WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXIX No. 116 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in , , Bharatpur and 35.0 C 12.5 C Monday, June 14, 2021 | 31-02-2078 Dipayal Jomsom Authorities appear clueless about how to ease or lift lockdown Prohibitory orders currently in place in the Valley have been extended by a week and the rest of country follows the model. Little else is being done to check virus spread.

ARJUN POUDEL place. We have also held discussions KATHMANDU, JUNE 13 with various stakeholders from health, tourism and industry minis- For Nepali authorities, maintaining tries,” Janak Raj Dahal, spokesman the status quo is the name of the for the Home Ministry, told the Post. game. “All the districts will follow the modal- Even after 50 days of lockdown, ity of the three districts of Kathmandu which they have been calling “prohib- Valley with minor changes according itory orders”, imposed to curb the to their needs.” spread of the coronavirus, they are Experts, however, are sceptical. yet to devise any modality on how to According to them, ad-hoc decisions loosen or lift it. Nor is there any plan- are not going to work and a studied ning yet. decision is a must. On Sunday, “Lockdown is being used by the authorities announced that the ongo- government as the one and only meas- ing lockdown would continue for one ure to control the spread of coronavi- more week. By that time, the Valley rus infections,” Dr Krishna Man will have been under lockdown for Shakya, vice-president of almost two months. Public Health Association, told the Some minor changes, however, have Post. “It has become an easy means for been made to the existing modality. authorities, even if it is a nightmare Chief district officers of for the public.” Kathmandu Valley said on Sunday Studies have shown lockdown is a that shops selling essential supplies, measure that provides an opportunity as well as bookshops and stationery for the authorities to prepare against shops, would be allowed to open until the pandemic by expanding testing, POST PHOTO: KESHAV THAPA 11am. Agricultural work also will providing training for health workers, Children play football in the drizzle at Teku in the Capital on Sunday. According to the weather office, monsoon has started in the country with several places receiving rainfall. be allowed besides movements of increasing hospital beds and arrang- people on foot. Authorities have also ing other necessary equipment like decided to allow printing presses to ventilators. A lockdown is meant to operate till 11am, shops selling break the chain of infections so that construction materials from 4pm authorities can set up more isolation onwards and online and takeaway ser- and quarantine facilities and launch INSIDE Political uncertainty puts Nepal’s vices for home delivery of essential awareness drives, among others. goods until 7pm. After ramping up tests following “We have taken the decision after the sudden rise in coronavirus cases, Oxygen manufacturers seek to holding a series of meetings with all the number of tests of late has come resume supply to factories federal process on a bumpy road chief district officers of all the dis- down. tricts where prohibitory orders are in >> Continued on page 2 KATHMANDU: Sagarmatha Oxygen Private Limited on Friday distributed around 70 cylinders of oxygen to a Confusion created by KP Sharma Oli in Kathmandu few glass factories even though the government is yet to formally lift the has percolated into the provinces and it endangers restriction on the distribution of oxy- gen for non-medical purposes. In late implementation of federalism, experts say. April, amid surging Covid-19 cases, the government had instructed oxy- gen manufacturers to supply bottled oxygen only to hospitals while indi- viduals could get oxygen based on the recommendation of hospitals. But since late May, the number of daily Covid-19 cases started coming down, leading to a drop in demand for oxy- gen from hospitals. Increased oxygen plants and concentrators supplied to hospitals also reduced the demand for oxygen to be supplied by private sec- tor suppliers. (Details on Pg 3)

Traders selling non-essential goods getting wiped out KATHMANDU: With the lockdown get- ting longer and longer, owners of small businesses selling “non-essen- tial” goods are having the worst time, as they are totally shut down and RSS their scanty savings are gone. Petty Prithvi Subba Gurung’s assessment appears to be right, but it came a bit too late. traders say that the second lockdown has been harder for them than the BINOD GHIMIRE except in Province 2, have resigned first one. The government issued pro- KATHMANDU, JUNE 13 themselves before their masters in hibitory orders for the first time on Kathmandu. April 29 after the second wave of A day after losing the chief minister’s Province 2 is the only government Covid-19 started spreading disas- chair in Gandaki, Prithvi Subba to challenge the federal government trously, and it has been extending Gurung, a CPN-UML politician and against the latter’s move to centralise them a little at a time since then. On close aide to party chair and Prime power. It moved the Supreme Court Sunday, the chief district officers of Minister KP Sharma Oli, said on countering the centre on some occa- Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur Sunday that federalism was under sions. decided to stretch the lockdown, attack from all around. However, when it comes to its own which would have ended on June 15, Talking to media persons, Gurung performance, Province 2 also has by another week by loosening some also said it was unfortunate that polit- failed on different fronts. It is the only of the restrictions. (Details on Pg 5) ical shenanigans from the centre province which has yet to decide its [Kathmandu] have percolated into provincial headquarters and the provinces. name. Province 1 too is yet to have a Sterling ignites England’s Gurung’s assessment appears to be name, but it has finalised its head- Euro campaign right, but it came a bit too late—after quarters. he lost his office to ’ Analysts say though Nepal adopted LONDON: Raheem Sterling ignited Krishna Chandra Nepali after a high- a new constitution and federal set-up, England’s Euro 2020 campaign as the ly charged political drama in Gandaki politicians who played a crucial role Manchester City forward’s clinical on Saturday. in achieving those failed to institu- finish sealed a 1-0 win against Croatia Gurung, however, admitted that tionalise them. At present, both the in their Group D opener on Sunday. some politicians’ self-centric attitude constitution and federalism are facing Gareth Southgate’s side were strug- led to the fall of his government. a grave danger, according to them. gling to break down Croatia until Saturday’s government change in Som Lal Subedi, a former chief Sterling struck in the second half at Gandaki, installing a Congress leader secretary who holds a PhD in fiscal sun-baked Wembley. The 26-year-old’s as chief minister, may come as a decentralisation, says provincial first goal at a major tournament was delight for some, as it also marks a governments failed to demonstrate the perfect riposte to critics who setback for Oli. But observers say it their efficiency, just as the federal gov- questioned Southgate’s decision to carries a deep meaning when it comes ernment continued to put a tight leash select him instead of Jack Grealish. to Nepal’s federal system. on them. England were hampered by a lack of It has been six years since the coun- “I see problems on both sides,” cutting edge until Sterling came to try adopted a new constitution that Subedi told the Post. the rescue. (Details on Pg 7) guaranteed Nepal as a federal, demo- The constitution has explicitly cratic republic. The 2017 elec- defined the relations between the var- tions installed three tiers of gov- ious levels of government. ernment—one federal govern- Articles 232 (1) states that the rela- ment, seven provincial govern- tions between the federation, provinc- ments and 753 local govern- es and local governments shall be ments. based on the principles of coopera- But more than three years tion, co-existence and coordination. since, politicians in Kathmandu, But most of the provinces ever especially those in power, still since they came into existence appear seem to be considering federal- to have functioned in such a way that ism as a top-down approach, they were as though the administra- ignoring what is clearly laid out tive units of Kathmandu, just like in the constitution. And those what Oli once said. leading provincial governments, >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021 | 02 NATIONAL Daily earners hit hardest by Authorities appear clueless about prohibitory orders in how to ease or lift lockdown >> CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 and the COVAX facility led by district officers and businesspeople The workers have no source of income and have received no relief from the authorities the World Health Organization. make decisions on lockdown without Many believe testing has decreased “No visible work has been done by taking suggestions from experts in the and social organisations during the ongoing second coronavirus wave. overall because the number of new the authorities to contain the spread related fields?” infections has declined lately in the of the infections,” said Shakya. “The Officials concede that infections Valley. focus of all three tiers of government could rise if restrictions are lifted. SANJU PAUDEL IN LUMBINI & Experts, however, say the growing seems to be on the treatment only.” “We are still aware that things could MOHAN BUDHAAIR IN DHANGADHI concern now is that the virus has During the height of the second escalate if we reopen immediately so JUNE 13 spread to rural areas. wave of the pandemic in the middle of we will take further decisions accord- “The infection rate has not declined, last month, there were shortages of ing to the situation,” said Dahal of the Forty-six-year-old Phursa Bahadur only the test numbers have,” said hospital beds, oxygen and equipment. Home Ministry. “If the number of Mahat lives in a rented room with his Shakya. Officials say these supplies have cases continues to go down we will three children and wife in Sainamaina Test positivity rate still continues to been increased. further ease the restrictions.” Municipality Ward No. 1, Rupandehi. remain stubbornly high. “The number of beds has been Although the number of daily infec- Before the start of the prohibitory On Sunday 7,517 tests were reported increased, and more ventilators and tions has been coming down since the orders in Rupandehi, Mahat used to of which 1,694—or almost 23 percent— intensive care unit beds have been set high of 9,317 cases across the country earn his livelihood as a daily wage returned positive. up during the lockdown period,” said on May 11 and was 4,831 on April 29 worker. But he is now struggling to The Health Ministry reported 46 Paudel, the spokesperson. when the prohibitory orders were feed his family, as he has been unable more Covid-19 related fatalities, tak- But on the other hand, there is no imposed in the Valley, it is unclear at to find any work for the last one-and-a- ing the toll to 8,415. The number of sufficient manpower to operate venti- what point the restrictions will be lifted. half months. active cases stands at 68,955. lators and these equipment have Doctors say at least 10 people come “Me and my family can barely man- Experts say little has been done remained unused in different parts of in contact with infected people and age two square meals a day and it’s from the public health perspective the country. suggest that authorities lift the restric- time to enroll my children to school. I during the lockdown period so far. The government should rather tions completely only if they have a don’t have any source of income Despite the pandemic being a public focus on checking the spread of infec- capacity to conduct contact tracing of because of the prohibitory orders. I health issue, the Health Ministry does tions, according to epidemiologists. at least 3,000 people a day in the Valley. feel hopeless,” said Mahat. not seem to be leading the way. But min- “Even if the authorities are not Another Usha Gurung from istry officials say it’s not just its duty doing anything, cases could decline Nepalgunj, along with her two-year- when it comes to fighting the virus. Experts say the after a certain time,” Sushil Koirala, old daughter, reached Butwal last “It is not just the responsibility of public health surveillance and week. She plans to go to Kathmandu to the Health Ministry,” said Dr Krishna concern now is that research expert who has worked with find a job. Prasad Paudel, spokesperson for the the United Nations and international “I left my town because I could not Health Ministry. “Many other agen- the virus has spread non-governmental organisations, told find any work. There’s nothing left to POST PHOTO: SANJU PAUDEL cies must work equally seriously to the Post. eat in my house and I have no money Phursa Bahadur Mahat, with his wife and daughter, takes shelter at a community school check the spread of infections.” to rural areas. While there are concerns that the or source of income because of the building in Rupandehi. Paudel conceded that a lot of things, cases could suddenly rise if the lock- ongoing prohibitory orders,” said which could be done after enforcing down is lifted, the ongoing prohibitory Gurung, who is currently staying in since the authority imposed the pro- his office did not distribute relief this the lockdown, were not done. “Instead of focusing on all those orders are having a profound Butwal with the help of a social organ- hibitory orders. But neither the year, as around 1,000 local residents “We could not increase community things like testing and isolating the on the economy and the poor, especial- isation. Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan City nor are currently working for a govern- testing and make contact tracing effec- infected, authorities are trying to con- ly those who have to earn daily for All 12 districts in any organisations has provided relief ment project and receiving regular tive due to various reasons,” said tain the spread of infections by lock- survival. are under prohibitory orders enforced to us,” he said, urging the concerned wages. Paudel. ing people inside their homes,” Dr Sharma of the Covid-19 Crisis to contain surging Covid-19 infections. authorities to address the hardships In Gaidahawa Rural Municipality, The government introduced a Padam Bahadur Chand, an epidemiol- Management Centre agrees. The restrictions have affected every- faced by impoverished families in the relief distribution programmes have Covid-19 Crisis Management ogist who served as chief of the Policy “The issue is people have to make a one but it’s the daily wage earners district. not been launched this year, as dis- Ordinance last month which provi- Planning and International living,” Sharma told the Post. that have been hit the hardest. They There are 68 families in the freed putes had erupted during last year’s sions the formation of a Covid-19 Cooperation Division at the Health For the authorities there are con- have no source of income at present Kamaiya camp. According to Sitaram distribution programme, said Crisis Management Centre but it is Ministry, told the Post. flicting demands. and none of the local units have Tharu, a local leader in the camp, Chairman Bachhulal Kewat. headed by a retired lieutenant general With little more than lockdown as “The Health Ministry has been sug- announced relief and income-generat- almost all 68 families are daily wage “However, we are providing some and four of its seven members have the means to check the spread of the gesting that restrictions should be in ing programmes for them. workers and have been greatly affect- relief to the needy families through the security services background. virus, the consequences could be dis- place but other ministries like indus- Parashu Chaudhary from a freed ed by the prohibitory orders. our ward offices,” he said. It has one representative from the astrous once the lockdown is lifted, try and tourism have suggested Kamaiya (bonded labourer) camp in “Nobody has come forward to help Despite the prohibitory orders in Ministry of Health and Population, experts say. restrictions should be relaxed soon,” Dhangadhi, Kailali, ekes out his living us,” Tharu said. place, construction and agricultural although Balananda Sharma, coordi- They say that authorities should said Dahal of the Home Ministry. as a rickshaw puller. He has been job- During last year’s lockdown, local works and industries have been nator of the Centre, told the Post that have created a mechanism to monitor Given that there has been little pro- less since the Kailali District units in Lumbini had distributed allowed to operate in Rupandehi. the problem is of public health. the movement of the infected people, gress on preventing the virus from Administration Office enforced pro- relief, including food grains, cooking “We have not imposed restrictions “We cannot open everything imme- upto the village level, ramp up testing, spreading further, experts say that lock- hibitory orders in the district since oil and other essentials, to the needy on labourers this year. That is why we diately as that could increase the risk,” set up isolation and quarantine facili- down is the only measure authorities April 29. families. But this year, no such pro- did not feel the need to launch relief Sharma said. “An incremental relaxa- ties, identify the green, yellow and red know although that is not the answer. “I had saved around Rs 20,000 for grammes have been announced so far. distribution programmes,” said Chief tion of restrictions has been advised so zones, address the basic needs of the “It seems that authorities will again rainy days but I’ve spent all my sav- Ram Prasad Regmi, spokesperson at District Officer of Rupandehi Asman that spread will be controlled while people hit hard by the restrictions and reinforce the lockdown if new cases ings. I had to take out a loan from my the Butwal Sub Metropolitan City Tamang. people won’t suffer much.” provide relief materials. start to go up,” Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, neighbours to feed my family,” Office, says his office is preparing a Meanwhile, the ward chairman of He said that as the long term solu- “The chain of the infections, even if chief of Clinical Research Unit at the Chaudhary said. “Nobody has provid- plan to help impoverished families in Dhangadhi-1 Santosh Mudabari said tion is vaccines without which the it is broken through the ongoing Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious ed any relief to us. Daily wage earners the current situation. that the local unit could not distribute virus could mutate, the foreign and restrictions, will be joined, if they are Disease Hospital, told the Post. “Until like me will die of starvation if the “The ward offices have been asked relief to the needy people this year health ministries are working to pro- lifted without preparations,” Dr we do substantial work to contain the authority continues the prohibitory to collect details of all families in need due to a shortage of funds. cure them. However, there has been Binjawala Shrestha, a public health spread of the virus, the infection will orders.” of relief and make recommenda- “We have used up all our funds to little to show for their efforts. Just expert who is also an assistant profes- not stop.” Chaudhary’s neighbour, Bishanlal tions,” Regmi said. fight the virus. We are unable to dis- around two percent of the people have sor of Community Medicine at the Chaudhary, faces a similar ordeal. According to Tilottama tribute relief this year due to budget been vaccinated, most of them with Institute of Medicine, told the Post. (Tika R Pradhan contributed “It has been one-and-half months Municipality Mayor Basudev Ghimire, shortage,” Mudabari said. vaccines given in grants by , “What can we expect when chief reporting.) Political uncertainty puts Nepal’s federal process ...

>> CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 According to them, implementation of the constitution and federalism goes When provincial governments were hand in hand and the federal system is formed, six out of seven were led by taking a beating because Oli has been the (NCP), a assaulting the charter. party that was formed after the merg- Oli has dissolved the House of er between the UML and the Representatives and his position is Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist becoming untenable, with the Centre). opposition alliance piling pressure on But the infighting in the Nepal him. The House dissolution is Communist Party (NCP) and its suc- being examined by the court for its cessive split—again into the UML and constitutionality. the Maoist Centre—had an impact on While provinces should have been provincial governments. functioning well on their own, Oli’s Oli’s UML had governments in four House dissolution has created ripple provinces and the Maoist Centre in two, effects. while Province 2 has had a non-commu- Shankar Pokhrel and Sherdhan Rai, nist government since 2018. chief ministers of Lumbini and The chief ministers of the provinc- Province 1, who are Oli’s close confi- es controlled by the UML functioned dants, are busier in saving their mas- more as Oli’s aides than as leaders ter’s politics rather than governing elected to serve the people. the provinces they lead. Even before the Nepal Communist Party (NCP)’s split, only Province 2 had once in a while challenged the federal government on a couple of Oli’s House occasions for interference. POST PHOTO: HEMANTA SHRESTHA Khim Lal Devkota, an expert on dissolution has Two elderly men sit by the windows at Chyasal, Lalitpur. federal affairs who holds a PhD in Development Economics, says one of created ripple effects the reasons federalism has failed to in the provinces. become effective in Nepal is chief ministers’ failure. Nepal’s constitution has explicitly Repair works of damaged embankments at final stage specified a range of functions for the Gurung, who has so far stood by Oli, federal and provincial governments to said on Sunday that provincial gov- be executive solely or jointly. ernments haven’t been able to per- Floods in Bagmati and Lalbakaiya rivers had breached embankments and inundated settlements in Rautahat last year. “They could never raise their voice form to the levels of expectation to demand that they be allowed to because they could not work inde- SHIVA PURI places along the Bagmati river and 16 eral settlements in Rautahat are at and Lalbakaiya rivers won’t inundate function independently, as per the pendently. He did not elaborate. RAUTAHAT, JUNE 13 different places along the Lalbakaiya high risk of floods and water-induced our settlements this year onwards,” powers vested in them by the constitu- It’s not that Nepal does not have river. The Bagmati-Lalbakaiya River disasters every year. said Suraj Sah, a resident of Chandiya tion,” said Devkota. institutions to facilitate the federal The residents of several settlements Control Project Office in Parwanipur, The embankment along the in Rautahat. Nepal’s initial steps towards feder- process. along the Bagmati and Lalbakaiya riv- with the initiation of the Home Lalbakaiya river had suffered damag- The Bagmati-Lalbakaiya River alism were constrained by the federal The Inter-provincial Council, ers in Rautahat district are hopeful to Ministry, has carried out the repair es during last year’s flood in Tikuliya, Control Project Office started the government’s reluctance to introduce National Natural Resource and Fiscal avert possible floods and inundation works. which lies near the Nepal-India bor- repair works in April this year. A team some key umbrella laws. Continuation Commission, and the Province-Local this year, as the authorities have The embankments along the der. The embankment’s repair works of stakeholders led by CDO Yadav vis- of the provision of chief district Government Council are some of the intensified repair works of the dam- flood-prone Bagmati and Lalbakaiya were halted by the Indian side, putting ited the embankment repair sites on officers continues to remain a contest- political institutions that are in place aged embankments. rivers were constructed in 1989 nearby settlements at high risk of Friday and monitored the work ed issue in the federal system. so as to strengthen the intergovern- Floods in the Bagmati and with the support of the Indian flooding and inundation. progress. But experts say the major problem mental relationship and federalism in Lalbakaiya rivers had breached the government. “But the damaged embankment at “Works are going in full swing, as lies in Oli as well as those who lead the Nepal. But they have been by and embankments and inundated several During last year’s flood, the Bagmati Tikuliya has been repaired this year the meteorological office has provinces for the faltering of federal- large rendered useless. settlements in Rautahat last year. and Lalbakaiya rivers had breached at the initiative of the district admin- forecasted an early monsoon with ism in Nepal. Experts say just a change in the sys- “Work is underway along the the embankments at 29 different plac- istration office,” said Allak Siddiki, more than average rainfall this It had come as disrespect to the con- tem does not make any significant dif- Bagmati and Lalbakaiya rivers to pre- es. The flooded Bagmati river inundat- chief at the Bagmati-Lalbakaiya River year. The repair works are at its stitution when at least two provinces ference unless those elected to imple- vent floods from entering the settle- ed several settlements in Gaur and Control Project Office. “The repair final stage. We hope that it will help selected their names and capitals at ment it internalise why the new sys- ments. The flood-damaged embank- Rajadevi municipalities and work is at its final stage. The local protect several settlements from the direct orders from the political tem is adopted and what is its end goal. ment is being repaired at 28 places Durgabhagawati Rural Municipality. residents are relieved now with the floods and landslides in the district,” leadership in Kathmandu. “We only changed the system; we along the river,” said Chief District Similarly, the flooded Lalbakaiya river repair and maintenance works near- said Yadav. Now the political uncertainty didn’t change our behaviour,” said Officer Indra Dev Yadav. He claimed had wreaked havoc in Ishanath ing completion.” However, The Bagmati-Lalbakaiya unleashed by Oli, who faces criticism Subedi, the former chief secretary that the repair works would be com- Municipality and various other villag- “We are very relieved that the River Control Project Office says the for his lack of commitment to federal- with expertise on federal matters. “We pleted within a few days. es in the northern part of the district. embankments are being repaired federal government has yet to release ism, has put the constitution as well as cannot expect results without chang- The repair work of the embank- According to the District Natural before the monsoon sets in. We are the funds needed to complete the federal process in danger, experts say. ing our mindset and behaviour.” ment is near completion at 12 different Disaster Management Committee, sev- hopeful that the floods in the Bagmati repair works.

C Y K 03 | MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021 NATIONAL

BRIEFING Threat against Antigen testing stalled RUKUM (WEST): The number of Medical Education patients having Covid-19-like symp- toms is rising in Upper Dolpa. However, authorities are unable to Commission vice conduct Covid-19 tests due to lack of human resources. Kyalpo Thapa Bhote, ward chairman of chair condemned Dolpobuddha Rural Municipality Ward 1, said, “Somehow we brought around 200 antigen test kits to Upper Citizens’ groups say Oli, ministers Dolpa from Kathmandu a few days ago. But, testing has not been started are pressuring Dr Giri to grant due to lack of health workers.” affiliation to B&C Medical College. 10-bed isolation ward set up POST REPORT KATHMANDU, JUNE 13 TANAHUN: Devghat Rural Municipality in Tanahun has set up a 10-bed isola- The Brihat Nagarik Andolan, a citizens’ move- tion ward with five oxygen cylinders ment, and Solidarity for Dr KC Alliance, a group at Chhipchhipe targeting the resi- which has been fighting against the commerciali- dents of Ward No. 2 and 3. Pradip sation of medical education, have appealed to the Kumar Budathoki, the chief of the authorities concerned to ensure the safety of health section at the rural municipal- Medical Education Commission Vice Chairman ity, said, “Three paramedics, two staff Dr Shrikrishna Giri. nurses and one office assistant have In a joint statement on Sunday, the two groups been deployed at the ward for the alleged that Giri’s physical and mental well-being treatment of Covid-19 patients.” was being threatened by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Education Minister Krishna Gopal Rice being sold at discount Shrestha and Health Minister Sher Bahadur Tamang. GORKHA: The Food Management and The statement said that the movements’ atten- Trading Company Limited has start- tion had been drawn towards the unfolding of ed selling rice at a 20 percent dis- events following the Medical Education count from its two depots in the Commission’s meeting on June 11 that had dis- northern part of Gorkha and also cussed granting university affiliation to the from the district headquarters. Nabin Jhapa-based B&C Medical College. The meeting Basnet, chief at the Gorkha office of had ended inconclusively after the expert mem- the company, said, “The discount is bers had suggested that the college should follow provided only for the period of pro- POST PHOTO: HEMANTA SHRESTHA the due process first. hibitory orders.” Prohibitory orders Aeroplanes are parked at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on Sunday. Owing to the restrictions enforced to curb coronavirus infections, only limited international The statement pointed out that during a meet- will remain in effect until June 19. flights have been permitted. Domestic flights, on the other hand, have not been allowed since May 4. ing between Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who is also the chairman of the commission, and Giri on Sunday the prime minister was exerting pres- sure on the latter to sign the decision to grant affiliation to the B&C. The vice-chair of the com- mission is its executive head. “There is a challenge for the physical and men- Citing falling demand from hospitals, oxygen tal well-being of Dr Giri after Education Minister Krishna Gopal Shrestha and Health Minister Sher Bahadur Tamang, while asking him to resign, are also pressuring Giri to sign the deci- sion,” read the statement. manufacturers seek to resume supply to factories The Medical Education Commission, the gov- ernment entity assigned to regulate the medical education sector, on June 11 had agreed in princi- Health Ministry officials say they can’t give permission immediately as the pandemic has yet to come under control. ple to grant affiliation to the controversial medi- cal college after it fulfilled the necessary legal PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA pitals have set up their own oxygen plants “One small plant in Biratnagar with the cylinders daily before the second wave of the procedure. KATHMANDU, JUNE 13 while oxygen concentrators have been sup- capacity of filling 200 cylinders per day broke pandemic hit the country despite having a The college, which received the letter of intent plied to many hospitals, hence the fall down two days ago and it remains closed,” he combined daily capacity of 8,000 cylinders. from the Ministry of Education in 2014, has long Sagarmatha Oxygen Private Limited on in demand. On Sunday, the country reported said. “I am also planning to close down the About 70 percent of their output went to hos- been lobbying for an affiliation to run the MBBS Friday distributed around 70 cylinders of oxy- 1,694 new coronavirus cases, a sharp drop small plant in Kathmandu with 200 cylinders pitals and the rest to factories and individual programme. But it hasn’t renewed the letter for gen to a few glass factories even though the from 8,000 to 9,000 cases daily in early May. daily capacity if the demand continues to households, according to the association. the last few years, a prerequisite to affiliation. government is yet to formally lift the restric- According to Gaurav Sharda, president of plunge.” With the second wave of Covid-19 creating Its attempts had failed following a strong reser- tion on the distribution of oxygen for non-med- Oxygen Industries Association of Nepal, they Even now, most of the Kathmandu-based an oxygen crisis in the country, oxygen plants vation from Dr Govinda KC, an orthopaedic sur- ical purposes. have asked the Health Ministry to allow oxygen plants are operating 24 hours a day, had struggled to cope with the demand. In late geon who has been demanding reforms in the In late April, amid surging Covid-19 cases, resumption of oxygen supply for non-medical which according to Sharda is because opera- April, manufacturers stopped supplying oxy- country’s medical education sector. the government had instructed oxygen gen to factories. Welding, grill and glass pro- However, Oli and Minister Shrestha are openly manufacturers to supply bottled oxygen only cessing factories and hydropower projects are in favour of granting the affiliation to B&C to hospitals while individuals could get some of the major consumers of oxygen. Medical College. oxygen based on the recommendation of With daily infections falling close to 2,000 At Friday’s meeting, Oli said it was pointless to hospitals. per day, demand for oxygen from hospitals has deny B&C College affiliation as it has met every But since late May, the number of daily now come down significantly. However, gov- requirement. Covid-19 cases started coming down, leading ernment officials say they have not yet Stating that it is objectionable to use the resi- to a drop in demand for oxygen from hospitals. received any request from plants for resuming dence of the democratic nation’s prime minister Also, increased oxygen plants and oxygen con- oxygen supply to factories. as a place of hooliganism, the statement said, “It centrators supplied to hospitals also reduced “They may have made a request to the is condemnable that an executive of an independ- the demand for oxygen to be supplied by pri- Covid-19 Crisis Management Centre or other ent body is being subjected to such excesses by vate sector suppliers. government agencies but they have not come the prime minister and ministers misusing the “We distributed around 70 cylinders for 3 to up to the Health Ministry with such a propos- state mechanism.” 4 glass factories on Friday after they com- al,” said Dr Madan Upadhyay, the director of The movements have also appealed to all, plained of disruption in manufacturing due to the Curative Service Division at the including political parties, workers and the pub- lack of oxygen,” Narayan Timilsina, chairper- Department of Health Services. “Such a pro- lic, to raise their voices for the safety of Giri. son of Sagarmatha Oxygen, said. posal has not been included in the list of One of the doctors who had met Giri in the “As the demand for oxygen from hospitals demands they made such as incentives for afternoon, however, said Giri did not talk about has fallen and filled cylinders are lying in our existing oxygen factories and identifying mis- the threat though he had said he was under pres- factories, Health Ministry officials told us that placed oxygen cylinders.” sure. “Later Giri said Prime Minister Oli agreed we could resume a limited distribution for The government appears unwilling to allow to move ahead only after a report of the experts’ non-medical purposes.” oxygen plants to resume supply for non-medi- committee formed by the commission,” said His factory produces enough oxygen to fill POST FILE PHOTO cal purposes as the pandemic situation has yet Bimal Aryal of the Brihat Nagarik Andolan. 850 to 900 cylinders a day. All of them would be Workers fill cylinders with oxygen at a plant in Patan Industrial Area, Lalitpur. to normalise. “Our calls and voices could have worked for now. supplied to hospitals when Covid-19 cases “At the moment, we cannot say that the med- But we are vigilant that the government’s inter- surged in May. “Currently, the demand from purposes amid falling demand from hospitals. tion cannot be halted and resumed instantly. ical sector doesn’t need extra oxygen as some ference will continue later as well.” hospitals is for around 500 cylinders per day,” “I am waiting for a government decision for “With hospitals and individuals not returning oxygen factories have broken down and some However, several attempts of the Post to con- said Timilsina. resuming supply to factories,” said Sharda, empty cylinders in time, it has been difficult others are undergoing maintenance,” said tact Ministers Shrestha and Tamang failed. Oxygen manufacturers say they have lately who is also director of Kantipur Oxygen. for factories to operate 24 hours a day,” Upadhyay. “Considering that there are still a According to Dilli Luitel, member secretary of been asking the government to officially allow He has two plants in Kathmandu with he said. large number of Covid-19 patients needing the commission, Sunday’s meeting has decided them to resume supply to factories as the a combined capacity to fill 800 cylinders per According to the Oxygen Industries supplemental oxygen, we have not thought that the next move will be taken only after the demand from hospitals is going down. day and two more in Biratnagar with equal Association, the eight Kathmandu-based oxy- about giving permission for the resumption of task force presents its report on the infrastruc- Besides falling Covid-19 cases, several hos- capacity. gen plants had been supplying around 5,000 supply to the industrial sector.” ture within a week. Pandemic adds challenges for tiger protection, wildlife conservationists say Since the pandemic struck, incidences of human-tiger conflict have gone up. Experts suggest considering why people trespass on protected parks and why animals are wandering out.

CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL tection of tigers in the country. wildlife while also protecting the could lead to poaching of the animal. KATHMANDU, JUNE 13 “Challenges like loss and degrada- humans. When the country is working Major protected areas around the tion of tiger habitats, poaching and to double its tiger population to 250 by country have seen an increase in inci- The Covid-19 pandemic has added to illegal trade, conflict with local com- 2022, the Covid-19 pandemic has come dence of trespassing by locals, which the challenges of tiger conservation munities, diseases and changing cli- as a new challenge for tiger conserva- is also linked to the pandemic and in Nepal, conservationists and wild- mate were already there. The ongoing tion. Due to the pandemic, authorities lockdowns. life experts have said. pandemic has made them worse,” said have not been able to carry out conser- “Covid-19 has also amplified threats The ongoing pandemic, which has Lamichhane, who has conducted sev- vation activities. We need to study in to tigers as we have limited knowledge caused hardships to the general public eral studies on tiger. detail how the pandemic has impacted on wildlife health. Covid-19 has been worldwide and impacted almost all “The Covid-19 pandemic has affect- the conservation sector.” detected in zoo animals in India and sectors, has emerged as yet another ed tiger conservation and posed more Nepal is home to 235 tigers as per other countries. A lion recently died challenge for the country’s tiger con- threats for the future.” the latest tiger census of 2018. As part of Covid-19,” said Lamichhane. servation efforts. The ongoing fiscal year has seen of a global commitment, Nepal is “There is also a risk of potential The immediate and tangible impact frequent conflicts between tigers and working towards doubling its tiger transmission of the virus from of the pandemic is that incidences of locals around protected areas, mainly population from its base population of humans to tigers and then also from hostile interaction between tigers and in Bardiya and Chitwan national 121 in 2009 to at least 250 by 2022. tigers to other wild animals.” communities have increased. There parks. Tigers have not only killed Experts say Nepal is likely to meet the As the Covid-19 concerns are still have been several incidents of tigers locals inside forests but have also ven- target comfortably; however, unfore- around, experts like Lamichhane call attacking and killing locals and live- tured out and snatched people from seen challenges like the Covid-19 pan- for concerted efforts from all sides for stock during the ongoing pandemic in moving motorcycles. Locals around demic may lie ahead. protecting tigers and other wild ani- different parts of the country. the Bardiya National Park are even “It seems the Covid-19 pandemic mals, which could be directly and indi- According to official data, 11 per- scared to walk around during day- has increased negative interactions rectly facing threats of the global sons were killed in Bardiya, two in time, fearing tiger attacks. POST PHOTO: HEMANTA SHRESTHA between tigers and humans, although pandemic. Chitwan and one in Kailali districts in Wildlife experts say recent attacks Nepal is home to 235 tigers as per the latest count of 2018. conflicts involving humans and other “We saw wildlife came under threat the current fiscal year. can be largely attributed to the Covid- animal species like monkeys, ele- during the armed conflict. We need to During a virtual interaction on 19-induced restrictions. the national parks either to collect attacks on livestock have also gone up. phants, leopards are still prevalent,” remain on alert and discuss whether Friday, wildlife experts and conserva- “As tourism activities around pro- forest products or for recreation and “Never before have such a large said Prem Narayan Kandel, secretary Covid-19 will also have an impact on tionists said the Covid-19 pandemic tected areas were suspended, locals came under tiger attack. Incidents number of human casualties due to with the Ministry of Forests and the future of our tigers because the had a significant role in the spike in lost sources of income. Besides, peo- like these can also fuel retaliatory tiger attacks been reported. All these Environment Ministry. “We need to pandemic is likely to stick around for such incidents, potentially brewing ple from cities and abroad have killings of tigers by locals.” tragic incidents happened during the understand why people trespass on some time,” said Lamichhane. retaliatory perceptions among local returned to their home villages after As per official data, the number of Covid-19 pandemic when locals protected parks and why animals are “We surely do not want to stop our communities towards tigers. losing jobs,” said Lamichhane, who is human deaths in tiger attacks in entered forests,” said Sharad Chandra wandering outside their habitats too.” conservation efforts after achieving According to Babu Ram also the chief of the Biodiversity Bardiya since 2019 until the start of Adhikari, member-secretary of the Besides rising conflicts involving the target of 250 tigers. We need to Lamichhane, a conservation biologist, Conservation Centre, Sauraha, under the lockdown on March 23, 2020 was National Trust for Nature tigers and humans, incidents of locals prepare for the worst as there are pre- the Covid-19 pandemic intensified the the National Trust for Nature nine. The number has increased to 12 Conservation. entering the protected areas during dictions of a third wave of the pan- existing threats and challenges to pro- Conservation. “Such people entered in over a year until now. Likewise, “Our responsibility is to protect the the pandemic is another threat, which demic and prioritise our actions.”

C M Y K MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021 | 04 OPINION EDITORIAL When there is no doctor Ego-centric politicians Quacks, a major problem, may be Even as the pandemic rages on, trained to provide better they can’t see beyond their nose. basic health care.

Four years since the public voted to elect the three tiers of gov- ernment in hopes of political stability and democratisation fol- SAMBRIDH GHIMIRE lowing a bloody ‘people’s war’ and hiccups over the writing of the constitution, politicians are once again embroiled in power games. Even as the pandemic rages on, the country has been taken hostage after Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli dissolved the House of Representatives twice in six months, following infighting in the ruling party. The rift between politicians for a hold on power and influence has pushed the country towards A quack is a person who dishonestly uncertainty. As a direct result, provincial governments have pretends to have medical skills or also engaged in similar political manoeuvres as chief ministers knowledge. The term is a shortened prioritise politics over the pandemic. form of the old Dutch quacksalver, On Saturday, Krishna Chandra Nepali Pokharel of the Nepali which originally meant a person who Congress replaced as chief minister of the cures with home remedies, and then CPN-UML’s Prithvi Subba Gurung, a close aide to the prime came to mean one using false cures or minister, who lost a vote of confidence in the Provincial knowledge. Their unique selling propo- sition was not only their reasonable Assembly on Friday. Like Oli, the outgoing chief minister had cure but also their showmanship, often also attempted to dissolve the Provincial Assembly after losing complemented by clowns and other per- the vote of confidence, but the Congress managed to secure formers. They often impersonated sci- majority votes to claim the government. It could be good news entists with long coats and carried for the Congress, which has finally managed to lead a provincial human skulls, imitating heavy foreign government, and a significant setback for Oli, as Gurung accents in order to add credibility and becomes the first casualty of the Nepal Communist Party’s split myth to their claims. after close calls in five provinces; but this is only indicative of In Nepal, quacks are not an anomaly. the political and moral degradation of our politicians at the cost In the early modern era, Nepal was a closed country that was not welcoming of citizens. of the modernisation of the West. This The second year of the pandemic has become a season of exclusive reign delayed the arrival of no-confidence motions, floor crossings and cabinet reshuffles, modern medical science in the nation. not just at the centre, but also in the provinces as the public Although medical science made looks for some respite and a way out of the pandemic. Already inroads into the country from the north burdened with management and legal issues, the provincial and the south, the doctor-to-patient governments were only beginning to crawl towards autonomy ratio was always below the requisite when the political crisis trickled down from Kathmandu, shak- number. All these factors resulted in ing the very foundations of the federal setup envisioned to non-scientific healing in the nation; a few often-heard names are dhamis, guarantee devolution of power. It has exposed how the chief jhankris and matas. M K/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM ministers, instead of implementing federalism, only acted as if seen as the wardens of wisdom. of quacks, like everything else in the incorporate not just the person but any they were heading administrative units of the centre. In a way, Cultural importance So, when I met Pijyush Bala, I asked world, has evolved. Rather than per- medium of communication that gives the theatrics that followed the 2017 elections, when the Nepal Ayurveda and homoeopathy did not him about things related to my suading by a grandiose show of art and false advice claiming to have the pre- Communist Party, born of a merger between the CPN-UML and qualify under the strict definition of research, he answered all my questions craft or convincing by divine authority, requisite knowledge. It can be argued the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), took hold of six medical sciences, but they were assimi- surpassing my expectations. When I modern-day quacks are procuring that someone giving unscientific advice of the seven provincial governments, has come full circle. But, lated into the mainstream due to their asked him how he knew so much, he degrees and certificates. In 2016, a news to influence people also falls under the what’s next? historical and cultural importance. responded by saying, ‘Aami sudhu jini- report that around 35 ‘doctors’ possess- definition of a quack. Quackery in The developments over the weekend in Gandaki Province, as They also had a good track record on the sa jani.’ (I just know things.) But there ing forged certificates had been arrest- Nepal should not come as a surprise as subcontinent that led to their legalisa- was more than that. I asked around and ed by the Nepal Police as part of it is a nation where an alleged quack well as recent upheavals in other provinces, including Province tion through legislation. Early modern learnt that Pijyush Bala had been doing Operation Quack shocked the country. climbed up to the rank of prime minis- 2 following the participation of the Thakur-Mahato faction of Nepal just saw a few doctors concentrat- this for the past 20 years. He used to be At the height of the Covid-19 pan- ter. I am not referring to the current the Janata Samajbadi Party in the federal government, are ed around urban centres like an apprentice under his maternal demic in September 2020, the police prime minister because of his guava bound to have an after-effect; but the people who voted the poli- Kathmandu and Biratnagar. In uncle, from whom he inherited the had arrested a man from Kathmandu leaves or turmeric water comment, but ticians to power are having to face the brunt of the partisan Kathmandu, doctors were an elite phe- practice. Owners of adjacent shops who was spreading rumours that the ‘Doctor’ Kuwar Indrajit Singh (KI politics and ego-centric politicians amid a public health crisis. nomenon, with just the aristocracy and claimed that Pijyush saw an average of reason dead bodies were not given to Singh), the so-called Robin Hood of the To say all this stems from the Oli- clash, monarchy having access to them. Apart 30-40 patients a day, excluding his home the family was because of organ traf- , who claimed to be a doctor which has led to the current quagmire, is to give a clean chit to from doctors, there were a few paramed- visits. When I asked them about the ficking. The man claimed to be a ‘doc- despite unproven credentials. other politicians and political parties, which are equally to ical staff such as nurses and compound- reliability of his cure, they answered tor’ who had received knowledge A study by Nobel laureate Abhijit ers. Quacks usually worked around that it worked for people with faith. directly from the Almighty and could Banerjee suggests that undoubtedly blame and have shown no concern about the people. these set boundaries of health care. In recent years, the AIDS Baba had cure HIV/AIDS. His clinic located in qualified doctors are more likely to We do not have a House. Both the federal and provincial gov- Quacks in South Asia are men of the gained popularity in Bharatpur. The the heart of the capital was called manage a case than their untrained ernments are struggling to hold on to their power. The top polit- people. It was both unavailability and astrologer claimed that he could cure Antim Bikalpa (Last Resort). These are counterparts, but ‘training closed half ical parties are bickering over internal issues and show utter unaffordability that coerced ordinary HIV/AIDS with his familial wisdom just some examples of domestic quacks. the gap in correct case management’. disregard for democratic principles. The mediocrity of the persons to seek other medical reme- inherited from his ancestors. Nepal has also been home to foreign Although health care regulation is still self-absorbed politicians when the public expects them to come dies. I first came across a quack in the Apparently, he had advised more than quacks like the unlicensed Chinese a distant dream, the training of quacks together for the sake of the country has eroded public confi- city of Kalyani in West Bengal. As part 400 patients, and most of them had and Korean clinics running in the val- as the first line of defence is an experi- dence in government, federalism and even the legal system. of my adventures in Bengal, I was in been healed. Furthermore, dental ley claiming to cure cancer, HIV/AIDS ment that has been successful in other This is not the picture Nepalis had in mind when casting their Kalyani for a project that required me quacks were said to have flourished in and other chronic diseases. nations of South Asia. Could this be to gather information on the city’s cul- Kathmandu in the first decade of the helpful in these times of a public health ballots for a new constitution and a way forward after decades ture, economics and politics. Best prac- new millennium. A report suggested Unscientific advice crisis in Nepal? of insurgency and instability. For once, the politicians must end tices suggest that school teachers are that more than 600 unlawful dental In ’s world, with the digital and their mindless squabbles and get the country out of this quag- the best to disseminate such informa- establishments were running in the communication revolution, the defini- Ghimire is a political consultant and mire, and face the issues as a democracy should—for the people. tion. But in Kalyani, the quacks were valley. But over the years, the concept tion of quack has become wider to electoral strategist. The measure of moral progress

illegal. Gandhi’s criterion for Consider developed countries, where the exploitation of animals for judging the moral commercial purposes is a far larger problem. Worldwide, more than 70 bil- progress of a nation was its lion land-based vertebrates are killed for food each year, and 90 percent of treatment of animals. them live their entire lives inside fac- tory farms. Although a few jurisdic- tions, especially the European Union, PETER SINGER do prohibit the most extreme forms of confinement, in most of the world there are no barriers to treating ani- mals in whatever manner maximises profit. A proposed United Nations Convention on Animal Health and Protection would help to remedy that situation. ‘The greatness of a nation and its In the mill that Apuleius describes, moral progress,’ Mahatma Gandhi profits were maximised by working said, ‘can be judged by the way its ani- donkeys, horses, and human slaves mals are treated.’ If we apply that test nearly to death—but stopping just to the world as a whole, how much short of that point. If some of the ani- moral progress have we made over the mals (or slaves) did drop dead, well, it past two millennia? was cheaper to replace them than to That question is suggested by The ameliorate the working conditions Golden Ass, arguably the world’s earli- that killed them. est surviving novel, written around Similarly, when giant agribusiness 170 CE, when Emperor Marcus corporations decide how many ani- Aurelius ruled the Roman Empire. mals to crowd inside their huge sheds, Apuleius, the author, was an African they know that the level of crowding philosopher and writer, born in what that causes the fewest animals to die is now the Algerian city of before reaching market weight M’Daourouch. He learned Latin and will not be the most profitable level— Greek, completing his education in and it is the latter benchmark that Athens and visiting Rome before they will choose. As a result, more returning to the region of his birth. than 60 billion animals a year live The Golden Ass is a first-person nar- miserable lives crowded into factory rative told by Lucius, whose interest farms before being trucked to slaugh- in magic takes him to Thessaly, a prov- ter. ince of Greece renowned for the abili- Gandhi’s criterion for judging the ty of its sorcerers. But his SHUTTERSTOCK greatness of a nation and its moral quest to learn the dark arts ends a live coal into it and igniting an infer- their exhausting labour only long work about moral progress since it some level of legislative protection for progress is not limited to maltreat- badly when he is turned into a donkey. no from which the donkey barely enough to eat and sleep so that they was written? animals across the whole of Europe ment of animals that is sadistic or In that guise, Lucius describes, escapes with his life. will live to work another day. In many countries, the sadistic cru- (with the sole exception of Belarus), brutal. It refers only to the way that from the animal’s viewpoint, the life There is also brutality: he falls into Overseeing their work, and beating elty of the slave boy and the brutality on the Indian sub-continent, in , the nation’s animals are treated. By of a lowly working animal in Roman the hands of a band of robbers who them if they slacken off, are similarly of the bandits would be illegal. That is much of Southeast Asia (where that standard, as long as we keep most times. beat him mercilessly, not because they exploited human slaves, clad in rags, progress, but it is far from universal. Vietnam is the major exception), of the animals whose lives we control The various forms of mistreatment enjoy making him suffer, but to com- with tattooed foreheads and shackled If Apuleius were to return today to the Australia and New Zealand, and most from birth to death in such appalling inflicted on the donkey fall into three pel him to carry their stolen silver up feet. area where he was born, he would not of the Americas. conditions, we cannot claim to have categories. There is sadism: a slave endless rough and steep mountain All of this makes The Golden Ass a find laws to protect animals from cru- Typically, these laws prohibit both made much moral progress since boy for whom he carries wood gath- paths to their hideout. remarkably progressive text. We have elty. Across North Africa, only Egypt sadistic cruelty and brutal beatings, Apuleius’s time. ered from the mountainside loves to Finally, there is exploitation, ruth- to jump forward 17 centuries before has such legislation. although there is wide variation in torment him by beating him with less but economically rational for the we find, in Anna Sewell’s Black In West and Central Africa, animals enforcement. And because attitudes to Singer is a Professor of Bioethics at clubs, adding rocks to make his load donkey’s new owner, a miller. In the Beauty, a comparably vivid and empa- are protected by law only in Ghana animals also vary widely, animals may Princeton University and founder of even heavier, tying stinging thorns to mill, 24 hours a day, donkeys and hors- thetic presentation of the life of an and Nigeria. Saudi Arabia, Iran, and be better treated in some countries the non-profit organisation The Life his tail, and finally, when he has a load es turn the wheel that grinds the grain animal mistreated by humans. But China have no national animal wel- with no legal protection than they are You Can Save. of dry kindling on his back, dropping into flour. They are released from what can we learn from this Roman fare laws. In contrast, there is at least in other countries where cruelty is — Project Syndicate

C M Y K 05 | MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021 MONEY Petty traders selling non-essential goods getting wiped out Preventing the spread of the virus is essential, but the rules unfairly impact small businesses over large businesses, insiders say.

KRISHANA PRASAIN (commodity) of the Federation of “The traders who are struggling to KATHMANDU, JUNE 13 Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and survive will not be able to pay taxes Industry, said the government had this time, and if the government With the lockdown getting longer and delayed vaccinating frontline workers denies a waiver, there will be no other longer, owners of small businesses in sectors like retail and wholesale way except to go for a protest,” he said. selling “non-essential” goods are hav- and labourers. According to Katuwal, more than ing the worst time, as they are totally “The hold-up in vaccinations will 10,000 traders across the country shut down and their scanty savings impact economic recovery in the long including shopping malls and plazas are gone. term, making it hard to revive busi- are associated with the federation. Petty traders say that the second nesses before they collapse,” he said. Due to the current lockdown, the jobs lockdown has been harder for them “As per our observation, more than and incomes of more than 50,000 than the first one. 70 percent of businesses are complete- workers have been directly impact- The government issued prohibitory ly closed. The rest, consisting of ed.“It is also not fair and somewhat orders for the first time on April 29 essential businesses, are operating at illogical to allow grocery stores and after the second wave of Covid-19 minimum capacity,” Shrestha said. He vegetable shops to open as if they will started spreading disastrously, and it added that the government had not spread the virus, but stores selling has been extending them a little at a pledged to prioritise the vaccination non-essential products will spread the time since then. programme for the private sector, virus,” Katuwal said. On Sunday, the chief district but it has been slow in importing “Even though traders had been officers of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur vaccines. gradually recovering from the first and Lalitpur decided to stretch the The federation has asked the gov- lockdown before the second lockdown lockdown, which would have ended on ernment to provide relief for busi- was imposed, shopping malls and pla- June 15, by another week till June 21 nesses severely impacted by the virus zas across the country were struggling by loosening some of the restrictions. by providing a waiver on bank loans, to revive their businesses when the Small businesses selling non-essen- interest payments and taxes. second wave of Covid-19 hit the coun- tial goods and commodities said the Katuwal said they had urged the try,” he said. government had not listened to their government to address the woes of During the lockdown last year, val- pleas for some leeway. the business sector by announcing ley traders had opened their business- “Preventing the spread of the virus relief packages in the upcoming mon- es for a few hours in the morning by is essential, but the rules unfairly etary policy. following the health and safety pre- impact small businesses over large The private sector is also holding cautions recommended by the World businesses,” said Naresh Katuwal, meetings with the secretaries of the Health Organisation. president of the Nepal National concerned ministries, including chief “More than 25 percent of the trad- Traders’ Federation. district officers of Kathmandu Valley, ers across the country have already Under Sunday’s revised prohibitory to discuss relief packages. switched to other lines of work,” orders, the government has permitted POST FILE PHOTO “If the government fails to address Katuwal said. farming activities, and allowed gro- The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry has asked the government to provide relief for businesses severely impacted our problem, we will be compelled to “As the lockdown has continued for cery stores to operate with time limits by the virus by providing a waiver on bank loans, interest payments and taxes. reopen our shops at our own risk. We more than a month with the market and hardware shops to open in the have waited this long, but we cannot remaining closed, traders have evenings. But the concerns of shops for a long time, have been disregarded, government’s response to the pandem- “The government should start vacci- wait any longer with hungry stom- stopped importing goods like clothes, selling clothes, footwear, cosmetics, traders said. ic--conducting fewer PCR tests and not nating small entrepreneurs so that achs while the government is busy footwear, cosmetics and electronic fancy items and electronics, among “It has been one and a half months vaccinating people on a wider scale--is they can get back to business.” playing political games,” Katuwal told items as they have lots of unsold others, that have remained shuttered since the lockdown was imposed. The really poor and sad,” said Katuwal. Anjan Shrestha, vice-president the Post. inventory,” he added.

FOREX

US Dollar 117.22 Gorilla tactics: Berlin 2 million people go through US airports Euro 141.93 ASSOCIATED PRESS Pound Sterling 165.37 delivery riders take DALLAS, JUNE 13 Japanese Yen 10.69 The airline industry’s recovery from Chinese Yuan 18.32 the pandemic passed a milestone as more than 2 million people streamed Qatari Riyal 32.19 on $1 billion startup through US airport security check- Australian Dollar 90.34 points on Friday for the first time ASSOCIATED PRESS Camalan. “We’re here to stand against since early March 2020. Malaysian Ringit 28.53 BERLIN, JUNE 13 that. It’s part of a larger thing.” The Transportation Security Camalan said many riders suffer Administration announced Saturday Saudi Arab Riyal 31.26 Dozens of workers gathered outside from back pain and other health prob- that 2.03 million travellers were Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank of one of Berlin’s most-celebrated lems due to the heavy bags they have screened at airport checkpoints on startups, the grocery delivery compa- to carry. Faulty bikes, a limited say in Friday. It was the first time in 15 ny Gorillas, to protest the firing hours their shifts and lack of administrative months that the number of security Shares earlier of a colleague. support are also a problem, he said. screenings has surpassed 2 million in “We want Santiago back!” the young When riders send emails asking for a single day. Nepse 2,983.10pts 1.30% riders chanted last week, threatening help, they rarely get a reply, Camalan Airline bookings have been picking to blockade one of the company’s said, adding “They ignore us.” up since around February, as more HIGHEST GAINERS inner-city warehouses with their Last week four rivals—Delivery Americans were vaccinated against KRBL SIFC SINDU SFCL ICFC HPPL 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 9.98% bikes unless he was reinstated. Hero, Bolt, Glovo and Wolt— Covid-19 and–at least within the AP/RSS The wildcat strike on a balmy June announced a joint effort to develop a United States–travel restrictions Travellers wait for their luggage at a baggage carousel at Miami International Airport in Miami. MODERATE GAINERS MDB RLFL PMHPL GHL CHDC NHPC evening was unusual even by code of conduct in what appeared to such as mandatory quarantines began 9.98% 9.98% 9.97% 9.97% 9.96% 9.96% Germany’s strong tradition of labour be an effort to head off a regulatory to ease. major US airline would go bankrupt. That’s because airlines like United

MODERATE LOSERS rights, highlighting growing tensions crackdown by the European Union. The recovery is not complete. Most of the airlines are still losing are upbeat about salvaging the LGIL NMBHF1 SMFBS GILB MMFDB CMF2 in the capital’s freewheeling startup Friday’s crowds were only 74 percent money. Southwest eked out a narrow peak summer vacation season. -1.87% -1.92% -1.96% -2.01% -2.26% -2.37% scene. “We came here to show our sol- of the volume compared to the same first-quarter profit thanks to its International travel and business HIGHEST LOSERS idarity, to support our friend,” said Riders say the firm day in 2019. However, the 2.03 million share of $64 billion in federal trips are still deeply depressed, but SBCF SMFDB NABBC SDLBSL UMRH NICL Zeynep, a Gorillas rider who declined figure was 1.5 million more travellers pandemic relief to the industry, and domestic leisure travel is roughly -2.64% -2.68% -2.68% -2.8% -2.83% -4.15% to give her last name for fear of facing does not issue them than the same day last year, according others are expected to follow suit later back to pre-pandemic levels, airline repercussions from the company. “We to the TSA. this year. officials say. want this decision to be reversed as with phones for The 2-million mark represents quite The fear of large-scale furloughs The airlines are recalling employ- soon as possible.” a turnaround for the travel industry, has lifted. United Airlines, which lost ees from voluntary leave and planning PRICE PER TOLA The riders said their colleague had work and salaries which was hammered by the pandem- $7 billion and threatened to furlough to hire small numbers of pilots and BULLION been fired without warning after turn- ic. There were days in April 2020 when 13,000 workers last fall, told employees other workers later this year. ing up late for his shift. In a statement, are often short. fewer than 100,000 people boarded this week that their jobs are secure Hotel operators say they too have Fine Gold Rs 93,900 the company said he his contract was planes in the US, and the CEO of even when the federal money runs out seen bookings improve as vaccination terminated for “serious misconduct” Boeing predicted that at least one in October. rates rise. Silver Rs 1,370 but declined to provide details, citing “We want to establish better govern- confidentiality. Founded just last year, ance of working conditions, labour SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA Gorillas has benefited from surging practices and social rights for all demand for quick grocery deliveries workers, regardless of their employ- during the pandemic. In March, the ment status,” Sacha Michaud, GASOLINE WATCH company raised about $290 million co-founder of -based delivery from investors, becoming Germany’s company Glovo said. fastest ‘unicorn’—a startup with a According to experts, many deliv- total valuation of $1 billion or more. ery firms in Germany operate on the Gorillas now operates in dozens of edge of legality in their rush to expand cities across Germany, France, Italy, before they run out of cash. the and Britain, and has Gorillas says it doesn’t consider already set its sights on New York. itself part of the ‘gig economy,’ having But strikes like those in Berlin show chosen to employ its riders and ware- trouble is brewing in its home market. house staff. But hourly wages are low The rowdy but peaceful protest late at 11.50 euros (less than $14) after tips Wednesday drew support from and the probationary period is six employees of rival delivery services, months—the longest allowed by law. some of whom downed their colourful Riders at the protest complained courier bags to join the picket. that the company doesn’t issue them Eventually Gorillas agreed to close with phones they need for work, that the depot for the night, drawing cheers salaries are often short and weight from the protesters. The next day, rid- limits on bags aren’t respected. “The ers blockaded another warehouse, working conditions are at the mini- making clear their gripes go beyond mum end of what’s normal in the firing of a single colleague. Germany,” said Sebastian Riesner, “In the last six months, that I’ve who heads the Berlin chapter of the been here I’ve noticed so many ways hospitality workers union NGG. that the company is doing things in an “Some of the contracts are pretty unjustified way,” said rider Huseyin outlandish. Indian jewellers lift shutters as curbs ease

REUTERS Dealers offered discounts of up to 12 tonnes. Discounts in top consumer MUMBAI, JUNE 13 $12 an ounce over official domestic China narrowed to about $7-$12 per prices, inclusive of 10.75 percent ounce against global benchmark Physical gold demand crept up this import and 3 percent sales levies. spot gold rates , from last week’s $20- week in top hubs India and China That was unchanged from last week, a $50, amid stricter Covid-19-related though dealers were still forced to level of discount not seen since restrictions. offer discounts, while businesses mid-September 2020. “We believe demand will continue, limped back to life in India as some “Jewellers were sceptical. They though supply will diminish, Covid-19 restrictions were eased. don’t know how quickly demand China will be trading back at Some Indian states have begun eas- would recover. That’s why they’re not premium levels,” said Bernard ing restrictions as infection cases showing interest in making purchases Sin, regional director, Greater China abate. “Slowly, businesses are opening at the higher level,” said another at MKS. up in a few states. Mumbai-based bullion dealer with a Premiums of $0.50-$1 per ounce As new coronavirus cases are fall- gold importing bank. were charged in , while in ing, expectations are most states will On Friday, local gold futures , premiums remained at ease restrictions in the next few traded at around 49,200 rupees per 10 $1.20-$1.50 amid muted demand. weeks,” said Mukesh Kothari, director grams. Dealers were hopeful of a rebound at Mumbai bullion dealer RiddiSiddhi India’s gold imports in May surged as restrictions are relaxed from Bullions. over nine-fold from 2020’s low base to next week.

C M Y K MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021 | 06 WORLD | MEDLEY

BRIEFING Myanmar’s anti-junta G7 calls out China, demands Covid-19 movement shows Israel’s designated PM vows to fight Iran nuclear deal viral support for JERUSALEM: Israel’s designated prime origins investigation as summit ends minister, Naftali Bennett, says that Rohingya renewing the international nuclear deal with Iran will be a mistake. In a Leaders issue a highly critical communique that delves into some of China’s most sensitive issues, including Taiwan. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE speech to parliament, Bennett said YANGON, JUNE 13 that Israel remains ready to act against Iran. “Israel will not allow Anti-junta protesters flooded Iran to arm itself with nuclear weap- Britain calls EU view of N Ireland Myanmar’s social media with pictures ons,” Bennett said. “Israel will not be of themselves wearing black on a party to the agreement and will offensive in Brexit spat Sunday in a show of solidarity for the continue to preserve full freedom of Rohingya, a minority group that is action.” The strong comments main- FALMOUTH: Britain accused European side resort of Carbis Bay how he among the most persecuted in the tain the confrontational policy by Union leaders on Sunday of holding would feel if sausages from Toulouse country. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. the “offensive” view that Northern could not be moved to Paris. They said Since the military ousted civilian Nonetheless, Bennett thanked Ireland is not fully part of the United Macron replied the comparison did leader Aung San Suu Kyi from power President Joe Biden and the US Kingdom, as Brexit cast a shadow over not work because Paris and Tolouse in a February 1 coup, an anti-junta administration for supporting Israel the Group of Seven summit. were part of the same country. movement demanding a return to over the decades. Bennett’s new gov- Britain and the EU are in a spat The French presidency said Macron democracy has grown to include fight- ernment is scheduled to be sworn over post-Brexit trade arrangements was explaining “Toulouse and Paris ing for ethnic minority rights. into office late Sunday after a parlia- that could see British sausages banned were on a geographical unity of terri- The mostly Muslim Rohingya—long mentary vote. from entering Northern Ireland, the tory, Northern Ireland is on an island. viewed as interlopers from Bangladesh only part of the UK that borders the The president wanted to stress that by many in Myanmar—have for dec- 27-nation bloc. The dispute is raising the situation was quite different and ades been denied citizenship, rights, Gas blast in China kills 12, political tensions in Northern Ireland, it’s not appropriate to hold that kind access to services and freedom of rescue operation ongoing where some people identify as British of comparison”. UK’s foreign secre- movement. Activists and civilians BEIJING: At least 12 people were killed and some as Irish. tary said the idea Northern Ireland took to social media to post pictures of and nearly 140 others injured when a British media reported that Prime was not an integral part of the UK was themselves wearing black and flash- gas line exploded in a residential AP/RSS Minister Boris Johnson asked French “not only offensive, it has real world ing a three-finger salute of resistance, compound in central China’s Hubei Britain’s Prime Minister Johnson greets French President Macron in Cornwall, England. President Emmanuel Macron when effects on the communities in in posts tagged “#Black4Rohingya”. province on Sunday, local officials they met Saturday in the English sea- Northern Ireland.” (AP) “Justice must [be] served for each said. Rescue workers are uncertain REUTERS China’s rise has also unnerved the of you and each of us in Myanmar,” how many people may still be trapped CARBIS BAY, JUNE 13 United States: President Joe Biden said prominent rights activist Thinzar under the debris, according to a state- casts China as the main strategic com- ised version of the draft communique. and garment sectors. Shunlei Yi on Twitter. ment from the disaster management Group of Seven leaders on Sunday petitor and has vowed to confront Before the G7 criticism emerged, “We are concerned by the use of all Local media also showed a small bureau in the city of Shiyan. Videos scolded China over human rights in China’s “economic abuses” and push China pointedly cautioned G7 leaders forms of forced labour in global sup- protest in Myanmar’s commercial hub shot by witnesses and verified by Xinjiang, called for Hong Kong to keep back against human rights violations. that the days when “small” groups of ply chains, including state-sponsored Yangon, with black-clad demonstra- Beijing News show several buildings a high degree of autonomy and “We will promote our values, countries decided the fate of the world forced labour of vulnerable groups tors holding signs in Burmese that reduced to rubble and rescuers carry- demanded a full and thorough investi- including by calling on China to was long gone. and minorities, including in the agri- said they were “protesting for the ing shocked survivors on stretchers. gation of the origins of the novel respect human rights and fundamen- The G7 also said they underscored cultural, solar, and garment sectors,” oppressed Rohingya”. The blast ripped through a vegetable coronavirus in China. tal freedoms, especially in relation “the importance of peace and stability the G7 said. By afternoon, the #Black4Rohingya market that was filled with shoppers After discussing how to come up to Xinjiang and those rights, freedoms across the Taiwan Strait, and encour- Beijing has repeatedly hit back hashtag was trending on Twitter in and people eating breakfast, an eye- with a unified position on China, lead- and high degree of autonomy for age the peaceful resolution of cross- against what it perceives as attempts Myanmar, with more than 180,000 witness told state-run Global Times. ers issued a highly critical final com- Hong Kong enshrined in the Strait issues.” by Western powers to contain China, mentions. Sunday’s show of support “I heard a loud bang and immediately munique that delved into what are for Sino-British Joint Declaration,” the “We remain seriously concerned and says many major powers are still from the mostly Buddhist, ethnic ducked under the table, thinking it China some of the most sensitive G7 said. about the situation in the East and gripped by an outdated imperial mind- Bamar-majority population is a far was an earthquake,” a man who owns issues, including also Taiwan. “We also call for a timely, transpar- South China Seas and strongly oppose set after years of humiliating China. cry from previous years, when even a small restaurant near the explosion The re-emergence of China as a ent, expert-led, and science-based any unilateral attempts to change the UN experts and rights groups esti- using the term “Rohingya” was a site told the newspaper. leading global power is considered to WHO-convened Phase 2 Covid-19 status quo and increase tensions,” mate over a million people, mainly lightning rod for controversy. be one of the most significant geopo- Origins study including, as recom- they said. Uyghurs and other Muslim minori- In 2017, a bloody military campaign litical events of recent times, along- mended by the experts’ report, in The G7 said it was concerned about ties, have been detained in recent in Myanmar’s west sent some 740,000 Virus infections are rising side the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union China,” the G7 said. forced labour in global supply chains years in a vast system of camps in Rohingya fleeing across the border sharply in Moscow that ended the Cold War. Reuters earlier reported the final- including in the agricultural, solar, Xinjiang. into Bangladesh. MOSCOW: The tally of new coronavi- rus infections in the Russian capital rose more than 1,000 from the previ- ous day as Moscow heads into a week in which many businesses will be closed. The national coronavirus Drought-hit Jordan to build Red Sea desalination plant taskforce said Sunday that 7,704 new infection cases were recorded, contin- AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ready for operation in 2025 or 2026, Desalinating water is a major drain uing a steep spike that has alarmed AMMAN, JUNE 13 Salameh said. of energy, and the companies must city officials. At the beginning of “It will cover the need for drinking suggest how to run the plant in June, Moscow was recording about Jordan said on Sunday it plans to water [in Jordan] for the next two Jordan, which does not have major 2900 new cases a day. Moscow Mayor build a Red Sea desalination plant centuries,” he said, adding that the oil reserves. Sergei Sobyanin on Saturday ordered operating within five years, to provide desalinated water would be piped Last month Salameh told AFP that businesses that do not operate on the mostly-desert and drought-hit from Aqaba on the Red Sea to the rest Jordan needs about 1.3 billion cubic weekends to remain “non-working” kingdom with critical drinking water. of the country. metres of water per year. through the end of this week and The cost of the project is estimated Jordan is one of the world’s most But the quantities available are closed food courts and children’s play at “around $1 billion”, ministry of water-deficient countries and experts around 850 to 900 million cubic metres, areas. He also ordered restaurants water and irrigation spokesman Omar say the country, home to 10 million with the shortfall “due to low rainfall, and bars to be limited to takeout ser- Salameh told AFP, adding that the people, is now in the grip of one of the global warming, population growth vice from 11 to 6 am. Nationwide, plant would be built in the Gulf of most severe droughts in its history. and successive refugee inflows”, he 14,723 new infections were reported Aqaba, in southern Jordan. Thirteen international consortiums said. This year, the reserves of key Sunday, about 1200 more than a day The plant is expected to produce have put in bids, and the government drinking water dams have reached earlier. Russia has reported 5.2 mil- 250-300 million cubic meters of pota- will chose five of them by July, critical levels, many now a third of AFP lion cases and 126,000 deaths. (AGENCIES) ble water per year, and should be Salameh said. their normal capacity. Jordan is facing one of the most severe droughts in its history. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) **** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** Your life is beginning to switch gears, Aries. Stoic It’s no surprise that your relationships have been in Surrender to the changes being demanded of your As a Capricorn, you have a close relationship Saturn locks into a tight square with change-bringer a state of transformation, Cancer. Let yourself relationships today, Libra. Tradition-maintaining with control. Let yourself ease up on the reins to Uranus today—bringing little earthquakes to your embrace some change in that arena today, as stag- Saturn butts heads with change-bringer Uranus, have it all figured out today. Lean into your career path and community connections. Embrace nant Saturn locks into a square with shake-it-up bringing little earthquakes to the partnership and intense need for change and space without burning what’s asking to be let go of or altered. Uranus. intimacy arena. bridges.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) **** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) **** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** Your whole world has been under reconstruction, Relationships have been an ongoing point of tension The ground is shifting beneath your feet today, You need change, Aquarius. Lean into the cosmic Taurus. Monday’s skies only continue to hone in on for you this year, Leo. Keep leaning into the changes Scorpio. Rather than grasping for stability, allow shifts emerging today, as your ruling planet, Saturn, that story and push you toward finding a break- being encouraged today, as stuck Saturn squares off yourself to freely float. Embrace any opportunity to butts heads with invigorating Uranus. This high- through. Structure-seeking Saturn butts up against with electric Uranus. Today stay grounded and tuned refresh and renew lifelong connections. The day also lights important change needing to be embraced rebellious Uranus under Monday’s skies. into your body. calls attention to your current career trajectory. around your identity and home life.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) *** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) *** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) **** PISCES (February 19-March 20) **** Let the old misconceptions you’ve held onto about life You need an extended weekend, Virgo. Don’t expect Lean into the changes being asked of you, Sagittarius. The week kicks off with a bang today, Pisces. fall away today, Gemini. The universe is clearing a yourself to pleasantly leap into action today, as the Stagnant Saturn locks into an earth-shaking square Stagnant Saturn locks into a tense square with new path forward, but you have to be willing to let go heart-centered Leo moon encourages rest, solitude, with invigorating Uranus, highlighting the changes change-bringer Uranus, an aspect that activates the of the old ways of being. Today work on outgrown and retreat. Elsewhere, stagnant Saturn and needing to be made around your mental health and most important, ongoing stories of your year. But be relationships. change-bringer Uranus clash. communication style. sure to take some time out for yourself. CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021 | 07

Players to Watch Sterling ignites England’s Euro campaign Alvaro Morata (Spain) The striker is capable of scoring many different The Manchester City forward’s goal gives Gareth Southgate’s side a 1-0 win over Croatia—their first Euro opening victory in nine attempts. types of goals. He has come at Euro off a 20-goal Belgium impress campaign for Juventus. Much-fancied Belgium showed they will be He loves to play off the a force to reckon with as Lukaku scored shoulder of the last twice in a 3-0 win for the Red Devils earlier defender, and while this on Saturday. makes him prone to Lukaku gave Belgium an early lead in wandering offside, it also Saint Petersburg, then shouted “Chris, means he is very Chris, stay strong—I love you” into a pitch- dangerous. Equally, side camera during the celebration for his though, he can link up opening goal. play or feature in a wider His club team-mate Eriksen is recover- area, making him a ing in hospital in Copenhagen after collaps- versatile part of Spain’s ing on the pitch during extraordinary armoury at Euro 2020. scenes which overshadowed ’s 1-0 Morata has scored home defeat by Finland in Saturday’s earli- 19 goals in 39 appearances for Spain. er Group B game. The Inter Milan star suddenly collapsed Alexander Isak () in the 43rd minute, laying motionless as medical personnel administered CPR. He Sweden’s youngest-ever laid on the field for about 15 minutes before goalscorer, Isak has four being carried off the pitch and rushed to years of international hospital. experience at the age of The game was temporarily suspended 21 and has scored four awaiting updates on Eriksen’s health, but times, including three in resumed later in the evening after reports the Euro qualifiers. For filtered through that the player was in a years the Swedes have stable condition and awake. been seeking a successor Denmark’s team doctor said Sunday to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, there was still “no explanation” for why and with the AC Milan midfielder Christian Eriksen collapsed striker withdrawing from during his country’s opening Euro 2020 the tournament due to game against Finland, but confirmed he knee injury, their hopes had suffered a cardiac arrest. are currently pinned on “He was gone, and we did cardiac resus- Isak. Standing well over citation,” team doctor Morten Boesen told six feet tall, the Real a press conference. “How close were we? I Sociedad star is an impos- don’t know. We got him back after one defib ing target man and has a keen eye for goal. (defibrillation), so that’s quite fast,” Boesen AP/RSS added. Raheem Sterling (centre) celebrates after scoring a goal against Croatia. This is the 26-year-old forward’s first goal at a major tournament in his 13th game. However, the physician also said they Today’s Fixtures had yet to discover that cause of the 29-year- AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ner eased the tension at Wembley and got edge of the area. old’s heart attack. LONDON, JUNE 13 fans bellowing ‘Football’s coming home’ in But Southgate’s men showed signs of “That is also one of the reasons that he is the hope England can emulate their run to running out of ideas after their early flurry still in the hospital,” the physician added. Raheem Sterling scored after the break as the semi-finals when they hosted Euro 96, failed to yield a goal. Southgate had picked Belgium, the world’s top-ranked team, England beat Croatia 1-0 in the Group D and maybe even win a major tournament Foden, Sterling and Mason Mount as the are under pressure to deliver at the opener to make winning start in the for the first time since the 1966 World Cup. creative forces behind Harry Kane. With European Championship as some pundits European Championship 2020 on Sunday. In truth, this was a far from convincing that quartet still struggling to unhinge claim this is Roberto Martinez’s last chance Gareth Southgate’s side were struggling performance, but Southgate will take heart Croatia into the second half, fans began to win a title with an ageing squad. to break down Croatia until Sterling struck from the way his team kept their nerve on a chanting for the introduction of Aston Yet even with Manchester City playmak- at sun-baked Wembley. The 26-year-old’s pressure-packed occasion. England host Villa playmaker Grealish. But Sterling er Kevin De Bruyne and Borussia first goal at a major tournament—in his neighbours Scotland in their second Group quelled the mounting anxiety as England Dortmund midfielder Axel Witsel sidelined 13th game—was the perfect riposte to crit- D match on Friday before taking on the struck in the 57th minute. Phillips was the by injury, Belgium were too strong for ics who questioned Southgate’s decision to Czech Republic in their final game of the catalyst as he burst forward past two Russia. select him instead of Jack Grealish. first stage on June 22. Croatians and slipped a deft pass behind The hosts got off to a bad start when In a rematch of the 2018 World Cup It was Southgate’s surprise decision to the defensive line. Sterling arrived just Andrei Semenov failed to deal with a cross Scotland vs Czech Republic semi-final won by Croatia, England were select Kalvin Phillips that attracted most ahead of his lunging marker and slotted a by Dries Mertens in the build-up to the 18:45 NST (Monday) hampered by a lack of cutting edge until pre-match attention. But it proved an low shot past Livakovic from 10 yards. opening goal. The ball fell to Lukaku, who Sterling came to the rescue. Sterling’s win- inspired move as, along with Sterling, the In the absence of the injured Harry span away and drove his shot into the bot- Leeds midfielder was Maguire, Tyrone Mings and John Stones tom far corner on 10 minutes. Poland vs Slovakia England’s most accom- were up to the task as England’s cen- Belgium’s Timothy Castagne and 21:45 NST (Monday) plished performer. tre-backs held firm to clinch a victory in Russia’s Daler Kuzyaev had to be helped off Manchester City forward their opening European Championship following a nasty clash of heads which saw Phil Foden was inches game for the first time. both players substituted. Spain vs Sweden away from giving England Austria sealed a 3-1 victory over major Thomas Meunier, Castagne’s replace- 00:45 NST (Tuesday) the perfect start in the sixth tournament debutants North Macedonia in ment at right-back, grabbed Belgium’s sec- minute. Collecting their Group C opener later on Sunday after ond on 34 minutes by slotting home the Sterling’s pass on the edge late goals from substitutes Michael rebound after his Dortmund team-mate of the area, Foden worked Gregoritsch and Marko Arnautovic. Thorgan Hazard swung in a cross which Results space to curl his left-footed Macedonian skipper Goran Pandev Anton Shunin failed to hold. shot off the far post. became the second-oldest scorer in champi- Real Madrid star Eden Hazard replaced Denmark 1-0 Finland Phillips was quickly into onship history by equalising after Stefan Mertens for the final 18 minutes to lift the Belgium 3-0 Russia his stride and forced Lainer’s opener in the first half. Belgian attack. With two minutes left, Dominik Livakovic to make But Gregoritsch and Arnautovic ended Lukaku swept Meunier’s pass into the England 1-0 Croatia a scrambling save with their opponents’ spirited resistance at the Russian net to claim his 20th goal in his last Austria 3-1 North Macedonia his strike from the National Arena in Bucharest. 15 international games. Spain ready for Sweden after virus scare

ASSOCIATED PRESS Llorente’s test result turned out to be Isak, who plays for Real Sociedad in SEVILLE, JUNE 13 a false-positive. The government the Spanish league. rushed in to vaccinate the entire It was because of the virus that the It was only a week ago that Spain squad. Players were allowed to prac- match will be played in Seville instead received some bad news that could tice together again after tests kept of Bilbao, the Spanish city originally have jeopardised their participation coming back negative. picked as host. But the high contagion in the European Championship. Spain will be much closer to full rate of the virus in the northern part Captain Sergio Busquets tested pos- strength when they take on the Swedes of the country forced UEFA to change itive for the coronavirus and the at La Cartuja Stadium. venues. About 16,000 fans will be able national team suddenly faced the pos- “We all see this as a ‘glass half-full’ to attend matches at La Cartuja in the sibility of a Covid-19 outbreak. situation,” Llorente said. “It has made southern city of Seville, where Spain Busquets left the team’s training camp us stronger as a group and as a team. will also play their other group match- and the rest of the squad had to go It can help us mentally for these es against Poland and Slovakia. A into isolation. Everyone had to be test- upcoming matches. Everything will be quarter-final match will also be played ed and retested. Spain coach Luis OK if we all row in the same direction, at La Cartuja. Enrique had to hastily put together a and that’s the lesson we need to learn Spain’s squad had their first full parallel squad in case more players from this week.” practice only on Saturday, when Luis were infected. Personalised training Sweden also had to deal with set- Enrique began deciding who will routines were put into place. The backs because of the coronavirus. replace Busquets, the only player team’s final warm-up match had to be Dejan Kulusevski and Mattias remaining in the squad that was in played with an under-21 squad. Svanberg tested positive last week and Spain’s World Cup-winning team in Fears increased when a second play- had to go into isolation. 2010. Manchester City player Rodri er, defender Diego Llorente, tested pos- They won’t be available to play on Hernandez will be the likely substi- itive a few days later, and Spanish Monday, and neither will Busquets. tute for Busquets in the midfield on football federation president Luis The Barcelona player had taken over Monday. Rubiales said more positive results as captain of the national team after This is the third time in a row that were likely. More players were pulled Luis Enrique decided not to call up Spain faced problems ahead of a away from their vacations to join the veteran Sergio Ramos because he was major tournament. Days before the parallel training bubble. It was a grim plagued by injuries this season. 2018 World Cup, Spain coach Julen outlook for “La Roja” on the eve of the Sweden will be without its own vet- Lopetegui was fired after taking a job tournament. eran star, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who with Real Madrid, and starting goal- But normalcy was somehow ended his five-year international keeper David de Gea had his name restored for Spain ahead of their retirement in March but had to rule involved in an investigation into a Group E opener against Sweden on himself out of Euro 2020 because of a Spanish pornography filmmaker AP/RSS Monday in Seville. Little by little, the knee injury. The Swedish attack will before Euro 2016. He eventually was A young fan carries a billboard carrying the message ‘get well soon’ to Danish playmaker Christian Eriksen good news started trickling in. likely be led by 21-year-old Alexander fully cleared of any wrongdoing. after the Euro 2020 Group D match between England and Croatia at the Wembley Stadium in London.

C M Y K MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021 | 08 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 ‘The Night Watchman,’ Malcolm X biography win arts Pulitzers The news comes amid an intensifying debate over race and education, with legislators in Texas and elsewhere seeking to restrict the teaching of racial injustice.

HILLEL ITALIE & MARK KENNEDY NEW YORK

tories of race, racism and colonialism in the US swept the Pulitzer Prizes for the arts, from Louise Erdrich’s novel ‘The Night Watchman’ to a SMalcolm X biography co-written by the late Les Payne to Katori Hall’s play ‘The Hot Wing King.’ The awards were announced Friday during a remote ceremony that honoured the best work in journalism and the arts in 2020, a year defined in part by the police killing of George Floyd and the protests and reckoning which fol- lowed. The news also comes amid an intensifying debate over race and education, with legislators in Texas and elsewhere seeking to restrict the teaching of racial injustice. “What the Pulitzers are award- ing this year seems so timely,” Tamara Payne, Les Payne’s daugh-

ter and the principal researcher AP/RSS for his book, told The Associated Press. “All of these voices are so ing recognition,” said Erdrich, powerful brass and rhythmic ing the pandemic, the Pulitzer important and always have been who runs an independent book- motifs that incorporate Black Prize Board altered the require- important.” store in Minneapolis, where Floyd With most theatres closed during the music traditions from the US and ments for this year’s drama award, Marcia Chatelain, whose was killed in May 2020. She called pandemic, the Pulitzer Prize Board the Caribbean into a Western allowing postponed or cancelled ‘Franchise: The Golden Arches in the Pulitzer a welcome contrast to orchestral fabric.” works, as well as plays produced Black America’ won for history, the news of the past year. altered the requirements for this ‘The Hot Wing King’ by Katori and performed in places other said that she felt honoured to be “I love this city and it hurts to Hall, a play set around a hot wing than theatres, including online, among a group of writers who know how deep the racism goes. year’s drama award. cooking competition, won the outside or in site-specific venues have “tried to find a way to make It’s something indigenous people prize for drama during a theatre during calendar 2020. ‘The Hot clear that writing about race is also know about well. It’s been a season that saw most venues large- Wing King’ opened off-Broadway fundamental to understanding painful time.” mous acclaim for Les Payne, an who didn’t live to see his book ly shuttered. just days before the city’s theatres what we need as a society.” Pulitzer judges called Erdrich’s award-winning Newsday journal- released. Manning Marable, whose The drama award, which were closed. Erdrich, a member of the Turtle novel “a majestic, polyphonic ist who died in 2018. He began ‘Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention’ includes a $15,000 prize, is “for a Hall is the author of the Mountain Band of Chippewa novel about a community’s efforts working on the Malcolm X book in won for history in 2012, died short- distinguished play by an American Olivier Award-winning ‘The Indians, has drawn upon her back- to halt the proposed displacement 1990 and compiled more than 100 ly before publication. author, preferably original in its Mountaintop’ and is a Tony ground and blended the traditions and elimination of several Native hours of interviews, including Natalie Diaz’s ‘Postcolonial source and dealing with American Award-nominated co-playwright of oral and written storytelling for American tribes in the 1950s, ren- with family members of the late Love Poem,’ a work of pain and of life.” of Broadway’s ‘Tina—The Tina such acclaimed novels as ‘The dered with dexterity and imagina- Black activist, before he died. ecstasy her publisher describes as The Pulitzer board hailed ‘The Turner Musical.’ Round House’ and ‘The Plague of tion.” Tamara Payne helped complete “a call toward goodness, even as it Hot Wing King’ as a “funny, deeply Previous playwrights honoured Doves.’ She based ‘The Night It was the first Pulitzer for ‘The Dead Are Arising,’ which has recognises the violence of our felt consideration of Black mascu- include August Wilson, Edward Watchman’ on the life of her Erdrich, who turned 67 this week been praised highly by critics and time,” was the poetry winner and linity and how it is perceived, fil- Albee, Eugene O’Neill, Arthur maternal grandfather, a night and has been a published author last fall won a National Book David Zucchino’s “Wilmington’s tered through the experiences of a Miller and Tennessee Williams. watchman whose reservation in for more than 40 years. Her previ- Award. Lie: The Murderous Coup of 1898 loving gay couple and their Recent winners include Annie rural North Dakota was threat- ous honours include a National “I do wish he were here, to and the Rise of White Supremacy” extended family as they prepare Baker’s ‘The Flick,’ Ayad Akhtar’s ened in the 1950s by congressional Book Award for ‘The Round receive the accolades,” Tamara was cited for general nonfiction. for a culinary competition.” ‘Disgraced,’ Stephen Adly legislation. House’ and the National Book Payne said of her father. Tania León’s composition Finalists included ‘Circle Jerk’ Guirgis’s ‘Between Riverside and “This story belongs to him and Critics Circle prize for ‘LaRose.’ The Paynes’ collaboration is ‘Stride’ won for music. The judges by Michael Breslin and Patrick Crazy,’ and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s to the Turtle Mountain people. It The Pulitzer for ‘The Dead Are also the second Malcolm X biogra- commended it for being “a musi- Foley and ‘Stew’ by Zora Howard. ‘Hamilton.’ is very moving, this is very mov- Arising’ continues the posthu- phy to win a Pulitzer for an author cal journey full of surprise, with With most theatres closed dur- — Associated Press

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