WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 175 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 35.7 C 14.0 C Tuesday, August 18, 2020 | 02-05-2077 Nepalgunj Jomsom Virus is taking hold in community, warn public health experts With not enough tests being done, infection sources not being traced and 70 percent of the infected in the Valley in home isolation, experts warn of an alarming situation.

ARJUN POUDEL Monday, the number of people who KATHMANDU, AUG 17 have died of Covid-19 has reached 107. According to the Epidemiology and A 58-year-old woman from Bhotahiti Disease Control Division sources, 235 was among the three people who suc- people tested positive in Kathmandu cumbed to the coronavirus on Monday. Valley on Monday, though She had been taken to Sukraraj Dr Jageshwor Gautam, spokesperson Tropical and Infectious Disease for the Ministry of Health, during his Hospital in Teku a couple of weeks daily briefing on Monday put the fig- ago after she had a mild cough and a ure at 168. fever and difficulty breathing, Officials at the division said that the The woman was later referred to data announced in the regular brief- Patan Hospital for intensive care ing was test results that came in by where she breathed her last. 2pm, which the division had sent to According to a source at Patan the Health Ministry. Hospital, the woman had not visited Gautam said 581 new infections any coronavirus hotspot. Nor had she were reported from across the country come in close contact with an infected on Monday, taking the total number of person. Authorities have not been able cases to 27,241. to trace the source of her infection as On Sunday, 172 people from the of Monday. Kathmandu Valley had tested positive Doctors say unlike in the past for Covid-19. days when there were sporadic “Results of the tests we are getting POST PHOTO: ANISH REGMI cases, virus now has penetrated socie- now are the results of the targeted A man buys kush (halfa grass) in Kathmandu on Monday. Kush is held sacred by Hindus and used in various rituals. Kush is usually bought ahead of Kushe Aunsi, which falls on Wednesday this ty, and transmission is likely to tests. We don’t know the actual situa- year. The day is observed by offering prayers to one’s fathers and to lord Shiva. The day is also considered auspicious for Shraddha, a ritual performed in honour of dead ancestors. accelerate. tion in vulnerable communities and “People who have never visited dis- at-risk groups,” said Bastola. “Number ease-hit areas or come in close contact of new cases may be far more than with infected people are not only get- what we are attributing.” ting infected but also starting to die,’’ Authorities are only performing Dr Anup Bastola, spokesperson for tests on those people who have come An airport in Kavre: Flight of fancy or need of the hour? Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious in close contact with infected persons Disease Hospital, told the Post. “This or on those who have returned from is evidence that the infection has now Covid-19 hotspots. A preliminary survey estimates the airport, with a tabletop runway of 1,200 metres, will cost Rs 16 billion. taken hold in our community. This is Not all those who seek tests are alarming.’’ being tested. Aviation experts say an airport near Kathmandu was needed a decade ago, not now. With the latest deaths announced >> Continued on page 2

ter and as his close aide, Baskota enjoyed significant clout in deci- sion-making processes. Oli in June 2018 appointed Baskota minister for communication and information technology. He was forced to resign on February 20 over a corruption scandal. He, however, managed to secure his dream project. Officials familiar with the develop- ment say a preliminary survey has been conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for an airport in Nagidanda of Kavre. With the cost estimated at Rs 16 billion, if constructed, it will become the most expensive domestic airport, with a 1,200-metre-long runway, in the country, according to the officials. Aviation experts, however, are ques- tioning if a domestic airport in POST PHOTO: SANGAM PRASAIN Nagidanda, just 8.5 nautical miles or The proposed airport construction site in Nagidanda, Kavre. 16 kilometres from Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport, is SANGAM PRASAIN tures, aviation experts say. indeed needed. KATHMANDU, AUG 17 When Gokul Prasad Baskota, a “A small domestic airport near Nepal Communist Party leader, who Kathmandu was planned years ago to Nepali politicians are quite given to in 2017 was contesting the parliamen- reduce the congestion at Kathmandu’s flights of fancy. Building airports in tary elections on the then CPN-UML airport so that all Lukla flights their constituencies, hence, is their ticket from Kavre constituency, among could be diverted there,” said an offi- oft-repeated promises, especially dur- other promises, he told his voters cial at the Civil Aviation Ministry who ing election campaigns. As a result, that he would build an airport in the spoke on condition of anonymity. most of the airports are carved out of district. “But the situation is different now. a mountain, without any study wheth- Baskota, a trusted lieutenant of The airport was needed a decade ago. er it is technically or financially feasi- then UML chair KP Sharma Oli, won Not now.” ble, which eventually turns into pas- the election. Oli became prime minis- >> Continued on page 2 A badge of no honour Garish, tacky and kitschy insignias distributed by Parliament Secretariat also showcase how machinery and agencies function in the country, lawmakers say.

BINOD GHIMIRE the Oli administration published on KATHMANDU, AUG 17 May 2o. Subsequently, the map, depict- ing Kalapani, Lipulekh and Lawmakers have taken umbrage at Limpiyadhura as Nepali territories, the ungracious design of the new was endorsed by the federal parlia- emblem with the new Nepal map and ment. Nepal’s move of adopting a new national flag that the Parliament map came in response to India’s inau- Secretariat distributed to them on guration of a road link via Lipulekh to Monday. Kailash Mansarovar in the Tibet “I accepted it as a respect to the Autonomous Region of China. labour the craftsmen have put in,” Parties from across the spectrum Ram Kumari Jhankri, a lawmaker overwhelmingly supported the Oli from the ruling Nepal Communist administration’s move of publishing a Party, told the Post. “This depicts the PHOTO: PARLIAMENT SECRETARIAT new map. incompetence of our Parliament Rs 2 million was spent on the new badges. According to Secretariat officials, Secretariat.” the logo was designed by Tek Bir The new emblem has become an object of ridicule since it came into Mukhiya, an octogenarian artiste. the public domain on Sunday for After accepting the design, it asked its multiple flaws and design. the Cottage and Small Industries in The emblem depicts neither Lalitpur to make the badges with the the map nor the national flag design. accurately and lacks elegance Lawmakers described it as a piece and appears to be a slapdash of clumsy work. work by a novice craftsman. Two “It is distressing to see the distorted hands, one of a woman and map and national flag. The Parliament another of a man, which are Secretariat is responsible for all this holding the map and the national mess and it needs to correct it,” flag look like artwork by a Prakash Pantha, a National Assembly schoolkid–too garish and tacky. member from the Nepali Congress, The new emblems were made told the Post. to show the new Nepal map that >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2020 | 02 NATIONAL People from remote districts stranded in An airport in Kavre: Flight of fancy ... Nepalgunj Airport for want of PCR test report >> Continued from page 1 During the peak season, swarms of trekkers and mountain- eers headed for Everest keep Kathmandu’s airport con- PCR test reports are mandatory for all air passengers on rescue flights, but it is unclear who should bear the expense of the test. stantly busy. Lukla has even witnessed as high as 200 take- offs and landings on a single day. In such a situation, if a RUPA GAHATRAJ Rawal, Social Development minis- “The airlines had been operat- flight were to be disrupted due to bad weather in Lukla, NEPALGUNJ, AUG 17 ter of Karnali Province, told the ing rescue flights by following rescheduling it would create massive chaos at Kathmandu, Post. “But we do not have any health security protocols. But of hampering the operation of international flights as well. Lok Bahadur Shahi of Mugu, a immediate provisions for con- late, they have been found flouting “Now, with a second international airport in Bhairahawa remote district in Karnali ducting PCR tests of those who the regulations despite our repeat- set to come into operation, which will also serve as the gate- Province, had come to Nepalgunj want to enter the province by air. ed requests,” said Premnath way to the birthplace of Buddha, by the beginning of next for his wife’s medical treatment They will have to conduct a PCR Thakur, chief at the Nepalgunj year, we don’t need a domestic airport close to Kathmandu last month. Shahi and his wife test at their own expense.” Airport Office of the CAAN. because some traffic will divert there,” said the official. had flown to Nepaljung on a pri- But for Manoj Aauji of Bajura, “It’s imperative for us to main- “Meanwhile, another international airport in Pokhara will vate airline and they have been a hill district of Sudurpaschim tain health and safety protocols at also be ready by the mid-2021.” stranded in the city ever since, as Province, getting a PCR test is an all times,” said Thakur. “That’s The plan to construct a new domestic airport near the government has banned air- added expense. why we have had to cancel sched- Kathmandu–and Kavre as the suitable location–was origi- lines from flying passengers with- “I flew to Ranjha Airport in uled flights to Sudurpaschim and nally floated in view of the proposed Nepal Tourism Year out their Polymerase Chain Nepalgunj for the treatment of Karnali in the last few days.” 2011 by the then tourism minister Hisila Yami in 2009. Reaction test reports. my relative a week ago. I have According to Nepalgunj Three successive tourism ministers spoke about building it, Regular flights to and from been staying at a hotel since I Airport, a total of 15 rescue flights but they all eventually abandoned the scheme. Nepalgunj Airport have been halt- arrived in Nepalgunj and were scheduled to fly to Dolpa, After the Oli government took office, Baskota revived the ed for the past four months. POST PHOTO: RUPA GAHATRAJ don’t have an extra Rs 5,000 for a Humla, Mugu and Bajura dis- plan in 2018. He has been lobbying for building the airport However, rescue flights are in Nepalgunj Airport Office of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal has stopped issuing PCR test.” tricts on Sunday. in his home district for a long time, according to officials operation for the districts that are flight permits to airlines that do not implement the health and safety protocols. According to him, he was “The cancellation has obvious- familiar with the development. not connected with a road net- allowed to fly from Bajura Airport ly put passengers in a fix but we One official said that JICA conducted the survey on its work. implement the health and safety Naresh Shrestha, the focal person last week without a PCR test can’t be negligent about health own after getting the nod from the finance and civil aviation “We were supposed to return protocols set by the government. at the District Health Office in report. security at a time like this,” ministries. “The cost estimate as per the preliminary home on Friday. We had already As per the protocols, a passenger Banke. “Now the airport authority in Thakur said. reports is simply outrageous,” the official told the Post. boarded the flight but the airline should have a PCR test report, Meanwhile, the Social Nepalgunj says we have to get The airlines, meanwhile, The construction amount for the airport, which will be officials asked us to deboard since should use face masks at all times Development Ministry of Karnali PCR test reports to be able to fly expressed their dissatisfaction suitable only for short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft, we did not have our PCR test and the aircraft should manage Province has decided to bar the home. I don’t know what to do,” about the cancellations of the is Rs7 billion more than the cost of the ongoing internation- results,” said Shahi. “We have sanitiser for all passengers. entry of individuals to the prov- said Aauji. He and seven other scheduled flights. al airport project in Bhairahawa and Rs5 billion less than spent a lot of money on my wife’s Although the authorities have ince without a PCR test report people who came to Nepalgunj “Our flight, which was about to another international airport in Pokhara. treatment and our hotel stay made PCR test reports mandatory effective from August 17. But the together from Bajura are waiting take off for Mugu, was cancelled The Nagidanda hilltop has 84 hectares of land, 22 hec- here.” for passengers, there are no clear ministry has not taken into to return home, he said. at the eleventh hour on Friday. tares of which is privately owned. Millions of cubic metres According to Shahi, there are instructions on who should bear account the people stranded at The CAAN Nepalgunj Office on This has caused a lot of hassle for of soil will need to be moved to level the construction site, around 30 people from Mugu, the expenses of the tests. domestic airports. Friday cancelled the rescue flights the passengers and for the air- according to the internal survey of the Civil Aviation Humla and Jumla who are cur- “The governments of the “The provincial government of two private airlines that were lines too,” said Basanta Malla, the Authority of Nepal, which was conducted by Realpath rently stranded in Nepalgunj. respective provinces are responsi- conducts the PCR tests of return- scheduled to depart for the hill assistant station in-charge of Engineering Consultancy in 2018. At some places, 500-metre Nepalgunj Airport Office of the ble for conducting the PCR ees who enter the province by districts of Karnali and Summit Airlines in Nepalgunj. ravines need to be filled with earth by cutting away parts of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal tests of their air passengers. We road. The returnees are kept in Sudurpaschim provinces, as they nearby hills. (CAAN) has stopped issuing flight only carry out the PCR tests quarantine centres where their were not implementing the health (Kalendra Sejuwal contributed According to the new survey, Rs 6 billion alone would be permits to airlines that do not of seriously ill people,” said PCR tests are conducted,” Dal security protocols. reporting from Surkhet) required for soil filling works. The airport will be on a plateau or the hilly surface which means it will have a “tabletop runway” with both ends over- looking a drop, and such airports are considered risky in the aviation industry. On August 7, at least 18 people died in southern India A badge of no honour Virus is taking hold in community ... after a Boeing737 of Air India Express overshot a runway at Kozhikode in Calicut, known as a “tabletop”. >> Continued from page 1 cal commentator, said had offi- >> Continued from page 1 Buddhisagar Lamichhane, joint secretary at the ministry, The Secretariat has spent Rs2 cials from the Secretariat con- According to officials, 1,000 to 1,200 said that he has heard about the estimated costs but is yet to million on the new badges. sulted some experts, including people visit Sukraraj Tropical and receive the survey report. Each emblem has one tola Satya Mohan Joshi for instance, Infectious Disease Hospital to get “It’s not financially feasible even if it is technically feasi- (around 11.5 grams) of silver they would not have made such tested for free, but only 300 are test- ble to build the airport on the hilltop,” he said. and plating of two lal (each lal a bungle. ed on a first come, first served Raj Kumar Chhetri, spokesperson for the Civil Aviation is one tenth of a gram) of gold. “I think everyone in power basis, as it lacks human resource Authority of Nepal, said that they were not aware of the According to Dashrath here thinks they know and equipment. JICA survey. Dhamala, information officer at everything,” said Maharjan. Last week Daniel Rai, who works “But JICA has proposed the government to provide soft the Secretariat, each emblem “That is not just limited to the at an IT company in Kathmandu, loans for Nagidanda airport,” Chhetri told the Post. “As we cost Rs5,527.86, including executive head of the country. It went for a test at the hospital. But he don’t deal with foreign development partners directly, it’s Rs2,500 as fee for the craftsmen. applies to all others who head returned without getting one done. the government’s call.” The Cottage and Small their respective agencies.” “The line at the hospital was too The airport, however, will not be suitable for aircraft like Industries, situated within the Even though officials from long and social distancing was not ATR-72 and other small jets like Bombardier to land. premises of Patan Industrial the Parliament Secretariat being maintained,” said Rai. “I Nepal currently has 49 airports and 33 of them are cur- Area, had delivered 350 emblems refused to accept that the thought I would get infected if I rently in operation. on Friday for 334 members of emblems were unappealing, stayed there any longer. So I According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, nine the House of Representatives officials at the Cottage and returned.” airports—six domestic and two international airports and National Assembly. Small Industries admitted to With the government lifting a POST PHOTO: HEMANTA SHRESTHA (Pokhara and Bhairahawa) are under construction with yet “These are handmade items the flaws. four-month-long lockdown on July The number of people who have died of Covid-19 in Nepal has reached 107 as of Monday. another international airport in the pipeline in Nijgadh. so they may lack the perfect Ganesh Raut, chief of the 21, infections of new cases have Tourism officials admit that politicians have a tendency finishing,” said Dhamala. handicraft unit at Cottage and started to spike throughout the other two bulwarks against the “The only way to contain the to promise to build airports, as they pitch it as a sign of “They might look different in Small Industries, Lalitpur, said country. In Kathmandu Valley pandemic, have much to be desired. spread of infection is to trace more prosperity. photos due to camera angling. they had to engage inexperi- alone 1,752 people have tested posi- Kathmandu Metropolitan City by making contact tracing effective “When in power, they come under pressure to fulfil their The real ones don’t really look enced people in colouring and tive in the last 27 days. Only 382 did not have enough contact trac- and isolate the patients,” said promise,” said another official at the ministry. “And since that bad.” had to plastic coat it without people had tested positive until ing teams till last week before the Thakur. “The public should also be they have to fight another election also, they put pressure to Jhankri said some may letting the ink dry, as they were July 21, the day the decision to lift Health Ministry mandated that made aware of the looming risks. build airports wherever they want, without caring if the describe the clunky emblems pressured to make the delivery lockdown was taken, in the Valley. each team had to have three They should not take risks.’’ construction is financially and technically feasible.” may look like a small issue, but early. Public health experts said that trained health workers–a public With cases starting to spike, the Sanjiv Gautam, former director general of the Civil it displays how state machiner- Following criticism from law- risk of infection has been rising health official, a lab technician and Health Ministry has revised the Aviation Authority of Nepal, said that they had envisaged a ies function in the country. makers and members of the alarmingly and warned that coro- a paramedic. projection of the total number of small low-cost airport dedicated to fly to Lukla and other “This is emblematic of a larg- public through social navirus related fatalities may spike Last week the Health Ministry cases. Though official projection mountain airports when it was difficult to handle traffic er problem in Nepal,” said media, the Secretariat has if authorities fail to take immedi- decided to increase the number of has not been announced publicly, a congestion at the Kathmandu airport. Jhankri. “There is a lack of started to sort out the most ate actions. staff for contact tracing. source at the Health Ministry said “If the cost is Rs16 billion it is outrageous. And we don’t sensitivity, effort and integrity. defective pieces. ‘“We cannot fight the virus, after With the lack of isolation beds, that the cases could cross the 90,000 need the [Nagidanda] airport because some traffic from This tendency is not limited to Raut said they are ready to it is established in the society,” Dr people testing positive but without mark. He did not elaborate on the Kathmandu’s airport will be diverted to international air- Parliament; it’s the same every- refine the colouring if they are GD Thakur, former director at the symptoms have been told by the timeline. ports in Pokhara and Bhairahawa,” said Gautam. “The where.” asked to do so. Epidemiology and Disease Control ministry to stay at home. Earlier in June, the ministry had capacity of Kathmandu’s airport has also been increased.” Political analysts say the “It needs at least 48 hours for Division, told the Post. “Our health Officials at the Epidemiology projected 20,000 cases and later Meanwhile, the civil aviation body is also investing to graceless emblems have not the paint to dry but we had just system will crash if we fail to act and Disease Control Division said revised it to 45,000. upgrade the Manthali airport to conduct flights to Lukla. only ashamed the Nepali people 12 hours,” Raut told the Post. immediately to break the chain of that around 70 percent people who “Cases are growing every day,” Last year, most of the flights to Lukla were operated from but also undermined the coun- “We would have delivered fine the infection.’’ tested positive for coronavirus said Dr Samir Adhikari, joint Manthali. “It will be a waste of money if we construct the try’s rich artistic heritage and pieces only if we had more time, While there have not been infection are in home isolation spokesperson at the Health airport at Nagidanda,” said Gautam. craftsmanship. at least one more week until enough tests, contact tracing and due to the lack of isolation beds in Ministry. “The public should be Nepal has a longstanding record of building airports Rajendra Maharjan, a politi- August 23.” availability of isolation beds, the hospitals. watchful.” under political pressure. In 2016, former tourism secretary Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya had planned to issue a tough guideline for build- Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft Confédération suisse ing new airports amid a flurry of new construction pushed Confederazione Svizzera by political party leaders and influential people. But he was Confederazium svizra Government of Nepal subsequently removed from the ministry. The guideline Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC never came. :jL; ;/sf/ ljsf; ;xof]u P;l8l; The preliminary draft of the guideline had envisaged that new domestic airports will be constructed after mak- VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT ing a proper assessment of their need, geographical loca- tion and population that will use the facility, regional bal- Development Project Service Centre (DEPROSC-Nepal), a NGO working on various thematic areas ance, tourism prospects, rates of return and proximity to across the country invites application for the following positions under the Financial Literacy other airports. Component of the Safer Migration Project (SaMi) phase III. SaMi is a bilateral initiative of the Officials at the civil aviation authority, however, are not Governments of Nepal (GoN) and Switzerland. It is implemented in leadership of the Ministry of sure if they can resist political pressure to build the airport Labour, Employment and Social Security (MoLESS) and participating local governments, with in Nagidanda, despite the fact that the parliamentary com- technical assistance from Helvetas Nepal. mittee and other experts have already opposed the con- Financial Literacy Cluster Coordinators: 2, full-time positions, assigned in one of working clusters struction. (possibly Dhading and Bardibas) will be overall responsible in coordination and approval of Project The parliamentary International Relations Committee Management Committees at the local government to support local government in identifying has already directed the government not to construct the bene ciaries, running nancial literacy classes, monitoring of literacy classes and bene ciaries, airport in Kavre. coordinating and building linkages with stakeholders and reporting to the system with extensive In May 2018, a government technical team had studied eld travel. three sites for domestic airport construction near Nepalese citizen with Bachelor's degree in any discipline, with minimum 2 years of experience in Kathmandu. Two other sites were Thulichour at Dhulikhel nancial literacy, literacy, entrepreneurship development, micro nance, social mobilization, training, and Chisapani– both in Kavre district. eld level management, and have experience or willingness to extensively travel using motorbike for The team had suggested that a rigorous study be carried eld monitoring are encouraged to apply. out building a new domestic airport, saying it must be tech- Data Management Supervisor: 1, full-time position, assigned in Kathmandu or one of the working nically, financially and socially feasible, as well as sustaina- clusters will be solely responsible in collecting and computing baseline, endline and follow up survey ble with least conflict with Kathmandu’s airport in terms formats from 39 districts and compute, and analyse the data of 36200 nancial and business literacy of operations.. participants making data ready for report production. The technical team had suggested that the east-bound traffic from Kathmandu will cross the proposed airport Nepalese citizen with Intermediate or 10+2 level study in any discipline, with minimum 1 year airspace, and will be very close to Kathmandu’s airport in experience in data management preferably in nancial literacy/literacy/entrepreneurship case there is a missed approach. development having pro ciency knowledge and skill to handle data entry software are encouraged Some experts had said that the proposed Nagidanda air- to apply. port could be financially feasible only if it is built and Please visit website: www.deprosc.org.np for detail TOR. operated by the private sector. Applications need to be reached at [email protected] or DEPROSC-Nepal, P.O. Box “It can be made a tourist airport as well, given its posi- 10953, Kathmandu by 5 pm, 31st August 2020 along with a covering letter, updated curriculum vitae tion and location,” said a retired official at the civil aviation with two referees, and other credentials. body, who worked for three decades in the civil aviation and Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further selection process. The organization airport construction areas. “For example, a cable car can be reserves the right to reject any/all applications without assigning any reason whatsoever. Women installed to reach the hilltop which will cost less than build- and candidates from disadvantaged communities are highly encouraged to apply. Canvassing or ing a five-km double-lane road to the airport.” inuencing will automatically cancel your application. According to him, as traffic in Lukla will continue to Recruitment Committee grow in the future, the airport can earn more money. DEPROSC-Nepal. “For example, the 25-minute flight from Kathmandu to Lukla is the world’s most expensive route which costs Rs18,000 per person one-way,” said the expert. “If the pri- l8k|f]S;–g]kfn vate sector constructs and operates the airport, it can gen- erate income by charging higher fees.”

C M Y K 03 | TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2020 NATIONAL Half of beneficiaries could be deprived of social security money As per the social security regulation, renewal of identity cards is a must by mid-August even during pandemic.

PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA the Tarai, particularly in Province 2 KATHMANDU, AUG 17 is poor.” said Basnet “Beneficiaries of many remote Around two dozen beneficiaries regions less affected by pandemic from Durga Bhagawati Rural couldn’t renew their identity cards Municipality-2, Rautahat haven’t because of landslides and flooding renewed their social security allow- that disrupted transport services.” ance identity cards amid the Covid- According to the Ministry of 19 pandemic. Health and Population, 7,785 were But the deadline to do so elapsed infected with the novel coronavirus on Sunday (August 16). in Province 2 as of Monday—the “About 20-25 benificiaries from highest for among the provinces. my ward haven’t renewed their Likewise, 5,212 tested positive in identity cards,” said Suresh Province 5, which has recorded sec- Chaudhary, chairperson of the ond highest cases of Covid-19. ward. He said that the lockdown “If the deadline for renewal is imposed in the district, meant that not extended, half of the beneficiar- identity cards of all the beneficiar- ies will be deprived of the social POST PHOTO: KESHAV THAPA ies could not be renewed. security allowance,” said Basnet. A worker removes plastic from Rani Pokhari, Kathmandu, on Monday. Restoration work on the pond, which was damaged by the 2015 earthquake, is nearing completion. It’s not just the people of Durga According to him, officials can’t Bhagawati that haven’t renewed provide the allowance to people who their identity cards to receive social haven’t renewed their card. security allowances. More than half But, the department can’t extend of the beneficiaries across the coun- the deadline as it was fixed by the try are believed to have missed the social security regulation. The deadline. Cabinet is responsible for amending Nepal, India officials resume dialogue the regulation. So, Basnet said that his office has recently forwarded a Covid-19 lockdowns proposal to the Cabinet to extend Meeting of the mechanism to assess progress made in India-funded projects takes place months after the map row. the deadline until mid-November. and calamities Even though the regulation ANIL GIRI willingness to hold dialogue on the Post-earthquake reconstruction, irri- requires the beneficiaries to renew KATHMANDU, AUG 17 issue, but that had not materialised. gation, power and transmission lines, could have affected their identity cards by mid-August, Monday’s meeting came two day construction of Nepal Police Academy, renewal rates, people could not travel to get their Senior officials from Nepal and India after a telephone conversation between integrated check posts, the Ramayana cards renewed due to suspension of reopened formal lines of communica- Prime Minister Oli and his Indian circuit, motorable bridges over say officials. transportation services during the tion on Monday, months after bounda- counterpart. Sharma Oli called Modi Mahakali River, agriculture and cultur- lockdown or fear of being infected ry-related issues strained ties. on Saturday to congratulate India on al heritage were also taken up,, accord- even in the place where limited A discussion on the status of India- its 74th Independence Day and said, ing to the ministry. As of last fiscal year, 3.21 million transport service is available. funded projects in Nepal between the “Nepal looks forward to a meaningful Former Ambassador Baral said that people received social security The government had imposed two sides via video conferencing on cooperation between Nepal and India.” the meeting indicates that ties will be allowance from the government. nationwide lockdown on March 24 Monday marked the first major bilater- The meeting and the telephone con- normalised gradually, but Nepali lead- But, according to Jitendra Basnet, and it came to an end only on July al dialogue between the two neighbours versation signal that the two sides have ers should tread cautiously. “It is the director general at the Department 21. But, the government has contin- after Kathmandu released a new polit- reached an understanding that the responsibility of Nepali to refrain from of National ID and Civil ued to impose strict restrictions on ical map of Nepal incorporating some entire gamut of bilateral ties should making unnecessary comments on Registration, only around 1.6 mil- public transportation across the territories administered by India. not be held hostage to a single issue, bilateral ties that could further invite lion beneficiaries have renewed country considering the resurgence The resumption of formal talks and that both sides have agreed to tensions,” he added. their cards. of the Covid-19 cases. between the two countries bodes well resume talks, two officials at Prime Meanwhile, officials said not all After the new social security reg- Local governments are responsi- for bilateral ties, but it’s not sufficient Minister Office and Ministry of India-funded projects are doing well in ulation was introduced recently, all ble for collecting details of benefi- to normalise relations or to resolve the Foreign Affairs told the Post. Nepal as projects such as the Arun III beneficiaries need to get their cards ciaries for renewal of their identity boundary row that has persisted for If both sides avoid irritating each hydroelectric project have a dismal renewed by mid-August. For this, cards. Office bearers and staffers in decades, former foreign ministers and other, more meetings can take place, track record. Due to Covid pandemic, they need to visit the ward office local governments said that the ben- diplomats told the Post. and finally foreign secretaries of the several projects are facing obstacles personally and submit an applica- eficiaries have been unable to visit “The meeting is a positive step two countries can talk about the bound- and might not meet their completion tion, according to clause 9 of the the ward office. towards ending the deadlock, but this is ary dispute, the officials added. SHUTTERSTOCK deadlines. regulation. Local officials said they are wary not enough. It will take some more The understanding was reached as mechanism, co-chaired by Foreign According to a study carried out by As per the Social Security Act, of inviting senior citizens to their time—even months and years—to settle Prime Minister Oli used “several back Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi and Brookings India on two India-funded senior citizens above 70, single offices as they are more vulnerable difficult issues such as that of the channels”— formal, informal, and even Indian Ambassador to Nepal Vinay projects (The East-West Postal road and women aged above 60, widows in to Covid-19 compared to younger boundary,” said former ambassador to religious ones to talk to Indian officials Mohan Kwatra, underlined the need to the Jogbani-Biratnagar cross-border helpless condition, members of the people. “Our staff offered door-to- India, Lokraj Baral. “India and China on resumption of dialogue, Narayan expedite the implementation of the railway line), they are facing a myriad endangered community, disabled door services to collect details of are talking even in the midst of height- Kaji Shrestha, former foreign minister bilateral projects and agreed to under- of challenges, including the acquisi- people and destitute children beneficiaries for renewal of their ened tensions, so why should Nepal and and spokesperson for the ruling party take necessary measures to address tion of land. receive social security allowances identity cards,” said Jumadin India not talk ? A single issue can’t put told the Post. He said that talks on the their problems and obstacles. The study surveyed institutional between Rs 400 to Rs 3000 for elderly Ansari, chairperson of Sakhuwa the entire ties in a bind,” said Baral. boundary issue may not take place Discussions were held on the status impediments and expertise deficien- people. The government spent Rs Prasauni Rural Municipality-4, Relations between the two countries soon. of ongoing projects under Nepal-India cies that led to years of delays in the 66.16 billion in distributing the Parsa. hit a low after Nepal published a new “ It took several attempts to break bilateral cooperation, the Ministry of process of land acquisition. It said, social security allowance in the The ward office said that it com- political map placing Kalapani, the jogjam. I don’t see ties with India Foreign Affairs said in a statement. “Such issues led to protracted prob- last 2019-20, according to the pleted collecting details of benefi- Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura within its returning to normal anytime soon,” Projects such as Tarai roads, cross-bor- lems, on the ground between central, department. ciaries. borders in response to India’s said Shrestha. “Although official meet- der railway, Arun-III Hydropower local, public, and private Nepali stake- Basnet finds two factors responsi- But it hasn’t updated the details announcement of a road link via ings are good gestures, I don’t think Project, petroleum pipeline and holders, to occasional tensions in bilat- ble for people’s failure to renew online as the office has remained Lipulekh to Kailash Mansarovar in the everything with our relations with Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project eral government relations, and most their identity cards: the lockdown closed for the last two weeks due the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. India is on the right track.” were discussed during the video confer- importantly, to significant escalation in and landslides and floods in the lockdown imposed to contain the Both Kathmandu and Delhi expressed Monday’s meeting of the oversight ence meeting, the ministry said. costs to India’s public exchequer.” rainy season. “So, renewal rate in spread of Covid-19.

BRIEFING Undocumented Nepalis Infection fears in overcrowded jails after Three more bodies recovered from Lidi landslide site in UAE can return home man catches Covid-19 while in detention SINDHUPALCHOK: Search team recov- ered three more bodies from the land- ANUP OJHA slide-ravaged Lidi village in without facing penalties KATHMANDU, AUG 17 Sindhupalchok on Monday. DSP Madhav Prasad Kafle said with the A detainee at the Metropolitan Police recovery of three more bodies, the Circle in Kalimati has tested positive death toll in Friday’s landslide has Around 300,000 Nepalis whose visas expired before for the coronavirus. reached 22. Seventeen villagers are The 50-year-old man, who was being still missing and presumed dead. The March 1 are expected to benefit from the new scheme. investigated for his alleged involvement landslide had struck early Friday in an online gambling racket, was morning, destroying 17 houses at Lidi CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL future travel to the country if they transported to Ayurveda Teaching village in Jugal Rural Municipality KATHMANDU, AUG 17 utilise the amnesty and return to Hospital in Kirtipur after his Covid-19 Ward No. 2. Thirty-seven homes were their respective countries. test result came positive on Monday. also damaged in the incident. Hundreds of Nepali workers living According to Sherpa, more than This is the third case of Covid-19 at illegally after violating immigra- 3,000 Nepalis, who have overstayed the Kalimati police station. Two police tion laws in the United Arab of in the country after their visa officers had tested positive on May 20, Thirteen people injured in Emirates have now been given a expired, could benefit from the lat- following which the station was sealed chance to return home without fac- est scheme. for two weeks. Bara clash ing any punishment. Those willing to return home as “The latest coronavirus case has POST PHOTO BARA: Thirteen people, including four With the UAE government’s latest per the latest amnesty must have a caused fear among the officers and the Three cases of Covid-19 have been reported at the Kalimati police station so far. police personnel, were injured in a announcement of amnesty for for- valid passport and a flight ticket, detainees,” said DSP Rugam Kunwar, clash between locals of two villages eigners, including Nepali migrants, according to local authorities. chief of the Kalimati police circle. detected in a detainee in Satdobato recent times. However, Baskota said in Bara on Monday. Police said the those who have overstayed their Beneficiaries of the current scheme There are 150 officers under Kunwar’s Police Circle in Lalitpur district. No there is a risk of the infection spread- incident took place after the locals of visa get three months to return will not even have to go for a prior command at the station and 13 people in case has been reported in Bhaktapur so ing from the visitors. Bhagwanpur village in Simraungadh home. registration this time. They can investigative custody. far. The jail has been receiving five new Municipality assaulted Madhusudan “There are many Nepali workers directly report at the airport. “Those officers who had come in con- Outside of the Kathmandu Valley, prisoners and releasing the same num- Jayaswal, the Ward-6 chairman of and visitors whose visas expired The UAE government’s latest tact with the infected detainee are cur- Covid-19 in a prison facility has been ber of prisoners daily ever since the Kotwal Rural Municipality, over a before March and have been staying amnesty is one of the several recent rently observing isolation,” said reported in Nepalgunj, Banke. country imposed the nationwide lock- local irrigation canal’s water outlet. illegally here in the UAE,” said initiatives launched by countries in Kunwar. On July 16, an inmate and a security down on March 24, according to After Jayaswal got attacked, the vil- Pasang Sherpa, vice-chair of Non- the Gulf, affected due to Covid-19 The police circle is also planning to guard at the Nepalgunj prison were Baskota. lagers from Paterwa in Kotwal Rural Resident Nepalese Association pandemic, to repatriate foreigners conduct polymerase chain reaction diagnosed with Covid-19. Meanwhile, things are no different at Municipality had clashed with the (NRNA), UAE Chapter. “This amnes- in the wake of safety concerns. tests on its officers and the detainees. The coronavirus infections seen in Dillibazar Prison, which is currently villagers of Bhagwanpur. Police fired ty is a huge opportunity for them. Nearly 3,000 undocumented Nepali Nepal Police Spokesperson SSP police stations and prison facilities holding 600 inmates. six warning shots and several rounds They can leave the country before workers could return home after Kuber Kadayat said till the date 387 have once again brought to the fore the “We are currently holding twice the of tear gas to contain the situation. November 17 without having to pay utilising a similar amnesty police personnel have been diagnosed issue of overcrowded prisons where number of inmates than this prison can any fine or face future travel bans.” announced by Kuwaiti, which has with Covid-19, of which 251 have physical distancing is impossible. admit. There is a risk of the coronavi- As per the decision, foreigners even agreed to provide free air tick- already recovered. Laxmi Prasad Baskota, the prison rus spread,” said Sita Adhikari, prison Lockdown re-imposed in five whose visa expired before March 1, ets. Meanwhile, 160 officers who were officer at the Central Jail, said there is in charge. places in Tanahun need to return home by November Thousands of Nepali have been diagnosed with Covid-19 at the Nepal a high risk of coronavirus outbreaks in According to the Department of 17 to avoid punishments and fines. affected by the pandemic in the UAE Police Headquarters are still undergo- prison facilities if proper health and Prison Management, over 24,000 people TANAHUN: Authorities have re-imposed The three-month extension comes where an estimated 275,000 Nepalis ing treatment. safety measures are not put in place. are currently serving in 74 prisons lockdown in five local units of a day before the ongoing amnesty have been living and working. A Spokesperson of the Metropolitan “If even a single person gets infected, across the country. Tanahun due to the increase of coro- scheme, which had started on May large number of workers have been Police Office SSP Sushil Kumar Yadav there is a risk of the virus spreading In the wake of the Covid-19 pandem- navirus spread at community level. 18, comes to an end on Tuesday, scrambling to return home. said Monday’s was the second case of like a wildfire,” Baskota told the Post. ic, the Supreme Court on March 20 had According to Sagar Acharya, chief according to Khaleej Times, an With the government repatria- Covid-19 seen in a detainee in The Central Jail is currently holding ordered the government to release pris- district officer, lockdown orders have English language newspaper pub- tion beginning in the second week Kathmandu district. 3,171 prisoners, which is more than oners sentenced for up to a year for been issued in Byas Municipality and lished in Dubai. of June, a total of 14,314, have Earlier, a prisoner, who was trans- twice its capacity of 1,400. minor crimes. The decision was aimed Bhanu Municipality, Bandipur Rural The latest amnesty applies to returned from the UAE—the high- ported from Sindhuli to the Central Jail “There are definitely fears and con- at preventing the coronavirus spread in Municipality, Abukhaireni Rural everyone who flouted immigration est number for any country—until in Sundhara, had tested positive for the cerns, but we are safe so far,” said prions by de-crowding the prisons. Municipality and Devghat Rural rules by overstaying in the UAE. Saturday. Likewise, nearly 42,000 coronavirus infection. He was admitted Baskota. Following the court’s order, 409 pris- Municipality. The lockdown will Authorities have also said such have applied with the Nepal embas- to the Armed Police Force Hospital. The Central Jail has been admitting oners were released from across the remain for at least one week. offenders will not be barred from sy in the UAE to return home. Coronavirus infection has also been new prisoners only after PCR tests in country.

C M Y K TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2020 | 04 OPINION EDITORIAL The cost of the ruling party feud This dispute is destructive We reap what we sow because of its disconnect The country must come up with a comprehensive from the pressing issues of agriculture strategy. national interest.

Nepal relies heavily on food imports and agricultural inputs. Any ACHYUT WAGLE shortage can lead to food insecurity, affect farmers and dampen economic growth. Economists say agricultural output in the coun- try has always declined whenever there is a shortage of chemical fertiliser, a major agricultural input that determines output and productivity. This year, Nepal is already reeling under a short supply in the wake of the pandemic. Lockdowns and trade restrictions both in The Nepali media and intelligentsia, in Nepal and India have disrupted supply chains, and the available general, appear to be obsessively fol- lowing the incessant bickering between stock is running out. But across the country, half-submerged paddy rival factions in the Nepal Communist plants have turned green after three weeks of transplantation and Party, and, for that matter, by the simi- await top dressing. However, urea is not available for tens of thou- lar feuds in other political parties of sands of farmers in the country. the country, including the main opposi- Urea is an essential nutrient that prevents the yellowing of the tion in the federal parliament, Nepali Congress. Even during these precari- leaves in paddy caused by a deficiency of nitrogen in the soil. While ous times, when the country reels plants will stunt and even die, a delay in spreading urea on fields under an unfolding crisis, the national also affects production, translating into losses and a deficit in sup- discourse seems to be hijacked by these ply with far-reaching economic and social implications. Officials at unpredictable bouts of accords or dis- cords between two co-chairs of the rul- the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development blame the ing party KP Oli, who is also the incum- pandemic for the delay in announcing tenders and subsequent bent prime minister, and Pushpa delays farmers are having to brave for the first top dressing. But for Kamal Dahal. The cyclical nature of such a commonly used fertiliser, which costs Rs14 per kg at the dialogues between the two is treated as government subsidised rate, the administration that always hopes a new scoop every time. In a recent development, the chair- for a bumper paddy production should sow what it intends to reap. men duo has decided to form a six-mem- That Nepal would lose production due to shortages of agricultur- ber task force for dispute resolution. al inputs had been long warned as the pandemic unfolded. Both the Since the ‘dispute’ is rooted nothing World Food Programme and the World Bank had forecasted disrup- beyond their personal ego and petty tions to domestic food supply chains and consequent shocks that vested interests to cling to or grab power, it should not have been a con- SHUTTERSTOCK could affect food production and lead to insecurity. cern or matter of national attention. virus infections has spread exponen- of immediate importance is part of the have reasonably contributed to institu- In 2009, Nepal and India had signed an agreement that allowed Also, it was predicted long ago that tially nationwide. It is a mystery why agenda in the ongoing dialogue within tionalising democracy in the country. India to sell 100,000 tonnes of chemical fertiliser to Nepal annually Oli’s opposition in the party, despite the government didn’t buy adequate the ruling party. On the contrary, the The candidate selection model relative- at international parity prices to avoid a lengthy tender process, but their high-pitched criticism, had very testing and treatment equipment, set- faction outside the government seems ly respects efficiency and meritocracy limited constitutional scope to actually up temporary hospitals and trained jealous for being out of power and of the candidate and provides a sense the deal expired in December last year and has not been renewed. remove him from power; the other com- available medical personnel in the missing the opportunity to snatch a few of representation of voices from the The government must not leave any stone unturned to renew the munist leaders would be forced to settle seven months since the first case of the golden eggs. Therefore, any shade of ground in government. The direct par- government-to-government deal and explore alternatives to ensure for a cabinet reshuffle at the maximum. virus was detected in Nepal. The lock- outcome from the power-sharing ticipation model provides space smooth supply because there is no inkling of how the Covid-19 sit- This reconciliatory task force, there- down contagion has spread to the local arrangement among the factions through some mechanism for the party uation will evolve given the exponential rise of cases in the country fore, was a natural outcome. levels, but this has not seen a reciprocal in the ruling party, or lack of it members to participate in deci- But, unfortunately, this meaningless rise in effective strategies against the for that matter, has nothing desirable sion-making debate (or ideally in the and the deteriorating situation in India. feud is, in essence, grabbing too much novel coronavirus. After all, the lock- in store. Whichever way the dispute process) and the deliberative model According to the Agriculture Inputs Company Limited, Nepal attention, which ideally should have down is not a cure-all but rather a way goes, it will not prove to be any less ensures an exhaustive deliberation requires 120,000 tonnes of urea and 50,000 tonnes of diammonium been undividedly focused on contain- to buy up some time to implement costly to the nation. Therefore, the for- process in the formulation of the con- phosphate for paddy cultivation, but the state-owned fertiliser sup- ing the Covid-19 pandemic, saving the measures. That the public officials cibly created narrative that unity with- cerned party’s policies and setting pri- plier and Salt Trading Corporation have only issued tenders to lives of the people from the virus and have failed to understand this will only in the Nepal Communist Party is orities. reviving the economy that is already on worsen the situation. important for the national interest is a Lack of consultation, participation import 71,000 tonnes of urea and 25,000 tonnes of diammonium the verge of collapse. Another equally alarming issue has pure fallacy. and deliberation are exactly the allega- phosphate for this year. While officials at the ministry say there been the blatant and pervasive corrup- tions Oli now faces from his opponents. will be some respite this week and within a month, ministry figures What’s in a name? tion in procuring the drugs, kits and Causality and casualty If we look back to the last three decades show that there has always been a deficit in state supply while the Although the Nepal Communist Party equipment related to the containment Nevertheless, it would be naive to see of multi-party democracy in Nepal, rest of the demand relies on informal imports and contraband fer- appears passionate about clinging to of the virus. The federal government the current power struggle in the rul- every political party almost went the term ‘Communist’ in its banner, the initially did not allow the provincial ing party in isolation. It has both trend through a comparable phase of discon- tiliser for which farmers pay a hefty price. A study conducted by outfit has not only ceased to adhere to and municipal governments to procure and pattern. A chronic culture of such tent, dispute or even division. the Finance Ministry in 2006 also shows that the share of informal the principles of outlined in the classic these materials, with apparent malafide squabbles and their pervasiveness Interestingly though, no leader or fertiliser imports stands at 71 percent of total supplies. communist manifesto but has effective- intention, to pocket huge commissions across the political spectrum has party seems to realise the importance On paper, the government increased the budget for the distribu- ly become an edifice of mere compra- out of these purchases. The state struc- already inflicted a telling adverse of recompensing this structural dor bourgeoisie (if we are to take cue ture is rendered so systematically dys- impact to the country’s dream for pros- deficit of intra-party democracy first tion of subsidised chemical fertilisers from Rs5 billion to Rs9 bil- from the Marxist lexicon itself). Such functional that no watchdog dares to perity and welfare. One of the major and then betting on the formal lion this fiscal year to ensure timely and adequate supply, but ideological renunciation may have investigate into such graft, for fear of causes of these feuds often sprawling institutional mechanism to resolve cri- diversion of funds due to the pandemic has placed additional obsta- been caused by several practical com- retribution by the powerful executives. out of proportion is the sheer lack of ses like the one now faced by the cles on the availability of fertilisers. Given the ‘new normal’, fertil- pulsions including globalisation and Instead, key anti-corruption agencies intra-party democracy in all major ruling party. The general thought iser supply will certainly be affected by factory closures, limited the sweeping wrath of universal capi- now have become machines to issue political forces of the country. process among the powerful in talism. However, it is an obvious out- ‘clean chits’ by whitewashing these If viewed through major theoretical the parties is that when the institution- cargo handling, transport disruptions and border restrictions. It come of the conscious love of lucre and crimes of their political bosses. As a models of intra-party democracy, the alised mechanisms are allowed to func- will consequently affect agricultural output and consumer prices. the voluptuous hedonism practised, result, the mandarins in the federal operation of all notable political par- tion, personal vested interest might To avert a looming food crisis, the country must come up with a promoted and protected by the top lead- government have become so disgust- ties of Nepal is abhorrently undemo- have to be sacrificed. Country’s democ- comprehensive agriculture strategy and engage with Delhi to ership. ingly cynical that they would not even cratic. Even the partial adherence to racy and economic prosperity have ensure a smooth supply of agricultural inputs. Otherwise, with The inherent incapacity of the gov- initiate the purchase of urgent health key components of any of these models been direct casualties of this psyche ernment has been exposed by the abso- service materials where there is no would have made these parties respon- and ensuing ad hoc modus operandi of more mouths to feed than ever before, the burden on agriculture lute mayhem caused by the absence of scope of commission. sive to their constituent members and the political outfits, particularly in the will only increase. governance—as the number of corona- Unfortunately, none of such issues electorates and, in the process, would ruling party.

The economic factor in Belarus

Russia to buy them, while selling the Subsidies to SOEs will need to be If Lukashenko falls, Belarus West potash and refined oil. Until curbed as well. Here, too, Belarus ben- recently, Russia was subsidising the efits from the fact that, unlike other will need an IMF programme Belarusian economy by furnishing post-Soviet countries, there are no oli- cheap energy worth some 10 percent garchs and little sign of state capture as soon as a new of the latter’s GDP. But, with bilateral by big businessmen. Most of the com- relations deteriorating in recent plaints about corruption are concen- government is installed. years, the Kremlin has gradually elim- trated within the narrow circle sur- inated these subsidies in order to pres- rounding Lukashenko. sure Lukashenko’s regime. But these starting conditions could ANDERS ÅSLUND Lukashenko has said that he wants make privatisation more difficult, all Belarusians to earn an average simply because there are no big pri- wage of $500 per month. But, because vate companies to serve as a model. If that is more than the economy can the bulk of inefficient SOEs are sold support, the country has suffered on the market, Belarusians fear that recurring foreign-exchange crises. In risk-loving Russian businessmen will 2009-10, Belarus received a bailout swoop in to snatch them all up at fire- from the International Monetary sale prices. Following a fraudulent election on Fund, but the government violated the After all, the Russian potash compa- August 9, Belarusian President terms of the arrangement and has ny Uralkali has long tried to take over Alexander Lukashenko’s authoritari- since received no funding. By the end Belaruskali, and the Russian petro- an rule may soon come to an end. of 2011, inflation had surged to 109 chemical giants Rosneft and Lukoil Massive protests are sweeping the percent, at which point Russia came to have their eyes on Belarus’s two big country, and workers from many criti- Lukashenko’s assistance. oil refineries. Given these risks, the cal sectors going on strike. And if Since then, Lukashenko has tried best option is probably to give Lukashenko falls, Belarus’s prospects unsuccessfully to appeal to both away most enterprises in the form of for establishing a normal market Russia and the West for financial sup- individual shares to their current economy are surprisingly strong. port. For the European Union, Belarus employees. Under Lukashenko, Belarus has is a delicate issue. While EU leaders Whatever is decided, the West maintained a Soviet-style, state-domi- want to defend democratic principles, should stay engaged. If Lukashenko nated economy that has been stagnat- which implies punishing Lukashenko falls, Belarus will need an IMF pro- ing since 2012. Lukashenko, in power and his cronies for their repeated vio- gramme as soon as a new government since 1994, has concerned himself lations, they want to maintain some SVETLANA TURCHENICK/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM is installed, and the World Bank and with nothing other than remaining in leverage in the country, and thus have has many assets, and it has main- take one recent example, while With annual inflation under con- the EBRD would be needed to assist charge and enabling his family and a been careful not to force Lukashenko tained the best of the Soviet education Lukashenko was dismissing the trol, at about 5 percent, and with all with deregulation and privatisation. close circle of cronies to enrich them- into Russian President Vladimir system, offering excellent training in Covid-19 pandemic, the Ministry of the relevant international financial The EU will also have a role to play. selves. The public sector comprises Putin’s arms. mathematics and natural sciences. Health was reporting data on cases institutions already re-engaged, It should welcome a new government three-quarters of the economy, which After Lukashenko released all of Despite being under authoritarian meticulously to the World Health Belarus is well positioned to make the by activating its Eastern Partnership is highly dependent on heavy industry Belarus’s political prisoners in 2016, rule, Belarus has become the home of Organisation. Insofar as there is polit- shift to a properly functioning market programme for Belarus, and invite and dominated by just a few big state- the EU lifted its personal sanctions a substantial software industry. And ical rot in Belarus, it seems to be con- economy. Under new leadership, it Belarusian students to participate in owned enterprises (SOEs). The five against him, and the IMF, the World many it the large diaspora are ready centrated mostly at the very top of the should be able to attract enough inter- the Erasmus student-exchange pro- most important enterprises—the pot- Bank, and the European Bank for to return when the time is right. system. national funding to maintain macroe- gramme. The importance of such ash company Belaruskali, the two Reconstruction and Development Moreover, Belarus stood out in the Not surprisingly, international conomic stability, and its well-educat- civilian engagement in deterring or largest oil refineries, the Minsk (EBRD) started cautiously re-engag- Soviet era as one of the best function- investors have largely avoided Belarus ed, highly disciplined workforce neutralising Russian interference Tractor Works (MTZ), and the Minsk ing with the country. The United ing of the 15 Union Republics, and (though it did manage to raise $1.25 would finally be able to realise its must not be underestimated. Automobile Plant (MAZ)—tend to be States, however, has maintained its that has remained true, with billion in Eurobonds in late June). But potential. Fortunately, lifting the subsidised and inefficient, and the personal sanctions against Lukashenko tolerating capable tech- precisely because Lukashenko has existing price regulations on around Åslund is a senior fellow at the economy overall is heavily regulated. Lukashenko. nocrats across all ministries. As a never been able to attract much inter- one-fifth of Belarusian consumer Atlantic Council in Washington. His Belarus’s economy has remained The Belarusian economy cries out result, Belarus still has the best state national financing, the country’s total goods and liberalising domestic trade latest book is Russia’s Crony highly dependent on Russia. Its for liberalisation and privatisation, administration of any former Soviet public debt amounts to only $18 bil- should be relatively easy. Belarus’s Capitalism: The Path from Market low-quality industrial goods are not and it has the basic ingredients for republic, including a competent cen- lion—or 29 percent of GDP—accord- strong macroeconomic institutions Economy to Kleptocracy. competitive in the West, so it relies on launching such a process. The country tral bank and ministry of finance. To ing to the finance ministry. can manage the inflationary pressure. —Project Syndicate

C M Y K 05 | TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2020 MONEY Thai court extends India’s power output Thai Airways Landslide damage holds up Kali Gandaki rises for first time bankruptcy hearings transmission corridor project progress in five months in until August 25 The delay means that 19 megawatts produced by the Thapa Khola and Ghalemdi plants will go to waste. early August REUTERS REUTERS BANGKOK, AUG 17 GHANSHYAM KHADKA destroyed part of the transmission were not able to return to work, para- after the deadline was extended by a CHENNAI, AUG 17 MYAGDI, AUG 17 line, the project was hamstrung by lysing the project. The finishing work year. The Kharkut-Bardaghat section Thailand’s bankruptcy court said on Covid-19 restrictions. Yadav Neupane, is being done with the help of around of the transmission line will be con- India’s electricity generation in the Monday it had scheduled two more The construction of the Kali Gandaki assistant project manager, said a sur- 110 workers, the contractor said. nected to the Kali Gandaki Corridor first 15 days of August rose for the days of hearings to consider Thai Transmission Corridor Project has vey had been done to shift the location The Beni-Jomsom road being built covering Mustang, Myagdi and first time since early March, provi- Airways International Pcl’s request been pushed back by another three tower that fell down. in the Kali Gandaki Corridor has been Myagdi Khola Corridor to cover the sional government data showed, as the for restructuring. months after a landslide felled a pylon “We have started a new tender pro- blocked due to obstruction by locals, Myagdi Khola Reservoir Area, Modi country opened up industries and lift- The Central Bankruptcy Court said on the Dana section between cess as there will be more problems if the virus lockdown and landslides. Khola Reservoir Project in Parbat and ed restrictions to control the spread of in a statement 16 creditors opposed Annapurna Rural Municipality and the endangered poles are not protect- The Beni office of the project has stat- the electricity generated from various coronavirus. the airline’s restructuring proposals, Kushma Khurkot, Parbat district. ed immediately,” he said. Studies are ed that 97 percent progress has been hydropower projects in Waglang. Power generation rose 2.6 percent in of which three were institutional The delay means that nearly 19 meg- also being done to erect a new tower made on the economic side and 99 After the construction of the Kali the first 15 days of August compared creditors and the rest, individual awatts generated by Thapa Khola (13.6 instead of the collapsed one, he said. percent on the physical side. Gandaki Corridor transmission line, with the same period of last year, a creditors. megawatts) and Ghalemdi (5 mega- According to the project, the con- The Nepal Electricity Authority 42 megawatts from Mistri Khola, 42 Reuters analysis of daily load des- The court scheduled August 20 and watts) will go to waste. tractor company has submitted a pro- had awarded a contract worth Rs2.90 megawatts from Rahughat, 14 mega- patch data from federal grid operator August 25 for additional hearings for The landslide brought down the posal to replace the pole with a Lilo billion for the construction of the watts from Upper Kaligand, 146 mega- POSOCO showed, compared with a 1.8 those opposing the plan. tower at Jaljala Rural Municipality in Line pole near Galeshwor to speed up Dana and Khurkot 220 kV, 132 kV, 33 watts from Kaligand, 38 megawatts percent fall in July. Thai Airways acting president, Parbat. The collapse has caused a loss the transmission line project. kV and 11 kV Kali Gandaki corridor from Nilgiri, a total of 450 megawatts In the second half of last month, however, remained confident after the of Rs20 million to the project. The Lilo Line is a link line to con- transmission lines and substations of Kowang-Kaligandh electricity will electricity generation declined first hearing on Monday. According to project officials, it will nect the electricity produced by the 42 jointly to Tatachint joint venture, con- be connected. 3.1 percent. “The hearings are promising and take at least three months to build a megawatt Rahughat Hydropower sisting of Indian company Tata and Similarly, electricity produced Power use has picked up from previ- went smoothly,” Chansin new tower. Project in Galeshwor to the 220 kV Chinese company Chint. by Upper Rahughat (48.5 megawatts), ous months when India was under a Treenuchagron said in a statement. There are 114 towers along the transmission line. An agreement was signed between Upper Kali Gandaki (72 megawatts) strict lockdown, mainly because of The airline submitted its bankruptcy 42-km-long Dana-Kusma section of the The project’s completion deadline the project and the contractor on May and Darwar Khola (25 megawatts) higher demand in the northern states and restructuring petition in May, giv- 220 kV power line. As per officials, 16 expired for the fourth time on March 30, 2016 to complete the construction is planned to be connected to the 220 and rising consumption in the highly ing it a stay on debt repayment. towers are located in a high risk zone. 30. The workers and technicians who in November 2018. The project has not kV Kali Gandaki Corridor transmis- industrialized western states of Minority creditors opposing the plan Before rain-triggered landslides went home following the lockdown been able to complete the work even sion line. Gujarat and Maharashtra. was not troubling because their objec- tions were issues that Thai Airways could clarify, he said, without giving Electricity output details. The court will have to approve the airline’s request for restructuring from solar grew and a committee that would lay out the plan. 19.3 percent, coal Thai Airways said on Monday it had nominated a committee of seven— 4.2 percent. including the company’s chairman and acting president, former President Piyasvasti Amranand, veteran banker Industry and offices account for Boontuck Wungcharoen and EY more than half of India’s annual Corporate Advisory Services power use. Prime Minister Narendra Company Limited—to plan the compa- Modi has been citing electricity con- ny’s restructuring. sumption to show there are “green shoots” in the economy. Seasonal factors including hot FOREX weather could have fuelled higher power demand. Despite surging coronavirus cases US Dollar 120.12 and a rise in deaths to as many as Euro 142.36 50,000 on Monday, most states have resumed nearly all industrial activity Pound Sterling 157.23 and removed tight restrictions on movement of people and goods. Japanese Yen 11.29 Rajasthan, India’s largest state by Chinese Yuan 17.31 area, saw a 15.7 percent growth in elec- tricity use. Other states including Qatari Riyal 32.99 Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh Australian Dollar 86.30 and Madhya Pradesh also saw an uptick in power demand. Malaysian Ringit 28.66 Renewable energy generation, which fell by nearly a fifth in July, rose Saudi Arab Riyal 32.03 2.3 percent in the first half of August. Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank Solar-powered electricity production grew 19.3 percent, while wind-pow- Shares ered generation fell over 10 percent. Power generation from coal— Nepse 1,402.21pts 0.77% India’s primary source of electrici- POST PHOTO: ANGAD DHAKAL ty—rose 4.2 percent in the first fifteen HIGHEST GAINERS A farmer harvests vegetables at a farm in Changunarayan Municipality at Duwakot, Bhaktapur. days of August, the data showed. SDLBSL GHL JOSHI SMB PIC NIL 9.88% 7.14% 6.77% 6.6% 5.86% 4.12%

MODERATE GAINERS AKJCL HGI LBL ILBS ACLBSL SIL 4% 3.63% 3.53% 3.38% 3.3% 3.26%

MODERATE LOSERS RADHI API NFS NHPC KRBL MLBBL US to tighten restrictions -1.72% -1.78% -1.84% -1.85% -1.86% -1.89% Google warns Australians could lose

HIGHEST LOSERS ICFC NGPL NUBL DHPL UNHPL CHL -2.27% -2.54% -2.7% -3.63% -3.63% -4.39% free access to search and YouTube on Huawei: Sources REUTERS 152 affiliates since Huawei was first ASSOCIATED PRESS Australia,” Google Australia and New Australian news businesses unless it WASHINGTON, AUG 17 added in May 2019. PRICE PER TOLA BULLION CANBERRA (AUSTRALIA), AUG 17 Zealand managing director Mel Silva chooses to do so,” he added. “Huawei and its affiliates have wrote. Google owns YouTube, a vid- Australian Treasurer Josh The Trump administration is set to worked through third parties to Fine Gold Rs 98,200 Google warned on Monday that the eo-sharing platform. Frydenberg, the minister responsible announce on Monday it will further harness US technology in a manner Australian government’s plans to Both Google and Facebook have for the consumer watchdog, said in a tighten restrictions on Huawei that undermines US national security Silver Rs 1,315 make digital giants pay for news con- condemned the proposed legislation, statement that the draft law “remains Technologies Co, aimed at cracking and foreign policy interests,” tent threatens users’ free services in which was released last month and open for consultation, providing an down on its access to commercially Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA Australia and could hand users’ data aims to succeed where other countries opportunity for media companies and available chips, officials briefed on the said in a statement to Reuters, to media organizations. have failed in making them compen- digital platforms to provide feedback” matter said. adding: “this multi-pronged action The US-based company’s warning, sate media businesses for news con- until August 28. Swinburne University The US Commerce Department demonstrates our continuing commit- GASOLINE WATCH contained in what it called an “Open tent. Australian competition watch- senior lecturer on media Belinda actions will expand restrictions ment to impede Huawei’s ability letter to Australians,” comes a week dog Rod Sims, chair of the Australian Barnet described the Google letter as announced in May aimed at to do so.” before public consultations close on Competition and Consumer a “cynical exercise” designed to “scare preventing the Chinese telecommuni- With US-China relations at their Australian draft laws that would make Commission, which drafted the laws, Google users.” cations giant from obtaining worst in decades, Washington is push- both Google and Facebook pay for said Google’s letter “contains misin- “I see no merit in any of the argu- semiconductors without a special ing governments around to world to news siphoned from commercial formation.” ments,” she said. license—including chips made by squeeze Huawei out, arguing it would media companies. “Google will not be required to Google has been battling the foreign firms that have been devel- hand over data to the Chinese govern- “A proposed law ... would force us to charge Australians for the use of its Australian consumer watchdog oped or produced with US software or ment for spying. Huawei denies it provide you with a dramatically worse free services such as Google Search on two fronts. Last month, the watch- technology. spies for China. Google Search and YouTube, could and YouTube, unless it chooses to do dog launched court action against The administration will also add 38 The new actions, effective immedi- lead to your data being handed over to so,” Sims said in a statement. Google for allegedly misleading Huawei affiliates in 21 countries to the ately, should prevent Huawei’s big news businesses, and would put “Google will not be required to account holders about its use of their US government’s economic blacklist, attempts to circumvent US export con- the free services you use at risk in share any additional user data with personal data. the sources said, raising the total to trols, the sources said. Virus pandemic reshaping air travel as carriers struggle

ASSOCIATED PRESS combined $10 billion from April tom line or the dollar over the safety NEW YORK, AUG 17 through June. Their CEOs say they of passengers. Next time, I’d rather will survive, but they have lowered drive back to Ohio than fly—it’s safer In a bid to survive, airlines are desper- their expectations for a rebound. because I can control it.” ately trying to convince a wary public “We were all hoping that by the The US Centers for Disease Control that measures like mandatory face fall the virus might run its course,” and Prevention says sitting within 6 masks and hospital-grade air filters said Southwest Airlines CEO Gary feet (2 metres) of other passengers, make sitting in a plane safer than Kelly. “Obviously, that has proven to often for hours, may increase the risk BIZLINE many other indoor settings during the be dead wrong.” of getting Covid-19. But CDC also coronavirus pandemic. When Consumer Reports surveyed notes that most viruses and other It isn’t working. more than 1,000 people in June about germs don’t spread easily on flights Khukri XXX Rum wins gold Surveys indicate that instead their comfort with various activities because of how air circulates at international competition of growing comfortable with air during the pandemic, 70 percent on planes. travel, more people are becoming said flying was very or somewhat Standard & Poor’s said this week KATHMANDU: The Nepal Distilleries sceptical about it. In the United States, unsafe. They rated going to a hospital that the industry’s prospects have bagged the gold medal in the London airline bookings have stalled in the emergency room or standing in line to gone “from bad to worse,” with global Spirits Competition 2020 with their past month after slowly rising—a vote as safer. air traffic dropping by up to 70 percent reputed Khukri XXX Rum. The reaction to a new surge of reported In a survey commissioned by an this year. In May, S&P said a 55 percent Nepali rum garnered the ultimate virus infections. airline trade group, the biggest con- drop was a worst-case scenario. seal of approval in the global spirits Globally, air travel is down more cern of travellers was the possibility “It’s going to be a slower and more AP/RSS industry by scoring a total of 94 out than 85 percent from a year ago, of sitting next to an infected person. uneven recovery than one might have A worker uses an electrostatic sprayer to disinfect the inside of a Delta Airplane at the Ronald of 100 points for three categories of according to industry figures. John Kontak, a schoolteacher from expected,” S&P analyst Philip Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. Quality, Value and Packaging, a The implications for the airline Phoenix, said that was his fear as soon Baggaley said. An airline trade group, scale defined by expert judges of the industry are grave. Several leading as he stepped onto a crowded the International Air Transport Asia, where outbreaks were brought 2019 levels. Air traffic at Europe’s industry amidst a highly competitive carriers already have filed for bank- American Airlines flight this summer Association, predicts carriers will under control earlier, is doing better more than 500 airports has tumbled, product set, states the press release ruptcy protection, and if the hoped-for to visit his parents in Ohio. lose $84 billion this year, making it the than the US and Europe. Domestic down 94 percent in June compared issued by the company. The London recovery is delayed much longer, the “I don’t know anything about this worst year in the industry’s history. travel inside China has recovered to with the same month last year. There Spirits Competition took place in list will grow. person who is sitting a foot away from The group says traffic won’t fully about two-thirds its year-ago level. In were about 4 million passengers, com- London on July 6. The four largest US airlines lost a me,” Kontak said. “They took the bot- recover until 2024. the US, traffic is less than one-third of pared with 217 million a year earlier.

C M Y K TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2020 | 06 WORLD BRIEFING South Koreans urged to stay home as cases jump Facebook executive in India China reports no new locally spread cases of coronavirus for the first time in a month, as twin outbreaks on opposite sides of the country fade. files police complaint NEW DELHI: A top Facebook executive ASSOCIATED PRESS million people live. Health workers from abroad in the past eight days. in India has filed a police complaint SEOUL, AUG 17 have been struggling to track infec- Health authorities have confirmed in New Delhi saying she is receiving tions, but churches have emerged as a 84,849 cases overall and 4,634 deaths death threats following a media South Korea counted its fourth major source. since the start of the pandemic. China report that said she and the US social straight day of triple-digit increases More than 300 have been linked to a does not include people who test posi- network company allegedly favoured in new coronavirus cases Monday as northern Seoul church led by a con- tive but do not show symptoms in its Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rul- the government urged people to stay servative pastor who has frequently official case count. ing party. Ankhi Das, Facebook’s top home and curb travel. led anti-government protests against Australia’s hard-hit Victoria state public-policy executive in India, in The government had drawn up a liberal President Moon Jae-in, includ- on Monday recorded its deadliest day her complaint to Delhi police said special holiday on Monday with hopes ing a rally attended by thousands of of the pandemic with 25 coronavirus some individuals online had “inten- of spurring domestic consumption. demonstrators in downtown Seoul on fatalities. The death toll surpasses the tionally vilified” her due to their But as infections in the capital Saturday despite official pleas for previous 24-hour record of 21 set last political affiliations and were engag- region increase, Health Minister Park them to stay home. week. Victoria’s Health Department ing in abuse, Indian media reported. Neung-hoo urged people to stay The government is pressing charges recorded 282 new cases, slightly more Das has said the threats followed a home and for residents in Seoul and against the pastor, Jun Kwang-hun, than 279 new infections on Sunday but Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report last nearby Gyeonggi province to avoid for allegedly disrupting anti-virus maintaining a downward trend. “We week that said she opposed applying visiting other parts of the country for efforts by falsely reporting the just can’t allow any sense of compla- Facebook’s hate-speech rules to a two weeks. church’s members and discouraging cency to creep in here. This is an member of Modi’s party and some The 197 new cases announced by followers from getting tested. Health ultra-marathon and we just have to other Hindu nationalist individuals South Korea’s Centers for Disease workers have so far tested 2,000 of the keep pushing forward each and every and groups flagged internally for pro- Control and Prevention brought the church’s members and plan to test day,” Victoria state Premier Daniel moting or participating in violence. nation’s total to 15,515, including 305 2,000 more. Andrews said. deaths. The 279 new cases reported China reported no new locally Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has Sunday was South Korea’s biggest spread cases of coronavirus for the delayed New Zealand’s elections due Pakistan army chief single-day jump since early May first time in a month, as twin out- to the coronavirus outbreak in visits Saudi Arabia amid concerns about an outbreak in breaks on opposite sides of the coun- Auckland. They’ll now be held on RIYADH/ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army the densely populated Seoul metropol- try have faded. The National Health October 17. The virus outbreak chief was visiting Saudi Arabia on itan area. Commission did report 22 imported prompted a two-week lockdown in Monday in an effort to ease a row AP/RSS The KCDC said 167 of the new cases cases in the latest 24-hour period. Auckland and halted election cam- between the two countries over policy Women wearing face masks to help protect against the spread of the coronavirus talk to each came from the greater capital region, China has seen a small uptick in the paigning, and as of Monday, has towards the disputed region of other at the Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul, South Korea, on Monday. where about half of South Korea’s 51 number of infected people arriving infected 58 people. Kashmir. The argument, brought on by Pakistani demands for Saudi Arabia to take a firmer line against India’s behaviour in Kashmir, has threatened Riyadh’s financial lifeline to Islamabad. General Qamar Javed India’s corona death toll Back to the paddy fields: Covid-19 Bajwa’s visit was “primarily mili- tary-affairs oriented,” the Pakistani army spokesman said. But Pakistani military and government officials surpasses 50,000 as virus smashes Indian middle-class dreams told Reuters Bajwa would try to calm a situation that if not reversed could badly hurt Pakistan’s central bank REUTERS spreads beyond big cities DUTTA NAGAR, AUG 17 foreign reserves. REUTERS of 1.9 per cent, compared to the world Until late March, Ashish Kumar was Netanyahu says preparing for MUMBAI, AUG 17 average of 3.5 per cent. helping to make plastic boxes for India conducted more than 730,000 Ferrero Rocher praline chocolates and direct flights to UAE India’s Covid-19 death toll topped the tests for Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, the plastic spoons tucked inside JERUSALEM: Prime Minister Benjamin 50,000 mark on Monday and the total the Indian Council for Medical Kinder Joy eggs to scoop out the milky Netanyahu said on Monday that number of recorded cases neared 2.65 Research, said on Monday as the coun- sweet cream inside. Israel is preparing for direct flights, million as the outbreak spread further try inches toward Prime Minister With a diploma in plastic mould over Saudi Arabia, to the United Arab into smaller towns and rural areas, Narendra Modi’s stated goal of 1 mil- technology, the 20-year-old had a foot Emirates as part of its normalisation the latest government data showed. lion tests a day. on his chosen career ladder. His deal with the UAE. Israel and the The world’s second-most populous Experts have said India’s testing younger brother Aditya chose law, but UAE announced on Thursday that country recorded 57,981 new coronavi- rates are far too low, and this could Ashish had his sights set on plastic. they will normalise diplomatic rela- rus infections in the last 24 hours, obscure the true extent of the corona- “I want to start a business of my tions under a US-sponsored deal raising the total to 2,647,663, while an virus outbreak. own,” he said, explaining how he whose implementation could reshape additional 941 deaths raised the over- India has been posting at least 50,000 wants to recycle plastic to make day- Middle East politics from the all death toll to 50,921. new cases per day since July 30 as the to-day products at his own factory. Palestinian issue to the fight against India is only the third country, disease spread from major cities like India’s coronavirus lockdown has Iran. The UAE would only be third behind Brazil and the United States, to Mumbai and Delhi into the impover- thrown those plans into disarray. Arab state in 70 years to establish record more than 2 million infections, ished hinterlands of densely populat- Educated but unemployed, Ashish relations with Israel. (Agencies) but it has a relatively lower death rate ed states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Kumar is one of countless people across the globe whose social progress REUTERS has been halted by the new coronavi- In this July 10 photo, Ashish Kumar, 20, who used to work at a plastics factory in western rus that has infected more than two India, checks his mobile phone outside his house in Dutta Nagar in Gonda district in Uttar million people in India alone, and Pradesh, India. thrown the economy into reverse. Lukashenko offers to hand With it, the aspirations of millions home in the village of Dutta Nagar, including weakening regulations on are fading. bantering with friends in the muddy wages and working hours, to support For years, people in rural India have courtyard—they jokingly call it their industry. That proposal drew criticism been gaining prosperity and moving “office”—outside the ramshackle pri- from workers’ unions and the ILO. over power after referendum into what economists call a burgeon- mary school where he studied. In The amendments have only taken ing middle class of consumers—those Uttar Pradesh, around 60 million of effect in some states. who earn more than $10 a day, by some the state’s population of more than 200 Kumar’s factory, which reopened in REUTERS tution, an apparent concession that definitions. This group has been a million lives in poverty, according to early May, did not respond to a ques- MINSK, AUG 17 seems unlikely to satisfy protesters. keystone of plans for economic devel- the World Bank. tion on measures taken there, but He told workers “We’ll put the changes to a referen- opment in the world’s second most Kumar, who says he has never tast- Dream Plast India’s managing direc- Alexander Lukashenko, the leader of dum, and I’ll hand over my constitu- populous country. In the Covid-19 pan- ed a Ferrero Rocher praline, finished tor Nitin Gupta said in an email the Belarus, said on Monday he would be there would be no tional powers. But not under pressure demic, India’s economy is forecast to his diploma in Gujarat last June, and “company takes utmost precautions to willing to hand over power after a ref- new presidential or because of the street,” Lukashenko shrink by 4.5 percent this year, took the train to start work as a tech- adhere to the laws at all times.” He erendum, in an apparent bid to pacify said, in remarks quoted by the official according to the International nician at an Italian-owned factory declined to elaborate further. mass protests and strikes that pose election in Belarus. Belta news agency. Monetary Fund. At least 400 million 1,500 km away from home. Even so, Kumar and another worker the biggest challenge to his 26 years “Yes, I’m not a saint. You know my Indian workers are at risk of falling The factory that employed him is Reuters spoke to said they didn’t feel in office. harsh side. I’m not eternal. But if you deeper into poverty, according to the run by Dream Plast India, a subsidi- safe to return. He made the offer, which he insisted ready to provide military help to drag down the first president you’ll International Labour Organization ary of Gruppo Sunino SpA, an Italian Ferrero SpA, the Italian confection- would not be delivered on while he Belarus in the event of an external drag down neighbouring countries (ILO). plastics maker with 10 plants around er, said it had audited the plant where was under pressure from protesters, threat. Lukashenko faces the threat of and all the rest.” Speaking in a video Kumar is one of around 131,000 peo- the world. “The factory was first Kumar worked in March 2020 and after exiled opposition politician European Union sanctions after a address from Lithuania, opposition ple who local officials estimate class,” Kumar said. His contract found no irregularities, but would fur- Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said she bloody crackdown on protests follow- politician Tsikhanouskaya urged returned from working around India included a monthly contribution from ther review subsequent months. was willing to lead the country. ing what demonstrators say was his security and law enforcement officers to Gonda, the district in the northern the company into a retirement fund Reuters was unable to independent- In a sign of Lukashenko’s growing rigged re-election victory last week. to switch sides, saying they would be state of Uttar Pradesh that he left last and a bonus. ly determine what safety measures vulnerability, he faced heckling and He denies losing, citing official results forgiven if they did so now. June. Nationwide, about 10 million His income over the past year the factory took. chants of “step down” during a speech that gave him just over 80% of the “I am ready to take responsibility people made long, hard journeys helped his parents build a proper four- By early June, Kumar’s funds had to workers at one of the large state- vote. Lukashenko told workers there and act as a national leader during back to rural villages they’d left. roomed brick home, after decades of run out. Even buying food became run industrial plants that are the would be no new presidential election, this period,” Tsikhanouskaya said. Some have gone back to the cities, but living in a tumble-down mud hut difficult. His parents grew increasing- pride of his Soviet-style economic something the opposition wants, until She called for the creation of a legal many of those who had been sending where the roof let in heavy monsoon ly worried. model and core support base. he was killed. mechanism to ensure that a new fair back funds are still stuck in the rains. It helped pay the fees for his India’s railway network re-opened Russia has told Lukashenko it is He also offered to change the consti- presidential election could be held. countryside. brother to go to law school in Bahraich, in early May. On June 3, Kumar bor- Working in a factory in Baramati in an hour and a half ’s drive away from rowed money to pay for a 48-hour the western state of Maharashtra, their home village. journey home by train, bus and shared Kumar was earning 13,000 rupees Then Covid-19 struck. taxi. Then he went into quarantine. ($173) every month, more than twice In May, India’s state governments On June 25, Dream Plast India sent his father’s pay from a job in a grain issued health and safety guidelines for him an email asking him to report to market near Kumar’s home village in factories as they re-opened after lock- work within four days or face termina- Uttar Pradesh, a sprawling agrarian down, which included compulsory tion. Instead, he resigned on July 20. state. Of that, the young man was face masks, thermal screening, social His parents are apprehensive about sending home around 9,000 rupees distancing and frequent sanitisation. him leaving home again, although every month, much of which was Union leaders allege many companies they said they realise that without helping to fund his younger brother’s did not follow all protocols and cut their elder son’s earnings, his brother studies. corners, but they have not identified won’t be able to finish law school. No longer. Once a provider for his Kumar’s. Kumar isn’t ready to give up on his family, now he has become a financial Indian states including Uttar plastics factory. burden. Pradesh and Gujarat said in May they “I will do it,” he said. “No matter Kumar whiles away his time back were looking to relax workers’ rights, what it takes, I will fulfil my dream.”

C M Y K 07 | TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2020 SPORTS | MEDLEY Boxing suffers as fight goes outside the ring De Jong goal sends Sevilla Association president Ram Awale’s old dispute with other officials on its running resurfaces over latest financial report. into Europa League final for the sake of getting support from them during elections for the execu- tive committee. “Of the 14 district associations endorsed by the president, only four are active. In the capacity of general secretary, I have also endorsed 10 dis- trict associations and four of them are not active. If the President approves new district associations for election purposes then why can’t I?” said Bhattacharya. “I have proposed that only active district associations be given membership. I can assure you that I won’t be fighting for the presi- dency in the next election.” The NBA should have held its elec- tion in June this year, as the four year tenure of present executive has expired. But the election has been postponed, owing to the global corona- AP/RSS virus pandemic. Sevilla’s Luuk De Jong (left) and Manchester United’s Harry Maguire battle for the ball during The president, a businessman and a their Europa League semi-final match in Cologne on Sunday. Sevilla won 2-1. former boxer, blames Bhattacharya and Sujakhu, also former boxers, as REUTERS game. Of course it’s disappointing the persons responsible for not letting COLOGNE, AUG 17 that we don’t score. We know we have the NBA conduct the annual general players who have the quality to score, assembly. When asked how, he could Europa League thoroughbreds Sevilla but that’s the game,” Solskjaer said. not give a satisfactory answer. reached yet another final as substitute United made a dream start when “There are a lot of sports associa- Luuk de Jong struck in the 78th min- Diego Carlos brought down Marcus tions in the country which do not hold ute to earn them a gritty 2-1 victory Rashford in the area just after the their annual general assemblies. Now over Manchester United on Sunday. striker fired across goal. The referee I understand why they do not. United, already beaten in two belatedly pointed to the spot, handing It is because a few people with domestic semi-finals this season, United their 22nd penalty of the sea- wrong motives do not let it happen,” looked on course to make it third time son in all competitions, and Bruno Awale said. lucky when Bruno Fernandes scored Fernandes, who almost turned in Bhattacharya denies the allegations from the penalty spot in the ninth Rashford’s shot, smashed his spot kick and instead blames the president for minute. But former Liverpool player past Bono. Fred had a chance to make POST FILE PHOTO: ELITE JOSHI not letting the NBA conduct its gener- Suso levelled in the 26th minute, and it 2-0 for United on the counter-attack Nepal’s Bhupendra Thapa (left) lands a punch on Manish Kaushik of India in the 64-kg category final in the 13th South Asian Games held in al assembly. the Spaniards showed all their but in a wildly open first half, Sevilla Kathmandu in December, 2019. Thapa won the gold medal. The current infighting will affect the development of the sport. “I had even proposed to hold a European know-how to weather a levelled when Suso swept in Sergio general assembly at an executive United storm on a humid night in Reguilon’s low cross. PRAJWAL OLI Sujakhu not only rejected the presi- treasurer Ram Giri, a member of the committee meeting in early 2018. But Cologne. Inspired goalkeeper Yassine United should have led by halftime KATHMANDU, AUG 17 dent’s proposal but also asked him to executive committee. the president feared that he would Bono came to Sevilla’s rescue on sev- with Anthony Martial side-footing a reinstate him as the executive treasur- “There is no provision of acting face a no-confidence motion and there- eral occasions, and when United’s great chance over the bar, Rashford Nepal Boxing Association’s (NBA) er and produce him the details of treasurer, but backed by the executive fore he was uninterested,” said energy levels dipped, De Jong stole in stinging the palms of Bono, and infighting has surfaced once again as financial transactions. The report had committee the president took the con- Bhattacharya. “The executive com- to snatch victory. Fernandes’s improvised volley forcing some influential office bearers have been endorsed by a majority of the sent of the National Sports Council mittee had sought clarification from Sevilla will meet either Inter Milan another fine save from the Moroccan. made claims of financial irregulari- 25-member executive committee leadership to one,” said Sujakhu. him in December 2017. If the presi- or Shakhtar Donetsk in the final in Bono made another instinctive stop ties and power abuse by the body’s although general secretary The president used a provision in dent says he could not hold a general Cologne on Friday, when they will be from Mason Greenwood just after president. Bhattacharya had walked out of the the statute which gives him the assembly because of someone else, it going for their sixth title in the compe- halftime as United laid siege to the General Secretary Sabin meeting after he was verbally authority to take steps to resolve any raises a big question mark regarding tition since 2006. “I feel like I’ve been Sevilla goal. Bhattacharya and Treasurer Gautam abused by the president’s supporters unforeseen circumstances in the oper- his ability.” hugged by joy. We know what this side Martial was also denied by Bono as Sujakhu have accused President Ram and was not allowed to express his ation of the NBA and appointed an With this infighting within the has been through, today included, and Sevilla’s goal led a charmed life, but Awale of acting against the spirit of discontent. acting treasurer. Nepal Boxing Association, the game we’ve got such a resilience against they battened down the hatches and the law and called him “an incapable Sujakhu and Bhattacharya have “Sujakhu refused to sign cheques suffers. such intensity,” said Sevilla coach regained a foothold as United’s inten- person” to lead the body. complained to the National Sports despite repeated requests and at that “When the commander fights, it Julen Lopetegui, whose side are sity inevitably waned. United had 20 The fight between the two sides Council and the Ministry of Youth time we were preparing for the 2018 will definitely hamper the whole team. now unbeaten in 20 games in all attempts at goal compared with started in 2018 but resurfaced last and Sports appealing them not to Asian Games. I had no choice but to In fact, Nepali boxers are going to suf- competitions. Sevilla’s nine, but all the spurned gilt- week after President Awale produced endorse the financial report that has appoint Giri as the acting treasurer fer due to this rift within the associa- While Sevilla have a chance to edged chances came back to bite them a financial report during the execu- been submitted without the signature with consent from the National Sports tion,” said Prachanda Sharma, former restore Spanish pride after Barcelona’s as their hopes of a first trophy since tive committee meeting on July 30 and of treasurer and also to check into Council,” Awale said. head coach at NBA. “Under Awale’s horror show in the Champions League winning the Europa League under asked Sujakhu to sign it. irregularities at the NBA. The Association has not held a sin- leadership, the NBA has not organised quarter-finals on Friday, United’s Jose Mourinho three years ago “The president wanted us (me and The dispute between the two sides gle annual general assembly, as man- a single tournament under its banner. defeat underlined a poor European evaporated. the treasurer) to endorse the financial goes back to August 2018 when dated by its statute, in the four years It is very disappointing for Nepali season for English clubs, who provid- To make matters worse it was for- report that he produced in the meet- President Awale appointed Ram Giri, since the committee was elected in boxing.” ed all four finalists in last season’s mer Manchester City player Jesus ing. But we are not aware of any trans- an executive committee member, as June 2016. Not only coaches but also boxing Europa and Champions League com- Navas’s cross from the right that actions in the NBA and we are not acting treasurer at NBA. In the last two years, 24 new district administrators are worried about the petitions. United were the only caught Victor Lindelof and Aaron consulted in any affairs. So I proposed “The president had wanted me to associations have been formed—14 sport’s development. English club to reach a continental Wan-Bissaka sleeping and De Jong to him that he give me the details of release funds for the Nepali boxers’ with approval from the president “All this will have a negative impact semi-final this season after drifted in behind the pair of them to transactions and a few days’ time so training in Thailand. But the execu- and 10 from general secretary—taking on the development and promotion of Manchester City were dumped out of slot home. United’s frustration was that I get time to study it before I tive committee had made a decision the total number of district associa- the boxing sector,” said Deepak the Champions League by Lyon on such that Lindelof and Fernandes had sign,” said general secretary that the funds could be released only tions to 50. Gurung, a former general secretary of Saturday. a heated row. “I think it’s normal (to Bhattacharya. “But he said the major- after approval from the committee. I According to Bhattacharya, of the NBA. “It will have a direct impact on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side may be frustrated) when you concede a ity of the executive committee had asked him to get the approval,” said 24 new district associations, fewer policy making, in the development of ask themselves how they allowed this goal in the last 10 minutes. What hap- already endorsed it so why did I need Sujakhu. than a dozen are active. But the dis- new players, organising tournaments, one to slip through their fingers pened between me and Victor was to study it.” Instead Awale appointed acting trict association was given approval finding sponsors and much more.” though. “The keeper’s had a fantastic nothing,” Fernandes said afterwards. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) *** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) ** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** Your patience for indecisive people is running very Someone who lives a flashy lifestyle might be charm- A friend is telling you that they’re doing one thing Getting more closely connected with the people you low right now. You know what you’re doing, so how ing and exciting, but they don’t have the substance but doing something else. Their duplicity is probably really value is easier than ever. Right now, everyone’s come no one else does? Well, you’ll never be able to you need in your life right now. So have fun talking due to their fear that if you really knew what was schedules fit together, and everyone is on the same get a satisfying answer to that question, so why even to the flighty folks, but don’t get sucked into their going on, your feelings about them would change. page. This harmony is sure going to make your life ask it? You’ll only get frustrated or angry. way of doing things. But this is definitely not true. sweeter for a while.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) **** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) **** You have reached a critical point with someone you You should research less and brainstorm more. The By spending all your free time with just one person, If you’re looking for romance, keep in mind that not care about. You actually know how you feel, so you facts and figures that have helped you in the past you’re taking a risk. You can’t ignore the other rela- all romances start off as sizzling affairs. Many of the need to communicate it! This isn’t about having too aren’t going to help you today. There’s too much emo- tionships in your life just because you met someone healthiest and longest-lasting relationships start out many expectations. You just need to share what you tional energy in the air for logic and reason to have new. If you stop paying attention to them, they’ll stop as friendships. So, instead of looking for lightning to are thinking and feeling. any real impact. This is a day full of possibilities. paying attention to you. strike, just keep an eye out for interesting people.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) ***** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) *** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** An interesting discussion today could inspire you to Do your best to stay cool and calm when the drama Watch out when you’re dealing with others today. There’s been a nagging worry on your mind get moving on an exciting new project. Try to make erupts. If you stay objective about what’s going on, They don’t have your same priorities. While you lately, and it’s not going away anytime soon, some time to give it all the dedication it requires. A you’ll find it easy to turn away from it all and stay want to get things done, they just want to goof off probably because you’ve been so busy lately that quick online search will help you find the answers unaffected and happy in your own little world. and have fun. So be prepared to deal with interrup- you simply haven’t had the time to think about it or you need and get you going down the right path. tions from them, and there could be many. process it. CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2020 | 08 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 Sensitising society’s approach towards harassment Fightback, since its inception in 2013, has been teaching not only martial art techniques to students but also vocal and mental skills that would help them take power away from perpetrators.

ELISHA SHRESTHA & ANKIT KHADGI chologically empowering girls. The KATHMANDU study found a 97.2 percent increase in Fightback has mental safety skills, a 94 percent nugya Ojha was 11 increase in vocal safety skills, and a 96 years old when she got trained more than percent increase in self-defence skills to know about self-de- 15,000 girls/women among 1,091 schoolgirls after complet- fence courses at her ing the fightback programme. school. At that time, she and 3,500 boys/men However, working in a country, that took a three-day inten- is plagued by patriarchy and normal- siveA safety training course initiated by in 25 districts. ises rape and harassment culture, Fightback, a self-defence training comes with owns struggle. enterprise, just because it was part of “Although more and more people are her school’s extracurricular activi- “Our main intention has always understanding the importance to talk ties. Fourteen-year-old Ojha today been to break the mindset of people about sexual harassment sensitively, realises how that ‘empowerment who put the blame on the survivors, there is still a reluctance among people self-defence’ course she took three for the violence done by the perpetra- to address these issues,” says Pandey. years ago has shaped her understand- tors, and make them feel and realize According to him, even though many ing about sexual violence. that it’s never the survivor’s fault,” schools are inviting the enterprise to “There have been times when I have says Pooja Gurung, a mental/vocal train their students, they think and faced verbal abuses, uncomfortable trainer at Fightback. treat it as a part of extracurricular stares, and random guys passing com- But this is also the toughest part of activities, failing to consider it as a per- ments while walking alone on the their initiative, says Gurung, as many tinent subject that should be compulso- streets which is intimidating at participants are still guided or enforced rily taught in the regular curriculum. times,” says Ojha, who enrolled her- with the notion that it’s always the And then there are parents who self in the training programme five survivor’s fault, as that’s what our soci- don’t show eagerness in their chil- months ago again and plans to join it ety believes in. “It’s difficult for us at dren’s participation in self-defence again if she gets the opportunity. “But the beginning to make the participants courses. “We try to make parents more what I learned at the programme has PHOTO COURTESY: FIGHTBACK understand that things which society involved in the programme, inviting taught me to feel less intimidated Students are taught easy-to-remember, hard-to-forget self-defence moves by a martial arts teacher in a Fightback session. has been normalising are in fact har- them for the meeting to discuss the when I face an unwelcome situation.” assment,” says Gurung. issues their wards are tackling and In the self-defence training classes, young girls and boys, even adults, But according to Pandey, that’s not mental/vocal training. “In the physical Likewise, many participants still also to have an open conversation on which go on for 6-8 hours a day, Ojha, self-defence to protect themselves the only problem with Nepali society’s training session, which is conducted can’t tell whether a behaviour is prob- sexual violence and harassment. along with 50 other girls, were not only from potential perpetrators, but it is views on sexual harassment. They by a trained martial arts teacher, we lematic or not and there is also a reluc- However, not many parents partici- taught basic martial art techniques to only about providing physical empow- still believe that sexual harassment facilitate the participants by teaching tance in participants coming up and pate in such meetings,” says Pandey. defend themselves against physical erment and psychological benefits to only happens physically, failing to them easy-to-remember, hard-to-forget talking about sexual harassment, says Similarly, the normalisation of attack but were also taught vocal and them in a society where the onus is acknowledge to see sexual harassment self-defence moves,” says Pandey. Gurung. And to make participants feel stalking and in consideration of con- mental skills that would help them always laid on the survivor. as a spectrum, he says. “Likewise, in the mental/vocal train- that they are safe and can share their sent is so deeply embedded in the take power away from perpetrators. Such programmes are critically And this is where his social enter- ing programme, we help participants experiences, Gurung begins the ses- mindset, that it’s difficult for boys and Starting from 2013, Fightback has needed in a country where sexual har- prise, Fightback, is working—to make identify if they or the people they sion by sharing her own experiences. men to make them realise that some been training and educating students, assment and violence is pervasive. more and more people sensitive know are getting harassed, and how “I try to make sure that the partici- of their behaviour is problematic at as well as working men, women, and The rape and murder of 13-year-old towards issues of sexual harassment they can tackle the situation or seek pants are comfortable, as talking the core while having sessions with vulnerable population, about how to Nirmala Pant in July 2018, which and to break the conventional notions help,” says Pandey. Currently, the ses- about one’s personal experience as them, says Gurung. mitigate risks of being subjected to caused an unprecedented national of it. “We try to improve the under- sions are being held virtually. well as learning about sexual harass- “While conducting many sessions sexual harassment and how to deal outcry, encapsulated just how unsafe standing of the people and inform Although the enterprise started out ment can be a difficult experience for with many young boys, we have with the issue sensitively. Beyond Nepal is for women. According to them that a person can be harassed by focusing on providing training to many,” says Gurung, who also focuses encountered that there’s a common physical tactics, the classes teach par- Nepal Police, there has been a sharp verbally, non-verbally as well in the girls and women, who are mostly vic- on making the participants realise understanding among them that it’s ticipants how to speak up, respond increase in the percentage of reported online space,” he says tims of sexual harassment, since 2016, how no person has the right to cross ‘cool’ to tease girls,” she says. assertively to prevent, manage and rapes in the country. Ten years ago, Visiting schools, both in urban and the enterprise started involving boys/ their boundaries and that their con- However, the enterprise makes sure mitigate their risk of experiencing 309 rape cases were reported to the rural areas, as well as training people men as well as parents and teachers in sent should get valued. that the boys (participants) realise violence, including sexual assault, as police in a year, which increased near- working in various institutions, their programme, intending to sensitise Until now, Fightback has trained that such a mindset is disrespectful well as involve the stakeholders in ly fourfold in the past decade, result- Pandey, along with his team, prepares the issue in a larger mass, says Pandey. more than 15,000 girls/women and through discussions, says Gurung, making them realise the importance ing in 1,873 rape cases in the fiscal the design of the programme based on The other major focus of the pro- 3,500 boys/men in almost 25 districts who has been working with the enter- of respecting others’ consent. year 2018/2019. the nature of the institution they are gramme is to address the issue of in Nepal. Likewise, they also frequent- prise for the past four and half years. “We use a holistic approach to However, talking about sexual har- visiting. While, according to Pandey, sexual harassment at its core, which ly collaborate with various corporate For Ojha, Fightback was a self-defence, incorporating physical, assment is still considered taboo in since sexual harassment is a sensitive most self-defence training pro- houses, banks, and have also trained life-changing experience that made vocal, and mental techniques to deal Nepali society, and with the vic- topic and requires a nuanced under- grammes often miss out on. The pro- vulnerable populations like visually her more confident. “Although physi- with managing and defusing poten- tim-blaming culture deeply embed- standing, the training is tailored gramme ensures issues of toxic mas- impaired women and those who are cally tackling the person may not be tially dangerous situations,” said ded, along with no serious repercus- according to the requirement of the culinity are discussed. It also address- working in the entertainment sector. possible all the time but after joining Vikrant Pandey, the founder of sions for the perpetrators to hold them institution and can last from a day’s es how our culture is plagued by A 2019 study conducted by Coffey Fightback, I have learned that I can Fightback programme. accountable, many survivors become training to a month’s. notions that normalises sexual vio- International on the model Fightback tackle the situation by seeking out According to Pandey, the Fightback reluctant in coming forward with The sessions themselves are divided lence and instead protects perpetra- follows and found out that this kind of help and also that it is the perpetra- programme is not only about teaching their experiences. into two parts: physical training and tors by blaming the survivors. training works in physically and psy- tor’s fault, never mine,” she says.

Lights, camera, not much action: Hollywood slow to restart in a pandemic A fraction of movie and TV productions have resumed filming in Los Angeles and elsewhere in the United States.

LA County, home to biggest studios, gave a green light in June for filming to resume.

lower” than normal. Lingering shutdowns will limit the supply of fresh programming that TV networks and streaming services can offer even as many viewers remain home-bound during the pandemic. The cast of Amazon Studios series The Boys recorded a video urging fans to wear face masks to reduce coronavi- rus spread. “You want a ‘Boys’ season three? REUTERS They are not going to let us shoot Producer Christopher Acebo is interviewed on the set of the film 7th & Union in Pomona, unless we get the numbers down,” star California, US, on July 8. Jack Quaid said.

LISA RICHWINE Actor Seth Rogen, who produces TV Kissing mannequins LOS ANGELES series and movies with partner Evan Some TV series have pushed ahead Goldberg, said he is exploring interna- with protections including smaller s home-bound audienc- tional locations, including Bulgaria, crews, safety officers to monitor com- es eagerly await new for some projects. pliance with infection-prevention programming during “I am not ambitious that any film- measures and inventive fixes such as the coronavirus pan- ing is going to be happening in using mannequins for kissing scenes. demic, Hollywood has America anytime soon in a way that Producer Tyler Perry created a been slow to get camer- I’m comfortable with,” Rogen said in Camp Quarantine at his Georgia stu- asA rolling again, even with quaran- an interview this month. “I look to dio complex to film his BET series tined sets and innovations such as other countries who have dealt with Sistas in July. No coronavirus cases love scenes using mannequins. this whole thing much better and were detected during a two-week Only a fraction of movie and TV think maybe, if they’ll let us in, maybe shoot, Perry said. productions have resumed filming in we can film there.” ViacomCBS, owner of MTV, Comedy Los Angeles and elsewhere in the Central and other channels, is setting United States, where coronavirus Overseas production up closed sets called COVID cases are rising. Actors and crew A few big movie productions have Compounds to isolate people working members are unsure when projects resumed overseas. The next Jurassic on series such as RuPaul’s Drag Race, might resume, and some expect they World dinosaur adventure from said Chris McCarthy, president of will not return to work until 2021. Comcast Corp’s Universal Pictures entertainment and youth brands at Los Angeles County, home to the restarted filming in London, and the ViacomCBS. biggest movie and TV studios, gave a cast of Walt Disney Co’s Avatar In the compounds, “we will control green light in June for filming to sequels is back at work in New it, we’ll test, but we’ll also contain it resume with safeguards. Major unions Zealand. and keep everyone as safe as possible,” issued a 36-page report outlining safe- To restart, producers must adapt McCarthy said. ty measures. Producers had hoped to the industry guidelines to their situa- A few productions have reported have many sets working again in tions, which takes longer for bigger positive coronavirus tests to SAG- August. projects. AFTRA, Crabtree-Ireland said, declin- The number of film permit requests “It’s not like flipping a light switch,” ing to name them. Some temporarily in the Los Angeles area since mid- said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, chief paused production for contact tracing June ran about 34 percent of normal. operating officer and general counsel and other steps, he said. Others were Most of those were for commercials or for actors union SAG-AFTRA. caught before the person had reported still photography, according to local The union has cleared more than to set. organization FilmLA, which said it 1,000 return-to-work plans for film and “In our view, it’s a sign the system is expected scripted TV and feature film TV projects, he said, adding that the working,” he said. production to pick up in September. current production level was “far —Reuters

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