WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 210 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 37.0 C 14.2 C Tuesday, September 22, 2020 | 06-06-2077 Simara Jomsom Distribution of school book on Nepal’s borders and territory halted Land management and foreign affairs ministries have reservations about the textbook since Ministry of Education had prepared it without consulting them.

BINOD GHIMIRE The Ministry of Land Management, KATHMANDU, SEPT 21 after the study of the book, on Thursday, prior to the Cabinet meet- Days after the Ministry of Education ing, had submitted its concerns to launched a controversial secondary Chief Secretary Lok Darshan Regmi school reference book on the country’s pointing out over three dozen errors borders and territories, it is now halt- and “inappropriate” materials includ- ing its distribution since it was found ing four from the preface. to have a number of factual errors and “There are errors in the books the “inappropriate” content. Ministry of Education prepared on a The Cabinet on Thursday directed subject that it did not have expertise the Ministry of Education to halt the on,” said Janak Raj Joshi, spokesper- distribution and not to print any more son at the Ministry of Land copies of the textbook following seri- Management. “The Education Ministry ous reservations from the Ministry of stepped on the jurisdiction of the Land Management, Cooperatives and Land Management and Foreign Poverty Alleviation and Ministry of Affairs ministries.” Foreign Affairs. “We are amazed to see some of the “We concluded that distribution of facts in the book.” POST PHOTO: HEMANTA SHRESTHA the erroneous book should be stopped,” The book states Nepal’s new area to A Buddha Air aircraft approaches Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport on Monday. Domestic airlines resumed operations on Monday nearly after six months as flights were restricted in Minister for Law, Justice and be 147,641.28 square kilometres includ- the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. As many as 31 flights were conducted on the first day of the resumption of internal flights, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. Parliamentary Affairs Shiva Maya ing the 460.28 sq km area of the Kalapani Tumbahangphe told the Post referring area which was included in Nepal’s to the Cabinet meeting. “It wasn’t a political map on May 20 by the Cabinet. right move to publish a book on sensi- “The Department of Survey, which tive issues with so many wrong facts.” is the official agency that declares the Education Minister Giriraj Mani total area of the country, however, Ang Rita Sherpa, who climbed Everest 10 Pokharel on September 15 released the hasn’t made any decision on the area,” 110-page book titled, Self Study Joshi told the Post. Material on Nepal’s Territory and A senior official at the Land Border which dwells around histori- Management Ministry said the ban in cal facts about the country’s territory the distribution of the book was nec- times without bottled oxygen, dies at 72 and its border dispute mainly with the essary for five reasons. southern neighbour. >> Continued on page 2 The ‘Snow Leopard’ first reached the top of the world in 1983 and the last time in 1996. In 1987 he became the first person to climb the mountain in winter without bottled oxygen.

newspaper gave him the epithet ‘Snow Leopard’. The world today knows him by this name. “I don’t remember the date exactly. But, we had featured his valour and bravery. He was unstoppable. A man who frequently reached an altitude of 8,848 metres without supplementary oxygen,” said Wagle, who later became the editor of Kantipur. “It’s a great loss for the mountain- eering community and the nation.” Ang Tshering Sherpa, former presi- dent of Nepal Mountaineering Association, and his good friend, told the Post that Ang Rita had lately been suffering from a brain problem. He breathed his last in his daugh- ter’s home in Jorpati, he said. His body has been kept at a Sherpa Gomba and he will be cremated on Wednesday as per Sherpa tradition, said Ang Tshering. Ang Rita, a native of Thamo village in Solukhumbu, last stood atop the world’s tallest mountain in 1996, the 10th time without supplementary oxy- gen. His first eight-thousander was the 8,167-metre Dhaulagiri in western Nepal with a Belgian expedition in 1982. The mountain is considered one of the more difficult mountains to climb. “A young, tall and strong man, he succeeded in his first attempt,” recalls Ang Tshering. His Dhaulagiri success led him to the world’s highest peak in 1983 where he guided an American team, he said. After that, he never looked back. The Guinness World Records in 2017 POST FILE PHOTO recognised him as the only person on Ang Rita Sherpa in June 2017 with the Guinness World Records certificate recognising his the planet to have climbed Everest 10 unparalleled feat of climbing Mount Everest 10 times without bottled oxygen between times without bottled oxygen. 1983 and 1996. He was also recognised by Guinness Guinness World Records office, pre- as the first man to climb Everest in SANGAM PRASAIN senting the facts and figures. And in winter without supplementary oxygen KATHMANDU, SEPT 21 June 2017, the certificate arrived, 21 in December 1987. years after his last ascent on Everest,” In Nepal, the state honoured him Thaneshwor Guragain, a manager at said Guragain. with Gorkha Dakshin Bahu First Seven Summit Treks, recalls Ang Rita Ang Rita Sherpa survived that Class and the Tri Shakti Patta First Sherpa thinking that the end was near stroke and lived to hold the certificate Class. in April 2017 when he was being treat- proudly in his hands. “In the last three decades, no one ed at a hospital in Kathmandu after he Ang Rita, who had climbed Mt has succeeded in breaking his record suffered a stroke. Everest 10 times without bottled oxy- even if there were several attempts He then remembers an interview of gen, died after a lengthy illness in made to climb in winter,” said the famed mountaineer years ago Kathmandu on Monday. He was 72. Guragain. “Anyone can easily imagine where he said he wanted a Guinness He is survived by two sons and a how difficult it was to climb Everest World Record certificate. daughter. without supplementary oxygen.” “We immediately wrote to the “He was soft-spoken and normally Ang Rita claimed that he felt more did not speak much. When we comfortable climbing without bottled asked questions he answered in oxygen. few words,” recalls journalist Kami Rita Sherpa, who holds the Narayan Wagle. “In our early record for most ascents of Mt Everest, days of journalism, Ramyata remembers Ang Rita as a strong and Limbu and I would chase Ang dedicated man. Rita a lot. Whenever he came to “His dedication as a professional Kathmandu, we would meet him climber can never be described in and ask him about his mountain- words. It needs determination, pas- eering exploits.” sion and courage to climb Everest A story appeared in Kantipur without the use of supplementary daily, the sister publication of oxygen. Ang Rita did it 10 times,” he the Post, after his eighth ascent told the Post. of Everest in May 1993 and the >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 | 02 NATIONAL Ang Rita Sherpa, who climbed Everest ...

>> Continued from page 1 times, had collapsed at Everest base tain salary by appointing him as a Kami Rita, who has climbed Everest camp due to altitude sickness. manager and mobilising him at Everest 24 times, said Ang Rita is a source of “Doctors had said he had developed base camp,” said Ang Tshering. inspiration for many foreign and hydrocephalus meaning water had col- After he was forced to retire from Nepali climbers. lected in his brain,” Ang Tshering said. the job due to his worsening health, “It’s hard to break his record now.” “It was never proven how the illness the association appointed him cere- Ang Rita was in bad health in his developed, but we suspected it may monial director with a salary of village in 1999. Ang Tshering remem- have been because of his long exposure Rs15,000 per month. bers how he hired a chopper and flew to high altitude without oxygen.” Besides that, Nepal Mountaineering him to a hospital in Kathmandu for Despite his stature, fame and Association also supported him with treatment. Despite poor health, his records, he struggled financially nearly Rs1 million financial grant for friends and juniors in the mountain- throughout his life. his treatment but the government eering fraternity complained, Ang “Ang Rita was a national hero but never supported him. Rita was too fond of drinking. struggled financially,” said Kami Rita. “He struggled. He made the country Ang Rita’s health worsened after After Ang Rita stopped climbing in proud. But the government knew noth- the death of his eldest son in April 1996 due to poor health, he struggled ing about his situation,” lamented 2012. Karsang Namgyal Sherpa, an to manage his finances. Kami Rita. “There are many Sherpas experienced climber, who had con- “We [Nepal Mountaineering who die for the nation but their contri- quered the 8848-metre peak several Association] even provided him a cer- bution is barely recognised.”

POST PHOTO: DEEPAK KC A cloth seller walks his bicycle laden with clothing items at Teku, Kathmandu, on Monday. Pregnant women and postpartum mothers hit hardest by pandemic Seven women died of delivery complications in Banke within two months.

THAKUR SINGH THARU health institutions fearing that they lar health checkups and safe delivery NEPALGUNJ, SEPT 21 might contract the virus,” said Shah. has decreased during the pandemic,” Three women of Janaki Rural said Durga Laxmi Shrestha, chief Pregnant women and postpartum Municipality, two of Nepalgunj Sub- nursing administrator at Bheri mothers have been hit hardest by the metropolis and one each of Duduwa Hospital in Nepalgunj. Regular health Covid-19 pandemic, as they have been and Baijanath rural municipalities in checkups and timely admission of deprived of timely treatment. the district died due to delivery-relat- patients at health institutions will Seven women died of delivery com- ed complications in the last six decrease the mortality rate of preg- plications in Banke in the span of two months. Sah said three of the women nant women and postpartum mothers. months. According to the District died in Bheri Hospital and one in According to Shrestha, most of the Health Office, a lack of timely treat- Nepalgunj Teaching Hospital. Two women give up regular health check- ment and regular health check-ups women from Duduwa and Baijanath ups during pregnancy after the first or during pregnancy is the leading cause breathed their last on their way to a second test. behind the alarming deaths of preg- hospital while one of the two women “However, there are other factors nant women and postpartum mothers. from Nepalgunj died during home too that contribute to the high mortal- “The number of deaths in just two birth. ity rate among pregnant women. A months is very alarming. It seems that The provincial government has lack of health awareness and poverty the women delayed their hospital vis- launched a special health programme are also why women give up regular its due to the fear of Covid-19. Some in Banke to reduce maternal and health checkups during pregnancy,” pregnant women even attempted infant mortality rate. The government she said. home births during the pandemic, has been providing Rs 800 to a woman Besides Bheri Hospital and which led to further complications,” who undergoes complete health check Nepalgunj Medical College, there are said Dhirjung Shah, chief at the ups during pregnancy and an addi- three primary health centres and 44 District Health Office in Banke. tional Rs 1,000 if she gives birth at a health posts in Banke district. According to him, the number of health facility. However, most preg- Maternity centre has been set up in people who have opted for home birth nant women were found to have each health institution to provide a has increased by around 20 percent skipped prenatal check ups during the safe motherhood facility. during the pandemic. lockdown period. Meanwhile, Bishnu Shrestha, the Several pregnant women have been According to health workers, a preg- focal person of the safe motherhood deprived of regular health checkups nant woman has to undergo health programme at the district health since the country went into lockdown checkups at least four times—in the office, said that all the health posts amid Covid-19 fear on March 24. Many fourth, sixth, eighth and ninth month have been instructed to refer pregnant women, mainly from poor economic of her pregnancy. women to hospitals for safe delivery. backgrounds, could not manage trans- “The health risk is significantly low “The number of deaths caused by portation to reach health facilities on if a woman gets a regular health check delivery complications is unchecked, time. up during pregnancy. But the number as the patients are not taken to the “Many others preferred not to visit of women visiting hospitals for regu- hospital on time,” she said. Distribution of school book on Nepal’s borders and territory ...

>> Continued from page 1 he was consulted by the Education First, there are a numbers of factual Ministry only to check the map and other errors; second, it’s not the job of the facts related to Kalapani, Lipulekh and Education Ministry to decide on issues like Limpiyadhura. area and border; third, the preface is outra- He said he has found some mistakes geous and inappropriate; fourth, some of the regarding the area of the disputed territory sensitive proofs Nepal needs at the time of and Nepal’s total area in the map. negotiation shouldn’t have been published; “There is nothing wrong in the Education and lastly, the timing of the publication Ministry’s decision to publish a book to comes at a time when dialogue between inform a new generation about the reality,” Nepal and India is not moving forward, he he said. “I would suggest the ministry cor- added. rect it and publish a new edition.” Pokharel has written a six-page preface in The publication of the book, according to which he has mentioned how he campaigned the preface, was triggered by the Indian gov- 24 years back “to chase” the Indian Army ernment’s move on November 2 last year to away from the Nepali territory in Kalapani, publish its political map depicting Kalapani Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura, the disputed area within Indian borders. areas. But there have been objections to the It is unheard of for a minister to write the book’s publication not only for the lack of preface of a school textbook. coordination between various ministries but “I did not write the book. It was drafted by also because it can affect the Nepal-India experts from universities,” said Minister relations, which are not in their best shape Pokharel when asked for comments on the due to the territory dispute. Cabinet decision. “Its distribution has been It can further shrink prospects of dialogue halted for now.” with India , said an official at the Ministry of However, Keshab Dahal, director general Land Management on the condition of ano- at the Curriculum Development Centre, said nymity. he was unaware about any decision by the Diplomats, experts and academics had government. raised similar concerns after Pokharel “I have no knowledge of such a decision,” made public the book published by the he told the Post. He refused to comment Curriculum Development Centre. They said further. coming out with the book at a time when Dahal on Wednesday had told the Post that Nepal and India were seeing some positive the book was unveiled after consent of Prime gestures in the resumption of dialogue after Minister KP Sharma Oli and other con- months-long deadlock due to a “cartographic cerned ministers. war” depicted the shortsightedness of the However, Thumbahanghe and the officials government. from the Land Management Ministry said They also questioned if it was necessary to that was not the case. teach students about Nepal’s territory and “How would such a book with so border disputes while the government has many factual errors have been published if several other pressing issues to address. The there was a proper discussion?” experts were of the view that coming out a senior official from the Ministry of Land with a separate book was unnecessary when Management. the issue could have been incorporated in a Similarly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs chapter of Social Studies. was also on the dark about the content of the With widespread criticism of the book, its book. future and its content is still unclear. “We have serious reservations on the book “The Prime Minister has asked me to talk as we were not consulted prior to its publica- with foreign and land reforms ministers. We tion,” said a senior ministry official. “We will resolve the matter after holding came to know of the book only after it was talks with them soon,” Minister Pokharel discussed at a Cabinet meeting.” told the Post. Buddhi Narayan Shrestha, former direc- “I can’t say anything more than this before tor-general of the Survey Department, said consulting with the two ministers.”

C M Y K 03 | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 NATIONAL

BRIEFING Widespread

643 individuals found with rainfall forecast various eye problems in Saipal BAJHANG: Out of 923 individuals in across country Saipal Rural Municipality that under- went examinations in an eye camp, 643 were found suffering from various until Friday eye problems, according to the team of health workers deployed in the eye CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL camp project. Janak Kumar Bista, a KATHMANDU, SEPT 21 health worker in the team, said, “Sixty-three individuals have to The country is bracing for yet another undergo cataract surgeries whereas strong and potentially adverse spell of the remaining others should wear monsoon with the strong chances of prescription glasses after getting widespread rainfall, inducing extreme treatment. According to Chief weather events in different parts of District Officer of Bajhang Kamal Raj the country. Bhandari, an eye camp will be con- As per the latest weather prediction ducted in Saipal in mid-October. of the Meteorological Forecasting Division, a majority of the country Three dead in jeep accident will receive rainfall with thunder- storms for the next few days starting HETAUDA: Three persons died when a from the eastern part of the country jeep swerved off the road and and moving westwards. plunged some 40 feet below at According to Raju Pradhanang, a Raksirang Rural Municipality Ward senior meteorologist at the division, No. 3 in Makwanpur district on the monsoon is likely to be active until Monday. Police have identified the Friday with the possibility of mon- deceased as Rijan Titung, 13, Anup soon-induced disasters like floods in Waiwa, 14, and Suraj Shahi, 27. The the southern plains and landslides in vehicle was heading to Sarikhet from the hill areas. Manhari Bazaar when the accident “For the next four-five days, the took place. weather is likely to be bad. Authorities and the public are advised to remain Six injured in clash alert against the possibility of water-induced disasters,” Pradhanang RAUTAHAT: Six people were injured told the Post. “The rainfall is likely to when Nepali Congress activists take place across the country.” clashed with police personnel in The special weather bulletin of the Resunga, the district headquarters of division issued on Monday evening, Gulmi, on Monday. Supporters of the said the latest wet spell which is to ruling Nepal Communist Party and begin from Monday would continue the Nepali Congress had clashed a until at least Friday. few days ago over the reconstruction The weather will turn inclement of an earthquake-ravaged school POST PHOTO: KESHAV THAPA from Monday and Tuesday in Province building. Women walk in the rain at Patan Durbar Square, Lalitpur on Monday. According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, most parts of Nepal will remain wet till Friday. 1, 2 and Bagmati, including Kathmandu Valley which received rainfall on Monday afternoon. On Wednesday onwards, the rainy weath- er pattern will start advancing towards Sudurpaschim, Gandaki, Karnali provinces, according to Boundary study panel to submit report this month Pradhanang, “Such a weather condition can cause damage to life, properties and Report likely to recommend that Nepal government refrain from internationalising the border dispute with India before formal talks take place. disconnect road networks in the com- ing days. It can also disturb flights,” ANIL GIRI joint-secretary at the Ministry of by former secretary Surya Nath said Pradhanang. “The current KATHMANDU, SEPT 21 Foreign Affairs, has been named Upadhyat to collect evidence on weather phenomenon is caused due to member-secretary. boundary issues. Where is that report? the northwest movement of the A team of experts commissioned by Almost everyone the committee Did you consider the report ?” asked low-pressure area, which is formed in the government to collect evidence, interviewed is learnt to have urged it Dhungel. the Bay of Bengal. Its effect is already historic facts, and documents to sup- to prepare a firm position based on “I don’t not see any point in seeking felt in eastern Nepal, and it will soon port Nepal’s claim to the disputed ter- evidence, seek consensus among the evidence that the territories belong to cover the central and western parts of ritories of Kalapani, Lipulekh and political parties, and to suggest the Nepal as the government has already the country as well.” Limpiyadhura, is to submit its report government to keep India engaged on published a map laying claim to the While the intensity of rainfall will within this month. the issue without breaking the dia- territories,” said Dhungel. be mostly light to moderate in most Although the members of the logue with India as boundary negotia- “The team was formed to strength- parts of the country, there are chances nine-member committee, commis- tions require intense preparations, en Nepal’s positions during the bound- of heavy rainfall in some places, sioned in June, are tight-lipped about sources said. ary negotiations with India. So if we which could possibly trigger foods and the report, the team is going to pro- The Treaty of Sugauli between make our position public before the landslides. vide the government a range of docu- Nepal and the East India Company is talks, it will weaken our stance,” two Meanwhile, the weather office has ments from the Anglo-Gurkha War considered the major cornerstone in sources familiar with the Uprety-led also predicted storm events in several (1814-1816) to the most recent bounda- demarcation of Nepal’s boundary team’s work told the Post. places. ry negotiations that support Nepal’s with India, sources familiar with the Prof Surya Subedi, a member of the With the unfavourable weather con- claim over land east of the Kali, the development said. The committee will committee, is learnt to have urged dition on the forecast, the National Post has learnt. present a series of evidence that will members to recommend the govern- Disaster Risk Reduction and The committee is also likely to urge prove that the land east of the Kali, ment to internationalise the dispute Management Authority has issued an the government not to international- which originates in Limpiyadhura, with India, but other members reject- advisory for preparation against the ise the boundary dispute with India as belongs to Nepal. ed the call. looming extreme events. it will only complicate the issue. The major crux of the boundary A section of activists within the “Security forces and government “As per the code of conduct, I can’t dispute between Nepal and India is county have also been pressing the and non-government agencies divulge any details of the report to the and Limpiyadhura. The Post has been following the the controversy over the origin of the government to take the issue to an involved in disaster management in media,” said Bishnu Raj Uprety, com- The constitution was also amended activities of the committee since it Kali River, which has already been international forum such as the UN all the districts have been placed on mittee coordinator and executive to give the new map legal status, and was assigned the job. The committee ascertained by the Treaty of Sugauli Security Council or the International high alert against the possible disas- director of Policy Research Institute, the government sought diplomatic has so far interviewed over three Treaty, said acclaimed cartographer Court of Justice. ters like landslides, erosion and a government-funded think tank, talks with New Delhi to resolve the dozen, including historians, former Buddhi Narayan Shrestha, former But the committee is likely to urge floods,” the authority said in its advi- when the Post the Post asked him boundary issue. But that fate of the officials, diplomats, heads of security Director General, Department of the government to not take such a sory. “All the equipment required for about the report and its recommenda- talks still remains uncertain. The gov- agencies, bureaucrats, politicians, and Survey. harsh measure before talks begin with search, rescue and relief should be tions to the government. Uprety added ernment is of the view that the mediapersons. But some interviewees expressed India, sources inside the Uprety-led kept on standby.” that only Minister for Foreign Affairs Foreign Secretary-level talks, at the Surya Prasad Subedi, professor at scepticism about the whole exercise team said. The ongoing monsoon has already Pradeep Gyawali has been authorised very least, be convened immediately the University of Leeds in the United of forming a committee to look into The committee will also take sever- been one of the deadliest one in at to speak on the matter. to resolve the decades-long dispute. Kingdom; Ramesh Dhungel, histori- historical records and maps. Dwarika al factors such as geo-politics, Nepal’s least a decade. Since the onset of the After the boundary dispute emerged But India has been reluctant to do so an; Bipin Adhikari, senior advocate; Nath Dhungel, a former secretary the strategic location, the issue of tri-junc- monsoon, 340 people were killed, 99 with India last November after India citing the Covid crisis. Jagat Bhusal, water expert; Toyanath team consulted, told the Post that he tion, its relations with India, went missing, and 298 got injured in released its new political map incor- In the meantime, the government Baral, former director-general at the did not see any rationale and objective China, the US and other major water-induced disaster events as of porating territories claimed by Nepal, formed the Uprety committee to look Department of Survey; Himalaya behind the committee’s work and powers into consideration before Monday, according to the authority. the government also prepared the into historical records and make rec- Thapa, retired Nepal Army general doubted that all its members were reaching a conclusion. The objective This monsoon has seen frequent country’s new political and adminis- ommendations on the issue and nego- and Apsara Chapagain, a community experts on the issue. is to prepare Nepal’s position paper in and massive landslides in hill dis- trative map on May 20 incorporating tiations with the southern neighbour forestry activist are members of the “The Sher Bahadur Deuba govern- boundary negotiations, sources told tricts, claiming 270 lives, followed by the territories of Kalapani, Lipulekh in the future. committee. Ram Prasad Subedi, ment had also formed a committee led the Post. floods (36) and lightning (34). Valley public vehicles are not complying with health and safety protocols Passengers are at risk of being infected with coronavirus as government agencies blame one another for lax monitoring of public transport vehicles in the city.

ANUP OJHA Rs 110 daily on bus fares these days, we will soon start penalising them,” squarely placed the blame on the fed- KATHMANDU, SEPT 21 and in return he has not been getting said Rameshwor Yadav, spokesperson eral government and the district the services expected of the bus at the division. administration offices of Kathmandu, Anuj Bagale commutes to his work on operators. The division has set up a meeting Lalitpur and Bhaktapur. a public vehicle. These days though Shankar Parajuli shares Bagale’s with the transport operators on Madan Sundar Shrestha, mayor of boarding a bus gives him the anxiety sentiment regarding the bus fare hike Tuesday to discuss the matter Madyapur Thimi and the secretary of that he might catch the coronavirus. and the disregard shown by the bus regarding fare and health and safety the Kathmandu Valley Mayors’ But the 18-year-old who works at a operators when it comes to ensuring measures. Forum, says the coronavirus crisis in pharmacy in Baluwatar has no other the passengers’ health and safety. While public transport operators the Valley was invited by the govern- choice for a safe commute because he The 37-year-old commutes between are being accused by passengers of ment by not listening to the forum’s does not own a personal vehicle. Satungal and Ratnapark for his job, charging exorbitant fare and disre- advice. “I get gripped by the fear that I and he fears that one of these days he garding the health and safety rules, “We had requested the government might catch the virus whenever I take might contract the coronavirus from the coronavirus cases are increasing not to lift the lockdown and seal all the bus these days,” said Bagale, who one of the crowded buses. in Kathmandu Valley. entry points to the Valley, but it did lives in Lokanthali. “Buses are charging up to Rs 50 According to the Ministry of Health not listen to us. Now everything is His fear is not irrational. Many pub- from what used to be Rs 20 in normal and Population, the Valley recorded open and everything is messed up. lic vehicles in Kathmandu Valley have times. But we, passengers, are not see- 674 new infections on Monday. Of None of the government’s protocol not been following the Covid-19 health ing any commitment from the bus them, 538 were confirmed in has been implemented,” Shrestha told and safety guidelines, and there is no operators that they have taken all nec- Kathmandu, 74 in Bhaktapur and 62 in the Post. one to monitor them. essary precautions and measures to Lalitpur. As of Monday, the number of “The three chief district officers of “None of the buses I’ve boarded so minimise the risk of coronavirus cases in the Valley has reached 17,290. the Valley and other senior govern- far have hand sanitiser and they are infection inside their vehicles,” said “There is a higher risk of the virus ment officials should be responsible usually crowded during the evening Parajuli. spreading inside enclosed space like for the looming catastrophe, because even though the government has According to the Department of public vehicles, particularly if they they have decided to resume the pub- announced one passenger per seat Transport Management, the mini- are crowded. The bus operators as lic vehicles, a decision that is sure to rule,” said Bagale. mum bus fare at the moment is Rs 21. well as passengers should be careful,” exacerbate the Covid-19 situation.” To offset the financial loss of public But many passengers the Post spoke said Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, a virolo- In the middle of this blame game vehicle operators under the one pas- with said that they were being charged gist at the Sukraraj Tropical and are people like Bagale and Parajuli senger per seat rule, the government more than the set rate. POST FILE PHOTO Infectious Disease Hospital in Teku. who have no choice but to take public has allowed them to raise the trans- Gogan Hamal, director general of While public transport operators are being accused by passengers of charging exorbitant fare “The government should also strictly vehicles to get to work every day. port fare by up to 50 percent. The the department, however, claims that and disregarding the health and safety rules, coronavirus cases are increasing in the Valley. enforce the health and safety rules in “I make Rs 8,000 in a month and transport operators have increased there has not been any fare gouging. order to reduce the infection risk.” nearly half of that money is going on the fare—in some cases by more than If some vehicles have been charging “Traffic police must take account of says it has been monitoring the public However, none of the concerned bus fare these days. What’s the point 50 percent—but they have not been high fare and not been following the this issue. Besides, people who travel vehicles. government agencies seem to be both- of raising the fare if the passengers implementing the Covid-19 health and health and safety rules, Hamal says it on public vehicles also need to be seri- “On Monday alone, we caught 114 ered about public vehicles violating do not feel safe?” he said. “No one has safety measures. is the responsibility of the traffic ous,” he told the Post. public vehicles for violating the rules. the health and safety rules. The local been monitoring if the public vehicles Bagale says he has been spending police to take necessary actions. Metropolitan Traffic Police Division We let them off with a warning, but governments in the Valley have are following safety rules.”

C M Y K TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 | 04 OPINION EDITORIAL Nepali society and meritocracy Probe FinCEN Files Nepal must conduct independent investigations into the revelations and bring fraudsters, if any, to book.

The FinCEN Files have revealed a litany of suspicious finan- cial transactions worth Rs35 billion that 19 Nepali establish- ments were involved in for 11 years between 2006 and 2017. The FinCEN Files are the result of a huge collaborative work involving 400 journalists from 88 countries all over the world, investigating records of transactions from 1999 to 2017 dur- ing which period banks monitored suspicious financial activ- ities of their customers and reported them to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a government body that monitors financial transactions in the United States. The year-long investigation has exposed how Nepal is also connected to the suspicious transactions through the use of gold, bitumen and archaeological materials. The Nepal nexus of the FinCEN Files exposes the suspicious transactions of nine banks and 10 companies directly involved in financial transactions as per the 24 reports on Nepal that the Centre for Investigative Journalism (CIJ)-Nepal studied in collabora- tion with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and BuzzFeed. The CIJ-Nepal has, after examining the files, made three major revelations. They include $103 million making an exit and $74.6 million entering Nepal, showing a total of $177.6 million worth of suspicious transactions; a lump sum amount of $48.2 million traded or transferred illegally in various countries, including Nepal; and the names of the banks, com- panies and individuals who had traded suspicious money abroad using Nepali names, surnames and addresses. The third of the revelations does not show the involvement of SHUTTERSTOCK financial institutions, banks or companies based in Nepal but The question of Kulman against the politicians and their cro- become reasons for fights and splits. In somehow deemed it their right to dic- the transfer of $66.8 million done by individuals of Nepali nies (who did rent-seek on the power the big NGO world of Nepal, we have tate our lives based on the caste they cuts) and reassigned vendors and staff heard enough stories of good people were born into. A very tribalistic origin living abroad. Ghising’s reappointment that did not perform. But the move by being booted out at Annual General behaviour also pushes people to trust The suspicious transactions hint at a vacuum in financial shows how Nepalis actually the government, or lack thereof, Meetings. Businesses do not mind liv- in one’s own ethnic group or caste, administration in Nepal. An earlier investigation by CIJ- reflects the way society functions. ing with managers who the owners are therefore putting the racial or cultural making money on the side—they are identity of a beneficiary way ahead of Nepal, named Nepal Leaks 2019, exposed how 55 Nepalis value meritocracy. Jealousy and success not keen to hire better staff. that person’s competency or knowl- invested in several foreign countries despite restrictions In families, businesses and institu- As a society that does not want to edge. These behaviours are deeply root- placed by Nepali laws. It also exposed how almost a dozen tions, we see that Nepali culture hardly acknowledge success, jealousy does ed in the way we are brought up and SUJEEV SHAKYA business groups channelled illegal wealth abroad and revers success; rather, it sows seeds of have a large impact. There are many what has been prescribed as the right discontentment. In Unleashing Nepal, I personal reflections that one can think social behaviour. brought it back into the country as foreign direct investment. THE OTHER had shared the story of how king through. Nepalis, whether in the dias- Very little has been done about those revelations in terms of VIEW Mahendra asked Hrishikesh Shah to pora or back home, have not learnt how Selflessness and success bringing the guilty parties to book. come back to Nepal, when he was on to revere success. When people are seen Much of our behaviour is also transac- Called Suspicious Activity Reports or SARs, the FinCEN the verge to be appointed Secretary- driving around in a nice car, the first tional; therefore, we hardly care about General of the United Nations. That thought that comes to the minds of transformations. When societies gener- Files, whose existence the banks do not even acknowledge, gave an opportunity for U Thant from many is jealousy, instead of being ally live on give and take relationships, are not exact proof of illegality. But they reveal the red flags The government’s apathy towards con- Myanmar. Mahendra did not want inspired to achieve a similar level of meritocracy does not really matter. One raised by watchdogs within banks on the basis of past trolling the pandemic has led to people someone to be more popular than him success. Similarly, we hardly hear of can only recognise success and merit if reports of transactions that involved or hinted at financial venting their anger against the state in or become successful. Kulman’s case is people having good things to say about one is selfless. Success has a direct cor- many areas, whether it is directly con- not unique, even after the restoration others in personal conversations. A relation with selflessness. Successful crimes or involved clients with high-risk profiles. In effect, nected to Covid-19 or not. One such of democracy. We have had ministers heady mix of sycophancy and jealousy leaders in all spheres of life are gener- the huge cache of secret documents opens a Pandora’s box of area has been the question of whether who were performing well being asked has thrown the issue of merit out the ally not focused on their own lives and possible cases of money laundering, terrorism, drug dealing to reappoint Kulman Ghising, the for- to resign. We have seen good people window. work towards the betterment of the mer managing director of Nepal not been reappointed across opportuni- world around them. A society that is or financial fraud globally. Electricity Authority, the state-owned ties both in civil service and in private Baggage of culture transactional cannot understand this, The global investigating journalists have done their job, power utility. sectors. Many people attribute this behaviour as it is always in a rent-seeking mode. looking into the details of usually inaccessible papers, classi- Ghising has become the mascot, It begins with households. When peo- to our culture where the caste system In the case of Ghising, no one could fying the kinds of possible frauds, and bringing them into the especially for young Nepalis, of change, ple want to start a business, they do not and ethnic divide runs deep. In the case gain arbitrage on his success, therefore fighting inefficiency and corruption, look for a good lawyer or good advisor, of Kulman, there were many questions his success became a problem—his self- public. It is now the job of Nepal’s financial regulators, and turning around a loss-making util- they depend on the people they know asked in the social media on would his less drive became an issue. including Nepal Rastra Bank, to conduct independent inves- ity into a profitable one. When he took through family or friends. They do not fate have been different if he belonged Let us hope that the Kulman saga tigations into the revelations to identify the exact nature of charge, Nepal was reeling under 18 mind hiring tainted people for the job to the mainstream ruling caste of will make people reflect on their own the fraud, if any, and bring the guilty party under the pur- hours of power cuts a day, but then that or people who they know had delivery Nepal. Much of our lives are dictated personal lives and question oneself on problem became history. It was a great issues in the past. In many family busi- by rituals relating to past lives and the issue of meritocracy, selflessness view of the laws and regulations of the country. story of good management. He fought nesses, appointment in key positions future lives perfumed by people who and success.

The Belarusian kids are alright

of the Belarusian opposition, showed Far from demobilising up to march with the students. For decades, Baginskaya has been threat- public opposition, ened with detention for her activism, but she has been present at every rally, the government is showing more courage than all the security forces combined. She will unwittingly fueling it. continue waving her flag in front of OMON’s phalanxes until she over- throws the system. SŁAWOMIR SIERAKOWSKI This was the last demonstration that I could witness in Minsk. The next day marked the end of my 30-day visa-free stay. As I departed, I saw firsthand why I would not be able to return to Belarus anytime soon: another foreign journalist—a Spanish photographer—was being deported. Belarusian university students He had flown to Minsk the previous marked the start of the academic year day, whereupon he was immediately on September 1 by announcing a searched, googled, checked against a strike. They planned to gather in prepared list of journalists, and Victory Square and then march to the detained. After spending one night in Ministry of Education, where they lockup, he was escorted on to a would present a petition criticising Warsaw-bound flight, only then receiv- the authorities’ actions in the weeks ing his passport back. since last month’s fraudulent presi- Not surprisingly, hardly any foreign dential election. But almost immedi- journalists are left in Belarus. While ately upon reaching the square, they marching with the student demonstra- encountered the riot police (OMON). tors to Victory Square on Tuesday, I Unlike in other recent protests, the didn’t see anyone else I recognised. authorities showed little restraint in Fortunately, Belarusians themselves arresting demonstrators. But news of are fantastic journalists. Citizen jour- the harsh response spread quickly, nalism has developed rapidly, such prompting more students to take to the that nearly all of the regime’s barba- streets. As the ranks of university and rous abuses of power are recorded and even some high-school students made available online. swelled, what was supposed to be an UZHURSKY/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM For those of us watching from the hour-long demonstration continued for police nor the OMON ever reveal their ed them. In what has now become a This inconsistency on the part of lising public opposition, the govern- outside, the task now is to help these the rest of the day. At one point, a pro- full faces, and when one loses his bala- typical scene, police vans with loud- the authorities is telling. It suggests ment is unwittingly fueling it. While citizen journalists however we can. cession of some 200 students with flags clava, he tends to be overcome by fear. speakers barked warnings and blared that Belarusian President Alexander the authorities sometimes beat protest- Among professional foreign media, passed by Mickiewicz Square. It was Those who are photographed are Soviet-era songs in an effort to drown Lukashenko has misplayed his hand. ers indiscriminately, they also some- there is a tendency to lose interest in a followed by another procession, this quickly identified and logged on the out the demonstrators’ chants. Rather than defanging the growing times target only the most active dem- story that isn’t based on one’s own mate- one comprising several dozen OMON. ‘Black Book of Belarus’ Telegram By 8pm, about a thousand students protest movement, his regime’s behav- onstrators, while giving everyone else rials or on-the-ground reporting. But Soon, the authorities decided that it channel. These acts of unmasking are had gathered. This time, the authori- iour has stoked even more public a pass. And on some occasions, they regardless of how many obstacles there was time to intervene, and undercover effective precisely because the opposi- ties maintained their composure, and anger. There are now countless imag- even sit down and play pick-up sticks are for the press, ultimately it is the policemen suddenly started rounding tion enjoys such widespread public limited their response to checking es circulating online of OMON and other street games with civilians, Lukashenko regime that is powerless. up students. These plainclothes officers support. Members of the security forc- people’s bags and purses (the women officers attacking high-school stu- as I witnessed on Monday. In the face of As I witnessed firsthand, such a wide- are the most despised of the security es have every reason to fear social protesters, in particular, displayed a dents, wrenching their arms, and growing peaceful protests, their choice spread, creative, and politically astute forces, because they are widely seen as ostracism, as do the judges, prosecu- clear disregard for the police). Soon perp-walking them into police vans. is lose-lose: they can respond violently, protest movement cannot be stopped. cowards. At least the OMON and other tors, and others complicit in the enough, another mass march was in There are images of mothers and or they can feign friendship. uniformed officers are willing to come repression. Unfortunately, the judici- motion, proceeding down teachers trying to snatch their chil- When the student march reached Sierakowski, founder of the Krytyka face to face with the protesters, unlike ary remains completely subordinate Independence Avenue toward Victory dren back from the authorities, only to Victory Square, one could see Polityczna movement, is Director of those who hide in their cars, waiting to the regime. Square. Everyone anticipated that the be pushed away by black-clad OMON. Belarusian solidarity in a nutshell. the Institute for Advanced Study in for an opportune moment to snatch At 6pm the same day, students start- police would again respond with mass Though we don’t know who ordered Drivers honked their horns and hand- Warsaw and Senior Fellow at the people off the streets. ed gathering in Independence Square, arrests and a forceful crackdown. But this response, it certainly suggests that ed out food. Nina Baginskaya, a German Council on Foreign Relations. To be sure, neither the regular where men in black quickly surround- it didn’t happen. the regime is flailing. Far from demobi- 73-year-old retiree and the conscience —Project Syndicate

C M Y K 05 | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 MONEY

FOREX Gold drops near US Dollar 117.71 Domestic goat production adequate to Euro 138.72 two-week low as Pound Sterling 151.35 dollar rebounds Japanese Yen 11.31 fulfil festival demand, livestock traders say REUTERS Chinese Yuan 17.36 Last year, imports from India made up for the shortfall in domestic production ahead of the Dashain festival, records show. NEW YORK, SEPT 21 Qatari Riyal 32.33 Gold fell to its lowest in nearly two Australian Dollar 85.55 KRISHANA PRASAIN from Rs1,200-1,300 per kg previously. weeks on Monday hurt by a stronger KATHMANDU, SEPT 21 Bhanu Bhakta Parajuli, president of dollar, while investors looked to US Malaysian Ringit 28.55 the Livestock Traders Service Federal Reserve policymakers’ speech- Saudi Arab Riyal 31.38 Livestock traders say domestic goat Association, said that preparations es this week for clues on further stim- production is adequate to fulfil the for the supply of goats had not started. ulus measures to revive the coronavi- Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank requirement of the Kathmandu Valley “There is no clarity regarding the rus-battered economy. for the coming Dashain festival.“There potential demand for Dashain as sales Spot gold dropped 1 percent to will be no issue regarding goat are also weak due to the pandemic,” $1,930.36 per ounce by 0946 GMT, hav- Shares supply during this festive season as he said. ing declined to its lowest since Sept. 9 domestic production is sufficient to Meat sales in the valley will likely at $1,928.14. US gold futures fell 1.3 Nepse 1,569.06pts -0.39% cater to demand,” Banshi Sharma, drop as people have been leaving for percent to $1,936.90 per ounce. director general at the Department of their home towns since the pandemic “Tug-of-war between the dollar and HIGHEST LOSERS Livestock Services, told the Post. started six months ago, and the float- gold is expected to play out until there LEC RRHP GHL MHNL PROFL BARUN -10% -9.8% -9.52% -7.89% -6.61% -6.52% “Almost 95 percent of the Dashain ing population continues to decline. is a major shift in global risk senti- goat demand last year was fulfilled Moreover, people have less income ment, or if investors can get a MODERATE LOSERS by domestic production, and the short- because many have been laid off or better grasp on the US monetary poli- CFCL RADHI RLFL SFCL HURJA DHPL -5.92% -5.45% -5.03% -4.72% -4.72% -4.65% fall was filled by imports from India,” forced to take salary cuts, said cy outlook,” said FXTM market ana- he said. Parajuli. lyst Han Tan. MODERATE GAINERS UMHL SPDL AHPC RHPC NBL NGPL Based on past records, around 10,000 “There is less possibility of goats The dollar index rose 0.4 percent 2.19% 2.22% 2.4% 3.01% 3.1% 3.13% goats are sold daily in the valley from being imported from India during against its rivals, making gold

HIGHEST GAINERS the first day of Dashain to the eighth Dashain as the pandemic has impact- more expensive for holders of other MERO NADEP SINDU PMHPL NHPC UFL day. Total sales during the festival ed the market there too,” added currencies. 3.29% 3.61% 3.76% 4.81% 5% 10% come to around 100,000 goats, Sharma Parajuli. With mutton consumption Investors now await speeches by said.The goats sold in the valley are shrinking from the beginning of the Fed committee members, including brought from Itahari, Kohalpur, POST FILE PHOTO lockdown in mid-March, a smaller Chairman Jerome Powell, who will Nepalgunj, Dang, Makwanpur and The goats sold in the Valley are brought from Sunsari, Banke, Dang, Makwanpur and Nuwakot, supply has been able to fulfil demand, appear before Congressional commit- PRICE PER TOLA Nuwakot, among other places. among other places. added Parajuli. tees later this week. BULLION Mountain goats come from Humla, It has been a long time since goat “They [central banks] are in a wait he said. Kalanki Khasi Bazaar, one of the The market will be somewhat quiet imports from India stopped and and see mode and it has tempered the Fine Gold Rs 97,200 “If any trader says that local output largest livestock markets in the valley, compared to last year due to the pan- domestic suppliers have been fulfill- expectations of gold bulls,” said will fall short of demand and animals receives around 500 goats daily. demic, he said. “There won’t be as ing the requirement, he said. Michael Hewson, chief market ana- Silver Rs 1,320 will have to be imported from India, I Livestock traders are unsure about much excitement as before because “We will hold a meeting with goat lyst at CMC Markets UK. have a list of names and receipts for possible market trends due to Covid- people are cautious due to the fear of traders and importers on Wednesday It is unlikely that we’ll get any clar- SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA 140,000 goats. We also have data about 19, and they have not decided how infection.” to study the market scenario, and ity on how the Fed is going to arrive at the goats possessed by farmers,” said many goats may be needed for the Goats are being delivered to Kalanki decide the quantities that will be its inflation targets and on monetary Sharma. Nepal can even export goats approaching festival season. “Sellers Khasi Bazaar from western districts required accordingly,” he said. policy until at least the end of the US to India, he added. are waiting and watching,” he said. like Salyan, Surkhet, Karnali, Food Management and Trading election, he added. GASOLINE WATCH The price of goats will not rise this According to Khadka, the market Dadeldhura, Baitadi, Rolpa and Company has supplied 3,000 goats and Gold’s decline on Monday came Dashain as there is adequate supply, received nearly 50,000 goats for the Rukum. mountain goats for this Dashain. The despite European shares dropping to a he said.Janak Kumar Khadka, presi- festival last year. He said that as eco- Khadka said that the price of live state-owned company has been pro- 2-week low as surging Covid-19 cases dent of the Kalanki Khasi Bazaar, nomic activities have slowed, and peo- goats had not changed from last year— curing goats and mountain goats from in Europe prompted renewed lock- Kalanki, said that traders will not ple have less money to spend, demand Rs690 per kg. But mutton prices have farmers every year, and selling them down measures in some countries and need to import goats as in the past. may drop slightly this year. swelled to Rs1,500 per kg this year at subsidised rates. clouded the recovery outlook. Judge agrees to delay Taj Mahal gets first visitors in six Trump administration months even as Covid-19 cases climb restrictions on WeChat ASSOCIATED PRESS national security and data privacy NEW YORK, SEPT 21 concerns, in the latest flashpoint amid rising tensions between A judge has approved a request Washington and Beijing. from a group of US WeChat users to The administration contends that delay looming federal government the data of US users collected by the restrictions that could effectively two apps could be shared with the make the popular app nearly Chinese government. BIZLINE impossible to use. On Saturday, President Donald In a ruling dated Saturday, Trump said he supported a pro- Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler in posed deal that would have TikTok Laxmi Intercontinental brings California said the government’s partner with Oracle and WalMart to new Hyundai Creta to Nepal actions would affect users’ First form a US company. There is still a Amendment rights, as an effective chance that TikTok could be banned KATHMANDU: Laxmi Intercontinental, ban on the app would remove their in the US as of November 12 if the the authorized distributor of platform for communication. deal isn’t completed, under the Hyundai vehicles, has launched the WeChat is a messaging-focused restrictions put in place by the all new Hyundai Creta in Nepal. The app popular with many Chinese- Commerce Department. updated Creta gets an all-new two speaking Americans that serves However, a restriction to bar tone black and greige interior with as a lifeline to friends, family, cus- TikTok from app stores in the US, 10.25inch HD infotainment system, tomers and business contacts in similar to what WeChat faced, was leather wrapped steering with mount- China. It’s owned by Chinese tech pushed back a week to September 27 ed controls, auto healthy air purifier giant Tencent. after Trump backed the latest and smoothing blue ambient light- The group of WeChat users TikTok deal. ning, states the press release issued requested an injunction after the On Sunday, Secretary of State by the company. Since its introduc- US Commerce Department said Mike Pompeo told Fox News that REUTERS tion in 2015, the Creta brand has Friday it would bar WeChat from the government will ensure that A notice is tied to a railing inside the premises of Taj Mahal after authorities reopened the monument for visitors in Agra, India. become a household name for all SUV US app stores and keep it from under the TikTok-Oracle-WalMart enthusiasts for its unique blend of accessing essential internet servic- deal, no American’s data would end REUTERS shouted at tourists not to touch any of take some serious calls,” said Abid iconic design, superior performance es in the country beginning Sunday up in the possession of the Chinese AGRA (INDIA), SEPT 21 the surfaces. Naqvi, who saw bookings at his bou- and unmatched safety. Laxmi at 11:59 pm. government. “We are following all Covid-19 proto- tique hotel in Agra drop to zero Intercontinental is offering the new Early on Monday, WeChat was In the WeChat case, the users India reopened the Taj Mahal after six cols,” said Vasant Swarnkar, superin- overnight after India’s abrupt lockdown generation Creta in six variants. still available for download at Apple argued that the moves targeting months on Monday, with the first visi- tendent of the Archaeological Survey in March. Customers will be able to choose and Android app stores. the all-in-one app with instant-mes- tors trickling into the famous monu- of India, which oversees the Taj among Until then, the 13-room Ekaa Villa, from a petrol or diesel engine and The Trump administration has saging, social media and other ment as authorities reported 86,961 new other monuments. which opened last year at a cost of either a manual transmission or targeted WeChat and another communication tools would restrict coronavirus infections across the coun- India’s coronavirus tally of 5.49 mil- almost $1 million, had been operating at iVT automatic. Chinese-owned app, TikTok, for free speech. try, with no signs of a peak yet. lion infections is second only to the close to capacity. The white marble tomb in the city of United States with 6.79 million, a figure Tourism contributed about $240 bil- Agra, built by a 17th-century Mughal the South Asian nation could overtake lion, or 9.2 percent of India’s gross emperor for his wife, was opened to the in the next few weeks at its current rate domestic product in 2018, employing public at sunrise, and a Chinese nation- of increase. The death toll of 87,882 was more than 42 million people, World al and a visitor from Delhi were among up 1,130 from the previous day, health Travel and Tourism Council data show. Female pilots bear brunt of job cuts the first to enter. ministry figures showed. However, foreign tourists were Daily visitor numbers have been But as a proportion of its population, unlikely to return until at least April, capped at 5,000, versus an average of India’s toll is still small compared to said Manu PV, secretary of the REUTERS year, generating a need for 804,000 20,000 before the pandemic. Tickets are countries such as the United States, Association of Tourism Trade CHICAGO/SYDNEY/MONTREAL, SEPT 21 pilots over the next 20 years, based only being sold online, with fewer than Brazil and Britain. Organisations India, a month that tradi- on Boeing Co estimates. The need for 300 bought on the first day. Faced with the deepest economic con- tionally signals the end of the tourist When Megyn Thompson landed her more pilots had pushed female Visitors will have their temperatures traction in decades, the government of season. And a confusing system of dream job as a commercial pilot last recruitment to the top of the agenda. taken and must adhere to advice to keep Prime Minister Narendra Modi is push- regional lockdowns and quarantine year, she was one of thousands being But a shattered post-Covid industry a safe distance from each other. ing to free up virus curbs so that jobs rules is deterring domestic tourists. recruited globally to boost the num- does not expect traffic to regain Aditya Diksha, one of the early visi- and businesses can resume. “People don’t want to go on holiday,” ber of women in the cockpit and 2019 levels and start growing again tors at the Taj, said he and his friends “We can survive for another four to Manu said. “They are very worried. meet record pilot demand. before 2024. drove 12 hours from central India and six months: after that we will have to There is the fear factor.” Now an industry-wide campaign “This year we were meant to stopped in Agra on their way to recruit more female aviators is REUTERS launch a great big campaign which to the mountains in the under threat, dealing a blow to Megyn Thompson will be furloughed. we have just put on hold because north. efforts to overhaul the male-domi- of what has happened,” said “It is the first time in six nated airline sector as the coronavi- is more government payroll aid or Australian pilot Davida Forshaw, months we have been out, so rus crisis transforms a shortage into last-minute union deals. Thompson, who heads education and outreach it feels good,” he said. a pilot surplus. In the United States 32, said her low seniority ranking at ISWAP. Despite the female recruit- Workers at the Taj were alone, the top two airlines are set to puts her “smack-dab in the middle” ment campaign, just 5.3 percent of sanitising the handrails furlough more than 3,000 pilots when of a furlough at American’s PSA airline pilots globally were women while paramilitary police government stimulus expires this affiliate, which expects to cut about before the coronavirus crisis, ISWAP month, and a disproportionate num- 35 percent of its pilots. data shows. That percentage is set to ber of those are women. “If you go back 40 years ago it was drop again as airlines carry out fur- Under layoff agreements between a man’s world through and through, lough plans, the group predicts. airlines and unions, junior pilots so there are not a lot of women at the At American and Delta Air Lines, lose their jobs before senior ones, top who are protected from this fur- women make up around 5.2 percent regardless of gender, race or age. lough,” said Thompson, who decided of the combined pilot population of These “Last In, First Out” labour not to have biological children as she about 27,800 and 6.7 percent of the deals at many Western airlines mean built flying hours for her license. 3,645 pilots whom those airlines the most recent hires are the first to “PSA is not letting [me] Megyn expect to furlough, according to go. And those new hires include a go because they don’t like her. It’s numbers provided by their main higher percentage of women than in zero to do with that and 100 percent pilot unions. the past, the International Society of to do with, if you’re the last in, American Airlines declined to Women Airline Pilots (ISWAP) said. you’re the first out.” comment directly on the issue, Thompson, who flies with a Now the mother of three adopted but a spokesman said the union regional carrier owned by American children is applying for jobs at data implied that the proportion Airlines, is among at least 600 female Amazon, Kellogg and PepsiCo. of female pilots would slip pilots in the United States who will Before the crisis, global air travel post-furloughs to 4.9 percent from 5.1 be furloughed on Oct. 1 unless there was growing at a record 5 percent a percent.

C M Y K TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 | 06 WORLD

BRIEFING India, China Partial virus lockdown in Madrid as commanders meet At least 10 dead in India building collapse again on ending BHIWANDI: At least 10 people were United States deaths near 200,000 killed on Monday and dozens were feared trapped when a portion of a India presses ahead with measures to kickstart its battered economy, reopening the Taj Mahal and some schools. border standoff three-storey residential building col- lapsed on the outskirts of the Indian AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ASSOCIATED PRESS city of Mumbai, officials said. Some MADRID, SEPT 21 SRINAGAR, SEPT 21 residents were trying to get out of the building, in the industrial town of A million people in and around the Senior Indian and Chinese military Bhiwandi, 40 km northeast of Spanish capital on Monday were commanders held talks on Monday Mumbai, after cracks appeared in it under new “stay-at-home” orders to aimed at resolving a tense monthslong in the middle of the night, when it contain another coronavirus surge, as standoff along their disputed border crashed down. “Half of the building the US death toll neared 200,000. in the mountainous Ladakh region. collapsed and nearly 25 to 26 families But unlike other nations that are Details of the talks, held on the are feared trapped,” Pankaj Ashiya, tightening curbs to battle outbreaks, Chinese side in the Moldo area facing the municipal commissioner of India pressed ahead with its measures the Indian-controlled Ladakh region, Bhiwandi, told reporters. It was not to kickstart its battered economy, weren’t immediately disclosed. clear why the building, which had 54 reopening the Taj Mahal and For the first time, a senior Indian apartments on three floors, collapsed. some schools on Monday—despite foreign ministry official was also par- At least 11 injured people were res- having the second-highest caseload in ticipating in the military-level meet- cued. the world. ing, said an Indian official, speaking The restrictions in Madrid will last on condition of anonymity in line for two weeks starting Monday, affect- with government regulations. There Pakistan opposition parties ing people living mainly in densely was no information immediately form new platform populated, low-income neighbour- available from Beijing. ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s opposition par- hoods who will be allowed only to Despite several rounds of talks by ties have launched a new platform to travel for essential reasons such as military, diplomatic and political offi- begin protests against Prime Minister work, medical care or taking children cials, including negotiations between Imran Khan’s government and make to school. the two countries’ foreign and defense a rare denunciation of the military On Sunday, people took to the streets ministers in Moscow this month, the for meddling. All the main opposition in some of the affected districts in border tensions have persisted. parties signed a statement late on protest against the new measures. Monday’s military-level talks come Sunday announcing a single plat- They sported placards reading “No less than two weeks after the two form, the Pakistan Democratic to a class-based lockdown” or “They’re nations’ foreign ministers met on Movement, to begin nationwide agita- destroying our district and now September 10 and agreed that their tions, possibly culminating in a they’re locking us up”. troops should disengage from the January march on the capital “We think that they are laughing at tense border standoff, maintain prop- Islamabad. They say the military us a little bit,” said nurse Bethania er distance and ease tensions. rigged the 2018 elections to install Perez, as hundreds protested against The foreign ministers did not set Khan. The armed forces and govern- the measure. any timeline for the disengagement of ment deny that. “The (military) estab- “We will still be able to go to work, the tens of thousands of troops, lishment should stop every kind of and go into other areas that are not backed by artilleries, tanks and fight- interference in politics forthwith,” under lockdown, where we might be er jets, that have been in the region said the opposition. able to raise the infections and also AP/RSS since the standoff began in May. still be vulnerable to infections in our A woman wearing a face mask to prevent the spread of coronavirus walks in Madrid, Spain, on Monday. Military experts have repeatedly own area.” warned that any mistake or miscalcu- Myanmar rejects calls Authorities in Spain—among infections being reported every day. the coronavirus pandemic,” said lation from either side can have disas- the worst-hit nations in the world— But with the economy reeling, the Sheikh Hassan Dhakeri, a cleric in the trous consequences beyond the cold to postpone election have insisted the step is necessary government has gradually eased what Global infections shrine city of Karbala. desert region of Ladakh. YANGON: Myanmar plans to push because virus cases in those districts was once among the world’s strictest The United States remains the hard- Both India and China have provided ahead with a November election were much higher than the national lockdowns—despite warnings from approach 31 million est-hit nation in the world, with more little information, but media in the despite calls from the opposition to average. some experts about the virus with more than than 6.8 million cases and deaths two countries have given extensive postpone it because of a surge in Global coronavirus infections are spreading across the vast nation of 1.3 approaching 200,000. coverage to the escalating tensions, novel coronavirus cases, officials rapidly approaching 31 million, with billion people. 958,000 deaths. The pandemic has unleashed vast which have dramatically changed said. The country reported 671 new more than 958,000 deaths. “So many people lost their job dur- destruction on the world’s biggest their bilateral relations. cases of the coronavirus on Sunday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern ing the lockdown. People have suf- economy, with millions left jobless, The standoff in Ladakh escalated in its highest since the beginning of its moved most of New Zealand to its fered a lot and it is time the country world, the pandemic has piled on even and President Donald Trump facing June to the deadliest violence between outbreak in March, taking its total to lowest virus alert setting on Monday, opens up fully,” said bank official more suffering. intense criticism of his handling of the sides in decades—a clash on a high 5,541 infections and 92 deaths. saying the country was edging towards Ayub Sheikh, 35, who was visiting the In Iraq tens of thousands of Shiite the virus. Trump has expressed confi- ridge between soldiers using clubs, Myanmar had gone weeks without a eliminating Covid-19. Taj Mahal with his wife and baby Muslims participated in the annual dence that a vaccine against the infec- stones and their fists. Twenty Indian case of local transmission before an The Pacific nation has recorded just daughter. mourning ceremonies of Ashura tion would be ready by October—a soldiers were killed. China is believed outbreak in August in the western 25 deaths in a population of five mil- “We are not afraid of the virus. If it despite the government urging citi- claim contradicted by his administra- to have also suffered casualties, but region of Rakhine that has spread lion and has been widely praised for has to infect us, it will... I don’t think zens to not attend large gatherings. tion’s top health expert. has not given any details. across the country. Analysts say the its virus response. it is going to go away soon. We have to “Iraq has been through so much In the absence of a prophylactic, all After that clash, the two countries Nov 8 election is a test of the extent In India, however, infections are get used to it now.” misery—from war to torture to impris- public gatherings carry a serious partially disengaged from the site in of democratic reforms. (AGENCIES) surging with tens of thousands of new In poorer, crisis-hit parts of the onment to forced emigration and now transmission risk. the Galwan Valley.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department of Passports Russia rejects US terms, New START pact in peril Narayanhiti, Kathmandu

REUTERS agreement with Washington on TASS news agency quoted Ryabkov looking for a framework political Cancellation of Bids MOSCOW, SEPT 21 extending the treaty before the US as saying. Another news agency, accord on extending New START.

Date : 2077/06/06 (2020 Sept. 22 A.D) presidential election in November. RIA, quoted him as saying the This framework, which would not Russia sees minimal chances of “I suspect that after President chances of a treaty extension were have to be ratified by the US Senate, This is to notify to all the bidders, who have submitted their bids extending the New START treaty Trump wins re-election, if Russia “minimal”. would stipulate that a successor to with the United States—their last has not taken up our offer, that the The New START accord, signed in New START must be multilateral electronically for the Procurement of Security Printing, Supply and major nuclear arms pact—as it does price of admission, as we would say 2010, limits the number of strategic and include China, he told Delivery, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of Equipment and not accept conditions set out by in the US, goes up,” Billingslea nuclear warheads that Russia and Kommersant. Washington, Deputy Foreign told Kommersant newspaper in an the United States can deploy. New START is a successor to the Personalization of eMRTDs as per the notice of the Department Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted interview. Failure to extend it would remove original Strategic Arms Reduction published in Rising Nepal and Republica National English Dailies as saying on Monday. Ryabkov said that position consti- the main pillar maintaining the bal- Treaty (START I) signed in 1991 He spoke after Marshall tuted an ultimatum and lowered the ance of nuclear arms between the between the then-Soviet Union and dated 02 March 2020 (2076/11/19) that their respective bids have Billingslea, the US Special chances of reaching any kind of two countries, adding yet another the United States. Presidential Envoy for Arms agreement to extend the deal, which element of tension to their already START I deal between the super- been found non-responsive to the bid requirements, and therefore, Control, told a Russian newspaper expires in February next year. fraught relationship. powers at that time proved a contrib- rejected and cancelled as per the decision of the Department. that Moscow must accept a joint “We cannot talk in this manner,” Billingslea said the US side was utor towards ending the Cold War. Indian couple runs street-side classes for poor students ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW DELHI, SEPT 21 The street-side classes On a quiet road in India’s capital, tucked away on a wide, red-bricked sidewalk, kids have grown as dozens set adrift by the country’s Covid-19 lockdown of children showed are being tutored. The children, ages 4 to 14, carry book bags keen interest. more than 2 km from their thatched-roof huts on the banks of the Yamuna River to this impromptu, roadside classroom. There, like laptops and smartphones. they receive free lessons in math, science, “There is only one mobile phone in my English and physical education, taught by a family and it is usually with my father. I can’t former Indian diplomat and his wife. study online,” said Nitin Mishra, a ninth It all began when Veena Gupta’s maid, who grader in Virendra’s math class. Mishra’s lives on bank of the river, complained that mother works as a part-time maid and his with schools shut, children in her impover- father is unable to find employment as ished community were running amok and India’s economy has been hit hard by the wasting time. pandemic. “If they stayed at home doing nothing, The street-side classes have grown as doz- they’d become drifters,” said Dolly Sharma, ens of children showed keen interest. Now who works at Veena’s high-rise apartment, the Guptas—with help from their driver, which overlooks the lush riverbank. Heera—teach three different groups three Veena, a singer and grandmother of three, times a week, morning and evening. and her husband, Virendra Gupta, decided to After class, the children are treated to go out to the street and teach the kids so they homemade lemonade and cookies prepared are not left behind when school reopens. by Veena. The Guptas say teaching the kids “They don’t have access to internet, their makes them feel closer to their grandchil- schools are shut and they don’t have any dren, who live abroad. means to learn,” said Veena, who bought “My father would make me spend my sum- books, pencils, notebooks and other teaching mer vacation learning the next year’s curric- materials, and set up the small, open-air ulum in advance,” said Virendra, who served classroom under the shade of a leafy as Indian ambassador to several countries. banyan tree. “That really boosted my confidence and India’s stringent lockdown to curb the made me interested in schoolwork. And that spread of Covid-19 shut schools across the is what I am trying to do with these children, country in late March. Most remain closed as so when their school reopens, they are slight- the number of cases has surged past 5 mil- ly ahead of their class.” lion, making India second worst-hit in the Veena said she hopes to recruit more vol- world after the United States. unteers to teach the street-side classes. While many private schools switched to “It is not about the money that people can digital learning and online classes, children contribute and give, it is about their time,” in most government-run schools either she said. “They should take out a bit of their don’t have that option or don’t have the time, an hour or so, every alternate day, and means to purchase digital learning tools come and help these children.”

C M Y K 07 | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 SPORTS | MEDLEY BRIEFING Mane punishes Chelsea, Leicester go top Real Madrid begin Djokovic to face Schwartzman title defence with in Italian Open final The winger scores both goals in the holders’ 2-0 win over Chelsea who play the entire second half with a man down. draw at Sociedad ROME: Novak Djokovic was made to AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE work hard by Casper Ruud in blus- LONDON, SEPT 21 AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE tery conditions before the world num- SAN SEBASTIAN, SEPT 21 ber one got past the unseeded Sadio Mane tormented Chelsea as the Norwegian 7-5 6-3 on Sunday to reach Liverpool forward struck twice after Real Madrid began the defence of the Italian Open final. The Serbian sparking Andreas Christensen’s dis- their Spanish title with a tepid 0-0 had to save two set points in the first missal in the champions’ 2-0 win, draw at Real Sociedad on Sunday as set before finding his groove to reach while Leicester beat Burnley 4-2 to go Martin Odegaard made his first his 10th title clash in Rome and top of table on Sunday. league start for the reigning champi- remain on course to win his 36th ATP Mane was involved in the turning ons against his former club. Masters 1000 crown and overtake point at Stamford Bridge as the first Madrid are heading into the La Liga Rafa Nadal on the all-time list. He clash between Premier League title season after making no new signings will face Diego Schwartzman in contenders this season swung this summer, with president Monday’s final after the Argentine Liverpool’s way. In first half stop- Florentino Perez admitting the club held his nerve to beat Canadian page-time, Jordan Henderson picked has to be cautious amid the coronavi- youngster Denis Shapovalov 6-4 5-7 7-6 out Mane’s run behind Christensen rus pandemic. Odegaard is the closest (4) in a dramatic second semi-final. and the Denmark defender responded thing to a new arrival, the attacking by rugby-tackling the Senegal star to midfielder returning early from his the ground. Referee Paul Tierney ini- two year loan with Real Sociedad, Five players withdrawn from tially booked Christensen, but VAR after he shone for them last season. French Open qualifying told him to consult the pitchside mon- But there have been a string of PARIS: Five players have been with- itor and he changed his decision to a sales, including Gareth Bale, whose drawn from the French Open qualify- red card. move back to Tottenham was con- ing tournament after two players and Mane grabbed his first goal of the firmed on Saturday, and James a coach tested positive for Covid-19, season in the 50th minute as he met Rodriguez, who has already impressed organisers have said. The qualifiers Roberto Firmino’s cross with a thump- after joining Everton. began on Monday, with the main ing header after eluding Reece James’ One notable omission was Eden draw set to commence on September slack marking. Mane was gifted his Hazard, whose fitness remains unre- 27. “The Roland Garros tournament second goal as Chelsea keeper Kepa solved, even after the summer break. directors can confirm that two play- Arrizabalaga made a hash of trying to Zidane admitted on Saturday he was ers competing in the qualifying tour- play out from the back, allowing the unsure whether Hazard has recovered nament have tested positive for Liverpool forward to intercept and from the ankle injury that required Covid-19 and three others have slot into the empty net. It was the lat- him to have surgery earlier this year. confirmed close contact with a est costly blunder from Kepa, who was AP/RSS. Sergio Ramos, three goals shy of a coach who has tested positive for dropped twice by Chelsea manager Liverpool’s Sadio Mane (centre) vies with Chelsea’s Mason Mount (right) in their English Premier League match in London on Sunday. century for Madrid, watched an acro- Covid-19,” the French Tennis Frank Lampard last season despite batic effort blocked in a quiet first Federation said in a statement. his status as the world’s most expen- After their chaotic 4-3 win over that’s been successful has had time, Barnes sparked the fightback before half before Karim Benzema dragged “In line with tournament health sive keeper. Leeds on the opening weekend, this has had a process and our process Erik Pieters’ own goal, James Justin wide of the post after rounding the protocols, the five players will not Lampard will be relieved that was a return to the kind of dominant starts here,” said Lampard. and Dennis Praet’s blistering finish goalkeeper. Alexander Isak spurned compete in the qualifying tourna- Chelsea are reportedly close to sign- display Liverpool produced so often en At the King Power, Leicester moved handed the Foxes all three points. the best chance when Thibaut ment and will self isolate for a ing Rennes’ Senegal international route to their first English title for 30 to the top of the table on goal differ- Neal Maupay’s quick-fire double Courtois spread his body well to block period of seven days.” Edouard Mendy as he looks to replace years last season. “After the red card, ence ahead of Arsenal, Everton, inspired Brighton’s 3-0 win against from the young Swedish striker. Kepa. “It was a clear mistake and the second half is a different game,” Crystal Palace and Liverpool after Newcastle as the Seagulls claimed David Silva made his La Liga return Kepa accepted that,” Lampard said. said Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp. “We they came from behind to beat their first Premier League victory of after a decade with Manchester City Werner-less Leipzig ease past Thiago Alcantara made his kept the ball rolling, let them run, Burnley. the season. Graham Potter’s side as he took the place of Isak for the Liverpool debut at half-time after his scored the goals. Everybody had a After a disappointing end to last raced into a two-goal lead after just final 25 minutes. Granada lead the Mainz 3-1 in their opener move from Bayern Munich, but the hand in the result.” season to miss out on Champions seven minutes at the St James’ Park table with maximum points after two BERLIN: RB Leipzig eased past Mainz Spain midfielder conceded a 74th-min- While Chelsea have spent £200 mil- League football, Brendan Rodgers’ thanks to the brace from French strik- rounds following Sunday’s 2-1 victory 05 3-1 in their Bundesliga opener on ute penalty with a foul on Timo lion ($258 million) on new signings in side have responded well with two er Maupay. Aaron Connolly grabbed over Alaves. Real Betis trail on goal Sunday to enjoy a successful start to Werner. Alisson Becker came to a bid to close the gap on the champi- convincing wins to start the new cam- the third for Brighton, who had Yves difference after beating Real Valladolid league life without striker Timo Thiago’s rescue as he saved Jorginho’s ons, Liverpool remain streets ahead of paign. Chris Wood fired the visitors Bissouma sent off after his raised boot 2-0 with a penalty from Nabil Fekir Werner. Werner joined Chelsea in the spot-kick. the Blues at present. “Every team into a 10th-minute lead, but Harvey caught Jamal Lewis in the face. and a William Carvalho goal. close season and missed their run to their Champions League semi-finals in August but Leipzig had little trou- ble finding the back of the net against Mainz, striking twice in four min- utes. Emil Forsberg converted a Juventus coach Pirlo enjoys winning start Delhi pull Super Over victory 17th-minute penalty for a foul on Dani Olmo and Yussuf Poulsen rose AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE better start to his coaching career hav- quarter of an hour that the champions ASSOCIATED PRESS toss and holed out in the deep. high to drill in a header for the sec- TURIN, SEPT 21 ing taken over from Maurizio Sarri finally killed off the game they domi- DUBAI, SEPT 21 South Africa fast bowler Kagiso ond goal. With Mainz struggling to this summer. The win against nated, with Aaron Ramsey missing a Rabada restricted Punjab’s total to find ways of stopping Leipzig, Andrea Pirlo got his coaching career Sampdoria, coached by veteran chance for a fourth late. “I am very Marcus Stoinis’ brilliant all-round just two runs in the Super Over by Forsberg almost scored again on the off to a winning start as Juventus Claudio Ranieri, came just days after disappointed, I didn’t expect such an performance carried Delhi Capitals to dismissing captain KL Rahul and half hour mark when he dribbled launched their bid for a 10th consecu- the former Italy and Juventus star opaque performance from my side,” a Super Over win against Kings XI Nicholas Pooran off his second and past two opponents but his clever tive league title with a 3-0 win over received his coaching diploma. “It will said Ranieri. “We were timid, fearful. Punjab in the Indian Premier League third deliveries which brought an end flick bounced off the post. Mainz cut Sampdoria on Sunday. take time to put together the mode of Juventus were hungry, we were not.” on Sunday. to the over. Delhi achieved the target the deficit three minutes after the Swedish debutant Dejan Kulusevski play, but I will not copy and paste,” Victor Osimhen proved decisive on As a batsman, Stoinis smashed 53 after Mohammed Shami bowled a restart when Quaison threaded a opened the scoring after 13 minutes in warned the 41-year-old. his Serie A debut inspiring Napoli in runs off 21 balls and lifted Delhi’s wide and then Rishabh Pant neatly ball through the entire Leipzig Turin with Leonardo Bonucci adding Juventus handed debuts to new their 2-0 win over Parma as they tar- total to 157-8 with Chris Jordan con- turned the seamer to fine leg for two defence for Jean-Philippe Mateta a second on 78 minutes and Cristiano signing Weston McKennie and get a return to Champions League ceding 30 runs off the 20th over. As a runs. Earlier, Rahul and Agarwal laid to score with a fine finish. Any Ronaldo a late third. The match was Kulusevski, who joined from Atalanta football having finished seventh last bowler, Stoinis forced the game into a decent platform of 30 runs for the hopes of a comeback lasted only played in front of 1,000 spectators as in January before immediately return- season. the Super Over by dismissing opener run chase before Punjab collapsed to three minutes, however, with Amadou Serie A stadiums reopened on Sunday ing to Parma on loan. Kulusevski Genoa kicked off their campaign Mayank Agarwal and Jordan off the 35-4. Delhi had struggled to 100-6 in 17 Haidara tapping in a Forsberg assist to a limited number of fans after a curled in the first goal in a move start- with a 4-1 win at home against promot- last two balls as Punjab also finished overs after being put into bat before in the 51st to restore Leipzig’s seven-month coronavirus lockdown. ed by Ronaldo, who hit the bar min- ed Crotone with Sassuolo and Cagliari on 157-8. Agarwal hit 89 off 60 balls Stoinis propelled the total by smash- two-goal cushion. (AGENCIES) Pirlo could not have hoped for a utes later. But it was not until the last settling for a 1-1 draw. before missing out on Stoinis’ low full ing seven fours and three sixes. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) *** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) ** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) *** Feeling useful will suddenly be extremely important Don’t flinch if someone delivers you some disap- A recent spat might have left a bad taste in your You need to step up to bat today, because your to you. Right now you’re feeling that it doesn’t really pointing news today. Deep down, you probably knew mouth, but as far as everyone else is concerned, your co-workers are in desperate need of a leader like you! matter whether you get what you want today it was coming. And if you weren’t prepared enough name has no black mark on it. There have been no Right now your brain is sharp, your convivial energy when you see so many others who don’t have any- to handle this news with ease, don’t worry about how grudges held, so you can forget about the unpleasant- is strong, and you have a fantastic ability to find out thing at all. things will turn out. ness that occurred. what the real facts are.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) **** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) **** Your feelings are just under the surface today, which Much to your surprise, your finances seem to be Today will be a good day if you plan to follow up on One of your partners—either in romance, life, or you could choose to see as a good thing or a bad slowly falling into place. This is good news, but it someone’s progress. They’re much further along work—may have a different agenda than you do right thing. If you’re looking for the courage to say some- doesn’t mean you should go back to your old ways of than you expected, and it will warm your heart to see now. This is totally fine and won’t cause any conflict, thing tough to someone who needs to hear it, your shopping and (not) tracking your costs. Now that you how they’re thriving. However, details might escape but it is something you should be aware of. A joint trigger temper could help you say it once and for all. have everything under control, don’t give up! you if you don’t pay attention. decision needs to be made soon.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) *** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) *** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) **** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** One of those charming (if a bit eccentric) characters A group effort is the best effort today. If you want What you’ve been waiting for is about to come your Being more analytical about your emotions might sound currently in your life is getting a bit too nosy right results, you need to get the help of the people who way, but the catch is you shouldn’t let others see just counterintuitive, but it’s the perfect approach right now, now. Your business is yours. If you want to spare can make it happen. Align yourself with the people how deliriously happy you are about it! Play it cool. especially since your brain is humming along much yourself some future exasperation, tell this busybody who know what they’re doing even if they aren’t Don’t rush ahead of everyone else to snatch this more efficiently than your slightly confused heart. to mind their own business. your favourite people on earth. opportunity from their hands! Examine any problems you’re dealing with now. CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 | 08 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 Laptops for the kids Taking a look at some budget laptops that will help you and your child make the most out of online classes.

PRAJESH SJB RANA sensor is quite good at capturing detail the overall colour and noise is terrible. Decent nder strict lockdowns, edu- webcams in budget laptops do seem to be cation is one of the many hard to find, but connectivity wise the local social structures laptop comes with almost everything affected by the decision. including an 8x DVD drive. So, the laptop Schools closing down is a decent one if you consider everything meant classrooms had to that comes bundled with it even though it Ube moved online and many teachers and does look horrendous. students alike struggled with the forceful technological adoption at first. But while HP 14 things are definitely better now through experience, there is still a host of prob- Price: Rs 60,500 lems that plague online classrooms. While many of these problems can be attributed With a considerable bump in the price, we to janky internet connection, whose solu- come to the HP 14. The HP 14 comes in var- tion can only be negotiated with your ious different configurations but we’re talk- Internet Service Provider (ISP), problems ing about the one with the 10th Generation also arise due to hardware availability. Intel Core i5 with 4GB RAM and 256GB Maybe laptops need a hardware update to NVMe M.2 SSD. While the RAM definitely help your child adapt better with online needs a bump up, which a few extra bucks classrooms while gaining valuable tech- would get you, the 4GB would be enough for nological knowledge as well or maybe daily use. The 10th Generation Intel CPUs you’re in the market for the first laptop also come with the Intel Iris Plus Graphics for your child. Today, we look at some which while being an integrated GPU is budget friendly laptops that will help you plenty powerful to run some Adobe and your child make the most out of Applications. Running Microsoft’s Office online classes. Suite should be a breeze. The keyboard and touchpad on this device are really good and Lenovo Ideapad 110s HP even advertises a TrueVision HD Webcam with dual array digital micro- Price: Rs 35,000 phones, which is honestly bad. The webcam is horrible at colour accuracy and even the The Lenovo Ideapad 110s is one of the contrast ratio is quite disappointing with best budget laptops to get right lighted areas being completely bloated out. now and while the device is not going to While the webcam definitely underper- blow you over with performance, it’s forms, the dual array microphone is a small size and good keyboard and pleasant addition. The sensitive mics are touchpad make the device ideal for great when on a conference call or while children. The laptop comes with a attending online classrooms. The laptop modest 1.6 Ghz Intel Celeron CPU with houses a 14-inch display with 1080p FullHD 2GB of RAM and 32 GB of eMMC storage. SHUTTERSTOCK resolution that should ensure the display is While there are smartphones that are Acer A515 Acer Aspire E15 sharp, unfortunately the colours seem a bit faster than this budget laptop, for chil- Price: Rs 44,990 Price: Rs 50,000 dull. The HP 14 isn’t perfect but it is small dren the good keyboard and the nice Hunting down a and compact and offers some powerful per- trackpad will go very far in helping For a slightly higher price than the The Acer Aspire E15 is no looker. The lap- formance. them work on school projects and Lenovo, the Acer A515 is a surprisingly decent budget top is all black plastic and is thick and Hunting down a decent budget laptop can network with their classmates. The lap- powerful device. The laptop comes bulky to boot. While the brushed metal be very tiring, tedious and difficult since top’s small 11-inch screen makes the with a budget-friendly Intel Core i3 pro- laptop can be a very texture of the plastic and a few metallic laptop prices seem to keep going up con- device extremely portable and it cessor with 4GB of RAM and 1 Tb tiring, tedious and trims here and there try to spice up an stantly. While all of the laptops recom- also comes with all of the ports of HDD storage. The laptop is also otherwise plain design, the chunky plastic mended here are brand-new, you might also needed for online classes (like the 3.5mm bigger with a sizable 15.6-inch display difficult process. build of the device looks really cheap. So consider looking for a good second-hand, headphone jack). The webcam on but is relatively thin-and-light too. why am I recommending this horribly older laptop for more performance. this device is pretty bad with just Unfortunately, while the internals built together laptop? Well, what it lacks in Understandably, second-hand laptops a 360p sensor, but it gets the job done. may be good for the price, on the aesthetics, it makes up in performance. If will raise a whole host of new concerns The device will definitely be slow, but at external side of things, the laptop smooth to use. The webcam is better you don’t really care about what the laptop and issues, but smart shopping can yield this range and for this price, it’s one of does have a cheap feel to it with an than the Lenovo with a 720p HD sensor looks like, then at 50k you’re getting an 8th very good results too. If the CPU and the better options. The 32 GB of storage all-plastic design with a few strips but it’s not very impressive either. Gen Intel Core i5 processor with 8GB of motherboard are good, you might even will also be kind of problematic if you of aluminium to spruce things up. The Regardless of its shortcomings, the Acer RAM and a dedicated AMD Radeon 520 try buying cheap machines and updating plan to store anything more than docu- keyboard and touchpad on the Acer is A515 offers pretty decent specifications GPU. The 256GB SSD is not really that the RAM and storage on your own too. ments on the device but there are models also pretty good, typing on the for the price. The device should handle impressive when it comes to capacity but with higher storage capacities for a device feels great and the touchpad Zoom with ease and run productivity the SSD alone will speed up the system Rana is a Kathmandu-based tech writer slightly higher price if you want to opt for also comes with Windows Precision apps like Word, PowerPoint and Excel quite a bit. The webcam, as with all the who has been covering all things tech for more storage. drivers so they’re pretty accurate and pretty well. entries above, is not very good, while the the past decade.

A sweep for Schitt’s Creek, Succession tops Emmy Awards The virtual ceremony, with a hard-working Jimmy Kimmel as host, went smoothly.

LYNN ELBER who regained her composure and called LOS ANGELES on viewers to vote and, backstage, explained why she wore the message chitt’s Creek, the little Canadian shirt. show about a fish-out-of-water “The cops still haven’t been held family, made history at Sunday’s accountable,” she said. “She represents Emmy Awards with a comedy just decades, hundreds of years of vio- awards sweep, something even lence against Black bodies. Wearing TV greats including Frasier and Breonna’s likeness and representing her SModern Family failed to achieve. and her family and the stories that we Zendaya, 24, became the youngest lead were exploring, presenting and holding a drama actress winner for her role as a mirror up to on ‘Watchmen,’ it felt appro- troubled teenager in Euphoria. She’s only priate to represent with Breonna Taylor.” the second Black actress to win the award, Her co-star, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, following Viola Davis’ groundbreaking won the Emmy for best supporting actor 2015 win for How to Get Away With in a limited series. Uzo Aduba won the Murder. counterpart actress award for her por- “I know this seems like a really weird trayal of Shirley Chisholm in “Mrs. time to be celebrating,” Zendaya said. America.” “But I just want to say there is hope in the Anthony Anderson, a nominee for young people out there. I know our TV black-ish, came on stage to make his dis- show doesn’t always feel like a great appointment vigorously known, saying example of that,” but young people are the awards should have been “Howard out there “doing the work.” University homecoming Black.” Succession, a family power struggle “This isn’t what it should have been. ... over a media empire, was honoured as But Black stories, Black performances best drama series, and creator Jesse and Black Lives Matter,” he said, urging Armstrong used the opportunity to offer Kimmel to shout with him. “un-thank-yous,” including to President Tyler Perry, the actor turned media Donald Trump for what Armstrong called mogul and influential booster of African his “crummy and uncoordinated” American talent, accepted the Governors response to the pandemic. Award. Succession star Jeremy Strong won the Supporting drama awards went to Billy drama actor trophy for his role as a poten- Crudup for The Morning Show and repeat tial heir to the throne. winner Julia Garner for Ozark. The virtual ceremony, with a hard-work- Last Week Tonight with John Oliver ing Jimmy Kimmel as host, went smooth- was again honoured as best variety-talk ly despite producers’ concerns that the series, with David Letterman announcing plan to link 100-plus nominees remotely the award after being abandoned roadside could result in glitches. by an annoyed ride-share driver. Although the rise of streaming servic- AP/RSS Oliver joined the ranks of winners es including Disney+ and Apple TV+ In this video grab, host Jimmy Kimmel appears with a screen filled with nominees during the 72nd Emmy Awards broadcast on Sunday. calling for Americans to vote, as did dominates the TV landscape, it was Mark Ruffalo, who won the limited series Emmy stalwart HBO that stole the show, before,” encouraging people to register captured the supporting actor comedy American’s love and religious life. acting trophy for I Know This Much is with winners including Succession and and vote to achieve that goal. trophy. The supporting actress trophy Youssef tweeted a video of a haz-mat True. Watchmen making up for its now-depart- Other winners, including Watchmen went to his co-star Annie Murphy. suit-wearing person clutching an Emmy Kimmel opened the show with a mono- ed awards giant Game of Thrones. star Regina King, made a point that the Daniel Levy thanked his father and and waving goodbye after Youssef lost the logue that appeared to be defiantly deliv- ViacomCBS-owned Pop TV and its quirky November 3 general election was near. O’Hara for an extended “master class” in lost the comedy actor category. ered in front of a packed, cheering thea- comedy also proved unbeatable. All the winners accepted their awards comedy. The show’s sweep came for its There were signs of change with the tre—until it was revealed clips were The awards for Pop TV’s Schitt’s Creek virtually in the pandemic-safe ceremony, much-acclaimed final season. drama awards, which came in the latter played from past Emmy shows. included best comedy series and trophies including O’Hara, but she wasn’t alone. References to coronavirus were an part of the ceremony, and Black actors “Of course I’m here all alone. Of for its stars, including Catherine O’Hara “Though these are the strangest of ongoing part of the ceremony, with essen- ultimately won a record nine trophies. course, we don’t have an audience,” he and father-son Eugene and Daniel Levy. days, may you have as much joy being tial workers—including a teacher and a But there was a familiar pattern, with said. “This isn’t a MAGA rally. It’s the “It is absolutely incredible. I think my holed up in a room or two with your fam- UPS deliveryman—presenting awards actors of colour doing exceptional work Emmys.” dad said it best earlier this evening: it’s a ily as I had with my dear Roses,” O’Hara and Jason Sudeikis ostensibly getting a in limited series but not finding as much A minor gaffe marred Saturday’s virtu- dream you don’t want to wake up from, to said from Canada, surrounded in a deco- Covid-19 test onstage. opportunity in ongoing shows, with al creative arts Emmys for technical and be honest. What an absolutely unbelieva- rated room by mask-wearing co-stars who In a year with a record number of Zendaya this year’s exception. other honours, when Jason Bateman’s ble way to end our series,” Daniel Levy play the Rose family members. Black nominees, 35, there was a Watchmen is a case in point. The graph- name was announced for a guest acting said backstage. Levy called it “ironical that the notable lack of diversity in the show’s ic novel-adaptation, steeped in racial award that belonged to Ron Cephas Jones His character’s comfortable pansexual- straightest role I ever played lands me an early going. As Schitt’s Creek gobbled up pain, was voted best limited series and of This Is Us. ity led to story lines that Levy called per- Emmy for a comedy performance. I have comedy awards, that left acclaimed King won lead actress for her work. She In the cumulative awards handed out sonally “cathartic.” to seriously question what I’ve been “Insecure” and its creator Issa Rae emp- was showered by confetti as she accepted Sunday and at the creative arts events, In his acceptance speech, he said the doing” for the past 50 years. ty-handed. in an armchair, wearing a T-shirt that HBO was the leader with 30 trophies, fol- sitcom was about “the transformational Moments later, his son won the award That was also true of Ramy Youssef, honoured police shooting victim Breonna lowed by Netflix with 21, Pop TV with 10 effects of love and acceptance, and this is for comedy writing for Schitt’s Creek epi- creator-star of the semi-autobiographical Taylor. and Disney+ and NBC with eight each. something we need more now than ever sode, then shared a directing award and comedy “Ramy,” about a young Muslim “This is so freaking weird,” said King, —Associated Press

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