WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 223 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 34.6 C 6.9 C Monday, October 05, 2020 | 19-06-2077 Nepalgunj Jumla

Why Govinda KC’s demands matter even more today as country battles the pandemic Covid-19 has exposed Nepal’s fragile health system and the fasting doctor’s demands for years have been aimed at making health care services accessible to all.

BINOD GHIMIRE KATHMANDU, OCT 4

Dr Govinda KC’s 19th fast-unto-death entered its 21st day on Sunday. There has been no word from the govern- ment, except a token call to “end the hunger strike”. The Oli administration has not only adopted a nonchalant attitude POST PHOTO towards KC’s hunger strike and his Dr KC has staged 19 hunger strikes so far. demands but has also made its disdain for the 63-year-old doctor public. has exposed our fragile health care Exactly what it has been doing with system,” said Dr Jiwan Kshetry, a the coronavirus pandemic. vocal supporter of KC who also writes Civil society members say the gov- extensively on health care issues. ernment’s failure to respond to the “Most of KC’s demands revolve pandemic effectively is exactly what around ensuring that people have easy KC had been warning of for years. access to health services.” Nine months into the pandemic, the KC’s demands this time include government has given up on its fight establishing one government medical against Covid-19. It neither had any college each in Sudurpaschim plan nor worked to improve health Province, Province 2, Gandaki care facilities. The country’s health Province and Province 1 and an care facilities have been overwhelmed amendment to the National Medical already. Those who can afford can go Education Act. He is also demanding to private hospitals in case they con- that the government support POST PHOTO: SANJOG MANANDHAR tract the virus; the poor have been left Bayalpata Hospital in Achham, which Students applying for no objection certificates to study abroad crowd at an education ministry office at Kaiser Mahal in Kathmandu on Sunday without maintaining physical distancing to check to fend for themselves. has been providing health care servic- the spread of the coronavirus. The ministry recently resumed issuing the certificates, needed for the transfer of foreign currency through banks to colleges abroad, after a halt since March. Since the very beginning—he first es for free to the people of the region. staged his hunger strike in July, 2012— The Oli administration has so far KC has been calling for ensuring shown no interest in initiating talks health care to all. to break his fast, let alone address Reforms in the medical education his demands. According to doctors sector in Nepal ultimately mean easy attending to him, his health is deterio- Baluwatar keeps mum over Oli’s status even access of the people to health care, rating fast. according to the civil society members KC started his hunger strike from who have in the past made attempts to Babaramasta Temple in Jumla on forge deals with the governments. September 14. He arrived in Kathmandu “KC’s demands have been proven to via Nepalgunj on September 22. after his close aides tested positive for Covid-19 be right even more now, as Covid-19 >> Continued on page 2 No information has been shared if those who have contracted the virus had been in close contact with Oli and whether he’s quarantined himself. Instead, he met Dahal on Sunday.

Regmi said he is increasingly con- cerned if attempts are being made to cover up Oli’s health condition. “The prime minister is not just an individual but an institution. Every citizen holds the right to know about their prime minister’s well-being,” Regmi told the Post. “Especially after his aides have tested positive, it becomes imperative that the govern- ment inform the public about the prime minister—whether he was in close contact with them, whether he has begun the quarantine process, whether his swab samples have been collected for testing and whether the result has come.” The government and his party, how- ever, have always been stingy when it comes to disseminating information about Oli’s health. In October-end last year, when Oli was suddenly admitted to a private health facility in FILE PHOTO: PM’S SECRETARIAT Kathmandu, there were just murky Between September 24 and October 1, Oli attended three Cabinet meetings at Baluwatar. details about his health condition. After scores of people in Baluwatar ANIL GIRI conditions. Oli is 68, he underwent a tested positive, the Nepal Communist KATHMANDU, OCT 4 second kidney transplant only in Party (NCP) has postponed its March this year and he is thus immu- Secretariat meeting until further notice. Baluwatar has maintained an uncan- no-comrpromised. Second is for rea- According to a member at Oli’s ny silence even as close to 150 people, sons of transparency. personal secretariat, his meetings including Prime Minister KP Sharma Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, a virologist have been hugely trimmed for the next Oli’s five advisers, have tested positive at Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious few days. for Covid-19 there. Nor has his Nepal Disease Hospital, said leaders seem to “The prime minister has limited his Communist Party come up with any be ignoring the government’s health meetings and has been meeting with official statement. protocol. people only if it is absolutely neces- Oli’s advisers Bishnu Rimal, Surya “The protocol should be applicable sary,” said Ramsharan Bajgain, Oli’s Thapa, Rajan Bhattarai and Indra to all, as the infection does not recog- media expert, who also tested positive Bhandari had taken to social media to nise who is a leader and who is a mem- for Covid-19 on Sunday. “I cannot say announce that they had tested positive ber of the public,” Pun told the Post. why nothing has been made public and urged all those who had come in As per his own government’s health with regards to the prime minister’s close contact with them to take pre- protocol, Oli should have put himself health, as it is the job of the doctors.” cautions. in isolation after so many people According to Bajgain, Oli and his According to Lila Bikram Thapa, a around him have tested positive for wife Radhika Shakya’s tests were per- senior public health administrator at the coronavirus, doctors say. formed on Thursday and that the the Epidemiology and Disease Control Given his health condition, Oli rare- results were negative. Division, as of Sunday, 144 people ly steps out of Baluwatar. However, he “I cannot say how many times from Baluwatar have tested positive. has been meeting people, as party Covid-19 tests the prime minister has As many as 23 people tested positive meetings and Cabinet meetings are had in the past,” Bajgain told the Post. on Friday and 28 army and 18 police held at Baluwatar. On Sunday, a day Bajgain said he started his isolation personnel tested positive some 11 days after his advisers declared that they on Sunday. ago. Oli’s personal photographer had tested positive, Oli held a meeting Apart from his meeting with Dahal Rajan Kafle tested positive seven days with the other party chair Pushpa on Sunday, Oli has been constantly ago. Around nine days ago, Oli’s per- Kamal Dahal. meeting others almost on a daily sonal physician Dibya Singh Shah Dr GD Thakur, former director at basis. From September 24 to October tested positive for Covid-19. the Epidemiology and Disease Control 1, Oli attended three Cabinet meet- Public health experts and analysts Division, said the prime minister ings, which are known to the public. say information must be disseminated should have begun the quarantine pro- But there has been no information regarding the coronavirus entering cess rather than meeting other leaders. from Baluwatar on other meetings Baluwatar for two major reasons. “The health protocol is applicable to the prime minister has had with First, Oli’s age and his underlying the prime minister as well and he any other leader or his advisers, should strictly abide by it,” including those who have been infect- Thakur told the Post. ed with the virus. Baluwatar has not come up According to sources, Oli’s personal with any statement on how photographer would spend around 10 closely the prime minister was to 12 hours with him until he went working with his advisers over into isolation last week after testing the past few days. If they had positive for the virus. not been in close contact with Questions are also being asked him, then that too must be made if the prime minister’s advisers took clear, according to Khemraj a lackadaisical approach despite Regmi, executive president of knowing that the virus had entered Transparency International Baluwatar and refused to abide by the Nepal, who is also a former secre- health protocol. tary of the government of Nepal. >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K MONDAY, OCTOBER 05, 2020 | 02 NATIONAL Number of Covid-19 deaths increasing in Province 1 Sixteen people in the province died due to the virus in the past week, according to data.

DEO NARAYAN SAH & JITENDRA SAH Hospital. “But the situation has MORANG, OCT 4 become more challenging, as people with no pre-existing health conditions The number of Covid-19 deaths has have started to die of the virus. There increased in Province 1 in the last few are no other alternatives than follow- weeks. On Saturday alone, a 68-year- ing proper health standards.” old woman of Ward No. 3 in Biratnagar One of the reasons behind the high Metropolitan City died while undergo- death rate in Province 1 is that people ing treatment at the Covid-19 are not maintaining social distancing Treatment Centre of Koshi Hospital in crowded places. People’s movement and a 28-year-old woman of Inaruwa in Biratnagar and other city areas has Ward No. 4 in Sunsari died at the increased after the lifting of the Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of nationwide lockdown. Market areas Health Sciences. have also started to get crowded with The elderly woman from Biratnagar the upcoming Dashain and Tihar festi- was admitted to the Covid-19 treat- vals. However, people are not follow- ment centre of Koshi Hospital on ing safety protocols, say locals. September 27, after she started show- “Locals are showing negligence ing symptoms of coronavirus. Gyan these days. They are not even using POST PHOTO: DEEPAK KC Bahadur Basnet, chief at the Health face masks. They are found moving Visitors at Buddha Park near Swayambhu in Kathmandu. The park opened to public on Sunday after months of closure due to Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. Office in Morang, who also looks after here and there in groups without the management of the Covid-19 treat- maintaining social distancing,” said ment Centre, said, “The 68-year-old Raj Kumar Yadav, a vegetable seller in woman had difficulties in breathing Biratnagar. “I am worried that the and her oxygen level was low. We authorities might impose restrictions could not save her even though we again if people fail to follow health tried our best.” protocols.” Protests continue in Butwal against decision Likewise, doctors at the BP Koirala Business entrepreneurs, including Institute of Health Sciences said the Salt Trading, have also opened mar- 28-year-old who died of coronavirus kets for the festive season. But neither on Saturday did not have any pre-ex- the shop owners nor the customers to designate Deukhuri as Province 5 capital isting health condition. Dr Aashish are following proper health standards. Shrestha, associate spokesperson of “The majority of locals are not the institute, said, “She did not have using face masks and maintaining District administration enforces four-day-long prohibitory order in major places of Butwal starting Sunday. any health condition in the past. This social distancing while frequenting incident shows that the virus has the bazaar area. If this continues, started to take the lives of people in there might be an outbreak of Covid- GHANSHYAM GAUTAM, SANJU PAUDEL Bhumishwor Dhakal, chief whip of normal health too.” 19 in Biratnagar,” said Santosh & AMRITA ANMOL the Nepal Communist Party in Sixteen Covid-19 patients died in Pokharel, a professor in Biratnagar. RUPANDEHI, OCT 4 Province 5 Assembly, said the vehi- various health facilities of Province 1 “People’s movement has increased cle’s window panes were smashed but in the past week. According to the data in recent days, as the festival season is Protests against Province 5 govern- Pokharel remained unhurt in the inci- of the Ministry of Social Development, nearing. We should all be aware and ment’s decision to name Deukhuri in dent. Police have arrested 10 people on 80 individuals died of Covid-19 in the follow health protocols to protect our- Dang as the provincial capital contin- charges of throwing stones at province from mid-July till date. The selves from the virus,” said Das, the ued in some of the major cities in the Pokharel’s vehicle. data showed that the deceased were medical superintendent at Koshi province on Sunday. Pokharel had gone to Kathmandu from Siraha, Saptari, Taplejung, Hospital. “It is mandatory to use face Members of the business communi- on Saturday to forge consensus with Sunsari, Morang and Jhapa districts masks and wash hands with soap and ty, political parties, various social the opposition parties regarding the of Province 1. water time and again. Both the gov- organisations and the locals staged provincial capital. A source said he “Most of the Covid-19 patients are ernment and the citizens should make demonstrations in Butwal on Sunday, attempted to meet with NC President brought to the hospital only after they efforts to follow this basic standard.” defying the prohibitory order enforced Sher Bahadur Deuba but was unsuc- have developed complications. The Dr Saroj Bishal, officer at the by the District Administration Office cessful. According to the source, NCP number of Covid-19 deaths among old Ministry of Social Development, ech- in Rupandehi. The protesters demand- chairmen KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa people and people with pre-existing oes Das’ sentiments. ed that Butwal in Rupandehi be Kamal Dahal later called Deuba and health conditions has increased in “All the stakeholders are equally declared the capital of Province 5. talked about the fresh debate of the recent days,” said Dr Chumanlal Das, responsible to contain the spread of Butwal Chamber of Commerce and provincial capital in Province 5. medical superintendent at the Koshi the virus,” he said. Industry, Rupandehi Industry At the initiation of the NCP parlia- Association, Rupandehi Trade POST PHOTO: SANJU PAUDEL mentary party, an all party meeting Association and other organisations Members of the business community take out a rally in Butwal on Sunday, demanding that was held at the provincial assembly of hotel, restaurant and transporta- the city be declared the capital of Province 5. secretariat on Sunday to forge a con- tion entrepreneurs had formed a joint sensus regarding the provincial capi- struggle committee on Saturday. The Addressing the corner meeting, Golpark, among other places of tal. The NCP, the Nepali Congress and meeting of the committee had decided Khim Bahadur Hamal, the chairman Butwal; Devkota Chowk and Buddha Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal attend- to launch protests on Sunday. of the joint struggle committee, said Chowk of Siddharthanagar; ed the meeting but Rastriya Provincial Minister for Internal that the government has decided to Manigram, Shankarnagar and Janamorcha remained absent. The Affairs and Law Kul Prasad KC on shift the provincial capital from Yogikuti of Tilottama; Saljhandi of meeting failed to make any headway. Friday registered a proposal at the Butwal by ignoring the contributions Sainamaina and Khaireni Chowk of “The government has urged us to Provincial Assembly to name Province of the private sectors. Devdaha. Vehicular movement came support the proposal tabled in the pro- 5 as Lumbini and Deukhuri as its cap- Butwal is the temporary capital of to a halt while marketplaces and facto- vincial assembly. But we asked them ital. The proposal was tabled after the the province. ries remained shut in these areas due to withdraw the proposal and forge decision of NCP chairmen KP Sharma “The business community even pro- to the strike. political consensus,” said Nirmala Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal. The vided their private buildings to the The NC supporters also burnt tyres Chhetri, the NC whip of Province 5 NCP leadership has been criticised for government. We will not accept the in front of the house of Lila Giri, the assembly. According to her, the all intervening in the constitutional government’s decision at any cost,” he provincial Minister for Industry, party meeting ended with an agree- rights of the provincial assembly to said. Tourism, Forest and Environment, in ment to sit again after consulting with determine the name and capital of the The main opposition, Nepali Butwal. the parties’ central leadership. province. Congress, called a general strike in Meanwhile, the Kapilvastu district Meanwhile, the NCP Rupandehi dis- The district administration on Rupandehi on Sunday as a protest to committee of the Nepali Congress has trict committee has also opposed the Saturday enforced a four-day-long pro- the government’s decision. NC activ- demanded that Kapilvastu be declared provincial government’s decision. hibitory order in major places of ists took to the streets and burnt tyres as the capital of Province 5. Issuing a joint statement on Sunday, Butwal starting Sunday morning. in several places of the district. “We will launch protest pro- the district committee Chairman However, demonstrators took out a According to the Area Police Office in grammes from Monday to pressurise Shiva Subedi and Secretary Narayan protest rally from Chauraha in Butwal Butwal, the strike enforcers vandal- the government to address our Bahadur GC urged the government to that converged into a corner meeting ised a vehicle for defying the strike at demand,” said NC district president withdraw its decision regarding the at Traffic Chowk after moving around Debinag a r. Surendra Acharya. provincial capital. They also warned the city. The protesters chanted Cadres of the NC and its sister On Sunday evening, demonstrators party leaders not to forget the assur- POST PHOTO: JITENDRA SAH anti-government slogans and warned organisations staged demonstrations hurled stones at Chief Minister ance the government had given to the People’s movement in Biratnagar and other city areas in the province has increased after the the leaders to respect people’s senti- at Pushpalal Park, Traffic Chowk, Shankar Pokharel’s vehicle near party during the elections to designate lifting of the nationwide lockdown. ments. Laxminagar, Bidhyut Chowk and Milanchowk in Butwal. Butwal as the provincial capital. Why Govinda KC’s demands matter even more today ... Baluwatar keeps >> CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 out that a lack of proper monitor- some of his demands are in the mum over Oli’s ... But upon his arrival, police forci- ing was plaguing the medical edu- process for execution. bly took him to the National cation sector. Therefore, KC Gyawali also said that KC has Trauma Centre, against his wish demanded that one university chosen a wrong time to go on a >> CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 to go to the Tribhuvan University must not be allowed to grant affil- hunger strike, as the government Multiple ruling party leaders told the Post that it is not Teaching Hospital. After much iations to more than five medical is fighting the coronavirus. He, unusual for Baluwatar to not make things transparent as criticism, KC was allowed to go to colleges. The National Medical however, stopped short of com- Oli’s team has been a champion when it comes to hiding the Teaching Hospital, where he Education Act, however, hasn’t mitting to talks with KC, who is information. has continued his hunger strike. fully embraced the policy. The Act in a life-and-death situation. “We barely know what happens in Baluwatar. There is Kedar Bhakta Mathema, for- bans affiliations to more than five Dr Arjun Karki, who was a minimal transparency in the Oli administration. The deci- mer vice-chancellor of Tribhuvan medical colleges but it has given member of the Mathema panel sion making process is poor, there is a lack of accountabil- University who led a panel that discretionary authority to the that recommended reform meas- ity and transparency,” said a Standing Committee member recommended reforms in Nepal’s Medical Education Commission ures in the medical sector, who did not want to be identified. medical education sector, said KC to decide in the case of colleges stressed the need to form a “We too came to know through the media that the prime hasn’t put forth any demands that that have already received the POST PHOTO: KESHAV THAPA responsible team to start negotia- minister’s advisers had tested positive.” aren’t possible to address. letter of intent to operate outside Doctors at TU Teaching Hospital stage a demonstration in solidarity with Dr KC. tions with KC to save his life. The Prime Minister’s Office also expressed ignorance “It is shocking that the govern- the Capital. “There has been a tendency to about Oli’s latest health status. An official said the office ment hasn’t taken any initiative It’s not that KC’s demands have tion of then chief justice Gopal demic, it can at least take steps to forge deals only when he becomes has no plans to issue any statement on the prime minister’s to start dialogue with him,” said always been limited only to Prasad Parajuli. start talks with him. very weak and his health becomes health as it itself is in the dark. Mathema. reforms in the medical education Probing corruption cases “The government must under- serious,” Karki told the Post. “If “We are not aware of the prime minister’s health status KC has been consistent in his sector, as at times he has made against incumbent and former stand that KC’s life matters,” said all of his demands cannot be or his Covid-19 test,” said Shanker Nepal, spokesperson for demand for establishing govern- some political demands as well. commissioners of the Commission Dhungana during a virtual inter- implemented immediately, that the Prime Minister’s Office. “Health is a personal matter ment medical colleges rather In June 2016, KC launched a cam- for Investigation of Abuse of action on Friday. “The govern- should be communicated to him too. We don’t even know whether we should speak on such than allowing private ones to paign to demand impeachment Authority and investigating into ment will be responsible if any- properly.” matters.” mushroom in city areas, includ- against Lokman Singh Karki, their properties are also on the list thing happens to him.” What’s concerning is not that The Post’s repeated attempts to reach Foreign Minister ing Kathmandu. then chief of the Commission for of KC’s demands this time. According to Dhungana, the the Oli government is not inter- Pradeep Gyawali, who is also the government spokesper- “It is because of KC the coun- Investigation of Abuse of Some of KC’s critics say some objective of every protest is to ested in addressing KC’s demands son, regarding the government’s official view on Oli’s sta- try has been able to end malprac- Authority. Political parties did of his demands are impossible to make the government listen and but it is its utter disregard for a tus and well-being went unanswered. tices in the medical education register an impeachment motion address, as they are too political KC is doing the same. “But suc- person who has put his life at Party spokesperson Narayan Kaji Shrestha said he had sector to some extent,” said against Karki, but that was large- in nature. KC, however, has cessive governments have taken stake for the sake of millions of heard that the prime minister’s report had come negative. Mathema. “But some of his ly motivated by their political received support from people no measures to implement the ordinary people, civil society He said he was not aware if the prime minister has been demands are yet to be addressed.” interest after Karki made his from various walks of life as his agreements they have reached members say. tested again for Covid-19 after his advisers tested positive. A 10-year moratorium on the intent clear to go after them. demands resonate with them. with him in the past,” he said. “This government is never “The prime minister’s private secretariat should release establishment of medical colleg- Karki was later disqualified by Daman Nath Dhungana, a for- While urging the doctor to call tired of boasting that it is pro-peo- an official statement about his Covid-19 status,” said es in Kathmandu Valley was one the Supreme Court to hold the mer Speaker of the House of off his hunger strike, Foreign ple but it is not paying attention Shrestha. “His secretariat must make it clear when the test of his major achievements, as the post. Once, KC included the issue Representatives and a civil socie- Minister Pradeep Gwayali, also to Dr KC’s pro-people demands,” was conducted, when the result came and whether it was number of private medical of transitional justice in his list ty leader, said if the government the government spokesperson, said Kshetry. “The incumbent positive or negative.” schools was increasing in the of demands. On another occa- cannot address his demands at said that most of his demands government is not just irrespon- Capital. KC has for long pointed sion, he demanded the resigna- this time due to the Covid-19 pan- have been addressed and that sible, it is insensitive as well.” (Arjun Poudel contributed reporting.)

C M Y K 03 | MONDAY, OCTOBER 05, 2020 NATIONAL

BRIEFING Chinese side starts delivering goods via Rasuwagadhi RASUWA: The Chinese authority has started delivering goods to Nepal in the Rasuwagadhi border point, Rasuwa. According to Punya Bikram Khadka, chief at Rasuwagadhi cus- tom point, the Chinese side started bringing goods to the Nepali side on Sunday. The goods were earlier dropped in the middle of the Miteri bridge that links Nepal and China. During a meeting of the officials of Nepal and China on Wednesday, the Chinese side had promised to deliver goods to Nepal and increase the num- ber of goods carriers.

Woman alleges in-laws, husband of raping her BAJHANG: A 21-year-old woman, who is receiving treatment at Bajhang District Hospital, said her husband, POST PHOTO: BEEJU MAHARJAN father-in-law, his brother and brother- Workers from the Department of Forests and Soil Conservation clean a road verge at Sanepa, Lalitpur, on Sunday to make it ready to plant shrubs and trees. in-law had repeatedly raped her in Tamilnadu of India. The victim, a resident of Sunkuda in Bajhang, had gone to India, where her in-laws were working, for treatment. She shared her ordeals with federal parliament member Aasha Kumari BK, who met Women MPs lobby for harsher penalties for rape her at the hospital on Sunday. According to the doctors involved in her treatment, the victim has devel- oped multi-personality disorder due As cases of sexual violence have continued to go up despite increased jail term, women lawmakers want rapists to be chemically castrated. to the ordeal. BINOD GHIMIRE tive,” she said. “There should also be will make them [potential perpetra- her into an out-of-court settlement. outside the court. KATHMANDU, OCT 4 provisions of labour camp internment tors of the crime] think before com- The girl from Dakneshwori “We know that numbers of such Three dead, three hurt in and life imprisonment.” mitting such acts,” said Bhusal, who Municipality-7, who had been raped crimes go unreported because they Every night Shanta Chaudhary, Nepal According to urologist and surgeon also is a lawyer. “I believe the types of by four men, took her own life because never come to the police,” she said. jeep crash Communist Party whip, prays that Dr Jagdish Lal Baidya, a male can stop gruesome crimes we are witnessing she and her mother were reportedly “We have to work against the practice MAKWANPUR: Three persons were there are no news on rape in the next having an erection as long as he takes on a daily basis will go down if severe forced by the panchayat, a traditional of settling such outside the court.” killed and three others were injured morning’s papers. She says the medication that contains estrogen, a penalties are in place.” village council, to “settle the matter” Police, on the other hand, question when a passenger jeep swerved off increasing cases of rape and sexual female hormone. Data at the Nepal Police shows 2,144 outside the court of law saying that if if the number of cases have actually the road and plunged around 100 assaults have haunted her so much “But as soon as one stops taking it, cases of rape and 687 cases of attempt- the incident became public it would increased despite what data shoes. metres below near Chisapani Gadhi that she fears that her relatives may he can have erection again,” Baidya ed rape were reported in the fiscal bring shame upon the community. “I don’t totally rule out the possibil- along the Bhimphedi-Kulekhani road fall victims of the gruesome crime. said. “The only way to ensure that a year 2019-20 an increase from 1,480 Binda Pandey, a Nepal Communist ity of increase in the heinous crime on Sunday. The injured are receiving “As a woman it is terrifying waking man does not have an erection perma- cases of rape and 727 cases of attempt- Party lawmaker, said their network but what I feel is the reporting has treatment at Bhimphedi Primary up to the news of rape and sexual vio- nently is by undergoing a surgical ed rape from fiscal year 2017-18. would not just lobby for the revision increased now,” said Pitambar Health Centre, said Deputy lence every day,” she said. “Where is procedure.” The Criminal Code that came into in the existing laws but also for their Adhikari, former deputy inspector Superintendent of Police Indra our society heading?” As a part of their lobbying, the effect in August 2018 increased the implementation. general of Nepal Police who had led Bahadur Rana. The vehicle was Chaudhary along with her female women lawmakers on Thursday met maximum imprisonment for the rap- “I agree that having laws alone is the Directorate of Women, Children on its way to Kathmandu from colleagues in the House of Agni Sapkota, speaker of the House of ist to 25 years, from the earlier 15 not enough, its implementation is nec- and Elderly Citizen in 2019. He says Hetauda. Representatives and the National Representatives, and Ganesh Prasad years. essary as well,” she said. “We, there- rape is a complex case to deal with Assembly have been lobbying for a Timilsina, chairperson of the In September 2018, the government fore, are for making Nepal Police, who because physical evidence is not revision in the penalty in rape cases. National Assembly, seeking their sup- banned hundreds of pornographic are the first custodians of the law, always available. Test flights conducted at three The cross-party women lawmakers port in incorporating severe penalties sites claiming they have been abetting responsible.” “The efficiency of the investigating from both the Houses have formed a in cases of rape of minors and in the sexual violence and encouraging this The network of the women lawmak- officials needs to be improved,” he airports of Sudurpaschim loose network to lobby for stricter pen- cases of murder after rape. aberration in society. However, the ers has also forwarded a proposal for said. “But increasing the severity of BAJHANG/BAITADI: The Civil Aviation alties for rape perpetrators and to They say they concluded that inclu- crackdown on the pornographic con- measures like suspension of a police the penalty would act as a deterrent Authority of Nepal has carried out advocate justice for the survivors and sion of stern provisions was neces- tent does not seem to have contributed official to his/her termination from measure to minimise the crime.” test flights in three airports of victims of rape and sexual assaults. sary as the existing legal provisions in lowering the cases of sexual vio- the job if they do not register the cases Niru Devi Pal, chairperson of the Sudurpaschim Province. An aircraft Their meeting on September 28 con- have failed to act as a deterrent to lence as the government has claimed or weaken them. Women and Children Committee of belonging to Summit Air successfully cluded that increasing the penalties control the crime. it would. Different media report suggest the Parliament, feels that the punishment landed in Debal Airport of Bajhang, including capital punishment if possi- Pushpa Bhusal, a whip of Nepali A 12-year girl, from Masta Rural women and girls who report rape face should match the severity of the crime Patan Airport of Baitadi and Dipayal ble, was necessary as a deterrent Congress, said the fact that the cases Municipality in Bajhang district was an insensitive police force inefficient and the government should support Airport of Doti on Saturday. The test measure to minimise the crime. of rape and murder after rape have murdered after being raped on when it comes to dealing with survi- women and girls who have been vic- flights were conducted after the run- But the constitution does not allow increased despite increase in the September 23. Rajendra Bohara from vors of sexual violence. tims in the form of reservation in way of these airports were concre- capital punishment. length of imprisonment shows there the same place allegedly raped the Pandey said their proposal also government jobs and free study, tised. Minister for Culture, Tourism “We are for incorporating a provi- is a need of sterner legal provisions. minor and killed her using a trident includes suspension of elected among others. and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai, sion of chemical castration, at the “An increase in the penalty is neces- and a hammer. On September 15, a officials and termination of their “The mental trauma of the rape other lawmakers and high level offi- minimum, so that the person involved sary to discourage one from commit- teenager rape victim took her own life party membership if they are victims is unparalleled and it contin- cials were on the flight. in the heinous act is sexually inac- ting crime as having severe penalties in Saptari after village elders forced found involved in settling cases ues for their entire lives,” she said. Kin of Nepalis killed and hurt in Kabul settle case with Canadian government The two parties agreed on $20.4 million in compensation, according to CBC News.

AP Thirteen Nepali security guards working for the Canadian embassy in Kabul were killed by a suicide bomber on June 20, 2016.

POST REPORT lawyer for the families, confirmed to bases and several other important KATHMANDU, OCT 4 the CBC News that the victims’ fami- sites in Iraq, also won the contract to lies and the survivors agreed for the guard the Canadian embassy in Kabul The families of Nepali security guards settlement. in 2011, reported The Atlantic. The killed and injured in the 2016 Kabul “I can tell you the families were company had then hired Nepali work- blast have settled their lawsuit with satisfied with the settlement and that ers for less than $1,000 a month and the Canadian government. they are confident the Government of vanished soon after the incident. The CBC News reported that the Canada has recognized the sacrifice Following the 2016 incident, the Canadian government quietly settled and service of those gentlemen who Nepal government banned Nepali a lawsuit filed by the survivors and were protecting our embassy in Kabul workers from migrating to war-torn family members of those killed by a at the time of the bombing,” Fiorante countries like Iraq, Afghanistan and suicide bomber outside the Canadian was quoted as saying to the CBC News. Libya. However, many Nepalis contin- embassy in Kabul. Families of the victims and the sur- ue to migrate to these countries Thirteen Nepali security guards vivors had alleged the Candian gov- through unsafe routes. were killed in the explosion that took ernment that it was negligent and The foreign missions based in Iraq place on June 20, 2016. They were en failed in its duty to supervise the pri- and Afghanistan, rely on contracting route to their workplace Canadian vate security contractor—Sabre companies to guard, supply and man- embassy in Kabul in a minibus when International Security—which had age its military bases, embassies, and the suicide bomber belonging to a ter- hired Nepalis for guarding the perim- other facilities. Private security com- rorist group ran to the vehicle and eter of the Canadian embassy in panies prefer to hire ex-soldiers from triggered the bomb. Kabul. the Indian and British Gurkha After they were denied compensa- Earlier, the families had filed a law- Regiments, the Nepal Army, and the tion by the contractor and the suit against both the Candian govern- police. Candian government, the families of ment and Sabre International. Nepalis guarding these crucial sites the dead security guards and the But after the tragic incident, the Sabre in war zones of Afghanistan and Iraq blast survivors had filed a suit had folded operations in both Iraq are dying cheap deaths. Nepalis who against the Canadian government in and Afghanistan and could not be are injured or killed while working for 2018, demanding $20.4 million in com- located. security contractors are often sent pensation. The company, which had grabbed a home with only nominal compensa- Joe Fiorante, the Vancouver-based slew of contracts to guard US military tion or nothing at all.

C M Y K MONDAY, OCTOBER 05, 2020 | 04 OPINION EDITORIAL Jaishankar’s new diplomatic enterprise Covid-19 spares no one New thinking needs to be The average number of new infections has been cultivated to adroitly consistently rising, with no exit strategy in sight. negotiate the currents of an uncertain world. On Saturday, three advisers to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli tested positive for Covid-19. Altogether, as many as 144 people, including security personnel from the Nepal Army and Nepal LOK RAJ BARAL Police deployed at Baluwatar, have tested positive over the last few days. This raises concerns about the prime minister’s health. On Sunday afternoon, Ram Sharan Bajgain, the prime minister’s communication expert, also announced on social media that he had tested positive. This development at the heart of the country’s administration comes nine days after Oli’s personal physician Dr Dibya Singh Shah tested positive Erudite scholar, bureaucrat and sea- for the coronavirus. soned diplomat, now-turned politician, (Bharatiya Janata Party member and What has been clear right from the beginning is that Covid- Minister of External Affairs) S 19 spares no one. Today, we all know first degree contacts who Jaishankar of India has tried to project have either tested positive for the coronavirus, recovered from India as a rising power in Asia through the disease or are currently in isolation or under quarantine. his new book The India Way: Strategies Some of us also mourn the loss of family members and for an Uncertain World. Recently pub- friends. Covid-19 infections in the country are at their peak, lished by HarperCollins, this book reminds serious readers of Henry and the average number of new infections has been consist- Kissinger, whose diplomatic historical ently increasing, with no exit strategy in sight. As of Sunday sweep and analytical perspectives of afternoon, the country has seen 86,823 infections and 535 coro- world politics and diplomacy have navirus-related deaths since the first Covid-19 case was enduring relevance. More than reported in January. Kissinger, however, Jaishankar’s long The KP Oli administration has downplayed the pandemic diplomatic career spanning various capacities has helped him to suggest a situation all along. The prime minister became a subject of policy shift in India’s foreign policy in ridicule and memes after he became the prime source of mis- order to make it more pragmatic rather information surrounding the disease. Saturday’s develop- than to be captive of dogmatism. Since SHUTTERSTOCK ment, hopefully, will knock some sense into Baluwatar. The realism is the new compulsion thrust factors for keeping India behind China, Jaishankar is confident of winning the importance of globalisation as ‘eco- prime minister is 68 years old, he underwent his second kid- on policymakers in New Delhi by ‘glob- the potential superpower. The situation war as its ‘voyage of self-discovery’ has nomics, technology and demographics ney transplant only in March this year and he is immu- al developments’, new thinking needs favoured China, both in strategic and begun. And the strategies to be adopted will draw India and the West closer’. to be cultivated for adroitly negotiating economic terms, as world politics by a pragmatic India are believed to be no-compromised. He is at high risk due to his pre-existing the currents of an uncertain world. turned out to be less turbulent due to more ‘effective deployment of resourc- Civilisational countries conditions and his close contact with people who have recent- Dedicated to K Subrahmanyam Sino-US rapprochement and growing es than the use of force’. Both China and India are civilisational ly tested positive. Lucky for them, the national testing guide- (father) and Arvind R Deo (mentor) and trends of globalisation with which Drawing heavily from the epic countries that are quite recently being lines which require cases to be symptomatic before testing former ambassador of India to Nepal China and the Western countries, espe- Mahabharata, as has been done by treated as nation-states in the Western didn’t apply and the prime minister’s office, most probably, in the late 1980s, The India Way is both cially the United States, could promote many other strategic thinkers of pres- political sense. Their rich cultural her- has initiated a contact tracing drive, both forward and back- a tour de force and a revisit to the greater connectivity and interdepend- ent-day India, Jaishankar too finds itage and neighbourly relations cannot immediate past that is replete with ence. The ‘benign’ era of globalisation credible strategies adopted by Krishna be sacrificed at the altar of power poli- ward. unintended mistakes while dealing that ‘facilitated the dramatic rise of and others in the epic. Chinese foreign tics. Jaishankar has vividly presented Now that Covid-19 has also hit the prime minister’s secre- with the proximate neighbours and China’ has ended. And India, which is and security policies are also stated to the cultural, economic and historical tariat, the Oli administration needs to consider the gravity of other powers. Such diplomatic failures running late, has to steer its course ‘in have been influenced by long historical links between China and India while the situation. The virus is spreading rapidly in the densely could be attributed to miscalculation, an era of greater uncertainty’. experiences and ideas of thinkers. One relating them to the strategic aspects populated Kathmandu Valley since cases first surged in July complacency and the stubborn attitude Nevertheless, the balance of power, of the elements of The India Way has of their relationship. after the government lifted the first lockdown. At 152 deaths, of the people at the helm of affairs not collective security, is likely to be the been identified as taking the responsi- It is indeed a fascinating work that then, but Jaishankar seems to be cau- instrument for conducting internation- bility for whatever difficulties lie Jaishankar has produced. Most sen- the Valley has also reported the highest number of fatalities, tious in not blowing them out of pro- al relations. According to Jaishankar, ahead. Boldness and comprehension of tences provide some theoretical foun- most of whom are above 60 years old. Epidemiologists say all portion. It is to the credit of Jaishankar even in the context of a weakened US the situation will make policy execu- dations for pragmatic action to conduct these indicate that the virus is now circulating at the house- that he has not at all shown any preju- and more adversarial relations between tioners confront difficult situations. So foreign policy. So the book is exciting as hold level and restrictions will not work anymore. As of dice and disdain while arguing for a China and the West, and when China’s for Jaishankar, ‘the Mahabharata is as well as instructive for strategic and Sunday afternoon, across the country, there are 22,219 active new policy shift in Indian foreign poli- rise is ‘still far from maturing’, there is much a tale of ethics as of power… foreign policy operators of an ‘uncer- cases with 11,893 people in home isolation and 4,203 people in cy. The opening sentence in the preface less chance of returning to a ‘strongly Being an ethical power is one aspect of tain world’. The Indian Way avoids all hints at the departure to be made by bipolar world’. Instead, the trends of The India Way’. Western theoretical sophistication and quarantine. The number of patients receiving treatment in present-day Indian foreign policy when what Jaishankar calls ‘plurilateralism’ The lessons learned from contempo- jargons without compromising his own ICU is 226 and 34 people have been put on ventilator support. he writes ‘many of the assumptions on are likely to be increased, and powers rary history show that the participa- way of articulating theories and prac- Across the country, long haul transportation and domestic which we had operated were now being like India will have greater scope to tion of the West in the development of tices. Digging out from the epics and aviation to and from Kathmandu is already in operation, called into question’, and he continues play its role by expanding and extend- Asian countries cannot be underesti- modern theories of the balance of increasing risks for people, especially the elderly population. that foreign policymakers and practi- ing its own space vis-à-vis other powers. mated. In his opinion, China in particu- power, fostering competition and coop- The festive season is here, and any increased public mobility, tioners cannot be complacent as in the India’s rise cannot be checked by any lar ‘reaped a double benefit from a eration among nations, finding solid past for ‘there are other momentous barriers of the world if the ‘dogmas of double risk—going first with the USSR grounds to be recognised as a world epidemiologists and infectious disease doctors fear, will result shifts underway’. Delhi’ do not stand in its way. in the 1950s and then switching to the power, maintaining balance with both in more infections and this time in far-flung areas where peo- Thus, the conventional approach, West in the 1980s’. India was the most firmness and risk-taking quality, and ple have no access to healthcare. The Oli administration needs Responsible factors punctuated by ambivalence, to foreign exploited country during the British being cognisant of Indian civilisation to replicate what it is doing in Baluwatar. It should increase Since the partition of the country in policy cannot make India a risk-taking Raj, but it too had an industrial base in and culture are the keys to the Indian tests, symptomatic or not, and must take into account the fact 1947, the large strategic space given to nation, because ‘risk-taking is an the 19th and 20th centuries. In the pres- w a y. that we cannot contain this disease without an effective con- China in the early years of post-inde- inherent aspect of diplomacy…’. It ent context, globalisation is under pendence India, the nuclear dilemma seems that India has lost the battle, but stress, but Jaishankar believes it will Baral is a professor of political tact tracing in place. for a long time and ‘delayed economic is on the path to winning the war as ‘manifest itself in a revised form’. And science and former ambassador of Let common sense prevail on coronavirus. reforms’ are singled out as responsible Donald Trump’s quote suggests. And India cannot wish away the West or the Nepal to India.

The transatlantic tragedy

If the West—as an idea and as a Neither China’s rise nor political bloc—is to survive, some- thing will have to change. The US and the emergence of Covid-19 the European Union will each be weaker alone than as a united front. can be blamed for the But Europeans now have no other choice but to transform the EU into a West’s lost primacy. genuine power player in its own right. A deep rift has opened up between continental Europeans—who must JOSCHKA FISCHER hold on to the traditional Western construct—and increasingly national- istic Anglo-Saxons. After all, Brexit is not really about pragmatic questions of trade; rather, it represents a fundamental break between two value systems. More to the point, what happens if Trump is Between the intensifying Sino- re-elected in November? The transat- American drama and the persistent lantic West almost certainly would not Covid-19 crisis, the world is undenia- survive the next four years, and NATO bly undergoing fundamental, historic would probably face an existential cri- change. Seemingly immutable struc- sis, even if Europeans increase their tures built up over many decades are defence spending in response to US suddenly exhibiting a high degree of demands. For Trump and his follow- malleability, or simply disappearing ers, the money isn’t really the issue. altogether. Their primary concern is with In the ancient past, today’s unprece- American supremacy and European dented developments would have put fealty. people on guard for signs of a coming By contrast, if former US Vice apocalypse. In addition to the pandem- President Joe Biden is elected, the ic and geopolitical tensions, the world tone of transatlantic relations would is also confronting the climate crisis, certainly become friendlier. But there the balkanisation of the global econo- is no going back to the pre-Trump era. my, and the far-reaching technological Even under a Biden administration, disruptions brought on by digitisation Europeans would not quickly forget and artificial intelligence. the deep distrust that has been sown Gone are the days when the West— these past four years. led by the United States, with the sup- Whoever wins in November, the US port of its European and other allies— will have to deal with a Europe that enjoyed unchallenged political, mili- puts much greater stock in its own tary, economic, and technological pri- sovereignty—particularly on techno- macy. Thirty years after the end of the SHUTTERSTOCK logical matters—than it has in the Cold War—when Germany was reuni- world. The United Kingdom’s Brexit leaders who created the post-war ple have begun to long for a return to collective security, and universal val- past. The cosy interdependencies of fied and the US emerged as the world’s referendum and US President Donald order and its principal institutions, a mythical imperial golden age. The ues are now dismantling it from with- the immediate post-Cold War years sole superpower—the case for Western Trump’s election in 2016 marked a from the United Nations and the prospect of reclaiming past greatness in, thereby undercutting their own are long gone. The relationship will leadership is no longer credible, and definitive break in the transatlantic General Agreement on Tariffs and has become a successful political slo- power. And this Anglo-Saxon self-de- have to be remodelled, and both sides East Asia, with an increasingly commitment to liberal values and Trade (the precursor to the World gan in both countries. Between struction has created a vacuum, lead- will need to adjust. Europe will have to authoritarian and nationalistic China global rules-based order, heralding the Trade Organisation) to the World Trump’s ‘America First’ doctrine to ing not to a new order but to chaos. do much more to safeguard its own at the helm, is moving swiftly to revival of a narrow-minded fixation Bank and the International Monetary UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Of course, Europeans—starting interests, and America would do well replace it. on national sovereignty that has no Fund. As such, the ‘liberal world effort to ‘take back control’, the com- with the Germans—are in no position to understand that Europe’s interests But it wasn’t the escalating rivalry future. order’—and indeed ‘the West’ general- mon denominator is a yearning to to sit back complacently or point the may diverge from its own. with China that weakened the West. The transatlantic West, a concept ly—was wholly an Anglo-Saxon initia- relive idealised moments of the 19th finger at the Anglo-Saxons. By free-rid- Rather, the West’s decline has been embodied in the establishment of tive, one that victory in the Cold War and 20th centuries. ing on security matters and simply Fischer, Germany’s foreign minister driven almost entirely by internal NATO after World War II, was the further vindicated. In practice, these slogans amount to shrugging their shoulders at persis- and vice-chancellor from 1998 to 2005, developments on both sides of the result of the military triumph of the But in the ensuing decades, the a self-defeating reversal. The founders tently high trade surpluses, they, too, was a leader of the German Green Atlantic, particularly—though not US and UK in the Pacific and European Anglo-Saxon world’s powers have of an international order that bear responsibility for today’s nation- Party for almost 20 years. exclusively—within the Anglo-Saxon theatres. It was these two countries’ been exhausted, and many of its peo- enshrines democracy, the rule of law, alist resurgence. —Project Syndicate

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

FOREX

US Dollar 117.34 Expired packaged food, relabelled to be sold in shops, Euro 137.48

Pound Sterling 151.76

Japanese Yen 11.14 is exposing consumers to serious health risks Chinese Yuan 17.28 Chocolates and biscuits produced by multinational companies were ready to be shipped to the market when officials seized them last week. Qatari Riyal 32.22

Australian Dollar 84.05 KRISHANA PRASAIN diarrhoea, and fever. “It’s a slow poi- National Consumer Forum, said that KATHMANDU, OCT 4 Malaysian Ringit 28.18 son that affects the liver in the such type of unscrupulous market long term,” said Uprety. “ There are activities hardly comes to light as it is Saudi Arab Riyal 31.28 Tonnes of expired foods and other many other health problems that peo- mostly protected by the government items that were relabelled with a new ple are exposed to if they consume mechanism itself. Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank date and ready to be sent to the market expired foods.” “Even when traders are caught which police seized last week from a The expired food products develop red-handed, due to the political pres- warehouse in Kathmandu has shed fungus, which may not be evident sure the inspecting bodies do not take Shares new light on how human health is put while consuming, but it will create stern action or such cases are dis- Nepse 1,585.75pts at risk for profit. adverse health problems in the long missed before cases are filed in the 0.94% The police and the Department of term, she told the Post. court,” said Maharjan. HIGHEST GAINERS Commerce, Supplies and Consumer “I have found not only biscuits, In the lack of strict implementation CORBL SHIVM PROFL CHL USLB LBL Protection on Thursday raided the chocolates, or health drinks, but also of law, mostly “renowned and power- 9.83% 9.49% 9.44% 7.58% 6.91% 6.4% warehouses of Ayan Distributors, noodles that have developed fungus on ful” traders involved in market mal- MODERATE GAINERS which the department said were the it and these are mostly consumed by practices are normally let out. RRHP TRH PPCL HDL MLBL SINDU authorised distributors of Unilever the children in the far-west region and Given the situation, according to 6.25% 6.04% 5.42% 4.89% 4.71% 4.69% products in Nepal and also of especially in Karnali,” she said. “The Maharjan, the consumer needs to be MODERATE LOSERS United Distributors, which is a subsid- people of the far-west and Karnali aware while selecting or buying goods SADBL BNT BFC CMF1 HDHPC GHL iary of well-known business house have been consuming expired food by checking the label properly before -3.38% -3.94% -4.41% -5.14% -5.6% -6.5% Vishal Group. products for years,” she said. buying any goods and if the label is HIGHEST LOSERS Food brands like Snickers, Cadbury, Eight people so far have been arrest- written roughly then it should not be JOSHI NMBHF1 NHPC KKHC DHPL UNHPL Pringles, Tang, Oreo, BournVita and ed for further investigation. But there purchased. -6.72% -7% -7.69% -9.4% -9.56% -9.83% different products from Unilever like is a twist in a tale. “They have to make complaints to Horlicks, Dove shampoo, bathing On Sunday, Vishal Group, one of the the department or to the police if they soaps, sanitizer among others were accused distributors, issued a press SHUTTERSTOCK see such labels,” he added. relabelled with new dates. statement denying Aryan Distributors Eating expired foods or foods that are past their best-by date can expose the human body to “The expired food products in BULLION PRICE PER TOLA The estimated value of the goods as its direct and indirect customer. harmful bacteria that can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, and fever. Kathmandu, Biratnagar and other is Rs40 million, according to the “As a policy, we reimburse the trade city areas are re-labelled with the new Fine Gold Rs 94,500 department. for 100 percent of all expired/dam- The department only said that the year ago or six months ago with date and are sent to rural parts of the “These products are normally sold aged products, which are legitimately product belongs to Unilever, but it said some nearing expiry. “Following county,” said Uprety, who has been Silver Rs 1,180 on offer,” said Dr Aruna Uprety, a sen- purchased directly or indirectly from it was not sure whether it’s Unilever Thursday’s incident, we have asked actively speaking on such issues for ior nutritionist. “Consumers are us and as such there is no incentive to in Nepal or Hindustan Unilever in big retail stores to return such prod- the past several years now.. SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA enticed with schemes like ‘Buy One temper with goods [sic],” Vishal India. Unilever is a British-Dutch mul- ucts,” he said. “The government gets active in get One Free’ to clear the stock of Group said in a statement. tinational consumer goods company, Relabelling and selling unhygienic inspecting such things only when fes- goods and such forceful sales An official at Unilever Nepal, who headquartered in London, United food products are illegal and under tivals approach but people are con- are potentially not good and consum- did not wish to be named as he is not Kingdom and Rotterdam, Netherlands. the Consumer Protection Act, action suming such goods from past many GASOLINE WATCH ers should be aware of the products authorised to speak to the media, told Its products include foods, beverag- will be taken to those involved in the years,” she added. “The government while buying.” the Post that it’s not their products. es, personal care products and other market anomalies, he said. has never been serious about public Eating expired foods or foods “The department did not clarify fast-moving consumer goods. “The warehouse has been sealed health.” that are past their best-by date can whether the products belong to Sagar Misra, director at the depart- and the investigation is underway,” he The department has sealed 11 differ- expose the human body to harmful Hindustan Unilever or Unilever ment, said that most of the products said, adding, ent warehouses involved in relabel- bacteria that can cause vomiting, Nepal.” seized were found to have expired a Prem Lal Maharjan, president of ling the products. Banking sector deposits Rs 280 Trump’s diagnosis fuels million in Covid-19 fund after doubt for US stock market REUTERS WASHINGTON, OCT 4 It has also central bank directive Investors are gauging how a potential deterioration in President Donald intensified the PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA Trump’s health could impact asset spotlight on the KATHMANDU, OCT 4 prices in coming weeks, as the US leader remains hospitalised after fiscal stimulus talks Banks and financial institutions of being diagnosed with Covid-19. the country contributed around Rs 280 So far, markets have been compara- in Washington. million to the government’s Covid-19 tively sanguine: hopes of a break- fund after the central bank made it through in talks among US lawmakers BIZLINE mandatory for them to contribute the on another stimulus package took the tors said. The tech-heavy Nasdaq fell remaining amount of their Corporate edge off a stock market selloff on more than 2 percent on Friday, double Social Responsibility Fund into the Friday, with the S&P 500 losing less the S&P 500’s decline. Daraz kicks off biggest pandemic fund. than 1 percent and so-called safe-hav- “If people ... get nervous right now, online festive sale As per the central bank’s directive, en assets seeing limited demand. probably it manifests itself in crowd- they need to set aside one percent of News of Trump’s hospitalization at a ed trades like tech and mega-cap being KATHMANDU: Daraz is kicking off the their net profit into the fund and they military medical centre outside unwound a bit,” Delwiche said biggest online festive sale ‘Daraz can use it in helping marginalised Washington, where he remained A record 80 percent of fund manag- Dashain Dhamaka’ from today. The groups and the wellbeing of their on Saturday, came after trading ended ers surveyed last month by BofA sale will be filled with exclusive mega staff. After the deadly earthquake in POST FILE PHOTO on Friday. Global Research said that buying tech- deals on international and national 2015, the central bank had made it Banks and financial institutions need to put one percent of their net profits into the corporate Many investors are concerned, how- nology stocks was the market’s “most brands including 100 percent genuine mandatory for banks and financial social responsibility fund. ever, that a serious decline in Trump’s crowded” trade. The concentration of branded products on DarazMall, institutions to create such a fund. health less than a month before investors in big tech stocks has also Mega Giveaway of TVS Apache 160 As the country is facing a health contribute the remaining amount of each to the Covid-19 funds of the pro- Americans go to the polls on November raised concerns over their outsized 4V SD, prepayment discounts, vouch- crisis, the central bank, through its the CSR fund by mid-August. vincial government and also contrib- 3 could roil a US stock market that sway on moves in the broader market. ers, flash sales, free deliveries, hot monetary policy made it mandatory “Microfinance institutions alone uted around Rs900,000 to various local recently notched its worst monthly The largest five US companies— picks, exciting games on Daraz First for them to contribute to fight the had contributed around Rs35 million governments,” said Prakash Raj performance since its selloff in March Google parent Alphabet, Amazon, games, One Rupee game, Wheel of Covid-19 pandemic. before we were told to deposit the Sharma, chief executive officer of while causing turbulence in other Apple, Facebook, and Microsoft—now Fortune and more, states the press “The A, B, C and D class banks and remaining amount into the federal Laxmi Laghu Bitta Bittiya Sanstha assets. If the president’s health is in account for almost 25 percent of the release issued by the company. As financial institutions contributed government’s Covid-19 fund,” said which it claims has contributed jeopardy, there’s “too much uncertain- S&P 500’s market capitalization, Covid-19 cases continue to rise in around Rs280 million to the Covid-19 Basanta Lamsal, president of the around Rs2.8 million to the Covid-19 ty in the situation for the markets just according to research firm Oxford Nepal, this campaign will provide fund,” said Dev Kumar Dhakal, execu- Nepal Microfinance Bankers’ funds of federal, provincial and local to shrug it off,” said Willie Delwiche, Economics. Trump’s diagnosis has shoppers with a safe alternative to get tive director at the central bank said. Association. “I am not sure about how governments. As per revised unified investment strategist at Baird. intensified the spotlight on the fiscal all their necessities for Dashain with- Even though banks were already much amount was deposited from the directives, banks and financial insti- The various outcomes investors stimulus talks in Washington, with in the safety of their homes. contributing to the Covid-19 fund at microfinance institutions after the tutions can also contribute the fund to currently envision run the gamut investors saying agreement on anoth- federal, provincial and local levels, it central bank’s directive to hand over protect and treat their employees. from a quick recovery that bolsters er aid package could act as a stabiliz- is the remaining amount in the CSR the remaining amount too.” They should also contribute five Trump’s image as a fighter to a ing force on markets in the face of fund that they have contributed as per “My institution contributed around percent of their Corporate Social drawn-out illness or death stoking election-related uncertainty. the central bank’s directive.“At this Rs1.5 million, which is more than I Responsibility Fund in expanding the uncertainty and drying up risk appe- US House of Representatives moment, the biggest corporate social had in the CSR fund,” said Lamsal financial literacy programmes, in tite across markets. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, responsibility means to help the gov- who runs the micro-finance institu- building orphanage houses, housing Should uncertainty persist, technol- said on Friday that negotiations ernment to manage this health crisis,” tion Vijaya Laghubitta headquartered facilities for elderly people and chil- ogy and momentum stocks that have were continuing, but she is waiting for said Dhakal. in Nawalparasi. dren protection houses, according to led this year’s rally may be particular- a response from the White House on The central bank had told them to “Earlier, we had provided Rs200,000 the central bank directives. ly vulnerable to a selloff, some inves- key areas. ‘Big opportunity’: Cuba’s entrepreneurs reinvent to survive pandemic

REUTERS classics such as the Mojito, Habana Libre and pandemic, it has forced some changes in policy. Cuba’s state owns and operates the lion’s “We dreamed for years about making our HAVANA, OCT 4 Daiquiri,” Roque said. President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who has share of the economy, while the non-state sec- own cosmetics for our clients, so that is what With other restaurants doing the same, thou- said the crisis is likely to drag on for a few tor, excluding agriculture, is composed mainly we did,” Suney Peña, who started the business From a restaurant mixing take-away cocktails sands of motorcyclists in Havana have stepped years, in July announced market-oriented of small private businesses and cooperatives, in 2016. to a cosmetics company delivering home-made up, some under new gig-job companies, to reforms including giving “immediate priority artisans, taxi drivers and tradesmen. Now, the company’s seven female staff can products by bicycle, Cuba’s entrepreneurs—no deliver food from state and private eateries to the expansion of self-employment”. All are under the rubric of the self-em- be spotted around Havana on bicycles strangers to hardship—are coping with the before a 7 pm curfew. Some also transport sin- Private eateries have recently been granted ployed, numbering 600,000, or 13 percent of the shopping for olive oil, coconut, ginger, rose- coronavirus shutdown in innovative ways. gle passengers despite their lack of transport access to some poorly stocked state-owned workforce before the pandemic. mary, basil, cinnamon and other ingredients Except for a few offshore resorts, Cuba’s licenses, as buses and Havana’s vintage wholesale outlets and small businesses have The import-dependent Caribbean nation has for their products, which they then deliver Communist government has kept its borders Chevrolet taxis are grounded. Though the gov- been given permission to export and import, slashed purchases abroad by more than 30 per- themselves. shut for seven months to curb the spread of ernment has not provided statistics on the size two long-standing demands of the heavily reg- cent, experts say. Oniel Diaz, who heads busi- “We found a new opportunity for people to infection and recently placed the capital of the economic contraction wrought by the ulated sector. ness consulting firm AUGE, said some busi- approach our products through existing clients Havana in lockdown for a second time due to a nesses were reinventing themselves by filling and see that they really are good,” Pena said. local surge. needs produced by an emerging new normal “And that is how this wonder has emerged.” The drastic action has limited deaths from amid scarcity, however. That Covid-19 to just 122 on the island of 11 million includes huge lines of masked people, but has all but shut down the vital tour- people everywhere as residents ist industry—adding to economic woes from search for food, hygiene prod- decades-old US sanctions tightened by ucts and other goods. President Donald Trump. In Havana’s colonial Organic cosmetics company district, mixing restored historic buildings and Corpus, which offered massages urban decay, the once-thronging streets are and facials, was hard hit when empty of tourists and scrawled “closed” signs the pandemic forced the govern- are on the doors of many shops. ment to impose social distancing David Roque and partner Diana Figueroa’s measures and there was no way tavern El Jibaro looks from the outside like to import products. Even tooth- another casualty. But the two entrepreneurs paste and shampoo became have found a way to survive and even create scarce. With cosmetics and jobs through a take-out service and cocktails to personal hygiene products go, a novelty in Cuba. nowhere to be found, and plenty “The quarantine became a big opportunity of time on their hands, when we began to develop the mixes, begin- REUTERS the founders decided to make it ning with our house cocktails and now the Diana Figueroa prepares takeaway drinks at her restaurant in Havana, Cuba. happen.

C M Y K MONDAY, OCTOBER 05, 2020 | 06 WORLD

BRIEFING India has another 75,800

India and South Africa ask WTO to waive rules to aid cases, recovery rate high Covid-19 drug production ASSOCIATED PRESS mas and entertainment parks with VIENNA: India and South Africa want NEW DELHI, OCT 4 limited capacity beginning October the World Trade Organization to 15, in an effort to revive the economy. waive intellectual property rules to India has registered 75,829 confirmed Health experts warn the move has the make it easier for developing coun- coronaviruses cases in the past 24 potential for the virus to spread dur- tries to produce or import Covid-19 hours, a day after crossing 100,000 ing the upcoming religious festival drugs, a letter to the WTO shows. In total fatalities. and winter season. their letter dated Oct. 2 the two coun- The Health Ministry raised India’s India is also making plans for an tries called on the global trade body confirmed total to more than 6.5 mil- eventual vaccine, with officials saying to waive parts of the Agreement on lion on Sunday and said at least 101,782 they hope to immunize at least 250 Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual people have died of Covid-19 since the million of the country’s 1.4 billion Property Rights, which governs pat- pandemic began. people by July 2021. ents, trademarks, copyright and other India is still registering the highest Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan intellectual property rules globally. number of daily cases globally but said Sunday that the government will “As new diagnostics, therapeutics and with the recovery rate at more than 83 ensure “equitable access” to a vaccine vaccines for Covid-19 are developed, percent, the number of those recov- and is in the process of identifying there are significant concerns [over] ered has surpassed 5.5 million, the high-risk groups that will be the first how these will be made available Health Ministry said. in line to receive it. promptly, in sufficient quantities and India also has the low fatality rate Vardhan said the topmost priority at [an] affordable price to meet global of 1.56 percent, which is nearly half will be given to frontline health care demand,” the letter posted on the the global one. workers. India is testing three poten- Geneva-based WTO’s website says. The Health Ministry credited the tial vaccines, including one being increased testing in the country for a developed jointly by the University of

sustained low death rate. India has Oxford and pharma giant AstraZeneca. French rescuers search for 8 AP/RSS conducted nearly 79 million tests so That vaccine will be mass produced people missing after floods In this photo released by the Saudi government, Muslims pray around the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, during the first day of far, according to official data. by India’s Serum Institute, the world’s Umrah in Mecca. A very small number of people circled the holiest Islamic site after Saudi Arabia lifted coronavirus restrictions after months. India is preparing to reopen cine- biggest vaccine producer. PARIS: French authorities deployed about 1,000 firefighters, four military helicopters and troops Sunday to help search for at least eight people still missing in a mountainous southeast- ern region after devastating floods Pope: Market capitalism that killed two people in neighbour- As Armenia-Azerbaijan fighting ing Italy. Floods washed away houses and destroyed roads and bridges sur- rounding the city of Nice on the has failed in pandemic French Riviera after almost a year’s intensifies, cities are under fire average rainfall fell in less than 12 ASSOCIATED PRESS hours. Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi ROME, OCT 4 said over 100 homes were destroyed They have resisted calls for a ceasefire, with both sides claiming victories on the front. or severely damaged. Rescuers were Pope Francis says the coronavirus also providing emergency assistance, pandemic has proven that the “magic AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE used heavy artillery and rockets France—whose leaders co-chair a including food and water, to residents theories” of market capitalism have STEPANAKERT, AZERBAIJAN, OCT 4 against the towns of Terter and mediation group that has failed to living in isolated villages. failed and that the world needs a Goradiz in Azerbaijan. bring about a political resolution to new type of politics that promotes Armenian and Azerbaijani forces Karabakh’s separatist forces said the conflict—have called for an imme- New Caledonia rejects full dialogue and solidarity and rejects exchanged rocket fire as fighting they had targeted and destroyed an diate halt to the fighting. war at all costs. intensified over Nagorno-Karabakh airbase in Ganja, while the region’s Armenia says it is “ready to engage” independence from France Francis on Sunday laid out his on Sunday, with the breakaway leader, Arayik Harutyunyan, warned with mediators but Azerbaijan— PARIS: The South Pacific archipelago vision for a post-Covid world by unit- region’s capital and Azerbaijan’s sec- that it would now consider “military which considers Karabakh under of New Caledonia voted against inde- ing the core elements of his social ond-largest city bombarded. facilities in Azerbaijan’s big cities” Armenian occupation—has said pendence from France on Sunday for teachings into a new encyclical, AP/RSS Yerevan said Nagorno-Karabakh’s as legitimate targets. “I call on the Armenian forces must fully withdraw the second time in as many years, a “Fratelli Tutti” (Brothers All), which Pope Francis main city Stepanakert, which has residents of these cities to immediate- before a ceasefire can be brokered. provisional final count showed. A was released on the feast day of his been under artillery fire since Friday, ly leave,” Harutyunyan said in a post Karabakh’s declaration of inde- surprise “yes” vote would have namesake, the peace-loving St. Francis He cited the grave loss of millions was hit again on Sunday and AFP on Facebook. pendence from Azerbaijan during the deprived Paris of a foothold in a of Assisi. of jobs as a result of the virus as journalists said there were regular Azerbaijan claims to have made collapse of the Soviet Union sparked a region where China is expanding its The document draws its inspiration evidence of the need for politicians explosions and smoke rising in parts gains in Karabakh in recent days, war in the early 1990s that claimed influence, and dented the pride of a from the teachings of St. Francis and to listen to popular movements, of the city. with its defence ministry saying that 30,000 lives. Talks to resolve the con- colonial power whose reach once the pope’s previous preaching on the unions and marginalised groups and Azerbaijan’s defence ministry said 14 settlements have been taken as well flict have made little progress since a spanned large parts of Africa, injustices of the global economy and to craft more just social and economic Ganja, a city of more than 330,000 in as a strategically important plateau. 1994 ceasefire agreement. Southeast Asia, the Caribbean its destruction of the planet and pairs policies. western Azerbaijan, was also “under In an address to the country on The breakaway province is not and the Pacific. The “no” vote won them with his call for greater human “The fragility of world systems in fire” while separatist forces claimed Saturday, Prime Minister Nikol acknowledged as independent by 53.26 percent of votes cast votes, a solidarity to address today’s problems. the face of the pandemic has demon- to have destroyed an airbase there. Pashinyan said Armenians were fac- any country—including Armenia— narrower margin of victory than in In the encyclical, Francis rejected strated that not everything can be The two sides accused each other of ing a “decisive moment” and called for and Karabakh said Saturday that the 2018 poll. (AGENCIES) even the Catholic Church’s own doc- resolved by market freedom,” he targeting civilian areas, as the conflict the nation to come together. international recognition was “the trine justifying war as a means of wrote. “It is imperative to have a pro- appeared to be widening a week after Armenia on Saturday announced only way towards peace and security legitimate defence, saying it had been active economic policy directed at heavy fighting broke out in the dec- the deaths of 51 more separatist fight- in the region”. Yerevan has accused too broadly applied over the centuries ‘promoting an economy that favours ades-old dispute over Karabakh. ers, taking the number of reported Turkey of dispatching mercenaries and was no longer viable. productive diversity and business cre- Armenia and Azerbaijan have fatalities on both sides above 240, from Syria and Libya to the fighting— Johnson defends “It is very difficult nowadays to ativity’ and makes it possible for jobs resisted international calls for a cease- including more than 30 civilians. an allegation confirmed and invoke the rational criteria elaborated to be created, and not cut.” fire and clashes have intensified in Russia, the United States and denounced by Russia and France. in earlier centuries to speak of the He denounced populist politics recent days, with both sides claiming virus strategy as possibility of a ‘just war,’” Francis that seek to demonise and isolate, and victories on the front and saying they wrote in the most controversial new called for a “culture of encounter” are inflicting heavy losses. element of the encyclical. that promotes dialogue, solidarity and Sirens were sounding and explo- UK infections soar Francis had started writing the a sincere effort at working for the com- sions were heard at regular intervals encyclical, the third of his pontificate, mon good. in Stepanakert, where residents were ASSOCIATED PRESS before the coronavirus struck and As an outgrowth of that, Francis taking shelter including several fami- LONDON, OCT 4 upended everything from the global repeated his criticism of the “per- lies in the basement of a church. economy to everyday life. He said verse” global economic system, which Armenia’s foreign ministry said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson the pandemic, however, had confirmed he said consistently keeps the poor Stepanakert and the town of defended his handling of the coronavi- his belief that current political and on the margins while enriching the Martakert were under rocket attack rus pandemic on Sunday despite economic institutions must be few. Francis rejected the concept and accused Azerbaijani forces of weeks of rising infections, but warned reformed to address the legitimate of an absolute right to property for “the deliberate targeting of the civil- that the country faced a “bumpy” win- needs of the people most harmed by individuals, stressing instead the ian population.” ter ahead. the coronavirus. “social purpose” and common good It said the air force was also Britain has Europe’s highest coro- “Aside from the differing ways that that must come from sharing the involved. Drones could be heard flying navirus death toll, at more than 42,400, various countries responded to the Earth’s resources. over Stepanakert. Azerbaijan said and Johnson’s Conservative govern- crisis, their inability to work together Francis once again rejected “trick- Ganja was under fire, including from ment is facing criticism from all sides. became quite evident,” Francis wrote. le-down” economic theory as he did in areas outside of Karabakh. Opponents say tougher social restric- “Anyone who thinks that the only les- the first major mission statement of “Armenian forces struck Ganja tions are needed to suppress a second son to be learned was the need to his papacy, the 2013 Evangelii with rockets from Armenian territo- wave of Covid-19 that is already improve what we were already doing, Gaudium, (The Joy of the Gospel), ry,” said Hikmet Hajiyev, an advisor to REUTERS sweeping the country. But many in or to refine existing systems and regu- saying it simply doesn’t achieve what Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. A shop is seen on fire following recent shelling during a military conflict over the breakaway Johnson’s right-of-centre party argue lations, is denying reality.” it claims. He said Armenian forces had also region of Nagorno-Karabakh in Stepanakert. that restrictions must be eased to save the battered economy. Johnson told the BBC the govern- ment had to strike a difficult balance and he couldn’t “take a course that could expose us to tens of thousands Trump faces credibility crisis over health scare more deaths in very short order.” “It is a moral imperative to save lives ... but on the other hand, we have ASSOCIATED PRESS serving one term or two. quently touts records and milestones He’s floated unverified and harmful via the presidential helicopter to a to keep our economy moving. That is WASHINGTON, OCT 4 Yet Trump has squandered wide- that don’t exist. He spreads baseless treatments, including suggesting military hospital just outside of the balance that we are trying to spread credibility from the very start rumours about his political oppo- Americans could inoculate them- Washington. strike,” he said. One month from Election Day, of his presidency, spending his first nents, including declaring without selves by injecting bleach. The only details the White House Britain went into a national lock- President Donald Trump is facing a full day in office disputing official tal- evidence that Joe Biden, his In April, just weeks after the pan- provided were that the hospitalization down in March, with most businesses credibility crisis as yawning as his lies of the crowd size at his inaugura- Democratic rival in the 2020 presiden- demic took hold in the US, only 23 was precautionary and that Trump’s closed and all but essential travel health crisis, at a moment when he tion and asking Americans to disre- tial campaign, might be on drugs in percent of Americans said they had symptoms were mild. barred. Restrictions began to be lifted needs the public’s trust the most. gard photographic evidence showing their debate. high levels of trust in the information On Saturday, the White House tried in June as the pandemic tide receded. The president’s coronavirus infec- that he drew fewer people to the Yet Trump’s credibility has come the president was providing the public to fill in the details with a televised But like other European countries, tion, as well as the illnesses of several National Mall in Washington than his under even greater scrutiny during about the virus, according to a poll briefing by Trump’s physician, who daily new coronavirus infections aides and allies, has imperilled the predecessor. the pandemic, the single biggest test from The Associated Press-NORC painted a sunny picture of the presi- began to rise again when pubs and highest levels of the US government. The episode set the tone for the rest of his presidency. He’s repeatedly Center for Public Affairs Research. dent’s situation, emphasizing that he restaurants reopened, children went The White House’s efforts Saturday to of his administration, with Trump downplayed the threat of the virus in As Election Day draws near, Trump was still working, walking on his own back to school and students returned project calm backfired in stunning creating alternate realities around public, despite telling journalist Bob has increasingly flouted public health and not labouring to breath. But Dr to university. fashion, resulting in a blizzard of con- issues big and small, amplified by the Woodward privately in February that guidelines and many of the scientists Sean Conley notably refused to pro- The UK is now under national fusing and contradictory information help of friendly media outlets. He fre- Covid-19 was more deadly than the flu. advising his administration, eager to vide some specific details, including restrictions on socialising, including about the health and well-being of the make the case to voters that the worst repeatedly sidestepping questions a 10 pm curfew for bars and restau- commander in chief. of the pandemic that upended nearly about whether the president had at rants, and groups limited to six, with It’s a moment months in the mak- every aspect of American life is any point required oxygen. areas of high infection facing stricter ing, the collision of Trump’s repeated behind them. Shortly after, and off camera, White local measures, which Johnson and defiance of his own administration’s For weeks, Trump has been trave- House chief of staff Mark Meadows other ministers have sometimes strug- guidelines for staying safe during the ling across the country holding large gave journalists a more troubling gled to explain clearly. pandemic and his well-known disre- rallies and hosting events at the White depiction. The president’s situation gard for facts. The result: deep uncer- House without social distancing or had been “very concerning,” and tainty for Americans over who and requiring guests to wear masks. That though his health was improving, what to believe about the health of the includes a crowded ceremony in the Meadows said the next 48 hours would nation’s leader at a perilous moment Rose Garden last weekend to announce be critical. A person familiar with the in US history. the Supreme Court nomination of president’s treatment also confirmed “This is bigger than Donald Trump. Judge Amy Coney Barrett. Several that he had required supplemental It’s about the institution of the presi- attendees, including two US senators oxygen Friday morning. dency,” said Robert Gibbs, who served and first lady Melania Trump, have The conflicting information sparked as President Barack Obama’s first since announced they have tested pos- an outcry, even among some Trump White House press secretary. itive for coronavirus. allies who privately wondered how the For any president, credibility in a They, and the president himself, are president’s team could have been so crisis is paramount—the ability now among the more than 7 million unprepared for the first major disclo- to rally Americans of every political Americans who have been infected. sures about his condition. The White persuasion around a commonly More than 205,000 Americans have House tried to quell the frustrations accepted understanding of the died. It’s not clear how Trump became on Saturday night, releasing a situation. For a president on the infected. He announced on Twitter at 1 four-minute video of Trump saying brink of an election, particularly AP/RSS am Friday that he and Mrs Trump had his condition was improving and that one held in as tumultuous a year as In this Friday photo, President Donald Trump steps down from Marine One as he arrives at tested positive for the virus; the fol- he was looking forward to resuming 2020, it could be the difference between Walter Reed Military Medical Center in Bethesda, after he tested positive for Covid-19. lowing afternoon, he was transported campaign activities soon.

C M Y K 07 | MONDAY, OCTOBER 05, 2020 SPORTS | MEDLEY BRIEFING Saka shines for Arsenal, West Ham triumph Nadal enters Manchester United set to quarters, Swiatek sign forward Edison Cavani The teenager scores in Gunners’ 2-1 win over Sheffield while Moyes’s side edge the Foxes 3-0 to end their perfect record. MANCHESTER: Manchester United are knocks out Halep reportedly set to bolster Ole Gunnar Soyuncu, Antonio made a well-timed Solskjaer’s options up front with the run to the far post, where he headed REUTERS signing of Edison Cavani on a free home from Aaron Cresswell’s pin- PARIS, OCT 4 transfer, according to reports in the point cross. Antonio is the first English and French media on Hammers player to score in five con- Rafael Nadal blew away American Saturday. The Uruguay forward has secutive top-flight away matches since qualifer Sebastian Korda 6-1 6-1 6-2 to been without a club since leaving Mike Small in 1991. romp into the French Open quarter-fi- Paris Saint-Germain at the end of West Ham doubled their lead in the nals on Sunday and close in on a June. The 33-year-old is PSG’s all-time 34th minute, Fornals beating the off- record-extending 13th title at Roland top scorer, scoring 200 goals in seven side trap as he controlled Cresswell’s Garros. seasons at the Parc des Princes. As a long punt and ran clear to fire past In a one-sided match, the free agent, Cavani is still free to sign Kasper Schmeichel for his first goal 213th-ranked Korda actually had two for a new club outside the transfer since February. Leicester failed to break points in Nadal’s opening ser- window, but French media reported muster a single shot on target and vice game that spanned nine minutes the deal will be concluded before with seven minutes left, Bowen slotted and also had game point in the next Monday’s transfer deadline. Cavani home from Fornals’ pass. game in a competitive opening. He did could even make his debut against At St Mary’s, Southampton won not win either, however, and once his former club as United open their their second successive league game Nadal had sprinted into a 5-0 lead the Champions League campaign away to against lowly West Brom. American already looked forlorn. PSG on October 20. Dutch midfielder Southampton’s were rewarded in the Korda was unable to cope with Donny van de Beek is United’s only 41st minute when Moussa Djenepo’s Nadal’s heavy spin as the first two sets signing of the transfer window so far clever drag-back eluded Jake went by in little more than an hour. with the Red Devils refusing to match Livermore before the winger stroked The 34-year-old Nadal dropped serve at Borussia Dortmund’s asking price for his finish into the bottom corner. the start of the second set to trail 2-0 long-term target Jadon Sancho. Romeu, who hadn’t scored since before rattling through the next six February 2019, met Stuart Armstrong’s games.

cross with a brilliant volley from the Nadal will face Italian teenager Borussia Dortmund crush edge of the area to wrap up the points Jannik Sinner in his 42nd Grand Slam Freiburg 4-0 in Bundesliga in the 69th minute. quarter-final, who became the first James Rodriguez guided Everton to debutant to reach the French Open BERLIN: Borussia Dortmund’s the top of the standings by scoring quarter-finals since Rafael Nadal in Giovanni Reyna and Erling Haaland twice in a 4-2 win over Brighton. 2005 when he downed German sixth combined perfectly to help crush AP/RSS Everton will head into the Merseyside seed Alexander Zverev 6-3 6-3 4-6 6-3. Freiburg 4-0 on Saturday. Reyna Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka (left) has been called up in England’s squad for the first time for their three forthcoming international matches. derby against Liverpool after the The 19-year-old is also be the youngest served up three assists in the absence international window with maximum male player since Novak Djokovic in of their top provider Jadon Sancho, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE and Denmark. The winger marked his After thrashing Manchester City 5-2 points from their first four games as 2006 to feature in the last eight at sidelined with an infection. LONDON, OCT 4 maiden England involvement by giv- last weekend, second-placed Leicester James again shone for Carlo Roland Garros. Norwegian forward Haaland scored ing Arsenal the lead in the 61st minute were brought back down to earth as Ancelotti’s men. The Toffees also Polish teenager Iga Swiatek booted two of those goals either side of Arsenal teenager Bukayo Saka cele- with his first ever goal at the Emirates their three-game winning run came to have the Premier League’s form strik- top seed Simona Halep out of the Emre Can’s 47th minute header, to brated his first England call-up by Stadium. an end at the King Power Stadium. er in their armoury as Dominic French Open with a crushing 6-1 6-2 take his tally to 17 goals from 18 putting the Gunners on course for a Nicolas Pepe came off the bench to Goals from Michail Antonio, Pablo Calvert-Lewin opened the scoring by victory to make her maiden Grand Bundesliga games this year. Haaland 2-1 win against Sheffield United in add Arsenal’s second as Mikel Arteta’s Fornals and Jarrod Bowen ruined heading home his ninth goal of the Slam quarter-final. then set up Felix Passlack for their their Premier League match on team struck twice in the space of Leicester’s bid to win their opening season. Halep came into the fourth round fourth in stoppage time. Elsewhere, Sunday. four minutes. David McGoldrick four league games for the first time in Jordan Pickford’s howler let clash on a 17-match unbeaten streak RB Leipzig demolished Schalke 4-0, Also, West Ham shattered got United’s first league goal of the their history. Brighton back into the game as the having defeated the 19-year-old while Borussia Moenchengladbach Leicester’s unbeaten start to the sea- season in the closing stages, but it West Ham, who crushed Wolves 4-0 Everton keeper’s fumble was convert- Swiatek, ranked 54th in the world, 6-1 scored their first victory, winning 3-1 son with a surprise 3-0 win, while was too late to trigger a dramatic in their previous league game, have ed by Neal Maupay. Yerry Mina’s 6-0 in 45 minutes at the same stage last win at Cologne. Oriol Romeu’s superb strike inspired fightback. won three of their four matches since restored Everton’s lead and former year. Swiatek avenged that morale-sap- Southampton’s 2-0 victory against Arsenal were not at their best, but boss David Moyes tested positive for Real Madrid midfielder James struck ping defeat and her victory in 68 min- West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Arteta will be encouraged by the way the coronavirus in September. twice before Yves Bissouma pulled a utes was no less impressive against Atletico held again at home Arsenal’s 19-year-old Saka was they kept their focus and eventually Moyes’ quarantine hasn’t affected late goal back. the 2018 French Open champion, MADRID: Atletico Madrid drew 0-0 at included in Gareth Southgate’s squad found a way to secure their third West Ham and they took the lead in Newcastle moved up to sixth as ranked number two in the world. home to Villarreal on Saturday in La this week for England’s forthcoming Premier League win in four matches the 14th minute. Having won a free- Callum Wilson’s double saw off The former Wimbledon junior Liga for a second consecutive goalless internationals against Wales, Belgium this season. kick when he was fouled by Caglar Burnley 3-1. champion will next meet Italian quali- draw which further punctured the fier Martina Trevisan, who also script- euphoria from their excellent start to ed an upset by defeating fifth-seeded the campaign. Luis Suarez had a Dutch Kiki Bertens 6-4 6-4. Trevisan is quiet first home start after his star the first qualifier to reach the last performance from the bench in last eight at Roland Garros since Yaroslava week’s 6-1 win over Granada and Old friends Guardiola and Bielsa praise each other after lively draw Shvedova in 2012, and the 10th overall Atletico only really started to create in the women’s draw since tennis some danger when the Uruguayan REUTERS advice before taking his first coaching role. watch games, spent much of the first half of this turned professional in 1968. came off and was replaced by Diego LEEDS, OCT 4 In the first meeting between the coaches in intense encounter pacing up and down his technical Third seed Elina Svitolina ended Costa. Costa twice came close to England, in the pouring Yorkshire rain, they stuck to area as City dominated and deservedly got them- the run of local hope Caroline Garcia snatching a late winner but failed to Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and Leeds their attacking principles, with fans watching from selves in front through Raheem Sterling. But City with a 6-1 6-3 win to move into her connect with dangerous crosses from United boss Marcelo Bielsa heaped praise on each afar treated to 35 shots at goal as both sides went all could not score the crucial second goal their domi- third quarter-final. Svitolina will play Yannick Carrasco, while Villarreal other after an entertaining 1-1 draw at Elland Road out for victory. “That was good, huh?” Guardiola nance warranted and whatever Bielsa said at the Argentine qualifier Nadia Podoroska could also have found a late goal in an in the Premier League on Saturday. said. “When both teams want to attack, it’s a good break inspired his side, who deservedly levelled who beat Czech Barbora Krejcikova end-to-end finish, as forward Gerard Spaniard Guardiola has made no secret of his game. They are difficult to face because they have through Rodrigo Moreno and then looked the most 2-6, 6-2,6-3, for a place in semi-finals. Moreno volleyed narrowly wide. In admiration for Bielsa, with the City manager calling five players behind our midfield line and attack our likely to go on and win. “It would not have been fair On Saturday, top seed Novak other matches, Real Betis beat the Argentine the best coach in the world in the past, defence. They are a fantastic team. It was an enter- if we won this game,” Bielsa said. “It was possible to Djokovic continued his progress with Valencia 2-0 thanks to goals by Sergio while saying this week the Leeds manager is the man taining game for everyone. I’m incredibly proud of win the game but it would not have been fair. We had a 6-0 6-3 6-2 drubbing of Colombian Canales and Cristian Tello. Real he “probably admires most in world football”. It is these players who enjoy football and come to this to put in an immense physical effort to be on even Daniel Galan to reach the last 16. Sociedad saw off Getafe 3-0. Mikel well known Guardiola adopted the same posses- country and play many years at a high level. We terms with City, and City played a huge part. They Russian Andrey Rublev, Hungarian Oyarzabal, Mikel Merino and sion-based philosophy as Johan Cruyff at Barcelona couldn’t do more because the opponent was so good are a very powerful team, who play with a natural Marton Fucsovics, Pablo Carreno Cristian Portugués scored for but Bielsa is another man the Spaniard sees as a like all Marcelo Bielsa sides.” inclination to attack. We played our part for the Busta and German qualifier Daniel Sociedad. (AGENCIES) mentor, having flown to Argentina to ask him for Bielsa, who is famed for perching on a bucket to game to be a beautiful one.” Altmaier also advanced. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) **** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** If your recent dreams have been unclear, don’t waste Sure, you might be forced to deal with a past failure, You should just relax and try to enjoy today. Resist Cast a critical eye over all your relationships at any of your brainpower freaking out about it. There but you can fix what needs to be fixed as long as you the urge to dive into the rat race. Life on the sidelines work, in your family, and definitely in the romantic is no need to solve every puzzle they present because have confidence in yourself. Don’t sell yourself can be just as beautiful as life in the heat of the sphere. There’s nothing necessarily wrong, but you they aren’t literal warnings of what is about to hap- short. You know exactly what to do and you know action. Plus, gaining an outsider’s perspective will need to make sure that you’re doing your part to keep pen in your life! exactly how to do it. come in handy in the future. the lines of communication open.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** There could be a strong connection between you and Now that you’ve made a tough decision, your day Getting a friend to join you on your latest plan might It’s going to be a pretty easy day for you. Most of your someone very surprising. They might come out with could feel effortless. A wide-open road greets you be difficult, but it will be worth the effort it takes. hard choices are behind you, you’re in a good mood, an observation about you that is right on the mark, everywhere you go. It’s no surprise that with all this They make things more fun! Even though they might and any workload you’ve been assigned should be and the conversation that ensues proves the two of weight taken off your mind, you can move forward need to be convinced, when it comes to what to do pretty simple to complete in no time. This means that you have a lot of common goals. with what you really need to do. next, their presence is important to you. all of your energy can be devoted to relaxing.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) **** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) **** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** There is a growing imbalance between your heart You have an easy attitude about life now, and you’ll What happened to that famous “can do” attitude of News could make even the most level-headed people and head, and it’s necessary for you to deal with it. have a good time just shooting the breeze with your yours? You can try to get it back by asking friends to around you turn into temperamental children. You have been feeling a lot more than thinking, friends, so try not to have a very elaborate or ambi- give you a few words of encouragement. And they’re You’re in a very tolerant mood, so this is a good day which could cause a misunderstanding if you’re not tious schedule. It will feel liberating to slow down the going to love being the people you can rely on right to spend some time talking with those relatives who careful. pace. now. sometimes test your patience. CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K MONDAY, OCTOBER 05, 2020 | 08 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 Taking a look at some of the latest Nepali music videos The Post examines some of the most recent Nepali music videos to find out where our music video industry stands in terms of aesthetics and cinematic technicalities.

and the hard work is visible. the song. In the beginning, we are acceptance of reality about his death. The cinematography, colours, and shown that mother is covering the But regardless of the message, the the use of lights and even using the windows, with the help of dried grass, use of blackface makeup on the actors settings in the narrative are satisfac- which symbolises that she wants to is problematic and compromises the tory. There are many heartfelt stay in dark—meaning she’s ready to intention and integrity of the song. moments in the song that evokes an accept the truth. Just because someone is from a emotion of empathy among the view- However, when the daughter-in-law, rural area and is economically poor, is ers for those distraught families who while she’s asleep, takes the scare- it justifiable for the makers to use couldn’t even see their children and crow-like structure away from her, she blackface makeup? By deploying this their partners for the last time, which comes closer to the truth that her rather racist archetype of using dark- means the actors have done a com- child has departed his soul and will er shades on actors, and reinforcing mendable job. never return to her. She then goes the notions of white superiority, this One particular scene that stands near the window and starts removing time-worn technique somehow lessens out is when the mother accepts the the dried grass, and rays of light enter the overall impact of the song, written truth, which is beautifully depicted in into her room, which symbolises her by Susant Bista.

(SCREENGRABS VIA YOUTUBE) While some elements deserve applause, such as the clever camera movement in Pramod Kharel’s Chhati Chirera (top left), problematic issues, like the use of blackface makeup in Udai Lanchu by Wayam (left bottom), are still present in Nepali content.

ANKIT KHADGI to help the video. clothes. Such minor--but impor- KATHMANDU But there are some elements in the tant--details have been overlooked. music video that deserve applause. t was in 1985 when Nepal had For instance, the placement of charac- Muna by Raaz Khambu & Sujata its own first music video. It ters on the screen and the camera Verma was directed by musician movement is clever. In most of the If the makers of Muna were thinking Sambhujeet Baskota, and the scenes, where we see both of the char- of having other names for the song, art of captivating the audience acters in a vulnerable state, Sharma is Saali Man Paryo 2.0 would have been a with music videos has since always on the right side, whereas great option because honestly there’s Igone through an evolution, with its Kharel on the left. nothing new with this song. many ups and downs. This distinct mise-en-scene, of plac- Like the 2019 song, which featured a Videos of classic hits like Hongkong ing the actors on the basis of their grown man expressing his ‘playful’ Pokhara, Maya, Adhuro Prem, and emotional state and strength, is attraction towards his saali (sister-in- Maya Ko Dori Le have stayed with the always successful in evoking the law), the premise is the same. Even the audience as much as the songs. Even required emotions of the audience as saali, played by Swastima Khadka, in the most recent songs, like K Maya well as reflecting the persona of the both the songs is the same. Here, her Lagcha, have the perfect mix of music, character. bhinaju (brother-in-law), however, is lyrics and visuals, transporting view- Najit Hussen, and the sister is played ers into a few minutes of nostalgia, Lajjawati Jhar by Asmita Adhikari by Riyasha Dahal. bliss, and good spirits. and Mahesh Kafle There’s nothing substantial to talk But there have been equally insub- Released on September 7, Lajjawati about the music video, which is direct- stantial music videos that reek of Jhar is a cheerful song, depicting the ed by Shann Thapa. The lyrics of the sexism, unimaginative and uninspir- love between two polar opposites. The song, sung by Raaz Khambu and ing aesthetics and technicalities in song, which is directed by Asif Shah, Sujata Verma, are unimaginative, and our music scene. features Aanchal Sharma, for whom, it follows the same pattern of using For this week, the Post reviews and emerging singer, and a former partici- the groovy beat to appease the enter- examines four of the latest Nepali pant of Nepal Idol, Asmita Adhikari, tainment value of the audience. music videos released on YouTube last has lent her voice as well Mahesh For a song to have an objective of month to find out where our music Kafle, who’s also the singer, writer, entertaining the listeners, making video industry stands in terms of aes- and the music director. them feel like dancing is harmless. thetics and cinematic technicalities. The premise of the song is simple. A But what is definitely wrong or should bubbly and outgoing girl (an arche- be a matter of concern is the value Chhati Chirera by Pramod Kharel type that has been repeatedly used in these songs add and its lyrics, espe- Released on September 28, Chhati movies) played by Aanchal Sharma cially when they attempt to normalise Chirera is a melancholic tune depict- likes her neighbour, played by Kafle, problematic euphemisms like ‘Saali ing two lovers, whose lives take a dra- who unlike her, is shy and timid. adhi ghar wali’ (sisters-in-law are like matic turn after one fateful incident. Hence, in the first verse, she sings, half-wives). Starring Pramod Kharel, who’s the ‘Lajjawati jhar jastai lajauchau’ mean- The makers can argue that this is lyricist as well as the singer, and pop- ing Kafle’s character is as shy as a just a playful song, where saali and ular actor Reeccha Sharma, who plays Lajjawati plant (Mimosa Pudica or the bhinaju are pulling each other’s legs. his lover, the music video is directed Touch Me Not plant), as whenever she But is it justifiable that, in the name by Deepak Acharya. attempts to get closer to him, like the of entertainment and teasing, we are At the beginning of the song, we see Lajjawati plant, which closes and dis- normalising sexist euphemisms and Kharel and Sharma happily smiling tances itself, Kafle’s character also problematic behaviour towards and resting on each other’s shoulders. does the same in the song. women? Cut to the next scene, the happy One thing that should be appreciat- moment of them is now a distant ed in the song is it’s writing. The Udai Lanchu by Wayam memory that can be only cherished lyrics are cleverly crafted and perfect- A recent release, Udai Lanchu, by through old photos, and Kharel is now ly reflect the persona of the two Wayam, chronicles the life of a dis- sitting in a wheelchair. characters. traught family, who has lost a family Until the second verse plays, we The acting performances are also member, who worked as a migrant don’t know what happened to Kharel good, as both actors bring the required worker. The issue and the narrative in the second scene. But midway in the nuances for their characters. Even the the music video put forwards is heart- video, it can be assumed that the rea- use of setting is pleasant, as it enhanc- breaking. son why he is on a wheelchair now is es the overall look of the music video. Thousands of Nepalis either lose because he might have received some However, there are a few shortcom- their lives or ‘disappear’ in foreign injuries in his legs when an earth- ings in the music video. A few scenes countries and the government doesn’t quake occurred. But this is unclear. that could have been reshot for failing do much to change the scenario. And Even the ending and tonality of the to be logical. For instance, in a few this sensitive issue is portrayed in the song is so convoluted and messy that scenes, the lights in the background music video directed by Barkha the overall impact of the song collaps- are visible. Similarly, in a rain scene, Mukhiya, and featuring Srijana Regmi es like an infirm building in an earth- where both are dancing, not even a and Laxmi Giri, as the wife and the quake. The lyrics too do not do much drop of water can be seen in their mother of migrant labour, is well-shot

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