WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXIX No. 113 | 10 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 35.6 C 14.0 C Friday, June 11, 2021 | 28-02-2078 Simara Jomsom Supreme Court orders government not to enforce citizenship ordinance Constitutional Bench says legal complications could arise if the ordinance fails to get through Parliament.

TIKA R PRADHAN zenship in Nepal before September 20, KATHMANDU, JUNE 10 2015 would be issued citizenship by descent. It also said children of Nepali The Supreme Court has issued an mothers will be entitled to citizenship interim order to the government by descent if fathers’ whereabouts are not to implement the Citizenship unknown. Amendment Ordinance saying that it The Citizenship Act had been gath- could lead to long-term implications. ering dust in Parliament for years, as “A legal complexity could arise on parliamentarians had failed to find a the subject of distributed copies of common ground on certain issues. It citizenship certificates if the contro- has remained one of the most sensi- versial ordinance fails to get endorsed tive issues among Nepali politicians, through the federal parliament,” just as a lack of an act risks many states the order issued by the going stateless. Constitutional Bench on Thursday. Of the several demands of the All ordinances have to be passed by Mahatha Thakur-Rajendra Mahato Parliament within 60 days after the day faction, the passage of the Citizenship on which a meeting of both Houses is Act was one. Oli’s CPN-UML itself had held, according to the constitution. stood strongly against it. But after In a bid to rope in Janata Samajbadi dissolving the House, Oli issued the Party’s support, a beleaguered Prime ordinance for his political gains. Minister KP Sharma Oli on May 23 “A large number of children of had recommended the issuance of the more than 190,000 people who are citi- Nepal Citizenship (First Amendment) zens by birth have been rendered Ordinance 2021. stateless as the state has rejected The ordinance followed the dissolu- them citizenship. Therefore we had tion of the House of Representatives been demanding that the government by Oli just two days ago. resolve the issue,” said Keshav Jha, a POST PHOTO: SANJOG MANANDHAR “An interim order has been issued leader of the Janata Samajbadi Party. A man in crutches is caught in the rain in Kathmandu on Thursday. According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, monsoon clouds originating in the Bay of Bengal are expected to in the name of the defendants not to “With no citizenship, they were una- enter the country within the next few days. Heavy rains are likely to occur at many places starting next week. implement the Nepal Citizenship ble to get jobs, education, passports, or (First Amendment) Ordinance 2021, travel abroad.” which was promulgated by the The Constitutional Bench has also President on May 23, until the final called the defendants–Office of the decision,” states the order. Prime Minister and Council of While he has yet to The ordinance had been challenged Ministers and the Office of the Chure is not just environment, with as many as six petitions, arguing President–for discussion on the that the caretaker government has no demands of the six petitions, includ- clarify his June 4 authority to issue an ordinance that ing the one registered by senior advo- will have long-term effect. cate Borna Bahadur Karki and advo- According to the ordinance, the cate Birbhadra Joshi among others. Cabinet expansion, but a political issue, experts say children of couples who received citi- >> Continued on page 2 Oli does it again Degradation of the hills, a crucial zone balancing Nepal’s fragile ecosystem, should be a top political agenda, as it Seven more ministers can have a profound impact on the generations to come. appointed to curry favour with his supporters and an eye on the elections.

ANIL GIRI KATHMANDU, JUNE 10

Even before criticism for last week’s appointment of new ministers had died down, KP Sharma Oli, who has been reduced to the status of caretak- er prime minister, inducted more min- isters to his Cabinet, in what looks like his utter disregard for the rule of law and his bid to consolidate power. On Thursday, Oli appointed seven ministers and one state minister, leaving everyone questioning why he had picked them when the govern- ment’s current focus should be on fighting the pandemic that is ravaging the country. Oli has given the Ministry of Home POST PHOTO: MADHAV ARYAL to Khagaraj Adhikari, Communication Excavation done by a limestone mining company in Tinau Rural Municipality, Palpa. and Information Technology to Nayankala Thapa, Industry, CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL ways and how to make our develop- Commerce and Supplies to Rajkishwor KATHMANDU, JUNE 10 ment sustainable,” says Uttam Babu Yadhav, General Administration to Shrestha, an environmentalist and Ganesh Kumar Pahadi and the The Chure region once again is at the director at the Global Institute of Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock centre of the national debate. Interdisciplinary Studies, a think Development to Jwala Kumari Sah. The sudden surge in conversation tank based in Kathmandu. Asha Bishwokarma has been appoint- on Chure, an ecological zone signifi- The Chure region, which covers ed state minister for forest. cant for its environmental services, about 12.78 percent of the country’s Oli has appointed Mohan Baniya a comes on the heels of a government total area and on which nearly 60 per- minister without portfolio, a position decision to allow export of sand, peb- cent of the country’s population is, many say is absolutely unnecessary at bles and stones. directly and indirectly, dependent for this time. Point 199 of the fiscal budget pre- its services, has by and large remained This is the second Cabinet expan- sented by Finance Minister Bishnu out of political discourse. sion by Oli since he dissolved the Poudel on May 29 says: “Based on envi- Despite catering to such a huge con- House of Representatives on May 21. ronmental impact assessment, mine- stituency and spanning 36 districts of Last week, he had inducted eight min- based stones, pebbles and sand can be the Chure belt, the value of the region isters and two state ministers into his exported to minimise trade deficit.” is still discussed only through an eco- Council of Ministers from the The discourse currently involves logical perspective, not the political Mahantha Thakur-Rajendra Mahato how the government’s new decision lens, say experts. faction of the Janata Samajbadi Party. would cause huge environmental deg- According to Chandrakishore, a Oli’s Cabinet expansion on radation and the impact it can have on socio-political commentator who Thursday comes days after the biodiversity and ecosystem, ultimately closely follows political and environ- Supreme Court issued a show cause affecting the livelihoods of the people. mental issues from the Tarai, the notice to him for expanding the The question, however, arises what impact of Chure degradation has Cabinet last week. actually led to such a decision by the remained limited to individual experi- “A verdict on his earlier Cabinet government of the day and why there ences so far. expansion is awaited and he has was no continuous debate on the issue, “Issues like drying up of water appointed more ministers defying even though Chure and other environ- resources and other social and finan- the basic principles of democracy and ment service providers have been cial difficulties due to Chure exploita- the rule of law,” said Neil Kantha under attack for decades. tion are discussed by individuals Uprety, a former chief election com- Experts say Chure so far has been or families. This feeling is not social- missioner. seen only from the environmental ised as yet. As a result, it has failed to >> Continued on page 2 point of view whereas the environ- gain political traction,” says ment itself is a big political issue. Chandrakishore. Many say statements from “Everyone said ‘conservation, con- political parties, except the one servation’, but the Chure area failed to that belongs to Prime Minister gain the commitment that was KP Sharma Oli, criticising the required at the political level.” government’s decision smacks According to Chandrakishore, who of double-standard, as they too is also a journalist, none of the parties did little to make the environ- in Nepal took up the Chure conserva- ment a political issue. tion as their political agenda. “There should have been a For a large chunk of politicians in larger political debate on Chure Nepal, environment is a non-issue and conservation, our future devel- they consider it something to be dealt opment trajectories through with by environmentalists. environmental-friendly path- >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 2021 | 02 NATIONAL Supreme Court Few people take Covid-19 jabs in Lumbini orders government Most of the people are hesitant to get the vaccine fearing the side effects, according to health workers.

MANOJ PAUDEL not to enforce KAPILVASTU, JUNE 10

A 62-year-old man from Khoriya village in citizenship ordinance Yashodhara Rural Municipality-8, Kapilvastu, was to visit a local vaccination >> Continued from page 1 centre for his first dose of Covid-19 jab. Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana had The vaccine was administered on Tuesday formed the Constitutional Bench on the basis of sen- and Wednesday. But he decided not to get it. iority on June 4 with Deepak Kumar Karki, Mira “I fear the vaccine might not be suitable for Khadka, Hari Krishna Karki and Ishwar Prasad me,” he said. Khatiwada as members after the composition of an The government has decided to inoculate earlier bench formed for the hearing on the House the people of 62-64 age group with the one dissolution case had been questioned. million doses of Vero Cell Covid-19 vaccine Oli’s move to bring the ordinance a day after dis- provided by the Chinese government on a solving the House of Representatives had been criti- grant. But many people in Lumbini Province cized by many and the Supreme Court too noted this seem to be fearful of the vaccine. and questioned the government’s intention, saying Owing to the low participation, various that issuing the ordinance a day after dissolving the local units in the province have decided to House would be tantamount to “colourable legisla- extend the vaccination drive by a couple of tion” and interference on constitutional right of days. Parliament. Kapilvastu is one of the worst Covid-19 “The ordinance brought with a certain intention affected districts in the province. The district bypassing Parliament is considered colourable legis- has reported a total of 170 Covid-19 deaths lation and that won’t get constitutional acceptance since May. according to legal principle,” the Supreme Court said. “The number of people visiting vaccina- The court also noted that although there are provi- tion centres was quite low in the first two sions for the government to bring ordinances but that days. The District Health Office extended the too has limitations as the legislature has the inherent drive by one more day but the footfall on the right to make laws. third day was also dismal,” said Umesh “Ordinances cannot be issued going beyond the Ghimire, the Covid-19 control focal person at limitations of the constitution. Issuing ordinance by the District Health Office. bypassing Parliament for the benefit of governance According to him, only around 30 percent or to fulfil any political interest will create a situation of the target group were vaccinated on that could mean an inappropriate interference in the Tuesday and Wednesday. right of legislation and its effectiveness,” states the Of the 1,000 doses provided to Krishnanagar order. Municipality, only 570 doses were adminis- The court order noted that issuing an ordinance tered while Suddhdhan Rural Municipality right after the government’s decision to dissolve used 500 of total 730 doses and Maharajgunj POST PHOTO: SANJU PAUDEL Parliament cannot be accepted as a common and reg- used just half of 1,000 doses. A health worker administers Covid-19 vaccine to a man at a vaccination centre at Tilottama Municipality in Rupandehi district. ular practice. According to the health workers, people “If we take such practice easily as a common and are hesitant to get the jab due to various showed up at the vaccination centres. been used in Rupandehi,” said Dr Rajendra “We are conducting the vaccination cam- regular one, it would interfere with the constitutional rumours about the side effects of the vaccine. “We had to return 313 vaccine doses Giri, chief at the District Health Office. “The paign from two centres. Around 200 individu- right of the legislature or its jurisdiction and would Birendra Mishra, coordinator of Health because some people did not want the shot,” local units will return the remaining vaccine als are receiving the vaccine on a daily basis. have inappropriate effect on use and implementation Unit in Yasodhara Rural Municipality, said, said Ghimire. “Most people fear the side doses to the District Health Office. They will The campaign will end within one to two of provisions of the constitution as per the principle “There is a lot of misinformation and confu- effects of the vaccine and it’s difficult to be administered to the health workers.” days,” said Madhab Gyawali, chief at the of separation of powers,” reads the order. sion about Covid-19 vaccines. We are launch- change their mindset.” The vaccination drive is also ongoing in health unit of the municipality. The court did not find the defendants’ clarifications ing an awareness campaign to dispel such Narainapur Rural Municipality in Banke Nawalparasi (West). According to the District “The campaign is more effective in town on why the legal provisions were necessary immedi- mistruths and assuage the people’s fear about aimed to inoculate 536 people on Wednesday, Health Office in Nawalparasi (West), only 40 areas compared to rural villages. We have ately satisfactory. vaccines.” but only 45 of them got the vaccine. percent of the population were inoculated in started awareness campaigns in rural areas But leaders of the Janata Samajbadi Party have In Rupandehi, the District Health Office “It was the same on Thursday,” said the last three days. with the help of women health volunteers.” said they feel that the Supreme Court’s order is provided 479 doses of vaccines to Rohini Nagendra Kumar Sah, chief of the local In Palhinandan Rural Municipality, out of Krishna Prasad Pokharel, chief at the intended to create problems instead of resolving Rural Municipality to be used on the first day health centre. “We returned the leftover vac- 620 individuals, only 200 got vaccinated in the District Health Office in Nawalparasi (West), them. of the drive, but few people took the vaccine. cine doses to the district health office.” last three days. said few people from the target group in the “The court should test the legal and constitutional “People did not visit the vaccination cen- Narainapur had become a Covid-19 hotspot “People are hesitant to receive the jab. rural areas have visited the vaccination cen- basis of the decisions but not what political parties tres although they were informed about the last year, but the local population is still hes- Most people don’t trust the vaccine and are tres. demand and issues related to governance,” said vaccination drive. Almost everybody is hesi- itant to get vaccinated against the disease. waiting for other people to get vaccinated “We are discussing with the local people’s Brikhesh Chandra Lal, a leader of the Janata tant to take the jab,” said Sanoj Kumar Yadav, In Rupandehi, the District Health Office first. The rate of people getting vaccinated is representatives to figure out what is causing Samajbadi Party and former member of the National the chairman of the rural municipality. aims to inoculate 1,455 individuals. The vac- also low in Susta, Pratappur and Sarawal the vaccine hesitancy. We are also planning Assembly. “This decision will further escalate the Lumbini Sanskritik Municipality, another cination drive is underway at 69 vaccination Rural Municipalities in Nawalparasi (West),” to extend the vaccination drive by a few more ongoing problems due to the lack of a law in distrib- local unit in Rupandehi, has set up five vacci- centres of 16 local units for the last three said Dharmajit Patel, an auxiliary health days.” uting citizenship instead of resolving them.” nation centres. days. worker of the rural municipality. As the existing law on citizenship makes it difficult According to Dhrubaraj Ghimire, the “The vaccine doses have been sent to the In the last three days, only 600 people out (Sanju Paudel in Rupandehi, Thakur Singh for single mothers to pass on citizenship to their chil- health unit chief of the local unit, out of local units on the basis of population distri- of 1,100 from the target group took the Covid- Tharu in Nepalgunj and Nabin Paudel in dren, the ordinance had provisions to resolve this 1,391 vaccine candidates, only 1,078 people bution. Until Thursday, 11, 500 vials have 19 jabs in Bardaghat Municipality. Parasi contributed reporting) issue. Women’s rights activist and advocate Meera Dhungana, who had pleaded against the petitions demanding that they be quashed, said there may have been problems regarding the process of how the law While he has yet to clarify his June 4 Cabinet expansion, ... had been introduced, but the problem of acquiring citizenship exists for a large number of people and >> Continued from page 1 the Madhav Kumar Nepal faction. Member of Parliament from Kailali in the cism, but many say Oli’s sole intention this problem should be resolved. “There is a constitution, there is a system, Analysts say since governance is not Oli’s 2017 elections, had defeated Arzu Rana behind doing this was to ensure direct access “It’s not that the ordinance resolves all the existing there is law, there is political culture, there priority, he is inducting ministers to suit his Deuba, the spouse of Nepali Congress to matters related to foreign affairs. problems, but people who are rendered stateless could are institutions. But they are being violated interest rather than the public’s. President Sher Bahadur Deuba and a senior By bringing as many faces as possible from get a new lease of life,” said Dhungana. “Now with by someone at the top.” Nayankala Thapa, who has been given the woman politician. the Madhes, Oli is also trying to appease the the interim order, they will continue to suffer and Many believe Oli is trying to exploit the Ministry of Communication and Information Oli also inducted Jwala Kumari Sah, the Madhesi vote bank, insiders say. nobody knows for how long.” government to the fullest, eyeing elections Technology, is the wife of Ram Bahadur provincial chair of his party’s province no 2 Oli’s bonhomie with the Thakur-Mahato The Bill to amend Nepal Citizenship Act-2006 has that he has declared for November 12 and 19. Thapa, who was home minister until last office as minister for agriculture and live- faction has already raised quite an eyebrow been pending in Parliament since August 2018. Even his own party members were sur- month. She is former chair of the Nepal stock. among analysts, who call this newfound “All the contents of the Bill to amend Nepal prised at Oli’s Thursday’s picks for minis- Women’s Commission. She is from Bara and now chair of our friendship between one-time foes intriguing. Citizenship Act-2006 were thoroughly discussed at the ters. Thapa, a long-time Maoist politician, has party in Province no 2, Bishnu Rijal, a mem- According to Gautam, an aide to Oli, Parliamentary State Affairs and Good Governance “Induction of less controversial faces deserted the Communist Party of Nepal ber of the UML general convention organis- Madhes is important in view of elections, as Committee for around three months,” said Sashi means the prime minister is targeting elec- (Maoist Centre) and sided with Oli. ing committee, said. there are 80, out of 165, constituencies from Shrestha, chairperson of the parliamentary commit- tions,” said Rajendra Gautam, a central His reappointment as home minister on Pahadi, who was earlier active in the rival Jhapa to Kanchanpur along the plains. tee of the dissolved Parliament. “Instead of endorsing member of the CPN-UML. “Over 50 percent May 14 was scrapped by the Supreme Court Madhav Kumar Nepal faction of the party, is “If opposition parties are working on an it through Parliament, the government used the ordi- of ministers in Oli’s Council of Ministers on May 20. Six other ministers also lost their considered close to Yogesh Bhattarai. electoral alliance, why should we not prepare nance as a tool to fulfil political interests.” now are from the Madhes.” posts, as the Supreme Court disqualified Bhattarai, who was with the Nepal faction, is ourselves?” said Gautam. Lawyers who petitioned the Supreme Court said Gautam’s name was doing rounds for min- them saying they were not lawmakers. currently making efforts to be Oli’s good books. But many find Oli’s penchant for power an that the question is over the process and not the con- ister for communication and information Insiders say Oli appointed Nayankala Baniya, the minister without portfolio, is affront to the people. tent of the law. technology. Similarly, Mahesh Basnet, a close Thapa so as to continue to have Thapa’s sup- from Karnali and an ardent supporter of Oli. Even though the country is in the midst of “During the hearing, justices had questioned the aide to Oli, was tipped as home minister. port. Minister of State for Forest and a pandemic, Oli’s focus continues to be on defendants why they didn’t endorse the law through Both Basnet and Gautam are said to have Adhikari, who has been appointed home Environment Asha Bishowkarma hails from power, rather than on the fight against the Parliament if it was so important,” said senior advo- played a key role in bringing the Mahantha minister, is a long-time aide to Oli from Kaski Bajhang. She was elected to the Constituent virus, which has been sickening and killing cate Borna Bahadur Karki, one of the petitioners. Thakur-Rajendra Mahato faction of the district. Assembly in 2013 under the proportional rep- people across the country. The Constitutional Bench in its order has said that Janata Samajbadi to the government. Rajkishwor Yadhav, another appointee in resentation category. “What is this Cabinet expansion for? Is it the content of the ordinance can be introduced “I was expecting [to make it to the Cabinet], the Oli Cabinet, was unhappy after he was Critics say Oli has filled his Council of to hold elections or to fight Covid-19?,” said through parliamentary procedure. but I do not have any complaints,” said not made a minister on June 6. Ministers with people who can barely chal- Bishwa Prakash Sharma, spokesperson for “In such a case, it would be appropriate to make Gautam. He believes Thursday’s Cabinet A Janata Samajbadi leader said Yadhav lenge him, and this gives him an opportunity the Nepali Congress. “This Cabinet expan- necessary arrangements under the Act formed after expansion makes Oli even stronger. could not be appointed last week after a to bulldoze decisions as he wishes. sion is a farce, a charade… an absolutely the bills are endorsed from the federal parliament,” Besides his close allies, Oli has inducted debate over portfolio. Oli’s decision to pick Raghubir Mahaseth unnecessary move when Oli is surrounded the Supreme Court stated. “It is the regular constitu- one former Maoist and one politician from Narad Muni Rana, who was elected a as foreign minister last week met with criti- by constitutional, legal and moral questions.” tional process of making laws.” Chure is not just environment, but a political issue, experts say >> Continued from page 1 ing the Chure from further degrada- vice-versa. day-to-day lives. and how much we need for our future merely treated as a site for natural “When we talk about Chure, it’s not tion. Experts say unless politicians real- They are battling a severe water development aspirations like building resources while ignoring its impor- a segregated piece of land. It should However, the Board, envisioned to ise the loss of Chure could impact not crisis, annual flooding and loss of highways, hydropower and airports. tant role in the lives of people and be seen as a whole landscape includ- conserve Chure, maintained an eerie only a group of people living down- alluvial farmlands to sedimentation. There is no broader discussion on how generations.” ing Chure and the Tarai and Madhes silence on the government decision to stream but also the entire country, it’s “The digging up of rivers for sand we can make development sustainable And now the state is bent on selling area which is home to nearly 50 per- export sand, pebbles and aggregates. conservation would be a tall ask. and stones has disturbed the ground- and environment-sensitive.” it, he says. cent of the population,” says Shrestha. Instead, after a hullabaloo, it came Environmentalists say Nepali poli- water in the Tarai region,” says Vijay Environmentalists are unanimous “One can make a huge amount of “Besides, it is a habitat for endangered up with a statement endorsing the ticians’ concept of development is so Singh Danuwar, an environmentalist on the fact that the country’s natural money by investing little in wildlife like tigers, one-horned rhinos government decision. flawed that they have been encourag- who has championed the cause of resources and environment have for Chure extraction. Besides, loans for and elephants among others as well as Organising a press conference on ing bulldozers to raze through the Chure conservation for years. “It’s not decades bearing the brunt of buying trucks and excavators are other valuable species.” Sunday, eight days after the budget, hills and forests. just as simple as saying losing the short-sighted decisions and collusion easily available,” said Chandrakishore. When Ram Baran Yadav, the first the Board hit out at journalists and That the government wants to environment; the impacts on the peo- between politicians and interest “These sand and aggregate contrac- President of Nepal, made protection environmentalists for making a moun- export natural products to “minimise ple are immense.” groups, who enjoy an easy access to tors have also won elections and made of Chure hills one of his priorities, it tain of a molehill, completely down- the trade deficit” is just but ludicrous Shrestha agrees that when discus- the corridors of power . it to the decision-making levels in was for the first time it looked like the playing how Chure hills exploitation and needs to be rejected outright, sions are taking place for Chure con- “There is a huge nexus–a syndi- government.” environment would soon become a can have an overarching impact on experts say. Everyone needs to under- servation for its biodiversity and cate–of people… contractors, bureau- Danuwar also believes that rampant significant part of political discourse the environment and the people. stand why Chure constitutes an resources, the population that is crats and politicians and at times also exploitation of natural resources, as as well. The Board maintained that the gov- important part of the country’s envi- dependent on the region should be at some who claim to represent the local seen in the Chure belt or elsewhere, is Rampant exploitation of the Chure ernment’s plan to extract and export ronment conservation, according to the centre. media,” says Chandrakishore. “This happening under political patronage– range for its resources, mainly sand, construction materials will not affect them. “While we are discussing Chure’s group of people is reaping the benefits be it at the local level or at the centre. pebbles and stones, drew the attention the Chure region, which many say is a If Chure loses its forests and sand, degradation and potential damage due of Chure degradation, while putting After all politicians and political of Yadav, who then directed the gov- mere assumption. boulders, pebbles and aggregates are to the extraction of construction not only today’s generation but also parties need funds for elections, says ernment about the urgent need for Experts say the fundamental prob- extracted, the rains and floods trig- materials, no one is talking about the future generations at risk.” Danuwar. Chure conservation. Subsequently, the lem in Nepal is people in power and gered subsequently could wipe out the what could be alternative construc- According to Chandrakishore, the How powerful these groups involved government came up with the authorities often tend to trivialise entire mountain. This will not only tion materials instead of sand and exploitation of Chure for personal in the extraction of riverbed materi- President Chure Conservation environmental concerns. mean losing biodiversity but also put- stone,” says Shrestha. “We see the benefits only got worse in the last 10 to als are can be understood from the fact Programme and declared the region Parties instead of making Chure a ting the lives of people living down- same kind of houses built across the 15 years, although it had faced that no one can enter their area, “Chure Environmental Protection strong political issue and instead of stream in peril. country with cement, which also have degradation for a long time. according to him. Area” under the Environmental lobbying for its protection found in it a Several decades of uncontrolled environmental impacts.” “The Panchayat system destroyed “Politicians and contractors have Protection Act (1997) in 2014. huge source for their own personal exploitation of the Chure range for According to Shrestha, yet another the Charkoshe jhadi forests whereas been working in cahoots to exploit For its extensive conservation, a gains. construction materials has already problem is–everyone is talking but no massive exploitation of the Chure Chure and other regions for decades,” powerful “President Chure-Tarai In Nepal, where extractive politics made the region prone to disasters one is listening. range started after the multiparty he says. Contractors are so powerful Madhesh Conservation Development is thriving for the past few decades, like landslides and flooding. “Decisions are being made on an system was restored in 1990,” says that they can change chief district Board, was formed. In June 2016, the the client-patron relationship has Deterioration of the range has even ad-hoc basis. It’s not just about sand Chandrakishore. “However, officers, ministers and even police Board came up with a 20-year Chure- emerged as a new cottage industry. left bigger impacts on the people liv- and stones,” says Shrestha. “There are plundering of Chure in an organised personnel. How is this possible Tarai Madhesh Conservation and There is no dearth of people who are ing downstream in Tarai districts hardly any studies on how much and syndicated way began about a without the backing of some powerful Management Master Plan for protect- politicians-turned-contractors or where effects have percolated to their deposits of these materials we have decade or so ago. Even today, Chure is politicians?”

C M Y K 03 | FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 2021 NATIONAL Experts say Speaker discussing Valley authorities mull easing House dissolution is undemocratic restrictions from mid-June Businesses and services that are less likely to cause crowding could reopen. The issue is sub judice in court but after holding meetings with former Speakers and lawyers, Sapkota has called a meeting today of the parties represented in the dissolved House.

BINOD GHIMIRE tional, he is lobbying to establish what meeting of the Constitutional Council to KATHMANDU, JUNE 10 he believes. be held with the majority of the existing “It is natural for one to lobby for the members of the Council. The recommen- At a time when the Supreme Court has position he has taken,” a senior official at dation to appoint the 38 members of con- expedited hearing on the writ petitions the Parliament Secretariat told the Post stitutional bodies had been made without against the dissolution of the House of on condition of anonymity. “Friday’s the presence of the Speaker and the lead- Representatives, Speaker Agni Sapkota is meeting is its continuation. He will be er of the main opposition in Parliament busy holding one meeting after another to holding more of such meetings in the since they had opposed the amendment. discuss the May 21 dissolution and the days to come.” Sapkota’s move to challenge the head of political situation it has brought about. Oli’s aides have publicly said he two other state agencies and the He has called an all-party meeting for wouldn’t be participating in the meeting. head of the state too became the issue of Friday with the chairs and senior leaders People from Sapkota’s secretariat say criticism. of the parties represented in the dissolved they expect participation of all political “Sapkota’s activism is not natural,” lower house. Along with the former prime parties except from the Oli-led faction of Raju Prasad Chapagain, chair of the POST FILE PHOTO ministers, his invitees include Prime the UML. Constitutional Lawyer’s Forum, told the An empty road seen on April 29, the first day of prohibitory orders enforced in Kathmandu Valley to tackle the second virus wave. Minister and CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma According to Adhikari, Sapkota has Post. “His activities are taking a toll on Oli, also a primary defendant in the House indulged in unwarranted activism mainly the integrity of the institution he is ANUP OJHA until June 14 by easing some of the in April. Such vehicles are dissolution case. after the first dissolution of the lower leading.” KATHMANDU, JUNE 10 restrictions last week. detained for several hours and Sapkota himself is one of the house on December 20 last year. He had He says Sapkota’s moves are more like a The prohibitory orders were released upon the payment of defendants. issued a statement claiming the dissolu- leader of a particular party rather than a With the Covid-19 recovery rates made stricter for a week until last penalty. Some constitutional experts say tion was unconstitutional which he one who holds a neutral position leading improving across the country, Thursday with the authorities Janak Raj Dahal, joint secretary Sapkota calling meetings is setting a bad repeated this time as well. one of the three state organs. authorities are likely to ease the closing grocery shops and depart- and spokesperson at the Home precedent against constitutionalism and Sapkota’s move in January to return The Speaker has to resign from the prohibitory orders in the ment stores amid widespread criti- Ministry said, the ministry has rule of law. They say the meetings are the Constitutional Council’s recommen- membership of his/her party the day Kathmandu Valley from mid-June. cism. The authorities had allowed been consulting the provincial wrong for two reasons. First, holding dis- dations to various constitutional they are elected to the position. Sapkota On Thursday the country only the shops selling vegetables, government on its plan to ease the cussions on a sub-judice case is against bodies back to the council had run into was elected the Speaker as a candidate reported 2,874 new cases of Covid- fruits, dairy products, meat, drink- prohibitory order. “We have been the democratic practice and second, the controversy. from the erstwhile Nepal Communist 19 and 5,293 recoveries in the last ing water and cooking gas until 9 collecting district-wise data on the Speaker’s position is a neutral post, so On January 31, he had returned the Party (NCP) in January 2020. He has been 24 hours, according to the Health am. But from last Friday grocery Covid-19 infections and deaths Sapkota shouldn’t be seen taking sides. recommendations forwarded by the coun- close to the Communist Party of Nepal Ministry. The daily recovery num- shops, department stores, station- from the chief district offices. We Bipin Adhikari, a former dean at cil, saying that there was no possibility of (Maoist Centre) Chair Pushpa Kamal bers are nearly double the new ery shops and automobile work- will come up with a decision after Kathmandu University School of Law, holding the hearing of the appointees as Dahal for a long time. infections. shops were also allowed to do busi- studying the data,” said Dahal. said Sapkota is trying to practice a shad- the House of Representatives did not Experts say Sapkota’s activities seem to Just a month ago, on May 6, ness until 9am. “We do not want to cause ow parliament by calling all party meet- exist. He, however, had not consulted with be influenced by the position his former Kathmandu district alone had With the easing of the prohibito- inconvenience to the public, so ings, which is undemocratic. the chair of the National Assembly, party takes. reported 3,163 new cases with the ry orders, the number of vehicles after analysing the data we will “He is also challenging another state though the Parliamentary Hearing Adhikari says it is his constitutional nationwide single day total stand- on the road have also increased, most likely ease the prohibitory organ (judiciary) by holding discussion Committee is composed of the members obligation to play an impartial role which ing at 8,970. said Janak Bhattrai, senior orders in places where the infec- on a sub-judice case,” he told the Post. from both houses. should be reflected in his actions. “It “We have worked out three mod- Superintendent also chief at tion rates have come down,” said “Sapkota is equally responsible for pres- The regulation of the parliament makes seems under some provocation Sapkota is els to ease the prohibitory orders. Metropolitan Traffic Police Dahal. He said they will give prior- ent anomalies in the democratic system it mandatory for both the houses to have a trying to give a symbolic message while Maybe we will make them public Division. ity to easing restrictions on agri- of the country.” consultation on the issues related to the the writ petitions are sub judice,” he said. by Sunday,” said Kalpana Ghimire, According to the division, a total cultural-related activities as the Among the three state organs Sapkota jurisdiction of both the houses. Similarly, “He should refrain from any of such the assistant chief district officer of 1,503 vehicles were detained on monsoon paddy planting season leads one—legislature. in an unprecedented move, Sapkota on activism and wait for the law to take of Kathmandu. Thursday for breaching the pro- has started. He has already held meetings with for- February 5 filed a writ petition against its course.” “Businesses and services that hibitory orders. “But until a week “Also, the services linked to mer Speakers and constitutional and the Office of the President and chief of The Supreme Court on Wednesday are less likely to cause crowding ago, we would detain more than basic human needs will be given legal experts. In both the meetings, a executive–Oli–and head of judiciary announced to start continuous hearing on could reopen,” said Ghimire. 2,000 such vehicles every day,” said priority while easing restrictions. majority of the participants said that the Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana the petitions from June 23 after receiving Meanwhile, Dhundi Prasad Bhattrai. It’s paddy planting season so the dissolution was unconstitutional while over the appointments in the constitution- written clarification from the defendants. Niraula, the chief district officer On the first day of the prohibito- farmers should be allowed to some of the constitutional experts even al bodies. It has given seven days to the Office of of Lalitpur also confirmed ry orders on April 29, traffic police transport seeds and fertillisers. argued that Sapkota holds a privilege to As many as 32 chairs and the members President, the Prime Minister’s Office, Oli that plans were afoot to ease the had detained 1,920 vehicles Also, transportation of construc- call the session of the House. of 11 different constitutional commis- and federal parliament to furnish clarifi- restrictions. for operating in breach of the tion materials will be allowed,” According to Shreedhar Neupane, a sions on February 3 had taken an oath of cation. The Rana-led Constitutional “The existing restrictions will restrictions. said Bhattrai. press advisor to Sapkota, the Friday’s office and secrecy in an event organised at Bench has decided to conclude the hear- most likely be eased after analys- According to the Division, a He hinted that restrictions on meeting has been called to discuss con- the President’s Office. ing within 32 hours. ing the situation, but we have not total of 77,878 of which 54,668 two public gatherings, cinemas, gym temporary issues. Though he didn’t dwell The recommendations had been made “Sapkota is competing with Oli in taken any decision yet,” said wheelers, 18,097 four wheelers and centres, dance bars, restaurants, on the details about the meeting, the offi- on December 15 after the Constitutional breaching the rule of law,” said Niraula. 5,113 including trucks, tipper party venues, swimming pools, cials at the Parliament Secretariat say as Council (Functions, Duties and Chapagain. “He must understand in the The prohibitory orders in trucks and other vehicles were beauty salons, futsal courts, zoo, Sapkota has already made his position Procedure) Act-2010 had been amended name of attacking Oli’s move, he is com- Kathmandu Valley that are in detained since the prohibitory libraries and games that are played clear that the dissolution is unconstitu- through an ordinance that allowed for the mitting one mistake after another.” place since April 29 were extended orders were imposed in the Valley in groups will remain.

C M Y K FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 2021 | 04 OPINION EDITORIAL A break from an all-male tradition

No more helicopter tours Hisila Yami’s feminist Hundreds of Nepalis die in floods every year, and we leaning brings a different need to do things differently this year. perspective to the Maoist conflict. But is it adequate? The monsoon season will soon open its floodgates and cause formidable damages to life and property. Almost 400 persons died last year due to monsoon-induced natural disasters. This AMISH RAJ MULMI year, too, thousands of families will potentially be displaced as floods and landslides destroy homes, roads, cultivable lands, hydropower plants, drinking water networks, irriga- tion channels and much more. Meteorologists predict that with higher precipitation than usual, and with almost 1.8 million people being affected, this year is going to get harder Those who believe they have left an than the previous one. imprint on history usually end up writ- ing an autobiographical memoir, Ticking all the boxes of high risks ranging from earth- which, as a narrative device, allows the quakes to flooding and climate change, Nepal is considered a author much leeway. A memoir depends hotspot for natural disasters. Almost 83 percent of the coun- on the author’s interpretation of histo- try’s topography comprises hills and mountains, which is ry, which means most of them are writ- ten towards the end of a career, when what leaves Nepal with a perpetually high risk of landslides. the author doesn’t particularly need to Parts of those hills and mountains have been rendered frag- worry about critical judgements. The ile due to the deadly 2015 earthquake. And if that were not genre stands out equally for those who haven’t written one—our kings, for enough, our mountains have been ravaged by the develop- instance—as for those who have. ment monster, as earthmovers are deployed everywhere pos- In Nepal, the tradition of the memoir sible to build poorly engineered roads and extract sand and has mostly been co-opted by politicians gravel for commercial purposes. In the plains, the Chure and bureaucrats. Some, like BP Koirala’s Atmabritanta, give us a ring- range is already in tatters due to mining and concrete side view of history as well as an embankments dot the Indo-Nepal border, hindering the natu- insight into the ideas that shaped him. ral flow of excess water. Others, like GP Koirala’s Aafno Kura, are more about the actions of the indi- The fact that the country saw an unusual number of forest vidual than self-reflection. Needless to fires this year means a significant fall in the number say, a majority of memoirs in Nepal are of trees that function as natural check-and-balance mecha- written by men. nisms against floods and landslides. Combine all that with an Former Maoist leader Hisila Yami’s memoir, Hisila: From Revolutionary to erratic monsoon and we have a recipe for disaster First Lady, is thus a welcome break in TWITTER_@HISILAPOST perfect with human greed and nature’s laws. And with the this all-male tradition. For example, is affairs, but Yami does not shy from mainstream politics. The reader would ment would suggest it failed to tran- financial capabilities of the citizens as well as the it any surprise that despite the Maoists’ that. There is a moment of great poign- have preferred Yami’s perspective on scend politics and transform Nepali state institutions taking a hit due to the Covid-19 induced claims towards gender equality and ancy when she talks about her first- the Maoists’ reversal. society. The Communist movement in caste consciousness, the higher eche- born who was declared dead within The second and more pertinent gap Nepal, in fact, stands out for its dog- economic downturn, the resources for disaster mitigation, lons of the party were mostly upper- fourteen hours. ‘I felt like I had lost a is that Yami’s memoir rushes through matic conservatism. With both their rescue and rehabilitation are tighter this year. The caste Brahmin men, and only two part of my body, my soul, which I had the promulgation of the 2015 constitu- feet stuck in the past, it is no surprise vulnerability of the people can only be lessened if the gov- women—Pampha Bhusal and Yami carefully nurtured for the first time.’ tion, the launch of the Naya Shakti that Nepali Communists rarely hold a herself—were inducted into the polit- And equally, when she talks about rais- Party and its eventual merger with modernist view. ernment prepares in advance. But the big question is: Are buro after the Maoist conflict started? ing her daughter Manushi, and staying Upendra Yadav’s Sanghiya Samajwadi My personal view is that Nepal need- we prepared? And that Yami herself faced discrimi- away from her during the war. Party. Beyond addressing the 2015 stat- ed an Ambedkar and found itself a A real test of our aptitude for defence and resilience nation and slander within the party, all The memoir is particularly delicious ute’s discriminatory position on wom- Koirala, which is why successive revo- against natural disasters lies in how we are going to do differ- because she came from Kathmandu in its honest snark—much of which is en’s rights, the book would have done lutions and movements have withered and was educated and outspoken? As directed towards Pushpa Kamal Dahal well to reflect on the decay of the away once the protagonists—again, ently this year in terms of disaster risk communication, she writes, ‘The impression most lead- and the other Maoist leaders. For Maoist movement—not just the party, usually Brahmin men—enjoyed the rescue and rehabilitation. And the only way to do that is to ers had of me was that, at best, I was instance, ‘Prachanda’s name...in my but also its ideas—in the years since spoils of power and retained the status prepare in advance. If we are clueless about handling the modern, smart and amusing; and, opinion, does not match his charac- the statute’s promulgation. quo. Beyond ideological dogma, what at worst, a bit out of place, too frank ter… He preached like a revolutionary One can now say without a doubt Nepal needs is a deep restructuring of landslides and floods this year just as we were last year, it and an embarrassment to [Baburam but was unreliable.’ In another that Dahal’s penchant for dealmaking the state and society alongside tells more about us than about nature. No amount of hurry- Bhattarai].’ instance, Yami writes, ‘I was aston- and power politics has been one of the Ambedkar’s push for affirmative ing up is going to help once the disaster is already at our Yami’s feminist leaning also makes ished to discover [Dahal’s] drinking key reasons why the movement has action. Without that, all revolutions doors. In any case, we are already pretty late in stopping our room for a different perspective of the habits. It was understood that he come to be vilified by the ordinary will only lead to a change in faces, but conflict and why many women joined should not be contacted after 8 pm’ Nepali. The Maoists have abandoned not in society. mountains from being turned into ugly patches of red mud the movement. There may be differing Yami calls Ram Bahadur Thapa (who the values of inclusion that brought Yami’s memoir, however, is remarka- and barren slopes, and our riverbeds from turning dry due to views on whether the Maoists actually called himself Badal) ‘a cloud that pro- them the support of the marginalised, ble not just for its outspoken nature, excessive extraction. succeeded in making a difference to duces a rumble without any rain’, and and by joining hands with the CPN- but also her willingness to deal with Nepali women’s lives, but there can be asserts he was not the military com- UML, they are now as politically con- uncomfortable subjects, and to write Agencies tasked with disaster risk reduction and manage- no doubt that the foundation of the mander of the PLA as had been believed servative as the average Oli supporter. about subjects Nepali men rarely ment need to monitor landslide and flood-prone areas and movement’s widespread popularity (although she does not tell us who the Here, one admires Yami’s belief in touch upon. She gives us a ringside evacuate people to safer areas in advance. We need the agen- rested on its appeal to women and mar- real commander was). social justice, one of the primary moti- view into how the Maoists saw them- cies to actually work on the ground towards learning from ginalised people. To me, however, there are two gaps in vations for her to join the movement in selves, and more importantly, on Like all political memoirs, Yami toes the text that should have been the first place. But much of the talk how revolutions falter. As Yami writes, past mistakes and improving their disaster management her ideological lines, and rarely strays addressed. The first is the reversal of around social justice in Nepal has been ‘Nepali society, in general, still finds mechanisms. This year, we do not expect a repeat perfor- from the belief that the Maoists the Maoist assurance to GP Koirala limited to the political sphere, and rare- it difficult to stomach women who mance of the home minister hovering over vulnerable people changed Nepal. Expectedly, she is kind- that the latter would become republic ly has it crossed over into the socio-cul- are independent, bold, loud and fear- er towards her husband; but here, too, Nepal’s first president, which was a tural sphere, as it should. The Maoist less.’ Yami, whether you agree or on a flood and landslide-monitoring tour, and throwing a few is a departure from the usual. Memoirs grave error that eroded the politics of movement succeeded in bringing down disagree with her views, certainly fits sacks of rice and instant noodles. in general do not discuss personal consensus that brought the Maoists to the monarchy, but an honest assess- the bill.

The future of democracy and peace

insular and protectionist policies. desperate to bring a change in their Hyper-nationalism, As the Trump era indicates, lives often find the system unhelpful; inward-looking democracy damages many of them who live technological- unilateralism and not just domestically but also interna- ly driven lives wish for fast-paced tionally. In many ways, because of the public service delivery and improved inward-looking policies do ‘America first’ policy, increased white living conditions. They get impatient supremacist and anti-immigration with lengthy, contentious and messy not serve us in the long run. movement, the US globally lost its democratic processes. These, in moral standing for promoting democ- turn, cause political fatigue towards racy overseas. In Europe, the democracy. DHIRENDRA NALBO inward-looking populist trends such This condition opens a space for an as Brexit and the rise of ultranational- alternative to liberal democracy: illib- ist or far-right parties have hurt the eral democracy. If the US and Western future of democracy and peace as democracies continue their well. A glaring example of this is the inward-looking nationalist ‘democra- emergence of widespread anti-immi- cy’, Beijing will be more than happy to gration sentiment. Far-right activists fill the space with its ‘tributary sys- were touched neither by hungry tem’—a fluid and bilateral ‘Sino- Across the globe, as governments and desperate immigrants nor by centric’ diplomacy, often called the grapple with how to move forward the bodies of dead migrant children ‘debt trap’ or ‘wolf-warrior’ approach. with the economic, political, and psy- and adults that washed up on EU In such conditions, the Chinese ver- chosocial damage that the pandemic seashores. sion of international engagement, has spawned, once more we are The illiberal populist activity which is fast because it does not go reminded that hyper-nationalism, uni- impeded and hurt nobody more than through messy democratic processes, lateralism and inward-looking poli- citizens in Asia’s ‘illiberal democra- provides a promising alternative for cies do not serve us in the long run. cies’ who believe in democracy. For illiberal democracies. Under such con- This is what we witnessed amidst these citizens, the key principles of ditions, we are likely to see greater inward-looking populist nationalism democracy, namely tolerance, coexist- rivalry between the US and China that emerged in many Western democ- ence, equality, inclusion, multicultur- inciting more polarisation and divi- racies. In many ways, such politics alism and multilateralism that sion, potentially leading to violent stoked deeper racial, ethnic and ideo- Western democracies championed, conflict and instability. This then cer- logical divisions and disregarded seemed like a political sham. Most tainly means a further decline in cooperation and multilateralism importantly, these citizens felt like democracies, not just in Asia but among states. Consequently, it not they were being cheated by the across the globe. only limited the ability of govern- ‘matured’ democracies such as the US The big losers in this geopolitical ments to contain the pandemic, but and other Western democracies. Once rivalry marked by inward-looking pol- also fundamentally hampered the the pandemic struck in these increas- icies are the people who want to live in functionality of liberal democracy, ingly illiberal democracies, coopera- an equitable, peaceful democratic sys- posing a threat to peace and security. tion and multilateralism among tem. What is needed then is to focus on Under this international political con- SHUTTERSTOCK states—the hallmarks of the post- holding dialogue and discussion dition, the key question we must ask such protests in the streets of the Slovenia, Hungary and Serbia. gories. In South Asia, seven countries, World War II liberal order—seemed to among and between governments. As is: What does the future of democracy United States, Myanmar, Hong Kong Meanwhile, almost all Central Asian which includes Nepal, were labelled have evaporated. Vaccine nationalism one veteran diplomat told me, ‘The and peace look like in Asia? and Nepal, to name a few. countries moved towards more ‘partly free’, and Afghanistan ‘not has further hurt the functionality of only way to resolve conflict is to sit Democracy allows citizens to play a entrenched authoritarian govern- free’. More interestingly, India, one of liberal democracy. Meanwhile, call it down and talk about it.’ Holding dia- central role in deciding their future. It Democracy in decline ments. Strikingly, the Economist’s the biggest democracies and the domi- ‘vaccine diplomacy’, Beijing’s vac- logue not only helps us to resolve con- helps us to nurture our collective But over the last 15 years, democracy Democracy Index recently downgrad- nant power in the region, fell under cines reached the arms of people from flicts, but also provides us a space to interests, shared values and secure a has been in a steady decline. In 2005, ed the US to ‘flawed democracy’ mean- democratic backsliding. Consequently, Argentina to Azerbaijan, and from share our values, interests, concerns common future. In that sense, peace—a according to a Freedom House report, ing not ‘full democracy. the country’s global democracy rank- Nepal to Namibia. and common future—the key aspects dignified way of living life for all citi- 89 countries were ‘free’ or democra- What is the state of democracy in ing fell from 27th to 53rd. In the of building democracy and peace that zens—is inseparably yoked in democ- cies. In 2020, only 82 were. Meanwhile, Asia? According to Freedom House, meantime, the Freedom House report Liberal vs. illiberal democracy works not just for a few powerful peo- racy. Sharing views is crucial for the number of ‘not free’ or authoritar- four of the 10 Association of Southeast ranks it as a ‘partly free’ country. Democracy can be flawed, messy and ple but for all. healthy democracies. Citizens who ian countries increased from 45 to 54. Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries are Unfortunately, democracy’s decline in cumbersome. Making it work for all believe in democracy participate in Most of the countries that turned ‘partly free’, and six are ‘not free’. Asia will further deepen due to pat- requires citizens to engage and adhere Nalbo is Co-Founder and Assistant fierce debates and contestations with into authoritarian regimes are Meanwhile, almost all Middle Eastern terns that emerged in Western democ- to the rule of law. But many citizens Professor at The Open Institute for their governments. Presently, we see European Union countries: Poland, countries fall under the ‘not free’ cate- racies and have spread: self-serving, from illiberal democracies who are Social Science.

C M Y K 05 | FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 2021 NATIONAL Two French companies in race to supply 12 million smart cards for National ID programme Thales has quoted $14.38 million and IDEMIA $14.61 million. The latter had run into a controversy earlier for being awarded a contract without competitive bidding.

PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA & ANIL GIRI financial capability; if the goods are procurement laws. The government KATHMANDU, JUNE 10 to be installed, competency of the had subsequently signed a $16 million technician to be involved in the instal- contract to upgrade and manage Two French companies are in the race lation; guarantee to the effect that the the national identity card project for the contract to supply 12 million goods to be supplied will smoothly with IDEMIA. smart cards for national identity operate for a specific period; provision This time too IDEMIA had been the cards as the government aims to of maintenance of goods and availa- only company to bid for the contract to replace the existing citizenship cards bility of services and spare parts are supply 12 million smart cards to be with such cards for official purposes. key criteria for eligibility and techni- awarded by the Department of Thales and IDEMIA are the two cal capacity of the bidder. National ID and Civil Registration companies that participated in the bid Basnet didn’t confirm in what stage when the tender was issued first. and the selected bidder will be respon- the evaluation of bids of two French On May 7, the department then sible for designing, manufacturing, companies is undergoing. issued a re-tender after invalidating supplying, delivering, testing and pro- Thales is involved in the areas of the initial tender notice because of a duction support of multipurpose defence and security, digital identity bid from a single company. Then these biometric smart cards, according to and security, aerospace, space, trans- two companies submitted bids in the the Department of National ID and portation and market specific solu- re-tender process. Civil Registration. tions. IDEMIA provides identity-relat- As per the bid document, smart Their bids were opened on May 28 ed security services, and sells facial cards need to be delivered from six and evaluation is underway. recognition and other biometric iden- months to 22 months from the date of According to the details obtained by tification products and software to signing a contract. the Post, Thales is the lowest bidder private companies and governments. Meanwhile, the government has which may make it the frontrunner Kathmandu-based Waves Group been collecting personal details of for the contract. Thales Dis Singapore, Trading Pvt Ltd is the local agent of people including biometric data. Even the regional office of Thales, has quot- Thales. The company has been though the government had targeted ed $14.38 million while the IDEMIA involved in supplying computer hard- to collect details of 10 million people Identity and Security, France has ware and software to different govern- in the current fiscal year, it has been quoted $14.61 million. mental agencies. RR Group, another able to collect details of just three mil- Jitendra Basnet, director general at company has joined the bid as subcon- lion people due to disturbances caused the Department of National ID and tractor for local IT and integration by the Covid-19 lockdowns, according Civil Registration didn’t confirm the works. to the department. prices quoted by the two companies IDEMIA is represented in Nepal by The government plans to introduce saying he was unaware about it. the Advantage Group. national ID cards with personal and “The evaluation committee is exam- Praveen Pradhan and Suman biometric details of citizens with ining the bids,” he said. Shrestha are co-owners of Waves unique identification numbers. The According to the department, the Trading Group while Rameshwor card is to become a key basis for the bidding process was conducted under Thapa owns Advantage Group. delivery of various government ser- a single envelope system under which Basnet however said that he does vices and replace the existing citizen- both technical and financial bids were not know the people associated with ship card. The biometric smart card, enclosed in a single envelope. the bidders. “Irrespective of who the according to the department, will have No separate weightage has been local agents are, we do things as per multiple applications and can be read given to technical and financial the law,” he told the Post. by officials using highly secure termi- aspects of the bids during the IDEMIA has already delivered nals, according to officials. evaluation. national ID cards, after winning the Along with the arrival of cards, the “A company legally and technically contract under a pilot programme. government had planned to issue qualified can win a contract if it is It was chosen to deliver an end-to- cards to those whose details have been also the lowest bidder,” he said. end system encompassing registra- collected. The department is sched- Public Procurement Act-2007 and tion of citizens’ data and biometric uled to receive two million cards related regulations do not have deduplication to ensure a unique ID is within six months after signing the provision of two envelopes for issued to each individual, in addition contract. bidding in order to supply goods to the to the production and personalization “We can distribute the new ID cards public entity. of smart cards. It had delivered ID as quickly as the cards are received,” “A company which is eligible to par- cards in 2018 for the pilot programme. said Basnet. “We will distribute the ticipate in the bid, meets the technical In 2019, the IDEMIA was also cards to those who were enrolled in specification criteria and also quotes awarded a government contract for the system first.” the lowest price, is awarded a contract the National Identity Management In November 2018, the first national as per the law,” said Rajesh Kumar Information System without competi- identity card had been given to the Thapa, director at the Public tive bidding and without having to then 101-year-old Bhagawati Devi Procurement Monitoring Office. submit its performance security bond Bhandari of Phidim Municipality, As per the Public Procurement in full. The decision to award the con- Panchthar to inaugurate the Regulations 2007, technical capacity; tract without competitive bidding had programme. manufacturing records; technical invited controversy as it was made in As many as 117,000 cards have been specifications of goods; economic and contravention of the existing public issued so far. Predeparture training uncertain even as government starts issuing labour permits Officials say they are waiting for the government to lift the Covid-19 restrictions.

As the services have resumed after several weeks of suspension, officials are expecting a significant increase in the number of workers applying for labour permits in the coming days. As for the pre-departure training, Dawadi said his office has instructed the trainers in several districts, where prohibitory orders have not been enforced, to conduct the training by following the health protocols. “Training institutes can also con- duct the training in coordination with the local governments,” said Dawadi. “As for the Kathmandu Valley, the existing prohibitory orders will end next week (on June 14), so we have been waiting to see if the government POST FILE PHOTO lifts the restrictions. For now People queue up at the Foreign Employment Department Office in Tinkune, Kathmandu. the pre-departure training remains suspended.” CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL “With the resumption of interna- Last week, the Foreign Employment KATHMANDU, JUNE 10 tional flights and pre-permit issuance, Office had said it would provide its recruitment agencies will also start services every Wednesday to those After the government started issuing hiring new workers. And these work- who visit the office in person. But it labour permits to outbound migrant ers will need pre-departure training. has decided to provide the services workers, concerns have been raised So we are discussing how the training twice a week—on Wednesdays and about how these workers will be can be provided when the prohibitory Fridays—after the number of appli- receiving the mandatory pre-depar- orders are still in place,” said Krishna cants grew. ture training amid the Covid-19 Prasad Dawadi, director general of According to Dawadi, nearly 500 restrictions. the Foreign Employment Department. labour permits were issued on Starting last week, the foreign Pre-permit is an approval issued by Wednesday. employment authorities have partial- the government to recruitment agen- As the department looks forward to ly resumed providing labour permits cies that have secured demand for the government easing the prohibito- to migrant workers and even to those sending Nepali workers. ry orders in the Valley next week and migrating on foreign employment for Pre-departure training, which was hopes to resume the pre-departure the first time. made mandatory for outbound work- training, officials are also concerned The service was affected for nearly ers in 2004, is considered one of the about the safety of the migrant work- a month due to the Covid -19 restric- most crucial parts of the labour ers participating in the training. tions when the Foreign Employment migration process. The training, On Thursday, the Department of Office at Tahachal, under the which is conducted over two days, Foreign Employment issued a notice, Department of Foreign Employment, offers useful information about the expressing concerns over reports had only been issuing re-entry per- labour destination countries, includ- that some institutes are conducting mits to migrant workers who had ing the rules and regulations, traffic the training without following the returned home on their job breaks rules, labour laws, and local culture health protocols. and needed to fly back. After halting and traditions. “Most of these training centres its several other services, the office The training helps them deal with remained closed, but with the had been issuing the re-entry permits potential challenges in the destination resumption of labour permit issu- online. countries. Besides, the training also ance, they also need to resume their With the office resuming, although includes information on how to services. We have alerted them to partially, its stopped services includ- remain safe at the workplace and in reduce the class size and provide ing the issuance of labour permits for the country in general. training by following Covid-19 proto- the first timers, it is however still The government recently amended cols,” said Matrika Sapkota, a section uncertain how they will be provided the curriculum of the pre-departure officer with the department. “Any the compulsory pre-departure ‘orien- training to make it more comprehen- institution found breaching our tation training’. sive and helpful for workers. instructions will face action.”

C M Y K FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 2021 | 06 WORLD BRIEFING Celebrations—and questions—greet Singapore to Some 350,000 people in ease curbs as Ethiopia’s Tigray in famine TIGRAY: An analysis by United Nations Washington’s vaccine donation plan virus cases fall agencies and aid groups estimates AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE that about 350,000 people in Ethiopia’s SINGAPORE, JUNE 10 conflict-torn Tigray region are in Biden administration will provide 500 million Pfizer doses to about 100 countries over two years, US media report. famine conditions, according to an Singapore will begin slowly easing a internal UN document. The ASSOCIATED PRESS month-long partial lockdown from Ethiopian government disputes the CAPE TOWN, JUNE 10 next week after the curbs succeeded in Integrated Food Security Phase stemming a coronavirus outbreak, Classification analysis, according to Health officials and experts around authorities said on Thursday. the notes of a meeting on the situa- the world on Thursday welcomed a The city-state has weathered the tion in Tigray of the Inter-Agency US plan to donate 500 million more pandemic largely unscathed but Standing Committee. The analysis, Covid-19 vaccines to developing coun- saw an uptick in local transmissions due to be released shortly, had found tries, but the celebrations came with in recent weeks as new variants that millions more across Tigray hesitation. spread. required “urgent food and agricul- For instance, when exactly will Fresh restrictions were introduced ture/livelihoods support to avert fur- those vaccines reach regions left in mid-May, including a cap on the size ther slides towards famine”. behind in the global race and that are of social gatherings at two, the closure feeling the bite right now with deadly of schools and a ban on dining-in at new waves of virus infections? And restaurants. Tackle biodiversity loss, climate how many other wealthy nations will With cases falling steadily, maxi- change together, UN panel says follow the lead of the US to fill the mum sizes for gatherings will be lifted PARIS: The world must tackle the dual gaping need? to five from Monday, and bigger groups crises of climate change and biodi- The Biden administration’s prom- will be allowed at events such as live versity loss together, two UN expert ise to purchase and share Pfizer vac- performances. groups meeting together said cines was “clearly a cause for celebra- If the situation remains under con- Thursday, warning against measures tion,” said Dr John Nkengasong, the trol, more restrictions will be lifted to combat global warming that harm director of the Africa Centers for from June 21—including a resumption nature. In the first ever collaboration Disease Control and Prevention, par- of restaurant dine-ins, while people between the United Nations’ intergov- ticularly at a time when virus infec- will be allowed to work out at gyms ernmental panels on climate and tions are aggressively increasing on without masks. nature loss, the scientists said that the continent, and there are still coun- However, employees who can work while the twin threats were mutually tries that haven’t administered a sin- from home must continue to do so. reinforcing, they had historically gle dose. AP/RSS Trade Minister Gan Kim Yong, a been treated as if they were inde- “Absolutely, it’s going to be a big A health worker administers the AstraZeneca vaccine to a Kashmiri farmer at Minnar village, north of Srinagar, in Indian-controlled Kashmir. member of a government task force pendent of each other. A peer-re- help,” Nkengasong said, although he dealing with the virus, said the viewed workshop report, based on added he was eager to understand the around the world have become alarm- of whom have excess vaccines, have now,” the Doctors Without Borders city-state’s outbreak was now “under virtual discussions between experts exact timeline for the shots hopefully ingly pronounced in recent months, as often been criticised as too little or too organization said. control”. from the IPBES biodiversity and heading to his continent. richer countries have rushed to vacci- late—or both. As countries around the world “Over the last few weeks, the num- IPCC climate panels, warned that a Two hundred million doses— nate wide swaths of their populations “While Biden’s plan is welcome, it is struggled to access vaccines, unable to ber of Covid-19 cases... has fallen number of planned interventions enough to fully protect 100 million while poorer nations have struggled to a small piece of the puzzle, and it secure their own deals with compa- progressively, fewer clusters are against global heating would adverse- people—will be provided this year, secure doses. The inequality is not doesn’t help countries that are strug- nies like Pfizer, many have turned to emerging and [are] generally smaller ly impact nature. with the balance donated in the first just a matter of fairness: There is also gling now,” said Fifa Rahman, who is a China, which has exported 350 million clusters.” half of 2022, according to the White increasing concern over newer vari- civil society representative on a World doses of its vaccines to dozens of Schools have been closed since last House. The US will work with the ants emerging from areas with con- Health Organization body focused on countries, according to its Foreign month amid fears that new variants Building collapse kills 11 after UN-backed COVAX alliance to deliver sistently high Covid-19 circulation. increasing access to Covid-19 vac- Ministry. were affecting youngsters more. the shots. Some have noted that since British Prime Minister Boris cines, among other issues. While Chinese vaccines have faced The Singapore outbreak led to monsoon flooding in Mumbai the Pfizer vaccines require extremely Johnson wrote in The Times of She cited the East African nation of scrutiny because of a lack of trans- the cancellation, for the second time, NEW DELHI: A dilapidated building col- cold storage, they present an extra London newspaper that it was now Uganda as an example, saying the parency in sharing clinical trial data, of a quarantine-free travel corridor lapsed following heavy rains in the logistical challenge for countries with time for wealthy countries to “shoul- country’s intensive care units are many countries were eager to receive with Hong Kong. Singapore said western Indian city of Mumbai, kill- struggling health systems and poor der their responsibilities” and “vacci- already full, and it has only small anything at all. the plan would be reviewed again in ing at least 11 people and injuring infrastructure. nate the world,” although his own numbers of vaccines left. China, which has been vying for early July. seven others, police said on Thursday. US President Joe Biden is expected country has yet to announce any solid “This is just one example of a coun- influence with the US in the realm of At the start of the pandemic last Heavy monsoon rains during the day to talk about the plan later Thursday plan to share vaccines with countries try that needs vaccines now,” Rahman “vaccine diplomacy,” reacted to the US year, Singapore had to fight serious Wednesday had flooded several parts in a speech on the eve of the Group of in need. said. “Later this year is too late and plan through Foreign Ministry spokes- coronavirus outbreaks when the of the city that is India’s financial Seven summit in Britain. France has been insisting on the comes at the expense of lives.” person Wang Wenbin, who said China illness surged through crowded dor- and entertainment capital. The That summit might also give a cru- importance of helping Africa, in par- There are many examples of dire has always supported using vaccines mitories housing low-paid foreign three-story building collapsed late cial indication of whether and how far ticular, with vaccines since last year need across the world, like Haiti, on as a “global public good”. workers, infecting tens of thousands. Wednesday night, and police officer other nations in the elite club are and President Emmanuel Macron said America’s doorstep, and which still The shots promised by the Biden The island had largely kept the dis- Ravindra Kadam said dozens of res- willing to follow the US on vaccine he brought 100,000 vaccine doses with awaits its first shipment of vaccines administration will go to 92 lower ease in check. cuers were clearing the debris to find sharing amid widespread criticism him on a trip to Rwanda last month. six months after some rich countries income countries and the African But by global standards, the experi- any residents possibly still trapped. that richer countries have fallen woe- Macron has promised France will started their programs. Union over the next. Pfizer said the ence of the Asian trade and financial The New Delhi Television channel fully short so far, despite lofty promis- donate 30 million doses through “It’s precisely the actions of the G-7 doses are part of a previous pledge, hub with the virus has been mild. said the building collapsed onto es of fairness when the vaccines were COVAX by the end of the year, with governments, among others, that have with its partner BioNTech, to provide Officials in the city of 5.7 million have another structure in a slum in the being developed. half a million by mid-June. led to the grave global inequities we 2 billion doses to developing countries reported about 62,000 cases so far and Malad West area of Mumbai. (AGENCIES) Inequities in vaccine supplies Promises by wealthy nations, some see in access to Covid-19 medical tools over the next 18 months. 34 deaths. Indian state sharply raises Covid-19 Pope rejects German cardinal’s resignation

ASSOCIATED PRESS somewhat choreographed, at least ROME, JUNE 10 from the pope’s end, perhaps to death toll prompting call for wide review embolden Marx and give him backing Pope Francis refused on Thursday to for the “Synodal Path” to carry on. REUTERS The newly reported deaths had Medicine and Community Health at let German Cardinal Reinhard Marx Marx had said he had been thinking PATNA, JUNE 10 occurred last month and state officials New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru resign over the sex abuse scandal in about resigning for several months were investigating the lapse, a district University, told Reuters. the church, but said a process of and had discussed it with Francis. He An Indian state has raised its Covid-19 health official said, blaming the over- “In the rural context, whatever reform was necessary and that every said he decided to publish his resigna- death toll sharply higher after the sight on private hospitals. states may say or claim, testing is bishop must take responsibility for tion letter June 4, after Francis gave discovery of thousands of unreported “These deaths occurred 15 days ago not simple, easy or accessible,” the “catastrophe” of the crisis. him permission to do so. cases, lending weight to suspicion that and were only uploaded now in the Dasgupta said. Francis wrote a letter to Marx in Within a week, Francis had pub- India’s overall death tally is signifi- government portal. Action will be Overall, India’s cases and deaths response to the German’s bombshell lished his response, with the corre- cantly more than the official figure. taken against some of the private hos- have fallen steadily in the past weeks announcement last week that he had spondence between both men being Indian hospitals ran out of beds and pitals,” said the official, who declined after a surge from mid-March. offered to resign as archbishop of made public in a variety of languages life-saving oxygen during a devastat- to be identified as he is not authorised The official total of cases stood at Munich and Freising over the church’s and released officially. ing second wave of coronavirus in to speak to the media. 29.2 million on Thursday after rising mishandling of abuse cases. Francis’ decision to keep Marx on April and May and people died in Health experts say they believe both by 94,052 in the previous 24 hours, Francis refused to accept the resig- was welcomed by the head of the parking lots outside hospitals and at coronavirus infections and deaths are while total fatalities were at 359,676, nation and told Marx in the letter he influential German lay group ZdK, or their homes. being significantly undercounted according to data from the health must continue as archbishop and Central Committee of German Many of those deaths were not across the country partly because test ministry. The New York Times esti- “shepherd my sheep.” AP/RSS Catholics, which is engaged in the recorded in Covid-19 tallies, doctors facilities are rare in rural areas, mated deaths based on death counts Francis said what was necessary Cardinal Reinhard Marx pictured in 2015. reform process with the German hier- and health experts say. where two-thirds of Indians live, and over time and infection fatality rates instead was a process of reform “that archy. “I am happy that we are keeping India has the second-highest tally of hospitals are few and far between. and put India’s toll at 600,000 to doesn’t consist in words but attitudes Germany and beyond, primarily from Cardinal Marx as a strong voice, not Covid-19 infections in the world after Many people have fallen ill and died 1.6 million. that have the courage of putting one- conservatives opposed to opening any least with a view to the Synodal Path,” the United States, with 29.2 million at home without being tested for the The government dismissed those self in crisis, of assuming reality debate on issues such as priestly celi- ZdK leader Thomas Sternberg told the cases and 359,676 deaths, according to coronavirus. As crematoriums strug- estimates as exaggerated. But the regardless of the consequences.” bacy, women’s role in the church and Rheinische Post newspaper. health ministry data. gled to handle the wave of deaths over main opposition Congress party said Francis’ letter, written originally in homosexuality. In his letter, Francis said every But the discovery of several thou- the past two months, many families that other states must follow Bihar’s Spanish and using an informal, broth- Resistance has also come from the bishop must take personal and collec- sand unreported deaths in the state of placed bodies in the holy Ganges river example and conduct a review of erly tone, appeared to give Marx papal Vatican and bishops outside Germany, tive responsibility for the institution’s Bihar has raised suspicion that many or buried them in shallow graves on deaths over the past two months. backing to proceed with the German including culture warriors in the failures to save the young from sexual more coronavirus victims have not its sandbanks. “This proves beyond a doubt gov- Church’s controversial reform pro- United States who have broken with predators, and that doing so inherent- been included in official figures. Those people would likely not have ernment has been hiding Covid cess that was launched as a response church protocol to pen essays critical ly puts the institution in crisis. The health department in Bihar, been registered as Covid victims. deaths,” said Shama Mohamed, a to the abuse crisis and reports into the of the German reform process. “Not everyone wants to accept this one of India’s poorest states, revised “Under-reporting is a widespread spokeswoman for Congress, adding German hierarchy’s mishandling of The speed with which Francis reality, but it’s the only path because its total Covid-19 related death toll to problem, not necessarily deliberate, that an audit should also be ordered in cases over decades. resoundingly rejected Marx’s offer to making proposals to change your life more than 9,429 from about 5,424 on often because of inadequacies,” Rajib the big states of Uttar Pradesh, The so-called “Synodal Path” has resign, though, was curious and sug- without ‘putting flesh on the grill,’ Wednesday. Dasgupta, head of the Centre of Social Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. sparked fierce resistance inside gested the drama might have been won’t do anything,” Francis wrote. Lawyers urge ICC to probe alleged crimes against Uyghurs ASSOCIATED PRESS start in Tajikistan and continue into The lawyers who submitted the dos- Beijing rejects allegations that it is THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS, JUNE 10 China” and urge ICC prosecutors to sier on Thursday say their findings committing crimes. Officials have open an investigation “without delay”. are based on witness testimonies and characterised the camps, which they A group of lawyers presented a The filing seeks to use the legal investigations in countries including say are now closed, as vocational dossier of evidence on Thursday to precedent of an investigation opened ICC member Tajikistan. training centres to teach the Chinese prosecutors at the International by the ICC into allegations of mass Based on their findings, the lawyers language, job skills and the law to sup- Criminal Court that they say deportations and persecution of said, “it is clear that the ICC does have port economic development and com- establishes jurisdiction for the global Rohingya people by Myanmar forces jurisdiction to open an investigation”. bat extremism. China saw a wave of tribunal to investigate allegations that forced hundreds of thousands of Xinjiang-related terror attacks Chinese authorities are involved in Rohingya across the border into through 2016. grave crimes targeting Uyghurs, a neighbouring Bangladesh. Myanmar Lawyers argue that The Chinese Embassy in The Hague largely Muslim ethnic group. is not a member of the court, but did not immediately respond to an The move is the latest attempt by Bangladesh is. Chinese authorities email seeking comment on the law- international human rights lawyers to In the Rohingya case, a panel of ICC yers’ dossier. Last week, a “people’s get an investigation started at the judges ruled in 2019 that the court have intervened in tribunal” set up to assess whether Hague-based court into allegations of “may exercise jurisdiction over China’s alleged rights abuses against atrocities against Uyghurs by China, crimes when part of the criminal con- Tajikistan directly. the Uyghur people constitute genocide which is not a member of the court. duct takes place on the territory of a opened in London, with witnesses In a statement, the lawyers said State Party”. alleging that inmates at detention their dossier establishes “that In July last year, lawyers represent- An estimated 1 million people or camps for Uyghurs were routinely Uyghurs have been targeted, rounded ing exiled Uyghur activists asked the more—most of them Uyghurs—have humiliated, tortured and abused. up, forcibly disappeared and deported ICC to investigate the forced repatria- been confined in re-education camps The tribunal, made up of lawyers, from Tajikistan” back into China’s tion of thousands of Uighurs from in China’s western Xinjiang region in academics and business people, does western Xinjiang region “by Chinese Cambodia and Tajikistan and alleged recent years, according to research- not have UK government backing or operatives”. genocide in Xinjiang. ers. Chinese authorities have been any powers to sanction or punish They argue that “Chinese authori- In a report issued in December, ICC accused of imposing forced labour, China. Organisers hope the process of ties have directly intervened in prosecutors said that “there was no systematic forced birth control, tor- publicly laying out evidence will com- Tajikistan. The ICC therefore has basis to proceed at this time” with an AP/RSS ture and separating children from pel international action to tackle jurisdiction over these actions which investigation into the allegations. A file photo shows the exterior view of the International Criminal Court in The Hague. incarcerated parents. alleged abuses against the Uyghurs.

C M Y K 07 | FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 2021 MONEY

FOREX Global food import costs US Dollar 117.19 Court says to allow online delivery, Euro 142.57 Pound Sterling 165.21 but government taking its time to surge 12 percent to Japanese Yen 10.70 Chinese Yuan 18.34 The authorities concerned like the traffic police say they are unaware of the court record this year, report says Qatari Riyal 32.19 decision, e-commerce entrepreneurs complain. Australian Dollar 90.70 REUTERS reached a record in March this year, NEW YORK, JUNE 10 surpassing levels seen during previ- Malaysian Ringit 28.44 According to Bhatta, they have been ous food price spikes in 2006-2008 and informed that the new notice will be Global food import costs are expected 2010-2012. Saudi Arab Riyal 31.25 issued on June 15 with some changes to rise 12 percent in 2021 to a record A strong volume increase for staple Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank in policy to facilitate online delivery. due to surging commodity prices food imports last year had already Lino Ahlering, managing director and robust demand during the Covid- driven up global import costs 3 per- of Daraz Nepal, said the delivery tim- 19 crisis, the United Nations food cent to a record. Shares ing had not been changed despite the agency said. Exceptions were beverages and fish court order. “Our company is deliver- The world’s food import bill, includ- products that are more sensitive to Nepse 2,944.78pts -0.06% ing till 9 am. Despite the court’s order, ing shipping costs, is projected to economic conditions and which saw there is no clear instruction for the reach $1.715 trillion this year, from demand curbed by supply chain diffi- HIGHEST LOSERS traffic police by the chief district $1.530 trillion in 2020, the Food and culties, the FAO said. GUFL HGI UICC LICN SMFDB PLIC -4.25% -3.19% -3.18% -2.68% -2.67% -2.52% officer.” Agriculture Organization (FAO) said China’s imports have been a driver In April, a meeting of the Covid-19 in its twice-yearly Food Outlook of agricultural demand and prices in MODERATE LOSERS EIC NLG SIL GLICL BNT CORBL Crisis Management Centre decided to report on Thursday. the past year, partly reflecting -2.48% -2.44% -2.16% -2.08% -2.04% -1.98% allow the district administration to Growth in agricultural trade during Beijing’s efforts to rebuild its pig

MODERATE GAINERS impose prohibitory orders if the num- the pandemic showed the inelastic industry after a disease outbreak. GLH AHPC CHDC PFL BARUN RHPC ber of active Covid cases exceeded a nature of food consumption and the Chinese maize [corn] imports in the 9.79% 9.81% 9.85% 9.86% 9.87% 9.9% certain threshold. resilience of international markets, upcoming 2021/22 season were expect- HIGHEST GAINERS The local administration can but price rises since late 2020 were ed to rise to 24 million tonnes, keeping CHL MEN NGPL SSHL LEC PPCL impose restrictions in municipalities raising risks for poorer import-reliant China as the world’s top importer 9.91% 9.92% 9.93% 9.97% 9.97% 10% and rural municipalities if the num- countries, the FAO said. after its maize imports are expected to ber of active cases goes over 200, in Its monthly food price index hit quadruple to 22 million tonnes in sub-metropolises if the number of a 10-year high in May, reflecting 2020/21, the FAO forecast. active cases exceeds 500, and in metro- sharp gains for cereals, vegetable oils A recovery in Chinese pork output PRICE PER TOLA politan cities if the number of active and sugar. was expected to reduce global trade, BULLION cases exceeds 1,000. Nepal has been The FAO said a separate index offsetting growth in beef and poultry POST FILE PHOTO under a lockdown since April 29, its of food import values, including flows to leave overall meat trade stable Fine Gold Rs 93,900 E-business entrepreneurs, citing global practices, say there are fewer chances of infections second in as many years. freight costs that have also soared, this year, the FAO said. spreading through home delivery. Ahlering said that it was difficult Silver Rs 1,355 and challenging to deliver goods in KRISHANA PRASAIN non-essential services, the court said, just two and a half hours as per the SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA KATHMANDU, JUNE 10 and ordered the government not to strict prohibitory order. “As the court restrict e-commerce businesses until has ordered delivery of essentials Three days have passed since the the final verdict is issued. only, the definition of ‘essential’ has GASOLINE WATCH Supreme Court ordered the govern- “The authorities concerned like the created another confusion,” he said. ment to unban online delivery traffic police say that they are una- Online delivery companies should services, but it appears the adminis- ware of the court decision. This is a be allowed to deliver all kinds of goods tration is yet to wake up to the fact, kind of contempt of court,” said by following health safety protocols, insiders said. Bhatta, one of the founders of online he said, adding that most Daraz home Nepal’s apex court issued an inter- store Mero Kirana. “We have written delivery boys had been vaccinated. im order on June 7 not to restrict to the chief district officer.” State-owned food trading compa- e-commerce firms from making home Kali Prasad Parajuli, chief district nies—Food Management and Trading delivery of essential goods during the officer of Kathmandu, told the Post Company and Salt Trading lockdown, and online sellers have that they had not received a formal Corporation—have been permitted to accused the government of disregard- notice from the Office of the Attorney deliver groceries with a limited num- ing the decree. General regarding the court order, ber of delivery vans to homes situated Sagar Dev Bhatta, president of the and hence the rules regarding online within the Ring Road and up to 2 km E-Business Association of Nepal, said delivery remain unchanged. beyond it. the court ruling had not been enforced, “We are waiting for the court paper- With internet shopping and home and online businesses were still work. We have decided to act accord- delivery growing steadily since last restricted to making deliveries, except ingly and are discussing the matter,” year’s lockdown, demand for online for three hours daily from 6 to 9 am. Parajuli said. “For now, online deliv- service has jumped this year because The Supreme Court said in its deci- ery is allowed until 9 am.” it has earned the people’s trust, said sion that e-commerce services have E-commerce entrepreneurs have e-retailers. been an important medium for provid- also met with the secretaries of the According to e-business entrepre- ing essential services during the Finance and Home ministries. “We neurs, there are fewer chances of Covid-19 pandemic. are doing our utmost to begin spreading infections using home The Covid-19 Crisis Management online delivery services immediately,” delivery, and this has been confirmed REUTERS Ordinance 2021 seeks to control only Bhatta added. by international practices. A file photo shows a variety of pulses for sale at a market in Mumbai, India. Google, Facebook pledged millions India raises local rice purchase US remains far for local news. Was it enough? price amid farmer protests ahead of global pack REUTERS in finance: Study NEW DELHI, JUNE 10 India has bought a REUTERS India has raised the price at which it LONDON, JUNE 10 will buy new-season common rice record 81.3 million varieties from local farmers by 3.9 tonnes of paddy rice The United States remains the world’s percent, the agriculture minister said, dominant financial centre, well ahead as New Delhi tries to please farmers from farmers so far of nearest rival Britain, whose lead that have been protesting over three over Frankfurt and Paris so far easily new agricultural laws. in 2020/21. outweighs the hit from Brexit, a study The hike could encourage farmers from New Financial think tank said to expand the area under the grain on Thursday. and will force the government to buy Krishna Rao, president of the Rice “Brexit and the potential impact on more rice from local growers, bump- Exporters Association of India. the City of London has catalysed the ing up supplies and putting pressure “Farmers sell to whoever pays them debate around the relative strengths on the government’s stretched budget. a higher price. Since open market and weaknesses of different financial It could also limit rice shipments prices are lower, they would prefer to centres around the world,” New from the world’s biggest exporter and sell to government agencies,” Rao Financial said. lift food inflation. said. India has bought a record 81.3 The United States scored an overall For common grades of paddy rice, million tonnes of paddy rice from 84 out of 100, more than double the the government has fixed the support farmers so far in the 2020/21 market- UK’s score of 35, which in turn is near- price at 1,940 rupees ($26.59) per 100 ing year, compared to 73.6 million ly three times that of France, Germany kg, Narendra Singh Tomar told a news tonnes a year ago, Tomar said. or Luxembourg. conference on Wednesday. The government knows it has to New Financial used data from 2016 The government announces mini- spend more on food grain purchases, to 2019. mum support prices (MSPs) for most but it seems it has taken a decision to China, at 29 points is the third larg- crops yearly to set a benchmark, please agitating farmers ahead of cru- est financial centre, ahead of Japan AP/RSS although state agencies usually buy cial state elections in Uttar Pradesh, (19 points), Hong Kong (14) and France A file photo shows exhibitors working on laptops in front of an illuminated sign of the Google logo in Hanover, Germany. only limited quantities of staples said a Mumbai-based dealer. (13), because its huge domestic finan- other than rice and wheat due to a lack Thousands of Indian farmers, cial sector compensates for relatively REUTERS Perez Wadsworth, publisher of training course for journalists. of storage and funds. Market prices especially from northern India, weak international activity. CALIFORNIA, JUNE 10 Gannett’s USA Today and president of Neither Facebook nor Reuters would for many crops typically run well have camped on major national high- “Markets in the Asia Pacific account USA Today Network, which partici- disclose the amount of money allocat- below MSPs. The hike would widen ways for more than six months, for four of the top 10 financial centres Facing regulatory and political pres- pates in a fact-checking programme ed. Both Facebook and Google have the gap between the rice MSP and the demanding the repeal of three new and eight of the top 20 in the world, sure, Facebook and Alphabet Inc’s sponsored by Facebook. “News pub- made contributions to the news indus- market price and force government to agricultural laws that they say threat- and have grown most rapidly since Google in recent years committed a lishers are not looking for charity. try apart from the $600 million. For buy more from farmers, said B V en their livelihoods. 2016,” New Financial said. combined $600 million to support We’re simply requesting a fair shot instance, the companies dedicated $1 news outlets globally—many of them and a level playing field.” billion each last year in grants and local or regional enterprises founder- Emily Bell, director of the Tow deals to pay a range of media world- ing in a digital age. Centre for Digital Journalism at wide for content. As part of that com- k|b]z ;/sf/ Thousands of media outlets Columbia University, said the money mitment, Google pays publishers such ef}lts k"jf{wf/ ljsf; dGqfno received financial and other support is vital to newsrooms in the short- as Reuters to create and curate con- for everything from fact checking and term. “But they’re not given at a tent for its News Showcase—snippets k"jf{wf/ ljsf; lgb]{zgfno reporting to training, according to the level which really has a lasting effect for its News and Discover apps. vfg]kfgL l;+rfO tyf phf{ lasf; sfof{no tech giants’ announcements. Some on the field, and it isn’t really chang- The Reuters Institute for the Study publishers express gratitude for con- ing anything.” of Journalism, which is largely fund- s0ff{nL k|b]z, b}n]v tributions they say are essential as The tech giants told Reuters that ed by the corporate foundation of advertising revenue has plunged. they are genuinely committed to help- Thomson Reuters, announced in 2020 cfyL{s k|:tfj vf]Ng] ;DaGwL ;"rgf But several media analysts and ing local and regional outlets, and that it received about $19 million in news business executives told Reuters both will continue to offer support grants from Google and $4 million k|sflzt ldlt M@)&*÷)@÷@* that the funding—set to last three after the $600 million initiatives expire from Facebook. years—does not nearly compensate for in coming months. Both Facebook and Google say pub- pk/f]Qm ;DaGwdf o; sfof{noaf6 b sf7df08f} kf]i6 /fli6«o b}lgs klqsfdf ldlt @)&&÷!@÷@@ df k|sflzt ;"rgf the tens of billions of dollars publish- The goal of the Facebook lishers benefit just from using their cg';f/ IFB No WIEDO/CTA/REP-04/2077-78 sf] nflu sfof{nodf electronic dfWodaf6 btf{ x'g cfPsf af]nkqx? dWo] ers lost as the tech companies gobbled Journalism Project, as it is known, is platforms, which deliver traffic that k|flalws k|:tfax?sf] d'NofÍgdf lgDgcg';f/sf af]nkqbftfx? k|flalws k|:tfasf] zt{x? k'/f ug{ ;kmn ePsf] x'Fbf ;kmn up the digital advertising market. to help publishers “effectively transi- helps drive advertising revenue and Google and Facebook accounted for 54 tion to and prosper in today’s digital subscriptions. af]nkqbftfx?sf] cfly{s k|:tfa ldlt @)&*÷#÷$ ut] lbgsf] !#M)) ah] o; sfof{nodf vf]lng] ePsf]n] ;fj{hlgs percent of US digital advertising reve- world where they have to find a very Facebook, a social media goliath, nue in 2020, according to eMarketer, a specific audience in order to be suc- and Google, by far the world’s most vl/b P]g @)^# sf] bkmf $& sf] k|of]hgfy{, ;fj{hlgs vl/b lgodfjnL @)^$ sf] lgod #!ª sf] pk lgod % adf]lhd market research company. cessful,” said Campbell Brown, head popular search engine, generated $607 ;Dk'0f{ af]nkqbftfsf] hfgfsf/Lsf] nflu of] ;"rgf k|sflzt ul/Psf] 5 . Some critics dismissed the projects, of news partnerships at Facebook. billion in advertising revenue during including contributions of $300 mil- Google is “oriented around making the last three years, according to com- l;=g= 7]Ssf g= sfdsf] laa/0f k|lalws k|:tfadf ;kmn af]nkqbftf lion from each company, as a way to sure that there’s a healthy and vibrant pany filings. The companies are blunt complaints from publishers and ecosystem of quality journalism,” among the biggest corporate funders != Renu Construction Pvt. Ltd, Pulchowk, generate good PR. Both tech compa- said Ben Monnie, the company’s direc- of the global news industry. Rural Electrification at Various Places nies face battles over compensation tor of global partnerships. The two platforms have released ! WIEDO/CTA/REP- of Chamunda Bindasaini, Aathbis Lalitpur for news content worldwide, as well as Reuters participates in initiatives limited information so far about how 04/2077-78 Municipality and Thatikad Rural @= T.D.R.-Singh-Dawa JV, New Baneshwor, antitrust lawsuits from regulators and funded by both Google and Facebook. the $600 million in grants and services Municipality Kathmandu publishers. Under the Facebook Journalism has been spent, often offering broad This “occasional benevolence” is “a Project, for instance, Reuters received descriptions or examples without sfof{no k|d'v drop in the bucket,” said Maribel funding to develop a digital media financial details.

C M Y K 08 | FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 2021

Players to Watch Euro finally set for lift-off under Covid cloud Ciro Immobile (Italy) The Lazio marks- man Immobile will The championship, postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic in Europe, is set to begin today—a year after its original schedule. be looking to shake off the failures, Munich aims to host a minimum of when Italy failed to 14,500 fans—around 22 percent of the qualify for the 2018 Allianz Arena’s capacity, the lowest of the World Cup. But, stadiums being used. Immobile has Dublin and Bilbao were dropped from turned things the list of hosts after being unable to give around at club level. guarantees they could meet UEFA’s require- Immobile won the ment of accommodating limited numbers European Golden of spectators, but Seville stepped in for Shoe in the 2019-2000 Bilbao while Dublin’s games went to season for his 36 London and Saint Petersburg. league goals, and On the pitch, France will be firm favour- scored 20 last cam- ites despite being one of the few traditional paign. Andrea giants not to have any games at home. The Belotti was Italy’s world champions’ first match is in Munich top-scorer during against Germany on Tuesday. “All the other the Euro qualifiers, but his recent struggles at Torino countries envy us,” said a recent front page could mean Immobile will almost definitely make the starting of French sports daily L’Equipe under- eleven instead. He has scored 13 goals in neath pictures of Kylian Mbappe, Karim 46 games, but has found more consistency under coach Benzema and Antoine Griezmann. Roberto Mancini with six goals. All eyes will be on 33-year-old forward Benzema, who was recalled after an inter- Caglar Soyuncu (Turkey) national exile of five-and-a-half years fol- lowing a prolific season for Real Madrid. The centre-back is a Holders Portugal, with a star-studded vital member of the squad led by Cristiano Ronaldo, and Turkey squad and Hungary complete a tough-looking has enjoyed a Group F. remarkable season The other likely contenders among the 24 at Leicester City. nations include Belgium, sweating over the Turkey’s biggest fitness of key player Kevin De Bruyne after strength is a defence he suffered facial injuries in the Champions that conceded three League final, and usual suspects Spain goals in 10 Euros and Italy. qualifiers, mar- In England, there are hopes Gareth shalled by cen- Southgate’s young side could take advan- tre-backs Soyuncu tage of playing most of their games at of Leicester and Wembley. Juventus’ Merih England have never before reached a Demiral. Owing to REUTERS European Championship final, but captain his tall stature and The delayed UEFA European Championship 2020 kicks off at the Rome’s Stadio Olimpico (pictured), where Italy take on Turkey in front of 16,000 fans. Harry Kane believes the team will start aerial prowess, their bid in a “better place” than they Turkey will be hop- AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE tournament have been hit after two players, president Aleksander Ceferin has been were before reaching the 2018 World Cup ing Soyuncu can replicate similar form at Euro 2020 from PARIS, JUNE 10 Sergio Busquets and Diego Llorente, tested bullish, insisting Euro 2020 will be safe. “It semi-finals. set-pieces at either ends. positive for the virus, although Llorente on will be the first event of a global dimension UEFA has also demanded that Ukraine The delayed Euro 2020 tournament will Thursday returned a negative test. The to be held since the pandemic struck,” he make changes to its jersey after Russia finally get underway on Friday, a year team even had to name a “parallel” squad said. “It will be the perfect opportunity to complained. behind schedule, with Covid still set to cast of 17 reserve players, fearing a possible show the world that Europe is adapting. European football’s governing body said a shadow over the event. wider outbreak in the official 26-man Europe is alive and celebrating life. Europe the message “Glory to the Heroes”, a rally- The continent-wide event, first envis- squad. is back.” ing cry during the 2014 anti-Russia protests aged by then-UEFA president Michel Although captain Busquets still has The clearest illustration of that is set to in Ukraine that is featured inside the shirt, Platini when he announced the tourna- Covid, Llorente’s test result will allay fears come from Budapest, where it is hoped the was “clearly political in nature” and must ment would be held across Europe, will be that the first-choice side might have to miss new Puskas Arena will be packed to capac- be removed. played in front of limited crowds and with Spain’s opening game against Sweden in ity. But the majority of the 11 venues, all in However, the Ukrainian football associa- strict health restrictions in place. Seville on Monday. Two Swedish players— different countries, will only be partial- tion said it was in talks with UEFA to The action gets under way at Rome’s forward Dejan Kulusevski and midfielder ly-filled for matches, although Denmark on reverse its decision. Stadio Olimpico, where Italy take on Mattias Svanberg—have also tested posi- Thursday announced it would lift mask The association said to AFP that “earlier Turkey in front of 16,000 fans. tive for the virus. rules and allow 25,000 fans, instead of UEFA had approved the new kit and every Spain’s preparations for the month-long But despite the ongoing threat, UEFA 16,000, to attend games in Copenhagen. element of it, including the slogan”.

Today’s Fixture Ambitious Italy welcome Turkey in curtain raiser Turkey vs Italy Time: 00:45 NST, Saturday REUTERS world champions France in Euros qualify- ROME, JUNE 10 ing and have since beaten the Netherlands 4-2 in a World Cup qualifier and earned 3-3 Five years on from their last major friendly draws with Germany and Croatia. Interesting Facts tournament appearance, Italy take centre Contrary to what those goal-filled games stage once more when they welcome suggest, Turkey’s biggest strength is a Group A rivals Turkey to Rome’s Stadio defence that conceded three goals in 10 Euro winning last three captains Olimpico for the opening game of Euro Euros qualifiers, marshalled by cen- 2020 on Friday. tre-backs Caglar Soyuncu of Leicester and 2016 - Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal): Ronaldo’s three goals, The Azzurri’s failure to qualify for the Juventus’ Merih Demiral. brilliance and determination hauled Portugal through to the 2018 World Cup was a national sporting Manager Senol Gunes led Turkey to a final in Paris. The first player to score at four Euros, he also tragedy for the four-time world champions. superb third-place finish at the 2002 World became the finals’ record appearance maker, although he was But manager Roberto Mancini has since Cup. Any hopes of achieving a similar feat conspicuous by his absence in the decider itself. built an attractive, exuberant side that this summer could depend on continuing comes into the tournament with ambitions that solidity. But there are threats at the 2008 & 2012 - Iker Casillas (Spain): An outstanding servant for of reaching the London final, five years on other end of the pitch, too. AC Milan play- Real Madrid and Spain, who broke records for national-team from the heartbreak of a penalty shoot-out maker Hakan Calhanoglu will be more clean sheets and wins. The goalkeeper inherited the defeat to Germany in the quarter-finals of AP/RSS than familiar with his opponents in Rome, captain’s armband on the eve of Euro 2008 and led the Euro 2016. Coach Roberto Mancini’s Azzurri are unbeaten in 27 games, a run going back to September 2018. while 35-year-old striker Burak Yilmaz Spaniards impeccably to the title. Casillas proved Anticipation has risen rapidly on the recently fired Lille to the Ligue 1 title inspirational once more at the 2010 World Cup, and later peninsula, and understandably so: The side Switzerland. Sassuolo’s Manuel Locatelli is go out in the groups, we will have done alongside national team-mates Zeki Celik shipped a solitary goal as Spain became the first side to are unbeaten in 27 games, a run going back likely to start in his place. worse than five years ago. To show we are and Yusuf Yazici. defend the Euro title in 2012. to September 2018, and their steady Having three home games in front of stronger, we must at least get past the quar- History is on the hosts’ side, though. improvement was underlined by a 4-0 win around 16,000 fans will be a boost to Italian ter-finals.” Italy have never lost to Turkey in 10 previ- 2004 - Theodoros Zagorakis (Greece): Player of the over the Czech Republic in their final hopes, which are high inside and outside However, the Azzurri face a tough open- ous meetings in all competitions, winning tournament in 2004. The journeyman midfielder did not score warm-up game. the training camp. ing day task against a resilient and talented seven and drawing three. at the finals but he was Greece’s most effective player Key midfielder Marco Verratti will miss “This Italy team has more quality than Turkey side that impressed in qualifying It is a run the home fans will hope - and in the final. He retired in 2007 with 120 caps. His only major out with a knee injury but hopes to be back the 2016 team, but we have to prove that,” and has a penchant for big games. Turkey expect - to continue as a new chapter begins club honour was a Greek Cup victory with AEK Athens in time for Italy’s second game, against said defender Alessandro Florenzi. “If we took four points from two games against for the Italian national team. in 2002. Oldest, youngest, most capped—all the numbers for European Championship REUTERS he will be participating in his fifth round of 16 on his birthday if England LONDON, JUNE 10 tournament. progress. Kozłowski only turns 18 in But at 36 he is not the oldest at the October. Belgium not only take their top rank- Euros. Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Spain has the youngest squad with ing into the European Championship Stekelenburg is 38, having come out of an average age of 24.5 years, while the but they will also be the most experi- the international wilderness to win a Swedes are the oldest at 29.2 years on enced of the campaigners at the tour- place back in the Netherlands squad average. The youngest captain, nament, which kicks off on Friday. in March. At the start of the tourna- Scotland’s Andrew Robertson, is 27 Their 26-man squad has a total of years old. 1,338 caps - an average of more than 50 It is perhaps no coincidence that per player and underlining the experi- Belgium’s squad has a Champions League finalists Chelsea ence of Roberto Martinez’s team. Four and Manchester City provide the most squad members have already racked total of 1,338 caps—an participants for this tournament with up 100 caps, and winger Dries Mertens 15 players each, followed by Bayern will win his 99th cap if he lines up as average of more than Munich with 14. expected against Russia in St England have the most home-based Petersburg on Saturday, when the two 50 per player. players in their squad with 23 out of countries get their Group B campaign their 26 competing in the Premier underway. League. Italy have 22 from Serie A, Another 19 players at the tourna- ment, he will be exactly 1-1/2 years and Russia the same number from ment have passed the milestone of 100 younger than oldest ever Euro partici- their league. In contrast, Finland and caps, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, who pant holder Gabor Kiraly, the only Slovakia have picked only one home- made his 175th appearance for over 40-year-old to play at the finals based player in their respective Portugal on Wednesday in their last when he kept goal for Hungary in squads. warm-up win over Israel. He also 2016. UEFA have selected 19 refereeing increased his goal tally to 104, moving The youngest at Euro 2020 will be teams from 14 different countries to closer to becoming the all-time lead- Poland’s Kacper Kozłowski – one of officiate, including a guest team from ing goalscorer in men’s international two 17-year-olds in the tournament, Argentina. There are also 22 Video football. Ronaldo is already the holder which has never happened before. Assistant Referees from eight coun- AP/RSS of the record for the most games Jude Bellingham will turn 18 on June tries who will be based at UEFA head- National teams’ football jerseys advertising the European 2020 championship are displayed in Baku, played at the Euro finals with 21, and 29 and possibly be involved in the quarters at Nyon in Switzerland. Azerbaijan on Thursday. The tournament is being played in 11 host cities across 11 countries.

C M Y K 09 | FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 2021 SPORTS | MEDLEY BRIEFING Nepal take on mighty Australia today Djokovic gears up Paris St Germain rope in for big battle with Wijnaldum from Liverpool The Socceroos can cement their place atop Group ‘B’ with a victory while Almutairi’s side will not still PARIS: Netherlands midfielder be assured of a place in the next round of Asian qualifiers even if they bag an almost impossible win. Georginio Wijnaldum will join Paris historic rival Nadal St Germain from Premier League REUTERS side Liverpool on a three-year deal, PARIS, JUNE 10 the French Ligue 1 side announced on Thursday. The 30-year-old made Novak Djokovic predicted a “great battle” when he continues 237 appearances and scored 22 goals tennis’s most prolific rivalry in Friday’s French Open semi-fi- for Liverpool in all competitions, lift- nal against claycourt king Rafael Nadal. ing the Premier League, Champions The pair have faced off 57 times with Djokovic leading 29-28. League, UEFA Super Cup and the But Nadal has been his nemesis at Roland Garros winning FIFA Club World Cup titles with seven of their eight clashes there including last year’s final them. Wijnaldum signed for Liverpool which turned into a demolition job. from fellow Premier League side Unusually they are meeting in a semi-final rather than a Newcastle United for 23 million final, courtesy of Spaniard Nadal having dropped down to pounds ($32.52 million) in 2016 and world number three and being placed in the same half of the was a key figure in the Anfield side’s draw as top seed Djokovic. domestic and European successes. Should Djokovic manage to get the better of Nadal on Wijnaldum will captain the Friday he will be favourite to take only his second French Netherlands at the European Open title having won it in 2016 when Nadal abandoned the Championship in the absence of tournament because of a wrist injury. Since then Nadal has injured defender Virgil van Dijk. been unbeatable, extending his record title haul to a jaw-drop- ping 13. Messi could join Inter Miami “Obviously it’s a well-anticipated semi-final,” Djokovic, who has 18 Grand Slam titles, two behind the men’s record shared LONDON: Lionel Messi could move to by Nadal and Roger Federer, told reporters after beating Inter Miami as part of a new 10-year heavy-hitting Italian Matteo Berrettini 6-3 6-2 6-7(5) 7-5 in an deal the Argentinian superstar is intense duel on Wednesday. negotiating with Barcelona, the “It’s not like any other match. Let’s face it, it’s the biggest owner of the Major League Soccer challenge that you can have playing on clay against Nadal on side said Wednesday. The Miami this court. It doesn’t get bigger than that. There’s that extra Herald newspaper reported that Inter tension and expectations. The vibes are different walking on owner Jorge Mas and co-owner David the court with him. But that’s why our rivalry has been histor- Beckham have had “serious talks” ic I think for this sport. I’m confident. I believe I can win, with Messi about joining the Florida otherwise I wouldn’t be here. Let’s have a great battle.” franchise for a short-term stint built Wednesday’s clash with Berrettini was played in front of a into his new Barcelona contract. raucous 5,000 crowd, until the 11 pm curfew kicked in midway Reports in Spain have said that under through the fourth set and the fans departed. Friday’s match the new deal proposed by Barcelona, will no doubt be played in a similar atmosphere as the two Messi will play two more seasons warriors go head to head yet again. with the La Liga giants through to “I thought the atmosphere was Davis Cup like, to be hon- the end of the 2022-2023 campaign est,” Djokovic said of the first night-session crowd permitted before ending his playing career with during the tournament, courtesy of a relaxation of Paris’s two seasons in Miami. He would then previous 9 pm Covid-19 curfew. “It was a lot of fans involved, return to Barcelona for six years in a every single point cheering, screaming. Just electric atmos- “global ambassador” role. Inter phere out there.” owner Mas told the Herald on PHOTO COURTESY: NSJF Djokovic will be appearing in his 11th Roland Garros Wednesday that he was optimistic Nepal had faced a 5-0 drubbing by Australia in the first leg match of the World Cup 2022 and Asian Cup 2023 joint qualifiers played in Canberra in October 2019. semi-final when he faces Nadal, whose only defeats on the that Messi would eventually play in Parisian clay came against Djokovic in 2015 and Robin Miami. Speculation about Messi’s SPORTS BUREAU ifiers as one of the best four teams of all 4-3-3 formation as he doesn’t have much to Soderling in 2009. future has intensified with the KATHMANDU, JUNE 10 eight groups will also be almost unfulfilled lose against one of the strongest teams of Nadal claimed his 105th match win at the French Open 33-year-old out of contract with because the victory over bottom placed the continent. The Kuwaiti has picked a when he beat Diego Schwartzman on Wednesday although he Barcelona at the end of this month. Nepal will vie against Asian powerhouse Chinese Taipei will not be counted. young squad for the qualifiers and he is like- did drop a set for the first time since the 2019 final. The six-time Ballon D’Or winner told Australia in their last Group ‘B’ match of the In such a scenario Nepal sit at bottom and ly to give debuts to some of the new faces Looking ahead to Djokovic he said: “It’s always a big chal- Spanish television last December he joint qualifiers for the World Cup 2022 and pointless among fourth placed teams against Australia. lenge. That’s something that is good because we are living the hoped to play in MLS eventually. Asian Cup 2023 at the Al Kuwait Sports Club of all eight groups. Even if Nepal perform “If everything goes well, they [new play- sport for these moments. The negative thing, it’s difficult Stadium in Kuwait City on Friday. an almost impossible task of beating ers] will play. I understand playing against because you play against one of the best players in history.” Postecoglou named Celtic coach Group leaders Australia have already ful- Australia they need to hope for favourable Australia is going to be difficult but filled their mission of qualifying into the outcomes in other groups for their entry it is important for them to play,” said Pavlyuchenkova storms into final GLASGOW: Celtic have appointed third round of World Cup qualifiers and into the next round of Asian qualifiers. The Alumtairi at a pre-match conference Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova held a steady course to former Australia coach Ange getting a direct spot for Asian Cup with two only other way remaining for Nepal is to go on Thursday hinting that he might bring beat a wildly erratic Tamara Zidansek and reach the French Postecoglou as their new manager matches in hand. They are assured of at into the next round of Asian Qualifiers them as substitutes. Open final, showing all her experience to win 7-5 6-3 on on a 12-month rolling contract least top two finish including best four run- through playoffs. Bottom 11 teams of the Among six new players he picked for the Thursday. following the exit of Neil Lennon in ners up among all eight groups in the quali- qualifiers will vie for eight places available squad, midfielders Kamal Thapa, Suraj Jeu Slovenian world number 85 Zidansek made a flying start February, the Scottish Premiership fiers – the conditions required to progress in the 24-team Asian Cup qualifiers. Thakuri and Aysuh Ghalan and goalkeeper with her aggressive style earning her an early break but club announced on Thursday. into the next stage. The victory over Australia, who are fourth Bishal Sunar have not debuted in the nation- Pavlyuchenkova soaked up her opponent’s best shots and Postecoglou joins the Glasgow club But victory over Nepal would confirm in the Asian rankings and 41st in the FIFA al shirt. proved way too solid in the end. Zidansek, like Pavlyuchenkova from Japanese side Yokohama F their place as table toppers before they vie rankings, is almost impossible for Nepal “Hopefully we shall play another good a Grand Slam semi-final debutant, cracked down 27 winners Marinos, who he led to the J-League against second placed Jordan in their last who stand at 171st position in global rank- match against Australia. Our style of play but struggled to contain errors at key moments of the match title in 2019. The 55-year-old won suc- group match on June 15. Australia have max- ings. Even a draw or getting on the score- has improved and we have been able to make and handed over the first set with a double fault. cessive A-League titles with Brisbane imum 18 points from six matches while sheet against Australia would be an achieve- our supporters happy,” added Almutairi. The 29-year-old Pavlyuchenkova forged 4-1 ahead in the sec- Roar and spent a season at Melbourne Jordan have 13 points from as many games. ment for Nepal as they have not scored a Australia coach Graham Arnold said that ond set and then snuffed out an attempted Zidansek come- victory before becoming Australia Unlike Australia, Nepal’s campaign for single goal against any opponents other than he would not take Nepal as easy opponents. back, clinching victory when her opponent blazed a backhand coach in 2013. Postecoglou guided World Cup qualifier and direct entry into Chinese Taipei. Nepal faced a 5-0 drubbing “Their playing style has changed. They are a wide. Australia to their maiden Asian Cup Asian Cup are already over. Nepal stand by Australia in the first leg match played in hard working team and it won’t be easy to Pavlyuchenkova has reached her first Grand Slam final at triumph in 2015 and was at the helm fourth in the five-team group with identical Canberra in October 2019. play against them,” he said. the 50th attempt, breaking the previous record held by Italy’s as they qualified for the 2014 and 2018 2-0 victories over Chinese Taipei. Nepal’s Despite the odds, Nepal’s Kuwaiti coach The match will kick off at 21:45 and will be Roberta Vinci who made the 2015 US Open final in her 44th World Cups. (AGENCIES) ambition for third round of Asian Cup qual- Abdullah Almutairi is likely to stick to the telecast live on Kantipur Television. appearance in one of the majors. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) **** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** As an Aries, you’re cosmically guided by the fearless, The universe is bringing you some much-needed Don’t be afraid to take things to the next level, Libra. Your relationships are heating up, Capricorn. warrior planet, Mars. Friday’s skies find Mars happi- relief, Cancer. Hot-headed Mars finally departs from You’re ready to push ahead with the new goals Motivated Mars departs from your opposite sign of ly on the move, as it departs from overly emotional your sign and moves forward into luxurious Leo. emerging on the horizon, as highly motivated Mars passive Cancer and moves forward into heart-cen- Cancer and leaps forward into playful Leo. Mars’ new stay in Leo focuses your energy on hus- moves forward into enthusiastic Leo. tred Leo. This transition digs up old frustrations and tling, earning, and re-activating latent talents. intimacy blocks.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** Let the earth shift ever so slightly beneath your feet A weight is being lifted under Friday’s skies, Leo. As a Scorpio, you’re guided by the courageous, ener- Turn your attention towards your closest relation- today, Taurus. Mover and shaker Mars departs from Self-motivated Mars moves forward into your sign gy-driven planet Mars. Friday’s skies find Mars on ships today, Aquarius. Things are beginning to heat gentle Cancer and prances into expressive Leo, today. Mars’ presence in your sign helps you step the move to greener pastures, as it departs from the up on that front, as energetic Mars moves forward where it remains until July 29. This is the best time back out onto the stage of life with a renewed sense weepy waters of Cancer and leaps into the bold-heart- into energetic Leo. This transition takes the heat off of year to undertake home renovation efforts! of confidence in your abilities. ed jungle of Leo. your current work circumstances.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) **** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) **** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** The universe is going easier on your wallet when Life has been throwing you some serious curveballs, Greener pastures are beginning to open up for you. Friday’s skies usher in an important tonal shift to heat-bringer Mars moves forward into playful Leo. Virgo. Add another lesson to the to-do list today, as Hot-headed Mars departs from the dark, overly emo- tune into, Pisces. Motivated Mars departs from senti- This transition is a welcome one for you, as it helps motivated Mars prowls into lazy Leo. This shift is tional realms of Cancer and moves forward into mental Cancer and moves forward into self-con- you devote more energy towards educational efforts, critical for getting to the bottom of what’s been fiery, excitable Leo today. New opportunities are cerned Leo today. Now’s the time to go after what you writing projects, and local travel. standing in your way. likely to emerge around educational pursuits. want, as you have the stamina to push yourself. CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 2021 | 10 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 Europe tells tourists: Welcome back! Now work out the rules As the European Union’s doors reopen one by one to the outside world, tourists will discover a patchwork of systems instead of a single border-free leisure zone.

are fully vaccinated at least two weeks before ASSOCIATED PRESS the trip. PARIS Arrivals from Brazil, South Africa and India are banned at the moment because of high urope is opening up to Americans infection rates there, and unvaccinated and other visitors after more than a Americans and many other non-EU nationali- year of Covid-induced restrictions, ties cannot come to Spain for tourism for now. in hope of luring back tourists— But there are exemptions for countries con- and their dollars—to the continent’s sidered at low risk, such as citizens from trattorias, vistas and cultural treas- Britain, who can arrive without any health Eures. But travellers will need patience to figure documents at all. EU citizens need to provide out who’s allowed into which country, how and proof of vaccination, a certificate showing when. they recently recovered from Covid-19, or a As the European Union’s doors reopen one negative antigen or PCR test taken within 48 by one to the outside world for the first time hours of arrival. since March 2020, tourists will discover a patchwork of systems instead of a single bor- Britain der-free leisure zone, because national govern- There are few, if any, American tourists in the ments have resisted surrendering control over UK at present. Britain has a traffic-light sys- their frontiers amid the pandemic. And tem for assessing countries by risk, and the US post-Brexit Britain is going its own way alto- along with most European nations is on the gether. ‘amber’ list, meaning everyone arriving has to Meanwhile, the welcoming mood isn’t self-isolate at home or in the place they are always mutual. US borders, for example, staying for 10 days. remain largely closed to non-Americans. UK and US airlines and airport operators Here’s a look at current entry rules in some are pushing for a travel corridor to allow tour- popular European tourist destinations. One ism to resume, and Prime Minister Boris caveat: While these are the regulations as writ- Johnson is expected to raise the issue when he ten by governments, travellers may meet hic- meets President Joe Biden at a G-7 summit in cups as airlines or railway officials try to make England this week. sense of them. Meanwhile, anyone travelling between Britain and continental Europe, be warned: In France addition to the isolation requirement for those If you’re vaccinated, come to France. But only arriving or returning to UK shores, rising con- if you got one of the four EU-approved vac- cern about the delta variant of the virus has cines: Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna or prompted some other countries to introduce Johnson & Johnson. That works for special restrictions for those arriving from Americans—as long as they can produce offi- Britain. cial proof of vaccination—but not for large swaths of the world like China and Russia European Union where other vaccines are used. The 27-nation EU has no unified Covid tourism France’s borders officially reopened or border policy, but has been working for Wednesday. Vaccinated visitors from months on a joint digital travel certificate for outside Europe and a few ‘green’ countries those vaccinated, freshly tested, or recently

will still be asked for a negative PCR test no AP/RSS recovered from the virus. EU lawmakers older than 72 hours, or a negative antigen endorsed the plan on Wednesday. test of no more than 48 hours. Unvaccinated late upon arrival for 10 days unless they countries and those on ‘Covid-tested’ flights bloc members introduced a Covid certificate The free certificates, which will contain a children will be allowed in with vaccinated arrive on so-called ‘Covid-tested flights.’ That from the US, Canada, Japan and the United system for travellers, weeks ahead of the July QR code with advanced security features, will adults, but will have to show a negative test means passengers are tested before and after Arab Emirates. 1 rollout of the program across the 27-nation allow people to move between European coun- from age 11. the flight and must fill out documents about bloc. tries without having to quarantine or undergo Tourists are banned from 16 countries wres- their whereabouts to facilitate contact tracing Greece extra coronavirus tests upon arrival. tling with virus surges and worrisome vari- if required. Tourism-reliant Greece started opening to Spain Several EU countries have already begun ants that are on a red list that includes India, ‘Covid-tested’ flights from the US started in American travellers back in April, and now Spain kicked off its summer tourism season using the system, including Spain, Germany, South Africa and Brazil. December and have also been operating since visitors from China, Britain and 20 other coun- Monday by welcoming vaccinated visitors Greece, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Unvaccinated visitors from ‘orange list’ May from Canada, Japan and the United Arab tries are also allowed to visit for nonessential from the US and most countries, as well as Denmark and Poland. The rest are expected to countries—including the US and Britain— Emirates. travel. European visitors who can prove they are not start using it July 1. can’t come for tourism either, only for specific, Italy also started allowing tourists from All must provide a vaccination certificate or infected. It’s mainly meant for EU citizens but imperative reasons. Britain and Israel last month, meaning they no a negative PCR test and fill in a passenger loca- Americans and most other non-Europeans Americans and others can obtain the certifi- longer need an ‘essential’ reason to visit and tor form on their plans in Greece. This direc- need an official vaccine certificate by a health cate too—if they can convince authorities in Italy don’t have to self-isolate, providing they pres- tive expires on June 14, but could be extended. authority. Spain accepts those who were inocu- an EU country they’re entering that they qual- Americans—the second-biggest group of for- ent proof of a negative COVID test taken no Athens long pressed for a common EU lated with the four EU-approved vaccines as ify for one. And the lack of an official US vacci- eign tourists to Italy—have been welcome more than 48 hours prior to arrival. approach, but didn’t wait for one to material- well two Chinese vaccines authorised by the nation certification system may complicate since mid-May. However, they need to self-iso- The same rules apply to travellers from EU ise. On June 1, Greece, Germany and five other World Health Organisation—as long as visitors matters.

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