WI THOUT F EAR O R F A V O U R

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 231 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 35.0 C 5.9 C Tuesday, October 13, 2020 | 27-06-2077 Nepalgunj Jumla Crisis in Karnali a manifestation of top leaders’ conflict in Kathmandu Party insiders say concern is now growing if other provincial governments could face a similar situation, as the Oli-Dahal struggle for power continues.

ANIL GIRI knock-on effect of a growing dispute KATHMANDU, OCT 12 in the ruling party in Kathmandu, where chairs KP Sharma Oli and A fresh crisis in Karnali provincial Pushpa Kamal Dahal have been government has stoked concerns of haggling for power. similar disputes in other provinces On Monday, Dahal met with Oli to where the Nepal Communist Party find a way out of the crisis in Karnali. has governments. Of the seven prov- The no-confidence motion, which is inces, Nepal Communist Party has gov- to be tabled at the provincial assembly ernments in six, except in Province 2. on Tuesday if there is no intervention Insiders say the party seems to be from the top leadership, will remove bracing for more troubles. Shahi and install a new chief minis- “If we fail to defuse the present cri- ter, which could create chaos in the sis in Karnali, it could invite serious entire party, according to leaders. challenges,” said Narayan Kaji A leader close to Dahal said that Oli Shrestha, the party spokesperson. on Monday did not make any commit- On Sunday, 18 Nepal Communist ment in response to Dahal’s call to stop Party leaders led by provincial assem- the no-confidence motion in Karnali. Post Photo bly member Yamlal Kandel registered The Nepal Communist Party, which An artist sprays paint on an idol of the Hindu goddess Durga at a workshop in Lalitpur on Monday. Clay images of the deity are being made ready for the Dashain festival which is just a week away. a no-confidence motion against Chief was born out of a merger between the Minister Mahendra Bahadur Shahi at UML and Maoist Centre in May 2018, the parliamentary party committee. is still struggling to complete the uni- The Nepal Communist Party has 33 fication process. The party is still seats in the 40-member provincial sharply divided along the UML and assembly. Of the 18 members who filed Maoist lines. Oli continues to hold meetings despite his ministers the motion against Shahi, 15 represent After Dahal, on the pretext of not the former CPN-UML and three the getting any “substantial role” in the former Maoist party. party, ramped up pressure on Oli, the Chief Minister Shahi represents party had reached on the verge of and close aides testing positive for Covid-19 the former Maoist party. In the no-con- split. Dahal had then the backing of fidence motion, the members have senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, charged Shahi with failing to lead the who once led the UML for a decade The government’s health protocol is applicable to all including the prime minister and he should be in isolation, doctors say. government effectively. and a half. The crisis in Karnali is seen as a >> Continued on page 2

TIKA R PRADHAN & ARJUN POUDEL personally on Friday and Saturday in doctors and nurses stopped working KATHMANDU, OCT 12 relation to the talks that were ongoing fearing the virus.” then with Dr Govinda KC. There are positive cases at the Even though two Cabinet ministers “The protocol applies to all, even Health Ministry too and that should have tested positive for Covid-19 in the prime minister,” said Adhikari. not mean the ministry should pull recent days, Baluwatar has not made “The government has issued a warn- down its shutters and the officials stay anything public with regards to what ing to members of the public saying at home, he said. health protocol any infected person will be jailed if Although prime minister’s personal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is they come out of the house. But the photographer Rajan Kafle, Chief following and whether he has been prime minister is freely meeting peo- Advisor Bishnu Rimal, Foreign tested for the coronavirus lately. ple.” Affairs Advisor Rajan Bhattarai and Oli chaired an in-person Cabinet In recent days, besides chairing Press Advisor Surya Thapa have test- meeting Monday evening even though Cabinet meetings, Oli has also been ed negative they have not returned to the government-declared protocol participating in the ruling party’s work yet. requires him to observe isolation. Secretariat meeting. He has also been “I am not aware of the latest situa- Public health experts and doctors holding meetings with Pushpa Kamal tion at Baluwatar,” said Oli’s press say the protocol calls for everyone to Dahal, the other chair of the Nepal advisor Surya Thapa. “Doctor’s may begin the isolation process as soon as Communist Party. have collected the prime minister’s they come in close contact with some- He met Dahal for around one hour swab.” one whose Covid-19 test result has at Baluwatar on Monday and dis- But from Baluwatar, the customary come out positive. cussed different issues including the silence is maintained regarding tests “The prime minister should stay in no-confidence motion filed against of the prime minister for the corona- virus. There has also been criticism of the way the mighty and powerful are being repeatedly tested in contraven- tion to the government guidelines on who should be tested. The prime minister’s advisors who tested positive for the coronavirus underwent two polymerase chain reaction tests in five days last week in state-run laboratories, a facility which is not available for the general public. A source at the Health Ministry said that ministers too have been undergo- ing regular coronavirus tests. Health workers are being sent to their resi- dence to collect the samples. “People are deprived of tests despite staying in long queues at state-run hospitals while people in power are being tested for free, which is not only against the protocol but is also misuse of power and state resources,” said an official at the Department of Health Post file Photo Services, who do not want to be Two ministers have tested positive for the coronavirus. named. “Those who cannot afford to pay should be provided free tests and isolation and get (re)tested, as a lot of Chief Minister of Karnali Province those who can afford should be people from his orbit have tested posi- Mahendra Bahadur Shahi by 18 of the charged. But the exact opposite is hap- tive,” said Dr Prabhat Adhikari, an party’s lawmakers. pening here.” infectious disease and critical care Members of the Oli’s private secre- According to the Health Ministry’s expert. tariat, however, said the prime minis- updated protocol, (re)test is not After seven of his close aides tested ter need not go into isolation because required for asymptomatic and mild positive for the virus within the last he has always maintained proper dis- cases who have completed a 14-day couple of weeks, Oli’s tw0 ministers– tancing. isolation period, including at least 3 Yogesh Bhattarai and Girirajmani “Even if the prime minister talks days without symptoms. Pokhrel–tested positive on Saturday with an infected person, he does not Even if the law is applicable only to and Sunday. need to go into isolation because he the public, coronavirus does not dif- Tourism Minister Bhattarai had maintains distance and wears a mask ferentiate, according to doctors. attended a Cabinet meeting on and shoe covers,” said Ram Sharan “The trend to open masks to show Thursday while Education Minister Bajgain, Oli’s media expert, who him- faces in the media during meetings Pokhrel, besides attending the Cabinet self is in isolation having tested posi- and for photos is very risky,” said a meeting, had met the prime minister tive for the coronavirus on October 4. doctor who did not want to be identi- “During Cabinet meetings or fied. any other meetings, the prime On Friday the Tourism Minister minister keeps proper distance met Indian Ambassador Vinay Mohan so he is out of the risk zone.” Kwatra without wearing a mask and Health Minister Bhanubhakta posted the pictures on his twitter Dhakal was even more blase account. regarding the need for the prime Ministers seem to be taking the cue minister to follow the govern- from the prime minister downplaying ment’s health protocol. the danger posed by the coronavirus. “All state mechanisms would “Like the US president, our prime come to a standstill if the prime minister thinks he knows everything minister stopped working fear- and coronavirus is like common flu,” ing the coronavirus,” he told the said the doctor. Post. “What would happen if the >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2020 | 02 National Local units unprepared to manage people returning home for festive season Locals are worried about the possible outbreak of Covid-19, as authorities do not conduct PCR tests on those returning home for Dashain and Tihar.

BASANTA PRATAP SINGH in Bajhang only keep the people budget spent to set up quarantine BAJHANG, OCT 12 returning from India in quarantine facilities if the local units fail to man- facilities. According to the District age people returning from within the A 23-year-old man returned to his Administration Office, a total of 157 country.” home in Jayaprithvi Municipality people are staying in several quaran- Health officials in the district are Ward No 3, Bajhang, from Kathmandu tine facilities in the district at present. also concerned about the influx of on Monday. Though he did not show All of them are returnees from India. people during the festival season. any symptoms of Covid-19, his family The District Administration Office “People returning from Kathmandu, kept him in home quarantine and and the District Police Office in a hotspot of coronavirus in the coun- urged the local unit to conduct his Bajhang do not even have the try, are sent home without conducting post photo: Hemanta Shrestha Polymerase Chain Reaction test. The record of people who have entered the their PCR tests. It will certainly A vendor selling kitchenware on his bicycle talks to a potential customer at Lokanthali, Bhaktapur on Monday. Despite the Kathmandu returnee tested positive district from Kathmandu and other increase the risk of an outbreak in the rising number of coronavirus infections in Kathmandu Valley, neither is wearing a mask, the best protection against the virus. for the virus on Friday. districts. community,” said Narayan Joshi, the “As per the existing health guide- corona focal person at the District lines of the government, the local unit Health Office in Bajhang. He suggest- only conducts the PCR test of those Health officials are ed that PCR test should be conducted entering the district from India,” said on all people entering the district dur- Ramchandra Joshi, the public health concerned about the ing Dashain and Tihar. Crisis in Karnali a manifestation of top ... inspector of Jayaprithvi Municipality. According to Joshi, there are 38 “However, the suspect’s family mem- influx of people for active cases of coronavirus in the dis- ing with Oli on Monday in Kathmandu, bers requested us so we conducted his trict currently. Dahal held a meeting with some sen- PCR test. He tested positive.” the festive season. Chief District Officer Kamalraj ior party leaders including Madhav With Dashain and Tihar—two Bhandari, who is also the chairman of Nepal, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Home major Hindu festivals—round the cor- the District Corona Crisis Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, Energy ner, Bajhang is seeing an influx of According to Jiban Khadka, the Management committee, admitted Minister Barshaman Pun and people returning from Kathmandu ticket counter in-charge of that the risk of Covid-19 outbreak is Standing Committee members and other districts for the festive sea- Sudurpaschim Transportation high with the arrival of a large num- Surendra Pandey, Yubraj Gyawali and son. But the local units in the district Company, around 300 people have ber of people for the festive season. Janardan Sharma. The leader said are not prepared to deal with the pos- been entering Bajhang from several “The risk has multiplied with the that Dahal stressed that the no-confi- sible outbreak of Covid-19 from the districts on a daily basis via road arrival of people returning home, dence motion should be withdrawn. returnees. transport. mainly from Kathmandu. The com- Bhim Rawal, a Standing Committee “We have been keeping people “The number is set to keep on mittee’s meeting scheduled for member, described the unfolding situ- returning from India in quarantine increasing till Dashain,” he said. Monday will discuss ways to manage ation in Karnali as a bad omen. facilities for two weeks before sending Meanwhile, the local people have the influx of people,” said Bhandari. Rawal was a member of the task them home with their PRC test results. raised questions regarding the man- Though the number of people enter- force that Oli and Dahal had formed We just request the returnees from agement of returnees. They criticised ing the district is on the rise lately, the some weeks ago to recommend ways Kathmandu and other districts to stay the local body for keeping only India local units have not collected swab Post Photo: kalendra sejuwal to ensure party unity and take the put in their houses,” said Juna Jagri, returnees in quarantine while com- samples as per the capacity of the PCR Unless word comes from Kathmandu, Karnali Province could get a new government Tuesday. party and government forward in an the deputy mayor of Jayaprithvi pletely ignoring those returning from laboratory in the district. effective manner. Municipality. “The number of people Kathmandu and other districts. “We can easily conduct the PCR >> Continued from page 1 faction. Discontent had been growing According to Rawal, besides defin- returning from Kathmandu has “Is coronavirus found in people tests of 500 swab samples per day. We In a bid to save the party from a for quite some time in the province, as ing roles for the two chairs, the task increased significantly in recent days. returning from India only? The risk can conduct upto 1,000 tests, if need- split, Oli and Dahal in August man- those opposing the Shahi government force had suggested reshuffle in The risk of an outbreak is high of Covid-19 is very high, as a large ed,” said Dr Milan Khadka, the corona aged to reach a deal, which entailed a were demanding a Cabinet reshuffle. Cabinets in Kathmandu and provinces now. It would be easier for the local number of people are returning from focal person at Bajhang District larger power-sharing including a A Standing Committee member based on merit and necessity and in unit if the returnees stayed in home Kathmandu and other districts,” said Hospital. “But we receive only around Cabinet reshuffle in Kathmandu and close to Oli, however, dismissed that line with the system. quarantine.” Prabindra Dhami, a local of Jayaprithi 30 swabs a day from the local units changing of chief ministers in some the motion was moved at Oli’s direc- “But our recommendations are yet Like Jayaprithvi, all 12 local bodies Municipality. “It would be a waste of these days.” provinces. tion from Kathmandu. to be implemented. And the no-confi- But on Sunday, the no-confidence “Ministers, provincial assembly dence motion against the chief minis- motion was registered in Karnali. members and party leaders are not ter of Karnali just does not bode well According to two leaders who were happy with Shahi’s performance,” the for the party,” Rawal told the Post. present at the Oli-Dahal meeting member, who spoke on condition of “The party leadership should focus on on Monday, Dahal said that the anonymity, told the Post. “Almost all the wellbeing of the nation and the machinations in Karnali to topple the senior party leaders are familiar with entire party. They should not engage government is against the spirit of the issues of Karnali Province.” in petty politics.” party unity. According to leaders from the Dahal There are concerns in the party The two communist parties had camp, Dahal, however, believes that camp that if Shahi is removed in forged an alliance during the 2017 elec- such dissatisfaction is in every other Karnali, a similar motion could be tions, and after they merged in 2018, province and that if Shahi is removed registered in Sudurpaschim, putting they had divided chief ministerial through a no-confidence motion, this Chief Minister Tirlochan Bhatta, who positions, as they had won in six prov- will encourage other provinces to fol- also represents the Maoist party, at inces with a majority. Accordingly, the low suit risk. UML had got chief ministerial posts “The attempt to remove Shahi is Party insiders say Sherdhan Rai of in four provinces–Province 1, Bagmati, guided by some personal and vested Province 1 and Dormani Poudel of Gandaki and Province 5 (now interests and that non-performance is Bagmati too may find their positions Lumbini). The Maoist party got chief just a charge levelled against tenuous because of the dispute in the ministerial posts in two provinces– him,” the leader who was present at Nepal Communist Party in Karnali and Sudurpaschim. the Oli-Dahal meeting quoted Dahal as Kathmandu. “If what has started in Karnali… saying. Hari Roka, a political commentator and if the chief minister is toppled, it Dahal urged Oli to “ask” Kandel to who has closely followed Nepal’s will become a trend,” a leader quoted withdraw the no-confidence motion, leftist politics, said the internal Dahal as telling Oli on Monday. “We according to the leader. conflict in the ruling party and will get into a vicious cycle of unseat- Kandel has been Shahi’s bete noire its knock-on effects on provinces are ing and forming new governments.” since the latter became the chief min- just superficial concerns and that The Dahal camp suspects that the ister, as he too was aspiring for the the bigger worry is Oli’s way of func- no-confidence motion was registered post. The Dahal camp believes Oli tioning which could harm the entire in Karnali at the behest of Oli. Three employed Kandel’s long-held aspira- system. of the provincial assembly members tions to assert his power in the party. “This is the repetition of the old who have backed the no-confidence In response to Sunday’s no-confi- power tussle story. Oli seems to be in a motion are from the Dahal camp. Of dence motion, Shahi on Monday bid to revive his UML party,” said the 15 provincial assembly members removed Gulab Jang Shah as the par- Roka. “It looks like Oli is bent on dis- representing the UML who filed the ty’s provincial chief whip and appoint- mantling the system the country has motion, eight are from the Oli camp ed Sita Nepali. achieved, as he was never committed Post Photo: Basanta Pratap Singh and seven from the Madhav Nepal According to a leader, before meet- to the changes.” Around 300 people have been entering Bajhang from several districts on a daily basis, according to Sudurpaschim Transportation Company. Majority of Covid-19 patients in Chitwan in home isolation Oli continues to hold Health workers worry about the lack of proper system to monitor the health of patients in home isolation. meetings despite ... RAMESH KUMAR PAUDEL Bharatpur Hospital. According to ing 754 are in home isolation, the data There’s no mechanism to get their CHITWAN, OCT 12 Liladhar Paudel, the information revealed. daily updates and take them to the >> Continued from page 1 fatal for him as he is not of the age of officer at the hospital, the man was “The data showed that more than hospital, if needed,” said Adhikari. “Had he taken the risks seriously Bishnu Rimal and Rajan Bhattarai,” The District Administration Office in admitted to the hospital only when his two-thirds of the infected are staying “There’s not even a working guideline from the beginning, things [in the said Ganesh Sah, another Standing Chitwan issued a public notice on health condition had worsened after at their homes,” said Dipak Tiwari, to conduct their Covid-19 tests on country] could have been different.” Committee member, who is also a for- Monday requesting asymptomatic four days in self-isolation. chief at the District Health Office. time.” As of Monday, 111,802 people mer minister for science and technolo- coronavirus infected people to visit So far, 2,764 individuals have tested According to him, most of the asymp- Tiwari, the chief at the District throughout the country have tested gy. “It is his psychology that domi- Covid-19 designated hospitals. positive for Covid-19 in Chitwan, tomatic patients are aged people with Health Office, says the severe lack of positive with 645 deaths. In the last 24 nates. He does not listen to anyone.” However, the three Covid-19 hospitals according to the data of the District pre-existing health conditions. infrastructure and working guideline hours 4,047 people tested positive The prime minister is 69 years old in the district are not capable of han- Health Office. Out of the 1,097 active “We don’t know about the health in the district’s Covid-19 hospitals is including 2,283 in Kathmandu Valley. and had a second kidney transplant in dling the growing number of patients, cases in the district, only 343 are stay- condition of more than 754 Covid-19 leading to worsening health condi- Dr Baburam Marasini, former March. say health officials. ing in isolation facilities. The remain- patients staying in home isolation. tions of coronavirus patients. director at the Epidemiology and According to the District Health “The government should add infra- Disease Control Division, said the Office, over two-thirds of the Covid-19 structure to the health facilities. prime minister should not take the PM Oli falls in a patients in Chitwan are in home isola- Covid-19 patients have been compelled issue of his health lightly and tion for a lack of beds and other essen- to stay home, away from medical care, take proper precautions while high risk group, as tial infrastructure at Chitwan Medical since the hospitals are not equipped to meeting people. College, College of Medical Sciences handle them,” he said. “The govern- “A lot of people who met the prime he has pre-existing and Bharatpur Hospital, the three ment hospitals haven’t been able to minister or participated in meetings Covid-19 designated hospitals in the add ICU beds and ventilators but they he convened have tested positive for health conditions. district. could manage a High-dependency Covid-19,” said Marasini. Health workers worry about the Unit. These units are usually located Ruling party leaders have said lack of a proper system to monitor the close to the intensive care unit and are there could be two reasons behind the “As the prime minister falls in a patients in home-isolation. equipped with supplementary oxygen prime minister’s decision to avoid very high risk group since he has “We have not been able to take bottles. Patients can be cared for more isolation. pre-existing health conditions like stock of the situation of Covid-19 extensively at the unit than in the gen- “Either the prime minister feels his being a diabetic, is taking immuno- patients in home isolation; we haven’t eral ward.” immunity is strong. Maybe his immu- suppressants and is old and a male, been able to monitor their health or Asymptomatic patients of Covid-19 nity has increased due to his medi- he should not hold any [in-person] even provide timely treatment,” said can stay at home but there should be a cines,” said Leelamani Pokhrel, a meetings,” said Adhikari. Dr Bhojraj Adhikari, chairman at the mechanism to regularly monitor their Standing Committee member. According to Adhikari, if the prime Government Hospital Development health condition, says Adhikari. “Or because of his feeling of minister has to hold meetings, they Committee in Bharatpur. “The hospitals in Chitwan should responsibility towards the state should be virtual, as polymerase chain “Patients are taken to a hospital have at least 300-bed isolation wards not to let the state mechanism come to reaction test results are not 100 per- only after their health has with 175 ICU beds and 75 ventilators to a halt. The state cannot remain cent accurate and one could contract deteriorated, which makes their fight against Covid-19,” he said. “The standstill.” the virus after being tested as well. treatment difficult.” big hospitals could focus on coronavi- But given his condition, the fact “What I am saying is not a On October 5, a 70-year-old patient Post Photo: Ramesh Kumar Paudel rus treatment and other small hospi- that he falls under high risk category criticism,” said Adhikari, “but fair of Covid-19 from Bharatpur Ward No. Recovered patients of Covid-19 take a group picture before getting discharged from an tals could be developed for the treat- is accepted by party leaders. suggestions from a well-wisher and a 3 died while undergoing treatment at isolation centre in Chitwan. ment of other ailments.” “Any sort of infection could become citizen.”

C M Y K 03 | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2020 National Briefing Traffic resumes on Siddhartha Highway to close for three hours daily Besisahar-Chame road PALPA: The Division Road Office in Palpa has decided to close down the traffic along Siddhartha Highway for three hours daily for the next four after Bailey bridge built days to clear landslide debris from the various parts of the highway. AASH GURUNG every day, local entrepreneurs in Shibhu Khatri, information officer at LAMJUNG, OCT 12 Manang say. the office, said, over two dozen land- “The Besisahar-Chame road section slides had occurred along the 35-km The construction of a Bailey bridge has been witnessing multiple land- section of the highway during this over Ghoptekhola in Marsyangdi slides since the 2015 earthquakes. year’s monsoon. The landslide debris Rural Municipality Ward No. 4, Every year during the rainy season, are being cleared to ensure smooth Lamjung, has brought relief to the floods and landslides block the road traffic flow. locals. for a few months,” said Mahendra A flood in the river in the first week Thapa, a local of Ram bazaar. “We are of August had swept away the old cut off from Besisahar for weeks dur- Police seize truck smuggling bridge, made of hume pipes and grav- ing the rainy season. The new bailey pharmaceutical drugs el, cutting off locals in Ram bazaar bridge will hopefully put an end to BIRGUNJ: A huge cache of illegal from the district headquarters in our misery.” drugs was confiscated from a truck Besisahar. The flood had also swept Suman Adhikari, a sub engineer of that had entered Nepal from India away 15 metres of the road section the Dumre-Besisahar-Chame road through Birgunj border. According to along the Besisahar-Chame road. project, said, “The Bailey bridge in the Parsa police, the truck with Vehicular movement along the road Ghoptekhola is 27 metres long and 4.20 Indian licence plate was intercepted had come to a halt since then. But metres wide. It is strong enough to at Ramgadhawa road section in Ward with the construction of the new withstand heavy rainfall and floods.” No 24 of Birgunj Metropolis on bridge, traffic flow has resumed. The According to Division Road Office Saturday night. DSP Manojit Kunwar area sees heavy traffic flow, with in Damauli, the total cost of the bridge said the truck was smuggling phar- Post Photo: Anish regmi over 50 vehicles, including minibuses project has been estimated at around maceutical drugs. A Buddhist nun sits with a prayer beads in her hands at Swayambhunath Stupa in Kathmandu on Monday. and trucks, passing over the bridge 3.2 million.

64 percent reconstruction completed in Makwanpur HETAUDA: Sixty-four percent (over 22,000) of the earthquake affected Chitwan’s killer tigers no longer threat, experts say families in Makwanpur have complet- ed rebuilding their houses so far. According to the data of the District While a maneater has been captured, wildlife experts have ruled out threats from the second animal that attacked a human deep in the forest. Project Implementation Unit of the National Reconstruction Authority, CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL Conservation Centre at Sauraha had the standard practice is to release it to from Sauraha over the phone. “After prey on livestock.” 34,885 families were on the list of KATHMANDU, OCT 12 started monitoring the two tigers to its habitat. But we need to monitor monitoring, we found out that the Lamichhane also said there is a low housing reconstruction aid agree- study their behaviours using a camera this tiger’s behaviour since it is a tiger had attacked the person because risk of the similar incident repeating ments in the district and many of The two tigers that killed two men trap method. maneater. If the animal fails to regain it felt threatened as it was feeding on again since the incident site is a core them have either completed rebuild- inside Chitwan National Park in The first tiger that killed a man at its strength, there is a risk of it attack- the carcass of a sambar deer nearby.” tiger habitat. ing or in the process of building September are no longer threats to the Belsahar forest was located and cap- ing humans again. There is also the According to Lamichhane, with the “The tiger had attacked the man their new homes. villagers living close to the park, tured after officials found out that it risk of it getting killed in a territorial monitoring they wanted to see wheth- who had ventured deep inside the jun- officials say . had turned into a maneater as it had fight with other tigers.” er the tiger could attack humans and gle to cut grass,” said Lamichanne. One of the tigers, a maneater, has become too frail to be able to hunt its Officials also said the tiger attack at whether the animal was old or injured Lamichhane has conducted several Eight arrested on fraud charge been captured while the second tiger usual prey. Kumroj forest was an accidental case causing it to become a maneater. studies on tigers. One of his studies POKHARA: Kaski police arrested eight attack incident officials have ruled it Officials believe that the same tiger and that the risk of the animal attack- Five cameras were set up to track analysed the characteristics of the individuals from Pokhara on charge as an accidental case where the victim had killed another man two weeks ing other humans is low. the tiger. Lamichhane said the camera problem-causing tigers in Chitwan of swindling locals by forming a fake had ventured deep in the tiger’s before the September 26 incident. According to Baburam Lamichhane, traps had recorded several tigers in National Park and found that only 5 provincial office of the Landless territory. The tiger is being rehabilitated at chief of the Biodiversity Conservation the area. percent of the park’s tigers were Squatters’ Problem Resolution On September 26, a tiger from the the park’s headquarters in Kasara. Centre, the incident at Kumroj forest “We matched older pictures of the involved in a conflict with locals. The Commission. Jeevan Kumar park had killed a 65-year-old man who “The tiger is being fed enough meat resulted after the victim had gone into tiger captured through camera traps study had also concluded that tran- Shrestha, chief at the District Police had gone to cut grass at Belsahar and treated in a controlled environ- the tiger’s territory to collect grass. in the past around the same area with sient tigers without a territory were Office in Kaski, said the suspects had Community Forest. Two days later, on ment. We are also observing its behav- The monitoring team found that the the new pictures to identify the tiger more likely to be involved in conflicts assured some people of building September 28, another man was also iour,” said Ashok Kumar Ram, infor- tiger had apparently perceived a in question,” he said. “The animal with humans and recommended an homes for them on 300 ropanis of killed in a similar incident by another mation officer at the Chitwan National threat from the man who got too close looked healthy and it had no reason to early warning system to anticipate land at Bhotechaur. The group was tiger at Kumroj Buffer Zone Park. “We need to wait and see how it while it was feeding on a deer carcass. prey on humans. We knew the tiger conflicts before they occur. arrested after the District Community Forest. recovers in the days to come.” “Through the monitoring, we want- was not a maneater because it did not “Regular monitoring of such tigers Administration Office found out that The two back-to-back incidents of The park has not yet decided ed to know what was the reason eat its human victim. For a tiger, through camera trapping and identifi- they had collected Rs 7,000 each from tiger attack had terrorised the people. whether to release the tiger in the behind the killing and whether there humans are not its natural prey. cation of the problematic tigers can 23 individuals in the name of carry- Following the tiger attacks, the wilderness. was any sign of similar attack by the They eat humans only if they are help locals be alert against impending ing out survey works, Shrestha said. park’s authority and Biodiversity “Once the tiger regains its health, same tiger,” Lamichhane told the Post old or are injured and cannot even danger,” said Lamichhane. Second phase of Kathmandu Ring Road expansion remains uncertain Though the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure has directed concerned authorities to clear the 8.2 km road within three months, officials say it is not easy to do so.

ANUP OJHA three months, and we need to look at Earlier, the Chinese government KATHMANDU, OCT 12 the Detailed Project Report prepared was expected to submit the project by the construction company before design before 2018. But that has not Last year in October, officials at the starting the expansion work,” said happened more than two years down Department of Roads had said the Sapkota. the line. second phase of expansion of the A senior official at the department, Officials say that the Chinese side 8.2km Kalanki-Balaju-Maharajgunj however, told the Post that even want the road clearance and land road section would start from early though the ministry has issued a acquisition works completed before 2020. A year has passed since and directive to clear the road section by submitting the project design, some- there has been no progress on the three months, the Chinese govern- thing the Nepali authorities have project. ment is unlikely to start the road failed to deliver. The Ministry of Physical expansion project anytime soon Last year, the Department of Roads Infrastructure and Transport on because of the Covidp-19 pandemic. had chopped 200 trees along the pro- Sunday directed the concerned stake- Kathmandu has become a Covid-19 posed road expansion site. The tree felling work, however, got halted after city residents and environmental activists protested the move. The department says it needs to clear 2,057 trees for the road expan- sion project. Ishwor Man Dangol, spokesperson for the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, said the city has been coordinating with the central government to start the project. “We have been helping the central government in making drainage in some places. But there are still some problems, particularly the one con- cerning land compensation at Maharajgunj,” Dangol told the Post. He thinks it would take some time to acquire the roadside property before the expansion work could be initiated. Bhai Kaji Tiwari, commissioner of Kathmandu Valley Development Post file Photo Authority, said while he was not part The Chinese insist that all legal issues related to the expansion be settled before work begins. of Sunday’s meeting, it is clear that the Chinese side is not going to start holders to start the road clearance hotspot and the Chinese government the project until the road clearance work to make way for the project. is unlikely to take a risk by starting works are settled. A meeting chaired by Minister of the road expansion project, said the “The Chinese government is not Physical Infrastructure and Transport official who wished to remain anony- going to start this project if there is Basanta Kumar Nembang directed the mous. any dispute regarding land acquisi- authorities concerned to remove the A total of 2,283 new Covid-19 cases tion,” said Twari. electricity poles along the proposed were detected in Kathmandu Valley The 10.5 km Kalanki-Koteshwor sec- road expansion site within a month, on Monday. Of which 1,888 were in tion of Ring Road has already been relocate the high voltage transmis- Kathmandu, 227 in Lalitpur and 118 expanded with the assistance of the sion line between Karkhana Chowk were in Bhaktapur. Chinese government. The undertak- and Sano Bharyang, remove the Nepal’s Covid-19 infection numbers ing had cost Rs 5.13 billion and took Chaitya in front of Swayambhu Park crossed 100,000 mark last week. At this nearly six years to complete. by mid-November, and compensate the point, there is little chance that the The Chinese government had offi- landowners whose properties fall on road expansion work will start after cially handed over the expanded road the road expansion site. three months. to Kathmandu Ring Road Improvement The directive from the ministry Moreover, Kathmandu Ring Road Project in January last year. comes after Chinese government, Improvement Project is also without The expanded Ring Road section, which is funding the project, said it its leadership to spur on the road however, had courted controversy for will not start its work until the road expansion work. The former project its lack of pedestrian-friendly infra- section is cleared, according to Shiva chief, Amrit Mani Rimal, has been structure, like crosswalks, overhead Hari Sapkota spokesperson at the transferred and his successor, Arjun bridges and lack of cycle lanes. The Department of Roads. Suwal, is set to join office only after section was termed a killer road for “This task will take a minimum of the Dashain festival. frequent traffic casualties.

C M Y K TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2020 | 04 Opinion EDITORIAL Does Nepal await another popular revolt? Honour thy farmer There seems to be a dearth Sugarcane producers are deep in debt as the of organised public government looks away. anger against the federal government’s failures. In 2015-16, sugarcane farming in Nepal occupied 72,730 hectares of land, according to government statistics. The then cabinet had even directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Achyut Wagle Development to declare sugarcane a national crop, a status no crop had received before. The same year, the country produced 3.13 million tonnes of sugarcane, but the annual output has been dropping significantly in the last few years, hurting the national coffers, farmers and consumers. According to the Sugarcane Producers Association, the num- ber of sugarcane farmers is dropping significantly, and produc- The classical theory of change suggests tion ‘command areas’ of the crop have also seen a significant that any desired transformation can reduction in the past few years. Disillusioned over non-pay- only be achieved through three inevita- ment of outstanding dues and floor price adjustments, sugar- ble steps, namely unfreeze, change and cane farmers who are caught in a complex web of policy cor- refreeze. The task of unfreezing the adherence to the status quo in a few ruption and the business-politics nexus have been switching to hundred ruling elites, across ideolo- cultivating other crops. gies, is proving to be the most arduous As the crushing season, which begins from mid-November, task of all. Therefore, the chances of nears, the plight of sugarcane farmers has come to light once transforming Nepal’s political system again as they raise their demands for payment of arrears by and public delivery mechanism sugar mills. The dues go as far back as the fiscal year 2014-15 through incremental reform appear and run into millions. The association has also demanded that increasingly slimmer. Lamentations unpaid salaries of mill workers be paid and the factories reo- don’t help; what is needed is a struc- tured call for quality in governance pened as hundreds of employees have lost their income source and change. While the delivery of good amid the evolving situation of the Covid-19 pandemic. governance from the state has histori- In December last year, Minister for Industry, Commerce and cally remained pathetic, the indiffer- Supplies Lekhraj Bhatta had summoned the defaulting mill ence among masses is as responsible in owners, who pledged to release the payment within a month constraining the growth and prosperi- and a half, following two weeks of protests in the capital by ty of the country. This has never Shutterstock sugarcane farmers. However, not a penny has been released, allowed the country’s growth to hit an according to the association. Nothing has changed for the farm- optimal level. KP Oli reportedly told his ministers since Yubaraj Khatiwada resigned. impossible without citizens’ recourse last Thursday. Initially, he had dis- When he was immediately appointed as to public pressure, protest, revolt and ers nine months since the government pledged to make the State’s insensitivity missed the impending scale of threats an advisor to the prime minister, gener- even revolution. But this possibility sugar mills pay them their money and work on an automated On Sunday, Dr Govinda KC ended his projected by the scientists and public al perception, despite his miserable looks very distant in Nepal. To borrow system to fix sugarcane prices. latest fast-unto-death protest, or sat- health experts. Government officials performance while in the post, was that the term from Karl Marx himself, the The business-politics nexus in the country has never been yagraha, after an agreement signed are also terrorising the public with he would function as the de facto rise of the lumpenproletariat class in laid this bare. The delay in releasing outstanding dues exposes with the government to address his confusing information. finance minister. But now, amidst all Nepal has only facilitated the extrac- how industrialists enjoy state protection while the issues of demands, mainly, related to reform in For example, the spokesperson in the this, Khatiwada has now been appoint- tive political class to dedicate them- thousands of farmers remain unaddressed as bitter financial the country’s medical education sys- Ministry of Health, while highlighting ed as Nepal’s ambassador to the United selves in fulfilling petty vested inter- burdens haunt them. As a result, the conflict between sugar- tem. But had Nepal been an accounta- the achievements of the five-month-long States. Such an ad-hoc approach of the ests without interference and fear of ble democracy, he need not have strug- lockdown claimed that the country government in managing the economy retribution. cane cultivators and sugar producers has become an annual gled for years for simple demands like increased intensive care unit (ICU) beds at the time of this unprecedented In his classic book, Democracy in ritual with several agreements made in the past. But farmers making medical education more acces- from 900 in March to 2,600 by the end of national crisis only shows its lack of America (1835), French political scien- continue to struggle to get what is rightfully theirs. All this sible geographically and accessible to September and provisioned ventilators ability to identify and tackle important tist Alexis de Tocqueville said, ‘In order despite government warnings that mill owners could face the people from the lower economic from 80 to 900. But just after two days, national priorities. that men remain civilised or become arrest if they do not pay farmers on time. strata, and to stop corrupt practices when patients in the ICU reached 321 The media is inundated with barbar- so, the art of associating must be devel- Sugarcane farmers have not received more than an estimated surrounding the affiliation of medical and the occupied number of ventilators ic stories of rape in every corner of the oped and perfected among them in the Rs800 million from sugar mills for their crops and Rs1 billion in colleges by the universities, among oth- was 77, the same spokesperson declared country. This certainly has several same ratio as equality of conditions government subsidies. The financial burdens of the farmers ers. Unfortunately, not only has the that the ICU beds and ventilators were socio-economic dimensions that need increases’. He also contended that for Nepali state failed to do so on its own, no longer available to the patients in to be addressed to control this menace. citizens without ‘the taste to unite in are real. The government must ensure that the agreement but the successive governments failed hospitals of ‘convenient’ locations, But the present government has com- political goals, their independence reached between the three parties is honoured. It must win to even honour the agreements they whereas, almost 70 percent of ICU beds pletely turned a blind eye towards would run great risks’. The Nepali con- back the faith of thousands of disillusioned farmers while had reached with Dr KC, accompany- and 80 percent of ventilators are within widespread political patronage of science yet seems to be acquainted with strongly regulating the 13 sugar mills operating across the ing each of his previous satyagrahas. the Kathmandu Valley where about 60 criminals and the ever-increasing this particular ‘taste’, thus, exacerbat- country as it has been reported that some mills do not even The fate of the recent agreement also percent of the infected population is sense of impunity perpetrators seem to ing the inequality between the ruler have payment records. may not be any different. concentrated. The central government feel. In the meantime, victims have and the ruled. Last year, following widespread criticism of the ad hoc restric- The Covid-19 infection rate among has miserably failed to enforce the very limited access to justice, cultivat- Nevertheless, it is beyond question the tested crossed the 25 percent mark social distancing and health safety ing Nepal’s image as a ‘horrible rapist that Nepal would be able to unshackle tions on the import of sugar imposed in the fall of 2018, Prime and the total number of proven infec- rules, including in the public trans- nation’. These issues have failed to be herself from the suffocating status quo Minister KP Sharma Oli claimed that the private sector had tions broke the psychological ceiling of ports. It has also failed to take along the part of the pressing political agenda. without weeding out the current set of duped him, but his government has done nothing to change its 100,000 last week. But the federal gov- provincial and local governments so as self-indulgent and extractive political policies. The manner in which the government continues to ernment, instead of assuaging and to enable them to meaningfully contrib- Citizens’ imperviousness class without a bold and ethical demo- favour business people over sugarcane farmers and consumers facilitating the people to overcome fear ute to the containment measures. Despite all the problems the govern- cratic revolution. A contingent ques- is just one instance of crony capitalism. The government led by and contain the infection, is effectively Each and every country in the world ment has been unable to counter, the tion, then, is: How proximate is yet the Nepal Communist Party—an amalgamation of two commu- indulging in fear-mongering on the one is now keenly committed to salvaging organised public anger that should another popular revolt in Nepal that nist forces that claim to champion the cause of the people—must hand and terribly failing to implement their respective economies affected by have been pressurising the government can effectively reset the existing socio- containment and cure protocols on the the Covid-19 pandemic. But Nepal for is virtually non-existent. The course political order? The Covid-19 pandemic guarantee that the economic equality, prosperity and social jus- other. ‘The government can do nothing the past one and a half months is with- correction of nonperforming or under- can perhaps be the best eye-opener for tice enshrined in the constitution also reflects in practice. to contain the virus’, Prime Minister out a standalone finance minister, performing governments would be the citizens-in-slumber.

How to make Japan great again

frontier. Moreover, it is simply hypo- Japan desperately needs to critical where women are concerned. At the January 2014 annual gather- develop and deploy the ing of the World Economic Forum, Shinzo Abe, Suga’s long-serving pre- human capital embedded decessor, spoke boldly of making Japan ‘a place where women shine’. in its population. And after 2015, his government often boasted that Japan’s female labour- force participation rate had overtaken Bill Emmott that of the US, reflecting its policies to increase public spending on childcare facilities. But with the cheap-labour strategy remaining in place and unal- tered, the quality of women’s jobs has not kept pace with their quantity. As a result, the benefits from the educational gains that women have Japan’s new prime minister, Yoshihide made since the 1980s have fallen short Suga, has arrived with a suite of of potential. To be sure, a new genera- ambitious policy ideas, including tion of university-educated women plans to digitise government services who graduated in the 1990s and 2000s and revive the country’s regional is coming of age, and some will soon banks. But he has yet to come up with take up more prominent positions. an overarching theme that strikes a But labour-market conditions for the chord with the public. Here’s an idea: bulk of Japanese women remain high- he should declare that by 2030, Japan ly constrained. will be positioned to make the best While this problem partly reflects possible use of its one and only natu- persistent misogyny and rigid corpo- ral resource—its people. rate attitudes, the main culprit is the Back in the 1980s, when the rest of cheap-labour strategy. Too many men the world looked admiringly at Japan and women suffer from job insecurity for lessons about how to run an econo- and low wages, which almost certain- my, it was assumed that the key to the ly has contributed to Japan’s low mar- country’s strength lay in its ability to riage and birth rates. And this, in tap a deep well of talent. After all, by turn, has kept the overall population that time Japan had become a high- in decline, putting a cap on economic wage, high-productivity, highly secure growth. society with one of the world’s best When he entered office last month, education systems. In exchange for Suga promised to ‘create a cabinet loyalty, Japanese high-school and uni- r.nagy/Shutterstock.com that works for people’. To make that versity graduates alike received life- the share of Japanese girls leaving significant social and economic stress as the working-age population has conditions have become. And, because mean something, he needs to put the long training and development from high school for a four-year university and was soon followed by China’s declined, millions of women and employers have little incentive to Japanese people at the very centre of their employers. But, of course, this has risen to 50 percent, compared to 55 emergence as a source of competitive retired people have been recruited to invest in the human capital of part- his national economic strategy. Japan arrangement applied only to half the percent of boys. The pipeline of future pressure. Since then, successive maintain employment levels. Among time, short-term employees, corporate desperately needs to develop and population: men. female leaders is now much larger. Yet Japanese governments, egged on by these cohorts, over half of the women spending on training and development deploy the human capital embedded Four decades later, Japan still has a despite this massive expansion of big business, have departed from the and almost all of the retirees are on has declined, and relative poverty rates in its population, so that it can replace great education system, which has Japanese ‘human capital’ (education legacy of high wages and high job short-term contracts, with many earn- have risen, putting Japan far closer to the 30-year-old emphasis on cheap made radical improvements on gender and talent), its effective deployment security, in favour of a cheap-labour ing the minimum wage (which is one the United States than to egalitarian labour with a restored vision of a disparities. In the 1980s, most Japanese has lagged behind, even reversing in strategy (they wouldn’t call it that, of of the lowest among OECD countries). countries such as Denmark in this high-wage, high-productivity society. women had to make do with a two- some respects, for both men and course, but that is what it is). While this cheap-labour strategy has respect. Japan should be the Switzerland of year junior-college education. Less women. There is now an extraordi- In 1990, 80 percent of Japanese helped support corporate profits, it The cheap-labour approach may Asia, not its US. than 15 percent were enrolled in four- nary mismatch between Japanese workers were employed on perma- also has emerged as the single biggest have been appropriate as an emergen- year university courses, compared to workers’ educational achievements nent, highly secure contracts. But by factor behind the country’s sluggish cy measure to avert mass unemploy- Emmott, a former editor-in-chief of 35-40 percent of boys. This ‘education and employment. 2019, nearly 40 percent were on inse- economic growth in recent decades. ment after Japan’s 1990 financial cri- The Economist, is the author, most gap’ explains why Japan has so few The roots of this paradox stretch cure short-term contracts, owing to Household consumption is chronically sis, but it makes no sense as a long- recently, of Japan’s Far More Female female leaders to this day. back to the 1990-92 collapse of stock the relaxation of labour regulations weak, because wages have failed to rise term strategy for a highly educated, Future. However, over the past 30-40 years, and property prices, which caused over the past three decades. Moreover, regardless of how tight labour-market ageing country at the technological —Project Syndicate

C M Y K 05 | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2020 Money

FOREX India announces US Dollar 117.54 Tax authority tells nearly 30,000 firms Euro 138.72 economic stimulus Pound Sterling 153.01 to submit tax details or face de-registration to boost demand Japanese Yen 11.14 Chinese Yuan 17.41 The number of non-filers has been growing each year and most of these businesses are not in operation, say authorities. by $10 billion Qatari Riyal 32.28

Australian Dollar 84.77 PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA cal 2017-18. Regarding the non-filers of REUTERS KATHMANDU, OCT 12 the income tax, section 21 (1) of the NEW DELHI, OCT 12 Malaysian Ringit 28.35 Financial Act states that a natural Tax authorities have told nearly person who has annual transaction of India on Monday announced steps to Saudi Arab Riyal 31.33 30,000 firms that have failed to submit over Rs5 million can submit tax details stimulate consumer demand, includ- Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank details of value-added tax they of fiscal years 2016-17, 2017-18 and ing advance payment of a part of the collected and asked them to clear the 2018-19, pay tax for those years includ- wages of federal government employ- dues of up to mid-July 2018 or else face ing a fine of 25 percent on tax by mid- ees during the festival season and Shares de-registration. March next year. more capital spending as it tries to The Inland Revenue Department on Such taxpayers will not have to sub- bolster the pandemic-hit economy. Nepse 1,578.01pts 0.11% Friday released a list of 29,447 firms mit any tax details of earlier years The government will allow its registered to collect value-added tax and they will not be asked to pay any employees to spend tax-exempt travel highest gainers on goods and services they sell but penalty, fine and remaining interest allowances on goods and services, MNBBL CORBL ICFC KSBBL TMDBL MFIL 9.85% 5% 4.88% 4.57% 4.48% 4.47% who failed to submit details and depos- on them, according to the Financial Nirmala Sitharaman, India’s finance it their collections accordingly. Act 2020. minister told a news briefing. moderate gainers As per the section 21 (3) of the In the case of firms whose annual She said the government will also MDB KRBL JBBL GBBL MHNL RMDC 4.12% 4% 3.5% 3.45% 3.27% 2.89% Financial Act 2020, the tax authority transaction is over Rs5 million and shore up investment by spending

moderate losers has asked these taxpayers to submit failed to submit tax details of the fis- extra 250 billion rupees ($3.41 billion) GRDBL GUFL SFCL JFL SIFC SJCL the tax details and pay the tax includ- cal year 2016-17, they can also partici- on roads, ports and defence projects, -3.64% -3.64% -3.77% -3.93% -4.29% -4.55% ing 50 percent fine on the top of the pate in the scheme by submitting tax and offering 120 billion rupees in

highest losers tax dues by mid-March next year. details, paying tax and a fine of 25 interest-free 50-year loans to state gov- BFC MPFL GMFIL CFCL RHPC SABSL As per the provision of the percent on entitled tax by mid-March ernments for spending on infrastruc- -4.55% -4.58% -4.81% -4.97% -5.83% -6.05% Financial Act, tax authorities will next year. ture before March 31, 2021. remove those who failed to submit tax “They will be exempted from extra “All these measures are likely to details and pay the tax due until fee and interest,” the law says. create an additional demand of 730 mid-July 2016 from its system. “Even A former official of the department, billion rupees ($9.96 billion),” Price Per tola after de-registration, they have to who refused to be named because he Sitharaman said, adding the proposals bullion pay the tax dues but the fine will no longer serves at the tax office, said would stimulate demand in a “fiscally not be charged,” according to the SHUTTERSTOCK that the number of non-filers has con- prudent way.” Fine Gold Rs 95,600 Financial Act. As of the fiscal year 2018-19, 25,506 non-filers owed the tax authority Rs5.45 billion. tinuously been a problem for the tax Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “We published the list of firms ask- authority. government, which imposed a tough Silver Rs 1,245 ing them to submit tax details in line there were 240,460 firms registered are not in operation despite register- “One of the reasons why there is a lockdown to stem the spread of the with the Financial Act,” said Mukti with VAT. Of them, as many as 25.1 ing with the Office of Company large number of errant taxpayers is coronavirus in March, is pushing SoG urce: FENE OSIDA Pandey, deputy director-general at the percent were non-filers of the VAT, up Registrar and the tax authorities,” that they don’t know the requirement ahead with a full opening to try to Inland Revenue Department. “The from 23.68 percent in the previous fis- said Pandey. “There may be a very of filing their tax details even if they boost the economy ahead of the usual- government aims to reduce the num- cal 2017-18. limited number of firms that are run- are not running the firms,” the former ly high-spending festival season, gasoline watch ber of non-filers.” The government expects certain ning but not submitting tax details.” tax official told the Post. “Another which runs from October to March. Non-filers are those who fail to sub- revenue collection but not much from Tax authorities are also preparing reason is simple non-compliance from The latest package would not mit tax details on time. the latest scheme. As of the fiscal year to release the list of non-filers of the some taxpayers.” require any extra borrowing by the The government also expects to 2018-19, 25,506 non-filers of the val- income tax. As many as 48 percent of According to him, there is a tenden- federal government, Tarun Bajaj, eco- raise a certain amount in tax from ue-added tax owed the tax authority total individuals and firms registered cy among many taxpayers to register nomic affairs secretary at the Ministry these non-filers if they become eager Rs5.45 billion. The tax authority has in income tax are non-filers as of fis- the VAT when they are supplying of Finance, told reporters. to submit tax details and pay tax. collected tax worth around Rs70 bil- cal 2018-19. There were a total of goods to the government agencies and India’s federal government said last According to the department, 25 lion so far this fiscal year which is 1,235,412 taxpayers registered for stop filing the VAT details once they month it would stick to revised bor- percent of all firms who have regis- close to the collection during the same income tax till fiscal 2018-19. stop supplying them. rowing target of 12 trillion rupees tered for value-added tax are non-fil- period last fiscal, according to the The proportion of non-filers has “In the case of non-compliance, ($163.78 billion) in the current fiscal ers till mid-July 2019. According to the department. been on the rise in recent years as administrative measures are taken to year ending March, against an earlier department’s annual report 2018-19, “Almost all non-filers are firms that their proportion was 46 percent in fis- recover the tax dues,” he said. estimate of 7.8 trillion rupees. As dollar steadies, gold Nepali jute factories hurt by eases off three-week high soaring cost of raw materials REUTERS strength. The Trump administration NEW YORK, OCT 12 on Sunday called on Congress BINOD BHANDARI to pass a stripped-down coronavirus BIRATNAGAR, OCT 12 Gold inched down from a three-week relief bill using leftover funds from high as the dollar recouped some of its an expired small business loan A drop in jute output in Nepal, India losses after a new US coronavirus aid programme. and Bangladesh has sent prices soar- package ran into resistance. But while the $1.8 trillion economic ing, hurting Nepali factories that China gives Spot gold fell 0.1 percent to $1,927.11 stimulus proposal drew criticism manufacture bags and other products per ounce by 0629 GMT, after hitting from congressional Democrats from the golden fibre. The price of raw $90 million its highest level since Sept. 21 at and Republicans, investors seem opti- jute has jumped by 50 percent to Rs90 $1,932.96 earlier in the session. US gold mistic that spending will resume at per kg, jute traders said. futures were up 0.5 percent at$1,934.70 some point. Jute bags are in great demand cur- grant to Sri Lanka per ounce. “There is going to be a stimulus rently, and they fetch high prices; but “The dollar index has rebounded coming really quickly after the elec- the factories have not been able to go ASSOCIATED PRESS slightly, weighing on the precious tion... The market will look through into full scale production and capital- COLOMBO (Sri Lanka), OCT 12 metal,” said Margaret Yang, a the fact that we don’t have stimulus ise on it due to Covid-19 related lock- strategist with DailyFx, which now but that it is coming and that will downs and transport restrictions. China announced on Sunday that it covers currency, commodity and index be supportive for gold,” Stephen Innes, Despite the massive demand for jute was providing a $90 million grant to trading. chief global market strategist at Axi. products, factories had to shut down Sri Lanka, two days after the island But, “the technical trend has turned Gold, considered a hedge against and furlough workers. POST FILE PHOTO nation’s president sought help from a bullish in the near term and very soon inflation and currency debasement, Raj Kumar Golchha, president of Nepali factories consume 70,000 tonnes of raw jute annually. visiting Chinese delegation in dis- it may test the key resistance level of has gained over 27 percent so far this the Jute Industries Association, said proving a perception that China- $1,942,” she added. year, boosted by unprecedented stimu- that with the hike in the price of raw fiscal year were worth Rs700 million. anti-dumping duty imposed by India funded megaprojects are “debt traps.” The dollar index steadied and was lus measures unveiled globally to jute that is mostly imported from Demand for jute bags swells during four years ago had been creating prob- Calling the financial assistance a trading below a three-week low cushion the economic fallout from the India and Bangladesh, factories the festive season, mostly from sugar lems for exporters of finished jute “timely grant,” the Chinese Embassy against rivals, after negotiations on Covid-19 pandemic. in Nepal have been facing difficulties mills. As a result, most of the exports products. India has been levying an in Colombo said that it would be used the US stimulus package ran into Silver gained about 1 percent to in the midst of the coronavirus are conducted by mid-August. anti-dumping duty of 3-4 percent on for medical care, education and water resistance and as the yuan dropped $25.36 per ounce and palladium fell 0.1 pandemic. Imports of raw jute can be cut if the rope, 4-5 percent on sacks and 0 to 2 supplies in Sri Lanka’s rural areas after China’s central bank took a percent to $2,437.79, while platinum Only five out of the 11 jute factories government provides subsidies to percent on hessian jute fabric for the and that it would “contribute to the measure seen as aimed at curbing its rose 0.2 percent to $887.57. in the Sunsari-Morang Industrial Nepali farmers to expand jute farm- last three years. well-being of [Sri Lankans] in a Corridor are in operation. These fac- ing, Golchha said. “We have urged the India imposed an anti-dumping post-Covid era.” The announcement tories procure raw jute from India and state and federal governments to pro- duty ranging from $6.30 to $351.72 per follows a visit to the Indian Ocean Bangladesh and export their finished vide concessions to farmers in jute tonne on the import of jute and jute island nation Friday by a Chinese del- goods to India. farming,” he added. “The agro-based products from Nepal for five years egation led by Yang Jiechi, a Nepali factories consume 70,000 jute industry is dependent on import- that came into effect from January Communist Party Politburo member tonnes of raw jute annually. Nearly 30 ed raw materials as both state and 2017 as the southern neighbour took a and a former foreign minister. percent of the raw jute requirement is federal governments have ignored it,” drastic policy to protect the Indian During talks with Yang, Sri Lankan met by domestic production while the he said. jute industry. President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa asked rest is imported from India and Three decades ago, the country used Earlier, Indian customs officials China to help him in disproving a per- Bangladesh. to be a major exporter of jute to had obstructed the export of Nepali ception that China-funded megapro- According to jute expert Mohan Europe, and the golden fibre was one products for a month saying that they jects are “debt traps” aimed at gaining Chandra Ghimire, local production of the major sources of foreign had to pay 12 percent excise duty. influence in local affairs. came to around 20,000 tonnes last year. exchange. Moreover, the industry has At that time, the Nepali industry China considers Sri Lanka to But this year, domestic harvests been dropped from the government’s exported manufactured goods with be a critical link in its massive “Belt totalled only 15,000 tonnes. “Due to the priority list even though the demand counter value duty on the condition and Road” global infrastructure shortfall, a massive 55,000 tonnes of for more ecological packaging globally that it would be returned. Golchha building initiative and has provided raw jute had to be imported.” has strengthened its export potential. said India has not yet returned about billions of dollars in loans for Sri Until three decades ago, Nepali Until two decades ago, Nepal used to Rs250 million in counter value duty. Lankan projects over the past decade. farmers used to grow 150,000 tonnes of export raw jute to India. Now it’s the Till a decade ago when all 11 jute The projects include a seaport, air- jute annually, he said. other way around with the domestic factories were running, they provided port, port-city, highways and power The Biratnagar Customs Office said jute industry importing raw jute and employment to more than 40,000 peo- stations. the five jute factories in the district exporting 90 percent of its finished ple. According to Ghimire, more than Critics say that the Chinese-funded exported finished products worth goods to India. 20,000 people lost their jobs when six projects are not financially viable and Rs6.25 billion in the last fiscal year. The government gives a 3 percent mills were shut down due to a short- that Sri Lanka will face difficulties in REUTERS Exports of finished jute goods to cash subsidy to exporters of jute age of raw jute, export hassles and repaying the loans. Gold bars are displayed during a photo opportunity at the Ginza Tanaka store in Tokyo. India in the first two months of this goods. But Golchha said that the lack of power. Amid Covid, many US businesses in precarious spot as 2020 ends ASSOCIATED PRESS parties and events that Sophia to make as much as half their annual of restaurants suffered a drop instead of his full capacity of 100. And NEW YORK, OCT 12 D’Angelo ran before the virus out- revenue during the holiday shopping in revenue during August from a he has to stop serving alcohol at 10 pm, break have just about vanished. Large season, as do many of their suppliers. Many businesses year earlier. Ohio’s restrictions forced four hours earlier than pre-pandemic. The final three months of the year, in-person gatherings that companies Any business connected with Adam Rammel to at least temporarily Combined revenue from both restau- usually a boom time for many small typically use to launch or promote holiday parties and celebrations also depend on the final abandon plans for a catering and event rants is down more than a third from businesses thanks to holiday shopping their brands aren’t possible because has high hopes for the October- three months of the space designed for parties, in time for where Rammel projected it would be. and celebrations, looks precarious as of social distancing requirements. December period. the holidays. Rather than have the “I don’t think there’s any chance to the coronavirus maintains its grip on “The fourth quarter was always the But conditions are dicey this year. year for the bulk space sit unused, Rammel turned it break even with where we expected to the economy. bulk of my business,” says D’Angelo, The coronavirus has devastated many into The Syndicate, a restaurant locat- be,” Rammel says. Owners contending with govern- who owns Boston Experiential Group, small businesses; it’s estimated that of their sales. ed next door to his 5-year-old brewpub, Barking Irons, a maker of apple ment restrictions or crumbling based in Boston. hundreds of thousands already have Brewfontaine. brandies, is heavily dependent on the demand are trying to hold on, with D’Angelo has had to get creative. closed forever. Many of the survivors Rammel, who worried about the bars, restaurants and liquor stores of some creating new products and ser- She’s using her expertise to arrange are expected to struggle further dur- Restaurants face a difficult future of his Bellefontaine, Ohio, busi- New York City for its business. The vices or desperately searching for new small gatherings like holiday-themed ing this quarter, especially as cases of time as state and local governments ness when he was interviewed by The company typically makes half its rev- customers. Others, however, have dinners and parties at people’s homes, the virus surge in some areas of the limit the number of people they Associated Press in April, said he’s enue in the fourth quarter. The city’s found they’re already well equipped to usually for no more than 10 guests. country. More businesses—restau- can serve. The impact of the social “hanging in there” but still concerned social life, and economy, remains con- meet the lifestyle changes brought The fourth quarter is a key time for rants and retailers in particular—will distancing can be seen in sales fig- because dining is limited by social strained by the pandemic. Restaurants about by the pandemic. many industries and companies of all likely go out of business if they can- ures—the National Restaurant distancing. With tables six feet apart, can have only a quarter of their capac- The big corporate and non-profit sizes. Some retailers typically expect not bring in the revenue they need. Association reported that 70 percent he can serve 65 people at Brewfontaine ity indoors and there’s no bar service.

C M Y K TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2020 | 06 world

Explained Briefing China to test 9 million people Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire The Electoral College strained by new fighting reports BAKU/YEREVAN: Azerbaijan and ethnic after new Covid-19 outbreak Armenian forces accused each other on Monday of launching new attacks India sees fewer cases compared to mid-September when daily cases broke records. and the 2020 US in and around Nagorno-Karabakh, increasing strains on a two-day old Associated Press humanitarian ceasefire intended to Beijing, Oct 12 end heavy fighting over the mountain presidential race enclave. Russia, which brokered the Chinese health authorities will test all ceasefire, appealed for both sides to 9 million people in the eastern city of Reuters before the electors meet. This date, respect it and Luxembourg reiterated Qingdao for the coronavirus this week known as the “safe harbour” deadline, European Union calls for Turkey, an after nine cases linked to a hospital In the United States, the winner of a falls on December 8 this year. Those ally of Azerbaijan, to do more to were found, the government presidential election is determined votes are officially tallied by Congress secure an end to hostilities that have announced on Monday. not by a national vote but through a three weeks later and the president is killed hundreds of people. The fight- The announcement broke a two- system called the Electoral College, sworn in on January 20. ing, the deadliest over Nagorno- month streak with no virus transmis- which allots “electoral votes” to all Karabakh in over 25 years, is being sions reported within China, though 50 states and the District of Columbia What if a candidate doesn’t get 270 watched closely abroad partly China has a practice of not reporting based on their population. votes? because of the proximity of the fight- asymptomatic cases. The ruling Complicating things further, a web of ing to Azeri gas and oil pipelines and Communist Party has lifted most laws and constitutional provisions One flaw of the electoral college sys- the risk of regional powers Turkey curbs on travel and business but still kick in to resolve particularly close tem is that it could produce a 269-269 and Russia being dragged in. monitors travelers and visitors to pub- elections. tie. If that occurs, a newly elected lic buildings for signs of infection. Here are some of the rules that House of Representatives would Authorities were investigating the could decide the November 3 contest decide the fate of the presidency on Firefighters try to contain source of the infections in eight between President Donald Trump and January 6, with each state’s votes fire on Kilimanjaro patients at Qingdao’s Municipal Chest his Democratic challenger Joe Biden. determined by a delegation, as DAR ES SALAAM: Tanzanian firefighters Hospital and one family member, the required by the 12th Amendment of were battling on Monday to contain a National Health Commission said. How does the Electoral College the United States Constitution. fire that broke out on Sunday on “The whole city will be tested with- work? Currently, Republicans control 26 Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest in five days,” it said on its social state delegations, while Democrats mountain, the National Parks service media account. There are 538 electoral votes, meaning control 22. Pennsylvania is tied said. “The fire is still going on and China, where the pandemic emerged 270 are needed to win the election. In between Democratic and Republican firefighters from TANAPA, other gov- in December, has reported 4,634 deaths 2016, President Donald Trump lost the members. Michigan has seven ernment institutions and locals are and 85,578 cases, plus nine suspected national popular vote to Hillary Democrats, six Republicans and one continuing with the efforts to contain cases that have yet to be confirmed. Clinton but secured 304 electoral votes independent. it,” said Pascal Shelutete, a TANAPA The last reported virus transmis- Ap/rss to her 227. The composition of the House will official. On Sunday, TANAPA tweeted sions within China were four patients A woman wearing a face mask to help curb the spread of the coronavirus holds a smartphone Technically, Americans cast votes change on November 3, when all 435 a blurred photo of what it said was a found on Aug. 15 in the northwestern as she waits to cross a street in Beijing, on Monday. for electors, not the candidates them- House seats are up for grabs. fire burning on the mountain. city of Urumqi in the Xinjiang selves. Electors are typically party Kilimanjaro rises to nearly 6,000 region. All the cases reported since loyalists who pledge to support the Will the system ever change? metres (20,000 feet) above sea level. then were in travelers from outside Europe records 100,000 daily coronavirus cases for first time candidate who gets the most votes in Around 50,000 tourists climb it the mainland. their state. Critics say the Electoral College every year. The ruling party lifted measures in BRUSSELS: Europe surpassed 100,000 least over 10,000 cases each in the Each elector represents one vote in thwarts the will of the people. Calls April that cut off most access to cities daily reported Covid-19 cases for the last three days. Russia reported its the Electoral College. The Electoral for abolishing the system increased with a total of some 60 million people first time on Thursday, after countries highest daily coronavirus cases ever College was a compromise between after George W Bush won the 2000 EU to insist on enforcement including Wuhan in central China. such as Russia and United Kingdom since the last record in May on Friday, the nation’s founders, who fiercely election despite losing the popular Qingdao is a busy port with the saw no respite in the mounting num- prompting Moscow authorities to debated whether the president should vote, and again in 2016 when Trump powers in Brexit deal headquarters of companies including ber of infections every day in the past mull closing bars and nightclubs. The be picked by Congress or through a pulled off a similar victory. BRUSSELS: French President Haier, a major appliance maker, five days. Cases throughout Europe United Kingdom recorded more than popular vote. The Electoral College is mandated Emmanuel Macron and other EU and the Tsingtao brewery. The govern- have been steadily rising over the past 17,000 cases on Thursday with the All but two states use a winner-take- in the Constitution, so abolishing leaders will insist on tough enforce- ment gave no indication whether week even as new infections in country’s Health Minister Matt all approach: The candidate that wins it would require a constitutional ment rules for any trade deal with the latest cases had contacts with worst-affected countries such as India Hancock warning that the United the most votes in that state gets all of amendment. Such amendments Britain, warning that Prime Minister travel or trade. and Brazil have shown signs of slow- Kingdom was at a “perilous moment”. its electoral votes. Maine and require two-thirds approval from both Boris Johnson’s bid to override the Travelers arriving from abroad in ing down. Many parts of northern England, Nebraska use a more complex dis- the House and Senate and ratification Brexit treaty has shown Britain’s China still are required to undergo a The epicentre of the outbreak Wales and Scotland have introduced trict-based allocation system that by the states, or a constitutional con- word cannot be trusted, the FT 14-day quarantine. in the European region has moved to tougher restrictions on social interac- could result in their combined nine vention called by two-thirds of state reported. EU diplomats said leaders India has reported 66,732 new coro- the United Kingdom, Russia, Spain tion to try to curb the growing spread electoral votes being split between legislatures. at a summit starting on Thursday navirus cases in the past 24 hours, and France which have reported at of the disease. (Reuters) Trump and Biden. Republicans, who benefited from would call on EU chief Brexit negoti- driving the country’s overall tally to the Electoral College in the 2000 and ator Michel Barnier to ensure that 7.1 million. The Health Ministry on When do the electors’ votes have to 2016 elections, are unlikely to back “level playing field” guarantees for Monday also reported 816 deaths in November have the potential to spread rise in Covid-19 patients in the past be certified by? such an amendment. Individuals European businesses competing with the past 24 hours, taking total fatali- the virus. They also caution that com- week has filled the quarantine facili- states do have some freedom to change British companies are backed by the ties to 109,150. ing winter months are expected to ties. Sri Lanka earlier announced it Federal law requires that electors how their electors are chosen, and right for Brussels to take rapid retali- India is seeing fewer new daily aggravate respiratory ailments. had successfully contained the virus, meet in their respective states and experts have floated proposals for atory action if Britain breaches its cases of the virus since mid-Septem- Sri Lankan officials say they have with no local infections reported for formally send their vote to Congress reforming the system without a con- commitments. France and other fish- ber when daily infections touched a suspended the repatriation of citizens two months. But a cluster originating on “the first Monday after the second stitutional amendment. ing nations in the EU will emphasise record high of 97,894 cases. It’s averag- stranded overseas by the coronavirus in a garment factory earlier this Wednesday in December.” This year Under one proposal, states would their determination to preserve quota ing more than 70,000 cases daily so far because the country’s quarantine month has resulted in 1,307 new cases that date is December 14. form a compact and agree to award rights in British waters, leaving this month. Health experts have facilities are full. Army Commander in just one week. The country has Under US law, Congress will gener- all their electoral votes to whichever Barnier with limited space to tease warned that congregations during Shavendra Silva, who heads the task reported a total of 4,791 cases, includ- ally consider a state’s result to be candidate wins the nationwide out a deal. (AGENCIES) major festivals later this month and in force to control the virus, says a steep ing 13 deaths. “conclusive” if it is finalised six days popular vote.

Nobel prize in economics awarded to two academics for auction theory

Reuters St ockholm, Oct 12

US academics Paul Milgrom and Robert Wilson won the 2020 Nobel Economics on Monday for work on auctions hailed as benefiting buyers and sellers around the world of everything from fishing quotas to air- craft landing slots. Among the insights of the two Stanford University economists is an explanation of how bidders seek to avoid the so-called “winner’s curse” of over-paying, and what happens when bidders gain a better understanding of their rivals’ sense of value. “Auctions are everywhere and affect our everyday lives. This year’s Economic Sciences Laureates, Paul Milgrom and Robert Wilson, have REUTERS improved auction theory and invented Pictures of the winners of the 2020 Nobel prize in economics, Paul R Milgrom and Robert B new auction formats, benefiting sell- Wilson, are displayed on a screen at a news conference in Stockholm, Sweden, on Monday. ers, buyers and taxpayers around the world,” the Nobel Prize’s official web- until you’ve drilled or if you’re bid- site tweeted. ding for radio spectrum and you want Milgrom and Wilson notably came The economics prize to know the value of it, it depends on up with formats for selling interrelat- what future demand is going to be or ed items simultaneously. In 1994, US has been won in the what’s going to happen with future authorities used one of their auction past by luminaries technology. designs to sell radio frequencies to “You have to make estimates of that telecom operators, a move since cop- such as Krugman that are only roughly guided by the ied in other countries. data. If your estimates are wrong, Wilson showed that rational and Friedman. you’re subject to the winner’s curse,” bidders tend to place bids below their Milgrom said. own best estimate of what he called The economics prize, won by such the “common value” - that is, when the on his door in the pre-dawn hours to luminaries as Paul Krugman and value of an item is deemed to be the tell him of their shared award because Milton Friedman in the past, was the same for everyone - for fear of paying his phone had been on silent mode so final of the six awards in 2020, a year too much. he could sleep. in which the Nobels have been over- Milgrom complemented that with Milgrom played down the winner’s shadowed by the Covid-19 pandemic. theories on “private values”, when the curse, saying the main thing was to be The traditional gala winners’ din- perceived value of something differs aware of it. ner in December has been cancelled from bidder to bidder. Asked to cite an example of a client and other parts of the celebrations are He demonstrated that an auction not understanding or trusting a novel being held digitally to avoid the risk format will give the seller higher auction approach, he said: of spreading the infection. expected revenue when bidders learn “Well, if you take a look, for exam- The Nobel prizes for medicine, more about each other’s estimated val- ple, we had proposed a design for the physics, chemistry, literature and ues during the bidding process. C-band auction, the auction of radio peace were handed out last week. Speaking to reporters by telephone, spectrum for use in 5G. It was pro- The 10-million-Swedish-crown Wilson welcomed the “happy news” of posed to the Federal Communications ($1.14 million) economics prize is not the award and revealed that his own Commission, and they decided to do one of the original five awards created personal experience of auction partic- something more traditional instead. in the 1895 will of industrialist and ipation was limited. So that’s just an example.” dynamite inventor Alfred Nobel, but “Myself, I have never actively par- Even with all the data available was established by Sweden’s central ticipated in an auction,” Wilson today, bidders are often paying for bank and first awarded in 1969. said. “My wife points out that we uncertainty, Milgrom said. The Norwegian Nobel Committee bought skiboots on eBay - I guess that “For example, if you were if you plans to go ahead with an award cere- was an auction.” were bidding for oil on some tract mony, albeit in a reduced format due Milgrom told Reuters that Wilson, and you don’t know how much oil is to the coronavirus pandemic, in Oslo who lives across the street from him in down there. on December 10, the anniversary of Stanford, California, came to knock The data isn’t going be available the death of Alfred Nobel.

C M Y K 07 | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2020 Sports | Medley Krunal credits bowling unit for Portugal, Italy stay on top; England down Belgium Mumbai’s win Portugal and France play a goalless draw to share joint lead with seven points each. Italy stretch unbeaten streak to 18 matches after 0-0 draw with Poland. Agence France-Presse also drew 0-0 with Bosnia and AGENCIES MILAN, Oct 12 Herzegovina, ahead of their meeting ABU DHABI, Oct 12 in Bergamo on Wednesday. “We had Portugal and Italy kept hold of first several opportunities, especially in Mumbai Indians’ all-rounder Krunal place in their UEFA Nations League the first half when we could have Pandya credited the team’s bowling groups on Sunday with goalless draws scored at least two goals,” said unit for the five-wicket Indian Premier against France and Poland on a night Mancini. “Beyond the result, however, League win over Delhi Capitals, say- of little drama, while England saw we are happy. We didn’t score, but it ing that taking wickets in the power- off Belgium to take the initiative in happens.” play and not conceding too many runs their pool. England manager Gareth Southgate at the death overs proved crucial. There was not much to talk about at said his side showed what they were Defending champions Mumbai the Stade de France as a star-studded made of after coming from behind to Indians dished out a clinical perfor- line up of players including Cristiano beat Belgium 2-1 and move top of mance as they first restricted Delhi Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe and Antoine League A, Group 2 earlier on Sunday. Capitals to 162 for four and then Griezmann failed to muster much of a The Three Lions are on seven returned to overhaul the target, scor- spectacle in the League A, Group 3 points, one ahead of the world’s top- ing 166 for 5, in 19.4 overs on Sunday match. The 1,000 fans gathered in the ranked side after Marcus Rashford’s night. “We bowled really well as a cavernous stadium just outside Paris spot-kick and Mason Mount’s deflect- unit, especially in the powerplay, we to watch France host the reigning ed winner 25 minutes from time can- got the early breakthrough,” said European champions were treated to celled out Romelu Lukaku’s early pen- Krunal, who took two wickets for 26 just four shots on target as two rugged alty. “We are not going to face a more runs in his tight spell. defences cancelled out each team’s difficult game defensively,” said “In the T20 format, whenever you attacks. “We didn’t score a goal, but we Southgate. “That is the beauty of the get the early breakthrough, the pres- weren’t here to score goals,” said Nations League, you get games against sure is more on the opposition, we did Portugal coach Fernando Santos. this level of opponent. “It’s a great not concede too many runs in the “France are a great team. They have experience for them and to go and win death overs, in between, Chahar also great players. It’s not always possible it should give them a sense of what really bowled well, it was a good team to create opportunities.” might be possible in the next few effort. It is a blessing, we have three Pepe headed home what he thought years.” bowlers who can bowl at 140 consist- was a 74th-minute opener when he got Denmark are three points behind ently, for any team to have three bowl- on the end of Bruno Fernandes’ free- England in third after their simple 3-0 ers who can bowl quick and swing the kick but was flagged offside. Ronaldo, win over bottom side Iceland. ball is really good.” chasing his 102nd international goal, In League B, Erling Braut Haaland Opener Quinton de Kock and was denied by a flying save from showed what the rescheduled Euro Suryakumar Yadav smashed 53 to help Hugo Lloris in added time. Mbappe ap/rss 2020 would be missing after he Mumbai Indians script a successful fluffed France’s best when Rui England’s Mason Mount (left) scored the winning goal against Belgium as they earned 2-1 victory in their Nations League match on Sunday. slammed home a hat-trick to help chase. “When you have 180 you know Patricio anticipated his gentle chip Norway to a 4-0 thrashing of Romania. you have to go hard and when you are when one-on-one with the Portuguese Pontus Jansson allowing the 2018 then squared the ball for Andrej stalemate in Gdansk. New Juventus Haaland struck in the 13th, 64th and chasing 140 odd, then you can take stopper. World Cup finalists to snatch the Kramaric to tap in from close range. signing Federico Chiesa missed the 74th minutes as Norway moved level your time. In-between totals are really Both sides are on seven points, four points in a soaking Zagreb. Defender Sweden are stuck on no points after chance to win the match for the domi- on six points with group leaders tricky, we got a good start, the way ahead of Croatia, whose 2-1 home win Jansson dawdled under a high ball losing all three of their matches. nant ‘Azzurri’ from close range in the Austria, 1-0 winners at Northern Surya and Quinny batted, they never over Sweden earlier on Sunday was into the penalty area with six minutes Italy stretched their unbeaten 11th minute. Ireland. Norway were knocked out of allowed the opposition bowlers to set- the group’s more entertaining match, remaining and allowed Ivan Perisic to streak to 18 matches and held onto top Roberto Mancini’s side are one the Euros playoffs by Serbia on tle,” Krunal said. with a calamitous late lapse from nip in behind. The Inter Milan winger spot in League A, Group 1 with their point ahead of the Netherlands, who Thursday. Age just a number for Nadal, Federer and Djokovic Hamilton equals Schumacher’s

Agence France-Presse that he won’t become obsessed with Nadal have “pushed each other to pretenders who have constantly come PARIS, Oct 12 ending his career as the all-time great- become better players”. up short. From Federer’s first Slam record with Eifel Grand Prix win est Slam winner. Nadal is the oldest Roland Garros triumph at Wimbledon in 2003, Rafael Nadal’s 13th French Open was “I would love to finish my career champion since Andres Gimeno in 57 of the 69 majors have been won by Reuters ing fastest lap from Hamilton right at hailed as “one of sport’s greatest being the player with more Grand 1972. Djokovic, at 33, is the youngest of the ‘Big Three’. Only six finals NURBURG, Oct 12 the end, with Australian Daniel achievements” by close friend and Slams,” he said after winning his the three giants of the sport. Despite have failed to feature at least one Ricciardo third for Renault in his first rival Roger Federer, but for tennis’s 100th match at Roland Garros against his loss on Sunday, which cost him the of them. Lewis Hamilton equalled Michael podium since 2018 when he was at Red flagging chasing pack, it was another just two losses in 15 years. “But I’m chance to become the first man since The most recent even carries an Schumacher’s all-time record 91 Bull. Schumacher’s son Mick, the dagger in the heart of their ambitions. not going to be thinking all the time Rod Laver in 1969 to win all four asterik as Dominic Thiem’s win over Formula One wins on Sunday with an Formula Two leader who could be Nadal, who has now gone level with Novak has this one, Roger is winning majors twice, he believes the 20-Slam Alexander Zverev at the US Open last Eifel Grand Prix victory that catapult- racing against Hamilton next season, Federer on 20 career Grand Slams, has the other one. mark can be bettered. month came after Nadal and Federer ed the Mercedes driver closer to a sev- presented the Briton with one of his won six since turning 30. “You can’t be always unhappy “If I thought it was too late I would opted not to play and Djokovic was enth world championship. father’s red helmets from his second World number one Novak Djokovic because your neighbour has a have ended my career today,” the defaulted. Until Sunday, that was While the Briton triumphed at the stint in F1 with Mercedes. has captured five of his 17 since leav- bigger house than you or a bigger world number one told Serbian media Djokovic’s only loss of 2020 compared Nuerburgring, the German circuit “Congratulations and this is on ing his 20s while even Federer, now 39, boat or has a better phone. In terms of after his seventh loss in eight meet- to 37 wins. where Ferrari great Schumacher won behalf of all of us. A great achieve- claimed four after his 30th birthday. these records, of course I care. ings with Nadal in Paris. “Myself, Greek world number six Stefanos five times, team mate Valtteri Bottas ment, really,” said Mick, whose father They are statistics which illustrate For me it means a lot to share Nadal, Federer have been written off Tsitsipas, who lost in five sets to suffered a huge hit to his title hopes suffered serious head injuries in a even more starkly how big the gap this number with Roger. But let’s many times but we keep coming back Djokovic in the semi-finals at Roland with a first retirement of the season. 2013 skiing accident and has not been remains between the sport’s ‘Big see what’s going on when we finish and proving that we are still the best Garros, believes there will be a chang- Hamilton, celebrating his seventh seen in public since. Three’ and the rest. our careers. We keep playing. I in the world. My goals remain the ing of the guard. However, the 22-year- win of the season, is now 69 points “Thank you so much, it’s such an Nadal’s staggering 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 win don’t know what can happen in the same - the historic number one rank- old was conservative on the time- clear of the Finn—equal to nearly honour,” said Hamilton before step- over Djokovic in the Roland Garros future.” ing and Grand Slam titles.” frame. “The big three have been there three race wins—with six rounds ping up onto the podium at the circuit final allowed him to join the Serb in Federer, who missed the US Open The iron-grip on the Slams of for a long time. I don’t feel like it’s remaining. closest to Schumacher’s boyhood winning majors in three different dec- and Roland Garros to recover from Nadal, Djokovic and Federer is anoth- going to be the same—in five, six Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finished home in Kerpen. “I don’t even know ades. The 34-year-old Spaniard insists knee surgery, believes that he and er source of frustration for the young years.” second, and took a bonus point by seiz- what to say. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) **** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** In order to get a lot done today, you’re going to have This fantastic new beginning you’ve got going is You’re wise to avoid the people who are bragging. You might need to deal with a relationship issue to learn how to say no. Stop worrying so much wonderful, but could it be distracting you from tried- Not only do they have nothing to brag about, but today. Luckily, it will end up being pretty much a accepting every invitation that comes your way. It and-true pals? If you’ve had to break plans with people who exaggerate their worth do so because nonissue as soon as you two start talking. You are might be a great way to stay busy, but it’s also an them recently, it could have left them feeling a bit they’re really pretty uninteresting. So skip the big both good at communicating what you need and even effective way of driving yourself nuts! taken for granted. talkers. better at listening to what the other person has to say.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** The awkward talk you recently had with a co-worker A compromise you made a few days ago is starting to Just because your dreams have been giving you You might suddenly sense a disturbance in the room will make sense today when you learn something bug you. You may be feeling like you were manipulat- interesting messages lately doesn’t mean that you today. Someone says something controversial and all new about them. This new information will lift a ed. Coming to the realisation that you were con- have to try to decode all of them. Sometimes dreams eyes are on them. Instead of joining in on the recrim- weight off your shoulders and help you stop worry- trolled by someone else is not a good feeling, but are just dreams and nothing more. Look more at inations, just do your own thing. Ignore the growing ing about what they think of you. before you confront them, ask someone for advice. your waking hours instead of your sleeping ones. drama around you.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) **** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) **** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** One of your friends has suddenly gone missing, One of your friends needs your help, but they’re too Your conversations can reveal major things today, After a little bit of a rocky period, the balance of socially speaking. Your calls aren’t getting answered, shy to ask you for it. If you notice that one of your but only if you go about them in the right way. Be power between you and a romantic or professional and your texts aren’t getting replies. What gives? friends is acting oddly or stuck in a blue funk, reach more inquisitive when you’re talking to the people partner is healthy again. Each of you is performing They might have some new things going on in their out to them. Let them know that they can rely on you who have the answers. Ask probing questions and do your half of the duties, so this is a time of great sta- life. Or maybe they are busy. for support. not shy away from having a heated debate. bility for you two. Crossword Sudoku

Yesterday’s Solution

C M Y K TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2020 | 08 Culture & Lifestyle (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 Turning public spaces into stages, theatre artists carry on despite pandemic In the gloom of the pandemic and rising corruption and crimes, theatre artists are taking on the responsibility of voicing social issues through their performances.

SRIZU BAJRACHARYA LALITPUR

hen an artist performs with all their convic- tion, even a bystander is urged to stop and lis- ten carefully. And that was what happened Wrecently when Yubaraj Ghimire per- formed his poem Aslil Satta, which can be translated into ‘filthy politics’ in English, in the bustling Patan Durbar Square to show solidarity with Dr Govinda KC’s campaign. Dressed in white, Ghimire painted him- self in red and black colours to show the pain of a man living through a chaotic pandemic—one that has left many on empty stomachs—while the two central government figures scuffled over their politics. His performance pointed the gov- ernment’s blind eye to the incidences of rape happening in the country every day, the inequality that the pandemic has exposed, and the corrupted government systems that have failed to provide proper health care to people. Ghimire’s performance left an impres- sion, even more so in the end when he skinned off his clothes and asked: Who is abhorrent, you or I? It has been more than 200 days since the pandemic forced theatres across the coun- try to shut operations. And the hope of them resuming any time soon is still far from sight. But for theatre artists like Ghimire, performing their art has never been more important—despite the anxie- POST PHOTO: SANJOG MANANDHAR ty and the financial distress the pandemic Yubaraj Ghimire performs his poem Aslil Satta in the middle of Patan Durbar Square to show solidarity with, and draw attention to, Dr Govinda KC’s campaign. has imposed on them. For them, these difficult times are crucial to impact peo- social change. Years back, I was inspired There’s a void we can’t explain, as our where they engaged with the audience to ple’s lives with conversations that have by dramas because they so beautifully theatres are still closed for the audience build connections and learned to empa- for long been shelved. Today, he and many captured my emotions and represented For theatre artists, and the current environment challenges thise and be aware of people’s emotions. other theatre artists are staging open-air stories of our communities,” she said. us in so many ways,” she said. “Continuing with that activity online plays to make louder the concerns of peo- Over the years, Shilpee Theatre has performing their art “Plus there is no alternative for thea- has helped us build a community. It is a ple in these times of fear and strained staged many public dramas in the form of has never been more tre; the alternative of theatre can only be very intimate setting, where people from emotions. forum theatre, where the artists explore theatre,” she said. different parts of the country partici- “We can’t wait for things to get better solutions for social issues with the audi- important. Even if theatre were to go online, that pate,” said Karki. and then to jump into action. I believe ence through their performance. would only be a temporary solution, said But while some theatre artists and the- this is just the time for us to make an “Through our public skits, we usually try Karki. “Then the whole artform becomes atres continue to put their effort to keep impact and touch people’s lives because to interact with the audience then just different,” she said. For theatre artists the theatre world thriving in this time, there is so much happening right now, presenting them an act. We usually urge from Katha Ghera, a theatre group in and for people, theatre is special because artists and creators know that even after and we need to address for these issues them to speak for the issues that we bring support of the Enough is Enough cam- people are experiencing the story with the pandemic, the theatre world will still now, not just as an artist but also as a cit- to them,” said Khadka. paigners who were on hunger strike, also the actors performing at the same time. have many challenges to overcome. And izen,” said Ghimire, who is also the artis- Today, although artists in Shilpee thea- presented a street performance ‘Hachhyu They live and breathe in the same space that truth has not been undermined by tic director of Shilpee Theatre. tre miss the creative environment in Sachhyu’, showcasing the plight of quar- of the art. “There is no screen in between this crisis. “We are still largely misunder- “Even though this has been a difficult which they worked before the pandemic, antine centres in the country and the the actors and the audience; there is no stood. The government doesn’t see us as time for theatre, I believe that as artists their team have stealthily worked to stigma of the virus that has divided peo- wall preventing people from engaging,” part of art and culture; they see us as we need to keep doing our part to keep repurpose themselves now. These days, ple. It also pressed on violence and caste- said Karki. mere entertainers, and that reflects on theatre alive,” said Pabitra Khadka, they virtually meet to discuss recent based discrimination in these centres and But despite being in such a difficult the budget they allocate for our develop- another theatre artist at Shilpee Theatre. social issues to improvise and to work on the inefficiency of the government in situation, artists are making sure they ment. They still fail to see how theatre Khadka has also performed in Patan public skits that can engage people to dealing with the pandemic. contribute to society creatively. Shilpee impacts society and our culture,” said Durbar Square, as a pregnant woman respond to the wrongs happening in our “When we made an open call for artists has focused entirely on taking theatre to Ghimire. asking for help in the skit Abhibhawak society. They don’t worry about not hav- to perform at Patan, we didn’t think peo- people to speak for the people’s concerns Under the gloom of a virus-stricken Bihin Janta to represent the story of ing an audience to perform for, instead, ple would be ready to participate and to create meaningful conversations world, with no audience and no tickets pregnant women in the country who have they prepare and rehearse to perform but we had an overwhelming response that can bring about social changes. “We sold, there is no brighter side for theatre died because they couldn’t avail of proper where there already are audiences. and they were all eager to do something; are preparing to stage ‘Isolation’, a skit creators and artists to look forward to. health care at the right time. Her perfor- “For both our previous dramas we they were passionate and despite their performance mirroring the current pan- Yet, they are hopeful that theatre will mance also symbolically represented the chose Patan Durbar Square because we own struggles gave their best,” said demic. We hope that will help us over- return again. For now, they are content stories of women who have been raped wanted to perform in a place where peo- Akanchha Karki, director of Kausi come the fear and anxiety that over- with doing their part in making a better and abused while society has remained ple are comfortable being in the public,” Theatre, who leads the theatre group whelms us today,” said Ghimire. society. indifferent to their torment and hardship. said Ghimire. “It was a place where we Katha Ghera. Meanwhile, Katha Ghera has been “We are as keen as before, perhaps, Khadka started theatre by playing roles could comfortably intervene. But in the However, financial distress has dis- growing a theatre community with their even more now, to perform people’s feel- in public dramas and so for her, theatre future, we plan to take our plays to more suaded them from organising open air playback theatre online programme, ings and sentiments as a form of has always been tied to the social reality diverse audiences to propel conversations plays, as they require a certain budget to where artists spontaneously portray sto- their catharsis,” said Ghimire. “It’s a of communities. around gender, caste, class and the vio- bring the show together. ries and feelings of participants in a vir- moment we cannot miss doing anything; “As a theatre artist, I feel more obliged lence happening in our society,” he said. “But right now, many of us are also tual group. The activity is a continuation it’s a time when we can really make an to speak about social issues and inspire Similarly, on June 30, a group of artists struggling with our sense of purpose. of their pre-pandemic performances impact.”

As coronavirus surges, Europeans ask: ‘where can I get a drink?’

Rapidly changing regulations make it hard for drinkers to get their heads around what is allowed and what’s not.

Giles Elgood a.m. until the end of October, forcing LONDON drinkers to make new choices. Brian Trauth, 41, an American who new surge in coronavirus founded and runs the Braeugier micro- cases means more bars and brewery and bar in Berlin’s trendy restaurants across Europe Prenzlauer Berg neighbourhood, says are facing curfews or clo- early closing will hurt his business. sures, leaving many of “It remains to be seen whether people their customers to ask: shift their drinking habits to drinking at wAhere can you get a drink around here? home, in which case we’ll try to think Rapidly changing regulations and dif- about pushing takeaway or growlers ferent rules in different parts of the same (jugs) or bottles, or if it shifts to people country make it hard for drinkers to get maybe drinking earlier,” he said. their heads around what is allowed and “Or if everybody goes English-style, what could get them into trouble. knows the pub closes early and just goes For some there is also a sense that the crazy ... It’s going to be a challenge.” rules unfairly penalise bars while other One of the criticisms of early 10 p.m. activities are given a freer ride. closing for pubs in England is that it forc- “This is total nonsense. So today you es people out onto the streets in no shape have a football game with I believe 7,000 to observe social distancing. people in a stadium ... People will jostle Scotland’s government has gone fur- each other when walking through the ther, including ordering pubs in Glasgow revolving doors, while bars cannot open,” and Edinburgh to close for 16 days, while said Raphael Raya, 59, who works in more restrictions are being considered Brussels. for Northern England, meaning those “Tell me why the bars are closed and looking for an open bar may have to head not the restaurants?” he told Reuters TV. south. “I’m wondering, in whose interest is it to In Austria, the apres-ski party’s open certain things and not others?” pretty much over as the winter season In parts of Brussels bordering approaches, with skiers told they must sit Flanders, the width of a road can make at tables in bars rather than dance on all the difference. In Vilvoorde, the Café them. Noisette in Brussels is closed, for exam- “There will be no apres-ski as we know ple, but Pub ‘t Stopsel in Flanders across it from earlier times,” says tourism min- the street is open, broadcaster RTBF ister Elisabeth Koestinger. reported. For some in search of a convivial drink In the leafy Brussels suburb of Woluwe, as their options narrow, laughter is one one brasserie said it would offer half- Reuters answer. price “planches à partager” (platters to In Madrid, famous for late-night carousing, bars and restaurants must now close at 10 pm, compared with pre-Covid closing times of 3 am. When Brussels announced that bars share) so people could still drink beer and and cafes—but not restaurants—would wine by eating light snacks or olives, sar- you if you get cold,” said the barman at ple may find other ways of getting togeth- “So if the aim is to avoid gatherings close for a month, a spoof Twitter account dines, anchovies and “bruschetta the Bistro Woluwe. er for a drink. between lots of people, the measures followed by thousands quipped: “Off to maison”. In Madrid, famous for late-night “I go out to fewer bars and restaurants aren’t very useful, although I consider my favourite Brussels ‘restaurant’ tonight They will also keep tables on the pave- carousing, bars and restaurants must now, but have to admit I meet up more at them important.” to order a large coq au vin, without ment this winter for drinkers who don’t now close at 10 p.m., compared with friends’ places,” said 24-year-old postgrad- Berlin has announced a curfew for res- the coq.” want to be inside. “I’ve got blankets for pre-Covid closing times of 3 a.m., but peo- uate student Laura Knirsch. taurants and bars from 11 p.m. until 6 —Reuters

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