WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 262 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 31.2 C -2.5 C Friday, November 20, 2020 | 05-08-2077 Bhairahawa Jumla How power struggle between two chairs has led the ruling party to a cul-de-sac The euphoria and triumphalism of the time of merger around three years ago seem to be dying, as the Nepal Communist Party struggles to keep its unity intact.

TIKA R PRADHAN has obliquely demanded his resigna- KATHMANDU, NOV 19 tion, demanding his “sacrifice.” “This needs to be sorted out first,” That Nepal Communist Party chair said Oli. “If allegations are proven, KP Sharma Oli is all set to offer a the prime minister and party chair point-wise response to the political must resign. If they cannot be proven, document presented by the other then the accuser must take the respon- chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal and that he sibility.” has declared all past agreements have Party insiders say those were hard been rendered null and void by Dahal’s words by Oli against Dahal. And this document, the ruling party now seems comes days after the party chairmen to have been in stuck in a cul-de-sac. engaged in a shouting match, making The party has scheduled the next personal attacks. Secretariat meeting for November 28 Even though leaders are saying the after Oli sought 10 days to prepare his leadership will come to an agreement, own political document. a realisation seems to have dawned At Wednesday’s meeting, Oli, how- upon them that the party is in a deep ever, countered allegations made by crisis. A split is not “if” but “when”, Dahal in his political document. many say. The full text of his response was “The basis of unity has ended,” said POST PHOTO: ELITE JOSHI published in the Gorkhapatra. Haribol Gajurel, a Standing People shop for Chhath Parva at Kalimati wholesale market in Kathmandu on Thursday. The festival is celebrated mainly in the central and eastern Tarai but also other parts of the country “The proposal, with a bunch of alle- Committee member. including Kathmandu Valley. People visit river banks and ponds to worship the setting and rising sun. The festival ends as devotees break their fast after sunrise on Saturday. gations levelled against me, has meant The Nepal Communist Party (NCP) all the past agreements and under- was born out of a merger between standings have ended,” reads Oli’s Oli’s CPN-UML and Dahal’s CPN statement. “Now with no previous (Maoist Centre) in May 2018. The two agreement in place, the party has communist forces had formed an alli- sought a new way out. We must find a ance for the 2017 elections. Buoyed by Oli came to power on nationalistic plank. But he new way out. I want to move ahead the massive mandate, both declared together, save the party and keep the unity and Oli became the prime minis- party unity intact.” ter leading the strongest government Oli, also the prime minister, also the country has seen in the last two seems to be failing to adhere to the hope he sold admitted that the party is at a crucial and a half decades or so. juncture. Oli said that the document >> Continued on page 2 Despite a strong government that could keep foreign meddling in the country at bay, observers feel that instability in the ruling party could go against the national interest.

Goel, thereby having no institutional memory of such meetings. According to a senior Foreign Ministry official, the ministry is una- ware of the prime minister’s “unoffi- cial” meetings with foreign diplomats usually from India, China and the United States. “We get calls from the Prime Minister’s Office only for courtesy calls to the prime minister and for official meetings with foreign diplo- mats,” said the official on condition of anonymity because he feared retribu- tion. “Therefore, we are not aware of what transpires between our leaders and foreign diplomats during these meetings.” It was during Nepal’s political tran- sition between 2006 and 2015 that for- eign diplomats, especially Indian ones, used to frequently meet top lead- ers from across the political spectrum. It was in the context of such fre- quent meetings that Yadav, as foreign POST FILE PHOTO minister in 2008, introduced a diplo- KP Sharma Oli is known for raising his nationalistic rhetoric only to serve his political interests. matic code of conduct to check the activities of foreign diplomats includ- ANIL GIRI Dahal has presented a political docu- ing their meetings with political party KATHMANDU, NOV 19 ment lashing out at Oli for his “fail- leaders. But the code of conduct ure” to govern. remained largely unimplemented. At the end of April this year, Nepal The Secretariat meeting will be fol- The Oli government too is prepar- Communist Party chair and Prime lowed immediately by the party’s ing to reintroduce a new diplomatic Minister KP Sharma Oli was under 44-member Standing Committee meet- code of conduct, but it is yet to be pressure from within his party to ing on December 3 and the Central presented at the Cabinet. resign. Immediately, Chinese Committee meeting on December 10. “This mess is the result of our col- Ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi met In all three committees the anti-Oli lective failure to adhere to the diplo- the President, the prime minister and faction is stronger. matic code of conduct. Our major top leaders of the ruling party. Hou’s latest meeting with Oli comes parties are responsible for it,” said Oli survived the demands for his after the prime minister met with Yadav. “We thought we would stand on scalp. Samant Kumar Goel, chief of India’s our own feet and make decisions inde- In July this year, calls for the prime external intelligence agency, Research pendently but, sadly, this is not hap- minister’s resignation resurfaced. & Analysis Wing, in the third week of pening.” Again, Hou got busy meeting President October. The Chinese Embassy in Bidya Devi Bhandari, Prime Minister When the political going gets tough Kathmandu has been publicly admit- Oli, party chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal, in Nepal, foreign “interest” increases ting meetings between Ambassador senior leaders Madhav Kumar Nepal significantly thus raising questions, Hou and ruling party leaders. In May, and Jhala Nath Khanal. among observers, why Nepali politi- according to the embassy, it was to Oli once again fended off his cians fail to stand on their feet and do extend China’s support in Nepal’s detractors. not remain united to stop foreign pow- fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. This time round Hou so far has just ers from coming into play. This time, it said Ambassador Hou met Oli. With still more than a week to Former foreign ministers, political met Prime Minister Oli to extend go before the Secretariat meets on leaders and diplomats have expressed Tihar greetings. November 28, the Chinese envoy still serious concerns over ‘overt’ activi- “The logic given by the Chinese has time to call on Oli’s opponents in ties of foreign diplomats and officials Embassy that the ambassador met the party. in Kathmandu and the way the Oli with the prime minister to extend In the latest episode of intra-party administration has paved the way for Tihar greetings is laughable,” said wrangling in the Nepal Communist them to express their interest in Ram Karki, a lawmaker and deputy Party, the situation could be said to be Nepali polity despite there being a chief of the foreign affairs depart- slightly more precarious for Oli. strong government voted into power ment of the ruling party. “I do not see on the basis of a nationalist any connection between Tihar and agenda. China.” “This is a sign of our failure in China’s supposed role in Nepali pol- handling foreign policy,” said itics has not gone down well with the Upendra Yadav, former deputy main opposition Nepali Congress prime minister and foreign min- either. ister who is also the leader of the “It does not look good for China to Janata Samajbadi Party. “Our take an interest in the dispute inside leaders have failed to conduct the ruling party,” said Nepali Congress diplomacy effectively.” leader Ram Sharan Mahat, who has What observers have found also served as foreign minister in the more intriguing is Foreign past. “An ambassador represents the Ministry officials were not invit- country, not a political party.” ed during Oli’s meeting with >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2020 | 02 NATIONAL Kathmandu city officials forcefully shift free meal distribution venue Only 20 percent people show up to get food at the new venue in Thapathali.

ANUP OJHA teers say. But once the city forced POST PHOTO KATHMANDU, NOV 19 them to go to Thapathali, many disa- Young out-of-school girls from Maharajgunj Municipality in Kapilvastu district stand with the brand new bicycles distributed by the municipal office to encourage them to go to school. bled informal sector workers in the Maharajgunj, Krishnanagar and Bijayanagar municipal offices have presented free bicycles to 485 out-of-school girl children to promote girls’ education and improve their access to schools. Officials from Kathmandu inner part of Kathmandu can’t walk Metropolitan City had announced on up to Thapathali. November 4 that volunteers, who had “The city should have found an been providing free meals to the needy alternative venue near Khula Manch, at Khula Manch since March, won’t be but it didn’t,” said Four-year-old allowed to continue doing so. Bablu Gupta, another volunteer Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya in his who created a Facebook group (“100 Humla schools closed after recent press briefing accused the vol- group”) with other like-minded people raped and unteers of distributing unhygienic and volunteer organisations to pro- food and painting a negative picture vide free meals to the needy. He said of the city in the international arena the city only showed its willingness to murdered in by feeding the poor in the open. coordinate with volunteers after wide- 32 students at a school test After widespread criticism on social spread criticism from the public and media, and a public outrage, city offi- the media. Makwanpur cials were forced to backtrack on their Although the new venue for free decision and announce that a party meals is a much quieter place com- SUBASH BIDARI palace would replace Khula Manch as pared to Khula Manch, the city is still MAKWANPUR, NOV 19 positive for Covid-19 the venue for the distribution of free letting poor people eat sitting on a meals from Bhai Tika. dusty floor, where the air stinks of the A 14-year-old boy has been arrested for allegedly raping a four-year-old girl The District Covid-19 Crisis Management Centre has also restricted the movement of and murdering her in Bagmati Rural Municipality Ward No. 7 of people from outside as well as within the district to contain the spread of coronavirus. Makwanpur on Wednesday evening, police said. after several months of delay due to According to Superintendent of the Covid-19 lockdown. Police Sushil Singh Rathaur, the The school closure means suspen- alleged perpetrator took the child to sion of this year’s academic calendar. the banks of the Mansahi stream near The latest coronavirus disease out- their settlement and committed the break has also prompted the authori- crime. “The incident occurred at ties to tighten security in border areas around 8 pm on Wednesday,” he said. of all seven local units in the district. The victim had gone to her neigh- “We have sealed the borders of bour’s house with her parents to Namkha and Simkot for three days. attend a puja ceremony. After she went Outsiders will not be allowed to enter,” POST FILE PHOTO missing from the venue, the villagers said Chiranjibi Giri, the chief district People wait for free hot meals at Khula Manch in Kathmandu. looked for her and recovered her body officer. “We are also operating a health on the banks of the stream. desk to monitor passengers flying into A day after Bhai Tika, city police Bagmati. The body was taken to Hetauda Simkot Airport from Nepalgunj and personnel forced people waiting in When the Post contacted city offi- Hospital for autopsy. Surkhet.” line for free meals at Khula Manch cials over the issue, they weren’t much “The girl got separated from her Yalbang alone has recorded 56 coro- into a van and took them to Thapathali, concerned about it. Earlier this week, parents in the crowd,” said Tsering POST FILE PHOTO navirus infections in the last four where they were given food. the city planned to provide job oppor- Lama, a local. “Soon the villagers Students attend their class wearing masks to protect themselves from the coronavirus at a days. “It was a blatant misuse of force by tunities to the unemployed. But, the began looking for her and recovered school in Humla. The local administration has direct- city police against hungry people city neither has data on jobless people her body around 90 minutes after she ed the District Health Office to collect waiting for free food as the same way nor those faced with hunger. was lost.” CHHAPAL LAMA “We had collected swab samples of swab samples for tests in order to curb they had been doing for the past eight Ishwor Man Dangol, spokesperson The accused is a ninth-grader at a HUMLA, NOV 19 around 100 hostel students. Those who the virus spread. months,” said Pukar Bam, national for the city, said the city was unable to local school. tested positive are being kept in an “We are coordinating with all the coordinator at Hamro Sano Prayas take those living on the streets to the Deputy Superintendent of Police After 32 students at a school in Humla isolation area within the hostel prem- local units in the district to contain Nepal, a relief rescue mission initiat- city-run Manav Sewa Ashram due to Indra Bahadur Rana, said, “The sus- tested positive for the coronavirus, ises. None of them have symptoms of the spread of the virus. We have also ed by independent citizens against the the coronavirus pandemic. pect confessed to his crime during authorities have decided to close all Covid-19 yet. Those who tested nega- expedited contact tracing in all seven Covid-19 pandemic. “We are coordinating with the preliminary investigation. Detailed educational institutions in the dis- tive were sent home,” said Laxman local units,” said Giri. Volunteers who used to serve free different volunteer groups to feed the investigation is on.” trict. Thapa, the school’s acting headmaster. The District Administration Office meals at Khula Manch are now doing poor,” said Dangol. However, “We detained two persons the same A meeting of the District Covid-19 The infected students are between has also requested for a helicopter so at Thapathali, but the number of volunteer groups say the city has not night. But there was enough evidence Crisis Management Centre on 12 to 18 years of age. from the provincial government to people who come for free meals has shown any interest in looking for a for us to suspect the 14-year-old boy Wednesday decided to shut down The school had resumed its classes send serious Covid-19 patients to hos- declined drastically. “At Khula Manch, party palace to host the free meals committed the crime. The boy was schools and colleges as well as restrict almost two months ago after conduct- pitals outside the district. we used to feed up to 700 people in a programme as it doesn’t want to spend under the influence of alcohol when the movement of outsiders into the ing PCR tests of both students and Meanwhile, the District Covid-19 day, but at Thapathali, less than 150 on rent. we detained him,” said Rana. “The district. teachers. Crisis Management Centre has also people come to get free meals because Meanwhile, none of the 32 wards in accused hid the body of the girl in a On Tuesday, 32 students of Normally, the academic calendar in decided to add ventilators in the this place is not convenient for them,” the city have launched programmes to bush some 40 ft away from the place Mahaboudha Secondary School in the mountain district of Humla starts District Hospital, manage district-lev- said Bam. feed the needy. where he raped and murdered her.” Yalbang in Namkha Rural in mid-February and ends in el quarantine in Simkot Rural It’s the porters and daily wage work- “It’s the local authorities who need The incident site lies in the eastern Municipality tested positive for the mid-November due to excessive cold. Municipality and establish a five-bed ers who work in Ason, Indrachowk, to look after their citizens. But unfor- part of the district, around 38 kilo- coronavirus. All the students were This time, however, most schools isolation centre and a 15-bed quaran- New Road and Ratna Park who come tunately, our city is not concerned metres from Hetauda. living in the school hostel. opened from the third week of October tine facility in each local unit. for free meals at Khula Manch, volun- about hungry people,” said Bam. Oli came to power on nationalistic ... Journalist Gokarna Gautam, who gave >> Continued from page 1 inaugurated a road link via Lipulekh shoulders with Indian security chiefs Of late, another neighbour, India to Kailash Mansarovar in the Tibet and now meeting with Chinese ambas- voice to the voiceless, dies aged 31 has also gradually upped its interest Autonomous Region of China. In sador are some examples of how Oli is in Nepali politics although it had response, Nepal endorsed a new map managing his ties with major powers taken a backseat since Oli came to showing Kalapani, Lipulekh and to remain in office, said the ruling POST REPORT power on a nationalist plank, staunch- Limipiyadhura as parts of the Nepali party leader. KATHMANDU, NOV 19 ly opposing the signing of a trade and territory. But Oli’s foreign policy adviser transit treaty with China and India’s “India was silent for a while, but Rajan Bhattarai rejected the charges Gokarna Gautam, a journalist with Kantipur daily, passed 2015 blockade. After a year-long lack now it has started showing its mettle against the prime minister and said away on Thursday. He was 31. Gautam died while undergoing of meaningful communication and clout,” said Karki. he has not made any mistake. a brain surgery at around 11:30 am at Bansbari-based Upendra between Kathmandu and New Delhi, Leaders within his own party are “There is no logic in criticising the Devkota Memorial National Institute of Neurological and Goel’s visit broke the ice and paved critical of Oli’s meetings with prime minister as all meetings were Allied Sciences. He was admitted to the hospital on Monday. the way for some high-level visits from foreign powers, especially when he pre-scheduled and he has not met any Previously with the Nepal magazine, Gautam used to cover both sides. faces crises. unnecessary people,” said Bhattarai. arts, literature and social issues. After Goel’s visit, Indian Army “When it comes to foreign affairs “If ambassadors do not or cannot fix a He had a special interest in reporting stories about the chief Manoj Mukunda Naravane land- and diplomacy, Oli is making a fool of meeting with the prime minister, what oppressed groups. His reporting on the 2018 Nirmala Pant ed in Kathmandu in the first week of all of us,” said a Standing Committee is their use? Why should that country rape and murder case and more recently on the killing of five November. Though his visit was for member of the Nepal Communist give them a posting here?” Dalit men in Rukum (West) and about the people lining up for receiving the title of the honorary Party who did not wish to be named. But Oli’s detractors remain free meals at Kathmandu’s Khula Manch amid the Covid-19 general of the Nepal Army, as part of “He is the one who raises a nationalis- unconvinced with the growing foreign pandemic were praised both by the readers and his col- a long-standing tradition, it was seen tic rhetoric whenever he faces a crisis interest in Nepal’s internal matters. leagues. as a part of efforts from both Delhi but he compromises himself with the “In a nutshell, all this is the result Besides, he had also made his name as an astute and Kathmandu to resume dialogue same foreign power against which he of our failure to remain united,” said film critic. after the relations turned sour. makes his voice louder just to remain Karki of the ruling party. “If the party Friends and colleagues remember Gautam for his untiring Nepal-India relations hit a low back in power.” remains unified and intact at a time work and unwavering commitment to the cause of giving in November last year after the Indian Oli’s positive stance regarding the when the opposition is weak, it is the voice to the voiceless. government published a new political $500 million grant under the United best time to safeguard the Gautam’s final rites were performed at Pashupati Aryaghat map of India showing Kalapani with- States’ Millennium Challenge national interest. But we have failed on Thursday afternoon. He is survived by his mother, wife POST PHOTO in its borders. Then in May, India Corporation for two projects, rubbing miserably.” and an elder brother. Gokarna Gautam How power struggle between two chairs has led the ruling party to a cul-de-sac

>> Continued from page 1 according to them. Madhav Nepal, Oli’s long-time bete them. “If Oli and Dahal have made “The next Secretariat meeting fight to the finish,” Roka told the Post. But that ultimately became the bane Though during the time of merger noire, Jhala Nath Khanal and Bamdev any deal clandestinely, we don’t know. offers a chance to Oli to come clean,” “Oli is left with few options and this of the party. Dahal initially demanded Oli and Dahal had declared them- Gautam—all three are senior leaders But the fact is the unified party was said Khimlal Devkota, a Central became somewhat apparent after he that an earlier understanding of lead- selves co-pilots of a jet plane, Gajurel from the former UML—he controls the formed with a larger and binding Committee member. “If Oli starts agreed to attend the [Wednesday] ing the government by turn be described the party as a bus. majority in the Standing Committee understanding and it cannot be called attacking Dahal and other leaders and meeting despite refusing until the pre- invoked. After Oli refused, a new “Our party has become like a bus and Central Committee as well. null by one leader or the other,” said makes counter allegations instead of vious day.” understanding was reached in whose brakes have failed, hence it is If Oli manages to survive at the Raghuji Pant, a Standing Committee airing his points of view on the pres- Until Tuesday, Oli was employing November last year. As per the under- not under the control of the drivers— party committees, the Dahal faction member close to Nepal. ent crisis and offering a proper solu- all his resources to get Wednesday’s standing Dahal was declared “execu- the leadership,” Gajurel told the Post. has one more weapon in its arsenal to “Now with the party facing a new tion, this could lead to a party split.” scheduled meeting postponed for a few tive chairman” to run the party and Wednesday’s Secretariat meeting force Oli to bow down—the crisis, there is a need to start afresh. According to Devkota, the fight in days. But on Wednesday, Oli attended Oli was to lead the government for the also has set the meetings of the Parliamentary Party. The Dahal-Nepal We must strive for consensus and Oli the ruling party is basically between the meeting, leaving many wondering full term. However, that understand- Standing Committee and the Central faction controls around 93 Members must show readiness for this.” the two factions of the former UML, what made him change his mind. ing was limited to paper, according to Committee for December 3 and of Parliament of the 173 the party has. According to him, since Oli is also led by Oli and Nepal. Late on Tuesday night, Chinese leaders close to Dahal. December 10, respectively. After Oli Leaders, however, are hopeful that the prime minister, it’s incumbent Since its formation, three factions Ambassador Hou Yanqi had called on Insiders say power struggle, espe- presents his political document at the peace will return in the party and that upon him to take initiatives to resolve led by Oli, Nepal and Dahal have been Oli. On Wednesday morning, Oli met cially between the two chairs, has November 28 Secretariat meeting, out- the leadership will find a way out to the crisis and make sacrifices if the precariously aligned. Any of the two with President Bidya Devi Bhandari. brought the party to the present situa- standing issues could go to the keep the party unity intact. situation demands so to protect the coming closer puts the third in the According to sources, the President tion. Standing Committee and then subse- Leaders close to Dahal and Nepal party unity. minority. In the current set-up, Dahal disagreed with Oli’s idea of dissolving Party leaders’ concerns can be seen quently to the Central Committee. said the party does not belong to an But considering the way Oli has hit and Nepal are closer and as a result the House and advised him to work for all over social media where they are Hence, both the factions led by Oli individual and that neither Oli nor out at Dahal, it does not look like Oli is Oli has been driven into a corner. party unity. making a pitch for saving the party and Dahal are set for a face-off, as they Dahal can declare that past agree- in a mood to make any sacrifice. Hari Roka, a political analyst, said “The majority faction in the ruling unity at any cost. After all, no one had will try to prove their majority. ments have ended. As far as Oli’s state- Insiders say the days in the lead up to Oli’s tactics of threatening his oppo- party appears firm on forcing Oli to imagined that the euphoria and trium- In the nine-member Secretariat, ment is concerned, it’s nothing but a the Secretariat meeting will be crucial nents may not work anymore. step down as prime minister,” said phalism of the time of unity would Dahal controls the majority. Since threat, something which he keeps and everything will depend on how “It looks like the majority faction Roka. “If the party splits, Oli and his end like this in less than three years, Dahal is backed by senior leaders doing, as is his wont, according to Oli presents himself on November 28. [Dahal and Nepal] is going to take its loyalists have to walk away.”

C M Y K 03 | FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2020 SPONSORED CONTENT

C M Y K FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2020 | 04 OPINION EDITORIAL Mha Puja as a unifier Dealing with tuberculosis We need an evidence-based strategic plan to fill the gap in tuberculosis detection and cure.

Tuberculosis is one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseas- es. Contagious and airborne, the disease remains a major public health issue in Nepal. According to the National Tuberculosis Prevalence Survey 2018-19, at least 46 people die of the disease every day throughout the country, causing a significant burden of morbidity and mortality. The disease, according to the survey, kills some 17,003 people every year, making it one of the leading causes of deaths in Nepal. The study also revealed around two times higher prevalence and 1.6 times higher incidence of the disease than previously estimated—some 117,000 people in the country have acquired tuberculosis, and some 69,000 people developed tuberculosis in 2018. But similar to Covid-19, new infections and tuberculosis related deaths can be prevented. Timely diagnosis and treat- ment can even cure patients but ‘hidden cases’ amid poverty, stigma and lack of awareness continue to pose challenges in preventing further spread of infection in the country. The pandemic has further complicated the tuberculosis sit- uation in the country. It could push back all progress achieved in the previous decade if we do not accelerate a nationwide action to deal with what, public health officials warn, could be the next epidemic. According to an assessment carried out in all the seven provinces of the country earlier this year, detec- tion of new tuberculosis cases has declined by 50 percent, and more than 50 percent of tuberculosis treatment centres were affected since the nationwide lockdown was imposed on March 24, which basically curtailed tuberculosis patients’ access to health facilities. The latest study also reveals an alarming dropout rate among tuberculosis patients, further contributing to the sever- POST FILE PHOTO ity and spread of the disease. Tuberculosis patients are Panchayat rule, took this day as an Cultural carnivals celebrate moments with the family— required to fulfil a six-month-long antibiotic course for recov- The new year ritual opportunity to demonstrate their pres- One unique part of the celebrations is without being burdened by housework. ery, and medicines may not work if it is discontinued. And can be promoted as a ence. The iconic Patan Dhoka used to doing the Mha Puja—a worship of the Families here can avail of digital ser- especially with patients infected with multidrug-resistant be painted afresh each year. My student self. It is a sense of gratitude one offers vices such as Airbnb to open their day memories in Kalimpong was to to oneself, wishing a healthy and hearty homes to vacationers, creating addi- tuberculosis, they can spread the disease if they stop taking pan-Nepali event as well as receive the Nepal Era calendar that life till the next year. Recently, there tional income while adding more fes- medicine. Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis is increasingly a was published along with many publi- have been instances of Mha Puja tive cheer. major concern since it makes treatment both difficult a tourist attraction. cations that used to be published in the being performed en masse at Many may worry about preserving and expensive. The treatment success rate of multidrug-resist- Newa language by various groups. Basantapur Durbar Square. It presents the sensitivities of the rituals. ant tuberculosis, too, according to public health officials, is That was perhaps the only written itself as a unique way for tourists, Many more will worry if they are only around 70 percent compared to about 90 percent of first- SUJEEV SHAKYA material in Newa language we got to expatriates and non-Newa Nepalis to doing the rituals as authentically as line tuberculosis. read. I remember the Newa magazine understand and appreciate Newa cul- possible. For those who are concerned Tuberculosis worldwide has been found to spread in cramped THE OTHER Dharmodaya saw a brief revival ture. In this way, such open rituals can about what is the best ritual and and overcrowded conditions. The disease is acquired by being published from Kalimpong since be used as major tourist attractions, how best to do it, there will always be VIEW it was a challenge to publish and dis- akin to carnivals. audio-visual content to help one learn. breathing infectious droplets coughed or sneezed by infected tribute in Nepal. The weather during Tihar is general- What matters is that the culture and individuals and primarily affects the lungs, but could also In the Kathmandu Valley, the honk- ly good. The clear blue skies, the views essence of the rituals aren’t lost. affect other body parts. Delays in diagnosis and treatment ing of the motorbikes and the rally of the mountains and the nip in the air Recently, Nepalis have embraced increase the severity and transmission of the disease, which Tihar, known as Swonti to the Newa during the day marked the celebrations in the evenings all add to the experi- baby showers. Many have begun to further complicates the situation. An untreated infectious community, is a very important festival and bhintuna greetings were only some ence. Before tourism became a year- make rangolis during Tihar. Wedding patient, it is said, could infect up to 10 to 20 people. It is, there- for many groups in Nepal. The Newa of the words that younger Newas could round affair, the tourist season in cakes are becoming an all too common fore, imperative that cases are detected, and patients undergo community, in particular, celebrates speak in their mother tongue. After Nepal provided few opportunities for feature in all celebrations, from birth- the prescribed treatment course. Health officials also fear the New Year according to the Nepal 1990, the celebrations became a bit exploration—besides the usual hot- days to becoming a part of wedding there could be a misdiagnosis since the symptoms of tubercu- Sambat calendar at this time. The more prominent and the establishment spots of Thamel, Sauraha and the saipatas. Similarly, many versions Nepal Sambat was used as the official of a statue of Sankhadhar Sakhwa, Lakeside in Pokhara. of the Mha Puja can be performed—as losis are similar to those of Covid-19. calendar in Nepal until 1903, when it who is linked to the starting of the But with the Mha Puja, Nepalis can long as it is fun and it is about When it comes to the world of medicine, the adage ‘preven- was replaced by the Bikram Sambat Nepal Era, suddenly rekindled the dis- push the event to the same popularity understanding the significance of tion is better than cure’ is the most resonant of all, as it helps calendar (which was introduced by cussions around Nepal Sambat being as many of the festivals celebrated the culture. save lives and avert painful suffering and expensive treatment. then prime minister Chandra the official calendar. During the around the world. Perhaps, like This can be an all-Nepali event that If the ongoing pandemic situation we are in right now has Shumsher Rana). The Gujaratis also ethnicity and identity politics of the Christmas and New Year menu experi- can become community agnostic, taught us anything, it is that our health policies need to celebrate their New Year on the same Maoist insurgency, the Newa communi- ences in hotels, there could be hotels much like many other festivals that all revolve around robust preparedness and ensuring equal access day during Tihar. ty used celebrations of the Nepal that could host their own Mha Puja communities like to celebrate. To make to health services for all citizens, as enshrined in our constitu- Sambat New Year as a mascot repre- celebrations, giving tourists an unfor- this a pan Nepali celebration at the tion. The government has data it needs to accelerate action to Icon of identity senting their culture. Baburam gettable experience. earliest, we must begin in haste. After People of the Newa community all over Bhattarai during his tenure as prime With a large Nepali diaspora that has all, they say that the best aila—a bever- #EndTB. What we now need is an evidence-based strategic Nepal, who were denied the right to minister made many promises of mak- ageing relatives back home, such cul- age that is integral to the Mha Puja— plan to fill the gap in tuberculosis detection and cure. The data their language and culture during the ing it the national calendar, and the tural festivals can cater to Nepali vaca- needs to be brewed beginning in tells us exactly that. Rana regime and later on during discussions have continued. tioners who want to come back home to December-January.

Why is the bureaucracy so inept?

the time of this practice, this is unac- The pace of decentralisation ceptable and practical because the state has already embraced distorted is slow, and the administrative federal politics. culture is not Spirit of federalism Both state and local governments performance-oriented. must have authority and autonomy, and government employees must have the condition to work in their area of SHANKAR MAN SINGH responsibility. Civil servants appear to be in favour of maintaining their administrative control and the respon- sibility of the central agencies to pro- tect their interests. However, main- taining the overall dominance of gov- ernment employees at the expense of the rights of elected representatives Reform efforts have addressed the role violates the spirit of federalism and and functions of the civil service, its the administrative restructuring of organisational structure and working the state. The accountability and methods, its human resource system, responsibility of the bureaucracy will and its governance; but Nepal’s ultimately remain with the central bureaucracy still has many weakness- government. es. Among them are low levels of moti- The top-load structure is kept with- vation among civil servants, the per- out restructuring. Sitting in the ception that the entire scope of gov- majority of the central bureaucracy, ernment work affects human life, in fact, Nepal’s bureaucracy still unnecessary expansion in the number adapts itself to the maximum of government agencies, multiple lay- Weberian parameters characterised ers in the decision-making process, by a system of legal-rational rights. weak accountability mechanism, diffi- The legal-rational authority system culty in embracing new technology, includes basic things such as selection lack of accountability, and lack of SHUTTERSTOCK by defined qualifications, qualifica- decentralisation. the performance, and accountability officer’s desk in 12 days. The file then will happen to you. And many people the rules. To reduce risk and create tions and achievements, individual Significant structural, managerial is far from over. returns by the same route with the are stable. collective responsibility, they form operations, and diversification of pub- and practical challenges remain to be decision of the chief officer. It again There is no incentive to move the committees. The government system lic funds from private funds. addressed, but some positive lessons A file’s journey travels on a long journey with some files quickly and make decisions. If is built on suspicion, not trust. It is no In contrast, the Nepali bureaucracy have already been learned: Local hir- After getting a government job, the explanations. If the file goes up and you work hard and make quick deci- exaggeration to say that such a system is said to be based on nepotism, crony- ing helps maintain employees at the first thing to solve and create prob- down too many times, it easily takes a sions, something can go wrong. If so, is a natural process that is always ism, partisanship, official corruption, local level and improve a sense of lems for the public is ‘files’. A file is month or two. your life is in danger of going to hell. slow. Because of trade unions, employ- and so on. The bureaucracy is visible ownership; many local agencies feel created for any action. As soon as a Now imagine the communication But if you get bored and postpone the ees have immense collective power; in party politics and is fragmented on more empowered, and restricting the letter is received, a file is created; and between the various offices, and final- decision, nothing happens. This is and some governments dare to disci- a radical basis. The civil bureaucracy right to relocate has helped keep peo- step by step comments and orders are ly the communication between especially true for senior executives. pline them. Even after Nepal has been consumes a large portion of national ple from decentralised sites. As far as written in it. There is an army of inter-governmental bodies. It would How many times has someone been transformed into a federal political revenue. However, it has failed to per- the negative side is concerned, civil ‘office assistants’ whose job is to move not be an exaggeration to say that peo- insulted for making a late decision? system, there seems to be an illusion form as expected. It often seems that servants prefer to work in convenient these files from one place to another, ple with all sorts of attitudes join the Take a look at our defence purchases. that it is pursuing an integrated sys- bureaucrats point to partisan politics locations and centres, and they live at and they do so slowly. We have to government machinery because of job It takes a few years. And if someone tem of bureaucratic organisation and in violation of neutrality and non-par- the centre making it more difficult to accept this in part, but there are peo- security and the fact that these tries to be quick and push things fast, accountability. tisan values. Unless the bureaucracy provide services at the local level. ple in the government, especially in employees do not care much about the authorities will probably knock on Contrary to the principles of feder- is made result-oriented, the structural Local-level staff are located only at the higher positions, who want to laziness. Even hardworking and hon- their door. And we’re talking about alism, the national government and executive arrangements at the district headquarters, seriously affect- change that. Are they able to make est people working in the government honest employees, not crooks. recruits civil servants for all levels state and local levels make no sense to ing service delivery and other develop- that happen? Why not? There are seem to be disillusioned with the There is no protection against legit- of government. The central govern- the general public. ment initiatives in the region. The many reasons why the bureaucracy is work. In the private sector, you imate mistakes (actual or alleged). ment keeps the stick and keeps the pace of decentralisation is slow, incompetent and slow. Here are some have to become something better over Officers should be encouraged to take bureaucracy in check at all levels. Singh is a former general manager of and the administrative culture is not of them: There are many levels of time. There are exceptions in both precautions and make decisions Although a centralised bureaucracy the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) performance-oriented. Incentives are government. If each officer takes a places; but in government service, you unless they have a bad intention of was accepted and the country was and holds an MBA from Delhi School limited and not fully integrated into few days, the file can reach the chief can be stable for 30 years and nothing making a bad decision or disregarding governed by a unitary state system at of Economics.

C M Y K 05 | FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2020 MONEY

FOREX Global debt to US Dollar 119.13 Apple farmers in Karnali hit by crop failure Euro 140.94 hit record $277 Drought during the flowering period and hailstorm during the fruit-bearing period affected output, farmers say. Pound Sterling 157.41 trillion by year Japanese Yen 11.45 TULARAM PANDEY Chinese Yuan 18.09 KALIKOT, NOV 19 end, report says Qatari Riyal 32.71 Apple farmer Gokarna Prasad Australian Dollar 86.58 Upadhyaya became bankrupt after his REUTERS trees did not bear fruit this year. The NEW YORK, NOV 19 Malaysian Ringit 29.07 fruit grower from Phukot village in Karnali province had gathered a Global debt is expected to soar to a Saudi Arab Riyal 31.76 bumper harvest last year which record $277 trillion by the end of the Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank earned him Rs185,000. year as governments and companies He had to carry the apples on his continue to spend in response to the back to market as there are no trans- Covid-19 pandemic, the Institute of Shares portation facilities in this remote International Finance said in a report place in north-western Nepal. This on Wednesday. Nepse 1,778.12pts 2.08% year was a disaster as his crop failed The IIF, whose members include due to severe climatic conditions. over 400 banks and financial institu- HIGHEST GAINERS Upadhyaya has harvested around tions across the globe, said debt bal- UNL TRH HDL BNT BBC NLICL 10% 10% 9.99% 9.99% 9.98% 9.94% 400 kg of apples this year, nothing looned already by $15 trillion this year compared to his usual annual produc- to $272 trillion through September. MODERATE GAINERS NIL STC SHL NRN SGI HGI tion of 20 tonnes. “And even these Governments—mostly from developed 9.94% 9.94% 9.9% 9.89% 9.86% 9.86% apples I sent to relatives as gifts,” said markets—accounted for nearly half of

MODERATE LOSERS Upadhyaya. His orchard contains 450 the increase. SRBLD83 BOKL SAPDBL SICL RHPC NADEP apple trees. Developed markets’ overall debt -1.12% -1.18% -1.22% -1.31% -1.67% -1.7% Many apple growers in Kalikot dis- jumped to 432 percent of GDP in the HIGHEST LOSERS trict have been hit by climate change POST FILE PHOTO third quarter, from a ratio of about 380 RRHP GBD80/81 SBLD2082 SFMF PBLD84 MEGAPO this year. In addition, Covid-19 came A photo taken last year shows an apple orchard at Mahawai village in Kalikot. percent at the end of 2019. -1.92% -1.92% -1.96% -2.18% -2.29% -3.17% and added salt to their wounds as buy- Emerging market debt-to-GDP ers did not show up in the villages of ing period (April-May) destroyed my region, roads and access to market Kalikot districts. “Farmers used to hit nearly 250 percent in the third Kalikot where transportation is still a crop completely,” said Rokaya. have been a dream for decades. sell two apples for Rs1. Now they are quarter, with China reaching 335 per- distant dream. Last year, the government declared “Farmers in Kalikot were encour- getting Rs50 per kg or Rs20 per apple” cent, and for the year the ratio is PRICE PER TOLA Apple growers in the Karnali prov- Raskot an apple zone and spent Rs9 aged to plant apple trees as they said Ratan Bahadur Shahi, president expected to reach about 365 percent of BULLION ince have been suffering for decades million to build a solar store, irriga- expected their farms to bring them of the Kalikot Chamber of Commerce global GDP. due to lack of transportation services. tion system and high-tech nursery, prosperity,” said Navaraj Koirala, a and Industry. Air transport is the pri- “There is significant uncertainty Fine Gold Rs 94,400 Even when they have a bumper har- and distribute subsidised apple sap- leader of the Nepal Workers and mary way for traders to transport about how the global economy can vest, they are forced to sell their fruits lings. But the government has no pro- Peasants Party. “Before Karnali had apples to market. The road network deleverage in the future without Silver Rs 1,215 at a cheaper rate. grammes to deal with effects of cli- road access, farmers used to feed has raised the economic status of significant adverse implications “Porters charge Rs500 to carry a mate change. Tilagupha, which is apples to their cattle. Now, they take farmers, and traders even go directly for economic activity,” the IIF said in SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA sack of apples to nearby markets, and known as a fertile land for apple farm- them to market.” to the farmers’ doors to buy apples. its report. most of the farmers still feed the ing, was the hardest hit this year. Lawmaker Koirala, who has 600 This has empowered apple farmers to Total US debt is on track to hit $80 fruits to their cows,” said Upadhyaya. Despite the adverse weather condition apple trees in his orchard, said apple, negotiate prices in their favour. trillion in 2020, the IIF report said, up GASOLINE WATCH After the Nepal Army constructed that destroyed local apple crops this mushroom and tourism are three key Not only farmers but schools are from $71 trillion in 2019. In the Euro the Surkhet-Jumla road in 2007, link- year, apple farmer Tek Bahadur Shahi components that can bring prosperity also benefiting from the apple farms. area, debt rose by $1.5 trillion to $53 ing the Karnali region with the still managed to earn Rs400,000. Last to this remote Karnali region. In Tilagupha, Mahadev Secondary trillion through September. national highway network, apple year, his income totalled Rs1.3 million. “But all these dreams of the people High School has planted 3,000 apple Among developing economies, growers had started commercial farm- “The climate factor affected the har- have been shattered as the govern- trees and 2,000 of them have started Lebanon, China, Malaysia and Turkey ing hoping that one day they would get vest, and we were forced to sell our ment has not paid any attention to the bearing fruit. The school sold apples have seen the biggest increases in better market access and income. fruits at a very cheap price,” said development and prosperity of at the rate of Rs1 for two and earned non-financial sector debt ratios so far But the 232-km road is in poor con- Shahi, who has 3,500 apple trees in Karnali province,” he said. “There is a Rs200,000 last year. this year. ditions. It has many sharp turns and his orchard. road but it is in a very bad condition.” The money was used to buy solar Emerging market governments’ blind corners making travel hazard- “This year, adverse weather caused Local farmer Dadhi Singh Karki heaters, computers and a video cam- declining revenues have made paying ous. Locals and travellers who use the apple production to plunge by 60 per- had thought that after the Karnali era for the school. “With the income down debt “much more onerous” even road have to suffer hardships all year cent,” said Bharat Basnet, chief of the highway was constructed, trucks from growing apples, we have hired amid record low borrowing costs round because it becomes unbearably Agricultural Development Office in would bring subsidised rice to Karnali two teachers,” said Nardeep Shahi, across the globe. dusty during the dry season and Kalikot. More than 14,000 tonnes of and transport their apple harvests to the headmaster of the school. “But Through the end of next year, some extremely muddy during the rainy apples could be produced in Kalikot market. “The road was constructed this year, we are facing financial diffi- $7 trillion of emerging market bonds season. For farmers like Upadhyaya, it district this year, he said. but it is no good. We still carry apples culties as the apple trees did not yield and syndicated loans will come due, takes several hours to reach Surkhet. Tek Bahadur Shahi said that he sold on our backs and walk several hours fruit as expected.” about 15 percent of which is denomi- Kal Rokaya, another apple grower 20 tonnes of apples at Rs65 per kg last to market.” Apple trees were first planted in nated in US dollars, IIF said. from Raskot, had earned Rs200,000 year. But this year, according to Shahi, Until last year, a few traders from Kalikot in 1970 by Dhir Bahadur Officials from the Group of 20 last from his apple crop last year. This he got Rs50 per kg and was able to sell Surkhet and Nepalgunj used to come Hamal, a former member of the month agreed to extend the Debt year, he earned nothing. He has 500 only 8 tonnes. to the farmers bringing cartons to National Panchayat during the Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) trees in his orchard. “Buyers did not come to the farmers pack the apples. But this year they did Panchayat system. Around 3,000 freeze on official bilateral debt pay- “The winter drought (January- this year due to Covid-19 related not come because of the virus. apple saplings was brought from ments to the first half of 2021 and said February) during the flowering period restrictions and fear of infection.” A few years back, apples used to rot Kashmir, India and distributed to they would consider another six- and hailstorm during the fruit-bear- For apple farmers in the Karnali on the trees in Jumla, Mugu and farmers in Kalikot. month extension in April. India’s economy Covid-19 crisis: A shot in the arm for Russian e-commerce to return to normal REUUTERS Insight, compared with 2.6 percent firm M.Video; Sbermarket, controlled GDANSK/MOSCOW, NOV 19 in the United States and 5.1 percent by a joint venture between Russia’s faster than expected in China. largest bank Sberbank and internet The coronavirus crisis has helped fuel “The Russian e-commerce market is group Mail.Ru; and internet company REUTERS a surge in online shopping in Russia growing significantly faster than Yandex. BENGALURU, NOV 19 that has put even the remote icy in the United States or in the largest Amazon has not entered Russia, expanse of Chukotka on the e-com- EU countries, thanks to the low where the country’s size—it has 11 Barclays lifted its fiscal 2022 growth merce map. penetration base effect,” Data Insight time zones—and its competitive IT forecast for the Indian economy to 8.5 The windswept region in Russia’s co-founder Boris Ovchinnikov told market pose challenges. percent from an earlier projection of 7 Far East, where winter temperatures Reuters. “To cover at least two major cities in percent, saying the country would can fall below minus 50 degrees He put the market value in Russia Russia, the company needs to invest “return to normal” faster than expect- Celsius (-58F), has started to boom for for the first half of 2020 at 1.16 trillion heavily not only in delivery but in ed as the Covid-19 curve in the world’s online retailers since the pandemic roubles ($15.2 billion). warehousing to have enough goods to second-most populous nation starts started keeping consumers at home. Analysts from market research firm maintain the current quality level,” flattening. It’s a trend playing out across Euromonitor expect annual online said Sergey Belyaev of Sova Capital. India is nearing 9 million confirmed Russia, spurring explosive growth for sales in Russia to grow by more than Amazon did not respond to a request cases of the novel coronavirus—the online retailers. Traditionally unable 40 percent this year to around 2.5 tril- for comment. second highest in the world, after the to make speedy deliveries in the lion roubles and by 10-15 percent a Wildberries, which said it attracted United States—but the number of new world’s largest country, where roads year over the next five years. over 12 million new customers to its daily cases has fallen since a peak in become clogged with ice and snow for E-commerce penetration in Russia website in the first nine months of mid-September. months, they have invested heavily in has increased from 7 percent of total 2020 has enjoyed spectacular growth. “The prospect of an effective vac- logistics centres and delivery points. retail sales in 2019 to about 11 percent Orders in April-October rose 490 cine in the near future and high sero- With foreign players largely absent, in 2020 though that is still less than in percent in Chukotka, a remote region prevalence of antibodies across the Russian companies are cashing in as the United States, where penetration located across the Bering Strait from population support the case for a more online shopping surges. is about 19 percent, said Marija Alaska where winters bring endless durable economic recovery,” Barclays “It’s very convenient,” said Alina Milasevic at Euromonitor. nights and temperatures below minus said in a note. Lunina, an English language teacher The Russian market is also very 50 degrees Celsius (-58 F). from the city of Samara who now buys fragmented. Wildberries said April-October clothes, books, make-up and some- Privately owned Wildberries leads orders also soared by 385 percent in Companies are times groceries online. She uses REUTERS with 15 percent of the market, accord- Ingushetia in the North Caucasus, and Russian company Wildberries, which A Yandex.Eats food delivery courier wearing a protective face mask rides a scooter in Moscow. ing to Data Insight, and Ozon, which by 239 percent in Buryatia, a region in reporting strong she says delivers to collection points has filed for an initial public offering eastern Siberia. in two days even though Samara is The e-commerce boom is a welcome home at the start of the pandemic— in the United States, has 7 percent. The retailer, which says it has over sales during the more than 860 km (534 miles) from its development for economists who say which has killed more than 34,000 Behind them comes AliExpress 34 million customers, now has 13 Moscow headquarters. Russia is too reliant on oil and gas people in Russia. Russia, a joint venture between warehouses and dozens of sorting and festive season. “There are many pick-up points in revenues, especially as retail sales, a E-commerce accounted for just 1.4 Chinese online shopping giant distribution centres across Russia my area. It takes me five minutes to gauge of consumer demand, plunged percent of Russia’s economy in 2019, Alibaba and Russian partners. Other which reduce delivery times in the Far walk,” she told Reuters. as lockdown measures kept people at according to research firm Data rivals include Russian electronics East and Siberia. Businesses have opened up and eco- nomic activity has picked up in India after one of the world’s strictest lock- downs were eased, with companies like motorcycle maker Hero MotoCorp and jewellery maker Titan Company reporting strong sales during the ‘Too soon’ to let Boeing 737 festive season. The brokerage, however, revised down its GDP forecast for the current fiscal year to negative 6.4 percent MAX fly again, families say from negative 6 percent. It expects GDP to fall by 8.5 percent in the second REUTERS sister and brother-in-law in the crash. quarter of the current fiscal year, JAKARTA, NOV 19 “They must consider the feelings of almost in line with the Indian central the victim’s families.” bank’s forecast. Some of the relatives of victims of a In the past, global air regulators Last week, the Reserve Bank fatal Boeing 737 MAX crash in promptly followed the guidance of the of India (RBI) projected GDP to con- Indonesia have slammed a decision by FAA, credited for decades with pio- tract by 8.6 percent in the July- US aviation authorities to allow the neering aviation safety. But many are September quarter, implying the jets to return to the skies, saying the now wary of seeming to toe the FAA country was likely to have entered move comes too soon. line after the US agency was faulted a technical recession in the first The US Federal Aviation for lax oversight. half of the year for the first time in Administration (FAA) on Wednesday “It’s too soon,” agreed Anton its history. lifted a flight ban on Boeing’s 737 MAX Sahadi, who had two young relatives Barclays said on Thursday it imposed after two fatal crashes in on board the doomed flight. “It wasn’t expects growth in GDP will resume in Indonesia and Ethiopia killed 346 peo- just the Lion Air flight, but also the third quarter of the current finan- ple within five months in 2018 and the victims in Ethiopia... The cial year, a quarter earlier than the 2019. Two years after the plane operat- victims’ families haven’t 100 percent RBI’s projection. ed by Indonesia’s Lion Air plunged recovered yet.” Last month, a Reuters poll showed into the Java Sea, killing all 189 on Families of the Ethiopian crash vic- the Indian economy would rebound by board, the tragedy is still raw. tims said in a statement they felt 9.0 percent in fiscal 2022, after suffer- “The US authorities shouldn’t have “sheer disappointment and renewed ing its deepest contraction on record lifted the grounding order this quick- grief” after the FAA’s decision to this fiscal year. ly,” said Aris Sugiono, who lost his return the aircraft to service.

C M Y K FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2020 | 06 WORLD BRIEFING Biden’s DIY transition Australian special forces ‘unlawfully killed’ 39 in proceeds without Afghanistan CANBERRA: Australia’s elite special forces “unlawfully killed” 39 Afghan civilians and prisoners, including Trump assistance summary executions as part of initia- tion rituals, according to evidence in a searing military inquiry now being A growing group of Republicans have begun to state referred to a special war crimes pros- ecutor. A years-long internal investi- publicly that Biden will become the next president. gation into military misconduct was released Thursday, prompting the ASSOCIATED PRESS ations. The moves reflect how Biden is Chief of the Australian Defence WILMINGTON, NOV 19 adjusting to a historically tense tran- Force to admit a “destructive” culture sition. With no sign that Trump is of impunity among special forces President Donald Trump’s refusal to prepared to facilitate soon a peaceful leading to a string of alleged murders cooperate with his successor is forc- transfer of power, Biden and his team and cover-ups spanning years. “Some ing President-elect Joe Biden to seek are instead working through a series patrols took the law into their own unusual workarounds to prepare for of backup options to do the best they hands, rules were broken, stories con- the exploding public health threat and can to prepare for the challenges he cocted, lies told and prisoners killed,” evolving national security challenges will face as soon as he takes office in General Angus Campbell said, apolo- he will inherit in just nine weeks. January. gising “sincerely and unreservedly” Blocked from the official intelli- Declining to criticise Trump, Biden to the people of Afghanistan. AP/RSS gence briefing traditionally afforded acknowledged Tuesday that he has People visit a makeshift memorial where two people died during the November 14 protests against the removal of President Martin Vizcarra in to incoming presidents, Biden gath- “not been receiving briefings that Lima, Peru. The South American country has sworn in its third president in just over a week amid protests. ered virtually on Tuesday with a col- would ordinarily come by now” as he Indian police say four suspected lection of intelligence, defence and opened his virtual meeting with the diplomatic experts. None of the national security experts. The 12 par- rebels killed in Kashmir experts is currently affiliated with the ticipants, who appeared on video SRINAGAR: Four suspected militants US government, raising questions screens, included former Deputy CIA were killed and two Indian police about whether Biden is being provid- Director David Cohen, retired Gen. officers were wounded Thursday in a ed the most up-to-date information Stanley McChrystal and Avril Haines, gunfight in Indian-controlled EU warns Hungary against use about dangers facing the nation. a deputy national security adviser in Kashmir, police said. Police Inspector- Vice President-elect Kamala Harris the Obama administration, among General Mukesh Singh told reporters received a more formal briefing others. that the shooting erupted on the out- skirts of the city of Jammu and last- of Russia’s Covid-19 vaccine ed three hours. Police said suspected rebels in a truck fired at a checkpoint on the main highway linking Jammu Under EU rules, Sputnik V must be authorised by the European Medicines Agency. and Srinagar. Security forces returned fire. Police said they were REUTERS verifying the identities of those BRUSSELS, NOV 19 killed. Hungary’s plans to import and possi- South Asia reaches 10 million cases bly use Russia’s touted Sputnik V REUTERS gion’s cases and deaths. Thai PM threatens to use all Covid-19 vaccine raise safety concerns BENGALURU, NOV 19 India’s eastern neighbour laws against protesters and could damage trust in potential Bangladesh, the world’s biggest appar- BANGKOK: Thai Prime Minister shots, the European Commission said, The South Asia sub-region surpassed el producer after China, is South Prayuth Chan-ocha threatened on opening a new front in the EU’s 10 million Covid-19 cases on Thursday, Asia’s second worst hit country with Thursday to use all laws possible fraught relations with Budapest. according to a Reuters tally, led by about 438,000 coronavirus cases. against protesters, as demonstrations Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor India where officials have been con- Officials there last week extended the escalate for his removal and for Orban’s hard line against migration cerned Diwali celebrations could closure of schools and other educa- reforms to curb the powers of King and what critics say is his increasing- derail a recent fall in infections. South tional institutions amid fears of a Maha Vajiralongkorn. Activists ly authoritarian grip on power—an Asia—consisting of India, Bangladesh, second wave of infections. voiced concern that this could mean accusation he has repeatedly denied— Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives Cases were on the rise again in the resumption of prosecutions as well as his pursuit of close rela- and Sri Lanka—accounts for 18 per- Pakistan, where on Friday more than under some of the world’s harshest tions with Russia have caused repeat- cent of global cases and almost 11 2,000 cases were reported in a single AP/RSS royal insult laws. “Prayuth has ed clashes with the European Union. percent of global deaths, according to day for the first time since July. President-elect Joe Biden attends a national security briefing at The Queen theatre on declared a battle against the people,” Hungary plans to conduct trials of the Reuters tally. Officials responded by banning public November 17 in Wilmington, Delaware. said rights lawyer and protest leader and possibly produce the Russian vac- It is the second sub-region, after the political rallies following days of huge Arnon Nampa. “For civil servants cine, an unprecedented step for an EU North America, to cross the 10 million anti-government demonstrations. Tuesday as a member of the Senate Biden said he was preparing to who have not chosen sides, you need member state, add to existing frictions case threshold. In Nepal, the number of cases Intelligence Committee, though still inherit “a divided country and a world to decide whether to live in the past with Brussels. India, the only Asian country crossed 200,000 this week with nearly has relatively limited information in disarray.” or to build a future with us.” The pro- Asked about these plans, a spokes- among the top ten countries worst half reported in the capital about the specific threats Biden will “That’s why I need you all,” he said. tests since July have become the man for the Commission, the EU’s affected by the pandemic, accounts for Kathmandu and its surrounding inherit. Weeks after the election, Trump greatest challenge to Thailand’s executive, said: “The question arises about 90 percent of both the sub-re- areas. And as the worst pandemic in a cen- continues to block Biden’s access to establishment in years and have bro- whether a member state would want tury bears down on the US with the administration’s pandemic and ken a longstanding taboo by criticis- to administer to its citizens a vaccine renewed ferocity, the current adminis- national security briefings, falsely ing the monarchy, which can carry a that has not been reviewed by EMA.” tration is blocking Biden from collabo- claiming that Biden is not the legiti- jail term of up to 15 years. Under EU rules, Sputnik V must be rating with its response team. Biden’s mate president-elect because of authorised by the European Medicines representatives instead plan to meet non-existent voter fraud. The Agency before it can be marketed in directly with pharmaceutical compa- Democrat defeated the Republican EU ministers to discuss further any state, EMA said. nies this week to determine how best president on November 7, and Trump’s “This is where the authorisation to distribute at least two promising flailing legal strategy to block certifi- measures against Belarus process and vaccine confidence meet. vaccines, the biggest logistical chal- cation of the election results is quick- BERLIN: European Union foreign min- If our citizens start questioning the lenge to face a new president in gener- ly fizzling out. isters will discuss further sanctions safety of a vaccine, should it not have against the Belarusian authorities at gone through rigorous scientific their meeting on Thursday, German assessment to prove its safety and effi- Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said. cacy, it will be much harder to vacci- “The Belarusian authorities are obvi- nate a sufficient proportion of the ously not prepared to start a dialogue population,” the Commission spokes- Asia-Pacific leaders push with the opposition,” Maas said. “We man added in an emailed statement. have not registered any constructive Orban’s government has said it reaction from Minsk so far, so we will plans to trial and licence Sputnik V, discuss how we can raise the pres- and this week would begin importing for freer trade after Trump sure,” he said. “And we can certainly a small number of doses that could raise pressure by focussing more lead to larger imports and mass-pro- REUTERS REUTERS held virtually in Kuala Lumpur on strongly on the powerful circles duction in Hungary next year if the People shop at a market, amid Covid-19 outbreak, in front of the Jama Masjid (Grand Mosque) KUALA LUMPUR, NOV 19 Friday. around (President Alexander) shot proved safe and effective. in the old quarters of Delhi, on November 16. “China will remain committed to Lukashenko.” (AGENCIES) Russia’s sovereign wealth fund said Asia-Pacific leaders called on openness and cooperation, and adhere Thursday for open and multilateral to multilateralism and the principle last week that interim trial “Vaccines should be out of politics trade to support a global economy of extensive consultation, joint contri- Call for Expression of Interest (EOI) results showed Sputnik V is and countries should have a choice battered by the novel coronavirus, and bution and shared benefits,” he said. 92 percent effective. how to protect their citizens,” said some hoped for more engagement Xi said “mounting unilateralism, Felm is an INGO working in Nepal since 1977 to promote sustainable Vaccines being developed Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian with the United States under a Joe protectionism and bullying as well as community development. Felm-Nepal’s work depends on local partners by US firms Moderna and sovereign wealth fund which has Biden administration. backlash against economic globalisa- Pfizer the latter in coopera- underwritten the development of Chinese President Xi Jinping, tion” had added to risks and uncer- committed to working closely with marginalized communities to achieve tion with Germany’s Sputnik V. He added that Russia was among the leaders at a virtual meeting tainties in the world economy. better standards of life in the community development and disability sectors. BioNTech have showed ready to share data with the European of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Trump has introduced protectionist Felm-Nepal requests interested NGOs to submit the EOI for partnering to slightly better results on a Medicines Agency and said it aimed to Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, trade policies since coming to power much larger sample of peo- produce the vaccine in Hungary and rejected protectionism and said glo- in 2017, including tariffs on billions of implement projects in Province 1 (Morang), Province 2 (Sarlahi), Bagmati Province ple exposed to the virus. in other willing EU nations. A subsid- balisation was “irreversible”, a day dollars worth of Chinese products (Rasuwa, Chitwan, Dhading), Gandaki Province (Gorkha, Kaski, Tanahun), The Hungarian govern- iary of the wealth fund also requested before US President Donald Trump that launched a trade war between the Province 5 (Banke), Karnali Province (Dailekh, Jajarkot, Kalikot, Mugu, Salyan, ment did not respond to scientific advice from EMA in late was expected to join in the gathering. world’s two largest economies. questions on whether it October but has received no reply so “We will not reverse course or run The APEC leaders’ meeting comes Surkhet) and Sudurpashchim Province (Doti, Dadeldhura, Achham, Kailali, wanted to licence the far, the fund said. against historical trend by ‘decou- as economies are trying to recover Kanchanpur). Sputnik V vaccine at home EMA said that it had received no pling’ or forming a small circle to keep from the impact of the coronavirus or through the required EU data from Russia or Hungary on others out,” Xi said at a forum ahead pandemic and days after Trump lost Requirements for Pre-Qualification process. Sputnik V or any other Covid vaccine. of the APEC leaders meeting to be his bid for a second term. Trump, who has yet to concede and begin a transfer of government to President- • elect Biden, was due to projects in Nepal. represent the United States at • Capacity to plan, implement, monitor and report projects in compliance the virtual summit on Friday, a US official said. It will be the with Felm and Felm’s donor requirements. first time he has joined an • Committed to grassroots development and participatory community APEC summit since 2017, the involvement. only time he has participated. Biden has signalled a return • to multilateralism pursued during Barack Obama’s • Operates projects in a way that is consistent with Felm’s values, including presidency, though questions remain over whether the new gender equality, disability inclusion, and environmental sustainability. president would reverse •Submission of EOI: Trump-era policies. Singapore Prime Minister The EOI shall be subject to eligibility as per the criteria for shortlisting. Lee Hsien Loong told the APEC Interested NGOs are requested to submit their Cover Letter, Copy of forum he expected “more multilateralists” in the Biden administration. with Renewal, Organization’s Bylaws, Latest Annual Report, Organizational “I think that they will be Profile with List of Projects Implemented in Last 3 Years, and Audit more supportive of the WTO, and of APEC. I am not Reports of Financial Statements for 2 Latest Fiscal Years to Felm-Nepal sure that they will be more via email: [email protected] by 5:00 PM December 6, 2020. keen on throwing the doors wide open, or joining the Note: CPTPP, because that depends Note: 1. Felm reserves the right to shortlist any or all organizations without on domestic politics too,” he assigning any reasons whatsoever. said. Lee also said US trade policies under Trump had Nepal approval of the project. weighed on APEC’s progress in 3. Applications received after deadline will not be considered. recent years, which he termed “very slow”.

C M Y K 07 | FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2020 SPORTS | MEDLEY BRIEFING Coach Mancini hails Italy’s extraordinary performance Salah, Elneny again test positive for coronavirus The Azzurri, who played without several experienced players, beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 to extend their unbeaten run to 22 matches. CAIRO: Liverpool striker Mohamed AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE to go ahead next June and July. Salah and Arsenal midfielder SARAJEVO, NOV 19 England have more than one eye on Mohamed Elneny have returned that tournament, with the semi-finals another positive test for Covid-19, the Roberto Mancini hailed an and final scheduled for Wembley, and Egyptian Football Association (EFA) “extraordinary” performance as Italy Gareth Southgate’s team rounded out said on Wednesday. Salah had previ- brushed aside injury and coronavirus their Nations League campaign with a ously tested positive for the coronavi- woes to reach next year’s Nations 4-0 win over Iceland. Declan Rice and rus last Friday, on the eve of Egypt’s League finals on Wednesday with a 2-0 Mason Mount scored in the first half Africa Cup of Nations qualifier win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in and Manchester City’s Phil Foden got against Togo, while Elneny tested Sarajevo. his first international goals with a late positive three days later. Salah, who Andrea Belotti volleyed in a Lorenzo brace as England had three players is the joint leading scorer in the Insigne cross after 22 minutes with aged 21 or younger score in the same Premier League this season with Domenico Berardi adding a second on match for the first time since 1883. eight goals, will miss the visit from 68 minutes to ensure the Azzurri fin- Birkir Mar Saevarsson was sent off league leaders Leicester City on ished top of League A group 1. for Iceland who, like Bosnia, are rele- Sunday. He is also likely to be ruled Afterwards Mancini celebrated gated and will compete in League B in out of Liverpool’s Champions with his players on the pitch via video the next edition. League game against Atalanta chat from his home in Italy where he Wales won promotion to League A next Wednesday, while Elneny is is isolating after testing positive for with a 3-1 win over 10-man Finland in expected to miss Arsenal’s trip to coronavirus. “Qualified! Well done for Cardiff that allowed them to top Leeds United on Sunday and their a desired and deserved result! Group B4. Winning their group also Europa League clash at Molde on Extraordinary!!,” Mancini wrote on improves Wales’ chances of securing a November 26. Twitter. “I have to thank all the lads, place in the 2022 World Cup qualifying who did a great job over the last two play-offs, as the two best group win- England to visit Pakistan after years, those who played tonight and ners in the Nations League are guar- those, like me, who were at home,” he anteed play-off places if they don’t 16 years for Twenty 20 series told Italian television. make it via the usual route. LONDON: England will visit Pakistan Italy beat Poland 2-0 on Sunday and Scotland missed out on promotion for the first time in 16 years when finished off the job against the from League B, Group 2 after losing 1-0 they play two T20 Internationals in already-relegated Bosnians, extending in Israel, their second consecutive loss October 2021, the England and Wales their unbeaten run to 22 matches. The since clinching qualification for Euro Cricket Board (ECB) announced on young Italian side proved solid despite 2020. Manor Solomon’s first-half goal Wednesday. The short tour will serve the absence of players including sunk the Scots, and the Czech Republic as a build-up to the Twenty20 World Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, won promotion at their expense after Cup in India that is scheduled to start Marco Verratti, Ciro Immobile and beating Slovakia 2-0. the same month, and comes as inter- Federico Chiesa. The Bosnians were AP/RSS Also securing promotion to the top national cricket returns to Pakistan also without several players because Andrea Belotti (left) scored his 10th goal for Italy as they beat Bosnia to finish on top of their group in the UEFA Nations League match. tier were Austria, who drew 1-1 with a following an attack on the Sri Lanka of Covid-19, including Roma forward Norway side deprived of stars Erling team bus in 2009 that killed six police- Edin Dzeko and Arsenal left-back Sead and first since November 2019, also from behind to beat Poland 2-1 away but Lukaku got a second-half double Braut Haaland and Martin Odegaard men and two civilians. The matches Kolasinac. against Bosnia. with captain Georginio Wijnaldum and Kevin De Bruyne made sure of after being ordered to quarantine are scheduled for October 14 and 15, The Italians dominated with Belotti, combining with an impres- scoring the winner after Memphis the victory for Roberto Martinez’s because of a positive coronavirus test both in Karachi. Pakistan have host- Berardi starting in place of Juventus sive Insigne on the night, again threat- Depay’s penalty cancelled out Kamil side after Thibaut Courtois allowed a in their squad. Hungary won promo- ed Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and forward Federico Bernardeschi in the ened after the interval but it was a Jozwiak’s opener. Nacer Chadli back-pass to squirm tion too thanks to a 2-0 victory over Zimbabwe on home soil since only change from the Poland game. combination of Sassuolo pair Berardi Belgium also secured a spot in the under his leg and in for an own goal. Turkey combined with a 5-0 hammer- September 2019. Since the bus attack, Belotti missed two chances in the first and Locatelli which paid off. Locatelli last four with a 4-2 victory over Italy and Belgium join Spain and ing for Russia at the hands of Serbia. they had mostly used Sharjah, Dubai quarter of an hour, squandering an crossed for Berardi whose acrobatic Denmark. The world’s number one- World Cup holders France in a final The Republic of Ireland avoided rele- and Abu Dhabi as home venues. Insigne cross and nodding wide. But volley beat Kenan Piric for the 26-year- ranked side, Belgium only required a tournament which is expected to be gation to League C after drawing 0-0 Pakistan will also travel to England the 26-year-old made no mistake on his old’s second consecutive goal draw from their last League A, Group held in Italy in October next year. with Bulgaria, but Northern Ireland in July for three ODIs as part of the third chance as Manuel Locatelli won after Poland last weekend and third 2 game at home to Denmark behind Before the finals, European nation- and Turkey were among the sides to Super League, which will determine a midfield duel sending the ball for Italy. closed doors in Leuven and took an al teams will start their 2022 World go down, while Montenegro, Armenia, who qualifies for the 50-over through for Insigne whose cross found The Azzurri finished one point early lead through Youri Tielemans. Cup qualifying campaign in March Slovenia and Albania go up to the World Cup in India in 2023. (AGENCIES) Belotti to volley in his 10th Italy goal ahead of the Netherlands who came Jonas Wind equalised for Denmark, and then the delayed Euro 2020 is set second level. Lionel Messi tired of blame game at Barcelona Guardiola inks contract extension at Man City REUTERS “The truth is that I’m a little tired last month ahead of a vote of no ASSOCIATED PRESS titles, the last three English League said Guardiola’s decision to stay at BARCELONA, NOV 19 of always being the problem for confidence. MANCHESTER, NOV 19 Cup titles and the FA Cup once. City was a product of the mutual trust everything at the club,” Messi was Messi has also had his run-ins with Guardiola has also been backed in and respect that exists between him A frustrated Lionel Messi said he is quoted as saying by Spanish media. the Spanish tax authorities in Manchester City manager Pep the transfer market by City, which has and the entire club. “Pep’s contract tired of being blamed for problems at “On top of that, after a 15-hour flight, recent years. He was handed a Guardiola signed a two-year contract spent about $480 million on defenders extension is the natural next step in a Barcelona after he was accused by I had the tax authorities waiting for 21-month prison sentence in 2016 and extension on Thursday to prolong his alone since his arrival in 2016. journey which has evolved over many Antoine Griezmann’s former agent of me. It’s madness.” ordered to pay a fine of two million stay at the English club to a seventh “Ever since I arrived at Manchester years,” Khaldoon said. making life difficult for the French With one year left on his contract, euros ($2.37 million) for defrauding year, saying he has “everything I could City, I have been made to feel so wel- Guardiola, who has a win rate of striker at the La Liga club. Messi tried to activate a disputed the Spanish government of 4.2 million possibly want to do my job well.” come in the club and in the city itself— 73.87 percent since joining City, said Eric Olhats had accused Messi of clause to leave Barcelona for free in euros over income earned from image If he sees out his new deal that runs from the players, the staff, the sup- early this season he would only extend having too much control at the club, the off-season, but eventually decided rights. through the end of the 2022-23 season, porters, the people of Manchester and his contract beyond next year if his saying his “reign of terror” had made to stay as he did not want to face a However, the 33-year-old did not Guardiola will become second in the the chairman and owner,” he said. team’s performances justified it after life difficult for Griezmann to adapt legal battle with the club. Barcelona serve any jail time after exchanging list of City’s longest-serving post-war “Having that kind of support,” losing the title to Liverpool last sea- since his arrival last year. Messi have been in turmoil since Bayern his sentence for a 250,000 euros fine, as managers. Guardiola added, “is the best thing son. City is in 10th place in the Premier returned to Barcelona from interna- Munich humiliated the Spanish side in Spain defendants without a previ- He is in his fifth season at City— any manager can have. I have League after winning three of their tional duty with Argentina on 8-2 in the Champions League ous conviction are permitted to serve longer than he stayed at Barcelona everything I could possibly want to do seven games. The team have played Wednesday when he was accosted by quarter-finals last season. Club presi- any sentence of under two years on (four) and Bayern Munich (three)— my job well.” game fewer than most of their rivals, reporters at the airport. dent Josep Maria Bartomeu resigned probation. and has won two Premier League City chairman Khaldoon Mubarak however. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) **** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** Feeling a little bit bored with your social life lately? Big things are coming up soon, but today you are still Sometimes it’s the quietest moment in your day that Friendship can mean different things to different To get a sense of renewal in your life right now, you in somewhat of a holding pattern. While you wait, carries the biggest impact. The changes you people, so be very careful that you are not making too should let other people take charge of things. Let you need to be careful not to get your hopes too high. want to make might not be the changes you need to many assumptions about what a new friendship is all them organise the get-togethers for the next few You cannot count those chickens before you hear make—so be open-minded about the conclusions you about. An unexpected comment could catch you off weeks. them squawking! come to. guard today.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** Your popularity is surging right now, so when teams You should seek out stability today—take a break You’ve got a lot of ideas germinating, but it’s going to Your sense of who you are has been growing slowly are chosen today, you’re going to be one of the first from frivolous events and head home. Spend more take a great deal of effort to shape any one of them but steadily, and you are already seeing the rewards picks. Don’t be intimidated by the extra attention time with family and friends you know inside and into something that you can actually make happen. of being more self-assured in your social life. Today, you’ll be getting. It might not last too long, so you out. The tried-and-true people in your life aren’t bor- Don’t let this frustrate you, though. You did the hard you should look forward to it becoming effective in had better take advantage of it while you can. ing—they are comforting! part—now all you have to do is wait. your career life, too.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) **** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) **** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** Someone you thought you knew inside and out will All that lighthearted and flirtatious banter you’ve Don’t be shy and hide in the background when all the That warm feeling someone gives you is starting to surprise you by how they react today. Their feelings been having with that super-cute someone has been hoopla gets going, today. You will have so much more grow into a decidedly hotter vibe—and not necessar- might reveal some shocking things about their phi- fun, but today you should follow your urge to take fun if you’re loud. The people you will be with today ily in a good way. There is some real friction going on losophies of life, but that doesn’t have to alter how things to the next level. Delve deep down into real aren’t interested in polite people—they are interest- between you two, and you two just don’t seem to be on you feel about them. substance, and see what you come up with. ed in interesting people! the same page anymore. CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2020 | 08 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 Charles Yu novel, Malcolm X bio win National Book Awards The novel Interior Chinatown is a satirical, cinematic novel written in the form of a screenplay.

HILLEL ITALIE NEW YORK The poetry prize went harles Yu’s Interior to Don Mee Choi’s DMZ Chinatown, a satirical, cin- ematic novel written in the Colony and the winner form of a screenplay, has won the National Book for best translated Award for fiction. work was Yu Miri’s CTamara Payne and her father the late Les Payne’s Malcolm X biography, The Tokyo Ueno Station. Dead Are Arising, was cited for nonfic- tion and Kacen Callender’s King and the Dragonflies for young people’s literature. tion. Les Payne, a Pulitzer Prize-winning The poetry prize went to Don Mee Choi’s journalist, died in 2018. DMZ Colony and the winner for best “This is such a bittersweet moment,” translated work was Yu Miri’s Tokyo Tamara Payne said upon accepting the Ueno Station, translated from Japanese award Wednesday night. “I really wish by Morgan Giles. my father was here for this.” Honorary medals were given Few references were made to the recent Wednesday night to mystery novelist election, though politics did help inspire Walter Mosley and to the late CEO of Yu, whose previous books include the Simon & Schuster, Carolyn Reidy, who story collections Third Class Superhero died in May at age 71. The children’s and Sorry Please Thank You. He had author and current US Youth Ambassador struggled with Interior Chinatown, won- for young adult literature Jason Reynolds dering if there was a reason to tell an served as emcee, and along with Bob immigration story, until the surprise vic- Woodward and Walter Isaacson was tory of Donald Trump in 2016. among the Simon & Schuster writers who “Before then, I felt it lacked a real rea- appeared in a taped tribute to Reidy. son for being,” Yu told The Associated Because of the pandemic, one of pub- Press in a recent interview. “It seemed lishing’s most high-profile gatherings that reference to things in the past like was streamed online, with presenters and AP/RSS the Chinese Exclusion Act [a racist law winners speaking everywhere from New Charles Yu’s Interior Chinatown and The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X, a biography by Tamara Payne and her late father Les Payne. passed in 1882] had relevance. I started York to Japan. The traditional dinner thinking, ‘This does still matter. This is a ceremony is the nonprofit National Book story you should try to tell.” Foundation’s most important source of Lisa Lucas, speaking online from the chil- Lucas urging publishers to work at trans- Letters, spoke of his debt to such literary Winners in each of the competitive income and is usually held at Cipriani dren’s room of the Los Angeles Public forming a historically white industry to heroes as Ishmael Reed, John Edgar categories receive $10,000, and other final- Wall Street, where publishers and other Library. Executive director since 2016, she the winners themselves. Wideman and Ralph Ellison. ists $1,000, with the money divided equal- officials pay thousands of dollars for will depart at the end of the year to Yu’s novel is a sendup of Chinese stere- The award for The Dead Are Arising is ly between the author and translator for tables or individual seats. become publisher for the Penguin otypes and of the immigrants’ conflict the second time in a decade a Malcolm X best translated book. Roxane Gay, Rebecca The foundation instead has been ask- Random House imprints Pantheon and between wanting to assimilate and assert- biography has received a high honour for Makkai and Dinaw Mengestu were among ing for donations of $50 or more. As of Schocken. Her successor has not been ing their true selves. DMZ Colony com- nonfiction and the second time the hon- the authors, booksellers and others in the Wednesday evening, just over $490,000 announced. bines poetry, prose and images in its our was, at least in part, posthumous. The publishing community who as awards had been pledged from 851 donors. Along with the pandemic and the presi- exploration of the history between the scholar Manning Marable died right judges selected finalists from more than “It’s hard in a pandemic. We were dential election, diversity has been an United States and South Korea. Mosley, before the 2011 publication of Malcolm X, 1,600 books—many of them read digitally scared we wouldn’t be able to do this ongoing theme in the book world this year the first Black man to win the medal for which went on to win a Pulitzer Prize and because of the pandemic. show,” said foundation executive director and remained so Wednesday night, from Distinguished Contribution to American receive a National Book Award nomina- — Associated Press South Bronx restaurant turns into Wonder Woman 1984 to debut in soup kitchen to help poor theatres and on HBO Max The strategy is an unprecedented one for a film of its size, but a sign of the The family-run restaurant, which opened in 2009 and has won Michelin acclaim for extraordinary measures that Hollywood has had to resort to in Covid-19-era. its Oaxacan food, has been serving about 650 meals a day for the unemployed. LINDSEY BAHR have been desperate for government LOS ANGELES assistance and a steady stream of The film will play blockbusters to populate their screens. onder Woman in theatres for a few Wonder Woman 1984 is a major 1984 isn’t skip- tentpole for Warner Bros. The first ping theatres or weeks before being film made over $821 million globally moving to 2021, in 2017 and this sequel which brings but it is altering made available for back director Patty Jenkins and star course. The last rental on demand. Gal Gadot has been hotly anticipated, Wbig blockbuster holdout of 2020 is still not only by fans, but by theatres own- opening in US theatres on Christmas ers too. Recent spikes in the coronavi- Day but it will also be made available rus across the country have prompted to HBO Max subscribers free of platforms for a premium rental price, some areas to close indoor theatres charge for its first month, Warner as the Walt Disney Co did with Mulan. again. Bros. said Wednesday. Audiences have not been going Jenkins wrote about the decision The film will also debut in interna- back to the theatres in significant on Twitter. tional theatres on December 16. numbers since they began to reopen “At some point you have to choose “As we navigate these unprecedent- across the country in late August. to share any love and joy you have to ed times, we’ve had to be innovative Warner Bros. tested the waters early give, over everything else,” she wrote. in keeping our businesses moving with Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, “We love our movie as we love our forward while continuing to super- which was the first big movie to open fans, so we truly hope that our film serve our fans,” said Ann Sarnoff, in theatres after six months of being brings a little bit of joy and reprieve Chair and CEO of WarnerMedia closed, but it didn’t do pre-pandemic to you all this holiday season.” Studios and Networks Group in a numbers in the US, where theatres Warner Media CEO Jason Killar statement. were still closed in major markets said that they will be measuring the AP/RSS After the first month for free on like Los Angeles and New York. performance of the film in “an entire- Natalia Méndez cooks in the kitchen of La Morada, an award winning Mexican restaurant she co-owns with her family in South Bronx. HBO Max, Wonder Woman 1984 will Competitors took note. Most studios ly new way.” play in theatres for an additional few decided at that point to push their “A little over four million fans in CLAUDIA TORRENS back to our Indigenous roots when we never obtained legal residency the weeks before being made available biggest films, from the James Bond the US enjoyed the first Wonder NEW YORK all pitched in, gathered small ingredi- right to work and shields them from for rental on demand. film No Time to Die to West Side Woman movie on its opening day in ents and made a big pot as a meal.” deportation. It is an unprecedented strategy for Story and Black Widow, to next year. 2017. Is it possible for that to happen he special dish at La The Bronx is among the areas hard- Her parents are living in the coun- a film of its size, but a sign of the Warner Bros also sent its next big again this Christmas with Wonder Morada, a small Mexican est hit by the virus. When La Morada’s try without authorization, having extraordinary measures that many film, The Witches straight to HBO Woman 1984 between theatres and restaurant in the Bronx, soup kitchen opened in April, people crossed the Sonoran Desert in 1992. Hollywood studios have had to resort Max, which parent company Warner HBO Max?” Killar wrote Wednesday. varies from day to day: lined up in the street and 200 soups Saavedra and brother Marco followed to in the Covid-19-era. Most major Media launched earlier this year. “We are so excited to find out, doing Perhaps it’s enfrijoladas, were gone in less than an hour, the a year later with relatives. Marco, who films that had been set for 2020 have Although new films are being everything in our power to provide handmade tortillas cov- family said. also works in the restaurant, applied either delayed theatrical releases released weekly in theatres where the power of choice to fans.” Tered with black bean sauce and pico “We realized the necessity was for asylum last year. until 2021 or sent them to streaming open, exhibitors are struggling and — Associated Press de gallo. Or beef with a side salad. huge. The next day, without thinking, Before the pandemic, La Morada One thing doesn’t change: It’s free. we cooked double,” said Saavedra’s was a community book exchange cen- The family-run restaurant, which mother, Natalia Méndez. tre and had named a poet in residence. opened in 2009 and has won Michelin The family was sickened with Images of protests and of immigrants acclaim for its Oaxacan food, has also Covid-19 symptoms early in the pan- demanding an end to deportations of served as a soup kitchen during the demic, and had to close the restaurant family members decorate the restau- pandemic. In addition to serving pay- for a month. When they reopened— rant’s purple walls. ing customers, it makes about 650 with help from an online crowdfund- Today, volunteers and local service meals a day for the unemployed, New ing campaign—they started cooking organizations, churches and business- es help distribute the food and donate ingredients, and a Brooklyn nonprof- Volunteers and local service organisations, it, Rethink Food, provides key funds. The food is delivered to communities churches and businesses are also helping in need and to community fridges, a network of over a dozen refrigerators distribute the food and donate ingredients. on New York sidewalks. The soup kitchen runs Tuesday through Friday. On Mondays, Yorkers who live without gas and can’t for the poor, as well. Méndez and several helpers do prep cook, older adults or the disabled. Their requests for emergency work, cleaning and chopping lettuce, The Mexican owners of the restau- federal small business loans had garlic, onions, tomatoes and other rant are activists who speak up in been rejected due to their immigra- ingredients. defence of immigrants without author- tion status. The Small Business Volunteers come and go throughout ization to live in the US—a sign, “No Administration says applicants for the day, grabbing boxes of food to dis- Deportations,” hangs behind the door. small business loans must be U.S. citi- tribute. With the help of small local They describe the soup kitchen as zens or “qualified aliens,” which grants, the restaurant has even hired fulfilling work. includes immigrants lawfully admit- a few new employees. “We always say that activism is our ted for permanent residence. “It is mostly the community pitch- secret spice, so I feel like it was just Saavedra is a beneficiary of the ing in and friends and allies just say- very natural for us to serve the commu- Deferred Action for Childhood ing, ‘We are going to do this, we are nity with what we have,” said Yajaira Arrivals program, or DACA, which going to fight together and survive,’” Saavedra, 32, co-owner of the restau- gives young immigrants who were Saavedra said. AP/RSS rant with her parents. “It also goes brought to the country as children but — Associated Press This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman in a scene from Wonder Woman 1984.

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