As Covid-19 Cases Soar, Test Numbers Are Declining and Contact Tracing Is

WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 212 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 32.3 C 12.7 C Thursday, September 24, 2020 | 08-06-2077 Dhangadi Jomsom Supreme Court blocks Bamdev Gautam’s way to the Cabinet, for now Responding to a writ against Gautam’s nomination to the Assembly, Justice Ananda Mohan Bhattarai has ordered not to give any additional constitutional positions to him.

TIKA R PRADHAN KATHMANDU, SEPT 23

The prospects of Bamdev Gautam, who was recently nominated to the National Assembly by the President, of becoming a minister have been thwarted, at least for now. A single bench of Justice Ananda Mohan Bhattarai on Wednesday issued an interim order, asking the authorities not to give Gautam any additional constitutional responsibili- ties for now. RSS The order came in response to a Bamdev Gautam was appointed a National writ filed by Dinesh Tripathi, a senior Assembly member last week. advocate, in which he had demanded that Gautam’s appointment as a mem- Nepal Communist Party. ber of the National Assembly be Guatam, who was appointed the annulled and that the authorities be vice-chair of the Nepal Communist ordered not to give any constitutional Party (NCP) in February after amend- responsibility to him. ing its statute, had lost 2017 parlia- The bench has taken cognizance of mentary elections from Bardiya the case as first of its kind since the Constituency 1. adoption of the new constitution and Gautam’s appointment to the said the petition has given rise to the National Assembly has met with criti- POST PHOTO: DEEPAK KC possibility of “serious constitutional cism from several quarters because A motorcycle crosses a waterlogged road in Gothatar, Kathmandu, on Wednesday. Heavy rainfall has continued across the country for the last couple of days. explanation”. experts and analysts say taking a per- “Until a further interim order, put son rejected by the people to the upper the issue on hold,” the bench has house is tantamount to undermining observed. democratic principles. Gautam was appointed to the upper In his petition, Tripathi said that house of parliament by President Gautam’s nomination is against the Bidya Devi Bhandari on September 17 constitution. Tripathi has made the As Covid-19 cases soar, test numbers are as per the recommendation of the gov- Office of the President, Office of the ernment. The Cabinet, on September Prime Minister and Council of 14, had decided to recommend to the Ministers, chairman of the National President that Gautam be appointed a Assembly, the Nepal Communist Party National Assembly member as per the and Gautam as defendants. declining and contact tracing is ineffective September 3 decision of the ruling >> Continued on page 2 The authorities that were too slow to recognise the looming threat seem to have given up the fight against the virus, public health experts say.

ARJUN POUDEL waiting for their turn to give samples. ment is making serious attempts to KATHMANDU, SEPT 23 They were waiting without food. respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. “We decided to collect money on our The Health Ministry was conduct- On Tuesday, doctors at Sukraraj own so that we could provide some ing around 10,000 tests, on average, Tropical and Infectious Disease food to them,” said Dr Sagar across the country, but the number Hospital decided to take matters into Rajbhandari, director at the hospital. over the past few days has come down. their own hands as people in an over- “We felt really bad that there were Public health experts say that with whelming number stood in queue for small children waiting in line for the risk level rising, the number of hours to get tested for Covid-19. days.” tests should have increased. But the Doctors said they were by and large With whatever money that was col- authorities seem to have surrendered helpless as hundreds of people were lected, according to Rajbhandari, noo- now, according to them. spending nights on the hospital prem- dles and beaten rice were provided. “We are heading towards a catastro- ises, under staircases and the passage, One way to address the situation phe and the government seems to be was increasing the number of absolutely apathetic towards such a tests so that people would give looming crisis,” said a member of the swabs and go home as early as Nepal Medical Council requesting possible. anonymity because he was concerned Even though the hospital labo- about getting into a controversy. ratory can test only 300 swabs a “The number of tests performed day, it started collecting 600. since the restrictions were lifted But regardless of the situation has drastically gone down. To make in the government hospital, the matters worse, the government has number of overall tests—poly- not done anything to make contact merase chain reaction tests— tracing effective. This clearly shows across the country over the past the government has given up the fight few days has gone down, raising against Covid-19.” concerns whether the govern- >> Continued on page 2 Cricket governing body announces central contracts for players, but gender pay gap is huge ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ grade male cricketers would get Rs 50,000, Rs 40,000 and Rs 30,000 each month but female players offered only Rs 15,000, Rs 12,000 and Rs 10,000, respectively.

get Rs 15,000, Rs 12,000 and Rs 10,000, respectively. This is the first time women cricket- ers in Nepal have been “employed”, as they will now get monthly remunera- tion even though they made their for- ays into international cricket some 13 years ago. The male players have been getting the central contracts since 2012. Former national men’s team cap- tain LB Chhetri though appreciated the move to award central contracts to the women players, he expressed his concerns over the disparity and pay gap. “Such disparity shows that we are still far behind when it comes to acknowledging the contributions women cricketers have made for the sport,” Chhetri told the Post. “It looks like we are showing mercy to female cricketers who make an equal effort POST FILE PHOTO: KESHAV THAPA for their country.” Women cricketers now onwards will draw a monthly salary. Nineteen women cricketers have been graded for the monthly salary PRAJWAL OLI ers likely to rake in three times more with six as grade “A” players, eight as KATHMANDU, SEPT 23 than their female counterparts. grade “B” players and six as grade “C” The cricket body announced central players. Cricket Association of Nepal, the contracts has categories players in National women cricket captain country’s cricketing governing body, three groups. Rubina Chhetry and Nary Thapa, on Tuesday announced central con- While the ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ grade male Indu Berma, Karuna Bhandari and tracts for Nepali cricketers—both cricketers would get monthly salaries Sita Rana Magar have been catego- male and female. However, the gender of Rs 50,000, Rs 40,000 and Rs 30,000, rised as “A” listed players. pay gap was glaring, with male play- respectively, the female players would >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 | 02 NATIONAL Dhaulagiri Hospital in Baglung yet to get a PCR machine It’s been three months since the decision to place a PCR machine at the hospital was taken but Ministry of Health and Population is yet to release the budget.

PRAKASH BARAL the procurement process,” Pokharel PCR testing from Dhaulagiri Hospital. BAGLUNG, SEPT 23 said. As of Monday, one person died and 349 Shalikram Sharma, a representa- individuals tested positive for corona- On June 26, the Ministry of Health tive of the hospital management com- virus in the district, according to the and Population had decided to place a mittee, said the hospital has already data of the District Health Office in PCR machine in 10 government hospi- managed a room to install the PCR Baglung. tals, including Baglung-based machine. Dhaulagiri Hospital had established Dhaulagiri Hospital. Three months “The purchase of the machine has three ICU beds in its ICU ward in into the decision, the hospital is yet to been delayed due to delay in budget April. But there are no skilled health be equipped with a PCR machine. release. The ministry has delayed the workers to work in the ward. According to the hospital adminis- process,” Sharma said. “Currently, the ICU ward has tration, the ministry has not released In the absence of a PCR machine, become a general ward due to a lack of the budget for the machine and the the hospital has been sending swab skilled health workers. We had hospital is yet to receive the work samples to the Pokhara-based provin- demanded the provincial government POST PHOTO: SANJOG MANANDHAR order. The representatives of the hos- cial laboratory for Covid-19 testing. to provide nine additional staff nurses A homeless man shields himself from the rain with a plastic sheet at Bhagwanpau in the Capital on Wednesday. pital management committee said “We are collecting around 100 to 300 and eight medical officers to run the The Valley is expected to receive rainfall for the next few days. they have repeatedly asked the minis- swab samples on a daily basis. The ICU ward. But the government only try and the concerned stakeholders to entire process of testing and tracing permitted five nurses. This is why we implement the decision, but neither would be expedited if we had our own are facing difficulties in running the the ministry nor other offices have machine to test samples,” said Dr. ICU ward,” said Rana Magar, adding paid attention to their request. Pokharel. that the hospital management com- On August 18, a meeting of the However, Rana Magar said they can- mittee is even facing difficulties in COVID-19 Control and Treatment not say exactly when they could start providing salary to the health workers Frontline workers at risk of Fund also decided to release a Rs 10 on time. million budget for the hospital to pur- The hospital has a total chase the machine. But the hospital The ministry had position of 25 doctors and 30 nurses. has yet to receive the budget from the But at present, there are only 15 doc- Covid-19 despite dip in cases ministry to purchase the machine. decided to release a tors and 22 nurses working in the Chief District Officer Suresh hospital. Neupane, who is also the chairman of Rs 10 million budget By the end of the last fiscal year, the 141 health workers, 49 janitors, three ambulance drivers tested positive for virus in Parsa. the District Covid-19 Crisis government had decided to upgrade Management Committee, had for- for the hospital. the 50-bed Dhaulagiri Hospital to a SHANKAR ACHARYA various health institutions in the dis- the public should be wary of stepping warded the letter of the fund to the 200-bed sub-regional hospital PARSA, SEPT 23 trict. “The district health office will be out of their houses. The infection rate hospital administration. providing health workers with corona- is high in neighbouring Bara and “We received the letter but we are The number of active Covid-19 cases virus insurance. They have been given other districts and there is free move- yet to receive the budget and work has decreased in Parsa, a hotspot of PPEs and other protective gears while ment across district borders. This order to purchase the machine. The the disease in Province 2, but the being mobilised to control the dis- may cause the virus to spread further hospital administration has been talk- infection rate among frontline work- ease,” Thakur said. in Parsa too,” Chaurasiya said. “The ing with the local administration and ers mobilised to control Covid-19 in A total of 2,628 people have tested number of people dying of Covid-19 is the ministry to release the the district is still high. positive for Covid-19 in Parsa district still high in the district even if the budget soon,” said Dr. Shailendra A total of 141 health workers, 49 with 45 deaths so far. The health number of positive cases has Pokharel, the medical superintendent janitors working at various health authority has collected and tested decreased.” at the hospital. institutions and three ambulance swabs of 23,744 people. Four persons died of Covid-19 in the However, KB Rana Magar, chair- drivers have tested positive for corona- “The risk of coronavirus transmis- district on Sunday and Monday, he man of the Hospital Management virus as of Tuesday. The first case of sion is still very high among health added. Committee, said the committee has infection in a health worker was workers and other hospital staffers Birgunj is Nepal’s largest trade gate- been forwarding its request for the reported back in May, according to the even though the number of active way and handles 70 percent of the budget to the ministry but is yet to District Administration Office in cases has decreased in Parsa,” said Dr country’s imports and exports. The receive a response. Parsa. Atulesh Chaurasiya, spokesperson of densely populated Parsa has an open “How many times should the man- Similarly, 125 security personnel Narayani Hospital in Birgunj. “Health border with India, which exposes the agement committee frequent the min- have been infected with the virus in workers and hospital employees can- district to a surge in infections since istry to get the budget and work order? the district. not refrain from their duties and movement through the porous border The ministry is playing with us,” “Many health employees and sup- responsibilities and most of them are continues despite restrictions in place. Magar said. port staff have been infected with getting infected despite health safety “Security personnel are also at high Dr Pokharel said the hospital is Covid-19 in Parsa despite adopting all measures in place.” risk of contracting the disease since unable to invite a tender to purchase safety measures while on duty,” said Narayani Hospital is one of the des- we have to deal with daily activities in the machine due to a lack of work Jayamod Thakur, an officer at the ignated Covid-19 hospitals in the dis- the border area,” said Superintendent order. District Health Office. He, along with trict. According to health workers, the of Police Ganga Panta. “We are fully prepared to purchase his wife and son, tested positive for number of Covid-19 cases had surged The district administration has the machine but the ministry has not POST PHOTO: PRAKASH BARAL Covid-19 a few weeks ago. “Despite in mid-July to mid-August in the dis- enforced a prohibitory order in sent us the work order or the budget. In the absence of a PCR machine, Dhaulagiri Hospital has been sending swab samples to the being very cautious, I caught the trict. Although the number of positive Birgunj Metropolitan City till October We haven’t even been able to initiate Pokhara-based provincial laboratory for Covid-19 testing. virus. There is no sure-fire way to cases has decreased, the chances of an 1 with certain relaxations. protect ourselves from the virus while outbreak are high, as the district has “The prohibitory order could be lift- on duty.” been slowly relaxing its prohibitory ed from October 1 if the number of According to Thakur, the officer at orders. positive cases continues to decrease,” the District Health Office, there are a “Although the local administration said Binaya Shreewastav, an officer at total of 624 health workers working in has relaxed the prohibitory orders, the District Administration Office. Cricket governing body announces ...

>> Continued from page 1 global issue and in the world of sports, Ashok Nath Pyakurel, secretary at Similarly, Jyoti Pandey, Apsari many of late have been advocating for Cricket Association of Nepal, howev- Begam, Roma Thapa, Bindu Rawal, bridging the gap. In Nepal, cricket er, defended the move, saying it is but Supreme Court blocks Bamdev Gautam’s way ... Kabita Joshi, Ritu Kanaujiya, Sarita lately has gained immense popularity natural for male cricketers to receive Magar and Kajal Shrestha fall under and both men and women teams have more in remuneration than their >> Continued from page 1 may allow him to become a minister In the nine-member Secretariat of grade ‘B.’ The grade ‘C’ players are been faring well. female counterparts. The bench has scheduled another as he has already taken the oath as a the ruling party, whichever side Kabita Kunwar, Dolly Bhatta, Men’s team, however, usually gets In the grading for year 2020, men’s hearing for September 30. member of the Assembly. Gautam stayed had become crucial, as Anuradha Chaudhary, Sonu Khadka, more attention when they play inter- cricket team captain Gyanendra Though Gautam is not the first per- Shrestha, who is also the spokesper- the Oli and Dahal factions had four Anjali Chand and Shova Ale. national tournaments compared to Malla, former captain Paras Khadka, son to reach the National Assembly son for the ruling Nepal Communist members each in their camps. Nation women team captain women. Sandeep Lamichhane, Sharad despite losing the elections, the route Party, refused to comment on the Claiming that Gautam’s appoint- Chhetry, however, hailed the move as a While the men’s national team has Vesawkar, Karan KC, Basanta Regmi, through which he was taken to the Supreme Court’s order, saying ment violates the spirit of the consti- step forward. quite some international matches Dipendra Singh Airee and Binod upper house has given rise to some Gautam’s lawyers will put forth their tution and obstructs the constitution- “It is a good start that women crick- lined up for them, women players have Bhandari have been categorised as constitutional questions. views during the next hearing on al process, advocate Tripathi had eters have been awarded central con- to wait in their wings until qualifiers grade ‘A’ players. Earlier on March 4, Narayan Kaji September 30. demanded an interim order not to tracts for the first time. This move will are held. The ‘B’ grade players include Susan Shrestha took the oath as a member of “We don’t have any comments on implement the decision. be quite helpful in motivating the Cricketers themselves believe that Bhari, Sompal Kami, Pawan Sarraf the Assembly. He too had lost the 2017 behalf of the party,” said Shrestha. While appealing for ensuring a players,” Chhetry told the Post. “This the governing body needs to work and Aarif Sheikh. Subash Khakurel, elections from Gorkha Constituency 2. “Defendants in the case would put standard for the people who are nomi- contract should have been awarded a more to promote female players Rohit Paudel, Kushal Malla, Rashid He, however, was fielded by his Nepal forth their views before the bench on nated to the upper house, Tripathi has long time ago, but I would say it’s bet- Chhetri, the former men’s team cap- Khan, Abhinash Bohara and Kamal Communist Party from Gandaki the set date.” also demanded an interim order to ter late than never.” tain, said the authorities who govern Singh Airee have been listed as grade Province for the National Assembly. The ruling party has decided to stop Gautam’s appointment as a min- She refused to comment on the gen- Nepali cricket must understand that ‘C’ players. Though questions were raised against defend Gautam in the court as regards ister. “I have also demanded the der pay gap, saying “it’s not the right women players too can perform on par “Whoever plays more games will the ruling party’s move to field a per- the writ against the party’s decision to Supreme Court direct the government time to compare such things.” with their male counterparts and that definitely get more in salary. There son who had lost the election, the recommend the President that she to set the criteria for the people who “We hope to have some improve- they deserve equal promotion. are few women tournaments com- matter had not reached the court. appoint Gautam as a National are appointed by the President to the ments in the future,” she told “Women cricketers have always pared to male tournaments at the Even as the constitution does not Assembly member. For the govern- upper house,” said Tripathi. the Post. “There are many senior play- been under the shadow of the male international level,” Pyakurel told the say anything explicitly on whether a ment, which made the recommenda- As per constitutional provisions, ers who are in their latter stage of cricketers and the central contracts Post. “Moreover, one must take this person having lost the election can be tion, the Office of the Attorney the President nominates three mem- their career. They have given their are a good example of how women are announcement in a good light, as at elected or nominated to the Assembly, General will argue on Gautam’s bers to the 59-member National prime youth to the sport. It would be discriminated against,” Chhetri told least women cricketers are now being there is a lack of clarity when it comes behalf. Gautam was nominated to the Assembly, including a woman, on the good if the governing body thinks the Post. “While there is equality in recognised and being paid, as they to such a person becoming a minister. lone vacant seat in the National recommendation of the Council of about their future when they hang payments when men and women work were not getting anything in salary Experts on constitutional affairs Assembly after Yubaraj Khatiwada’s Ministers. their boots.” anywhere else, why this discrimina- before.” have their opinions divided on wheth- two-year term ended on March 3. The President had appointed Ram So far, what all women players used tion when it comes to sports? Women According to Pyakurel, players er persons like Gautam, who were Nepal Communist Party chair and Narayan Bidari, Bimala Rai Poudyal to earn was stipends–up to $35 a day cricketers to make the country proud must be hopeful that the amount will rejected by the people, can become a Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, whose and Khatiwada to the National when they participated in interna- when they compete in the internation- go up in near future. “As we have more minister. position had become tenuous amid Assembly in 2018 as per Article 86 2(b) tional tournaments. Domestic tourna- al games.” resources, we will definitely like to Article 78 (4) of the Constitution of growing pressure from the faction led which states that three members con- ments, which are few and far between, According to Chhetri, such dispari- give a salary hike to players,” said Nepal bars Gautam from going to the by the other chair—Pushpa Kamal sisting of at least one woman should however, used to fetch them nominal ty can cause inferiority complex Pyakurel. “We actually wish women Cabinet for having lost the 2017 parlia- Dahal—to resign, had agreed to take be nominated by the President on the money as a match fee. among female players and discourage cricketers should get more in salary mentary elections, but Article 76 (9) Gautam to the Assembly. recommendation of the government. Gender pay disparity has been a new talents from entering the game. than their male counterparts.” As Covid-19 cases soar, test numbers are declining and contact tracing ... >> Continued from page 1 er, said the government has not take the final decision,” said Gautam. on July 21. Since the restrictions were eased, reduced the number of tests. “The number of active cases will cross Across the lockdown, the number of Kathmandu Valley has seen an “The government performs tests on 25,000 only if daily cases reach around cases rose from two to more than increased public mobility. Public vehi- the basis of need,” Gautam told the 2,000.” There were 17,414 active cases 17,000. After the lockdown was lifted, cles are allowed to operate saying they Post. “The government cannot per- throughout the country as of cases started to rise at an alarming should follow certain safety protocols, form tests on all those who want to get Wednesday. rate, forcing the government to impose but monitoring has been lax. As long- tested. This is not necessary also.” Public health experts say the gov- restrictions, this time through the haul public transport too has resumed, As of Wednesday, 67,804 people from ernment was never serious about orders of chief district officers. an increased public movement is across the country have tested positive Covid-19 and it is still failing to recog- Kathmandu Valley’s case, according expected soon in view of the festival for Covid-19. The death toll has nise the risk that the pandemic poses to public health experts, proves that season. reached 436. to the society and the larger impact it restrictions are not a solution to the It has now become clear that the In the last 24 hours, 1,172 people can have on the entire country. contagion and that authorities must government, which never took any tested positive for the coronavirus. “From the very beginning, we were rely on science–testing, tracing and serious effort to fight the pandemic, Among them, 637 are from Kathmandu clear that the country will face such a isolating–in the fight against the has no plans to respond to the disease, Valley. serious condition, as authorities were virus. “Authorities in Nepal always according to public health experts. The Health Ministry said 49,954 peo- refusing to comprehend the virus misled the general public with mis- Doctors say that increasing tests ple have recovered so far, which is 73. risk,” said Dr Govinda Prasad Ojha, truths. They kept on saying that the and ensuring effective contact tracing 7 percent of the total cases. POST PHOTO: ANGAD DHAKAL former director general at the coronavirus will never enter the coun- and isolation of the infected people While the government does not People queue up in front of Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital on Wednesday Department of Health Services. try because it is the land of Lord will be crucial in lessening the infec- seem to have any plans to increase the to get tested for Covid-19. When the government imposed the Pashupatinaht,” said Ojha. tion rate. However, the authorities number of tests, it is planning yet lockdown on March 24, there was no “After nine months since the first have neither increased the number of another lockdown. number of active cases crossed 25,000. Wednesday morning took the decision particular plan as to how it was going case was reported, the country is in a tests nor paid any heed to contact trac- The Health Ministry has decided to According to spokesperson Gautam, to that effect. to use the period to respond to the difficult situation, unable to fight the ing. Dr Jageshwor Gautam, spokes- recommend the government enforce a a meeting of the incident command “It is the Health Ministry’s recom- outbreak. After four months, the gov- virus. And the authorities seem to person for the Health Ministry, howev- nation-wide lockdown again if the system of the Health Ministry held on mendation; it is up to the Cabinet to ernment suddenly lifted the lockdown have left everything on god.”

C M Y K 03 | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 NATIONAL Cabinet reshuffle unlikely before Dashain as Oli has other pressing issues Prime Minister Oli has other tasks at hand like picking the nominees for various constitutional bodies and universities and concluding the party unification.

ANIL GIRI circle that he would keep some KATHMANDU, SEPT 23 ministers even though they have served more than two years as they The much touted Cabinet reshuffle, extended support to him when he which is currently being discussed at faced trouble in the party. the top level of the Nepal Communist At least 30 Standing Committee Party, is unlikely to happen before members had sought Oli’s resignation Dashain or October 26 as the ruling both as prime minister and party party has two more pressing tasks, chairman as Dahal and another according to leaders. senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal POST PHOTO: BEEJU MAHARJAN Before making a final move on led the campaign against him. A teacher at Shree Rudrayanee Secondary School in Khokana, Lalitpur, conducts a virtual class from the school’s classroom on Wednesday. Students who do not have Cabinet reshuffle, the party has to If Oli prevails against Dahal, he internet access at their homes have been allowed to come to the school to attend their classes. complete the remaining tasks of unifi- probably will give continuity to cation and make crucial appointments Defence Minister Ishwar Pokhrel, to the constitutional bodies and uni- Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, versities, its members say. Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali, Party Secretary General Bishnu Energy Minister Barshaman Pun, Poudel is tasked with submitting a Agriculture Minister Ghanshyam Nepali workers and their families to benefit from report within 10 days on how to com- Bhusal and Tourism Minister Yogesh plete the remaining task of party uni- Bhattarai even by changing their fication including the formation of portfolios, a leader close to Oli said. various departments, commissions Dahal wants all ministers removed Malaysian government’s social security scheme and other committees of the Nepal at once and some deemed necessary Communist Party (NCP), formed after for the government reappointed later, the merger between CPN-UML and the said a leader close to Dahal. Oli is The social security scheme will cover migrant workers in case of work-related injuries, sickness and death. CPN (Maoist Centre). Before the apparently not in favour of Dahal’s Cabinet reshuffle, Oli wanted to com- plan, as a lot of ministers close to him CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL Nepalis have died while working case of temporary disablement. For workers as well, it can be extended to plete the recommendation process for would be removed this way. KATHMANDU, SEPT 23 abroad and 2,672 of those deaths were permanent disablement, the worker 24-hours,” said Shrestha. “If we can 15 constitutional bodies. Before the Cabinet reshuffle, Oli in Malaysia alone, according to the and family member will be entitled to make it to 24-hours, our workers will wants to nominate candidates for var- Tens of thousands of Nepali migrant records of the Foreign Employment lifetime benefits. be better protected. The overall treat- ious constitutional bodies and univer- workers living and working in Board. If a worker dies in Malaysia and has ment of our workers will be different PM’s office says sities, one minister told the Post. Malaysia as well as their families back Officials in Nepal believe the to be cremated there, the family will as the whole mechanism would be According to the Prime Minister’s home will soon benefit from the scheme will offer better protection of get financial support of Malaysian responsible and also financially 11 constitutional Office, 11 out of 13 constitutional bod- Malaysian government’s social securi- workers as well as their families in Ringgit (RM) 2,000 for funeral service. accountable.” ies have had vacancies for four to five ty scheme. case of an accident, sickness or death. For a worker whose body has to be Authorities in Nepal have also bodies have years now. In 2019, the Malaysian government “This is a landmark event towards sent home, the family will get RM intensified the homework for signing A recent Standing Committee made it mandatory for all employers the protection of Nepali workers in 6,500 for repatriation, according to the MOC so that Nepali workers and vacancies. meeting also directed Oli to complete in the country to register all their for- Malaysia where they are dying in Shrestha. their families can benefit from the the nomination process in eign workers with the Malaysian huge numbers,” said Shrestha. “Being Under the MOC, the Foreign scheme at the earliest. constitutional bodies and appoint Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) under the safety net of the social secu- Employment Board will be responsi- The Nepal Embassy in Malaysia has Poudel told the Post that the three ministers in vacant positions, and contribute to the Employment rity scheme, employers will also be ble for verification of data on migrant also given a positive response to the Secretariat has advised the chairman said Keshav Badal, a Standing Injury Scheme. The scheme insures more responsible towards the safety workers and their families and the proposed MOC, according to Shrestha. duo to reshuffle the Cabinet but he Committee member close to Oli. migrant workers in case of occupa- and well-being of their workers.” transfer of funds to the concerned “With the go-ahead from the Nepali failed to say when that will happen. Finance, Information and tional disease, workplace accidents The social security scheme covers families. mission, we had also shared the draft It’s up to the prime minister, he said. Communication, and Urban and death. employees in the event of workplace “In case of an incident involving with the Law Ministry and the A Secretariat meeting of the party Development ministries have no The Malaysian government has injuries, occupational diseases and Nepali workers, the Malayasian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After on Tuesday had decided to complete ministers at the moment. already approached the Foreign accidents during work-related travels. authority will seek details of the finalising the draft, the secretariat the remaining task of unification by “I don’t think a Cabinet reshuffle Employment Board of Nepal with a It also provides cash benefits, medical workers and their families. We will meeting of the board endorsed the 10 days. This could push the Cabinet will take place ahead of the major fes- proposal of signing a Memorandum treatment, temporary/permanent dis- collect those details, verify them and document on Tuesday. It has been for- reshuffle beyond Dashain, a Standing tivals,” said Badal. of Cooperation (MOC) for enrolling abled benefits, dependant’s benefits them to Malaysia,” said Shrestha. warded to the Labour Ministry for Committee member said. A total of 42 posts are vacant in the Nepali workers under the scheme. and physical rehabilitation, repatria- “The board will then facilitate the final approval.” At the last two Secretariat meetings, constitutional bodies. Three commis- “Soon after the Malaysian govern- tion costs and funeral expenses in case transfer of compensation amount to The board is considering the option ruling party leaders discussed three sions—Tharu, Muslim and Madhesi— ment introduced the scheme, they had of deaths. the bank account of the workers who of formalising the MOC through the different criteria for Cabinet have only chairpersons as they have approached the board for the MOC As per the contribution-based wel- have injured or died in work-related letter of exchange by giving a power reshuffle. While Chairman Pushpa been without members for months. signing. A Malaysian team also visit- fare scheme, Malayasian employers incidents. The board will work as a of attorney to the Nepal Embassy in Kamal Dahal is for replacing all min- Inclusive, Women and Adivasi com- ed Nepal in November last year,” are required to contribute an amount bridge between workers’ families and Malaysia if the signing is not possible isters, Oli wants to retain some who missions haven’t had their Rajan Prasad Shrestha, executive equivalent to 1.25 percent of the work- the Malaysian authority to make the through visits. have performed their duties well. chairpersons and office bearers for director with the board, told the Post. er’s monthly wages to SOCSO every process free from hassles.” Coverage of Nepali workers under Another criterion is removing all min- almost five years now. The “We worked on the draft MOC, but month. With the scheme coming into The Malaysian authority has the Malaysian social security scheme isters who have completed two years commissions envisioned by the consti- things could not progress due to the force from January 1, 2020, all the for- informed the board that nearly 125,000 is also being seen as a point of negoti- in office. tution are crippled in the lack of pandemic. Now that we have finalised eign employers must register with the Nepali workers have already enrolled ation for protecting Nepali migrant Party spokesperson Narayan Kaji personnel and resources. the draft MOC, we will soon sign it.” SOCSO. under the social security scheme by workers in other countries. Shrestha said the next Secretariat In universities, the posts of Malaysia is one of the most pre- As per the scheme, a family mem- the end of 2019. “Protection of Nepali workers meeting could take place within vice-chancellors, rectors and ferred labour destinations for Nepalis ber—spouse, parents or 21-year-old Shrestha said the board is also stud- through the host government’s social this week but there was no headway registrars are vacant. Appointing the but also one of the deadliest ones. offspring—of a deceased migrant ying the possibility of providing security scheme is a milestone for yet about Cabinet reshuffle. officials is expected to take another Every year, hundreds of Nepali work- worker will receive an amount equiva- 24-hours coverage to the workers protecting our workers,” said “We have some other issues to month because reaching a ers die in the Southeast Asian nation lent to 90 percent of his or her month- under the scheme. Shrestha. “We can negotiate with discuss and finalise. Then the issue power-sharing deal with the primary due to cardiac arrests, workplace acci- ly salary for the rest of the life, said “When employers contribute to the other countries in the Gulf region to of Cabinet reshuffle will become the opposition Nepali Congress could take dents, road accidents, diseases and Shrestha. monthly premium, the coverage is provide similar protection to our agenda,” said Shrestha. time, said a Central Committee other unknown reasons. Likewise, migrant workers will also limited to working hours. However, workers in the future by showing the Recently, Oli shared in his inner member close to Oli. In the last 11 years, a total of 7,467 be eligible for financial assistance in with some contribution from the example of Malaysia.”

BRIEFING Shops are not getting customers even during festival season Landslide in Muglin road CHITWAN: The Char Kilo area in Since Covid-19 has severely decreased the purchasing power of consumers, shops and businesses are struggling to survive. Narayangadh-Muglin road section witnessed a landslide at 4:30pm on ANUP OJHA his village in Sindhupalchok during them, 492 were confirmed in Wednesday, according to the District KATHMANDU, SEPT 23 the lockdown that started from Kathmandu, 95 in Bhaktapur and 50 in Traffic Police Office in Chitwan. March 24. Lalitpur. Vehicles bound for Kathmandu, Bijendra Mandal did not open his “I have made a record daily sale of As of Wednesday, the number of Pokhara and Narayangadh from vari- shop on Wednesday even though it is Rs400,000 during one of the festival cases in the Valley has reached 18,574. ous parts of the country were stuck peak Dashain festival shopping seasons in the past. This year though A total of 16,076 cases were detected due to the landslide. Police said they season. it is hard to even do a transaction after the three district administration were having difficulties clearing the These days the business is just not worth Rs50,000.” offices in Kathmandu Valley imposed landslide debris from the road section there, says the 52-year-old who sells Paudel too has rents to pay, family to prohibitory orders starting August 19 due to continuous rainfall. bed sheets at Makhan Galli. look after and loans to pay. The cur- midnight. Meanwhile, traffic long Prithvi After closing his shop for months rent business climate is not helping If the Covid-19 crisis saw no signs Highway came to a halt throughout due to the Covid-19 lockdown and pro- him in any way. of improvement, there is a risk of Wednesday after two containers were hibitory orders, Mandal opened his Naresh Katwal, president of Nepal more businesses folding in the coming trapped in a landslide at Galaudi in wholesale shop only last week. He had National Traders Federation, says days. Gajuri Rural Municipality, Dhading. hoped with the Dashain festival just a while there is no data regarding the According to Covid-19 Tourism month away there would be a heavy loss caused by the pandemic on shops Business Disaster Committee, formed footfall of shoppers. But only a few and businesses, the Covid-19 impact under the Thamel Tourism 37 kg hashish seized people are out shopping this year. on every business area has been pro- Development Council, 270 travel and KAPIlVASTU: Police seized 37 kg Many shops are not even getting a foundly deleterious. tour agencies, clothes shops, curio hashish from Krishnanagar in single customer throughout the day. “The purchasing power of consum- shops, restaurants and hotels have Kapilvastu district on Wednesday. “Not a single customer visited my ers has taken a serious blow as many closed by July. Shanti Tamang of Makwanpur and shop on Tuesday. I opened my shop people have lost their jobs due to clo- There is no data on the closure of Basanti Gharti of Rolpa were caught and waited all day,” said Mandal. sure of industries or private compa- shops and businesses in other parts of as they were smuggling the hashish He was in his village in Mahottari nies. In such a situation, businesses the Valley. But the figure is estimated to India. Police said the two women during the four-month long coronavi- are bound to fail,” said Katwal. to be in hundreds. were smuggling the hashish in their rus lockdown. He returned only Sangita Shrestha, a 44-year-old “One could see many shops and luggage. recently and opened his shop after the POST FILE PHOTO mother of two, says she has convinced shop spaces with ‘for sale’ and ‘to let’ three district administration offices Many shops in Kathmandu are struggling to attract even a single customer these days. her two children to wear their last notices these days. The pandemic has of Kathmandu Valley eased the pro- year’s clothes. ruined many shops and businesses,” Four shops sealed for selling hibitory orders. I also need to pay the rent for my flat Sunil Paudel, who sells kitchenware “I am not going Dashain shopping said Dhanapati Sapkota, chief of the “I returned with the hope of doing in Old Baneshwor. On top of that, I and home appliances at Chabahil, says this year. My husband did not get his Implementation Division at the petroleum products illegally some business ahead of the festival. also need to clear my own credit for his daily business transaction has salary for four months and we are Kathmandu Metropolitan City. “Shops RUKUM (WEST): Chaurjahari Besides, I also have to collect pay- the items I had purchased off some of taken a nosedive since the pandemic. struggling to pay the rent and buy are being sold because the people no Municipality in Rukum (West) sealed ments from some retailers who had my regular dealers,” Mandal said. After closing his shop for months, food. This time we are only focused on longer can pay the rent because they four shops for the illegal sale of purchased goods from my shop on In festival season during normal he too was hoping to earn some money buying essential items,” said Shrestha, are not doing any business.” petroleum products on Wednesday. credit,” said Mandal. times, Mandal used to do transactions during this festival season. So far, he who lives in Kuleshwor with her hus- Mandal, the bed sheet seller from Ram Bahadur KC, acting chief Since the pandemic and the subse- worth up to Rs40,000 in a single day. says the business has been a disap- band and their two children. Makhan Galli, says if everything fails administrative officer at the local quent lockdown have hit all business- This year has been a bad one for him pointment. The fear of coronavirus transmis- he will have no option than to close his unit, said those shops were closed as es, Mandal has little hope of recover- and all other businesses. After his business took an unprece- sion has also lent to the fact that peo- shop. “Right now, I would be a relieved they were found selling petroleum ing the credit. He says he cannot even The Covid-19 pandemic has led to a dented dip, Paudel has put two of his ple are not going out shopping for the man if only I could collect the money I products without taking permission pay his shop rent if things stayed the severe economic contraction, job loss- staff on unpaid leave. festival this year. owe and pay off my credit. I have been from the local body. According to him, same in the coming days. es and closure of businesses. People’s “I thought the situation would be According to the Ministry of Health in this business for nearly a decade the municipal officials have been “I will have to close my shop for spending power has decreased and normal before the festival, but things and Population, on Wednesday now and over the years I have learnt monitoring the market in all 12 good. I cannot continue to pay the apparently even the festival season are getting worse by the day,” said Kathmandu Valley reached 637 new that at the end of the day it is loyalty wards. shop rent without doing any business. has failed to cheer them this time. Paudel, who like Mandal had gone to infections in the past 24 hours. Of that counts,” he said.

C M Y K THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 | 04 OPINION EDITORIAL Life under the virus The doctor versus the state Hybrid has become Govinda KC remains a headache for successive the dominant modality governments in Nepal for all the right reasons. of pedagogy in the age of Covid-19. No government likes crusaders, dissenters and activists, especially those who, with unquestionable moral integrity as their lone weapon, question the political leadership of the PRAMOD MISHRA day and the brute force of the state. The current KP Sharma Oli-led administration is particularly resentful of its detrac- CROSSROADS tors. Its nervousness was self-evident in the way it got the police to manhandle Dr Govinda KC, the 63-year-old ortho- paedic surgeon who has led a one-man movement for amelio- rating the ailing medical sector in Nepal. This time, it went a further ahead in its ruthlessness as it forcibly diverted Dr KC We all are adjusting to the environment to the National Trauma Centre even as he was headed to created by the novel coronavirus. Last Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. So scared was the March, when the virus suddenly hit the government that it stopped Dr KC from seeing his patients in headlines and surreptitiously crawled remote areas of Jumla district last month. into our neighbourhoods, it felt like some inevitable doom and gloom had The surgeon continues to fight for people’s rights even descended upon us and we took cover when the people themselves are tired of fighting, or even even before the government’s shelter- seeing someone fighting, for their rights. It is this adamancy in-place order. But, six months later, of the lone crusader that has paved the way for the prepara- people have learned to function in the tion of the National Medical Education Bill. His other new modified environment. For exam- demands, including establishing a state-run teaching hospi- ple, if you look inside my car, you will tal in each province and conducting MBBS classes at the see half a gallon of alcohol sitting in the side console of my trunk, a small Karnali Academy of Health Sciences, are hardly questiona- bottle of hand sanitiser and a pack of ble or inspired by self-interest. Rather, they are aimed at masks in the front console, including changing the face of the medical sector in Nepal. As govern- some loose masks scattered here and ment hospitals run out of staff, beds, ventilators and medical there. I don’t need to hoard supplies in SHUTTERSTOCK equipment in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr KC’s my house anymore. After the initial leave their seats and move around Last March and April, suddenly not various tropes of family, village joy and indefatigable struggle for reform has become all the more shocks and disruption of supply chains while they are seated in class. I report- interacting face-to-face became trau- pain and city humiliation, the migrant relevant today. that created scarcity last March and ed the class seating chart with stu- matic both to them and to me and worker male narrator gives voice to his Through repeated hunger strikes, Dr KC has exposed the April, essential consumer and health dents’ names to the administration so fatigue from virtual meetings set in dilemma and angst—caught as he is safety goods are available in the stores. that if anybody gets the virus, students fast. But now, with in-class restrictions between the two spaces of life and crony capitalism that has been the bedrock of the medical For my office, where I go three or seating next to them are contact traced on movement in place, group video work. sector. However, the government that swears by socialism four times a week, the university has and quarantined. They wear cloth conferencing and chatting seems better Yet, people are getting sick and many continues to shun the poor as it is hand-in-glove with private given us hand sanitisers, three differ- masks and I wear my transparent for group work than an in-person class. are dying. Although all kinds of wild investors with dubious backgrounds. All that successive gov- ent kinds of masks (one with the uni- mask. I walk side to side while talking I do grocery shopping with my mask health pronouncements haven’t ceased, ernments representing various parties over the past eight versity’s name on it), a box of tissue and listening but I can’t cross the red on, and when I bring the grocery bags people believe less in them. While his years have given Dr KC is a slew of assurances that his paper, a box of gloves, a plastic bag line to go near students. Each class to the car, open the trunk and soak my inefficiency, political intrigues and demands would be met. And they have betrayed him each with all kind of nick-knacks, such as an meets face-to-face once a week and the hands with alcohol before entering the general mismanagement have not all-purpose plastic tool that can open rest of the time it’s either Zoom or car. If I don’t have a mask on while I’m ceased, Prime Minister Oli issues fewer time. Their interest has all along been to peddle lies and shut doors, push elevator buttons, lift bags asynchronous online instruction out of my car or office (which happens wild health pronouncements than the mouths of those who question them. and so on without touching. And I have through Blackboard Learn, email, etc. often, due to my forgetfulness), I feel before. Maybe a sign that he knows that It is not for nothing that Dr KC has called his fast unto even a transparent mask with nose The word hybrid, more in circulation unsafe and rush back to get my mask his witticisms have grown stale and are death as satyagraha, or the call for truth. Satyagraha is a foam and chin cushions designed to fit in my discipline of postcolonial stud- and feel safe. no longer welcome. Authoritarian- moral weapon for those with impeccable moral authority to the nose and the chin. I have half a ies, has become the dominant modality The mass exodus of migrant workers leaning rulers in many countries are fight for achieving social ends. It is only those who have an gallon of alcohol and a Lysol spray of pedagogy in the age of Covid-19. on foot from the cities in India and on a similar path more or less. One unquestionable allegiance to truth that can call others to a sitting on my bookshelf; every time I go I have one or two students who have Nepal to go to their villages that broke hopes their charms wear off on people moral high ground of truth seeking. The government of the to my office, I spray the Lysol on been exposed to the coronavirus. So, our hearts last March and April seems and they are sent packing when elec- the doorknobs and sanitise the table they join the class on face-to-face days to be in reverse gear now. After months tions come by next time around. day may have political legitimacy that it derives from parlia- and desks. through a Zoom connection on my lap- of stay in their villages, they are on So, life under coronavirus restric- mentary democracy. But Dr KC holds a legitimacy that is Before going to the university, I open top, which faces the whiteboard when their way to the big cities. More than tions has become the new normal. We even higher than political. What he has is a moral legitimacy the university app, fill out the Covid-19 I’m talking and writing on the board four hundred thousand Nepali migrant have learned to function once again that allows him to question the government on what it has symptom reporting form and before and the class when they have to pres- workers have crossed the border to go with restrictions, suffering and uncer- done to ameliorate the situation of the medical sector, and entering a class, I scan the safety clear- ent. Last week, when a student present- back to their workplaces in India. The tainty. Life itself has become imitative what it plans to do in future. Dr KC’s is a cause worth fighting ance QR code that clears me and stu- ed, the whole class could hear him young men from my village, who had of the best of literature, giving both the for, and his demands deserve support from the public, no dents to get into the classroom. Benches without any problem. Initially, I had returned from Ahmedabad in March rich and the poor a taste of the human and desks have been arranged in A and some problem recognising the faces of and April, are back at work. Everybody condition (although the portion of suf- matter whether they support the government of the day or B seating format. In both my classes, students with masks on. So, I gave them is adjusting to the new normal. And to fering is disproportionately more for not, for they are beyond the mundane rat race of everyday students have been assigned B seating each a sheet of paper to write names represent this tug-of-war existence the disadvantaged). Science still lives street politics. for social distancing. And once stu- and put it up in front to help me call between the big cities and rural homes, in its promise of a vaccine. But life goes dents occupy their seats at the start of their names while discussing some- a Bhojpuri rap song called Bambai on, suffering, adjusting, in laughter the semester, they can’t change it thing. But now, even with faces masked, Main Ka Ba (what is there in Bombay?) and tears, stealing glimpses of beauty throughout the semester nor can they I recognise them from other features. has gone viral on social media. Through and joy wherever it can. We want to hear from you

We regularly publish Letters to the Editor on contemporary issues or direct responses to something the Post has recently pub- lished. Please send your letters to [email protected] with How to share a river ‘Letter to the Editor’ in the subject line. Please include your address, phone number we can reach you at and your email address. Ethiopia and Egypt have How to make sure your letters are published? It’s simple—just again failed to reach an follow these basic guidelines: Keep it short. Your letters will have a better chance of success if agreement on the GER you keep it within 400 words. If you’re writing commentary, pitch Dam on the Blue Nile. an op-ed instead. Tell us what we got wrong, but back it up with resources. BINIAM BEDASSO & MARIA A GWYNN Avoid jargon, use clear words and sentences. Keep in mind you’re communicating with other readers who may not be aware of the subject. We welcome witty letters. But please don’t go overboard. Avoid abuse and diatribes.

In 2011, Ethiopia launched construc- tion on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in the Blue Nile, in order to secure its water Letter to the Editor resources and generate hydropower. But the project has been highly contro- versial, with Egypt, located downriver, Chhaupadi persists objecting strongly to it. Unless the two While feminine issues are addressed every now and then, not countries can reach a negotiated settle- everything is taken seriously, and the unspoken issues go unnoticed. ment, the entire region could be SHUTTERSTOCK Here, I’m not only addressing the horrendous issue of Chhaupadi plunged into conflict. ued, including this summer, but have well as environmental protections and the value of treaties and international itself but also speaking of those women and girls who fall prey to For Ethiopia, the GERD could ease a yielded no progress, owing to two stick- water-quality standards. To monitor law for long-term dispute resolution. this absurd menstrual practice. chronic energy shortage that has left ing points. The first is drought mitiga- compliance, the agreement established More broadly, it shows how institution- over 55 percent of the country’s popula- tion: Egypt wants to secure a much a mechanism for the three countries to alisation and cooperation can help to Ever thought what travelling back in time would feel like? Many tion without access to electricity. The higher flow of water during dry years exchange information on hydrological build trust—and bring shared benefits. in Nepal do not have to imagine, as such old and evil practises con- dam also has emotional significance, than Ethiopia is willing to concede. The conditions. Moreover, an institutional The Itaipu project has contributed to tinue to occur in the 21st century! promising to fulfil a dream long etched second is dispute resolution: Should a framework for cooperation and trans- regional economic integration, by Chhaupadi is a flawed tradition connected to the taboo surround- in the public’s imagination. binding arbitration clause be included boundary water management was cre- providing the resources to finance ing menstruation that prohibits Hindu menstruators from partici- But the Nile is strategically signifi- in any treaty? ated for the Paraná Basin. infrastructure, such as international pating in normal family activities while on their period, as they are cant for every country it touches. But mistrust between the parties has The instruments and institutions bridges, airports, and highways, as considered impure. Although it is said to be practised in the rural Egypt’s agricultural sector depends reinforced the impasse, fueling ten- established at the Itaipu Dam’s incep- well as social and environmental devel- heavily on its waters. Dam building sions that could lead to violence. Yet tion continue to support dispute resolu- opment projects. Likewise, once the part of the country, it does exist in urban areas, too. raises serious concerns for everyone experience elsewhere shows that a bet- tion. Today, extreme drought has GERD reaches full capacity, it can Going back to its roots, we could perhaps rationalise that women downstream. ter outcome is possible. severely reduced the Paraná River’s contribute to creating a regional were asked to stay cautious when menstruating because humans That shared dependence on the Nile In the 1970s, Brazil and Paraguay water flow, reducing Argentina’s water energy market. were closely surrounded by wildlife. The stench of blood during is why, in 1999, 10 countries created the initiated a binational effort to con- supply and making it difficult in land- As the effects of climate change their period may have made them more vulnerable to attacks from Nile Basin Initiative as a forum to dis- struct a massive hydroelectric dam on locked Paraguay to navigate the river, become increasingly apparent, so does these animals. But even this absurd line of thought doesn’t make cuss the sustainable management and the Paraná River, located on their which is essential for its agricultural the imperative of using natural much sense anymore. development of the river’s resources. shared border. The Itaipu Dam—com- export industry. resources more efficiently and equita- The Initiative then began developing pleted in 1984—today generates around While no independent arbitration bly, and shifting to renewable energy The practise was made illegal in 2005, but cases related to it were the Cooperative Framework 88 percent of Paraguay’s electricity and body is in place to manage this crisis, sources. By following in the footsteps reported as recent as 2019. News headlines vouched for fatalities on Agreement, which outlined countries’ over 11 percent of Brazil’s supply, mak- the affected countries have negotiated of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay, the this account. But why are there such trivial punishments for such an principles, rights, and obligations and ing it a world leader in renewable-ener- an amicable solution, based on the Nile countries can make important offence? Shouldn’t the punishments be rethought to strongly dis- sought to establish a permanent Nile gy production capacity. 1970s treaties and international law. progress toward those goals—and set a courage Chhaupadi altogether? River Basin Commission to facilitate But the Itaipu Dam project faced con- The binational council managing the powerful global precedent for the use Moreover, the reported cases are just the tip of the iceberg. The the CFA’s implementation. siderable resistance from Argentina, a Itaipu Dam agreed to release just of transboundary resources to foster more you look into it, there are bound to be cases that have gone But, in 2010, Egypt and Sudan reject- downstream country that, like Egypt enough water from the reservoir to sustainable development. ed the CFA. A year later, Ethiopia today, worried about its water supply. ease the drought’s effects for down- unreported because nothing immediately tragic occurred. This let- began building the GERD anyway, Owing to its objections, international stream countries, without compromis- Bedasso is a researcher and public-fi- ter is a call for all of us to come together to fight this social plague. choosing to self-finance the $4.8 billion financial institutions initially refused ing energy production. The work of nance specialist at the Collaborative While the legal implications of such an offence are ambiguous, let’s project. The first filling of the reservoir to finance the dam’s construction. technical commissions and exchange Africa Budget Reform Initiative. collectively decide that the societal implications of it will be grave. was recently completed, and the The problem was resolved with the of data on hydrological conditions Gwynn is on leave from the Institute for Let’s refuse to accept such atrocities for our mothers, sisters and, remaining 25 percent of the project will conclusion of the Acuerdo Tripartito among institutions in all affected coun- Public International Law at the above all, ourselves. be finished when the dry season between Argentina, Brazil, and tries were critical to the negotiations’ University of Bonn to serve as Gauri Tandon, via email arrives. Paraguay, which all three signed in success. Governing Council member of the Meanwhile, tripartite talks, mediat- 1979. The agreement established This experience offers valuable les- Binational Entity Itaipu. ed by the African Union, have contin- acceptable changes in water levels, as sons for Egypt and Ethiopia, including —Project Syndicate

C M Y K 05 | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 MONEY Nepal’s orthodox tea gets its own trademark Gold hits six-week low The trademark includes the words ‘Nepal Tea Quality from the Himalaya’ and is the country’s first brand of agri produce. as dollar grinds higher BIPLAV BHATTARAI market. “We have to produce more ILAM, SEPT 23 organic tea.” According to the board, among the Nepal’s orthodox tea got its own trade- 12 factories that have obtained the mark on Tuesday, 157 years after the certificates, nine are from Ilam— country started growing it. Sandakphu Tea Processors, The trademark includes the words Himalayan Shangri La Tea Producers, ‘Nepal Tea Quality from the Himalaya’. High Hill Tea Producer Cooperative Launched two years ago and formally Society, Jasbire Tea Prasodhan, executed on Tuesday, it is the first Gorkha Tea Estate, Nepal Green Tea brand of agriculture produce in the and Speciality Tea, Oasis Tea country. Industries, Taragaun Tea Estate and The trademark is expected to help Sakejung Hill Range Tea Processing Nepal brand and market its tea, which Industry. has been facing an identity crisis for Two of the factories—Bokre Dada over a century, in the international Orthodox Chiya Prasodhan Udhyog market. and Singhadevi Tea Producers REUTERS Minister for Agriculture and Cooperative—are from Tehrathum, A worker sorts gold bars in the Austrian Gold and Silver Separating Plant in Vienna, Austria. Livestock Development Ghanashyam and one factory—Sagarmatha Tea Bhusal handed over the trademark Estate—is from Sankhuwasabha. REUTERS said OANDA analyst Craig Erlam. certificates to 12 tea factories and POST PHOTO: BIPLAV BHATTARAI Tea is grown in Nepal at elevations NEW YORK, SEPT 23 But even if it does, the near-term cooperatives in Fikkal, Ilam on Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Ghanashyam Bhusal (second right) hands ranging from 800 to 2,200 metres above outlook isn’t good for gold with a Tuesday which have adhered to the over a trademark certificate to a tea producer in Fikkal, Ilam on Tuesday. sea level. Previously, production was Gold dropped to a six-week low on stronger dollar weighing on the out- Nepal Orthodox Tea Certification centred in a few districts like Ilam and Wednesday as the dollar held onto its look and a lot of the bullish factors Trademark Directive 2018. mark but only 12 qualified based on modities. We will soon be introducing Jhapa in eastern Nepal. Of late, tea recent rally, while a lack of additional already priced in, he added. Trademark is basically registering the code of conduct for producing the international trademark of Nepali gardens have been flourishing in stimulus to aid the recovery of the Comments from Chicago US Federal a brand name. Now it is possible to organic tea. ginger.” other parts of the country too. coronavirus-battered global economy Reserve President Charles Evans, who have the legal right to stop someone “This is the beginning. Other pro- Nepal has a long history of tea cul- Currently, the tea acreage totals 28,700 further weighed on sentiment. said interest rates could be raised else from using the same or similar ducers will also soon get the certifi- tivation. The first Ilam Tea Estate in hectares. Spot gold fell 0.8 percent to $1,884.51 before inflation averages 2 percent, brand as the one that has been regis- cate if they fulfil the requirements.” the hills of Ilam district was initiated Nepal produces around 6,097 tonnes per ounce by 1157 GMT, after earlier also weighed on sentiment by weaken- tered. Trademark serves as a defence He added that the trademark would in 1863. Historians believe that the of orthodox tea annually in the hills. dropping 1.4 percent to touch its low- ing inflation expectations and lifting mechanism to protect a brand from help traders gain international mar- first tea bushes in Nepal were grown It also produces 19,108 tonnes of est since August 12 at $1,873.01. US US real yields. loss of reputation, and has the poten- ket access. Tea producers said that a from seeds which were given as a gift crush-tear-curl (CTC) tea, known for gold futures were down 0.9 percent to Gold has turned “passive”, having tial to increase in value as an intangi- decade-long discussion regarding by the Chinese emperor to the then its strong and bright appearance, in $1,891.30 per ounce. priced all of the favourable factors ble asset. implementation of the Nepal tea prime minister Jung Bahadur Rana. the lowlands of the Tarai. According “As long as we see strength in the already and now needs inflation to Nepali orthodox tea has been gain- trademark had been resolved. The col- It is believed that tea plantations in to the Trade and Export Promotion dollar, undoubtedly we are also going emerge and a weaker dollar to attract ing popularity in the international lective trademark will work as a tool Nepal started within the same decade, Centre, Nepal’s tea exports saw a 13.14 to see gold struggle,” said Saxo Bank renewed demand, said Saxo Bank’s market because of its quality, aroma, to brand the product abroad, and help when it was introduced in the percent drop to Rs2.78 billion in the analyst Ole Hansen, adding that the Hansen. Non-yielding gold is often taste and aftertaste. But other popular Nepali tea producers to expand their Darjeeling Hills of India. last fiscal year 2019-20 from Rs3.20 bil- break below $1,900 sparked some nerv- seen as a hedge against inflation and tea brands, such as Darjeeling tea, footprint in the global orthodox tea In 1965, a second tea plantation, lion in the previous fiscal year. ousness and short-selling in the mar- currency weakening. overshadow the Nepali product abroad market, they said. Soktim Tea Estate, was set up in the The National Tea and Coffee ket. The dollar index hit an eight-week Silver fell 4.1 percent to $23.41 per due to lack of branding, according to “With the implementation of the plains of Jhapa district. Development Board said shipments high, dimming the appeal of bullion to ounce, having hit a nearly two-month Nepali traders. trademark, it has opened the door for Province 1 Minister for Land fell mainly due to increased domestic holders of other currencies. low of $23.04 earlier in the session. Bishnu Prasad Bhattarai, executive Nepali traders to market their prod- Management, Agriculture and consumption of orthodox tea in recent “I think gold has entered a correc- Platinum shed 0.7 percent to $861.08 director of the National Tea and ucts in the international market,” said Cooperatives Ram Bahadur Magar years, inability to meet the latest tea tive phase...A break-back above $1,900 per ounce, earlier touching its lowest Coffee Development Board, said 42 Bhusal. “Tea is the first product to get said that execution of the trademark standards set by the international should be difficult given how long its since July 21 at $845.50, and palladium factories had applied for the trade- a trademark among agricultural com- alone would not improve Nepal’s tea market and lack of branding. taken to break and hold below here,” was little changed at $2,220.57.

FOREX Nike shakes off pandemic Covid-19 slashes global income from US Dollar 118.02

Euro 138.25 Pound Sterling 150.30 blues with online sales work by a tenth, UN data shows Japanese Yen 11.24 ASSOCIATED PRESS ing economies, especially those in Chinese Yuan 17.39 NEW YORK, SEPT 23 informal employment, had been Nike’s digital sales affected to a much greater extent than Qatari Riyal 32.40 Nike appears to have recovered from rose 82 percent, in past crises, the United Nations its pandemic slump, posting a solid agency said. It added that a decline Australian Dollar 84.15 quarterly profit driven by soaring helping offset in employment numbers had Malaysian Ringit 28.41 online sales of its sneakers and work- generally been greater for women out apparel. declines in its than men. Saudi Arab Riyal 31.47 The world’s largest sports apparel “Just as we need to redouble our Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank maker on Tuesday reported a net prof- wholesale business. efforts to beat the virus, so we need to it of $1.5 billion profit, or 95 cents per act urgently and at scale to overcome Shares share, in the three-month period end- its economic, social and employment ing August 31, up 11 percent from the Revenue in the fiscal first quarter impacts. That includes sustaining Nepse 1,555.52pts 0.61% same 2019 quarter. held steady at $10.6 billion, a 1 percent support for jobs, businesses and That was well ahead of Wall Street decline from the previous year. Sales incomes,” ILO Director-General Guy HIGHEST GAINERS analysts’ expectations of 47 cents a in China rose 6 percent while North Ryder said in a statement. AHPC MHNL UMHL UNHPL DHPL NGPL 9.76% 9.71% 9.45% 9.3% 9.21% 8.86% share, according to FactSet. Nike’s America sales fell 2 percent. In the second quarter alone, the stock surged 13 percent in after-hours Analysts had expected revenue of revised estimate of global working MODERATE GAINERS trading following the release of $9.2 billion. time lost was 17.3 percent, equivalent NHPC AKJCL HPPL CHL JOSHI RADHI 8.86% 8.64% 7.57% 7.56% 7.29% 6.75% the results. Most of Nike’s stores are now open REUTERS to 495 million full-time jobs, against a In previous quarter that ended May worldwide but sales continue to be A worker wearing a face shield and a protective face mask checks the vegetables at a Food previous estimate of 14 percent or 400 MODERATE LOSERS HDHPC GMFBS NSEWA SBIBD86 BBC MPFL 31, the Beaverton, Oregon-based com- slow because of lower customer traf- Hall Supermarket amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease in Jakarta, Indonesia. million jobs, the report said. -1.06% -1.21% -1.26% -1.36% -1.56% -1.61% pany reported an unexpected fic and safety measures related to In the third quarter, working-hour

HIGHEST GAINERS loss, with its revenue falling 38 per- Covid-19, the company said. REUTERS closures during the pandemic, is equal losses of 12.1 percent or equivalent to SHL NICD83/84 LUK LEMF TRH GUFL cent after digital sales failed to make Shipping costs and promotions GENEVA, SEPT 23 to 5.5 percent of global gross domestic 345 million jobs were expected, it said. -1.63% -1.67% -1.75% -1.97% -1.99% -3.57% up for losses in physical stores shut- aimed at reducing inventory contin- product (GDP) for the first three quar- “Moreover, revised projections tered to combat the spread of the ued to eat at margins but order cancel- Income earned from work worldwide ters of 2019, it said. for the fourth quarter suggest a bleak- coronavirus. lations fell. dropped by an estimated 10.7 percent, “Workplace closures continue to er outlook than previously estimat- PRICE PER TOLA But analysts had predicted a Nike has stepped up its direct-to-con- or $3.5 trillion, in the first nine months disrupt labour markets around the ed,” it said. BULLION rebound because Nike has been popu- sumer online strategy amid the pan- of 2020, compared to the same period a world, leading to working hour losses Working hours losses in the final lar with online shoppers. demic, leveraging its workout app to year ago, the International Labour that are higher than previously esti- quarter of 2020 are now projected Fine Gold Rs 94,300 In the latest quarter, Nike’s digital drive digital sales. Online sales Organization (ILO) said on Wednesday. mated,” the ILO said in its sixth report to amount to 8.6 percent, equivalent sales rose 82 percent, helping offset now make up at least 30 percent of its The figure, which does not include on the effects of the pandemic on the to 245 million full-time jobs, Silver Rs 1,190 declines in its wholesale business and revenue, a goal the company had set income support provided by govern- world of work. against the same time a year ago, the Nike-owned stores. for 2023. ments to compensate for workplace Workers in developing and emerg- ILO said. SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA

GASOLINE WATCH Asian business confidence rebounds sharply but doubts remain

REUTERS greater uncertainty in Europe and the quarter. About 60 percent of the firms August 31 and September 14. and Japan have kept case numbers BENGALURU (INDIA), SEPT 23 United States. polled said they did not hire or lay off While countries in Asia have had relatively low by global standards The United States has reported the people this quarter, in contrast to the mixed success in containing the coro- despite all three countries seeing a Business sentiment among Asian greatest number of Covid-19 fatalities, second quarter’s survey in which 63 navirus and its fallout on their econo- second wave of infections. firms rebounded in the third quarter while rising numbers in Europe are percent said they had cut jobs. mies, the Asian Development Bank But elsewhere in the region the out- as easing coronavirus restrictions lift- now threatening to shut down parts of Companies polled included expects output in the region to shrink break is worsening. India, for instance, ed sales but lingering uncertainty the continent again. Australia-listed Oil Search, Indian for the first time in nearly six decades has reported the second-highest num- over the pandemic thwarted a return Some 28 percent of companies in motorcycle maker Hero MotoCorp this year. ber of cases globally. to business-as-usual, a Thomson the third quarter were positive about and Japanese car maker Suzuki China, where the coronavirus was Indeed, some investors are shun- Reuters/INSEAD survey showed. their outlook, the survey showed, up Motor Corp. first detected, has largely managed to ning Asia’s riskier, high-yielding mar- Asian firms’ outlook for the next six sharply from 7.6 percent in the second The survey was conducted between contain its spread and South Korea kets, despite the ample liquidity months tracked by the Thomson pumped into the financial system by Reuters/INSEAD Asian Business central banks globally this year. Sentiment Index jumped to 53 in the Satish Shankar, the Asia-Pacific third quarter from an 11-year low of 35 managing partner of business consul- in the second, according to the survey tancy Bain & Company, said many of 103 companies across 11 Asia- companies in the region would “need Pacific countries. to fundamentally transform their It was also higher than the 50-point business models” to survive. mark, which indicates a positive But he added that Asia’s economic outlook. rebound would be “strongly linked” to The survey comes as the easing of the recovery in the Chinese economy. coronavirus restrictions across Asia China expanded 3.2 percent in the has reduced pressure on hard-hit second quarter, and looks set to grow BIZLINE economies, though the experience has this year. varied across the region, with some Some China-based firms in the sur- still in recession and others, like vey said the upcoming US election Ncell launches TikTok China, seeing a steady recovery. was their primary worry alongside and Facebook packs More than two-thirds of the compa- Covid-19. nies polled said they saw the pandem- The US government is threatening KATHMANDU: Ncell Axiata Limited ic, or a fresh spike in Covid-19 cases, to delist Chinese companies that do (previously Ncell Private Limted) as a top risk. About 14 percent said a not meet US accounting standards has launched 1 day and 30 day global recession was their biggest con- while Washington has cracked down TikTok and Facebook packs. The new cern, while the rest flagged uncertain- on Chinese tech firms amid worsening packs give Ncell customers more ty over the upcoming US election in relations between the world’s two larg- options to enjoy nonstop access to the November and other risks. est economies. popular social networking apps, “We’re recovering with a large dose Grant Pan, chief financial officer of states the press release issued of uncertainty,” said Antonio Fatas, Chinese wealth manager Noah by the company. Customers can an economics professor at global busi- Holdings, which is listed in the United easily choose a 1 day or 30 day pack. ness school INSEAD in Singapore. States, said the firm was looking at It costs just Rs 25 (Rs 31.92 including “If it was just because of Asia, I “possible alternatives as a safety net, taxes) for the 1 day pack and Rs360 think the numbers would be more including the Hong Kong and Chinese (Rs 459.68 including taxes) for the 30 positive but the reality is the world is REUTERS capital market”. Noah Holdings was day pack. not just Asia,” he said, pointing to Employees work on a production line inside a Dongfeng Honda factory in Wuhan, China. among the companies surveyed.

C M Y K THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 | 06 WORLD BRIEFING World powers clash, virus stirs Late-stage study of first Russian navy vessel, container ship collide in Danish waters single-shot vaccine begins COPENHAGEN: A Russian navy vessel anger at virtual UN meeting collided with a Swiss-owned contain- er ship in Danish waters on Trump calls for holding Beijing ‘accountable’ for failing to contain the virus in Wuhan. in the United States Wednesday near the Oresund Bridge linking Denmark and Sweden, Danish where the two largest economies split ASSOCIATED PRESS resumed in other countries. defence authorities told Reuters. The the globe in a great fracture—each NEW YORK, SEPT 23 Earlier this week, Vice President Ice Rose, which was sailing from St. with its own trade and financial rules Mike Pence urged state governors to Petersburg in Russia to Gothenburg and internet and artificial intelligence Johnson & Johnson is beginning a “do your part to build public confi- in Sweden, collided with a Russian capacities,” Guterres said. “We must huge final study to try to prove if a dence that it will be a safe and effec- frigate early on Wednesday morning, avoid this at all costs.” single-dose Covid-19 vaccine can pro- tive vaccine.” a spokesman for the Joint Operation The rivalry between the two powers tect against the virus. And Dr Anthony Fauci, the top US Centre said. He declined to give the was in full display as President Donald The study starting Wednesday will infectious disease expert, added in the identity of the Russian vessel, which Trump, in a very short virtual speech, be one of the world’s largest coronavi- call to governors that he is confident had permission to be in Danish urged the United Nations to hold rus vaccine studies so far, testing the in “a tried and true process” that has waters and had notified Danish Beijing “accountable” for failing to shot in 60,000 volunteers in the US, checks and balances built in, includ- authorities of its presence, and said contain the virus that originated in South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, ing an independent board evaluating the reason for the collision was not the Chinese city of Wuhan and has Colombia, Mexico and Peru. the progress of each vaccine trial, as clear. Most of Denmark was covered killed over 200,000 Americans and A handful of other vaccines in the well as “the integrity of the FDA.” in fog on Wednesday morning. No one nearly 1 million worldwide. US—including shots made by Moderna A recording of the call was provid- aboard the Ice Rose was injured and China’s ambassador rejected all Inc and Pfizer Inc—and others in ed to The Associated Press. there were no signs of oil leaks or accusations against Beijing as “totally other countries are already in final- Senators were scheduled to ques- ingress of water, the spokesman said. baseless.” stage testing. Hopes are high that tion FDA Commissioner Stephen “At this moment, the world needs answers about at least one candidate Hahn, Fauci and other administration more solidarity and cooperation, and being tested in the US could come by officials later Wednesday about the EU chief negotiator not a confrontation,” UN Ambassador year’s end, maybe sooner. pandemic response. ‘determined’ to get Brexit deal AP/RSS Zhang Jun said before introducing US health officials insist the race Even if the FDA were to allow emer- LONDON: The European Union is Chinese President Xi Jinping is seen on a phone screen remotely addressing the 75th session President Xi Jinping’s prerecorded for a vaccine isn’t cutting corners. gency use of a vaccine by year’s end, determined to get a Brexit trade deal of the United Nations General Assembly, on Tuesday, at UN headquarters. speech. “We need to increase mutual “We want to do everything we can supplies would be limited and given with Britain but will be firm and confidence and trust, and not the without sacrificing safety or effica- first to vulnerable groups such as realistic with London after Prime ASSOCIATED PRESS speech, he said “the pandemic has spreading of political virus.” cy—we’re not going to do that—to health workers. Most Americans Minister Boris Johnson decided to UNITED NATIONS, SEPT 23 exploited these injustices, preyed on French President Emmanuel make sure that we end up with aren’t likely to receive a vaccine until break the divorce agreement, EU the most vulnerable and wiped away Macron said the pandemic should be vaccines that are going to save lives,” sometime next year. chief negotiator Michel Barnier said Kept apart by a devastating pandemic the progress of decades,” including “an electric shock” to encourage more Dr Francis Collins, director of the The Centers for Disease Control and on Wednesday. The United Kingdom and dispersed across the globe, sparking the first rise in poverty in multilateral action. Otherwise, he National Institutes of Health, told Prevention wants states to get ready left the EU in January but remains a world leaders convened electronically 30 years. warned, the world will be “collectively reporters. now to roll out vaccinations, which member in all but name until the end on Tuesday for an unprecedented The secretary-general called for condemned to a pas de deux” by the But many vaccine specialists ques- will present enormous logistical chal- of the year, by which time it hopes to high-level meeting, where the UN global unity, foremost to fight the pan- US and China in which everyone tion whether the Food and Drug lenges. On Wednesday the CDC was have clinched a free trade deal with chief exhorted them to unite and tack- demic, and sharply criticized pop- else is “reduced to being nothing but Administration will stick to that goal set to announce distribution of $200 the bloc. Talks have snagged on fish- le the era’s towering problems: the ulism and nationalism for failing to the sorry spectators of a collective under intense pressure from the million in congressionally approved ing, state aid rules and how trade will coronavirus, the “economic calamity” contain the virus and for often making impotence.” Trump administration. President funds to help begin setting up opera- flow to Northern Ireland, which will it unleashed and the risk of a new things worse. Tensions with the US also dominat- Donald Trump has consistently pre- tions. Health and Human Services remain - under the 2020 divorce treaty Cold War between the United States Turkish President Recep Tayyip ed a fiery speech by Iranian President sented a faster timeline for a new vac- Secretary Alex Azar said the Covid-19 - in closer orbit to the EU than will and China. Erdogan criticized how “countries Hassan Rouhani, whose country is cine than experts say is adequate to vaccine campaign will build on long- the rest of the United Kingdom. After As Secretary-General Antonio were left on their own” at the onset of facing the worst Covid-19 crisis in the fully test the candidates. standing cooperation between the fed- Johnson introduced a bill that would Guterres opened the first virtual “gen- the pandemic, stressing that “effective Middle East. He lashed out at US sanc- Trump on Wednesday tweeted the eral government and the states on override parts of the 2020 accord, the eral debate” of the UN General multilateralism requires effective tions but declared that his country link to a news report about the immunizations. EU demanded that he step back from Assembly, the yawning gaps of poli- multilateral institutions.” He urged will not submit to US pressure. Johnson & Johnson study and said the J&J’s vaccine is made with slightly the brink though parliament on tics and anger became evident. China rapid UN reforms, starting with the Rouhani said the United States can’t FDA “must move quickly!” different technology than others in Tuesday backed giving Johnson the and Iran clashed with the United Security Council, the most powerful impose negotiations or war on Iran, Meanwhile, testing of still another late-stage testing, modelled on an powers to undercut it. States—via prerecorded videos from body with five veto-wielding mem- stressing that his country is “not a experimental vaccine, made by Ebola vaccine the company created. home—and leaders expressed frustra- bers—the US, China, Russia, Britain bargaining chip in US elections and AstraZeneca, remains on hold in the Unlike the other three vaccines that tion and anger at the handling of the and France. domestic policy.” He used the May US as officials examine a safety ques- started late-stage testing in the US, it Belarus president inaugurated Covid-19 pandemic, which the UN By contrast, Brazilian President death of Black American George tion, even though studies have requires only one shot, not two. chief has called “the number one glob- Jair Bolsonaro, whose country has Floyd under the knee of a white despite election protests al security threat in our world today.” reported the second-highest coronavi- Minneapolis police officer as a meta- KYIV: President Alexander As he began his speech, the secre- rus death toll after the US, trumpeted phor for Iran’s “own experience” with Lukashenko of Belarus assumed his tary-general looked out at the vast his focus on the economy in dealing the United States. sixth term of office on Wednesday General Assembly chamber, where with the pandemic. “We instantly recognise the feet during an inauguration ceremony only one mask-wearing diplomat from Bolsonaro lambasted “segments of kneeling on the neck as the feet of that officials did not announce in each of the UN’s 193 member nations the Brazilian media” for “spreading arrogance on the neck of independent advance after weeks of mass protests was allowed to sit, socially distanced panic” by encouraging stay-at-home nations,” Rouhani said. against the authoritarian leader’s from one another. orders and prioritizing public health US-Iran tensions have run danger- reelection, which activists maintain “The Covid-19 pandemic has over the economy. He’s downplayed ously high this year, and Trump was rigged. State news agency Belta changed our annual meeting beyond the severity of the coronavirus and signed an executive order this week to reported that the swearing-in ceremo- recognition,” Guterres said. repeatedly said shutting down the enforce all UN sanctions on Iran ny took place in the capital of Minsk “But it has made it more important economy would inflict worse hardship because it’s not complying with a 2015 with several hundred top government than ever.” on people. nuclear deal with world powers—a officials, lawmakers, representatives While the six-day mainly virtual Guterres told the virtual audience move he touted in his UN speech but of media organizations and other meeting is unique in the UN’s 75-year that “too often, there has also been a that most of the world rejects as ille- prominent figures present. Lukashen- history, the speeches from leaders hit disconnect between leadership and gal. Russian President Vladimir Putin ko, 66, took an oath in Belarusian on all the conflicts, crises and divi- power.” stressed the need for multilateral with his right hand on the country’s sions facing a world that Guterres said A year ago, he warned about the cooperation against the pandemic, Constitution, and the head of the is witnessing “rising inequalities, cli- rising US-China rivalry, saying urging an end to “illegitimate sanc- country’s central election commis- mate catastrophe, widening societal Tuesday: “We are moving in a very tions” against his country and others AP/RSS sion handed him the official ID card divisions, rampant corruption.” dangerous direction.” that he said could boost the global This photo provided by Johnson & Johnson shows a single-dose Covid-19 vaccine being of the president of Belarus. (AGENCIES) In his grim state of the world “Our world cannot afford a future economy and create jobs. developed by the company.

Navalny released from Nearly 500 pilot whales stranded in hospital after 32 days Australia; 380 dead ASSOCIATED PRESS BERLIN, SEPT 23 ASSOCIATED PRESS HOBART, SEPT 23 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been released from a More pilot whales were found strand- Berlin hospital after more than a ed in Australia on Wednesday, raising month’s treatment for poisoning, with the estimated total to nearly 500, doctors now believing that a “com- including 380 that have died, in the plete recovery” from the Soviet-era largest mass stranding ever recorded nerve agent is possible for him, the in the country. hospital said on Wednesday. Authorities had already been work- Navalny spent 32 days at Berlin’s ing to rescue survivors among an esti- Charite hospital, 24 of them in inten- mated 270 whales found Monday on a sive care, before doctors deemed his beach and two sand bars near the “condition had improved sufficiently remote coastal town of Strahan on the for him to be discharged from acute southern island state of Tasmania. inpatient care”. As he was released on AP/RSS Another 200 stranded whales were Tuesday, the 44-year-old displayed his Alexei Navalny spotted from a helicopter on characteristic sarcastic sense of Wednesday less than 10 kilometres to humour. In an Instagram post, he took “Good theory, I believe it deserves the south, Tasmania Parks and swipe at Russian President Vladimir the most careful attention,” Navalny Wildlife Service Manager Nic Deka Putin, scoffing at reported comments wrote in Russian. “Cooked Novichok said. All 200 had been confirmed dead by the Russian leader suggesting that in the kitchen. Took a sip from a flask by late afternoon. Navalny might have intentionally poi- on the plane. Fell into a coma.” They were among 380 whales that soned himself. He wryly wrote that the “ultimate had died overall, 30 that were alive but Navalny, a politician and corruption aim of my cunning plan” must have stranded and 50 that had been rescued investigator who is Putin’s most visi- been to die in Siberia, where the cause since Tuesday, Deka said. ble opponent, was flown to Germany of death would be “lived long enough.” “We’ll continue to work to free as two days after falling ill on August 20 “But Putin outmaneuvered me. You many of the animals as we can,” he on a domestic flight in Russia. He can’t fool him,” Navalny wrote. “As a said. “We’ll continue working for as spent those two days in a coma in a result, I lay in coma for 18 days like a long as there are live animals.” hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk, fool, but didn’t get my way. The provo- About 30 whales in the original where Russian doctors said they found cation failed!” stranding were moved from the sand- no trace of any poisoning. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov bars to open ocean on Tuesday, but German chemical weapons experts on Wednesday said the report about several got stranded again. have determined that he was poisoned Putin’s conversation with Macron was About a third of the first group had with the Soviet-era nerve agent “inaccurate in its reported wording,” died by Monday evening. Tasmania is Novichok—findings corroborated by but refused to elaborate as to which the only part of Australia prone to labs in France and Sweden. part was inaccurate. Macron’s office mass strandings, although they occa- The hospital said based on Navalny’s refused to comment on the report. sionally occur on the Australian main- progress, physicians believe that a The nerve agent used in the attack land. Australia’s largest mass strand- “complete recovery is possible,” but was the same class of Soviet-era poi- ing had previously been 320 pilot added it “remains too early to gauge son that Britain said was used on for- whales near the Western Australia the potential long-term effects of his mer Russian spy Sergei Skripal and state town of Dunsborough in 1996. severe poisoning.” his daughter in Salisbury, England, in The latest stranding is the first In recent days, Navalny has been 2018. German Chancellor Angela involving more than 50 whales in posting regular photos of his conva- Merkel has called the poisoning Tasmania since 2009. lescence from the hospital on attempted murder and she and other Marine Conservation Program Instagram, first showing him sitting world leaders have demanded that wildlife biologist Kris Carlyon said up in his bed surrounded by his fami- Russia fully investigate the case. the latest mass stranding was the big- ly, then up and about in the building. Navalny was kept in an induced gest in Australia “in terms of num- In his post Tuesday night, he coma for more than two weeks as he bers stranded and died.” Why the laughed off a report in the French was treated with an antidote. Members whales ran aground is a mystery. The newspaper Le Monde saying that of his team accused the Kremlin of pod may have been drawn into the Putin suggested to French President involvement in the poisoning, charges coast to feed or by the misadventure of Emmanuel Macron in a call that he that Russian officials have vehement- one or two whales, which led to the “could have taken the poison himself.” ly denied. rest of the pod following, Carlyon said.

C M Y K 07 | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 SPORTS | MEDLEY BRIEFING Man United reach last 16 as virus hits football’s heart Leeds United to sign defender Llorente from Real Sociedad Red Devils beat Luton 3-0 while West Ham thump Hull 5-1. Tottenham Hotspurs’ match with Leyton Orient postponed as opponents suffer Covid outbreak. LEEDS: Leeds United have reached an AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE when George Moncur fouled Brandon agreement to sign Spanish defender LONDON, SEPT 23 Williams and Juan Mata dispatched Diego Llorente from Real Sociedad, the penalty. the La Liga club have said. Financial Manchester United moved into the Henderson is hoping to replace the details of the agreement were not dis- League Cup fourth round with a 3-0 error-prone David De Gea after an closed but British media reported win at Luton, while West Ham boss impressive loan at Sheffield United Leeds would shell out up to 20 million David Moyes and two of his players last season. He preserved United’s pounds for the 27-year-old centre contracted the coronavirus ahead of advantage with his only save of the back. “Real Sociedad and Leeds their 5-1 victory against Hull as the match in the final minutes, keeping United have reached an agreement in pandemic caused chaos on Tuesday. out Tom Lockyer’s header at the far principle for the transfer of Diego Moyes, Josh Cullen and Issa Diop all post. Marcus Rashford came off the Llorente. The final agreement is sub- left the London Stadium after learn- bench to net in the 88th minute before ject to the player’s medical test,” the ing of the tests before kick-off and fellow substitute Mason Greenwood’s club said in a statement. Llorente will self-isolate, with the trio said to be stoppage-time goal put a flattering began his pro career at Real Madrid asymptomatic. West Ham were not the gloss on the scoreline. “Going through but failed to cement a spot in the first only Premier League club affected by is the big thing. There are some posi- team and joined Sociedad in 2017. He the virus as Tottenham’s tie at Leyton tives, the keeper does his job and we made 30 appearances for Imanol Orient was postponed after their scored some nice goals towards the Alguacil’s side last season. fourth tier opponents suffered a Covid- end,” said Solskjaer, whose side will 19 outbreak. travel to Brighton or Preston in the Canadian Bianca Andreescu West Ham’s match went ahead as fourth round. planned despite the virus tests, with Tottenham’s clash with Orient has pulls out from French Open assistant manager Alan Irvine taking yet to be rearranged amid reports Jose PARIS: Canada’s Bianca Andreescu charge of the Hammers. “At 20 past six Mourinho’s men could be given a bye has pulled out of the French Open we suddenly got some information into the last 16. Orient had revealed and will take the rest of the season from our doctor and head physio to the positive cases on Monday after off to focus on her recuperation, the say there were three positive tests, the Tottenham paid for their opponents’ world number seven said on Tuesday. manager and the two players,” Irvine testing, but the match was not called Andreescu, who did not defend her said. “We’d had contact insofar as we off until two hours before kick-off. 2019 US Open crown in New York this were in the same area of the stadium “If I was doing this again I would year, has not played on tour since the as David. We were shocked by the not do the testing - this is an incentive WTA Finals in Shenzhen last year news. We’ve had so many tests and not not to test and that is bad for football where she retired with a knee injury had any positive. But we’ve been very and bad for health and safety,” Orient that also kept her out of the particular about protocol right from chairman Nigel Travis told the BBC. Australian Open in January. “I have the start.” West Bromwich Albion crashed out come to the difficult decision to skip Sebastien Haller and Andriy against second tier Brentford, losing the clay court swing this year and Yarmolenko both struck twice for 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at the will be taking the remainder of the West Ham after Robert Snodgrass AP/RSS Hawthorns.Grady Diangana was the season off to focus on my health and opened the scoring. West Ham’s Robert Snodgrass (left) scores against Hull to win 5-1 despite boss David Moyes and two players testing positive for coronavirus. only Albion player to miss in the training,” Andreescu said in a state- The news of the virus striking at shoot-out and Christian Norgaard net- ment. The French Open begins on football’s heart came after British ums in October as originally planned bounced back from a dismal 3-1 home boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made 10 ted Brentford’s winner. Newport Sunday. Prime Minster Boris Johnson dealt a due to a spike in virus cases, measures defeat against Crystal Palace in their changes, giving full debuts to goal- reached the competition’s last 16 for major blow to the sport’s financial that will remain in place for “perhaps Premier League opener on Saturday. keeper Dean Henderson and close-sea- the first time in their history as the future on Tuesday. Johnson said fans six months”. In United’s first meeting with son signing Donny Van De Beek. fourth tier side beat Championship Leipzig rope in Sorloth from would not be allowed back into stadi- At Kenilworth Road, United Championship side Luton since 1992, United went ahead in the 44th minute club Watford 3-1. Premier League’s Palace LEIPZIG: RB Leipzig have signed Norway striker Alexander Sorloth from Premier League side Crystal Palace on a five-year contract, the Rajasthan beat Chennai by 16 runs in IPL Frank de Boer likely to replace Bundesliga club said on Tuesday. Sorloth, 24, spent last season on loan ASSOCIATED PRESS board, you have to get a very good century off just 19 balls. Leg-spinner at Turkish club Trabzonspor, where SHARJAH, SEPT 23 start, that was not the case,” Piyush Chawla went for 47 runs off Koeman as Netherlands coach he scored 33 goals in 49 games in all Dhoni said. “Without singling out any- his first two overs, but Chennai missed REUTERS Rijkaard and Bayer Leverkusen coach competitions. Trabzonspor confirmed Rajasthan Royals rode explosive half one, a controllable we could have con- an opportunity to get Smith leg before AMSTERDAM, SEPT 23 Peter Bosz first as potential candi- that they will split the 20 million euro centuries from Sanju Samson and cap- trolled is no-balls. Had we not bowled wicket when he was on 31. Television dates before entering into talks with transfer fee with Palace. tain Steven Smith’s to beat Chennai no-balls, we would have been chasing replays showed left-arm spinner Frank de Boer has emerged as the De Boer. Super Kings by 16 runs in a high-scor- 200, and it would have been a very Ravindra Jadeja’s delivery would have most likely candidate to be named Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk told Atletico Madrid’s Morata ing Indian Premier League game on good game.” hit the leg stump, but Dhoni didn’t go coach of the Netherlands after weeks reporters after their Nations League Tuesday. Samson grabbed two catches behind for the referral. of speculation over who would suc- matches this month that the players returns to Juventus on loan Samson blazed nine sixes and a four the wickets and also stumped Sam Smith got another life soon after ceed Ronald Koeman. had given a list of their preferences to TURIN: Alvaro Morata returned to in his powerful knock of 74 off 32 balls Curran and Ruturaj Gaikwad, who completing his half century when A contract up to the 2022 World Cup the KNVB. Juventus on Tuesday, signed on a and Smith made 69 off 47 deliveries recovered from Covid-19 as leg-spin- Curran parried the ball over the finals in Qatar is expected to be signed The possibility of 50-year-old De loan deal from Atletico Madrid. before Jofra Archer (27 not out) ner Rahul Tewatia finished with fine boundary line. Samson was caught at in time for De Boer to take charge of Boer taking the job has elicited a Juventus said they will pay Atletico smacked four sixes against South figures of 3-37. “Sanju Samson played deep cover in the 12th over and Smith the team’s three internationals next mixed response, acknowledging his 10 million euros for the season-long African Lungi Ngidi in the last over to an unbelievable knock, (it) felt like fell in the penultimate over to give month, Dutch media reported on success in winning four successive loan for the Spain striker. They then give Rajasthan a strong total of 216-7. everything he was hitting went for Curran (3-33) his third wicket. Wednesday. He would replace Koeman Dutch league titles with Ajax has the option to purchase his full Chennai, who won the toss and six,” Smith said. “On this wicket, it Chennai could have restricted who left last month to become Amsterdam but also highlighting rights by the end of the season for an elected to field, lost the momentum by was all about trying to avoid straight Rajasthan below the 200-run mark, but Barcelona coach. failures at Inter Milan and Crystal additional 45 million euros. Juventus the ninth over in their run-chase as hits for the spinners. A couple of balls Ngidi conceded 30 runs in the last The subject of Koeman’s replace- Palace. also said they have the option to they lost four wickets in the space of were fuller and got above the eyeline over, which included Archer’s two ment has dominated Dutch sports pro- He would be thrust quickly into the extend the loan for another season three overs and were restricted to 200- but the idea was to stay back of a sixes off no-balls that eventually cost grammes in recent weeks with pun- new job with a friendly against Mexico through 2022 for another 10 million 6. Faf du Plessis top-scored with 72 off length.” Chennai the game. Chennai have two dits offering their own insider ver- in Amsterdam on October 7 before euros, after which they can 37 balls and captain Mahendra Singh In a robust second-wicket stand, points from two games after they beat sions of the selection process. It has Nations League matches away against purchase his full rights for 35 Dhoni narrowed the margin of defeat Samson and Smith smashed 121 runs title-holder Mumbai Indians in their included the Dutch football associa- Bosnia on October 11 and Italy on million euros. (AGENCIES) with his unbeaten 29. “With 217 on the off 56 balls as Samson raised his half opening game. tion (KNVB) contacting both Frank October 14. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) *** CANCER (June 22-July 22) ** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) *** There seems to be a trend going on around you. There are some issues brewing around your home, You have an extra-strong appreciation of beauty Try to welcome today’s challenges with open arms. People are using their charm to get what they want but they won’t come to the surface until later. The today, so it’s a wonderful time to enjoy those things After all, it’s not the sunny days and great times that while you are doing things the old-fashioned way. problem could have something to do with your home’s you find most beautiful. Flowers, art, and nature bring life’s most important lessons. It’s the obstacles Instead of getting yourself all upset over this unfair- physical structure, but it could just as easily have will be especially welcome to your wide-open, and the unpleasant surprises that help you see what ness, why not consider joining the game? something to do with the bond between the people. receptive eyes. you’re really made of.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) **** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) **** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** You’ve got the kind of energy that some people might Public opinion is strongly on your side right now. As you acquire an increased awareness of the world New energy is coming your way in the form of a very find intimidating right now, yet they just won’t be Pretty much anything you suggest, no matter how around you, you will also be privy to an increased charming person from a different culture. Their ges- able to stay away. People want to connect with you outlandish or odd it might seem, will be adopted and awareness of problems. You have the feeling, more tures of kindness and words or wisdom will make you more than ever now, and the way you’re shining, it’s accepted. This places you in an ideal position to lead and more, that you have an important responsibility feel valued and respected. You will also feel empow- no mystery why. your friends toward the right option. to be part of the solution to the problem. ered by the trust they’ve obviously put into you.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) *** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) **** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** Letting things go today will make you feel good. This Deep and meaningful conversations are nice to have, They say that laughter is the best medicine, but There are many different paths for you to follow, but is a great day to lighten your emotional load and say but today you’re itching for more of an interaction. sometimes medicine is the best medicine! Make sure don’t waste your time trying to figure out which one farewell to grudges, anger, and control issues. Step Disagreements could be over trivial, fun matters, but you’re up to date on your health. Your happiness and to take. You can’t pick a path today. It will pick you! back from all the decision-making responsibilities they’ll provide you with excellent practice as to how emotional health can be affected by your physical And don’t be disappointed if the stars say that you you have held onto for so long. to plead your case. health, so take care of yourself. need to continue on the path you’re already on. CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 | 08 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 How this Facebook page is archiving and democratising historical photos of Nepal With over 60,000 photos from almost 700 contributors, the page has helped record—in photographs—Nepal’s history from 1853 to the 1990s.

PHOTOS COURTESY: LAURENT PROVINS/ PHIL GOOD/ PHOTO MUSEUM NEPAL The view from a bridge in Jorpati, on the way towards Gokarna, in 1985. (Right) Dharahara as seen from Tundikhel in 1962.

ANKIT KHADGI ex-volunteers at Peace Corps, who were they can somehow control the problems archiving the old photos has, as during schools, where they exhibited various KATHMANDU ready to share their photos from private of stealing. the time of necessity the photos can be of photos to the students so they could vis- collections. At a glance, while these photos can be a great use,” says the admin. ually relate to the country’s history. rolleybuses moving on the One thing led to another, or rather one source of amusement for people, accord- In Nepal, few attempts have been made “It was amazing to see the response roads of Kathmandu. contact led to another, and six years later, ing to the admin, their collections have in digitising and democratising old pho- from the children. Not only were they The milk-white colossal they have collected almost 60,000 photos been a great help for people from all tos at an institutional level. Although enjoying it visually, but the photos provid- Dharahara standing in all its from almost 700 contributors who have spheres of life. Madan Puraskar Pustakalaya paved the ed them with an opportunity to observe glory at Sundhara. Lush helped record Nepal’s history from 1853 to way for archiving old, rare memories, it and understand the changes that have green farms surrounding the the 1990s. was through Nepal Picture Library, an taken place in Nepal,” says the admin. TBoudhanath stupa. A pristine turquoise But working in the digital archiving of In Nepal, few attempts initiative of Photo Circle, that a Currently, the page is being run by a river flowing next to Beni Bazar. old photos while remaining anonymous is successful consortium of preserving and group of four, who dedicate their time to All these are now just images, locked in tough. However, according to the admin, have been made in promoting such historical resources was the collection and dissemination of the distant memory. Before ‘urbanization’ the support from their contributors is the possible. images. While their efforts are serving as and ‘development’ took over, Kathmandu driving force that has helped them in the digitising old photos at However, unlike the two, what makes a repository to the old vintage photos, for was a dream, often visited by backpack- archiving process. this page is different and unique in its them their work is more important than ers, who through their cameras captured “We have a group of professors, former an institutional level. approach is its use of social media and their names. the beauty of the valley which was then Peace Corp volunteers, travellers, who how it has democratised the old and his- “We even don’t share personal details relatively untouched. Many of those pic- are serving as advisors to our page, help- torical to a larger mass, by making histo- with all of our contributors, as we don’t tures are now open for public display ing us put together the collection and in “After uploading the old photos, many ry available through social media. want our names to get space in any way. through one Facebook page called ‘Old the archiving process and also readily people have got connected with their old- “Because of the platform we chose, the There are times when our contributors Photos of Nepal’, which since 2014 has providing suggestions of how we can time friends, who share and recall their photos, which were previously seen by a are reluctant since we don’t share our been archiving and displaying historical operate the page,” says the admin. fond memories. This makes us happy that limited circle, can now be reached to details with them. However since we photos of Nepal. From the blaze of 1973 that destroyed through our platform, not only we are many places. In our perspective pages strictly follow copy-right laws and work “We just wanted to create a platform the magnificent Singha Durbar to the documenting history, but we are also let- like ours can be the means through which to give their photos due credit, they where we could share our old construction of the East-West highway to ting people relive the memories of the one can easily be well-versed about the understand our objective and share their pictures from our albums as well as get old photos of Dharahara and other monu- old-good days,” says the admin, who runs past,” says the admin. photos,” says the admin. amused by looking at each other’s pic- ments, the photos that the page has col- two subsidiary pages, ‘Nepal ko purano Currently, the page has more than 100k For the founders, these old and histori- tures,” says the admin and one of the lected and archived are important tools of Tasbir haru’ and ‘Photo Museum Nepal’. likes on their main page, named ‘Old cal photos aren’t just mere showpieces. co-founders of the page. recorded history. But that’s not the only value the page’s Photos of Nepal’, with nominal following These photos, according to them, have While they started the page out of joy But archiving and collecting precious creation has led to. While the page has on the other two. While for the founders, visual knowledge of the past that can of seeing and sharing old photos, the gems that have such huge historical definitely been a space where the general Facebook has been their primary plat- shape the present and future if they are founders, who want to remain anony- importance comes with added responsi- mass can learn about the country’s histo- form for displaying their work, however made available to the public. mous, say that things started getting seri- bility. Since the page is currently dissem- ry, researchers and institutions too often now with time, the page is also planning “The objective of our work is to pre- ous when their popularity surged. “We inating the photos on Facebook, so that reach out to them for their research work, to dedicate a separate digital archiving serve the culture, heritage, environment, didn’t expect that we would receive so the photos can be seen by more people, says the admin. space, both online and offline under the and traditions of our country,” says the much support and response for our page many of the pictures have been misused “We were contacted by a Japanese name ‘Photo Museum Nepal’. admin. “Although we are trying to diver- within a short time. That was why we as well. University, who were researching about “We will be sharing our collections on sify and make our work more systematic, thought that we should take this page “Many times, even after including the Hanuman Durbar Square. Likewise, we Facebook, but in the long term we also our end goal will always be of preserving seriously,” says the admin. trademarks of photographers and our have also been asked for old photos of want to create a space where we can digi- the visuals of the old days for our In the beginning, they uploaded old page, there is a trend of misusing the temples by authorities, so they can be tally archive the photos and even start a upcoming generations, so they can have photos that were available on the Internet, photos,” says the admin. used as a sketch to rebuild the monu- gallery,” says the admin. resources to study their history and cul- but with time, they started contacting To keep such problems at bay, the page ments which were destroyed by the earth- Last year, the page had also conducted ture, and observe the overall changes photographers, travellers, professors, and minimises the resolution of the photo, so quake. This just shows that the value of 13 exhibitions in different government through photos.” Review: Millie Bobby Brown has fun with Enola Holmes The film adaptation stars Stranger Things’ Millie Bobby Brown as the titular character in an origin story that is clearly an attempt to start a franchise.

LINDSEY BAHR LOS ANGELES

here is a long, questionable and occasion- ally successful tradition of spinning off iconic literary and film characters through relatives distant and not from James Bond Jr to John Shaft II and III. In other words, it’s not out of bounds that someone would Tcome along and invent a little sister for Sherlock Holmes and eventually make a movie out of it. Enola Holmes is the creation of American author Nancy Springer who wrote a series of six young adult novels about Sherlock and Mycroft’s teenage sister who becomes a detective in her own right. The light- hearted and enjoyable film adaptation stars Stranger Things’ Millie Bobby Brown as the titular character in an origin story that is clearly an attempt to start a franchise. Thankfully it isn’t merely a “set-up” film.

Brown is a natural star and seems to be having a lot of fun with Enola.

We’re introduced to Enola by Enola herself, who breaks the fourth wall and directly addresses the camera and audience to tell us about how her mother raised her after her much older brothers left early. It’s no surprise that the director, Harry Bradbeer, direct- ed almost every episode of Fleabag, which relied heavily on this technique as well. AP/RSS Enola, who tries not to think too much about the This image released by Netflix shows Millie Bobby Brown in a scene from Enola Holmes. significance of the fact that her name backwards spells Alone, is clever and spirited and wholly isolat- buff Henry Cavill) and Mycroft (Sam Claflin) return becomes her first client. this script could have benefited from a woman’s ed from the world and the social mores of Victorian- to take care of her and the estate, they don’t recog- Brown is a natural star and seems to be having a lot involvement. Its feminist touchstones veer on cliché. era England. She and her mother (a lovely Helena nise her. The grown men are also horrified that their of fun with Enola and getting to do something a little Brown did have a hand in producing the film, how- Bonham-Carter) who are fiercely independent except little sister is so rough around the edges—no hat, no more carefree than portraying the trauma stricken ever, which is itself a neat message. Whether or not it from each other, use their stately mansion as a play- gloves, no worries about manners or decorum—and Eleven. And besides a gnarly head injury late in the becomes a franchise will remain to be seen. Enola ground. They practice archery and tennis indoors, decide that she must be sent to finishing school. film, Enola Holmes is an all-ages endeavour. Holmes was supposed to be a theatrical release and blow things up in the name of science, read books Naturally, Enola is not excited about the prospect The biggest knock against Enola Holmes is it feels Netflix jumped in to take it early in the pandemic. But and generally don’t seem all that concerned with the of finding a husband or fitting into society and like it should or could have been a series. It’s very regardless of whether or not there are more, Enola upkeep of anything but their minds. instead sneaks off to try to track down her mother long and even this first story feels naturally episodic Homes is the kind of movie that the preteen set will So it comes as a shock when Enola wakes up one instead. On her journey she becomes entangled in the as she goes back and forth between searching for her surely delight in and watch over and over. I know I morning to find her mother gone. Even more discon- life of a fellow runaway, The Viscount Tewskbury, mother and helping Tewskbury. The second is that would have. certing is when her brothers Sherlock (a probably too Marquess of Basilwether (Louis Partridge), who the screenplay is only credited to Jack Thorne and —Associated Press

Published and Printed by Kantipur Publications Pvt. Ltd., Central Business Park, Thapathali, Kathmandu, Nepal, P. B. No. 8559, Phone: 5135000, Fax: 977-1-5135057, e-mail: [email protected], Regd. No. 32/049/050, Chairman & Managing Director: Kailash Sirohiya, Director: Swastika Sirohiya, Editor: Sanjeev Satgainya