WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 213 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 28.8 C 11.5 C Friday, September 25, 2020 | 09-06-2077 Dhangadi Jomsom In virtual meeting, SAARC foreign ministers commit to regional progress Even as arch-rivals India and Pakistan both express their commitments to a connected and effective grouping, uncertainty over the 19th summit remains.

ANIL GIRI region and elsewhere and this has KATHMANDU, SEPT 24 led the two nuclear powers to logger- heads over any continued regional Amid uncertainty over its future cooperation. direction, South Asian Association Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah for Regional Cooperation member Mahmood Qureshi, in his turn, states have once again renewed their remarked that artificial obstructions commitment to expediting the were being created to hinder regional stalled regional process, a familiar cooperation. refrain in subcontinental affairs. And “We hope that the artificial obsta- they failed to reach any understand- cles created in its way would be ing when and how it can be reinvigor- removed and SAARC would be ena- ated and when the next summit will bled to function as an effective instru- be held. ment of regional cooperation,” said During a virtual meeting of SAARC Quereshi. foreign ministers, both India and While foreign ministers of the Pakistan, whose rivalry has been the member nations were seated with POST PHOTO: MADHAB ARYAL stumbling block for the regional bloc’s their respective countries’ delega- A landslide at Surumdanda in Phoksingkot village of Rambha Rural Municipality-2 in Palpa killed one person while five others have gone missing. (Report on page 2) progress, called for a connected and tions, the Pakistani foreign minister effective regional mechanism. was in a different room and he deliv- “India wants to build a con- ered his statement from there. nected, integrated, secure and Foreign ministers of the eight prosperous South Asia,” said SAARC member states usually meet India’s Minister for External annually on the margins of the United Fear of infection still keeping patients Affairs S Jaishanker. Nations General Assembly but with He, however, also added that being held virtually in the face of that cross-border terrorism, the Covid-19 pandemic this year, they blocking connectivity and decided to meet virtually. away from hospitals across the country obstruction to trade are three During the meetings of recent past key challenges that SAARC must in New York, foreign ministers of overcome. India and Pakistan would leave the Doctors worry patients avoiding hospital visits for fear of contracting Covid-19 could India has been accusing room while the other was delivering Pakistan of cross-border terror- his address. lead to far worse consequences in cases of heart and stomach problems and cancers. ism in the disputed Kashmir >> Continued on page 2

Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital from Naya Thimi, Bhaktapur for her regular check-up. Since March, she has not made a single visit. With the Covid-19 con- cerns still around, especially for elders, her family has been postponing her treatment. Instead, they are rely- ing on a local clinic and medication it prescribes. “We are regularly visiting the clinic nearby and bringing medicines home but haven’t gone to the hospital yet,” Aashish Dahal, her grandson, said. As coronavirus cases increased in the country, most hospitals rushed to shut down their outpatient depart- ment. Hospitals like Seti Zonal hospi- tal in Dhangadi, which used to see an average of 600 patients every day before Covid-19, had only a few dozen visiting. There were numerous reports of hospitals turning away patients, at times even in emergency cases, which led to several deaths in different parts of the country. Amidst the fear of the pandemic, even pregnant women stayed home and chose unsafe deliveries, which resulted in dozens of deaths of preg- nant women in the last five months as they could not reach the hospitals. Records at different hospitals show POST FILE PHOTO that patient visits have gone down As the Covid-19 pandemic rages on, common people with health complications, some even drastically. Patan Hospital in Lalitpur with life-threatening diseases, are reluctant to visit hospitals, fearing the virus infection. used to serve around 1,800 to 2,000 out- patients every day, according to Dr SAMIKSHA BARAL er, but Covid-19 is still there,” she said. Bishnu Prasad Sharma, the hospital KATHMANDU, SEPT 24 “I would rather wait than get infected director. on the way or in the hospital.” “The daily visit during the Covid-19 Radha Bhattarai has been unwell for As the Covid-19 pandemic rages lockdown had come down to 150-200,” several months now. But she and her on, common people with health said Dr Sharma, who also oversaw family in Sindhuli would rather want complications, some even with operations during the pandemic her to stay away from hospitals. life-threatening diseases, are reluc- before retiring last month. In January, Bhattarai, 56, had a tant to visit the hospitals, fearing the “I don’t think people were reluctant tumor in her kidney removed at Patan virus infection. to visit hospitals only because of Hospital, Lalitpur. Doctors in For several months, when the the lockdown and transportation Sindhuli, some 134 kilometres east of nation was under a lockdown begin- problem.” Kathmandu which has one govern- ning March 24, followed by prohibito- Other hospitals in different parts of ment hospital, had referred her to a ry orders imposed in several districts, the country also witnessed a decline Kathmandu hospital for the urgent many patients and their families in patient numbers. Chitwan Medical operation. could not visit hospitals because of College in Bharatpur was one that saw The two-hour-long operation went transportation problems. a significant drop in patient visits. well. But worries of the Bhattarai Now, when there is no lockdown and According to Dr Pukar Ghimire, a family remained. prohibitory orders in place, families general physician at the Chitwan Bhattarai had been called for a rou- the Post reached out to were still hesi- Medical College,the health facility tine check-up in July when the coun- tant to make a visit to the hospitals in recorded around 90 percent drop since try was on a lockdown. With the fear their districts or in the Kathmandu the Covid-19 began. of Covid-19 and travel restrictions, valley where they were referred. “Many hospitals have different neither Bhattarai nor her family was Hem Prasad Bhattarai, Radha’s hus- buildings and separate groups of man- ready to take the risk. The follow-up band, said they are petrified of going power for treating all kinds of consultation never happened. to the hospitals, fearing Radha and patients. While Hospitals like To make things worse for the family members accompanying her Tribhuvan University Teaching Bhattarai family, while she writhed in would catch the coronavirus. Hospitals, BPKIHS have different pain her medicines ran out in July. “I have seen my wife racked with buildings to treat the Covid-19 patients “On days when there is pain, I feel I pain. Who would want a family mem- but this is not the case in other hospi- simply cannot bear it anymore,” ber to suffer with pain?” said tals, which have very few buildings Bhattarai told the Post from Sindhuli, Bhattarai. and patients have to share the same over the phone, with her voice break- “It’s not that we do not care about staircase and passage,” said Dr ing. “My family also thought of con- her pain but we are just waiting for Ghimire. sulting a health worker from the local the right time to visit the hospital.” “This might be another reason health post. The agony is not for the Bhattarai patients are afraid to visit hospitals.” But Radha’s family thought it was family alone. Dr Narayan Parajuli of Meditech too big a risk to take her to hospital. Yasoda Dahal needs regular hospi- International Hospital, a private They want to wait for the situation to tal visits—sometimes twice or thrice health care centre in Butwal, wonders normalise. in a month. Yasoda, 75, has been diag- about the condition of patients who “Now there is no lockdown and peo- nosed with various issues with her have postponed their hospital visits. ple can travel from one place to anoth- health in the last few years. She visits >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020 | 02 NATIONAL Landslides kill 11 people in Syangja and Palpa districts as five others go missing Security personnel say rescue efforts have been affected due to adverse weather conditions and active landslides in the affected areas.

PRATIKSHA KAFLE & LAL PRASAD SHARMA IN POKHARA MADHAB ARYAL IN PALPA SEPT 24 All 36 doors of Gandak Barrage Eleven people died and five others opened as water level in Narayani have gone missing in landslides in Syangja and Palpa districts on Thursday morning. river reaches danger level Nine people were killed by a land- slide in Tamadi in Waling Municipality Ward No 14 in Syangja while one per- District Administration Office has alerted local residents son was rescued alive by locals. POST PHOTO: KABIN ADHIKARI Durga Luitel, a local of Tamadi, against possible floods and inundation. A woman selling maize kernels fends off pigeons as she waits for customers at Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu on Thursday. heard cries for help from a neigh- bour’s house buried under the land- NABIN PAUDEL is still active. The settlements near the slide at around 5:30 on Thursday PARASI, SEPT 24 riverbank areas are at risk.” morning. Luitel along with 20 other The District Administration Office locals tried to rescue the victims but All 36 floodgates of Gandak Barrage has also requested locals to Fear of infection could only pull out 16-year-old have been opened after the flow of stay on high alert after the level of Construction of railway Manisha Nepali from the debris. water increased in Narayani River on water increased in the river. “Nine other family members were Thursday. Chief District Officer Sagarmani still keeping ... trapped in the landslide. They cried The barrage lies in Tribeni along Pathak said, “Locals of Susta, tracks delayed due to for help but we could not save them,” the Nepal-India border point in Sarawal, Pratappur and Palhinandan >> Continued from page 1 said Nepali. Nawalparasi (East). are at risk. We have kept security “During pre-Covid days our hospi- A seven-month-old baby, three Tara Singh, an official at personnel on standby.” tal used to see 200-300 patients each women, two men, a teenage girl and the barrage, said, “All of the gates Meanwhile, settlements in Sarawal, day, but after lockdown, the number forest clearance issue two boys were among the deceased, were opened after the water level in Pratappur and Palhinandan dropped off to 10-15 and we were even said Superintendent of Police the river crossed the danger level.” have been waterlogged after compelled to close the hospitals for a The Mechi-Mahakali Railway that passes through Hobindra Bogati in Syangja. “The girl According to him, the barrage continuous rainfall. few weeks,” said Dr Parajuli. who survived the landslide has inju- recorded the water flow at “People living near riverbank The city of Butwal, the headquar- Rautahat is yet to receive clearance from Ministry of ries in her leg. She is currently receiv- 350,000 cusecs per second at 4am on areas have moved out from ters of Province 5, is the health ser- ing treatment at Gandaki Medical Thursday. “300,000 cusecs of water in their houses due to the inundation. vice destination for people of Gulmi, Forest and Environment for tree felling. College in Pokhara. She is out of dan- the barrage qualifies as a We have been spending sleepless Arghakhanchi, Dang, Nawalparasi ger,” he said. danger mark. That is why all of the nights since Wednesday,” said and Rupandehi, among other adjoin- The landslide occurred around 50 doors were opened,” he said. “The Brijaraj Kusahawa, spokesperson of ing districts. metres above the two-storey stone and level of water in the barrage Gandak River Control Struggle Dr Parajuli’s hospital saw a drop of mud house. can rise further as the monsoon Committee. 80 percent in the emergency ward. A road was constructed just a few Hospitals, which once scrambled to metres above the house around 10 treat hundreds of visiting patients years ago and was widened around According to locals, the landslide bad weather conditions, says Uman every day, are still wearing deserted two years ago. Locals say that the wid- occurred at around 3:33am on Singh Saru, the ward chairman of looks as patients coming for treatment ening of the road had put the house at Thursday morning. Man Bahadur Rambha Ward No. 2. “Five individuals have not improved much although high risk of landslide. “The road Gaha, whose house was also buried by may still be trapped in the debris but there are relaxation in travel restric- expansion had eroded the area above the same landslide, recalled hearing a we haven’t been able to search for tions. the settlement. Four other houses in loud noise in the early hours. “I them since the landslide is still active “We used to think that restrictions the area are still at risk,” said Kalpana rushed out of the house with my wife and it hasn’t stopped raining.” on public movement was the main Aryal, a local woman. and daughter and managed to escape The chairman of the rural munici- factor behind fewer people visiting the According to her, around 30 houses just in time.” pality, Bishnu Prasad Bhandari, and hospital,” said Dr. Ghimire of Chitwan in Gayakdanda, another settlement in Superintendent of Police Santosh other people representatives reached Medical College. “Even though vehic- the same ward, are also in danger.. Kumar Bhattarai at the District Police the incident site during the day. ular movements have resumed, the According to some villagers, the Office in Palpa, said, “It rained all day “Police personnel from the Hungi numbers have not revived back like family of the house buried by on Wednesday and continued Police Post are on standby for rescue normal days.” Thursday’s landslide had spent last through the night. The rainfall led to works. They will be mobilised once However, such a massive drop in year’s monsoon at a local school build- the landslide.” the rain stops.” hospital visits does not go all well with ing fearing landslide threats in the A relief and rescue team, deployed Meanwhile, Ewat Kumar Saru, the ailing patients. settlement. from Tansen, has not been able to headmaster at Sanahungi Secondary Doctors fear that a person who POST PHOTO: SHIVA PURI “They had spent several nights at reach the incident site since the road School, said, “We have heard that the needs emergency care choosing not to The Department of Railways has proposed cutting down more than 5,000 trees for the rail their relatives’ house this rainy sea- leading to the village has been team of the security personnel from visit hospitals—or delaying their due track project. son too. They had returned to the obstructed due to landslides. Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and visits, could lead to another crisis house only a week ago believing that “Phoksingkot is a remote village. The Nepali Army are on the way. within the Covid-19 crisis. They SHIVA PURI said that his office has not received the monsoon season was over,” said team could not move beyond Tanhu Locals are unable to search for the assure that required precautions are RAUTAHAT, SEPT 24 any direction from the ministry about Kiran Neupane, another local. Deurali area since the roadway is missing individuals due to continuous taken to treat non Covid-19 patients. forest clearance for the construction According to Mayor Dilip Pratap blocked,” said Bhattarai. “We are rainfall.” “It might be because of fear of The construction work of the Mechi- of the railway track. Khand, the whole settlement of using a dozer to clear the landslide According to the Meteorological Covid-19 but it’s really bad to put your Mahakali Railway along the Bagmati- “The ministry has not sent us any Tamadi is at risk of landslides but no debris from Aaryabhanjyang-Rampur Forecasting Division, many parts of health at risk because of the fear of Dhansar section in Rautahat is yet to files or correspondence in regards to plans have been made for the reloca- road. Hopefully, the team will be able the country will receive rainfall with Covid-19,” said Dr Parajuli. “Even start for a lack of clearance from the the use of the forest area for the rail- tion of the villagers. to reach Phoksingkot by tomorrow.” thunderstorms for the next few days. though we are wearing protective gear federal Ministry of Forests and way project,” he said. “There is no immediate plan to relo- Phoksingkot village is 35 kilometres The monsoon is likely to be active till to stop the spread of the virus, patients Environment. The laying of tracks The construction work of the track cate the settlement as of now. We have, from Tansen, the district headquar- Friday with the possibility of floods were reluctant to visit the hospital. We was supposed to start about a year along the Bagmati-Dhansar section however, moved 12 people from two ters of Palpa. and landslides across the country, send the patients to the fever clinic ago, according to the Department of was also unable to take off due to the families to a local school,” he said. While the locals have formed search Raju Pradhnang, a senior meteorolo- before admission and if there was a Railways. dispute between the locals and the “The road in question that apparently teams to look for the missing individu- gist at the division told the Post on fever or any kind of symptoms we The Department of Railways wrote project officials regarding compensa- led to the landslide was constructed by als, the operation has hit a snag due to Tuesday. used to refer them to the zonal hospi- to the forest ministry some 10 months tion. The locals had been demanding the Department of Roads. We had tals.” In Sindhuli, Bhattarai’s family ago seeking permission to cut fair compensation for their land since repeatedly informed the department is planning to visit Kathmandu for a down trees of the national forest to November 2019. The dispute was only about the landslide risk but it went check-up soon. construct the railway track. The resolved in May. unheard.” But, the right time does not seem to track construction work has been When asked about the file sent by Similarly, a 16-year-old was killed in have yet arrived for the Bhattarai fam- halted, as the ministry is yet to give the railways department, Hari Prasad a landslide in Kaligandaki Rural ily as Covid-19 cases are rising every permission to the department to cut Pandey, the information officer at the Municipality Ward No 4. All 10 bodies passing day. down trees. forest ministry, said he had no knowl- were taken to Primary Health Centre “Now we can travel to Kathmandu “The ministry has not responded to edge about the issue. in Waling for postmortem. Their as there is no lockdown and vehicles the railway department’s request. The Different construction companies funerals were held together at Ramdi have started operating too,” said construction work will be put on hold were awarded contracts to the railway later in the day.. Bhattarai. “But we are still scared.” until we receive the ministry’s track by dividing the section into four In Palpa, a landslide at Surumdanda According to Dr Bhagwan Koirala, response,” said Sumit Pokharel, an packages. Lumbini, Apex and Thani in Phoksingkot village of president of Nepal Medical Council, engineer at the department. JV Construction Company had initiat- Rambha Rural Municipality-2 killed delay in the early care during a pan- According to Pokharel, the ed work at package II some 14 months one person while five others have gone demic could lead to thousands of Department of Railways will use ago at the cost of Rs 700 million. missing. avoidable deaths. around 40.49 hectares of land of the Around 90 percent work at this pack- Police said a 27-year old pregnant “Getting proper care quickly can national forest while constructing the age has been completed. woman perished in the incident. make a big difference in anyone’s railway track along the 17.8 km long However, only 10 percent work of The woman’s husband survived the life,” Koirala said. “For instance, Bagmati-Dhansar section in Rautahat package I and package III has been incident. early stage cancer, heart problems, district. completed so far. The construction of According to the District Police kidney problems, severe stomach “We sent a file to the forest ministry package IV is yet to begin. The nation- Office, five houses were buried in the pains need immediate care otherwise on November 14, 2019, seeking permis- al forest in Rautahat comes under landslide. it would lead to serious health conse- sion to fell down 5,297 trees in the packages I and IV. The landslide has also exposed 17 quences in future. Too many future national forest. But the file is stuck in The construction of all four packag- other houses in the village to the risk deaths can be preventable if people the ministry,” said Pokharel. es should be completed by January 28, of being swept away, as the country seek the proper health care they need Binod Singh, chief at the Division 2022, as per the contract signed with has been witnessing widespread rain- PHOTO: NIRBHIK NARAYAN BHURTEL/KTV from the hospitals across the country.” Forest Office in Chandranigahapur, the government. fall since early this week. Security personnel and locals search for the missing persons in a landslide debris in Syangja. In virtual meeting, SAARC foreign ministers commit to regional progress

>> Continued from page 1 first policy and highlighted its contri- anonymity. last week which deliberated on the SAARC was formed in 1985 with bution to the various sectors of But all member states stressed the theme ‘COVID-19 and South Asian Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the SAARC. need to activate the mechanisms that Economies’, where Nepal underlined Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri All member states expressed com- have remained dormant since 2016, he the need for activating the formal Lanka as members. In 2005, mitment to the SAARC process, called said. mechanisms under SAARC. Afghanistan joined the bloc. for the need to overcome the obstacles Experts see Thursday’s initiative as Nepal then also pointed out the The meeting on Thursday did not hindering the regional grouping and a positive step. need for increased mutual coopera- make any headway towards holding bonding but did not offer any concrete Nishchal Nath Pandey, director of tion and partnership to minimise the the stalled SAARC summit. After headway or roadmap to move on, the Centre for South Asian Studies, impact of COVID-19. Nepal hosted the summit in 2014, it according to a Nepali participant. said that the informal SAARC foreign During the meeting of foreign min- was Pakistan’s turn to host it in 2016 Delivering his opening remarks, ministers’ meeting comes as a lifesav- isters the member states also dwelt at but India pulled out after an Indian Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali, er for the regional organisation length on the impact of the pandemic army base in Uri, Kashmir was who was chairing the meeting in because there was already a percep- and how they are overcoming the chal- attacked by terrorist outfits and the Nepal’s capacity as the SAARC chair, tion that SAARC is in a state of coma. lenges, the SAARC Secretariat said in 19th summit has not been held. stressed the need to make SAARC an SHUTTERSTOCK “SAARC is the only vehicle of a statement. Expressing Pakistan’s desire to host effective and result-oriented regional ment. Nepal, which has chaired the secretaries have not taken place. regional cooperation in South Asia Despite the animosity between the summit, Qureshi said that in the organisation capable of bringing visi- regional grouping for the longest peri- Only the annual meeting of the for- where all eight countries are members India and Pakistan that has hindered spirit of regionalism and as per ble changes in the lives of the peoples od since its formation, is eager to eign ministers on the sidelines of the and member states pay a lot of money the progress of SAARC, India looked Pakistan’s commitment to the of South Asia. hand over the chair to Pakistan after United Nations General Assembly had annually for its upkeep. It is in the forward to positive and constructive SAARC platform, he would like to reit- Gyawali also urged the member holding the summit, Nepali officials been taking place. interest of the people of our region to discussions to take forward regional erate the country’s willingness for states to explore all viable options to said. “The tone and tenure of Thursday’s ensure that this organisation starts cooperation together with the neigh- hosting the 19th summit in Islamabad hold the 19th Summit at an early date Since 2016, meetings of the other meeting was positive, the gesture was delivering concrete results,” said bouring states for increased prosperi- at the earliest. and to generate the new momentum mechanisms have been taking place not toxic,” said a Nepali foreign Pandey. ty in South Asia, according to Anurag Indian Foreign Minister Jaishanker and dynamism in SAARC, according but the 19th Summit, meetings of the ministry official who took part in the Thursday’s meeting followed a Srivastava, spokesperson for the reaffirmed India’s neighbourhood to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs state- SAARC foreign ministers and foreign virtual meeting on the condition of meeting of SAARC finance ministers External Affairs Ministry of India.

C M Y K 03 | FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020 NATIONAL Nepal to sign pact with Israel to send caregivers

CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL KATHMANDU, SEPT 24

Nepal is all set to sign a new labour pact with Israel, paving the way for Nepalis to work in the West Asian country. The Cabinet on Tuesday decided to sign a new agreement with Israel to send Nepalis to work as caregivers. As per the decision made public on Wednesday, the Nepali ambassador in Israel will be authorised to sign the deal with the Israeli government. According to Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security Rameshwar Raya Yadav, both countries will soon sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to kick start the process. “Nepali workers will get to work in Israel’s nursing sector,” Yadav told the Post. “Earlier, they used to work as private caregivers. Now they will be allowed to work at the country’s hospitals and other facilities.” Both countries are expected to sign an agreement to provide work to 500 Nepalis in the first phase. The minister said the first batch of Nepali migrants will leave for Israel in around three months. The whole process will be implemented by a govern- ment-to-government (G2G) mechanism with both sides imple- menting the agreement without the involvement of any third party or recruiting agencies. “The MoU will give details about the mechanisms for the selection process and other guidelines,” Minister Yadav said. The new labour deal with Israel comes as the Nepal govern- ment prioritises the inking new labour agreements and revis- ing old ones with various countries. As of now, Nepal has signed labour agreements with nine countries (Qatar, the United Arab of Emirates, Bahrain, Japan, Israel, Jordan, South Korea, Malaysia and Mauritius). Nepalis have been working as caregivers in Israel for a long time. However, the government recognised the country as a labour destination only in 2003. The Nepali community has POST PHOTO: HEMANTA SHRESTHA earned a good reputation among Israelis for their services as A motorcyclist makes his way through a water-logged road in Lalitpur on Thursday. Incessant rains in the past couple of days have thrown life out of gear. caregivers, officials say. With reports of irregularities in the hiring system and exploitation of migrant workers by recruiting agencies, Israel stopped hiring Nepali caregivers in 2009. Recruitment resumed once again when both countries started the Joint Pilot Programme in 2015. Tribhuvan University to hold exams after festivals Under the pilot, Nepali caregivers don’t not have to pay more than Rs 65,000 for a job in Israel, which would receive 300 Nepali caregivers. As per the programme, the Jewish state As officials commit to virus safety measures, students will have the option of sitting their exams at a centre closest to their homes. would hire 60 Nepalis every year. But the progress has remained sluggish. In 2017, only 27 landed jobs in Israel. By BINOD GHIMIRE has asked all the colleges to trace their after adopting necessary precautions. Union, affiliated to the ruling Nepal March 2018, less than 100 Nepalis had made it to Israel under KATHMANDU, SEPT 24 students and inform them to remain ready Buddhi Bahadur Thapa, chairperson of Communist Party (NCP), said they had the new system. for the tests after Chhath which falls on the Tribhuvan University Teachers suggested the government prioritise virtu- In the meantime, Israel had been expressing its interest in Amid growing threat of the pandemic, the November 20. Association, said holding examinations is al tests at the time of the pandemic. hiring more Nepali workers, starting with around 500 Tribhuvan University has decided to con- The students will be notified about the necessary as there is no certainty how long “We were told that it wasn’t possible in caregivers. duct examinations in the physical presence examinations through the local media as the threat of the pandemic remains. He the lack of resources,” he told the Post. “It “We have managed to secure a safe destination for our of students once the festive season is over. well, asking them to register for the test said the students are worried about their is good that the students can take their migrant workers. Israeli jobs promise better perks and facili- The executive committee and the exami- from the colleges nearest to them. future in the lack of timely tests. tests from their home district but the uni- ties than Gulf countries and are as attractive labour destina- nation board of the country’s oldest varsi- The Office of the Controller of “We cannot afford to push the tests fur- versity should be attentive for their safety.” tions as Japan, South Korea, Mauritius and other new labour ty on Wednesday decided that conducting Examinations will conduct the tests for the ther. However, the university administra- Students waiting for their examinations destinations in Europe we are looking at,” said Yadav. “A the tests in the usual format was necessary students under the annual system while tion should accord students’ safety the first say it would have been better had the uni- Nepali worker can save around Rs 100,o00 every month.” as there was no possibility of holding the respective dean’s offices are responsi- priority,” Thapa told the Post. “There versity adopted an alternative testing The minister said once the first batch leaves for Israel, the online examinations. The students, howev- ble for holding the tests under the semester should be a proper arrangement so that modality. government will start negotiations to find work for Nepalis in er, can take their examinations from the system. students don’t get infected when they come “However, I am still happy that exams the country’s agriculture sector as well. centres that are easily accessible to them. A meeting of the executive committee for the tests.” that had to be held in April will be held at Labour migration experts like Jeevan Baniya also acknowl- Shiva Prasad Bhusal, the rector of the and the examination board also decided to Representatives of the student unions least in November,” Ajay Khatri, 23, a bach- edge that Israel is a safer and more attractive destination for university, said they will arrange for the publish the examination schedule before both from the ruling and opposition parties elor’s final year student from Jaya Multiple Nepali migrant workers compared to the Gulf countries and students to take their tests from the home Dashain, giving a month for the prepara- have a similar view. They say students will Campus, Kathmandu, told the Post. “I hope Malaysia. districts so that they don’t have to travel to tions. As per Wednesday’s decision, the lose one crucial year of their life if tests there are a limited number of students at “Israel, as a labour market, is a good option for Nepali the Capital. He said a student enrolled in respective dean’s offices with fewer num- aren’t held now. the examination centres unlike in normal migrants. For caregiving services, Nepalis have made a name any college in Kathmandu can take their ber of students can conduct the tests “Students are highly concerned about times.” in many countries, which must have led to their preference for exams from the colleges closest to their between Dashain and Tihar after consult- their examinations. They want the tests to Asked why the university administra- hiring Nepali workers as caregivers,” said Baniya, assistant home. ing with their students. be held at the earliest possible,” Rajib tion was desperate to hold the tests at the director at the Centre for the Study of Labour and Mobility, “We have at least one constituent or affil- The technical streams have the lesser Dhungana, president of the Nepali time of the pandemic, officials said there Social Science Baha. iated college in each district. The students number of students while student enrol- Congress-affiliated Nepal Student Union, was no reason why only the examinations “Also, Nepal’s good diplomatic relations with Israel might can take their exams from there,” Bhusal ment under the management, humanities told the Post. should be halted while there are no restric- have worked in favour of Nepali workers. Now, the govern- told the Post. “We will maintain proper and education streams is in thousands. “While we welcome the decision to con- tions in other activities. ment should strive to secure more jobs in its agriculture sec- safety and there will be adequate social With around 415,000 enrolled, the duct the tests, we also demand the universi- “However, we can rethink our decisions tor and other sectors as well.” distancing.” Tribhuvan University has over 80 percent ty administration ensure proper safety of if the situation worsens,” said Bhusal. On However, Baniya says that hiring a small number will create The country’s largest university has 61 share of the total university students in the the students.” an average, around 1,300 Covid-19 cases are a tricky situation, which can turn counterproductive for the constituent and over 1,100 private and com- country. According to Bhusal, the examina- Student unions affiliated to several par- currently being reported on a daily basis. country in the long run. munity affiliated colleges. tions of the final year or the final semester ties jointly and individually had been The infection numbers have gone up with According to Baniya, with the announcement of jobs in Bhusal said as the students don’t have to will be held in the first phase. demanding timely examinations. Naresh the ease in public movements. Experts Israel, many agents will allure youths by promising them jobs travel to Kathmandu, there won’t be huge The students and teachers say conduct- Regmi, a central committee member of the have warned that the situation could wors- and a large number of candidates will start learning Hebrew crowds as seen in the past. The university ing the tests is necessary, however, only All Nepal National Independent Students’ en in the days to come. and other skills, as in the case of South Korea and Japan. How controversial statements by lawmakers on sensitive issues go unchecked A debate has started on the need for lawmakers to change their traditional mindsets, rather than just amend the laws and policies.

BINU SUBEDI Bidari also questioned the credibili- These incidents show how lawmak- tary committees and party meetings. KATHMANDU, SEPT 24 ty of attempted rape complaints filed ers, both from the ruling and opposi- However, Dev Gurung, chief whip two, five or 10 years after the incident. tion parties, have been making contro- of the ruling party’s parliamentary Ram Narayan Bidari, a National The remarks from a National versial remarks in the parliamentary party, has a different view on this Assembly member nominated by the Assembly member on a serious crime committees as well as in the media. matter. President, in a recent television inter- like rape stoked anger and disgust of And in most of the cases, such “We should not construe a differ- view said that 90 percent of rape cases many people. remarks from lawmakers and politi- ence in opinion as a violation of the involving adults “are not rape cases”. However, the Nepal Communist cians go unchecked. code of conduct,” Gurung said. “If “If adults say they have been raped, Party (NCP), its parliamentary party, Niru Devi Pal, the chair of the anyone has spoken against the law, s/ I think it might not be a rape in 90 or members of its women’s committee Women and Social Committee of the he will be treated by the law, and it will percent of the cases,” said Bidari. “It have neither publicly criticised House of Representatives, said while also be against the code of conduct.” might be rape in 10 percent cases, but Bidari’s statements nor asked him for some lawmakers made such remarks “The constitution has guaranteed most often, adults enjoy with consent, a clarification. due to lack of knowledge, some did so the freedom of opinion and expres- but file a case when differences arise.” But Bidari, leader of the ruling to gain notoriety. sion, so there can be debate and dis- Bidari did not stop there. Nepal Communist Party representing Ram Narayan Bidari Ganga Chaudhary Satgauwa “People’s attention is drawn to con- cussion in case of difference in opin- “Laws have been made in which a former Maoists, is not alone among troversial statements,” Pal said. ion, but there is no provision that the man has to provide money and proper- members of the federal parliament as “Lawmakers also believe that they party or the parliamentary party ty to a woman if he commits rape, or far as controversial remarks are will come in limelight by giving such should alert the lawmakers.” marries her or they have a divorce,” concerned. statements.” Those elected by the people should said Bidari. “But in other countries, On July 15, Ganga Chaudhary “Of late, I have started to intervene themselves think about what they only the property earned by the cou- Satgauwa, a member of Women, when members make such statements should speak and what not, Gurung ple is split between the two during a Children, Senior Citizens and Social in committee meetings,” Pal said. added. divorce, which is good.” Welfare Committee of the House of There is a norm in parliamentary However, controversial remarks Bidari questioned how appropriate Representatives, gave a controversial proceedings of removing any contro- lawmakers have made against the it is for someone to file a case for prop- statement about women whose hus- versial statement a lawmaker makes laws they formulated have started a erty right after marriage and then bands have gone to foreign countries by the House Speaker. Chairs of par- debate on the need for lawmakers to later divorce. for employment. liamentary committees have the same change their traditional mindset rath- When Bidari was making such “Women have done injustice to authority during committee meetings. er than just the policies formulated by remarks, the country was still griev- men,” said Chaudhary. “While men “We have started to practice that them. ing the death of a 17-year-old rape work hard in the foreign countries to authority,” Pal said. “Men might have Pushpa Bhusal, the chief whip of victim who took her own life in earn for their families, their wives Dilendra Prasad Badu Devendra Raj Kandel become victims in some cases, fake the Nepali Congress parliamentary Saptari after her family was forced have affairs at home and spend the rape cases might have also been filed, party, said that such remarks from into an out-of-court settlement by the money.” tricts, around 40 to 50 percent women without facts. but we have to look at the overall sce- lawmakers reflect their traditional village elders. “Where do such men get justice whose husbands were in foreign Nepali Congress lawmaker nario rather than exceptions.” thinking. Bidari, also a lawyer, expressed a when their wives run away with the employment were found to have expe- Devendra Raj Kandel made a similar There is also a provision in the “Women’s vote is crucial from the similar sentiment to the Post’s sister money?” rienced domestic violence. comment last year in the State Affairs instruction manual regarding the con- streets to parliament, but a negative paper Kantipur. “Ninety percent of She went on to say that more men According to the national rights and Good Governance Committee of duct of both houses of the parliament attitude towards them after winning the rape cases that have come to me have become victims than women. watchdog, around 1,500 cases of vio- the House of Representatives while of forming a committee under the the election hinders change,” said were fake,” he said. “I spoke of my Hira Gurung, another member of lence against women were filed in the discussing citizenship. chairmanship of the speakers of Bhusal. “We have to establish a leader- experience in the interview.” the committee, seconded Chaudary’s commission in the last fiscal year. “Families will break down if women lower and upper houses to observe the ship that can change this attitude.” The lawmaker went on to say that view. Though men have also become vic- are taught of equality,” said Kandel. conduct of lawmakers. There is a need to discuss such he has always fought for women’s There is no evidence to back tims in some cases, such cases are not However, Article 18 of the But, no such committee has been remarks of lawmakers in the parlia- rights and was the coordinator while Chaudhary’s claim that more men widespread as those of women. Constitution of Nepal guarantees the formed in the two-and-a-half-year ten- mentary party as well as parliament formulating the Criminal Offences have suffered injustice from women. Chaudhary has not been able to right to equality that no individual ure of the parliament. to discourage them, Bhusal said. (Sentencing and Execution) Act, 2017. A report published by the National clarify on what grounds she said that shall be discriminated against on the In the code of conduct issued by the “Freedom of expression doesn’t “I am sensitive to women-related Human Rights Commission last year more men have become the victim basis of gender for this fundamental ruling Nepal Communist Party earlier mean you can say whatever you like,” issues and in matters related to minor found that cases of social, economic, than women. right. this year in Januray, there is a provi- she said. “The chair of the parliamen- and poor individuals, but the trend of sexual and cultural violence were Like in the case of Bidari, neither Dilendra Prasad Badu, another sion that party members should stand tary committee should make a ruling enjoying with consent while the rela- comparatively high on women whose the Women, Children, Senior Citizen Nepali Congress lawmaker, had also against violence against women. on such statements and attention can tionship is sound and then making husbands were employed in foreign and Social Welfare Committee nor her said that women would marry foreign- But, the controversial remarks of also be drawn in the parliamentary rape accusation when it goes sour has countries. In the study conducted in party [ruling Nepal Communist Party] ers if they were given equal rights in party members do not become the party if someone makes such been increasing,” said the lawmaker. Dhanusha and Sindhupalchok dis- has asked why she made such a claim citizenship and bear children. topic of discussion in both parliamen- remarks.”

C M Y K FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020 | 04 OPINION EDITORIAL MCC as a strategic choice for Nepal Equal pay for equal play This compact can We must recognise the efforts of women athletes substantially contribute and stop treating them unfairly. to Nepal’s development profile. Women athletes have been pushing the boundaries of sports and challenging gender stereotypes for decades. In the pro- cess, they’ve not only won accolades for themselves and SURENDRA PRASAD CHAUDHARY brought glory to the nation, but also become household names and role models. In December last year, when the 13th South Asian Games saw a rush of gold medals and records set on home turf, women athletes in the national squad proved that they were no less than their male counterparts. In fact, they outshone their male colleagues in various disci- plines, and in doing so, created history. Nepal today is at the frontline of a geo- On Tuesday, the Cricket Association of Nepal announced political battle. Caught between two ambitious Asian leviathans, India and central contracts for Nepali cricketers, both men and women. China, this nation has historically This is a huge development for the sport as cricketers, espe- maintained its sovereignty and often cially women, will now be employed and receive monthly struggled to march from a buffer to a salaries. But there is a huge disparity in pay with men raking civilisation-linking state. Because of in three times more than women cricketers. While ‘A’, ‘B’ and its strategic geography, many great ‘C’ grade men cricketers would get monthly salaries of powers have sought to interfere in its domestic politics, resulting in perpetu- Rs50,000, Rs40,000 and Rs30,000 respectively, women cricket- al political instability and underdevel- ers would only get Rs15,000, Rs12,000 and Rs10,000. This pay opment. Nepali leaders’ understanding gap is unacceptable and reeks of foul play, and must be imme- of geopolitics is often shifting, and so diately corrected. has the style of their foreign policy Worldwide, sports have long been hailed as one of the most orientations. powerful vehicles to change the world. The International The Rana regime maintained a spe- cial relationship with British India and Olympic Committee, which keeps gender equality as its top isolated Nepal from the rest of the priority, states that ‘sport is one of the most powerful plat- world. Following its downfall, prime SHUTTERSTOCK forms for promoting gender equality and empowering women ministers BP Koirala and his predeces- planning. Nepal has officially decided for good governance in fighting corrup- economic or political assistance that and girls’. Nepal must learn from international practices to sor Tanka P Acharya sought to diversi- that it wants to focus on the connectivi- tion and supporting the democratic comes by way of military strategy, but reduce the gender pay gap and move forward on this path of fy the nation’s international relations ty and energy components of BRI pro- rights of citizens. it is ready to forge partnerships in eco- progress to ensure parity in pay. We need to foster an environ- in various directions while treading on jects, and it has selected nine projects. In May 2019, visiting Acting Deputy nomic aid and development work with the middle path of social democracy. All Nepali political parties have agreed Assistant Secretary of State for South other countries including the US on the ment where athletes, especially women, can focus all their Both preferred strategic autonomy or to derive the maximum benefit from Asia at the US Department of State basis of mutual benefit’. Beyond doubt, energies to compete and win, instead of worrying about their non-alignment, and this policy was China’s economic ascent. Nepal is ask- David J Ranz said the MCC Compact the ambivalent attitude of the govern- future and glaring differences in prize money and salaries. maintained by the Panchayat regime ing for grants, but China says that BRI programme was one of the most impor- ment on MCC does not augur well for Whether the nominal remuneration is enough to even which came after them. The post- projects would be loan-based. tant initiatives being implemented in improving Nepal-US relations in par- cover the dietary and equipment needs of the athletes is an Panchayat regime, too, maintained In this context, MCC projects are Nepal under the US Indo-Pacific ticular and international acceptability issue in itself, but the country’s cricketing governing body democratic compatibility with India, grant-based and offer Nepal a clear Strategy. Foreign Minister Pradeep in general. the Western powers including the strategic choice. In September 2017, the Gyawali, upon his return from the US, must first review the massive salary gap and ensure equal United States without undermining its US government’s MCC and Nepal clearly said that Nepal’s relations with Modernising statecraft pay for equal play. It should step up and set an example for ties with China, Russia, East Asia and signed a $500 million compact aiming the US have been elevated. Now, the US The US multi-sectoral assistance to other sports associations in the country to follow. This insti- the Middle East. to strengthen Nepal’s energy sector, will not see Nepal through Indian eyes, Nepal and economic, diplomatic and tutional victory which benefits our athletes is also needed to improve regional energy connectivity he said. Prime Minister KP Oli has said strategic partnership can help it to pave the way for development in sports, which remains large- Strategic shift and improve transportation to spur that MCC grant has no links with the escape from dept traps and aid depend- ly neglected. Now, there is a major strategic shift in growth, private investment and reduce Indo-Pacific Strategy, and pointed out ence, avoid the pitfalls of Sino-Indian global politics affecting Nepal’s march the scale of poverty in the nation. the need to endorse it through hegemony like Lipulekh, contribute to At the end of the day, like the eight-time national table ten- on a tightrope between China, India This compact can substantially con- Parliament for it does not infringe on the modernisation of the state and soci- nis champion Nabita Shrestha said in an interview to the and the US. The great rejuvenation of tribute to Nepal’s development profile the sovereignty of Nepal. The Indo- ety, and enhance the nation’s independ- Post last year, sports associations and tournament organisers China, the return of geopolitics, the and is expected to open new markets, Pacific Strategy is designed to create ent foreign policy manoeuvres. This is must play fair when it comes to remuneration and cash priz- crisis in multilateralism and the surge regional security and the broader glob- an open space for countries of the Asia why many times the US government es for men and women because when athletes win tourna- of Covid-19 have caught the world off- al community. The first is the Pacific region. It does not indicate has suggested to Nepali leaders to ments, ‘medals are added in the name of the country’. Women guard and compelled Nepal to de-ideol- Electricity Transmission Project which Nepal joining any military alliance. become patriotic and pursue an inde- ogise its relations to run statecraft on includes the construction of approxi- Many conditions attached to it, such as pendent foreign policy. The nation has athletes deserve this change, and should not be treated as the basis of realism, connectivity and mately 300 km of high voltage power transparency, rule of law, democratic to focus on modernising statecraft and second class citizens. Like men, women put in equal commit- positive response to regional and inter- lines, the addition of a second cross-bor- governance, corruption control and aid prepare crisis responsive leadership ment and are equally valuable. We must recognise the efforts national incentives and initiatives such der transmission line to facilitate elec- effectiveness, fit well with Nepal’s imperatives. of women athletes, who shoulder more responsibilities than as Millennium Challenge Corporation tricity trade with India and the search for prosperity, stability and hap- Nepal’s foreign policy effectiveness men, and stop this unfair treatment. (MCC) from the US, Belt and Road improvement of power sector govern- piness. rests on how well it balances the The government and sport governing bodies must stand for Initiative (BRI) and strategic partner- ance. The second is the Road A political paper jointly presented by cross-pressure of neighbourhood geo- ship with China, and connectivity Maintenance Project which aims to Nepal Communist Party Co-Chairmen politics and seeks a larger space such fairness, a virtue that is at the heart of any sport. The offers from India. maintain up to 300 km of roads and Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Oli states, as the non-aligned movement, the US, National Sports Council, which is responsible for the devel- Despite strong opposition from India incentivise the Nepal government to ‘The US has been developing new strat- the EU, the UN, international financial opment of sports in the country, must put an end to this sys- and the US that China’s Belt and Road allocate more resources for periodic egies in order to maintain its super- institutions and international regime, tematic discrimination and introduce policies to establish Initiative is debt-trap diplomacy, Nepal maintenance, particularly for key power status and global hegemony by maximises leverage, reaps investment equal pay and prize money in sports. Nepal’s corporate sector and China signed a memorandum of roads that are vital to the flow of goods means of a military Indo-Pacific benefits, and projects national identity which sponsors various domestic sporting events must also understanding in May 2017 envisaging and people in the country. The third Strategy to spread its influence in the and status. mutually beneficial cooperation. The project involves strengthening institu- areas surrounding the Indian Ocean uphold this primary principle. Men and women athletes selection of BRI projects has been tional capacity to withstand the threats and encircle and weaken China, a new Chaudhary is a former minister, a should stand on the same pedestal. There should be no two delayed due to bureaucratic inertia, the of natural disasters while the fourth economic superpower in the making’. senior leader of the Nepali Congress thoughts about it. funding modality and lack of sufficient project involves improving standards It states that Nepal ‘cannot accept any and foreign affairs analyst.

Timeless lessons in the age of Covid-19

SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Defeating the coronavirus According to the World Health Organisation, SARS appeared in is more than about November 2002 in southern China’s Guangdong Province, just across the vaccines and treatments. border from Hong Kong. The first con- firmed case of SARS in Hong Kong Principles matter too. was in March 2003, and the city would go on to bear a disproportionate brunt of the deaths and economic impact CURTIS S CHIN outside of mainland China. Now as Covid-19—the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2—continues to take its toll worldwide, let us not for- get the wisdom of people like Burson. His timeless wisdom holds true today for all as we battle the direct and indi- rect consequences of the ongoing pan- More than three decades have passed demic. Here are five points I shared at since my very first trip to Nepal as his memorial service that has rele- part of an international programme vance to the present and would-be that placed me for a summer at leaders in Nepal. Gyanodaya Bal Batika Secondary With much of the world’s popula- Boarding School then in Sanepa, tion in some form of ‘staying at home’ Lalitpur. I would return to the country or ‘working from home’, tensions driv- often. Visits to Nepal over the years en by close proximity for days on end would include catch-ups with great are likely to raise tempers and chanc- friends and site visits, and govern- es for conflict. Certainly, be mindful, ment meetings as part of my role as but let us also remember the power of United States ambassador to the Asian kindness. Burson might have been a Development Bank. pioneering CEO at a firm with thou- My next trip to Kathmandu would sands of employees, but he made time likely have included a follow-up on a to offer up a kind word, a handwritten Milken Institute roundtable I was note of thanks or an encouraging involved in last year on Nepal’s equity email. markets as well as a chance to see Corporate titans and US presi- firsthand some of the Nepali compa- dents—most famously that other great nies championed by the Dolma Impact communicator Ronald Reagan—took Fund, a private equity fund on whose to Burson. Every leader develops his advisory board I sit. or her style. And for Burson, leader- ALEXANDROS MICHAILIDIS/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM These and other trips are on hold ship also meant a steely humbleness. and progress. As Fay Feeney, CEO of to ruin it. If you think about that, and report the truth. These words of ideas, his values and through all of for now. My last trip from Asia was to Think Yoda, more than General advisory firm Risk for Good, tells me, you’d do things differently’. In one wisdom ring particularly true at a us—whether family, friend, client or the United States this spring for Douglas MacArthur. And that is some- ‘Accountability is an assurance that minute or five, reputation—like time when China has thrown out colleague—if each of us embraces his memorial services for Harold Burson, thing that leaders today, including in an individual or an organisation will trust—can be lost quickly. And trust, American reporters from the Wall decency, his humanity, his wisdom. Be the late founder of the public relations China where the coronavirus first be evaluated in their performance or Burson taught me, like a good reputa- Street Journal, The New York Times kind. Be humble. Be accountable. firm Burson-Marsteller. It was during emerged, might also take to heart. behaviour related to something for tion must be earned over time. And and The Washington Post, and imposed Earn trust. Tell the truth. They might an extended break from Burson’s Past success in battling this latest which they are responsible’. And they that is true for nations too. Ongoing new restrictions on free speech in sound like old-fashioned words of wis- firm, now named BCW Global, that I coronavirus is certainly no predictor will be stronger for it. doubts over the accuracy of Covid-19 Hong Kong. dom from a century past. The year-to- first travelled to Nepal. of future outcomes, and leaders will A basic tenet of public relations, case data from China is due in no This past February 15, Burson date and an ongoing pandemic, howev- In the early 2000s, I became part of not want to declare ‘mission accom- attributed to American humorist Will small part to longstanding doubts would have celebrated his 99th birth- er, tell us they are 20th-century lessons the United States team at Burson- plished’ too soon. Rogers, could well have been attribut- about the accuracy over Chinese eco- day. Imagine. Burson was already 64 that must not be forgotten in the 21st— Marsteller that worked with the Hong In building a global business, ed to Burson. ‘It takes a lifetime to nomic reports. when I first started working with him in Nepal and elsewhere. Kong Economic and Trade Office as it Burson was no stranger to success or build a good reputation, but you can So, how to earn trust in the age of way back in 1986, underscoring how worked to communicate Hong Kong’s failure. He knew though that account- lose it in a minute’. That is echoed in coronavirus? The solution, Burson each of us too can impact a life at any Chin, a former US ambassador to the efforts to battle the deadly spread of ability was not a punishment or sim- legendary investor Warren Buffett’s might have said, could well be quite age. And as I think about it more, Asian Development Bank, served as SARS, or Severe Acute Respiratory ply about water under the bridge. oft-quoted statement, ‘It takes 20 years simple. That is, tell the truth. And Burson’s story is not fully over. He will managing director, Asia-Pacific for Syndrome—a disease linked to the Through accountability comes change to build a reputation and five minutes more than that, allow others to tell live on to 100 and beyond through his Burson-Marsteller.

C M Y K 05 | FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020 MONEY IMF warns virus will weigh on some Dashain shoppers will have to brace for higher prices economies for years A hike in import duty, weakened Nepali rupee against the dollar and higher transportation costs prompted by the virus outbreak have made goods dearer. KRISHANA PRASAIN fashionable clothes as sales of such REUTERS KATHMANDU, SEPT 24 items soar during Dashain when peo- WASHINGTON, SEPT 24 ple splurge on new dresses. Dashain shoppers planning to buy But footfall is down and business is The coronavirus crisis is lasting new clothes from international brands expected to be slower this year, he longer than expected and it will take will have to carry fatter wallets as said. With goods remaining for a long some countries years to return to prices are set to swell by at least 25 time at customs, prices will increase growth, the No. 2 official at the percent, further hurting already bleak automatically, he added. “Most of the International Monetary Fund said on consumer sentiments caused by the goods ordered from China by traders Wednesday. Covid-19 pandemic, traders said. at the Ranjana trade centre have The Fund has provided some $90 A hike in import duty, weakened arrived,” he said. billion in total financing to 79 coun- Nepali rupee against the dollar Summer goods that were ordered tries, including 20 in Latin America, and higher transportation costs before the lockdown have not arrived since the start of the health crisis, an prompted by the virus outbreak have and traders have not placed any orders IMF spokeswoman said. made Dashain goods, mainly apparels, for winter, he said. It is continuing to work with mem- dearer. According to Poudel, 1,500-2,000 con- ber countries on how to contain the Bharat Karki, senior secretary of tainers of goods meant for Dashain pandemic and mitigate its economic the Nepal Trans-Himalayan Border such as clothes and shoes used to impact, First Deputy Managing Commerce Association, a grouping of come from Kerung and Tatopani Director Geoffrey Okamoto told an importers, said Chinese clothing and by ship and air cargo too due to online event hosted by the Center for would cost 20-25 percent more. which there used to be an overflow of Strategic and International Studies. Karki said the dollar had appreciat- goods during Dashain in past years. “We’re trying to preserve our finan- ed, the government had jacked Garment merchants stock up on cial firepower,” Okamoto said. “We’re up the import duty and Covid-19 had inventory from mid-April to mid-July talking about a ... return to growth pushed up freight charges. A bleak in preparation for the Dashain and that’s going to take a few years, and consumer sentiment prevails in the Tihar shopping spree. But due to the many countries along the way that are market, he added. Covid-19 has lockdown in the country, they could probably going to need assistance.” made tens of thousands of people job- not do so. Latin American and Caribbean econo- less while many companies were According to the association, mies are the hardest hit in the world forced to cut the salaries of their imported clothes account for around by the pandemic, reporting around 8.4 employees. 70 percent of the readymade garment million coronavirus cases, and more “The clothing business may con- market in Nepal as there is little than 314,000 deaths, both figures being tract by 60-70 percent this Dashain domestic production. the highest of any region. with a fall in demand. People’s pur- Nearly 80 percent of the readymade chasing capacity has fallen as the garments sold in the Kathmandu virus stopped economic activities for Valley are imported from China. The FOREX more than five months,” he said. SHUTTERSTOCK rest come from India, Bangladesh, Apparel imports have also declined Nearly 80 percent of the readymade garments sold in Kathmandu are imported from China but shipments have been stuck at the border. Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. sharply compared to last year. Imports from these countries have US Dollar 118.54 Bachhu Poudel, president of the Traders in the Kathmandu Valley here for festival goods are staying said. “Big traders are reporting a 25-30 fallen to almost zero as the shipments Euro 138.05 association, said the crossing points would now be shipping clothes across away for fear of infection, he said. percent drop in business.” come by air cargo, he said. on the northern border were expected the country targeting Dashain shop- Almost 2,000 containers holding Dhiraj Shrestha, president of the According to the Trade and Export Pound Sterling 151.27 to open partially from Friday. Traders pers, he said, but they have not clothes, shoes, cosmetics, electronics Ranjana Traders Association, said Promotion Centre, the country import- said a large number of cargo contain- received the goods ordered last and industrial raw materials are stuck that sales were down to 25-30 percent ed apparels and accessories worth Japanese Yen 11.25 ers were stranded on the Chinese side, December. at the Chinese border. “People want to of usual levels. Rs24 billion in the last fiscal year 2019- Chinese Yuan 17.37 and if the goods did not arrive in time Due to a rising Covid-19 caseload in buy newly arrived goods during “Our goods are held up in Kerung, 20, a sharp decline compared to the for the festival shopping season, it the valley, traders from other parts of Dashain, and there will be less to and we do not know when they will previous fiscal year when imports hit Qatari Riyal 32.56 would make no sense. the country who should be coming choose from this year as a result,” he arrive,” he said. Most of them include Rs31.82 billion. Australian Dollar 83.52

Malaysian Ringit 28.44

Saudi Arab Riyal 31.60 Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank Airline passengers want Sri Lanka to offer livestreams from Shares Nepse 1,561.27pts 0.37% to see barriers to boost wildlife parks on social media HIGHEST GAINERS API MHNL SPDL HDHPC DHPL BARUN 9.76% 9.73% 9.68% 9.68% 9.64% 9.56% ASSOCIATED PRESS named the world’s top travel destina- 3,315 cases, including 13 deaths. COLOMBO (SRI LANKA), SEPT 24 tion for 2019 by Lonely Planet—has Sri Lanka imposed a nationwide MODERATE GAINERS confidence in flying suffered severely due to the coronavi- curfew in March. The government AHPC KKHC CHL UMHL HIDCL GHL 9.44% 9.41% 9.38% 9.35% 9.32% 9.2% Sri Lankan authorities announced on rus, with authorities indefinitely post- gradually lifted the curfew in April Embraer SA is studying reusable Wednesday that they will offer lives- poning the reopening of the country and has taken steps to reopen the MODERATE LOSERS RBCL SFCL MDB NBF2 KRBL SPARS and disposable plastic barriers for its treams from the island nation’s wild- to foreign tourists. country in phases over the last three -1.59% -1.61% -1.62% -1.69% -1.79% -1.88% regional jets, but challenges include life parks, in a move to help revive a The government had planned to reo- months, but schools and airports are

HIGHEST GAINERS making sure they are lightweight, not tourism industry that has been deci- pen to tourists on August 1, but still closed. RLFL RLI KMCDB GBILD80/81 UNL CMF1 flammable and do not affect aircraft mated by the coronavirus pandemic. shelved the plan when a new cluster In an effort to contain the virus, Sri -1.94% -1.96% -1.98% -2% -2% -2.12% cleaning and evacuation, said Lais The government’s Tourism of Covid-19 patients emerged in July. Lanka suspended all passenger flights Port Antunes, a business development Promotion Bureau said livestreaming Tourism is vital for Sri Lanka, and ship arrivals in mid-March, crip- manager in the planemaker’s Asia- will initially cover four national parks accounting for about 5 percent of its pling the tourism industry. PRICE PER TOLA Pacific division. to showcase the South Asian country’s GDP and employing 250,000 people According to the Tourism BULLION “Modern aircraft are already exotic wildlife, including leopards, directly and up to 2 million indirectly. Development Authority, no foreign equipped with excellent technology bears, elephants, crocodiles and birds. Several thousand hotel workers tourists arrived in Sri Lanka in April Fine Gold Rs 93,100 to filter the air,” she said. “The The project will offer eight wildlife have been laid off since the pandemic through August. There was a 60 per- passengers should feel safe in an air- streaming video sessions of one hour started. cent decline in total tourist arrivals Silver Rs 1,120 craft cabin, but they need to see each which will be shown on social Sri Lankan health officials say they from January to August compared to actions.” media platforms and shared further have prevented community spread of the same period in 2019. SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA Tan Hean Seng, a senior through broadcast media, the bureau the virus, and that the patients now To meet the income loss, most hotels executive at Singapore Technologies said in a statement. being reported belong to two known are offering discounted prices for Engineering Ltd, said airline custom- Tourism in Sri Lanka—which was clusters. The country has reported local tourists. GASOLINE WATCH ers, fearing cost increases, did not REUTERS seem interested putting fewer seats in Employees of Wingo Airlines wearing face economy class. But, he added, the air- shields and protective masks are seen line still needed to reassure them inside an airplane at the El Dorado about risk. International Airport in Bogota, Colombia. “Having a shield between the seats, the passengers may feel safer, REUTERS especially during mealtimes when SYDNEY, SEPT 24 passengers take off masks and there is potential contamination,” Tan said, Airline passengers want visible plas- adding his company had developed a tic barriers in the cabin to reinstill prototype. confidence in flying during the pan- In business class, airlines are demic, saying they do not all trust already expressing more interest in industry assurances about high air lie-flat seating options as they look to quality onboard, aviation industry use narrowbody planes on longer executives said on Thursday. routes, Boeing Co Vice President of Other pandemic-related trends Specialty Products and Services Kate could include more private business Schaefer said. class seating on narrowbody planes, “There is an awful lot of interest in adding touchless lavatory features those premium passengers in having a and permanent conversions of pas- pod-type solution,” she said. senger planes to freighters, according “There is going to be a lot of inter- to a panel at the MRO Asia-Pacific est in pods, doors and staggered AP/RSS conference held online. seating.” A herd of Asiatic wild elephants gather at a national park in Minneriya, some 200 kilometres northeast from Colombo, Sri Lanka. Businesses cheer, unions fear contentious Indian labour reforms

REUTERS making it mandatory for them to 2014, has seen an increase in the aver- NEW DELHI, SEPT 24 represent at least 10 percent of work- age number of employees, he added. The reforms are a ers in a given sector—and prohibit Indian state governments are Business groups on Thursday wel- them from striking without prior allowed to pass their own labour laws, comed contentious and long-delayed key part of PM notice and during conciliation but the new codes issued by the feder- labour reforms passed by India’s Modi’s moves to proceedings. al government will over-ride these.Six parliament this week, aimed at mak- Businessman Vinod Kumar, who states have this year already relaxed ing hiring and firing workers liberalise conditions employs just over 100 people at his labour laws, including raising caps on easier and imposing restrictions on factory making parts for India’s Tata work hours, in what they say is an trade unions. for investment. Motors in the north Indian city of attempt to kick-start their economies The reforms to India’s decades-old Lucknow, said the code will help him badly damaged by the novel coronavi- labour laws are a key part of Prime to expand operations. rus pandemic, to the concern of Minister Narendra Modi’s moves to Consortium of Indian Associations, “This will give us some power and groups including the United Nations’ liberalise conditions for investment. an umbrella group representing small rein in the labour unions, who have labour wing. But they have met with resistance businesses. now a habit of blackmailing us in Amarjeet Kaur, general secretary of from trade unions that plan to join a “At the same time, workers might the name of increasing remunera- the All India Trade Union Congress, nationwide agitation on Friday fear losing their rights in certain tion,” he said. Rick Rossow, a senior one of the biggest trade unions in the against these and several other bills cases, and the onus is on the adviser at the Washington-based country, said the new codes will make passed by the government. employers to make sure this feeling is Center for Strategic and International it would be almost impossible for Three key bills on labour reform eliminated.” Studies, who specialises in US-India workers at small industrial units to were approved by India’s upper house Under the Industrial Relations business ties, said the reforms form a trade union. of parliament late on Wednesday, and Code, one of the three new laws, com- were likely to prove attractive to “Workers will be at the mercy of will become law after receiving presi- panies employing up to 300 workers overseas investors.“Foreign compa- their employers who could fire them dential approval. They were approved will not require government nies have long listed India’s stifling for any flimsy reason,” she said. by the decision-making lower house permission to lay off workers or close labor regulations as a key deterrent AITUC, along with at least 10 on Tuesday. plants-an increase from the previous to making larger investments,” major trade unions, will launch REUTERS “This change is welcome and bound cap of 100 and a major demand from he said. nation-wide protests against the Under the Industrial Relations Code, one of the three new laws, companies employing up to to create more attraction for foreign industry over the years. The northern state of Rajasthan, labour code, and will join farmers on 300 workers will not require government permission to lay off workers or close plants—an investments in small-scale sectors,” The code also puts restrictions that introduced similar laws for com- Friday to protest against the govern- increase from the previous cap of 100 and a major demand from industry over the years. said KE Raghunathan, convener of on the recognition of trade unions— panies with fewer than 300 workers in ment, she added.

C M Y K FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020 | 06 WORLD BRIEFING China to let in more foreigners Trump refuses to NASA chief warns Congress about Chinese space station promise transfer of WASHINGTON: NASA chief Jim as coronavirus cases recede Bridenstine told lawmakers on Wednesday it was crucial for the US Indian Prime Minister Modi decries short, local lockdowns, says country needs to not only to maintain a presence in Earth’s power if he loses vote orbit after the International Space keep fighting the virus, but also move the economy forward. Station is decommissioned so that AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE China does not gain a strategic WASHINGTON, SEPT 24 advantage. The first parts of the ISS were launched in 1998 and it has US President Donald Trump on been continuously lived in since 2000. Wednesday refused to guarantee that The station, which serves as a space he will transfer power if he loses the science lab and is a partnership November election, earning scorn between the US, Russia, Japan, from his Democratic challenger Europe and Canada, is currently Joe Biden and even from within his expected to be operated until 2030. own party. “I’ll tell you one thing that has me “Well, we’re going to have to see very concerned—and that is that a what happens,” Trump responded day is coming when the International when asked at a White House press Space Station comes to the end of its conference whether he is committed useful life,” said Bridenstine. to the most basic tenet of democratic rule in the United States—the peaceful AFP handover of power upon a change Donald Trump Climate goals impossible of president. without carbon capture: IEA Biden, who holds a steady lead over OSLO: A sharp rise in the deployment the Republican incumbent in opinion Trump frequently of carbon capture, utilisation and polls ahead of the November 3 vote, storage (CCUS) technology is needed expressed incredulity. claims mail-in globally if countries are to meet “What country are we in?” the for- net-zero emissions targets designed to mer vice president said, when asked ballot papers are slow climate change, the about Trump’s comment by reporters. International Energy Agency (IEA) “Look, he says the most irrational vulnerable to fraud. said on Thursday. A growing number AP/RSS things. I don’t know what to say.” of countries and companies are tar- A woman wearing a face mask to protect against the coronavirus walks past a shopping mall on a rainy day in Beijing. Republican Senator Mitt Romney, a geting net zero carbon dioxide (CO2) frequent but rare party critic of “Get rid of the ballots and you’ll emissions by around the middle of ASSOCIATED PRESS Washington and Beijing. country needs to not only keep fight- Trump, went further, saying that any have a very peaceful—there won’t be a the century in the wake of the 2015 BEIJING, SEPT 24 The announcement was made joint- ing the virus, but also move ahead hesitation on the core constitution transfer, frankly. There’ll be a continu- Paris climate agreement. To reach ly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs boldly on the economic front. He asked guarantee was “unthinkable and ation,” he said. that, the amount of CO2 captured Foreigners holding certain types of and the National Immigration states to focus on testing, tracing, unacceptable.” Trump’s latest insistence that there must rocket to 800 million tonnes in visas and residence permits will be Administration on Wednesday. treatment and surveillance. He said “Fundamental to democracy is the cannot be a free and fair presidential 2030 from around 40 million tonnes permitted to return to China starting China announced seven new cases lockdown restrictions hit the smooth peaceful transition of power; without election came as pressure mounts today, the IEA, which advises indus- next week as the threat of the corona- of coronavirus on Thursday, all of movement of goods and services, that, there is Belarus,” he tweeted. over his plan to put a new, right-lean- trialised nations on energy policies, virus continues to recede. them imported, marking 39 days since including medical supplies. Trump followed up his remarks— ing justice on the Supreme Court. said in a report. The new regulation lifts a the country has reported a case of Meanwhile, at least 70 employees of unprecedented in modern times for a Trump is set to nominate a replace- monthslong blanket suspension domestic transmission. China has a sandwich factory in Tokyo have been US president—by resuming his near ment on Saturday for the late liber- covering most foreigners apart confirmed 85,314 cases of Covid-19 infected with the coronavirus, the daily complaint about the fairness of al-leaning justice Ruth Bader Thailand takes legal action from diplomats and those in special since the virus was first detected in company said Thursday. After the first the election. Ginsburg, who died last week. circumstances. the central Chinese city of Wuhan late case appeared at the Takara-Butz Co Apparently referring to the His Republican Party, which has a against Facebook, Twitter Beginning Monday, foreign nation- last year. factory on September 9, the company increased use of mail-in ballots due to majority in the Senate, is then expect- BANGKOK: Thailand began legal action als holding valid Chinese visas and India reported another 86,508 new disinfected the plant and took the coronavirus pandemic, he said: ed to quickly confirm the nominee. on Thursday against Facebook and residence permits for work, personal coronavirus cases, but Prime Minister preventive measures under the super- “You know that I’ve been complaining If they succeed, the nine-justice Twitter for ignoring requests to matters and family reunions will be Narendra Modi saw little merit in vision of local health officials, the very strongly about the ballots and the court would then likely have a take down content, in its first such permitted to enter China without imposing even short local lockdowns. company said. ballots are a disaster.” strongly pro-conservative bent for move against major internet firms. needing to apply for new visas, accord- India now has confirmed more than Dozens of workers suspected of Trump frequently claims that mail- years to come. The digital ministry filed legal com- ing to the regulation. 5.7 million cases, the second-most in having had close contact with the in ballots are vulnerable to mass fraud Democrats are crying foul, saying plaints with cybercrime police after Those whose permits have expired the world. The Health Ministry also patient were told to self-isolate in their and are being encouraged by that the process should wait until the the two social media companies can reapply. Returnees must undergo said Thursday that 1,129 more people homes, but 30 later tested positive. By Democrats to rig the election. results of the election are known, missed 15-day deadlines to comply two weeks of quarantine and follow have died, for a total of 91,149. India’s Thursday, the rest of the plant’s 300 However, there is no evidence that allowing the winner to shape the fully with court-issued takedown other anti-epidemic measures, the reg- junior Railways Minister Suresh workers were tested and 39 more were ballots sent through the postal service Supreme Court. orders from August 27, the digital ulation said. Angadi died on Wednesday, nearly two found to be infected, the company have ever led to significant fraud in With Trump and the Republicans minister, Puttipong Punnakanta, Some exceptions may still be made, weeks after he was admitted to a New said. It said the patients are not in US elections. mounting a series of court challenges said. No action was taken against with the foreign ministry communi- Delhi hospital with Covid-19. He was serious condition and will return to At the press conference, Trump against the use of mail-in ballots, the Alphabet’s Google as originally cating to some journalists that the the first federal minister and the work after they are confirmed to be seemed to suggest annulling what chances of a contested election result suggested, as it took down all the regulation may not apply to them. fourth Indian lawmaker to die from free of the virus. Japan has reported are expected to be the huge numbers are considered high. YouTube videos specified in Journalist visas have recently the disease. Modi on Wednesday 80,041 cases, including 24,453 in Tokyo, of mailed-in ballots, noting that On Wednesday, Trump said he the order late on Wednesday, opened up as a new front in the diplo- decried short, local lockdowns and 1,520 deaths as of Thursday, in such a scenario, he would remain thinks the election “will end up in the Puttipong said. (AGENCIES) matic confrontation between imposed in some places and said the according to the health ministry. in power. Supreme Court.” North Korean troops killed missing South Korean, burned body, Seoul says

REUTERS gise and put measures in place to pre- General Ahn Young-ho, who is in SEOUL, SEPT 24 vent a recurrence of similar incidents charge of operations at the Joint in the future. Chiefs of Staff, told a briefing. North Korean troops shot dead a Citing intelligence sources, the mil- The US military commander in South Korean fisheries official who itary said the unidentified man South Korea said this month that went missing earlier this week, appeared to have been questioned at North Korean troops had been before dousing his body in oil and set- sea, north of the NLL and about 38 km given “shoot-to-kill orders” to ting it on fire in what was likely an (24 miles) from where he went miss- prevent the coronavirus entering effort to prevent a coronavirus out- ing, before he was executed on an the country. break, South Korea’s military said on “order from a superior authority”. Such strict enforcement of those Thursday. Troops in gas masks then doused the orders may be an attempt to prevent South Korea’s military said evi- body in oil and set it on fire. an outbreak from disrupting a major dence suggested the man was South Korean President Moon Jae- military parade expected to be held on attempting to defect to the North when in said the North’s shooting of a South Oct. 10 when the country commemo- he was reported missing from a fisher- Korean civilian was “shocking” and rates the founding of the ruling ies boat on Monday about 10 km (6 “unpardonable”, Yonhap news agency Workers’ Party of Korea, said Chad miles) south of the Northern Limit said, citing a presidential Blue House O’Carroll, CEO of Korea Risk Group, Line (NLL), a disputed demarcation of spokesman. which monitors North Korea. military control that acts as the de Moon also ordered the South Korean “In many ways, this parade is a facto maritime boundary between the military to tighten their alert to pro- huge potential viral risk,” he said in a two Koreas. tect the lives of citizens. post on Twitter. “And it seems para- Why the 47-year-old official was The military said it sent a message noia about that risk is at play (with) shot was not known but North Korean on Wednesday to the North through shoot-to-kill rules.” troops appear to have been acting the land border demanding explana- In July, a man who had defected under anti-coronavirus orders, South tions, but has not received any to South Korea three years ago trig- Korea’s military said. response yet. gered a coronavirus scare when The presidential Blue House’s “Our military strongly condemns he crossed back over the heavily AP/RSS national security office said the kill- such an atrocity, and strongly demands monitored border into North Korea, A Jewish man swings a chicken over his head as part of the Kaparot ritual in Bnei Brak, Israel, on Thursday. Observant Jews believe the ritual ing was a “crime against humanity”, North Korea provide explanations and which says it has had no cases of transfers one’s sins from the past year into the chicken, and is performed before the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the and called on North Korea to apolo- punish those who are responsible,” the disease. Jewish year which starts at sundown on Sunday. Trailblazing British-American journalist Harold Evans dead at 92

REUTERS in 1981. Evans left a year later in a “the respectable working class,” Evans stories and campaigns that his rivals (I WASHINGTON, SEPT 24 dispute with Murdoch over editorial received one of the highest honors of was one) could only struggle to keep Evans died of independence. the British monarchy when he was up,” Donald Trelford, the former editor congestive heart Sir Harold Evans, a British-American A few years later, Evans moved to the knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 2004 for of the Observer, wrote in a review of editor whose 70-year career as a United States with Brown, the journal- his services to British journalism. Two Evans’ memoir published in 2009 called, failure in New hard-driving investigative journalist, ist and editor to whom he was married years earlier, a poll by Britain’s Press “My Paper Chase: True Stories of magazine founder, book publisher for nearly 40 years. He continued his Gazette and the British Journalism Vanished Times.”Harold Matthew York, according and author made him one of the most career as an author, publisher and uni- Review named him the greatest news- Evans was born in Greater Manchester, influential media figures of his versity lecturer. He penned several paper editor of all time. England, on June 28, 1928, the son of a to his wife. generation, died on Wednesday at the books, including “The American Evans joined Reuters in 2011. In his train driver. age of 92. Century” (1998) and its sequel “They role as editor-at-large, Evans moderated He entered journalism in what was Evans died of congestive heart fail- Made America” (2004), as well as an ode conversations with global newsmakers then the traditional way, taking his first ure in New York, according to his wife to good writing called “Do I Make in business and politics who included reporting job at a weekly newspaper at Tina Brown. Myself Clear?” (2017). Tony Blair, Mark Cuban, Al Gore, John age 16. He went on to study at Durham A former editor of Britain’s Sunday He became the subject of books and Kerry, Henry Kissinger, Jim Mattis and University. After serving in the military Times and, at his death, Reuters editor- REUTERS documentaries, including “Attacking Satya Nadella. and earning a master’s degree, Evans at-large, Evans put a unique stamp on Reuters Editor-at-Large Sir Harold Evans at an The Devil: Harold Evans and the Last “Harry Evans was an inspiration, not became an assistant editor at the investigative journalism. Championing event in New York on September 9, 2019. Nazi War Crime” (2014), about the tha- only as a great journalist but as a great Manchester Evening News. causes either overlooked or denied, he lidomide campaign. Evans founded man. He had an insatiable intellect, In 1961 he was named editor of the and his team uncovered human rights pensation for the families after more Conde Nast Traveler magazine and extraordinary tenacity, high principle, Northern Echo and first developed his abuses and political scandals, and advo- than a decade. served as president and publisher of and a generous heart,” Stephen J. Adler, reputation as a relentless journalist cated for clean air policies. “All I tried to do - all I hoped to do - Random House from 1990 to 1997. Reuters editor-in-chief, said. with campaigns against air pollution One of his most famous investiga- was to shed a little light,” Evans said in Under his leadership, Random House Evans also had a sense of humor. and for a national program to detect tions exposed the plight of hundreds of an interview with the Independent in scored various publishing successes, “Editor-at-large means you’re free to cervical cancer, an initiative that still British thalidomide children who had 2014. “And if that light grew weeds, we’d including the best-selling “Primary create as much havoc as they will toler- saves thousands of lives each year. never received any compensation for have to try and pull them up.” Colors,” a satire about Bill Clinton by ate,” Evans was quoted as saying by the Evans became editor of national their birth defects. Evans organized a After 14 years at the Sunday Times, Anonymous, later revealed to be jour- Financial Times. “He was the inventor weekly the Sunday Times in 1967, and campaign to take on the drug compa- Evans became editor of the Times of nalist Joe Klein, and Colin Powell’s “My of team journalism. In the editorial made it an exemplar of investigative nies responsible for manufacturing the London shortly after media mogul American Journey.” chair, he was a human dynamo and set journalism, with reports from its drug, an effort that eventually won com- Rupert Murdoch purchased the paper Born to a family from what he called in motion such a stream of powerful Insight team.

C M Y K 07 | FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020 SPORTS | MEDLEY Kai Havertz fires Chelsea past Barnsley Manchester United The German scores his first senior hat-trick as Blues win 6-0 in their English League Cup match while Arsenal edge Leicester 2-0. malaise runs deep AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE League tie of the night as Christian M SHRESTHA They don’t want to be left too far LONDON, SEPT 24 Fuchs’s own goal broke the deadlock at behind the leading pack but the King Power. Eddie Nketiah added a PL WATCH managers need to be given time to Frank Lampard said Kai Havertz is just late second for the Gunners. win the confidence of the players getting started after opening his Chelsea Everton continued their fine start to and build a system of play. And account with a hat-trick in a 6-0 thrash- the season with a 5-2 win at League One clubs need to support the manager ing of Barnsley, while Arsenal also Fleetwood despite two howlers from The run the most successful team in the transfer market if it wants booked their place in the League Cup England number one goalkeeper Jordan in English football had, after success. fourth round with a 2-0 win at Leicester. Pickford. Carlo Ancelotti’s men looked resumption of the Premier League The lack of astute signings is the Havertz had struggled to make an to be cruising into the last 16 when following the Covid-19 enforced second problem. The transfer fees impact in his first two Premier League Richarlison’s double gave them a break last season, been promising. clubs pay for players is simply games since sealing a reported £71 mil- deserved 2-0 half-time lead. However, They did not lose a single game and mind-boggling but such is the lion move from Bayer Leverkusen as the Pickford’s attempted clearance was secured third place which had interest in the game worldwide most expensive signing of Chelsea’s charged down for Mark Duffy to pull a seemed unlikely earlier in the sea- that clubs do recoup their expenses £200 million spending spree in the goal back. son. There was finally hope that from television rights, merchan- transfer market. But the 21-year-old Alex Iwobi restored Everton’s two- good times were back again at Old dising, sponsorships and gate German was one of just three players to goal advantage before another Pickford Trafford, maybe for the first receipts though this has been sus- retain his place from Sunday’s 2-0 defeat mistake gave Joey Barton’s men life time since the departure of the pended in light of the pandemic. to Liverpool and Lampard’s decision again as he flapped Callum Camps’s legendary manger Sir Alex Luke Shaw, the left back is a case in reaped its reward as he scored his first shot into his own goal. Ferguson in 2013. point. He was bought for then senior hat-trick. “I am delighted with Goals from Bernard and Moise Kean Their first game this season was world record fee for a teenager but Kai, it was everything I wanted from finally ended the tie as a contest, but supposed to be a straightforward despite having struggled in the him,” said Lampard. “He had no pre-sea- Pickford’s place for both Ancelotti and win against lowly Crystal Palace. position continues to be first son so I wanted to give him more time Gareth Southgate will come under But they not only lost but even choice. There had not been a set- on the pitch with his teammates, learn- increased scrutiny in the coming weeks. struggled to control the game. They tled right back for years until ing how we play and press. It was a “When we concede a goal, we are seemed disjointed, without a struc- Aaron Wan-Bissaka joined from great night for Kai and it is the first of always frustrated,” said Ancelotti on ture and devoid of any desire. It Crystal Palace a couple of seasons many for him.” Pickford’s performance. took for new boy Donny van de ago. Highest paid team member Thiago Silva and Ben Chilwell also Newcastle thrashed League Two Beek, who came on as a substitute and goalkeeper is David de Gea, made their Chelsea debuts, while Morecombe 7-0 with Joelinton scoring in the second half, to score their also the only surviving player of Tammy Abraham and Ross Barkley twice. only goal after their opponents the Ferguson era, continues to be made the most of rare starts to get their Miguel Almiron, Jacob Murphy, Isaac were already 2-0 up. The goal was a suspect. names on the scoresheet. AP/RSS Hayden and Jamaal Lascelles were also fortuitous one after the fell to It was not only Ferguson the Abraham pounced on loose pass deep Chelsea’a reported £71 million signing from Bayer Leverkusen Kai Havertz (left) vies with on the scoresheet for Steve Bruce’s men. the Dutchman after some confu- club has had to replace but also in the Barnsley half to slam home the Barnsley’s Callum Styles in their League Cup match at Stamford Bridge in London on Wednesday. Fulham, Brighton and Burnley pro- sion among the London team’s David Gill, the vice chairman who opener before Havertz’s calm finish gressed 2-0 over Championship opposi- defenders. left in 2013. The owners, the opened his Chelsea account. A brilliant Chilwell 25 minutes from time but just the last 16 with the outcome of that tie tion in Sheffield Wednesday, Preston Van de Beek has been the only American Glazer billionaire busi- unselfish flick from Abraham teed completed his hat-trick in time by yet to be decided after the match was and Millwall respectively. Stoke were addition at Manchester United so ness family whose late patriarch Havertz up perfectly to convert his sec- rounding Brad Collins before tapping postponed on Tuesday due to a number the only non-Premier League side to go far this season. In contrast, other started off as a door to door watch ond after Barkley drove home on his into an empty net before Olivier Giroud of coronavirus cases among the Orient through on the night as they also top teams in the league have been salesman, replaced him with Ed weaker left foot. completed the scoring. Chelsea will face players. beat lower league opposition in making significant additions. Woodward, an investment banker. Havertz was due to be replaced by either Tottenham or Leyton Orient in Arsenal won the only all-Premier Gillingham 1-0. There has been a lot of noise on While Manchester United travel Jadon Sancho joining them but to much improved Brighton, with Borussia Dortmund not will- despite the latter’s opening day ing to let go the England interna- loss to wobbly Chelsea, the mar- tional on the cheap, United are quee match in this round of fix- reluctant to meet the German tures is the Liverpool-Arsenal Atletico Madrid sign Luis Chelsea rope in goalkeeper giants’ valuation. United are clash. Liverpool may have lost the known to make big signings but for Community Shield last month to whatever reason, such signings do Arsenal and in the league last sea- not always work out on the pitch. son after they had been crowned Suarez from Barcelona Mendy from Rennes Alexis Sanchez came mid-season champions in the Premier League, in 2018, after having starred at Jurgen Klopp’s team have been AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE The move to Barcelona’s La Liga REUTERS tional level and has eight caps. He Arsenal over three and a half much more impressive against BARCELONA, SEPT 24 rivals follows a failed attempt to join LONDON, SEPT 24 becomes the second goalkeeper to make years, but he wanted to leave after Leeds United and Chelsea. That Juventus. Juve coach Andrea Pirlo the switch from Rennes to Chelsea follow- one day. Paul Pogba has not hidden they conceded three against new- Atletico Madrid announced the sign- disclosed last week a deal was Chelsea have signed Senegal goalkeeper ing Petr Cech’s move in 2004. his desire to leave despite having ly-promoted Leeds United and ing of Barcelona forward Luis Suarez unlikely because of delays in the Edouard Mendy from French club Stade “As soon as Cech and our technical come for a record fee from Italian Chelsea were holding them until late on Wednesday, confirming the Uruguayan’s bid to get an Italian pass- Rennes on a five-year deal, the Premier team identified Edouard as the most suit- serial champions Juventus and as the Andreas Christensen red Uruguayan striker is set to continue port. On Tuesday, prosecutors in League side said on Thursday. able goalkeeper to complement our exist- a World Cup winner. card just before the interval last playing in La Liga rather than joining Perugia said they suspected Suarez of Financial details of the transfer were ing group, there was only one player we There seem to be two main prob- weekend will give an ascendant Juventus in Italy. cheating to pass his Italian language not disclosed but British media reported wanted to bring in,” Chelsea director lems at United. One is the lack of Arsenal hope. Barcelona said that Atletico had test with the aid of examiners suspect- Chelsea paid around 22 million pounds Marina Granovskaia said. “Edouard patience of the management. A win for the Gunners would agreed to pay six million euros for ed of helping him. for the 28-year-old who had three years arrives following a season of real success David Moyes, who replaced mean a statement of intent but Suarez, who left his last training ses- The exit of the 33-year-old from left on his Rennes contract. “I am so excit- with Rennes.” Ferguson, did not last a season. with their defence still unsettled, sion in tears on Wednesday having Camp Nou comes as Koeman attempts ed to be joining Chelsea. It’s a dream for Mendy’s signing follows the arrivals of The club’s longest-serving player despite the recent arrivals of two been told over the summer that he was to reshape Barcelona. As well as me to be a part of this exciting squad and full back Ben Chilwell, striker Timo Ryan Giggs finished as caretaker new centre halves, it will be diffi- no longer required by new coach Suarez, the Dutchman has shown the to work with Frank Lampard and all of Werner and wingers Hakim Ziyech and manager. Then came Dutchman cult for them to keep the lethal for- Ronald Koeman. exit to Arturo Vidal and Ivan Rakitic, his coaching staff. I look forward to meet- Kai Havertz, with the overall outlay total- Louis van Gaal who lasted two sea- ward three of the Reds at bay. They Since joining Barca from Liverpool while French defender Samuel Umtiti ing my team mates and can’t wait to get ling more than 200 million pounds. The sons and was sacked right after will be supported ably by Thiago in 2014, Suarez has won a host of is also set to leave. started,” Mendy told the club’s website. London club also signed defenders Thiago winning the FA Cup in 2016. Jose Alcantara, the man-of-the-match of trophies, including the 2015 Spanish television channel Gol Mendy played 33 games in all competi- Silva and Malang Sarr on free transfers. Mourinho lasted two and half sea- the Champions League final, who Champions League and four Liga showed Suarez wiping away tears tions for Rennes last season as they fin- Chelsea’s decision to boost their goal- sons up to December 2018. The club arrived quietly to Merseyside from titles. He leaves as the club’s third with his sleeve as he drove off after ished third in Ligue 1 to qualify for the keeping options follows Spaniard Kepa seems to want too much too soon European champions Bayern highest scorer with 198 goals behind saying his last goodbyes to teammates Champions League. France-born Mendy Arrizabalaga’s dip in form since last sea- and don’t seem to realise that Munich. The Spanish orchestrator Cesar Rodriguez (232) and Lionel at Barcelona’s Sant Joan Despi train- chose to represent Senegal - the country son, with his latest error coming in their someone of the stature of Ferguson of Brazilian origins will surely Messi (634). ing centre. where his mother was born - at interna- 2-0 defeat by Liverpool last Sunday. cannot be replaced overnight. want to be a champion again. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) **** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** Someone who is known for being unusually intro- A giggle fit or crying jag at the wrong time or in front The challenges you face now are more mental than Your latest idea for a project is something that your verted could surprise you today. Get involved with of the wrong people only increases your emotional physical. You’ll have to know what is right for you friends or co-workers need to know about as soon as what they have got going on. After all, if it has creat- intensity and creates upheaval. So be careful how and stick to your plans. A good thing for you to possible. These plans are sure to excite them, and ed such a dramatic transformation in their life, it you express yourself right now. Pull out your poker remember is that you do have the strength to stay they will be eager to help you make this great idea must be something worth pursuing. face and put it on. You will need it. committed to what you want. even greater.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) **** LEO (July 23-August 22) ***** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) **** Are you looking for something to be passionate about You are probably going to be in a very introspective Today is the perfect day to take another look at a sit- Even if you don’t totally understand your in your life? Now that you’ve checked so many things mood today, and it will enable you to make a lot of uation that has been bothering you off and on for a deepest feelings, you shouldn’t hide them, especially off of your to-do list, figuring out what to do next progress in one of your relationships. Use this quiet while, maybe an unresolved spat with a friend, a from the person who is causing them. This is a time might seem like a tough proposition. But there is a phase of life to take stock of where you are and choice you don’t want to make, or a task you don’t to let the sun shine brightly on yourself and let every- good way to get started. where you want to be with this person. want to perform. one see it.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) *** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) *** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) ** How’s your health? It’s time for you to take stock of The people around you have good ideas that you You are feeling the pressure of a deadline. If you A person who has power over you could make you your physical and emotional state. If you haven’t had should hear. If you put down your guard and hear need help getting it all done, don’t be shy about make a bad decision, but there isn’t much you’re a checkup in a while, you should schedule one with their words without getting defensive, you will soon asking for it! This is not the time to act like you going to be able to do about it. It’s not that you are your doctor soon just to put your mind at ease. And understand that what they’re telling you makes a lot have everything under control when you know their doormat, it’s just that you aren’t in a position to make sure you’re getting enough exercise. of sense. you don’t. object to their rulings. CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020 | 08 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 With no lockdown, Valley denizens find a new favourite activity—hiking This rise in the popularity of hiking has served as a shot in the arm for small restaurants and shops located on the hiking trails.

POST FILE PHOTOS For the past few months, hiking trails across the Valley have seen an increase in hiker traffic. Small restaurant owners on hiking trails say the number of hikers has almost tripled.

trail for the first time after the lockdown the trail that leads to Tarebhir. If things changed in the past few months is the have seen that happen here on the Tarebhir TSERING NGODUP LAMA was imposed, I was surprised to see doz- had gone according to his plan, Dorje, a kind of hikers the trail is seeing,” said trail,” said Dorje. “To ensure that at least KATHMANDU ens of people on the trail. It was buzzing resident of Tarebhir, would have been Mahesh Lama, proprietor of White House some section of the trail remains clean, with hikers. A few days ago, on a weekday, attending a university in Australia. “After View Point Resort, which lies in enroute once a week, my staff and I conduct a trail or the last five years, Tashi I hiked the trail again and I saw dozens of several attempts in getting a student visa to the temple. “Before the lockdown, it clean-up. We try to cover as much area as Gurung has made it a point to hikers. Looks like everybody seems to be failed, a year ago, I decided to open this was mainly devotees who’d hike to tem- we can during the clean-up.” hike from Jagdol to Tarebhir, a hiking to Tarebhir these days.” restaurant,” said Dorje, who says that he ple, but after the pandemic hit, we have Gurung agrees with Dorje that the sleepy Tamang village that But it’s not just the Traebhir hiking couldn’t have started his business at a been seeing a lot of leisure hikers, and in increasing popularity of hiking has con- abuts the Shivapuri National trail that has been seeing a surge in hik- better time. fact their number now far outstrip the tributed to an increase in litter on trails. Park, at least once a month. ers. For the past few months, hiking trails Before the lockdown, Dorje says that devotees. For the past few months, we “In June, we did a circuit hike from F“The first time I hiked to Tarebhir via across the Valley have seen an increase in the trail used to see less than 1,500 people have been getting an average of 3,000 hik- Jagdol to Chunikhel via Tarebhir, and Jagdol was back in 2015, and I immediate- hiker traffic. After the easing of the a week. ers a week.” what I saw on the trail left me appalled. I ly fell in love with the trail’s thick pine months of lockdown, which mandated “But as the lockdown loosened, the It’s a great thing, says Gurung, that hik- remember this one particular spot where forest, grassy meadows, and the spectacu- that people stay indoors, many Valley number of hikers almost tripled. We now ing has become a popular activity. “If you there was a handsewn bamboo doko lar views of Kathmandu Valley,” said denizens now seem to be embracing the get an average of 4,000 people in a week. think about it Covid-19 has laid the perfect nailed to a tree. Beside it was a sign that Gurung. “And the best part is that the outdoors more than ever, and hiking The surge in hikers has kept our restau- groundwork to make hiking popular. said ‘Dustbin’. But the doko was only half hike’s starting point is just 10 minutes trails that once used to see only a handful rant very busy and our team working When you go hiking, not only do you get full and the ground beneath it was strewn ride from Boudha, making it a very acces- of weekend hikers are now teeming with very hard,” says Dorje. “A few weeks ago, some physical activity, which is essential with water and beer bottles and plastics,” sible hiking trail.” people even on weekdays. we built extra gazebos so we could accom- to keep your immunity strong, you also get said Gurung. “For many of us, these hik- Until early this year, the trail, says And this rise in the popularity of hik- modate the increasing number of guests.” to soak up some Vitamin D, which is cru- ing trails provide us with a much-needed Gurung, was always secluded. “Except for ing has served as a shot in the arm for On the other side of the city, another cial to boost your immunity,” said Gurung. mental respite in these testing times. We villagers living in the trail’s periphery, I small restaurants and shops located on hiking destination that has gained But the surging hiker traffic is not have to be more respectful of them, and I would hardly see other hikers on the trail. the hiking trails. immense popularity is the Champadevi without its perils. hope that as more and more learn to It was so quiet,” said Gurung. “But in Earlier this year, Dorje Lama opened temple hike. “Champadevi hike has “The more hikers you have on the trail, appreciate these trails, more of us will be early May, which was when I hiked the Old Village Cottage, a small restaurant on always been popular, but what has the more litter you come across, and we more respectful towards them.”

Annual Lennon tribute, Pageant powerhouse Venezuela in 40th year, goes online to hold virtual beauty contest The 22 competitors have been relying on distance learning to master The tribute will be streamed for free from 7 pm to midnight Eastern time walking the runway, putting on makeup and performing, say organisers. on the musician’s birthday on October 9. FABIOLA SÁNCHEZ “Making a program that you’ve been doing for so CARACAS long and living with the adrenaline rush of being ‘live’ for three hours turned into two and a half or the first time in decades of Miss months of individual recordings with the partici- Venezuela competitions, the pageant pants where biosafety standards have also become powerhouse’s so-called “most beautiful protagonists of the event,” he said. night” will not be live as organisers try They’ve looked at the examples of others for to put on a compelling contest virtually ideas on how to put on a beauty pageant in the amid a pandemic lockdown. middle of a pandemic. They borrowed ideas from FThe storied beauty contest—Miss Venezuela has similar shows in Spain, the U.S. and Italy, Di produced seven Miss Universe winners, six Miss Salvatore said. Countries like Panama and Worlds and seven Miss Internationals—has Colombia have also moved ahead with beauty con- endured corruption and sex scandals, as well as tests despite the pandemic. lawsuits, in recent years. But the novel coronavi- The contestants between the ages of 18 and 26 rus presents a challenge like no other, forcing the come from diverse academic backgrounds—includ- pageant to drop its musical productions and live ing doctors, lawyers, journalists, teachers and even audience yet still maintain the interest of its a former Navy cadet. legion of loyal followers. Especially tricky for many was learning how to Each of the 22 competitors has been under strict speak in public through a computer screen or a confinement at home under quarantine require- mobile phone, but Miss Venezuela’s public speak- ments Venezuela imposed in mid-March, relying ing coach, Dave Capella, said he’s confident each of on distance learning through social media to mas- the contestants has conquered this obstacle. ter walking the runway, putting on makeup and One challenge of the remote training program performing, organisers say. The six-month train- was helping the contestants overcome stage fright, ing process to prepare the young women was done Capella said. He first encouraged them to openly entirely online. acknowledge their fears, and he pulled questions Organisers then recorded each participant indi- from videos of other international competitions to vidually, without protective facemasks, walking help them learn how to think on their feet. the runway and making other appearances on Sicilia said that despite the difficulties brought stage. The videos were edited to give viewers a by the pandemic, the show must go on. sense that they all appeared together in a group. “Our objective has always been to put on Miss AP/RSS The pre-recorded show will air Thursday night. Venezuela,” she said. A couple look at the Lennon Wall with a face mask attached to the image of John Lennon, in Prague, Czech Republic. The crowning of the new Miss Venezuela and the —Associated Press two finalists will take place the next day in another DAVID BAUDER workshops such as songwriting, art and meditation recorded program. NEW YORK to cancer patients and survivors and to children who The event’s general manager, Nina Sicilia, dis- have lost parents to the disease. misses the notion that pre recording the contest- ike many other events, an annual John Raiola and other friends began their informal trib- ants separately will take away the event’s raw Lennon tribute concert that takes place in ute to Lennon in 1981, less than a year after the for- emotion. She said that during the show’s opening his adopted city of New York on his mer Beatle was shot to death. runway walk each of the candidates was brought October 9 birthday has been forced online It stayed small, at least until 24 years in, when to tears and had to touch up her makeup. because of the coronavirus pandemic. Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono read a story about the “Necessity sharpens ingenuity,” said Sicilia, There was no way it was being cancelled, tribute in the New York Daily News and called Raiola who won Miss International in 1985. “We’ve had to Lnot on what would have been Lennon’s 80th birthday, to say, in effect, what are you doing? reconfigure, adjust our resources, opportunities not on the tribute’s 40th year. Learning more about it, she offered support, and while always being conscious that this shouldn’t “The idea of not celebrating John, of stopping said in a statement issued Thursday that “this is change our focus.” after 39 years, never crossed my mind,” said Joe such a wonderful way to honour John and the values The quarantine measures are aimed at avoiding Raiola, the tribute’s producer and artistic director of he stood for.” infection for the 22 candidates, dozens of people the Theatre Within organisation. Cash, a fellow New Yorker who was honoured with who work around them and producers at the pri- Raiola had booked the Town Hall venue for this the John Lennon Real Love Award in 2018, has per- vate channel Venevision. This is the 67th Miss year’s show. With the pandemic forcing it to stream formed the former Beatles’ songs I’m Only Sleeping Venezuela competition. for free from 7 pm to midnight Eastern time on the and Look at Me at a past tribute. Sicilia took over the pageant’s leadership two LennonTribute.org website, the event could get more “It’s one of those things that you don’t often see years ago together with María Gabriela Isler, Miss exposure than ever. where the same people show up every year,” Cash Universe 2013, and Jacqueline Aguilera, Miss Taped performances by Jackson Browne, Patti said in an interview. “They’re devoted to it. It’s not World 1995. The organisation’s executive commit- Smith, Natalie Merchant, Rosanne Cash, Jorma just because of John, it’s out of respect for what tee underwent a dramatic change after the abrupt Kaukonen, Shelby Lynne, Taj Mahal, Marc Cohn, they’re doing and the community they’ve created.” departure of Osmel Sousa, known as the Joan Osborne and others will be included—many Raiola believes Lennon’s impact was “seismic” and Venezuelan beauty czar, who directed the contest AP/RSS from past shows but some new. that the ideals he believed in didn’t die with him. for almost four decades. A beauty pageant contestant, wearing a protective face Without ticket sales, organisers will ask for contri- “Peace, love, gender equality and social justice— Ricardo Di Salvatore, Venevision’s executive mask issued by the Miss Venezuela beauty pageant, butions for programs that benefit people affected by that stuff never gets old,” he said. producer, said this year’s Miss Venezuela was an watches as her hair is styled in a Venevision television cancer. Theatre Within and Gilda’s Club offer free — Associated Press “experiment.” station dressing room, in Caracas, Venezuela.

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