WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 244 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 34.0 C 0.6 C Saturday, October 31, 2020 | 15-07-2077 Biratnagar Jumla Oli extends an olive branch to Dahal but the latter remains unconvinced A line of leaders close to prime minister has been making a dash to Khumaltar in a bid to appease the party chair who is miffed at Oli continuing to make unilateral decisions.

ANIL GIRI ing the third front—the side with two KATHMANDU, OCT 30 top leaders has more power in the ruling party. On Friday Foreign Minister Pradeep In September, following a task force Gyawali went to meet his party chair recommendation to resolve the year- Pushpa Kamal Dahal in the latter’s long dispute in the party, Oli and residence. Dahal had agreed to mend fences and On Thursday it was Finance move forward with the primary agree- Minister Bishnu Poudel, general sec- ment that Oli would take Dahal into retary of the Nepal Communist Party confidence while making important (NCP), and, separately, Chief Minister appointments and, more importantly, of Lumbini Shanker Pokhrel and the Cabinet would be reshuffled. Chief Minister of Gandaki Province But on October, 1, Oli appointed Prithvi Subba Gurung, who met Dahal former finance minister Yubaraj in Khumaltar. On Wednesday it was Khatiwada as ambassador to the the deputy Parliamentary Party lead- United States and outgoing chief sec- POST PHOTO: RAMESH KUMAR PAUDEL er of the ruling party, Subas Nembang. retary Lok Darshan Regmi as ambas- Snow-capped mountains are seen in this picture taken from a field of ripe paddy in Chitwan on Friday. On rare occasions when the weather is clear and air pollution minimum, the mountains in Besides being Standing Committee sador to the United Kingdom. the northern border of Nepal are visible from the southern plains. members all of them have one com- Sources close to Dahal claimed that mon characteristic. In a deeply divid- the co-chair had not been consulted. ed party, they all belong to the faction Then on October 14, Oli filled three led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, ministerial positions with Bishnu the other chair of the party. Poudel in the Ministry of Finance, All were, presumably, sent by Oli to Krishna Gopal Shrestha in the In constitutional breach, none of the 13 constitutional appease Dahal. Ministry of Urban Development and “Underground and overground Leelanath Shrestha in the Ministry of infighting in our party continues until Women, Children and Senior Citizens. commissions has full quota of office bearers one side feels weakened,” Top Bahadur Again, those close to Dahal cried foul Rayamajhi, a Standing Committee and it was a unilateral Oli decision. member, said. “This is part of an old The ongoing attempts at appeasing struggle between Oli and Dahal and Dahal have been a result of his refusal The National Human Rights Commission was the only one which had all five positions filled but the team’s six-year their respective coteries.” to meet, or even talk to Oli over the In a three-way division—with sen- phone, since October 19. tenure ended two weeks ago. This suits the KP Sharma Oli government just fine, experts say. ior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal lead- >> Continued on page 2

BINOD GHIMIRE full quota of members since the con- At the same time the commission KATHMANDU, OCT 30 stitution was promulgated in 2015. had also been investigating the “The fact that the meeting of the complaints related to human rights The Constitution of Nepal envisions Constitutional Council hasn’t been violations and monitoring quarantine 13 different commissions. Most of held for a year and a half shows Oli is facilities, hospitals and prisons to them have the authority to keep the least interested in giving full shape to evaluate the government’s response to government in check to ensure the the constitutional commissions,” the pandemic. rights of the people. But none of these Acharya told the Post. Even the United Nations has commissions has all five office-bearers. The six-member council has the expressed its concerns that pandemic Until two weeks ago, the National chief justice, the Speaker and the dep- could become the pretext for some Human Rights Commission was the uty Speaker of the House of governments to trample on individual only constitutional body that had all Representatives, chairman of the rights and to repress the free flow of its positions of the chair and four National Assembly, and leader of the information. members filled. main opposition as members. Now, with the commission lacking However, with the retirement of the The Minister for Law and Justice its chairperson and members, the team led by Anup Raj Sharma, after also takes a seat when the appoint- commission will be largely limited to completing its six-year tenure on ment is related to the judiciary while its day-to-day administrative work. October 18, there isn’t a single com- the chief secretary functions as the “We don’t have the authority to make mission that has a complete set of secretary of the council. recommendations to the government chairperson and members. The position of the deputy Speaker, with regard to complaints of human “The commissions have been left which traditionally goes to the opposi- rights violations,” Bed Bhattarai, sec- headless strategically only to weaken tion, has been vacant since Shiva Maya retary at the commission, told the them,” said senior advocate Tumbahangphe resigned in January. Post. “Only the commissioners can Bhimarjun Acharya, who specialises Acharya said delaying the appoint- make such recommendations.” on constitutional law. ment is also a breach of the constitu- But not only during the pandemic, And appointments in the constitu- tion as it makes it mandatory for the the Oli administration in general has been accused of refraining from pro- viding the information related to human rights as well as advocating the rights of marginalised and deprived communities for their empowerment. “The reluctance for appointments in the seven inclusive commissions for the last five years shows the human rights commission too won’t get its leadership anytime soon,” Charan Prasain, a human rights activist, told the Post. “More delays in appointments, the more time the Oli government will get to function arbitrarily.” Of the seven inclusion commis- sions—Madhesi, Dalit, Tharu, Muslim, Women, Indigenous Nationalities, and Inclusive—three have just the chair and one a member, five years after the promulgation of a federal republican statute by the con- FILE PHOTO stituent assembly. The Constitutional Council has not met since March 25 last year. Prasain said as the cases of women rights violations are increasing, the tional commissions aren’t a priority Constitutional Council to recommend National Women Commission could of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. names for the constitutional commis- have played a significant role in pro- The Constitutional Council, a body sion office-bearers a month before viding justice for the victims of rape headed by the prime minister and they become vacant. and violence. The Dalit Commission’s mandated to make appointments to Article 284 (3) of the Constitution of role also would have been important, the commissions, has not met since Nepal says the recommendation, in as reports of discrimination and vio- March 25 last year when Dinesh accordance with this constitution, has lence against the Dalit community Thapaliya was recommended as chief to be made by the Constitutional have increased. election commissioner although the Council a month before the posts of Other constitutional commissions next elections are due only in 2022. chief justice, chief and officials of include the Election Commission, the More than three dozen positions in constitutional bodies fall vacant. Commission for Investigation of the 13 commissions, meanwhile, Experts say the constitutional Abuse of Authority, Language remain vacant. Some have not had a rights watchdog is more important Commission, Natural Resources than other commissions, mainly Commission and Fiscal Commission. because it can question the gov- According to experts, the motive of ernment on protecting citizens’ the constitutional commissions is to fundamental rights. make the government accountable The human rights watchdog towards implementing the charter had of late been issuing direc- and maintaining the rule of law. The tives to the government on sever- government becomes unbridled in al issues related to the response their absence, they say. on Covid-19 which ranged from Oli, on the other hand, has been management of the quarantine trying to use the appointments in con- centres, ensuring treatment to stitutional bodies as a bargaining tool those infected and providing with rival factions in his party and relief to those who were left in with the opposition. trouble by the pandemic. >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2020 | 02 NATIONAL Patients in Hetauda face difficulties finding an ambulance for long routes Ambulance drivers have been refusing to offer services on long routes since their demand for a revision in the transport fare is yet to be addressed, locals say.

SUBASH BIDARI holds discussions to address their ambulance services in the sub-me- MAKWANPUR, OCT 30 demands. tropolis. “At a recent meeting, I had directed “The complaints have increased Three days ago, 40-year-old Man the District Health Office to take nec- especially in the last few months due Kumari Khusawar, a local of essary steps and coordinate with to the Covid-19 pandemic. Ambulances Chandrapur Municipality in ambulance operators to ease the facil- in Hetauda charge up to Rs 13,000 for a Rautahat, visited a hospital in ity,” said Rijal. “Ambulance fares have trip to Kathmandu and Rs 7,000 to Hetauda seeking treatment for stom- not been revised for the last nine Bharatpur,” said CDO Rijal. ach-related problems. She was years. We are aware of that and we are As a temporary measure, the local referred to Kathmandu for further working towards revising the fares administration has allowed ambu- treatment. but given the pandemic, we will not be lance drivers to charge Rs 1,000 as an Throughout Thursday, her family able to do it anytime soon.” extra allowance for a one-way trip to looked for an ambulance to bring her On Friday, a 19-year-old man of Kathmandu and Rs 500 to Bharatpur, to Kathmandu-based Shahid Gangalal Ward No. 10 in Hetauda fell violently said Rijal. National Heart Centre since she was ill after consuming poison. He was There are 31 ambulances operating POST PHOTO: DEEPAK KC diagnosed with a heart ailment at the referred to a hospital with ICU and in Makwanpur district. Under the cur- A farmer carries a load of vegetables from his field at Dhunche Pakha, Kathmandu. Hetauda hospital. At around 11pm, the ventilator facilities in Bharatpur. But rent rate fixed by the District family got an ambulance which agreed none of the ambulances in Hetauda Administration Office, ambulances to drop the patient to Chitwan. were ready to take him to Bharatpur. can charge Rs 7,500 for ferrying a “None of the ambulance drivers in The locals arranged for a public vehi- patient to Kathmandu, Rs 3,000 to Hetauda wanted to go on a long-dis- cle to take him to the hospital. Chitwan, Rs 2,000 to Birgunj and Rs Nepal reports 16 tance route. We had to seek help from Bikeshlal Shrestha, a local of 300 within Hetauda. They can also Oli extends an olive branch ... the police to have one driver agree to Hetauda who has been campaigning charge Rs 25 per kilometre travelled take us at least halfway till Chitwan,” for easy access of health services to beyond the Hetauda Bazaar area. Covid-19-related >> Continued from page 1 all belonging to the anti-Oli camp in said Khuswar’s son Aakash. the locals, said: “There are enough Janardan Nepal, chairman of the “Efforts are underway to break the the nine-member Secretariat, According to him, over a dozen ambulances in Hetauda but not a sin- Ambulance Driver Committee in fatalities standoff,” said Nembang. according to a member of Dahal’s ambulance drivers refused to take his gle one is available when you need Makwanpur, says fare is not the issue Besides these appointments, Dahal secretariat. sick father to Kathmandu. them. Many Hetauda locals have lost for them. POST REPORT is also unhappy with the attempt to He has also been meeting Bam Dev “We then took another ambulance their lives because they weren’t taken The pandemic is keeping ambulanc- KATHMANDU, OCT 30 unseat Chief Minister of Karnali Gautam, vice chair of the party, who from Chitwan and reached Kathmandu to a hospital on time.” es busy within the city limits and Province Mahendra Bahadur Shahi, a has been vacillating between the pro- on Friday,” he said. According to him, ambulance driv- therefore they haven’t been able to Nepal on Friday reported 16 Covid-19- Dahal protege, and Oli’s meeting with and anti-Oli camps in the year-long Ambulance operators have been ers make quick money if they provide ferry patients who need to be taken related fatalities taking the death toll Samant Goel, head of India’s external dispute. refusing to offer services on long-dis- their services within the sub-metropo- outside the district. to 920. The country also recorded 3,517 spy agency Research and Analysis Dahal reached out to Nepal after Oli tance routes since their demand for a lis and are therefore reluctant to cover “We receive complaints about una- new cases, pushing the national infec- Wing, without Dahal being informed started cultivating the latter offering revision on the transport fare is yet to long-distance routes. vailability of ambulances in the dis- tion tally to 168,235. about it. the party leadership in the upcoming be addressed. “If a patient is to be taken to trict. The local authorities should The number of active cases stands “I apprised party chairman Dahal general convention but Nepal is not A committee led by Chief District Kathmandu or Bharatpur from here, install GPS on ambulances and at 38,357 as 128,958 people have made about the current international and convinced with Oli, a Standing Officer of Makwanpur Govinda they demand more transport fares. If monitor their locations. They will see successful recovery. According to the national scenario including the recent Committee member close to leader Prasad Rijal has been formed to moni- a service seeker wants to pay the fare that most of the ambulances are pro- Ministry of Health and Population, visit by Goel,” Foreign Minister Nepal, told the Post. tor the operation and coordination of decided by the government, the ambu- viding services within the district,” Kathmandu Valley recorded 1,888 new Gyawali told the Post. “As a party lead- Despite the machinations against ambulance facilities in the district. lance driver refuses to go.” he said. “Yes, we do have our infections in the past 24 hours. Of er and foreign minister, it is my job to Oli, the Oli camp remains optimistic. The committee has directed ambu- The Chief District Office has demands but given the difficult times, them, 1,508 cases were confirmed in meet leaders and appraise them. “A positive environment is being lance operators to continue their ser- received several complaints from the we will do as directed by the local Kathmandu, 249 in Lalitpur and 131 in Therefore, every issue should not be created to hold a meeting between Oli vice while the local administration locals about the unavailability of administration.” Bhaktapur. linked with differences within the and Dahal,” Nembang told the Post. As of Friday, Kathmandu has party.” “It will take another couple of days to reported 212 Covid-19-related fatalities Gyawali, however, did admit that know how and when two leaders will while Bhaktapur and Lalitpur have the party is facing a crisis but was meet and resolve the dispute.” recorded 63 and 58 deaths respectively. confident it could be managed. But the anti-Oli camp does not According to the ministry, 447 indi- “There are misunderstandings sound as optimistic. viduals from Bagmati Province, 157 between Oli and Dahal on how to run “There is no progress in ending the from Province 2, 126 from Lumbini the party and the government,” said standoff between the two chairmen Province, 115 from Province 1, 48 from Gyawali. “There are also differences and therefore I have suggested a Gandaki Province, 17 from between the two former communist meeting of the party Secretariat to Sudurpaschim Province, and 10 from parties about concluding their unifi- discuss all issues that have surfaced Karnali Province have died of Covid- cation process.” now,” party spokesperson Shrestha 19 so far. But Dahal has felt deceived by Oli told the Post. this time and is seriously considering “Until Oli remains in power as not meeting Oli until he agrees to cor- party chairman and prime minister, rect his mistakes and summon the our party will remain in trouble,” said meeting of the party Secretariat, Raghuji Pant, a standing committee In constitutional ... Standing Committee and later Central close to Nepal. >> Continued from page 1 Committee, a member of Dahal’s sec- Some leaders close to the Dahal and Oli and the opposition leader Sher retariat, told the Post. Nepal factions are saying that a Bahadur Deuba, a member of the In all these committees, the Oli fac- no-confidence motion could be regis- council, have had several meetings to tion would be a minority if Dahal and tered against Oli if Oli does not cor- negotiate on the sharing of the spoils. Nepal were to join hands. rect his working style. Deuba wants a share for his party, Nepal, to get Dahal on his side, “It is not a mature proposal Nepali Congress, in all the commis- instructed provincial lawmakers close but if Dahal goes about it seriously sions with particular focus on the to him to withdraw their support to and senior leader Nepal and party anti-corruption commission and the the no-confidence motion against vice chairman Gautam extend full Election Commission. Chief Minister Shahi earlier this cooperation, it can materialise,” the Appointment in the constitutional month, thus saving the Dahal standing committee member close to bodies based on consensus within the supporter’s chair. Dahal said. party was one of the suggestions made “This incident has shown that the Meanwhile, the power play contin- by a task force the ruling Nepal alliance between Dahal and Nepal is ues in the ruling party with different Communist Party (NCP) assigned to growing stronger and any attempts sides making moves and counter suggest ways to resolve differences from Oli to break the alliance will moves. between its top leaders. prove costly,” a Standing Committee “It is about power balance in the “The way the Oli government is member close to Dahal said. party and will continue until one side functioning shows it is happy to see While he has not been meeting Oli, surrenders,” said Rayamajhi. “This the human rights commission become Dahal has been holding talks with time, the power struggle between Oli headless so that it can misuse its Nepal as well as another former prime and Dahal is a bit serious but manage- authority more freely,” said Acharya. minister Jhala Nath Khanal and party able although it needs a very careful POST PHOTO: SUBASH BIDARI “This is worrying.” spokesperson Narayan Kaji Shrestha, resolution by both sides.” Ambulance operators have been directed to continue their service while the local administration holds discussions to address their demands. Subsidised rice meant for Karnali illegally exported to other provinces A truck carrying 250 quintals of subsidised rice on its way to Bhaktapur from Surkhet was seized by police, according to the chief district officer.

KALENDRA SEJUWAL Regmi. “This incident brought to light “It is clear that Sharma was trying Company Ltd. SURKHET, OCT 30 the underhanded practices in place in to transport rice meant for Mugu to “Japanese rice cannot be sold in the the food sector. It revealed how subsi- Bhaktapur. We are investigating villages. Locals in the villages do not On Thursday, police personnel dised rice meant for the people of where the firm sold the rest of the prefer Japanese rice. That is why I deployed at Subbakuna Check Post in Karnali gets sold elsewhere. Although rice,” said the investigator. tried to change the rice and bring the Surkhet stopped a truck on its way out we face pressure from all Pushkar Bham, an official at the brand liked by the villagers. Although of the district. The truck was carrying quarters to release the seized truck, Mugu-based depot of the company, the bill was prepared in the name of sacks of subsidised rice meant for the we will not do so.” subsidised rice for this fiscal year is the Bhaktapur-based firm, the rice hilly regions of Karnali Province to According to one of the investiga- yet to arrive in Kalai. was being sent to Nepalgunj.” Bhaktapur in Bagmati Province, said tors involved in the investigation, Sharma had removed the rice sacks police. Basudev Sharma, the rice supplier from their original Food Management Superintendent of Police Rajendra and the proprietor of Durga Bhagwati The godown of and Trading Company Ltd packages Bhatta informed Chief District Officer Enterprises and Sharma Construction and repackaged the sacks under the of Surkhet Hiralal Regmi about the Service, was trying to export 250kgs of Durga Bhagwati brand name ‘Kalash’, according to incident. Regmi instructed Bhatta to subsidised rice to Bhaktapur in a Regmi. “We had found subsidised rice seize the truck since Surkhet does not truck (Na 6 Kha 5721). Enterprises has repackaged under a different brand export rice to other districts. “Sharma Construction Service is a name,” he said. Regmi also instructed the police to supplier firm of the Food Management been sealed. According to Regmi, the adminis- seal the godown of Birendranagar- and Trading Company Ltd. The con- tration will take action against based Durga Bhagwati Enterprises, tractor was trying to transport subsi- Sharma for swindling and black mar- the supplier of rice grains in the dised rice under the name of Sharma “We heard that Sharma has already keting, if found guilty. Karnali region. A team deployed from Construction Service to Bhaktapur- received the rice stock from the Madhav Mishra, who was trans- the District Administration Office based Ajaya Khaddyanna Suppliers,” Surkhet-based branch office of the ferred to the branch office of the com- also seized documents from the suppli- he said. Food Management and Trading pany in Surkhet just a week ago, said, er (Durga Bhagwati Enterprises) on According to the branch office Company Ltd but our depot has not “We are ready to help the police and Thursday night on suspicions of the of the Food Management and received it yet,” said Bham. the administration in the investiga- role played by the employees of the Trading Company Ltd in Surkhet, According to the District Police tion process. The contractor has to Food Management and Trading Sharma Construction Service Office in Surkhet, there should be supply rice to the respective destina- Company Ltd in the illegal export of has the contract to transport 3,000 2,000 quintals of rice at Sharma’s tions within two weeks of taking the rice outside the district. quintals of rice to Kalai of Mugu and godown but it currently has only stocks from our godown.” The initial investigation showed 500 quintals each in Chamunda and around 200 quintals. “The contractor cannot exchange that the supplier was sending 250kgs Thantikandh of Dailekh in the cur- “This shows that the contractor has rice stocks or make delays in trans- of subsidised rice to Bhaktapur rent fiscal year. already sold most of the subsidised portation. It’s against the contract instead of sending it to the mountain- According to the agreement with rice in stock,” said the investigator. agreement. And, the contractor has to ous districts of Karnali region. “Upon the company signed on October 2, Sharma has admitted that the rice distribute rice from the depots of the questioning, the supplier also accept- Sharma had 1,000 quintals of Japanese POST PHOTO: KALENDRA SEJUWAL that was being sent to Bhaktapur is Food Management and Trading ed that subsidised rice was being rice and 1,000 quintals of Aruwa Mota Surkhet Police on Thursday confiscated a truck carrying sacks of subsidised rice meant for the same stock procured from the Company Ltd in various districts,” he transported to Bhaktapur,” said brought from the company. the hilly regions of Karnali Province to Bhaktapur. Food Management and Trading said.

C M Y K 03 | SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2020 NATIONAL Crematorium workers fear taking virus home to family Nine of 16 employees have already tested positive. ANUP OJHA KATHMANDU, OCT 30

Everyday when Kumar Thapa leaves for office from Sirutar in Bhaktapur his wife Kanchi Thapa Magar prays to god that her husband returns without carrying coronavirus. Thapa, 57, is one of the duty officers at an electric crematorium in Pashupati where bodies of Covid-19 patients are cremated. The crematori- um, run by the Pashupati Area Development Trust since January, 2016, is the only one in the Kathmandu Valley to cremate Covid-19 infected bodies. “When I return home, I have a heavy heart as at least 15 coronavirus- infected bodies are brought here everyday,” said Thapa, who has a fam- ily of nine. “The number of bodies will increase in the coming days as more and people in the Valley are getting infected.” According to government reports, Kathmandu Valley has now become the hotspot for Covid-19 and nearly 60 percent of those infected in the coun- try are from the Valley. The Valley recorded 1,888 new infections in the past 24 hours. As of Friday, the number of con- firmed cases in the Valley has reached 74,991. While Kathmandu has reported POST PHOTO 212 Covid-19-related fatalities so far, The overhead pedestrian crossing near Naya Bus Park at Gongabu, Kathmandu has been dismantled as part of the plan to widen the Kalanki-Maharajgunj section of the Ring Road. Work on the expansion, with Chinese Bhaktapur and Lalitpur have record- aid, was set to begin early in 2020. But earlier this month the Department of Roads decided to expedite the process of clearing structures built along the road. ed 63 and 58 deaths respectively. Raju Regmi, in-charge of electric crematorium, said till date over 600 bodies of Covid-19 infected people have been cremated at the facility. He said from March 24—when the coun- try went into a nationwide lockdown— Students fear coronavirus more than their exams one of the two electric crematorium units, was kept on standby round the clock for bodies of Covid-19 patients. Officials have promised utmost precautions at test centres to stop the spread of Covid-19, but students are not convinced about their safety. “Till date, nine of the 16 people working at the crematorium have BINOD GHIMIRE The examinees will take a written sary precautions,” said Joshi. “We caught Covid-19,” Regmi told the Post. KATHMANDU, OCT 30 examination for 40 percent of the total will start conducting tests from “I too have isolated myself as I have weightage, additional 40 percent eval- November third week.” severe fever and headache. But I hav- Abhilekh Belbase, a twelfth grader uation would be done based on their The Office of the Controller of en’t received my test report.” from Kathmandu Model School, performance in grade 11 and the Examinations of the university is pre- Thapa feels lucky as he is one of the Bagbazar is preparing to take his final remaining 20 percent based on an pared to allow students to take their staffers not infected with the virus. high school examination to be admin- internal evaluation by the respective exams from an affiliated college near- “But I am certain that one day, for istered by the National Examination schools. est to them. For instance, a student sure, I will catch the virus. Board next month. The board normally conducts the enrolled in a college in Kathmandu or The workers take turns to go on a A permanent resident of Butwal, tests in May and publishes the results other cities can take his/her exams week of leave after working for Belbase doesn’t have to travel to by October. The Cabinet on October 5 from a college in their hometown. seven days. Kathmandu for the test because the allowed all the boards, academic insti- Over 415,000 students are currently On Thursday alone, 21 Covid-19 board has arranged for him to sit the tutions, universities and other institu- enrolled in various courses offered by infected bodies were cremated in the examination at a centre in his home- tions to hold their examinations. the university. crematorium. town. However, Belbase together with Following the Cabinet decision, Joshi said they have already pre- Thapa said all the duty staff have dozens of other examinees, will have boards and universities have started pared software to register students personal protective equipment. “ It’s to congregate in one centre for their conducting tests due for the last sever- from the districts where they are cur- the Nepal Army that handles the dead examinations. While he is happy that al months though there are no signs rently living. The oldest university bodies, but we also need to come close the test is being held, seven months that the threat of the pandemic will has around 1,100 constituent and to the bodies, and need to move them behind schedule, he is afraid of con- subside. affiliated colleges, at least one in each to the crematorium machine.” tracting the virus in the crowd of Jung Bahadur Aryal, spokesperson district. The government in April issued examinees. for the board, said they had to opt for Joshi said they will set up more funeral guidelines for Covid-19 “The ever-increasing threat of coro- an in-person test to maintain its credi- POST FILE PHOTO centres to hold the tests beginning patients in May. The guidelines state navirus won’t allow me to take the test bility. “A majority of the stakeholders Administrators have made changes to the way exams are being conducted this year. with the final year and final semesters that everyone associated with han- with a free mind,” he said. “I don’t we consulted with suggested holding of the bachelor and master levels. dling the virus-infected body should understand what the problem is in the examination in the traditional for- be adopted and there will be separate University examinations will also Experts on public health say this is wear PPE, along with gloves, glasses, conducting the test online if the entire mat,” he said. “We have tried to lessen tests, later, for those infected with be taking place soon. a wrong time to hold in-person tests. visors and masks and the body must teaching-learning process can be done the burden on students by decreasing Covid-19. Tribhuvan University, Nepal’s old- Dr GD Thakur, former director gener- be sealed in a special bag. Senior sen- virtually.” the weightage of the written test.” Despite this promise of utmost pre- est and largest varsity, had decided to al of the Department of Health, said ior citizens above 60 are prohibited The exams, which were scheduled Instead of the usual three-hour caution, students seem unconvinced. conduct the tests in the usual format the patient load is doubling every from going near the deceased or to begin on May 3, were postponed tests, the students will do written Prakriti Bhattarai, a grade 12 exami- even before the Cabinet cleared its week and there is already a shortage participating in funeral rites. owing to the pandemic. The board examinations for just one and a half nee from Everest School, Butwal, says way. Pushpa Raj Joshi, examination of hospital beds. “What if students get “I am around my 60s, but everyday I published the schedule for in-person hours. Aryal said they have adopted gathering students in one centre will controller at the university, said the infected en masse?” he said. “Academic need to come here because it’s my job. tests starting November 20 after the measures for the safety of students. definitely expose them to the virus Cabinet decision comes as an approval institutions should opt for online It involves a lot of risks not only for clearance from the Ministry of Students won’t have to travel to the threat. Around 431,000 students of their plan. tests.” As many as 3,517 new cases me but for my entire family, but still I Education to hold the examination. place of their admission, proper social have registered for the examinations “Covid-19 is not going to go soon. We were reported on Friday, taking the need to work because I have a family But there are changes in the format. distancing and safety measures will this year. have to adjust with it, taking neces- Covid-19 tally to 168,235. to look after,” said Thapa. BRIEFING Government preparing to invite bids for supply of national ID 11 leopards killed this year PALPA: Within a year, 11 leopards, Although plans to collect details of citizens have hit a snag, officials still plan to issue cards to those whose details have already been collected. including three cubs, died in separate human-wildlife conflicts in Palpa, the PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA Chitwan, to postpone the programme because data of the Division Forest Office KATHMANDU, OCT 30 the fingerprint and face biometric technologies showed. Yamlal Pokharel, informa- were not safe amid the Covid-19 crisis. tion officer at the office, said, “We are The government is preparing to issue a tender “As per our request, the Chief District Officer preparing to collect data on for the print and supply of national identity has postponed the data collection work for at human-wildlife conflicts that took cards. least another two months,” Dhakal said. place in the last five years. The rate Even though the target of distributing nation- The department officials also admit the risk of of such conflicts has increased now.” al ID cards to at least 10 million people in the next the coronavirus transmission while collecting Every year, 10 to 15 incidents of fiscal year has hit a snag due to the Covid-19 biometric data, something it had not anticipated human-wildlife conflict are caused by pandemic, the government still plans to issue the because the national ID card was launched before leopards in the district. cards to those people whose details have already the Covid-19 crisis. been collected. Earlier, the department had planned to start “We are currently preparing a bid document the data collection programme from densely One dies in jeep accident for international tender,” said Jitendra Basnet, populated areas. But now it has decided to MYAGDI: One person died and 10 oth- director general at the Department of National run the programme from sparsely populated hill ers sustained injuries in a road acci- ID and Civil Registration. “We will issue the bid districts. dent near Beni, the district headquar- notice in less than three months.” “We have selected some new districts includ- ter of Myagdi, on Friday afternoon. A Basnet added the department had not yet ing Gulmi, Okhaldhunga, Udayapur and jeep heading towards Beni from decided the number of ID cards it would be issu- Dedeldhura and two other districts from Gandaki Raghuganga Rural Municipality-6 ing since its earlier target was compromised by Province for our first phase of data collection skidded off the Beni- Galeshwor road the pandemic. “Our first priority is to collect the programme,” said Basnet. section and fell onto the banks of information about the citizens and then go to the These districts were picked based on their low Kaligandaki river. According to ID card printing process,” he said. coronavirus infection rates. District Police Chief Kiran Kunwar, The government plans to introduce national ID Basnet said their earlier target of collecting the injured are undergoing treatment cards with personal and biometric details of citi- personal details of 10 million people in 38 dis- at Beni Hospital. zens with unique identification numbers. The tricts in the current fiscal year was undermined card is to become a key basis for the delivery of by the pandemic which, according to the govern- various government services and replace the ment, has killed 920 people and infected 168,235 Beni extends lockdown existing citizenship card. POST FILE PHOTO people as of Friday. MYAGDI: Beni Municipality has The biometric smart card, according to the In November 2018, Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa had inaugurated the distribution of national ID cards in The government had piloted the national ID extended its lockdown for a week. department, will have multiple applications and Panchthar district by handing over the first ever identity card to 101-year-old Bhagawati Devi Bhandari of Phidim. card project two years ago. Around 117,000 people The area was placed under lockdown can be read by officials using highly secure received their ID cards under the pilot pro- after the death of an 80-year-old man terminals. mid-October. Chitwan and Sankhuwashbha. gramme. due to Covid-19 on Thursday. The Plans to collect personal details including “As Kathmandu Valley has emerged as a coro- In Chitwan, the local governments have halted In November 2018, Home Minister Ram administration issued a notice biometric information of citizens took a hit due navirus hotspot, the task has been halted for the data collection works because of the corona- Bahadur Thapa had inaugurated the distribution stating that all services in the munic- to the Covid-19 pandemic. now,” said Lalitkumar Basnet, spokesperson at virus transmission risk. of national ID cards in Panchthar district by ipality’s offices and ward offices, The department halted its programme of col- District Administration Office, Lalitpur. Thakur Prasad Dhakal, mayor of Madi handing over the first ever identity card to banks, and government offices lecting personal details of citizens in the dis- The programme has also faced a setback in Municipality in Chitwan, told the Post that his 101-year-old Bhagawati Devi Bhandari of Phidim will be closed. tricts like Lalitpur, Jhapa and Kanchanpur from districts outside Kathmandu Valley, such as office asked the District Administration Office, Municipality-4.

C M Y K SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2020 | 04 WORLD BRIEFING France killings trigger protests Armenia, Azerbaijan meet Former Turkish prime minister Mesut Yilmaz dies in Geneva for peace talks ISTANBUL: Mesut Yilmaz, a former against Macron in Bangladesh Turkish prime minister and veteran politician who served as premier over Nagorno-Karabakh three times during a tumultuous France has suffered a string of Islamist militant attacks, from bombings and shootings in political era in his country, died 2015 in Paris that killed 130 people to a 2016 Bastille Day attack in Nice that killed 86. REUTERS speaking to journalists on Friday, said Friday at age 72, the official Anadolu GENEVA, OCT 30 peacekeeping troops would enter the news agency reported. Yilmaz led the conflict zone only with the agreement now-defunct centre-right Motherland The foreign ministers of Armenia and of both Armenia and Azerbaijan. Party or ANAP from 1991 to 2002 and Mahathir says remarks Azerbaijan arrived in Geneva for talks Nagorno-Karabakh is internation- served as prime minister three times on Friday to resolve a conflict in ally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, in the 1990s. Two of those premier- on French attacks taken Nagorno-Karabakh, where hundreds but is populated and controlled by ships lasted only months because of have been killed in more than a month ethnic Armenians. About 30,000 the fall of his coalition governments. out of context of fighting. people were killed in a 1991-94 war in He was a founding member of the The ministers are set to meet envoys the region. party. Erbakan espoused Islamic val- KUALA LUMPUR: Former Malaysian from France, Russia and the United Armenia, like Azerbaijan, regards ues and was a mentor to Turkish leader Mahathir Mohamad said States, co-chairs of the OSCE the territory as part of its historic President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Friday he is disgusted because his Minsk Group charged with resolving homeland and says the population comments on attacks by Muslim a conflict that has escalated in there needs its protection. Azerbaijan extremists in France had been taken recent days, diplomats in the Swiss rejects any solution that would leave Protesting Thai students out of context. city told Reuters. Armenians in control of the enclave. boycott royal graduation day Mahathir, 95, sparked widespread The foreign ministries of Armenia Three ceasefires have failed to halt BANGKOK: Some students sympathetic outrage when he wrote on his blog and Azerbaijan both confirmed that the latest fighting, the most recent to Thai protesters said on Friday Thursday that “Muslims have a right their respective ministers had arrived brokered in Washington last Sunday they were boycotting graduation to be angry and kill millions of French in Geneva. by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. ceremonies led by King Maha people for the massacres of the past.” Human rights groups called for an Confirming its participation in talks, Vajiralongkorn in a show of anger at Twitter removed a tweet from immediate halt to the use of banned the US mission in Geneva said the the monarchy amid growing calls to Mahathir containing the remark, weapons after confirming the use of United States “continues to call on reform it. The ceremonies, at which REUTERS which it said glorified violence, and cluster munitions by Armenia in an Armenia and Azerbaijan to stop tar- the monarch personally hands out Muslims take part in a protest denouncing Macron for his comments over Prophet France’s digital minister demanded attack on the Azeri city of Barda. geting civilian areas and to implement degrees, are a rite of passage for Mohammed in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Friday. the company also ban Mahathir from The worst fighting in the South their agreed-upon commitments to a graduates and their families with its platform. Caucasus for more than 25 years has ceasefire.” photographs of the moment displayed REUTERS more people before being shot and “I am indeed disgusted with raised fears of a wider war that could Sporadic fighting continued on with pride in many Thai homes. But SINGAPORE, OCT 30 taken away by police. attempts to misrepresent and take out suck in Russia and Turkey, an ally of Friday. Azerbaijan’s defence ministry protests since mid-July have brought “We will not give any ground,” of context what I wrote on my blog,” Azerbaijan. It also poses a threat to said military positions and settle- open criticism of the monarchy and Tens of thousands of Muslims pro- Macron said outside the church in the Mahathir said in a statement. pipelines carrying oil and gas from ments in the Aghdere, Khojavend calls to curb its power, defying a long- tested in Bangladesh on Friday after city of Nice, vowing to deploy thou- He said critics failed to read his Azerbaijan to world markets. and Gubadli regions had come under standing taboo and lese majeste laws killings by a Tunisian migrant in a sands more soldiers to guard sites posting in full, especially the next sen- Russian President Vladimir Putin fire overnight. that set a jail term of up to 15 years French church prompted a vow by such as places of worship and schools. tence which read: “But by and large said on Thursday that Turkey, which The ethnic Armenian-controlled for criticism of the king or his family. President Emmanuel Macron to France had been attacked “over our Muslims have not applied the ‘eye for has demanded a bigger role, should be Nagorno-Karabakh defence ministry hold his ground against attacks on values, for our taste for freedom, for an eye’ law. Muslims don’t. The French among the countries involved in talks said it had thwarted Azeri offensives his country’s values and freedom the ability on our soil to have freedom shouldn’t. Instead the French should to end the fighting. and that shelling at residential areas Qatar: Officials behind women of belief. of belief”, he added. teach their people to respect other Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, of towns in the enclave had resumed. France, home to Europe’s largest A judicial source in France said a people’s feelings.” exams referred to prosecutors Muslim community, was engaged 47-year-old man had been taken into He said Twitter and Facebook DUBAI: Qatar says officials behind the in a war against Islamist ideology custody on Thursday evening on sus- removed the posting despite his forced examinations of women at and more militant attacks were likely, picion of having been in contact with explanation, and slammed the move as its international airport after an interior minister Gerald Damarnin the perpetrator of the attack. hypocritical. (AP) abandoned baby was found earlier warned. The violence has come at a time of this month have been referred to Protesters marching through the growing Muslim anger over France’s prosecutors for possible charges. streets of Dhaka, the capital of defence of the right to publish car- Mohamad that Muslims had a right to The statement Friday comes as Muslim-majority Bangladesh, chant- toons depicting the Prophet be angry and kill “millions of French Qatar and its state airline, Qatar ed “Boycott French products” and car- Mohammad, and protesters have people for the massacres of the past”. Airways, has faced condemnation ried banners calling Macron “the denounced France in street rallies in “Freedom of expression is a right, from Australia over the October 2 world’s biggest terrorist”. several Muslim-majority countries. calling for violence is not,” the US incident. The Government “Macron is leading Islamophobia,” Several leaders in Asia expressed ambassador to Malaysia, Kamala Communications Office said in a said demonstrator Akramul Haq. “He support for France after the attacks on Shirin Lakhdhir, said on Twitter in statement: “The subsequent doesn’t know the power of Islam. The Thursday, the birthday of the prophet. response to Mahathir’s comments. procedures taken by the authorities Muslim world will not let this go in “It is just the most callous and cow- Indian Prime Minister Narendra at the airport, including examining vain. We’ll rise and stand in solidarity ardly and vicious act of barbarism by Modi also voiced support for Macron’s a number of female passengers, against him.” terrorists and should be condemned position and condemned the violence. revealed that standard procedures France raised its security alert to in the strongest possible way,” said “I strongly condemn the recent were violated. Those responsible the highest level on Thursday after a Australian Prime Minister Scott terrorist attacks in France,” Modi for these violations and illegal knife-wielding man shouting “Allahu Morrison. Morrison also condemned said on Twitter on Thursday. “India REUTERS actions have been referred to the akbar” (God is Greatest) beheaded a as absurd comments by former stands with France in the fight A man drives a car past a damaged building following recent shelling in the town of Shushi Public Prosecution Office.” (AGENCIES) woman in a church and killed two Malaysian prime minister Mahathir against terrorism.” (Shusha), in the course of a military conflict over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, EU pushes for more transparency from WHO’s members on pandemics

REUTERS sharing information on health crises. BRUSSELS, OCT 30 The United States has accused the Critics say Beijing WHO of being too close to China in The World Health Organization the first phase of the pandemic, when (WHO) should be given more powers was slow in sharing critics say Beijing was slow in sharing to handle pandemics and its member crucial information crucial information on the new coro- states should share more information navirus which first appeared in the with the agency during health emer- on the coronavirus. city of Wuhan. gencies, European Union officials said “Transparency on who complies on Friday. with the rules is fundamental,” the EU The appeals are in line with a draft respond to an email request for Health Commissioner told ministers EU document on reform of the WHO, comment. at the video conference, according to as Reuters reported last week citing a The EU remarks come after criti- her speaking notes. document drawn up by the German cisms that China and other countries The draft document also says government after discussions with did not share information on the WHO countries should allow inde- other member states. COVID-19 pandemic in a timely fash- pendent epidemiological assessments The WHO should be faster in its ion at its onset. on-site in high risk zones during reaction to health crises, Germany’s The EU draft document, which min- health crises. Health Minister Jens Spahn said isters are expected to endorse on The paper is the latest to outline the before a video conference on Friday of Friday before its formal adoption EU’s months-long plans to address the REUTERS EU health ministers, adding that its ahead of a WHO assembly in WHO’s shortcomings on funding, gov- Locals and officials search for survivors at a collapsed building after a strong earthquake struck the Aegean Sea on Friday and was felt in both member states should share more mid-November, urges the U.N. ernance and legal powers. Greece and Turkey, where some buildings collapsed in the coastal province of Izmir, Turkey. The Disaster and Emergency Management information and give it more resourc- agency to make public more Some EU states have raised con- Presidency (AFAD) said six people died, one due to drowning, while 202 people were injured. AFAD put the magnitude of the earthquake at 6.6, es and powers. quickly how and whether its member cerns on the document, which is sub- while the US Geological Survey said it was 7.0. WHO officials did not immediately states respect their obligations on ject to changes. As virus surges, Trump rallies keep packing in thousands

ASSOCIATED PRESS Black Lives Matter demonstrators, has hosted more than 50 rallies in Trump held a rally September 25 in News, and a colleague later They found that spikes in Covid-19 WASHINGTON, OCT 30 have a right to assemble. The presi- more than two dozen states. They Newport News, Virginia, even though compiled county data on new corona- cases occurred in seven of the 14 cities dent says he wants to get the country were halted during most of March, public health officials warned that virus cases at Trump rally sites and townships where rallies were There are no crowds at Disneyland, back to normal. April and May because of the pandem- it would violate Democratic Gov. from late June to the Newport held: Tulsa, Oklahoma; Phoenix; Old still shut down by the coronavirus. Some states have fined venues that ic. After they resumed in late June, Ralph Northam’s executive order gen- News event. They reviewed the Forge, Pennsylvania; Bemidji and Fewer fans attended the World Series host Trump rallies for violating caps they were held primarily outdoors erally banning gatherings of more number of cases for the 14 days Mankato in Minnesota; and Oshkosh this year than at any time in the past on crowd size. But the rallies contin- at airports. than 250 people. before and after each event and pub- and Weston, Wisconsin. century. Big concerts are cancelled. ue—even as the U.S. sees cases spike, Mask use is spotty. Some people Zach Nayer, a resident at Riverside lished their findings on the health The researchers acknowledged, But it’s a different story in Trumpland. especially in the Midwest and the cover their mouths but not their Regional Medical Center in Newport news site STAT. however, that increased caseloads Thousands of President Donald Plains. The nation posted a record noses. And by the end of Trump’s could not be definitely linked to Trump’s supporters regularly cram high number of new infections last hour-plus speeches, some masks are the rallies. together at campaign rallies around week—nearly 500,000. And the crowds slung low around people’s chins. The “We’ve had a huge increase in cases the country—masks optional and keep turning out for Trump. campaign makes a point to ask people in the past six to eight weeks,” said social distancing frowned upon. Ysabel Benejam, 69, of West sitting behind Trump—and likely to Judy Burrows, public information Trump rallies are among the Bloomfield, Michigan, drove about 90 be captured on camera—to wear officer for the health department in nation’s biggest events being held in minutes to Lansing and waited masks, but they don’t always comply. Marathon County, which includes defiance of crowd restrictions more than four hours in rainy, Pete Kingsley, 80, of Strasburg, Weston, Wisconsin. designed to stop the virus from spread- near-freezing temperatures to see Pennsylvania, was not wearing a She said the department is far ing. This at a time when public health Trump on Tuesday. mask as he approached the security behind in processing individual experts are advising people to think “I’m not afraid at all,” said Benejam, line at Trump’s rally Monday in Lititz. cases and has not been able to do a twice even about inviting many guests wearing a “Make America Great He said he believes the virus is being complete job in tracing back to where for Thanksgiving dinner. Again” hat and a mask emblazoned hyped to hurt Trump’s chance of ree- people contracted the virus. A lot of “It doesn’t matter who you are or with “Trump 2020.” “We need to step lection and to “bash the economy— people in the community are attend- where you are, when you have congre- back into normality.” destroy it.” ing mass gatherings, but the health gate settings where people are crowd- Democrat Joe Biden, in contrast, “If I need to put a mask on, I’ll put it department doesn’t have data suggest- ed together and virtually no one is has shunned rallies and instead holds on,” he said. “If I don’t, I won’t put ing that one is more to blame than wearing a mask, that’s a perfect setup online and drive-in events where peo- it on.” another, she said. to have an outbreak of acquisition and ple honk their horns to show support. Lita Ciaccio, 65, of Laurel, “It’s not about Trump. It’s not about transmissibility,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, He calls the Trump rallies Maryland, was concerned about con- Biden or anyone else running for the nation’s top infectious disease “super-spreader events” and says he’s tracting the virus but showed up any- office right now,” Burrows said. “The expert, recently told Yahoo News. “It’s listening to the warnings of public way. She arrived wearing a mask and problem is people are going to a public health and scientific fact.” health experts. plastic face shield and said she places where there are lots of other The Trump campaign, which dis- Since February 7, when Trump told planned to stand on the “edges” of the people. They’re not masking. They’re tributes masks and hand sanitizer at author Bob Woodward that he knew crowd. AP/RSS not social distancing. They’re not its rallies, says those who attend are the coronavirus was airborne and Not all locals are happy to have President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive for a campaign rally in Tampa, doing the kinds of things that can peaceful protesters who, just like deadlier than the flu, the president Trump come to town. Florida, on Thursday. slow the spread.”

C M Y K 05 | SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2020 MONEY

FOREX Alibaba to kick off US Dollar 118.87 Remittance to Nepal may decrease to Euro 138.79 China’s first Pound Sterling 153.53 post-pandemic Japanese Yen 11.39 $7.4 billion in 2020, World Bank says Chinese Yuan 17.74 Nepal’s central bank was more upbeat and rejected the assumption saying growth trends indicate sustained inflows. ‘Singles Day’ early Qatari Riyal 32.65

Australian Dollar 83.43 SANGAM PRASAIN pen,” economist Dadhi Adhikari told REUTERS KATHMANDU, OCT 30 the Post. “That’s the key factor why SHANGHAI, OCT 30 Malaysian Ringit 28.57 remittance has not decreased despite Nepali migrant workers are expected several projections that Nepal would China’s Alibaba Group Holding Saudi Arab Riyal 31.70 to send home only $7.4 billion in 2020, see the inflow falling steeply.” Ltd will kick off its mega-shopping Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank down 12 percent from pre-coronavirus Adhikari said that in the initial extravaganza “Singles Day” early this levels in 2019, the World Bank said in days of Covid-19, the pandemic had year, a move that will likely see a big its latest estimates. spread fear among the millions of jump in its sales as the easing of the PRICE PER TOLA Nepal’s central bank was more Nepalis living abroad, and they all country’s Covid-19 pandemic drives BULLION upbeat, saying that the World Bank wanted to return to the safety of their an economic rebound. had been conservative in its assump- homes. “But Nepal’s poor health infra- The tech giant will offer two check Fine Gold Rs 94,500 tion, and that there would be no con- structure forced them to remain out periods—a new one from traction in remittance this year. In where they were.” November 1-3 and its traditional Silver Rs 1,180 2019, Nepali expatriates sent back $8.2 In April-end, a little over a month 24-hour shopping window on billion to their families. after the lockdown was imposed on November 11. It says it will introduce SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA The virus related global slowdown March 24, Nepal Rastra Bank had pro- more than 2 million new products, and travel restrictions will also affect jected a drop of over 15 percent in double the amount last year. migratory movements, and this is remittances in the last fiscal year 2019- This year’s blitz is being watched as GASOLINE WATCH likely to keep remittances subdued 20. In the same month, the World Bank a barometer for how strong consumer even in 2021, according to the World POST FILE PHOTO also projected remittances to go down appetite is rebounding in China, amid Bank’s Migration and Development A file photo of Nepali migrant workers at Tribhuvan International Airport. by 14 percent. The Central Bureau of signs that a recovery in household Brief released on Thursday. Statistics too projected a reduction of spending has started broadening. The report said that tepid economic as of September. Based on the current In the past, migrant workers would Rs163 billion, or over 18 percent. Other tech players, like Douyin, the growth and employment levels in scenario, we don’t see inflows falling be laden with household goods for According to the macro economic Chinese version of ByteDance’s countries hosting migrants, weak oil in the next three months either.” gifts when they came home to cele- report of Nepal’s central bank, the TikTok, JD.com and Pinduoduo are prices and depreciation of the curren- “But as the Covid-19 pandemic is brate the Dashain, Tihar and Chhath number of Nepali workers (institu- rolling out their own campaigns, some cies of remittance-source countries becoming uncertain, we don’t see festivals. tional and individual-new and legal- larger than others. against the US dollar were all factors much optimism in the next year,” he “This year, due to the difficulties in ised) taking approval for foreign Alibaba turned China’s informal behind the decline. said. Bhatta, who is also the head of travel and severe restrictions imposed employment plunged by 99.2 percent Singles’ Day into a one-day shopping Nepal Rastra Bank said the country the research department at the central by many countries, Nepalis did not in the review period. Similarly, the event in 2009 and has made it the would not see negative growth in bank, said that many factors helped bring these products.” number of Nepali workers (renew world’s biggest online sales fest, remittance earnings in 2020, but the remittance to swell. The first and fore- Economists said that the growth in entry) taking approval for foreign dwarfing Cyber Monday in the growth momentum might not last in most reason, according to Bhatta, is money transfers, despite an early pre- employment decreased by 86.5 percent United States. 2021 as the global economy gets bat- the diversion of remittance from the diction by different global agencies in the review period. Last year, it recorded $38.4 billion in tered by the second wave of the Covid- informal to formal channels. “Almost that Covid-19 may crash remittance The World Bank said that in India sales on the day. “The longer 11-11 19 pandemic. all migrants, especially those in South globally including Nepal, indicates and Sri Lanka, remittances are pro- lasts, the more opportunity they have “Remittance grew, except in April Korea and Australia, sent money that the manufacturing sector has jected to fall by about 9 percent in 2020 to make money,” said Sam and May, against all the odds in the home through formal channels due to returned to its old self. to $76 billion and $6.7 billion, respec- Coopersmith, partner at Full Jet, a global job providing countries,” said the difficulty of carrying cash under “It was estimated that Nepalis tively. In Pakistan, remittances would Shanghai-based e-commerce consul- Gunakar Bhatta, spokesperson for travel restrictions,” he said. working abroad would return home in grow at about 9 percent, totalling tancy. Alibaba Chief Marketing officer Nepal Rastra Bank. “There has been a Another cause behind the rise in the millions, with at least 2-3 million about $24 billion. In Bangladesh too, Chris Tung told reporters on Thursday better-than-expected growth in remit- remittance is that people sent home coming back, because of the coronavi- remittances are projected to grow at he expects the pandemic to drive pur- tance sent by Nepali migrant workers cash instead of goods, Bhatta added. rus outbreak. But that did not hap- about 8 percent to around $20 billion. chases of luxury goods in particular. Virus surge threatens G20 finance officials set Apple’s late iPhone launch temporarily to reverse global economic rebounds November 13 meeting to wiped $100 billion off its stock value ASSOCIATED PRESS REUTERS WASHINGTON, OCT 30 finalise debt framework CALIFORNIA, OCT 30

The resurgence of coronavirus cases REUTERS the debts of heavily indebted coun- The late launch of new 5G phones engulfing the United States and WASHINGTON, OCT 30 tries or risk a “lost decade” in terms caused Apple Inc’s customers to put Europe is imperiling economic recov- of global development. off buying new devices, leading the eries on both sides of the Atlantic as Group of 20 finance officials will meet G20 finance ministers and central company on Thursday to report the millions of individuals and business- virtually on November 13 to finalise a bankers met on October 14 to extend steepest quarterly drop in iPhone es face the prospect of having to hun- common framework for addressing their Debt Service Suspension sales in two years. ker down once again. the mounting debt problems of low-in- Initiative (DSSI), which allows the Apple fell over 5 percent at one Growing fear of an economic rever- come countries rocked by the Covid-19 poorest countries to suspend debt pay- point in after-hours trade, wiping $100 sal coincided with a report Thursday pandemic, sources familiar with the ments to official bilateral creditors, billion from its stock market value. that the US economy grew at a record plans said on Thursday. until mid-2021. Since 2013, Apple has delivered 33.1 percent annual rate in the July- The extraordinary meeting comes They also agreed in principle on a new iPhones each September like September quarter. Even with that amid growing concerns that the pan- “Common Framework” to deal on a clockwork. But pandemic-induced surge, the world’s largest economy has demic has exacerbated problems for case-by-case basis with the rising delays pushed the announcement yet to fully rebound from its plunge in the poorest countries that had already number of low-income countries fac- back a month, with some devices still spring when the virus first erupted. been in or at risk of debt distress ing debt distress, but said that meas- yet to ship. And now the economy is slowing just before the pandemic hit. ure still needed to be endorsed by the Even as booming sales of Macs and as new confirmed viral cases acceler- World Bank chief economist countries. One of the sources said AirPods boosted overall revenue and ate and rescue aid from Washington Carmen Reinhart told an event on China in particular had asked for profit above what analysts had expect- has dried up. Wednesday that G20 countries should more time to win approval for the ed, iPhone sales dropped 20.7 percent REUTERS If many consumers and companies “be bold” and move quickly to reduce common framework. to $26.4 billion. Investors anticipated A customer has his temperature taken while in line outside an Apple Store to pick up Apple’s choose—or are forced—to retrench lower sales from the Cupertino, new 5G iPhone 12 in Brooklyn, New York. again in response to the virus as they California company’s bestselling did in the spring, the pullback in product, but the hold-back was worse weeks later than usual, meaning no “What we’re seeing in the early spending and hiring could derail eco- than expected, especially in China, opening-weekend iPhone sales are going in the first five days gives us a nomic growth. Already, in the United where more consumers have access to included in the fourth-quarter results. lot of confidence that China will and Europe, some governments are 5G than in the United States or Europe. In an interview with Reuters, Apple return to growth in our fiscal Q1,” re-imposing restrictions to help stem Apple has mostly beaten sales Chief Executive Tim Cook said that he Cook told Reuters. the spread of the virus. expectations this year and released a was “optimistic” about the iPhone 12 Apple did not provide a revenue slew of new products and services cycle based on the first five days of growth forecast, but Chief Financial that its customers have embraced shipping data. Officer Luca Maestri said revenue Parts of Europe and while largely homebound during the “5G is a once-in-a-decade kind of from services and non-iPhone prod- pandemic. Apple said revenue and opportunity. And we could not be more ucts would grow by double-digit per- US are reimposing profits for the fiscal fourth quarter excited to hit the market exactly when centages in the fiscal first quarter, in ended on September 26 was $64.7 bil- we did,” Cook said. “At least in the US, line with analyst expectations. He said restrictions to lion and 73 cents per share, compared the carriers are being very aggres- iPhone revenue would also grow, with analyst estimates of $63.7 billion sive.” The iPhone 12 release timing implying the rate would be in the sin- stem the spread and 70 cents per share, according to drove down sales in Greater China by gle digits. Analysts expect iPhone rev- REUTERS IBES data from Refinitiv. But the flag- 28.5 percent to $7.95 billion. Cook said enue to rise 6.45 percent to $59.56 bil- of Covid-19. A file photo shows a man standing next to a board with the G20 Meeting of Finance Ministers ship iPhone 12’s announcement was he expects the new 5G devices to help lion in the first quarter, according to logo in Buenos Aires, Argentina. delayed until October 13, several iPhone sales recover in China. Refinitiv data.

In Chicago, where Governor J B Pritzker of Illinois has banned indoor dining and drinking, Grant DePorter, who runs Harry Caray’s Restaurant Group, worries that the Scaled-back celebrations leave US turkey farmers in limbo blow to restaurants and their employ- ees could be severe. When indoor dining was first shut ASSOCIATED PRESS She can’t cancel the order, so they’re heritage breed turkeys at Root Down er birds. She’s also offering more in-person and she is worried about down in the spring, he noted, employ- CALIFORNIA, OCT 30 still coming in. Farm in Pescadero, California. The chickens and ducks. spreading the virus. ees could get by thanks to a $600-a-week But Wilson said this Thanksgiving turkeys she sells for Thanksgiving “We’ve invested so much time and “As much as it hurts me, I will have federal unemployment benefit. That For the turkey industry, this might be busier than in the past, were born in May, so she has spent energy and love into these birds, and to cook myself this year,” she said. benefit has expired. Thanksgiving is a guessing game. since customers who usually go out of months thinking about how the coro- the whole point is that they go and She’s not sure what will be on the “Everyone is incredibly disappoint- Millions of Americans are expected town will be staying home. She’s also navirus might impact the holidays. they are celebrated with people for menu. She’s only cooked a whole tur- ed by the state’s decision,” DePorter to have scaled-down celebrations amid stocking up on smaller birds like quail Boies decided to harvest some tur- these great meals. We’re just really key once in her life and she’s never said. In France, President Emmanuel the pandemic, heeding official warn- and game hen. keys early this year. It’s a gamble, hoping that still happens,” Boies said. made mashed potatoes. Macron has declared a nationwide ings against travel and large indoor Some farmers are making tweaks because the birds gain a lot of fat and Butterball—which typically sells 30 This Thanksgiving comes at an lockdown starting Friday. And in gatherings. That leaves anxious tur- based on what they think customers flavour in their final few weeks, but percent of America’s 40 million already tenuous time for the $4.3 bil- Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel key farmers and grocers scrambling will be looking for. Dede Boies raises she figures customers will want small- Thanksgiving turkeys—said it’s lion U.S. turkey industry. Thanks to announced a four-week shutdown of to predict what people will want on expecting more gatherings, but it’s not better technology for carving breast bars, restaurants and theaters. Merkel their holiday tables. convinced people will want smaller meat, per capita consumption of tur- warned of a “difficult winter” as Kroger—the nation’s largest gro- turkeys. Its research shows that 75 key nearly doubled over the 1980s, Germany’s daily reported coronavi- cery chain—said its research shows 43 percent of consumers plan to serve peaking at 14.4 pounds per person in rus cases hit a new high Thursday. percent of shoppers plan to celebrate the same size turkey or a larger turkey 1996, according to Mark Jordan, exec- In Rheinberg, Germany, Michael Thanksgiving only with those in their than they did last year. utive director of LEAP Market Boehm had set up plastic igloos out- immediate household. It has pur- Butterball says about half its tur- Analytics in Jonesboro, Arkansas. side his restaurant to welcome guests chased more turkeys than usual—in keys will be in the 10-16 lb. range and But interest in turkey has been during the winter. But Germany’s new all sizes—but it’s also predicting an half will be in the 16-24 lb. range, the steadily falling, thanks in part restrictions, Boehm said, will threat- increase in demand for alternatives, same as usual. Anyone looking for a to price increases five years ago when en businesses like his by forcing them including ham, pork roast and sea- specific size should plan to shop early, flocks were hit by bird flu. Annual to provide only take-away meals food. Kroger also expects to see more said Rebecca Welch, senior brand consumption is now around 12 pounds, through November. “People prefer to demand for plant-based meats, like a manager for seasonal at Butterball. Jordan said. sit outside,” he said ruefully. “We do vegan roast stuffed with mushrooms “Don’t be afraid to go big,” she said. Turkey sales have even been falling everything possible, my colleagues do and squash. “It’s just as easy to cook a large turkey at Thanksgiving as consumers explore everything possible, too, to ensure Walmart says it will still carry plen- as it is a smaller one, and it means alternatives, according to Nielsen that our guests come home healthy.” ty of whole turkeys, but it will also more leftovers.” data. Last November, Americans spent A major uncertainty is whether have 30 percent more turkey breasts in Nancy Johnson Horn of Queens, $643 million on turkey, down 3.5 per- most people will abide by government its stores to accommodate shoppers New York, usually shares a big turkey cent from the previous year. They directives or whether the resistance to who don’t want to cook a whole bird. with her in-laws, her parents and her spent $1.9 billion on beef, which lockdowns and other restrictions that It’s not always easy to pivot. Angela own family of five. But Horn, who was up 4 percent. And they spent $12 have emerged in parts of the United Wilson, the owner of Avedano’s Holly writes The Mama Maven blog, said million—or more than double the States and Europe will slow progress Park Market in San Francisco, ordered AP/RSS that gathering won’t happen this year prior year—on alternatives like plant- in controlling the pandemic. turkeys last year for this Thanksgiving. Turkeys are shown in a pen at Root Down Farm in Pescadero, California. because her kids are attending school based meat.

C M Y K SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2020 | 06 SPORTS | MEDLEY BRIEFING Few chances for fringe players, Mourinho hints Solskjaer pleased Leicester’s defender Castagne with progress ahead to miss next three matches Gareth Bale starts but plays less than an hour as Tottenham make four substitutions only to lose 1-0 against Antwerp. of milestone game LEICESTER: Leicester City will be with- AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE out Timothy Castagne until after the ANTWERP, OCT 30 REUTERS November international break after MANCHESTER, OCT 30 the Belgian full back suffered a ham- Jose Mourinho said he would have string injury, manager Brendan liked to make 11 half-time changes Manchester United manager Ole Rodgers said. Castagne, who joined after his Tottenham Hotspur side Gunnar Solskjaer said on Friday he Leicester from Atalanta last month, slumped to a shock 1-0 Europa League hoped to celebrate his 100th game in was absent from the travelling squad defeat at Royal Antwerp on Thursday, charge of the club with a victory, but as Rodgers’ side beat AEK Athens 2-1 while Serie A leaders AC Milan and is well aware of the threat posed by old in the Europa League on Thursday. Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal eased to rivals Arsenal. The injury is set to keep him out of straightforward wins. Solskjaer faced questions about his Leicester’s next two Premier League Spurs failed to create a single position following this month’s 6-1 matches against Leeds United and chance of note in a lifeless display, Premier League defeat by Tottenham Wolverhampton Wanderers, as well as with Gareth Bale, who rejoined the Hotspur but his team have since won next month’s Europa League home tie club on loan from Real Madrid in the three of their last four games in with Braga. Centre back Jonny Evans close-season, lasting less than an hour domestic and European competition is also a doubt for Monday’s game before being substituted. Mourinho, to silence the critics. against Leeds United having picked who made four subs at the interval “Arsenal is always going to be diffi- up a back injury. including removing the out-of-favour cult, because they’re a very good team Dele Alli, suggested he would not give with a good manager who has got Neymar could be sidelined his fringe players many chances in some great ideas on how football the future. should be played and I’m looking for- until international break “I would like to make 11 [changes]. I ward to it,” Solskjaer said ahead of PARIS: Neymar will miss three Paris didn’t make five as I was afraid of a Sunday’s game. “Surprised it’s 100 Saint-Germain matches after injuring long 45 minutes,” said the Portuguese games, it’s gone really quickly even a thigh muscle against Basaksehir in coach after Spurs’ first away loss since though a lot has happened, so let’s the Champions League, a French July. “At half-time I tried to improve hope I can celebrate number 100 with radio network reported on its website the situation, but it was not enough. a good performance.” Solskjaer rested on Thursday. Neymar came off after [After] tonight, my future choices are key players in Wednesday’s 5-0 25 minutes in Istanbul on Wednesday. going to be very easy,” he added. Champions League rout of Bundesliga PSG went on to win 2-0. “The The surprise win takes Antwerp to leaders Leipzig and the Norwegian Brazilian, who had tried to play on the top of the early Group ‘J’ table AP/RSS hailed his squad’s strength in depth. before asking to be substituted, after their opening 2-1 victory at Harry Kane (centre) replaced Gareth Bale in the second half but the Tottenham skipper was also unable to ignite a comeback in Antwerp. “At the moment, we’re looking like a underwent an MRI scan that revealed Ludogorets last week. The Belgian Manchester United squad, I’ve got a tear to the adductor,” the RMC outfit are playing in the main stage of Bale in search of an equaliser but but clear of Lille at the top of the group, gloss to the scoreline with a fine opportunities, competition for plac- Sport website said. PSG’s next three a European competition for the first he failed to make an impact. after the French outfit fought back second-half strike. es,” Solskjaer added. “Any successful games are a Ligue 1 match in Nantes time since a UEFA Cup first-round Milan made it two wins from two in from two goals down to grab a 2-2 Napoli bounced back from their team in the modern era of football on Saturday, followed by home games loss to Newcastle United in 1994. Group ‘H’ with a 3-0 success over home draw with Celtic. opening loss to AZ Alkmaar with a 1-0 have had the option to rest players ... against RB Leipzig in the Champions The hosts took the lead just before Sparta, despite Zlatan Ibrahimovic Arsenal overcame a plucky Dundalk win over Real Sociedad in Group ‘F’. that’s probably the only way you can League on Wednesday and Rennes in the half-hour mark, with Dieumerci missing a first-half penalty. Goals side with a 3-0 win at the Emirates Jamie Vardy netted a spot-kick as last in this most intense league in the Ligue 1 on November 7. That game Mbokani robbing makeshift Spurs from Brahim Diaz, Rafael Leao and Stadium. The Irish visitors held the Leicester City made it back-to-back world and also with the Champions is followed by an international centre-back Ben Davies before feeding on-loan Manchester United wing-back Gunners at bay for 41 minutes, but victories in Group ‘G’ with a 2-1 win at League involved, you want to go for break when Brazil are due to face Israeli forward Lior Refaelov to drill a Diogo Dalot saw Milan extend their Eddie Nketiah and Joe Willock goals AEK Athens, while Paco Alcacer the trophies. I’ve been pleased with Venezuela and Uruguay in fierce shot into the corner. unbeaten run to 23 matches. put the hosts two goals ahead before scored a late double as Villarreal saw the response after what we did early World Cup qualifying. (AGENCIES) Mourinho threw on Harry Kane for Stefano Pioli’s side sit two points half-time. Nicolas Pepe added further off Qarabag 3-1 in Group ‘I’. on in the season.” Juventus need to find a way without Ronaldo Kolkata’s play-off chances slim ASSOCIATED PRESS captioned the photo: “Feeling good and healthy! MILAN, OCT 30 Forza Juve!” However, he added a comment— which he later deleted—using an expletive to but David Hussey still optimistic Cristiano Ronaldo’s status remains unclear describe the test for Covid-19. going into this weekend’s Serie A games, which Alvaro Morata has stood in for Ronaldo and AGENCIES teams in the play-offs,” he said, trying to means Juventus may have to finally find a way scored twice in a 2-0 win at Dynamo Kyiv in the DUBAI, OCT 30 sound optimistic. to win without him. Champions League last week. The Spain for- Hussey said that Chennai Super Kings Ronaldo has yet to be cleared to return after ward had three goals ruled out for offside The defeat against Chennai Super Kings has played well and credited Ambati Rayudu and testing positive for the coronavirus more than against Barcelona. made the play-offs road tougher for Kolkata young Ruturaj Gaikwad for their splendid two weeks ago, and his absence has been keenly Juventus didn’t muster a shot on target in Knight Riders and mentor David Hussey is not batting effort. “Every defeat is difficult. But felt by a young Juventus side who are going that match and Pirlo knows he won’t be given a pleased man. full credit to Chennai, they deserved the win. through a transition under new coach Andrea REUTERS much time if the pressure continues to grow Kolkata bowlers could not defend a decent They bowled and fielded well and then they Pirlo. The nine-time defending Serie A champi- Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to miss next Serie A match. despite only taking charge in the offseason. 172-run total, losing the game to Chennai by chased the total,” he said. “I thought 175 was ons have drawn their last two league matches The 41-year-old Pirlo was handed his first six wickets on Thursday. The result meant par... full credit to Chennai. Their second without Ronaldo—against last-place Crotone The two recent draws have left them four coaching job at the end of July when he was put that they stayed at fifth position in the table wicket partnership batsmen Rayudu and the and Hellas Verona—and were outclassed by points behind leader AC Milan, who try to in charge of Juventus’ under-23 team, who play with 12 points and they not only need to win youngster from Maharashtra [Gaikwad] was Barcelona in a 2-0 loss in the Champions League extend their unbeaten record when they travel in Serie C. But he had not led a game before he their last league stage game but also need sublime and went a long way in winning the on Wednesday. to Udinese on Sunday. Ronaldo is also strug- was promoted to replace the fired Maurizio favourable results from other matches. game for Chennai.” On paper, though, Juventus should still be gling to watch from the sidelines as he remains Sarri just over a week later. “We have put ourselves in this position by David Hussey praised opener Nitish Rana able to beat newly promoted Spezia on Sunday in quarantine in his house in Turin. The “It’s a building year but we want to get losing games. But we are still breathing in the for his performance on the night after he made even if Ronaldo can’t play. But the Bianconeri 35-year-old Ronaldo caused controversy on results. I’m not here to build and not get wins,” competition,” Hussey said after the match. “In 87 to lead Kolkata to a score of 172. “Yeah... have only won 55 percent of their matches with- Wednesday when he posted a photo on Pirlo said. “Maybe we need a bit of time but we a few days’ time, we are going to recharge our Rana. He has had a very good tournament. A out Ronaldo since the Portuguese star joined Instagram, hours before the match against have to know that results have to arrive through batteries and come out and play free-flowing very consistent tournament. In the last few from Real Madrid in 2018, and are in danger of Barcelona, and the day after his latest test a style of play that maybe we are struggling to cricket. You never know what could happen, innings he has been a consistent player for slipping behind in the domestic title race. result was still positive for the virus. Ronaldo assimilate.” results go our way and we can shock a few Kolkata,” he added. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) **** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** A meeting or informal discussion at work could Be prepared for your mind to wander. And while You could find a great deal of comfort in your daily Beautiful words could turn anyone’s head today, so if reveal a problem that you all need to address right you’re at it, enjoy the experience! It’s healthy to let routine today, so embrace the sameness and don’t try you’ve been working up the courage to make your away. Chances are you either know how to fix it easi- your mood dictate your actions every once in a to change things just for the sake of it. What might move on a certain someone, today is the day to do it! ly or know someone who can, so speak up. You owe it while, so let that brain of yours roam all it wants. seem dull and boring to other people you find inter- Unleash your creative writing skills to approach this to the group to share what you know. esting and rewarding. person in a way that highlights your differences.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** Keeping the peace is simply not your job, so don’t Don’t rein in your instinct today, especially if it’s Today is the perfect time to mix things up and get a If you try and stay grounded in your everyday life, take on any additional burdens by trying to ease telling you to kick up your heels and get a little bit little bit silly! Hard work can wait for a while. It’s not you can balance the good days and the bad and not be tense situations. Your compassion is admirable, but wild. It’s been too long since you’ve set your workload going anywhere anytime soon. Stop worrying so affected by the roller-coaster ride that life is some- if a conflict is going on today, you need to do your aside and really cut loose. You’re overdue for some much about those tasks. You can finish what you times. But today it could be difficult to keep your feet best to avoid it. fun. need to finish. There’s still plenty of time. on the ground.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) **** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) **** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** Your intellectual strengths aren’t fading, but you still Be wary of any people who take their private prob- Your imagination is strong today, but try not to let it It’s one thing to be flexible, but it’s quite another to might start to wonder where all your smarts went lems and broadcast them for the world to hear. carry you away! You have to maintain control and let someone take advantage of you! Speak up if you today. Everything everyone is saying is just so confus- Ignore them as much as you can. Their quest for see the world for how it truly is. In any situation feel like people are walking all over you, but do it ing! You’re going to have multiple misunderstand- attention isn’t admirable, and they’re not trying to where you’re meeting someone new, make sure you calmly. You might feel too scared to make a scene, but ings, which could leave you frustrated. gain attention in a legitimate way. keep your feet on the ground. who says you have to? CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K 07 | SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2020 CULTURE & ARTS The pandemic and international relations from the eyes of a policy analyst The book Geopolitically Speaking portrays the potential impact of Covid-19 on international relations with the possibility of even rewriting, reshaping and redefining fundamental contours of accepted norms of power that have dominated the world since the Second World War.

MADAN KUMAR BHATTARAI been tantamount to impacting on or cir- GEOPOLITICALLY SPEAKING cumscribing Nepal’s foreign policy and ana Ranjan Josse, or MR JOSSE The book is a welcome security approach including ongoing dis- MRJ in short as he addition in the study putes over the country’s far-western terri- uses his initials in Publishers: Periwinkle Prakashan tories of Lipulekh, Kalapani and some of his writings, is Pages : 132 of Nepal’s foreign Limpiyadhura. a senior journalist and Price: Rs 200 One dilemma in assessing the role of an established name in policy and security Josse as an analyst is that people of his Mthe field of English journalism, especial- perspective in the profession, and a wide range of people ly in the field of foreign policy, security who know him from close quarters, take and strategy. wake of uncertainty. him as basically outspoken. But the A prolific writer, with several books arch of the Shah dynasty, is deceptively impressions we gather in the book is just and thousands of articles to his credit, small in length but perceptibly very wide the reverse. My only complaint is that Josse has come out with the publication in its approach. As another good friend despite so much information, experience of his second book, Geopolitically Pushpa Raj Pradhan has said on behalf deals with extensive and rather critical and wonderful power of articulate expres- Speaking, after the magnum opus Nepal’s of the publishers, the book has twelve review of the monumental treatise Across sion that he is endowed with, he remains Quest for Survival in a Challenging chapters that Josse wrote during the peri- Borders: Fifty Years of India’s Foreign fundamentally reticent in his writing. I Geopolitical Setting, within a span of od of lockdown and two important chap- Policy, written by the late Jyotindra Nath wish the author wrote copiously about some months, while being under lock- ters on King Birendra’s friendly goodwill Dixit (popularly known as Mani Dixit), a his observations and analysis of what can down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. visit to China in 1976 when China was in prolific writer who served as India’s be called a saga of transition that Nepal Josse has been my mentor, supervisor the midst of a new order after the death Foreign Secretary and National Security has been forced to undergo to the chagrin and guru, especially when I served in The of Premier Zhou Enlai and impending Adviser and an important mentor. of people at large. Rising Nepal under his guidance as demise of Chairman Mao Zedong, and Chapters seven to twelve basically deal Having said that, the book is a welcome Editor-in-Chief. We also share the same China and SAARC including Nepal’s role with the complexities of regional geopoli- addition in the study of Nepal’s foreign alma mater, Jadavpur University, Kolkata in the organisation that is now unfortu- tics including the role of outside powers policy and security perspective amidst (Faculty of International Relations) and nately in the dormant stage. with India as the focus both in what the the uncertainty that has marked the glob- served together under the roof of the The first six chapters deal with a broad of the book is important in the sense that writer prefers to analyse in the light real- al scenario in the wake of the corona Foreign Ministry, as he was deputed to range of issues ranging from Covid-19’s the author dispels the prevailing notion in politik and Dezinformatsiya that can be pandemic. serve a very successful tenure as Deputy potential to usher in a new configuration a section of the writers that we have inher- broadly translated as wilful distortion of Permanent Representative to the United of big power relations as compared to the ited a timeless legacy of open border argu- facts, and India’s quest for a global role. Bhattarai is a former Foreign Secretary Nations, New York, during the crucial 1956 Suez crisis that ended the UK’s role as ing that the movement was controlled by Interestingly, all these chapters touch on and author involved in the study of period of 1985-1990. a big power to the looming US-China geo- the passport system until the end of the Nepal’s foreign policy and security Nepal’s foreign relations from a His latest book, dedicated to King political tussle through perceptible shift in Rana regime in 1951. approach in one way or the other plead- historical perspective. He is available on Birendra, the longest-serving active mon- India’s over-all China policy. Chapter three The fourth chapter of the new book ing that many of such endeavours have [email protected]. BEST-SELLERS | NEW RELEASES

Fiction

1. Yuganta by Sujit Mainali 2. Maharani by Chandra Prakash Baniya 3. The Carpet Weavers by Nemat Sadat 4. Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa Anappara 5. Kanchi Maharani by Sheeva Shah, Saguna Shah Source: Mandala Book Point Source:

Non-Fiction

1. Kranti ra Pratikranti by Ramesh Nath Pandey Sridevi: The Eternal Screen Directors’ Diaries 2 Sattaa ra Satya 2. The Politics of Nepal: Persistence and Goddess Author: Rakesh Anand Bakshi Author: Khagendra Sangraula Change in and Asian Monarchy Author: Satyarth Nayak Publication: Penguin eBury Press Publication: Book Hill Publication: Price: Price: by Leo E Rose and Margaret W Fisher Ebury Press Rs 638 Rs 500 Price: Rs 958 3. Aafai lai Khojda by Bishwamber Bakshi adds another volume to his Political analyst and writer Khagendra Pyakurel Satyarth Nayak illustrates the jour- series of conversations with Hindi Sangraula translates 11 philosophical 4. Yogmaya & Durga Devi: Rebel Women ney of Sridevi, an iconic screen god- Cinema’s most iconic voices with essays from eight renowned intellectu- of Nepal by Barbara Nimri Aziz dess of Hindi cinema. Nayak presents Directors’ Diaries 2. Bakshi this time als. The essays advocate for the wel- 5. Republic of Religion by Abhinav her megastardom and how she brings his conversation with Hindi fare of society and discuss govern- Chandrachud emerged as the ‘hero’ of her films, cinema’s most celebrated filmmakers. ment systems and envisions a better towering above her male co-actors, way of life. and challenging patriarchy in Bollywood.

Review: A rom-com gone wrong in Netflix’s ‘Holidate’ The best thing that Holidate has going for it is that Roberts and Bracey do have great chemistry, but they just don’t have a story or a script that can do it justice.

LINDSEY BAHR Sloane’s Aunt Susan (Chenoweth, giving ASSOCIATED PRESS a terrible role her all and not earning any laughs in the process) who brought a f it didn’t actually exist, Holidate small Santa home and seems happy with would sound like one of those fake her life. When Sloane meets Jackson in movies within a movie. A couple of the returns line where they compare attractive singles decide on a low- their terrible Christmases, they decide to stakes, no-commitment arrangement give it a shot for New Year’s. to be each other’s dates on holidays? Sloane and Jackson keep up the arrange- IIt’s a perfect rom-com concept in that it’s ment for the year, accompanying one anoth- equal parts ridiculous and shamefully er to Easter, St. Patrick’s Day (it is Chicago), appealing. Slot in some very pretty people the Fourth of July and so on, denying their (Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey), a drunk- burgeoning feelings for one another as they en aunt (Kristen Chenoweth) some bawdy go. It wasn’t a promising sign that I started dialogue and a picturesque and unbelieva- checking my watch around Mother’s Day, bly warm Chicago where it’s possible to and the antics only get more absurd and wear spaghetti straps at Easter and it prac- exhausting. That director John Whitesell tically makes itself. Unfortunately, like so was able to stretch this out for more than 90 many that have come before, it’s pretty ter- minutes is pretty incredible and he uses rible too (and that’s taking into account the rom-com curve). Holidate, available now on Netflix, is Holidate is one of one of those extremely self-aware and cynical romantic comedies where the those cynical romcoms lead characters are neither romantics nor even particularly likeable. This garbage where the leads are person love story can work under the right circumstances (see: “You’re The neither romantics Worst”), but that usually takes a sharp nor likeable. script to execute. This script by Tiffany Paulson, with insights like “chicks go mental at the holidays” and comedic everything in his arsenal from a hospital asides along the lines of “excuse me, visit to a cheating subplot with a minor Crocodile Dundee,” is not that. And sim- character to fill the time. ply being aware of rom-com cliches and The best thing that Holidate has going having your characters discuss them is for it is that Roberts and Bracey do have getting a little tired. great chemistry, but they just don’t have a Roberts’ Sloane is a chain-smoking, story or a script that can do it justice. candy-scarfing waif who is meant to look Roberts remains somewhat of a mys- slouchy and unkempt but always just tery as an actress. She has obvious charis- looks like a gorgeous woman with perfect ma and talent that under the right cir- makeup who is simply wearing a hoodie. cumstances can shine (see: Nerve and She had a bad breakup six months ago Palo Alto) but she also seems to end up and now her little brother is engaged to a with an unfair share of duds like this and repressed stereotype and her mother Little Italy. (Frances Fisher) won’t stop pestering her If you want a raunchy will-they-won’t- about men and marriage. Bracey’s they rom-com in which two attractive Jackson, meanwhile, is a handsome people try to keep their relationship pla- Australian golf pro who just wants to tonic, I’d suggest avoiding Holidate and sleep his way through the Windy City but watching Lesley Headland’s Sleeping also not be alone on holidays. With Other People instead. AP/RSS The “holidate” concept comes from —Associated Press This image released by Netflix shows Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey in a scene from the film.

C M Y K SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2020 | 08 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 Sharadha Bhusal Jha’s crusade for a fair society For two decades, the activist has tried to keep the authorities in check with her campaign against corruption. And she says she’s not stopping any time soon.

SRIZU BAJRACHARYA Through her initiatives, she has been KATHMANDU able to bring electricity poles to many places of Banauli Danauli, especially in haradha Bhusal Jha’s work table Dalit settlements. She also closed down at her home is covered with doc- many illegal alcohol businesses at her uments of corruption cases. The village. She also revealed cases where wall behind displays a board of people had privatised rivers, where gov- newspaper cuttings of the cor- ernment officials had recruited unneeded ruption cases she has looked staff, cases where officials didn’t comply Sinto. At the centre of this board is a ban- to transfer and held on to their positions ner that says: ‘hamile tireko karko hisab for years. magau’, or ‘we need to ask for the trans- And then in 2015, Bhusal finally decid- parency of the tax we pay the govern- ed to look back at her past and tell her ment’ in English. life’s story to people. In her book Dharatal, It is obvious Bhusal’s work is a crucial Bhusal talks about her abuse and her part of her life. The 45-year-old has been life’s adversities and reveals former min- working as an anti-corruption activist for ister Modhnath Prasrit as her perpetra- more than two decades now. And her fight tor. The step was necessary, she says, against corruption is what led her to because she felt that Prasrit, who was establish the Sharada Foundation in 2016, inclined to power and respect in society, a non-profit through which she is raising would never be questioned and punished awareness and aiming to eradicate cor- if she didn’t speak at the time. ruption cases in the country. Besides her “So much time had already gone and work at the foundation, she also works at while I lived with all the pain he [Modnath Bhakta BB For Humanity, a non-profit Prasrit] gave me, he was still a respected organisation based in Texas, the US, from man, and so, I decided to write my autobi- Kathmandu, and is currently raising ography to let people know about what I funds to build back houses in Ramaroshan, went through,” she said. “I felt like the Achham, that were ravaged in the mon- book could tell my truth. The truth I car- soon flood. ried with me everywhere and that enrag- Bhusal describes herself as an outlier. es me even now.” She was never the kind of woman But when her book Dharatal came out traditional Nepali society idealises: she in 2016, Modhnath Prasrit organised a was always vocal, and she always found press conference and denied Bhusal’s herself questioning systems. Thus, wher- accusation of rape and sexual abuse. “He ever she went, she would stand out as a addressed me as mentally unstable and rebel because she would urge people, said that I was lying,” she said. That year especially women, to speak out against only some small media houses covered her wrongdoings. book. “Kantipur backed out from advertis- “There was so much corruption all ing the book, and many other media hous- around us, still is. I have seen many es too. Many people accosted me; they instances of it: for example, four tractors would say I shamed my parents and I was would come to drop gravel late in the shameless, that I am not to be trusted and night and officials would charge money I am a crazy woman,” she said. for transporting 40 tractors; people would “But I didn’t let those words take me steal electricity and sometimes govern- down, I stood my ground and I did what I ment officials would also charge for elec- POST PHOTO: SRIZU BAJRACHARYA had to,” said Bhusal. tricity poles,” she said. “Even when one Bhusal, 45, through her Sharada Foundation, aims to spread awareness and root out corruption from the country. The conversation around the book and went to report a crime or a rape, investi- Bhusal’s accusation were shoved under gation officials would ask for extra money Yet Bhusal’s work and endeavours village. Soon after that, I had gone to file the rug soon after. It only resurfaced to look into the case,” said Bhusal, adding remain unknown to many. a complaint about it at the police station, recently when writer Sanjeev Uprety that she saw corruption being exercised “The cases that I have addressed might “Sometimes I think but I couldn’t convince them. They didn’t declined the Padmashree Sahitya both by people and government officials seem small, but you see the smaller issues believe me; nobody did.” Puraskar recognised by Khemlal- in Mahottari, where she spent much of reveal bigger fraudulence,” she said. people don’t speak Later, when she consulted a lawyer he Harikala Lamichhane Samaaj Kalyan her young adult life, all the time. Bhusal believes much of the corruption said to her, “Your statute of limitation for Pratisthan for his novel Hansa, as the And the rampant corruption she saw is and the crimes that happen in the society because everyone is in the crime you are reporting has already organisation had also recognised how her journey as an anti-corruption is because of the silence people keep and this dirt together.” expired, and you don’t hold any power, Modnath Prasrit. This time, Bhusal activist began, about 26 years ago, when because many communities are still unin- and you don’t even have a social following received more support. she voiced against government officials formed and unaware. “Many people don’t that will help you with your case,” he “I am grateful to Sanjeev Uprety for for tucking away the elderly gratuity pro- have any idea about their rights in villag- said. “Cases like these can be filed if you taking that stand because what didn’t vided by the ‘Afno Gau Afai Banau’ cam- es. They don’t even know what is wrong questioned the local government of the have a large following,” he had said to her, happen four years back happened this paign in her village in Banauli Donauli. and right and so we need to speak to make Valley to be transparent about the tax the she says. time—people came in support of me, the At the time she was beaten down for things right, we need to build awareness government collects from people. She And that conversation hit her hard. It readers who read my book confronted raising her voice, she says. so that the law is ready to protect people sent out letters to thirty-two ward offices was that pivotal moment that gave her people for the sexual abuse I experi- But Bhusal was not one to back down. and so that people are ready to protect asking for information but many of these clarity with her movement against cor- enced,” said Bhusal.“What more could I Exercising her fundamental right to people,” she said. organisations didn’t even have informa- ruption. After that, keeping her past ask,” she said. information guaranteed by the constitu- Back in 2007, a rebellious Bhusal had tion officers—putting a stopper to her aside, she started speaking out. She But Bhusal is still filled with anger. tion, she made it a point to learn more also started an informal organisation case. “I was not quite successful with it focused on developing her skills, Despite her contribution to society, she about other corruption cases in her vil- with her friends called Brastachar and had also received threats but I am immersed herself in law books and still feels betrayed by it, still tormented lage. She would write letters to offices Biruddha Sangharsha Samittee to investi- planning to get back to it again,” said understanding law. She also took time to by her childhood. She has not forgotten asking for information, and then she gate corruption. The group didn’t last, Bhusal. learn how to write official letters and file her pain, and she is not ready to let would collect documents and proof to file but Bhusal kept moving forward with the But the first time Bhusal had the clari- cases and slowly she built her capability go of that suffering. Her pain has become a case against them in court. Today, she campaign. ty of becoming a torchbearer for anti-cor- to fight for justice. her catalyst to bring about change. “I will has filed over one thousand corruption In 2012, she also demanded an answer ruption was after her conversation with a “Sometimes I think people don’t speak not accept injustice, I will not accept cases and has also gone on several hunger from the then Constituent Assembly that lawyer about being raped and abused as a because everyone is in this dirt together. corruption and I will keep fighting strikes to fight against corruption which was not able to duly complete the new child. “I realised I had been raped when I You point at one, and you will find a hand- against people and systems that do also brought her to Kathmandu in 2011. constitution. And then, in 2018, she also was 18 during a gender workshop in our ful doing the same,” she said. wrong,” she says.

Charlie Hebdo: Proud to provoke Islamists, despite violence The newspaper’s critics say it is attacking Islam itself; the people who work for Charlie Hebdo say they are calling out intolerance, oppression and a political form of Islam that threatens democracy.

ANGELA CHARLTON & LORI HINNANT PARIS This week’s issue t’s been targeted again and again, features a cartoon of threatened and firebombed and struck in an attack that killed a the funeral of a dozen staff members, but satirical French newspaper Charlie Hebdo beheaded teacher, won’t stop poking fun at Islamic showing officers Iextremism. The newspaper’s many critics world- wide say its editorial staff is attacking carrying two coffins. Islam itself; the people who work for Charlie Hebdo says they are calling out intolerance, oppression and a political ning tensions. form of Islam that threatens democracy. In January 2015, two French-born But with freedom of expression as its al-Qaida extremists angered by the cari- credo, the publication routinely pushes catures stormed its newsroom and killed the limits of French hate speech laws 12 people, including the chief editor and with often sexually explicit caricatures several cartoonists. that take on or offend nearly everyone. Charlie Hebdo hasn’t backed down. The Its decision to publish new cartoons day the trial into that 2015 attack opened, this week ridiculing its opponents in the it reprinted the original prophet carica- Islamic world formed the backdrop for yet tures. another attack Thursday in France, Weeks later, a Pakistani youth stabbed where three people were fatally attacked two people outside Charlie Hebdo’s for- in a church. mer offices, citing the republished car- Charlie Hebdo has lampooned dead toons. On October 16, a Chechen refugee child migrants, virus victims, dying drug beheaded a teacher outside Paris who had addicts, world leaders, neo-Nazis, popes, shown the caricatures to his class, for a bishops, Jewish leaders, and other reli- debate about free expression. gious, political and entertainment fig- In response, French President ures. This week’s issue features a cartoon Emmanuel Macron firmly defended of the funeral of a beheaded teacher, Charlie Hebdo’s freedom to print carica- showing officers carrying two coffins, one tures and spoke out against Islamism, for the body, one for the head. drawing protests and calls for boycotts Since a trial opened last month over the AP/RSS around the Muslim world, as well as calls 2015 attack that killed 12 of its cartoon- Police officers stand guard near Notre Dame church in Nice, southern France. An attacker armed with a knife killed at least three people at a church in the for violence against France from some ists, the newspaper has chronicled the Mediterranean city of Nice. It was the third attack in two months in France amid a growing furore in the Muslim world over caricatures of the Prophet extremist voices. proceedings daily and devoted nearly half Muhammad that were re-published by the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo. Sonia Mejri, the disenchanted French of its weekly covers to mocking Islamic widow of the Islamic State commander extremism. grant backgrounds,” read this week’s edi- Muhammad originally published by a issue that “invited” the prophet to be its who recruited one of the 2015 attackers, “We need strong actions to stop torial from Charlie Hebdo’s editor, who Danish magazine in 2005 and republished guest editor. His caricature was on the testified from prison during the trial. Islamism but also to condemn the slight- goes by the name Riss. “No, France is the following year by Charlie Hebdo. cover. At the end of her testimony, she est gesture, the slightest intolerant or divided between democrats and anti-dem- Those cartoons were seen as sacrilegious A year later, the newspaper published addressed a message to Charlie Hebdo’s hateful word toward French people of ocrats.” in Islam, and many Muslims worldwide more Muhammad drawings amid an journalists, including those sitting in the immigrant backgrounds. Because France The paper’s circulation is small, and felt genuinely hurt by them—but con- uproar over an anti-Muslim film. The courtroom. isn’t divided between Muslims and many French people find it disgusting or demned the violence that has come in cartoons depicted Muhammad naked and “Don’t stop. It’s important. It’s truly non-Muslims, between believers and extreme, but defend its right to exist. response. in demeaning or pornographic poses. The what they detest the most,” Mejri said. non-believers, between people with The paper drew ire for reprinting cari- In 2011, Charlie Hebdo’s offices were French government defended free speech “You represent liberty. What they want is French roots and French people of immi- catures of the Muslim Prophet firebombed after it published a spoof even as it rebuked Charlie Hebdo for fan- to create a malaise in society.”

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