand for chemical fertilisers currently exceeds 700,000 tonnes while official imports reach just around 300,000 tonnes. The government has allocated Rs11 sacks of diammonium phosphate billion in fertiliser subsidies for this (DAP) and one sack of urea, each Sagar Lamsal, a resident of began to rethink about farming as an “We brought 1,400 bags of DAP, 900 fiscal year, up from Rs9 billion in the weighing 50 kg, and applied the plant Sainamaina, said he was able to finish occupation. But this year, there is bags of urea and 150 bags of potash,” last fiscal year. The value of total nutrients on his paddy field. paddy transplantation on time something to cheer about.” he said. “As the current stock is not imports of chemical fertiliser hovers Last year, the government faced this year due to the availability of In many districts last year, farmers sufficient, we are in the process of around Rs19 billion annually. massive criticism for not being able chemical fertiliser and sufficient were forced to buy urea smuggled in bringing more fertiliser,” he added. According to the Agriculture to supply enough chemical fertiliser monsoon rains. from India by paying a black market The cooperative distributes fertil- Ministry, the annual demand for during the peak paddy transplanta- Lamsal, who owns a 5-bigha farm in price of Rs50 per kg following a iser every Tuesday. chemical fertiliser currently stands tion season. Sainamaina-9, said he got two 200 kg nationwide shortage. Mahesh Prasad Harijan, the head at more than 700,000 tonnes while Notwithstanding a severe shortage of urea and DAP and 100 kg of potash Om Prakash Gupta, chairman of of the agriculture division of official imports reach just around of fertiliser, farmers recorded a larger from cooperatives. “We had sufficient Gautam Buddha Swavalamban Sammarimai Rural Municipality, said 300,000 tonnes. harvest backed by the availability of fertiliser, and hope to raise a good crop Savings and Credit Cooperative in that the local government has been Subsidised fertiliser fulfils 40 per- adequate farm workers and rainfall. this year,” he said. Lamsal had planted Sammarimai-6, said they distributed distributing chemical fertiliser cent of the country’s total require- Following the fiasco last year, the gov- paddy without fertiliser last year. sufficient amounts of fertiliser in the through eight cooperatives. “This ment while the rest is met by informal ernment took several measures to “We waited for months last year to ward during this year’s paddy trans- year, farmers did not have to go to the imports or shipments smuggled across make sure it did not happen again. get fertiliser. At one point, we even plantation season. Indian market to buy fertiliser,” he the open border. First post-pandemic cruise ship from US sails away

ASSOCIATED PRESS Disease Control and Prevention. A giant greeting vaccination, Celebrity Cruises asked guests if stops in Costa Maya, Cozumel and Nassau. FORT LAUDERDALE, JUNE 27 was projected on a wall of one of the port build- they would like to share their vaccination status. The ship is led by Captain Kate McCue, the ings: “Someday is here. Welcome back.” Those who did not show or say they are vaccinat- first American woman to captain a cruise ship, The first cruise ship to leave a US port since the Passengers arrived with matching T-shirts ed face additional restrictions. Saturday’s sailing who has more than 1 million followers on TikTok. coronavirus pandemic brought the industry to a that read phrases such as “straight outta vacci- kicks off the cruise lines’ return to business with “You can truly feel the palpable sense of excite- 15-month standstill sailed away on Saturday with nation” and “vaccinated and ready to cruise.” Carnival vessels already scheduled to depart ment and energy amongst the group as we pre- nearly all vaccinated passengers on board. “Words can’t describe how excited we are to be from other ports next month. pare for our welcoming of our first guests,” Celebrity Edge departed Fort Lauderdale, a part of this historic sailing today,” said The seven-night cruise will sail for three days McCue said. “I’ve never honestly seen a group so Florida, at 6 pm with the number of passengers Elizabeth Rosner, 28, who moved from Michigan in the Western Caribbean waters before making excited to get back to work.” limited to about 40 percent capacity, and with to Orlando, Florida, in December 2019 nearly all 1,100 passengers vaccinated against with her fiancé just to be close to the Covid-19. Celebrity Cruises, one of Royal cruise industry’s hub. To comply with Caribbean Cruise’s brands, says 99 percent of the both the CDC’s requirement and a new passengers are vaccinated, well over the 95 per- Florida law banning businesses from cent requirement imposed by the Centres for requiring customers to show proof of

INVITATION FOR SEALED BIDS A. Branch Relocation: S.N. Location Province B. Branch Expansion/Renovation:

S.N. Location Province Eligibility/Criteria for Branch Relocation/Expansion/Renovation: • • • Documentation Requirement: • • • • • • •

C M Y K MONDAY, JUNE 28, 2021 | 06 SPORTS | MEDLEY Djokovic ready to be first among equals at Wimbledon Sri Lanka fans abandon players after The winner of Australian Open and French Open this season will ramp up his assault on the record of 20 Grand Slams held jointly by Federer and Nadal. England humiliation AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Bautista Agut, a surprise semi-finalist LONDON, JUNE 27 two years ago, has reached further AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE than the last 16. COLOMBO, JUNE 27 Novak Djokovic targets a record-equal- Daniil Medvedev has made only the ling 20th major and sixth Wimbledon third round but was buoyed Saturday Disgruntled Sri Lanka cricket fans title from Monday which will edge by a first grass court title in Mallorca. launched a campaign to shun their him tantalisingly closer to becoming Dominic Thiem has withdrawn due to team on social media after they only the third man in history to com- a wrist injury. Alexander Zverev had a slumped to a dismal Twenty20 series plete a calendar Grand Slam. best last-16 run in 2017 but was a first- drubbing in England. The world number one has already round loser two years ago while England recorded a thumping won a ninth Australian Open and sec- Andrey Rublev has yet to get past the 89-run win at Southampton on ond French Open this season. That second round. Saturday to sweep the contests 3-0—a has put him halfway to emulating Don Of the remainder of the top 10, fifth consecutive series defeat for Sri Budge (1937) and Rod Laver (1962 and French Open runner-up Stefanos Lanka in the shortest format. As the 1969) in sweeping all four majors in Tsitsipas and Matteo Berrettini are hashtag #unfollowcricketers began to the same year. It is a feat even his clos- Djokovic’s most likely threats. trend on Facebook on Sunday, thou- est rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Tsitsipas made the last 16 in 2018 sands of fans boycotted the Facebook Nadal have never managed. before exiting in the first round two pages of vice-captain Kusal Mendis “Everything is possible,” said years ago. The Greek, however, is one and opener Dhanushka Gunathilaka, 34-year-old Djokovic after winning the of the form players of 2021, winning the newscenter.lk website said. French Open earlier this month when titles in Monte Carlo and Lyon before “The aim of the campaign is to asked if the Golden Slam of all four forcing Djokovic to recover from two unfollow failed Sri Lankan cricketers majors and Olympic gold was a realis- sets down in the Roland Garros final. from their verified profiles on tic target. Djokovic memorably cap- Queen’s Club champion Matteo Facebook, Instagram and Twitter,” the tured a fifth Wimbledon in 2019, sav- Berrettini is also a dangerman for popular website said. Fans were also ing two championship points to defeat Djokovic. The Italian made the last 16 sharing memes asking each other not Federer in the longest ever final at the in 2019 where it took Federer to stop to watch the national team on televi- All England Club at four hours and his progress. He was also the first man sion. “Unfollow all these failed cricket- 57 minutes. to win the Queen’s title on debut since ers,” said Ahmed Inaamulhaq on The Serb was deprived of defending Boris Becker in 1985—the German Twitter. “Don’t let them have the his title in 2020 when Wimbledon was went on to win a maiden Wimbledon social media attention if they can’t cancelled due to the pandemic. He has just weeks later. perform for the national team. They won seven of the last 11 Slams as he Andy Murray, the 2013 and 2016 do not deserve massive fan bases.” ramps up his assault on the record of champion, will hope to ride a national There was no immediate reaction 20 majors held jointly by Federer and wave of emotion at least into the sec- from any of the senior players, but Nadal. Djokovic starts his defence on ond week. But the injury-plagued some observers posted that the latest Monday against British world number Briton, a former world number one, is performance in England was one of 250 Jack Draper who was born just six down at 119 in the rankings and has the team’s worst in three decades. “I miles (9.5km) from the All England won just two matches all season. have been watching cricket matches Club. “I’m delighted that I can be back since 1993 but I have never seen such a Nadal, the Wimbledon champion in AP/RSS competing here again,” said Murray weak Sri Lankan cricket team,” sports 2008 and 2010, has already withdrawn The 34-year-old Novak Djokovic will open his Wimbledon title defense against 19-year-old British wildcard entrant Jack Draper on Monday. who hasn’t played singles at reporter Manjula Basnayake said on from this year’s tournament, still Wimbledon since 2017. “I’m most Twitter. “They can’t hit the ball. scarred by the bruising loss to surgeries in 2020, won the last of his “Truthfully, I don’t think my goal draw to Djokovic, begins his campaign excited about being in front of a big #SLvENG.” Djokovic in the French Open semi-fi- eight Wimbledons in 2017 and the was to play till, whatever, 39 or 40 or on Tuesday against France’s Adrian crowd and the fans and everything. England’s 180 proved well beyond nals. Eight-time winner Federer, most recent of his 20 majors in more,” said Federer on Saturday. “It Mannarino against whom he holds a That’s really something that I’ve Sri Lanka, who were all out for 91 as meanwhile, will be 40 in August and Australia in 2018. The Swiss star has was maybe more like 35 maybe I was 6-0 head-to-head advantage. The rest missed a lot.” Sixteen years on from left-arm quick David Willey took 3-27. won just one match on grass at Halle lost three finals to Djokovic at the All thinking, which was already a high of the current top 10 have endured his debut at the event, Murray faces England and Sri Lanka meet again in the build-up to Wimbledon. England Club—2014, 2015 and the epic number at the time.” relatively mediocre Wimbledon Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili in the in the first of three one-day interna- Federer, who underwent two knee 2019 clash. Federer, in the opposite half of the records. Only 33-year-old Roberto first round. tionals at Chester-le-Street on Tuesday. Lewis guides West Indies to Copa upgrading Maracana pitch for final amid criticism comfortable win over South Africa ASSOCIATED PRESS geted for irregular patches and sink- doubts about the Maracana pitch for and said: ‘Celebrating yesterday’s goal SAO PAULO, JUNE 27 ing areas on the pitch. the decider. “If I talk about the bad on the ‘beautiful’ pitch of the REUTERS Miller off Tabraiz Shamsi (1-27). Brazil’s coach Tite recently joined pitch (of the Nilton Santos) I will be Engenhao.” “Please, fix the pitch,” he LONDON, JUNE 27 Chris Gayle (32 not out from 24 South American football body Neymar, Lionel Messi and others who fined,” Tite said in a press conference added. Peruvian goalkeeper Pedro balls), batting at No 3, steered the CONMEBOL said on Saturday it is attacked the organisation for the poor ahead of Sunday’s Group ‘B’ match Gallese agreed. “The pitch was in ter- Opener Evin Lewis smashed 71 from home team to the win, and with the upgrading the Maracana stadium pitch of the Nilton Santos, which was against Ecuador in Goiania. “It will rible conditions. You couldn’t take a 35 balls as West Indies cruised to an second match to be played at the same pitch for the Copa America final amid used for track and field in the 2016 happen again. The Maracana will not goal kick. The ball sinks,” he said. eight-wicket victory over South Africa venue on Sunday, the tourists will criticism of other fields of play in the Olympics and is regularly used by be good until the final. The time is too Three days earlier, Messi said “the with 30 balls to spare in the first have to quickly come up with vastly tournament. The decider will be on local club Botafogo, currently playing little (to improve). You can write that.” pitch did not help much” after Twenty20 International at the improved bowling plans. July 10. in the country’s second division. Hours after Tite’s press conference Argentina’s 1-1 draw with Chile in the National Cricket Stadium in St South Africa’s innings was Weeks ago, after Brazil became After Thursday’s 2-1 win against CONMEBOL published a video show- same stadium. His coach, Lionel George’s, Grenada on Saturday. anchored by an unbeaten half-century last-minute hosts of Copa America, Colombia, Tite said the pitch of the ing improvements it is making on half Scaloni, was even harsher: “It is a After being sent into bat, South from Rassie van der Dussen, who organisers scheduled seven matches arena was “unacceptable.” of the Maracana’s pitch. Agronomist pitch for another sport, not to play Africa managed a below-par 160-6 in amassed 56 from 38 balls. The only for the Nilton Santos stadium in Rio CONMEBOL fined him $5,000 the next Maristela Kuhn told the football football.” No major improvements their 20 overs on a good batting wick- other score of significance came from precisely because the pitch at the day for criticising the organisation of body’s objective is “good results in were made since. et, and the home side reached their opener Quinton de Kock (37 from 24 Maracana was worn out. But criticism the tournament, which was trans- very few days.” “This is great because Brazilian media reported on target with ease to go 1-0 up in the five- balls). Left-arm spinner Fabian Allen has only grown since the start of the ferred to Brazil after Colombia and the pitch will be only used for one Saturday that the country’s football match series. Lewis smashed seven stifled the visitors’ scoring as he took tournament. The Arena Pantanal in Argentina withdrew from hosting due (Copa America) match,” she said. federation is trying to convince sixes in a thrilling display of power 2-18 in his four overs to halt their Cuiaba, which will hold one more to the Covid-19 pandemic. After Brazil’s 4-0 win against Peru CONMEBOL to move its quarterfinals hitting before he was caught by David momentum after a fast start. group stage match, has also been tar- On Saturday Tite again raised on June 17, Neymar went to Instagram match to the Arena Pantanal. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) **** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** Things are slow to start this week, Aries. Lean into Spend some time in your shell today, Cancer. You’re Monday’s skies make it hard to kick things into high You’re looking to get productive under Monday’s the relaxed pace, as the moon coasts through mental- likely to be in a slow-paced, reflective mood—as the gear, Libra. Let yourself coast, as the future-oriented cosmic landscape, Capricorn. Yet, the logical ly-minded Aquarius. Luna’s lack of contacts makes moon travels through heady Aquarius. Luna’s lack Aquarius moon focuses your efforts on creative out- Aquarius moon seems to lack contacts that help get for an easygoing, but somewhat aimless day. of contacts renders a low-key day, so embrace the lets and pleasure-seeking. Save any productive things underway. Turn your focus towards small aimlessness and slowed down pace. action for the second half of the day. efforts and the maintenance of ongoing projects.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** Pick up any slack that’s gathered around your cur- Send your focus towards the close relationships in Your home life is all-important today, Scorpio. Rather Don’t expect to bolt forward into the week ahead, rent career projects, Taurus. Now’s the time to send your world, Leo. The moon floats through communi- than rushing into the week ahead, aim to start slow Aquarius. Monday’s skies offer up slow and steady your focus towards maintenance and small fixes, as cation-concerned Aquarius today, helping you hone and make sure you have a grounded emotional foun- energy, as the nurturing moon finishes her stay in the moon roams through logical Aquarius. Today, in on the changing terrain of your love life. dation. Spend some time connecting to family to feel your sign. Send your energy towards your body, and don’t push yourself too hard. your best. unexpressed feelings to make the most of today.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) **** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) **** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** As a Gemini, you’re eternally curious about life. Let In true Virgo fashion, you’re looking to indulge in Send your attention to your mental health today, Monday’s skies are mostly aimless, Pisces. Luna yourself lean into that open-minded approach to the some productive efforts. The logical Aquarius moon Sagittarius. Where can you slow down and find a spends the day in heady Aquarius without any con- world today. It’s an ideal time to tap into educational sends your focus towards any looming errands on better sense of equilibrium in that arena? Monday’s tact-rendering a low-key, low-energy day. Aim to ventures or seek out a routine-breaking adventure. your to-do list. Luna’s lack of cosmic action suggests relaxed cosmic atmosphere makes an ideal day for catch up on rest and spend time in solitude. small fixes and low-key maintenance. journaling, conversing, and meditation. CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K MONDAY, JUNE 28, 2021 | 07

Czech Republic stun Netherlands to reach quarters Austria scare gives Italy Goals from Holes and Schick after De Ligt was sent off in the 55th minute secure the Czechs a last eight clash against Denmark on July 3. welcome wake-up call

REUTERS record of 1,143 minutes. ROME, JUNE 27 Italy’s subdued perfor- mance did not stem the By the end of the night, it enthusiasm that has grown was all smiles in the Italy in the country since they camp. opened Euro 2020 with a 3-0 But behind the beaming thumping of Turkey in grin of Federico Chiesa or Rome. the relieved expression of Gazzetta dello Sport’s manager Roberto Mancini front page proclaimed the was an awareness that their team “Lions of Italy”, while Euro 2020 last-16 clash with Corriere dello Sport issued Austria was too close for a plea to the players: “Don’t comfort. wake us up!” But beyond the Few expected the hype, there is a belief that Austrians to put up much of Italy’s fright may prove a fight against an Azzurri helpful for the rest of the side that glided through the tournament. group stage, winning all “Wins like this help a three games without con- team to grow, to find more ceding a goal. self-assurance, to be aware But Italy toiled to a 0-0 of their abilities. This was draw, and had VAR to thank an exam, and we passed it,” for chalking off a Marko former Premier League- Arnautovic goal for offside winning Leicester City in the second half before manager Claudio Ranieri goals from substitutes told Gazzetta dello Sport. Chiesa and Matteo Pessina The sentiment was shared earned a 2-1 win in extra inside the squad. time. “We knew that it was not It may not have been a easy. We did well to never vintage Italian perfor- give up, especially in the dif- mance, but it continued ficult moments. This will their remarkable run under help us be better when we Mancini. Italy set a new face our next matches,” national record of 31 match- Donnarumma said. AP/RSS es unbeaten, stretching Mancini even went as far Players of Czech Republic celebrate after Tomas Holes scored their first goal during the Euro 2020 round of 16 football match against Netherlands at the Ferenc Puskas stadium in Budapest, Hungary on Sunday. back to September 2018, as to say he thought the while clocking up a record Austrians were provided a AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE clad fans in a packed Puskas Arena, the tacks. Tomas Soucek, who took over the Midway through the half, with the 12th consecutive victory. tougher test than they will BUDAPEST, JUNE 27 only Euro 2020 venue not to limit stadium captain’s armband from the injured Czechs scenting blood, Pavel Kaderabek They finally conceded a goal get in the next round against capacity as an anti-coronavirus precaution, Vladimir Darida, glanced a dangerous should have got the opener while in space after 1,168 minutes (19 one of the tournament The Czech Republic reached the Euro 2020 it was the livelier Dutch who dominated the header just wide at full stretch midway in the area but saw his shot blocked. hours, 28 minutes) at the favourites. quarter-finals Sunday after shocking opening exchanges. through the period. Then 68 minutes in a curled free-kick death, but goalkeeper Time will tell, but for now 10-man Netherlands 2-0 in their last-16 tie On eight minutes a floated cross by Then Antonin Barak, fed by Lukas from the right by Barak was headed across Gianluigi Donnarumma Italy go on with more belief in Budapest thanks to second-half strikes Danny Blind evaded Tomas Vaclik in the Masopust, blasted a left-footed effort high goal by Tomas Kalas to the unmarked Holes still surpassed Dino Zoff ’s than ever after showing by Tomas Holes and Patrik Schick. Czech goal but De Ligt’s header across the and wide when through on goal approach- who had time to place his header and spark previous Italian clean sheet they can win the hard way. A header by Holes and clinical finish by goalmouth was sliced well wide by ing the break. bedlam among the Czech fans. Schick came after Matthijs de Ligt was sent Memphis Depay. Early in the second period the advantage Ten minutes from the end Schick sealed off in the 55th minute, securing the effi- Then Denzel Dumfries, raiding on both swung decisively the Czechs way when De the win with his fourth goal of Euro 2020, Today’s Fixture cient Czechs a deserved berth in the last wings, was released on the left soon after Ligt was sent off by the Russian referee slotting home with his left foot at the near eight against Denmark in Baku on July 3. but, with Vaclik again flailing, couldn’t Sergei Karasev after a VAR review. post after the rampant Holes pounced on a Having emerged as Group C winners direct his header into the open goal. Bayer Leverkusen striker Schick, scorer loose ball and laid on a clever cut-back. with a 100 percent record after playing all But after soaking up the early pressure of all three Czech goals in the group stage, In truth, a man down, the hapless Dutch three of their games in Amsterdam, Frank Jaroslav Silhavy’s well-organised side, who put De Ligt under pressure, prompting the never looked like catching the Czechs who de Boer’s fancied Netherlands were on the qualified as one of the four best third- Juventus defender to blatantly knock the were comfortable at the end, chalking up road for the first time in the tournament. placed sides, began posing threats of their ball away with his hand to deny a goalscor- their fourth straight win over the Oranje in Roared on by boisterous ranks of orange- own with a series of dangerous counter-at- ing opportunity. front of jubilant fans.

Players to Watch

Sergio Busquets (Spain) Bruno Petkovic (Croatia) Croatia vs Spain

The La Roja captain missed the The Dinamo Zagreb forward Bruno 19:45 NST, Monday first two group games against Petkovic scored 14 goals for his club France vs Switzerland Sweden and Poland due to positive last season. It is his playing style that 00:45 NST, Tuesday Covid-19 test—both of which ended makes him key for club and country. in draws. But the return of the He loves to involve his fellow offen- Barcelona defensive midfielder has sive players in attack and isn’t just a brought balance to a team that regulation goalscorer. Petkovic uses Results lacked leadership and struggled his strength to good effect and is good with poor finishes and a shaky in hold-up plays. Petkovic is central Italy 2-1 Austria defence as the team have found to the way Croatia play in the Netherlands 0-2 Czech Republic scoring touch again. final third. Spain click into gear but Croatia test awaits REUTERS equaliser in the 1-1 draw against Croatian federation had tried to get COPENHAGEN, JUNE 27 Czech Republic and also scored late in him to switch nationalities. “There the 3-1 win over Scotland, set up by a was some interest and I have a lot of Spain have finally clicked into gear deadly corner from 35-year-old Modric. affection for Croatia, but it was always after a sloppy start at Euro 2020 but Spain’s players know Modric all too my dream to play for Spain,” he said. will face their sternest test yet in the well after nine magical seasons with Spain may benefit from a smoother last 16 from Croatia, led by a sensa- Real Madrid although they will not be pitch at Copenhagen’s Parken tional Luka Modric who keeps raging able to count on any inside informa- Stadium, after complaining about the against the dying of the light. tion on the midfielder as Luis Enrique surface at Seville’s La Cartuja. Being The champagne football certainly decided not to include any Real play- away from a sometimes impatient flowed in Spain’s 5-0 win over Slovakia ers in his squad. home crowd could also be a boon. as coach Luis Enrique had promised Spain were beaten 2-1 by Croatia in after dull draws with Sweden and the Euro 2016 group stage and then Poland but his side had the luck of Ivan Perisic will hammered them 6-0 in the UEFA facing an accommodating opponent Nations League in 2018, only to lose 3-2 and Croatia will not be so generous. miss the Spain game away from home two months later. “In every sport they play, Croatians The 2018 World Cup runners-up are always very competitive, they are and possibly the rest Croatia will also be missing centre lion-hearted and give everything for back Dejan Lovren through suspen- their country,” said Spain forward of the Euro 2020. sion, with Duje Caleta-Car set to take Dani Olmo, who spent five years at his place. Croatia’s premier club Dinamo Caleta-Car said Croatia must Zagreb. “He is their motor, the heartbeat of improve defensively after conceding “They really appreciate every objec- Croatia who conducts their orchestra. in each of their three group matches. tive they achieve. They have proven All their play goes through his feet,” “We’ve let in some soft goals as we themselves in this Euros and in other Olmo added. “But Croatia is not just haven’t been compact enough. Against tournaments, they thrive in difficult Modric.” Spain we have to keep it airtight in the situations. There’s no favourite in this Olmo also said that unlike Sweden, midfield and at the back in order to fixture, it’s anyone’s game.” Poland and Slovakia, Croatia are like- close them down,” he told reporters on Croatia will need the 2018 Ballon ly to come out and attack Spain and Saturday. d’Or winner Modric at his best, as not just defend, which could play into Midfielder Mateo Kovacic added: winger Ivan Perisic was ruled out of their hands after struggling in their “They know we are a good team too so the clash and possibly the rest of the first two group games. it should be a cracking encounter. tournament after testing positive Olmo, who moved from Barcelona’s Spain have phenomenal midfield play- AFP/RSS for Covid-19 and going into a 10-day academy to Dinamo in 2015 before ers, but we can match them in every Players of Switzerland take part in a training session at the Tre Fontane sports centre in Rome, on the isolation. signing for Bundesliga outfit RB department. We have to take the game eve of their European Championship 2020 round of 16 football match against France. The Swiss are Perisic saved Croatia with his Leipzig in 2020, also revealed that the to them.” hoping to end a run of three consecutive exits in the round of 16 at major tournaments.

C M Y K MONDAY, JUNE 28, 2021 | 08 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 Liam Neeson’s back, fighting Frog whisperer: Australian scientist speaks to frogs, on thin ice—literally fears their silence Neeson has a way of lending his rough-hewn dignity to even the most perfunctory of plots. A biology professor and conservationist at Australia’s University of Newcastle has mastered imitating and understanding the croaks and whistles of frogs. REUTERS Professor Michael Mahony holds a Green and Golden Bell Frog as a PhD candidate and research assistant Rebecca Sceto looks on inside a laboratory at the University of Newcastle, Australia.

REUTERS became aware just how vulnerable SYDNEY some of our frogs were. We need to be looking at our habitats and ask- ading through ing what is wrong.” a moonlit Beyond working to preserve pond on amphibian habitats across

AP/RSS Australia’s Australia, Mahony has helped to east coast develop a cryopreservation meth- JOCELYN NOVECK one wrong move sends you But this is April, when the ice there’s lots, and it gets thinner and talking to od to help bring frogs back from straight into the freezing abyss. roads leading to the mine are melt- thinner—which one could say of Wfrogs makes Michael Mahony feel the edge of extinction by “bank- t’s intriguing to imagine Luckily, Neeson has a way of ing. No trucker would attempt the plot if one wanted to grab like a kid again. ing” genetic material. Liam Neeson’s management lending his rough-hewn dignity to such a suicidal mission. low-hanging fruit off the tree of The 70-year-old biology profes- “What we’ve done in the face of team, contemplating his even the most perfunctory of Well, almost no trucker. potential puns. sor and conservationist at the problems of catastrophic loss next film. Perhaps “Uber plots—because this one, it must be Mike responds to an alert from More low-hanging fruit is Australia’s University of of species is to establish the first Express”? Maybe “Lyfted said, is perfunctory. All you Jim Goldenrod, organiser of the offered in the lyrics of the Johnny Newcastle has mastered imitating genome bank for Australian Up”? need to understand are three ele- impossible rescue, offering his Cash song on the country-infused and understanding the shrills, frogs,” he said. IThere’s just something symbiot- ments: Good guys, bad guys—no driving skills (yes, Neeson still has soundtrack: “All I do is drive, croaks and whistles of frogs. Mahony also contributed with ic about Neeson and vehicles—not subtlety here—and the fact that a special set of skills) and brother drive, drive,” it goes (sung by “Sometimes you forget to work other scientists to a study by the only cars, but planes (‘Non-Stop’), ice is very slippery, very cold, and Gurty (Marcus Thomas) as an ace Jason Isbell here). “Try to stay because, you know, you just want World Wide Fund for Nature suburban commuter trains (‘The has a tendency to melt in sun- mechanic. The duo is soon hired, alive.” And while you might be to talk to the frogs for a while and (WWF) that found nearly three Commuter’), even snowploughs shine. Got it? joined on the mission by thinking back to these lyrics as it’s sort of good fun,” Mahony told billion Australian animals were (‘Cold Pursuit’). In this latest instalment of the Goldenrod himself (Laurence you watch Neeson’s Mike do just Reuters from a pond in killed or displaced by bushfires in Neeson vehicular canon, written Fishburne, sadly underused here) that—drive, drive, drive—you Cooranbong, New South Wales. 2019 and 2020, including 51 million and directed by Jonathan and Tantoo (Amber Midthunder), might also focus on the “alive” He is thrilled every time they frogs. Hensleigh, Neeson is Mike a feisty young driver for whom the part. call back, but fears frogs are Mahony’s passion for conserva- Neeson’s durability McCann, a long-haul trucker job is more personal than finan- That’s because Neeson’s dura- increasingly at risk of going tion has also rubbed off on his who’s also the caretaker of his cial—her brother’s trapped in the bility as an action hero seems silent. students. One of them, Simon as an action hero brother, Gurty, a war veteran suf- mine. more remarkable as the years go Australia has about 240 frog spe- Clulow, named a newly discovered seems more fering from PTSD. Mike can’t man- There’s one more passenger in on. Yes, he’s older and brittler and cies, but around 30 percent of frog “Mahony’s Toadlet” in his age to hold onto a job very long— the three-rig convoy: an insurance paler here, and there’s not even a them are threatened by climate honour in 2016. remarkable as the he’s had 11 jobs in eight years, and guy from the company that runs hint of a love interest—unless you change, water pollution, habitat Some students have taken up we watch him get fired from his the mine, apparently needed for count Mike’s believable love for loss, the chytrid fungus, and in a his technique of calling and talk- years go on. latest after he decks a guy making his actuarial skills (Benjamin his brother, the only developed variety of other ways. Globally ing to frogs as well. fun of his brother’s war-induced Walker, whose considerable acting relationship in the script. But, just frogs are the most threatened of “I’ve never been into yelling at aphasia. But his luck may be about talents aren’t really mined here, if like Mike, he gets the job done, and all vertebrates, Mahony said. them to find out where they are,” And now in ‘The Ice Road,’ this to change. you’ll excuse the pun). he’s the reason to watch this. Over his career, Mahony has University of Newcastle doctoral durable action hero improbably A methane accident causes a In a film that’s big on great scen- — Associated Press described 15 new species of frogs. student and frog researcher pushing 70 is at the wheel of a big diamond mine to explode up in ery but skimps on character devel- He has also seen some wiped out. Samantha Wallace said. ol’ truck—not your normal truck, remote Manitoba, Canada, killing opment and backstory, we know “Probably the saddest part of my “But it definitely does work, so it The Ice Road but a 65,000-pound rig. And not on eight miners and trapping 26. from the outset who the good guys Liam Neeson, Amber Midthunder, Laurence career is that as a young person, I does pay back, especially when regular roads, of course. On ice There’s a 30-hour oxygen window, are—especially Mike and Gurty. Fishburne Goldenrod, Benjamin Walker discovered a frog and within two you’re trying to find some of these roads, meaning frozen lakes or but rescuers first need a wellhead. We also know soon enough who Director: Jonathan Hensleigh years of it being discovered that species that are really amongst the oceans, where the spring thaw The only way to get the wellhead the bad guys are; they’re cartoon- Produced by: Bart Rosenblatt; Shivani Rawat frog went extinct,” Mahony said. undergrowth and they’re not really brings treacherous conditions and to the mine is by truck. ish as can be. As for the ice, well, “So very early in my career, I obvious.” Daytime Emmys salute late TV icons Alex Trebek, Larry King The award ceremony was a family affair, with the children of Trebek and Larry King accepting honours on their late father’s behalf.

BETH HARRIS LOS ANGELES Alex Trebek, the he Daytime Emmys beloved host was turned into a love let- ter to Alex Trebek, nominated for a honouring the beloved ‘Jeopardy!’ host and record 32 times the show seven months during his career. Tafter his death. Trebek won as game show host and “Jeopardy!” earned game show honours on Friday night. “This last season was a testa- ABC’s ‘General Hospital’ ment to his love for broadcasting,” claimed four trophies, including Chance King said. “As much as he best drama. Maurice Benard took is gone, he is with us in our hearts lead actor honours for the third forever.” time as Sonny Corinthos. Marla Adams and Max Gail won Jacqueline MacInnes Wood of supporting actor trophies. CBS’ ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ Adams plays Dina Mergeron on won as lead actress, adding to her CBS’ ‘The Young and the Restless.’ trophy from two years ago for her The 82-year-old actor accepted at role as Steffy Forrester. home with the Emmy statue on a It was a family affair, with the table behind her. ‘Y&R’ also won children of Trebek and Larry the best writing category. King accepting on their late Gail appeared on stage while father’s behalf. AP/RSS socially distanced because of the Trebek’s son, Matt, and daugh- Matt Trebek, left, and Emily Trebek, children of the late Alex Trebek, accept the award for outstanding game show host for ‘Jeopardy!’ on his behalf during the 48th Daytime coronavirus pandemic to accept ter, Emily, stood behind the host’s Emmy Awards. for his role as Mike Corbin on podium on the quiz show’s set. ‘General Hospital.’ It was the Trebek died of pancreatic cancer his battle with cancer. He was so “He was more than just a game beating out daytime newcomer “I got to talk with him a few 78-year-old actor’s second trophy in November at age 80. fortunate that he was able to do show host, he was a legend, a Drew Barrymore, among others, years ago, and he expressed to me in the supporting category, having “For as long as we can what he loved, and we know that towering figure,” Richards said in and the show won in the entertain- how proud he was to be a won in 2019. ‘GH’ also won direct- remember, he was always so proud he not once took it for granted.” pre-taped remarks. “He believed ment talk category. Canadian,” Trudeau said. “I had ing honours. to be a part of ‘Jeopardy!’, to work It was Trebek’s third straight that ‘Jeopardy!’ was more than Trebek was remembered in a to tell him that all Canadians are ‘Red Table Talk,’ featuring Jada on a show that was based on victory and sixth overall in the just a game show. He loved it special tribute segment, along incredibly proud that he’s one of Pinkett Smith, her daughter, knowledge, risk and the chal- category. He was nominated for a because it stood for facts, competi- with Regis Philbin and King. us as well.” Willow, and her mother, Adrienne lenge—people had to think,” record 32 times during his career. tion, and the celebration of intelli- Philbin died last July at age 88. King, who died in January at Banfield-Norris, won for the Trebek’s son said. “He loved every Executive producer Mike gence.” Among those honouring Trebek in age 87, won as an informative talk informative talk show. bit of it.” Richards dedicated the best game Kelly Clarkson’s eponymous taped comments were US first lady show host for his eponymous show Sheryl Underwood of ‘The Talk’ Emily added, “He was always show trophy to Trebek, who host- talk show earned two trophies. Jill Biden and Canadian Prime on Ora TV. His sons, Chance and hosted the show. excited to go to work, even during ed for 37 years. The singer was honoured as host, Minister Justin Trudeau. Cannon, accepted. —Associated Press

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