WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 219 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 35.5 C 11.5 C Thursday, October 01, 2020 | 15-06-2077 Nepalgunj Jomsom Nepal to join India’s Foul play suspected ‘air bubble’ to bring citizens home as in private firm’s deal Dashain nears to supply Russian Under the scheme, fares will be fixed and passengers need to book tickets through embassies. vaccine to Nepal

SANGAM PRASAIN Experts and officials wonder how a little-known company KATHMANDU, SEPT 30 reached an agreement to import the Covid-19 vaccine Nepal has decided to join India’s “air bubble” scheme in order to bring hundreds of Nepalis when the government should have been taking the lead. stranded in different parts of India, more than a month after the southern neighbour’s ARJUN POUDEL proposal to that effect. KATHMANDU, SEPT 30 As India has still restricted regular interna- tional passenger flights, “air bubbles” or Public health experts and some gov- “travel corridors” are systems established ernment officials have suspected between two countries that perceive each foul play in the purported deal other to be safe and allow carriers of both the between Russian Direct Investment countries to fly passengers either way without Fund and a private Nepali firm to sup- any restrictions. ply the Russian vaccine for the corona- Under these arrangements, the fares will be virus to Nepal. fixed and passengers need to book tickets Reports on Tuesday suggested that through the embassies. The passengers have Russian Direct Investment Fund, to go through quarantine as specified by the Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, would respective governments. supply 25 million doses of its potential In mid-August, India’s civil aviation minis- Covid-19 vaccine to Nepal through REUTERS ter Hardeep Singh Puri had proposed Nepal Trinity Pharmaceuticals. Reports suggest a Nepali private firm has join the air bubble scheme. “We had received RSS “It looks like some government offi- reached a deal with Russia to supply 25 the proposal formally from the Indian govern- A fisherman casts a net in a pond at Kamere in Sunkoshi Rural Municipality-2, Sindhuli. cials’ ploy to help a private company million doses of Covid-19 vaccine to Nepal. ment three weeks ago,” said Rajan Pokhrel, benefit,” an official at the Department director general of the Civil Aviation of Health Services told the Post imported by the government itself requesting anonymity because he rather than allowing any private firm feared retribution. “It reminds of an to do so, as the lives of many people Indian court acquits Hindu nationalist earlier deal in which the government are at stake. had asked Omni Business Corporate “Britain has secured 190 million International Pvt Ltd to import medi- doses of the potential coronavirus cal equipment to fight the pandemic.” vaccine for its citizens. Our govern- leaders in Babri mosque demolition case Government officials, from the ment too can reach out to vaccine-de- health and foreign ministries to the veloping countries if it is serious Department of Drug Administration about saving its citizens’ lives,” said The court ruled that there was no criminal conspiracy to attack the mosque and Nepal Health Research Council, professor Prakash Ghimire, chairper- however, had told the Post on Tuesday son of the National Ethical Review POST FILE PHOTO 28 years ago and that there was no conclusive evidence to prove it. that they were unaware of any deal Board under the Nepal Health Passenger cabin of a Nepal Airlines A320 jet. between Russia and the Nepali private Research Council. ASSOCIATED PRESS firm to import the vaccine for Covid-19. “Instead, a private company is tak- Authority of Nepal. India has established LUCKNOW, SEPT 30 Not much is known about the ing initiatives to import the vaccine travel bubbles with 13 countries, including the Russian vaccine, which was approved and government officials are feigning United States, the United Kingdom, France, An Indian court on Wednesday by Russian President Vladimir Putin ignorance.” Germany, Canada, the Maldives, the United acquitted all 32 people accused of last month, amid reports that global What is even more concerning is Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Nigeria, Iraq, crimes in a 1992 attack and demoli- health authorities suspected that it that the Russian vaccine’s status is Afghanistan and Japan. After necessary dis- tion of a 16th century mosque that could have missed several stages. not known yet. The international sci- cussions, Tourism Minister Yogesh Bhattarai sparked Hindu-Muslim violence Even if the Russian or any other entific community has said Russian will table the agenda on joining the air bubble leaving some 2,000 people dead. vaccine, which has passed all stages scientists are yet to conduct a large scheme at the Covid-19 Crisis Management Four senior leaders of the ruling of testing, is to be brought to Nepal, trial involving tens of thousands of Centre meeting this week, which will then Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata public health experts say, it should people, a mandatory procedure to seek an in-principle approval from the Party, or BJP, were among the be directly imported by the govern- demonstrate that the vaccine works. Cabinet, according to Pokhrel. defendants in a trial that lan- ment, just like it does in cases of other The Lancet journal on September 4 “This will, in fact, help us create an air cor- guished in India’s sluggish legal vaccines that are administered reported that there were no adverse ridor to the southern neighbour on a recipro- system for almost 28 years. through the regular immunisation effects on those who were given the cal basis, which has still restricted regular Seventeen of the 49 accused died of programme. Russian vaccine, which has completed passenger flights,” said Pokhrel. natural causes during the trial. The Oli administration, which has Phase I and Phase II trials, but experts >> Continued on page 2 The four BJP leaders were been facing criticism for its poor han- say no one will know if the vaccine is accused of making inflammatory dling of the pandemic, has also been safe and effective until large-scale tri- speeches that incited tens of thou- AFP/RSS censured for its involvement in cor- als are run. sands of their followers who had A Hindu mob destroyed the 16th century mosque in 1992 sparking Hindu-Muslim ruption in the name of its fight against Of over 200 vaccines being devel- camped out in the city of Ayodhya violence that left some 2,000 people dead. the coronavirus. At least two of Oli oped throughout the world, nine vac- ahead of the attack on the mosque. Cabinet’s ministers—Bhanubhakta cines are in the Phase III trial stage. Last year, India’s Supreme Court Masjid was illegal and ordered that attorney Rishab Tripathi, who rep- Dhakal and Ishwar Pokhrel—face alle- “None of the vaccines has complet- ruled in favour of building a Hindu the separate trial in the mosque resented one of the defendants. gations of corruption and supporting ed the Phase III trial so far,” said Dr temple on the disputed site. Hindus demolition case be completed expe- “The incident was not pre- private firms like Omni to import Shyam Raj Upreti, coordinator of believe their god Ram was born ditiously. planned,” Yadav said in his ruling health equipment for their personal Covid-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee, there and say the Muslim Emperor Judge Surendra Kumar Yadav in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar benefits. which was recently formed by the Babur built a mosque on top of a ruled there was no criminal con- Pradesh state. “The leaders present Many suspect there could be similar Health Ministry to recommend effec- temple at the site. spiracy to attack the mosque by there actually tried to control and cloak-and-dagger dealings to allow a tive vaccines and ways to introduce The Supreme Court also ruled hard-line Hindu activists and no pacify the mob.” private firm to import the vaccine. them in the country. that the demolition of the Babri conclusive evidence to prove it, said >> Continued on page 6 Experts say such vaccines should be >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K THURSDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2020 | 02 NATIONAL Suspect in Bajhang girl rape, murder case confesses to crime The suspect says he raped the 12-year-old and murdered her with a trident and hammer.

BASANTA PRATAP SINGH another 13-year-old girl in the village body on the eighth day of the crime BAJHANG, SEPT 30 two months ago. and performed her last rites in the “The victim of that incident had Seti river near Chainpur, the district Rajendra Bohara, the suspect arrested disclosed what had happened to her. headquarters of Bajhang. The funeral in connection with the rape and subse- So to avoid being caught this time, he was attended by political activists, quent murder of a 12-year-old girl in killed the 12-year-old,” the investiga- human rights activists, Dalit rights Bajhang, has admitted his involve- tion officer said. activists and the locals. ment in the heinous crime. Though police were sure of Bikash Kami, the victim’s father During police interrogation on Bohara’s involvement in the crime, who had returned home from India on Wednesday, the accused confessed to the locals had begun questioning the Sunday, could not attend the final rites murdering the 12-year-old after raping investigation since he had denied the of his daughter, as he tested positive her. He told the investigation officers allegations. On Tuesday, the victim’s for Covid-19 on Tuesday. that he waylaid the girl who was on family and the locals had urged the The victim’s relatives had refused to her way to an animal shed, dragged authorities to conduct DNA and poly- receive the body unless police made POST PHOTO: DEEPAK KC her to a nearby temple and committed graph tests on Bohara. public the criminal and provided jus- A farmer ploughs his field with a power tiller at Manahara in the Capital on Wednesday. the crime. “The general public had doubts, as tice to the victim. They agreed to According to a police officer who Bohara had refused his involvement receive the body after police made took Bohara’s statement, the suspect in the crime. Now that he has con- public Bohara at a press meet on said he had murdered the victim with fessed to the crime, there is no need Tuesday evening and the district a trident and a hammer, as she had for DNA and polygraph tests,” said administration agreed to provide a Nepal Army soldier held on charge of assaulting said that she would disclose the inci- Deputy Superintendent of Police suitable compensation to the bereaved dent to the villagers. Rupak Khadka. “We will complete the family. “I bashed her head with a stone investigation within a few days and According to Chief District Officer first. Then I struck her on her back file a case at the District Court.” Ram Bahadur Sarki, the Ministry of Chepang youth in Chitwan National Park in July with a trident. She collapsed and I A team of police investigators, led Home Affairs has informed the dis- hammered her to death,” the police by DSP Pancha Kumar Bakhu from trict administration that it will pro- RAMESH KUMAR PAUDEL which later led to Raj Kumar’s death,” said SP Gurung. officer quoted Bohara as saying. the Central Investigation Bureau vide Rs 1 million to the victim’s family. CHITWAN, SEPT 30 The Chitwan District Police Office arrested Budha 10 Based on Bohara’s statement, secu- (CIB), reached Bajhang to investigate “The provincial government is also days after receiving the second complaint. According to rity personnel collected the weapons the case on Monday. holding talks to provide relief to the The District Police Office in Chitwan has arrested a Nepal Gurung, the accused was arrested after the police received used in the crime from the temple The victim’s relatives received her bereaved family,” he said. Army soldier on the charge of assaulting 24-year-old Raj post mortem, viscera and blood test reports of the deceased. premises on Wednesday. There were Kumar Chepang of Ward No. 2 in Rapti Municipality, On Tuesday, the police office also conducted a polygraph hammers and other construction Chitwan, over two months ago. test on Budha. materials at the site, as the construc- On July 22, Raj Kumar died from what is believed to be the On July 16, Raj Kumar and six of his friends, including tion of a toilet and other infrastruc- injuries inflicted by the Army personnel after he was two women, were detained by the Army patrol inside the tures is underway in the temple. caught inside the park. park. They had gone to collect Ghongi, a species of snails The victim’s body was found in the Nantiraj Gurung, superintendent of police, also the chief considered a delicacy, in the Jyudi river inside the park. temple in Ward No. 2 of Masta Rural at the District Police Office in Chitwan, said police have They were released on the same day. But Raj Kumar was Municipality on September 23. She arrested Chiran Kumar Budha, 40, a sergeant of the Nepal taken ill after he was released and died on July 22, according had gone to feed her cattle at a nearby Army deployed at Liglig Post in Batuk Dal Battalion of the to his father, Bishnulal. shed when the incident took place. Chitwan National Park. Nepal Chepang Sangh had also staged demonstrations The shed is just 200 metres away from Budha, who is a resident of Geruwa Ward No. 5 in after Raj Kumar’s death, demanding action against the the temple where the incident Bardiya district, was arrested on September 20. guilty and compensation to the family. occurred. “Since then, the Chitwan District Court has remanded According to Santa Chepang, chairman of the ward unit Police had arrested Bohara, a local Budha in custody for 15 days. We had arrested him as per of Nepal Chepang Sangh in Rapti- 2, the authorities had of the same rural municipality, on the the FIR lodged at the District Police Office by Bishnulal agreed to provide Rs 1 million to the deceased’s family and charge of raping and killing the girl. Chepang, Raj Kumar’s father. The court has ordered further they had also assured the family that they would take action However, Bohara continued denying investigation into the case,” Gurung said. against the guilty. his involvement in the crime. The On July 24, Bishnulal had filed a complaint at the District On July 31, a written agreement was drafted to provide Rs accused is in custody at the District Police Office in Chitwan demanding action against those 1million as relief to Raj Kumar’s family. In a meeting that Police Office. involved in assaulting his son, Raj Kumar. On September 10, was held in the District Administration Office, the park had According to the investigation Bishnulal had filed another complaint at the police office agreed to provide Rs 700,000 and the Rapti Municipal Office officers who took Bohara’s statement, mentioning the names of those involved in the incident. had agreed to provide Rs 300,000 to the bereaved family. the suspect had planned to cover up “In the complaint, Bishnulal has mentioned the name of However, the family is yet to receive the full amount. the crime by murdering the victim. POST PHOTO: BASANTA PRATAP SINGH Budha, who was the then sergeant of Liglig Post in Batuk Ananath Baral, chief conservation officer at the park, During the investigation, it was Police in Bajhang present Rajendra Bohara, the suspect arrested in connection with the rape Dal Battalion, and stated that Budha had beaten his son said they are arranging for funds to compensate the family. revealed that Bohara had also raped and subsequent murder of the minor, on Tuesday.

Nepal to join India’s ‘air bubble’ to bring citizens home ... >> Continued from page 1 they have requested the Foreign months. Can @yogesbhattarai, weekly flights—14 flights a day— As Nepal’s biggest festival sea- Ministry in Kathmandu to arrange explain why?” Bishow Parajuli, starting from Thursday, from five son is approaching, hundreds of flights between Kathmandu and United Nations World Food flights allowed before, in order to Nepalis working, studying and Delhi following health safety proto- Programme Representative and facilitate passengers’ movement, those gone for medical treatment cols.“Currently, people are leaving Country Director in New Delhi, particularly for Nepalis coming for in India could benefit from the for Kathmandu via surface trans- India, tweeted recently. the Dashain festival. scheme. port and if the plans to resume On September 1, the government In the peak October-November “The Indian government can flights materialise, we can ascer- allowed regular passenger flights period, during a normal situation, also repatriate its citizens from tain the number of actual flyers to to resume. the Nepali skies normally see as Nepal,” said Pokhrel. Nepal,” he told the Post. However, only Nepalis and repre- many as 90 international flight There is no exact data on the A large number of Nepalis living sentatives of diplomatic missions, movements daily. In New Delhi number of Nepalis stranded in and working in India are worried the United Nations and develop- alone, the most lucrative route, India, but officials in Nepal’s as Nepal has not resumed flights to ment partners were allowed to fly there used to be 11 flights daily. embassy in India said such people its immediate neighbour, although into Nepal. The government has “The southern neighbour, how- could be in the thousands. international flights were allowed allowed tourists--trekkers and ever, has still not opened scheduled However, around 1,000 are wait- to resume from September 1, after mountaineers--to come to Nepal flights,” said Pokhrel. “We are ing for immediate flights, accord- five months of stoppage. from October 17. ready to allow any frequency ing to the embassy officials. “There is still no word on wheth- “We opened international pas- between Kathmandu and New Amid uncertainties, Nepal er flights to and from India will senger flights a month ago,” said Delhi, but India has its arrange- Airlines has also called back its also be allowed from October 1. Pokhrel of the civil aviation body. ment, which currently is the air employees from New Delhi and Tens of thousands of Nepali stu- “And from Thursday onwards, we bubble.” Mumbai and Bangalore in India. dents, families and patients who are allowing unlimited flights.” Hari Odari, spokesperson for the had gone to India for treatment On Wednesday, the Civil Aviation Suresh Raj Neupane contributed Nepali Embassy in New Delhi, said have been stuck there for six Authority of Nepal approved 98 reporting from New Delhi. Foul play suspected in private firm’s deal to supply ... >> Continued from page 1 ceeds and agencies under our government grant them,” Adhikari told the Post. Last month, Russia as well as China and the the permission, we will supply the vaccine,” The Immunisation Section of the Family United Kingdom had expressed their interests to Kishor Adhikari, director of Trinity Welfare Division under the Department of conduct Phase III clinical trials of their vaccines Pharmaceuticals, told the Post. “The govern- Health Services, which is responsible for run- in Nepal. In separate interviews with the Post, ment can buy the vaccine from us or let us sell it ning regular immunisation programmes, how- experts had called for full compliance with the in the market.” ever, said that it does not know anything about procedures if the vaccines were to be brought According to Adhikari, the deal signed with Trinity Pharmaceuticals. for the Phase III clinical trial in Nepal. the Russian company is a company-to-company “Yes, the government does purchase rabies, While China has been pushing for its vaccine deal. “But how can a private firm sign a deal to tetanus and polio vaccines through a public pro- in Nepal, with the proposal to inoculate at least import the vaccine either to sell it to the govern- curement process but we do not know about the 1,000 employees at Hongshi Shivam Cement fac- ment without even getting registered for the supplier companies,” said Dr Jhalak Sharma, tory, Russian Ambassador to Nepal Alekesei purpose?” said Narayan Dhakal, director gener- chief of the section. Novikov too has been lobbying for the Russian al at the Department of Drug Administration. Public health experts say the incumbent gov- coronavirus vaccine. Last month, during a meet- For any vaccine or drug to be imported in ernment has already failed in its fight ing with National Assembly Chairman Ganesh Nepal, every firm has to apply to the Department against the pandemic and now it is shirking its Prasad Timilsina, Novikov said that Russia of Drug Administration, whose approval is man- fundamental duty towards its citizens by not would provide the vaccine to Nepal and that the datory before they start importing. taking initiatives on its own to import the coro- vaccine would be available for the world’s mar- “The vaccine manufacturing company also navirus vaccine. “The government must take the kets starting November. has to get registered in Nepal. lead and try to import a vaccine which is effica- China has already started inoculating their Suppliers need to furnish all necessary docu- cious and safe,” said Dr GD Thakur, former front line workers. ments at the department,” Dhakal told the Post. director at the Epidemiology and Disease “But as per Immunization Act, a vaccine must “The department takes a decision after the rec- Control Division. get the pre-qualification status or emergency ommendation by a panel of experts.” “First, it should try to get the vaccine from use approval from the World Health Dhakal told the Post on Tuesday that no com- agencies like the Global Alliance for Vaccine Organization,” Upreti told the Post. “All vaccine pany has applied to his department so far to and Immunization, which can bear the cost of manufacturing countries/companies should supply a vaccine for Covid-19, leave alone the the vaccine. Only if the government cannot first complete the Phase III trial and data analy- Russian vaccine. acquire the vaccine for free, should it go for a sis and submit all related documents to the UN “To supply vaccines, the Department of Drug government-to-government deal attempting to health organisation.” Administration’s approval is a must,” said Dhakal. buy the vaccine at the lowest price possible.” The government’s lackadaisical and noncha- “The approval process starts with the aspiring The Global Alliance for Vaccine and lant approach towards the most pressing public company registering with our department.” Immunization provides measles and rubella vac- health concern of the day is already condemna- The private firm in question seems to have no cines, rotavirus vaccine and Pentavalent vac- ble and if some officials are involved in getting a history of importing drugs and vaccines. cine, which protects against five major diseas- deal done through a private company to import Experts say how Russia got involved with a es--diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepati- the vaccine, it could spell a catastrophe, public little-known company in Nepal for the vaccine tis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b. The health experts say. deal is a mystery. vaccine alliance shares the cost that developing “It is still uncertain if the vaccine really Adhikari of Trinity Pharmaceuticals, howev- countries pay for vaccines. works. Its efficacy rate and side effects are yet to er, said that his company has been supplying The government also must put in place an be confirmed,” said Ghimire of the National rabies, tetanus and polio vaccines to Nepal. effective vaccine policy so as to ensure who will Ethical Review Board under the Nepal Health According to him, his company was trying to get the vaccine and how, according to Thakur. Research Council. “Even if everything goes as make deals with Covid-19 vaccine manufactur- “Once the government starts importing the expected and the vaccine passes the Phase II ing companies for the last four months and final- vaccine, it must ensure total coverage. It should trial, it still takes months for it to come to wide- ly succeeded with the Russian company— guarantee that the poor are not deprived of the spread use.” Gamaleya National Research Institute of vaccine,” said Thakur. “It’s the government’s Trinity Pharmaceuticals, however, defended Epidemiology and Microbiology. duty to uphold citizens’ fundamental right to the deal, saying that the agreement is aimed at “There are two ways of bringing vaccines— life. If the government sits quietly and allows “booking” the vaccine. either it is imported under a government-to- gov- private companies to sell the vaccine, it will “If the Phase III trial of Russian vaccine suc- ernment deal or supplier companies import mean it will remain out of poor people’s reach.”

C M Y K 03 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2020 NATIONAL

BRIEFING Kathmandu city

One dead, six injured officials inspect 123 in bear attacks OKHALDHUNGA: One person has died shops in 22 days and six others have been injured in ANUP OJHA three separate bear attacks within KATHMANDU, SEPT 30 the last one-and-half weeks in Okhaldhunga district. According to In a bid to prevent artificial shortages the Division Forest Office, of essential goods during the upcom- Solukhumbu, locals from ing festive season, Kathmandu Mahakulung Rural Municipality and Metropolitan City authorities started Solududhkunda Municipality have inspecting the market three weeks ago been living in fear for the last few under the leadership of Deputy Mayor years due to a spate of bear attacks in Hari Prabha Khadgi. the area. The division office said that The monitoring committee, which 24 people have sustained injuries and comprised officials from the one has died in separate bear attacks Department of Food Technology and in the district in the last five years. Quality Control and Nepal Chamber Meanwhile, a 27-year-old man died in of Commerce, inspected 123 shops, a tiger attack in Chandrapur and four wholesale outlets in the last Municipality in Rautahat district on 22 days, said Khadgi. “We confiscated Tuesday evening. 13,262 kg onions. We found that some shops were selling onions for Rs 130 per kg, even when they bought it for Fugitive convict arrested Rs 46 per kg.” NUWAKOT: Police arrested a fugitive, Consumer rights activists, however, who had been convicted and sen- POST PHOTO: BEEJU MAHARJAN say the city should monitor the mar- tenced to 30 years in jail for human A child priest comes out of the Golden Temple shrine in Lalitpur after performing the daily worship. According to local tradition, only children can perform the worship ket at all times, and not just during trafficking two years ago, in at the temple. A new child is chosen to carry out the job every month. festivals. Gokarneshwor, Kathmandu on “Whatever city officials have done Tuesday. A police team from the is for the sake of publicity,” said Jyoti District Police Office, Nuwakot, with Baniya, chairperson at Forum for the help from Kathmandu police, Protection of Consumer Rights, arrested Sukaman Tamang, 36, of Nepal. He said that if officials were Dupcheshwor-1 while he was hiding serious about monitoring the market, in the city. Nuwakot District Court Plan to collect details of 10m people for the richest and biggest metropolitan had sentenced him to 30 years in pris- city in the country would roll out its on three years ago. The convict had Market Management Act. been on the run following the verdict. “The constitution of Nepal empow- ers all the local units to draft their National ID card affected by pandemic local market laws, but the city has not Covid-19 patient’s body made such a law. Without the law, how cremated for the first time can it monitor the market properly?” SARLAHI: The body of a 70-year-old Officials now hope to take the programme to sparsely populated areas in view of the health crisis in major cities. questioned Baniya. Covid-19 patient was cremated on the According to Baniya, municipali- banks of the Bagmati in Sarlahi dis- PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA According to the Department of ple applications and can be read by Although the department had ties such as Kaliya Sub-metropolitan trict on Tuesday. This was the first KATHMANDU, SEPT 30 National ID and Civil Registration, officials using secure terminals. planned to start collecting personal City, Damak Municipality, time a Covid-19 patient’s body was the coronavirus pandemic has The department has already set up details in densely populated areas Bhimeshwor Municipality, Waling cremated in Nepal, according to Suraj Had the lockdown been not enforced to emerged as a major setback for its stations at 73 of the 77 district admin- first, it is now considering doing so in Municipality, Tansen Municipality, Raut, chief at Ranasher Battalion in prevent the spread of the Covid-19 in plan to collect personal details of 10 istration offices to collect details of sparsely populated hilly and moun- Birendranagar Municipality, Tikapur the district. “We used to bury bodies March, Chitwan District million people in 38 districts in the individuals. A total of 1,066 pieces of tainous districts amid the coronavirus Municipality and Itahari Municipality of the Covid-19 patients in the past. Administration would have completed current fiscal year. equipment to register biometric data threat. have already formulate their own But now, we have started cremating collecting biometric and other infor- “We could hardly do anything dur- have been kept on standby to be mobi- The department started collecting local market monitoring laws. the bodies as per the new working mation of the people of the district for ing the first two months of the current lised in each ward of the districts personal details and distributing Deputy Mayor Khadgi said that the guideline issued by the Ministry of the distribution of National ID cards fiscal year. We don’t know if we can where personal details are being national identification cards two Consumer Protection Act 2075 (2018) Health and Population,” added Raut. by mid-July. move ahead with our plan even after collected. years ago. So far, only around 117,000 was used to fine 26 shops for not com- The new guideline allows bodies to be Now, the office is collecting details Dashain and Tihar if coronavirus con- However, work has been halted due people have received their cards. “Our plying with the rules. cremated. of the residents of only a few wards of tinues to spread in the country,” said to the pandemic. “There is risk of focus for this fiscal year was to collect The inspection team destroyed food Bharatpur Metropolitan City and Jitendra Basnet, director general at transmission of the infection while personal details of 10 million people items such as edible oil, biscuits, flour, Ratnanagar Municipality. the department. the biometric data is registered as and distribute the cards in the next noodles, bottled water, drinks, milk Green peas seized from “We had planned to collect details The government plans to introduce each person has to register his/her fiscal year,” said Basnet. and sweets that had already expired of people in Madi Municipality too. national identification cards that con- finger print and retinal scan on a In November 2018, Home Minister but were being sold in 11 shops. Indo-Nepal border area But, the local government there tain personal and biometric details of machine,” said Basnet.“It is also risky Ram Bahadur Thapa inaugurated the “We also found that 76 grocery BIRGUNJ: Police on Wednesday seized refused to entertain the idea,” said citizens with a unique number. The to record digital signatures and photo- distribution of national identity cards shops were running without being a huge cache of green peas illegally Chief District Officer Narayan Prasad card is to become a basis for the deliv- graphs of individuals.” in Panchthar district by handing registered. We have given them a week stored in Birgunj Metropolis Ward No Bhattarai. ery of various government services. In Chitwan, according to Chief over the first card to 101-year-old to register themselves,” said Khadgi. 16. It is suspected that 6,500 sacks of He said that the details of the people Once implemented, the card, which District Officer Bhattarai, officials Bhagawati Devi Bhandari of Phidim But Baniya is not impressed. He green peas were stored near the are being collected by strictly follow- bears the holder’s name and surname, have made it compulsory for people to Municipality-4. said that the city should have done Nepal-India border to be smuggled ing health protocols. The government address, father’s name, mother’s use satiniser while getting their per- Given that crucial biometric data of more. “It could have opened a shop to into India. The market price for the had chosen Chitwan, along with name, photo and prints of both the sonal biometric data recorded. citizens is controlled by the state, sell essential items at reduced prices. seized peas, according to local trad- Jhapa, Sankhuwashbha and thumbs and index fingers, shall “Our biggest concern is about con- questions have also been raised about But still the federal government is ers, is around Rs 26 million. A Kanchanpur, for the current phase of replace the existing citizenship card. vincing people to use the same its impact on the constitutional- running such shops,” said Baniya. detailed investigation is underway, data collection for the National ID The biometric smart card, accord- machine others have used,” said ly-guaranteed right to privacy. “What has the local government done said police. card programme. ing to the department, will have multi- Basnet. for its citizens so far?” he questioned. House panel asks government to let Nepali women take up domestic help jobs in the Gulf But seven pre-conditions need to be met, members of parliamentary committee say.

CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL workers as mentioned in those pacts.” KATHMANDU, SEPT 30 Nepal currently has labour agree- ments with nine countries—Qatar, the Nepali women will finally be able to United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, migrate and work in the Persian Gulf Japan, Israel, Jordan, South Korea, as domestic workers. Malaysia and Mauritius. After more than three years of Some of the recent labour pacts imposing a ban on Nepali women from such as with Oman and the UAE prior- taking up domestic jobs in the Gulf itise special arrangements to protect countries, a parliamentary committee vulnerable groups, especially Nepali has now directed the government to female migrants, to protect them from allow them to work as domestic help human trafficking and forced labour. in those countries. Also, there should be no discrimina- A meeting of the Commerce, Labour tion in terms of facilities, perks, work- and Consumer Welfare Committee on ing environment and safety among Tuesday asked the government to Nepali and local workers while relax the ban so that women, who engaged in the same kind of work. often take informal and unsafe routes, The host country should have a law will be able to work as domestic help. POST FILE PHOTO for stringent actions against the local According to Bimal Prasad Nepali women were banned from working in sponsor, host family, employer and Shreevastav, chairperson of the par- the Gulf three years ago. any members of the family for any liamentary committee, women can form of physical, mental and sexual travel and work as domestic help even mentary committee has enlisted seven violence against Nepali women. in the Gulf countries as the situation conditions for sending Nepali women Besides, Nepali domestic workers has improved in recent years. to work as domestic help in the Gulf. should have easy access to communi- “The existing ban came as the gov- The destination countries should cate with Nepali missions and their ernment would not send Nepali have a solid and separate law for families back home. women to the Gulf countries as ensuring services, conditions and pro- Nepali women’s migration has long domestic workers without a labour tection. Nepal and labour receiving faced a series of bans over the years, deal with the country of destination,” countries must have a bilateral agree- which only affects their right to free Shreevastav told the Post. “The Nepal ment. Labour agreements should movement and seek employment. The government has signed several labour ensure workers’ basic rights like protectionist approach of the govern- agreements with many countries. wages, weekly and annual leave, social ment has long been criticised for put- These workers can migrate to work in security, occupational safety and ting women workers in trouble instead those countries.” health, working hours, 24-hour insur- as they resort to informal channels The government had stopped send- ance, and additional perks for extra and risk falling in the trap of human ing women to the Gulf countries as work, according to the committee. traffickers. housemaids after a subcommittee of The labour agreements should have Labour experts welcome the order the then International Relations and envisaged a bilateral, strong and effec- of the parliamentary committee, but Labour Committee of Parliament had tive mechanism for resolving issues question its immediate implementa- ordered the government to bar Nepalis facing domestic workers. Aspiring tion and how it will benefit them. from travelling to the Gulf countries. women workers should have training “The parliamentary committee con- The ban was enforced as per the in domestic help, a basic understand- sidering women migrants workers recommendation of the panel, led by ing of the local language and culture, issue and relaxing the ban is a praise- Prabhu Sah, which visited the Gulf in rituals and mandatory training in the worthy effort,” said Sharu Joshi April 2017 to take stock of the working host country before starting work. Shrestha, a gender and migration conditions and other aspects. “When there was no labour agree- expert. “But has it completely solved The report submitted in August ment between Nepal and countries in the issue? The relaxation of the ban 2017 showed widespread abuse and the Gulf, Nepali women workers with conditions is still impractical.” exploitation of domestic workers, would face difficulties. With the sign- According to Shrestha, meeting the mainly women, in Qatar, Saudi ing of labour agreements, there is the seven conditions prescribed by the Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait, and rec- protection of their rights, facilities parliamentary committee would be ommended a ban. Since then, there and also provisions for compensa- difficult. have been debates around the signifi- tion,” said Shrivastav. “Meeting all the conditions would cance of the blanket ban as job-seek- “Women migrating to work as be ideal. The decision says both coun- ing women have continued to migrate, domestic help earlier in the absence tries should have agreements to pro- often through unsafe routes, and are of such labour pacts and during ban tect women,” said Shrestha. being exposed to more vulnerabilities. would be undocumented. They had no “But even when there are no bilater- The latest relaxation, however, rights. Now it is also the responsibili- al pacts, Nepali women workers are comes with conditions. The parlia- ty of the host government to protect also protected by local labour laws.”

C M Y K THURSDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2020 | 04 OPINION EDITORIAL Our broken politics Much ado about vaccine A leopard never changes its Nepal must put in place an effective vaccine policy spots, and our political so as to ensure total coverage. leaders have shown a similar inability to change. The whole world today is at war, but together against a com- mon enemy. The Covid-19 pandemic has brought an unprece- dented challenge to humanity. The number of infections is DEEPAK THAPA soaring—and so is the number of deaths. It’s a race against time, as countries like the United States, China, India, the AS I LIKE United Kingdom and Russia, to name a few, are scrambling to find a vaccine for the coronavirus. There is no clarity yet as to when the first sure shot vaccine will be available for the larger populations. And for a country like Nepal, even if the vac- cines become available, having the shots here for the general When the CPN-UML and the CPN populace almost immediately could be a pipedream. (Maoist Centre) announced their alli- Amid this, last month the government said at least three ance on the eve of the parliamentary countries—the United Kingdom, Russia and China—had elections in 2017, I for one had no illu- expressed their interest to conduct Phase III clinical trials of sions of what the combined might of their vaccines in Nepal. However, there was no word from the these two parties would accomplish government on further developments, if any. Then, on Tuesday, once in power. The feeling of forebod- ing only deepened after they complete- reports suggested that Russia would supply 25 million doses of ly decimated the other parties at the Sputnik V, the vaccine Moscow claims to have successfully tri- federal and provincial levels. Granted aled, to Nepal. Government officials expressed their ignorance that the scale of the victory of what about such a development. According to a press statement by was to become the Nepal Communist the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Russia’s sovereign wealth Party was a result mainly due to the fund, the vaccines would be made available to Nepal through a fecklessness of the Nepali Congress private health care firm—Trinity Pharmaceuticals. leadership, then in government, but POST FILE PHOTO Multiple officials, from the foreign to the health ministries, also of the disarray the other political the Department of Drug Administration and the Nepal Health forces were in. And, of course, a gulli- Nepal’s woes would be resolved once deaths along the way be damned. Only ing drama. Perhaps the only exciting ble electorate taken in by the impossi- we had a chief executive directly elect- such an attitude can explain the com- bit to come out of the ongoing boring Research Council, told the Post that they had no idea about bly tall promises made by the country’s ed by the people and not beholden to plete silence to the many videos doing bickering within the Nepali Congress Russia supplying the Covid-19 vaccines to Nepal. Russian two major communist forces. party politics that had been Nepal’s the rounds showing the plight of the was when women leaders questioned if President Vladimir Putin announced last month that Russia It certainly did not require any spe- bane in the 1990s, and again in the hundreds of men, women and children, they were never going to be considered became the first country in the world to approve a vaccine cial inductive powers to reach the con- years after 2008. mainly from the Tarai but also from for leadership positions. Otherwise, against Covid-19. According to a report in the New York clusion I had, since the same could The constitution adopted a parlia- India, who are spending days and what a yawn! Times, global health authorities had pointed out that the vac- have been said for any party. The record mentary system and along with it the nights just for a PCR test to be allowed The third-largest force in Parliament, cine had yet to complete critical, late-stage clinical trials to since 1990 spoke for itself. While floun- compromise politics that is both its back to their rented premises in the the newly minted Janata Samajbadi determine its safety and effectiveness. How Russia–or its sov- dering in the political wilderness in the weakness and strength. But the NCP’s capital. Or, to news from the Nepal- Party, is yet to make its presence felt on ereign wealth fund for that matter–managed to reach a deal years 2002 to 2006, the politicians might absolute dominance of the political India border where thousands have the national stage. Having evolved from have been fully sincere when express- sphere meant that until early this year, lined up every day to cross over in countless factions and diverse political with what has been described as a leading private firm in ing contrition for past acts of commis- its leader and the country’s prime min- order to keep the family hearth burn- backgrounds, the only thing holding it health care is unclear. sion and omission. The period since, ister, KP Oli, has behaved exactly like a ing. It must take a fair degree of cal- together appears to be their fear of When the government last month said it would allow for- however, has shown quite clearly that prime minister elected directly by pop- lousness to be able to ignore the desper- being reduced to irrelevance. One can eign companies to conduct Phase III clinical trials in Nepal, the redemption people had been made ular vote would. He usurped power ation writ on the faces of those Nepalis bet on a falling out soon enough under the Post in this space argued that the authorities must consid- to believe in was strictly for effect only. rapidly, not in order to make the busi- as they plunge headlong back into a the weight of having just too many er ethical guidelines and protocols before granting approval The country has undergone historic ness of government smooth but to be country that has become the global people who have tasted leadership and for the trials. But in a sudden twist of events, it looks like a changes, but as far as governance goes, able to rule through fiat. hotspot for Covid-19. not ready to play second fiddle to any- private firm has been roped in by Russia to supply the vac- people have not felt one iota of differ- The arbitrary amendment to the Oli has proved himself totally inca- one, even if it is for the sake of the cines, about which the world and the global scientific commu- ence between what went before 2006 rules of the National Trust for Nature pable of leading the country despite, or country. and what came after. Conservation to suit a patron’s busi- perhaps because of, all the power he The other force that appears to be nity knows nothing. It’s shocking that the government is in For some reason though the Nepal ness interests is just one example. What has accumulated. Yet, like many delud- quite spent at present is the Rastriya the dark about it. Communist Party (NCP) was able to is quite inexplicable is the kind of deal- ed by their own inflated sense of self, Prajatantra Party. Until we learnt The government, as a matter of fact, should be taking the convince enough people that it would ings Oli manages to get involved in. he continues to be blinded to his own through press reports recently that the lead and talking to countries that are leading the race for be different. The scale of victory and Thus, he gave a direct order to scrap failings. He probably thinks he sounds party had resolved its internal dispute Covid-19 vaccines, so as to make the shots available for its the hubris that became immediately the bidding process for e-passports a like a sage but his vaunted way with over its election symbol, it is very like- citizens. The Oli administration has, by and large, failed in its apparent should have raised alarm day before the tenders are to be opened. words is making him out to be more of ly that few in this world were even fight against the coronavirus. As we are into nine months bells but a populace lulled into somno- The country is now in real danger of an ill-informed buffoon. The months aware that such differences were hold- since the first case was reported in the country—with 77,817 lence by visions of a glorious future running out of passports in a few since the coronavirus struck have been ing the party hostage. infections and 498 deaths as of Wednesday—the government went along for the ride. The result has months just so that a crooked minister simply used up in reminding him that In the 12-point agreement of 2005, been a shambles of a government that could seal his own side deal. One out- parliamentary politics is about strik- both the Maoists and the parliamenta- seems to have given up the fight against the disease. has failed in nearly every field, no mat- standing example of sheer incompe- ing the right balance within his own ry parties expressed their commitment Nepal must put in place an effective vaccine policy so as to ter what its spinmeisters would have us tence, is the inability for nearly two party and with the opposition. All the not to repeat mistakes of the past. ensure total coverage. Nepal’s universal immunisation pro- believe, starting with its deliberate and years to issue driving licences—a driv- time spent sorting out his party’s Fifteen years later and with more or gramme for children has been quite successful. Given past definitive undermining of the much-an- ing licence, mind you, not developing affairs means less time spent looking less the same cast of characters in and success stories when it comes to vaccination, it won’t be ticipated federalism exercise itself. hydropower—and only because of all out for the country—if he ever had the out of the revolving doors of power, at wrong to assume that Nepal does possess the required knowl- Presidential prime minister manner of irregularities emanating intent, that is. least we now know what it was—a load edge and system to ensure vaccine delivery. The government During the constitution-drafting from his own office in the procurement And the alternatives? of crock. The only hope for the country must step up efforts to ensure that it brings the vaccine when- phase, the UML had stood in favour of process. A look at the other side of the aisle is is for a new group of leaders to lead a ever it is available. It is incumbent upon the government to a directly elected prime minister, an Of the response to the pandemic, equally disheartening with each party breakout in their respective parties experiment that has been tried only there is little left to be said except that facing leadership squabbles of their and, crucially, change how politics is ensure that a fully tested vaccine is made available to its citi- once, and failed (in Israel). Just like the in the face of this massive failing, the own. I cannot imagine anyone but the done. Otherwise, we will always be zens. The government cannot shirk its fundamental duty Maoists’ choice of a presidential sys- implicit strategy appears to be to aim diehard Nepali Congress supporters to doomed to live in a present that looks towards the people. tem, the argument was that all of for herd immunity, inconveniences and still be keeping up with the never-end- more like the past.

China’s leaders can’t be trusted

A third example of the CPC’s dis- The sooner we recognise Xi’s honesty is its full-frontal assault on Hong Kong’s autonomy, freedom, and dictatorship, the sooner the rule of law. Hong Kong represents all those aspects of an open society that Beijing bullies will have to Chinese communists, despite their professed confidence in their own behave better. technological totalitarianism, regard as an existential threat to the surveil- lance state they have created. CHRIS PATTEN Xi has therefore torn up the promis- es that China made to Hong Kong and the international community in the 1984 Joint Declaration (and subse- quently) that the city would continue to enjoy its liberties until 2047. Moreover, the law that China imposed to eviscerate Hong Kong’s freedom has When I was governor of Hong Kong, extra-territorial scope. Article 38 of one of my noisiest critics was Sir the National Security Law can apply Percy Cradock, a former British to anyone in Hong Kong, mainland ambassador to China. Cradock always China, or any other country. So, for argued that China would never break example, an American, British, or its solemn promises, memorialised in Japanese journalist who wrote any- a treaty lodged at the United Nations, thing in his or her own country criti- to guarantee Hong Kong’s high degree cising the Chinese government’s poli- of autonomy and way of life for 50 cy in Tibet or Hong Kong could be years after the return of the city from arrested if he or she were to set foot in British to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. Hong Kong or China. Cradock once memorably said that Finally, one can add China’s sackful although China’s leaders may be of broken trade and investment prom- ‘thuggish dictators’, they were ‘men ises, which overturned both the letter of their word’ and could be ‘trusted to and spirit of what CPC officials had do what they promise’. Nowadays, we previously pledged. China’s coercive have overwhelming evidence of the commercial diplomacy includes truth of the first half of that observa- threats not to buy exports of countries tion. whose governments have the courage Chinese President Xi Jinping’s dic- to stand up to Xi. This has happened to tatorship is certainly thuggish. Norway, Australia, South Korea, Japan, Consider its policies in Xinjiang. Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Many international lawyers argue Canada, the United States, and others. that the incarceration of over one mil- PAULWONG/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM The end result is often less than China lion Muslim Uighurs, forced sterilisa- So, what about Xi and his apparat- which also originated in China, the ‘suppressed, falsified, and obfuscated pursuing militarisation in and around had threatened, but not before an tion and abortion, and slave labour chiks being ‘men of their word’? Alas, World Health Organisation negotiated data and repressed advance warnings the Spratly Islands in the South China industry or economic sector has meet the UN definition of genocide. that part of Cradock’s description has with its members—including China— about the contagion as early as Sea. begged its government to back down. This wicked repression goes beyond no basis in reality. The last thing the to establish a set of guidelines known December’ last year. But this was a pledge with Chinese One thing is clear: the world cannot thuggery. world should do is trust the as the International Health The result is that the coronavirus communist characteristics: it was trust Xi’s dictatorship. The sooner we A recent Australian Strategic Policy Communist Party of China (CPC). Regulations. Under these rules, espe- has become a far greater menace than completely untrue. Satellite imagery recognise this and act together, the Institute study based on satellite Four examples of the Chinese leader- cially Article 6, the Chinese govern- it otherwise would have been. This is released by the Center for Strategic sooner the Beijing bullies will have to images indicates that China has built ship’s duplicity and mendacity—four ment is obliged—like all other signato- the CPC’s coronavirus, not least and International Studies, a US think behave better. The world will be safer 380 internment camps in Xinjiang, out of many—should make this obvi- ries to the agreement—to collect infor- because the party silenced brave tank, provides convincing evidence and more prosperous for it. including 14 still under construction. ous to all. mation on any new public-health Chinese doctors when they tried to that the Chinese military has deployed Having initially denied that these First, consider the China-sourced emergency and report it to the WHO blow the whistle on what was happen- large batteries of anti-aircraft guns on Patten, the last British governor of camps even existed, some Chinese Covid-19 pandemic, which has killed within 24 hours. ing. the islands. At the same time, the Hong Kong and a former EU commis- officials now claim that most people almost one million people globally and Instead, as the University of Ottawa Former US President Barack Chinese navy has rammed and sunk sioner for external affairs, is detained in them have already been destroyed jobs and livelihoods on a professor Errol Patrick Mendes, a dis- Obama also can attest to Xi’s lack of Vietnamese fishing vessels in these Chancellor of the University of returned to their own communities. horrendous scale in recent months. tinguished international human- trustworthiness. In September 2015, waters and tested new anti-aircraft Oxford. Clearly, this is far from the truth. After the 2002-03 SARS epidemic, rights lawyer, has pointed out, China Xi assured Obama that China was not carrier missiles there. —Project Syndicate

C M Y K 05 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2020 MONEY India faces rising Covid-19 creates job openings in e-commerce sector fiscal deficit as While the rest of the economy sees gloomy prospects, online sellers have been hiring with a frenzy in the delivery, logistics and warehouse departments. pandemic hits taxes KRISHANA PRASAIN done for the entry level compared to online shopping leading to a growth of KATHMANDU, SEPT 30 the mid-level and senior level, said their business. The number of cus- REUTERS Chitrakar. tomers and buying frequency has NEW DELHI, SEPT 30 Finding a job in the midst of a “Orders jumped fourfold after the increased. pandemic when companies are pandemic hit the country with grow- With the Covid-19 caseload rising in India is staring at a ballooning fiscal laying off staff or slashing salaries is ing public confidence in online shop- Kathmandu, online shopping has deficit against an initial estimate of no easy task. ping,” Chitrakar told the Post. become the only option for valley 3.5 percent of GDP in the current But many job hunters like Sheshraj The number of complaints from dwellers. The government imposed a financial year as the coronavirus Lamichhane, who began to look for consumers has also gone up. lockdown on March 24 which forced shrinks jobs and hits tax collection, work after becoming unable to contin- At a recent virtual meeting entitled people to buy household goods on the government data showed on ue with the Roads Department, are Future of E-Commerce in South Asia internet as the markets were closed. Wednesday. finding opportunities in new avenues organised by South Asia Watch on “It used to be difficult to find staff The federal fiscal deficit for the five spawned by Covid-19. Trade, Economics and Environment, before the pandemic, but as many peo- months through August stood at 8.7 “I came to know about a vacancy for Ratnakar Adhikari, executive director ple are being laid off and migrant trillion rupees ($117.98 billion), or store in-charge at Mero Kirana for the Enhanced Integrated workers are returning home, it has 109.3 percent of the budgeted target through Facebook, and applied for it,” Framework Secretariat at the World become easy to hire people from the for the current fiscal year ending in said the 31-year-old Lamichhane who Trade Organisation (WTO), Geneva, pool of talent,” said Surakchya March 2021. Net federal tax receipts in lives with his wife and daughter at said that the South Asia region Adhikari, co-founder and chief oper- the five months through August Kalanki. “It has been more than two held tremendous potential for e-com- ating officer at the company. declined by about 30 percent year on months since I started working there, merce, but also faces critical challeng- “People who have had their pay year to 2.84 trillion rupees, even and I am being paid regularly,” he told es—primarily, inadequate regulatory halved are also showing interest in though fuel taxes rose. the Post. arrangements, poor infrastructure, transitioning to the e-commerce sec- The deficit is predicted to exceed 8 Businesses have been dismissing and dearth of skills. tor,” she said. “Even though the lock- percent of GDP in the 2020/21 fiscal their employees due to the slowdown “All these challenges have to be down restrictions have been eased, year, economists said, mainly due to a caused by the virus. But while the rest resolved through collective efforts, people still prefer to do their buying sharp economic contraction triggered of the economy sees gloomy prospects, SHUTTERSTOCK policy support and through building online, which is a positive growth sign by the pandemic. the e-commerce sector has been hiring The sector has hired more than 2,500 people recently as their business is booming, according an environment of trust,” said for the sector,” she said. “Five months of data reveal a sordid with a frenzy in the delivery, logistics to e-commerce traders. Adhikari, emphasising the impor- “The e-commerce sector has helped tale,” said Aditi Nayar, economist at and warehouse departments. tance of trade facilitation and logis- in unemployment reduction and ICRA, the Indian arm of Moody’s rat- Online sellers like Sasto Deal, lion from 168,627 transactions in one people recently as their business is tics for the development of the e-com- employment generation in the coun- ing agency, adding the deficit for the Daraz, Mero Kirana and Thulo.com, month. The central bank started col- booming. Subal Chitrakar, co-founder merce ecosystem. try,” said Sagar Dev Bhatta, coordina- whole year could spike to 14 trillion among others, are on a hiring spree lecting data of online sales from and operation head of Sasto Deal, said “The number of people buying tor of the Nepal E-Commerce and rupees against budgeted estimate of 8 and picking up entry-level talents. mid-August. The central bank stated the company had announced vacan- clothes, footwear, mobile phones and Online Delivery Service Operator trillion rupees. Their turnover is soaring as people that electronic payment transactions cies for 500 people with more than 60 electronic items is growing signifi- Forum. According to e-retailers, most The government has not officially are switching to buying things online increased significantly due to the percent of them required for the logis- cantly with the coming festival this people tried online shopping during revised the fiscal deficit target so far instead of making a trip to the mar- development of payment infrastruc- tics department. year compared to the same time last the lockdown, and many first-time for the whole fiscal year. ket, and risk contracting the coronavi- ture, a policy of encouraging electron- E-commerce is creating employ- year,” Chitrakar said. “We are not see- buyers have become regular custom- Asia’s third-largest economy is fore- rus with the caseload rising by the day. ic payments and gradual adoption of ment opportunities, especially for ing the pandemic’s impact on people’s ers now. While many businesses are cast to shrink up to 10 percent in the According to a report by Nepal electronic payment instruments. those who do not have a strong qualifi- purchasing behaviour,” he said. collapsing due to the pandemic, e-com- current fiscal year, according to esti- Rastra Bank, the e-commerce sector According to e-commerce traders, cation background and are semi- E-commerce traders have high hopes merce has provided an opportunity to mates by several private economists, conducted business worth Rs1.20 bil- the sector has hired more than 2,500 skilled, he said. More hiring is being that offline buyers will switch to start a new business, they said. its weakest performance since 1979.

FOREX

US Dollar 118.33 China preparing an

Euro 138.55 Pound Sterling 151.85 antitrust investigation Japanese Yen 11.20

Chinese Yuan 17.38

Qatari Riyal 32.50 into Google, sources say

Australian Dollar 84.25 REUTERS BEIJING/SINGAPORE/SHENZHEN, SEPT 30 Malaysian Ringit 28.48 A decision on Saudi Arab Riyal 31.55 China is preparing to launch an anti- whether to proceed trust probe into Alphabet Inc’s Google, Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank looking into allegations it has lever- with a formal aged the dominance of its Android mobile operating system to stifle com- inquiry may come Shares petition, two people familiar with the Nepse 1,550.43pts matter said. as soon as October. -0.21% The case was proposed by telecom- HIGHEST LOSERS munications equipment giant Huawei NFS NGPL PPCL UFL RRHP LLBS Technologies Co Ltd last year and The sources were not authorised to -6.87% -3.24% -2.89% -2.66% -2.31% -2.14% has been submitted by the country’s speak publicly on the matter and MODERATE LOSERS top market regulator to the State declined to be identified. Google did POST PHOTO: DEEPAK KC RBCL NSEWA CHL MMFDB UMHL BNT Council’s antitrust committee for not provide immediate comment, A man prepares to display kites for sale at his shop in Lalitpur. Kite sales surge ahead of Dashain but vendors are reporting lower sales as the -2.1% -2.02% -1.97% -1.94% -1.9% -1.9% review, they added. while Huawei declined to comment. rise of smartphones and social media have people spending less time kite-flying. MODERATE GAINERS A decision on whether to proceed China’s top market regulator, the PFL NHPC HDHPC KRBL DHPL KKHC with a formal investigation may come State Administration for Market 7.78% 8.89% 9.24% 9.32% 9.38% 9.43% as soon as October and could be affect- Regulation, and the State Council did HIGHEST GAINERS ed by the state of China’s relationship not immediately respond to requests PMHPL UNHPL AKJCL GHL JOSHI KSBBL with the United States, one of the for comment. 9.49% 9.52% 9.91% 9.91% 10% 10% people said. The US trade blacklist bars Google Gold set for worst month in four The potential investigation follows from providing technical support to a raft of actions by US President new Huawei phone models and access Donald Trump’s administration to to Google Mobile Services, the bundle BULLION PRICE PER TOLA hobble Chinese tech companies, citing of developer services upon which years as US dollar strengthens national security risks. most Android apps are based. Fine Gold Rs 94,700 This has included putting Huawei Google had a temporary licence that on its trade blacklist, threatening sim- exempted it from the ban on Huawei REUTERS US dollar,” said independent analyst result of the election because he lost, Silver Rs 1,190 ilar action for Semiconductor but it expired in August. NEW YORK, SEPT 30 Ross Norman. He said gold still had then I think that would be very benefi- Manufacturing International Corp It was not immediately clear what momentum but had probably made cial for gold,” said Natixis analyst SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA and ordering TikTok owner ByteDance Google services the potential probe Gold fell on Wednesday and was on most of its gains. Bernard Dahdah. to divest the short-form video app. would focus on. Most Chinese smart- track for its biggest monthly decline “Gold is in a consolidation pattern, Such an event would raise ques- It also comes as China embarks on a phone vendors use an open-source in nearly four years, as the dollar ben- but within a bull trend,” he said. tions over the US political and eco- major revamp of its antitrust laws version of the Android platform with efited from caution that crept into For the quarter, bullion is on track nomic system and therefore benefit GASOLINE WATCH with proposed amendments including alternatives to Google services on financial markets after the first US for its eighth straight gain. gold, he added. a dramatic increase in maximum their domestic phones. Google’s presidential debate. A chaotic first US presidential Investors also tracked progress on a fines and expanded criteria for search, email and other services are Spot gold fell 0.7 percent to $1,883.62 debate turned investors cautious and new US coronavirus relief bill. judging a company’s control of blocked in China. per ounce by 0944 GMT, declining 4.3 drove them to seek refuge in the dollar, Silver fell 2.1 percent to $23.66 per a market. Huawei has said it missed its 2019 percent so far in September, setting it reducing gold’s appeal for other cur- ounce and platinum slipped 2 percent A potential probe would also look at revenue target by $12 billion, which up for its worst monthly performance rency holders. The dollar index was to $866.97. Silver was on track for its accusations that Google’s market posi- company officials have attributed to since November 2016. set for its best month since July 2019. first monthly contraction since tion could cause “extreme damage” to US actions against it. US gold futures were down 0.8 per- Gold also failed to take advantage of March, falling more than 16 percent, Chinese companies like Huawei, as Seeking to overcome its reliance on cent at $1,888.10 per ounce. retreating US stock futures after and Platinum was set to post its big- losing the US tech giant’s support for Google, the Chinese firm announced “I think from gold’s perspective, it Trump cast doubt on whether he gest fall since March, declining 6.6 Android-based operating systems plans this month to introduce its pro- [the election debate] was a non-event would accept the election’s outcome. percent. Palladium fell 0.3 percent to would lead to loss of confidence and prietary Harmony operating system and all we saw gold doing was honour- “If you do get a situation where $2,301.61 per ounce but was up 2.7 per- revenue, a second person said. in smartphones next year. ing its inverse relationship with the Trump refuses to acknowledge the cent for the month. Volkswagen to overhaul its strategy for high-performance brands

REUTERS market disruption, we must focus and ment, Volkswagen relies more on cash WOLFSBURG (GERMANY), SEPT 30 ask ourselves what the transforma- flow from sales of combustion-engine tion means for the individual parts of cars to fund its shift to battery-pow- Volkswagen is reviewing the future the group,” Diess told Reuters. ered vehicles. of its high-performance brands “Brands must be measured against “We are a large conglomerate and Lamborghini, Bugatti and Ducati as new requirements. By electrification, have to struggle with a low multiple part of broader quest for more econo- by reach, by digitalisation and connec- and a conglomerate discount. But we mies of scale as it shifts to mass pro- tivity of the vehicle. There is new are doing something about it,” Diess BIZLINE ducing electric cars, senior executives room for manoeuvre and every brand said, pointing to the sale of engine told Reuters. must find its new place,” he said. drive maker Renk and the restructur- Volkswagen’s management board Besides building the common elec- ing of truck brand MAN. Ncell launches attractive weekly and directors will look at the carmak- tric vehicle architecture that will Diess believes the company’s valua- ‘Pay As You Go’ data scheme er’s strategy at a meeting in November underpin many of its bigger brands, tion will rise once the market under- and are working on a new “to do list” Volkswagen needs to free up cash to stands how profitable its electric vehi- KATHMANDU: The scheme launched by as the company tries to more than develop connected and autonomous cles are, but it faces a short-term Ncell, Pay As You Go (PAYG), allows double its value to 200 billion euros vehicle technology and new forms of investment crunch after EU lawmak- customers to spend the main balance ($235 billion), one executive said. mobility services. ers proposed a 50 percent cut in car- on data and the more they spend, the The review could result in technolo- Last year, Volkswagen sold 4,554 bon dioxide emissions by 2030. service rate gets cheaper, as low as 40 gy partnerships for the high-perfor- Lamborghinis, which start at about He told Reuters the goal of raising paisa per MB, states the press release mance sports car and superbike REUTERS $200,000 and cost millions for special Volkswagen’s market value to 200 bil- issued by the company. After spend- brands, restructuring, or other A Bugatti Chiron sports car is driven on a road near Molsheim, France. editions. It sold 82 Bugattis, which lion euros by 2025, was still valid. ing up to Rs20 for data in a week, cus- options up to and including a listing have seven-digit price tags, and just “We formulated the 200 billion tomers will be charged the standard or sale, two executives, who declined The stark choice faced by formance brands individually but over 53,000 Ducati motorbikes. euros company valuation as an aspira- rate of Rs2 per MB. Once they spend to be named, said. Volkswagen comes as Chief Executive acknowledged that Volkswagen, which But some company insiders ques- tional target,” Diess said. Rs20 to Rs50, the rate drops to Rs1 per They said Volkswagen, which also Herbert Diess seeks new ways to free also has a stable of trucks, needed to tion whether it’s worth investing “Volkswagen is severely underval- MB. If they spend more than Rs50 on owns VW, Audi, Porsche, Seat and up cash to fund its move away from reinvent itself for an era of electric scarce resources to produce silent ued when you look at its technological data, they will be able to use PAYG Skoda, is looking at whether it has the combustion engines after powerful and autonomous cars. electric versions if they don’t appeal competence, its global positioning and data service at just 40 paisa per MB. resources to develop electric plat- labour leaders blocked a cost-cutting “We are constantly looking at our to fans of the noisy, high-octane perhaps also when you see that, com- The weekly PAYG spending is calcu- forms for its smaller brands at a time drive in Germany. brand portfolio, this is particularly brands. Unlike many US firms which pared with the competition, we have lated on a weekly cycle, beginning it is investing billions to transform its In an interview with Reuters, Diess true during the phase of fundamental can tap more liquid and deeper capital the best prerequisites in terms of Sunday to Saturday. more mainstream cars. declined to comment on the high-per- change in our industry. In view of the markets to raise money for invest- technology.”

C M Y K THURSDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2020 | 06 WORLD Indian capital loses Biden faces down Trump in chaotic debate Over 60 million cleaner lockdown Indians may have air as farmers burn At times, neither Biden nor the moderator could get a word in, as the Republican loudly touted his economic record. caught coronavirus, sands of ballots being manipulated, I can’t go along with that.” crop waste And when asked if he condemned study says far-right armed militias like the REUTERS Proud Boys, Trump gave a cryptic AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE NEW DELHI, SEPT 30 reply: “Proud Boys—stand back and NEW DELHI, SEPT 30 stand by.” India’s longest spell of clean air on The paramilitary group later More than 60 million people in India— record came to an end in September appeared to adopt the phrase, with a 10 times the official figure—could when New Delhi, the world’s most social media account linked to the have contracted the novel coronavi- polluted capital city, recorded a signif- Proud Boys posting a logo that read rus, the country’s lead pandemic agen- icant deterioration in air quality, part- “Stand Back, Stand By.” cy said Tuesday, citing a nationwide ly due to crop waste burning by farm- Biden sought to tie Trump squarely study measuring antibodies. ers. to the Covid-19 pandemic that has According to official data India, Up until this month, New Delhi and claimed more than 200,000 lives in the home to 1.3 billion people, is the its satellite cities, which last year United States, more than in any other world’s second most infected nation, accounted for half of the dozen country. And he came with a visible with more than 6.1 million cases, just most-polluted cities worldwide, had plan to dodge the Trump rhetorical behind the United States. enjoyed respite due to the strict storm by frequently turning to face But the real figure could be much nationwide lockdown to stem the the cameras directly and addressing higher, according to the latest serolog- spread of the coronavirus. the tens of millions of people watch- ical survey—a study testing blood for But, a pick-up in economic activity ing across the country. certain antibodies to estimate the pro- and a slightly early start to crop waste “How many of you got up this portion of a population that has burning, a significant source of pollu- morning and had an empty chair at fought off the virus. tion during the winter months, has the kitchen table because someone “The main conclusions from this made the air more toxic again. died of Covid?” Biden said, channe- sero-survey are that one in 15 individ- “The gains which we had seen ling his famed ability to show empa- uals aged more than 10 have been because of the lockdown are lost in AP/RSS thy for the suffering—something that exposed to SARS-CoV-2 by August,” September,” said Sachchida Nand US President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden participate in a presidential debate in Cleveland on Tuesday. Trump has long had difficulty in Indian Council of Medical Research Tripathi, a professor at the IIT Kanpur matching. (ICMR) director-general Balram and a member of the National Clear AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Democrat “wrapped around their lit- At one point an exasperated Mocking the 74-year-old Trump for Bhargava said at a health ministry Air Mission, a federal body. CLEVELAND, SEPT 30 tle finger.” Biden, who leads strongly in the polls, one of his more notorious statements press conference. In September, the concentration of And he got personal, seeking to rile turned to Trump and said: “Will you on supposed cures for coronavirus, Bhargava said evidence of virus poisonous PM2.5 particles in a cubic Democrat Joe Biden told a raging the former vice president by accusing shut up, man!” Biden said: “Maybe you could inject exposure was more prevalent among metre of air averaged at 47.64 micro- President Donald Trump to “shut up” one of his sons of corruption, and That moment symbolised Biden’s bleach in your arm and that would people tested in urban slums (15.6 per- grams, more than 17% higher from the in a chaotic opening debate that telling Biden that “there’s nothing performance in an arena where take care of it.” cent) and non-slum urban areas (8.2 same month last year, according to a turned almost immediately into a smart” about him. Trump’s campaign had for months Before they even appeared for the percent), than in rural areas, where Reuters analysis of government data, shouting match weeks ahead of Biden, though, not only gave as been predicting he would crumble. first of their scheduled three 90-min- 4.4 percent of those surveyed had indicating a “poor” rating. the most tense US election in recent good as he got—he launched the kind The Republican had spread lurid ute TV debates, Biden was capitalis- antibodies. That is almost twice the level memory. of attack on Trump the billionaire conspiracy theories right up until the ing on bombshell revelations in The The blood tests were collected from deemed safe by the World Health The debate in Cleveland, Ohio, was president has rarely had to endure to last minute that Biden would need New York Times that the businessman just over 29,000 people in 21 states or Organisation (WHO), though it is still as bad-tempered as had been feared, his face. drugs or an earpiece secretly provid- managed to avoid paying almost any territories between mid-August and below the safety level of 60 micro- with Trump leading the way in yelling “Liar,” “racist” and “clown” were ing answers to get through the night. federal income taxes for years. mid-September. grams set by SAFAR, India’s environ- over his challenger and the Fox News just some of the missiles launched The anger-filled event did nothing Trump—who has broken longtime The new figures are a sharp jump ment monitoring agency. moderator Chris Wallace alike. from Biden, who also branded Trump to calm fears around the country that presidential transparency by refusing from the first sero-survey results, In Punjab state, to the north of New There was no handshake as the two the “puppy” of Russian President the presidential election, taking place to publish his tax returns—reportedly which the ICMR said showed that Delhi, there were about 70 crop fires in men took the stage and while this was Vladimir Putin. in the middle of an ongoing coronavi- used loopholes to pay just $750 in fed- around 0.73 percent of adults in September, more than double the due to Covid-19 restrictions, the At times, neither Biden nor Wallace rus pandemic, could end in chaos. eral tax during the first year of his India—about six million people—were number in the same month last year, absence of the traditional greeting could get a word in, as Trump loudly Asked by Wallace whether they presidency. infected by May. according to a study by the Indian symbolised divisions through the touted his economic record and went pledged to urge calm and refrain from Hours before the Cleveland show- Other antibody studies conducted Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur country in the final countdown to after Biden’s son Hunter. declaring victory if the results are not down, Biden published his own tax among residents of the capital New in northern India. November 3. “This will go down as one of the immediately known November 3, returns—and at the debate demanded Delhi and financial hub Mumbai have Air pollution typically worsens dur- Trump went as hard on 77-year-old worst debates in history,” Aaron Kall, Biden said: “Yes.” that Trump do likewise. suggested more infections than the ing the winter months from October to Biden as he’d threatened, saying the a presidential debate specialist at the Trump, though, wouldn’t commit, Trump insisted at the debate that he official numbers say, researchers December. “radical left” had the centrist University of Michigan, told AFP. saying that if he saw “tens of thou- has paid “millions” in taxes. behind the study said. Last year, New Delhi suffered nine consecutive days in late October, early November when the air quality was hazardous, with a PM2.5 reading of 509.2 micrograms recorded on November 3 by IQ AirVisual, a Swiss- Dozens dead as Azeri based group that gathers air-quality data globally. and ethnic Armenian BRIEFING forces fight new clashes UK considered sending asylum REUTERS away region inside Turkey’s close ally seekers to remote location YEREVAN/ BAKU, SEPT 30 Azerbaijan that is run by ethnic Armenians but is not recognised by LONDON: Britain considered a plan to Azerbaijan and ethnic Armenian forc- any country as an independent repub- send asylum seekers 4,000 miles away es fought new clashes on Wednesday lic. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to holding centres on its remote over- in the biggest eruption of their said on Monday Azerbaijan must take seas territories in the south Atlantic decades-old conflict since the mid- matters into its own hands and that but the idea, described as “ludicrous” 1990s, and France and Turkey traded Turkey would stand with it “with all by opponents, was later dropped, the recriminations as international ten- its resources and heart”. Financial Times reported. According sions mounted. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to the paper, the Home Office (interi- Azerbaijan and the ethnic reiterated Ankara’s backing on or ministry) considered building Armenian enclave of Nagorno- Wednesday, saying Turkey would “do migrant processing centres on the Karabakh said there were attacks what is necessary” when asked wheth- volcanic islands of Ascension and St from both sides along the line of con- er it would offer military support if Helena, having looked into how other tact that divides them. Azerbaijan requested it. countries dealt with issues of illegal Dozens have been reported killed Cavusoglu criticised France, which migration. However, Home Secretary and hundreds wounded in fighting has many citizens of Armenian ances- Priti Patel dropped the plan after offi- that began on Sunday and has spread try, saying French solidarity with cials were consulted on the practicali- far beyond the enclave’s borders, Armenia amounted to supporting ty of shipping the asylum seekers to threatening to spill into all-out war Armenian occupation in Azerbaijan. the locations, the FT said. “This ludi- between the former Soviet republics French President Emmanuel crous idea is inhumane, completely of Azerbaijan and Armenia. Macron hit back while visiting fellow impractical and wildly expensive,” The fighting has increased con- NATO member Latvia. Nick Thomas-Symonds, the opposi- cerns about stability in the South Macron said France was extremely tion Labour Party’s home affairs Caucasus region, a corridor for pipe- concerned by “warlike messages from spokesman, said on Twitter. lines carrying oil and gas to world Turkey “which essentially remove markets, and raised fears that region- any of Azerbaijan’s inhibitions in al powers Russia and Turkey could be reconquering Nagorno-Karabakh. EU warns of bird flu outbreak drawn in. And that we won’t accept.” BRUSSELS: European Union nations Some of Turkey’s NATO allies are The UN Security Council called should step up surveillance against increasingly alarmed by Ankara’s on Tuesday for an immediate end to AP/RSS possible outbreaks of avian flu stance on Nagorno-Karabakh, a break- the fighting. People pose for photos near a floral decoration set up for the upcoming National Day in Beijing on Wednesday. among wild and domestic birds, the EU said on Wednesday. The disease is highly contagious for birds, but risks of transmission to humans are con- sidered low, EU health and food agen- cies said in a report published as the Time for plans to continent battles a new spike of coro- Indian court acquits Hindu nationalist leaders ... navirus infections. “EU countries are being urged to step up surveillance >> Continued from page 1 help fund global ment, as it is against evidence and respected court decisions, but this was to challenge the decision. “Will and biosecurity measures to guard Some of those acquitted and their against law,” said Jaffaryab Jilani, an injustice to the community. Muslims get justice there?” he said. against possible new outbreaks of supporters shouted ”Jai Shree Ram,” representing the All India Muslim “When the Supreme Court said that Muslim-majority Pakistan strongly avian influenza this year,” the report Covid-19 vaccine hailing the god Ram, in the court. Law Board. the demolition of the mosque was an condemned the court judgment and said. The warning follows outbreaks They later distributed sweets outside The verdict also was sharply criti- unlawful act, how can a lower court said the defendants who had “boasted over the past few months among wild the court to celebrate the decision. cised by Maulana Khalid Rashid, set free the accused?” he said. of the criminal act publicly could not and domestic birds in western Russia effort, UN chief says The four acquitted BJP leaders—LK chairman of the Islamic Center of Rashid said Muslim organizations have been set free.” and Kazakhstan, which are on the Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma India, who said Muslims have always should evaluate whether it is prudent Pakistan’s foreign ministry said in REUTERS autumn migration route for wild Bharti and Kalyan Singh—have a statement that Hindu nationalists’ NEW YORK/ GENEVA, SEPT 30 water birds heading to Europe. said the mosque’s demolition was a hatred of minorities, particularly spontaneous eruption by angry Hindu Muslims, indicates that India is fast United Nations Secretary-General First patient cured of HIV dies activists. becoming a Hindu nation where Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday IB Singh, an attorney who repre- minorities are second-class citizens. it is time for countries to start using LONDON: Timothy Ray Brown, the first sented Joshi, said investigators On December 6, 1992, tens of thou- money from their national Covid-19 person known to be cured of HIV couldn’t prove the authenticity sands of Hindus gathered for a rally recovery and response plans to help when he had a unique type of bone of audio and video evidence near the disputed site, and groups fund the World Health Organization’s marrow transplant, has died in submitted in the case, and the judge climbed the mosque and demolished it global vaccine plan. California after relapsing with can- held that the case lacked legal evi- with axes and hammers. The Access to Covid-19 Tools (ACT) cer, his partner said. “It is with great dence that the accused were part of The accused included Lal Krishna Accelerator programme and its sadness that I announce that Timothy any conspiracy. Advani, 92, a co-founder of the BJP COVAX facility has so far received $3 passed away ... this afternoon sur- Joshi, who was a minister in a for- who served as deputy prime minister billion, but needs another $35 billion. rounded by myself and friends, after mer BJP government, said “the truth from 2002 to 2004 under Prime Minister It aims to deliver two billion doses of a 5 month battle with leukaemia,” his has triumphed.’’ Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Others included coronavirus vaccines by the end of partner, Tim Hoeffgen, said in a post Advani said in a statement that the another former government minister, next year, 245 million treatments and on Facebook. He said Brown was his judgment “vindicated his and the Uma Bharti, as well as Kalyan Singh, 500 million tests. “hero” and “the sweetest person in BJP’s belief and commitment toward who was the top elected BJP leader of “The ACT-Accelerator provides the world”. Brown, born on March 11, the Ram temple movement.” Uttar Pradesh state when the mosque the only safe and certain way to 1966, became known as the “Berlin Another acquitted defendant, Jai was demolished. re-open the global economy as quickly Patient” after his HIV was cleared by Bhagwan Goyal, said: “We had done In its ruling last November, the as possible.” treatment there in 2007. The case fas- nothing wrong. The whole of India is Supreme Court ordered the entire dis- “A national vaccine effort in a cinated and inspired a generation of happy. Lord Ram’s temple is coming puted area of 1.1 hectares to be allocat- handful of countries will not unlock doctors as well as patients infected up in Ayodhya city.” AP/RSS ed to Hindus for the construction of a the doors to the global economy and with the virus that causes AIDS, The Muslim community will chal- Jai Bhagwan Goyal, a leader of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and an accused in the temple, while 2 hectares at another restore livelihoods,” UN Secretary- offering a glimmer of hope that one lenge the acquittals in an appeals 1992 attack and demolition of a 16th-century mosque, celebrates outside a court in Lucknow, location would be allocated to the con- Genereal Guterres told a high-level day a cure will be found. (AGENCIES) court. “This is an erroneous judg- India, on Wednesday. struction of a mosque. virtual UN event.

C M Y K 07 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2020 SPORTS | MEDLEY BRIEFING Tottenham see off Chelsea in League Cup shoot-out Manchester City sign Portugal’s Ruben Dias from Benfica Lampard’s Blues take lead in the 19th minute through Timo Werner’s first goal but Erik Lamela force a shoot-out with an equaliser in the 83rd minute. MANCHESTER: Manchester City have before netting from close range to completed the signing of Portugal force the shoot-out in which defender Ruben Dias on a six-year Tottenham prevailed. The victory was deal from Benfica, the Premier revenge for Spurs for a 2019 League League club said on Tuesday as they Cup semi-final second-leg defeat to moved to strengthen their defence Chelsea on penalties. two days after a 5-2 home defeat by Spurs boss Jose Mourinho, mean- Leicester City. Argentine defender while, got one over his former Chelsea Nicolas Otamendi moved the other player Frank Lampard, whose Derby way as part of the deal, ending a five- County side beat a Manchester United year spell with City. Benfica team then coached by the Portuguese announced earlier that 23-year-old in a League Cup shoot-out in 2018. “We Dias had moved for a transfer fee of were ready to fight. I told the players 68 million euros plus 3.6 million in before the penalties that they were variables while they agreed to pay 15 magnificent in the second half, we million euros for Otamendi. City will made Chelsea look ordinary. The team hope Dias can help solve their prob- waited for the right moment,” lems at the back with six goals con- Mourinho said. ceded in their first two games of the The League Cup fixture, which Premier League campaign, having came only two days after their 1-1 conceded 35 last season which was draw with Newcastle United, was the their worst defensive record in the second game of a gruelling run of last three years. four matches in eight days for Spurs. Mourinho’s side face Maccabi Haifa at home in a Europa League playoff on Aston Villa land Barkley on loan Thursday before a league fixture at LONDON: Aston Villa have signed Manchester United on Sunday. England midfielder Ross Barkley Mourinho made nine changes to the from Chelsea on a season-long loan, team who had faced Newcastle, stick- both Premier League clubs ing with first-choice goalkeeper Hugo announced on Wednesday. Barkley, 26, Lloris instead of new signing Joe Hart joined Chelsea from boyhood club and giving a second start in three days Everton in 2018 and made 86 appear- to Eric Dier, who stepped up to score ances for Frank Lampard’s side in all the first penalty. competitions, scoring 11 goals. With “I have to think about three games fierce competition for places in a at the same time but the players only Chelsea midfield that consists of AP/RSS thought about this game, they were Jorginho, Mason Mount, Kai Havertz Tottenham players celebrate after beating Chelsea as they avenge the 2019 League Cup semifinal second leg defeat against the same opponents at Tottenham Stadium in London on Tuesday. phenomenal. Phenomenal,” added and N’Golo Kante among others, Mourinho, who praised England inter- Barkley has dropped down the peck- REUTERS the quarter-finals thanks to a 19th-min- after every other spot kick had been Mendy had a confident display in his national Dier despite the defender ing order and managed just one start LONDON, SEPT 30 ute strike from Timo Werner but converted. first game since switching from Stade leaving the pitch to go to the toilet this season. He will add creativity to Erik Lamela forced a shoot-out with Germany forward Werner scored Rennes, making a good save to keep during the second half. a Villa side that finished 17th last sea- Tottenham Hotspur overcame visitors an equaliser in the 83rd minute, fin- his first goal for Chelsea in his fourth out a vicious shot from Spurs’ Spanish “What happened to Eric Dier is not son, narrowly avoiding relegation. Chelsea 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out to ishing from close range after con- appearance, lashing the ball into the left back Reguilon in the second half. normal, I have to praise him in a Barkley is Villa’s fifth signing of the progress in the League Cup following trolling a cross from debutant net from the edge of the area after But Mendy was finally beaten in the special way. It should be forbidden for window, following the arrivals of a 1-1 home draw in their fourth round Sergio Reguilon. In the shoot-out, receiving a cut-back from Cesar 83rd minute when Reguilon turned a player to play two games in 48 hours Ollie Watkins, Bertrand Traore, clash on Tuesday. Chelsea’s Mason Mount struck the Azpilicueta. in the box and found Lamela, who at this level. What he did is not human Emiliano Martinez and Matty Cash. Chelsea appeared to be heading into post to miss the decisive fifth penalty Chelsea’s new goalkeeper Edouard controlled the ball at the far post to do.”

Alcantara tests positive for virus LIVERPOOL: Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara has tested positive Hyderabad get first win for coronavirus, the Premier League Serena pulls out of French Open, Nadal moves on champions confirmed on Tuesday. AGENCIES The 29-year-old, who joined from REUTERS She spoke again of the injury after her first- Slam titles, was never bothered on court Philippe ABU DHABI, SEPT 30 Bayern Munich this month, missed PARIS, SEPT 30 round win over fellow American Kristie Ahn Chatrier. The claycourt master played deep, Monday’s 3-1 win over Arsenal and and aggravated it while practising for her sec- using his forehand to devastating effect to set up Bolstered by the inclusion of Kane Williamson, will now self-isolate. “Thiago Serena Williams’ search for a record-equalling ond-round match. a meeting with Japanese Kei Nishikori or Italian Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper David Warner is Alcantara has tested positive for 24th Grand Slam title will extend into another “An Achilles injury is a real injury you don’t Stefano Travaglia. focused on adding depth and power to his team’s Covid-19 and is currently self-isolat- year after an Achilles tendon injury forced her want to play with as it can get worse and I don’t After world number 236 McDonald won the fragile middle-order as it moves forward in the ing according to the necessary guide- to withdraw from the French Open on Wednesday. want to get to that,” she said. “This is not a nag- second game, Nadal bagged 11 games in a row to Indian Premier League. lines,” Liverpool said in a statement. The American, who turned 39 this week, had ging injury, it’s an acute injury. If it was my knee move two sets up and despite some resistance Opener Jonny Bairstow’s fifty was complement- “The club has, and will continue to been due to play Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova it would be more devastating. It’s just bad timing from his opponent early in the third set, he had ed by Williamson’s 26-ball 41 and a stellar bowling follow, all protocols relating to Covid- in the second round later but after a warm-up and bad luck.” no trouble improving his win-loss record at effort from Rashid Khan as Sunrisers Hyderabad 19 and Thiago will remain in self-iso- the injury was decided to be too severe. Williams, Williams said she was yet to decide whether Roland Garros to 95-2. outplayed Delhi Capitals by 15 runs to open their lation for the required period of a three-time former champion at Roland Garros, she would play again this season, saying she “My objective is to play as well as I can. It was account on Tuesday. time.” The Spanish international will said she may not play again this year. “I warmed needed two weeks of complete rest. Williams a good match for me today. I’m very happy,” said “We were on track to get 170-180, there is talk of miss another clash with Arsenal in up and it was a very short warmup and then I also pulled out of the French Open in 2018 with Nadal. “Then it’s another difficult match. We’ll our middle order not being that good, but we put the League Cup on Thursday as well spoke to my coach and said ‘what do you think?’ an abdominal injury before a last-16 clash with see, I hope I’ll be at a good level. It’s always spe- our game together against Delhi and we backed as Sunday’s Premier League trip to she said. “I was struggling to walk so that’s a tell Maria Sharapova. cial for me to play here in Paris, on court ourselves and we got a good total,” Warner said. Aston Villa, but could be available for tale sign that I should try to recover.” Rafa Nadal continued his quest for a record-ex- Philippe Chatrier.” To strengthen Hyderabad’s batting, the sea- the Merseyside derby at Everton on Williams had suffered the problem during her tending 13th French Open title with a 6-1 6-0 6-3 Earlier on Tuesday, Novak Djokovic got his soned Williamson was drafted in at the expense of October 17. On Monday, the Premier semi-final loss to Victoria Azarenka in the US crushing of American Mackenzie McDonald to quest for an 18th Grand Slam title back on Mohammad Nabi. League announced 10 players or staff Open and said ahead of her Roland Garros cam- advance into the third round. track as he commenced his French Open Defending 163, leg-spinner Rashid returned very had tested positive for Covid-19 in the paign that she was not at 100 percent physically The Spanish second seed, also looking to equal campaign with a drama-free 6-0 6-2 6-3 victory impressive figures of 3-14, while Bhuvneshwar previous week. (AGENCIES) but had recovered sufficiently to play. Roger Federer’s men’s record of 20 singles Grand over Mikael Ymer. Kumar scalped two to restrict Delhi to 147-7. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) *** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** If you stop and think about it, you’ll realise that the Money continues to be on your mind today. A glimpse Like a brand-new sponge, your brain is eager to soak Your luck is changing today. If you’ve recently been greatest battles of your life have been battles of will. at your bank statement might make you wonder if up everything in sight today! You always thought blessed with large cash, the well of good fortune So if you encounter conflict, keep that in mind. If someone is playing a cruel joke on you! The numbers learning was fun, but today you could have so much could start to dry up for you. But if you’ve felt like you can focus your brainpower on achieving one don’t lie, and what they’re telling you isn’t terribly fun learning something new that you may need a few nothing has been going your way for quite a while, goal, there is nothing that can stop you. great news. Don’t worry. days to recover! get ready for a change in direction!

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) ***** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** There is no such thing as “too late.” If you see things Shy away from anything emotionally or physically You could wake up feeling a little directionless today. You can expect to start this day with a lot of high aren’t going the way you want them to, put a stop to risky today. You should be concerned about safety. A You’re probably in a holding pattern of sorts, wait- energy. There are a lot of emotions, ideas, and hopes the progress. Even if you’re not behind the wheel, new opportunity comes with more risks than you ing for the right time to come in for a landing, so to swimming around in your head right now, and they’re you have every right to voice your opinion and sug- initially realised, and you’ll have to do some thor- speak. There are things moving around you in giving you a blast of physical strength that can carry gest an alternate route. ough research to make sure that you’re up for it. unpredictable ways. you through the day.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) ***** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) **** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) **** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** When your schedule opens up and presents you with The day starts off smoothly and easily. Resist getting Your engine could have some trouble getting started If you think you can fake your way through an intim- a chunk of free time, be sure you have a good way to too relaxed too soon, though, because there could be today. If today’s events aren’t inspiring enough for idating situation today, think again! You can’t bluff use it! Try not to fritter away the hours with mindless a lot of noise coming in. Pay attention and take note you right now, take some initiative and mix them up your way to the top right now, so don’t even try. It’s online surfing or napping. You need a fun escapade of any changes afoot, but don’t let yourself get a bit. While you’re waiting for things to come togeth- wisest if you just admit to any anxieties or insecuri- you can enjoy by yourself. sucked into any drama. er later, do something unexpected now. ties you might have up front. CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K THURSDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2020 | 08 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 Treasuring the mythical The ongoing virtual art exhibition ‘Divya’, organised by Tulikaa, is an exceptionally well-curated exhibition that celebrates the talent of 17 traditional artists.

ANKIT KHADGI KATHMANDU

eturning from a hearty feast on his birthday, Lord Ganesh meets Chandra Dev, the moon god Chandra Dev sees Ganesha’s vaha- na, his mouse, struggling as it can’t handle the weight of the Rpaunchy God. Chandra dev laughs at the sight and mocks Ganesh. Raged by the mockery, Lord Ganesh curses the vain Chandra Dev that no one in the uni- verse will worship him ever and whoever will look at the moon or fall under its light will face false allegations even when they are innocent. This mythical tale, about the significance of Ganesh Chaturthi, and the various practises that take place on the day to commemorate the birth of Lord Ganesh, is the subject of Krishna Bhakta Dangol’s painting. His work is among the 29 other artworks that are exhibited in the latest virtual exhibition ‘Divya’, organised by Tulikaa, an art studio. Curated by Ujen Norbu Gurung, the exhibi- tion presents exceptionally crafted artworks of 17 artists, who have deftly depicted the mythi- cal tales of various deities that are celebrated by Buddhists and Hindus. From the furious Lord Bhairav to the har- SCREENGRABS VIA TULIKAA monious and non-violent Sakyamuni Buddha The ongoing exhibition features 29 artworks, all of which play with religious and mythical motifs. to the compassionate, god of rain, Karunamaya, who’s also worshipped as Padmapani the world towards the pure dharma, Maitreya painting, which is titled as ‘Laxmi’. In his not only aesthetically pleasing to look at but beautifully re-tells a part of our history and Lokeshvara, the exhibition is filled with art- in the artwork is sitting on a raised throne, painting, he has depicted the image of the also are rich in storytelling, depicting the rich mythology through the medium of painting. works that depict the tales of god and goddess- with his feet on a lotus. The setting where the Goddesses of Wealth. But unlike the Hindu history and the ancient tales of our culture. Honestly, it is difficult to point out big flaws es, and their philosophies. Bodhisattva is placed is a tranquil, celestial iconography, the deity here is represented dif- His ‘Hari Hari Hari Hari Bahana since the studio has taken heed to every aspect As soon as one starts taking a virtual tour of landscape of hills, flowers, and rock forma- ferently. Lokeshvara’, which has been represented in to make sure that the audience enjoys their the exhibition, there are two distinct artworks tions that surrounds the lotus, reflecting how While her four hands, which symbolise the many sculptures, is also a great way of incor- time watching the virtual exhibition. The that draw immediate attention. The first art- his presence can restore the beauty and tran- four purusharthas: dharma, artha, kama, and porating legendary tales as a subject in one’s excellent and meticulously crafted artworks work, which is titled ‘Bhairava’, by an unknown quillity to the earth. moksha, and her lotus seat are present in art. In the painting, he depicts a furious battle with fine detailing, the placement of the art- artist, is a depiction of Lord Bhairava, one of Likewise, there are two images of the moon Sinkhwal’s painting, which is how the Goddess between Takshaka and Garuda, whose famous works, and even the background score, the reincarnations and fierce manifestations and the sun, kept at the top two corners to is generally represented, what makes his art- fight only stopped when their respective gurus, everything is perfectly composed. of Lord Shiva. In the painting, we see a blaze of reflect the passing of time into a new work unique is how beautifully he incorpo- Avalokitesvara and Vishnu, appeared. However, the aspect where the studio slips is fire coming from the mouth of Bhairava who realm of the living, with the presence of rates the elements of both Buddhism and But his painting that deserves special men- while providing the details of the artworks. In with his anger is annihilating as well as purify- Maitreya Buddha, who will teach people to Hinduism in a single painting. The composi- tion is ‘Kalash of Karunamaya’. It stands out a few artworks, the intention behind the art- ing the universe. embrace compassion and move to the path of tion of the painting is made in such a way that the most because of its sheer simplicity and ist’s creation is clear about what they are The raudra rasa or the emotions of krodha dharma. it resembles a Paubha painting, a specific form aesthetics. trying to depict, but most of the details about (anger) is immaculately depicted in the paint- The arrangement of both artworks is sym- of art that has significant Buddhist or Hindu Centuries ago, when Kathmandu valley was the artwork and the deities they have depicted ing with the help of a dramatic light in the bolic, as both artworks distinctively depict the deities, as its central subject. suffering from a prolonged drought, Lord are taken from Wikipedia pages, with no painting and the shift in colour tones, from two great philosophies of life: destruction and While the vibrant artworks popping differ- Karnumaya was brought to the valley, by King effort made to write in the information in a dark to light shades, and by giving the central rebirth, through the help of incorporating the ent hues of colours have their own significance Narendra Dev, a priest and a farmer into the new manner. focus to the fire, which symbolises the wrath of religious teachings of Buddhism. Other art- in the exhibition, Rojina Sinkhwal’s two Valley, in the form of a bumblebee, as it was One may argue that since all of the artworks the Bhairava. works also feature other Buddhist deities like monochrome artworks, ‘Dancing Ganesh’, and believed that in his presence, the tantrik depict deities and the information available on Just next to it, a painting completely oppo- Vajra Yogini, Saptalochini Tara, Green Tara, ‘Shakyamuni Buddha’, equally captivates the Gorkhnath would break his meditation, which Wikipedia may suffice, but copy-pasting the site to its theme is placed. Titled as ‘Maitreya White Tara, and Manjushri. attention of the viewers with her intricate was responsible for the drought, as he had been same information on the subject matter which Buddha’ by Bikash Kalikote, the artwork Similarly, artworks depicting Hindu deities detailing. meditating under all of the nagas, which were is available on the internet is ethically prob- depicts Maitreya, a Bodhisattva, who is expect- like Saraswoti, Laxmi, Indra, and Ganga are Another highlight, and the most poignant responsible for the rain. lematic and lazy work. When the studio has ed to appear on Earth after human beings also put on display in the exhibition—but they artwork, of the exhibition is of Sundar Depicting this scene, where Karunamaya taken care of virtually everything to put up a obliterate the path to dharma. are presented in a slightly altered manner than Shrestha. His three artworks, ‘ Vaishravana transformed himself into a bumblebee and great show, it should have also been careful Regarded as the form of Buddha who will usually presented. Kubera’, ‘Hari Hari Hari Hari Bahana was captured into a golden kalash, which was about details like this. After all, it is the little restore peace in the world and will enlighten Let’s take for instance Sudarshan Sinkhwal’s Lokeshvara,’ and ‘Kalash of Karunamaya’, are brought into the valley, Shrestha’s painting things that matter. Luxury brands bank on a raring China market as pandemic lays waste to global demand With the pandemic having sent the world’s luxury spending into a tailspin, high-end brands now depend more than ever on China’s recovering economy for sales.

the place where all the purchase power is trapped,” said Mauro Maggioni, Asia Pacific CEO at Italian luxury sneaker and apparel brand Golden Goose which has 21 stores in mainland China. “I can see the continuous poten- tial of the Chinese market,” Michele Norsa, executive deputy chairman at Italy’s Ferragamo, told an earnings briefing this month. Helping stoke domestic demand, the Chinese government has long sought to bring some of the money splashed abroad by its citizens overseas back home. It cut import tariffs in 2018, enabling luxury brands to reduce their China prices, while this year in Hainan, it has expanded the amount of duty-free shopping allowed to 100,000 yuan ($14,650) from 30,000 yuan as well as the types and number of products REUTERS allowed. Driven by well-heeled consumers, spending in China on luxury goods has surged. Also, unlike many other coun- tries where luxury spending tends SOPHIE YU & SILVIA ALOISI ket—embracing e-commerce and to be the domain of older genera- BEIJING/MILAN pushing ahead with store openings tions, China skews younger with whereas in most other countries many luxury consumers between n the southern such plans have been postponed or 25-35 - often the only child of the Chinese island of scaled down. family and armed with money Hainan, a duty-free Lavish events are also back. from indulgent parents. shopping paradise, Louis Vuitton menswear designer Younger Chinese shoppers also mainland tourists Virgil Abloh held a Spring/ prefer e-commerce and the world’s keen to splurge will Summer fashion show before a live poshest brands have started wad- Ooften patiently line up for an hour audience in Shanghai last month. ing into online sales in China, put- or more to enter a Gucci, Tiffany or Prada hosted private viewings ting aside concerns about the other luxury brand store. of its new collection last week— potential for counterfeiters to take “I’m mentally working on a shop- also in Shanghai, the country’s away their sales and the loss of the ping list,” says Zeng Rong, 34, a fashion capital which has begun luxury shopping experience over Beijing-based auditor who is look- to replace Hong Kong as the the internet. ing forward to her upcoming favoured shopping haven for Alibaba’s Tmall marketplace has Hainan trip. “I’d like to buy a domestic tourists. seen 50 brands including Giorgio Bottega Veneta bag as well as a coat Driven by well-heeled consumers Armani and Alexander Wang and a down jacket from Moncler forsaking their usual overseas open stores on its three-year old before the weather gets cold.” trips to places like Milan and Paris luxury platform this year and With the coronavirus pandemic as well as pent-up demand that another 20 are expected to join by having sent most of the world’s built during lockdown, spending in the end of the year, bringing the luxury spending into a tailspin and China on luxury goods has surged. number to 220. China the only major economy Prada has said the group’s China Getting brands to join is not expected to show growth this year, sales jumped 60 percent in June hard, Luna Wang, head of the divi- high-end brands now depend more and 66 percent in July, while LVMH sion said at a Tmall Luxury event than ever on Chinese consumers noted that in some weeks since last month, noting the far greater like Zeng for sales. March when the country came out market penetration that comes Their spending largesse, which of lockdown, Louis Vuitton and with an online presence. extends across China’s biggest cit- Dior have seen China sales more “When the brands see the fig- ies, is spurring luxury brands to than double. ures, they speed up,” she said. double down on the Chinese mar- “Mainland China has become —Reuters

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