WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 346 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 27.8 C -1.5 C Friday, February 12, 2021 | 30-10-2077 Bhairahawa Jumla In Jhakri’s arrest, analysts see Oli government’s intent to curb free speech The leader was charged with crime against the state, before she was released, for her remarks on the President, but legal experts say police stretched the law a bit too far.

TIKA R PRADHAN opponents. It shows that the Oli KATHMANDU, FEB 11 administration can go to any extent to attack opponents and critics, accord- A curb on freedom of expression is ing to them. one of the signs of creeping authori- Senior advocate Shambhu tarianism, and the KP Sharma Oli Thapa said that existing legal administration on Thursday tried to provisions do not allow authorities do exactly that, putting its penchant to arrest anyone just for making state- for ruling with the iron fist on full ments. display, once again. “Every citizen has the right to ques- Police arrested Ram Kumari Jhakri, tion authorities and people in power. a leader of the Nepal Communist Freedom of expression is guaranteed Party (Dahal-Nepal) faction, on the by our constitution,” Thapa told the charge of crime against the state Post. “Had people not questioned the for making remarks against the previous regimes, we would be under President. their rule even today.” Jhakri, who rose to prominence Article 17 (2) (a) (Right to freedom) during the 2006 people’s movement, of the Constitution of Nepal states had on January 29 compared President that “Every citizen shall have freedom Bidya Devi Bhandari with the former of opinion and expression.” queens, calling her “bada maharani” Jhakri’s arrest on Thursday for POST PHOTO: ANISH REGMI (her majesty). While speaking at a speaking against the President comes A sadhu plays ball with a child at Hanumandhoka Durbar Square in Kathmandu on Thursday. programme in Gorkha, Jhakri had at a time when the Oli government is also challenged Bhandari to leave planning to introduce a directive to Sheetal Niwas to contest elections. regulate the use of social media and She then went on to say that Bhandari social networking sites. This plan has could even go to Balkot—largely met with massive criticism for it understood as Prime Minister Oli’s intends to curb freedom of expression Covid-19 vaccination may have started, but health residence, because his house is locat- on social media. ed at Balkot, Bhaktapur. Outrage poured against Jhakri’s Legal experts and proponents of arrest also because the Oli adminis- free speech have described Jhakri’s tration over the years has been trying experts are concerned about new variants arrest as yet another move by the to curb freedom of expression. Oli government to threaten his >> Continued on page 2 With technology to detect new variants not available in the country and inoculation taking time to complete, doctors urge all to continue strictly following safety measures.

ARJUN POUDEL had sent the swab samples to the the spike protein, is a cause for con- KATHMANDU, FEB 11 World Health Organisation’s collabo- cern, for it could mean people have rating centre in Hong Kong. been infected with the new variant of A sudden surge in new Covid-19 cases The Health Ministry confirmed in coronavirus. in Pokhara lately set off alarm bells January that three of the six people “Without spike protein, the corona- among health officials, as the new who had returned from the United virus cannot infect people,” Dibesh trend in the city was contrary to what Kingdom were infected with the new Karmacharya, chief executive officer was noticed in other areas, including virus variant. A senior official at the at BIOVAC Nepal Pvt Ltd, told the Kathmandu, where the number of Department of Health Services said Post. “If the polymerase chain reac- infections was coming down. that authorities in Pokhara were tion tests are failing to detect the spike Polymerase chain reaction tests con- asked to send swab samples of the proteins in the swab samples of the ducted on swab samples of those peo- infected people, who had come in con- infected people, there is a possibility ple who had come into contact with tact with the people who had returned that the virus may have undergone those who had returned from abroad from abroad, to Kathmandu. mutations or the virus could be of a showed they were positive for Covid-19 “They were confirmed to have been different variant.” but negative for “s-gene target”. infected with Covid-19, but we need to Spike protein is one of the key bio- In December, when lab reports conduct a whole-genome sequencing logical characteristics of SARS-CoV-2, showed “s-gene” negative for some test to confirm if they were infected which enables the virus to penetrate people who had returned from the by the new variant,” the official told host cells and cause infections. United Kingdom, the Health Ministry the Post requesting anonymity. Unlike bacterial and fungal patho- The swab samples from gens, which can survive without a host Pokhara were tested at the cell to infect, viruses cannot. They National Public Health have to get inside cells to replicate. Laboratory, one of the most Coronaviruses are surrounded by a advanced government-run labo- fatty membrane—called envelope— ratories in the country. whose composition is similar to But this lab also does not have human cells’ outer layering that is the technology to confirm the designed to ward off any invaders. mutations–especially on the In order to get into cells, the envel- spike protein. oped coronaviruses use proteins (or Experts say the s-gene target glycoproteins) to fuse their own mem- failure during polymerase chain brane to that of cells’ and take over reaction tests, which often hap- the cell. pens when there is a mutation on >> Continued on page 2 Khula Manch was closed in 2016 for six months. Plans are finally afoot to open it As the City plans to open it next week, it will reduce traffic snarls during political protests, and the open area will give people space to express themselves in a democratic society.

year, it seems like political protests are going to be a frequent occurrence. So far political mass meetings, ever since Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli dissolved the House of Representatives on December 20, are being held on the streets to the dismay of the people as traffic chaos lasts the whole day. The latest of these shows of strength by the two factions of the warring Nepal Communist Party fac- tions took place on Wednesday. The Pushpa Kamal Dahal-Madav Kumar Nepal faction of the Nepal Communist Party bussed people from different parts of the country for a mass meet- POST PHOTO ing at Bhrikutimandap. Earlier in the Political parties are holding their rallies on the streets as this protest venue is full of vehicles. day, rallies began from different parts of the city to converge at the site of ANUP OJHA the three-decade old one-party the mass meeting where leaders KATHMANDU, FEB 11 panchayat rule took place in the addressed the gathering. spring. The 2006 people’s movement Getting from one place to another Spring has traditionally been the sea- that ultimately ended the centu- for the common people was a night- son of political protests in Nepal. The ries-old monarchy also took place in mare as traffic could hardly move. people’s movement of 1990 to abolish the spring. As spring approaches this >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021 | 02 NATIONAL Khula Manch was closed ... Bajhang’s revered Surma Sarovar dries up >> Continued from page 1 and conservationists in 2019 had Last Friday had been the turn of the organised a series of citizen-led pro- Oli faction of the party to hold a mass grammes with a slogan ‘Occupy Some Hindu devotees see it as a bad omen but scientists say the phenomenon could be explained with a study. meeting. The assembly was held at Tundikhel’, to regain the open space Durbar Marg and public buses were of Tundikhel and one of the demands not even allowed inside the Ring Road had been to make Khula Manch free of for the day. encroachment. According to the Metropolitan But Kathmandu Metropolitan City Traffic Police Division if only the Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya had dis- political parties have their mass gath- missed the citizen-led movement as erings in Khula Manch, nearly 40 per- political propaganda started by some cent of traffic jams in Kathmandu can individuals to gain political favour. be controlled. “Ever since Khula Manch came But since 2016 the historic Khula under the KMC’s supervision it has Manch, where leaders like Bishwesor limited people’s interaction with the Prasad Koirala, Ganesh Man Singh, space,” said Shrestha. “We see KMC’s Man Mohan Adhikari and Madan carelessness and indifference in all Bhandari held the masses spellbound issues including Kamal Pokhari, Rani with their orations, has been a dump- Pokhari, and even Khula Manch--they ing ground for construction materials have been creating one issue after for the extension of Bir Hospital and another, and we don’t have enough the reconstruction of Durbar High people pointing this out to them.” School. Another conservationist Alok “That space was never meant to be Siddhi Tuladhar who has long been used for stocking building materials,” fighting to preserve the cultural herit- said Birendra Bhakta Shrestha, for- age and one of the leading campaign- mer politician turned cultural activ- ers of ‘Occupy Tundikhel’ welcomed POST COURTESY: KRISHNA BOHARA ist. “It was a valued space and they the city’s move. Hindu devotees from Bajhang and other districts of Sudurpaschim Province flock to the lake, also known as Mini Kailash, during major Hindu festivals. couldn’t keep up with its value.” “Though it’s late, the city has made But whatever may be the symbolic this announcement, the city must BASANTA PRATAP SINGH Bajhang situated at an altitude of rural municipalities and Jayprithvi Khadka, a tourism entrepreneur value of Khula Manch, for practical shift the temporary bus park back to BAJHANG, FEB 11 4,333 metres. To reach there, one has Municipality in Bajhang have from Bajhang. purposes, the re-opening of space the view tower’s basement, and let to walk for four days from the district expressed concerns about the lake According to experts on water would be a relief to the traffic police. flourish this open space” said In early January, Ganesh Bohara, a headquarters, Chainpur, across the drying up. They consider it a bad issues and climate change, they can “If the city removes all those struc- Tuladhar. resident of Surma Rural Municipality Chande Shikhar Nagna pass at 4,859 omen. “The deity must be angry for ascertain the reasons for the lake dry- tures and makes the Khula Manch a But heritage activists are suspi- in Bajhang, made his way towards metres above sea level. Hindus believe the lake to dry up completely,” said ing up only after conducting a proper place for political gatherings, this is cious of the move to free up the space Surma Sarovar. It was his annual trip the lake is the abode of Surma Devi, a 60-year-old Kuya Bohara in Surma. study and research. going to be great relief for traffic at Khula Manch. to the lake to collect medicinal Hindu goddess. Nara Bahadur Bohara of Surma “There could be many reasons but police,” said Superintendent of Police “It looks really fishy. The city can’t herbs. But what greeted him when he “The lake used to be at its most Rural Municipality says the lake did we can’t say for sure,” said Ajaya Shyam Krishan Adhikari, also a make its independent decision,” said reached the destination was a dry beautiful during December-January. not dry up even during the Dixit, a water resources engineer who spokesperson at the division. Ganapati Lal Shrestha, one of the barren lake bed. It’s saddening to see all that beauty 11-month-long drought in the area five has expertise on issues of water This is what the Kathmandu campaigners of the Occupy Tundikhel. “My initial thought was that I must gone now. In my more than 15 visits, years ago. and climate change. “It could be the Metropolitan City is planning to do. Some right activists suspect that have taken the wrong road and this is the first time I have seen the Tourists and regular visitors to the environmental degradation or the According to Ishwor Man Dangol, Prime Minister Oli himself might reached somewhere else. The water in lake dried up,” said Bohara. lake have also expressed grave con- rapid evaporation of water given the spokesperson at the City, it is clearing have ordered to clear Khula Manch, so the lake has completely dried up, Hindu devotees from Bajhang and cerns about the current state of the increase in temperature in the hilly it because China funded Durbar High that he can address from there at the exposing the dry bed with cracks other hilly districts of Sudurpaschim lake. “I was there four years ago and and mountainous regions. Another School reconstruction is completed next mass meeting to counter the dis- running across the surface,” said Province flock to the lake during the lake was filled with water. There reason could be the drying up of water and over 90 percent of the Bir gruntled Dahal-Nepal faction. Bohara. major Hindu festivals. should be a detailed study done to sources in the watershed area of the Hospital extension construction has When Oli had organized a mass Surma Sarovar, also known as Mini The residents of Chhabis know what happened here. How did lake or leakage of water due to some been completed. meeting at Durbarmarg on Feb 6, with Kailash by Hindus, is a holy lake in Pathibhera, Durgathali and Surma the lake dry up?” said Kishwor geological changes.” “They had kept their construction the Narayanhiti Palace as the back- materials, now they are done with it, drop there had been criticisms of Oli so we are clearing it,” said Dangol. trying to reclaim the seat of the Hindu “We will be clearing the half portion monarchs. of Khula Manch by next week.” “This might be another tactic from For civil society, this is welcome the Oli government. He will do a mass Covid-19 vaccination may have started, but health ... news. gathering from Khula Manch and “I think it’s a good decision that announce that political parties are not >> Continued from page 1 for a spike in new cases in Pokhara, a of vaccine. this variant spreads more easily and KMC is thinking of opening the space allowed to do mass gathering obstruct- The spike protein of coronaviruses popular tourist destination. Experts say the good thing is that quickly than other variants. In to people and although their decision ing the road,” said one of the partici- is one such viral glycoprotein. Without “The spread of the new variant can- recent reports suggest the Oxford- January 2021, experts in the UK comes very late, it’s good that they pants of the citizen-led movement, spike protein, viruses like SARS- not be ruled out in densely populated AstraZeneca vaccine has been recom- reported that this variant may be asso- made that decision,” said Daman Nath who didn’t want to disclose his name. CoV-2, won’t be able to interact with cities like Pokhara and Dharan which mended by the World Health ciated with an increased risk of death Dhungana, a prominent member of The traffic police had earlier been the cells of human beings to cause see frequent travels to and from the Organisation for its wide use. compared to other virus variants, but the civil society “People have the right asking the Kathmandu Metropolitan infections. United Kingdom,” Dr Sameer Mani There have been concerns about the more studies are needed to confirm to speak out and we need more spaces City to make Khula Manch available “A whole-genome sequencing test is Dixit, director of research at Center effectiveness of the vaccines devel- this finding. where they can present their views for mass meetings. the only way to confirm if the people for Molecular Dynamics Nepal, told oped so far in people who are infected “The vaccine we have been using and Khula Manch is one such space.” “Earlier also we had reached KMC whose swab samples we have received the Post. with the new variants. may not work against the South Khula Manch, to the south of numerous times to request it to make from Pokhara have been infected with “We must not drop our guard The UN health agency’s Strategic African variant,” Dr Sher Bahadur Ratnapark and east of Bir Hospital, Khula Manch open, but it didn’t listen the new variant,” said the official at against the risk of infections. We Advisory Group of Experts on Pun, chief of the Clinical Research holds a great political significance. to us,” said Adhikari. “If the city real- the Department of Health Services. should keep following safety measures Immunization, known as SAGE, said Unit at Sukraraj Tropical and Since the 1990 people’s movement ly clears the Khula Manch, that would “We don’t have the technology to do until a half of the population is vacci- on Wednesday that it recommends Infectious Disease Hospital, told the the spot has become a place for politi- be a sigh of relief for citizens and the so. We have preserved those samples.” nated.” Nepal has launched its vacci- using the vaccine developed by the Post. cal gatherings. For the past three dec- traffic police.” Ever since the coronavirus was first nation drive against Covid-19 with the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca “We should be more cautious and ades the place has seen different But sooner or later authorities must detected in humans in Wuhan of Oxford-AstraZeneca’s Covishield vac- even in countries tackling new vari- take measures to contain the spread changes in the country from throwing open Khula Manch as public space, China in December 2019, it is believed cine, which is locally manufactured by ants of coronavirus. In their interim of infection in the country.” away of the one-party panchayat sys- say activists. to have undergone thousands of the Serum Institute of India. recommendations, the experts’ panel Doctors are concerned if excessive tem to the abolishment of the monar- “The decision to finally open the changes. After starting the inoculation exer- said the vaccine is 63 percent effective focus on vaccines could make people chy. “The government has the respon- space may be for political reasons but After the UK reported the new vari- cise on January 27 with one million overall. complacent and they could stop fol- sibility to provide such democratic it is for the better because the demon- ant, it is said to have been seen in Covishield doses provided by India, However, early data from trials in lowing safety measures. The authori- spaces, instead of prohibiting public strations we saw yesterday in more than 70 countries. the government is planning to launch South Africa showed the vaccine was ties must keep running the awareness spaces,” said Dhungana. Bhrikutimandap and in the past Authorities, however, have not paid the second phase of vaccination in offering “minimal protection” against campaigns and the general The City used half of Khula Manch, months have affected the people of the attention to people returning from March. mild and moderate disease in young public must not forget that the threat once 48 ropanis (24,406 square metres) city,” said Birendra Bhakta Shrestha. other countries. Nepal needs to inoculate around 72 people, according to the BBC. is not over yet, given the possibility of of public land, to construct a tempo- “Demonstrations like that are not for Experts say that the new variant of percent of its 30 million population for The new variant, the one identified the spread of new variants, according rary bus park while the old bus park the road. And Khula Manch was a the coronavirus might be responsible which it needs around 45 million doses in the UK, is said to be more infectious to them. was emptied to construct a view tower space for such demonstrations in the than the regular variant “Virus mutation is a continuous in 2016. The bus park was to be shifted past as it provided people with a dem- that has been spreading process, so it won’t be surprising if for only six months, but half a decade ocratic space where they could freely throughout the globe. new variants are circulating,” said have passed but the City is not con- express themselves.” According to the United Pun. “Everyone should continue to cerned about taking back the bus park States’ Centers for Disease follow safety measures strictly, even to its old place. (Srizu Bajracharya contributed Control and Prevention, those who have been vaccinated.” Heritage activists, local residents reporting) In Jhakri’s arrest, analysts see Oli government’s ... >> Continued from page 1 “I have my full respect for the constitutional Some of the bills, including the Media Council President and I stress that everyone should abide Bill and Information Technology Bill, that the by the constitution and law,” she wrote in Oli administration wanted to introduce con- response to a police query if her statements were tained some regressive provisions aimed at cur- meant at disrespecting or threatening the tailing freedom of expression and freedom of the President. press. Jhakri’s arrest on Thursday brought leaders While legal experts questioned Jhakri’s arrest, of various political parties, except the one led by they also wondered why the police invoked the Oli, on the same page, who unequivocally offences against the state chapter of the National demanded her immediate release. Penal (Code) Act. Leaders from across the spectrum—the Nepali The arrest warrant issued by the police said Congress, Janata Samajbadi Party, Rastriya Jhakri had to be detained for interrogation for Prajatantra Party, Bibeksheel Sajha Party and crime against the state under Section 58 of the Jhakri’s own party–condemned the Oli adminis- National Penal (Code) Act. POST PHOTO: HEMANTA SHRESTHA tration for the arrest, saying such an act was a “Actually we had taken her into custody for Jhakri addresses her supporters outside her residence. direct attack on people’s right to free speech interrogation following a complaint by the All guaranteed by the constitution. Nepal Women’s Association for making false after a merger between the UML and Pushpa Free speech advocates say regimes with accusations against the President during her Kamal Dahal’s Maoist Centre. authoritarian tendencies often employ various speech in Gorkha,” said Superintendent Krishna Dahal, along with former UML methods to suppress freedom of expression and Prasad Koirala, spokesperson for the leaders like Madhav Kumar Nepal and Jhala media freedom and shrink civic space. Metropolitan Crime Division, Minbhawan. Nath Khanal, decided to part ways with Oli. She Immediately after assuming office, Oli had Section 58 (1) of the National Penal (Code) Act was a Member of Parliament in the currently tried to ban protests at Maitighar Mandala. Oli’s says: “No person shall intimidate, whether by dissolved House under proportional representa- contempt for free media has been evident from using any kind of force or not, show fear or ter- tion system. his various statements, where he is heard damn- ror to, or otherwise over the President or Jhakri is now with the Dahal-Nepal faction. ing journalists who are critical of him. Parliament of Nepal with intent to prevent or At Wednesday’s mass gathering organised by “Today’s move is nothing but an attempt by Oli restrain the President or Parliament of Nepal the Dahal-Nepal faction, Jhakri appeared on the to threaten his opponents with a message that he from performing any of the functions required stage with her mouth taped, in a symbolic pro- could take such steps against anyone who criti- to be performed under the constitution or law or test against the Oli administration’s attack on cises him,” said Om Prakash Aryal, an advocate. compel the President or Parliament of Nepal to freedom of speech. “What Jhakri spoke does not even qualify as perform the functions in any specific manner.” After removing the tape, she said, “We are libel or slander, but the government showed its Thapa, the senior advocate, however, said allowed to speak. In the governance system we vindictive tendency by arresting her.” there was no need to invoke Section 58 to arrest have ushered in, we should be allowed to speak. Ever since Oli dissolved the House of the Jhakri and that the move was guided by We are free to speak against totalitarianism.” Representatives, largely out of spite after he malafide intentions. Of late she had been facing vicious and vitriol- found himself cornered in his own party, he “Section 58 of the penal code clearly says if the ic attacks for her Gorkha speech targeting looks more determined to wreak vengeance on President is compelled to do or not to do…. but President Bhandari. his opponents. Jhakri had simply criticised her,” said Thapa. At Wednesday’s programme Jhakri said that Many say the move of arresting a leader from “Criticism of the authorities and people in she had criticised the President because she was the opposition faction and charging her with a power is part of democratic processes.” acting like an assistant of the executive head. crime against the state could be a precursor to Jhakri made her foray into politics as a stu- After widespread criticism, Jhakri was more such acts by the Oli administration in the dent leader. She became the first woman presi- released later on Thursday evening. future, as it is facing severe criticism for attack- dent of the All Nepal National Free Students’ Koirala, the police official, said since she was ing the constitution and democracy. Union, the student wing of then CPN-UML, in taken into custody for interrogation. “Our constitution does not bar anyone from 2008. Until May 2018, she was an active member “In her clarification, she has said that her criticising anyone holding public positions,” of then UML—the party from which the country respect for the constitutional President is said Taranath Dahal, director of Freedom got Oli as prime minister and Bhandari as the intact,” Koirala told the Post. “We then decided Forum, a civil liberty group that advocates free President. not to move the case forward.” speech and media freedom. Oli’s House dissolution move on December 20, In her response to the police, Jhakri said that “Jhakri’s arrest is part of a larger plot this however, resulted in a split in the Nepal what she spoke in Gorkha was purely a political government is hatching to silence all those who Communist Party, which was formed in May 2018 statement. stand up for free speech and democracy.”

C M Y K 03 | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021 NATIONAL Proposed travel rule change may not help Nepal bans three Indian control women’s trafficking, experts say nationals from climbing Immigration official tries but fails to convince protesters that the government is not trying to curtail anyone’s rights. its mountains for faking CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL & SAMIKSHA BARAL ficking. The report estimated that KATHMANDU, FEB 11 nearly 35,000 Nepali citizens—15,000 men, 15,000 women, and 5,000 ascent of Everest A group of youth gathered outside the children—were trafficked during the office building of the Department of period. Immigration at Kalikasthan on This data was compiled when the Their high-altitude guide is fined Rs10,000 for making a Thursday afternoon, protesting government ban on Nepali women for against proposed changes to the immi- taking up housemaid jobs in the Gulf false report but liaison officer is let off with a warning. gration rules that make it difficult for region was still on. women under 40 to travel abroad on “The state’s protectionist approach POST REPORT visit visas on their own. has entirely failed so far. Such moves KATHMANDU, FEB 11 Holding their passports in their have put constraints on their right to hands, the youths said they would movement and work guaranteed Nepal has issued a six-year mountain- return them to the state if they are not under the International Covenant on eering ban and revoked the Everest allowed to live with dignity. “Let us Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and climbing certificates of two Indian live with dignity or take back our CEDAW,” said Mohna Ansari, former citizens who produced fake documents passports,” shouted the protesters, national human rights commissioner. to claim that they had climbed Mt most of them women. “Women face various forms of dis- Everest in May 2016. Soon, the venue of the protest wit- crimination when it comes to issues Two Indian climbers—Narender nessed an informal debate between a such as wages while working at home Singh Yadav and Seema Rani department official and the protesters. or abroad.” Goswami—were issued Everest climb- “If we have to seek permission from The new decision shows the state ing certificates by the Department of the ward office before going abroad, treats women as second-class citizens, Tourism in 2016 based on photographs then we will submit our passports to the decision will only increase the and climbing report submitted by the ward office and also apply for a POST PHOTO: SANJOG MANANDHAR incidents of sub-agents and traffick- their liaison officer. visa from the office,” said Bhawana A demonstrator holds her passport as she takes part in a protest against a proposed rule to ers luring women into slavery, said “As per the investigation report Raut, one of the protesters. require women under 40 to get permission from their families and local authorities to travel Ansari. which concluded that photographs “This rule infringes upon our abroad, at the Department of Immigration’s office at Kalikasthan, Kathmandu on Thursday. The new rule, if implemented, will purporting to show the climbers at the fundamental rights. We will not once again force job-seeking women to top of the world’s highest mountain tolerate it.” “This policy proposal is blatantly that such measures would work to turn to other routes to reach destina- were faked, the government has “The new rule shows how the state discriminatory towards women and address the problem, given the coun- tion countries, experts fear. moved to revoke the climbing certifi- POST ILUSTRATION : RABINDRA MANANDHAR sees women,” said another protester. completely disregards their right to try’s experience. “They will start going abroad via cates and issue the six-year mountain- “This is a reflection of the state’s free movement,” said Nirajan “The rule must have been proposed India. They do not have to go through eering ban on them,” Taranath gation. Four years after the controver- patriarchal mindset.” Thapaliya, director of Amnesty with the intention of protecting its the airport in Kathmandu,” said Adhikari, the spokesperson at the sial summit claim, the Tourism Tek Narayan Paudel, the depart- International, Nepal. “In the name of citizens,” said Sharu Joshi Shrestha, a Shrestha, also an executive member at Tourism Ministry, told the Post. Ministry had formally opened an ment official witnessing the ‘protecting’ its citizens, Nepali author- gender and labour migration expert. Nepal Policy, a think tank. The mountaineering ban, however, investigation in August last year. protest, was prepared to defend the ities must not introduce measures “But how can such a move be effective “Are there enough jobs at home to will be counted from May 20, 2016. An investigation committee pro- government. that violate the fundamental rights when we have an 1,800-km-long open employ women? The government has Yadav said in an interview to The duced a report two weeks ago, after six “We are also committed to protect- and freedom guaranteed in the border with India?” fixed Rs13,450 as the minimum month- New York Times that he has all the months of investigation, and recom- ing the rights of citizens. We aren’t Constitution to all, irrespective of Nepal shares a 1,850 km-long porous ly wage, but domestic helps get around proof required to show he reached the mended action against two Indian going to introduce any rules that go their gender.” border with five Indian states. Indian Rs4,000-Rs5,000. Is the government top of the mountain. He has filed a nationals. against [the principles of] human National Network for Safe routes have often been used by monitoring that? Where is the guaran- police complaint against his guide in According to Adhikari, the climb- rights,” Paudel, also the department’s Migration, a body of organisations traffickers for smuggling Nepali tee of decent jobs and a dignified Nepal, who he said was misleading ing duo had morphed [photoshopped] spokesperson, told the group. “We working in the field of migration, on women into the Gulf and east-Asian working environment?” people by denying that he had scaled the photos which show they are stand- have not made a final decision [on the Thursday, also called the rule a “twist- countries. The proposed rule, which is likely to the peak. ing on the summit of Everest. “During issue]. Only a proposal [on the issue ed move” to ultimately ban women Every time, the state comes up with limit the free movement of women, The government has also issued a the investigation, the Indian moun- you are referring to] was prepared by from going abroad. rules that restrict women’s movement, also comes four months after a parlia- six-year mountaineering ban on the taineers were asked to prove their a committee under the Home Women’s Rehabilitation Centre it seems to backfire. Unable to fly via mentary committee asked the govern- team leader Naba Kumar Phukan, claim again. But they failed to submit Ministry.” (WOREC), a non-governmental organ- the country’s lone international air- ment to relax the existing ban on starting from May 2016. Similarly, the the evidence,” Adhikari said. Not convinced, one protester retort- isation working for the protection and port, due to a series of bans in the Nepali women to work in the Persian government has slapped a fine of According to Adhikari, out of nine ed, “If the new rule was not criticised promotion of human rights, said the past, women have been compelled to Gulf as domestic workers. The move Rs50,000 on Seven Summit Treks, fake certificates cases under investi- massively, it would already have new rule portrays women as the cul- take unsafe land routes. was welcomed. the agency handling the Indian gation, Nepal is still probing the other become law, and the general public prit and is the outcome of a gender-bi- Nepali women have managed to go “If the parliamentary committee expedition. five including those of four Indian and would only know about it after it is ased mentality, which will further to war-torn and unsafe countries such had made the decision, then the gov- High-altitude guide Nga Dawa a UAE national. enforced.” strengthen structural discrimination as Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and Syria ernment agencies should have moved Sherpa Dawa, who was hired to sup- As per the rules, every climber has The official continued to assure the faced by Nepali women. even when Nepal barred them from ahead in implementing that particu- port their climb and who made a false to submit a photograph standing atop group that no laws will be made to However, the government has working and living in these countries. lar decision,” said Shrestha. “The lat- report saying that they have climbed, Everest within five months of the encroach upon the citizen’s funda- defended the proposed rule saying it is Nepali women have also been found est decision shows there is a lack of has been fined Rs10,000. completion of their expedition to the mental rights. But the protesters wer- only meant to protect women from to have made their way into African coordination among concerned The liaison officer Pawan Kumar department to get the certificate. They en’t convinced. potential trafficking, other abuses or countries such as Kenya, where they agencies.” Ghimire, who was supposed to moni- also have to submit a report from their The proposed rule, if implemented, getting stranded abroad. have worked in captive-like situations. After more than three years of tor the climbing activities on behalf liaison officer, who stays at base camp. will make it mandatory for women Following massive criticism, the Similarly, a large number of Nepali imposing a ban on Nepali women from of the government, however, has been But in many cases, liaison officers under 40 to get consent from their Department of Immigration, in a women are working in Lebanon as taking up domestic jobs in the Gulf only issued a warning. are also a part of the plot. family members and a recommenda- statement, said the proposed rule housemaids despite a government ban countries, the committee had lifted Yadav was one of the recipients of A separate internal report of the tion from the local ward office before would be applicable only for first-time on doing so. the ban to allow them to work as the prestigious Tenzing Norgay department says that in the spring of leaving the country on visit visas. The travellers going to the Gulf and Women rights activists have been domestic help in those countries. National Adventure Award in India. 2019, out of 37 liaison officers who rule has been met with a barrage of African countries where the risk of saying that the state’s protectionist “Restricting mobility has never On August 22, 2020, the 26-year-old was were deployed on Everest to support criticism from members of the gener- abuse is high. approach has failed to yield expected proved to be the right strategy in curb- named one of the five recipients of climbers, only 22 went to the base al public, women rights defenders, and The government has been defend- results as women have continued to go ing trafficking,” said Anurag Devkota, India’s highest award for adventure camp. lawyers, calling it ‘regressive’. ing the move to keep a check on abroad through illegal routes and face a human rights lawyer. sports in the ‘land adventure’ category The liaison officers, who are the Amnesty International, Nepal on Nepalis leaving on visit visas, which abuse at the hand of traffickers. “This was evident especially for the year 2019 and President Ram civil servants from various ministries Thursday said that the new proposed has seen a worrying surge lately, mak- According to the annual human because the country has witnessed a Nath Kovind was slated to hand over and departments, including the army rule regarding foreign travel of ing them vulnerable to various abuses trafficking report of the National surge in human trafficking cases the award on August 29 last year. and police, earn at least Rs200,000 in women under 40 is discriminatory. It in the future. Human Rights Commission for 2018- whenever the government comes up But after several claims of fake allowances and expenses for their called on the government to halt such Experts in the field of women’s 19, nearly 1.5 million Nepalis are at with impractical bans,” Devkota told ascent, India’s Ministry of Youth and mountaineering gear and food are arbitrary proposals. rights and labour migration doubt risk of various forms of human traf- the Post. Sports requested Nepal for an investi- supported by the climbers. Interval between Covishield vaccine doses likely to be eight to 12 weeks Officials had earlier said second dose will be administered four weeks after the first one. But fresh recommendations from WHO suggest otherwise, giving rise to dropout fears.

ARJUN POUDEL women and nursing mothers, who can be procured on time for the second KATHMANDU, FEB 11 were on the priority list prepared by jabs. A person needs two doses of vac- the Health Ministry, had not been cine and the same vaccine (Covishield) Those who received the first dose of inoculated. is used in the doses. AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine The government rolled out its coro- “We won’t use the stock without (Covishiled) in Nepal in the last few navirus vaccination drive on January ensuring the supply of the second weeks are likely to get their second jab 27 using the one million doses of the dose,” added Gautam. only after 8 to 12 weeks—at least four Serum Institute of India-produced Public health experts are worried weeks behind the pre-planned Covishield vaccine provided by India that poor record-keeping, inadequate schedule. under grant assistance. vaccine storage capacity, and possible Officials are considering making Front line workers—health work- dropouts could hamper the campaign the change following recommenda- ers, supporting staff at the health if the interval between the two doses tions from the World Health facilities, female community health is increased. Organization’s Strategic Advisory volunteers, ambulance drivers, securi- “We must review our record-keep- Group of Experts on Immunization on ty personnel deployed for manage- ing system, assess our capacity to Wednesday to maintain an interval of ment of bodies of the dead—as well as store the vaccine, and consider the 8 to 12 weeks between the first senior citizens living in old age homes, dropout rate while extending the and second jabs of the vaccine and prisoners, were on the priority intervals between two doses,” Dr developed by the University of Oxford list for the first phase campaign. Sarad Onta, a public health expert, and pharmaceutical giant The ministry had planned to inocu- told the Post. AstraZeneca. late 430,000 people in the first phase, According to Onta, a lot of people “We will hold a meeting of stake- but only 184,857 in the target group could miss the jabs, if the record-keep- holders and take a call as per recom- received the jab in the first 11 days of ing system is not effective. Authorities mendations from the World Health the campaign. have to procure a large number of Organization,” Dr Shyam Raj Upreti, The ministry has been inoculating doses of vaccine at once if a coordinator of the Covid-19 vaccine staffers serving at various diplomatic large number of people are to be inoc- advisory committee, told the Post. “By missions and journalists using the ulated at once and the existing storage following the UN health agency’s rec- vaccine stock. It now plans to inocu- capacity of the country is not ommendations, we can inoculate more late service providers who come in sufficient. people from the existing stock of frequent contact with the public in “We are inoculating a large number vaccines.” sectors such as banking, revenue col- of adult people for the first time in the Earlier, the Ministry of Health and lection, electricity and water supply, country,” said Onta. “I fear the vac- Population had decided to keep an telecoms, transportation, and others cine drop rate will be high if the inter- interval of four weeks between from Sunday. val between the first and second dose the first and second doses of the The government still has around is extended.” vaccine. 800,000 doses of Covishield in stock. Doctors also questioned the capaci- According to Upreti, the WHO has “We are discussing the extension of ty of the government to inoculate a also said that the Oxford-AstraZeneca the interval between the first and sec- large population at once. “Despite hav- vaccine can be given to all adults ond doses of the vaccine,” Dr ing sufficient doses for certain target above 18, including pregnant women Jageshwor Gautam, spokesperson for groups, we could not inoculate all and nursing mothers if they are in the Health Ministry, told the Post. “We health workers by taking them into normal health. will decide after an expert panel confidence,” Dr Baburam Maraasini, “From now on, we will also provide makes recommendations.” former director at the Epidemiology the jabs to pregnant women and nurs- Gautam said that the ministry can and Disease Control Division, told the ing mothers on the priority list,” use all remaining doses to give people Post. “Authorities concerned should added Upreti. their first jabs if there’s a guarantee seriously review this failure and make Due to safety concerns, pregnant that additional doses of Covishield further plans accordingly.”

C M Y K FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021 | 04 OPINION EDITORIAL Revolution and counter-revolution Day trippers Why have the Maoists Organisers and demonstrators must be mindful that run out of steam, and the risk of coronavirus transmission looms large. their vision become nearly void? It’s starting to feel like a routine. Hundreds of buses filled with thousands of protesters stream into Kathmandu Valley from across the country every week. They participate in HISILA YAMI citywide demonstrations and public assemblies, either in support of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli or to protest his dissolution of the House of Representatives, and quickly return. What is being organised as a ‘show of strength’ by the Oli faction of the ruling Nepal Communist Party or the rival The coming February 13 marks the 25th faction led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Madhav Kumar year of the start of the ‘People’s War’ Nepal has become a nuisance for the general public. The by the Maoists in Nepal. In 2012, I demonstrations disrupt the people’s everyday lives and remember my daughter Manushi tell- bring the city’s traffic to a standstill—not to forget that all ing me, ‘Mother, you are so lucky to be part of the history in making this coun- this is happening amid a deadly pandemic. try a republic. We may not have any The turnout at these demonstrations has also been mas- contribution to make in our lifetime.’ I sive. Thousands of people march towards designated assem- had said, ‘Don’t worry, a revolution is bly points at the centre of the capital from the periphery, generally followed by a counter-revolu- much to the misery of the general public which is gradually tion, and you may be required to fight against it.’ I am baffled to note how fast trying to see some normalcy in their lives after months of the counter-revolution has come in uncertainties and fear. But not everyone attending these Nepal. protests is here for the cause. Before delving into revolution and Some of the protestors have been promised free rides and counter-revolution, let us examine the positions of the political parties before meals by the organisers while for some, it is an opportunity the Maoist conflict started. Although to make a quick all expenses paid trip to Kathmandu and all of them were working to weaken the meet relatives and friends or to take care of errands. For monarchy, there were different tenden- POST FILE PHOTO some, it is their first time in Kathmandu, and an opportunity cies. The Nepali Congress was known to visit religious sites while many don’t even know why they for fighting for democracy, but they vision and direction, and Mohan Party, is on the streets demanding the come their vision has become nearly could not go beyond multiparty democ- Baidya made sure the party was not reinstatement of the dissolved void? This is mainly due to Prachanda’s are here. racy under the monarchy. Various deviating from the path of classical Parliament. At the same time, many hunger for power at the cost of princi- This concerns epidemiologists and infectious disease doc- brands of communist parties, particu- revolution. A critical examination people are asking questions about the ples and issues. There is a potential for tors about how these mass gatherings amid the pandemic larly the Communist Party of Nepal showed that Dahal represented a petty, actions, or lack thereof, of the former conflict if ethnic and regional oppres- could escalate the Covid-19 situation in the country. (Unified Marxist-Leninist) were fight- bourgeois demagogue who named the Maoists in the Nepal Communist Party. sion is not addressed. If the Truth and ing for a republic, but they could not go party’s ideology after himself, as How is it that the women’s movement Reconciliation Commission is not effec- Protesters, packed like sardines in overcrowded buses and at beyond abstract class issues. There ‘Prachanda Path’. Bhattarai represent- has taken a back seat? tively implemented, renewed conflict assembly venues, have their guard off as organisers do not were small parties such as the ed an idealist leader who was more The Dalits were much-empowered may result. But KP Oli wants to turn adhere to public health protocols during the protests. There Janmukti Party and Sadbhawana Party theoretical and was involved in devel- during the People’s War, and were the clock back by trying to replace the is no proper usage of masks and people hoot and cheer that were campaigning for federalism, oping Marxism in the present context. known for making and maintaining 2015 Constitution with the 1990 together as the leaders berate their opponents. but they could not go beyond identity Baidya represented a dogmatist leader arms and ammunition for the Maoists. Constitution. No wonder dust is gather- issues. There was only the Maoist who liked to bask in the past. But the recent brutal killing of a Dalit ing in the streets for another storm, the Equally vulnerable are the security personnel who are Party that pursued a package pro- Despite various lacunas, the People’s youth and his friends by former third Jana Andolan! mobilised during these mass gatherings, which are in sharp gramme of democracy, republicanism, War created a situation for launching Maoists in Rukum, once a hot spot of In many ways, parallels can be drawn contrast to the world adopting stringent measures to curb federalism and secularism making it a the second People’s Movement in coop- the People’s War, shocked the nation. between Aung San Suu Kyi, who was infections and fatalities as the threat of new variants and holistic movement. eration with other parties, resulting in The young man had dared to love the hailed as the leader of democracy in the promulgation of the constitution daughter of a so-called upper caste Myanmar for fighting against the mili- vaccine drives go hand in hand. Protests are a necessary and Synchronised leadership through a Constituent Assembly. Thakuri for which he lost his life. tary junta, and Dahal, who was hailed inalienable right of the public, but organisers and demon- It is interesting to note how the parties However, after the promulgation of the Even then the Dalit organisation of the as a leader who fought against the mon- strators need to be mindful that despite fewer cases and were functioning when the People’s new constitution, the structure of most Nepal Communist Party said not a archy to make Nepal a federal republic. fatalities, the risk of an outbreak looms large. Foremost, War was going on. Most of them, of the political parties didn’t change. word. Take the case of the Janajatis In course of time, Aung San Suu Kyi politicians must develop a conscience to stop sacrificing including the Nepali Congress and the They engaged in power-mongering who had autonomous provinces based succumbed to the same military CPN-UML, would condemn the Maoists instead of pursuing transformative on identity during the People’s War, authority, disappointing those who had people’s interests to serve their interests. as extremists when they were out of action, and they are still hesitating to but who kept their mouths shut when conferred the Nobel Prize on her. As old as it can get, the deceptive card employed by politi- power; but when they were in govern- make their parties inclusive as demand- the provinces were formed without Recently, she has been stabbed in the cians to show that they have public support, time and again ment, they were keen to engage with ed by the constitution. They still have a any regard to the spirit of identity and back by the military that has impris- is only an epitome of false assurances, or we wouldn’t be the same Maoists. At the same time, the hangover of the feudal mindset where- federalism. During the People’s War, oned her. Similarly, Dahal succumbed Maoist Party was spreading through- by democratic norms are hardly prac- martyrs and disappeared persons to Oli who was against federalism and here in this quagmire, six years after the constitution which out the country because it not only tised within the party. were honoured by having landmarks republicanism, disappointing those guaranteed political stability was promulgated. Fooling the addressed class issues but also nation- Ironically, the counter-revolution named after them. But today the for- who stood for inclusive issues. Today, general public might serve the temporary cause of political alist, regional, gender, Dalit and other today is not being led by former king mer Maoist leaders are in no hurry to he is being stabbed in the back by Oli opportunists; but the way both factions currently pursue a issues. There was also synchronised Gyanendra and his regressive forces, conclude the Truth and Reconciliation who has sent him to the streets. I wish foolhardy path to push their interests by mobilising their leadership during this period. but by KP Oli, the so-called proletarian Commission. he is not imprisoned like Aung San Suu Pushpa Kamal Dahal played a prag- president of the Nepal Communist Kyi in Myanmar! cadres and innocent people, it will only invite further polar- matic role in infusing power to the Party. Dahal, former Maoist leader and Hunger for power isation and confrontation. party while Baburam Bhattarai gave co-chairman of the Nepal Communist Why have the Maoists lost steam? How Yami is a former minister.

Is Russia’s future Belarus’s present?

Navalny has often expressed views The protests in Russia have that are popular among Russian nationalists. For example, in 2014, he drawn comparisons to the said, ‘I don’t see any kind of difference at all between Russians and popular movement that Ukrainians.’ And, despite acknowl- edging that the annexation of Crimea emerged in Belarus last August. violated international law, he said: ‘The reality is that Crimea is now part of Russia,’ and added: ‘Crimea is SŁAWOMIR SIERAKOWSKI ours.’ In fact, Navalny’s nationalism has sometimes strayed into far-right terri- tory. For example, he has argued that the issue of illegal immigration is ‘100 times more important’ than anything happening in Ukraine, and called for the introduction of visa requirements The biggest wave of protests in years for migrant workers from former has swept Russia, raising hopes that Soviet states such as Uzbekistan. popular pressure will persist and Navalny has also endorsed a nation- intensify, gradually eroding an alist-led campaign called Stop Feeding autocratic regime, as is happening the Caucasus, which seeks to end fed- in neighbouring Belarus. But we eral subsidies to the governments of should be wary of allowing the two Chechnya and other North Caucasus countries’ similarities—which republics. And, in 2011, he participat- include history and language, religion ed in the nationalist ‘Russian March,’ and repression—to obscure profound whose slogans included ‘Russia for differences. Russians’ and ‘End the occupation— In Belarus, protests erupted in freedom of the Russian nation!’ August 2020, after President Aleksandr But in reality, Navalny is not so Lukashenko—Europe’s longest-serv- much a nationalist as a politician. In ing leader—rigged yet another elec- his 2016 book Opposing Forces: Plotting tion, supposedly beating his opponent, the New Russia, written with the Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, in a land- Polish dissident Adam Michnik, he slide. In Russia, the spark was the explained that he went along with the arrest of opposition leader Alexei far right because ‘they supported the Navalny upon his return to Russia SHUTTERSTOCK idea that everyone should have a after recovering from what was cent for Navalny). While that is an 18.6 percent of Belarusians admitted positioned himself as a kind of police- appeals to a Kremlin eager to expand choice,’ and ‘stood for reform of the almost certainly a Kremlin-ordered all-time low for Putin, the difference is to voting for Lukashenko in last man by subjugating the oligarchs and its current oligarchs’ domains. judiciary and media independence.’ poisoning. The protests strengthened difficult to ignore. It may be rooted in August’s presidential election, com- capitalising on the memory of the With so much less meta-corruption, Yes, ‘their statements are often terrify- after Navalny was hastily sentenced the perception among ordinary pared to over 50 percent for lawlessness of the 1990s. In fact, he Belarus doesn’t really need a Navalny. ing,’ he noted, but ‘I still believe that to nearly three years in a prison Russians that palaces are more presi- Tikhanovskaya. was with the bandits, and he remains Instead, it needs a Tikhanovskaya, we need to have a dialogue with them.’ colony. dential than prisons. As independent This may explain why the protests Russia’s de facto king of thieves. who, as a young English transla- In any case, a protracted Navalny- But that is where the similarities analyst Alexei Levinson told the in Russia have been so much smaller Intent on exposing this reality, tor-turned-homemaker, is like any led protest movement akin to that in end. For starters, Navalny is not near- Moscow Times, ‘In Russia, being in than those in Belarus. Russia’s largest Navalny recently released a viral other ordinary Belarusian: being sub- Belarus is unlikely to arise in today’s ly as popular in Russia as outside power automatically translates into demonstration, in Moscow, attracted video showing an opulent palace by jugated by a totalitarian system. Russia. Putin may well lose power one observers seem to believe. Western trust and legitimacy.’ some 40,000 people. The largest protest the Black Sea that he says belongs to Tikhanovskaya is, in the late Václav day. But if he does, he will lose it à la media reported Navalny’s arrival in Contrary to the West’s expectations, in Minsk—with just one-sixth the pop- Putin. Havel’s words, ‘a single, seemingly russe. Russians can acquiesce passive- Moscow with the same excitement Navalny’s approval rating has ulation of Moscow—attracted a But whereas Russia ranked 137th on powerless person who dares to cry out ly to absolute power, and then sudden- that accompanied Russian Nobel lau- remained practically unchanged since half-million, and every week for ten Transparency International’s the word of truth.’ She is thus the ly turn their backs on a leader who reate Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s return September. After the protests and the weeks, between 100,000 and 200,000 Corruption Perceptions Index in 2019 rival Lukashenko needs. just yesterday was a god. Russia does to his homeland 27 years ago. Among sentence, disapproval of Navalny people took to the streets, despite bru- (tied with Liberia, Paraguay, and Navalny is the rival Putin needs. not know compromise—just like Russians, however, Navalny’s approv- increased to 56 percent (compared to tal repression. Belarusians continue Papua New Guinea), Belarus ranked But, if he is to gain the kind of popu- Navalny. al rating is just 5 percent, according to 50 percent in September). Of course, to protest to this day. Ultimately, 66th, just behind Slovakia, and ahead larity Tikhanovskaya enjoys in the Levada Center, Russia’s only inde- under authoritarian regimes, people Belarus has a mass opposition move- of Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania— Belarus, he will need also to satisfy Sierakowski, founder of the Krytyka pendent polling agency. can be too scared to respond truthfully ment without a leader, and Russia has all members of the European Union. another demand of Russian voters: Polityczna movement, is Director of By contrast, President Vladimir even to methodologically correct an opposition leader without a mass And Belarus has especially little in nationalism. After all, in Russia, the Institute for Advanced Study in Putin’s approval rating is 29 percent surveys. movement. the way of ‘meta-corruption’—that is, nationalist sentiment is among the Warsaw and Senior Fellow at the (39 percent would vote for Putin in But not in Belarus. In a survey com- Moreover, Navalny is fighting some- privatisation. In Belarus, the largest strongest in Europe. (In Belarus, it is German Council on Foreign Relations. presidential elections, and only 2 per- missioned by Chatham House, only thing very specific: corruption. Putin firms remain state-owned—a fact that the weakest). —Project Syndicate

C M Y K 05 | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021 MONEY

FOREX Biden backs off US Dollar 116.87 Most businesses still operating in the red Euro 141.74 on TikTok ban in Pound Sterling 161.57 review of Trump Japanese Yen 11.16 despite end of lockdown, report says Chinese Yuan 18.10 China moves Qatari Riyal 32.10 A survey conducted by the Ministry of Industry showed that 10.81 percent of firms have shut down. Australian Dollar 90.46 KRISHANA PRASAIN Electricity charges need to be Malaysian Ringit 28.91 KATHMANDU, FEB 11 reduced, the minimum wage should be frozen for at least two years, and Saudi Arab Riyal 31.16 Most Nepali businesses are still oper- excise duty and VAT should be re-eval- Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank ating in the red even though the total uated, they added. lockdown imposed by the government Micro and cottage industries are to contain the spread of the expecting policy from the government Shares coronavirus was lifted in July, a study that can support them. They also want reported. the sector to be declared a peace zone Nepse 2,526.92pts -0.63% The survey of 37 businesses con- for two years, the report said. AP/RSS ducted by the Ministry of Industry, Small-scale industry expects the The TikTok app logo on a smartphone. HIGHEST LOSERS Commerce and Supplies from government to prioritise the sector, SMB DDBL IGI GBLBS PPCL RADHI -10% -9.99% -7.6% -6.56% -6.18% -5.93% November 2 to December 1 revealed reduce electricity charges and cancel ASSOCIATED PRESS that 89.19 percent of firms are operat- the energy bills for the period the WASHIGNTON, FEB 11 MODERATE LOSERS ing partially while 10.81 percent have ILBS SLBS SNLB MLBBL HPPL ACLBSL country was under lockdown, the -5.66% -5.6% -5.59% -4.91% -4.89% -4.82% been closed completely. Among the report said. The Biden administration is backing

MODERATE GAINERS firms that have shut down, 75 percent The customs policy needs to be sta- off former President Donald Trump’s EICPO NABILP NRN CCBL KKHC SHINE are small and micro enterprises. bilised and the South Asian Free attempts to ban the popular video app 1.86% 1.95% 2.35% 2.39% 2.65% 3.02% Seventeen small and micro enter- Trade Area (SAFTA) needs to be TikTok, asking a court to postpone a HIGHEST GAINERS prises, 8 small-scale, 4 medium-scale reviewed, the industrialists said as legal dispute over the proposed NABIL GUFL AHPC JBBL LBBL CGH and 8 large-scale businesses and facto- per the study. ban as the government begins a broad- 3.15% 3.41% 3.56% 3.98% 4% 5.03% ries were included in the study. The survey has recommended that er review of the national security According to the report, only 13.22 large-scale industry be provided a threats posed by Chinese technology percent of the businesses surveyed complete waiver on advertisement tax companies. had made a profit. Among the prof- for three years and 50 percent waiver A court filing on Wednesday said PRICE PER TOLA it-making firms, 66.67 were large-scale on income tax for three years. the US Commerce Department is BULLION enterprises. A special facility in tax policy needs reviewing whether Trump’s claims “Micro, cottage, small and medi- to be provided to companies impacted about TikTok’s threat to national Fine Gold Rs 91,500 um-scale firms ran out of cash which POST PHOTO: MADHAV ARYAL by Covid-19, the report has recom- security justified the attempts to ban resulted in many people losing their Women weave Palpali Dhaka, a textile that holds special significance in Nepal, in Palpa. mended. Multinational companies it from smartphone app stores and Silver Rs 1,315 jobs,” the report said. that have been paying maximum tax deny it vital technical services. The firms are facing problems of said. He admitted that there might be labour while 88.24 percent of cottage and providing employment to a large Separately, the Biden administra- SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA raw material supply, labour mobilisa- procedural delays, and added industry firms could not market their number of people need to be priori- tion has “indefinitely” shelved a pro- tion and marketisation of their that things would improve in the production. tised while preparing policy, the posed US takeover of TikTok, accord- manufactured goods and services, the coming days. With regard to small-scale industry, report said. ing to a Wall Street Journal report. GASOLINE WATCH report said. The study included manufacturing 87.5 percent of the businesses which Customs and VAT waiver on essen- Last year, the Trump administration The Department of Industry said enterprises like jewellery, beverage, participated in the study said their tial raw materials and supporting raw brokered a deal that would have had that the ongoing political situation cement, copper, brass utensils, hydro- production was directly impacted by materials for medicine production US corporations Oracle and Walmart will have a negative impact on power, handicraft and readymade gar- the pandemic. needs to be provided, the report said. take a large stake in the Chinese- industry and investment that is ment besides consultancy and other Half of the medium-scale business- Industry insiders also suggested owned app on national-security already having a hard time due to the service enterprises. es surveyed also found it difficult providing loans at minimum interest grounds. The unusual arrangement pandemic. According to the study, industry has to access raw materials, and 75 per- after observing the past transactions stemmed from a Trump executive Jiblal Bhusal, director general at not been able to operate at full capaci- cent faced problems related to labour of the company. order that aimed to ban TikTok in the the Department of Industry, said the ty even though the lockdown ended mobilisation. The subsidised loan amount provid- US unless it accepted a greater degree government was expected to launch last July. The study shows that the Most of the workers employed in ed to large industry needs to be of American control. special programmes and packages to production capacity of 54 percent of micro-scale industry lost their jobs. increased, and subsidised loans White House press secretary Jen assist the industrial sector in the businesses has declined by 50 percent. “More male workers were put out of should be provided for at least two Psaki did not deny the Journal report, upcoming fiscal year’s budget. Production has fallen by 75 percent work compared to female workers,” years, they said. but said Wednesday the Biden admin- “The government is conducting the among 32.43 percent of businesses the study said. Among other recommendations, a istration hasn’t taken a “new proac- necessary studies and discussions. A while 23.52 percent of cottage indus- Industry insiders had urged the special compensation package should tive step” in the process. meeting of the revenue advisor com- try firms have lost 75 percent of their government to provide a special waiv- be created for projects affected by Psaki added that the Biden adminis- mittee is going to be held to determine production. er on interest, provide loans at subsi- Covid-19, the financing modality of tration is comprehensively evaluating the types of tax subsidies to be provid- The study also revealed that micro dised interest, waive tax, fix electrici- hydropower projects should be risks to US data, including those ed to the industrial sector,” he said. and cottage industry firms saw 82.35 ty charges on the basis of production, changed, the payment schedule should involving TikTok. A review of TikTok The study has recommended that all percent of their production being extend the repayment period for loans, be revised, and exclusive refinancing by the Committee on Foreign subsidies promised by the govern- impacted by the pandemic. return value-added tax, provide refi- should be made available to energy Investment in the United States, which ment be given immediately. Similarly, 76.47 percent of micro nancing service and waive rent in projects to revive the sector hit by the considers national security implica- “Effective implementation of the and cottage industry firms faced prob- order to put the sector on the recovery coronavirus pandemic, the report tions of such investments, is ongoing, monetary policy is a must,” Bhusal lems in accessing raw materials and path. said. Psaki said.

BIZLINE Malaysia’s economy posts Hotel Yak & Yeti launches Valentine’s Day weekend offer worst fall since 1998 crisis KATHMANDU: Hotel Yak & Yeti is set to help spread love this Valentine’s Day REUTERS of statistics.“Going into 2021, growth weekend (from February 12 – 14) for KUALA LUMPUR, FEB 11 will rebound, supported by a pickup in all romantic couples who are looking global demand and normalisation in for just the right date and location to Malaysia’s economy fell at a faster domestic economic activities,” Bank showcase their affection for each than expected clip in the fourth quar- Negara Malaysia governor Nor other. The Valentine’s celebration at ter, as stricter coronavirus curbs Shamsiah Mohd Yunus said. Hotel Yak & Yeti takes participating crimped consumption and slowed the Malaysia’s economic performance couples through a romantic journey pace of recovery. will likely continue to be weighed by for the evening, complete with Gross domestic product contracted the pandemic, especially after a recent Valentine themed welcome drinks, 3.4 percent year-on-year in the surge in cases prompted the govern- table decorations, romantic music October-December period, the central ment to impose a second lockdown and light settings, a 5-course sumptu- bank said on Thursday, falling for a until at least February 18, Capital ous romantic candle light dinner with third straight quarter and faster than Economics said in a note. a choice of drink and an exciting the 3.1 percent decline forecast in a “The risks are to the downside. Our lucky draw on February 14, 2021, Reuters poll. Malaysia’s full-year eco- current assumption is that Malaysia reads the press release issued by the nomic performance fell 5.6 percent in will bring the virus largely under con- hotel. Patrons can also avail a special 2020, the worst annual performance trol by next quarter, but if that fails, accommodation package should they since the 7.4 percent decline in 1998 we will have to cut our forecasts fur- wish to relax and unwind after the during the Asian Financial Crisis, ther,” said Alex Holmes, Asia econo- event in the heart of Kathmandu. according to data from the department mist with Capital Economics. Asian businesses suffer Lunar New Year blues over travel curbs “I will monitor the situation for another year,” said garage owner Kraisak Kulkiatprasert, who used to rent out more than 100 vehicles a day, but now manages to rent less than 10 despite slashing prices. “If it doesn’t get better, I will have to shut down.” In neighbouring Malaysia, a ban on public performances has kept a lion dance troupe from putting on its col- ourful, energetic show, with men in full costume leaping between poles, to the beat of drums, cymbals and gongs. “We are badly affected because...our main income comes from Lunar New REUTERS Year, which helps to cover our expens- Buses that used to transport Chinese tourists around Thailand are seen idle in a parking lot es for the year,” Lim Wei Khang, the near Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok, Thailand. deputy of the Kun Seng Keng dance group, told Reuters. REUTERS tors,” said Bali tour guide Effendy, The traditional display has long SINGAPORE, FEB 11 wearing traditional red headgear and formed part of the festivities in batik-print sarong, as he stood in a Malaysia, where Chinese form the From a skyway operator in Australia deserted 60-hectare (148-acre) park. largest ethnic minority, at just over a to a tourist guide on Indonesia’s resort Crowds of tourists from China, fifth of its 32 million people. island of Bali and a lion dance Hong Kong and Taiwan usually visit Unlike normal years in Australia, troupe in Malaysia, Asia’s travel at this time of year, drawn by the when throngs of tourists head for the industry is hurting as coronavirus park’s colossal 21-storey-tall statue of Blue Mountains just outside Sydney, curbs keep most people home for the the Hindu god Vishnu riding the mere handfuls have come to gaze at Lunar New Year. mythical eagle Garuda. the rock escarpments and shimmer- The celebration, which begins on Also hit by the lack of foreign tour- ing waterfalls amid the forested Friday, usually triggers the largest ists is Bangkok, where a survey has slopes. annual migration as people reunite predicted Lunar New Year spending The operator of the world’s steepest with loved ones or go on holiday, but faces its sharpest fall in 13 years. railway and glass floored cable cars this year government curbs are spoil- Parked in rows in the Thai capital, says its nature park is nearly empty as ing plans, even as many nations roll with many gathering dust and border closures to prevent virus out vaccines. cobwebs, are hundreds of “tuk tuk” spreading meant there would be “In the last 10 months, there’s been motorised rickshaws, tour buses no influx of tourists over the Lunar no income, because there are no visi- and boats. New Year.

C M Y K FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021 | 06 WORLD BRIEFING Not perfect, but India, China begin troop withdrawal from border SRINAGAR: China and India have been saves lives, says pulling back frontline troops along disputed portions of their mountain border where they have been in a standoff for months, officials in both AstraZeneca of its countries said. The troops started the disengagement on Wednesday at the southern and northern bank of Pangong Lake in the Ladakh region, according to the officials. India and Covid-19 vaccine China will remove forward deploy- ments in a “phased, coordinated and But approval in Europe and elsewhere clouded by doubts verified manner,” Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told over its effective dosage and interval between doses. Parliament on Thursday. China Defence Ministry said in a statement REUTERS pointing results were against milder Wednesday that both sides had start- INDIA/ FRANKFURT, GERMANY, FEB 11 cases. ed a “synchronized and organized” However, after rising to become disengagement. AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine is not Britain’s most valuable company last perfect, but will have a big impact on summer, the company has now slipped the pandemic, its chief executive pre- to sixth, in a move some analysts Pakistan successfully test fires dicted on Thursday, as the drugmaker attribute to doubts over the vaccine. surface-to-surface missile pledged to double supplies to more “In a year or two we will look back ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s military on than 200 million doses per month by and everybody will realise we made a Thursday successfully test-fired a April. big impact,” Soriot said. short range surface-to-surface ballis- The two-dose shot, developed with AstraZeneca’s shares were up more tic missile capable of hitting land and AFP/RSS Oxford University, has been hailed as than 2 percent in morning trade, after sea targets with “high precision” up Musicians take part in a protest against the military coup in Yangon on Thursday. a “vaccine for the world” because it is the company forecast a pick up in to 490 km away, the military said. In a cheaper and easier to distribute than earnings growth this year on strong statement, it said the Babur cruise some rivals. demand for its cancer and other new missile was “launched from a state-of- But its rapid approval in Europe therapies. the-art Multi Tube Missile Launch and elsewhere has been clouded by It has pledged not to make any Vehicle.” According to the statement, doubts over its most effective dosage money from its Covid-19 vaccine dur- Myanmar anti-coup protesters march and interval between doses. ing the pandemic. Pakistan’s President Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan and the coun- Data at the weekend also showed it The company said it expected 2021 try’s military leadership congratulat- was less effective against a fast-spread- revenues to rise by a low teens per- ed scientists and engineers over suc- ing South African variant of the virus, centage and core earnings of $4.75 to again as US sanctions generals and the company has been embroiled $5.00 per share, as it beat expectations cessful launch of the missile. in a row with the European Union for fourth-quarter sales. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ethnic people have to join together Thursday, including the deputy speak- over supply delays. The earnings guidance equates to Prominent Saudi women’s YANGON, FEB 11 to fight against the military er of the parliament’s lower house and “Is it perfect? No it’s not perfect, but 18-24 percent growth, after 15 percent dictatorship,” Saw Z Net, an ethnic a key aide to Suu Kyi, taking the num- it’s great. Who else is making 100 mil- in 2020, but was a little lower than the rights activist freed from prison Anti-coup protesters on Thursday Karen protester and sound engineer, ber of coup-linked detentions to more lion doses in February?” CEO Pascal $5.10 per share analysts were expect- DUBAI: One of Saudi Arabia’s most took to the streets of Myanmar for a told AFP. than 200, according to monitor Soriot said on a conference call about ing, as the company flagged more prominent political activists was sixth consecutive day, after US There are more than 130 ethnic Assistance Association for Political the vaccine. spending this year. released from prison on Wednesday President Joe Biden announced sanc- minority groups across Myanmar, Prisoners. “We’re going to save thousands of The Covid-19 vaccine is not includ- after serving nearly three years on tions against the Southeast Asian some of whom have been forced to flee The military justified last week’s lives and that’s why we come to work ed in the guidance and the company charges that sparked an international nation’s generals and demanded they their homes due to clashes between power grab by claiming widespread everyday.” said its sales would be reported sepa- uproar. Loujain al-Hathloul, who relinquish power. the military and ethnic armed voter fraud in November’s polls, which AstraZeneca said it expected rately from the first quarter of 2021. pushed to end a ban on women driv- There has been an outpouring of groups, who agitate for autonomy in saw a landslide for Suu Kyi’s party. much-anticipated data from the US While public interest is focused on ing in Saudi Arabia, was arrested in anger and defiance since the military various states. It quickly moved to stack courts and trial of the vaccine before the end of the vaccine, AstraZeneca’s core busi- 2018 and sentenced to almost six ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Fresh rallies also cropped up in the political offices with loyalists as it March, and that it was confident the ness of diabetes, heart, kidney, and years in prison last December under Kyi last week and detained her along cities of Dawei and Mandalay, with ended a decade of civilian rule. shot offered relatively good protection cancer medicines has been steadily a broad counterterrorism law. Held with other senior figures of her protesters carrying signs that said Fears are growing over how long against severe disease and death for growing, helping the company to turn for 1,001 days, with time in pre-trial National League for Democracy party. “Restore our Democracy!” and “We the junta will tolerate the protests. the South African variant. Its disap- around years of decline. detention and solitary confinement, Security forces have used tear gas, condemn the military coup”. Live rounds were fired at a rally in she was accused of crimes such as water cannon and rubber bullets In the ancient city of Bagan, a Naypyidaw this week, critically agitating for change, using the inter- against the protesters, with isolated UNESCO heritage site, hundreds of wounding two people—including a net to cause disorder and pursuing a reports of live rounds also being fired. protesters dressed in traditional out- woman who was shot in the head. Indian state rejects Bharat Biotech jab foreign agenda. Police also ramped up their harass- fits marched between the temples and Images depicting the woman have ment of the NLD with a raid on its pagodas, hoisted painted portraits of been shared widely online alongside REUTERS criticism that it was approved too headquarters. Suu Kyi in the air and called for the expressions of grief and fury. NEW DELHI, FEB 11 hastily for emergency use. Lukashenko stages Belarusian But demonstrators again marched military to “Free our leader”. The military’s clampdown on infor- The developers and India’s drug ‘People’s Assembly’ peacefully on Thursday in Western nations have repeatedly mation using internet blackouts— An opposition-ruled Indian state said regulator, however, say the vaccine is Naypyidaw—the capital and military denounced the coup, with the United with tech companies ordered to cut on Thursday it had asked the federal safe and effective. KYIV: Veteran President Alexander stronghold—as well as Yangon, the States leading calls for the generals to communications intermittently—has government to halt the supply of a Chhattisgarh, a central-eastern Lukashenko launched a Belarusian largest city and commercial hub, relinquish power. drawn widespread condemnation. homegrown Covid-19 vaccine until its state of about 32 million people, said it “People’s Assembly” on Thursday, which saw tens of thousands flood In the most significant concrete Concern was also building efficacy could be proven in an ongoing was likely to be soon sent COVAXIN inviting 2,700 people to discuss politi- into the streets. action to pressure the junta, Biden Thursday that the junta was planning late-stage trial. shots after starting its campaign with cal reform in what opponents dis- “Don’t go to the office,” chanted a announced Wednesday that his admin- to impose a much harsher and sus- India, which has reported the 588,000 doses of the AstraZeneca jab. missed as a sham exercise to help group of protesters outside Myanmar’s istration was cutting off the generals’ tained internet crackdown. world’s second-highest number of “There’s an inhibition/concern him to cling to power. Lukashenko, a central bank in Yangon, part of an access to $1 billion in funds in the Tech-focused Myanmar civil society Covid-19 cases after the United States, among the community in general former Soviet collective farm manag- effort urging civil servants and people United States. organisation MIDO tweeted that a has vaccinated more than 7 million regarding the use of COVAXIN,” state er, has ruled Belarus since 1994 but in other industries to boycott work “I again call on the Burmese draft cybersecurity bill had been sent front-line workers since January 16 health minister TS Singh Deo wrote in faced an unprecedented wave of and put pressure on the junta. military to immediately release to telecom companies, which would using COVAXIN developed by Bharat a letter to his federal counterpart, street protests since a presidential “We aren’t doing this for a week or a democratic political leaders and activ- allow the military to order blackouts Biotech as well as a vaccine licenced Harsh Vardhan, and shared on election last August that the opposi- month—we are determined to do this ists,” Biden said, as he flagged further and website bans. from AstraZeneca and Oxford Twitter. tion says was blatantly rigged. Mass until the end when (Suu Kyi) sanctions. It would also require social University. “This concern arises from the fact arrests and a severe crackdown on and President U Win Myint are “The military must relinquish media platforms to hand over users’ Bharat Biotech, which created that the clinical trials of phase 3 are protests prompted a new round of released,” one protesting bank power.” metadata. COVAXIN with the state-run Indian yet to be completed.” Western sanctions but Lukashenko employee told AFP. European Union foreign policy Norway-based Telenor, which had Council of Medical Research, has said Singh Deo also said on Twitter that has held on thanks to diplomatic and Joining the protest were dozens chief Josep Borrell has also warned complied last to block social media efficacy data from the late-stage clini- COVAXIN vials do not display any financial support from traditional from the ethnic Karen, Rakhine and the bloc could impose fresh sanctions platforms where an online anti-coup cal trial on nearly 26,000 volunteers expiry date and that he had requested ally Russia, which sees Belarus as a Kachin minority groups. on Myanmar’s military. campaign was proliferating, said it will be out by next month, leading to Vardhan to halt its supply. buffer state against NATO. (AGENCIES) “Our ethnic armed groups and There were more reports of arrests was reviewing the law. Video footage key exhibit in Trump trial Rising waters in Indian Himalayas disrupt ASSOCIATED PRESS Though most of the Senate jurors to the violence that resulted when WASHINGTON, FEB 11 seem to have made up their minds, hundreds of loyalists stormed the making Trump’s acquittal likely, they building. Trump did nothing to stem rescue bid in tunnel after avalanche Chilling security video of last month’s sat riveted as the jarring video played the violence and watched with “glee,” deadly insurrection at the US Capitol, in the chamber. Republican Sen the Democrats said, as the mob ran- REUTERS including of rioters searching menac- James Lankford of Oklahoma bent his sacked the building. Five people died. TAPOVAN, INDIA, FEB 11 ingly for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi head at one point, another GOP The goal of the presentation was to and Vice President Mike Pence, has colleague putting his hand on his arm cast Trump not as an innocent Authorities in India warned on become a key exhibit in Donald in comfort. bystander but rather as the “inciter in Thursday of rising water levels in a Trump’s impeachment trial as law- “They did it because Donald Trump chief” who spent months spreading Himalayan river valley hit by a major makers prosecuting the case wrap up sent them on this mission,” said falsehoods about the election. Using avalanche as they scaled back a search their opening arguments for why House prosecutor Stacey Plaskett, the evocative language meant to match for 35 construction workers trapped in Trump should be convicted of inciting Democratic delegate representing the the horror of the day, they compared a flooded tunnel. the siege. Virgin Islands, told them. Trump to a fire chief who delights in Rescue workers have found the bod- Trump’s lawyers set to launch their “President Trump put a target on seeing fires spread, not extinguished, ies of 36 people since Sunday’s ava- defence by week’s end. their backs and his mob broke into the and they compared his supporters to a lanche that tore through dams and The footage shown at trial, much of Capitol to hunt them down.” cavalry in war. swept away bridges in the Dhauliganga it never before seen, underscored how Sen Mitt Romney, R-Utah, saw him- “This attack never would have hap- river valley of Uttarakhand state. dangerously close the rioters came to self in the footage, dashing down a pened, but for Donald Trump,” Rep Some 171 people remain unaccount- the nation’s leaders, shifting the focus hallway to avoid the mob. Romney Madeleine Dean, one of the impeach- ed for, most of them workers at the of the trial from an academic debate said he hadn’t realised that officer ment managers, said as she choked state-run Tapovan Vishnugad hydroe- about the Constitution to a raw retell- Eugene Goodman, who has been back emotion. “And so they came, lectric project and at the smaller ing of the January 6 assault. praised as a hero for luring rioters draped in Trump’s flag, and used our Rishiganga dam, which was swept The footage included rioters away from the Senate doors, had been flag, the American flag, to batter and away by the avalanche-driven torrent. roaming the halls chanting “Hang the one to direct him to safety. to bludgeon.” An official with the National Mike Pence,” some equipped with “That was overwhelmingly distress- Thursday brings the second and Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said combat gear. ing and emotional,” he said. final full day of House arguments, the number of rescue teams were lim- Pence, who had been presiding over Earlier in the day, prosecutors laid with the Trump legal team taking the ited at the tunnel site after river water a session to certify Joe Biden’s elec- out their case by methodically linking lectern Friday and Saturday for up to levels began to surge. tion victory over Trump—thus earn- Trump’s verbal attacks on the election 16 hours to lay out their defence. “There was an input from a village REUTERS ing Trump’s censure—was shown that the river upstream was swelling Members of a rescue team work inside a tunnel after a part of a glacier broke away in being rushed to safety. Pelosi was seen so we sounded an alert. The rescue Tapovan, Uttarakhand, India on Thursday. being evacuated from the complex as mission was stopped for about 30 min- her staff hid behind doors in her suite utes,” Swati Bhadoriya, Chamoli in the geography faculty at the that his brother had survived after he of offices. District Magistrate, told Reuters. University of Zurich. was able to ring his mobile phone. “If Relief workers have been drilling After clearing more than 100 metres his phone survived, maybe he sur- inside a 2.5-km-long tunnel connected of mud, rocks and debris, relief work- vived,” Jugal Kishore said. to the Tapovan project, where slush ers on Thursday sent water tankers Originally thought to be a glacier and water has been so heavy that sol- and generators deep into the tunnel to breaking apart in India’s second high- diers have made only halting progress assist in drilling. est mountain Nanda Devi and crash- in four days. They were searching for signs of ing into the river, some scientists now Experts have cautioned there could life in smaller tunnels and rooms say the flood was more likely to have be still be huge amounts of branching off from the main passage, been caused by an avalanche. rock, debris, ice and water that could officials said. “It appears that the event was get released due to changes in Relatives continued to arrive at the caused by a very large rockfall from temperatures. site, but five days after the disaster, high up the mountainside which “Snow melt or rain could trigger a frustration at the lack of progress picked up lots of snow and ice on the debris flow any moment, probably not mounted. way down and melted these because of of the size of the event on Sunday, but “They are not telling us anything,” the frictional heat created by the rock critical for anybody and anything said Praveen Saini, whose nephew, fall,” said Stephan Harrison, profes- AP/RSS close to the river,” said Holger Frey, a Ajay Kumar Saini, is trapped in the sor of Climate and Environmental This image from video shows one of many slides presented by Democrats prosecuting the senior scientist with the Glaciology tunnel. Change at the University of Exeter in impeachment of former President Donald Trump in the Senate at the US Capitol. and Geomorphodynamics Group (3G) Another man was clinging to hope Britain.

C M Y K 07 | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021 SPORTS | MEDLEY Army thump Biratnagar, Waling win Everton edge Spurs 5-4, City The departmental side defeat the metropolitan team 7-0 while Waling pull off a 7-1 victory against the bottom club. into FA Cup quarter-finals

SPORTS BUREAU double hat-trick in Waling’s 10-0 AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE send the game into extra-time. KATHMANDU, FEB 11 thrashing of Chaudandigadhi in the LIVERPOOL, FEB 11 Bernard’s brilliant finish from first leg, netted five and another Sigurdsson’s scooped pass proved a Tribhuvan Army Club chalked up African recruit Touta Oranella Everton upped the pressure on Jose fitting winner to a pulsating tie to their sixth straight win at the ANFA Evanick Noelle hit a brace for Waling. Mourinho with a thrilling 5-4 victory keep alive the Toffees’ chances of a Complex on Thursday, thumping But it was at least a moment of joy over Tottenham after extra-time to first trophy since 1995. Biratnagar Metropolitan City 7-0 to and relief for the winless reach the FA Cup quarter-finals, as “It was a long night for everybody, keep alive their fight against leaders Chaudandigadhi side when they Manchester City eased into the last but we came out on top which is the Armed Police Force Club at top. pulled a shocking leveller through eight by beating Swansea on main thing,” said Everton assistant The win gave Army 22 points from Anjana Thulung seven minutes after Wednesday. manager Duncan Ferguson. nine matches, two away from the lead- Waling took the lead through Ruth in Tottenham face a daunting trip to The defending from both sides will ers. But time is ticking against Army the 25th minute. City in the Premier League on encourage City, who also face Everton as the reigning champions are inching It was Chaudandigadhi’s only sec- Saturday and defeat after a draining in the Premier League next Wednesday, closer to securing their fourth trophy ond goal this season, with their first 120 minutes was the last thing after they broke the English football having maintained cent per cent win- coming against Chandrapur Mourinho wanted. Spurs have lost record for consecutive wins by a top- ning streak. Municipality on January 25—also four of their last five games and one flight club. They were defeated by the giants Thulung finding the net minutes of three chances to end the club’s Kyle Walker, Raheem Sterling and APF 2-0 in their third match—the only POST PHOTO: HEMANTA SHRESTHA before the hour mark to give her side 13-year wait to win a trophy in cup Gabriel Jesus were on target for City, time they failed to keep a clean sheet Tribhuvan Army Club’s Sharmila Thapa (centre) and Bimala BK scored two goals each. an unlikely lead before eventually sur- competitions is now gone. who extended their winning run in all this season. But perhaps their most rendering the game 7-1. “Attacking football only wins competitions to 15 games with a 3-1 regrettable day was their goalless Chaudhary. But their celebration lasted only for matches when you don’t make more success over Swansea. Victory was stalemate in the league opener on WOMEN’S LEAGUE STANDINGS BK then got her second goal of the a minute after Ruth dribbled the ball defensive mistakes than you create,” also Pep Guardiola’s 200th in 268 January 20 coming against a much game with a long-range strike in the past goalkeeper Debika Shrestha into said Mourinho, who once described a games as City boss, with his side still weaker side Nepal Police Club. Team P W L D GF GA PT 50th and Thapa sewed up the rout with the back of the net to re-establish 5-4 result as a “hockey score”. on course for a historic quadruple of Had they been fortunate enough to APF 8 8 0 0 65 0 24 a header four minutes later. their lead, before adding another in Mourinho’s men made a bright start trophies. tow a win against Police, even by a “It was an easy win,” said Army the 44th with a solo finish. at the Goodison Park as Davinson Guardiola’s men hold a five-point Army 9 7 1 1 54 2 22 smaller goal margin, it would have coach Raju Tamang, whose side had Ruth then scored two more soon Sanchez headed them into the lead lead with a game in hand at the top of given them enough luck to push the Waling 9 4 3 2 23 14 14 defeated the same opponents with the after the break, striking a left-footed after just three minutes. However, the the Premier League, face Tottenham contest to the final day at the Dashrath Police 8 3 3 2 13 7 11 same scoreline in the first leg. shot into the bottom corner in the 48th defensive errors that have cost in the League Cup final in April and Stadium. They would then only need Biratnagar 9 3 5 1 13 26 10 Biratnagar coach Paras Chaudhary and sending a low ball under the sub- Tottenham dear in recent months resume their challenge to win a first to beat APF to end their wait for their Chandrapur 8 2 6 0 9 36 6 said they were not expecting such a stitute goalkeeper Deepshika were in evidence as Everton struck Champions League in the last 16 first-ever league trophy. Chaudandigadhi 9 0 9 0 2 93 0 big loss again. Baswakarma in the 55th. three times in seven minutes just against Borussia Monchengladbach Despite only two points separating “We were better in the second half,” Noelle added two more in the space before half-time through Dominic later this month. the top two, APF still have a match said Chaudhary. “We could have done of two minutes after seventy minutes Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison and Gylfi “It is amazing for ourselves, we can- advantage and can extend the gap to teed unmarked Thapa into the six better and conceded less.” to wrap up their win and accumulate Sigurdsson’s penalty. not deny how pleased and proud we five points again if they overcome yard box. Biratnagar lie fifth in the standings 14 points from nine matches. Erik Lamela reduced Spurs’ deficit are to break this record,” said Waling Municipality on Saturday. And Sapana Lama extended the lead four with 10 points. Despite the win, Waling coach Dilip in first-half stoppage time before Guardiola. if they keep on their winning streak minutes later scoring from outside the Earlier, Waling inflicted more pain Thapa rued missing goal scoring another rare goal for Sanchez made it Leicester were made to wait until for two more games, against Nepal box, and BK added another in the 31st on bottom-club Chaudandigadhi opportunities. 3-3. Richarlison then smashed home the 94th minute to book their place in Police Club on March 15 and minute as her flying shot toward the Municipality registering a 7-1 win — “We should have scored more, there from a narrow angle to restore the last eight with a 1-0 win over Biratnagar on March 17, the Army target from near the touchline was too that also helped them widen the gap were more chances,” he said. Everton’s lead. Brighton thanks to Kelechi will be undone before the finale. high for Biratnagar goalkeeper and against fourth-placed Police to three But for Chaudandigadhi coach Mourinho had left Harry Kane on Iheanacho’s header. Army can now only hope and wait captain Karina Dhimal. points who have a game in Dipak Thapa, the search for a point is the bench from the start to ease his Sheffield United also just needed for a miracle and their chase was kept Chaudhary furthered the lead with hand. Chaudandigadhi are yet to open still a big target. return from an ankle injury. But the a solitary goal to see off Bristol City alive by Sharmila Thapa and Bimala a one-touch finish in the 35th after she the account after their ninth straight “We will play for at least a point in the England captain ended up playing for 1-0 thanks to Billy Sharp’s penalty BK both of whom scored a brace each. was set up by Sapana Lama, and loss. coming fixtures,” said a desperate over an hour and met Son Heung- after Alfie Mawson was sent off for Army were in front in the 18th Rashimi Ghising made the score 5-0 The club’s Cameroonian forward Thapa, whose side will meet Biratnagar, min’s cross at the back post with bul- handling David McGoldrick’s goal- minute when Bimala Chaudhary before the break heading a cross from Metho Eludie Ruth, who had scored a Chandrapur and Police next. let header seven minutes from time to bound shot. Kenin’s title defence ends early; Nadal, Tsitsipas advance

ASSOCIATED PRESS away tears. beat Danielle Collins 7-5, 6-2, and leave matters on the court. MELBOURNE, FEB 11 One person who knows how to Shelby Rogers, who reached the third Fifth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas was defend a major title is Rafael Nadal, round at the Australian Open for the pushed all the way by No 267-ranked Sofia Kenin knew this would be a who shares the men’s record of 20 first time by beating Olga Danilovic Australian wild-card entry Thanasi tough test at the Australian Open, a with Roger Federer. Nadal shrugged 6-2, 6-3. In an all-American match, No Kokkinakis in a 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-1, 6-7 (5), potentially early end to her first off some heckling from a spectator 22 Jennifer Brady beat Madison 6-4 win. Tsitsipas will next play Mikael attempt to defend a Grand Slam title. before beating 177th-ranked Michael Brengle 6-1, 6-2. Ymer, who beat 17-year-old Spanish Upon realizing she probably would be Mmoh 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 in the last night The first all-Italian men’s singles qualifier Carlos Alcaraz in the second playing big-hitting veteran Kaia match, showing no signs of the back match at the Australian Open in the round. Kanepi in the second round. soreness that has bothered him. professional era was followed by a Also advancing were No 9 Matteo Kenin was right to be worried. And, In the preceding match on the main heated argument between Fabio Berrettini, No 21 Alex de Minaur and with Kanepi at her best, this one was show court, fifth-seeded Elina Fognini and Salvatore Caruso. Mackenzie McDonald, who beat over quickly. Delivering 10 aces, Svitolina beat 16-year-old Coco Gauff Fognini rallied from 5-1 down in the 22nd-seeded Borna Coric 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, Kanepi powered her way past the 6-4, 6-3, knocking the youngest player tiebreaker to win 4-6, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 6-4, and 39-year-old Feliciano Lopez. fourth-seeded Kenin, overwhelming out of the draw. (12) in almost four hours. The verbal Russia’s ATP Cup-winning team- the 2020 champion 6-3, 6-2 in only 64 Top-ranked Ash Barty, trying to altercation started at the net, seemed mates Daniil Medevev and Andrey minutes on Thursday. become the first Australian to win the to fade as the players went back to Rublev continued their unbeaten “I obviously felt like I’m not there women’s title at Melbourne since their courtside chairs, but restarted starts to the year with straight-set PHOTO COURTESY: NSC 100 percent — physically, mentally, my Chris O’Neil in 1978, did manage to get twice. A tournament official eventual- wins. The fourth-seeded Medevev Thirteenth South Asian Games karate twin gold medallist Manday Kaji Shrestha (right) game. Everything just feels real off, past Daria Gavrilova 6-1, 7-6 (7). ly intervened to break them up. The extended his winning streak to 16 by receives the insignia of assistant sub-inspector of Nepal Police after getting a promotion, obviously. It’s not good,” Kenin said at Other women’s winners included 16th-seeded Fognini said he and beating Roberto Carballes Baena 6-2, on Thursday. her news conference, where she wiped former No 1 Karolina Pliskova, who Caruso were good friends and would 7-5, 6-1. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) **** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** Talking is always good, but doing is much better It’s always good to feel useful, but today There are a lot of different options for you now, but Work on mending broken relationships, especially if today! This is a great time for taking action: signing nothing is going to make you feel better about your- you need to take things slowly. Gradual transitions you feel any guilt over past actions. There’s also a documents, starting projects, or making your big self than being of service to someone else. are much more advantageous than abrupt changes tension that could cause suspicion or possessiveness, romantic move. Open your mind to the idea that you And you’ll find someone early on who needs that because they give you time to adjust and maintain and these negative emotions don’t help the healing are ready to go. help. balance in your life. process.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** A vibrant, hopeful, and positive energy is coming You’ll be feeling fiery and a little bit combative today. There are a lot of different options for you now. Hopefully, you’re not going to need a lot of self-disci- into your heart today. Give yourself time to work You have absolutely no patience for people who aren’t Gradual transitions are much more advantageous pline today, because there will be too much tempta- through the way you feel because what your heart willing to listen or work in groups, so it’s not the best than abrupt changes because they give you time to tion for you to be able to follow any rules! Start this reveals to your head could throw you for a loop. day for team-based activities. adjust and maintain balance in your life. day off assuming that your plans are not going to be followed completely.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) **** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) **** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** You’ll see some signs of life in one of your relation- It’s not wise to be too obsessed about one thing. Don’t There are some dark storm clouds lurking just down One of your partners in life or work isn’t willing to ships that you thought was dead and buried. Set your forget to step back and take a break so that you can the road. You won’t know what direction they’re let you in on their idea. They are keeping their cards hurt feelings or grudges aside and try to give this look at your progress and enjoy how far you have coming from for a few more days, but to be close to their chest. Instead of being hurt by their person a second chance. You owe them that, don’t you come up to this point. on the safe side, you should take a more cautious choice, try to accept it. Show them that you trust think? attitude. them and believe in them. CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021 | 08 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 What is Clubhouse, the buzzy new audio chat app? The invitation-only audio chat app launched less than a year ago has caught the attention of tech biggies like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. But what’s so special about it?

BARBARA ORTUTAY & MICHAEL LIEDTKE That interview illustrated two points NEW YORK that are important to remember about Clubhouse. Although the app itself says lubhouse, an invitation-only it doesn’t record the discussions occur- audio chat app launched less ring within its rooms, that doesn’t mean than a year ago, has caught other participants aren’t. And the posted the attention of tech indus- recordings of discussions like that also try bigshots like Tesla CEO prove there are ways for getting around Elon Musk and Facebook Clubhouse’s 5,000-person limit in its CCEO Mark Zuckerberg—not to mention rooms. the Chinese government, which has Zuckerberg’s February 4 appearance on already blocked it in the country. What is Clubhouse didn’t delve into anything Clubhouse, you ask? quite as hot as the GameStop frenzy, but his presence still added to the curiosity What is Clubhouse? about the app. In true Facebook fashion, the company is also reportedly working on The iPhone-only app, once you’re in, lets a copycat, known internally as Fireside. you start or listen into conversations on a whole host of topics, from tech to pro So is it all tech industry people? sports, parenting, Black literature and so on. There are no posts, photos or vide- While the early users of Clubhouse were os—only people’s profile pictures and largely venture capitalists and startup their voices. folks, as the app’s user base has expanded Conversations can be intimate, like a so has the diversity of its members. phone call, or might include thousands of Users can now explore subjects such people listening to a talk by boldface as “Ask A Coach: Life, Love & The Pursuit names, like a conference or stage inter- of Joy, Money/Health,” “Bitcoin Basics view. Think part podcast, part conference for Baby Boomers,” “Drag Race Clubhaus,” call, part social media. It’s free to use and “Investing While Black” and “Plant-Based there are no ads, at least not at this point. Basics for Beginners with Dietitian Jasmine.” How do I get in? What happened in China? Currently, the only way to get an invita- tion is to score one from someone already Thousands of Chinese users have flocked on Clubhouse. It’s still in “beta,” version, to the app in recent months, lured by the like Gmail was in its early days, when it unfettered discussions it allowed with peo- was a badge of nerd worthiness to get an ple abroad—particularly about democra- account. If you don’t know anyone who AP/RSS cy, Taiwan and other sensitive topics. That can invite you yet, you may not have to The icon for the social media app Clubhouse is seen on a smartphone screen in Beijing, China. was especially striking given that wait much longer. When Clubhouse first President Xi Jinping’s government is came out, new members only got two invi- import your Twitter profile—or start from and Zuckerberg recently made surprise increasingly hostile to independent voic- tations. That number has now grown to scratch—and then follow people or “clubs” appearances on Clubhouse. When two es. Clubhouse allowed many mainland five, signalling that the app feels ready to on a broad range of topics. The app The iPhone-only app technology icons worth a combined $280 users their first direct communication broaden its audience. You can also down- encourages people to use their real names, billion choose to use the same app to get with people in Hong Kong and Taiwan and load the app and get on a waiting list to be though this does not appear to be enforced. lets you start or listen their message out within a few days of with exiles from the Uighur minority in let into Clubhouse. You’ll also need an iPhone—Clubhouse into conversations on each other, people tend to sit up and take the northwestern region of Xinjiang. This is part of the app’s current doesn’t yet work on Android phones and is notice. The app was removed from Apple Inc.’s appeal—like an exclusive club, only it’s not on the web. a whole host of topics. In his January 31 appearance, Musk China store by at least Dec. 16, according expanding by the minute. The aura has began by discussing his mission to get to to Benjamin Ismail, an activist with the been magnified by the star power of early Who made Clubhouse? Mars through its rocket ship company group Apple Censorship which tracks cen- members such as rap star Drake, actor Space X and sharing his views on crypto- sorship in the Apple Store. Users still Jared Leto, actress Tiffany Haddish, and It was created by Silicon Valley entrepre- last March, just as people were being currency, artificial intelligence and the could download it if they had access to an influential technology figures such as ven- neur Paul Davison, best known for a loca- ordered to stay at home to battle the pan- ongoing pandemic. But then he rocked the Apple app store abroad. ture capitalist Marc Andreessen and tion-driven social networking app demic and found themselves eager to talk Clubhouse by summoning Robinhood CEO But on Monday, Chinese users lost Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. Although Highlight that Pinterest bought in 2016, to other people besides their family or Vlad Tenev to the virtual stage for an inter- access to Clubhouse, much the way thou- Clubhouse hasn’t divulged how many peo- and a former Google engineer, Rohan Seth. roommates. view about the app’s role in transforming sands of other websites and social media ple are using its service, its app has been Although it obviously wasn’t planned, GameStop’s stock from a dud into a Wall apps have been blocked by the Chinese downloaded 5.3 million times, according they probably couldn’t have picked a bet- Why is it getting more attention now? Street sensation that at least briefly devas- Communist Party using the world’s most to analytics firm App Annie. ter time to start welcoming a select few tated sophisticated investors who had bet extensive system of internet filters. Once you have an invitation, you can into Clubhouse. The app made its debut The primary reason is probably that Musk the shares would continue to decline. — Associated Press Spielberg wins Genesis Prize for films, philanthropy He was awarded for his contribution to cinema, his philanthropic works and his efforts to preserve the memory of the Holocaust.

JOSEF FEDERMAN million to the Motion Picture and JERUSALEM Television Fund to provide health care to older people who worked in teven Spielberg has been the film and TV industries. awarded Israel’s prestig- His Wunderkind Foundation ious 2021 Genesis Prize supports health, arts, youth and in recognition of his con- educational causes. tribution to cinema, his His accomplishments and philanthropic works and charitable works have resulted his efforts to preserve the memory in numerous recognitions, includ- AP/RSS S of the Holocaust, organisers ing the Presidential Medal of Employees work in the small family-run Heller brewery in Cologne, Germany. announced on Wednesday. Freedom, France’s Legion d’Hon- The $1 million award is granted neur, Germany’s Federal Cross of each year to a person for their Merit, an honorary knighthood professional achievements, from Queen Elizabeth II and contributions to humanity and Israel’s presidential medal of dis- Lockdowns weigh on German commitment to Jewish values. tinction. Previous recipients have donated The Genesis Prize was inaugu- the prize to philanthropic causes, rated in 2014 and is run in a part- though Spielberg, who was only nership between the private notified of the honour late Genesis Prize Foundation and the beer sales, hurt small brewers Wednesday, did not immediately chairman’s office of the Jewish comment on his plans. Agency, a nonprofit group that is “The Genesis Prize celebrates closely linked to the Israeli gov- Data released last week showed beer sales in Germany dropped 5.5 percent Steven Spielberg’s unique talent, ernment. The prize is funded by a his commitment to making the $100 million endowment estab- last year to 8.7 billion litres, a decline fostered by lengthy shutdowns. world a better place, and his lished by the foundation. unparalleled contribution to For the first time, the founda- DANIEL NIEMANN Marc-Oliver Huhnholz, the spokes- There’s little visibility right teaching the post-war generations tion solicited opinion online COLOGNE man for the German Brewers’ now on when bars and restaurants about the horrors of the about its selection. It said 200,000 Association, says the country might reopen. Germany’s infec- Holocaust,” said Stan Polovets, Jews cast votes. Although ars have been closed has over 1,500 breweries, includ- tion rates are gradually declining co-founder and chairman of the AP/RSS a prize committee made the final for more than three ing more than 1,000 small ones toward the government’s target Genesis Prize Foundation. Filmmaker Steven Spielberg. decision, it said the fact that months, Carnival cele- “that are very strong in the cater- level, and politicians have vowed Spielberg is one of the most Spielberg received the most brations are cancelled, ing industry. So they sell their to open schools and childcare cen- successful and influential film- votes was a “major determining and it’s not clear when beer in their bars and restaurants, tres as the first priority. makers of all time, with a string The prize is factor.” things will get better and they are, of course, massively Heller said she hopes for “clear of blockbusters to his name. They The prize is usually awarded at Bin Germany. That has left the boss affected.” figures” from political leaders on include “Jaws,” “E.T. the Extra usually awarded a gala event in Jerusalem each of Brauerei Heller, an organic One such case is Brauerei the point at which bars and restau- Terrestrial,” “Raiders of the Lost June attended by Israel’s prime brewery in Cologne, thinking Heller, a nearly 30-year-old organic rants can reopen, and says it must Ark” and “Jurassic Park.” He has at an event in minister. But due to the coronavi- “from week to week” as she tries brewery with its own beer garden. be recognised that they can’t then won three Academy Awards for rus pandemic, it is unclear wheth- to chart a course out of the corona- “We’re getting through the pan- close again after two weeks. his work on “Schindler’s List” and Jerusalem each er the event will be held this year. virus pandemic. demic from week to week,” CEO “That would break our necks,” “Saving Private Ryan” and June. The award ceremony for last Official data released last week Anna Heller said. she said. numerous other industry year’s winner, former Soviet polit- showed beer sales in Germany Heller says she has “no idea Chancellor Angela Merkel and recognitions. ical prisoner Natan Sharansky, dropped 5.5 percent last year to how far and how well we can carry the country’s 16 state governors At a 2018 screening marking the vivors and witnesses of the was held virtually. 8.7 billion litres (2.3 billion gal- on like this.” Revenues were down are meeting Wednesday to discuss 25th anniversary of “Schindler’s Holocaust. The project has con- Previous winners have included lons), a decline fostered by lengthy 40 percent on a normal year in the way forward. List,” Spielberg said no work had ducted some 55,000 interviews in businessman and former New shutdowns. 2020, “and without help we But last year’s drop was unusu- affected him like the landmark 32 languages with survivors from York City Mayor Michael German bars and restaurants wouldn’t survive at all,” she said. ally sharp, and a month-by-month Holocaust drama, which collected 56 countries. It also is working to Bloomberg, actor Michael were closed from March until May, The German government has breakdown pointed to the impact a total of seven Oscars. preserve the memory of 20th-cen- Douglas, violinist Itzhak Perlman, and have been shut again since the put together a series of aid pack- of coronavirus restrictions. Sales “There was trauma everywhere. tury genocides and mass killings sculptor Sir Anish Kapoor, actress beginning of November as part of ages for companies affected by the were down 17.3 percent in April And we captured the trauma. in Cambodia, Armenia and Natalie Portman; New England the country’s second lockdown. pandemic. compared with a year earlier, and You can’t fake that,” he said at Rwanda. Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Major events and festivals where “We are producing now for the down 14.1 percent in November. the time. “There were whole Spielberg’s other charitable Sharansky. large amounts of beer would usu- time afterward, because beer isn’t Huhnholz says some breweries sections that go beyond anything works include the Righteous In 2018, Portman snubbed the ally be consumed also have been ready straight away,” said Heller, have seen revenue drops of up to I’ve ever experienced or seen Persons Foundation, formed to prize ceremony because she did cancelled. whose brewery produces some 70 percent or 80 percent. people in front of the camera preserve Jewish stories and pro- not want to appear to be endorsing The current lockdown was set to 400,000 litres (105,000 gallons) in a “We hope that if things open up experience.” mote social activism. It has given Prime Minister Benjamin end on February 14, but the gov- normal year and has 15 employees. around Easter at the latest, the After the film, for which he did away over $100 million in grants to Netanyahu. The same year, the ernment could announce an exten- “We have to plan, look to the future catering business can resume, and not accept a paycheck and whose Jewish causes. He is chairman late US Supreme Court Justice sion on Wednesday that will keep and produce ahead of time, but if many breweries will get out of the proceeds he donated to charity, emeritus of the Starlight Ruth Bader Ginsburg was granted on hurting beer sales. things don’t go the way we hope, worst time since World War II and Spielberg founded the USC Shoah Children’s Foundation, which a special lifetime achievement That’s a problem above all for then we’ve produced for nothing survive,” he said. Foundation with a $10 million helps children with life-threaten- award. Germany’s many small brewers. and run up personnel costs.” — Associated Press grant to film interviews with sur- ing conditions. He has donated $30 — Associated Press

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