WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 323 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 24.8 C 1.5 C Wednesday, January 20, 2021 | 07-10-2077 Nepalgunj Jomsom In attacking Oli, Nepal set to get Dahal ratchets up incendiary rhetoric, Covid-19 vaccine only to draw flak Civil society members say from India within Dahal’s inciting of violence is more abhorrent and days, officials say could put the country on slippery slope. Health Ministry and Indian Embassy in Kathmandu are

TIKA R PRADHAN expected to jointly announce the details of the supply of KATHMANDU, JAN 19 vaccines, including the number of doses, to Nepal today. Pushpa Kamal Dahal, a two-time prime minister and a former rebel leader, is ARJUN POUDEL & ANIL GIRI known as a masterly orator. There was KATHMANDU, JAN 19 a time when people would gather in thousands to listen to him—it was dur- Nepal is set to receive coronavirus ing those days when his Maoist party vaccines from India. had just laid down arms after a dec- Officials and diplomatic sources ade-long insurgency, in which around said that an announcement on India 13,000 people lost their lives. providing Covid-19 vaccines to Nepal He was known as a leader who could POST PHOTO: ELITE JOSHI under grant assistance will be made hold the masses spellbound. He used An artisan restores an old wood carving at the gate of Rato Machchhindranath temple in Bungamati, Lalitpur on Tuesday. Rebuilding of on Wednesday. to make rabble-rousing speeches. the temple damaged in the 2015 earthquakes, which had been halted for months due to a shortage of materials, has resumed. “Good news is coming regarding the vaccines on Wednesday. We are getting vaccines from India,” an offi- cial at the Health Ministry told the Post on condition of anonymity, say- ing talks are being finalised at the ‘My body was freezing. I told my diplomatic level. “But we do not know yet the exact number of doses that we are going to receive.” The Ministry of External Affairs of India confirmed on Tuesday evening teammates I couldn’t move.’ that Nepal is on the list of countries to AP/RSS which it will start supplying the vac- Nepal’s drug regulatory body has granted cines. emergency use approval to Covishield. POST FILE PHOTO Nepali mountaineers relive the historic winter ascent of K2. As it emerges, Purja, The Serum Institute of India is pro- Pushpa Kamal Dahal ducing Covishield, the Covid-19 vac- teers—are also on the priority list. the record breaking climber, achieved the feat without supplemental oxygen. cine developed by University of It was not immediately clear the Four years after signing the peace Oxford and the pharmaceutical giant number of doses of the vaccine Nepal deal, in 2010, a year after he was forced SANGAM PRASAIN AstraZeneca. will get from India in the form of to resign as prime minister, Dahal KATHMANDU, JAN 19 “Keeping with India’s stated com- grant assistance, but Kathmandu has asked students at a programme to mitment to use India’s vaccine pro- made a request for around two million turn all the colleges into barracks. He When George Bell, an American duction and delivery capacity to help doses. would use every other occasion to mountaineer, came down from Mount all of humanity fight the Covid-19 “We understand about two million deliver fiery speeches, branding other K2 in August 1953, having nearly fall- pandemic, supplies under grant assis- doses will come as a grant but we have parties, especially the Nepali Congress en to death during his failed ascent, he tance to Bhutan, the Maldives, not received details from the Indian and then CPN-UML, as reactionaries told reporters, “It’s a savage mountain Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and side yet,” the Nepali diplomat in Delhi and conspirators. It looked like the that tries to kill you.” Seychelles will begin from January told the Post requesting anonymity. revolutionary character still resided Since then the 8,611-metre (28,251 20,” the ministry said in a statement. An announcement in that regard somewhere within him. feet) mountain, the world’s second Nepal’s drug regulatory body on would be made in Kathmandu. As parties played the game of musi- highest peak, has been known as The Friday granted emergency use approv- Each individual will have to be cal chairs, while the Constituent Savage Mountain and is widely al to Covishield. administered two doses of the vaccine. Assembly struggled to deliver a con- regarded as the toughest, and most “A joint press conference will be Covishield is the preferred choice stitution, Dahal continued to make a dangerous, to climb. held by the embassy and the Health of vaccine of Nepali authorities since desperate push for returning to power. And Bell was narrating his summer Ministry regarding India’s commit- the existing storage and transporta- It took him eight years to return to expedition experience. ment to supply Covid-19 vaccines [to tion infrastructure used in the coun- power—in 2016 he became prime min- It was only next year in 1954 that the Nepal],” a senior diplomat at the try to immunise babies under 15 ister for a second time with the sup- mountain, that straddles Pakistan and Embassy of India in Kathmandu told months can be utilised. Covishield port of the Nepali Congress for seven China, was first conquered by Italy’s the Post requesting anonymity. vaccines have to be stored in 2 to 8 months. Achille Compagnoni. The coronavirus vaccine could degrees Celsius. >> Continued on page 2 True to its killer sobriquet, 86 have arrive in Nepal within a week or so, More than 16,000 vaccination cen- lost their lives on the mountain according to a Nepali diplomat at the tres are designated across the country and slightly more than 300 had Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi. to immunise them against childhood summited it before this winter. PHOTO COURTESY: MINGMA GYALZE SHERPA The Ministry of Health and diseases. While all other 13 eight The Bottleneck (pictured) at 8,200 metres, with tons of ice overhanging, is the most perilous Population has prepared a priority list Indian news portal livemint on thousanders have been climbed part of the climb. of those who will be administered the Tuesday reported that Covishield will during winter, K2 hadn’t because coronavirus vaccines. All health work- be given to Nepal for free. of extreme weather conditions about 60 climbers from about a dozen high winds and clouds besides low ers serving either in state-run or pri- “The India government plans to give as winds blow up to 200km per countries had a taste of the normal temperatures. vate health facilities who are at high Serum India Institute’s Covishield to hour and temperature drops to winter conditions in early January. They faced a multi-day storm, risk of catching the infection are the its neighbouring countries. To Nepal, minus 50 degrees Celsius The climbers at base camp were which affected their plans. At Camp 2 first priority. for free and 2 million doses as a gift to (minus 58 degrees Fahrenheit), able to see sunshine only on January situated at 6,760m (22,178 ft), the team Support staff—drivers, cleaning Bangladesh,” the portal reported. cold enough to freeze anyone 10, after a gap of eight days. The was battered by heavy winds. The staff of health facilities, security per- India launched its drive to vacci- standing. climbing team had to remain inside tents were ripped apart. sonnel deployed on the front line and nate its population on Saturday. The K2 winter expedition with their tents for seven days because of >> Continued on page 2 female community health volun- >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2021 | 02 NATIONAL Five signatories withdraw from no-confidence motion against Rai DEONARAYAN SAH topple the Rai government seems to stay neutral regarding the no-confi- MORANG, JAN 19 unlikely now, as the Nepali Congress dence motion filed against Rai. has decided to stay neutral during the “Our party won’t take any formal Chief Minister of Province 1 Sherdhan voting of the no-confidence motion. At decision unless the motion is tabled in Rai is likely to survive the no-confi- least 47 members should vote in favour the provincial assembly meeting for dence motion filed against him, as five of the no-confidence motion in the voting,” said Karki. signatories of the motion announced 93-member provincial assembly to Chief Minister Rai on Tuesday to withdraw their support and oust CM Rai from his post. organised a gathering of the provin- the Nepali Congress decided to stay “We cannot support any group until cial assembly members close to his neutral. the party splits officially. We are in a group in Biratnagar. It is learnt that With the split of the ruling Nepal wait-and-see situation,” said Kedar the gathering decided to pressurise Communist Party, the Dahal-Nepal Karki, the chief whip of Nepali the provincial assembly not to allow group had registered the no-trust Congress in Province 1. 16 members earlier suspended by Rai motion against Rai, who is close to The Province 1 assembly session is to enter the assembly. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, on scheduled for Wednesday. According Buddhi Kumar Rajbhandari, the December 27. Though 37 provincial to Speaker Pradeep Kumar Bhandari, chief whip of the Oli faction of NCP, assembly members had signed the the provincial assembly session will said the assembly meeting will not be no-confidence motion, five of them have decide the no-confidence motion held if the suspended members are announced to withdraw their support. through voting. allowed to attend it. On Sunday, Jasmaya Gajamer, On Tuesday, the major political par- Both the Dahal-Nepal and the Oli Gopalchandra Budhathoki and Shree ties in the Province 1 assembly held factions had suspended the provincial Prasad Mainali registered a letter at meetings to prepare their strategies assembly members of each other’s the provincial assembly secretariat for the upcoming session. group after the party’s split. stating that they no longer support the The Dahal-Nepal faction and the Likewise, the meeting of the Dahal- no-confidence motion. Kala Ghale and Nepali Congress held a parliamentary Nepal faction underscored the need POST PHOTO: MANOJ PAUDEL Basanti Devi Yadav had withdrawn party meeting while the Oli faction for holding talks with Nepal Congress A fish seller waits for customers along the Muglin-Kathmandu road in Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality, Chitwan on Tuesday. The sales of fish their support earlier. organised a gathering of its support- and other parties to make the no-confi- along the road section have gone up after the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions. The Dahal-Nepal group’s plan to ers. The Congress reiterated its stance dence motion a success. ‘My body was freezing. I told my teammates In attacking Oli, Dahal ratchets up I couldn’t move.’ incendiary rhetoric, only to draw flak >> Continued from page 1 honour the gentleman’s agreement reached in >> Continued from page 1 record for climbing all 14 8000-metre peaks at comfortable to join the Sherpa team. They In 2017, he joined hands with KP Sharma Oli, May 2018—at the time of party unity—that both “Our team reached Camp 2 today [January a record time of 190 days in 2019, although it were not ready with their level of acclimatisa- the chairman of then UML. He and Oli in 2018 will lead the government in turns. 11] and it was a wreckage site. We found that had been planned to complete the climbs in tion after reaching the base camp. We, on the announced formation of the Nepal Communist Relations between the two gradually soured both our tents and all equipment that we had seven months. other hand, didn’t want to miss the good Party, declaring themselves its chairmen. and Dahal in due course managed to get some left here for the summit plan are [sic] all “Out of 10, only two are now in good condi- weather window for two consecutive days Nearly three years later, Dahal and Oli have senior former UML leaders into his fold. The destroyed and swept away by the wind,” said tion with other eight members sustaining which is very rare on K2,” said Mingma fallen out with each other. The Dahal-led Nepal calls for Oli’s resignation both as prime minis- Nirmal Purja, one 0f the 10 climbing mem- frostbites,” said Mingma Gyalze. “I cannot Gyalze. “As all were Nepali climbers, we decid- Communist Party, in which Madhav Kumar ter and party chair grew louder. bers, on his Facebook post on January 11. describe in words how tough Saturday night ed not to compete with each other and show Nepal is the other chair, has taken to the streets Oli has, not only in his public statements but “We have lost everything including all our was. It really tested the limit of Sherpas.” teamwork by reaching the peak together.” to protest against Oli’s December 20 move of also in the letter to the President recommending kits; sleeping bags, mattresses, heated shoe But they made mountaineering history All gathered 10 metres below the summit dissolving the House. Since then, Dahal has the House dissolution, mentioned that he was insoles, summit gloves, summit base layers, with the first winter ascent of K2. and reached the top together at 17:00 hours spent most of the time making scathing attacks forced to take the step because his colleagues paragliding equipment, cooking equipment If Sherpas are known the world over for local time on Saturday, having started at Camp on Oli. were not allowing him to work. etc. I am devastated to be breaking this news. their prowess, it was Nirmal “Nims” Purja, a 3 [7,200m] at 02:30 hours. But on Sunday, he ratcheted up his fiery rhet- Observers say Oli’s move is out and out Now, I have to reassess and replan everything.” Magar, the only non-Sherpa among the 10, The historic winter expedition on K2 was oric, taking many not only by surprise but also wrong, undemocratic and unconstitutional but Situated in the northernmost latitude of all who has the added distinction of having completed within three weeks, a very short raising concerns if the former rebel leader had that does not mean Dahal’s statements can be 8000-metre peaks, K2—in the Karakoram climbed The Savage Mountain without using period of time. gone a bit too far. condoned. range—is more prone to severe winters. supplemental oxygen. “We [Sherpas] normally don’t need much “A vegetarian struggle is not going to work Daman Nath Dhungana, a former Speaker But on January 15, in a rare weather condi- That announcement through his website on acclimatisation, so the time factor was not a now,” said Dahal while addressing a function and civil society leader, said the dissolution of tion in the midst of the winter, the wind was Monday surprised many potential climbers concern per se,” said Mingma Gyalze. “The organised by All Nepal National Independent the House by Oli is a trespass on, and gross vio- almost dead. who might have thought that still one record- only worry was the weather.” Students Union, a wing of the Dahal-Nepal fac- lation of, the constitution but its solution must “That was the weather window we were -K2 winter ascent without supplemental oxy- As they say fortune favours the brave, there tion on Sunday, insinuating that a violent move- be sought through peaceful means and within waiting for,” Mingma Gyalze Sherpa, one of gen--remained. The team had earlier planned were two days of perfect weather windows on ment is the need of the hour. the framework of the constitution. the ten climbers who reached the top of K2 on to announce the feat in Islamabad, Pakistan January 15 and 16. The wind was almost dead “We have anger and hatred for the coun- “It seems Dahal wants to create a mood for the Saturday, told the Post over the phone from the later this week. on January 15 and at around 20 km per hour ter-revolutionaries and we are eager to attack,” movement, but it is wrong to incite violence in base camp on Monday. “It was a tough call this time in order to on January 16, said Mingma Gyalze. said Dahal. the name of making a protest effective,” The Nepali team heading to the world’s sec- make that decision whether to climb with or “Manandhar’s was an accurate forecast Ever since the Maoist party joined main- Dhungana, who has been equally critical of the ond tallest mountain largely relied on the without supplemental oxygen (O2). Due to the without a margin of error,” said Mingma stream politics in 2006, peace has by and large Dahal-Nepal faction, told the Post. weather forecast by Krishna Bhakta weather conditions and time frame, I hadn’t Gyalze. returned to the society, despite the country fac- At a recent event organised in Kathmandu, Manandhar, a former senior meteorologist at acclimatised adequately. I was only able to Mingma Gyalze said despite achieving such ing political instability. Dhungana had said that leaders of the Dahal- Nepal’s Meteorological Forecasting Division, sleep as high as Camp 2 (6,600m). Ideally, a great feat, they are not happy with the com- The one group that has been threatening to Nepal faction were equally to blame for the made in Kathmandu. climbers need to sleep OR [sic] at least touch ments of some veteran mountaineers who launch an armed struggle is led by Netra Bikram current political mess as until December 20, Manandhar was the one who had warned Camp 4 before heading for a summit push. have charged Sherpas with foul play for climb- Chand, Dahal’s one-time disciple. they were not only the mute spectators of Oli’s that a cyclone in the Bay of Bengal would Lack of acclimatisation, developed frostbite ing K2 using supplemental oxygen. Observers and civil society members say shenanigans but also part of it. bring snowstorms in the Annapurnas in from the first rotation and slowing down other “We want to clear this in our official state- Dahal may have his grievances against Oli, but “If Dahal tries to make the struggle violent to October 2014, which killed 39 hikers along team members, risking everyone’s safety, were ment in Islamabad,” said Mingma Gyalze. there is no space for seditious statements like counter Oli, he will be doing another wrong Nepal’s Annapurna hiking circuit. the key uncertainties associated,” Purja wrote Legendary Russian-Polish climber Denis the ones Dahal made recently, in society. which will benefit only those who want to derail Even experienced mountaineers balk at the on Monday. Urubko who in 2002-2003 had reached 7,650 “The wounds of many of the injured in the the system,” Dhungana told the Post. idea of climbing K2 more than once, let alone “I took a calculated risk this time and I metres on K2, had stated before the 10 Nepalis’ past are still fresh. We don’t need any violent Even though Dahal and Nepal in their public in winter. pressed on without supplementary O2. My self K2 success, that using supplemental oxygen is movements again,” said Narayan Wagle, a for- speeches have sought support for their protests “K2 in winter. Don’t ask me again. I cannot confidence, knowing my body’s strength, capa- equivalent to “sports doping”. mer editor who is part of the Brihat Nagarik to “protect the system”, they have failed to pro- imagine climbing K2 now. I’m retired for K2,” bility and my experience from climbing the 14 “Oxygen is a powerful DOPING. I’m sorry to Aandolan. “Citizens are not going to be part of vide convincing arguments on how they can do said Kami Rita Sherpa, who has a record x 8000ers enabled me to keep up with the rest of find out the really weird way people react. In any movement that takes violent means to it. Dahal continues to face allegations that he 24 climbs of Everest under his belt and plans the team members and yet lead,” he added. the event that an athlete in boxing, running, achieve a goal.” upped the ante against Oli not because the latter two more climbs this spring on the world’s “JOB DONE! K2 WINTER WITH NO skiing, cycling and other disciplines use dop- After deciding to part ways with Oli following was attacking the system but because he wanted highest peak. SUPPLEMENTARY OXYGEN !” ing—he [she] gets total contempt, reactions of his House dissolution decision, Dahal and to replace him. Kami Rita had climbed K2 during the sum- The K2 winter expedition leader Chhang disgust. And punishment [even heavy penal- Nepal have been in a bid to seek support for While Oli has turned the conversation nasty mer of 2014. Dawa Sherpa also announced from the K2 ties] by the official authorities. But in moun- their protest. and ugly, using derogatory remarks against his But the ten-member Nepali team--nine of base camp on Tuesday that Purja reached the taineering, people who use doping become Civil society members and experts on consti- opponents, Dahal and Nepal too have been try- them Sherpas who started their climbing summit without using supplemental oxygen. heroes. I am surprised by this psychological tutional affairs have called Oli’s move unconsti- ing to match him, as though they are in some careers as porters--were determined to create “A tons of Congratulations [sic] brother reversal,” Urubko told Italian media. tutional and undemocratic. kind of a competition. history and unstoppable. Nims, for your successful ascent of Mt. K2 in Purja has reacted to such comments. Protests by different parties, including the Raghuji Pant, a Standing Committee member “As we negotiated the dangerous Bottleneck winter and absolutely with NO “There are many cases, where climbers Nepal Communist Party led by Dahal and Nepal, of the Dahal-Nepal faction, said it would be couloir fixing ropes, on two different occa- SUPPLEMENTARY OXYGEN,” Chhang have claimed no O2 summits, but followed our against Oli’s move have been widely covered by wrong to read Dahal’s statement as part of any sions, some of the friends, including me, had Dawa wrote on his Facebook page on Tuesday trail that we blazed and used the ropes and the media. plan to stage an armed insurrection. decided to give up,” said Mingma Gyalze. morning. lines that we had fixed,” wrote Purja. “Some As his party has announced a series of pro- “The recent statements were meant to encour- Bottleneck is a narrow couloir, with seracs- Mingma Gyalze confirmed that they had of which are widely known within the inner tests, Dahal is trying to seek support from vari- age the party cadres and members of the public -tonnes of ice blocks-- overhanging in the actually planned to make an official announce- climbing community. What is classified as fair ous quarters—including the media and civil to make our movement stronger and more effec- death zone. The couloir is only 400 m (1,300 ft) ment about Purja’s feat in Islamabad. means?” society—for his movement. tive,” Pant told the Post. “We don’t believe in below the summit, and climbers have to trav- “We have asked the Nepali embassy in Purja wrote that personally, it had never Observers say Dahal, along with Nepal and violence. We have said we are ready to be baton- erse about 100 m (330 ft) exposed to the over- Islamabad to support us with a chopper as it been a major deal for him and that it still isn’t. other leaders including Jhala Nath Khanal, charged; we have not said we will attack anyone hanging seracs to pass through it. will take two weeks to reach the city,” Mingma “Coming from a United Kingdom’s special seem to have been under the wrong impression with batons.” At 8,200 m (26,900 ft), and with an incline of had said earlier. “The embassy officials are forces background, you have been and done all that all those who are cricisting Oli’s move are In Dahal’s defence, Pant added that the leader 50 to 60 degrees, this stretch is the most dan- positive. As soon as we reach the city, we will sorts but we don’t make a big fuss about backing him. According to them, Dahal, who has made his stance clear from various forums gerous part of the route to the summit. It is announce Purja’s feat [officially].” everything,” he wrote. “It is a personal choice. has failed to convince even his own party mem- that he would remain within the constitutional where a 2008 tragedy took place in which 11 “It was one of the hardest pushes ever. Nature and the mountains are for everyone. bers what makes him and other leaders in his framework and he believes in a peaceful move- people were killed in an avalanche, one of the There had been close calls where team mem- You make your own call!” party better than Oli, has rather resorted to ment. worst disasters in mountaineering history. bers nearly turned around due to extreme Other mountaineers, however, welcomed such inflammatory statements. After criticism, Dahal on Tuesday tried to “My body was freezing. I told my teammates cold. But everyone was pushing themselves to the feat which so far had been considered “Dahal has tried to provoke students and clarify his position. I couldn’t move. It was frustratingly cold at the edge of their limits for a purpose; a com- impossible. youths for a violent movement which is not just Speaking at a gathering organised by Press minus 50 degrees Celsius,” Mingma Gyalze mon goal, to make the K2 winter happen, to “The K2 in winter has been climbed and wrong but unacceptable,” said Charan Prasain, Organisation, the journalists’ wing supporting told the Post. make the last greatest mountaineering chal- now come on! ahead those who think, want a human rights defender and civil society activ- the Dahal-Nepal faction, Dahal said he in no But a few others started moving. lenge happen, with positive power and hon- and know they can do better, both the K2 and ist. “It’s concerning… it also reflects that Dahal way called for a violent means of protest. “I too continued,” said Mingma Gyalze. “I our,” Purja wrote on his Facebook page. the other eight thousand are there waiting for has yet to internalise the fact that there are “We have already expressed our commitment felt like there was no point in turning back.” But in the mountaineering fraternity, them,” veteran Italian alpinist Simone Moro peaceful means of struggle also available to to peaceful politics, multi-party competition and “I would like to thank Nirmal Purja who there was yet another suspicion. Why weren’t wrote on his Facebook page on January 17. achieve the goal.” rule of law. And this commitment is our convic- encouraged me, boosted my confidence. I was foreign climbers part of the Saturday’s “Today the Sherpas have rightly received a But what is Dahal’s—or his party’s for that tion, not any tactical rhetoric,” Dahal said. “But numb but I could hear Purja encouraging me.” expedition? well-deserved place in history as they have matter—goal? if anyone tries to push the nation towards Nirmal ‘Nims’ Purja, a former British army “As all preparation was done in a rush and helped hundreds and thousands of mountain- Dahal started to have issues with Oli soon autocracy, it will be Nepali people’s duty to stop special operations soldier, after all holds the some foreign climbers [around 30] were not eers and their ascents for decades.” after he realised that the latter was not going to it at all cost.” Nepal set to get Covid-19 vaccine from India within days, officials say

>> Continued from page 1 No deal could be signed regarding Officials and experts have said that stand how ready they are to roll out rus, we welcome if we are provided Nepalis will need to be vaccinated. Besides Covishield, India has grant- the vaccine supply during Gyawali’s the challenge to immunise 72 percent new vaccines. Nepal has also been the jabs free of cost,” Dr Roshan The Health Ministry has estimated ed emergency use approval to Covaxin visit, but India had given assurances of the approximately 30 million popu- assured that vaccines to inncoulcate 3 Pokharel , chief specialist at the each dose to cost $10 including trans- developed by India’s Bharat Biotech that it would provide some doses of lation with a system designed to percent of the population will be Health Ministry, told the Post. portation and management costs. but phase III trials for it are yet to be vaccines to Nepal very soon. immunise children will be huge. received from the World Health “We are even ready to purchase the The government has called for con- completed. Laxman Aryal, a secretary at the Health Ministry officials, however, Organisation’s COVAX programme by doses we need.” tributions for funds to procure the Nepal has been looking for at least Ministry of Health who was also part maintain that since the vaccination April. The UN body will provide The Cabinet meeting on November vaccines but the appeal has come 12 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine to of Foreign Minister Gwayli’s delega- campaign will be a phase-wise pro- enough vaccines for 20 percent of the 9 had decided to procure coronavirus under criticism as experts say it is the inoculate 20 percent (or 6 million) of tion to Delhi, said that during talks cess, the existing infrastructure and population in the form of a grant. vaccines that have received emergen- legal and moral responsibility of the its population in the first phase to India said it had kept Nepal among preparations will be sufficient. According to Sharma, vaccines will cy approval and administer them to government to inoculate Nepalis and immunise people above the age of 60 high priority countries to receive “We are making necessary prepara- be administered to health workers and people free of charge on the basis of save lives. in addition to frontline health work- coronavirus vaccines. tions to roll out the vaccine including frontline workers, who number priority. “By when we will receive the vac- ers. A deal on India supplying Covid- “At this time, I can just say we are the dry run,” Dr Jhalak Sharma, chief around 300,000, in the first phase. It has estimated that Rs48 billion cines and what number of doses will 19 vaccines to Nepal was expected expecting cooperation on Covid-19 vac- of the Child Health Section at the Officials say there will be no problems would be required to inoculate 52 per- be clear during the joint press confer- during Foreign Minister Pradeep cines from India,” Aryal told the Post. Family Welfare Division under the to roll out the vaccine in the first cent of the population. As children ence,” said Dr Shyam Raj Upreti, coor- Gyawali’s visit to New Delhi last week. Meanwhile, authorities are prepar- Department of Health Services, told phase, as the immunisation will take under 15 years of age, who constitute dinator of the Covid-19 Vaccine Apart from the boundary issue, secur- ing for the mass inoculation based on the Post. place at health facilities only. 28 percent of the population, can’t be Advisory Committee. “We, however, ing a deal on Covid-19 vaccines was a list of health workers from across Dry run is a dummy process, “As we have decided to inoculate all immunised as vaccines haven’t been are expecting early supply of the vac- high on Gyawali’s agenda. the country. which helps the authorities under- eligible citizens against the coronavi- tested on them, only 72 percent of the cines from India.”

C M Y K 03 | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2021 NATIONAL Deuba, Poudel struggle to forge common stance on House dissolution Party needs to send message of unity, maintain balance in ties with both factions of communist party, they say.

ANIL GIRI for support.” KATHMANDU, JAN 19 Mahat added that the top leaders of the Nepali Congress may be at odds On Monday evening, Nepali Congress with each other, but as a democratic President Sher Bahadur Deuba visited party that played a pivotal role in senior party leader Ram Chandra promulgating the constitution, it POST PHOTO: DIPENDRA ROKKA Poudel and spent an hour with him should speak up. “If the Supreme Thirty-year-old Sanu Majhi places bricks to dry at the brick kiln she works at Chunikhel, Lalitpur. Majhi, originally from Ramechhap, came to Kathmandu with her over a couple of coffees. This was Court passes a verdict in favour of husband and a child. Brick kiln workers such as Majhi hardly earn Rs50,000 in six months and return to their village during off season in the summer months. probably the first time in over a year elections, it would be the mistake on that Deuba visited Poudel’s residence the part of the court—not ours. So we at Bohoratar. will contest the elections,” he told The meeting comes as the two lead- the Post. ers are at odds over how the party “Yes, the party will get a favourable should respond to Prime Minister KP environment if elections do take Sharma Oli’s decision to dissolve the place. But it is also equally important BRIEFING Heritage enthusiasts raise alarm over House of Representatives and declare for us to bring the constitution back snap elections. on the right track,” said Mahat. Deuba, as soon as Oli dissolved the Analysts say that they still don’t see House, termed the move “unconstitu- the Nepali Congress come up as a unit- Five idols stolen from Chitlang tional and undemocratic” but has ed force—regardless its stance over HETAUDA: Five idols of various gods Kamal Pokhari restoration project been maintaining that the Nepali Oli’s move to dissolve the House of and goddesses have been stolen from Congress should contest elections if Representatives. two different places in Chitlang, a On Monday night, a back-hoe loader was caught digging the historic pond. Heritage the Supreme Court gives its nod to the Deuba, who has been at the centre tourist destination in Thaha dissolution of the House of of Nepali politics for decades, knows Municipality-9 of Makwanpur dis- conservationists protested, but Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya was not at his office. Representatives. how to make the most of an opportuni- trict. According to Buddha Ratna However, Poudel doesn’t agree with ty to come to power, they say. Manandhar, a local resident, four ANUP OJHA Rani Pokhari. We are not going to “I will soon visit Kamal Pokhari Deuba and has been insisting that the stone idols of Narayan, Ganesh, KATHMANDU, JAN 19 allow Kathmandu city authorities to and find out what has been happening Nepali Congress oppose the dissolu- Bhairav and Durga were stolen from let another disaster happen at Kamal there,” said Khadgi. tion of the House as well as Deuba’s allies had the Shivalaya Temple on January 12. After widespread criticism regarding Pokhari.” She also assured the heritage con- launch stern protests demanding its It is believed that the temple was the sorry state of Rani Pokhari just The Kamal Pokhari restoration servationists to strongly raise the restoration. been advising him to built during Kirat rule. Similarly, two months after its restoration, the project is already facing criticism for issue of Kamal Pokhari at Wednesday’s Poudel confirmed to the Post that he Ganesh’s idol was stolen from a stone Kathmandu Metropolitan City on disregarding the sustainable preser- municipal council meeting. met Deuba. “The country is reeling reach out to Poudel spout in Siranpauwa the same night. Monday cleaned the iconic pond over- vation aspects and plans to turn the Bimal Aryal, who was part of the under a crisis of confidence among after Oli announced “Search is on to find the idols and run by algae. But on the same night, historic pond into a recreational demonstration outside the office of major parties,” Poudel told the Post. nab the culprits involved in the smug- the city office was caught in another space. Kathmandu Metropolitan City on “Oli’s action has eroded confidence fresh elections. gling,” said Deputy Superintendent controversy. On Tuesday, a group of heritage Tuesday, blamed Mayor Shakya for and mutual trust among the parties. Indra Bahadur Rana. This time it was concerning Kamal enthusiasts, city residents, civil socie- “desecrating Kamal Pokhari”. So we discussed how to move ahead Pokhari, another heritage of ty members and journalists staged a “Every citizen should stand up to and how to organise the general con- “It seems Deuba is looking for an Kathmandu. demonstration outside the office of such action,” he said. vention of the party—an issue that opportunity. He is doing his calcula- Hospital yet to put new Heritage lovers raised alarm after Kathmandu Metropolitan City to pro- When the water in Rani Pokhari has been overshadowed by the dissolu- tions,” said analyst Puranjan Acharya, ventilators to use an excavator was captured in a video test the Kamal Pokhari incident. They was drained out dry in December 2017 tion of the House,” Poudel added. who follows the Nepali Congress. “He LAMJUNG: With an objective of provid- digging up soil from the bed of the had planned to hand over a memoran- , the fish in the pond were relocated to Some of Deuba’s allies had been wants to get to power. There is also ing treatment to Covid-19 patients, historic pond, which has been drained dum of demands to Mayor Bidya Kamal Pokhari. At the time the city advising him to reach out to Poudel to pressure on him to organise protests, Lamjung Community Hospital out for restoration. Sundar Shakya but it didn’t come to authority had assured to take care of send a message of unity to the but he should realise that an agitation installed two ventilator machines in A small group of heritage enthusi- pass. the fish. grassroots, a leader close to Poudel on the streets would not hamper the the second week of December. But the With the Kamal Pokhari drained told the Post. NC’s prospects in the elections,” said machines are yet to come into opera- out for restoration, nobody knows But Deuba is counting down the Achaya. tion, forcing the seriously ill people whatever happened to the translocat- days until the formal split of the Party leaders from both factions to go to other districts for treatment. ed fish. Nepal Communist Party, a Deuba ally said that the upcoming Central “The hospital does not have trained The excavator was used to dig up said. Once the NCP splits and becomes Working Committee meeting, sched- human resources to operate the venti- soil from Kamal Pokhari on the same the two parties, then it would be easier uled to begin next Wednesday, will lator. The Gandaki provincial govern- day the Department of Archeology for the party leadership to make a call. come up with a more concrete plan, ment has not arranged human had sent a letter to the city office, “That is why we are not taking a firm especially with regard to the provin- resources so far,” said Hemanta directing it to consider the cultural, position now,” the leader added. cial governments. Shrestha, chief of the hospital. historic and ecological values of the Political observers and commenta- The party is under pressure to pick pond while restoring it. tors also observe that the Nepali sides in the provincial government as The department had also cited the Congress has failed to send a message both Oli and Nepal factions are look- One dead, five injured in Ancient Monument Preservation Act of unity to its cadre on the latest polit- ing for support from the Nepali jeep accident 2013 in its letter to the city office. The ical situation in the country. Congress, particularly in Province 1 Act says that structures over a hun- “We have been telling both leaders and Bagmati. SINDHULI: An elderly woman died and dred years old must be preserved in not to air opposing views regarding Though Nepali Congress does not five other passengers were injured in their original form. Oli’s move and urged them not to cre- have a party committee in the provinc- a jeep accident at Dudhauli “For Kamal Pokhari restoration, ate confusion among the party card- es, any decision regarding provincial Municipality, Sindhuli, on Tuesday. POST PHOTO: SANJOG MANANDHAR the Kathmandu Metropolitan City is ers, the public at large,” a youth leader governments should be taken at the The vehicle heading towards Activists protest against the use of concrete to restore Kamal Pokhari, outside Kathmandu working with the same company, said, as we kept on pressurizing both, centre. Chakmake from Dakaha fell off the Metropolitan City’s Office at Sundhara on Tuesday. World Wide Kandel KN KG JV, that finally they met. “This has become a test for our road and crashed. Police identified had run into a controversy for the use Some Nepali Congress leaders sus- party leadership too,” a central com- the deceased as Champa Maya asts, who had campaigned for the res- Shakya was not at his office on of concrete while restoring Rani pect that both Oli and his rival Pushpa mittee member said. Timsina, 65. The injured are receiv- toration of Rani Pokhari to its origi- the day. Pokhari,” said Tuladhar. Kamal Dahal are trying to woo the two Nepali Congress now stands at a ing treatment at Dakaha Health Post. nal form, reached Kamal Pokhari on “This is not the first time Mayor World Wide Knadel KN KG JV had camps to toe their line. But Nepali crossroads following the promulga- Monday midnight to stop the excava- Shakya failed to show up to work used concrete structures while restor- Congress leaders don’t publicly admit tion of the new constitution, political 16-year-old girl raped tor and alerted the city authority and whenever we are there to raise an ing Rani Pokhari, inviting protests that the party’s leadership is at odds analyst Geja Sharma Wagle told the the Department of Archeology about important issue concerning our city’s from heritage conservationists. due to the influence the rival camps of Post. “So the Nepali Congress should BAITADI: Police in Baitadi are investi- what was transpiring there during heritages and their preservation,” The city office had to later spend the Nepal Communist Party hold in take a decision in favour of democra- gating the alleged rape of a mental- night hours. said Alok Siddhi Tuladhar, a heritage Rs 1.6 million to remove the concrete the Nepali Congress. cy and the constitution.” ly-handicapped 16-year-old. They “The soil from the pond was about conservationist. structures. “We read in the news that Deuba, Wagle added that the Nepali have arrested two men (her uncle to be taken to Budhanilkantha. Some The delegation eventually submit- “If the city office was concerned Dahal and Oli have been playing their Congress should not make a call eying and grandfather), said Inspector land mafias are in cahoots with the ted their memorandum of demands to about the company’s wrongdoing, it cards,” said senior Nepali Congress short-term gains. Dhan Dev Saud. “The court allowed city officials and they are selling the Deputy Mayor Hari Prabha Khadgi, would not have selected a different leader Ram Sharan Mahat. “There are “At present, the party is weighing us to remand them in custody soil from the pond,” said Ganapati Lal who vowed to inquire about the contractor for Kamal Pokhari restora- also questions over provincial govern- its options. It should maintain a deli- and further investigation is being Shrestha, a heritage conservationist. goings-on at Kamal Pokhari restora- tion. Clearly, there’s something fishy ments. So naturally, both sides are cate balance in its relations with both carried out.” “The city didn’t learn a lesson from tion project site. going on here,” Tulahdar said. looking at the Nepali Congress communist the factions,” said Wagle. Having returned empty-handed, workers seek compensation for losses A large number of migrant workers have returned home with hefty loans after losing their overseas jobs. Migrant rights activists say they should receive compensation for their ordeal.

CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL the coming months, followed by a dispute mostly migrant workers, have returned from ing workers and also compensating them if KATHMANDU, JAN 19 between the employers and workers. The com- various countries since the government start- needed. pany eventually shut down on March 15. Then ed evacuating them. As per Section 75 of the Foreign Employment Unemployed, Raju Parajuli thought a cleaner came the Covid-19 blow. Following a Supreme Court order, the gov- Act, 2007 when “workers have to be immediate- job in Dubai in exchange for Rs125,000 was not “The income was never as expected. Workers ernment had prepared a directive to provide ly brought back to Nepal due to a war, epidem- that bad of an offer. After borrowing the were not paid anything since March 15,” said financial assistance to stranded migrant work- ic, natural calamity in the country where such amount from a local moneylender at an annual Parajuli. “During the pandemic and lockdown, ers to buy tickets to return home. workers are engaged in employment, the interest rate of 12 percent, Parajuli from we were stranded without food and money for The directive had also mandated the Nepali Government of Nepal shall make arrange- Chautara Sangachowkgadhi Municipality, several months. Somehow we managed to missions in labour destination countries to ments for repatriating such workers.” Sindhupalchowk decided to try his luck return home.” ensure that workers were paid their dues The same law says, if any employer does not abroad. Parajuli and tens of thousands of Nepali before they board their flight. However, a provide employment as per the terms pre- “There are no jobs here in Nepal, as we all migrant workers have suffered abroad due to majority of workers have returned home emp- scribed in the agreement, the worker or his or know,” said Parajuli. “Being educated is not the pandemic and had to return home emp- ty-handed, facing ‘wage theft.’ her agent may file a complaint at the enough to feed your family. At one point you ty-handed after losing their jobs. Calls for compensating these workers, who Department of Foreign Employment, along have to earn money as well. I also tried going “Around 350 workers from my company had have lost their jobs and are trapped in “debt with evidence for compensation. Upon inquiry, abroad.” bought tickets to return home until June 26 bondage”, have been growing louder lately. the department can ask the recruiting With the hope of repaying loans and making (when I returned)..Some had managed money PHOTO COURTESY : MAHESHWOR NEPAL According to Shom Luitel, a lawyer with agencies to compensate for all expenses good money, Parajuli flew on December 26, by selling pieces of jewellery, taking loans, and Many workers had to return home by borrowing expertise on migrant workers’ rights, workers incurred by workers while applying for foreign 2019, to Dubai through the Basundhara-based borrowing from friends. Fifty others couldn’t money to buy their flight tickets. could not benefit from the government’s repa- employment. recruiting agency—MB Human Resources even do that,” said Parajuli, who paid AED triation schemes, but arrangements should be Officials also agree that financial relief to Pvt Ltd. 1,320 for the flight ticket. a large number of those who could return to made to compensate them for their losses. such workers could be provided. “If the com- But things didn’t go as expected from the Now workers like Parajuli, who not only lost Nepal have lost their income and prospect of “All these years, there have been several pol- pensation amount can be covered from the very first month. The recruiting agency and their jobs, for which they had paid a handsome paying the loans they had taken for funding icies for zero cost jobs, free visa and free ticket welfare fund, the Foreign Employment Board the sub-agent had promised him a monthly amount but also paid for their return tickets, their overseas jobs. scheme, employer’s pay model. However, work- can make the decision,” said Hari Prasad income of between 1,200-1,500 UAE Dirhams are demanding compensation. Another worker Bed Bahadur Lamichhane ers have continued to pay hefty amounts, Mainali, a joint secretary with the Labour, (approximately Rs38,288-47,861). Parajuli, now 24, and four other friends have had paid Rs180,000 for a job in Saudi Arabia. which often come from loans taken at exorbi- Employment and Social Security Ministry. “It According to Parajuli, he was told that he approached the recruiting agency and “I stayed there for a total of 15 months before tant rates,” said Luitel. “In the last few months, is not that it can’t be done at all as we already would get a basic salary of AED 800 for eight Department of Foreign Employment for com- the lockdown happened. For the first two when they returned home due to the pandemic, have data on returnee migrant workers. The hours of work. “But the company told me that pensation. months, there was no work,” said Lamichhane most of them have debts to pay.” board should be convinced as well.” it was mandatory to work for 12 hours and I When coronavirus crept into Nepal’s labour from Okhaldhunga. “My company didn’t pay Luitel said a large number of workers have Parajuli is determined to get his money back would get a maximum of AED 950,” said destination countries, which are mainly me anything after the pandemic began. I stayed not even recovered the money they had invest- by any means. Parajuli. “They paid me only AED 600 during Persian Gulf countries, Malaysia and South locked inside my room. Finally, I got money ed to secure overseas jobs. “I have paid Rs125,000, and the amount I the first month, and then AED 700 the next.” Korea, tens of thousands of Nepali workers from my family in Nepal and returned home “Compensating these hard-hit workers is should be getting as compensation is around The story of hardship is similar for nearly were rendered jobless. after buying the ticket myself.” possible according to foreign employment-re- Rs 250,000, which is not a small amount. Many 450 of his Nepali co-workers in the UAE, After struggling for their safety and basic According to the Covid-19 Crisis Management lated laws,” said Luitel. “The Foreign of my friends have taken loans for jobs and according to Parajuli. Things only worsened in needs for several months during the pandemic, Centre (CCMC), a total of 227,233 Nepalis, Employment Act has provisions on repatriat- returned home empty-handed,” said Parajuli.

C M Y K WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2021 | 04 OPINION EDITORIAL Inoculating the masses against The first jab demagogic populism The government cannot let a lack of infrastructure impede Covid-19 vaccination drive. The challenge for Nepali society is to work With Nepal’s drug regulator giving emergency use approval for Covishield, the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Oxford- for a relatively peaceful AstraZeneca and produced regionally by the Serum Institute of transition. India, the country is finally gearing up for a mass inoculation drive. The government is understood to be holding high-level CK LAL talks to import the vaccines at the earliest. India on Tuesday announced it would begin to supply vaccines from Wednesday SOUTH SIDE as a goodwill gesture to neighbouring countries including Nepal. So we can expect to see the first jab being given by the end of the month.

But the actual inoculation drive will be a hard nut to crack, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s politi- owing to the poor health infrastructure across the country. cal fate hangs in the balance. With Although Covishield, Nepal’s preferred vaccine, suits the local Nepali Congress taking an oppositional stand, his status as the ethnonational storage and transport infrastructure, health care workers from chieftain stands challenged. Though remote parts have pointed out how up to 80 percent of other nothing is ever certain in the game of politics, a vertical division in the rul- vaccines often go to waste for want of cold chain maintenance. ing Nepal Communist Party (NCP) The government cannot let a lack of infrastructure come in the appears to be a foregone conclusion. He way of the inoculation drive as we have got enough time to is no longer the Supremo that once held sway over the polity and society of the SHUTTERSTOCK prepare for the same. country. ing tangible in New Delhi except hack- are inseparable. Oli began to concen- acy will be the monumental folly of The fact that health facilities are unavailable in remote areas The decision of dissolving the neyed promises of continued goodwill. trate all political and administrative demonetisation and the colossal ‘Statue Pratinidhi Sabha in the middle of the While New Delhi appears ready to authority in the residential Secretariat of Unity’ that was imported from China makes the inoculation drive a difficult task due to the risk of Covid-19 pandemic is comparable to the give the prime minister a long rope, it of the prime minister from the day he to be erected in Gujarat. The edifice possible health complications as side effects of the vaccine declaration of promulgating a contest- doesn’t seem to be too willing to pull took office. He seldom cared to attend complex of Oli expresses itself in the remain. India has reported over 500 cases of adverse reaction ed statute in the middle of Gorkha him out of the bog. The goat-tailed map his official chamber at Singha Durbar. prioritisation of Dharahara over hous- Earthquake aftershocks through the has closed many hospitable doors for Party meetings were invariably held at ing for the Gorkha Earthquake survi- even as thousands of people have skipped the vaccination 16-point conspiracy. But five years after several Nepali politicos including the Baluwatar. His health condition didn’t vors and the erection of view towers on drive. Bharat Biotech, the manufacturer of Covaxin, one of the his phenomenal rise as the saviour of jingoist-in-chief of Baluwatar. come in the way of supposedly working hilltops and in flatlands over building two vaccines to have received emergency use approval in India, Khas-Arya pride, Oli has lost his cha- ‘18 hours a day’ as long as everyone schools and hospitals. risma due to failures on all fronts. Ignored signs paid obeisance to his person at his resi- Before he leaves, Prime Minister Oli has warned people with existing medical conditions not to take The economy is in shambles. Political, diplomatic and propaganda dence. is sure to squander scarce resources in the jab. Considering these complications, the Nepal govern- Allegations of corruption in high plac- weights are being stacked up one by Be it the challenger to his position order to leave what he probably believes es are rife. Nepotism, favouritism and one against the tottering chieftain. If it inside the party or a competitor from will be his enduring legacy: a palace for ment must ensure that the inoculation drive is supported by an quid pro quo in political appointments were a normal person in his position, the opposition benches, Oli took the Prime Minister inside Baluwatar. able health care infrastructure. have become the norm. The prime min- they would humbly make way for the immense pleasure in belittling all polit- Demagogues have flexible moral val- Moreover, Nepal must take into consideration the existing ister has fallen so low in public esteem constitutional search of a more suita- ical opponents. The ‘with us or against ues and decry or deploy political vio- that even nominations made upon the ble claimant. But demagogic politicos us’ mindset of authoritarian populists lence as it suits them. Whenever threat- structural problems that may hinder the efficiency of the inoc- recommendations of the Constitutional are of a different breed altogether. holds immense appeal for the masses ened, they are likely to unleash the fear ulation drive. Globally, the vaccines have become ‘another Council have failed to escape scrutiny. They plan to remain in power forever yearning for a strong leader in the and hatred of the dominant communi- If details of court proceedings that and inflict huge damage to the polity if times of uncertainty. He valued politi- ty against numerical as well as brick in the wall of inequality between the world’s haves and have seeped into the public sphere are they are made to leave against their cal processes so little that not just the political minorities in an orgy of vio- have-nots’, as World Health Organisation Director-General Dr anything to go by, lawyers appear to will. The triumph of Trumpism despite office of the president, even the lence. Unlike Prime Minister Modi, Oli Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned on Monday, asking peo- have a very strong case for the restora- his fall from grace is an illustrative lower house of the Parliament was may not be capable of ‘doing a tion of the Pratinidhi Sabha. Such an case in point. reduced to the level of being merely Gujarat’ on an entire country, but imi- ple not to jump the line for taking Covid-19 jabs. Nepal must eventuality may impel Oli to take even The most effective way of fighting formalising institutions of all whimsi- tating Trump’s Capitol incitement is a ensure that the rich and the powerful do not jump the Covid-19 more desperate actions. demagoguery is to read early warning cal decisions. do-able option for a person completely Among the three principal outside signals and expose a putative populist Even when he sold hopes of piped unconcerned about the judgement of vaccine queues. The vaccines will have to be made available to players in Nepali politics, it seems the before one manages to arouse the raw gas to every kitchen, trans-Himalayan history. everyone sooner than later, but right now, it is important to Chinese were the first to lose confi- passions of the dominant community. railway to the Gangetic plains or Nepali Sooner rather than later, KP Sharma inoculate the most vulnerable and those on the frontlines so dence in the sincerity of the person Unfortunately for Nepal, Oli succeeded ships sailing to the high seas, his tone Oli will have to go. The challenge for they had helped become the chief of a in taking an entire country for a ride used to be flippant. The only time he Nepali society is to work for a relatively that we make a protective shield for communities and popula- fraternal communist party wedded to with his seemingly comical outbursts sounded serious was when he claimed peaceful transition. It doesn’t help that tions. the Xi Jinping Thought. Oli consist- against Madhesis and Janajatis that that Hindu sages had discovered the his main challengers aren’t too well The Nepal government has promised to vaccinate 20 percent ently ratcheted up anti-India rhetoric pandered to the prejudices of the Khas- theory of gravitation before Newton or known for peaceful politics. Difficult as to burnish his ultra-nationalist image. Arya ethnonational. the authentic Rama of Hindu mytholo- it may be to digest, violence is hard- of the population that is at the highest risk—the frontline work- For some strange reasons, prominent The Supremo didn’t even hide his gy was born in Nepal. Demagogues wired in the political proclivities of ers, elderly people and those with underlying conditions. It interlocutors from the US seemed to duplicity of having no faith in federal- peddle supposed glories of the past Nepalis. admire the hilarity of a Third World ism, inclusion and plurality but aspir- which a disempowered populace is The bigger challenge will be to create must also introduce a separate policy to ensure universal cov- strongman. But even they aren’t too ing to become the prime minister always eager to embrace. conditions where demagogic exhorta- erage so that no one is left out of the opportunity to be jabbed. pleased with the absolute ineffective- ostensibly to protect and promote a tions are countered with the appeal for As the existence in Nepal of the new variant of the coronavirus ness of their favourite agent of politi- constitution that enshrined such provi- Predictable risks peaceful politics and populist rhetoric cal stability. sions, though in a limited way. His Demagogues almost always harbour is resisted with the promise of plurali- that was identified in the United Kingdom a month ago has Perhaps Oli had anticipated that his decision to remove the ‘Federal delusions of grandeur. Such a tendency ty and participation in public life. been confirmed, there is no denying that we are still racing bugbears in the South Block will help Democratic Republic of Nepal’ from invariably leads to misplaced priori- Vaccinating against the pandemic to him come out of constitutional and the official name wasn’t a bolt from the ties. Apart from being the only presi- ensure herd immunity is difficult against time when it comes to tackling the Covid-19 pandemic. political imbroglio due to the compul- blue; he had expressed his intentions dent in US history to be impeached enough, but to inoculate an entire soci- The challenge now is to expedite the process to inoculate the sions of the new Cold War simmering earlier in unmistakable manner by twice, the only other thing President ety against demagogic populism is an population to minimise the risk of new transmissions as soon in South Asia. For now, all such hopes deriding republicanism as a journey to Trump will perhaps be remembered for impossible task that every generation lie shattered. It seems Foreign Minister the US in an oxcart. is his slogan, ‘Build That Wall!’. has handled, with the media, academia as possible. Pradeep Kumar Gyawali received noth- Demagoguery and authoritarianism Prime Minister Modi’s enduring leg- and intelligentsia as front-liners. A metaphorical inaugural of ‘coloured’ fairytales

moving into the White House in Kamala Harris’s arrival on America reverberated its fairytale his- tory in the Nova Scotian houses still the scene extends this erect in Freetown. Kamala Harris’ arrival on the scene fairytale to South Asia and extends this fairytale to South Asia and the Caribbean, two civilisations the Caribbean. wide apart from one another, yet com- mon in contesting the yet-to-be provin- cialised hegemony of Euro-America. MALLIKA SHAKYA The feminism of this fairytale also oozes in her girl-romance and the way the first Second Gentleman flanks the vice-president—not as a husbanding lord but a loyal friend. Fairytales are as much about vir- tues as faces radiating them. What the Biden-Harris victory signifies is the The inauguration of an American victory of decency over bullying tac- president is usually a benign theatri- tics of racism, classism and misogyny. cality for the common people around That is what brings emotions to this the world who consume American victory, especially for those whose democracy but do not vote in it. Few skin colours stand out against the inaugurations, however, evoke a pro- backdrop of the whiteness of the found sense of participation and jubi- House they are watching. Before lation. Commemorating Barack Kamala Harris swept through the Obama’s inaugural in 2008 was cer- screens, from Alaska to the Amazon, it tainly a larger-than-life event not only would have been difficult to watch a for those physically present in brown little girl straight in her eye Washington, DC but everyone else and tell her that her birth doesn’t sab- who joined the chorus. For the entire otage her potential. global fraternity of people of colour Out of the huts of history’s shame, I who woke up on November 6, 2008, to rise | Up from a past that’s rooted in witness the major paradigm shift in pain, I rise … | Bringing the gifts that American biopolitics, that was a fina- SHUTTERSTOCK my ancestors gave. | I am the dream le of sorts of racial justice long due. the president himself. This is where as to whether a mom, especially a as the American ones do, in much the rare occasions when non-white indi- and the hope of the slave. | I rise | I rise Then came the 2017 inaugural, the stuff about current-day fairytales mom during the pandemic lockdown, same way Cinderella is readily availa- viduals insert themselves into the glit- | I rise. when an Impeach Trump Now website come into play, especially for the peo- is a slave; and whether there ever will ble as a universal fairytale while ters of White House galas such as the A whole range of women are cheer- came up—just as the proceedings of ple of colour who are the decisive be a moms’ uprising against their lit- Momotar is only Japanese and one we are witnessing today. I watched ing for Kamala, knowing that the the official event unfurled in the majority, but whose agency continues tle sweethearts. Nhemha-taken only Newa. the Obama inaugural from Freetown words of Maya Angelou will ring a American National Mall. Amid the to be dwarfed by inflated legacies of It is often the Cinderella-esq glitz Only the American media complex in Sierra Leone, an African cosmopol- tinge truer as she becomes the first pomp of the change of the guard, the white West. which stokes life into mega-events, has the mechanics of popular culture itan coast standing on the legacy of a American vice-president of colour. many noticed the awkward moment Outside American soil and water, ranging from street uprisings to state that can twist and tuck a story to be black uprising in Euro-America. The message from the US capital has when the new president failed to rec- the fairytales have touched everybody, inaugurals. They allow us to insert sold in the monopolised market for Freetown was built in 1787 by freed never been more metaphorical. ognise his wife’s presence as he but especially spirited the young: ourselves into aspirations that should global viewership. Take Mulan, take black slaves from London, and later Kamala, a former attorney general of approached the White House resi- Incoming Vice-President Kamala be universal and incessant but are not. Simba and take Aladdin. Even Hayao joined by Nova Scotian Blacks and California and US senator, is just a dence to shake hands with his outgo- Harris has sweetly captured the imag- It is true that the tale of Cinderella Miyazaki’s timeless anime came to the Jamaican Maroons who had left the carrier of that metaphor, and the next ing counterparts. ination of my little girl as we reached itself is not universal, although Disney reach of global viewership only New World after having served the four years will judge how she carried The Biden inauguration is also a an episode of our bedtime story series has made it into one. This is the point I through streaming services. Trading abolitionist side in the American Civil that poetic duty alongside the legal contrast to that of his Republican pre- I have been conjuring up every night wish to make about the acquired uni- dreams seems to have remained the War, but were later disillusioned by whose texts she is set to read out on decessor in that the racial and gender on demand. This is following some 30 versality of American presidential monopoly of the Goliaths. white abolitionists claiming to speak this American inauguration day. behaviours are meaningfully snippets of the Maya Angelou series inaugurals. Not many of the Japanese It is exactly this alchemy between for the blacks. Once the beacon of switched. Globally, there is as much and endless reciting of her Caged Bird or Newa state inaugurals would have Promethean fire and predatory mar- black hope, the city is now a dilapidat- Shakya is an assistant professor at curiosity for his vice-president as for poem, leading up to lunchtime debates captured public imaginations as much ketism which makes us rejoice the ed faraway zone, but the black man South Asian University.

C M Y K 05 | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2021 MONEY

FOREX Xi, Modi US 117.37 Nepal placed 57th among 75 countries Euro 142.26 expected for Pound 159.71 Japanese 11.28 in group video call experience ‘virtual’ Davos Chinese 18.11 Qatari 32.24 As per the Nepal Telecommunications Authority, 80 percent of Nepalis have access to broadband. in era of Australian 90.47 Malaysian 28.98 KRISHANA PRASAIN Association of Nepal, said that the use pandemic KATHMANDU, JAN 19 of group video calls had increased by Saudi 31.29 100 percent after the lockdown, mainly ASSOCIATED PRESS Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank Nepal ranked 57th among 75 countries due to people working from home and GENEVA, JAN 19 in a global study analysing the online classes and also virtual events. experiences of smartphone users in a Zoom is mostly used for official video World Economic Forum organisers Shares group call. calls while Messenger video calls and are expecting leaders including As per the report entitled Viber video calls are used for family Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Nepse 2,326.90pts -0.24% Quantifying the Mobile Experience of communication, he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Group Video Calls released by The Opensignal report said that German Chancellor Angela Merkel HIGHEST LOSERS Opensignal, the independent global many communication apps expanded and South African President Cyril SMB CHL HDHPC GLBSL PMHPL RMDC -7.74% -5% -3.82% -3.82% -3.68% -3.57% standard for analysing consumer to handle the increased demand. Ramaphosa for a virtual gathering mobile experience, Nepal scored 24.1 “WhatsApp allowed eight video partic- next week—after the Covid-19 pan- MODERATE LOSERS LUK ALICL LICN NLG SHPC UPCL points where the higher the scores, ipants on a single mobile group call, demic doused plans for the annual -1.61% -1.61% -1.54% -1.53% -1.52% -1.50% the higher the likelihood that all up from four previously. Other popu- in-person event in Davos, Switzerland.

MODERATE GAINERS smartphone users in a group call had lar mobile apps already support group The forum expects to hold its annu- CMF2 UNL NEF RLFL STC NGPL an adequate experience. video communication, even on rela- al meeting in person in May in 1.27% 1.03% 1.02% 1.02% 0.91% 0.90% The report published in December tively small smartphone displays. The Singapore. HIGHEST GAINERS 2020 has ranked Nepal ahead of India smartphone version of FaceTime, Forum founder Klaus Schwab said GUFL PROFL NFS CORBL NABBC JFL (18.7 points), Sri Lanka (15.9 points), Skype and Zoom can connect to just as the aim of the virtual “Davos Agenda” 10% 10% 10% 9.95% 9.87% 9.85% Bangladesh (15.1) and Pakistan (8.9 any participants as their PC equiva- meeting starting January 25 is to points) among South Asian countries. lents,” the report said. restore trust and engage all stakehold- Japan topped the list with 68.7 While two-person video calling has ers in business, government, civil points followed by the Netherlands been in common use for some time, society and beyond to help build a PRICE PER TOLA with 68.6 points and South Korea with AP 2020 has brought the rise of multi-per- “more peaceful and prosperous BULLION 68.2 points. The average group video People are using video conferencing platforms to stay connected during the pandemic. son video calling, it said. post-corona era.” calling score was 38.7 points. As the World Health Organisation The event runs throughout the Fine Gold Rs 92,000 Dilli Ram Adhikari, managing Telecom has both available in the net- Once the decisions are made, 5G tech- has warned that the new Covid strain week with daily themes on subjects director of Nepal Telecom, said that work in most places, he added. nology will be introduced, he said. could worsen the pandemic, it is like economic systems, responsible Silver Rs 1,245 with high speed 4G service, people had Among South Asian countries, Sri Besides connecting family and expected that group video calling will growth, cooperation and the harness- been attracted to over-the-top (OTT) Lanka is ahead of Nepal in terms of friends, video calls are mostly used by be the way to connect with office meet- ing of technologies in the 4th SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA media service. broadband penetration; but in terms officials for conferencing and by ings, friends and family, said an indus- Industrial Revolution—a common “Bandwidth availability was less in of other aspects, Nepal is ahead, schools and colleges for holding online try insider. Opensignal conducted the theme at Davos events. the past due to which voice call traffic Adhikari said. classes. Zoom and Microsoft Team are study on mobile experience using an Borge Brende, the forum president, GASOLINE WATCH was high. Now the speed has increased He added that multiple input, multi- the popular apps in Nepal, he said. alternative approach that investigated said Xi and Modi will be joined also by and data package costs have also been ple output technology that strength- Group video calling gained popular- the experience of a group, taking into Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide reduced. As a result, video calls have ens data quality have been used, and ity in Nepal after a nationwide lock- account each individual experience of Suga and South Korean President become economical and more people also carrier aggregation features have down was imposed in late March, the users forming it. Moon Jae-in for the event, and such are using them,” he said. been used. prompting thousands of new users to According to the latest Management leaders will consider “the role that According to Adhikari, Nepal If the mobile set has the latest tech- use the service to participate in office Information System report of the Asia will play in the recovery.” Telecom’s 4G service has reached 70 nology, it can operate at high capacity. meetings, attend online classes or take Nepal Telecommunications Authority, Others expected include Israeli percent of the population. The service He said that the latest smartphones part in different online events and 80.07 percent of total population had Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is available in all 77 districts, includ- equipped with the newest version had webinars. To maintain social distance access to broadband as of mid-Novem- French President Emmanuel Macron ing 620 out of the 753 local units in the features that can enhance the speed. from the safety point of view, meet- ber, with 58.83 percent of the and President Ivan Duque of country. As per Adhikari, 5G policy is under ings and different events are still users connected through mobile Colombia. The annual event in Davos Speed quality of mobile data and discussion which will determine how being held virtually. broadband. The country has 11.10 mil- typically draws thousands of elites to cost affordability are necessary to permits and spectrum will be distrib- Sudhir Parajuli, president of the lion 3G subscribers and 6.33 million the Alpine snows to discuss ways of maintain video call quality, and Nepal uted, and what the charges will be. Internet Service Providers 4G subscribers. building a better future. Profit at Chinese state industry rises Germany’s 2020 with coronavirus recovery borrowing comes in subsidies prompt complaints by the public that they are a waste of money and gouge consumers with high pric- es. Peng’s agency oversees 97 compa- well short of forecast nies directly under the Cabinet includ- BRIEFING ing PetroChina Ltd., Asia’s biggest oil ASSOCIATED PRESS “Germany is in comparatively producer; China Mobile Ltd., the BERLIN, JAN 19 good shape because we acted world’s biggest phone carrier by num- quickly and strongly in the budget,” Himalaya Airlines conducts test ber of subscribers, and Industrial and Germany borrowed 130.5 billion Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said in a flight to Lhasa airport Commercial Bank of China Ltd., the euros ($157.5 billion) last year as it statement. world’s biggest bank by assets. loosened budget rules to help finance “We used a lot of money to protect KATHMANDU: Himalaya Airlines, SASAC companies also dominate pandemic-related rescue and stimulus health, support business and secure a Nepal-China joint venture, air travel, insurance, securities, ship- packages—a considerably smaller employment,” he added. conducted a test flight to Lhasa on ping, internet access, power genera- sum than was originally planned. “That pays off in multiple ways. Tuesday as part of the carrier’s tion, construction, nuclear power After six years in the black, The economic development is better, plan to operate commercial flights by technology and coal and steel produc- Germany resorted to running up new job losses are smaller, tax income is this summer. Lhasa is the religious tion. Chinese industries benefited debt in 2020 to help cover the cost of higher and new borrowing and administrative capital of the from the economy’s relatively early huge support packages made neces- significantly lower than was forecast Tibet Autonomous Region, famous reopening starting in March after the sary by the coronavirus pandemic and at times.” for its history and religious ruling party declared victory over the an expected shortfall in tax revenue. Critics say that aid has been too landmarks, attracting tourists from virus that emerged in the central city The country has Europe’s biggest complex and flowed too slowly. all over the world. The airline AP/RSS of Wuhan in late 2019. economy. Germany was able to relax restric- inducted a brand new narrow-body Residents pass by a branch of the China Mobile Ltd in Beijing. Total economic activity rose 2.3 per- Parliament had authorized 217.8 tions relatively quickly after last A319-115 aircraft to its fleet on March cent in 2020, possibly making China billion euros in new borrowing. In year’s first phase of the pandemic, but 2, 2020, especially for high-altitude ASSOCIATED PRESS to 30.3 trillion yuan ($4.7 trillion), the only major economy to grow while the end, the economy suffered less has struggled to deal with the autumn operations. The 120-seater aircraft BEIJING, JAN 19 according to Peng Huagang, secretary the United States, Europe and Japan than feared in 2020; the national statis- and winter resurgence of infections. has modifications for high altitude general of the State-Owned Assets struggled with rising infections. tics office said last week that gross Restaurants, bars, leisure and operations and capabilities to operate Profit at state-owned companies that Supervision and Administration Growth accelerated to a two-year high domestic product declined by 5 per- sports facilities were closed November trans-Himalayan routes with dominate China’s banking, oil and Commission. Speaking at a news con- of 6.5 percent over a year earlier in the cent, ending a decade of growth 2 in a partial shutdown that halted a aerodromes elevation to maximum most other industries rose by as much ference, Peng said profit rose 2.1 per- three months ending in December. but still a better outcome than long rise in infections for a while but didn’t 14,500 ft, the airline said in a as 25 percent last year as the country cent to 1.4 trillion yuan ($215 billion). Profit at 24 national-level state com- expected. bring them down. statement. Vijay Shrestha, vice- recovered from the coronavirus pan- The ruling Communist Party has panies rose by more than 25 percent Government spending last year On December 16, nonessential shops president—administration, remarked, demic, the government said Tuesday. built up such “national champions” over 2019 and two had profit of more totalled 443.4 billion euros, below the and schools were closed. That lock- “It is indeed a pride for Himalaya, to Total revenue for national-level over the past two decades, but their than 100 billion yuan ($15.4 billion), 508.5 billion euros that was forecast, down is expected to continue into be the first and only foreign airline to companies rose 2.2 percent over 2019 monopolies and multibillion-dollar Peng said. the Finance Ministry said Tuesday. February. land at Lhasa Gonggar International Airport. We feel privileged to get the opportunity to strengthen the cross-border relationship and we are confident, post-pandemic, this sector will significantly boost the Pandemic reveals hidden poverty in wealthy Japan tourist movement between Nepal and Tibet.” AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE who heads the Moyai Support Centre vices. “People who were already strug- Research Institute. ple he helps are women, but he TOKYO, JAN 19 for Independent Living, an anti-pover- gling were confronted with the corona- Women in particular are facing eco- believes “many more” have not come Ncell launches chatbot ty group. virus. They were on a tightrope and nomic hardship because many work forward. service ‘MAYA’ Yuichiro welled up as he collected a Around 40% of workers are in the rope just snapped,” he added. on temporary contracts in retail, res- “Some women feel that their chil- food parcel at a Tokyo outreach event vulnerable “non-regular” jobs with Experts warn the economic pain taurants and hotels—all industries hit dren won’t be able to walk with their KATHMANDU: Ncell Axiata Limited, in offering help to the growing number lower wages and contracts that can be may be contributing to a rise in the hard by the pandemic. heads high if they are on welfare,” he line with its digital transformation of Japanese pushed into poverty by terminated easily. suicide rate seen towards the end of Experts say women often hesitate to added. While statistics show rising journey, has launched a chatbot the coronavirus pandemic. Many also struggle to access last year. seek help or to join men in queues for applications for public assistance, service ‘MAYA’ for its customers. “There is no work. Absolutely welfare. A 1% point rise in Japan’s unem- food, but even so, they are now seeing Ohnishi of the Moyai Support Centre Dynamic chatbot service is the none,” said the 46-year-old, until Yuichiro, who did not give his last ployment rate translates into roughly more women and mothers with small said the shame and stigma of being a conversational platform wherein recently a construction worker, while name to AFP, said he was sent from 3,000 additional suicides a year, children at outreach events. welfare recipient made many reluc- customers can get end-to-end self- clutching a small plastic bag of essen- one government office to another according to Taro Saito of the NLI Seino said less than 20% of the peo- tant to seek help. service for their requests and tials on a cold winter street in the before being told assistance was only “The system itself has rules that queries regarding any products and capital. for those with children. assistance from family members must services of Ncell. The chatbot service “This doesn’t get reported much in “But there are lots of adults who be the priority. So families receive named ‘MAYA’ has been launched as a the media, but many people are sleep- aren’t able to eat,” he said. notices saying things like ‘your son is part of the company’s ongoing ing at train stations and in cardboard ‘The rope just snapped’ applying for welfare’,” he said. campaign #FastForwardLife that boxes. Some are dying of hunger.” More than 10 million people in “It’s a very Japanese system. aims to encourage everyone to The world’s third-largest economy Japan live on less than $19,000 a year, Everyone has the legal rights to use it. reimagine the future and fast has seen a relatively small coronavi- while one in six lives in “relative pov- But society does not necessarily toler- forward their life with the power of rus outbreak so far, with around 4,500 erty” on incomes less than half the ate that.” digital. This service is available in deaths and largely without the drastic national median. Campaigners admit the scale of the official handle of Ncell in lockdowns seen in other countries. Economists say that half a million poverty in Japan is dwarfed by that in Facebook Messenger, Viber, With an unemployment rate below Japanese lost their jobs in the past six many nations—even among other WhatsApp and Ncell’s website where three percent and a reputation for a months, and campaigners say the rip- developed countries. But that means customers can get self-service for any strong social safety net, Japan also ple effects are spreading across the little for individual Japanese strug- queries, the company said in a appears well placed to weather the population. gling for food and shelter. statement. The new chatbot service is pandemic’s economic fallout. “I know for certain the middle class One man receiving help in available from Sunday (January 17). But campaigners say the most vul- is collapsing,” said Kenji Seino, who Ikebukuro said his monthly income Through this service, customers can nerable have still been hit hard, with heads the non-profit relief group from construction had fallen to less buy voice and data packs, recharge statistics masking the high rate of Tenohasi. than $200 and he only had enough cash from Visa/Master Card, ask any underemployment and poorly paid Around 250 people were lined up in left for one more rental payment. questions regarding Ncell products temporary work. Tokyo’s bustling Ikebukuro district to “I don’t want to go onto the streets. and services, register complaints, “The pandemic, rising joblessness receive food, clothes, sleeping bags It’s too cold,” he said, declining to give check their balances, remaining and falling wages have directly hit the and medical help from Tenohasi’s vol- his name. resources, and get to know about working poor, people who were barely unteer team, who also give free advice AFP “I don’t know exactly what I will do latest offers. getting by before,” said Ren Ohnishi, on job-hunting and government ser- Volunteers give ‘life consultation’ sessions to the needy at a park in Ikebukuro district, Tokyo. now.”

C M Y K WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2021 | 06 WORLD BRIEFING India’s homegrown Covid-19 vaccine Thai woman China rescuers drill new sentenced to 43 ‘lifelines’ to trapped miners BEIJING: Chinese rescuers drilled sev- developer warns some to avoid shot years in jail for eral fresh holes on Tuesday to reach at least 12 gold miners trapped under- ground for nine days, as dwindling Bharat Biotech has still not published data on its vaccine’s effectiveness but said it is complying with clinical trial guidelines. insulting monarchy food supplies and rising waters threatened their survival. Twenty-two ASSOCIATED PRESS REUTERS workers have been stuck 540 metres NEW DELHI, JAN 19 BANGKOK, JAN 19 underground at the Hushan mine near Yantai in east China’s Shandong India’s homegrown coronavirus vac- A Thai court on Tuesday sentenced a province after an explosion damaged cine developer Bharat Biotech on 65-year-old woman to more than 43 the entrance. After days without any Tuesday warned people with weak years in jail for sharing online posts signs of life, some of the trapped immunity and other medical condi- criticising the royal family, her lawyer miners managed to send up a note tions including allergies, fever or a said, the country’s harshest ever sen- attached to a metal wire which rescu- bleeding disorder to consult a doctor tence for insulting the monarchy. ers had dropped into the mine on before getting the shot—and if possi- Her sentence comes at a time of Sunday. Pleading for help, the hand- ble avoid the vaccine. unprecedented youth-led demonstra- written message said a dozen of them The company said those receiving tions in which protest leaders have were alive but surrounded by water vaccinations should disclose their openly criticised the monarchy, risk- and in need of urgent medical sup- medical condition, medicines they are ing prosecution under Thailand’s plies. Several of the miners were taking and any history of allergies. It strict law known as lese majeste, injured, the note said. said severe allergic reactions among which carries a 15-year penalty for vaccine recipients may include diffi- each violation. culty breathing, swelling of the face Anchan Preelert pled guilty to 29 Russian policeman detained and throat, rapid heartbeat, body separate violations of sharing and over data leak about alleged rashes, dizziness and weakness. posting clips on YouTube and Navalny poisoners The vaccine developed by Bharat Facebook between 2014 and 2015, her Biotech ran into controversy after the lawyer, Pawinee Chumsri, told MOSCOW: Russia has opened a crimi- Indian government allowed its use Reuters. nal case against a police officer without concrete data showing its Anchan was initially sentenced to accused of leaking data that could effectiveness in preventing Covid-19. 87 years but because she had acknowl- have helped identify the alleged poi- Tens of thousands of people have been edged her violations the court halved soners of Kremlin critic Alexei given the shot in the past three days this, the lawyer said. Navalny, the RBC business daily after India started inoculating health “This is the highest prison sentence reported on Tuesday. The officer care workers last weekend in what is ever in a lese majeste case,” said could face up to 10 years in jail if likely the world’s largest coronavirus Pawinee, who is from the Thai found guilty of abuse of power. He vaccination campaign. Lawyers for Human Rights group. was detained last month and is cur- India vaccinated 148,266 people on AP/RSS Anchan, who could not be reached rently under house arrest, a court in Monday, taking its total to 381,305, the A health worker receives a Covid-19 vaccine at a government Hospital in Hyderabad, India, on Monday. India started inoculating health workers for comment, can appeal the sentence the city of Samara told RBC. health ministry said. on Saturday in what is likely the world’s largest vaccination campaign. at two higher courts, Pawinee said. Authorities accuse the officer of leak- Indian authorities hope to give vac- Amnesty International expressed ing confidential information from a cines to 300 million people. The recipi- regulator and the company have dismay over what two Thai rights database containing information ents are to include 30 million doctors, said efficacy data will be published China, WHO should have acted quicker to stop pandemic: Panel groups also said was the longest ever about people’s travel across the coun- nurses and other front-line workers, to after ongoing late clinical trials con- sentence in Thailand for insulting the try to a third party, RBC reported. be followed by 270 million people who clude. ASSOCIATED PRESS and that Chinese authorities could monarchy. either are over 50 or have illnesses Most hospitals in India are inoculat- GENEVA, JAN 19 have applied their efforts “more Security officials raided Anchan’s that make them vulnerable to ing health care workers with the forcefully” in January shortly house in January 2015, months after a Chaos as snow hits Japanese Covid-19. AstraZeneca vaccine. But turnout, A panel of experts commissioned after the coronavirus began civilian government was overthrown highway, 134 cars in crashes India on January 4 approved the particularly in those hospitals using by the World Health Organization sickening clusters of people. in a military coup. TOKYO: At least 134 cars were involved emergency use of two vaccines, one the Bharat Biotech vaccine, has been has criticised China and other “The reality is that only a Her case, which was initially in a series of crashes in Japan on developed by Oxford University and relatively low, health officials said. countries for not moving to stem minority of countries took full brought before a military court, was Tuesday when a snow storm struck a UK-based drugmaker AstraZeneca, Hospitals in New Delhi that have the initial outbreak of the advantage of the information transferred to a civilian court after a stretch of highway and one person and the other by Bharat Biotech. The been administering the Bharat coronavirus earlier and questioned available to them to respond to the 2019 general election, which saw for- was killed and a dozen hurt in the regulator took the step without pub- Biotech vaccine have seen many doc- whether the UN health agency evidence of an emerging pandem- mer junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha chaos. The crashes occurred on the lishing information about the Indian tors hesitate to get the shot. should have labelled it a pandemic ic,” the panel said. stay on as prime minister. Tohoku Expressway in the northern vaccine’s efficacy. The vaccination drive began at a sooner. The experts also wondered At least 169 people were charged prefecture of Miyagi at around noon, Bharat Biotech has still not pub- time when coronavirus infections In a report issued on Monday, why WHO did not declare a with lese majeste in the aftermath of on a stretch of road about 1 km long, lished data on its vaccine’s effective- have fallen sharply, and much of life the panel led by former Liberian global public health emergency the 2014 coup, according to the law- the government said. Some 200 people ness but said it is complying with has returned to normal. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf sooner. The UN health agency yers’ rights group. were caught up in the crashes with 12 clinical trial guidelines. India is second only to the US in the and former New Zealand convened its emergency committee Authorities briefly stopped using of them were sent to hospital, the dis- The regulator maintains the vac- number of confirmed cases, with Prime Minister Helen Clark said on January 22, but did not the law in 2018 but police started to aster management agency said. cine is safe and gave its approval in more than 10.5 million. The country there were “lost opportunities characterise the emerging pandem- invoke it again late last year after Rescue operations were under way, the belief that it could be more ranks third in the number of reported to apply basic public health meas- ic as an international emergency leaders of the protests, which drew Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu effective in tackling a new variant of deaths, behind the US and Brazil, with ures at the earliest opportunity” until a week later. tens of thousands of people, began Kato told reporters. (AGENCIES) the coronavirus found in the UK. The over 152,000. openly criticising the monarchy. Billion in aid needed to help Afghan kids in 2021, humanitarian group says

ASSOCIATED PRESS disastrous impact on millions of people—a third of them children— KABUL, JAN 19 Afghan families. In 2020, the World were killed or wounded in fighting in Bank estimated that the pandemic had Afghanistan between January and Some 10 million children in war-rav- hugely disrupted imports, including September last year, Nyamandi said. aged Afghanistan are at risk of not vital household items, which in The violence continues to force hun- having enough food to eat in 2021, a turn led to rapid inflation. The dreds of thousands of people to flee humanitarian organisation said on added health and economic strains of their homes every year and limit peo- Tuesday and called for $1.3 billion in the pandemic have deepened the ple’s access to resources including new funds for aid. humanitarian impact across the hospitals and clinics. Just over 18 million Afghans, country. In a Save the Children report in including 9.7 million children, are Many Afghans also blame runaway December, the group said more than badly in need of lifesaving support, government corruption and 300,000 Afghan children faced freezing including food, Save the Children said lawlessness for the country’s poor winter conditions that could lead to in a statement. The group called for economy. illness and death without proper win- $1.3 billion in donations to pay for The UN and its humanitarian ter clothing and heating. The assistance in 2021. partners will seek $1.3 billion in aid organisation provided winter kits to Chris Nyamandi, the organisation’s for 16 million Afghans in need this more than 100,000 families in 12 of Afghanistan country director, said year, UN secretary-general spokesman Afghanistan’s 34 provinces. The kits Afghans are suffering under a combi- Stephane Dujarric, said this month. included fuel and a heater, blankets nation of violent conflict, poverty and That’s up from an estimated and winter clothes, including coats, the virus pandemic. “It’s a desperately 2.3 million people last year who socks, shoes and hats. bad situation that needs urgent atten- needed life-saving assistance. Nyamandi said the plight of the AP/RSS tion from the international communi- “It’s a huge increase in people who Afghan people is threatened by In this photo released on Tuesday by the Iranian Army, paratroopers parachute during a military drill. Iran’s military kicked off a ground forces ty,” he said. need aid,” he said. inadequate humanitarian funding drill along the coast of the Gulf of Oman, the latest in a series of snap exercises the country is holding amid escalating tensions with the US. The latest round of peace talks Nyamandi said that with no pledged by wealthy nations at a between the Taliban and Afghan immediate end in sight to the conference in Geneva in November. government negotiators that began decades-long conflict, millions of peo- “Aid to Afghanistan has dropped earlier this month in Qatar has been ple will continue to suffer. “It’s espe- alarmingly at a time when humanita- slow to produce results as concerns cially hard on children, many of rian need is rising. We’re now in the grow over a recent spike in violence whom have known nothing but vio- unsustainable position where aid falls Washington’s inauguration is normally a across Afghanistan. lence,” he said. far short of what’s needed to meet the The pandemic has also had a According to the UN, nearly 6,000 needs of the people” he said. ball—now it’s a ‘ghost town with soldiers’

REUTERS who attacked the US Capitol on For a nation that has prided itself WASHINGTON, JAN 19 January 6. Almost none of the public as a beacon for democracy around the will witness firsthand the transition world, the peaceful transition of Central Washington is an armed for- of power, souring the mood of power looks anything but, said Larry tress, fenced off with razor wire and Washingtonians. Sabato, director of the University of surrounded by 25,000 National Guard “It’s like a ghost town but with sol- Virginia’s Center for Politics. troops ahead of President-elect Joe diers,” said Dana O’Connor, who “The world will see Biden sworn Biden’s inauguration on Wednesday, a walked with her husband past con- in, in the middle of a military camp stark contrast to previous inaugura- crete barriers near the White House that’s indistinguishable from the tions, when the United States capital on Sunday. “It’s eerie. It feels super Green Zone,” Sabato said, referring to erupted in days of celebration. unnatural.” the fortress-like area of central The Covid-19 pandemic had already Previous inaugurations sometimes Baghdad set up after the Iraq War. cancelled the inaugural balls. Now the drew over a million spectators to the Sabato has attended every National Mall is closed to the public National Mall. Balls and parties in inauguration since Richard Nixon’s due to threats of violence from groups hotel ballrooms and convention halls second one in 1973, and Ronald across the city feted guests with Reagan’s 1985 swearing-in that champagne and music from was held indoors because of the bitter A-list stars. cold. But he won’t attend this one. Presidential inaugurations are nor- The Secret Service has mally high-security events, with metal incorporated the term “Green Zone” detectors at key entry points. But the into its inauguration security maps, level of precautions this year is and District of Columbia residents unprecedented. have started using the moniker for Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser the vast restricted area running from said on Sunday that law enforcement two blocks east of the Capitol to officials had no choice but to ramp up the Potomac River west of the Lincoln security after the deadly Capitol Memorial. attack. The district, one of the “We don’t want to see fences. We most Democratic jurisdictions in the definitely don’t want to see armed United States, voted 92 percent troops on our streets. But we do have for Biden, making the current to take a different posture,” Bowser situation even more painful for many said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” residents.

C M Y K 07 | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2021 SPORTS | MEDLEY Karnali register win in PM Cup, Lumbini triumph Aubameyang finally ends his goal drought After their opening loss against Tribhuvan Army Club two days ago, Karnali Province bounced back to defeat Gandaki Province by five wickets, ASSOCIATED PRESS while Lumbini Province started their Prime Minister Cup one-day cricket campaign with a 77-run win over Province 2 on Tuesday. LONDON, JAN 19

SPORTS BUREAU in their accounts. Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang final- KATHMANDU, JAN 19 Gandaki’s Bipin Khatri grabbed four wick- ly ended his scoring drought in the Premier League ets in his 10-over spell, conceding 55 runs with two second-half goals in a 3-0 win against Karnali Province registered their first win while Subash Bhandari claimed one wicket. Newcastle on Monday as the Gunners try to claw defeating Gandaki Province by five In another match, Sandeep Rijal scored the their way out of mid-table. wickets while Lumbini also opened their highest 83 runs off 107 deliveries for Lumbini. Aubameyang, who hadn’t scored in the league account with a 77-run win over Province 2 in The number three batsman and the man-of- since December 16, broke the deadlock in the 50th their Prime Minister Cup National one-day the-match Rijal’s innings included 11 bounda- minute before Bukayo Saka added a second with cricket tournament in Kathmandu on ries. He was caught out off Kumar Thapa’s style in the 61st. An unmarked Aubameyang got his Tuesday. bowling. second goal in the 77th. Electing to bat first, Gandaki were bowled Saurav Khanal was the other major con- It was a fifth consecutive clean sheet in all compe- out for 204 runs in 42.3 overs at the Mulpani tributor with 56 runs under his belt. He hit titions for Arsenal and a fourth win in five league cricket ground. In reply, Karnali achieved the five boundaries and three sixes in his 64-ball matches. “We’re all coming together as a group,” target in 36.5 overs losing five wickets. delevery. Bikram Bhusal (36 runs), opener attacking midfielder Emile Smith Rowe said. “The In another match at the TU cricket ground Sandeep Sunar (11 runs), Skipper Krishna whole group is so much stronger and it showed on in Kirtipur, Lumbini Province elected to bat Karki (10 runs) and Amit Tamang (unbeaten the pitch.” first and posted a target of 258 runs for 11 runs) were the other major contributors for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta echoed that senti- Province 2, losing nine wickets in the allotted Lumbini. ment. “The spirit is better,” he said. “We have to 50 overs. Lumbini bowled out Province 2 for Hari Shankar Shah was the most successful maintain that run.” 180 runs in 42.4 overs. bowler for Province 2 with three wickets But the Gunners only moved up a place to 10th At the Mulpani ground, Gandaki lost three under his belt. He gave away 48 runs in his with 27 points, as they try to turn around their sea- wickets for 27 runs despite opener Arjun 10-over spell. Divyanshu Mallick claimed two son after a woeful start. Newcastle remained in 15th Kumal scoring 46 runs. Kumal who hit six wickets. place, only seven points from the relegation zone. boundaries in his patient knock of 106 runs In the Province 2 run chase, tailender Bibek “There’s no denying that confidence is low,” manag- shared 89-run fourth wicket partnership with Yadav scored 51 off 41 while openers Sudhir er Steve Bruce said. “We have to keep plugging Rahul Upadhyaya. Chaudhary and Hari Shankar Shah scored 42 away at it.” Upadhyaya, the highest scorer for Gandaki runs and 22 runs respectively. Aubameyang, who had just three league goals with 53 runs, was the fourth wicket to be dis- Number four batsman Mehboob Alam con- this season coming into the game, seemed like he missed when he was trapped leg before by tributed 31 runs but his team lost other bats- would continue his poor run of form after missing Diwan Pun in the 28th over. He hit six fences men cheaply and failed to achieve a respecta- a string of chances in the first half. But a perfectly and three sixes in his 64-ball knock. ble target. weighted long ball from midfielder Thomas Partey Opener Kumal was dismissed in 34.5 overs Ashmita Kharel was the peak of the bowl- found the struggling forward on the left, leaving with 166-6 on board. ing with four wickets under his belt. He gave him one-on-one with defender Emil Krafth. The Gandaki skipper Bipin Khatri scored 32 away 29 runs in his 10-over spell giving away Arsenal captain cut inside and struck the ball past runs off 34 balls while Dniesh Budhamagar POST PHOTO: KESHAV THAPA 29 runs with two maiden overs. Bikram goalkeeper Karl Darlow, beating him at the near and Bishal Paudel contributed 10 and 15 runs Himashu Shahi (left) scored an unbeaten 68, helping Karnali Province achieve the target of 205 in 36.5 overs. Bhusal and Bidendra Rawat grabbed two post. Aubameyang did his trademark front flip in for their side. wickets apiece. celebration. Karnali bowler Dinesh Adhikari claimed In the Karnali run chase, Himashu Shahi the other major contributor with 49 runs in Nepal Police Club will take on Then, it was the time for Arsenal’s youngsters to three wickets while Ajun Chunara and Diwan contributed an unbeaten 68 runs. The man-of- his account. Sudurpaschim Province at the TU ground on shine. The 20-year-old Smith Rowe took the ball Pun pocketed two wickets each. Adhikari the-match hit seven fours in his quickfire Karnali’s Hemant Oli and Raj Shah were Wednesday while Province 1 face Tribhuvan down the left before cutting in and setting up an conceded 25 runs in his 6.3-over spell. knock of 60 delivery. Opener Bipn Rawal was other major contributors with 29 and 32 runs Army Club at the Mulpani ground. unmarked Saka, 19, who drifted in to near the pen- alty spot before finishing with a simple tap-in. The two players have come up through the academy together and their linkup play is paying dividends for Arsenal as Arteta is starting to rely on them and other youngsters in the squad. “They put a smile on my face,” he said. “They are India pull off record run-chase to stun Australia, clinch series developing really well. The performances they are putting in are extraordinary.” AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ted throughout the final day to draw the third with 4-55 was easily the pick of the Australian never out of the contest. Their effort in the Aubameyang’s second goal came when Cedric BRISBANE, JAN 19 Test in Sydney. attack, but the rest of the bowlers looked fourth Test is even more admirable consider- Soares took the ball to the byline before looking up Australian media called the win a “mira- fatigued after bowling all day in Sydney just ing the high injury toll on tour. and finding his unmarked captain, who side-footed India pulled off a record run-chase in a thrill- cle”, while former England captain Michael eight days ago. Their bowling attack was led by Mohammad home. A video review confirmed the ball was kept ing final session to hand Australia their first Vaughan said it was “one of the greatest if “I’m absolutely disappointed, no doubt Siraj, who debuted in Melbourne, supported in play by Soares. Aubameyang didn’t have a chance defeat at Brisbane’s Gabba ground since 1988 not the greatest Test victory of all time”. about that,” said Australia captain Tim Paine. by Navdeep Saini, Shardul Thakur, T to score a hat-trick, as he was substituted two min- and clinch the four-Test series 2-1 on Tuesday. “It really means a lot to us. I don’t know “It’s probably a little bit of a trend the whole Natarajan and Washington Sundar, who had utes later with a stomach issue. Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant starred with a how to describe this victory but I’m really series—I think in the key moments we were two Tests between them. One of the few Newcastle counterattacks came in swashbuckling 89 not out as the injury-deplet- proud of all the boys,” said India’s interim found wanting and completely outplayed by a After just one wicket in the first session, the 24th, when winger Miguel Almiron beat Partey’s ed visitors overhauled the 328-run target with skipper Ajinkya Rahane. “They showed char- really disciplined, really tough Indian side Australia could only manage two after lunch, sliding tackle to intercept the ball and break three overs to go, winning by three wickets. acter, attitude, especially after the Adelaide who fully deserved the series win.” with Gill falling for his superb 91 and skipper unmarked down the right. The Paraguayan cut in Australia had not been beaten at the Test match. We decided we’re going to fight Despite Australia’s fearsome record at the Rahane a quickfire 24. Gill was magnificent and exchanged passes with Andy Carroll before Gabba since falling to Viv Richards’ all-con- really hard... and we just wanted to give Gabba, the Indian batsmen showed no fear on a fifth-day wicket, smashing the Australian firing the ball over the bar. quering West Indies side by nine wickets in our best.” and never looked interested in playing for a bowlers to all corners. He hit eight fours and The visitors made eight changes after a 1-0 loss to November 1988. India’s 329 for seven also Man-of-the-match Pant, who played a simi- draw, even after losing the wickets of Pujara two towering sixes in his 146-ball innings Sheffield United, with Bruce fielding a more attack- smashed the 69-year-old record for the biggest larly explosive innings in the drawn Sydney and Mayank Agarwal after tea. Pant took before he became Nathan Lyon’s 398th Test ing lineup as Newcastle try to steer clear of the run-chase at the ground, set by Australia who Test, blasted his 89 from 138 balls with nine advantage of any loose ball, but also played victim, edging an arm ball to first slip where relegation zone. scored 236 for seven to beat the West Indies in fours and a six. His innings followed an equal- some outrageous strokes, showing the influ- Steve Smith took a sharp catch. The manager is under increasing pressure, but 1951. ly impressive knock from 21-year-old ence of T20 cricket. With Pujara putting down the anchor at one he stressed that he’s the man to see them through The Border-Gavaskar series win was a Shubman Gill, who made 91 at the top of the India started the day on four for none after end, Rahane raced to 24 from just 22 balls this tough patch. “I’m never going to shy away from stunning turnaround after India were bowled order earlier in the day. Cheteshwar Pujara’s bowling Australia out for 294 late on the before he edged Cummins to Paine to leave it,” Bruce said. out for their lowest Test score of 36 to lose the 56 was also vital, the gritty number three hit fourth day. Australia raised hopes of a India 167 for three. India looked in control But the Magpies are still missing one of their first Test in Adelaide, before bouncing back to 10 times by Australia’s quicks, taking blows to series-clinching Rohit Sharma edged through the final session and despite losing main attacking threats, winger Allan Saint- win the second in Melbourne. The visitors, the fingers, arm, ribs and head as he was sub- Cummins to wicketkeeper Paine, who took a three wickets in the last hour, they got home Maximin, who has been sidelined for the past seven ravaged by injuries and captain Virat Kohli’s jected to a searching examination by Pat fine diving catch. But as India have shown with three overs to spare when Pant hit the weeks with a severe case of Covid-19. He only absence for paternity leave, then bravely bat- Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. Cummins since their capitulation in Adelaide, they are winning four off Hazlewood. recently started training again. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) **** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** Ever been on the verge of finishing a jigsaw puzzle One reason willow trees always survive You have energy and imagination to spare, and when It’s tempting to tinker with something, but your only to discover the last piece is missing? A small but storms is that they bend. Instead of breaking, it comes to the social scene, you’re the tops. No one efforts to do so might raise a whole chorus of dissen- possibly life-changing piece of your own personal once the wind has stopped, they simply bounce needs fear an awkward silence as long as you’re tion. Reassure folks you won’t be changing who you puzzle could fall into place, but only when you’re not right back. Let the willow be your example around spreading your special brand of goodwill are or what you do, but a definite style refresher hunting for it. today. and charm. might be due.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** Someone is working their way under your skin and What’s gotten into your friends and family? You need solitude to contemplate some changes that Well, look at you! Actually, the real question trying to provoke you. Instead of being irritated, It seems like they’re being contrary simply need to be made. Certain stubborn habits have right now is who isn’t looking at you? All eyes take a step back and a deep breath and view things for the sake of needling each other (and you). become ingrained in your personality, and it’s mak- can’t help but be drawn in your general direction. objectively. Maybe they actually have a point. Whatever the reason, try and let it roll off your ing you feel stuck in lifestyle choices that you aren’t You have a light and a spark about you that just back. sure of. won’t quit.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) **** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) **** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** You have some marvelous social gifts, one Go ahead and listen to your naughty, adventurous Be brave, be bold, and be first. Your pioneering Lately you might feel like your brain is on steroids, of them being the ability to connect with side. After all, it has some very good ideas spirit is exactly what’s needed to get things recording and remembering all sorts of junk that people from all walks of life. Another is the about what you should be up to right now, moving, and that’s more than fine with you. crosses your path. Sit down and toss out anything ability to make new acquaintances feel like old especially if you’re feeling like you need a change of Is there anything you love more than a chance to that isn’t absolutely necessary to finishing the tasks friends. pace. explore? at hand. CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2021 | 08 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 Taxis for ladies: Putting the brakes Woman’s salve for devastation of Lebanese blast: 100 dolls on crime in South African city The woman made the dolls and distributed Ladies Own Transport is tackling high rates of sexual assault by providing them to children traumatised or otherwise safe transport in one of the country’s most crime-ridden areas. affected by the August 2020 blast.

MARIAM FAM Getting the doll’s face just BEIRUT right—she wanted to make sure it wouldn’t scare the children—was n the wake of a massive difficult. The great-grandmother explosion that devastated painstakingly embroidered fea- Beirut, 93-year-old Yolande tures using a sewing machine, Labaki sought a way to help stuffed fabric with cotton and tai- bring healing to the lored tiny dresses. And then Lebanese capital. non-governmental organisations IThe internationally recognised helped distribute the dolls. painter’s solution was to make Two went to the daughters of dolls—100 of them, distributed to Beirut resident Georges Chlawuit. children traumatised or otherwise The blast blew out windows at the affected by the destruction. family home, he said. Her inspiration was another Lebanese tragedy, etched in her memory: the look on the face of Two went to the one of her grandchildren, then about 3, when his home was dam- daughters of aged during the country’s 1975- 1990 civil war. Beirut resident “He saw all his toys on the ground amid the rubble and asked Georges Chlawuit. me: ‘Who broke my toys?’ His eyes were filled with tears,” she said. So when a huge stockpile of “At least she thought of these ammonium nitrate stored at the poor kids after what has happened Beirut port ignited and blew up on in the explosion,” he said. “May August 4—killing more than 200 God keep her and give her good REUTERS people, injuring thousands and health. If it weren’t for how the Joanie Fredericks addressing the Tafelsig community outside her home about Covid-19 protocol at the feeding stations in Cape Town, South Africa. leaving a swath of the city in Lebanese people came together, ruins—Labaki thought of the chil- we wouldn’t have been able to KIM HARRISBERG thought I can’t wait a minute Africa’s apartheid-era govern- “A car is an intimate space, all dren, and how “they, too, must be stand back on our feet again.” JOHANNESBURG longer,” she said by phone. ment dumped Black and mixed she wants is to be taught how to asking who broke their toys.” His daughters, he said, have In the year ending March 2020, race people forced out of white-on- drive and here she has to fend off Labaki gave herself a challenge, been sleeping with their new dolls. rom a women-only driv- more than 53,000 sexual ly areas. hands and advances from men and a deadline. Labaki’s reward: photos with ing school to an all-fe- assaults were reported in South Cape Town authorities could once more,” she said. “I said: ‘God, if you give me the the beaming faces of girls who male taxi service—a Africa, according to police figures, not immediately be reached to Tamara Goliath, 29, got her power, I will make 100 of these by received her dolls. “It’s a gift for South African activ- though women’s rights groups comment. driving licence through Ladies Christmas,’” she recalled. me more so than it is for the chil- ist-turned-entrepreneur say the true number is likely far Fend off advances Own Transport just before lock- And thus began a monthslong dren,” she said. is tackling high rates of higher. Ladies Own Transport is an down in March last year and just labour of love. — Associated Press Fsexual assault by providing safe Research shows that in Sub- add-on company to the women’s before giving birth. transport in one of the country’s Saharan Africa “transport pover- driving school that Fredericks “I felt safe and comfortable with most crime-ridden areas. ty”—inaccessible or unsuitable launched in 2018, which has taught my female instructor,” said The Cape Flats, which lies on Goliath, a former teacher. the outskirts of the popular tour- “There wasn’t that ... harass- ist city of Cape Town, is notorious ment that sometimes comes with for gang warfare, and sexual vio- When Fredericks launched the driving male instructors,” said Goliath, lence is an everyday fear for adding that women always have to women taking taxis or using pub- school, more than 500 women consider their safety when using lic transport in the area, said public transport too. Joanie Fredericks. signed up on the first day. “It is quite profound, the way Launched last week, Fredericks Joanie has gone out of her way to said her taxi service, Ladies Own empower women around her,” she Transport, had already received transport that negatively impacts hundreds of women to drive. said. calls from women requesting a a person’s quality of life—dispro- When Fredericks launched the Fredericks, who has also been ride to work that will keep them portionately affects women and driving school, more than 500 running a feeding scheme for safe, with some saying they were girls due to sexual harassment women signed up on the first day. more than 10,000 people since lock- “smitten” with the idea. and abuse. It became a kind of counselling down began in March last year, “I’ve heard too many stories of And according to a 2019 index service too, she said. hopes to expand her taxi service women being raped in taxis,” by the Georgetown Institute for “Do you know how many times from her neighbourhood of Fredericks, 51, who has been a Women, Peace and Security that we had to switch off the car, and Tafelsig across the Cape Flats. community activist in the Cape measured safety in 167 countries, just sit and talk. This is often the “I’m not going to stop until Flats for two decades, told the only about 25 percent of South only space women have to get Tafelsig is a place where anybody Thomson Reuters Foundation. African women feel safe walking away from abusive relationships,” feels they can come any time to “I always knew I wanted to do at night. she said. visit without fear of being robbed, AP/RSS something about it, but a few Fredericks said the fear of Customers told her male driv- raped or killed. And I think I’m Sama Chlawuit (left) and her sister Sima-Rita, whose family home had the windows weeks ago I heard someone I know crime was ever-present for women ing instructors often tried to “chat getting there,” she said. blown out during August’s massive explosion in Beirut, hold their dolls at their personally has been raped and I in the Cape Flats, where South them up”. — Reuters grandfather’s home, in Beirut, Lebanon. ‘Locked Down’ mirrors our quarantine experiences A little absurd and sporadically delightful, Locked Down is an energetic romantic comedy-slash-heist movie that makes a game entry into the new genre of Covid-19 movies.

JAKE COYLE spring now feel dated and stale. begins to question her career. Paxton’s NEW YORK But seeing two terrific performers like never got going. A biker and poet who Ejiofor and Hathaway in such circum- occasionally reads to his locked-down oug Liman’s “Locked stances lends them a far less familiar block from the middle of the street, he’s Down,” one of the first glamour. Knight’s lively and verbose never risen above delivery man, his and most ambitious films script (he also wrote the even-more-con- record tarnished by a long-ago crime. to be conceived and shot fined “Locke”) gives the actors a kind of For a while, they’re both monologuing during the pandemic, is, quarantine-screwball atmosphere rich in around the house in between videocon- like our own quarantine claustrophobia and shut-in frustration. ference confessions, but their existential experiences, erratic, a little absurd and The experience is causing Linda distress eventually syncs up, and “Locked AP/RSS D sporadically delightful. (Hathaway) and Paxton (Ejiofor) to doubt Down”—like someone finally settling Gwendal Poullennec, international director of Michelin Guides, poses holding a copy of the Michelin Guide Unlike our time in quarantine, it has much in their lives. Linda, who has initi- into a pandemic rhythm—takes shape. 2021 before the ceremony to award stars to French restaurants. Chiwetel Ejiofor and Anne Hathaway. ated the break-up, runs the London divi- “Locked Down” is inevitably, and This, not a small difference, is crucial in sion of a global corporation. After being intentionally, of the moment. But I hope “Locked Down,” an energetic romantic ordered to fire her staff by Zoom, she some of its off-the-cuff spirit lasts after comedy-slash-heist movie that makes a the pandemic. So much Hollywood mov- Michelin guide offers crumb of comfort game entry into the emerging genre of iemaking is laboriously preordained. Covid-19 movies. Liman, the director of That things build up to The largest studios have release calen- “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” “The Edge of dars planned out years in advance. Little to France’s Covid-hit chefs Tomorrow” and “The Bourne Identity,” a semi-ridiculous heist is spontaneous and, as a consequence, has always, in a movie world of lumber- films that feel connected to their time are The guide, widely acknowledged as the bible of gastronomy, ing, oxygen-depleted action films, had a is fitting, but the whole hard to find at the studio level. Hopefully knack for more agile and playful films movie feels stolen. the Covid-made movie is soon a relic, but published its annual French edition on Monday. that give A-list performers ample room to its fleet-footedness sticks around. breathe. — Associated Press That serves “Locked Down” well, with REUTERS chef. This year, just finishing the guide was Hathaway and (especially) Ejiofor mak- PARIS a logistical headache. There were only a few ing a charming pair, even as they play a weeks when restaurants were open in couple that, just before lockdown began, rench chef Sylvain Sendra’s res- between Covid-19 lockdowns. have had it with each other. The script is taurant has been closed for Whenever lockdown restrictions eased, by Steven Knight (“Eastern Promises,” months, and his employees are on the inspectors cancelled their vacations so “Peaky Blinders”), who penned an early furlough, but on Monday he they could squeeze in as many visits as pos- breakout for Ejiofor in the very good, received a morsel of good news: sible before the restaurants were forced to London-set “Dirty Pretty Things.” his restaurant had kept its star in close again, said Gwendal Poullennec, the Knight wrote “Locked Down,” which Fthe annual Michelin guide. guide’s international director. debuted Thursday on HBO Max, in July, The guide, widely acknowledged as the “They were able—while sticking to our and by September, they were filming in bible of gastronomy, published its annual time-honoured methodology and making London with Covid on-set protocols— French edition on Monday. as many visits as usual—to establish a mainly shooting in a townhouse, on Prepping a starter of cauliflower in selection of restaurants as credible and empty city streets and a culminating cream and vanilla dressing in his empty trustworthy as in previous years,” scene at Harrods. That things build to a restaurant, the Fleur de Pave, Sendra said Poullennec said. semi-ridiculous heist is fitting; the whole the guide offered much-needed recognition In this year’s guide, one new restaurant movie feels stolen. for a trade that has been hit hard by the was elevated to the most coveted ranking of It also feels very March-April 2020. effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. three Michelin stars. There are pajama pants, baking With restaurants ordered shut to try to The AM par Alexandre Mazzia in the plans and Zoom calls (Ben Stiller, Ben contain the spread of the virus, Sendra’s southern city of Marseille joined the other Kingsley and Mindy Kaling make remote only revenue is from private dinners he 29 restaurants in France that already hold cameos playing characters seen only prepares for some loyal customers. the distinction. through the computer screen). “Locked “For people who get their first star, in the Two restaurants were given two stars for Down” points to one problem of period that we’re suffering through, this the first time, and 54 establishments pandemic movies: So much has changed AP/RSS will be at least a comfort for them,” said the received one star for the first time. so fast that some of the novelties of last This image released by HBO Max shows Anne Hathaway and Chiwetel Ejiofor in a scene from Locked Down.

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