WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 191 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in , , Bharatpur and 35.0 C 13.0 C Thursday, September 03, 2020 | 18-05-2077 Nepalgunj Jomsom Economists paint a bleak picture of economy as virus hits harder With rising virus caseload, authorities are tightening curbs which could result in a massive economic contraction.

PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA end of the last fiscal year 2019-20, KATHMANDU, SEPT 2 down around Rs17 billion. “This suggests that there has been In normal times, the country’s com- greater recovery of existing loans than mercial banks would be busy issuing new loans,” said Bhuvan Dahal, chief loans right and left at the start of executive officer of Sanima Bank. every new fiscal year. In mid-July, The government on July 21 decided lenders would be bracing for a hectic to lift the lockdown. season. As the country saw a massive spike “That is the time importers seek in the Covid-19 caseload, local admin- loans for importing goods targeting istrators imposed prohibitory orders the and festivals,” said in various districts, shutting down Gunakar Bhatta, spokesperson for businesses and factories again. Rastra Bank. “But the report I Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur, have received shows that banks have the three districts in the Kathmandu been hardly issuing loans since the Valley, too were put under prohibitory fiscal year started.” orders effective August 19 midnight, When the current fiscal year started shattering hopes of an economic on July 16, the entire country was in recovery. the fourth month of the lockdown that “Due to the ongoing restrictions, the government had imposed from the contribution to the economy from March 24 to contain the spread of the the consumption of goods and servic- POST PHOTO: SANJOG MANANDHAR coronavirus. es is set to decrease substantially,” Devotees pull a miniature chariot of Kumari, the living goddess, to mark the Indra festival in Segal, Kathmandu, on Wednesday. Celebrations of the eight-day long festival, which began on Businesses and factories were shut- said Bhatta. “If the current situation August 30, have been largely muted this year as the main events, which normally drew huge crowds, were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. tered, shops were closed, tourist arriv- continues until the festival season, als were down to zero, and restaurants when consumption skyrockets, the and hotels teetered on the edge. economy will get hit even harder.” According to the Nepal Bankers’ Consumption in the last fiscal year Association, there has been a substan- was 82 percent of the gross domestic tial drop in new lending by commer- product. A significant portion of con- The fertiliser conundrum–governments ponder over cial banks. sumption that takes place during the The association’s data shows out- festival season will be wiped out from standing lending of commercial banks the economy due to the ongoing decreased to Rs2.88 trillion as of restrictions. it every paddy season and forget after harvest August 21 from Rs2.9 trillion at the >> Continued on page 2 An agreement with India to procure fertiliser expired in 2017. Since then farmers have been deprived of timely supply, as authorities have failed to explore other options.

Ministry, the annual demand for chemical fertilizer currently stands at more than 700,000 tonnes while imports are just around 350,000 tonnes. The rest is met by informal imports or shipments smuggled through the open border. During the paddy season, urea requirement stands at 120,000 tonnes and 50,000 tonnes of Diammonium phosphate (DAP). Though the government this year has blamed the Covid-19 pandemic for the fertiliser shortage, Gaihre says the problem is a lack of a system to ensure buffer stocks. “There is enough financing to import fertilisers,” Gaihre told the Post. “That the country required buff- er stocks has been an issue that has been in discussion for long.” The budget has allocated Rs 11 bil- lion for fertiliser subsidy for this fiscal year, up from Rs9 billion in the last fiscal year. Nepal imported fertil- POST PHOTO iser worth Rs 19 billion in the last Farmers stand in queue to buy fertiliser in Bharatpur, Chitwan, on Wednesday. fiscal year. Application of urea during the first SANGAM PRASAIN & ANIL GIRI fertilisers, the government has turned top dressing which normally begins KATHMANDU, SEPT 2 to Bangladesh, seeking 50,000 tonnes three-four weeks of transplantation of urea. ensures rapid vegetative growth, pro- Farmers on Wednesday stood in ser- Experts, however, were quick to call motes tillering, and helps strengthen pentine lines in various districts, the government move akin to putting the plants against disease attack. The ignoring the coronavirus threat, to the cart before the horse. second top dressing ensures complete buy urea amid a severe crunch of the “Paddy cultivation has its own rou- grain filling, increasing the size and essential nutrient for their paddy. tine. If chemical fertiliser--urea--is not weight of the grains. It also improves With September already started, for applied within three weeks from now, the quality of the crop by increasing farmers, it’s a race against time. a fall in productivity is imminent,” the protein content. It’s the time for the second “top said Yam Kanta Gaihre, a soil scientist Hari Dahal, former secretary at the dressing” of paddy, and failure to col- at the International Fertilizer Agriculture Ministry, said that the lect urea will mean farmers will not Development Centre, who coordinates shortage appears due to the inability of get high yields by harvest time. field research activities in Asian coun- suppliers to deliver the product on time. Fertiliser shortage is a perennial tries, including Nepal, Bangladesh, “It takes at least six months for a problem in Nepal. and Myanmar. “But it’s too early to supplier to deliver the fertiliser. As Despite tall promises, the Oli admin- say the level of the impact on produc- fertiliser is an international commod- istration has miserably failed in ensur- tion, as there still are chances of some ity, prices keep fluctuating. If prices ing the timely supply of fertilisers. recovery.” rise, the supplier won’t bring them The country has completed its Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, which and they lose the security guarantee,” paddy transplantation on 98 percent has brought all economic sectors he said. “This happens worldwide. But of the available 1.37 million hectares down, agriculture is one sector that many countries have a buffer stock to farmland, the highest transplantation the country is looking up to, but econ- prevent the shortages.” recorded in the last five years, accord- omists say the fertiliser shortages In a bid to address the shortages, ing to the Ministry of Agriculture and could hugely impact the output. Nepal in 2009 signed an agreement Livestock Development. The record Paddy contributes approximately 7 with India, which meant India would transplantation is attributed to timely percent to the gross domestic product sell 100,000 tonnes of chemical fertil- and sufficient rainfall and availability and more than 60 percent of the work- iser (60,000 tonnes of urea and 40,000 of farm hands who returned home ing population is engaged in paddy tonnes of DAP) to Nepal annually at from foreign countries due to the pan- farming which lasts for at least six import parity prices. The agreement demic. It’s time to provide the paddy months of the year. allowed Nepal to directly purchase with the nutrients. Rice in Nepal provides nearly 50 from India without going through the After mounting pressure and grow- percent of the calorie requirements long tendering process which normal- ing criticism for failing to import the supplied by cereals. Hence, drop in ly takes six months. production has a cascading However, this got halted in 2015-16 effect—it affects the country’s due to the protests in Tarai and an economic growth, increases food Indian blockade. The agreement, how- insecurity and affects the income ever, expired by the end of 2017. of farmers. In 2018, Nepal had proposed renew- But factors like limited input al of the agreement to procure chemi- access, dependence on Indian cal fertilisers for at least five years at seaports and Indian transit the import parity price. The proposal routes to access international was made keeping in view the 10-year markets, lack of buffer stocks Prime Minister Agriculture and suppliers not fulfilling time- Modernisation Project introduced in ly delivery commitments makes 2017 that aims to increase agriculture shortage reappear every year. production. According to the Agriculture >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 03, 2020 | 02 NATIONAL Economists paint a bleak picture of economy as virus ... Two former lawmakers >> Continued from page 1 Satish Kumar More, president of tors all have been badly affected.” entire fiscal year for businesses to get The Covid-19 pandemic has hit the the Confederation of Nepalese A couple of sectors that the country back to pre-lockdown conditions. economies of almost every country Industries, said most factories except was looking up to were construction “Even if the situation normalises stage hunger strike across the world. Neighbouring India those producing essential goods and agriculture amid dismal growth. now, it will take an entire year for said earlier this week that its economy remained closed due to the The country this year saw a good business activities to return to nor- saw a sharp contraction of 24 percent prohibitory orders issued by the local paddy transplantation, but econo- malcy, which will mean the economy in the three months till June-end–the administrations. mists say the government’s failure to will be hit hard,” said Acharya. worst slump since the country started “There is an environment of fear make available fertiliser on time could The situation, however, deteriorat- over custody death releasing quarterly data in 1996. created by a lack of proper planning affect the desired output. ed further after the stay-home order India’s slump was the worst among and recovery measures by the author- This fiscal year, the country com- was lifted. Prohibitory orders were the world’s major economies, with the ities,” said More. “The government is pleted its paddy transplantation on 98 issued which have been extended by a United States’ economy contracting by more focused on shutting down percent of the available 1.37 million week in the . This of Dalit youth 9.5 percent in the same quarter and everything instead of facilitating hectares, the highest transplantation discouraged businesses from seeking Japan’s by 7.6 percent. industries which can at least operate rate recorded in the last five years, new loans from banks and financial The decline in India is largely following health and safety protocols. according to the Ministry of institutions. The struggle committee has warned of stepping up attributed to the months-long lock- Agriculture and Livestock The slump in demand for credit is down, one of the severest in the world, Development. one of the reasons why there is excess protest if its demands are not addressed. that was enforced almost simultane- Economists say the But the government failed to ensure liquidity totalling over Rs200 billion, ously with Nepal. Construction, man- an adequate supply of fertilisers dur- according to the central bank. ufacturing and transport industries country is heading ing the transplantation season. Economists and bankers say a situa- were among the hardest hit. Bhatta of the central bank said tion where financial institutions have The sectors that were hit the hard- towards economic there is still hope from the construc- enough money but borrowers are shy est in India have taken a beating here tion sector if the government creates a is not a good sign for the economy. in Nepal as well. contraction. conducive environment for construc- Credit expansion is one of the key Finance Minister Yuba Raj tion projects to move ahead immedi- indicators of how the economy is per- Khatiwada, who presented the budget ately after the upcoming festivals. forming. for the current fiscal year on May 28 According to the World Bank, Construction activities in Nepal “Usually, during this time of the amid the looming virus threat, howev- should cases in Nepal continue to rise usually pick up pace after the Dashain fiscal year, banks start to issue loans,” er, has set an ambitious growth target and should a rebound in economic and Tihar festivals every year. The said Dahal, who is also the president of 7 percent, which economists now activity in the country’s major trading sector contributes a little over 7 per- of the Nepal Bankers’ Association. say is almost impossible to achieve. partners and remittance-sending cent to the economy, according to the “Demand for loans compared to the “The country’s estimated growth countries be delayed, growth in fiscal Central Bureau of Statistics. same period in the last fiscal year is for the last fiscal year is 2.27 percent, 2020-21 risks turning negative, with a Experts, however, say it all depends much lower.” when the economy was running contraction of 2.8 percent possible. on whether the country can manage to According to the Nepal Bankers’ smoothly during the first eight “An economic contraction would slow the spread of the virus. Association, outstanding loans months,” said economist Keshav risk exacerbating poverty, inequality Shankar Sharma, former vice-chair increased by around Rs9 billion in the Acharya. “The new fiscal year began and food insecurity because of a large of the National Planning Commission, first month of the last fiscal year com- POST PHOTO: SHIVA PURI amid a suspension of almost all eco- informal economy,” said the World said the way the world is struggling pared to the end of the previous fiscal Bishwendra Pasawan and Ramprit Paswan have been staging a fast-unto-death strike outside nomic activities due to the virus. This Bank. An estimated 31.2 percent of the and Nepal, too, is failing to contain the year. But outstanding loans decreased the Area Police Office in Garuda since Tuesday evening. suggests that the economic situation Nepali population who live close to the spread of the virus, there is no hope by around Rs25 billion in the first will be bleaker this year.” poverty line (between $1.90 and $3.20 a for at least the first three quarters of month of the current fiscal compared SHIVA PURI Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday Amid the rising number of infec- day) are at high risk of falling into the current fiscal year. to the end of the last fiscal year. RAUTAHAT, SEPT 2 suspended Inspector Singh of the tions, authorities are now mulling extreme poverty. “Even if we reopen the economy As reduced economic activities District Police Office, Gaur. While the stricter restriction measures, which And economists say they foresee the fully in the last quarter if the virus resulted in low loan demand, the gov- Two former lawmakers have started Police Office suspended the could ground all the industries to a country heading towards a massive slows or a vaccine becomes available, ernment has continued to bar econom- an indefinite hunger strike at Garuda two head constables—Feroz Miya complete halt. During the four-month economic contraction. we will see meagre growth,” Sharma ic activities, even sectors that pose lit- in Rautahat district, demanding jus- Dhuniya and Mannu Kumar Singh— lockdown, around 61 percent of the “What is concerning is we are los- told the Post. tle risk. “The government stopped tice for 19-year-old Bijay Mahara who for their alleged involvement in the factories were shut down completely, ing from almost every sector. Almost According to a recent survey report online sales of food items where there died after allegedly being tortured by incident. according to a central bank study. all segments are expected to see a by , businesses will is minimum risk,” said Acharya. “The police in custody. The demonstrators have also With the government failing to negative growth,” said Acharya. take an average of nine months to whole emerging scenario shows that Bishwendra Pasawan and Ramprit demanded that police release four other come up with a clear plan for indus- “Wholesale and retail, ground and air return to normalcy after restrictions the country is heading towards an Paswan have been staging a fast-unto- youths who were arrested with Bijay. tries, businesses and service sectors, transport, tourism, hotels, finance are lifted. economic contraction in the current death strike outside the Area Police “We will continue our protest until businesspersons are worried. and construction and industrial sec- Acharya said that it would take the fiscal year.” Office in Garuda since Tuesday and unless our demands are evening, demanding a fair investiga- addressed,” said Sonelal Ram, the tion into Bijay’s death. As the health coordinator of a struggle committee of Bishwendra deteriorated over- formed to demand justice for Bijay. night, he was given saline solution on The local administration has called The fertiliser conundrum ... Wednesday. the families of Bijay and Niranjan to Bijay and six others were arrested sit for talks, but to no avail. >> Continued from page 1 Minister Ghanshyam Bhusal, on August 19 in connection to the mur- “The two sides have so far refused The Agriculture Ministry had India, however, responded quite der of Niranjan Ram, a local teenager, our invite for a dialogue,” said proposed importing 150,000 late, expressing its inability to in Garuda Municipality. Bijay died on Indradev Yadav, the Chief District tonnes of fertiliser (urea 100,000 provide fertilisers to Nepal August 26 at National Medical College Officer of Rautahat. tonnes and potash 50,000 tonnes) immediately. in . His family members have A source at the Area Police Office in in the first year–2018. In the sec- “So we decided to approach claimed that he was tortured in custo- Garuda said that three police officers ond year, the ministry had pro- Bangladesh,” Bhusal told the dy. Police have been saying that Bijay from the crime branch of the District posed importing 170,000 tonnes Post. “It was not feasible to died in the course of treatment for a Police Office had tortured Bijay in of fertiliser under a govern- import from China due to trans- kidney ailment. custody bypassing an investigation ment-to-government deal, portation and logistic issues.” However, a video of Bijay, which officer designated to probe Niranjan 195,000 tonnes in the third year Prime Minister KP Sharma was taken in hospital prior to his murder case. and 210,000 tonnes each in the Oli on Tuesday spoke with his death, shows him saying that he was According to the source, they took fourth and fifth years. Bangladeshi counterpart indeed tortured by plainclothes police Bijay and Sikendra Pasawan, another According to Indian media Sheikh Hasina on phone to and forced to confess to the August 16 suspect, to a detention room and reports, the government-to-gov- request her government to pro- murder of 17-year-old Niranjan. forced them to confess to Niranjan’s ernment pact has been pending vide 50,000 tonnes of fertilisers, Bijay’s death has sparked protests murder. since December 4, 2018, when according to Foreign Ministry in Rautahat. Friends and relatives of Niranjan’s body was discovered by Nepal submitted the first draft officials. Banshidhar Mishra, the Dalit youth, local people and rights locals on August 15. A team, led by of the proposed memorandum Nepal’s ambassador to activists have been staging demon- Inspector Kedarman Dong, was of understanding the same year. Bangladesh, told the Post over strations in Garuda Bazar for the past formed to investigate the case. “We had sent the proposal the phone from Dhaka that as one week. They have refused to accept The team detained Sheikh Aajad and several rounds of discus- soon as the documentation pro- the probe committee formed by the and 10 other locals, including Bijay, on sions were held on the agenda. cess is over, the process to send Ministry of Home Affairs and called August 16. Four of the suspects were But India refused to provide the fertiliser will begin. for the formation of an impartial released the next day. chemical fertilisers at the “The consignment will be investigation team to find the truth On August 18, Superintendent of import parity price,” said one dropped in Birgunj,” said behind the death of Bijay as well as Police Rabiraj Khadka, the district retired secretary of the minis- Mishra. “It will take about a Niranjan, action against the guilty police chief, deployed Inspector Nabin try requesting anonymity. month. Our agreement is to and suitable compensation to the fam- Singh and the head constable duo “India clearly told us that it return the same amount of fer- ily of the deceased. Munna Singh and Firoj Alam, to won’t sell the product at the tiliser to Bangladesh in about Family members and friends of Garuda to investigate the Niranjan import parity price and that it six-nine months.” Bijay have claimed that Police murder case. cannot give an equal treatment Experts and former officials, Inspector Nabin Singh and the head Inspector Dong refused to give to Nepal as it has given to its however, for long have argued constable duo Munna Singh and Firoj details about the incident, nor did he farmers.” that Nepal needs to explore Alam had tortured Bijay at the say anything about the Inspector There was no further develop- more options to ensure timely instruction of the District Police Singh-led team taking over the investi- ment thereafter, according to supply of the fertilisers. Office. “The police involved in tortur- gation. him. “It would have been expen- Dahal, the former secretary, ing him should be punished,” demand- “I am not in the position to reveal sive for Nepal to buy fertilisers said one way could be initiating ed Panilal, Bijay’s father. the details. You can ask the DSP from India at the export parity the process of importing fertil- Following widespread protests, the Mahato about it,” he said. price,” the official told the Post. isers from India just like it buys After farmers faced with the petroleum products, by signing shortages, Nepal initiated the a commercial agreement. process with India in the hopes “This will ensure timely to get timely supply of the fertil- availability of farm inputs,” Two suspects held in connection isers. According to Agriculture said Dahal, “as Nepal’s demand is less than 1 percent of India’s total fertiliser consumption.” with Rautahat priest killing SHIVA PURI Government of Nepal RAUTAHAT, SEPT 2 Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Police on Wednesday made Department of Roads public two persons arrested in Federal Highway Supervision and Monitoring Office connection with the murder of Shreeram Sah, a priest at Road Division, Bharatpur Hanuman Temple in Madhavnarayan Municipality Notice for Opening Financial Proposal Ward No. 2, Rautahat. Sah, 65, was shot dead by an Date of Publication: 2077-05-18 (Sep 03, 2020) unidentified group on August It is to be informed that all the bidders who submitted their bids through e-bidding as per 19 outside the temple. Ramnaresh Patel, 36, and the notice published on 2076/11/01 (Feb 13, 2020) notice No. 21-76/77(1) Contract No.: Balkumar Patel, 28, of Gonahi RDBHT/33701138/076/77-90, the technical proposal of following bidders have found Municipality Ward No. 1 substantially responsive according to the Rule 31 ng(5) of Public Procurement Regulation have been detained for investi- th gation. (10 revision) 2064 and the financial proposal of successful bidder will be opened on “During the preliminary 2077-05-25 at Road Division Bharatpur at 13:00 hours. investigation, Ramnaresh Name of work: M/S YFC-Elite(ECC) JV,Kathmandu admitted to killing Sah using a pistol,” said Singh. According Upgrading and M/S Kumar-GGHB JV, Kathmandu to Ramnaresh, Balkumar abet- Improvement of Gondrang M/S Woodhill-Lama JV, Kathmandu ted him in the crime. The - Pulchowk Section of M/S Shiv Buildindia-Gauriparbati JV, Kathmandu Rautahat District Court has East West Highway, M/S GGL-Khadka Krishna JV, Kathmandu remanded the detainees in Bharatpur (Mahendra M/S JSCEC-Mahalaxmi-Kirateshwori(KCDC) JV, custody for 10 days for investi- Highway NH01) gation. Kathmandu Police suspect financial deal- M/S Indo-Sagun JV, Butwal ing to be the main cause behind M/S TEIPPL-Pacific JV, Kathmandu the killing. According to the M/S VRS-DS-Shiva Shakti JV, investigation officer, Sah had M/S RMN- Jaljala JV, Kathmandu loaned some money to Ramnaresh’s father. They had M/S RKJain- Baniya JV, Hetauda a dispute when the priest asked M/S RK-Himdung & Thokar JV, Kathmandu for his money back. M/S CICO- Tundi JV, Lalitpur Police have also suspected M/S Kalika Construction Pvt. Ltd, Baluwatar the involvement of a few other M/S Zhongco-Ashish-Samanantar JV, Chitwan people in the crime. They refused to disclose more infor- M/S Shrestha-Contech-Bandan Bhagwati JV, Kathmandu mation, citing that it would affect the investigation.

C M Y K 03 | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 03, 2020 NATIONAL As ruling party heads for crucial meet, there’s a fly in the ointment Bamdev Gatuam has once again renewed his demand for a seat in National Assembly, as promised back in February.

ANIL GIRI KATHMANDU, SEPT 2

A lynchpin or. gadfly? Nepal Communist Party vice-chair Bamdev Gautam is both. When the ruling party holds its Secretariat meeting on Thursday, party chair and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will be faced with a diffi- cult challenge–all because of Gautam. The communist leader, who lost the 2017 parliamentary elections, has once again renewed his demand for the National Assembly seat. POST FILE PHOTO If Oli were to take Gautam to the Bamdev Gatuam National Assembly, he would lose Yubaraj Khatiwada as his finance appointed him finance minister on minister. If he decides to continue March 4. POST PHOTO: ELITE JOSHI with Khatiwada, Gautam can upset Since there is only one seat vacant, Two men (left) wearing masks to protect themselves from coronavirus perform Sorha Saraddha rituals under the guidance of a priest, in Kathmandu, on Wednesday, the first day of this year’s the apple cart in the party. Khatiwada’s appointment will mean Pitri Paksha or Mahalaya, a 16-day period in the Hindu calendar when people pay homage to their ancestors. “If Oli remains adamant on contin- Gautam will not have a chance to uing with Khatiwada, it could be a reach the National Assembly. risky game for him,” said a Standing “The prime minister wants consen- Committee member who did not wish sus on such issues and I think he will to be named. “It had taken a lot for Oli not go against the majority leaders,” to regain his strength in the party and said Bishnu Rimal, Oli’s chief advisor. BRIEFING As Covid-19 affects healthcare workers, ensure that the party remained unit- “The prime minister will respect the ed.” decision of the top leaders.” Until a few months ago, Oli was Insiders say Gautam has already Mugu children at high under huge pressure to step down met with Oli and urged him to take risk of malnutrition non-Covid patients are left in limbo both as party chair and prime him to the National Assembly, MUGU: Fifty-four children were found minister. promising all the support the party suffering from malnutrition from Those at the forefront demanding chair needs to succeed as the prime mid-July to mid-August in Mugu, With over 800 health workers, including more than 200 doctors, infected, public health his resignation were other chair minister. according to the District Health and senior lead- Gautam, according to a leader close Office. Dr Nirmal Nagarkoti, officer experts have called for protecting them first to avoid any catastrophe. ers Madhav Kumar Nepal and to him, urged Oli to respect the at the District Health Office, said chil- Jhalanath Khanal and Narayan Kaji February 26 decision to appoint him dren from Soru and Mugamkamarong ARJUN POUDEL called on the government to provide that they are compelled to use the Shrestha. National Assembly member. were the most affected by malnutri- KATHMANDU, SEPT 2 better protection for health workers so same masks for over a week and even The Dahal faction had Gautam’s A meeting of the party Secretariat tion. In the last fiscal year, 1,026 chil- that they can treat non-Covid patients reuse disposable masks after washing. backing too. meeting on February 26 had decided to dren were found suffering from mal- All services, except for emergency as well. While paying attention to Covid-19, With five leaders on one side, Oli appoint Gautam as National Assembly nutrition in the district. Among ones, have remained shut for the last “Over 2,500 patients used to visit the authorities concerned have forgotten was in the minority in the nine-mem- member. The party, however, could not them, 603 had severe malnutrition. two days at Bir Hospital after 71 health out-patient department of our hospi- about thousands of non-Covid ber Secretariat. In the 44-member implement the decision due to the workers, including over two dozen tal for services at this time,” Dr Rohit patients, who need medication, but Standing Committee too, the Dahal opposition from a section of the lead- doctors, tested positive for Covid-19. Kumar Pokhrel, director at the have been unable to to reach the hospi- faction commanded the majority. ers within the party as well as for the Temporary Covid-19 hospital Bir, the only the non-Covid public Tribhuvan University Teaching tal, doctors say. “People suffering from But Oli on July 28 pulled off a coup fear of controversy. hospital in the Kathmandu Valley, pro- Hospital, another public hospital in renal failure need dialysis at least in quite a dramatic fashion. He, along As the Secretariat meets on set up in Jhapa vides patients most of the medical the Valley, told the Post. “But only twice a week. They are facing a lot of with his wife Radhika Shakya, sud- Thursday with a host of agenda KAKADBHITTA: A temporary Covid-19 services available in the country. Due around 150 patients come these days.” challenges,” said Dr JP Agrawal, for- denly visited Gautam’s residence in including a Cabinet reshuffle, Gautam hospital has been set up at the new to its shutdown, hundreds of ailing But even with the dwindling num- mer dean at the Institute of Medicine. Bhaisepati, held a dinner meeting is likely to mount pressure on the building of Mechi Hospital in Jhapa. people are being deprived of treat- ber of patients, hospitals and health- “Dialysis centers seek polymerase with the Gautam family and returned Secretariat and prime minister to take Dr. Pitambar Thakur, medical super- ment for non-Covid ailments. care facilities across the country are chain reaction test reports for servic- to Baluwatar. a decision in line with the February 26 intendent at the hospital, said the es and to undergo the test twice a week He then got Dahal into talking. Both understanding. hospital will start services after it is impossible.” held several rounds of talks. A leader said the issue of Gautam hires the necessary human resources. Similarly, thousands of patients suf- With Gautam into his fold, Oli was and Khatiwada could overshadow “We have used two hall rooms of the fering from chronic ailments—asth- emboldened. He reached an under- other issues at the Secretariat meeting newly constructed building as the ma, diabetes, hypertension, heart standing with Dahal. Both the chairs which is also scheduled to discuss a Covid-19 centre. These rooms will disease, thyroid and others, who formed a task force that suggested Oli report prepared by the six-member have a total of 75 beds,” said Thakur. need regular follow up checks are would lead the government for the full task force that has made several rec- also being deprived of medical term and Dahal would run the party ommendations for running the party consultations. with “expanded roles”. The party and the government in tandem. 13 illegal medical shops sealed Meanwhile, even doctors who got escaped the imminent danger of a If Gautam refuses to budge from his RUKUM (WEST): Thirteen medical shops infected while deployed at the Covid- split and Oli saved his both positions. stance, Oli might have to ask any in Chaurjahari Municipality, Rukum 19 frontline are not getting proper According to party insiders, Oli is other National Assembly member to (West), have been sealed by the treatment. According to the Nepal for giving continuation to Khatiwada step down so that both Gautam and municipal office for violating the Medical Association, a doctor, serving as the finance minister, for “his ability Khatiwada can be appointed, accord- standard of medical shop operation. POST FILE PHOTO at Birat Medical College in Birgunj, to ensure aid and investment” which ing to a leader who also spoke on con- According to Ram Bahadur KC, Public health experts say that rising infections among health care workers is alarming. infected with Covid-19 is in a critical will be crucial in such a difficult dition of anonymity. “Or else, Oli has acting chief administrative condition. situation created by the Covid-19 to make any other proposal to Gautam officer of the municipality, out According to the Ministry of Health faced with shortages of doctors. “‘We are trying to bring the doctor pandemic. so as to stop him from lobbying for the of 16 medical shops in Chaurjahari, and Population, while around 800 “If we fail to pay attention to the to Kathmandu,” Dr Lochan Karki, But for Khatiwada to continue as National Assembly seat.” 13 medicals were sealed from health workers across the country growing infection rate among health- chairman of Nepal Medical the finance minister, he needs to be Gautam is also seeking Dahal’s sup- Monday onwards. have tested positive for coronavirus, care workers, we will face a critical Association, an umbrella organiza- appointed a member of the National port in his bid to go to the National one has died due to Covid-19. Among shortage of health workers to treat tion of medical doctors, told the Post. Assembly, again, within the end of Assembly, according to the leader. the infected health workers, more both Covid and non-Covid patients,” “Overlooking the growing infection this week. Insiders say it is not yet clear if Five scrub typhus cases reported than 200 are doctors. With so many Dr Dipendra Pandey, former chair- rate among health care workers could As per constitutional provisions, a Dahal will throw his weight behind DARCHULA: Five scrub typhus cases health workers infected, treatment for man of Government Doctors’ be costly for the country. To treat both non-elected person can be appointed a Gautam, given his move to abandon have been reported in the District non-Covid ailments has been stalled at Association of Nepal, told the Post. Covid or non-Covid patients, health minister but he or she has to take the him after Oli visited his house. Hospital in Darchula in the past many health facilities. The apathy of the government to workers are needed, we should under- oath as a member of either the House While Gautam is considered a gad- week. Dambar Datta Bhatta, informa- Public health experts say that rising provide personal protective equip- stand this fact, and implement more of Representatives or the National fly in the party by many for frequently tion officer at the hospital, said, “The infections among health care workers ment, face shields, masks, gloves and stringent measures to protect them.” Assembly within six months of the changing camps, he has also emerged patients are from Mahakali is alarming as it signals a shortage of others are considered the main rea- Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health appointment. Even after an earlier as a lynchpin in the party lately. Municipality, Malikarjun Rural healthcare workers to treat not only sons for growth in infections among on Wednesday urged retired health term of Khatiwada, who was earlier a “It all depends on how strongly he Municipality and Byas Rural patients infected with coronavirus, healthcare workers. workers and others willing to serve nominated member in the National can make a case for himself for his Municipality of the district.” but also other ailments. They have Health workers have complained voluntarily to contact the ministry. Assembly, expired in March, Oli had appointment,” said Shrestha. Prohibitory orders to continue Over two dozen Kathmandu officials in self-isolation for one more week in the Valley The absence of senior officials has hindered the city’s effective response to the pandemic. Authorities have eased some activities including online ANUP OJHA the discussions have beens stalled. KATHMANDU, SEPT 2 With sharp increments in Covid-19 home delivery, development works and priority projects. cases in the city, virologists say that After Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s the disease has already spread at the TIKA R PRADHAN was first imposed on August 19 mid- Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya tested community level. KATHMANDU, SEPT 2 night for a week. The second exten- positive for Covid-19 positive on “It seems that the disease is being sion was due to expire on Wednesday Monday, over two dozen key city offi- transmitted from one family to anoth- The prohibitory orders in Kathmandu midnight. cials, including half a dozen ward er. The impacts of the two weeks of Valley have once again been extended According to the notice, the CDOs officers, in close contact with Shakya restrictions are yet to be seen, but the by another week until September 9 have also decided that anyone wishing have isolated themselves at home. local and federal government should midnight. to enter the Valley for emergency With the officials staying home, the work with better plans to halt this The chief district officers of work must have the coronavirus RT response of the city, most affected by POST FILE PHOTO rapid transmission,” said Dr Sher Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur PCR negative report. the pandemic in the Valley, has been Long queues at the government’s Covid testing lab in Kathmandu suggest cases are rising. Bahadur Pun, a virologist at Teku on Wednesday decided to continue the The time frame for purchasing affected as the remaining officials based Sukraraj Tropical and restrictions, saying there has been no essential goods has also been extended don’t have the authority to make deci- Mayor Shakya has not delegated any was in close contact with Mayor Infectious Disease Hospital. let up in the coronavirus infection till 11 am from the previous 9 am. The sions, even during emergencies.. responsibilities to her even as he iso- Shakya,” Chief Executive Aryal told Chief Executive Aryal said the iso- cases. authorities have also allowed the After the mayor tested positive for lates himself at home. “ I called him the Post on the phone. Asked about the lation centre had become a necessity “In view of the continuous increase shops and vehicles related to develop- Covid-19, Chief Executive Ek Naraya on Wednesday morning, and told him fate of the 5,000-bed integrated isola- for the city, but as its construction is in the coronavirus cases we have ment works from 2 pm to 9 pm. Aryal, Joint Secretary Rajeshwor to hand over some responsibilities to tion centers the mayor promised three to be expedited by the political leader- decided to extend the ongoing prohibi- National priority projects and Gyawali, administration chief Nwaraj me,” said Khadgi. “But he said he will weeks ago, Aryal said he didn’t know ship. “Because in our city, a single tion order for one more week,” said industries related to essential services Dhakal, the mayor’s personal secre- carry out all of his work from home. about it. house is home to over 50 people living Narayan Prasad Bhatta, chief district can also operate by setting up quaran- tary Rajeshowr Stapit, and He needs to stay in isolation for two “All political decisions have to be in different rooms, if one family gets officer of Lalitpur. “We are trying to tine facilities. Spokesperson Ishwor Man Dangol, weeks and people are dying already. made by the mayor,” Aryal added. infected, others also catch the disease. make the restrictions more effective. The local administrations in the among others others have been stay- How will he work from home?” ques- Last week, Shakya, also the coordi- If only we could prepare an isolation But we have also revised some of the Valley have also instructed the ward ing home. tioned Khadgi, the only top official not nator of the Valley Mayors’ Forum, centre, we could stop the rapid trans- restrictions.” committee offices to monitor whether “This is a great misfortune for the in self- isolation. held a meeting with Minister for mission,” said Aryal. Bhatta said a standard for online the people whose swab has been taken city. The number of Covid-19 cases is According to the Public Health Health Bhaubhakta Dhakal, Health When the Post contacted Ishwor home delivery is being prepared and for the coronavirus test and those on sharply increasing, but those who Division of the Kathmandu Secretary Laxam Aryal, Lalitpur Man Dangol, spokesperson for the city home delivery will be allowed with the list of contact tracing are living in need to be out there making quick Metropolitan City, 2,707 have tested Mayor Chiribabu Maharjan and also in home isolation, to ask about strict implementation of the health home isolation. “Those violating the decisions are at home,” said a city positive for Covid-19 and 19 have died Madhyapur Thimi Mayor Madan the mayor, he said Shakya was in good protocol. home quarantine rules would be pun- official on the condition of anonymity. of ailments related to the infection, as Sundar Shrestha to discuss the pro- health. “He is doing all tasks through This is the second extension of the ished as per the Infectious Disease Act Deputy Mayor Hari Prabha Khadgi, of August 30. posed integrated isolation centre But his phone, and doesn’t have any prohibition order in the Valley after it 1964,” states the notice. who has been coming to work, said “I myself am in self isolation as I after Shakya contracted the infection, health-related issues,” said Dangol.

C M Y K THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 03, 2020 | 04 OPINION EDITORIAL How to spot a genius Let the data sink in Nepotism and favouritism Our approach to dealing with the have been the bane of Nepali pandemic needs an overhaul. polity for centuries. It is not going away any time soon. Nepal has recorded 12 new deaths and 1,120 new cases in the last 24 hours. In the last 43 days alone, since the government ‘lifted the lockdown’ on July 21, the country has seen 211 DEEPAK THAPA deaths and 23,655 cases. But the regime, it seems, is intent on AS I LIKE washing its hands of the pandemic. If we analyse the government data from the end of July till last week, there is a clear indication of a gradual rise in the percent-positive rate in the country. The percent-positive rate tells us the current level of virus transmission and whether It has been a while since we heard from enough testing is being done and as such, helps the govern- Donald J Trump about what a ‘stable ment and public health agencies measure the severity of an genius’ he is. His claim to his supposed outbreak and limitations in testing. brilliance comes first and foremost from his having attended an Ivy League If we look at the percent-positive rate and the number of hos- university although his own sister pitalisation and ICU admissions in the country over the last believes he cheated his way in. Trump four weeks, it is clear that the risk levels have actually increased. also boasts about having made heaps of The percent-positive rate which stood at 3.46 percent in the week money out of the real estate empire he inherited from his father, before of July 25-31 has jumped to 7.63 percent in the week of August branching out into the hospitality busi- 22-28. This higher rate would indicate two things—if the num- ness while dabbling with professional SHUTTERSTOCK ber of positive tests is high or if the number of tests is low. The sports, beauty pageants, aviation and a ministers in thrall of him over a quar- Bista’s Fatalism and Development, it all Shared norms, values and understand- government must let this data sink in, and it must continue to university, not to mention a non-profit ter of a century. ‘Yeah, right!’ seems to has to do with our particular social ings relate to the subjective disposi- foundation. His detractors say all of be the only possible response to such structure that we look out for people tions and attitudes of individuals crunch the numbers to make informed decisions. these were failed enterprises and he brazen dissimulation. who are ‘our own’, the afno manchhe and groups…The cultural context in The World Health Organisation recommends a 5 percent-pos- managed to stay afloat only by gaming From what Koirala’s former col- syndrome. As he puts it: ‘Afno manchhe which shared attitudes, values and itive rate or lower for at least two weeks, provided that the the system, which he himself has leagues have said about him, he is quite is the term used to designate one’s knowledge are transmitted from surveillance for suspected cases is comprehensive before admitted to. But to his supporters his capable of navigating political chan- inner circle of associates…Academic generation to generation is important genius is unquestioned, particularly nels on his own and his family ties to qualification, training, background, in understanding the choices of indi- adjusting public health and social measures in the context of having managed all that and become a Pokhrel appear almost incidental. In working discipline, integrity of charac- viduals and groups in relation to Covid-19. As per the UN body’s epidemiological criteria, it also reality TV star as well as the president the current cabinet, besides Pokhrel, ter and other such attributes are not as co-operation’. recommends a ‘decline in the number of hospitalisation and of the United States. he apparently is also pally with the important or helpful as the sense of In Nepal, social capital often boils ICU admissions of confirmed cases for at least two weeks and But Trump now has competition in prime minister, the finance minister belonging to a particular circle. …A down to networks linked to each other the genius sphere, and that, too, from and the education minister. As he him- member of one’s own circle is natural- by family and ethnicity, and that is at least 80 percent of cases are from contact lists which can be Nepal. I am referring to one Professor self has said, he headed the Food ly preferred, even without a particular where the afno manchhe are drawn linked to identified clusters’. Dr Upendra Kumar Koirala, who comes Corporation even before Pokhrel capacity to perform in some organiza- from, mostly if not exclusively. Since An assessment of the aforementioned criteria, together with a resume as long and as varied as became a relative. Yet, even the duo tional role. The most important asset entry into these networks is not open to with an evaluation of the health system capacity and existing Trump’s. A college teacher who cata- should find it difficult to ignore the for anyone is not what you know, but all, it is but natural many people would pulted to becoming general manager of more than a hint of nepotism in the who you know’. find themselves in the ‘wrong net- surveillance system, would give us a clear picture of the Nepal Food Corporation in the mid- fact that Koirala was given charge of Bista’s book was published around works’, i.e., in networks that do not Covid-19 situation in the country. The data would then enable 1990s, he has served consecutively as the NOC when Pokhrel was the depart- the same time that the political parties provide the same returns as belonging the government and public health agencies to implement or campus chief of Mahendra Morang mental minister. As an intellectual, as came to power, riding a wave of enthu- to the ‘right’ ones. Research in the adjust public health and social measures accordingly, and help Campus and of the Post-Graduate he proudly calls himself, surely siasm after the 1990 People’s Movement American context has shown that those Campus in Biratnagar, executive chair- Koirala must have come across the old and the hope that they would put an from the dominant groups, meaning avoid uninformed decisions which could put public sacrifice person of Nepal Oil Corporation saying: ‘Caesar’s wife must be above end to the feudal holdovers such as the males and whites, tend to be part of to waste and endanger lives. (NOC), deputy chairperson of Higher suspicion’. afno manchhe system. The same hope more useful networks as opposed to Epidemiologists and infectious disease medical doctors have Secondary Education Board, vice-chan- Even if one were to accept that there was held in 2006 as well. But we all women, Hispanics and blacks. long said that there is growing evidence of community trans- cellor of Mid-Western University, and was no one more capable than him, know how that has turned out as well. There are various ways in which is now the presumptive chairperson of bowing to the well-established protocol For all his unfiltered and controver- large sections of the people are being mission of the virus; and without expanded testing, we will the state-owned Rastriya Banijya Bank, of avoiding conflict of interest, Koirala sial views in the book, Bista also further marginalised in Nepal, and not know for certain the true scale of transmission of the the largest financial institution in should have refused that appointment claimed that ‘[a]fno manchhe is a criti- that includes hailing from the ‘wrong’ virus. Meanwhile, the government has done little besides dis- Nepal. He is, seemingly, someone who outright so long as his daughter’s cal Nepali institution’, and that is ethnicity, and hence, belonging to the missing these concerns and imposing restrictions in more has been able to strike that most elu- father-in-law was going to remain his something that has been latched on to ‘wrong’ networks. My proposition thus sive balance between theory and prac- boss. In defence of his record there, mainly by foreigners to explain all the is that since afno manchhe is going to than half of the country, but data shows that this two-week tice. Except that, like Trump, his Koirala pointed out in an interview woes afflicting the country. Looking out be operational for a while here, it would window or extended restrictions to contain the spread of the every appointment has been marred by that the slogan painted on NOC tank- for afno manchhe is certainly not a make a lot of sense to ensure that posi- disease has failed as the number of new cases and deaths con- controversy. ers, proclaiming ‘Purity in petroleum uniquely Nepali phenomenon, except tions of power and influence were to be tinue to escalate. The recovery rate, according to government Of course, none of this would have products is our motto’, was his idea that unlike here, when it involves close apportioned more equitably to allow come to light had it not been for Deputy even though that hardly sounds like the relatives, a strict line is usually drawn for all social groups to get a shot at data, has also declined to 55.9 percent as of Wednesday, from Prime Minister Ishwar Pokhrel’s name handiwork of a management whiz kid when it involves close relatives (some- everything comes in handy in everyday over 70 percent before 21 July. being dragged in with the latest since we continue to suffer one of the thing the other genius, Trump, has also life—from simple things like preparing All this suggests that our approach to dealing with the pan- near-appointment. It turns out that worst instances of fuel adulteration in blatantly disregarded). That is perhaps identity documents to getting a heads demic needs an overhaul if we are to break the chain of trans- Pokhrel’s son is married to Koirala’s the world. why similar practices escape carrying up on a contract coming up, taking daughter. Amid charges of nepotism, In all fairness to Pokhrel, granting the same connotation such as the most advantage of bureaucratic loopholes, mission. Authorities at the helm of managing this public Pokhrel is said to have asked that the favours to close relatives is not limited obvious old boys’ network, most insidi- and even which brand of Scotch a top health emergency must take a backseat and put infectious appointment be kept in abeyance for either to him or to his party. That has ously extant in Britain. Likewise with politician is fond of. Having seen the disease medical doctors and epidemiologists at the front to now. Koirala for his part is adamant been the bane of the Nepali polity for the more innocuous-sounding ‘social performance of a ‘meritocratic’ system plan and prepare the way forward. This is the modality that we that he was chosen because of, for want centuries and has continued in the capital’, which has been defined as ‘net- for 70 years that awards people like of a better term, his genius since it can post-1990 era, regardless of who is in works together with shared norms, val- Koirala over and over again, I doubt need to contain the pandemic and save lives or the situation only be that superior brain of his that charge. To recall a book that has been ues and understandings that facilitate anyone can seriously argue it would will spiral out of hand. has had successive ministers and prime both praised and vilified, Dor Bahadur co-operation within or among groups… turn out any worse.

The post-capitalist hit of the summer

Bank at almost zero interest. To profit The logic of capitalism from it, Deutsche Bank must lend it on, though not to the ‘little people’ was not pretty, but it whose diminished circumstances have weakened their repayment abili- was comprehensible. ty. So, it lends to, say, Volkswagen, which is already awash with savings Not anymore. because its executives, fearing insuffi- cient demand for new, high-quality electric cars, postponed crucial invest- YANIS VAROUFAKIS ments in new technologies and well-paying jobs. Even though Volkswagen’s bosses do not need the extra cash, Deutsche Bank offers them such a low interest rate that they take it and immediately use it to buy Volkswagen shares. Naturally, the share price skyrockets and, with it, On August 12, something extraordi- the Volkswagen executives’ bonuses nary happened. The news broke that, (which are linked to the company’s in the first seven months of 2020, the market capitalisation). United Kingdom’s economy had suf- From 2009 to 2020, such practices fered its largest contraction ever (a helped prize stock prices away from drop in national income exceeding 20 the real economy, resulting in wide- percent). The London Stock Exchange spread corporate zombification. This reacted with a rise in the FTSE 100 by was the state capitalism was in when more than 2 percent. On the same day, Covid-19 arrived. By hitting consump- when the United States was beginning tion and production simultaneously, to resemble a failed state, not merely a the pandemic forced governments to troubled economy, the S&P 500 hit a replace incomes at a time when the record high. real economy had the least capacity To be sure, financial markets have adequately to invest in the generation long rewarded misery-enhancing out- of non-financial wealth. As a result, comes. Bad news for a firm’s work- SHUTTERSTOCK central banks were called upon to ers—planned layoffs, for example—is financiers actually don’t give a damn But let us begin at the beginning. debt powered capitalism’s early framework, including the war econo- boost even more magnificently the often good news for its shareholders. about the real economy. They can see Before capitalism, debt appeared at promise. But it was not until the my and the Bretton Woods system. As debt bubble that had already zombi- But when the bad news engulfed most that Covid-19 has put capitalism in the very end of the economic cycle. Second Industrial Revolution that that framework was swept away in the fied the corporations. workers simultaneously, equity mar- suspended animation. They can see Under feudalism, production came capitalism could re-shape the world in mid-1970s, the Technostructure, The pandemic has reinforced that kets always fell, owing to the the disappearing profit margins. They first. Peasants toiled in the lord’s its image. cloaked in neoliberalism, recovered which has been undermining the reasonable expectation that, as the can see the tsunami of poverty and its fields, and distribution followed Electromagnetism gave rise to the its powers. A 1920s-like spate of ‘irra- foundation of capitalism since 2008: population tightened its belt, all long-term effects on aggregate the harvest, with the sheriff collecting first networked companies, producing tional exuberance’ followed, culminat- the link between profit and capital income, and thus average profits and demand. And they can see how the the lord’s share. Part of this share everything from power generation sta- ing in the 2008 global financial crisis. accumulation. The current crisis has dividends, would be squeezed. The pandemic is revealing and reinforcing was then monetised when the tions and the electricity grid to light To re-float the financial system, cen- revealed a post-capitalist economy in logic of capitalism was not pretty, but deep pre-existing class and racial lord sold it. Only then did debt bulbs for every room. These compa- tral banks channelled waves of dirt- which the markets for real goods and it was comprehensible. divisions. emerge, when the lord would lend nies’ gargantuan funding needs begat cheap liquidity to the financial sector, services no longer coordinate econom- Not anymore. There is no capitalist Speculators see all this but deem it money to borrowers (often including the megabank, along with a remarka- in exchange for universal fiscal aus- ic decision-making, the current logic to the developments that culmi- irrelevant. And they are not wrong. the king). ble capacity to create money out of terity that limited spending by lower- Technostructure (comprising Big nated on August 12. For the first time, Ever since Covid-19 collided with the Capitalism reversed the order. Once thin air. The agglomeration of mega- and middle-income households. Tech and Wall Street) manipulates a widespread expectation of dimin- enormous bubble governments have labour and land had been commodi- firms and megabanks created a tech- Unable to profit from austerity-hit behaviour at an industrial scale, and ished revenues and profits led to—or been using to re-float the financial fied, debt was necessary before pro- nostructure that usurped markets, consumers, investors became depend- the demos is ostracised from our at least did not impede—a sustained sector since 2008, booming equity mar- duction even began. Landless capital- democratic institutions, and the mass ent on central banks’ constant democracies. buying frenzy in London and New kets became compatible with whole- ists had to borrow to lease land, work- media, leading first to the Roaring liquidity injections—an addiction York. And this is not because specula- sale economic implosion. It was a his- ers, and machines. The terms of these Twenties, and then to the crash of with serious side effects for capitalism Varoufakis, a former finance minister tors are betting that the UK or the US torically significant moment, marking leases determined income distribu- 1929. itself. of Greece, is the leader of the MeRA25 economies have hit bottom, making a subtle but discernible transition tion. Only then could production From 1933 to 1971, global capitalism Consider the following chain reac- party and Professor of Economics at this a great time to buy shares. from capitalism to a peculiar type of begin, yielding revenues whose resid- was centrally planned under different tion: The European Central Bank the University of Athens. No, for the first time in history, post-capitalism. ual was the capitalists’ profit. Thus, iterations of the New Deal governance extends new liquidity to Deutsche —Project Syndicate

C M Y K 05 | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 03, 2020 MONEY

FOREX

US Dollar 117.15 Micro hydroplants destined for oblivion in rural Nepal Euro 138.93

Pound Sterling 156.49 The Nepal Electricity Authority will shut them down after connecting villages to the national grid as part of the government’s electricity roadmap.

Japanese Yen 11.03 KUMBHA RAJ RAI kilowatts, provides electricity to about Chinese Yuan 17.17 OKHALDHUNGA, SEPT 2 100 households; and the biggest one, at around 116 kilowatts, serves 940 Qatari Riyal 32.17 A decade ago, when much of the coun- households (about 4,023 people), Australian Dollar 86.03 try’s rural population lived off the according to the bank. grid, Nepali villages boasted their “At least the government should Malaysian Ringit 28.26 own renewable energy sources— have brought a policy to feed the micro hydro. They were all built by power generated by these small micro Saudi Arab Riyal 31.23 local communities. projects into the national grid, and Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank At that time, in 2010, only 65 percent allow locals to invest in them and col- of the population had an electricity lect the returns,” said Sunwar. Shares connection. Sanjeev Kumar Sah, chief of the The micro hydro plants that typical- Nepal Electricity Authority’s distribu- Nepse 1,510.57pts 1.72% ly produce 5 kW to 100 kW of electric- tion branch in Okhaldhunga, said ity do not require a dam and reservoir work was in progress to assume own- HIGHEST GAINERS like large hydroelectric plants. They ership of all micro hydro projects RADHI JOSHI PPCL API AHPC NGPL 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% had made life better for villagers, ena- including their infrastructure. “But bling children to study at night, and there is no policy to buy or evacuate MODERATE GAINERS families to watch TV and use cell energy generated by these micro RHPC UNHPL CHCL USLB UPPER HPPL 10% 10% 9.98% 9.97% 9.96% 9.94% phones. hydro plants to the national grid.” In Okhaldhunga, its four dozen According to him, there was some MODERATE LOSERS micro hydro plants will soon become discussion at a board meeting of the IGI NICL ALICL PIC NIL NFS -2.6% -2.89% -2.96% -3.23% -3.26% -3.28% things of the past.Locals had built a 12 Nepal Electricity Authority. “But we

HIGHEST LOSERS kW plant on the Rumdi River in haven’t heard of any decision.” As of LGIL SLICL SIC MPFL PICL PRIN Manebhanjyang Rural Municipality-5 now, the power utility has taken own- -3.36% -3.44% -3.46% -3.7% -4.01% -4.41% a decade ago which is still in opera- ership of eight micro hydro plants. tion. This year, they transferred the SHUTTERSTOCK In Likhu Rural Municipality, the entire infrastructure to the Nepal These micro hydro plants typically produce 5 kW to 100 kW of electricity and do not require a dam and reservoir like large hydroelectric plants. community, however, is not willing to Electricity Authority, which will use hand over the project’s ownership to PRICE PER TOLA BULLION the electricity poles and transmission cation project started in 2010 is jointly alternative source of energy. However, Several new projects had started oper- the authority. Among the eight local lines, but not the power produced by funded by the government and EXIM the power utility will reuse the poles, ating in the last few years. units in Okhaldhunga, three— Fine Gold Rs 97,200 the micro hydro. Bank of India, and is expected to be transformer and wires,” said Pulami. “It looks like the investment of the Siddhicharan Municipality, Under the government’s electricity complete by December 2020. “Villagers have invested in the pro- community will now go to waste. It’s Chishanku Rural Municipality and Silver Rs 1,365 roadmap, the state-owned power utili- Man Bahadur Pulami, chairman of ject, and now it’s going to waste as the like pouring water on sand,” said Molung Rural Municipality—now get ty is required to light up every house- the Rumdi Khola Micro hydro Project, village will soon be lit with power Pradip Sunwar, a local at Khijidemba electricity from the national grid. SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA hold in Nepal by 2023. recounts that when they installed the from the national grid. We are worried Rural Municipality. “The local people Electric power had reached 94 per- The Nepal Electricity Authority has micro hydro plant, the entire village about the equipment as it will start had contributed 90 percent of the cent of Nepal’s population as of 2018, signed power purchase agreements was lit up and everyone was happy. to rust.” labour while building such small according to the Energy Progress GASOLINE WATCH with the six hydropower projects Many locals even borrowed money Not only in Manebhanjyang, many projects that had transformed the Report. Only 1.3 million out of the being developed on the Solu River to fund the hydro plant, and some micro hydro plants built in the east- village,” he added. “Everything is total population of 29 million remain basin by the private sector which have invested their savings in it. The donor ern hills will become useless sooner gone now. ” to be connected to an electricity sup- a combined installed capacity of 217.5 community and the village develop- or later, according to locals. There are Between 2007 and 2014, more than ply. In 2010, only 65 percent of the megawatts. ment committee also provided fund- more than 50 micro hydro plants in 400 micro run-of-the-river hydropower population had an electricity connec- The project has been working to ing. The plant was constructed at a Okhaldhunga that were built in the plants were built by the government tion. Officials said Nepal was expected evacuate electricity through the Solu cost of more than Rs10 million. past one decade. These plants cost Rs1 with help from the World Bank as part to achieve 100 percent access to elec- Corridor—a 132 kV transmission line “Soon, the micro hydro will be of no billion to build, and can produce a of the Nepal Micro Hydro Promotion tricity within a few years, well ahead connecting Tingla, Okhaldhunga, use. The Nepal Electricity Authority combined 1 megawatt of electricity. project. of the target year of 2030 set by Jaljale and Lahan. The rural electrifi- did not allow us to use the plant as an Currently, 40 plants are operating. The smallest micro hydro plant, at 7 Sustainable Development Goal 7. India’s sugar crop faces delays Oil rises to $46 on US inventory drop, amid Covid-19 pandemic economy hopes REUTERS REUTERS MUMBAI/NEW YORK, SEPT 2 LONDON, SEPT 2

India is facing potential delays in the harvest Oil rose towards $46 a barrel on of its massive sugarcane crop, threatening Wednesday, gaining for a third day, sup- supply worldwide, as millions of migrant ported by a report that US crude inven- Samsung touts workers needed for the harvest may be scared tories fell and as surveys showing to travel as coronavirus infections surge stronger manufacturing raised hopes of throughout the country. an economic recovery from the corona- $2,000 foldable India’s sugar harvest begins in October, virus pandemic. when other major producers are winding US crude stocks fell by 6.4 million down. The country’s industry is not mecha- barrels, the American Petroleum phone as a ‘VIP’ nized, however, relying on migrant workers to Institute (API) said, more than forecast. travel throughout the nation to cut cane. But Manufacturing surveys around the with 3.7 million coronavirus infections, the world showed expanding activity in experience third highest worldwide, there are fears that August, although the outlook remains the harvest could act as a vector for further shaky. ASSOCIATED PRESS infections in India. Brent crude, the global benchmark, CALIFORNIA, SEPT 2 Harvest delays would result in Indian mills was up 31 cents, or 0.7 percent, at $45.89 producing sugar more slowly at a time when REUTERS a barrel as of 1220 GMT, climbing for a Samsung’s second attempt at a folda- Brazilian sugar production will be winding Workers harvest sugarcane in a field in Gove village in third day. US West Texas Intermediate ble smartphone will come with a down and large producer Thailand is harvest- the western state of Maharashtra, India. rose 28 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $43.04. $2,000 price tag and a few elite perks ing its smallest crop in 10 years, reducing avail- “Market players are currently aimed at affluent consumers still able ability of sugar in the global market. state and from other states,” said Michael riding a wave of optimism, though it to afford the finer things in life during The slow pace of crushing in India could McDougall, managing director at agricultural could come crashing down at any tough times. support global prices that are trading near commodities broker Paragon Global Markets moment,” said Stephen Brennock of oil The phone, dubbed the Z Fold2, will their highest levels in five months. in New York. The harvest pace in the largest broker PVM. include a VIP package that will pro- “We are anticipating some delays at the producing state will depend on how much US crude inventories were forecast to vide access to fancy restaurants and beginning of the season. Many things depend movement is allowed between states and if fall by 1.9 million barrels. golf clubs to supplement the device’s on how much work is available at local level workers will want to travel, he said. The US government’s Energy multipurpose design. and the spread of coronavirus in October,” said Brazil’s sugar industry is nearly 100 percent Information Administration issues its When folded up, the device looks B.B. Thombare, president of the West Indian mechanized and farms are larger, which official figures at 1430 GMT, which will like most other phones. But when its Sugar Mills Association (WISMA). makes it easier for mills to recoup investment be scrutinised to see if they confirm the interior 7.6-inch screen is opened up India produces 370 million tonnes of cane in machines. API’s numbers. along its side hinges, it is quickly annually, second-most worldwide behind transformed into the equivalent of a Brazil. But mechanization accounts only for mini-tablet. about 5 percent of the work in a nation that “It’s definitely a luxury device,” employs nearly 50 million sugarcane farmers said Drew Blackard, Samsung’s vice and 700 factories, according to the government. president of mobile product manage- “The fear of getting infected may prompt ment in the US. some of the labourers to accept less Samsung provided a glimpse of lucrative work around their native place,” the Z Fold2 last month while Thombare said. unveiling other new phones that cost Sugar mills in the producing states of at least $1,000, but waited until Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat rely on Tuesday to provide details about how seasonally migrating labour to harvest sugar- much it will cost and when it will be cane, and many of these labourers may not in stores. come this year, he said. Anyone willing to pay the Z Fold2’s “I believe that Maharashtra relies on 700,000- lofty price will be able to place an 900,000 cane cutters that travel from within the order online beginning Wednesday. It will be available in stores September 18. That will give the Z Fold2 a slight jump on Apple’s next wave of iPhones. Those are expect- ed to be released in October, a few weeks later than usual because of sup- ply problems lingering from overseas factories that shut down during the early stages of the pan- demic. The Z Fold2 is supposed to be sturdier than last year’s inaugural model. That initial foldable device proved to be far more frag- ile than Samsung had hoped, even after delaying its release by several months in an effort to fix issues noticed by people who received review models. Even with this year’s improvements, the Z Fold2 will require special care that Samsung will explain in instructions accompa- nying the device.

C M Y K THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 03, 2020 | 06 WORLD Pakistan puzzles health India secures east Himalaya border experts as virus cases drop after clashes with China in west Last month, authorities lifted most of the country’s remaining coronavirus restrictions.

A flattening curve is all the more curious considering how the coronavi- rus has hit India, which with a median age of 26 and crowded cities has a somewhat similar demographic. Over the weekend, India set a new global record for the highest number of daily cases, with 78,761 new infec- tions recorded in 24 hours, though Delhi is testing at a far higher rate than Islamabad. India has also reported more than 64,000 deaths—the third-highest glob- ally after the United States and Brazil. Since recording its first case in late February, Pakistan has responded in fits and bursts to the pandemic, roll- ing out loose lockdowns that were AFP/RSS later reversed, while crowds shunned Health experts feared Pakistan’s crowded cities would provide fertile breeding ground for the social distancing guidelines and con- coronavirus pandemic. tinued to flock to markets and mosques. Still, the government of AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE mate to unproven claims of natural Prime Minister Imran Khan has been LAHORE, SEPT 2 immunity. Its median age is only 22 quick to bask in the progress, credit- and the coronavirus is known to dis- ing itself with “smart” lockdown poli- Six months after the coronavirus proportionately impact older people cies and other measures, even though arrived in Pakistan, the country with prior health complications. these were often not enforced. REUTERS appears to have dodged the worst of In comparison, Italy, with a median Last month, Pakistani authorities A signboard is seen from the Indian side of the Indo-China border at Bumla, in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, on November 11, 2009. the pandemic, baffling health experts age of 46.5, has recorded more than lifted most of the country’s remaining and dampening fears its crowded 35,000 deaths, while Pakistan’s official coronavirus restrictions after new REUTERS area were part of regular rotation. urban areas and ramshackle hospitals toll is about 6,300. cases dropped for several weeks. GUWAHATI, SEPT 2 “Basically, it’s units changing. will be overrun. To date, the South Asian nation has Restaurants and parks have reo- Indian army says That’s happening as it happens every Following an initial surge, the num- confirmed more than 295,000 infec- pened while people have flocked to India has moved troops to its eastern time, nothing much,” Pande told ber of infections has plummeted in tions and currently is recording a few theatres, malls, and crowded back stretch of border with China since the arrival of troops Reuters from near Guwahati, the larg- recent weeks, with Covid-19 deaths hundred new cases per day. onto public transport. Schools and clashes erupted between the nucle- in the area is part of est city in northeastern India. hovering in the single digits each day, Observers say that with only limit- universities are set to reopen later in ar-armed rivals on the western part of “As of now, there’s nothing to worry while neighbouring India tallies hun- ed testing the true number of infec- September. their border in the in June, its regular rotation about on that front.” dreds of fatalities. tions is likely considerably higher. Masks have become an increasingly a government official said. But Tapir Gao, a member of parlia- Pakistan has a long history of fail- One testing exercise in Lahore sug- rare sight, spurring warnings from The June clash in the Ladakh of personnel. ment from Arunachal, told Reuters ing to contain myriad infectious dis- gested as many as seven percent of the experts for the public to remain vigi- region, in the western part of their that Chinese troops had been regular- eases such as polio, tuberculosis and city’s population had been exposed to lant over fears of a second wave. border, was the worst violence ly crossing into Indian territory. hepatitis, while successive govern- the virus. But anecdotal evidence “People think we have defeated between the Asian giants in decades talions were stationed there. “It’s a regular phenomenon, it’s ments have underfunded its health- from hospitals across Pakistan sup- Covid-19 but my belief is that the and there has been little sign of a “There has been an increase in nothing new,” he said, identifying the care sector for decades. ports the downward trend. chances of the second wave are still reduction in tension, with more mili- troop deployment since the Galwan Walong and Chaglagam areas in Added to that, many Pakistanis live While healthcare facilities were ini- there,” warned Hassan Waseem, a tary action in the past week. incident, and even prior to that we’d Anjaw as the most vulnerable. in crowded, multi-generational homes tially swamped, doctors across microbiologist based in Pakistan. The movement of troops to the east- started,” she told Reuters by tele- In the 1962 war, India says its out- or packed apartment buildings that Pakistan told AFP they are now no However, other doctors suspect the ern district of Anjaw, in Arunachal phone, referring to the June clash in numbered forces “blocked the thrust favour rampant virus transmission. longer seeing a coronavirus-related country has experienced the peak of Pradesh state, which China also which 20 Indian soldiers were killed. of the invading Chinese” in Walong, “No one has been able to explain rush on emergency services. the pandemic. claims, raises the prospect of a wider Arunachal Pradesh, which China and the area of mountains, meadows this decline... We don’t have any con- “Regardless of the reasons, the good “I would reluctantly say that there face-off though both government and calls South Tibet, was at the centre of and fast-flowing rivers is now a gov- crete explanation,” said Salman thing is the first wave of the virus is won’t be a second wave in Pakistan. military officials in India ruled out a full-scale border war between India ernment focus for settlement and Haseeb, a doctor at Services Hospital almost over in Pakistan,” said Khizer Most urban centres in Pakistan like any imminent confrontation. and China in 1962, and security ana- road-building. in the eastern city of Lahore. Hayat, a doctor at Nishtar hospital in Lahore and Karachi have already “The military presence has surely lysts have warned that it could become “What we’re trying to do is create Pakistanis have proposed numerous the central city of Multan. seen the worst when it comes to coro- increased, but as far as incursions are a flash-point again. more possibilities and opportunities hypotheses for their country’s seem- “The situation is now under control navirus,” said Waheed Uz Zaman concerned, there are no verified But an Indian military spokesman, for villagers,” said Sudan, referring to ing ability to weather the pandemic, and the number of coronavirus cases Tariq, head of the department of reports as such,” said Ayushi Lieutenant Colonel Harsh Wardhan plans for clusters of villages in the crediting everything from the young is dropping, the wards are emptying. virology and infectious diseases at Sudan, Anjaw’s chief civil servant, Pande, said there was no cause for disputed area. population and the hot and humid cli- It’s hard to know why.” Chughtai Lab. adding that several Indian army bat- concern and the troops arriving in the “It’s a push to resettle people.”

BRIEFING EU leaves door open

Abe aide Suga to run party leadership for Covid-19 vaccines TOKYO: Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga on Wednesday said he would run for purchase through WHO leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), formally REUTERS scheme deeming it slow, expensive entering a race he is already heavily BRUSSELS, SEPT 2 and legally incompatible with the par- favoured to win to become the next allel EU procurement programme, EU prime minister. A longtime aide to European Union states could buy officials said in July. outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, potential Covid-19 vaccines through a The apparent change came after the Suga said he decided to stand for procurement scheme co-led by the WHO softened in August the terms for party leader to avoid a political vacu- World Health Organization, the EU rich countries to join its scheme, um during the coronavirus pandemic. Commission said in what appears to which aims to secure 2 billion doses Abe announced his decision to resign be a change in position. for the 20 percent of the world’s most last week, citing poor health. The The move could allow EU govern- vulnerable people by the end of 2021. LDP’s majority in the lower house of ments to secure vaccines from compa- It also followed criticism that the parliament ensures the party’s next nies that are not negotiating with EU was effectively undermining the leader will succeed him as prime Brussels, such as US firms Merck, WHO initiative, despite projecting minister. Although he had remained Inovio and Novavax. They are all in itself as a champion of multilateral- silent about his plans up until talks with the WHO scheme, dubbed ism and as a supporter of equitable Wednesday’s announcement, Suga Covax, but have so far not been report- access to vaccines for all. appeared to have clinched the race ed to be involved in negotiations with By forcing EU states to buy only earlier this week. the EU Commission. through an EU scheme, the EU states have committed not to Commission could reduce the limited enter into parallel negotiations with amount of doses initially available to Russia asks for details the same vaccine manufacturers with less developed countries, because it of poison tests on Navalny which talks are ongoing at EU level, would prioritise the 450 million MOSCOW: Russia has asked Germany but this “does not exclude the possibil- EU citizens, effectively replicating to provide exhaustive details of medi- ity to take part in negotiations with nationalist policies of the United cal tests conducted on Alexei Navalny, other vaccine companies through States and other countries critical of a Russian opposition politician lying Covax,” an EU Commission spokes- the WHO initiative. The EU has so far in a coma in Berlin after a suspected man said. reached an advance purchase deal on poisoning in Siberia last month, a That would represent a change of Covid-19 vaccines with AstraZeneca, newspaper reported on Wednesday. AP/RSS policy after the EU executive had and has said it is in talks with Johnson Russian newspaper RBC said the gen- Iraqi President Barham Salih, right, and French President Emmanuel Macron greet each other with an elbow bump during a joint press advised the 27 EU governments not to & Johnson, Sanofi, Moderna and eral prosecutor’s office had asked conference at the Salam Palace, Baghdad on Wednesday. purchase vaccines through the WHO CureVac. Germany’s justice ministry for infor- mation on Navalny’s treatment, including test results for drugs, poi- sons, heavy metals and cholinesterase inhibitors, which affect the nervous system. There was no immediate China pushing to double nuclear warhead arsenal, says Pentagon comment from the prosecutor’s office, or from the German justice ministry on how it would respond to the AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE expected to double over 10 years. military supremacy globally, and says request. Russian prosecutors said last WASHINGTON, SEPT 2 China can already launch nuclear Washington, with military bases on month they saw no need for a crimi- weapons by ballistic missile from land the western Pacific rim and a potent nal investigation into the case as they The Chinese military is pressing to and sea, and is developing the capaci- naval presence throughout the region, had found no sign that any crime had double its 200-plus nuclear warheads ty to do develop an air-launched ballis- is the source of tensions in Asia. been committed. within a decade with the ability to tic missile as well, the report said. The report noted that China already launch them aboard ballistic missiles “It is likely that Beijing will seek to has the world’s largest navy, with 350 by land, sea and air, the Pentagon said develop a military by mid-century that ships and submarines, compared to Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge in a report. is equal to—or in some cases superior 293 for the US Navy. executioner dies Aside from aiming for technological to—the US military, or that of any The Pentagon has highlighted that parity with the United States, the other great power that the PRC views deficit as it seeks to expand its fleet to PHNOM PENH: The Khmer Rouge com- People’s Liberation Army is also as a threat,” the report said. 355 vessels. The report also highlights mander known as Comrade Duch, Pol focused on conducting joint opera- If China achieves that goal and the China’s advantage, unrestricted by Pot’s main executioner and security tions, to be able to deter or defeat any United States fails to address it, the arms agreements that the US and chief who oversaw the murder of at US effort to intervene on Taiwan’s report said, it “will have serious impli- Russia have, in ground-launched bal- least 14,000 Cambodians at the notori- behalf, the report said. cations for US national interests and listic missiles. ous Tuol Sleng prison, died on It said that PLA has already the security of the international However, the United States leads in Wednesday. He was 77. Kaing Guek matched or surpassed the US military rules-based order.” submarine-launched and air-launched Eav, or Comrade Duch, was the first in several areas, including shipbuild- A Pentagon official said that ballistic missiles; China is still work- member of the Khmer Rouge leader- ing, land-based ballistic and cruise although China remains far behind ing to develop the latter. The report ship to face trial for his role in a missiles, and air defense systems. the United States in terms of nuclear described China as determined to pro- regime blamed for at least 1.7 million And in its first public estimate of warheads, the acceleration shows AFP/RSS ject its power eastward into the Pacific deaths in the “killing fields” of China’s nuclear capacity, the annual Beijing moving from its traditional People’s Liberation Army soldiers march next to the entrance to the Forbidden City in Beijing. beyond Taiwan, and to pressure the Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. Duch report said the country has warheads “minimum deterrence posture” to United States out of the region. died at the Khmer Soviet Friendship numbering “in the low 200s” in its full-fledged competition. nuclear force, these developments part of China’s overall strategy for a The report said that as China seeks Hospital in Phnom Penh, said nuclear stockpile, fewer than the 300 “Combined with a near-complete pose a significant concern for the sweeping modernization and to estab- to bring Washington-ally Taiwan Neth Pheaktra, a spokesman for or more estimated by independent lack of transparency regarding their United States,” said Deputy Assistant lish itself as a leading global power by under its control, Beijing is seeking a tribunal set up to prosecute top analysts. strategic intent and the perceived Secretary of Defense Chad Sbragia. 2049. China has made clear it sees the the ability to win a possible war with Khmer Rouge leaders. (AGENCIES) The report says that number is need for a much larger, more diverse He said the military expansion is United States as seeking to maintain the US over the island.

C M Y K 07 | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 03, 2020 SPORTS | MEDLEY BRIEFING Serena, Murray advance as Venus, Clijsters face defeats Kevin De Bruyne likely to miss Belgium match Six-time US Open winner Serena Williams edge 96th-ranked Kristie Ahn after Murray overcome two sets deficit to beat 49th-ranked Yoshihito Nishioka. BRUSSELS: Kevin De Bruyne may miss 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 come-from-be- Belgium’s opening game of the hind victory in a bruising 4 hour and Nations League on Saturday with his 39 minute encounter against Japan’s wife set to give birth to their third 49th-ranked Yoshihito Nishioka. child, team officials said on The Scotsman, who who has barely Wednesday. De Bruyne did not join up played in 2020, said he had learnt a lot with the rest of the squad when they about his physical condition and the assembled in Belgium on Tuesday to metal hip he received during surgery prepare for matches against Denmark last year. Tenth seed Garbine in Copenhagen on Saturday and then Muguruza, the 2016 French Open Iceland in Brussels next Tuesday. De champion and 2017 Wimbledon win- Bruyne has permission to stay with ner, advanced to round two with a 6-4, his family and his participation will 6-4 victory over Japan’s Nao Havino. depend on the birth, added a Belgian She dedicated the win to compatriot football association spokesman. The Carla Suarez Navarro, who revealed squad have already been hit by the Tuesday that she had been diagnosed withdrawals of striker Divok Origi, with Hodgkin lymphoma and will goalkeeper Hendrik Van Crombrugge, require six months of chemotherapy. defenders Dedryck Boyata and Elias Also in the women’s draw, second Cobbaut and midfielder Nacer Chadli, seed American Sofia Kenin needed who all reported injuries. Defender just over an hour to score a 6-2, 6-2 win Thomas Vermaelen was unable to over unseeded Belgian Yanina travel from Japan because of Covid- Wickmayer at Louis Armstrong 19 pandemic restrictions. Coach Stadium. And ninth seed Johanna Roberto Martínez has only called up Konta beat compatriot Heather Ghent goalkeeper Davy Roef as cover. Watson 7-6 (9/7), 6-1 in a tie dubbed the “Battle of Britain.” Midfielder Ivan Rakitic leaves There was disappointment for 40-year-old Venus Williams though Barcelona to rejoin Sevilla who bowed out in the first round for SEVILLE: Croatia midfielder Ivan the first time in her career, losing in Rakitic has rejoined Europa League straight sets to Karolina Muchova. holders Sevilla on a four-year deal Another veteran, Belgium’s 37-year- from Barcelona for an undisclosed old Kim Clijsters, also fell at the first fee, the Liga team said on Tuesday. hurdle. Clijsters making a comeback His departure ends a trophy-laden for the second time in her career six-year spell at Camp Nou during and playing in her first Grand Slam which Rakitic won four league titles, AP/RSS draw since 2012, was beaten in three four Copa del Rey trophies plus the Serena Williams of the United States, returns a shot to compatriot Kristie Ahn during the first round of the US Open tennis championships in New York on Tuesday. sets by Ekaterina Alexandrova, losing Champions League and Club World 3-6, 7-5, 6-1. Cup. Spanish media reports had said AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE round on day two of a US Open that is black artists is displayed in honor of ter chance this time around with sev- In the men’s competition, number the 32-year-old, who had one year left NEW YORK, SEPT 2 unrecognisable from previous tourna- the Black Lives Matter movement eral top players absent because of two seed Dominic Thiem progressed on his contract, was not part of new ments, without spectators and with against racial injustice. coronavirus concerns or injury. to round two when opponent Jaume Barca coach Ronald Koeman’s plans Serena Williams’ quest for a stringent measures to prevent Covid- “I was really happy with how I just World number one Ashleigh Barty, Munar retired after the second set at for next season. “Sevilla FC and FC record-equalling 24th Grand Slam got 19 infections. fought for every point no matter how I the second-ranked Simona Halep and Louis Armstrong Stadium. Munar Barcelona have reached an agreement off the mark as Andy Murray rolled Williams defeated Ahn 7-5, 6-3 as she was playing,” said Williams. It has Canadian Bianca Andreescu—who abandoned before the start of the for the transfer of midfielder Ivan back the years with a vintage come- started the latest bid of her protracted been more than three years since stunned Williams in last year’s final— third set, with Austria’s Thiem lead- Rakitic, who will return to the club back at the US Open Tuesday. pursuit to match Margaret Court’s Williams won her 23rd Grand Slam are all absent from the behind-closed- ing 7-6 (8/6), 6-3. for a second spell after his first spell Six-time winner Williams powered Grand Slam title with a straight-sets title at the 2017 Australian Open— doors tournament. A title win for Thiem now faces India’s Sumit at the club between January 2011 and past 96th-ranked Kristie Ahn after win at Flushing Meadows. The 38-year- when she was already pregnant with Williams would also see her become Nagal, who became the first Indian June 2014,” Sevilla said in a state- Murray came from two sets down to old overcame the loss of her first ser- daughter Olympia. the most decorated women’s player at man since 2013 to the reach the second ment. Rakitic captained Sevilla to win a five-set thriller in his first sin- vice game in the opening set to She has come close since, reaching the US Open in the modern era. She is round of a Grand Slam event with a Europa League success in 2014 before gles Slam match in 18 months. The advance at a virtually empty Arthur four major finals only to come away currently tied with Chris Evert on six. 6-1, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 win over Bradley Klahn leaving to join Barca. (AGENCIES) pair both progressed to the second Ashe Stadium, where artwork by empty-handed, but should have a bet- Murray secured a stunning 4-6, 4-6, of the United States. Europe’s national teams back in action after 10-month gap Pakistan win to level T20 series REUTERS seem to belong to a different era. “We will restart with even greater said that all games, bar one, would be ASSOCIATED PRESS Haider Ali, who hit 54 off 33 balls on BERN, SEPT 2 The intervening period has seen determination,” said Italy coach played in the originally scheduled ven- MANCHESTER, SEPT 2 his T20 debut. Euro 2020 postponed until next Roberto Mancini, whose side had ues and practically every association Moeen Ali starred in England’s Europe’s national teams will emerge year, while the sport’s European and chalked up a record-breaking 11 suc- will host a game. Pakistan signed off their cricket tour reply with 61 off 33 balls, but was one from a 10-month hiatus as the second world governing bodies UEFA cessive wins before the interruption. “Most member associations have of England with a five-run win in of two wickets to fall in a superb edition of the UEFA Nations League and FIFA agreed that club football Meanwhile, international football managed to obtain from their compe- their third and final Twenty20 inter- next-to-last over bowled by Wahab kicks off this week, still under the should take priority as the sport in the rest of the world will remain on tent national/local authorities exemp- national to draw the series 1-1 on Riaz (2-26). shadow the Covid-19 pandemic which cranked back into action during the hold with all this month’s World Cup tions allowing teams to travel to the Tuesday, with veteran batsman England needed 12 off the final two brought football to a standstill earlier summer. qualifiers in Asia and South America match venue and their players to Mohammad Hafeez setting up victory balls and although Tom Curran struck this year. Germany’s clash with Spain in having been postponed. Even if teams return to their clubs after their nation- with a 52-ball 86. a six off the first, he swung and missed There has been no international Stuttgart tops the action on the open- arrange friendlies, FIFA said that al team duty,” said UEFA. The 39-year-old Hafeez tied his best off the last delivery of the innings—a action in the region since last ing day on Thursday while Italy host clubs will not be obliged to release The only game to be moved was for T20 score to help Pakistan to 190-4 yorker by Haris Rauf—to leave the November and the matches which Bosnia on Friday and, on Saturday, players. political reasons - Moldova’s refusal to after being put into bat at the Old host on 185-8. were played then, such as Italy’s 9-1 titleholders and European champions Despite travel restrictions around recognise Kosovo as an independent Trafford. Key to the innings was It was Pakistan’s first win of the demolition of Armenia and Germany’s Portugal host Croatia and world cham- Europe and a surge in novel coronavi- nation meaning they will host their Hafeez’s 100-run partnership for tour in its last game. Hafeez was 6-1 win over Northern Ireland, now pions France visit Sweden. rus cases in some countries, UEFA match in Parma, Italy. the third wicket with 19-year-old named player of the series. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) *** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) *** Balancing your family evenly with your career isn’t Things are about to equalise in your life, so get ready Watch out for people who say one thing and do anoth- Rather than get annoyed by someone with high ener- always required. On days like today, it will be clear to enjoy a healthier, more balanced period. You have er. You don’t have to call them out on their hypocrisy, gy, try to soak up some of the excess enthusiasm. which one should take top priority. You can’t let good the proper perspective on the people you care most but you do have to avoid sharing any of your secrets Sure, their bright-eyed flamboyance might not be opportunities pass you by. When you have the chance about, and they’re open to having a deeper discus- with them! Working with other people could be a your cup of tea, but they are on to something with all to move forward at work, you have to grab it. sion than you two have ever had before. challenge today. of this “positive thinking” stuff.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) **** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) ***** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) **** The universe is sending you some strong energy that People have tons of respect for you. Try not to You make a very good role model. The younger peo- Change is good, but it’s not always comfortable. If will keep you grounded when you move into an unfa- blush too much, because you’re going to be ple in your life could learn a lot from you, so why not you’re going through some transitions in your life miliar situation. Don’t worry if you have a first date, thrust onto center stage and you’ll need to look be more open with them? Despite what you might right now, get ready to combat that discomfort by job interview, or some other kind of unsettling inter- as responsible and composed as everyone thinks think about the younger generation, they are genu- surrounding yourself with the people and things that action. you are! inely interested in what you have to say. make you feel comfy and cosy.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) *** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) *** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** People have been making a lot of assumptions about Putting an event together will be a lot of fun for you Your impatient half is going to dominate your patient You could feel a little out of sync with the people you lately, and today you need to clear up some of today. All the details are lining up, and it looks like half today, which could lead you to make some hasty around, probably because the odd dreams you had their confused ideas. But keep in mind that the most it’s going to go off without a hitch. This will be quite decisions. In an effort to get projects or chores out of last night left you tossing and turning. You’ll be effective way to make them understand you isn’t by a feather in your cap, although now you’re just going the way, you could be choosing a short-term answer tempted to try to decode all of them, which will cause talking. It’s by doing. to have to do even better next time. that has long-term, negative ramifications. you to get distracted from what’s going on. CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 03, 2020 | 08 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 Challenging the privileged notions of ‘home’ through a virtual exhibition Kaalo.101’s latest exhibition features artworks—ranging from paintings, video art, mix-media projects illustrations, and photographs—of 40 Nepali artists.

PHOTO COURTESY: SCREENGRAB VIA INSTAGRAM/KAALO 101 Screenshots of the artworks that are in display as part of Kaalo.101’s virtual exhibition titled Home.

ANKIT KHADGI hold each other. artist is her mother. Her work is a paint- Ayer. In his untitled artwork, we see a er happy, being trapped in the cage? KATHMANDU The photo, which belongs to artist ing where we see a baby coming out of a skeleton sitting in a seat inside an air- As an art gallery, Kaalo. 101 deserves Sabrina Dangol, has no title, but through woman’s womb. plane. Ayer has dressed the skeleton in a credit for putting together an exhibition hat does home mean words, she describes what it is about. She But while the baby is a human child, Visit Nepal 2020 promotion t-shirt, criti- that is a virtual treat. The use of aug- for people? Is it a explains that the picture is a reflection of the mother’s head is that of a black pan- cising the lack of empathy among the mented reality is so engaging and interac- physical space that her state of mind, a state where she has ther. This morphing of a blank panther people in power, the government, for peo- tive that it feels as though one is witness- allows people to be attained peace and tranquility by staying head as well as tail into a human body is ple like him, as their focus has never been ing the artworks in real life. However, for themselves at their away from colours. She finds solace in what makes the work interesting. It is on the plight of the thousands of migrant someone who is not very well acquainted own comfort? Or is it darkness and greyness, more than a world perhaps the artist’s portrayal of how labourers who leave the country every with tech, the exhibition could feel a bit Wa feeling of security and safety in a space full of colours, which she says is deceit- fiercely a mother panther protects and year, but only on money-minting cam- overwhelming and confusing. that is “one’s own”? Are our notions of ful. And through the image, she powerful- nourishes her cub, an indication perhaps paigns. The artwork deftly highlights the Similarly, there are certain occasions home guided by our privileges? Can a ly depicts it. of how safe she feels at “home”. journeys of the many workers whose when the audience can’t intimately person ever have two homes? Another artwork in the same space is of One of the underlying themes in most dream of someday going back home observe the art that’s presented, as it’s Deep-diving into such concepts of curator/artist Shivangi Bansal. While of the artworks in the exhibition is the remains just a dream. difficult to place the cursor on a specific “home”, Kaalo. 101’s latest virtual exhibi- Bansal’s artwork can be dazzling for view- plight of migrant labourers, for whom Similarly, another artwork that leaves space and observe the artworks closely, as tion Home provides a platform to artists ers, as her use of bright and contrast col- home has a deeper, more haunting mean- an impression is by Robic Upadhayay. In a we can move the cursor in designated as well as the audience to find answers to ours can be too much for the eyes, what ing altogether. series of photographs, Upadhayay chal- places only. Due to this glitch, it becomes the many questions people might have makes her art appreciable is her way of One artwork that stands out with this lenges the preconceived notions of home difficult to interpret many artworks. For about what “home” means, a space that fusing the art form in conveying her mes- theme is by the artist HYDE. The art does that guides most privileged people, instance, perhaps the desirable effects has become more a part of our lives than sage. In the centre of the artwork, we can not come with a title of any information including you and me. For us, when we Puja Duwal and Jyoti Shrestha might ever during the pandemic. see a figure of a house. Strokes of bright about the artist, but their artwork power- say home, we attach comfort and a sense have envisioned with their artworks fal- As per the theme, the artworks—rang- colours circumambulate the house, besides fully depicts the plight of migrant labour- of security with it. But not everyone is ter because the audience is unable to ing from paintings, video art, mix-media which are images of a temple and a stupa. ers as well as the working-class people. lucky to experience that. For some, home notice the details of their artworks. projects illustrations, and photographs— The artwork, almost psychedelic, In the artwork, the central image is of can be a place where they have to live The decision of the gallery to include of 40 artists are divided into eight differ- shows us how for the artist, home can be a pair of cut and scabbed feet. An image compromising their true selves. Likewise, the artworks of 40 artists in a single exhi- ent virtual spaces. a space where she experiences liberation of a man is juxtaposed along with the not everyone can feel safe in their homes; bition is also something that could have The exhibition begins in the courtyard from the fetters. A space where she can feet. Blood surrounds the face and the some could be living in a hostile and fear- been changed, as for the audience it can be of the art gallery in Patan. On the first reach a state of transcendence where she feet, symbolising the unending hardship ful situation. an overwhelming experience to interpret floor of the gallery, there are three art- improves and develops a new understand- migrant labourers go through, particular- Working with such themes, Upadhayay and engage with so many artworks of so works. On the left side of the room, we ing of different facets of life. ly the difficulty they had to face during in his nine photos tries to deconstruct the many different artists at the same time. can see a black and white photo, whose Another artwork that leaves an impres- the pandemic when they had to walk for preconceived notions attached to “home”. Minus these minor technicalities, the subject is a woman’s back with her hands sion is a piece by Nirita Yakthumba. In days to reach their home. In one photo, we see a rooster trapped in a exhibition stands out from most of the raised in the air. On the woman’s back is the untitled painting, which is dedicated Another thought-provoking artwork in cage. For the rooster, the cage is home, as virtual exhibitions that are being held by another image of two hands trying to to her mother, we see that “home” for the the exhibition is an artwork by Srijan it has always lived there. But is the roost- art galleries in the Capital currently.

Female directors close to parity at Venice Film Festival At the just-started 77th edition of the festival, 44 percent of the films in competition are directed by women.

LINDSEY BAHR about normal women falling in love with VENICE one another. And I said, well, I do think that there should be a place in history for spot in competition at the the quiet ones as well. Not just the great Venice Film Festival can icons. Not just the Napoleons.” launch careers and Oscar Four women have won the Golden Lion winners, but in recent in the festival’s history: Sofia Coppola, for years, films directed by Somewhere in 2010, Mira Nair, for women have been mostly Monsoon Wedding in 2001, Agnes Varda excludedA from vying for the coveted for Vagabond in 1985 and von Trotta in Golden Lion. Among the 62 films that 1981. competed between 2017 and 2019, only Von Heinz is particularly happy to four were made by women. be in the company of so many women Things have improved at the just-start- this year. She worried a little about their ed 77th edition of the festival, where 44 track record, but is heartened by the num- percent of the films in competition are bers, the Cate Blanchett-led jury and directed by women. Tilda Swinton’s lifetime achievement They include Chloé Zhao’s Great honor. Recession drama Nomadland, with “I feel very comfortable and proud to be Frances McDormand, Mona Fastvold’s in that environment,” von Heinz said. period romance The World to Come, with Fastvold said that it’s always an honor Vanessa Kirby and Katherine Waterston, to be part of Venice but that this year Julia von Heinz’s contemporary political feels particularly special. film And Tomorrow the Entire World and “There are some really, very smart Susanna Nicchiarelli’s Miss Marx, about programmers in Venice who work Karl’s youngest daughter. very hard and see so many films and Festival director Alberto Barbera noted this year has been a very challenging past “embarrassing percentiles” and year, but I think they’ve done a very said that the films this year were great job,” Fastvold said. “You have to selected “exclusively on the basis of their seek out the smaller films. That’s the key, quality and not as a result of gender pro- right?” tocols. Other female-directed films in the main “This is an unprecedented percentile competition are Nicole Garcia’s French which we hope augurs well for a future thriller Lovers, with Stacy Martin, Italian cinema that is free of any sort of preju- filmmaker Emma Dante’s The Macaluso dice and discrimination,” he said. Sisters, Malgorzata Szumowska’s Polish The films this year are timely and glob- drama Never Gonna Snow Again, and al. German filmmaker von Heinz started Jasmila Zbanic’s Quo Vadis, Aida?” from to develop her script for And Tomorrow Bosnia. the Entire World 20 years ago, but her The importance of the platform of a story about neo-Nazis and anti-fascists in major festival like Venice cannot be contemporary Germany has only become understated, according to Women and more relevant. Hollywood founder and publisher Melissa “The right-wing movement in Germany Silverstein. became stronger and stronger like every- “It’s become clearer as time has moved where in the Western world,” she said. on that festivals have an even more impor- “2020 seems to be the perfect year for this AP/RSS tant role to play in the industry as cura- film to give birth.” In this file photo, writer-director Chloe Zhao poses for a portrait during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Zhao’s Nomadland will be featured at tors of our culture,” Silverstein said. “It She applied to Venice specifically the 77th edition of the Venice festival. signals to buyers and agents and produc- because of another female-directed film, ers that this is a person who has made Margarethe von Trotta’s Marianne and political film which keeps its meaning Norwegian director Fastvold, who had a Fastvold’s The World to Come is about something that is worthy of global atten- Julianne, from 1981, which had a massive over the years and is not just for the time long history with the Venice Film Festival two women, married to farmers, who fall tion.” influence on her. The film, based on the it’s made,” she said. “Venice has this tra- with Vox Lux and Childhood of a Leader, in love in the 1850s New York. But, she’s also waiting to make sure true stories of sisters Christiane and dition to show these kinds of films so we films she co-wrote with her partner Brady “It’s about this very intense intellectual this will be a consistent activity. Gudrun Ensslin, a founder of the Red applied. And I was very happy that Corbet. But this is her first time being and emotional and physical connection “To do great once, that’s fine, but that’s Faction Army, won the festival’s top (Barbera) even compared our films at the invited to be part of the competition with between two women (played by Kirby and just a fluke,” she added. “It needs to be a award that year. press conference.” one she directed. Waterston),” Fastvold said. “People would trend.” “It’s sometimes very hard to make a Applying was a no-brainer for Based on a Jim Shepard story, ask me, why do you want to tell the story —Associated Press

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