WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 237 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 35.4 C 4.4 C Monday, October 19, 2020 | 03-07-2077 Bhairahawa Jumla Karnali crisis resolution another example of anti-federalism approach, politicians and experts say Provincial leaders question the value of elected people’s representatives if the ruling party leadership’s diktat from Kathmandu matters above all.

ANIL GIRI activist. “But the prime minister’s KATHMANDU, OCT 18 statement doesn’t go by the spirit of federalism. This statement shows how The political drama in Karnali has not centralised his mentality is.” only highlighted the fault lines in the The party’s provincial committee ruling party and how the top leaders plunged into a deep crisis last week manoeuvre their positions inside it after a no-confidence motion against but also how they are trying to weaken Chief Minister Shahi for incompe- the spirit of federalism. tence was initiated by 18 ruling party During his meeting with Karnali lawmakers led by party’s deputy Chief Minister Mahendra Bahadur in-charge and provincial lawmaker Shahi, his challenger Yamlal Kandel Yamlal Kadel. and other provincial leaders on The crisis was defused after seven Saturday, Prime Minister KP Sharma of the 18 provincial lawmakers Oli said that since the provincial withdrew their support to the motion governments are the units of the fed- after some horse-trading on ministeri- eral government, the provincial gov- al berths. ernments alone cannot change the The provincial leadership was also ministers, according to a participant summoned to Kathmandu to talk to at the meeting. Oli and the other chair Pushpa Kamal “He said any changes in the provin- Dahal and told to abide by the deci- cial cabinet should be made in coordi- sions of the two Nepal Communist POST PHOTO: DEEPAK KC nation with the federal government Party (NCP) chairmen. A man tends chyangras, a species of mountain goats, in Sallaghari, Bhaktapur. Traders bring the mountain goats to Kathmandu from the high mountain regions to sell during Dashain, when the and the prime minister,” said a partic- Kandel, the chief minister aspirant, demand for their meat is high. ipant during the briefing. is unhappy with the latest turn of But Oli’s diktat has not gone down events. well among politicians and experts. “What I did was known to the top “Provinces are not subordinate bod- party leadership. I have told the party ies of the centre. They are independ- leadership about the context of the ent bodies but connected with the no-confidence motion,” said Kadel, centre. Such statements from the who is upset over the summons to Poudel as finance minister is a wrong man prime minister would weaken federal- Kathmandu for resolving a provincial ism and disarm federal units. Federal dispute. “Our summoning has put a units have to be strengthened,” said question mark over the authority Daman Nath Dhungana, former and power of elected people’s at wrong place at wrong time, observers say speaker of the House of representatives.” Representatives and a human rights >> Continued on page 2 With no background in economics, the ruling party general secretary faces a host of challenges as finance minister in an economy ravaged by the pandemic.

PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA down imposed to prevent the spread KATHMANDU, OCT 18 of Covid-19 forced 61 percent of busi- nesses to close down completely, caus- When Bishnu Poudel became finance ing a dire effect on the economy by minister back in October 2015, he was rendering tens of thousands of people facing an economy badly affected by jobless and disrupting the production the earthquakes and the Indian trade and supply chain, according to a sur- blockade. In his second stint, the rul- vey released by the Nepal Rastra Bank ing party general secretary is facing in August. even a bigger economic crisis caused The survey shows that 22.5 percent by the coronavirus pandemic. of employees were laid off by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli businesses of the manufacturing and appointed Poudel to the Finance service sectors. Two-thirds of the Ministry on October 14. It, however, laid-off employees were either work- has become apparent by now that the ing on a contract basis or were hired decision was not taken by the prime temporarily. minister in view of the challenges On the other hand, the govern- facing the country’s economy. ment’s revenue collection has not Poudel’s appointment as finance min- been enough even to meet its adminis- ister was largely guided by the inter- trative costs. nal politics that is being played out in According to the Financial the ruling party. POST FILE PHOTO Comptroller General Office, the gov- With the country facing an extraor- Bishnu Poudel ernment agency which keeps account dinary situation, questions are now of the government’s incomes and being asked if the prime minister Poudel is a longtime close ally of expenditures, the government collect- made the right choice by picking Prime Minister Oli and has also devel- ed a revenue of Rs172.37 billion till Poudel for the crucial responsibility. oped good rapport with Dahal, who is October 17, the first three months of “I have not heard him talking about now the executive chair of the Nepal the fiscal year. But, during the same any economic vision for the country– Communist Party (NCP), was chosen period, the country’s recurrent either in his speeches or writing,” to lead the ministry given his role in expenditure, without taking capital said Hari Roka, an analyst on political settling intra-party differences, expenditure into account, stood at economy. “Therefore, questions according to party insiders. Rs182.85 billion. remain if he is the right choice to take “Poudel seems to have made a very “Resource generation amid chal- the country’s economy forward.” much profitable deal in exchange for lenging circumstances to meet The country’s economy has suffered agreeing on the provincial capital,” resources needed for health facilities, badly from the pandemic, with the said Chakrapani Khanal, a Standing implementing development projects World Bank, earlier this month, esti- Committee member of the ruling and supporting the sectors hit by mating that growth in the current fis- party. “As far as I know, Dahal had Covid-19 is one of his biggest challeng- cal year would be 0.6 percent and given a nod to his entry as a minister es,” said economist Govinda Nepal. could get as low as 0.2 percent. in the Oli Cabinet.” Sectors like tourism, aviation; Poudel succeeds Yubaraj Khatiwada, Despite coming from Rupandehi, micro, small and medium enterprises; who was a technocrat with a doctorate Poudel, according to insiders, played and the transport sector suffered in monetary economics. Poudel, on the an instrumental role in settling the badly. Informal sector jobs have also other hand, is a politician with no dispute over the Province 5 (now been lost amid reduced economic higher academic degree. Lumbini) capital for Deukhuri. activities. As finance minister in 2015-16, when Poudel, otherwise, was bent on mak- “Poudel’s first priority should be Oli was also in his first stint as prime ing Butwal the provincial capital. finding ways to prevent the country minister of a coalition government, Insiders say Poudel gave up on that from facing an unprecedented human- Poudel had, by and large, implement- demand so as to ease pressure on both itarian and economic crisis,” said ed the budget announced by Ram Oli and Dahal. Poshraj Pandey, another economist Sharan Mahat, a Nepali Congress “Poudel’s political future was and former member of the National leader and six-time finance minister. thrown into uncertainty after he Planning Commission. Even though Poudel presented the agreed to lose Butwal as the provin- Even the performance of budget for the fiscal year 2016-17, he cial capital as per the wish of Oli,” Khatiwada, a technocrat who had was no longer there to implement his said Roka. “Now Oli has rewarded served as vice-chairman of the plan- own budget, as the Oli Cabinet was him by appointing him the finance ning commission and governor of replaced by a Maoist-Congress coali- minister. So the move is guided more Nepal Rastra Bank, the central bank, tion government in August 2016 when by internal political management as finance minister was widely ques- Pushpa Kamal Dahal became the than the nation’s needs.” tioned because of the economic down- prime minister. But Poudel has a day job as the turn even before the pandemic. country’s finance minister and Poudel’s record as finance minister the challenges he faces are in the past doesn’t seem to be promis- immense, economists say. ing. The pandemic-induced lock- Under Poudel’s watch, the economy down and prohibitory orders witnessed a growth of just 0.2 percent have already resulted in massive in the fiscal year 2015-16 but it grew by closure of businesses with wide- 7.74 percent the following year when spread job losses. The govern- he presented the budget but was no ment has not been able to gener- longer the finance minister to imple- ate enough resources, while ment it. there is a growing call for sup- The situation is much worse now port for people and sectors badly and there seems to be no silver lining affected by the pandemic. on the horizon. The four-month-long lock- >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2020 | 02 NATIONAL Five killed, three Health facilities in injured in jeep rural Taplejung face accident in Udayapur shortage of doctors The passengers were Most doctors do not wish to go to remote areas for work returning to their villages and those who do go stay for two to three months only. from Ladakh in India for the

ANANDA GAUTAM months, Limbu added. upcoming Dashain festival. TAPLEJUNG, OCT 18 However, there are still many local units in Taplejung that have been DILLIRAM KHATIWADA The Primary Health Centre in Tellok, searching for a doctor but unable to UDAYAPUR, OCT 18 the administrative centre of hire one. Sirijangha Rural Municipality in Bishwo Sitaula, chairman of Five people were killed and three oth- Taplejung, did not have a doctor until Aathrai Tribeni Rural Municipality, ers injured in a road accident at recently. The post for a doctor at the said, “On September 27, we opened an Bhadaure along the Katari-Ghurmi health centre had been vacant for a advertisement with a 15-day deadline road section in Katari Municipality-14, POST PHOTO: ELITE JOSHI long time. asking for a doctor. But we have Udayapur, on Sunday morning. A group of men carry a bamboo tree to build linge ping, a traditional swing, for the upcoming Dashain festival at Kirtipur, Kathmandu. Due to the absence of a doctor at the received no applications yet. We are A passenger jeep en route to health centre, villagers had to go all the making efforts to bring a doctor to the Manebhanjyang in Okhaldhunga from way to the District Hospital in health post of the rural municipality.” Bhairahawa in Rupandehi skidded off Taplejung Bazaar, the district head- Similarly, Phalelung Rural the road and fell nearly a kilometre quarters, to receive health facilities. As Municipality has also set up a Covid- downhill, police said. The incident Karnali crisis resolution another Tellok is not connected to the road net- 19 Hospital but the health facility has occurred at around 1am. work, villagers had to walk for seven no doctors. Binod Chauhan, chief Among the deceased, four people hours to reach the headquarters. administrative officer of the rural were from Manebhanjyang Rural The rural municipality on October municipality, said, “The central gov- Municipality Ward No. 9 in example of anti-federalism ... 3 finally appointed a doctor at the pri- ernment has provided us with Rs 1 Okhaldhunga while one was from mary health centre. million to appoint a doctor, two nurses Katari Municipality Ward No. 8 in >> Continued from page 1 “Our party has turned into a front and local governments and clearly “This is the first time I am seeing a and one office assistant. Though we Udayapur, according to Superintendent But an advisor to Oli said that the for different interest groups,” said outlined that all three levels of gov- doctor at the health centre since I got opened a vacancy announcement for a of Police Bhim Bahadur Dahal. prime minister did not say that the Kadel. “Now we have to see the leader- ernment are independent in nature to elected as the chairman of the rural doctor, we have received not a single “The driver from Rupandehi and provincial government is an adminis- ship’s stance towards democracy and exercise all kinds of power, say municipality,” said Tika Gurung, application.” two women from Manebhanjyang trative unit of the federal government. federalism, and whether or not our experts. chairman of the rural municipality. Medical doctors are only available have sustained injuries in the acci- “The prime minister said that they leadership is ready to take a decision “Since one party has formed gov- According to him, the municipal at the district hospitals in Taplejung, dent,” said Dahal. “One of the injured should seek the advice of the centre in as per the spirit of federalism.” ernments in all three layers, it does office had to charter a helicopter and Panchthar and Tehrathum, among women is receiving treatment at matters related to the party, not about The working styles of the two party not mean that the prime minister take three critically injured patients other hilly districts in Province 1. Katari hospital while the other two governance per se,” Surya Thapa, chairmen have come under attack should cross the line set by the consti- to Kathmandu in mid-September since “We are facing problems in running injured have been taken to Biratnagar, press adviser to Oli, told the Post. from within central office bearers too. tution because all entities are inde- the health centre did not have a doctor. health facilities in the absence of doc- as their treatment was not possible in “The problem in Karnali is purely an A Standing Committee member pendent in nature and governments in “If we had a doctor at the primary tors. The government has not provid- the district.” The critically injured internal matter of the party so in that close to the Dahal-Madhav Nepal fac- the provinces and local level are not health centre, we could have treated ed us with any health workers. Even duo has sustained serious head inju- context, the prime minister said that tion said that there is a tendency of under the central government, “ said them there,” Gurung said. the health workers that arrive here ries. provincial leaders should not do what- imposing decisions by the two leaders former finance secretary Shanta Raj Meringden Rural Municipality in stay for only two to three months. Police said the vehicle’s passengers ever they like or think.” and this is also against the spirit of Subedi. Taplejung also established a seven-bed They don’t wish to stay in remote were returning to their villages from This is not the first time in recent the party’s decentralised decision Subedi had been appointed chair- Covid-19 Hospital in Santharka last areas,” said Gurung, chairman of Ladakh in India for the upcoming times that the central leadership has making process. man of the Inclusion Commission but week. Ganesh Limbu, chairman of the Sirijangha Rural Municipality. Dashain festival. According to SP imposed its decision on provincial “Everything is well and good when resigned after failing to get enough rural municipality, said, “The hospital “Because of this, there’s a shortage of Dahal, police suspect brake failure to assemblies. Last month the two chairs Oli and Dahal sit together and take support from the federal government. has been set up at the health post health workers in almost all health be the cause behind the accident. instructed Province 5 party members decisions but when an issue affects “Oli does not have a good track building. We have appointed Dr Alina posts of the rural municipality.” Similarly, in Rukum (West), a jeep to name the province Lumbini and, the larger party, their decisions record on federalism and there are Paudel at the facility for three months. Currently, there are only four doc- swerved off the road and plunged more controversially, make Deukhuri become controversial and the party anti-federal thoughts and centralised We faced difficulties while searching tors working at the District Hospital around 300 metres below at Aathbiskot as its capital for the sake of balance of becomes hostage to the Oli-Dahal bon- mindset elsewhere too,” said Subedi. for a doctor but we somehow managed in Taplejung. Municipality on Sunday, injuring six power in the party. homie because their decisions only “The constitution has clearly demar- to hire one.” “Most of the posts of doctors in people. One of the injured is in a criti- General secretary Bishnu Poudel benefit them, not other party mem- cated the rights and duties of all three The local unit plans to organise remote areas are vacant, as those posi- cal condition, said police. The injured was appointed finance minister after bers,” said the member. levels so provincial governments can- health camps in every ward of the tions are not filled from the central are receiving treatment at Aathbiskot he gave up his stance on having The constitution has clearly drawn not be dictated or become hostage to rural municipality for the next three level,” Dr. Sonim Lama of the hospital. Municipal Hospital. Butwal as the provincial capital. the line between federal, provincial the central government.”

Poudel as finance minister is a wrong man at wrong...

>> Continued from page 1 Even though the government and the Economist Bishow Poudel also thinks Nepal Rastra Bank announced support besides generating enough resources to measures such as extending the deadline contain the economic devastation caused for paying taxes, loan instalments and pro- by the pandemic, boosting consumer confi- viding interest subsidies, businessmen and dence and supporting the sectors badly economists say that is not enough consider- affected by the coronavirus are major chal- ing the massive impact the coronavirus has lenges for Minister Poudel. had on businesses and jobs. “Saving resources from unnecessary “The government particularly needs to expenditure is another challenge,” he said. support the small and medium enterprises According to the Finance Ministry, reve- with capital injection,” said Pashupati nue collection was badly affected due to the Murarka, former president of Federation lockdown imposed to prevent the spread of of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and the coronavirus on March 24. Industry, the apex private sector body. “Just The size of the revenue against the gross interest subsidy and extension of deadlines domestic product last fiscal year declined to pay loan instalments won’t help much.” after witnessing an ascending trend for 10 According to a study released by the years, according to the ministry. Revenue International Financial Corporation (IFC) generation last fiscal year was 21.07 per- last month, over 80 percent of micro, small cent of the GDP, down from 23.99 percent of and medium enterprises suffered a slump GDP in the previous fiscal, the ministry in sales during the lockdown. Earlier in said. August, in a central bank survey 95 percent But politicians and experts say the gov- of small and cottage industries had said ernment does not appear to be inclined to that their business had gone down by over reduce unnecessary administrative 73 percent. expenditure. “The Public Expenditure Review Commission led by Dilli Raj Khanal recom- mended a number of measures to reduce Government does not administrative expenditure including shut- ting down various government offices. But appear to be inclined to the government has not taken any step reduce unnecessary towards that direction,” said former finance minister and Nepali Congress lead- administrative er Ram Sharan Mahat. “Even during such a crisis, a lot of reports spendings, experts say. about misuse of funds are appearing.” Mahat said that given the limited resources, the government needs to halt Micro, small and medium enterprises populist measures. A year after Mahat contribute 22 percent to Nepal’s gross increased the allowance for elderly people domestic product and employ about 1.75 to Rs1,000 per month from Rs500 in 2015, million people, according to the IFC. Poudel had again doubled the allowance in “Considering the major impact the following fiscal year. It is now Rs 3,000 a on the micro, small and medium month. enterprises compared to bigger ones, there Despite facing criticism for failing to should be justified support for both sectors take the private sector on board during his from the government,” said economist tenure as finance minister, Khatiwada had Poudel. been able to generate a good amount of One of the complaints of the private sec- external assistance given his rapport with tor about the former finance minister donors. Khatiwada had been that he didn’t listen to As the country is in greater need of the sector and acted alone and focussed external resources, Poudel will also be more on collecting revenue. Many thought judged on whether he will be able to gener- that being a technocrat, Khatiwada didn’t ate required resources when revenue col- have the tendency to listen to the grievanc- lection is shrinking. es of the private sector. Economist Pandey suggested that the But with a seasoned politician now at the government needs to reduce facilities helm of the Finance Ministry, experts say enjoyed by the lawmakers and those hold- he might be more receptive to the com- ing constitutional posts, suspending the plaints. lawmaker-led Local Infrastructure “His relative strength is that he is a poli- Development Partnership Programme and tician and he is expected to present himself controlling corruption. with a flexible attitude,” said economist “In extraordinary situations, extraordi- Poudel. nary measures are necessary,” he said. But being a politician and the attendant But politics has its own part to play. flexibility it brings may not be enough in “It is difficult to scrap the parliamentari- these testing times, according to Roka, the ans’ fund but they can agree to transfer political economist. some of it to the Covid fund,” said Khanal “It is an extraordinary situation and of the ruling party. having someone with little knowledge Meanwhile, the private sector has its about the economy is not the right choice,” own gripes. Roka said.

C M Y K 03 | MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2020 NATIONAL Serious Covid-19 patients are not getting hospital beds To make room for serious patients, the Ministry of Health has decided to discharge patients whose conditions are not severe but patients are still not getting hospital beds.

ARJUN POUDEL start of the pandemic, said they have the decision is yet to be implemented . KATHMANDU, OCT 18 started sending home those Hospitals, however, said that patients with less severe conditions. converting all hospitals into Covid-19 At least three Covid-19 patients The Ministry of Health and Population special hospitals is not feasible, as who were suffering from breathing has decided to discharge patients health workers must also look after complications were unable to get beds with less severe conditions within the patients suffering from at the Dhapasi based Grande 10 days. other ailments. International Hospital in Kathmandu “On the basis of clinical judgement, The Health Ministry has projected on Sunday, even after waiting for we discharge patients without that an additional 320,000 people more than 12hours. serious conditions within 10 days,” Dr will be infected with Covid-19 in the “There were over one dozen serious- Anup Bastola, spokesperson at the worst case scenario in the ly ill patients waiting at the hospital’s hospital told the Post. “Those who are next four months. The internal emergency from Saturday,” Dr Ajay less serious can afford an oxygen projection of the ministry estimates Thapa, chief of the Emergency cylinder at home and are also being that at least 148,000 additional Department at the Hospital, told the sent home earl y. ” people will get infected in the next Post. “We adjusted a few in our own According to Dr Bastola, the new four months. hospital, referred some to other hospi- measure was taken to lessen pressure The World Health Organization has tals, but could not arrange beds for the at the hospital and to save more lives. said that 80 percent of Covid-19 three patients.” infections are mild or asymptomatic, Doctors say mortality rate will 15 percent are severe infections increase, if patients are not requiring oxygen and five percent transferred to wards within four The Health Ministry are critical infections requiring hours from emergency. Patients do has projected that ventilators. not get proper attention from the Even if the number of new health workers deployed in the 320,000 people will cases will be limited as per the emergency, as they have to attend estimation, over 52,000 more infected more patients simultaneously. be infected in the patients would become serious, if only “We asked the patients to go to other 15 percent of the projected 320,000 health facilities, but they did worst case scenario. cases require serious treatment and not know where to go,” said Thapa, 17,000 patients become critical. who is also the chairman of Nepalese Thapa, chairman of Nepalese Society of Emergency Physicians. The hospital has also arranged Society of Emergency Physicians, “All those waiting for beds in the oxygen supply in the isolation ward said that saving the lives of the emergency ward are serious patients, for those suffering from decline in the health workers was another who are suffering from pneumonia oxygen supply. important task authorities should and other illnesses.” “Lack of beds is more a managerial pay attention to. Thapa said doctors will be forced problem than the technical,” Bastola “My wife who is a doctor has to place three to four patients in a said. “We should ensure oxygen been hospitalised due to infection single bed because there are not supply and monitoring even if for the last 10 days,” said Thapa. “My enough beds for Covid-19 patients we could not arrange more intensive elder brother and sister-in-law have With an exponential rise in care unit beds and ventilators. Oxygen also been infected. With the rise in coronavirus cases, especially in supply facilities are available in infection rate, now there is a challenge Kathmandu Valley, health facilities all hospitals and even in medical to save health workers.” designated for the treatment colleges.” Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health of Covid-19 have been overwhelmed. According to Bastola, all patients and Population said that it has As of Sunday, 132,246 people whose oxygen level decreases do been working to extend the capacity throughout the country have not need intensive care and supply of hospitals, increase beds and tested positive for Covid-19 while of high flow oxygen could save ventilators. POST PHOTO: BEEJU MAHARJAN the number of fatalities has their lives. “Yes, we know seriously ailing An elderly woman exercises at an outdoor gym at Golfuthali of Chandragiri Municipality in Kathmandu. The facility was opened by Uttam reached 739. Last week, the Health Ministry patients are in much trouble due to Bahadur Raut, the ward chairman of Chandragiri-15, for women and senior citizens. In the last 24 hours, 2,942 people decided to convert all 13 state-run lack of beds in hospitals,” Mahendra tested positive for the infection, hospitals in Kathmandu Valley Prasad Shrestha, chief specialist at including 1,698 in Kathmandu Valley. in Covid-19 focussed hospitals the Health Ministry, told the Post. “We Officials at Sukraraj Tropical after the number of new cases are working to increase the overall and Infectious Disease Hospital, started to spike. Despite the new capacity of the hospitals, beds, inten- which has been designated for treat- decision, seriously ailing patients sive care units, ventilators and oxygen BRIEFING Government announces ment of coronavirus cases since the are not getting any respite, as supply and other facilities.” Rice shortage in Mugu depots MUGU: Food depots in four remote mandatory face shields local units of Mugu have been reeling under a shortage of subsidised rice for the last three months. The food depots are empty, as the Food for long-route passengers Management and Trading Company Ltd has failed to deliver rice. Pushkar Bham, the company’s information Observers doubt if ordinary people will buy face shields officer, said they could not deliver subsidised rice to the local units when many are not even wearing face masks. due to a delay in the contract process. ANUP OJHA “I am not sure if people will buy KATHMANDU, OCT 18 face shields when they are reluctant even to wear masks that cost Rs 10 and Body of missing police officer After widespread criticism of its per- to follow social distancing rules,” said mission for public vehicles to carry Pun. Face shields are used by medical found in Mohana river passengers in their full seat capacity practitioners, but in recent times air- DHANGADHI: The body of a missing even as Covid-19 infections are multi- lines have made it mandatory for pas- police officer was recovered from plying across the country, the sengers to wear them. Mohana, a border river between Department of Transport A face shield costs a minimum of Rs Nepal and India in Kailali district, on Management has made it mandatory 150, a price not every passenger can Sunday. Assistant Sub-Inspector for passengers to wear face shields readily pay. And many will not follow Gobind BK, the in-charge at a tempo- during their trip. the government’s new rules. rary police post in Jugeda, and Observers, however, call it a gim- When the government announced Constable Ram Bahadur Saud had mick, rather than a genuine move to the nationwide lockdown on March 24 gone missing from the border area on contain the coronavirus spread. They following the confirmation of two Saturday night. Saud’s whereabouts find the government’s new rules Covid-19 cases, it announced making is still unknown. “It is suspected that unconvincing, as its earlier announce- wearing masks and maintaining BK was murdered and his body was ments have gone unimplemented, physical distance mandatory. Six thrown into the river. Detailed inves- activists and virologists say. months later, when Covid-19 is tigation into the incident is under- “We have made it mandatory for spreading rapidly across the country, way,” said Senior Superintendent of passengers to wear face shields and people are still seen moving about Police Mukesh Singh. follow other protocols set by the gov- without taking basic precaution. ernment,” said Gogan Bahadur Because of the negligence from Hamal, director general at the depart- both the public and government sides Landslide obstructs traffic ment. “Passengers have to buy them.” in coping with the spike in Covid-19 along Kaligandaki Corridor Hamal said those who do not wear infections, an internal projection face shields will not be allowed to of the Ministry of Health and RUPANDEHI: Vehicular movement board long-route public vehicles. Population estimates an additional along the Kaligandaki Corridor has The Cabinet last week announced to 320,000 people will be infected with been obstructed following a landslide let public vehicles carry passengers to the virus in the next four months, if on Saturday. The landslide that their full capacity charging normal the scenario gets worse. occurred along the Harmichaur- fares, but the decision was criticised Covid-19 cases are being detected in Purtighat-Baglung road section in widely by doctors, consumer rights record numbers daily but Kathmandu Kaligandaki Rural Municipality groups and the Valley’s mayors argu- Valley, which has become a hotspot of swept away a Rs10 million bailey ing that such a move would fuel the the disease, has been flouting bridge constructed by the Nepal spread of coronavirus. the health protocol. Eateries, shop- Army, informed Nepal Army Colonel However, even a week after the ping centres, inner parts of the city Reshmiraj Bhattarai. Likewise, Cabinet decision, public vehicle oper- and commercial centres are packed another under-construction concrete ators are still charging extra fares with people. bridge being built at a cost of Rs40 saying that they are not getting Nepal on Sunday reported 12 million by the Palpa-based North- enough passengers even when Covid-19-related fatalities, taking the South Kaligandaki Corridor Division Dashain has already started. death toll to 739. The country’s infec- Office also sustained major damages Meanwhile, the government has done tion tally climbed to 132,246, with 2,942 in the landslide. The extent of the no monitoring to protect passengers new cases reported in the past damage is yet to be determined. from being overcharged. 24 hours. Nepal Army officials informed that it The Metropolitan Traffic Police The number of active cases stands will take at least 2-3 days to resume Division said it only got a document at 39,341 as 92,166 people have made vehicular operation along the from the department to implement the successful recoveries—2,326 of them corridor. government’s decision on Sunday. “It in the past 24 hours. According to the was due to miscommunication with Health Ministry, Kathmandu Valley Sixth border outpost set up traffic police that we could not imple- recorded 1,698 new infections in the ment the government’s decision. We past 24 hours. in Bardiya have already sent a letter; this will be Consumer rights activists, however, BARDIYA: The Armed Police Force enforced,” said Hamal. say making face shields mandatory is (APF) has set up a border outpost According to Rameshwor Yadav, a new gimmick from the government at Bhagaraiya in Madhuwan spokesperson for the traffic division, side to boost the item’s demand for Municipality-3 along the Nepal-India 61 public vehicles were booked in the appeasing businesspeople. border. Deputy Inspector General past five days for overcharging passen- “The government itself is making a of the APF Kishor Pradhan gers. Although bus operators have series of decisions that are directly inaugurated the border outpost on been charging Dashain travellers responsible for the growing Covid-19 Sunday. With this, there are a total of extra, traffic police said they didn’t cases. It seems now the government is six border outposts in Bardiya fine any driver on Sunday. influenced by some businessmen, as it district. Pradhan said the recently Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, a virologist was some years ago while making two set up border outpost would help at Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious helmets mandatory for motorcycle curb criminal activities in the Disease Hospital in Teku, said this ride-sharers, ” said Jyoti Baniya, pres- border area and control wild could be a protective move but he was ident of the Forum for Protection of animal menace as well. not sure about its implementation. Consumer Rights.

C M Y K MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2020 | 04 OPINION EDITORIAL Everything is not okay Misplaced priorities A series of impractical The relation between what leaders should do today recovery policies have and what they are doing is inversely proportional. heightened business and employment uncertainties. As Nepal is reporting new Covid-19 cases at an alarming rate, projections for the coming months are scary. According to an CHANDAN SAPKOTA internal projection of the Ministry of Health, an additional 320,000 people will be infected with the coronavirus the number of infections remains at 2,665 per day. The ministry’s figures for the past two weeks show an average of 3,195 new infections daily. The pandemic has the potential to unleash a new human- itarian crisis, but the state’s response, however, has been abys- mal at best. The government has by now given up on its fight Owing to a prolonged combination of against the pandemic. One reason why the country has come to health, supply and demand shocks, and a pretty pass is the governing Nepal Communist Party’s inter- a botched response to containing the spread of the novel coronavirus, the nal problems, which have badly affected the governance. pandemic is severely affecting the In a democracy, people vote a certain party to power with economy. These shocks, along with pre- hopes that the government led by it will serve them—ensure existing economic and governance weaknesses, have increased the likeli- smooth service delivery, uphold their fundamental rights and hood of subdued economic activities SHUTTERSTOCK prioritise the problems the people are facing and address them well into the medium-term; that is, the Indian economic blockade contracted ers—to respond to the eventual rise in transmission and distribution lines, by effectively employing state mechanisms. But the exact oppo- ongoing economic pain may not be a the economy. The fourth quarter GDP infections. Not only was healthcare etc) and the completion of ongoing pro- site is happening in Nepal. The Nepal Communist Party (NCP), temporary phenomenon. The poorest data for 2019-20 will probably show a response mismanaged, the economic jects. It will not only give an immedi- households, informal sector workers, contraction. Cumulative full year GDP response too was patchy and demoralis- ate-term boost to public sector-led as a unified party after the merger of the CPN-UML and the and those working in contact-intensive will also likely contract due to the ing. A series of impractical and confus- demand at a time when private sector Maoist Centre, had the strongest mandate the Nepali people services have been disproportionately severe disruptions in industry and ser- ing recovery policies heightened busi- demand is subdued, but will also create had given to any other party in the country’s recent history. But affected. Consequently, both poverty vices owing to lockdowns, a shortage of ness, investment and employment badly needed manual and low skilled today, the party is so embroiled in its internal conflict that it and inequality are expected to increase. inputs in the agricultural sector and a uncertainties. These need to be recti- jobs for returning migrant workers. Furthermore, many micro, small and lack of effective fiscal response to prop fied for sustained and inclusive Initiating new projects that are short has completely failed in governance. medium enterprises are expected to up consumer demand. The Bureau’s 2.3 recovery. of project readiness should not be the The recent Karnali fiasco elucidates how politicians have been face bankruptcy, as consumer demand percent growth projection for 2019-20 The priority should be the health- priority for the short-term. To save undermining democracy in their lust for their power. After 18 remains muted and supplies continue has no relevance now. The International care sector. Without controlling the scarce resources, the government could to be disrupted. Monetary Fund projects the economy spread of the novel coronavirus and think of ending subsidies on fuel and assembly members in Karnali Province moved a no-confidence Against this backdrop, a sustained to grow by 0.02 percent in 2019-20 and providing necessary medical care to all discretionary handouts. motion against Chief Minister Mahendra Bahadur Shahi, the and inclusive economic recovery 2.5 percent in 2020-21. the infected, a full recovery to pre-cri- To generate more resources to ruling NCP’s central leadership, including chair and Prime hinges on pragmatic stabilisation poli- The other statistics are also not that sis output growth is a foregone finance short-term needs, the govern- Minister KP Sharma Oli, have been engrossed in the game of cies over the short to medium term, rosy. Despite subdued demand for con- conclusion. ment could also focus on securing poli- followed by coherent structural sumer goods, continued supplies dis- The government should then imple- cy-based loans from development part- brinkmanship, not giving two hoots about the pandemic that is reforms across sectors over the medi- ruptions, as well as higher logistics ment effective short-term measures to ners. A well-planned set of sectoral killing people every day. At a time when PM Oli should be hold- um to long term. The economic strate- costs, will likely keep inflation above 6 support struggling households reforms with clear policy, regulatory, ing meetings with officials and experts to discuss ways to con- gy should focus on propping up aggre- percent. The surge in banking sector (through cash transfers and in-kind institutional and legal framework tain the pandemic and save the lives of the people, he is busy gate demand over the medium term liquidity is temporary, as credit growth food subsidies) and businesses (with would serve as a basis for securing pol- through public spending on quality, has slowed down significantly due to a subsidised low interest loans, credit icy-based loans. The post-Covid-19 era consulting leaders to exercise one-upmanship. shovel-ready projects; or through the drop in new loan applications. This is guarantee schemes, tax deferrals, mor- is a defining moment to initiate conse- The pandemic has hit the economy hard, led to the closing of repair and maintenance of public benefitting the government as it is able atoria on debt services, and equity quential structural reforms similar to businesses and rendered hundreds of thousands of people job- assets. In order to bridge the short- to borrow at a record level with lower injections in promising firms). This the ones rolled out in 1992. Public finan- term financing gap amidst high fiscal interest rate. The current account defi- calls for both a growth-enhancing reve- cial management reforms, such as in less. These should have been the priority of the NCP and its stress, the government may need to cit is narrowing down as imports decel- nue policy and an expenditure policy robust medium-term expenditure and leaders. After squabbling for months, party co-chairs Oli and rely more on policy-based external bor- erate more than exports and remittanc- designed to stabilise the economy in revenue frameworks, streamlined pro- Pushpa Kamal Dahal were said to have reached a truce last rowing, which comes as budget support es’ deceleration is below expectation. the short term, followed by structural cesses across the three tiers of govern- month. It, however, became clear pretty soon that the ceasefire conditional on fulfilling certain com- These indicators will quickly deterio- reforms to boost long term growth ment, and legal cap on central and pro- mitted reforms. rate as businesses and household activ- potential. vincial fiscal deficit, are important. entailed a larger power-sharing deal—shares in the Cabinet, ities pick-up pace. Overall, the outlook However, since this entails addition- The digitisation of government servic- ambassadorial positions and other constitutional bodies. The Not so rosy is not at all rosy. al fiscal burden amidst limited resourc- es, integrated social protection plat- ruling party’s committee meetings have so far made just per- Economic output growth in the fiscal es, the third priority should be a smart- form for better identification and to functory discussions on the pandemic, with a majority of time year 2020-21 will most likely be only Effective recovery er fiscal strategy. For instance, expend- control leakages, and core sectoral slightly better than in 2019-20, thanks to What went wrong since the first con- iture should be reprioritised to address reforms in energy, water supply, roads, spent on haggling over power. a base effect, which refers to a tendency firmed Covid-19 positive case on the healthcare crisis. It means invest- education and health sectors are other The NCP leadership must realise that they have to be out on of achieving an arithmetically high January 23 and the lockdown that start- ing in temporary Covid-19 care centres, key areas. Another key avenue for the hustings in about two years. The Oli administration has rate of growth when starting from a ed on March 24 but was relaxed in increasing hospital beds and ventila- development is an overhaul of the voca- very low base. Gross domestic product September? The uncontrolled outbreak tors, increasing availability of afforda- tional training curriculum to provide squandered the opportunity given by the people to ensure good (GDP) growth might actually contract and the lack of healthcare infrastruc- ble and hassle-free testing, and tracing reskilling to shrinking sectors such as governance and work in the larger interest of the people. in 2019-20 as labour and capital mobili- ture are now considered a basket case potentially exposed people effectively, travel and tourism. In business, the People may forgive all of NCP’s bungling if the government ty were curtailed in the last quarter of of bad pandemic mismanagement. The among others. promotion of economic corridors to works earnestly to fight the pandemic and listens to the people. 2019-20 as well. Third quarter estimates lockdowns were an opportunity to pre- Similarly, to boost short-term aggre- boost enterprise on the one hand, and a released by the Central Bureau of pare necessary healthcare infrastruc- gate demand, the government could facility to resolve bankruptcies sooner They may remember that New Zealanders recently rewarded Statistics in September show that GDP ture—which includes the availability prioritise shovel-ready projects that for struggling organisations on the their leader Jacinda Ardern by voting her to power for her growth plunged to 0.8 percent even of personal protective equipment, hos- can be completed within the next two to other would both go a long way to boost decisive response to Covid-19. Lest the NCP leaders forget, if though lockdowns started in the mid- pital beds, Covid-19 care centres for three years, or simply focus on the growth and recovery. the people can vote a party into power, they can also vote them dle of the quarter. This is the slowest those unable to stay in home isolation, maintenance of existing assets (espe- pace of quarterly GDP growth since the an active network of contract tracers, cially water supply, irrigation canals, Sapkota is an economist and a senior out of power. second quarter of 2015-16, when the and widespread testing, among oth- bridges, rural roads and highways, fellow at Nepal Economic Forum.

Uncertain global trading system

into WTO in 1995, multilateral rules In trade matters, became more binding with wide-rang- ing rights and obligations for predict- differences between rich ability and transparency in interna- tional trade. Unlike GATT, the WTO, and poor countries have currently embraced by 164 countries, is broader in scope as it covers not intensified recently. only trade in goods but also services and intellectual property. And most importantly, the WTO serves as a per- BIJENDRA MAN SHAKYA manent forum for trade negotiations. Still, the WTO is not without criti- cism, and it has been labelled as man- aged trade rather than free and fair trade. Started with new areas for nego- tiations, such as labour, the environ- ment and international competition, the first such meet in Singapore in The multilateral trading system under 1996, and the third one in Seattle, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Washington in 1999 turned into a has been hit by two recent incidents. debacle due to wrangling between One, the Covid-19 pandemic has developed and developing countries forced the WTO to put on hold its bien- over linking trade with these issues. nial 12th Ministerial Conference which was scheduled for last Nepal and the WTO June. Two, WTO Director-General It was only at its fourth summit in Roberto Azevêdo stepped down last Doha 20 years ago that the WTO made August, one year before his progress as it sorted out conflicting term ended. As a result, the matters with due respect to the inter- global trade organisation was left ests of developing countries, but with- directionless and leaderless amid a out success. When Nepal joined the crisis of international cooperation. WTO in 2004, the Doha Round was at This is the biggest setback the organi- the peak of its popularity. Its fame sation has faced since its inception 25 rose as it embraced LDC concerns, years ago, and it has cast doubts over particularly the issue of preference the ongoing and much-awaited Doha erosion and trade capacity building. Round of trade negotiations. Realising that preference access was Initiated in 2001, the Doha Round not the solution as long as the LDCs has apparently embraced the SHUTTERSTOCK like Nepal had no capacity to exploit interests of both developed and devel- Preferential access poor countries remain. While develop- poor countries have intensified. The trading system had been based on the global opportunities, it introduced the oping countries. It has incorporated In 2005, haggling at the Sixth WTO ing countries wanted a larger cut of latest one being the US-China trade principle of non-discrimination. aid-for-trade programme to compen- agreements to reduce subsidies and Hong Kong Ministerial Conference farm subsidies in developed countries, row which was provoked by the two Accordingly, member countries were sate the LDCs for the loss of trade domestic support in agriculture produced a proposal for binding pref- the developed countries, in return, taking arbitrary action instead of required to offer most-favoured-nation from the erosion of preferences due to trade and a modality to reduce tariffs erential access and introduced a duty- sought indiscriminate abolition of going through the proper WTO mech- treatment or equal treatment to all reductions in world tariffs. For coun- on non-farm products. An understand- free, quota-free programme for all tariffs on non-agriculture products, as anism to resolve the issues. This trading partners with regard to tariffs tries like Nepal, the successful conclu- ing to eliminate barriers to LDC exports in the rich countries. For per developing countries. They have points to a revival of protectionist and customs. Similarly, they were not sion of the Doha Round is important exportable products of developing the first time, the scheme provided complained that the negotiations put sentiments, questioning the future of allowed to discriminate between because of these two aspects. But as countries is another important fea- preferential market access to all LDC pressure on them to open their mar- the multilateral trading system. If the imported and domestic products long as the differences between devel- ture. This means full reciprocity exports within the framework of the kets without giving them a chance to top trading nations, like the US and regarding the application of internal oped and developing countries are not was not expected from the member multilateral system. From the per- protect their domestic sectors from China, follow a protectionist policy in taxes. These provisions were strength- sorted out, the expectations of the countries when undertaking reduc- spective of special privilege for impov- external competition. defiance of the global trading system, ened by contingency measures, such poor countries will not be met. Hence, tion commitments under the erished countries like Nepal, the Doha Disagreements in multilateral trade other countries will likely follow as anti-dumping and countervailing while the problems of international negotiations. Moreover, it has Round is, therefore, meaningful not negotiations are not new. They have them. If that happens, there is a possi- measures, for the assurance of fair trade are yet to be resolved, the future called for capacity-building only in terms of non-reciprocity but been overshadowed by prolonged bility of the foundations of the system trade. In addition, member countries of a global trading system like the measures to assist effective participa- also for guaranteed preferential mar- trade disputes between developed being weakened. had access to powerful dispute settle- WTO also seems uncertain. tion of least developed countries ket access. countries, like the United States and Since the inception of the General ment mechanisms as a means to (LDCs) in the multilateral trading But the Doha Round is in deadlock the European Union members. But Agreement on Tariffs and Trade defend their trade interests. Shakya is an associate professor of system. as disagreements between rich and lately, differences between rich and (GATT) 50 years ago, the multilateral After the transformation of GATT Economics at Tribhuvan University.

C M Y K 05 | MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2020 MONEY

FOREX China passes new US Dollar 117.65 Civil aviation body proposes extra levy to Euro 137.89 law restricting Pound Sterling 151.95 Japanese Yen 11.16 fund provincial air connectivity scheme exports of sensitive Chinese Yuan 17.57 The Human Rights Commission and parliamentary committees have, on different occasions, directed the government goods, technologies Qatari Riyal 32.31 to provide easy and affordable flight services to people in remote areas to fulfil its social obligation. Australian Dollar 83.31 and services Malaysian Ringit 28.36 SANGAM PRASAIN KATHMANDU, OCT 18 ASSOCIATED PRESS Saudi Arab Riyal 31.37 BEIJING, OCT 18 Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank Passengers on domestic flights may soon have to pay extra as the civil avi- China has passed a new law restrict- ation body has proposed increasing ing sensitive exports to protect nation- Shares the airport service charge to fund al security, allowing Beijing to recip- its ambitious regional air connectivi- rocate against the US as tensions Nepse 1,556.80pts -0.36% ty scheme that aims to connect mount between the sides over trade unserved and under-served routes of and technology. HIGHEST LOSERS all seven provinces with their respec- The law, which will apply to all com- RRHP NFS AHPC GHL SFCL GMFIL -7.54% -6.29% -5.17% -4.24% -3.57% -3.43% tive capitals. panies in China, was passed Saturday The Civil Aviation Authority of by the National People’s Congress MODERATE LOSERS BARUN API LBBL SADBL KSBBL GBBL Nepal currently charges Rs200 per Standing Committee and will take -3.37% -3.11% -2.76% -2.72% -2.69% -2.64% passenger as an airport service fee in effect on December 1.

MODERATE GAINERS the domestic sector, except in remote Under the law, China can take SMB CHL PFL EDBL KRBL RHPC airports. The authority has recom- “reciprocal measures” toward coun- 1.99% 2.03% 2.23% 2.27% 2.86% 2.94% mended raising the service fee tries or regions that abuse export con- HIGHEST GAINERS that is added on the air ticket to Rs300 trols and threaten its national securi- HBLPO PROFL GLBSL NLO ICFC GIC per passenger. ty and interests. 3.45% 3.91% 4.16% 4.74% 5.26% 9.78% “We have recommended the govern- Export controls under the law will ment to increase airport fee by Rs100 apply to civilian, military and nuclear per person and this fund could be used products, as well as goods, technolo- to provide viability gap funding for gies and services related to national PRICE PER TOLA airlines to offset the high cost of oper- security. A list of controlled items will BULLION ating such services, particularly in be published “in a timely manner” in the remote airfields,” said Rajan conjunction with relevant depart- Fine Gold Rs 94,700 Pokhrel, director general of the Civil ments, according to the law. Aviation Authority of Nepal. The new law allows Beijing to Silver Rs 1,200 For flights operated from provincial SHUTTERSTOCK retaliate against the US, which headquarters that last up to 30 min- Private airlines are required to schedule at least 40 percent of their services in the rural sector, as per government policy. in recent months has attempted to SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA utes, airfares will be capped by the block Chinese technology firms government to make it affordable, Baitadi and Doti--in Sudur Pashchim destinations, they have to deposit raise funds from airlines not flying to such as telecommunications gear sup- said Pokhrel. Province by resuming flights from its money in the service fund that is used remote areas in order to pay compen- plier Huawei, Bytedance’s TikTok GASOLINE WATCH “We can raise Rs300 million annual- province capital Dhangadhi. to compensate other airlines. However, sation to those who do.” app and Tencent’s messaging app ly by levying the extra fee and it’s suf- Pokhrel said that flights will soon these measures have not been accom- Most remote areas suffer from lack WeChat on grounds of posing a nation- ficient to fund the domestic airlines in resume from Sanfebagar airport in plished or even implemented. of air services as private carriers al security threat, including the data a bid to encourage them to fly to Achham. In Province 1, flights could The service fund was set up under don’t want to fly there due to economic they may possess from operating in remote destinations by dangling be operated from Biratnagar airport Civil Aviation Regulations 2002 of the reasons. Airline officials said that air- the country. subsidies to offset the high cost of to Bhojpur, Taplejung, Ilam, Lukla, Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, craft insurers and reinsurers had Companies and individuals who operating such services,” he said. Phaplu and other airports. but it was cancelled after six described Nepal as a danger zone for endanger national security by breach- “The provinces will also contribute a Pokhrel said that almost all loca- months. Ministry officials said that aviation and jacked up premiums ing the new export control law, includ- certain amount.” tions where airports are built have more than Rs4 million had been col- accordingly. ing those outside of China, could face Pokhrel said that through the fund motorable roads but it takes 6 to 7 lected in the fund. Besides, procuring new aircraft that criminal charges. Violations of the collected by the civil aviation body, the hours to reach there. Flights can cut The civil aviation regulations cost millions and flying them on law, such as exporting items without a respective provincial governments that time to 30 minutes. require airlines carrying foreign tour- remote sectors is not viable as opera- permit, could result in fines of 5 mil- would subsidize at least 40 percent of Nearly two decades ago, the govern- ists to contribute at least $4 per pas- tion costs are so high, they said. Due lion yuan ($746,500), or up to 20 airlines seats, which is the break-even ment had set up the Remote Area Air senger for mountain flights and at to these reasons, airlines are hesitant times the business value of the illegal load factor of any domestic aircraft. Service Fund in a bid to encourage least $2 per passenger for other sec- to serve remote airfields. transaction. This means the airline will get domestic airlines to fly to remote tors. Charter airlines and helicopter Nepal has a large air network con- The new law adds to the growing financial compensation for 40 percent destinations by giving them subsidies services have to deposit 2 percent of sisting of 49 airports but only seven uncertainty of Bytedance’s deal of their seats even if they fly empty. to offset the high cost of operating the fare in the fund. airports make profits. to sell its video app TikTok to US firm “The proposal of the new modality such services. The service fund was The Human Rights Commission Among them, 29 are short take-off Oracle Corp. In August, China has been sent to the Civil Aviation used to subsidize operations in remote and parliamentary committees have, and landing airstrips. More than 18 added technologies including voice Ministry for its approval and further areas as most carriers were reluctant on different occasions, directed the airports in the hills and mountain recognition, text analysis and content discussion,” said Pokhrel. The civil to fly to out-of-the-way places as it is government to provide easy and regions have been classified as social recommendation to its list of regulat- aviation body will recommend the not profitable. affordable flight services to people airports, meaning that they do not ed exports. capped airfare, which will be studied As per government policy, private in remote areas to fulfil its social generate revenue but are a lifeline to President Donald Trump had earli- by the ministry before approval.” airlines are required to schedule at obligation. people living in remote regions. er ordered Bytedance to sell its US Last week, a pilot project was least 40 percent of their services in the Pokhrel said that they would adopt According to Pokhrel, 26 airports operations of TikTok to an American launched in three airports—Bajhang, rural sector. If they don’t fly to remote a different modality now. “We won’t have now been blacktopped. firm or face a block in the country. Ncell launches special SIM designed for women UK is ‘increasingly well prepared’ for no deal-Brexit, minister says

KATHMANDU: Ncell Axiata Limited has REUTERS piece in the Sunday Times newspa- imposed under WTO rules, likely launched an attractive SIM ‘GGO LONDON, OCT 18 per. “But if the choice is between causing significant price rises. SIM’, specially designed for women arrangements that tie our hands Johnson’s critics say that an with the theme ‘Aghi Badau’. The Michael Gove, the minister han- indefinitely, or where we can shape Australian-style deal is simply pack is loaded with bundled services, dling Brexit divorce issues for our own future, then that’s no code for no deal at all with Britain’s facility of bonus on every recharge, Britain, said on Sunday that the choice at all. And leaving on largest export market. Australia’s provision of emergency talk time, UK is “increasingly well-pre- Australian terms is an outcome trade with the EU is dwarfed SMS on credit and free access to list- pared” for a no-deal Brexit even as for which we are increasingly by Britain’s. ed numbers, states the press release businesses urged Britain and the well-prepared”. More than 70 British business issued by the company. “Ncell is European Union to find a compro- Prime Minister Boris Johnson groups representing over 7 million please to launch a first of its kind, mise over trade terms. said on Friday that Britain should workers made a last-ditch attempt unique women-centric pack, designed A tumultuous “no deal” finale to get ready for a deal with the on Sunday to persuade politicians exclusively to empower women the United Kingdom’s five-year European Union similar to the one to get back to the negotiating table with the benefits of mobile connectiv- Brexit crisis would sow chaos Australia has, “based on simple next week and strike a Brexit deal. ity,” said Pradeep Shrivastava, through the delicate supply chains principles of global free trade.” The groups ranged from the Chief Commercial Officer of Ncell. that stretch across Britain, the EU A so-called “Australia deal” Confederation of British Industry, The GGO SIM also has a special and beyond—just as the economic means that the United Kingdom TheCityUK and techUK to the feature which allows customers to hit from the coronavirus pandem- would trade on World Trade National Farmers’ Union, British add three Ncell numbers as their ic worsens. Organization terms: as a country Retail Consortium and the primary contacts to be notified “It is not my preferred destina- without an EU trade agreement, Society of Motor Manufacturers during any emergency. tion,” Gove said in an opinion like Australia, tariffs would be and Traders. Déjà vu for European economy as virus cases spike

ASSOCIATED PRESS against the Trump administra- LONDON, OCT 18 tion’s failure to subdue the pandem- ic is being quickly revised. Europe’s economy was just catch- As coronavirus cases rise anew ing its breath from what had been in Europe, economists are slashing the sharpest recession in modern their forecasts. Ludovic Subran, history. A resurgence in coronavi- the chief economist at financial rus cases this month is a bitter services firm Allianz, says there is blow that will likely turn what was a high risk that the economies of meant to be a period of healing for France, Spain, and the Netherlands the economy into a lean winter of will contract again in the last three job losses and bankruptcies. months of the year. Italy and Bars, restaurants, airlines and Portugal are also at risk. While myriad other businesses are get- Germany is seeing an increase ting hit with new restrictions as in infections, too, it is not as bad politicians desperately try to con- and the economy appears more tain an increase in infection cases resilient. that is rapidly filling up hospitals. “We see an elevated risk of a dou- The height of the pandemic last AP/RSS ble dip recession in countries that spring had caused the economy of A woman walks by empty restaurants in the centre of Lyon, central France. are once again resorting to targeted the 19 countries that use the euro to and regional lockdowns,” he said. plunge by a massive 11.8 percent in Europeans, there is a foreboding go home,” he says. Experts say that The pandemic is worsening just the April-June quarter from the sense of déjà vu. the global economy’s course as governments were trying to ease previous three-month period. “It is a disaster,” says Thomas depends on the health crisis: Only off the massive amounts of finan- About 1.5 million more people reg- Metzmacher, who owns a restau- when the pandemic is brought cial support they have been giving istered as unemployed during the rant in Germany’s financial hub, under control will it recover. households and business owners. pandemic. The damage was con- Frankfurt, of the government’s Countries like China, which have Many governments have pro- tained only by governments’ quick decision to impose an 11 pm curfew. so far avoided a big resurgence like grammes where they pay the major- decision to spend hundreds of bil- He noted that even before the Europe, are faring better economi- ity of salaries of workers who are lions of euros to keep another 45 new restrictions many people in his cally. The US never quite got its redundant in the hope that they million on payrolls and companies industry could only just about sur- first wave under control and its will be able to quickly get back to running. vive. The curfew means people who economy remains hobbled by it. work after the pandemic. In France While the new restrictions are so come in for a meal don’t linger Europe had reduced the number and Britain that covered a third of far not as drastic as the near-total for a few extra beers or schnapps, of infections much faster than the the labor force at one point, and 20 shutdown of public life imposed in which is where restaurants make US and managed to keep a lid on percent in Germany. They also gave the spring, they are kicking an most of their profits. “Now it is: go unemployment. But the narrative cash handouts to households and economy that’s down. For many for a meal, finish your drink, pay, that contrasted Europe’s successes grants to business owners.

C M Y K MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2020 | 06 WORLD

BRIEFING Transit shutdowns fail to deter Thai Vietnam landslide kills 14 and leaves eight others missing pro-democracy HANOI: A landslide early on Sunday killed at least 14 military personnel and left eight missing in central protests Vietnam, the government said, in what could be the country’s ASSOCIATED PRESS largest military loss in peace time as BANGKOK, OCT 18 it battles major flooding. The mud- slide hit the barracks of a unit of Pro-democracy activists in Thailand Vietnam’s 4th Military Region in the staged a fourth straight day of central province of Quang Tri, high-profile protests in the capital, the government said in a statement thwarting efforts by the authorities to on its website. It occurred days stop them, including a shutdown of after another landslide killed 13 the city’s mass transit systems. people, mostly soldiers, in the neigh- Unlike protests a day earlier, in bouring province of Thua Thien which police used a water cannon to Hue. “We had another sleepless disperse protesters, demonstrations night,” an emotional deputy were peaceful, with no reports of any defence minister, Phan Van Giang, clashes by the time participants start- told reporters on Sunday. The ed heading home in the evening. government said later that 14 bodies The protesters are calling for Prime had been recovered and eight others Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to leave remained missing. office, the constitution to be amended to make it more democratic and the nation’s monarchy to undergo reform. Spanish republicans call for All stations of Bangkok’s elevated prosecution of former king Skytrain transit system were closed SEVILLE: Waving red, purple and Saturday afternoon to try to keep pro- yellow republican flags, demonstra- testers from gathering. The under- tors in 24 Spanish cities on Sunday AP/RSS ground MRT system was also shut, called for the prosecution of the for- Hundreds of people gather on Republique square during a demonstration on Sunday in Paris. Demonstrations around France have been called in support of freedom of and police blocked off several roads. mer king Juan Carlos who left speech and to pay tribute to a French history teacher who was beheaded near Paris after discussing caricatures of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad with his class. Protesters met anyway as planned Spain embroiled in controversy. The at the Skytrain stations, where they 82-year-old former monarch has been held small impromptu rallies, in effect living in the United Arab Emirates establishing a temporary but active since leaving Spain in August to presence across the city. avoid further embarrassing his son, The organisers then issued a fresh King Felipe VI. “We are here to call advisory for followers to gather at for the corrupt former king to be United Nations arms embargoes on three stations outside the city’s cen- prosecuted and to demand a repub- tral area, where access was easier. lic,” said Juan Morillo, 74, a retired Once that was announced, money was teacher, who joined hundreds of dem- pooled by participants so they could onstrators in Seville. While not for- take taxis to get around the transit mally under investigation, Juan Iran expire despite US objections shutdown. Carlos could become a target in two “Right now we can do nothing inquiries in Spain and Switzerland That conflict pits a Saudi-led coalition backing the country’s internationally recognised government against rebel forces. much,” said a hotel worker who asked into alleged corruption associated to be called only Veronica. “What we with a 6.7-billion-euro (£6.1 billion), can do right now is only show our high-speed Saudi train contract won ASSOCIATED PRESS arming the Houthis, Western power to let the outside see.” by Spanish firms. TEHRAN, OCT 18 governments and weapons experts Several thousand people gathered repeatedly have linked Iranian arms in multiple locations, with some tak- A decade-long UN arms embargo on to the rebels. ing turns airing their views over a Belarusians to march despite Iran that barred it from purchasing Six Gulf Arab nations that backed megaphone. By the evening, police foreign weapons like tanks and the extension of the arms embargoes had not disturbed them, even when police threat to open fire fighter jets expired Sunday as noted arms shipments to Yemen in some groups took to marching in the MINSK: Belarusian protesters are due planned under its nuclear deal with their objection to the resumption of street. Protesters began dispersing at to stage a new march on Sunday world powers, despite objections from any weapon sales to Iran. They 8 p.m., the time organisers had said against strongman Alexander the United States. also mentioned in a letter to the UN the protests would end. Lukashenko in defiance of authori- While insisting it planned no Security Council that Iran mistakenly The protesters acted despite a state ties’ threat to open fire in an increas- “buying spree,” Iran in theory can shot down a Ukrainian passenger of emergency imposed by Prayuth on ingly dangerous standoff between the purchase weapons to upgrade military plane in January and its navy Thursday that makes them all subject opposition and the regime. The ex-So- armament dating back to before its accidentally killed 19 sailors in a mis- to arrest. viet nation of 9.5 million has been 1979 Islamic Revolution and sell its sile strike during an exercise. The They also appeared not to be cowed gripped by historic protests after own locally produced gear abroad. In UN also linked Iran to a 2019 attack on by a crackdown on their rally in cen- Lukashenko claimed victory in Aug 9 practice, however, Iran’s economy Saudi Arabia’s main crude oil tral Bangkok on Friday night, in elections over Svetlana remains crippled by broad-reaching refinery, though Tehran denies any which riot police backed up by water Tikhanovskaya, a 38-year-old popular U.S. sanctions, and other nations may links and Yemen’s rebel Houthis cannons cleared the streets in about opposition candidate. The protest avoid arms deals with Tehran for fear claimed responsibility. an hour. movement has kept up a series of of American financial retaliation. Sunday also marked the end of No major injuries were reported large-scale demonstrations for the The Islamic Republic heralded the UN travel bans on a number of Iranian from that confrontation. It was the past two months, with around 100,000 end of the arms embargo as “a AP/RSS military and paramilitary first time in three months of sporadic people or more taking to the streets momentous day for the international In this November 13, 2012 file photo, an Iranian clergyman stands next to missiles and army Revolutionary Guard members. protests that the authorities have every Sunday. (AGENCIES) community... in defiance of the U.S. troops, during a manoeuvre, in an undisclosed location in Iran. Tensions between Iran and the employed such forceful tactics against regime’s effort.” The Trump adminis- U.S. reached fever pitch at the start of the student-led movement. tration, meanwhile, has insisted it has The US Defense Intelligence Agency toward developing locally made ballis- the year, when an American drone A student who used the name Ryo re-invoked all UN sanctions on Iran predicted in 2019 that if the embargo tic missiles. killed a top Iranian general in said Friday night’s events had hard- Notice of Loss of Insurance Policy via a clause in the nuclear deal it with- ended, Iran likely would try to pur- Iran has blasted Gulf Arab purchas- Baghdad. Tehran retaliated with a ened his resistance. “I respect people’s In 2077-05-28 I have drew from in 2018, a claim ignored by chase Russian Su-30 fighter jets, Yak- es of US-made defence equipment as ballistic missile attack on US forces in political opinions, but after yester- lost my following contents the rest of the world. 130 trainer aircraft and T-90 tanks. “regrettably lucrative weapon deals” Iraq that injured dozens. Meanwhile, day’s incident, I feel it was so harsh, “Today’s normalisation of Iran’s Tehran also may try to buy Russia’s with some of those arms used in the Iran has steadily broken limits of the perpetrating violence against Insurance Policy defence cooperation with the world is S-400 anti-aircraft missile system and ongoing war in Yemen. That conflict nuclear deal in an attempt to pressure unarmed people who had no weapons finding gentleman contacts a win for the cause of multilateralism its Bastian coastal defence missile sys- pits a Saudi-led coalition backing Europe at salvaging the accord. to fight back,” he said. near the police office or in the and peace and security in our region,” tem, the DIA said. China also could the country’s internationally In recent months, provocations on Friday night’s violent dispersal led following address: Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad sell Iran arms. recognised government against rebel both sides have slowed as President the People’s Party, the protesters’ Javad Zarif wrote on Twitter. Iran long has been outmatched by forces backed by Iran. Donald Trump faces a re-election cam- umbrella organization, to declare in a Name: Badri Bahadur Shrestha The United Nations banned Iran U.S.-backed Gulf nations like The U.N. arms embargoes, however, paign against former Vice President statement that “the government and Insurance : Reliable Nepal Life from buying major foreign weapon Saudi Arabia and the United Arab did not stop Iran from sending Joe Biden. Biden has said he’s willing military have established themselves systems in 2010 amid tensions over its Emirates, which have purchased bil- weapons ranging from assault rifles to offer Iran “a credible path back to as the enemy of the people,” Most of Insurance Ltd. nuclear program. An earlier embargo lions of dollars of advanced American to ballistic missiles to Yemen’s diplomacy” if Tehran returns to the group’s top leaders have been Policy No.: 410000000975 targeted Iranian arms exports. weaponry. In response, Tehran turned Houthi rebels. While Tehran denies “strict compliance” with the deal. arrested. Contact No.: 9845683342 Armenia, Azerbaijan report violations of new ceasefire ASSOCIATED PRESS YEREVAN (ARMENIA), OCT 18

Despite a second attempt at a cease- fire, Armenia and Azerbaijan traded accusations Sunday of violating the new truce in their destructive con- flict over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The latest truce, which was announced Saturday and took force at midnight, was the second attempt to establish a cease-fire since heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces broke out in Nagorno-Karabakh on Sept. 27. The fighting and shelling has killed hun- dreds of people—both combatants and civilians—and marks the biggest escalation of a decades-old conflict over the region in more than a quar- AP/RSS ter-century. A neighbour comforts home owner, Lida Sarksyan (left) near her house destroyed by shelling The recent fighting, involving heavy from Azerbaijan’s artillery during a military conflict in Stepanakert. artillery, rockets and drones, has con- tinued despite repeated calls for es used mortars and artillery in the Azerbaijan but has been under the cessation of hostilities coming from conflict zone overnight despite the control of ethnic Armenian forces around the globe. The escalation of cease-fire and in the morning attempt- backed by Armenia since a war there fighting raises the specter of a wider ed attacks in several directions. The ended in 1994. According to Nagorno- conflict that could draw in Russia and ministry accused Armenia of using Karabakh officials, 673 of their ser- Turkey and threaten Caspian Sea large-caliber weapons to attack the vicemen have been killed in the energy exports. positions of the Azerbaijani army in renewed fighting. Azerbaijan hasn’t Armenian military officials on two regions north of Nagorno- disclosed its military losses, but says Sunday reported artillery shelling and Karabakh along the border between 60 civilians have died so far and 270 missile strikes by Azerbaijani forces the two countries, a claim Armenian have been wounded. in the conflict zone overnight. In the military officials denied. Turkey has publicly backed oil-rich morning, “the enemy launched an The Azerbaijani military also said Azerbaijan in the conflict and vowed attack in the southern direction,” and it downed an Armenian Su-25 war- to help it reclaim its territory. Russia, there were “casualties and wounded plane “attempting to inflict airstrikes which has a security pact with on both sides,” Armenian Defense on the positions of the Azerbaijan Armenia but has cultivated warm ties Ministry spokeswoman Shushan army in the Jabrayil direction,” but with Azerbaijan, hosted top diplomats Stepanian said. Stepanian dismissed the statement from both countries last week for Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry, in as untrue. more than 10 hours of talks that ended turn, maintained that Armenian forc- Nagorno-Karabakh lies within with the initial cease-fire agreement.

C M Y K 07 | MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2020 SPORTS | MEDLEY Lockie Ferguson leads Kolkata to Guardiola pleads for time to hit top form after win Super Over win English winger Raheem Sterling grabs the winner for Manchester City as they beat Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal 1-0 in their Premier League clash at The Etihad. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Old Trafford just before the interna- AGENCIES MANCHESTER, OCT 18 tional break. But they made partial ABU DHABI, OCT 18 amends for that embarrassment with Sheffield, Fulham Pep Guardiola believes Manchester a much-needed second win of the A fast and furious Lockie Ferguson City need time to hit top form after Premier League season. open accounts produced one of the most incredible they ground out a 1-0 win over Arsenal After Luke Shaw’s own goal gave bowling performances of this Indian on Saturday. Newcastle an early lead, United cap- ASSOCIATED PRESS Premier League edition to lead City dropped points in their two tain Maguire scored the equaliser. SHEFFIELD, OCT 18 Kolkata Knight Riders to a thrilling previous league games before the Fernandes also went from zero to hero Super Over win over Sunrisers international break and were again as the midfielder’s second half penal- Sheffield United and Fulham both col- Hyderabad on Sunday. far from their free-flowing best with- ty was saved by Karl Darlow, before he lected their first point of the season in Ferguson dismissed David Warner out the injured Kevin De Bruyne and hit a superb strike to put United ahead the Premier League after drawing 1-1 and Abdul Samad in the Super Over, Aymeric Laporte. But after a short in the closing minutes. Aaron Wan- in a match featuring a penalty for each leaving Kolkata with only a three pre-season and a host of positive coro- Bissaka made it three with his first team on Sunday. run-target to chase. This was after navirus tests and injuries, Guardiola goal for United and Marcus Rashford Billy Sharp converted his spot kick David Warner’s unbeaten 47 and 18 is content just to be back in the pack wrapped up the late goal blitz in stop- for United, smashing the ball down the runs off the final Andre Russell over near the top of the table. “We are not page-time. middle in the 85th minute to cancel saw Sunrisers level the scores at 163 unfortunately able to sustain for 90 Although United left it late to finish out Ademola Lookman’s spectacular with Kolkata in the 20 overs. minutes the way we want to play, but off Newcastle, the result was no more solo goal eight minutes earlier on his Ferguson was magnificent during these games help us achieve it,” said than they deserved and Solskjaer will first start for Fulham. the regulation 20 overs as well as his Guardiola. “We need time to grow as a hope it is the start of a better period Before that, Aleksandar Mitrovi 3-15 in 4 overs had Hyderabad in all team. I think this game is going to for his team after their troubled open- squandered the chance to give Fulham sorts of trouble. He dismissed Kane help us to make a step forward.” ing to the campaign. the lead when he lifted his penalty Williamson in the first spell, got rid of Mikel Arteta got the better of his Elsewhere, Chelsea conceded late to over the crossbar in the 58th. The two Priyam Garg with a slower one and old boss when the sides last met in the draw 3-3 at home to Southampton. teams had lost each of their first four saw the back of Manish Pandey with a FA Cup semi-finals in July and Chelsea looked to be in total control league games this season, raising the yorker. His five wickets in the game Guardiola responded with a change to after cruising into a 2-0 lead against stakes for their meeting at Bramall got Kolkata the much-needed two a 3-5-2 system to match up with Southampton at Stamford Bridge, Lane—especially for hosts, who have points to take their tally to 10 while Arsenal. That pushed Raheem Sterling courtesy of new signing Timo matches against Liverpool and Manc- Hyderabad stay put on 6 points and up front alongside Sergio Aguero, who Werner’s first Premier League goals. hester City ahead in next two weeks. are in serious danger of missing the was making his first appearance since But a goal from Danny Ings shortly Oli McBurnie wasted a clear-cut play-offs. June. And Sterling was on hand to before half-time and a second-half chance in the first half for United, Earlier, Dinesh Karthik’s carefree grab the only goal after Bernd Leno strike from Che Adams wiped out heading straight at goalkeeper approach was well complemented by could only parry Phil Foden’s initial their lead. Frank Lampard’s side ral- Alphonse Areola, but Fulham had the skipper Eoin Morgan’s grace as effort. “Right now he is our best strik- lied immediately to regain the lead, better of the second half. Mitrovi, in Kolkata managed a par 163-5 after er in sensing more chances to score a Werner teeing up Kai Havertz, only particular, will wonder how he failed being put into bat. Karthik (29 not out) goal,” added Guardiola. for Jannik Vestergaard to power home to score in the game, with his penalty and Morgan (34 off 23 balls) joined Arsenal remain without an away an added-time equaliser. miss and then two late opportunities forces at 105-4 and added 58 runs in the league win against one of the ‘big six’ Lampard said his side had to tight- that he sent off target. last five overs after 150 was looking a in 29 games dating back to January AP/RSS en up at the back after conceding three The Serbia striker capped a misera- tall-order at one stage. 2015. And despite a spirited perfor- Manchester City welcomed forward Sergio Aguero (right) who played for 65 minutes in his goals for the second time this season. ble game on a personal front by giving Rahul Tripathi (23 off 15 balls) gave mance, the fact they have lost first match since June despite missing star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne due to injury. “We are seeing lots of goals across the away the penalty that was converted the first charge in the powerplay as he again at Liverpool and the Etihad in league and no manager is happy,” he by Sharp. Lookman dribbled past two hit Natarajan for a straight six and a the first five games of the campaign I think we deserve more from Harry Maguire enjoyed sweet said. “I don’t know why it is. There are defenders outside the area before pulled boundary while Shubman Gill shows the strides Arteta still has to the game. moments of redemption in their side’s attacking players in this league and unleashing a fierce shot high into the top-scored for Kolkata with his 36-run make to restore the Gunners to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer declared 4-1 win at Newcastle. maybe pre-season and lack of working net to put Fulham ahead. knock off 37 balls which also included title contenders. “We’ve come a long Manchester United’s season “starts Solskjaer’s side suffered a humiliat- time plays a part. But we have to get Burnley is now the only team with- his three successive fours. way,” said Arteta. “I am upset because today” after Bruno Fernandes and ing 6-1 defeat against Tottenham at the better at it.” out a point so far. Barcelona, Madrid lose ahead of Clasico Milan down Inter to go top, Juventus held AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE against Cadiz, who could have scored Suarez scoring at Balaidos. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE later. Romelu Lukaku pulled a goal awarded a 3-0 win after Napoli’s BARCELONA, OCT 18 more after Anthony Lozano’s early This is Cadiz’s first season in the MILAN, OCT 18 back after half an hour but Antonio no-show in Turin. strike. But Barca were not much bet- top flight in 14 years and their first Conte’s Inter were struggling with six Crotone took the lead after 12 min- Real Madrid and Barcelona will each ter, with Lionel Messi strangely quiet victory over Real Madrid in 29. Their Zlatan Ibrahimovic struck twice in his players out to Covid-19. utes when Nigerian Simy got a head into the Clasico next weekend on and the team failing to rebound after reward is second place in the table, first match back from coronavirus on Milan won their opening four penalty past Gianluigi Buffon, making the back of a defeat after La Liga’s two Jaime Mata’s penalty gave Getafe the denied top spot by their opponents Saturday as AC Milan beat city rivals matches for the first time since the his 650th Serie A appearance between title favourites were punished for lead in the second half. only due to goal difference. Inter Milan 2-1 to take top spot in Serie 1995-1996 season when they won the the posts. Chiesa, 22, set up Alvaro slack performances on Saturday. For Madrid, there was an injury Isco, Luka Modric and Lucas A ahead of Atalanta who slumped 4-1 title under Fabio Capello. And Stefano Morata for the equaliser nine minutes Zinedine Zidane made four substi- concern too as Sergio Ramos spent the Vazquez were the other three players at Napoli. Pioli’s side are top of the table with later, but the 22-year-old was harshly tutions at half-time but could not second half in the stands. Madrid said to be hauled off by Zidane, who was But champions Juventus, playing maximum 12 points, three ahead of sent off for a late tackle on Luca spark a lethargic Madrid into life as the injury was not serious but it puts reacting to a particularly poor display without quarantined Cristiano Atalanta who fell to third-placed Cigarin. his team fell 1-0 at home to newly-pro- in doubt Ramos’ involvement in their from his side in the first half. Eder Ronaldo, were held 1-1 at promoted Napoli, who are equal on eight points In Naples, Hirving Lozano struck moted Cadiz. Then two hours later on first Champions League game against Militao, Casemiro, Fede Valverde and Crotone whose first top-flight point with Juventus. twice as Napoli powered back days the opposite side of the city, Ronald Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday, as Marco Asensio came on while a sur- this season moved the southerners off Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo after they were deducted a point for Koeman tasted his first competitive well the Clasico three days later. prised-looking Toni Kroos also depart- the bottom of the table. blamed his new-look team’s inexperi- not travelling to Turin last time. But loss as coach of Barcelona as they fol- A prolonged absence for Ramos ed in the second period, replaced by The 39-year-old stamped his mark ence as they finished a second game Gennaro Gattuso’s side picked up lowed Madrid’s example by being would cap a deflating night for the Luka Jovic. on the game early, having also scored with ten men. The champions were where they left off before the corona- beaten 1-0 by Getafe at the Coliseum champions, whose dreary display cer- Atletico climb to fourth, two points back in February only for Inter to win without Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala virus row, with a third win in as many Alfonso Perez. tainly hands an early boost to their behind Real Madrid and one ahead of 4-2. He missed a 13th-minute penalty with new signing Federico Chiesa sent league games they have played. Madrid’s was perhaps the more con- rivals. Even if Barcelona were unable Barcelona. Celta, meanwhile, have but turned in the rebound, with a per- off on his debut. It was a second stale- Elsewhere, Lazio, without suspend- cerning display, the reigning champi- to capitalise, Atletico Madrid had ear- managed only one win from their first fect Rafael Leao cross setting up the mate in four games for the nine-time ed striker Ciro Immobile, fell to a 3-0 ons managing just two shots on target lier beaten Celta Vigo 2-0, with Luis six games and sit 13th. Swede for the second three minutes reigning champions despite being defeat at Sampdoria. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) **** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** You can certainly use your charm to get what you While things in your professional life are coming When you encounter a confusing person today, be People are giving you feedback that is genuine, want today, but wouldn’t you rather go for a more together quite nicely right now, not everything may thorough with your questions. The more meticulous although it might be hard for you to believe right challenging option? This is a good time to put your- be going as smoothly in your home life. This definite- you are, the more perceptive you have the capacity to now. These people aren’t just praising you, they real- self to the test. Instead of smiling or flirting, get real ly won’t be an easy day in terms of keeping that be. This isn’t an attempt to catch them in a lie or ly mean it! Have faith in yourself and understand and meet people directly. promise you made. uncover some deep, dark secret. that you’re capable of amazing things.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** Growth is a good thing, but you should take a break Working in tandem with a new friend could yield Try to mix things up a little today. Don’t behave the You’ll be most interested in intellectual pursuits from pushing yourself right now. Today isn’t best to some rewards, so don’t be shy about starting a new way that other people expect you to. See what hap- today, so put off plans for frivolous activities if you challenge yourself or start any difficult (if revelato- group project today! Roll up your sleeves and get pens when you act out of character. If you’re usually can. Instead of shopping online, pick up a book and ry) conversations. Settle into a routine and find ready to get going as soon as you hear about some- shy in a new social situation, unleash your inner settle into a comfy chair. Instead of some reality TV, comfort in doing the same things. thing that sounds interesting. performer and see what happens. check out the latest documentary.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) **** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) **** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** Have you ever had one of those dreams where you’re Keep on keeping on. You are closer than ever to get- What’s on your mind right now? Good or bad, it’s Positive results may be slow in coming right now, but trying to run as fast as you can but can’t do much ting what you want, and if you just keep going you’ll time to talk all about it. You are loved by your other people are getting behind you more and more. more than slowly inch your way along? Today might soon see a sign that things are about to change the friends, so why not find one who has time to listen? Your personal cheerleading squad is growing, so feel a bit like that: frustrating, limiting, and yet some- way you want them to. If you’re on a diet, you’ll Sure, they might not be able to solve your problems, your spirits will be shiny and bright. Your ambition how interesting. notice your clothes fitting differently. but they can help you figure out how to solve them. is also starting to burn a little brighter. CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2020 | 08 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 New Nephop collaboration—Kalamkranti Cypher—brings youthful angst together Music producer Rohit Shakya and rap artist Uniq Poet, with Halla!, bring together the voices of 33 artists in a rare hip hop collaboration, calling attention to the strong ethos of the youth in the country.

SRIZU BAJRACHARYA to do something together,” said Joshi. KATHMANDU Fans on social media have expressed disappointment over the fact that n early July, Dayjen J Shrestha their favourite rappers have very texted Utsaha Joshi, or Uniq short deliveries in the song and the Poet as he’s better known as, a collaboration doesn’t meet the expec- simple message that read, ‘Hey, tation one would think. But the music maybe it’s time to get back to video purposely features both recog- your idea of a rap cypher’. nised and new rap artists in an inter- IWith the pandemic upending the mix sequence to hold the attention of musical scene, many musicians were the viewers with the flow of the rap. taking their music online to refresh “Collaborations like these come with people’s mood in an overwhelming limitations for we need to space-time lockdown. There was Phiroj for everyone and writing in 4 to 8 bars Shyangden strumming his guitar to is not that easy, yes, in reflection, I his followers, and there was Deepak think it could have been more impact- Bajracharya grooving people with his ful but I am proud of what we did,” song Man Magan. said Joshi. “It was a time when everyone was Despite the tepid response, venturing online and collaborating Kalamkranti is a poignant, and power- with one another, and so I texted ful form of artful protest where artists Uniq who had pitched this idea of col- don’t just point out the faults of the laborating with rap artists for a government and society but also ques- cypher a long time back. I told him tion the roles of the listeners. Rapper now [the country’s first lockdown] Amazumi in her rap delivery sharply was a good time to get back to that PHOTO COURTESY: HALLA! questions the silence of people on the idea,” said Shrestha, rapper and Kalamkranti feels significant not because of the impressive lineup of rappers, but because the rap features verses from artists that resonate with the mood of the current time and speak for atrocities happening around them. co-founder of Halla!, an independent various issues—of corruption and nationalism to the divided sense of logic among the people. She strikes with, ‘Are you still watch- music e-magazine. ing on the sidelines? So what if they “A cypher is basically a jam session beat as it was simple and had a flow self-sustainability, environment and ask you to take the bench, you go where rappers and beatboxers gather that could carry the styles of the dif- post-covid life. ahead and use your game to get gains around in a circle to deliver their raps. ferent rappers,” said Rohit Shakya, It imbibes the feeling of being locked The challenge for the collaboration on the movement; mobilise, organise.’ It’s an energetic scene and while I was the music producer. behind four walls, the rage of being was merging together the rap deliver- In the most unassuming way, with- abroad I missed that creative environ- Kalamkranti feels significant not ies sent in by various rappers who had out any flexing and bragging, ment, and I had hoped to do one big because of the impressive lineup of cheated and repressed and the their own different styles. “I had to Kalamkranti feels more like a passion- collaboration with rap artists once I rappers, but because the rap features make sure there was consistency ate discussion where the youth are was here,” said Joshi. verses from artists that resonate with desolation of separation. throughout the song. Rap is about presenting facts and pouring their The music project, however, isn’t a the mood of the current time and clarity and so I also had to work on the frustrations while demanding social cypher to be exact, but, in its own way, speaks for various issues—of corrup- quality of the sound as they were all change. It is quite evident that this it is engaging because it immerses the tion and nationalism to the divided right at the start and lets the rap art- three months, they plunged right into mobile video recordings,” said song is not for grooving; it is not a listeners in the rapper’s narratives. sense of logic among the people. It ists shoulder a movement. the process of bringing the project Shakya, who worked on several drafts song that you will come back to, but “So, when Dayjen reminded me of also heeds for individual responsibili- The song’s video by Prajwol Thapa together. trying different sequences of the raps. even then, in its own way, the collabo- that idea I jumped on board with it,” ty and addresses other raging issues, Magar, aka Jholey, also calls people’s “Uniq, I and Halla! reached out to “But on the whole, this was a very ration is unforgettable. said Joshi. like increasing incidents of rape, attention to the ethos of the rappers rappers in our circle and the response arresting project, all of us were quite “Music is a strong medium of And now, their hip hop collabora- domestic violence and caste-based dis- and their words. He features rappers was quite overwhelming. Everyone driven from the get-go,” said Shakya. touching people’s lives and so this tion, Kalamkranti Cypher, has become crimination. And in the rawest seman- rapping from inside frames on newspa- was eager to put the project together,” And although the music video has collaboration is important in the one of the rarest experimental rhyth- tic evokes our own frustration and pain. pers and fixates viewers to see them as said Shakya. And while Shakya only received over a hundred thou- sense that this will resonate with mic singles in Nepal’s limited rap his- It imbibes the feeling of being locked part of the story they are reckoning for. worked on the beat to help the rappers sand views on YouTube, the creators some people if not all and help create tory. The track’s old school beat isn’t behind four walls, the rage of being “I would say it’s a historical collabo- with their flow, Joshi made two sam- are not perturbed by the viewer’s a dialogue or question the wrongs in addictive but it’s funky texture allures cheated and repressed and the exasper- ration, as we have never seen such ple videos to guide participants with response as for them this collabora- the society. And for musicians, just a feeling of suspense and goofiness ation and desolation of separation. unison of rappers before: it brings their deliveries. The participants were tion has been significant in terms of contributing to that is significant,” and keeps one tuned, while the contin- One can feel the rage of the artists together 33 artists and that is a feat to also briefed to write a verse for any of connecting with rappers in the Nepali said Shakya. “And I think it is a mov- uous layered boost beat pumps up the in the opening line itself, written by celebrate,” said Shrestha. the nine themes provided—lockdown, community and to speak for the issues ing track because it pinpoints the passion with robust rap deliveries. Uniq Poet, which says, ‘Nepali ragat Following their decision to collabo- border, government transparency and of the hour. experiences of the youth in this chaot- “I had sent about three to four beat sab bhanda tato.’ He sets the premise rate in July, things quickly took honesty, individual responsibility, “This wasn’t a project that intended ic time and brings together a common options. Dayjen and Uniq picked this of the uneasiness everyone is feeling momentum for them and in the next entrepreneurship, motivation, to become popular; it was an initiative frustration.” After frying chicken for over 100 years, Kansas restaurant is shut by pandemic Mark Martin’s family restaurant weathered two world wars, the Dust Bowl, and the Great Depression. But it could not survive the pandemic.

in the United States opened at the begin- ning of 2020 had permanently stopped operating as of mid-September—includ- One in five small ing 23 percent of restaurants. About 40 percent of restaurants recently surveyed businesses in the US by the National Restaurants Association opened at the say they will be out of business in six months unless there is more financial beginning of 2020 had relief from the government. Martin, 70, said he was hopeful in the stopped operating as first months of the pandemic. The restau- rant secured a $57,000 loan through the of mid-September. federal government’s Paycheck Protection Program—a vital lifeline, he said. Three- quarters of that went to pay his several there might be interest from someone dozen employees, “which allowed us to who could reopen the restaurant, but he free up those dollars to pay other expens- thinks that is unlikely until after the pan- es, like the mortgage and gas bill—all the demic subsides. He said he has no plans to stuff a restaurant needs,” he said. retire, in part because he has poured most They reopened Easter weekend for of his savings into the restaurant, and takeout only and hit their goals: 200 meals just applied for a job as a courier. on Saturday and 400 on Easter itself. Among the personal things he took Mother’s Day was a hit, with 700 takeout with him: the framed bronze medallion meals. They were eventually able to reo- Brookville received in 2007 from the pen the dining rooms, with limited seat- James Beard Foundation when they were ing. However, business remained half the given an ‘America’s Classics’ award. level of a year ago, Martin said. Summer The shutdown has rippled through the is normally the busy season, thanks to a Abilene community, population 6,300. steady stream of visitors to the nearby Kim Palenske, who hostessed at the res- Eisenhower Presidential Library and taurant for eight years, said she knew Museum. they were struggling but was still startled Often, Brookville would have two tour when Martin decided to close. buses a week stop by for lunch or dinner. The restaurant was so well known, But the museum remains closed, and they Palenske said, she was sure it would sur- had just two buses all summer. vive. “We had people from Australia,” she Martin cut costs everywhere, including said, “and there were people who would switching to hauling the restaurant’s gar- make a day of it to drive from Wichita to bage to the dump with his own trailer to have lunch on a Sunday.” shave the $375 a month cost of pickup— Palenske, who also works part-time at REUTERS but it was not enough to turn a profit. the local school, said she will need some- Mark Martin poses for a photograph inside the Brookville Hotel, closed permanently due to the coronavirus pandemic, in Abilene, Kansas, US. By the time they closed in September, thing new to make up for the lost income. he estimates he had lost $50,000 in total “I haven’t started looking yet,” she said. TIMOTHY AEPPEL & ARIN YOON in Abilene, Kansas, closed permanently est, however, as federal aid helped compa- for the year, compared to the up to $50,000 “I’m still kind of in shock.” ABILENE, KANSAS on September 25, after struggling to break nies make payrolls as they waited for life annual profit he was used to. Customers are also reeling. Mary Stirtz even amid shutdowns caused by the to return to normal. Martin and his wife Connie rebuilt the and her husband, local retirees, would ark Martin’s family Covid-19 outbreak. But the virus continues to spread, shat- restaurant in Abilene in 2000, painstak- pick up dinner almost every warm Friday restaurant weathered “We’re kind of in shock that this will be tering records for new cases in the ingly mirroring the old hotel’s distinctive night and eat it at nearby Eisenhower two world wars, the the end of it for us,” said Martin, the Midwest last week, while emergency fed- look, with a round-roof facade and the Park while they watched the swimmers in Dust Bowl, and the fourth generation to run the Brookville eral aid is running out. With cold weather words “Since 1870” in large letters. His the outdoor pool. They celebrated their Great Depression, Hotel, a name that reflects its origins as a and flu season nearing, which typically mortgage, which helped to fund the 50th wedding anniversary in the park two serving up heaping small hotel in nearby Brookville, Kansas brings a drop in business for restaurants revamp, stands at around $700,000. years ago, with 35 dinners from Brookville Mplates of hand-battered fried chicken, that his family acquired in 1894. even in good years, Brookville’s fate may There was no fifth generation waiting for extended family and friends who mashed potatoes and creamed corn to a The virus has upended travel and be a harbinger of things to come. to take over. The couple’s only child, attended. devoted clientele. But it could not survive spending habits for millions of Based on an analysis of credit card daughter Brandy Lea, passed away 25 “We loved it,” she said. “We just the pandemic. Americans. Small business failures in the transactions by the online marketing years ago at age 17. loved it.” The restaurant, nestled by the highway first months of the pandemic were mod- firm Womply, one in five small businesses Martin has heard from his bank that — Reuters

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