WI THOUT F EAR O R F A V O U R

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXIX No. 180 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 34.5 C 14.0 C Tuesday, August 17, 2021 | 01-05-2078 Nepalgunj Jomsom Opposition lashes out at the government for proroguing Parliament After failing to give business to the House, the Deuba administration, which is unsure of its strength to pass bills, has ended the session that started a month ago.

TIKA R PRADHAN related to deterrence for acid attacks KATHMANDU, AUG 16 and punishment and another on vio- lence against women. After the Supreme Court reinstated Deuba was reluctant to present any the House of Representatives on bills in the House because the coali- February 23, terming its dissolution tion government–of Nepali Congress, on December 20, 2020 unconstitution- Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist al, its sessions were limited to endors- Centre) and Janata Samajbadi Party– ing condolence motions on the demise was unsure of its strength in the of incumbent and former lawmakers. House, according to analysts. The then KP Sharma Oli govern- “If the rulers think they have no ment did not give it any business to majority, they better go for elections,” discuss bills and make laws and for Subedi told the Post. this the prime minister faced much With only the support of the 61 law- criticism. The House was then pro- makers from the Nepali Congress, 49 rogued after 44 days, a week before the from the Maoist Centre and some 20 budget for the fiscal year 2021-22 was from the Janata Samajbadi Party to due to be presented. count on, the government would have Now, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur fallen short of reaching 136 lawmak- Deuba has followed suit. ers required for a majority. On the recommendation of his During the 29 days of the House Cabinet, President Bidya Devi session, the only business of note it Bhandari on Monday prorogued performed was to give Deuba a confi- Parliament. The House of dence vote on July 18, just like Oli Representatives did not discuss any seeking a confidence vote on May 10 bills, let alone pass one. which he lost. Post Photo: Dipendra Rokka Like his predecessor Oli, The CPN-UML, the main opposi- Two men look at a photo taken on a smartphone at Taumadhi square in Bhaktapur on Monday. Deuba seems bent on ruling tion, was quick to pounce upon the through ordinances. government’s failure to pass any bills. “Ruling the country through “The government failed to give busi- ordinances can never be good ness to the House for one month. Now and acceptable,” said Jhalak the House has been prorogued sudden- Subedi, a political analyst. ly without consulting the opposition,” Oli had issued 15 ordinances said Subas Nembang, deputy parlia- Nepal scrambles to evacuate and all but one of them were mentary party leader of the CPN- presented in the lower house UML. “Whatever has happened is when it was convened on July 18 unfortunate.” as per the Supreme Court order. But Nepali Congress leaders defend- Nepalis from Afghanistan Among these ordinances that ed the House prorogation. are yet to become law are one >> Continued on page 2

AFP/RSS Afghan people climb atop a plane as they wait at the Kabul airport in Kabul on Monday, after a stunningly swift end to Afghanistan’s 20-year war, as thousands of people mobbed the city’s airport trying to flee the group’s feared hardline brand of Islamist rule. Thousands flee Easier said than done, officials say, as the country lacks diplomatic links and mechanisms, including dedicated Afghanistan after ministers. Government relying on employing countries.

ANIL GIRI, SANGAM PRASAIN & Taliban takeover PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA Editorial | pg 4 KATHMANDU, AUG 16 Was the great invasion of ASSOCIATED PRESS Afghanistan really worth it? KABUL, AUG 16 After Kabul’s fall to the Taliban on Sunday ended the United States’ era in Thousands of Afghans rushed Afghanistan, there has been panic and mentary affairs, told reporters after onto the tarmac of Kabul’s interna- bedlam. As desperate Afghans are try- Monday’s Cabinet meeting. tional airport Monday, so desperate to ing to flee the country, countries from Officials, however, were clueless as escape the Taliban capture of their around the world are scrambling to to how they are going to do so. For an country that they held onto an evacuate their citizens. So is Nepal. evacuation plan, the government first American military jet as it took off But the Sher Bahadur Deuba gov- needs to ascertain the number of and plunged to death in chaos that ernment is in a fix. Nepalis in Afghanistan. killed at least seven people, US offi- Firstly, the Deuba administration “We have to know the number first cials said. lacks ministers at all three key three and the status of Nepalis before send- The crowds of people rushing the ministries (foreign affairs, labour and ing evacuation flights,” Buddhi Sagar airport came as the Taliban enforced tourism) whose coordination is a must Lamichhane, joint secretary at the their rule over the wider capital to bring Nepalis—there is no exact Civil Aviation Ministry, told the Post. after a lightning advance across the data of how many are there in the “We are coordinating with all minis- country that took just over a week to war-torn country—home. Secondly, it tries and diplomatic agencies for a dethrone the country’s Western- never had a direct diplomatic channel safe evacuation of Nepalis.” backed government. While there in Afghanistan. Thirdly, amid confu- According to the Department of were no major reports of abuses, sion after the Taliban takeover, it is Foreign Employment, in the last fiscal many stayed home and remained difficult to establish communication year, ending mid-July, 1,073 Nepalis fearful as the insurgents’ advance saw with the new regime in Kabul. had obtained labour permits to work prisons emptied and armouries The government, however, has said in Afghanistan. The department’s sta- looted. it “would do all it requires” to evacu- tistics show that in the last seven The Taliban swept into Kabul on ate Nepalis from Afghanistan. years, more than 8,000 Nepalis have Sunday after President Ashraf Ghani As pressure grew on the govern- been issued labour permits to fled the country, bringing an end to a ment, a Cabinet meeting on Monday Afghanistan. two-decade campaign in which the US instructed all concerned agencies to But there are no figures of the and its allies had tried to transform ramp up efforts to repatriate Nepali undocumented Nepali workers, Afghanistan. The country’s Western- citizens from Afghanistan. and estimates suggest there could trained security forces collapsed or “The meeting has directed all relat- be more than 14,000. Afghanistan is fled, ahead of the planned withdrawal ed agencies to do all necessary work to one of the key countries, despite of the last American troops at the end ensure safe return of Nepalis from high risk, where Nepalis prefer to go of the month. Afghanistan,” Gyanendra Bahadur due to high pay. >> Continued on page 6 Karki, minister for law and parlia- >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2021 | 02 National Nepal scrambles to evacuate Nepalis ...

>> Continued from page 1 ing office, which it said has caused “We don’t have the exact data on delay in rescuing Nepalis. undocumented Nepalis working in “Nepali citizens are in desperate Afghanistan. As of now, we have data need of evacuation. The government of 1,500 Nepalis working in does not even know the number of Afghanistan,” said Harish Chandra Nepalis stranded in Afghanistan. Ghimire, a joint secretary at the They need immediate evacuation,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs. said lawmaker Bimala BK of the UML. Ghimire heads the task force Bharat Shah, a lawmaker from the formed by the government on Sunday ruling Nepali Congress, said just a for the safe repatriation of Nepali citi- decision is not going to work. zens from Afghanistan. “It needs prompt implementation,” The task force consists of members said Shah while speaking in the lower from the ministries of foreign affairs, house. home, labour and employment, health, Many say the Taliban takeover was and tourism and civil aviation. Other imminent ever since the United States members are from Nepal Police, announced the withdrawal of its Covid-19 Crisis Management Centre troops by September and that the and Department of Consular Services. Nepal government should have start- Ghimire said the task force held a ed preparing the evacuation plan for series of meetings on Monday. Nepalis. “As soon as the security situation A senior Foreign Ministry official, becomes normal, we will begin the however, said the government was repatriation process. There can be two closely monitoring the unfolding situ- ways,” he said. “The first option is ation in Afghanistan. seeking support from friendly nations. “We were taking stock of the devel- The second option is to repatriate opments in Afghanistan and we had Nepalis by sending planes from established contacts with diplomatic Nepal.” missions and UN agencies,” the offi- For Nepal to send its planes, howev- cial, who did not wish to be named, er, will take time. told the Post. “That’s how we conclud- All passenger flights out of the ed that there could be around 1,500 Kabul airport have been suspended Nepalis remaining in Afghanistan.” post photo: Deepak kc starting Monday, according to A man poses under a waterfall while his friend takes his picture at Nagarkot, Bhaktapur on Monday. the Afghanistan Civil Aviation Authority. Authorities don’t On Monday, international media reported chaos at the Hamid Karzai have exact data on International Airport in Kabul, as Afghan civilians rushed to the tarmac undocumented in desperate attempts to join foreign Covid-19 cases in Gandaki has tripled missions leaving the country. Images Nepalis working on social media showed desperate in Afghanistan. Afghans clinging onto airplanes. Officials involved in diplomatic compared to same time last year negotiations said that as of Monday evening, Nepali nationals in According to the official, the gov- Afghanistan “are safe” as some of ernment had communicated with Despite the increasing number of cases of late, the province has not done much to prepare for a health emergency. them, living legally and illegally, major employers inside the country have come into their contact. like foreign missions and United DEEPAK PARIYAR as the authorities failed to increase tal’s inability to increase the number Health workers suspect that many While seeking help from various dip- Nations agencies. POKHARA, AUG 16 the number of beds and other facili- of hospital beds as agreed earlier. “We Covid-19-infected people might still be lomatic missions and multilateral “It’s the state’s duty to protect its ties in government hospitals. could not find a contractor to extend staying in home isolation given the agencies, the Foreign Ministry has citizens and ensure their safe return During the first wave of the Covid-19 Pokhara Academy of Health the oxygen pipeline at the hospital and high hospital expense at private hospi- issued public notice to the families of when they are at risk,” said the offi- pandemic, 26,633 cases were reported Science, the biggest government had to invite the tender again. So the tals and a lack of well-equipped public the migrant workers to provide the cial. “We have data of those working in Gandaki Province. This year, since health institution in Gandaki adding of hospital beds has been health institutions. details of their kin working in inside the green zone, those working the start of the second wave in mid- Province, has permission to run 500 delayed to expand the hospital’s facili- “The number of hospital admis- Afghanistan. as supporting staff of allied forces April 2021, the number of coronavirus beds but operates only 350 beds at ties,” said Khatri. He said the hospital sions is less in comparison to the total According to data provided by the and those working in different foreign cases has reached 76,342, according to present. The hospital management would initially add 35 beds and gradu- number of infected people in the prov- Nepali Embassy in New Delhi, out of installations. We don’t have the data the data of the Ministry of Social has allocated 80 beds for Covid-19 ally increase the number of beds. ince. Many people fear that they have 579 Nepalis working inside the US of people working outside the green Development in Gandaki Province. patients. All 25 ICU beds in the Covid- Similarly, all 57 beds at the Infectious to spend a huge amount of money for Embassy in Kabul, 184 have already zone and we expect this number to be The number has tripled this year as 19 ward are occupied now. Communicable Disease Hospital set treatment so they prefer to stay at been repatriated and they are on their very small, as many may have already compared to the corresponding period Dr KC said that the hospital, which up in Lekhnath are also filled with home,” said Dr David Shrestha of the way to Nepal. returned home.” last year. falls under the federal government, Covid-19 patients. A new building is Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences. “We have told the US authorities to The government had imposed a ban Last year, 207 individuals died of did not increase the number of beds under construction at the hospital to Dr KC admits that treatment for help evacuate those who are still on Nepali citizens from working in Covid-19 during the first wave of the despite repeated requests from the expand its health services. Covid-19 can be expensive but claims inside the US diplomatic premises,” Afghanistan in July 2016 after 13 pandemic in Gandaki Province. This provincial government. According to There are a total of 83 ventilators, there is no shortage of beds in the Ram Prasad Subedi, deputy chief of Nepalis who were security guards at year, 995 people in the province have him, the provincial government pro- 214 ICU beds, 467 HDU beds and 581 province. mission in New Delhi, which is accred- the Canadian embassy in Kabul were lost their lives to the virus. vided Rs 3.5 million to the hospital a isolation beds in the government, pri- “We have not received complaints ited to look after Afghanistan as well, killed in an attack on a bus on June 23 Between mid-July and mid-August, few months ago to increase the num- vate and community hospitals of of bed shortage but have received sev- told the Post over the phone from the that year. 15,823 new cases were reported ber of beds and manage oxygen. Gandaki Province. A total of 369 peo- eral complaints about expensive treat- Indian capital. But Nepal, which relies heavily on in the province while 188 died due to Dr Bharat Bahadur Khatri, the ple are receiving treatment at these ment costs at private hospitals. We Besides the US embassy, 467 Nepali remittances from its migrant workers, Covid-19. director at Pokhara Academy of hospitals at present. Other infected will focus on monitoring private hos- nationals are working under various lifted the ban four months later after a Dr Ram Bahadur KC, chief at the Health Sciences, admitted the hospi- people are in home isolation. pitals in this regard,” he added. UN’s specialised agencies in Kabul, large number of Nepalis, especially hospital development and medicine according to Subedi. ex-army and ex-police personnel, service division under the ministry, In the German embassy in Kabul, 60 started to use illegal channels to says the increase in the number of Nepali nationals are working, in the migrate to Afghanistan. Nepalis are coronavirus cases can be attributed to United Kingdom embassy, there are 87 still banned from working in other the fact that more people are coming and in the Japanese embassy, the num- conflict hotspots such as Iraq, Libya forward to test for the virus this year ber of Nepali employees is 62. Around and Syria. compared to last year. 60 Nepalis are working in the Officials say it is difficult to say the “Until last year, people did not want Canadian mission in Kabul as per the exact number of Nepalis in to get tested because of fear of ostraci- available data. Afghanistan. sation from society. But this year, peo- The Japanese authorities have Krishna Prasad Dawadi, director ple have started visiting health insti- assured that they would repatriate the general of the Department of Foreign tutions for Covid-19-related symp- Nepalis working within their premis- Employment, said in the last two fis- toms,” he said, adding that the main es within 72 hours in a chartered cal years, the department had issued reason for the increase in testing is flight, according to officials. permits to around 1,500 Nepalis. the relaxation of prohibitory orders “Nepalis working in various According to him, normally Nepalis across the province. diplomatic missions and multilateral spend two years in Afghanistan, and “People have become complacent. agencies inside the green zone of the government estimate is that And there is vaccine confidence too. Kabul are safe. Government officials around 1,500-2,000 Nepalis could be Vaccinated people are moving around in Kathmandu and New Delhi have there. freely thinking they will not contract told them to repatriate them safely as “Based on the latest report we the virus,” he said. per the bilateral agreement between received from various manpower According to the data of the minis- the employees and the employers,” agencies responsible for sending try, 322,327 individuals have so far said a joint secretary, who is coordi- Nepalis to Afghanistan, about 330 indi- received complete doses of Covid-19 nating the rescue and repatriation viduals have reached Qatar. And 437 vaccines in Gandaki Province while operations. “We are also in constant are awaiting rescue at Kabul airport,” 551,850 individuals have received the touch with the International he said. “We don’t know how many first dose. Organization for Migration and the Nepalis reached Afghanistan without The province currently has 6,168 United Nations refugee agency to taking labour permits.” active cases. Kaski is on top of the list ensure safe return and repatriation of Official figures show that around with 2,115 active cases of Covid-19. Nepali citizens.” 15,000 labour permits have been issued The district has reported a total of As for those Nepalis who are out- since Afghanistan became a draw for 30,433 positive cases so far with 517 side Kabul and who are undocument- Nepali migrant workers. fatalities. Most of the infected and the ed, repatriation could be tough. Dawadi, however, said as Nepalis deceased are from Pokhara At least two Foreign Ministry offi- usually get a two-year contract, most Metropolitan City. cials, who did not wish to be named, of them must have returned by now. Despite the increasing number of said there is a diplomatic vacuum, as “They can return home on leave cases of late, the province has not Nepal does not have any direct com- also after spending one year,” Dawadi done much to prepare for an outbreak. munication channel in Kabul. told the Post. Patients have to pay a hefty amount to Post file Photo After Bharat Raj Paudyal, the “We don’t have data on the number afford treatment in private hospitals, Between mid-July and mid-August this year, 15,823 new cases were reported in the province while 188 died due to Covid-19. incumbent foreign secretary, left of Nepalis who have returned Pakistan as Nepal’s ambassador in from Afghanistan, as we started 2016, none of the Nepali ambassadors keeping data of returnees only a few have visited Afghanistan and present- months ago.” ed their credentials. After Paudyal, After the Ministry of Foreign Sewa Lamsal served as Nepali ambas- Affairs called on Nepali citizens to Opposition lashes out at the government for ... sador to Pakistan and returned last register their name, their address, year, but she neither visited Kabul nor contact details and their contacts in >> Continued from page 1 of the UML which voted for Deuba on the Mahantha Thakur faction of the with little options. It either has to presented the credentials. Nepal, around three dozen Nepalis “Actually, we needed more time to July 18 has for long been at logger- Janata Samajbadi Party, which is not remain under Yadav’s leadership or The government then transferred living in Kabul have already sent forge consensus on pending bills heads with the party chair Oli. But it firmly behind the prime minister, to form a new party. the Afghanistan accreditation from emails and contacted the designated among parties and that is the reason has not been able to make a decision– split the party. The Nepal faction too faces a dilem- Islamabad to New Delhi. Nepal’s Nepali officials. we decided to prorogue this session,” whether to remain within the UML or The Thakur group has been relegat- ma, and according to Nepali Congress Ambassador to New Delhi Nilamber “Some 135 Nepalis have contacted said Bal Krishna Khand, the home form a new party. The faction lacks ed to the minority in the party after leaders, it is unsure whether it wants Acharya too has never visited Kabul. us,” said Subedi, the deputy chief of minister. the numbers in the Central Committee the Election Commission handed over to split from the UML. On top of that, with the Taliban mission in New Delhi. “They are safe But other leaders did not rule out and Parliamentary Party to form a the party to Upendra Yadav and “I don’t think the Nepal faction is taking control, there is no way and living near a hotel in Kabul and the possibility of ordinances. new party. The Deuba government Baburam Bhattarai. ready for a split,” said the Nepali the Nepal government can establish we are in touch with them.” “The House was prorogued because could issue an ordinance to amend the The Thakur faction has challenged Congress leader. any diplomatic channel immediately, the government could not give busi- Political Parties Act-2017 to ease the the Election Commission decision in Oli, meanwhile, has called an infor- according to an official at the Nepalis in Afghanistan can register ness, but ordinances could be intro- party split. As per existing provisions, the Supreme Court. The court was mal meeting of major leaders of the ministry. here: https://mofa.gov.np/registra- duced when necessary,” a Nepali for any group to register a new party, expected to give a decision on Monday party to chart out its strategy. “We are using other channels to tion/ Congress leader told the Post. it must have 40 percent of members in but it did not issue any order. According to UML’s Basnet, the coa- establish communication with For rescue: (Viber/ WhatsApp) +977- One ordinance that is likely, accord- the Central Committee and the “Today, the Supreme Court refused lition partners that used to accuse the Nepalis,” said the official. 9749326458 (Department of Consular ing to opposition leaders, is amending Parliamentary Party. to give an interim order, but the hear- Oli government of attacking demo- Repatriation of Nepalis from Services)/ +977-9749326459 (Ministry of the Political Parties Act-2017, making “It seems that they are focused on ing will continue to decide whether cratic practices and the parliamentary Afghanistan was also raised in Foreign Affairs) party split easier, UML leaders say. bringing an ordinance to make party the Election Commission’s decision system are now following Oli’s path. Parliament on Monday, as lawmakers Any other information on recent “The main intention of the Deuba split easier so as to break our party,” was legal or not,” said Surendra Jha, a “Let’s see how pro-democracy forces questioned the government about its developments in Afghanistan: government to prorogue the House is says Khimlal Bhattarai, chief whip of leader of Janata Samajbadi Party and experts come up with their assess- evacuation plan. to bring an ordinance to split our the UML at the National Assembly. close to Thakur. ment of this development,” said The main opposition CPN-UML Embassy of Nepal, New Delhi party,” Mahesh Basnet, a UML law- An ordinance to amend the Act If the Supreme Court does not Basnet. “Today’s prorogation has came down heavily on Prime Minister Hotline: +91-8929601925 (WhatsApp) maker, told the Post. could, however, not be favourable to annul the Election Commission’s deci- proved that our conclusion that this Deuba for failing to appoint ministers Email: [email protected] The Madhav Kumar Nepal faction Deuba as it would make it easier for sion, the Thakur faction will be left House cannot run is right.” even more than a month after assum- [email protected]

C M Y K 03 | TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2021 National Covid-19 Crisis Management Centre tells Gongabu bus park districts to enforce smart lockdowns aims to start online Authorities can divide districts, local units or areas into red, amber, yellow and green zones and impose restrictions. ticketing by Dashain ARJUN POUDEL lic what smart lockdown actually is.” KATHMANDU, AUG 16 Experts say that authorities should have enforced restrictions or smart All 32 counters inside the bus park have already started Amid rising Covid-19 cases and hospi- lockdowns in hotspot areas long ago tals nearing capacities, the Covid-19 and taken other measures to contain issuing tickets to 65 districts from a computerised system. Crisis Management Centre on Monday the spread of the virus in communi- issued a circular to all district admin- ties. They are sceptical about the istration offices throughout the coun- effective implementation of smart try to enforce smart lockdowns. lockdowns. The centre said that district admin- “It was wrong from an epidemiolog- istration offices had been authorised ical perspective to lift most of the to take decisions about restrictions on restrictions throughout the country at public movement and other measures once after the devastating second to contain the spread of the coronavi- wave,” said Bhandari. “I wonder what rus in communities as per the situa- is preventing the authorities from tion of the respective districts. locating the hotspots and enforcing “We have been talking about smart restrictive measures at present.” lockdowns for a long time, but today, Many health experts consider the we have issued a circular to all district removal of all restrictions at once to administration offices to enforce be responsible for the rapid surge in smart lockdowns from Tuesday,” Covid-19 cases. Nurhari Khatiwada, spokesperson for On Monday, 2,566 people tested posi- the centre, told the Post. “Concerned tive for Covid-19 in 10,093 polymerase local administration and the District chain reaction tests. An additional 885 Post file Photo Covid-19 Crisis Management Centre people tested positive in 5,518 antigen A crowd outside the ticket counters at Gongabu bus park ahead of the Dashain holidays. can decide the kind of measures tests. In the last 24 hours, 35 people to take to contain the spread of died of the coronavirus. ANUP OJHA Bus operators said the online infections.” Post file Photo Doctors say that apathy of the KATHMANDU, AUG 16 booking system will also discourage On Monday, there were 39,371 active A view of Ring Road in Lalitpur on March 24 last year, the first day of nationwide lockdown. authorities in taking public health the practice among some unscrupu- cases throughout the country. measures, including testing and con- Kathmandu’s Gongabu bus park, also lous transporters of charging According to the Ministry of Health amber, yellow and green zones and Public health experts say that tact tracing, and failure to heed expert known as New Bus Park, country’s passengers exorbitant fares during and Population, at least nine districts, impose restrictions accordingly as per instead of using new terms, authori- suggestions were the blunders the biggest domestic bus terminal, has festivals. including all three districts of the risk status--hard lockdown, mixed ties concerned should focus on imple- authorities have been repeating since launched a digital ticketing service. “This is a welcome move. Now peo- Kathmandu Valley, had over 1,000 lockdown, soft lockdown and minimal menting the decisions. the beginning. The bus park decided to go digital ple can book bus tickets just like air active cases. The number of active lockdown. “For instance, the term lockdown “Despite the rising number of coro- two months before the Dashain, the tickets. They are working on an online cases in the three districts of the Weekly average test positivity rate, itself was new to the public, and navirus cases and spread of the Delta biggest Hindu festival when hundreds ticket booking system,” said Rabi Valley is around 9,000. Similarly, 12 the percentage change in infection authorities enforced prohibitory variant of the virus, not enough peo- of thousands of people leave Rimal, vice-general secretary of districts have over 500 active cases. compared to the previous week, week- orders, which this time was meant to ple are being tested,” said Dr Baburam Kathmandu for their hometowns Federation of Nepalese National Khatiwada said that the concerned ly new cases per million, bed occupan- be different from similar orders Marasini, former director at the within a span of a few days creating a Transport Entrepreneurs. local administration and the District cy in percentage and death rate are enforced earlier during the political Epidemiology and Disease Control huge rush for tickets. Meanwhile, Kunwar said around a Covid-19 Crisis Management Centre some of the criteria for enforcing crises,” Dr Tulsi Ram Bhandari, a Division. “The government neither The bus park officials said they quarter of the bus operators at could divide the entire district, par- smart lockdown, according to public health expert, told the Post. learns from its mistakes nor listens to adopted the digital ticketing system to Gongabu bus park have already start- ticular local units or areas into red, Khatiwada. “Authorities should clearly tell the pub- experts’ suggestions.” avoid crowding at counters and to mit- ed selling tickets online through igate Covid-19 transmission. E-sewa, an online payment app. “We have already replaced The New Bus Park sprawls over 161 hand-written tickets,” said Sunil ropanis [8.29 hectares] and has a Kunwar, general manager of Lhotse capacity to accommodate up to 1,200 Multipurpose Private Limited that buses at any time. Officials say every has been handling the bus park since day the bus park sees 20,000 to 25,000 Crowded jails, new inmates raise Covid-19 risks 1999 under a public-private incoming and outgoing passengers in partnership agreement with the around 500 buses. SHUVAM DHUNGANA already vaccinated, but as courts issue, they were having a meeting on Similarly the Supreme Court had Kathmandu Metropolitan City. The The bus park’s ticket counters were KATHMANDU, AUG 16 send five to ten new inmates to the Monday with officials to expedite the also issued two directives—one in new system allows passengers to closed for nearly a year since the prison daily, the risk of Covid-19 construction of the Central Jail facili- March and another in September— choose seats in advance and reduce imposition of the first Covid-19 lock- Although the majority of the prison transmission persists among ty in Nuwakot and complete it within ordering the government to reduce ticket duplication. down in March last year. After reo- population in Nepal has already been prisoners. two months. the number of prisoners to mitigate “By Dashain, in the first week of pening for around four months this vaccinated, officials say the addition “When new inmates come, we “The jail in Nuwakot can accommo- Covid-19 infection risks. October, all ticket bookings will be year, they were closed once again in of new inmates every day in the pris- request the authorities to vaccinate date over 7,000 prisoners which will be Stating that overcrowded prisons online,” said Kunwar. He said the com- April-end following the imposition of ons, most of which are overcrowded, them but as vaccines are hard to come a huge respite to the authorities dur- were violating the inmates’ right to pany is consulting application devel- another lockdown before being reo- is still a cause for concern amid rising by, we make requests only after the ing the pandemic,” said Adhikari. health, the court had ordered the opers for the purpose. pened on July 25. Covid-19 infections. number of unvaccinated inmates Ramchandra Tiwari, spokesperson authorities to seek alternative ways of All 32 ticket counters inside the bus “We have computerised the ticket- According to the Department of reaches to over 30,” said the jailer. for Department of Prison Management penalising those behind bars. park have already started issuing tick- ing system and trained our 300 staff- Prison Management, until June 14 a According to the Department of said they have been coordinating with According to Tiwari, they have ets to 65 various districts from a com- ers,” said Kunwar. total of 24,265 prisoners were serving Prison Management, a total of 13 various authorities to provide neces- released several inmates who were puterised system. He said the company spent Rs30 time in 74 prisons across the country. inmates have died due to Covid-19 so sary services including vaccine and held on minor charges. Every year, ahead of the Dashain million to replace the ticketing system Out of them, 20,446 inmates were inoc- far. There are 70 active cases in pris- Covid-19 tests to inmates. On the occasion of Republic Day on festival, tens of thousands of people and refurbish the bus park. ulated with the first dose while 19,910 ons across the country as of Sunday. “Steps to reduce crowding in pris- May 29, President Bidya Devi form long queues outside Kathmandu’s The bus park was constructed were fully vaccinated. According to Bednidhi Adhikari, ons are also being taken,” said Tiwari. Bhandari had commuted the sentenc- bus ticket counters from early hours. under the Japan’s government’s finan- But as the cases are rising again, the jailer at the Central Jail, they have “Visitors have been banned.” es of 434 prisoners who were serving The bus park management has long cial assistance through Japan there are concerns about a possible over 3,200 inmates although the jail’s Similarly, on September 21 last year, their terms in various prisons. been criticised for its failure to make International Cooperation Agency third wave, which could bring capacity is only 1,600. the National Human Rights In April last year, the Department the ticket sales process free of hassles (JICA) in 1997/98. And in 1999, the bus devastation in the already overcrowd- “We are adjusting somehow but the Commission had instructed the gov- of Prison Management had released for passengers. park was handed over to the Lhotse ed prisons. risk of Covid-19 transmission is high ernment to become sensitive towards 409 prisoners, primarily juveniles, “From this year, passengers will get Multipurpose Private Limited, which According to the jailer of the in overcrowded conditions,” said protecting the prisoners’ right to live amid growing concerns over possible tickets without any hassles. And this has an agreement with the Kathmandu Dillibazar prison, there are over 500 Adhikari. in a safe environment amid growing transmission of Covid-19 in over- is also a move towards making the Metropolitan City to operate the bus inmates and majority of them are According to Adhikari, to solve the Covid-19 cases among inmates. crowded prisons. ticket sales foolproof,” said Kunwar. park for 45 years.

C M Y K TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2021 | 04 Opinion EDITORIAL Do not take the economy for granted Kabul besieged The government seems to be in no hurry to address Was the great invasion of Afghanistan the common man’s quest really worth it? for survival.

Kabul has fallen, and with it, the hubris that Western coun- tries can superimpose their idea of democracy anywhere ACHYUT WAGLE they can land with their sophisticated arms and artillery. As the United States of America bids an ignominious goodbye to Afghanistan 20 years after it landed there in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, it has many questions to answer. The first question, obviously, is: Was the invasion really worth it? After spending billions dollars, carpet-bombing terrorist hideouts as well as commoners’ homes with drones, and let- It’s been about five weeks since Sher ting thousands of security personnel, civilians, opposition Bahadur Deuba was sworn in as prime minister. But this government of five fighters, aid workers and others die in what seemed like an coalition factions, with their ideologi- endless war, what is there for the “peacekeepers” to show cal inclinations ranging from cen- except to concede that their approach was terribly short-sight- tre-left and centre to regionalism, ed? At the end of the 20-year effort at rebuilding Afghanistan, largely appears nonchalant. Deuba is the US administration could not even forecast how long it yet to complete the formation of his council of ministers. Except for putting would take the Taliban, whom they sought to wipe out from proper focus on procuring enough the face of the earth, to enter Kabul once the last of the doses of vaccines against Covid-19, the American troops had left. current administration, like its prede- It took not years, not months, but just over a week for the cessor, is scrambling to manage multi- Taliban to enter the presidential palace in Kabul as Afghan faceted logistics and operations related security forces, which had been trained by US and NATO to the pandemic. It also appears under- whelmed by unprecedented incidences forces for 20 years, wimped and all but surrendered. of calamities like floods and landslides. Disturbing scenes from Kabul have made the rounds in main- The country’s economy, which has stream and social media as thousands of people deserted the suffered significant setbacks due to capital just as the Taliban made their way into the city. lockdowns resulting from Covid-19, Thousands others—foreigners and Afghans both—were seen should be at the top of the govern- ment’s list of priorities. But it does not Shutterstock congregating at Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport seem to be the case for the Deuba-led any indication of the present govern- the much-awaited common minimum rent fiscal year 2021-22. At this stage, it hoping to catch a flight out of the country before the Taliban coalition. For starters, Deuba appoint- ment’s economic and developmental programme. The confusion that brewed is futile to comment on the merits of its took over. ed a non-economist as finance minister priorities, it can be safely argued that it out of these political trade-offs were, in contents since it exhibits sheer anach- One of the lucky few to be able to flee the besieged city was, and failed to correct the policy aberra- too, like its several predecessors, lacks turn, extended to two other subsequent ronism and lack of coordination of course, the president himself. Ashraf Ghani flew out of tion caused by the continuation of the urgency to deal with the issues documents—the economic white paper between two key government agencies, institutions like the National Planning plaguing the economy and address the and the monetary policy. namely the Ministry of Finance and the country to save himself as it became increasingly appar- Commission that are not only an appar- common man’s quest for survival. Finance Minister Janardan Sharma the country’s central bank. The princi- ent that he was in no position to save his people. By Sunday ent detriment to the spirit of the feder- presented the white paper in Parliament pal objective of the monetary policy is evening, images appeared of the Taliban reciting the Quran al polity, but have often been causing a Common minimum programme last week. It was a crude political dia- to create a favourable environment for and having their photographs taken in the presidential pal- contentious overlap of authority with The common minimum programme of tribe against the previous Oli govern- the mobilisation of financial resources ace. And on Monday, there were reports of gunshots and constitutional commissions like the the coalition partners unveiled two ment’s handling of the economy. Like required to meet the government’s deaths of half a dozen people as the chaos continued, inter- National Natural Resource and Fiscal weeks ago blatantly digressed from the his predecessors, the finance minister growth objectives outlined by its fiscal Commission. country’s pressing structural problem. spent all his efforts digging out flaws policy. The maintenance of the sys- national airlines started cancelling their flights, and the air- The government and its allies barely It seemed to emphasise procuring and policy distortions of the past tem’s stability in this process is an port closed down. appear bothered by critical economic anti-Covid-19 vaccines but faltered on regime. additional responsibility. At the end, we have arrived at a situation where we have to indicators that are already unpalatably many other fundamental economic He was undoubtedly expected to dig But the government is yet to table a be happy that the siege of Kabul happened without much alarming. The total value addition of challenges, for example, the govern- deeper, but into more substantive replacement bill for the ordinance bloodshed. And we have arrived at a point where we are hoping the manufacturing sector has over the ment’s capital expenditure which issues. The overarching concern is that budget presented by its forerunner. years dwindled to a mere 5 percent. remained under 60 percent of the allo- the shadow economy is about to swal- Many growth objectives, like the GDP against hope that the Taliban have changed for the better. We Nepal’s trade deficit in the last fiscal cation at the end of the last fiscal year. low the formal one. What do policymak- growth projections, of the ordinance have had to see a flicker of hope in the Taliban spokesman’s year ended July 15 crossed Rs1.3 tril- One of the significant issues, beyond ers want to do about it? Even by modest have already proved spurious, assurance that they will not harm anyone willing to leave the lion, or 32 percent of the country’s the federal government’s suboptimal estimates. It is now believed to have and this warrants a realistic calibra- country. Those of us in Nepal have had to hope that the hun- gross domestic product (GDP). By con- expending capacity, is the manifest crossed two-thirds of the GDP and, if tion. The priorities and approaches of dreds of Nepalis—perhaps even thousands; the government trast, the export to GDP ratio is a mea- inefficiency of the subnational govern- not contained and streamlined, will the present government are gre 3 percent. The current account ments in managing their budget. inevitably derail the democratic sys- bound to drastically alter in the has failed to even to come up with accurate data—who have deficit has crossed Rs334 billion, and The document even failed to reaffirm tem through pervasive criminalisation changed political context and emerging been stranded there will get a lift in one of the last flights oper- the national debt has almost trebled to a commitment to federal polity, fiscal of politics. Massive capital flight, deep- Covid-19 realities. Despite this, the ated by other governments even as our own government the tune of Rs1.8 trillion during the last federalism, in particular. The issue was ening divide between the haves and the hotchpotch and haste of the central remains clueless as to what it is doing to rescue its citizens. five years, approaching 40 percent of sidelined with the excuse that all coali- have-nots and rise in incidences of bank to come up with a new monetary The Afghanistan story is a sad tale of the failure of the US GDP. But Prime Minister Deuba and tion partners do not have the same level politically patronised corruption are policy with half-baked ideas and and its allies to gauge what exactly they were doing even as his major constituent partners largely of commitment to consolidate the some of the concerns people want fixed assumptions are beyond the compre- appear impervious to these realities country’s hard-earned federal system. by the government of the day. But the hension of anyone with economic com- they lingered on for 20 years in a war-torn country. It is the and unforthcoming to take corrective A minor constituent in the alliance, white paper skirted the issues unre- mon sense. story of a people damned to be ruled by the barbarians once measures. Samyukta Janamorcha, is an avowed servedly. This was not expected from a In essence, the new government that again after 20 years of living under relative peace, at least in Since Deuba rose to power, three anti-federalist political entity while government that claims superior demo- has come to power amidst growing the cities, despite occasional incidents of violence. It is the main documents, (a) The common min- another partner, Janata Samajwadi cratic credentials allegedly replacing a expectations of the people must not so story of hopes dashed, especially for young women, who had imum programme of the coalition gov- Party, is against empowering the local potentially dictatorial regime. serially fumble on the economic and ernment; (b) The economic white level, and wants the provincial govern- eco-political necessities and priorities grown up taking for granted the fact that a young woman can paper; and most recently (c) The mone- ments to be powerful. This flip-flop was Monetary policy of the country. It cannot take the peo- play football, go to school, and roam around in the city with- tary policy issued by the Nepal Rastra clearly reflected in the ritualistic, rath- Last Friday, Nepal Rastra Bank pre- ple’s aspirations for prosperity for out a burka and the company of a male family member. Bank, have been published. If they are er than transformative, approach of sented the monetary policy for the cur- granted. Reimagining and owning politics

American TV drama The West Wing Why is politics—a shows that cleansing and owning can probably work. In the Presidential value-neutral debate of the American TV drama, the Republican nominee sarcastically word–a taboo questions the Democratic nominee, saying, “You are not an unthinking in Nepal? liberal, are you?”. The bashing of lib- erals as out-of-touch and unthinking was meant to be a passing shot— SUSHAV NIRAULA intended to give him a slight advan- tage over his Democratic rival. But rather than distancing himself from the term, the Democratic nomi- nee then goes on a long protreptic detailing how, among other things, liberals ended slavery, enfranchised African Americans, and passed the A casual follower of Nepali politics Civil Rights Act. In retrospect, the should notice how the phrase “dirty retort became the defining moment game” immediately follows when for the Democratic nominee, Nepalis are asked their opinion on propelling his candidacy. Like the politics. This negative connotation Democratic nominee’s cleansing and and perception of “politics” is evident owning of the “liberal” tag, Nepalis in how the government and associated should own the “political” tag and agencies have, time and again, framed change the way politics is practised the demands for quality and just gov- and perceived. ernance from citizens as “political”. For example, next time a citizen An example can be taken from the group protests for better governance, state’s response to citizens demanding rather than the usual uneasiness with better Covid-19 response, safeguard- the term, they can start by stating how ing the livelihood-culture of Khokana their fight is for good politics—the residents, reclaiming the Tudikhel right kind of politics. Similarly, land, and justice for instead of outright brushing politics Nirmala Pant. Alternatively, how citi- as a “dirty” game, citizens should zens demanding genuine rights and actively select instances where good better governance from the state feel Shutterstock politics was practised and contrast the need to highlight the “apolitical” defined politics as the process of Clientelist politics a partisan lens. ed focus and apolitical positioning of them with cases of bad politics. nature of their protests also shows the “deciding who gets what, when and Like citizens of most clientelist the protests, they cannot change the The reimagining process further pervasiveness of the distrust and pes- how”. The positive or negative aspect democracies with weak and ineffi- Problems with forsaking the fundamental value underpinning requires citizens to borrow liberally simism with the “P” word in Nepal. with respect to the word politics is cient public institutions, Nepalis can- political “who gets what, when, and how”, thus from Nepal’s history, from the People’s The question then remains: Why is that the user gets to add their respec- not rely on public institutions to fulfil There are two key issues with citizens making it easier for things to fall back Movement of 1990 and 2006, the the word “politics”—a value-neutral tive values to the term. For example, their basic needs. From accessing hos- and interest groups with genuine to the status quo. Madhes Movement of 2007, the word—a taboo in Nepal? political scientist Bernard Crick in pital beds for sick relatives, school demands for better governance forsak- Second and more important, forsak- Satyagrahi-fashioned protests by Dr Understanding the clientelist nature his 1962 magnum opus In Defence of admission for children, to government ing the “political”. First, while mak- ing perpetuates the idea that politics is KC, to UML leaders crossing floor to of Nepali politics and the subsequent Politics, defines it as a specific human support schemes, citizens depend on ing the group’s cause credible in the dirty, thus making citizens pessimistic, dethrone former Prime Minister KP understanding of the word “politics” activity where conflict of interest their network with political patrons. short run, forsaking limits the scope unimaginative, and uninterested. This Sharma Oli, among others, can be and “political” in exclusively partisan among groups is adjudicated by dis- In this circumstance, rather than of influence and subsequent change is detrimental, as politics is an arena used to cleanse “politics” and define it terms explains that piece of the puz- cussion, persuasion and debate rather objective assessment, the way a citi- one can make, thus making it easier where the fundamental question of more nobly. This reimagining and sub- zle. Before proceeding any further, let than by force or fraud. Perhaps Crick zen votes, engages in public advocacy for the situation to return to the status “who gets what, when and how” is sequent owning can help make citi- us first establish a working under- was concerned with cleansing poli- or chooses to express opinions for or quo. For example, the admittedly apo- decided. Perhaps it was this limitation zens imaginative and optimistic standing of the word “politics”. tics; so he might have defined “demo- against a cause publicly is primarily litical nature of protests by Enough is in understanding what politics involves regarding their politics and thus cratic politics” rather than politics. affected by how it affects their exist- Enough marchers on the govern- that made it difficult for Nepalis to encourage them to be constructive Understanding politics But the critical question is: Why does ing relationship with their political ment’s handling of the Covid accept Bibeksheel as a party when they and change politics for the better. Politics, derived from the Greek word politics have a negative spin and is patrons. This turns citizens selective crisis or of Dr Govinda KC on mis- first arrived at the scene. politiká, meaning “affairs of the cit- understood in a partisan way in and partisan in their advocacy management and corruption in Niraula is Program Analyst at the ies”, is a value-neutral term. American Nepal? Why can’t Nepalis, like Crick, whereby even a genuine demand Nepal’s health sector. While successful Reimagining and owning the label Niti Foundation. He tweets political scientist Harold Lasswell take it as a force for good? for good governance is looked at from in the short run, given both the limit- A small anecdote from the famous @sushavniraula.

C M Y K 05 | TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2021 Money Nepal Telecom mulls phone assembly or refurbished industry The telecom authority has prepared a consultancy report on assembling and refurbishing mobile phones. Establishing a mobile industry is expected to help country’s economy.

KRISHANA PRASAIN ernment will miss out on revenue, a refurbished phone, the consumer KATHMANDU, AUG 16 according to the report. will expect certain quality in looks, The report stated that with the cur- performance and battery which can With cell phones emerging as Nepal’s rent rate of growth in mobile device only be achieved through standardisa- third largest import product, the tele- imports, electronic waste or e-waste is tion of the refurbished industry with com regulator is mulling allowing going to become an issue which needs minimum requirements for facilities, firms to assemble or refurbish sets serious attention. Nepal has a Solid testing and certification. domestically to create jobs. Waste Regulation and Management “This can come in a legal form such There is massive consolidation and Act 2018, but it has no specific provi- as guideline, working procedure and stiff competition in the telecommuni- sion for e-waste management. bylaw from the authority,” the report cations sector, and companies As per the data of the Mobile said. The report said that it might could venture into the mobile phone Phones Importer Association of be good to create a Telecom assembly business, the Nepal Nepal, there are about 3,500 repair Manufacturing Fund for providing Telecommunications Authority said. shops across the country. venture capital to indigenous manu- According to the Department of Along with standard repair, these facturers in the form of equity and Customs, Nepal imported 7 million shops usually also sell second-hand soft loans for supporting pre- and mobile phones worth Rs36.90 billion and refurbished phones. It is estimat- post-commercialisation product devel- in the last fiscal year 2020-21 ended ed that 25,000-30,000 such handsets are opment and brand creation. mid-July. Imports in the previous fis- sold in the market each year. As per Hempal Shrestha, information tech- cal year 2019-20 totalled 4.36 million the information, this market is totally nology and legal specialist with 20 units valued at Rs18.17 billion. informal without any kind of account- years’ experience in the sector, said The country also bought mobile ing, the report said. that assembling mobile phones in the parts worth Rs2.79 billion during the The association’s figures show that country would be possible as the coun- same period. there are around 2,000 mobile repair try has been assembling other elec- “That’s a lot of imports,” said centres, with each of them employing tronic equipment too. Dinesh Shrestha, vice-president REUTERS two persons on average. About 500 “In the initial phase, we can target industry of the Federation of Nepalese A file photo shows women working on a production line at a mobile phone factory in Assuit, Egypt. people are employed by national and semi-premium brands being produced Chambers of Commerce and Industry. regional dealers. The total technical in China or even in Taiwan as top “Assembling phone sets is viable if Nepal with a long-term regulatory in Nepal. According to the report, Nepal’s market size is relatively very employment figure is about 4,500. brands might not be willing to come they can be exported. Government framework. establishing a plant would require small, and since assembly plants According to the Nepal Mobile here,” he said. “As students are taking policy will be crucial to encourage According to the study report, a complete infrastructure on par require a large investment, domestic Distributors’ Association, there are online classes, assembling phones tar- investors.” widening gap between exports and with the standards defined by sales alone will not suffice to make the currently 10,700 persons employed in geting these customers would also cre- Smart phone developer Samsung imports, depletion of valuable foreign original equipment manufacturers venture economically feasible. marketing and sales. Including the ate demand.” Electronics has invested $17.3 billion exchange reserves and accumulation such as Samsung, Apple, Oppo and Considering the huge economic 3,700 business owners too, the total The government needs to create an in factories in Vietnam. of electronic waste are crucial enough other brands. benefits, Nepal needs an export orient- employment figure in the sector investment environment for potential Shrestha said that it could be the to explore the possibility of establish- The company would also require ed policy, said the report. stands at 18,900. investors, he said, adding that if the first step towards industrialisation. ing assembly plants and refurbishing complete support with supply of the The development of assembly hubs Based on the informal sales data of government provided subsidies on “Obviously, the government has an centres in Nepal. required parts, tools and technology in Vietnam and more recently in India 35,000-40,000 second-hand mobile equipment and parts of mobile important role in making domestical- “Establishing a mobile industry for the production of phones of origi- has come as a result of government-led phones annually, the refurbished phones, prices could be competitive. ly produced goods competitive in the can make Nepal economically strong nal quality. Such phones would be initiatives. phone market is estimated to amount The country can export Nepal- international market,” and generate employment,” the identical to the original product com- Unlike assembling handsets, to less than 1 percent of the total, assembled mobile phones if they are But ever changing governments and report said. plete with warranty and support. refurbishing has become almost in contrast to 10-20 percent in other provided tax waivers like on other unpredictable policies are a challenge, Most of the phones sold in Nepal “The phones will be sold in the essential, the report said. Even with- countries. The report said that favour- products. according to him. Stable government are imported from China and India domestic and international markets out government initiatives, the refur- able trade agreements with other Shrestha said that there would be policy is key to convincing investors followed by Vietnam. with ‘Made in Nepal’ labelling. bished handset market will flourish, countries, sustainable tax systems no problem with human resources as to set up mobile assembly units in the In January 2020, the authority had Suitable strategic policies are required but the scale will be very limited and and government incentives would sup- people can be trained since the coun- country, insiders say. formed a working committee consist- which will help attract foreign inves- unregulated. port establishing assembly plants in try has laws for technology transfer The Nepal Telecommunications ing of representatives from govern- tors,” the report said. Such a market will face challenges the country. which can help to invite investors. Authority has prepared a consultancy ment bodies and the private sector to The report has also highlighted the in gaining customer trust, and growth With regard to the refurbished “Refurbishing is vitally needed in the report on the prospects for assembling study and explore the possibility of challenges in establishing mobile will be limited. An unregulated and phone industry, the government may country as e-waste has been piling and refurbishing mobile phones in establishing handset assembly plants phone assembly plants in the country. informal market also means the gov- have a bigger role as after investing in up,” he said.

FOREX Facebook, telcos to US Dollar 119.10 Euro 140.32 Pound Sterling 165.00 Japanese Yen 10.89 extend subsea cable Chinese Yuan 18.40 Qatari Riyal 32.19 Australian Dollar 87.38 to four countries Malaysian Ringit 28.11 Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank REUTERS JOHANNESBURG, AUG 16 Subsea cables form Price Per tola bullion Facebook and a team of African and global telecoms companies will add the backbone of the Fine Gold Rs 90,600 four more countries to its world’s larg- internet, carrying est subsea cable project, widening the Silver Rs 1,200 build project in Africa earlier than 99 percent of the planned, they said in a joint statement Source: FENEGOSIDA on Monday. world’s data traffic. Internet connectivity will be expanded to the Seychelles, the gasoline watch Comoros Islands, Angola and bring tories in Calais and Greenwich to a new landing point to south-east deploy the first segments in 2022,” the Nigeria. This is in addition to companies said. The consortium the recently announced extension launched the cable, which is expected to the Canary Islands, the companies to go live in late 2023, in May 2020 to said. connect those countries in Africa, the The consortium of the project, Middle East and Europe. called 2Africa, comprises South Subsea cables form the backbone of Africa’s MTN GlobalConnect, the internet, carrying 99 percent of Facebook, Mauritius-based infra- the world’s data traffic. structure provider WIOCC, China Africa’s big economies have a large Mobile International, France’s Orange and fast growing population of inter- SA, Saudi Arabia’s stc, Telecom Egypt net users, with growth in internet use and Vodafone. fuelled by rapidly expanding mobile Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) broadband networks and more has been selected to deploy the new affordable phones. “branches”, which will increase However, with a population of just the number of 2Africa landings to 35 above 1.3 billion, Africa is still a lag- in 26 countries, further improving gard in internet connectivity, with connectivity into and around Africa, average mobile internet users at they added. around 26 percent against a world “Most of the subsea route survey average of 51 percent. activity is now complete. ASN has The companies said 2Africa will started manufacturing the cable be the largest subsea cable project in and building repeater units in its fac- the world. China economy under pressure as factory output, retail sales growth slow sharply

REUTERS Asian share markets slipped on Asia economics at Oxford Economics, BEIJING, AUG 16 Monday after the data showed a sur- in a note. prisingly sharp slowdown in the The country has also faced severe China’s factory output and retail engine of global growth. weather in several provinces, with sales growth slowed sharply and Data earlier this month also showed record rainfall in Henan province last missed expectations in July, as new export growth, which has been a key month causing floods that killed more Covid-19 outbreaks and floods disrupt- driver of China’s impressive rebound than 300 people. ed business operations, adding to from the Covid-19 slump in early 2020, Higher commodity prices are also signs the economic recovery is losing unexpectedly slowed in July. pressuring small and medium-sized momentum. Consumption, industrial produc- firms in particular. Smaller compa- Industrial production in the world’s tion and investment could all slow nies are unable to pass on recent rises second largest economy increased 6.4 further in August, analysts from in raw material costs to buyers, percent year-on-year in July, data from Nomura said in a note, due to Covid-19 said a sales manager at a medical the National Bureau of Statistics controls and tightening measures in equipment factory in the eastern prov- (NBS) showed on Monday. Analysts the property sector and high-polluting ince of Jiangsu. had expected output to rise 7.8 percent industries. “We don’t dare to increase our after growing 8.3 percent in June. Production controls sent crude steel prices...but our prices cannot fall, oth- Retail sales increased 8.5 percent in output to the lowest monthly level erwise there will be no profit at all,” July from a year ago, far lower than since April 2020 in July. he said. the forecast 11.5 percent rise and Meanwhile China tightened social China’s producer price inflation, June’s 12.1 percent uptick. restrictions to fight its latest Covid-19 which grew 9.0 percent from a year China’s economy has rebounded to outbreak in several cities, hitting the earlier in July, will likely remain its pre-pandemic growth levels, but services sector, especially travel and high for some time, the NBS said the expansion is losing steam as busi- hospitality in the country. on Monday. nesses grapple with higher costs and “Given China’s ‘zero tolerance’ A growing number of analysts have supply bottlenecks. New Covid-19 approach to Covid, future outbreaks been cutting their third quarter infections in July also led to fresh will continue to pose significant risk growth estimates for China. The coun- restrictions, disrupting the country’s to the outlook, even though around 60 try’s gross domestic product (GDP) factory output already hit by severe percent of the population is now vac- expanded 7.9 percent in the April-June weather this summer. cinated,” said Louis Kuijs, head of quarter from a year earlier.

C M Y K TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2021 | 06 world

Briefing More wildfires lead Haiti hospitals overwhelmed by quake to evacuation alerts Malaysia’s Muhyiddin quits as PM, agrees to caretaker role in Greece KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s Muhyiddin victims as death toll hits 1,297 Yassin stepped down as prime minis- ASSOCIATED PRESS ter on Monday after months of politi- Access to worst-hit areas complicated by deterioration in law and order that has left access roads in the hands of gangs. ATHENS, AUG 16 cal turmoil culminated in the loss of his majority, but his resignation is REUTERS Yet more wildfires broke out in Greece likely to open another chapter of PORT-AU-PRINCE, AUG 16 Monday, with two blazes triggering instability in the absence of any obvi- evacuation alerts for settlements to ous successor. Muhyiddin’s resigna- Haiti’s hospitals were swamped on the southeast and northwest of the tion ends a tumultuous 17 months in Sunday by thousands of injured resi- Greek capital. office, the shortest stint of a dents after a devastating earthquake Fanned by strong winds, the first Malaysian leader, but hampers efforts the day before killed at least 1,297 peo- blaze, which broke out on Monday in to reboot a pandemic-stricken econo- ple as authorities raced to bring doc- the Keratea region southeast of my and curb a resurgence of Covid-19 tors to the worst-hit areas before a Athens quickly burned through infections. The Southeast Asian major storm hits. shrubland and was headed toward a nation’s king appointed Muhyiddin as The 7.2 magnitude quake on national park in the Sounion area. the caretaker prime minister until a Saturday destroyed thousands of Three settlements in the area were new one is found, but did not set a homes and buildings in a Caribbean ordered evacuated, while the fire timeline. King Al-Sultan Abdullah nation which is still clawing its way department sent dozens of firefight- ruled out elections because of the back from another major temblor ers, as well as six water-dropping pandemic, saying he would invoke his years ago and is reeling from the planes and four helicopters. Local offi- constitutional power to appoint a assassination of its president last cials appealed to people not to prime minister he believes is likely to month. approach the area. command a majority. Malaysia’s ring- Southwestern Haiti bore the brunt On the other side of the capital to git currency fell to a one-year low on of the blow, especially in the region in the northwest, another blaze broke the news and the stock market and around the town of Les Cayes. out in the Vilia area just after noon, slipped. Muhyiddin said he resigned Haiti’s Civil Protection Agency said triggering an evacuation alert of along with his cabinet after losing the toll from the disaster had climbed another three settlements. Strong majority support in parliament. As to 1,297 and the hospitals that were winds were predicted to last until at caretaker, he added, he will have no still functioning were struggling to least the evening, potentially hamper- cabinet, but will perform executive cope as some 5,700 people were injured. ing the firefighting effort. functions and advise the king until a In the northwestern city of Jeremie, Greece has been roiled by hundreds new prime minister is appointed. another badly hit area, doctors treated of wildfires for about two weeks, with injured patients on hospital stretchers the blazes coming on the heels of the underneath trees and on mattresses country’s most severe heatwave in Trudeau triggers Canadian by the side of the road, as healthcare decades that left its forests tinder dry. election, voting in September centers have run out of space. Tens of thousands of hectares of TORONTO: Prime Minister Justin “We do have a serious issue,” Jerry forest and farmland have been Trudeau triggered an election on Chandler, the head of Haiti’s Civil REUTERS destroyed, homes and businesses have Sunday as he seeks to capitalise on Protection Agency, told Reuters. People look for survivors at a house destroyed following a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Les Cayes, Haiti. been burned and thousands of people Canada being one of the most fully “There are very important facilities were evacuated by land and by sea. vaccinated countries in the world. that are dysfunctional as we speak and Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry, show support swiftly. “May solidarity ferried the wounded. The rescue and One volunteer firefighter died, and Trudeau announced the election those that are functional are receiving who flew to visit Les Cayes, praised from everyone lighten the consequenc- aid efforts will be complicated by four have been hospitalized, including would be held on September 20 after an overflow of patients,” he said. the dignity shown by people there es of the tragedy,” he told pilgrims and Tropical Depression Grace, which two in critical condition in intensive visiting the governor general, who The challenge facing Haiti has been even in the midst of their suffering. tourists at his Sunday blessing in St is expected to lash Haiti with heavy care units. holds a mostly ceremonial position exacerbated by the coronavirus pan- “They are affected but resilient. Peter’s Square. rainfall on Monday. Some 75 to 100 The fires stretched Greece’s representing Britain’s Queen demic, a severe economic downturn They fight to survive,” he said, thank- However, Haiti’s government milliliters of rainfall was expected, response capabilities to the limit, lead- Elizabeth II as head of state. “We’ve aggravated by fierce gang violence, ing international agencies and foreign appealed to aid organizations against which may trigger landslides and ing the government to appeal for and a political crisis that has engulfed governments for their support. setting up makeshift camps and urged cause some rivers to flood, Haiti’s international help. About 24 European had your back, and now it’s time to the troubled nation after the assassi- Nearby countries, including the them to work through the planning Civil Protection Agency said. and Middle Eastern countries sent hear your voice,” Trudeau said. nation of President Jovenel Moise on Dominican Republic and Mexico, ministry, an apparent attempt to avoid “We ask the population to remain firefighters, helicopters, planes and “Canadians need to choose how we July 7. Churches, hotels, hospitals and rushed to send desperately needed the mistakes made following the dev- vigilant,” the agency added. vehicles. By Monday most had left, finish the fight against Covid-19.” schools were badly damaged or food and medicines by air and across astating 2010 earthquake that killed Thousands of people sleeping in the although 40 Austrian firefighters Trudeau is seeking to win a majority destroyed, while the walls of a prison Haiti’s land border. Colombia sent tens of thousands of people. streets would be exposed to the torren- remained in the southern Greek of seats in Parliament. His Liberal were rent open by the violent shud- search and rescue personnel. Many Haitians prepared on Sunday tial rains amid a rising risk of water- region of the Peloponnese, where two Party fell just short of that two years ders that convulsed Haiti. Some 13,694 The United States dispatched vital to spend a second night sleeping in the borne diseases, said Chandler, the major fires have been burning for sev- ago and must rely on the opposition houses were destroyed, the civil pro- supplies and deployed a 65-person open, traumatized by memories of head of the agency. eral days. to pass legislation. The election tection agency said, suggesting the urban search-and-rescue team with that magnitude 7 quake 11 years ago The death toll is expected to rise as Several Mediterranean countries comes as Canada is experiencing a toll could rise further. specialized equipment, said Samantha that struck far closer to the sprawling telephone network has been down in have suffered intense heat and quickly new wave of Covid-19 cases, driven by In Les Cayes, a seafront town of Power, the administrator of the United capital, Port-au-Prince. more remote areas. In diffi- spreading wildfires in recent weeks, the delta variant of the coronavirus. some 90,000 people, rescuers pulled States Agency for International At Port-au-Prince airport, interna- cult-to-reach villages many houses including Turkey, where at least eight bodies from the tangled wreckage of Development (USAID). tional aid workers, doctors and were fragile and built on slopes vul- people have died, and Italy. In Algeria, Russia sentences Navalny one building, as an excavator nearby From the Vatican, Pope Francis rescue workers boarded flights to Les nerable to landslides, said Alix wildfires in the mountainous Berber spokeswoman for virus helped to shift the rubble. urged the international community to Cayes. A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter Percinthe, from the ActionAid charity. region have killed at least 69 people. breaches MOSCOW: A Russian court on Monday sentenced the spokeswoman for jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny to 18 months of restricted movement for Thousands flee Afghanistan after Taliban takeover breaching coronavirus regulations. Kira Yarmysh is among several oppo- >> Continued from page 1 do. I left everything behind,” he said. while being sheltered in Afghanistan. sition figures accused of calling for Residents raced to Kabul’s interna- A senior US official said “it’s heart- Many had hoped the Western-backed unsanctioned protests in January tional airport, where the “civilian UN chief urges Security Council not breaking” to see what’s happening in Afghan government would usher in a after Navalny was arrested on his side” was closed until further notice, Kabul, but that President Joe Biden new era of peace and respect for return to Russia from Germany, according to Afghanistan’s Civil to abandon people of Afghanistan “stands by” his decision to pull out human rights. where he was recovering from a poi- Aviation Authority. The US military because he didn’t want the war there— As the US lost focus on Afghanistan soning attack. She has been under and other Western forces continued to NEW YORK: United Nations Secretary- 15-member council. “We cannot and already the longest in US history—to during the Iraq war, the Taliban even- house arrest since February. “Kira organize evacuations. General Antonio Guterres called on must not abandon the people of enter a third decade. tually regrouped. The militants has been sentenced to 1.5 years of Videos circulating on social media the Security Council on Monday to Afghanistan,” he said. In interviews with US television captured much of the Afghan country- restricted movement,” said a message showed hundreds of people running “use all tools at its disposal to sup- Taliban officials have issued state- networks, National Security Adviser side in recent years and then swept on her Twitter account, which is cur- across the tarmac as US troops press the global terrorist threat in ments aimed at calming the panic. Jake Sullivan blamed the Afghan mili- into cities as US forces prepared rently being run by her allies. Under fired warning shots in the air. One Afghanistan” and guarantee that Under Taliban rule between 1996 and tary for the Taliban’s rapid takeover, to withdraw ahead of an Aug. 31 the terms of her sentence, Yarmysh -- showed a crowd pushing and shoving basic human rights will be respected. 2001, women could not work, girls saying it lacked the will to fight. deadline. a well-known figure in opposition cir- its way up a staircase, trying to board The Taliban entered Kabul and were not allowed to attend school and The ease with which the Taliban Under the Taliban, which ruled in cles who has been Navalny’s spokes- a plane, with some people hanging off President Ashraf Ghani left women had to cover their faces and be took control goes beyond military accordance with a harsh interpreta- woman since 2014 -- will be banned the railings. Afghanistan on Sunday as the Islamist accompanied by a male relative if prowess, however, the Texas-based pri- tion of Islamic law, women were large- from mass events and leaving In another video, hundreds of peo- militants took over the country 20 they wanted to venture out of their vate intelligence firm Stratfor wrote. ly confined to their homes and sus- Moscow without permission from ple could be seen running alongside a years after they were ousted by a homes. “Attacks against civilians or “The speed of the Taliban’s final pected criminals faced amputation or authorities, Moscow’s US Air Force C-17 transport plane as it US-led invasion. “We are receiving civilian objects must stop. The human advance suggests less military domi- public execution. The insurgents have Preobrazhensky district court told moved down a runway. Some clung to chilling reports of severe restrictions rights and fundamental freedoms of nance than effective political insur- sought to project greater moderation TASS state news agency. (AGENCIES) the side of the jet just before takeoff. on human rights throughout the coun- all Afghan citizens, especially women, gency coupled with an incohesive in recent years, but many Afghans Another video showed several falling try. I am particularly concerned by girls and members of minority groups, Afghan political system and security remain sceptical. through the air as the airplane rapidly accounts of mounting human rights must be respected,” US Ambassador to force struggling with flagging morale,” Suhail Shaheen, a Taliban spokes- gained altitude over the city. violations against the women and the United Nations, Linda Thomas- it said. man, tweeted that fighters had been Senior military officials, who spoke girls of Afghanistan,” he told the Greenfield told the council. (REUTERS) The lightning Taliban offensive instructed to protect “life, property on condition of anonymity to discuss through the country appears to have and honour,” and the group has also the ongoing operation, told The stunned American officials. Just days said it will stay out of the upscale dip- Associated Press that the chaos left with no police or airport staff in sight. port to aid with the evacuation. Other before the insurgents entered lomatic quarter housing the US seven dead, including several who fell “There was no room for us to stand,” Western countries have also closed Kabul with little if any resistance, a Embassy complex. from the flight. said the 24-year-old. “Children were their missions and are flying out staff US military assessment predicted Meanwhile, the head of US Central The storming of the airport, seen crying, women were shouting, young and nationals. it could take months for the capital Command met face-to-face with from space by passing satellites, and old men were so angry and upset, Afghans are also trying to leave to fall. senior Taliban leaders in Qatar and raised questions about how much no one could hear each other. There through land border crossings, all of The rout threatened to erase 20 won their agreement to establish longer aircraft would be able to safely was no oxygen to breathe.” which are now controlled by the years of Western efforts to remake an arrangement under which evacua- take off and land. After a woman fainted and was car- Taliban. Rakhmatula Kuyash, 30, was Afghanistan that saw tens of thou- tion operations at the airport can con- Shafi Arifi, who had a ticket to trav- ried off the plane, Arifi gave up and one of the few people with a visa sands of Afghans killed as well as tinue without interference, a US el to Uzbekistan on Sunday, was una- went back home. allowing him to cross into Uzbekistan more than 3,500 US and allied troops. defence official said. The official ble to board his plane because it was The US Embassy has been evacuat- on Sunday. He said his children and The initial invasion drove the Taliban spoke on condition of anonymity to packed with people who had raced ed and the American flag lowered, relatives had to stay behind. from power and scattered al-Qaida, discuss sensitive talks not yet across the tarmac and climbed aboard, with diplomats relocating to the air- “I’m lost and I don’t know what to which had planned the 9/11 attacks announced publicly.

Philippines hospitals hit by staff resignations

REUTERS capacity, that is easy, but the prob- MANILA, AUG 16 lem is the nursing component,” PHAPi’s president, Jose Rene de Exhausted by the Covid-19 work- Grano, told Reuters. load, Loui quit her job as an inten- More than a year and a half sive care unit nurse at a private into the pandemic, reported corona- hospital in the Philippines earlier virus infections in the Philippines this year. have soared to more than 1.75 mil- The 30-year old, who declined lion, the second highest in to give her last name for fear of Southeast Asia, while deaths exceed reprisals, is among thousands of 30,000. medical workers who have resigned Philippine Nurses Association during the pandemic, complaining President Melbert Reyes said he of low pay and poor working condi- feared that hospitals could see even tions. Others have sought better more nurses quit if their demands jobs abroad. REUTERS for better benefits and conditions “We can’t even take a proper day A health worker vaccinates a public transport driver with Sinovac vaccine in a shopping went unmet. “A lot of our nurses off because we are often called back mall’s parking lot turned into a drive-thru vaccination site, in Quezon City, Metro Manila. are demoralised,” Reyes said. to cover for other staff who were in Union leaders in several hospi- quarantine or resigned,” said Loui, the Delta variant sends the number ed that 40 percent of private hospi- tals in virus hot spots last week who was earning 20,000 pesos ($394) of cases soaring, as it has done tal nurses resigned last year, but threatened to strike, while a nurs- a month, including overtime, before elsewhere in Southeast Asia and more followed new waves of infec- ing group warned that dozens could she quit in March. worldwide. tions this year. Public hospitals are resign over unpaid risk allowances Hospitals fear the desertions The Private Hospitals Association facing similar challenges. of up to 5,000 pesos a month man- have reached a critical point just as of the Philippines (PHAPi)estimat- “If we want to increase bed dated by law.

C M Y K 07 | TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2021 Sports | Medley Briefing Son fills in for absent Kane in Tottenham’s victory West Indies defeat Pakistan by one wicket in first Test The South Korean scores a second-half winner as Spurs, who were without Harry Kane, see off defending champions Manchester City 1-0. KINGSTON: West Indies held their nerve Associated Press struggled to break down a disciplined “Look, Harry is one of the best play- as tailenders Kemar Roach and LONDON, Aug 16 Tottenham side, who were content to ers in the world, honestly,” Nuno said. Jayden Seales guided them to a thrill- sit back and wait for opportunities to “So we are very lucky to have him. So ing one-wicket win over Pakistan in If this was a first taste of life without counter. he has to get ready and help the team.” the first Test in Jamaica on Sunday. Harry Kane for Tottenham, maybe “You see the stats, the intention to Roach scored 30 and Seales two in an that prospect isn’t so terrifying after create chances, to create much more,” West Ham fight back unbeaten 17-run partnership as the all. At least not while Son Heung-min City manager Pep Guardiola said. In Sunday’s early game, West Ham home side reached their target of 168 is still at the club. “Unfortunately we were not clinical twice came from a goal down to beat for the loss of nine wickets after the Son netted a second-half winner enough.” Newcastle 4-2 in an entertaining West Indies had bowled Pakistan out Sunday as Tottenham opened the City’s record signing Jack Grealish encounter at St James’ Park. for 203 in their second innings, with Premier League season with an showed early flashes of his abilities— Callum Wilson put Newcastle ahead Seales taking 5-55 at Sabina Park. impressive 1-0 home victory over breaking forward in the opening min- in just the fifth minute and the game Fortunes ebbed and flowed dramati- defending champions Manchester utes to draw a free kick just outside continued at a furious pace until the cally throughout the fourth day with City—the team that has spent the sum- the area—but missed his best chance final whistle, with West Ham scoring 14 wickets falling before Roach mer trying to buy its talisman striker. to score when his shot from a tight three unanswered goals in 14 sec- stroked the winning runs through the New Tottenham manager Nuno angle was easily saved by Hugo Lloris ond-half minutes to get the win. covers. The West Indies looked to Espirito Santo left Kane out of his in the 75th. Aaron Cresswell scored the visitors’ have little chance when they lost team altogether amid continued spec- Riyad Mahrez had City’s best first equaliser in the 18th minute but their last recognised batsman Joshua ulation about a pending move to City, chance of the game in the 35th when Newcastle retook the lead five minutes da Silva with 26 runs still required but still ended up with a statement he met a cross from Raheem Sterling before the end of an entertaining first and two wickets left, but Roach took victory on his debut. but shot wide after failing to cleanly half as Jacob Murphy headed home a up the challenge with a confident bat- Son finished off a quick counterat- connect with the ball. cross from Matt Ritchie. ting display before hitting the win- tack in the 55th minute and Tottenham Son had already threatened on a West Ham hit back again eight min- ning runs late on the fourth effectively neutralised City’s many couple of counterattacks by the utes after halftime, with Said day. The second and final attacking threats in front of a packed time he put Spurs ahead. The South Benrahma heading in at the back post Test starts on Friday. home stadium of about 58,000 fans. Korea international collected the ball following a cross from Michail “I think this means a lot for us, for down the right flank, drove at defend- Antonio. Goalkeeper Courtois extends the start of the season,” Son said. er Nathan Ake and then cut inside to West Ham then got a penalty when “First game, with the fans finally, it’s bend a low shot inside the far post. Antonio’s header hit the post and Real Madrid stay until 2026 just an incredible performance.” Steven Bergwijn had a great chance landed in front of Murphy, who was MADRID: Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Kane’s absence was the big to double the lead on another counter adjudged to have brought down Pablo who had been under contract until pregame talking point, although Nuno just before the hour mark, but Fornals in the area in an attempt to 2024, has extended his stay at Real said the decision was made solely shot wide. clear the ball. Goalkeeper Freddie Madrid until June 30, 2026, the because the England striker only Ap/Rss Guardiola brought Kevin De Bruyne Woodman saved Antonio’s penalty, but Madrid club announced on Monday. returned to full training on Friday Son Heung-min has scored seven times against Manchester City, who became only the third off the bench in search of an equaliser Soucek converted the rebound in Courtois, 29, has been with Real since after his holiday. champions in the Premier League era to lose their first game of the new campaign. and the Belgian forced a save from the 63rd. 2018 when he arrived from Chelsea in Son insisted the Tottenham players Lloris with a dipping shot from dis- Antonio netted the fourth just three a 35 million euro transfer. Prior to his had no difficulties putting all the spec- might need Kane more than Spurs League weekend and City were the tance in the 84th. minutes later after a quick counter. spell in London, he played for Atletico ulation aside. “We are all profession- do—especially after letting Sergio only big title contenders who failed to Tottenham will hope it was the kind “It was a really good game, if you Madrid between 2011 and 2014. On als. We wanted to focus on this game,” Aguero leave on a free transfer this start with a win. Chelsea, Manchester of performance that could help were a neutral you would have said it Saturday, Courtois played his 100th Son said. “Obviously, Harry is so, so summer. United and Liverpool all opened with convince Kane to stay at Spurs after was a good game of football, plenty of game for Real in La Liga in the 4-1 important for us. But let’s see.” This was the final game of a big victories on Saturday. all. And Nuno insisted he expects to action at both ends,” West Ham man- win at Alaves. (AGENCIES) Based on this performance, City crowd-pleasing opening Premier City dominated possession but soon have the striker back in the team. ager David Moyes said. Messi-less Barcelona take ‘leap into unknown’ with win Nepal to play ODI series against Agence France-Presse Paris Saint-Germain. Messi’s memory but everything changes and we have to short after goalkeeper Luca Zidane, MADRID, Aug 16 lingered heavy over the Camp Nou on keep going. We will be very competi- the son of French football legend Papua New Guinea in Oman Sunday despite the removal of a giant tive and we will fight for titles to the Zinedine, was red-carded for bringing Barcelona started life without Lionel photograph of the Argentine super- end. We will not have his talent, but down Oussama Idrissi in the move SPORTS BUREAU postponed owing to the Covid-19 Messi by defeating Real Sociedad 4-2 star from the entrance in the wake of we have proven that we can all play which led to the penalty. KATHMANDU, Aug 16 pandemic. in their La Liga opener at the Camp his move to France. together.” As Barca try to fill the Messi-sized Nepal currently sit sixth in the Nou on Sunday even if fans admitted Some banners were in place well La Liga champions Atletico Madrid gap, as well as ballooning debts of Nepal are set to play two-match League 2 table featuring seven teams— it felt like “a leap into the unknown”. before kick-off venting the fans anger got their season underway with a 2-1 more than 1.2 billion euros ($1.6 bil- One-Day International (ODI) series Oman, the USA, Scotland, Namibia, Captain Gerard Pique gave them a towards president Joan Laporta. One win at Celta Vigo. Angel Correa gave lion), Real Madrid got off to a flier on against Papua New Guinea (PNG) the UAE and Papua New Guinea. Each 19th minute lead with his 50th goal for read “Laporta, Barca is not your busi- Atletico the lead after 23 minutes after the pitch as a brace from French veter- in Oman in September as part of team will play 36 ODIs when the event the club. Martin Braithwaite found ness”, while another proclaimed being set up by Thomas Lemar. Correa an striker Karim Benzema helped the preparations for the Tri-Series concludes in February 2023. the net in first half injury time and in “Barca yes, Laporta no!” added a second goal in the 64th minute bring a 4-1 victory at Alaves on match of the ICC Cricket World Cup Nepal have so far played four match- the 59th minute. Sergi Roberto added a “It was a big emotional blow,” said just five minutes after Iago Aspas had Saturday. The win, achieved with fur- League 2. es in the three-year League 2 cycle and fourth in the last minute of the game. 23-year-old Barca fan Adria De Lucas. pulled Celta level from the penalty ther goals from Nacho and Vinicius Nepal will play their first match on have registered two wins and two Just over 20,000 fans were in attend- “I was in my room when I saw the spot. However, the game was marred allowed Carlo Ancelotti to celebrate September 5 and the second on defeats. Oman lead the standings win- ance as crowds returned for the first news. I started sending messages to all by a mass brawl in the closing stages the start of his second spell in charge September 8, according to the Cricket ning eight of the 10 matches played. time since the pandemic. However, my friends, and no one believed it.” following a foul on Atletico striker with a victory. Association of Nepal (CAN). The first The US are second in the standings they had to hold their breath at one The supporter added: “It’s a leap into Luis Suarez. Red cards were bran- A Joselu penalty for the hosts was a match will be played in daylight and with six wins out of 12 matches played stage when Sociedad came back from the unknown (without Messi). We will dished for Hugo Mallo of Celta and minor blemish after Real keeper the second will be a day-night game. and PNG are at the bottom having lost 3-0 down to get to 3-2 thanks to goals see what happens.” Mario Hermoso of Atletico. Thibaut Courtois, making his 100th The date of the Tri-Series is yet to all eight matches played so far. from 20-year-old Julen Lobete in the Inside the Camp Nou, fans made the In Sunday’s late game, Sevilla Liga appearance for Real, brought be confirmed officially by the The event is the gateway to the 82nd minute and a 30-metre free-kick most of their return after 18 months, defeated Rayo Vallecano 3-0 with down John Guidetti. International Cricket Council. World Cup as the teams finishing top from skipper Mikel Oyarzabal three chanting “Messi! Messi!”. Moroccan international Youssef In other action on Saturday, Cadiz However, according to CAN sources three will secure berths in the World minutes later. “The supporters are with us, they En-Nesyri scoring a first-half penalty and Levante parted 1-1 as did Mallorca the two-leg series will be played Cup Qualifiers. The bottom four will Six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi want to see football,” said Pique. “We before new Argentine recruit Erik and Real Betis while the match between September 13 and 20. compete in the World Cup Qualifiers called time on his two-decade career at knew they were going to react that Lamela grabbed two. between Osasuna and Espanyol ended Earlier, the Oman series were playoff set to take place in Zimbabwe Barcelona last week and moved to way. We all know what Leo represents, Vallecano played 75 minutes a man in a goalless stalemate. scheduled for March but they were in June and July of 2023. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) **** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** Tuesday’s skies plunge you into a world of fantasti- It’s hard to stay beneath Tuesday’s enchanting skies. It’s hard to keep your feet planted on the ground Spending another day behind closed doors is ideal. cal thinking. The far-seeing Sagittarius moon spends The moon’s presence in Sagittarius gives you the today. Tuesday’s skies are delightfully disorienting, Luna’s presence in philosophical Sagittarius encour- the day out to sea with dream-infusing Neptune, energy and drive to apply yourself work-wise, yet as the Sagittarius moon squares off with dreamy ages you to look inward, catch up on rest, and restore creating a hazy, escapism prone headspace. Lean into Luna’s squaring with dreamy Neptune can create a Neptune. This mystifying aspect creates a fog of your peace. The moon’s square with Neptune is like- your craving for other worlds and romantic visions. fog of fantasy around your thinking. deeply inspired energy to tap into. ly to imbue the day with romance.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** It’s hard to see your goals through the fog right now. As a Leo, you’re here to be a creator. Rather than What talents of yours have you been turning a blind As an Aquarius, you tend to thrive when you’re Rather than demand reality today, aim to loosen your submit yourself to dull routines, aim to tap back into eye towards? The universe is working to illuminate placed in group setting. That doesn’t mean you need grip and let your intuition come to the forefront. The the eternal, creative fire burning within. The playful those skills you’ve placed on the back burner. Spend or even want to be around people 24/7, but it does optimistic The Sagittarius moon and blurry Neptune Sagittarius moon pushes you to find your place in the some time reconnecting with those natural resourc- suggest something that kick-starts your soul’s natu- encourages you to drift inside emotionally. spotlight and share your gifts vulnerably. es and fine-tuning them today. ral growth.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) **** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) **** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** The universe has been pushing you to embrace some Spend some time digging into your family founda- You’ve been rebuilding yourself from the ground up. Show the world what you’re made of. The far-reach- serious growth. Tuesday’s skies offer a moment of tions today. The moon’s presence in Sagittarius has Stand back and honour the progress you’ve made! ing Sagittarius moon pushes you to give your ambi- soft, stillness to embrace—as the Sagittarius moon you reflecting on how your past has led you to your The moon’s presence in your sign helps you tap back tions everything you’ve got today. Luna’s encounter squares off with Neptune. This dreamy but disorient- current circumstances. Luna’s square with Neptune into your body and unexpressed feelings today, push- with dreamy Neptune can lower energy levels and ing aspect can either confuse career. instills the day with a romantic, dreamy quality. ing you to prioritize your most pressing needs. heighten sensitivity. Crossword Sudoku

Yesterday’s Solution

C M Y K TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2021 | 08 Culture & Lifestyle (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 Surfing the K-pop wave Strukpop, a six-member dance group, became popular by making dance covers of K-pop songs. Now they are working on releasing their own K-pop inspired songs.

Ankit Khadgi All the members can understand and Kathmandu speak Korean—an achievement that speaks volume about their passion and t was 2009 when Suresh Moktan love for K-pop. They also keep themselves first started watching South Korean updated with the latest Korean fashion movies. It had already been a few trends. years since Hallyu or the Korean Meanwhile, on their YouTube channel, Wave had hit Nepal. which has more than 67,000 subscribers, By the mid-2000s, South Korean most of their K-pop dance covers are to Imovies and dramas like ‘My Sassy Girl’ the songs of the BTS band, which they and ‘Boys Before Flowers’ had become consider as their icons. hugely popular among Nepali teenagers. “BTS’s choreography and songs are Young people, who usually consumed incredible. Due to the fact that we have Nepali, Indian, and Western media, followed the band ever since they were a flocked to nearby CD stores to buy CDs to rookie band, we have seen their struggles watch their favourite South Korean actors and we feel this strange connection with in the latest K-drama and films. them as well,” says Moktan. Moktan was one of those thousands of While they unabashedly admit their teenagers who instantly fell in love with love for the band and try to follow in their K-drama and films. footsteps, it’s important for the group, say “My sister, who was a huge K-drama members, to also focus on their individu- and movie fan, suggested that I should ality equally as they don’t want to be just watch Korean movies. That’s how I got a clone of the band. introduced to Korean forms of entertain- “Even if our videos are just dance ment, and I haven’t stopped since,” says covers, we try our best to show our own Moktan, 27. Photo Courtesy: strukpop unique identity with our dance moves, After initially getting captivated by the Members of Strukpop in traditional Korean attire during their visit to Seoul, South Korea in 2019. choreography, and style,” says Pradhan. world of K-dramas and movies, Moktan Another thing the group is careful started listening to Korean pop music or “For my parents, they didn’t under- some popular music videos including Nevertheless, the group stayed strong about is drawing the line between obses- K-pop which hadn’t become the global stand what I was doing with the group ‘Godawari Banaima’, ‘A Mero Mama’, and and with whatever they were earning sion and admiration. phenomenon it is today. K-pop immediate- and what I wanted to achieve out of it. ‘Kalo Kothi Galaima’ that received mil- from the local stage shows, they kept on In recent years, along with the growing ly hooked Moktan and he has embraced Convincing them to let me follow my pas- lions of views and helped them gain more sustaining themselves. Similarly, they popularity of K-pop, there has been an it since. sion was difficult. I often used to lie to popularity. also focused on building their online pres- equal rise of K-pop fans becoming “As someone who was very much into them that it was just a hobby and that I “Once we started getting offers to be a ence by making efforts to produce obsessed with their idols so much that B-boying at the time, I found the struggles would quit it in a few years,” says part of Nepali music videos, people high-quality videos for their YouTube they want to resemble their idols physi- and success of K-pop stars very inspira- Thakuri. “But it was never just a hobby started taking us as a group seriously. channel. cally. K-pop culture is often blamed for the tional,” says Moktan. “I wanted to do for me. It was my passion, and I was very Our parents also started believing in us. And their years of consistent hard rise of an unhealthy obsession with one’s something similar here in Nepal through serious about pursuing the art form with People were finally realising that the tal- work paid off in 2019 when the group got physical appearance among its fans, with dance.” the group.” ent we have could be used,” says Thakuri. an opportunity to visit South Korea to many opting for plastic surgery to look This desire led him to start a K-pop Not long after Strukpop was formed, But still, to survive as a K-pop dance attend a film festival where the documen- like their Korean idols. dance group. He started looking for peo- the group participated in the K-pop World group wasn’t easy. Compared to other tary based on them was shown. During “We don’t want to lie but when we start- ple who shared his love for dance and Festival, a contest for K-pop dance groups traditional dance groups, Strukpop got the same visit, they also got a chance to ed out, we did focus a lot on our physical K-pop. And in 2016, Moktan got together of Nepal, in 2016. The group won the con- fewer opportunities to showcase their perform at the Nepathya band’s concert appearances. All of us regularly coloured with Mizel Raj Pradhan, Alek Tamang, test and got their first taste of success dance moves for which they had practised that the members say is one of the peak our hair like the K-pop stars. We even tried Suman Rai, Prakash Rai, and Santosh that further motivated the members to for hours. Apart from that, the group moments of their career. to wear the kind of clothes they used to Shah Thakuri and started Strukpop, a follow their passion. members would often be the target of “It was one of the best moments of our wear, but these days, we don’t focus much six-member dance group. “Winning the contest and the kind of elicit judgements from the society that lives. The fact that we were sharing a on the physical aspect,” says Pradhan. “It was Nepal’s first K-pop dance support we received from the audience often ridiculed them for their appearance. stage in South Korea with such a legend- “Now the only thing we care about is our group,” he says. “Based on a suggestion encouraged us immensely,” says Moktan. Group members share that since ary Nepali band was a big achievement dance, and how we can express our unique given by a friend, we decided to name our But the turning point for the group Strukpop members emulated the appear- for our group,” says Moktan. identity in our videos.” group Strukpop which means ‘Struggling came in 2017 when their artistic ance of many male K-pop idols, who wore But for Strukpop members, becoming Having dedicated more than five K-pop’. At that time, K-pop wasn’t as pop- journey and struggles became a subject makeup and several other things that successful as a group is just one of their years of their lives dancing to popular ular as it is today here in Nepal and we for a documentary. The documentary, don’t fall under the traditional definition aims. Their other important mission is to K-pop songs, the group says they’ll soon were sure that our path to success would the members say, opened new doors of of how a man should look like, the group create a thriving K-pop community here release their own original K-pop inspired definitely be filled with struggles. Hence opportunities. members would be constantly judged for in Nepal. To do that, the group has worked song. we decided to go with the name Strukpop,” From then onwards, the group started their choices. to build more platforms for the upcoming “We have spent a lot of years says Moktan, the leader of the group. receiving many offers for work. They “We would often get judged by people Nepali artists interested in K-pop. dancing, and now just like the K-pop During the group’s initial days, oppor- even started uploading dance covers of for our fashion sense and our hairstyle,” “From organising dance cover contests stars we idolise, we also want to release tunities to showcase their talent were far K-pop songs, which received a decent says Pradhan, 23, the youngest member for aspiring K-pop dancers to collaborat- our own song and perform in it,” and few in between. Lack of support number of views, on their YouTube of the group. “People would sometimes ing and coordinating events, we have says Pradhan. “In short, we want to from family members also made things channel. call us by different names like copycats been constantly making efforts to build introduce K-pop as a legitimate musical more challenging for some of the group’s Similarly, they also collaborated with which honestly made us really sad the K-pop community stronger,” says genre in Nepal through our songs and members. many Nepali singers and were part of at times.” Moktan. dance.”

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