WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 207 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 34.0 C 14.5 C Saturday, September 19, 2020 | 03-06-2077 Dipayal Jomsom With festival season close, bank loans for imports halve, bankers’ data shows Low spending outlook around Dashain clearly suggests that Nepal’s economy, 82 percent of which is driven by consumption, will continue to slide, economists say.

PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA & SANGAM PRASAIN tees that a buyer’s payment to sellers KATHMANDU, SEPT 18 will be received on time and if the buyer is unable to make payment on In the first two months of the last fis- the purchase, the bank is required to cal year, NMB Bank had issued letters cover the due amount. of credit, or LCs in common usage, “Based on the issuance of L/C in worth Rs6.5 billion. During the same our bank and overall lending, I don’t period this fiscal year, it has issued think there will be as much consump- them worth just Rs3.5 billion. tion this Dashain as in the past years,” Most of the letters of credit issued said KC. in these two months are to import People consume more food during goods targeting Dashain and Tihar the festival season than at other times festivals, according to Sunil KC, the and they purchase new items includ- bank’s chief executive officer. ing garments, footwear, electronic In normal times this is also the peri- goods and automobiles, according to od the country’s commercial banks economists. would be busy issuing loans particu- The Nepal Automobile Dealers’ larly for importing goods for con- Association auto show, held before sumption during the festivals. But Dashain every year, attracted 80,000 loans too have gone down in the face visitors and did business worth Rs5 of the Covid-19 pandemic. billion last year. But this year the POST PHOTO: DEEPAK KC Commercial banks have lent just show has been postponed because of A footballer in action as young players have a morning practice session after the government relaxed coronavirus restrictions, at Sano Gaucharan in Kathmandu. Rs21 billion during this period, down the Covid-19 pandemic and may be from Rs54 billion in the same period held in February, according to last fiscal year, according to Nepal Surendra Pradhan, chief of the Bankers’ Association. Association’s secretariat. Issuance of letters of credit Economist Keshav Acharya pre- and lending for imports grows just dicts that consumption of almost After semblance of peace in ruling party, Secretariat before Dashain assuming that people everything will go down this year due spend lavishly and consumption to two factors: reduced income of peo- grows several times compared to ple and reduced movement of people other times. compared to previous years. meeting set to move to Parisdanda from Baluwatar Letters of credit are bank guaran- >> Continued on page 2 There had been sharp criticism of the prime minister’s official residence, a public property, being used for holding meetings of a political party.

Office space and meeting halls in Dhumbarahi are congested and there is no sufficient room to hold the meet- ing by maintaining social distance but there is enough space at Parisdanda, according to Shrestha. During the unification of the two parties, top leaders from both sides had agreed to use the UML’s central office as the new party’s central office and the Maoist headquarters in Parisdanda as the offices of the par- ty’s sister wings. As soon as Oli became the prime minister in February, 2018, the party held Standing Committee meetings and Secretariat meetings in Dhumbarahi. But after the Prime Minister became ill and went to Singapore for treatment in August last year, the meetings of the top party committees were convened in Baluwatar although one Central Committee and one Standing POST FILE PHOTO Committee meeting were held at Scheduling of the Parisdanda meeting follows Dahal assuming a bigger role in the party. Dhumbarahi. Most Cabinet meetings also have ANIL GIRI tion of party vice chair Bamdev been taking place at Baluwatar since KATHMANDU, SEPT 18 Gautam to the National Assembly and his return from Singapore but after the handover of party reins of Pushpa Prime Minister Oli had a second kid- Following growing criticism of the Kamal Dahal. ney transplant in March all Cabinet ruling Nepal Communist Party hold- Following the unification in 2018, meetings, party meetings and other ing its meetings at the Prime the meetings of the party used to be small gatherings that he attends have Minister’s official residence, the next held at Dhumbarahi, formerly the been taking place at Baluwatar. meeting of the party’s Secretariat headquarters of the CPN-UML, Oli has hardly visited his office scheduled for Monday will for the first although leaders from both sides had inside Singha Durbar after his kidney time be held at the party’s offices at agreed to use the properties of transplant. Parisdanda in Koteshwor. Parisdanda and Dhumbarahi for dif- The Prime Minister’s Office, which The Parisdanda property—which ferent purposes and call both places was relocated to a new building inside used to be the headquarters of the the party headquarters. Singha Durbar after the old office was erstwhile Communist Party of Nepal But of late, most of the meetings of damaged in the 2015 earthquake, does (Maoist Centre) until its unification the nine-member Secretariat and the not have enough space for Cabinet with the Communist Party of Nepal 44-member Standing Committee were meetings maintaining distance, one (UML) in May 2018 to form the Nepal held at the Prime Minister’s official secretary at the Prime Minister’s Communist Party (NCP)—now houses residence, which had been criticised office told the Post. the offices of the party’s sister organi- both within and outside the party. “Prime Minister Oli’s health is frag- sations. “This is a welcome step and this ile due to the recent kidney transplant “Holding the meeting at Parisdanda should be given continuity,” said Bhim and the most important reason is gives a message that party unification Rawal, a standing committee member Covid-19,” said a ruling party leader is being strengthened,” said a who had been demanding that party close to Oli. “Therefore, he has to take Standing Committee meeting who did meetings be held outside Baluwatar. extra caution while meeting with peo- not want to be named. “To run the party in a system with ple and cannot frequently move out- The Secretariat meeting comes institutional memory and other rea- side Baluwatar.” after the rift in the party has nar- sons, party meetings should be held in Given the mandatory health proto- rowed following an abrupt end to the the party office.” cols, party meetings are taking place long drawn out Standing Committee The decision to hold the Secretariat at Baluwatar, he said. meeting. Tensions ran high when the meeting at Parisdanda was taken in Despite the situation and Oli’s rival faction demanded the resigna- view of the criticism the party had health, the practice of holding party tion of Prime Minister KP Sharma been facing for holding various meet- meetings at Baluwatar has drawn crit- Oli, but peace seems to have returned ings inside the Prime Minister’s offi- icism. to the ruling party with the nomina- cial residence, according to party “Holding party meetings inside the spokesman Narayan Kaji Prime Minister’s residence was total- Shrestha. ly a wrong practice,” said Chandi The Secretariat meeting was Shrestha, a former home secretary. supposed to be held at Parisdanda “Holding Cabinet meetings is fine due on Friday but due to the busy to his health. The Prime Minister’s schedule of Prime Minister KP official residence is a public property Sharma Oli, it was deferred till and the Prime Minister is of the coun- Monday. try, not of a political party. Therefore, “The decision to hold the in general practice, party meetings meeting at Parisdada was taken should be held in the party office, not by Oli and another chairman, at the Prime Minister’s residence. The Pushpa Kamal Dahal during official residence is not a place for hold- their meeting on Thursday,” said ing family parties or party meetings.” Shrestha. >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2020 | 02 NATIONAL Unnecessary road projects in rural areas of Baglung are causing floods and landslides The Infrastructure Development Office opened two new tracks in the last month of the last fiscal year to avoid budget freeze, say local residents.

PRAKASH BARAL settlements never experienced such slides in the area. “The settlement is BAGLUNG, SEPT 18 deadly landslides in the past. But this at high risk of monsoon-related disas- year, almost all villages are at risk of ters. The municipality’s budget is not Unplanned construction of rural being swept away,” said Bhadrakala enough to control floods or relocate roads in Jaimini Municipality Ward Acharya, a 68-year-old of Ward No 1. the settlement. We have already No 1, Baglung, has exposed several The Infrastructure Development informed the provincial government settlements in the municipality at Office had allocated Rs 7 million each about it,” said Mayor Indraraj Paudel. high risk of floods and landslides. The for the Dandakhet-Bhairavsthan and Meanwhile, in Parbat, the whole need to spend the allocated budget Githe-Deurali rural road projects in Mudikuwa settlement in Phalebas under infrastructure development the last fiscal year. The tracks were Municipality Ward No 4 is at high risk before the end of the fiscal year saw opened hurriedly but additional infra- of landslide. Three dozen families of the local government initiating two structures like drainage and culverts the village have been taking shelter in road construction projects last fiscal were not constructed. As a result, the a local school for the past few days. year alone. rainwaters along the tracks and rivu- The villagers have been displaced POST PHOTO: ELITE JOSHI The Infrastructure Development lets enter the settlements when it as land just above the settlement sank Devotees immerse an idol of Lord Biswokarma, the divine architect according to Hindu mythology, in the Bagmati river at Chobhar, Kathmandu, Office opened two new tracks— rains. and started developing fissures follow- on Friday. Owners of vehicles, tools and machinery performed rituals to mark the day dedicated to Lord Biswokarma on Thursday. Dandakhet-Bhairavsthan and Githe- Bidur Khadka, an engineer at the ing heavy rains on Sunday. A four- Deurali—in Ward No 1 of the munici- Infrastructure Development Office, year-old girl was buried alive in a pality in the last month of last fiscal admitted the flaws while constructing landslide in Mudikuwa on Sunday year that ended on July 15. There are the tracks. “There was no proper geo- night. “At least 25 houses of Mudikuwa already two road sections that pass graphical survey done before the should be relocated to safe locations. through the same ward which were tracks were opened. We will not take Other settlements at Ward No 1, 3, 4, 6 Around 750 quake displaced families live built a few years ago. Locals say that on such development projects in the and 10 are at risk of landslides,” said there was no requirement for the new days to come,” said Khadka. “Our Tikaram Gaudel, the ward chairman tracks. office was established only a few of Phalebas-4. According to him, in landslide-prone settlements in Rasuwa “Our villages were already connect- months ago here in Baglung. The around 90 families of seven different ed with a road network. We didn’t Parbat office had issued the budget for settlements are at risk of floods and need new tracks in the municipality,” the road projects.” landslides. While some families have taken grants from the government to buy a plot of land, most said Balaram Paudel of Jaimini Ward Jaimini Municipality has urged the No 1. “The new roads have no proper provincial government to repair the (Agandhar Tiwari in Parbat are awaiting relocation to integrated settlements built by the government. drainage system and during heavy roads and control floods and land- contributed reporting) rainfall, the surrounding settlements get flooded.” BALARAM GHIMIRE the study conducted by the National she does not have a plot of land in a Two people died in separate land- RASUWA, SEPT 18 Reconstruction Authority. safer area to build a house. According slides in Ward No 1 on Sunday and According to the District Project to Yadav, the beneficiaries who opt for Monday. According to the municipali- Many families who were displaced by Implementation Unit of the NRA, a voluntary relocation should search for ty, 12 houses were destroyed by vari- the 2015 earthquake in Rasuwa were total of 1,127 families living in land- the land plot themselves. ous landslides while 39 others are at moved to various parts of the district slide-prone areas were enlisted in the The rest of the beneficiaries who do risk. The landslide that occurred by the National Reconstruction beneficiary list of the 2015 earthquake not want to take the grant are to be along the Githe-Deurali road section Authority. victims. The office said the govern- kept in integrated settlements built by damaged three drinking water pro- However, a study conducted by the ment provided a grant of Rs 200,000 the government. The process to con- jects in the area last month. authority a few months after the relo- each to 687 families to buy land to struct integrated settlements is under- The disaster-affected people are tak- cation had shown that most of the rebuild their houses. way in Langbu, Tiru, Bogtitar, ing shelter with their relatives and families were vulnerable to landslides “But only 268 families have built or Pairebesi and Pangling in the district. neighbours. “I sent my mother to my during the rainy season. have started constructing their hous- But the construction of none of the sister’s in Kushma. My wife and I are Hundreds of displaced families are es,” said Saroj Kumar Yadav, an engi- integrated settlements has been com- staying in Amalachaur since our vil- still living in temporary shelters in neer at the unit. pleted yet. lage is at high risk of landslides,” said areas that are prone to monsoon-in- According to him, around 750 fami- “The delay in preparing a detailed Bheshraj Paudel, another local of duced natural disasters, the study lies are still living in landslide-prone project report and the lockdown are Ward No 1. showed. settlements in the district. the main reasons behind the delay in The villagers claimed that the set- A technical team of the National The government provides a Rs the construction of the integrated set- tlements were safe before the con- POST PHOTO: PRAKASH BARAL Reconstruction Authority had studied 200,000 grant to quake-displaced fami- tlements,” said Yadav. struction of the two new tracks “Our Mudslide debris on a recently opened dirt track in Jaimini Municipality, Baglung. the earthquake-weakened topography lies who prefer voluntary relocation to A total of 12,817 families have been in the district and the areas where the buy land plots. To receive the grant, included in the list of beneficiaries for displaced families were relocated to a the local unit should recommend the the housing reconstruction aid in few months after the 2015 earthquake. beneficiary stating that his/her settle- Rasuwa district. The unit said 10,998 The team had enlisted 70 places that ment is at risk of landslides and he/ houses have been constructed so far. were at risk of landslide and had rec- With festival season close, bank loans ... ommended relocation of the settle- ment to other areas. The team said 30 >> Continued from page 1 Acharya, also a former chief econom- been halted for the last three years among 70 settlements were at high A central bank study showed that ic adviser to the finance minister. “But through the Tatopani while the risk of landslides and had to be relo- registered firms alone laid off 22.5 this will not happen this Dashain.” Rasuwgadhi border point has cated immediately. But the settlements percent of their staff and cut wages by Consumption is the key driver of remained closed for a month. are yet to be moved. 18.2 percent on average. A large num- the Nepali economy, contributing 82 “We already had 1,200 trucks stuck Hundreds of families have been ber of people have jobs in the informal percent to the gross domestic product. in the bordering Chinese town. staying in Rasuwa and in the neigh- sectors too. Ever since the government imposed Another 800 trucks were added after bouring Nuwakot district after their In fact, the World Bank has project- the lockdown on March 24, people’s two borders reopened and then closed villages were ravaged by landslides ed that nearly one-third of people who mobility has been greatly affected. again,” said Poudel. “Now we don’t triggered by the 2015 earthquake. A are just above the poverty line could Even though the lockdown was lifted have money to import any more goods good number of the earthquake vic- slip below the line due to the pandem- on July 21, it remained in place in dif- even by the sea route from China.” tims are staying in Khalte of Uttargaya ic. “An estimated 31.2 percent of the ferent covers in most parts of the Nepal closed its borders in January Rural Municipality Ward No. 5 that Nepali population who live close to the country, affecting consumption of after the spread of the coronavirus in has been marked as a flood and land- poverty line [between $1.90 and $3.20 a goods and services. China. As a result, 1,200 trucks got slide-prone area. day] are at high risk of falling into The government allowed resump- stuck on the Chinese side. The “We have been living in this area for extreme poverty,” the global lender tion of international flights from Tatopani border was opened in early the past five years. We live in fear of said. September 2 for mostly foreign diplo- April and the Rasuwagadhi border in floods and landslides every rainy sea- The Bank has predicted that Nepal’s matic staff and representatives of July. Hoping that the movement would son,” said Chheku Lama, an earth- economy in the current fiscal year international agencies. Domestic be smooth, importers ordered more quake victim staying in Khalte. Two may contract by 2.8 percent, and this flights, long-haul public transporta- goods, only for the border to be closed hundred and thirty-one displaced fam- would risk exacerbating poverty, ine- tion service and hotels and restau- again as coronavirus cases grew. ilies are currently staying in Khalte. quality and food insecurity because of rants started operations on Thursday There is, however, some hope that “We have requested the authorities a large informal economy. despite coronavirus cases rising rap- remittance will not be affected much concerned to help us relocate to a safe “Due to the lockdown imposed by idly. As of Friday, there have been before the festival, which could help place but nothing has been done yet.” the government, many people lost 61,593 cases of coronavirus infections, increase consumption if the recent Besides Khalte, various settlements their jobs in the formal and informal with 2020, the highest single-day spike trend is anything to go by. in Uttargaya Rural Municipality and sectors and their purchasing power so far, on Friday. The death toll stands In the last fiscal year 2019-20, remit- Gosaikunda Rural Municipality were PHOTO COURTESY: JUNGA BAHADUR TAMANG has decreased, which will affect the at 390 with seven more deaths report- tance inflow defied expectations as it enlisted as landslide-prone areas in The settlement for quake displaced families in Khalte, Uttaragaya Rural Municipality. Dashain consumption,” said Acharya. ed on Friday. decreased by just 0.5 percent to Rs875 “On the other hand, there won’t be “Reopening of economic sectors billion against the projection of a 15 to mobility of people from the city, the will increase movement of people to 20 percent drop, according to the cen- villages and from abroad to Nepal like some extent and subsequently tral bank. in previous years due to psychological increase demand for goods and servic- In the last several years, remittance terror created by Covid-19, which will es,” said Gunakar Bhatta, spokesper- has been fuelling consumption and Schools in Taplejung prepare to run classes affect transport services and the hotel son for the Nepal Rastra Bank. “But it whether the country would and restaurant sector.” is clear that consumption will not be receive remittances like in the past is Transport entrepreneurs said there as much as last year.” uncertain. by adopting health and safety measures won’t be much travel for Dashain festi- Despite the reopening of markets, According to Bhatta, spokesperson val from the urban centre to the villag- people will not go shopping as in nor- for the central bank, remittance ANANDA GAUTAM regarding school resumption to the minimise the risk of spread of the es as many people have already moved mal times unless it is essential, said appears to have slightly increased dur- TAPLEJUNG, SEPT 18 local units. virus.” to their villages in one way or another. Bhatta. ing the first month of last fiscal year “We had to stop the classes that According to Pokharel, the school “Most of them have stayed in their While people consuming little is a compared to the same month last fis- Most of the schools in Taplejung have were run in 12 settlements from mid- management has already informed villages. Therefore, there will not be a concern for the economy, consumers cal although data are yet to be pro- decided to resume classes since online June to the first week of August,” said parents and students about the class rush like in the past years,” said Saroj may not get the goods they want in the cessed. classes have failed to take off in the Mahendra Prakash Gautam, head- schedule. The school plans to take in Sitaula, a transport entrepreneur. market with importers struggling to Economists, however, say that given rural areas of the district given the master of Sinam Secondary School. only 15 to 20 students per class. After the government reopened bring in goods due to domestic and the current global recession, there is absence of internet coverage. “Now we’ve decided to resume the Little Buddha English Boarding long-haul transport services from international travel restrictions. uncertainty whether remittance Educators say that even though the classes with permission from the local School in Phungling is also Thursday, he said, many people are For instance, Nepal gets most of the would be received as usual in the com- authorities had initiated radio and TV government. In fact, we will be taking preparing to resume classes by expected to move out early consider- garments, footwear and electronic ing months. programmes to reach out to the stu- the classes to 25 settlements from now limiting the number of students and ing potential crowding just ahead of goods from China to meet the festival Any reduction in remittance will dents in rural areas, running classes on. If we don’t do that, the students teaching hours. Dashain. According to him, over two demand. But importers say nearly also affect the country’s consumption through the medium have proved to be will lose an entire academic year. ” “Classes taken from radio and tele- million people had moved out of 2,000 trucks ferrying goods have been pattern, economists said. ineffective. According to Gautam, they will vision are not effective here. We have Kathmandu last Dashain. stuck in Kerung, Khasa and Lhasa “Low consumption during this festi- During the lockdown period, most teach a group of 50 students from each consulted with the parents. They have The movement of people brings since China has closed the val season will affect overall economic schools were running classes in small settlement from Sunday and all health advised us to start classes even if it’s business to the restaurants and hotels Rasuwagadhi and Tatopani border growth this fiscal year,” said econo- groups by deploying teachers to settle- and safety measures will be adopted for a few hours,” Yubaraj Giri, the along the highway and provides crossings for the last several weeks. mist Acharya. “The government has ments and even conducting one-on- while conducting the classes. school’s headmaster, said. employment for thousands but this According to Bachhu Poudel, presi- targeted a seven percent growth this one personal tutoring. But they were Meanwhile, Saraswati Secondary Chhatrapati Pyakurel, chief at will be reduced too this year. dent of Nepal Trans Himalaya Border fiscal year but it will be hard to asked to discontinue these alternative School in Hangpang of Aathrai Phungling Municipality, said the deci- “Consumption of goods and servic- Commerce Association, a grouping of achieve even meagre growth this fis- classes in light of the threat of the Tribeni Rural Municipality plans to sion to run classes is entirely up to the es during the Dashain festival brings traders involved in Nepal-China trade, cal considering the current state of coronavirus pandemic. On August 12, conduct classes in the school school and to send wards to school is dynamism in the economy,” said cross-border movement of goods has the economy. ” the District Administration Office in building itself with a limited number up to the parents. Taplejung notified schools to stop all of students. “Schools and parents can take the forms of alternative teaching and “We will start classes from Sunday. decision independently. The munici- learning programmes. The students will be called to the pality is not going to direct the schools Sinam Secondary School in Ward school according to their class sched- to run the classes, nor is it going to ask After semblance of peace in ruling party ... No. 1 of Sirijangha Rural Municipality, ule,” said Laxmi Pokharel, headmas- the parent to send their children to which was conducting classes in 12 ter of the school. “We have fixed class- school,” he said. “We have asked the >> Continued from page 1 Baluwatar in future,” said Surya from the Prime Minister’s official res- settlements, discontinued the classes es on the basis of the settlements. The schools to ensure the health and safety But Oli’s aides maintain that in Thapa, press adviser to the prime min- idence has been welcomed within the following the directive of the local students of one settlement can take of everyone involved if they decide to future if the need arises party meet- ister. party. administration. classes once every three days. run the classes.” ings will be held at Baluwatar. “As per No matter where party meetings “This is just a beginning and the The government has now handed Teachers will provide assignments to There are a total of 379 government the necessity and requirement, the are held in future, the latest first attempt,” said Rawal, the ruling over the decision-making authority the students for two days. This will and private schools in Taplejung. party meetings may take place inside decision to move the meeting away party leader.

C M Y K 03 | SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2020 NATIONAL Rural municipalities turn to study groups after virtual classes prove ineffective

BINOD GHIMIRE in Dang has asked schools to start KATHMANDU, SEPT 18 classes in small groups after teaching through the local FM radio station for With the prospects of resumption of three months. schools any time soon diminishing, Sahajram Ahir, chairperson of the and the effectiveness of virtual educa- rural municipality, said all the schools tion questioned, various rural munic- in the area will start teaching students ipalities have started teaching stu- in small groups from Sunday. “We dents in groups at the community decided to adopt in-person study after level. realising that this was the only effec- Local governments have started tive option we have,” he told the Post. programmes for teaching children by “We hope the interaction between the maintaining social distance a week teachers and students will motivate after the Ministry of Education issued students to get back to studying.” a directive putting them in charge of Formal classes in schools have been local school operations. halted for the last six months amid an Nagendra Bahadur Malla, chairper- increase in coronavirus cases. The son of Dungeshor Rural Municipality new academic session normally starts in Dailekh, said 36 schools in the dis- in mid-April. trict have formed study groups for However, all schools and colleges children. “Some schools have started have remained shut since March 18, calling one-fifth of their students to around a week before the country school each day on a rotational basis,” went into a full lockdown to contain said Malla. the spread of the pandemic. “Others are teaching children by Ahir said they decided to start run- forming study groups. Teachers inter- ning face-to-face classes after the edu- act with students and give them home- cation ministry issued the directive work,” he told the Post. Students then authorising local governments to POST PHOTO: ANGAD DHAKAL show their work to the teacher when it mobilise teachers or volunteers to Members of Bhaktapur District Scouts go round the city as part of a programme to raise awareness about coronavirus spread. Bhaktapur has reported 1,275 infections, is their turn to go to school. conduct classes in small groups for the lowest caseload among the Valley districts, and 14 Covid-19-related deaths so far. Malla said this teaching-learning students who don’t have access to vir- mode will continue for a month until tual learning. Dashain when its effectiveness will be Although a significant number of evaluated. “We will decide whether to students have access to FM radio, it continue with what we have been was not an effective means of distance doing or switch to another methodolo- learning as students don’t get to ask gy,” he said. teachers questions, he said. Officials raise alarm as new single-day The ministry on September 10 came Estimates show that only around 40 up with a directive asking local gov- percent of schoolchildren in Nepal ernments to categorise students into have access to virtual learning plat- five groups based on their access to forms. However, a recent report by virtual learning platforms and pro- UNICEF suggests only three out of 10 virus spike recorded with 2,020 cases vide them learning opportunities students have access to any form of accordingly. As per the directive, the virtual education. first category of students includes Bansalal Tamang, general secretary With the festival season approaching and long-route travel ban lifted, health officials warn asymptomatic those who don’t have access to any of National Association of the alternative learning platforms, and Municipalities in Nepal, said dozens infected travellers from Kathmandu Valley could spark new waves of infections across the country. the second consists of those who have of rural municipalities that don’t have access to a radio. The third category active Covid-19 cases or have few cases ANUP OJHA whose test results come positive for suggested that the government and He warns that there is a risk of the of students includes those who have have already started or are in the pro- KATHMANDU, SEPT 18 the coronavirus infection could not be other stakeholders inform and edu- repeat of the Covid-19 outbreaks wit- access to tv. Those in the fourth group cess of doing so very soon. reached. cate people about the disease. nessed earlier by many Tarai districts have access to a computer, but not the “Five months of the current aca- Nepal set a single-day coronavirus “Among the infected who are out of Meanwhile, the contact tracing job which were attributed to the people internet. Children under the fifth cat- demic session are already gone. We case record on Friday with 2,020 infec- contact also include the individuals has been made doubly difficult after who had returned home from various egory have access to the internet and hardly have five-six months to com- tions, taking the total number of who had come from out of the Valley,” the government resumed long-dis- coronavirus-stricken cities in India-- other means of communication. plete the curricula now,” he told the Covid-19 cases to 61,593. Kathmandu said Oli. tance bus and domestic flight services only this time, the spreaders are likely Representatives of local govern- Post. Valley also recorded the highest daily Until Thursday, the city has diag- from Thursday onwards ahead of the to be from the Kathmandu Valley. ments say they shifted to in-person During a virtual interaction with spike with 859 new infections, of nosed 6,363 coronavirus cases and con- Dashain festival. “Earlier, many Tarai districts had teaching after assessing that the virtu- the journalists on Tuesday, Minister which 698 cases were confirmed in ducted 14,551 contact tracing. become the coronavirus hotspots al learning platforms were either out for Education Giriraj Mani Pokharel Kathmandu, 82 in Bhaktapur and 79 in Health officials have long been through carriers who had come from of the reach of students or were inef- said the present academic year will Lalitpur districts. struggling with the problem of delib- Growing number of India. Now, Kathmandu has become fective. Gadhawa Rural Municipality not be extended, and end in April. Despite the four-month long lock- erate misidentification by the people the most infected place,” Pun said. down and the subsequent prohibitory undergoing coronavirus tests, making infected people in “There is a danger of the virus travel- orders, there has been no let-up in the the job of contact tracing trouble- ling from Kathmandu to various parts rise of coronavirus cases in the Valley. some. the city are out of of the country, even those places As of Friday, the Valley has Hari Kunwar, chief of the Public which are relatively safe so far.” reported 15,138 infections. More than Health Division at Kathmandu contact, say officials. The government has not enforced two-thirds of these cases (12,640) were Metropolitan City, says many people any strict health and safety guidelines confirmed after the three district give false personal details to the health for people travelling from the Valley to administrators of the Valley imposed officials fearing stigmatisation from Health officials fear that with the other parts of the country, except for prohibitory orders starting August 19 their communities in case their test resumption of long-haul transporta- the one passenger per seat rule. midnight. results come positive. tion service there is a chance of the Health officials have advised that Health officials say the Covid-19 sit- “In many cases we have found the out-of-contact infected people in the government conduct PCR tests on uation in the Valley, particularly in people who live in rented rooms and Kathmandu spreading the virus in each passenger before he or she is Kathmandu, is a cause for major con- apartments not giving the accurate several parts of the country, prompt- allowed to travel, but the suggestion cern, because with the increase in information. They apparently ing outbreaks in remote areas and has largely been neglected. infections, the number of infected fear being kicked out by their land- new waves of infections in places According to the Metropolitan people who are out of contact is also lords,” said Kunwar. “We did trace where the cases are on the wane. Traffic Police Division, a total of growing. some of the people with the aid of “As the festival season approaches, 12,813 people left the Valley on Friday Gyan Bahadur Oli, the Covid-19 police, but that is not possible now.” there is a high risk of unwitting alone. focal person at the Public Health said Kunwar. infected people carrying the virus to “The number will be higher in com- Division of Kathmandu Metropolitan Anthropologist Suresh Dhakal said different towns and villages of the ing days,” said Rameshwor Yadav, City, says more than 500 coronavirus only social counselling and better country,” Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, virol- spokesperson for the division. He said infected people are currently out of awareness about Covid-19 can help ogist at Sukraraj Tropical and on the first day of operation of long contact. solve this problem, as infected people Infectious Disease Hospital in Teku, route buses only half the number of On an average, 12 people in the city fear what others might say or do. He told the Post. passengers had left the Valley. POST ILLUSTRATION: KRISHNA GOPAL SHRESTHA As Malaysia reserves jobs for locals, space for Nepalis reeling under pandemic shrinks more

CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL a favoured employment destination between June 15 and September 9. KATHMANDU, SEPT 18 for tens of thousands of its citizens Such a move can have a ramifica- and a source of remittance worth bil- tion for Nepal, where the unavailabili- Things were already expected to be lions of rupees. ty of jobs to migrants who had bad for Nepal’s foreign employment According to Jeevan Baniya, a returned home after losing jobs in the sector. Now it’s getting worse. labour migration expert, the move wake of Covid-19 has triggered re-mi- Reeling under the pandemic, Nepal’ was anticipated but will hit Nepal’s gration. foreign labour market is likely to expe- labour market in Malaysia. “We have seen Nepali youths des- rience a severe downturn with “Whenever there is economic dis- perately trying to enter India from the Malaysia, a top destination for Nepali tress or shrinking jobs in the internal Gauriphanta border. While the labour workers, showing the signs of stop- labour market, countries often come market abroad is shrinking, schemes ping the hiring of foreign workers. out with such policies. The country’s rolled out so far to provide jobs to Through a series of recent internal political situation also returnees have been ineffective as announcements, Malaysian authori- inspires such moves,” said Baniya, they are willing to migrate again,” ties have hinted that there will be a who is an assistant director at the said Baniya. cap on the arrival of foreign workers Centre for the Study of Labour and “Economic slowdown, new labour into the country and that jobs would Mobility of Social Science Baha. “But force entering the market every year be reserved for local citizens. this will definitely affect Nepal’s amidst the existing unemployed popu- Last month, Malaysian Human labour migration scenario as Malaysia lation and the shrinking labour mar- Resources Minister Datuk Seri M has been one of the most preferred ket will place the country in a difficult Saravanan said there would be no new labour destination countries for our situation and also see a rise in social intake of foreign workers in all sec- workers.” problems.” tors until the year-end as locals would The Covid-19 has already resulted Labour migration to Malaysia was be given priority. in a massive drop in labour migration slowly reviving from a 16-month-long “We will not allow [new] foreign numbers with no signs of immediate suspension enforced by the govern- workers until the year-end. They [for- recovery. ment. Within the next few months, the eigners] can come as tourists if they During the 2019/20 fiscal year, the government stopped issuing labour are allowed,” he had told local media number of permits issued saw a permits due to the fear of infection at the launch of the Human Resources remarkable drop of 27.5 percent, com- among migrants after Covid-19 ripped Development Fund initiative under pared to the 2018/19 fiscal. Overall REUTERS through labour hosting countries. the National Economic Recovery Plan. labour permits issued last fiscal year, Malaysia currently hosts nearly two million foreign workers, including over 400,000 Nepalis. Now, when the government has “We try to reduce foreign workers in when 59,714 Nepalis departed for started issuing labour permits, the workforce besides giving priority Malaysia, were the lowest in the past based recruiting agency operator. aging local employers to hire local Nepal as a source country for foreign Malaysian policy is likely to affect to locals to secure jobs.” five years. According to Gurung, who is the workers as they are also facing unem- workers only in 2001. And since then, Nepali workers’ prospect of travel in On Tuesday, Saravanan once again With the prolonged global economic former president of Nepal Association ployment after workers must have Nepalis have worked in various sec- the next few months. urged Malaysian employers to hire slowdown caused by the pandemic and of Foreign Employment Agencies— returned from developed countries as tors like manufacturing, construction, “Nepalis have been getting to work locals via the MYFutureJobs portal, nationalisation of jobs, the country’s the umbrella organisation of recruit- well.” plantations, agriculture and the ser- in Malaysia, which has climatic condi- which is the Malaysian government’ labour market is likely to shrink even ing agencies in the country, stopping Malaysia currently hosts nearly two vice industry. tions similar to Nepal and is relatively national employment services portal more in the months to come, warn labour migration to Malaysia would million foreign workers, including Now, in a bid to encourage local freer than the Gulf countries. Nepalis that serves both job seekers and experts. mean loss of thousands of jobs for over 400,000 Nepalis. employers to hire Malaysian citizens, have been getting to work as factory employers. Besides, the Malaysian “Foreign employment sector, which Nepalis. Although labour migration to the incentive programme pays workers in giant multinational tech government has also rolled out incen- has been completely shut down for “In one year, as many as 175,000 Malaysia witnessed a surge in the between RM800 and RM1,000 per work- companies,” said Gurung. tives for employers to encourage them over six months due to the impact of Nepalis went to Malaysia. Malaysian 1990s, Nepal started issuing labour er for up to six months. “Sooner or later, Nepalis will start to hire local workers. Covid-19, is headed towards more employers have been hiring foreign permits to Malaysia-bound workers Under the National Economic migrating due to the absence of jobs at Malaysian government’s intention uncertainty. We had thought that the workers like Nepalis as it must have only in 1997, as per a factsheet report Recovery Plan, which was introduced home. They will have no option than and recent initiatives, however, do not sector would see a revival in the next been an easier and also cheaper option of the Centre for the Study of Labour to reduce unemployment by hiring going to Gulf countries and work in augur good news for Nepal, for which few months, but that is unlikely now,” for them,” said Gurung. “The and Mobility. local talent and upskilling workers, hot conditions away from factories in the Southeast Asian country remains said Rohan Gurung, a Kathmandu- Malaysian government is now encour- Malaysia, however, recognised has employed 46,043 job seekers Malaysia.”

C M Y K SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2020 | 04 WORLD BRIEFING India’s coronavirus cases India digs deep to China aims to operate regular space flights by 2045 boost defences on BEIJING: China aims to set up a space jump by another 96,000 programme operating thousands of flights a year and carrying tens of crucial China frontier thousands of tons of cargo and pas- China reports 32 imported Covid-19 cases, 13 of them in Xi’an, over a period of 24 hours. sengers by 2045, state news agency AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Xinhua quoted an official as saying ATAL ROHTANG TUNNEL, SEPT 18 on Friday. China is trying to catch up Still, India’s efforts with Russia and the United States to A tunnel nearing completion in the become a major space power by 2030. Indian Himalayas will slash by hours in the Himalayas Bao Weimin, a senior official at the time it takes troops to reach the only belatedly China Aerospace Science and Chinese border, part of an infrastruc- Technology Corp, told a conference ture blitz by New Delhi that is gather- mirror those of that the planned space flight system ing pace since a bloody border clash would be able to meet commercial between the two countries. China, experts say. demands, according to the Xinhua The nuclear-armed Asian giants report. He also said China is aiming blame each other for a brutal high-al- for breakthroughs in the core tech- titude battle in June that left 20 Indian could only take place from April to nology needed and for the building of soldiers dead and an unspecified num- September. Workers wore special a testing system by 2025. ber of Chinese casualties. microchips to help locate them if they Both have sent massive troop rein- got trapped in an avalanche. forcements, but India has also stepped Still, India’s efforts only belatedly Trump offered to pardon up its activities behind the front- mirror those of China, experts say. Assange, says lawyer lines—belatedly so, analysts say. “Earlier administrations wasted LONDON: US President Donald Trump Its stepped-up infrastructure pro- two decades,” said Harsh Pant, from offered to pardon Julian Assange if gramme includes roads and bridges the Observer Research Foundation the WikiLeaks founder provided the as well as high-altitude helipads think-tank in New Delhi. source for the hacking of Democratic and airstrips for civilian and military “China, and its infrastructure, is National Committee emails before the aircraft. much stronger today.” 2016 US presidential election, a The showpiece is a $400-million tun- Sanjay Kundu, the Himachal London court was told on Friday. AP/RSS nel in Himachal Pradesh state, provid- Pradesh police chief, has also pro- Assange’s lawyer, Jennifer Robinson, A woman wearing a face mask to protect against the coronavirus is caught in the sunlight as she walks along a street in Beijing, on Friday. ing an all-weather route for military posed arming locals and training said she observed a meeting where convoys to avoid a 50-kilometre (30- them to report possible Chinese spies former Republican US Representative ASSOCIATED PRESS states—Maharashtra, Karnataka, Yoshihide Suga’s election campaign mile) trudge through mountain passes and drone and helicopter sightings. Dana Rohrabacher and Charles NEW DELHI, SEPT 18 Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and has been hospitalised with Covid-19, that are snow-bound in winter and “Ultimately, whether it is at the bor- Johnson, an associate known to have Uttar Pradesh. Worst-hit western becoming the first confirmed case in subject to frequent landslides. der or the hinterland, people need to close ties to the Trump campaign, India’s coronavirus cases jumped by Maharashtra state accounted for 474 Japan’s parliament. Shuichi Takatori, From late this month, what used to be trained and they need to be trained made the offer in 2017. Robinson said another 96,424 in the past 24 hours, of the 1,174 fatalities reported in the a member of the Liberal Democratic be a four-hour, winding, high-altitude in defending themselves,” he told AFP. Assange was told that Trump showing little sign of leveling. country in the past 24 hours. Party, developed a fever and tested crossing will be cut to a 10-minute The government hopes it will reas- approved of the meeting and that The Health Ministry on Friday Authorities extended until the end positive for the coronavirus, accord- dash through the mountains in the sure worried villagers. Rohrabacher would later meet with raised the nation’s total cases to 5.21 of September a ban on assemblies of ing to parliament’s lower house. state-of-the-art tunnel. “In the last few weeks they’ve seen a the president to discuss the reaction million, or 0.37 percent of its nearly four or more people in Mumbai, Takatori attended a plenary session “There have been times on the pass lot more activity of fighter planes over to the proposed deal. 1.4 billion people. It said 1,174 more India’s financial and entertainment on Wednesday at which Suga was for- route when vehicles have broken the region,” said Lobsang Gyaltsen, people died in the past 24 hours, for a capital. More than 178,000 people have mally elected prime minister. He down, causing traffic jams of even six an elected representative from a vil- total of 84,372 fatalities. Experts say been infected by the coronavirus in accompanied 81-year-old party to eight hour,” said Lieutenant- lage around 30 kilometres (20 miles) Russia approves first Covid-19 India’s death toll may be a significant Mumbai, including 8,320 who died. Secretary General Toshihiro Nikai General Harpal Singh, head of India’s from the border. undercount. New Zealand reported no new cases when they greeted former Prime Border Roads Organisation (BRO). “They often wonder if China is drug for sale in pharmacies India is expected to have the highest of the coronavirus on Friday for the Minister Shinzo Abe after the vote, “This tunnel and the other infra- attacking,” Gyaltsen told AFP. MOSCOW: Russia has approved number of confirmed cases within first time in more than five weeks as Kyodo News agency reported. Health structure plans change a lot for the The BRO says it has built more stra- R-Pharm’s Coronavir treatment for weeks, surpassing the United States, hopes rise that an outbreak discov- officials are investigating his close troops,” he told AFP. tegic roads—most in the high-tension outpatients with mild to moderate where more than 6.67 million people ered in Auckland last month has been contacts for possible infection. Japan Labourers are working overtime to zone next to China—the last four years Covid-19 infections and the antiviral have been infected. stamped out. Friday also marked the has 77,494 confirmed coronavirus get the tunnel ready before Prime than in the previous decade and aims drug could be rolled out to pharma- Indian Prime Minister Narendra fourth consecutive day without any cases including 1,482 deaths as Minister Narendra Modi is due to to complete 15 more key routes by the cies in the country as soon as next Modi on his birthday Thursday made cases of community transmission, of Friday, according to the health open it later this month. end of 2021. week, the company said. Coronavir’s a fresh appeal to people to wear masks with all recent cases being found ministry. Currently, essential items such as Labourers are upgrading a recent- approval as a prescription drug fol- and maintain social distancing as his among quarantined passengers Meanwhile, China on Friday report- arms, ammunition and food have to be ly-completed 250-kilometre stretch lows the green light for another government prepared plans for han- returning from abroad. Health author- ed that imported coronavirus cases transported up in bulk before winter parallel to the Chinese frontier that Russian Covid-19 drug, Avifavir, in dling big congregations expected dur- ities expect to continue finding such surged to 32 over the previous 24 starts in an area where temperatures cuts journey times from Ladakh’s May. Both are based on favipiravir, ing a major Hindu festival season cases at the border. Authorities have hours. Thirteen of those cases were can plunge to minus 40 Celsius (minus capital Leh from one week to less which was developed in Japan. beginning next month. still not pinpointed the origin of the reported in the northern province of 40 Fahrenheit). than a day. R-Pharm’s announcement is another Health Minister Harsh Vardhan August outbreak, which they believe Shaanxi, whose capital Xi’an is a Constructed at an altitude of more Significantly, by next month all sign Russia is pushing hard to take a said with a recovery rate of more than was imported. New Zealand has major industrial center, while the than 3,000 metres and stretching nine bridges along the route will be able to lead in the race against the virus. It is 78 percent, India has only 1 million reported a total of just over 1,800 cases eastern financial and business hub of kilometres, the Atal Rohtang tunnel is support the weight of a 70-tonne T-90 already exporting its Covid-19 tests active coronavirus cases. and 25 deaths. Shanghai reported 12. China has gone also a feat of engineering. tank on a trailer, or a truck carrying a and has clinched several internation- Nearly 60 percent of the active cases A senior governing party lawmaker more than a month without reporting A decade in the making, freezing surface-to-air missile, according to al deals for its vaccine. (AGENCIES) are concentrated in five of India’s 28 who helped with new Prime Minister any cases of local transmission. winter temperatures meant work press reports. ‘They should have let us die in the water’: Desperate Lebanese migrants

REUTERS and 8,” Stelios Papatheodorou, chief of TRIPOLI, SEPT 18 the Cypriot police, told Reuters. With Lebanon in He denied accusations that authori- For years, small boats have left north- ties had mistreated them and pushed ern Lebanon’s coast, packed with des- freefall, its citizens back their boats. “We provided them perate migrants hoping to reach with food and water and covered all European shores. Until recently, they have begun joining their needs at our own expense,” carried mostly Syrian and Palestinian asylum seekers in Papatheodorou said. refugees. But with Lebanon in freefall, Lebanon’s General Security and its citizens have begun joining their larger numbers. Foreign Ministry did not respond to ranks in larger numbers. written requests for comment. Mohammad Ghandour never thought Out of work for three years, Ghandour he’d be one of them. But he said The increase has worried Cypriot decided last month to pack up for good Lebanon’s economic crisis, which has authorities, especially given the global and try his luck in Cyprus. He left his crashed the Lebanese pound and left pandemic. The island is the closest apartment, sold his furniture, and had him unable to feed his seven children, European Union member state to the his older sons sell scrap metal to help gave him no choice. Middle East and has seen a gradual rise buy a small boat and supplies for the “In Lebanon, we are being killed by in arrivals of undocumented migrants perilous journey. poverty,” Ghandour told Reuters this and refugees in the past two years, as Ghandour was one of four migrants week, from his mother’s cramped three- other routes have become more difficult interviewed by Reuters, who said they room apartment where he was staying to cross. were swiftly sent back to Lebanon. with 12 other family members. He was After 28 hours lost at sea, Ghandour According to UNHCR, the island has back in Tripoli, one of Lebanon’s poor- said his boat, carrying his wife, children pushed back at least five boats, which est cities, after being sent back by and other relatives, arrived on a beach carried Lebanese, Syrians, Palestinians Cyprus. near the seaside resort of Larnaca. He and others. “This is worse than war … My chil- said his family was detained in a camp “You can’t just summarily send peo- dren will either die on the streets or for several days, tested for Covid-19 and ple back without considering their become criminals to survive. prevented from lodging a formal claim claims fully and fairly,” said Bill Frelick, AP/RSS Ghandour, 37, is one of dozens of for asylum before being sent back to the director of the refugee and migrant Hundreds of birds fly past wind turbines as the sun rises in Frankfurt, Germany, on Friday. Lebanese who’ve attempted the journey Lebanon. rights division at HRW, who has been since late August, when rights groups “I didn’t think they would send us monitoring the returns. say a rise in the number of boats leaving back,” he said. “They should have just Although Lebanon is not at war and Lebanon began. Exact figures are hard let us die in the water. It’s better than economic hardship is not recognised as to come by, but the United Nations coming back here.” grounds for asylum, the multiple crises Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has tracked Cypriot authorities said about 230 Lebanon is facing mean some of its Flurry of activity at key base fuels 21 boats leaving Lebanon between July Lebanese and Syrians were sent back to nationals and residents could face seri- and Sept 14. The previous year, there Lebanon by sea in early September. ous threats, while others could qualify were 17 in total. They had arrived in Cyprus on five for refugee status on fear-of-persecution boats during the grounds, Frelick added. speculation of North Korea test previous weeks. In interviews with Reuters, migrants “Following our said they told Cypriot authorities they REUTERS “We’re monitoring developments, cators of launch preparations were government’s feared violence and instability in SEOUL, SEPT 18 as there is a possibility that a sub- observed.” orders and after Lebanon and did not want to return. marine-launched ballistic missile Although the activity does sug- consultations Migrants also said they encountered Analysts and security officials say test will be conducted there using gest some kind of work is being between the two aggressive tactics as they neared they are watching for signs that ejection equipment shortly after the done on the missile barge, which has governments Cyprus. Chamseddine Kerdi said his North Korea may use an upcoming repair is done,” Won In-choul, the either been moved from the basin or (Cyprus and boat, packed with 52 people, was encir- holiday to unveil new weapons or nominee for chairman of South repositioned under a protective awn- Lebanon) we safe- cled several times and ultimately dam- test fire a submarine-launched bal- Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, told ing, it would also be consistent with ly returned them aged before being towed to shore by listic missile, after a flurry of activi- lawmakers this week. basic repair work after the storm, on September 6, 7 authorities. ty was detected at a key base. Other South Korean officials have said Dave Schmerler, a senior Formations of troops have been sounded more cautious notes, researcher at the James Martin seen practicing for what is expected including incoming South Korean Center for Nonproliferation Studies. to be a major military parade on Oct defence minister Gen. Suh Wook, On September 4, the US-based 10, the 75th anniversary of the rul- who said on Monday that he consid- Center for Strategic and ing Workers’ Party of Korea. Some ered an SLBM test unlikely because International Studies said satellite observers say North Korea may there is too little time to prepare imagery showed activity at Sinpo showcase its largest missiles for the ahead of the anniversary. that was “suggestive, but not conclu- first time since 2018. On Thursday, Daily NK, a Seoul- sive, of preparations for an upcom- Imagery analysts and security based website that reports on North ing test of a Pukguksong-3 subma- officials caution that so far there is Korea, cited a single unnamed rine launched ballistic missile.” no conclusive evidence of an source near the shipyard as saying Last October, North Korea said it impending launch. But after several the site “is bustling with activity to had successfully test-fired a typhoons lashed North Korea in prepare for the ballistic missile Pukguksong-3, which elicited no early September, satellite photos launch,” with officials and research- major reaction from US President have shown a flurry of activity at ers arriving since late August. Trump, who has held up the absence the Sinpo South Shipyard, including 38 North, a US-based think tank, of intercontinental ballistic missile in a secure basin where a barge used said in a report on Wednesday that and nuclear tests by that country in previous underwater missile imagery showed “heavy activity” at since 2017 as success and played launches is docked. the shipyard, but that “no other indi- down shorter-range launches.

C M Y K 05 | SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2020 MONEY Apple to launch first online store Tiger Palace Casino Resort lays off 393 employees in India next week Silver Heritage Group, the operator of the resort which came into operation in 2018, is facing financial distress with no income since March. AMRITA ANMOL foreign direct investment policy and REUTERS BUTWAL, SEPT 18 has foreign management, the munici- NEW DELHI, SEPT 18 pality does not have any crucial role to Tiger Palace Casino Resort in deal with the issue, but we can play a Apple Inc will launch its first online Bhairahawa has laid off all its 393 facilitating role to settle the issue.” store in India on September 23, the Nepali employees due to financial dis- An official of the Silver Heritage iPhone maker said on Friday, coincid- tress as the virus lockdown brought Group told the Post that they were ing with the country’s holiday season tourism to a halt. trying to save the company and the that brings some of the biggest sales On March 23, the Silver Heritage investment. “We are, as ever, guided for retailers every year. Group, the Australian-listed gaming by and acting in accordance with the Apple sells its products in India investor which operates two casinos laws of Nepal. These are unprecedent- through third-party vendors and in Nepal, had announced a temporary ed times,” the official said in an unof- e-commerce operators such as closure of its two properties—Tiger ficial conversation with the Post. Amazon.com Inc’s Indian unit and Place Resort and The Millionaires’ The Silver Heritage Group debuted Walmart Inc-owned Flipkart. Club & Casino in Kathmandu. in Nepal in 2015 with the opening of The Cupertino, California-based Two weeks ago, the Silver Heritage The Millionaire’s Club & Casino at the tech giant’s iPhones are coveted by Group emailed all Tiger Palace Resort Shangri-La Hotel in Kathmandu. The tens of millions of Indians but their employees informing them that it was group has planned a phased invest- price keeps them out of the reach of unable to renew the agreement as ment of more than $150 million to many. Chinese companies led by their two-year terms ended on develop a chain of five-star properties Xiaomi Corp dominate in the world’s September 9. across Nepal. second-biggest smartphone market, “Following the conclusion of our In the first phase, the 100-room with Apple accounting for just 1% of initial two-year business plan and pur- property, which is the first integrated shipments. suant to clause 4 of the contract, the five-star casino resort in South Asia, Through its online retail platform, company hereby notifies you that was developed by the company. It was Apple plans to offer assistance to cus- your employment contract will not be awarded a five-star rating by the tomers in English and Hindi, while renewed for a further period. We Department of Tourism in November allowing users to personalise some thank you for your efforts in complet- 2017, and came into operation in the devices, including iPads, with engrav- ing the contract requirements,” Mike first quarter of 2018, well behind its ings, it said. Bolsover, managing director of the operation deadline that cost the com- The website will also allow Mac Silver Heritage Group, said in the let- POST PHOTO: AMRITA ANMOL pany an additional $12 million to com- customers to configure their laptops ter, a copy of which was obtained by Around half of the employees at the resort have launched a protest claiming that it was a unilateral decision and against Nepal’s labour laws. plete the project. according to their needs. the Post. The cost overrun increased the pro- The opening of Apple’s online store The letter continues: “The global tact the finance department for your and against Nepal’s labour laws. surprise termination letter by email.” ject’s price tag to $60 million, and the presents another challenge for bricks- coronavirus pandemic is an unprece- final settlement.” The company said it Nepali employees also charged that He said that based on labour laws, company counted on its other casino, and-mortar retailers whose business dented event that has left the business hoped to reopen soon and begin the the company did not discharge foreign the company cannot lay off workers the Phoenix International Club in has suffered due to discounts by e-tail- mandatorily shuttered since March next two-year phase, and urged the workers. “Some of the foreign staffers, who have served for more than two Vietnam, to provide support. Silver ers, said Subhash Chandra L, manag- 2020. With no revenue since this time, employees to stay in touch regarding whose visas have expired, have not years. “That’s why we have been Heritage was managing the property’s ing director of Sangeetha Mobiles. the company is faced with several suitable vacancies in the future. been laid off yet,” said Bishal Karki, forced to launch the agitation.” gaming operations at the time; howev- “At least some of Apple’s die-hard financial hardships and an inability to Indra Bhattarai, human resource an employee. “They are paid more Nearly 200 workers are protesting er, the venue lost its gaming tables customers are likely to shift to buying reopen unless action is taken to reduce manager at the company, said all than Rs500,000 monthly,” he said. “It’s against the company demanding their licence in 2019, dealing Silver Heritage from its online store,” said Chandra cost and become more efficient.” employees had been served the layoff a discriminatory policy to terminate immediate reinstatement. a huge blow. whose chain operates more than 650 The company said that during the notice. “The senior teams are in Hong Nepali workers only.” Basu Dev Ghimire, mayor of Nepal’s operations haven’t been stores across southern and western lockdown, unlike most other business- Kong and Australia. We are not in Chitra Bhandari, who has been Tilottama Municipality, said that they able to close the gap completely, and India. “But we’ve learned to compete es in Nepal, it continued to pay 50 contact with them.” leading the protest, said the decision would find some solution to the prob- failure to generate adequate funds with online retailers.” percent of the gross salary as a ges- Around half of the employees at the to lay off workers was made unilater- lem without causing any negative even prompted the company to sell its China’s Xiaomi, RealMe and ture of goodwill. resort have launched a protest claim- ally by the company. “Without prior impact on foreign investors. “As the Nepal property. Covid-19 came as OnePlus also sell smartphones “The company requests you to con- ing that it was a unilateral decision information, we have been given a resort has been operated under the another setback for the company. from their websites, besides Amazon and Flipkart. Apple is building its first compa- ny-run retail store in India, in the financial capital of Mumbai, with plans to launch in 2021. Asian financial leaders agree to make Trump to block US India offers huge growth prospects for device makers and competitive labour costs for electronics manufacturing. ‘all policy efforts’ to fight pandemic downloads of TikTok,

FOREX The coronavirus pandemic has trig- gered deep downturns in regional WeChat on Sunday economies, disrupted global trade and US Dollar 117.82 supply chains, and increased market REUTERS Business Network.The department Euro 139.65 volatility in Asia and beyond, prompt- WASHINGTON, SEPT 18 said the actions will “protect users in Pound Sterling 152.99 ing authorities to enact large econom- the US by eliminating access to these ic stimulus programmes. The US Commerce Department said it applications and significantly reduc- Japanese Yen 11.27 Recognising the risk that unwind- will issue an order Friday that will bar ing their functionality.” Chinese Yuan 17.43 ing such large stimulus plans could people in the United States from down- Oracle shares fell 1.6 percent after Qatari Riyal 32.36 destabilize financial markets, the min- loading Chinese-owned messaging the news in pre-market trading Australian Dollar 86.19 isters from Japan, South Korea, China app WeChat and video-sharing app The Commerce Department order and ASEAN, a group known as TikTok starting on September 20. will “deplatform” the two apps in the Malaysian Ringit 28.56 ASEAN+3, addressed how they will Commerce officials said the ban on United States and bar Apple Inc’s app Saudi Arab Riyal 31.41 exit from the crisis measures. new US downloads of TikTok could be store, Alphabet Inc’s Google Play and Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank “We will carefully measure the still rescinded by President Donald others from offering the apps on any appropriate timing of the exit from Trump before it takes effect late platform “that can be reached from REUTERS PRICE PER TOLA these pandemic measures in accord- Sunday as TikTok owner ByteDance within the United States,” a senior BULLION A man wearing a face mask walks in Lujiazui financial district in Pudong, China. ance with the economic and pandemic races to clinch an agreement over the Commerce official told Reuters. situation of each member,” the fate of its US operations. The order will not ban US compa- Fine Gold Rs 97,000 REUTERS ery,” they said in a joint statement. ASEAN+3 leaders said. ByteDance has been talks with nies from doing businesses on WeChat TOKYO, SEPT 18 “We will remain resolute in Highlighting worries about the Oracle Corp and others to create a outside the United States, which will Silver Rs 1,330 our commitment to uphold an risks of a hit to market liquidity, new company, TikTok Global, that be welcome news to US firms like Financial leaders from China, Japan, open and rule-based multilateral Japan and Malaysia signed on Friday aims to address US concerns about the Walmart and Starbucks that use SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA South Korea and Southeast Asia trade and investment system, and a bilateral currency swap arrange- security of its users’ data. ByteDance WeChat’s embedded ‘mini-app’ pro- vowed on Friday to redouble their strengthen regional integration and ment that enables authorities to swap still needs Trump’s approval to stave grammes to facilitate transactions efforts to help the region recover eco- cooperation.” up to $3 billion of their currencies. off a US ban. and engage consumers in China, offi- GASOLINE WATCH nomically from the novel coronavirus The statement followed the annual The ASEAN+3 leaders also prom- Commerce officials said they will cials said. and to defend a multilateral system of meetings of finance ministers and ised to boost the Chiang Mai Initiative not bar additional technical transac- The order will not bar transactions trade and investment. central bank governors from China, Multilateralisation (CMIM). The tions for TikTok until Nov. 12, which with WeChat-owner Tencent Holdings’ “We will remain vigilant to the con- Japan, South Korea and the 10-mem- CMIM plays a crucial role in support- gives the company additional time to other businesses, including its tinued downside risks ... We are tak- ber Association of South East Asian ing regional financial stability by see if ByteDance can reach a deal for online gaming operations, and will ing steps to reduce vulnerabilities to Nations (ASEAN). The meetings were allowing the member economies, its US operations. not prohibit Apple, Google or others these risks and are determined to held via teleconference on the side- which include the ASEAN+3 and “The basic TikTok will stay intact from offering TikTok or WeChat continue to use all available policy lines of the annual gathering of the Hong Kong, to tap currency swap lines until November 12,” Commerce apps anywhere outside the United tools to support the sustained recov- Asian Development Bank (ADB). to secure currencies in need. Secretary Wilbur Ross told Fox States. Tech savvy, flexible workers boost Covid-hit Nordic economies

REUTERS Netherlands had the most advanced STOCKHOLM, SEPT 18 digital economies in the EU in 2018, a research paper from the European Helen Balfors, a project leader at Commission showed, based on con- Norwegian conglomerate Orkla, has nectivity, human capital, internet use been working from home for longer and extent of e-commerce. than most of her colleagues after The Nordics—home to telecoms returning from a skiing trip to Italy in infrastructure firms Ericsson and February as the new coronavirus took Nokia—topped the EU table for hold in Europe. home-working even before the pan- The mother of three said that while demic. Sweden, in first place, had just the company had always encouraged a under a third of workers working BIZLINE good work-life balance, some manag- from home, at least occasionally, in ers had required their employees to be 2019, according to the European in the office before the pandemic hit. Foundation for the Improvement of CG launches Black+Decker “But now they realise it works just Living and Working Conditions small home appliances in Nepal as well to be at home,” she said. “I just (Eurofound), an EU agency. The EU needed an extra screen and an extra average was around 10 percent. keyboard from the office, which I got Long-term flexible employment in a couple of days.” practices, such as allowing parents Well-developed digital infrastruc- to stay home with sick children ture has helped the Nordic economies and an emphasis on a healthy work- weather the pandemic better than life balance have encouraged remote most of Europe. working. Britain’s economy contracted by During the pandemic, around 60 KATHMANDU: CG Impex, a subsidiary around a fifth in the second quarter, percent of Finns have been able to of Chaudhary Group, has partnered Spain registered an 18.5 percent drop, work from home, around double the REUTERS with Black + Decker, a renowned while the euro zone economy as a level in Spain. Sweden and Denmark Following eased lockdown measures amid the coronavirus disease outbreak in Helsinki, Finland, people enjoy and stroll in a park. American brand to launch their prod- whole shrank 11.8 percent. are also well above the EU average of ucts in Nepal. The launching event In contrast, Finland’s GDP fell just less than 40 percent, according to the euro zone as a whole, Eurostat approach, Norway, Denmark and percent of GDP in Spain and Italy— was conducted virtually through 4.5 percent although Sweden and Eurofound.A high proportion of infor- data shows. Finland all opted for stricter meas- two of the economies worst hit by the zoom on Friday in CG Digital Park, Norway saw larger hits of 8.3 percent mation technology-focused jobs that With workers retaining at least ures, with Finland isolating its capital pandemic—according to the World Kathmandu, states the press release and 6.3 percent respectively. lend themselves to distance working some income, household spending and from the rest of the country. Travel & Tourism Council. Denmark’s issued by the company. Various prod- “Better digital infrastructure has helped but businesses and individ- consumption have held up well. That means other factors have share is 6.6 percent and Norway 8.0 ucts from Black + Decker will now be means we were quicker at being able uals have been quick to make the Eurofound’s survey showed around played a significant role. percent. On the flip side, Norway has available in Nepal through CG to work from home. The infrastruc- digital leap. 70 percent of Swedes, Finns and Danes “The structure of the economy is an had to contend with the collapse in oil Impex’s distribution network ture is there and we are used to using That, along with well-established were optimistic about their future obvious candidate, where many south- prices, while Sweden’s automotive sec- throughout Nepal. Customers will be it,” said Robert Bergqvist, chief econ- rules for furloughing employees, against just 45 percent across the ern European countries are more tor has been badly hit. But strong able to buy products such as steam omist at Swedish bank SEB. means working hours have dropped EU.The Nordic economic resilience dependent on tourism,” Riksbank public finances have given Nordic gov- iron, grinder mills, rice cookers, gar- “That has helped hold up produc- less than in most of Europe—by 4.2 has come despite very different Deputy Governor Martin Floden said ernments the flexibility to spend their ment steamer, sandwich maker grills, tion and consumption.” percent in Norway in the second quar- approaches to fighting the virus. this earlier month. way out of trouble. Norway raided its heaters, microwaves and more. Denmark, Sweden, Finland and the ter against a drop of 10.7 percent for While Sweden took a light-touch Tourism accounts for just under 15 wealth fund—the world’s biggest.

C M Y K SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2020 | 06 SPORTS | MEDLEY Champions Liverpool face Chelsea test Gareth Bale leaves Madrid Frak Lampard’s ambitious Blues welcome Juergen Klopp’s Reds while Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City travel to Wolves. after loveless marriage

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE City duo Aymeric Laporte and LONDON, SEPT 18 Riyad Mahrez tested positive for coro- and disappointment navirus earlier this month, while Phil Liverpool face an early test of their Foden was sent home by England after AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Bale could have done more, on the Premier League title defence against breaking coronavirus protocols while MADRID, SEPT 18 pitch, where he let too many games Chelsea this weekend as Manchester on international duty. pass him by, lacking either the energy City and Manchester United launch Gareth Bale arrived at Real Madrid as or perhaps belief to whir his legs like their quest to be champions. Arsenal, Can Man Manchester United the world’s most expensive player and he used to. And off the pitch, where Everton and Leicester hope to build progress? the heir to Cristiano Ronaldo. After his lack of interaction was taken as a on encouraging opening wins while The challenge facing Ole Gunnar seven years, he will leave for next to lack of interest, the sneering at his Jose Mourinho needs a morale-boost- Solskjaer ahead of a match against nothing, a dramatic return to Spanish and passion for golf unseem- ing victory for Tottenham. Crystal Palace is how to improve on Tottenham allowing Madrid’s fans ly but symptomatic of an unwilling- Here are some of the main talking last season’s third-place finish. and accountants to breathe a heavy ness to engage. points ahead of the action. Midfielder Bruno Fernandes was sigh of relief. They will be rid of the But taking over the mantle of the catalyst as United put together a player that delivered jaw-dropping Ronaldo was always going to be a gar- Will big-spending Chelsea make long unbeaten run, with a front three moments but overall failed to justify gantuan task, not least while Ronaldo Liverpool pay? of Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford the expectations or expense, neither was still there, the figure that defined Chelsea’s meeting with Liverpool at and Mason Greenwood providing the of which were of his own making. the club for the best part of a decade. Stamford Bridge on Sunday has added firepower. But United have been rela- Bale’s flashes of brilliance will And by the time Ronaldo was gone, it edge after a feisty exchange between REUTERS/AP tively quiet in the transfer window, so leave an indelible mark, not only on was too late, Bale almost 30 and the managers over transfer spending. Frank Lampard (left) says he was amused by Juergen Klopp’s comments on Chelsea’s spending. far adding just midfielder Donny van his own career but on the history of already an outcast, his decline under The London club finished 33 points de Beek from Ajax, despite persistent the club too. He can lay claim to scor- Zidane long-since setting in. behind the champions last season but Liverpool will be keen to cut out the defence by signing Netherlands inter- speculation linking them with ing the greatest goal in a Copa del Rey Bale’s earliest memory of Madrid have splashed out around £200 million defensive errors they committed in a national Nathan Ake and has added to Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho. final, at the end of that barnstorming was watching Zidane’s volley against ($259 million) on new players. By con- 4-3 win against newly-promoted Leeds, his rich attacking options, landing run that began on the halfway line, Bayer Leverkusen as a boy. But it was trast, Liverpool have been relatively but Mohamed Salah looked in fine Ferran Torres from Valencia. Arsenal’s feel-good factor circled almost into the stands and fin- Zidane who brought his Madrid career quiet, adding just Greece left-back early season form as he scored a hat- City scored 102 goals last season as Arsenal are buoyant after launching ished with Barcelona crumpled in a to a close, their relationship irretriev- Kostas Tsimikas so far, with Spain trick on the opening weekend. Chelsea they finished second, but lost nine their season with a 3-0 win at newly heap. And the best goal in a Champions able after four years when affection midfielder Thiago Alcantara likely to were also unconvincing winners matches as they surrendered their promoted Fulham and tying down cap- League final probably belongs to him was in short supply and trust eventu- follow. against Brighton in their opening crown to Liverpool. Both Manchester tain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for as well, Bale’s bicycle kick against ally ran out. Zidane gave Bale chances Jurgen Klopp pointedly said match, but Timo Werner, who chose to clubs are starting a week later than three more years. Liverpool perhaps better even than and repeatedly backed him in public, Liverpool could not spend in the same join the Blues despite interest from other sides due to their European Mikel Arteta’s men, who host West Zinedine Zidane’s volley 16 years regretting it almost instantly when he way as clubs owned by “countries” Liverpool, did impress in winning a commitments last season. Ham on Saturday, finished down in before. There was the crucial header spoke too freely before a move to and “oligarchs” such as City and penalty against the Seagulls. Guardiola will be painfully aware eighth place last season but ended against Atletico Madrid in another China broke down last year. When Chelsea during the coronavirus pan- that his team must be more consistent their campaign on a high, winning the Champions League final, the stunning Bale returned to London for talks with demic. But Frank Lampard, who also Manchester City’s tough task this campaign and he cannot afford FA Cup for a record 14th time. They volley against Borussia Dortmund, his agent, Zidane said he had his per- became embroiled in a spat with Manchester City are the bookmakers’ to let Klopp’s men open up an early followed that up by beating Liverpool the quick feet against Schalke and mission. When Bale, on international Liverpool’s bench in July, pointed out favourites to land a third Premier lead. But he will feel nervous as he on penalties in the season-opening against Rayo Vallecano another surge, duty, celebrated behind a banner that the Anfield side had spent big in previ- League trophy in four seasons but face travels to face Wolves, who beat City Community Shield before the this time from deep in his own half. read ‘Wales.Golf.Madrid’. ous seasons as they built their a tough opener against Wolves. City twice last season, after a disrupted announcement on Aubameyang this But Bale was never loved at Madrid, For a while, Zidane kept faith in the title-winning side. boss Pep Guardiola has shored up his pre-season. week that fans had craved. even if disappointment felt almost most important games, suspecting the inevitable given the context in which fire burned hot in Bale only on the he started. biggest stage. Then he played him Early on, injuries proved disrup- against weaker teams, when defensive tive, creating scepticism instead of lapses were less likely to be punished. Second-tier Stoke affection and while Bale’s transfer In the end, he refused to play him at all. Naomi Osaka pulls out of French Open record was repeatedly beaten, his Zidane won the argument, by trans- wages would become a new yardstick forming Madrid and taking them to knock Wolves out REUTERS American, aiming to highlight for him to be measured against. The the La Liga title last season, almost LONDON, SEPT 18 racial injustice in the United States contract he signed in 2016, worth 30 entirely without Bale, who played just AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE to a wider audience. million euros a year, made him the two of their final 11 games. While his WOLVERHAMPTON, SEPT 18 Japan’s Naomi Osaka has with- The withdrawal of Osaka, who game’s highest paid player, but the teammates were tossing Zidane into drawn from the upcoming French has never advanced past the third cost only intensified resentment when the air, Bale stood back, arms folded, a Championship outfit Stoke dumped Wolves out Open with a hamstring injury, she round at Roland Garros, comes as his contributions became increasing- second league winner’s medal draped of the League Cup on Thursday as the Premier said on Thursday. another blow to the tournament ly lacklustre. around his neck. League side’s club record signing Fabio Silva The 22-year-old had her left ham- after world number one Ash Barty The fans felt it, whistling harder at It was his last appearance in the had a nightmare debut in a 1-0 defeat. string taped when she battled back of Australia said she would not be Bale when shots flew over and crosses Madrid shirt after a long relationship The 18-year-old, who cost 40 million euros against Victoria Azarenka in the defending her title due to Covid-19 went unmet. When defeats came, the defined by unforgettable moments, ($47 million £36 million) from Porto despite US Open final in New York on concerns. On the men’s side, Roger criticism from the press was heavier lingering disappointment and when it scoring just three goals for the Portuguese Saturday to win her third Grand Federer will not compete as he con- for him than others too. was all over, for everyone, relief. giants, fired a glorious opportunity wide to Slam title. tinues to recover from knee sur- open the scoring in the second half. But it was “Unfortunately, I won’t be able to REUTERS gery. Stoke substitute Jacob Brown who netted the play the French Open this year,” US Open champion Naomi Osaka. Osaka’s absence would improve winner four minutes from time to stun a strong the world number three wrote on Serena Williams’s chances of win- Wolves side named by Nuno Espirito Santo. social media in a message she also The hamstring issue had prompt- ning a record-tying 24th Grand Burnley edged Sheffield United 5-4 on penal- posted in Japanese. ed Osaka to withdraw from the Slam title if the American chooses ties after the all-Premier League tie ended 1-1. “My hamstring is still sore so I final of the Western & Southern to play. The 38-year-old has pulled David McGoldrick’s early strike for the visitors won’t have time to prepare for the Open in the run-up to the US Open out of the Italian Open with an was cancelled out by Matej Vydra midway clay—these two tournaments came but it did not appear to hamper her Achilles issue. through the second half. England international too close to each other for me this at Flushing Meadows. The French Tennis Federation Nick Pope then got down low to save Oli time. I wish the organisers and Osaka made headlines in New (FFT) said on Thursday it would McBurnie’s spot-kick and Burnley were clinical players all the best.” York as much for her performances allow 5,000 spectators per day fol- in the shootout, netting all five of their efforts. The French Open will be held on court as for her commitment to lowing a recent spike in COVID-19 Brighton were comprehensive 4-0 winners from September 27 to October 11 social justice causes. cases in the country. It had previ- over Portsmouth with Alexis Mac Allister, after being moved from its usual For each of her US Open match- ously said the claycourt major Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Bernardo and Victor late May-June slot due to the coro- es she wore a different mask that would permit a maximum of 11,500 REUTERS Gyokeres on target. navirus pandemic. carried the name of a Black fans per day. A file photo shows Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale celebrating in their Champions League match. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) *** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) *** There is a hero deep inside of you, and you just You could receive an inexpensive but impactful gift, It’s time for you to give your subconscious something There are a lot of things going on in your life might get a glimpse of that person today when you and it will be no bargain basement purchase! It will new to dream about at night. Take the time to already, so it’s not an easy day for new beginnings. notice a problem or danger that no one else notices. be more like a gift of an idea, an inspiration that picture where you want to be and who you want to be Instead of starting yet another new project or trying Your quick action will be essential for creating a creates a spark in your mind. This spark could grow with in five years. And don’t forget to include family yet another new activity, stick with the tried and true safer environment for the people you love. into a flame of new romantic feelings, and friends. for now.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) **** LEO (July 23-August 22) **** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) **** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) **** If drama erupts on the scene today, avoid it at all costs. You will be exuding confidence today even if you You have mastered an immense challenge that few Someone’s words are not matching their actions, and Just keep your head down, mind your own business, don’t feel particularly proud of yourself. This type of people could have handled, but you might be feeling it should cause you to think twice about taking their and resist the urge to go find out what the fuss is about. bravado will be very useful for you, so don’t try to like no one noticed! This resounding lack of praise advice or following in their footsteps. These contra- Getting caught up in a power struggle right now is not alter the positive opinions people will be forming of could be disappointing, and it certainly is not appropri- dictions in their character are a sure sign that they going to be a good move. you by pointing out your faults. ate. You deserve praise for your accomplishments. are not who you thought they were.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) *** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) *** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) ***** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** You need to pay closer attention to the numbers today, Are you worried that there is too much happening in You probably won’t be in a very aggressive mood There might be a lot of drama going on in your life especially if you’re reviewing any budgets or bank your life right now? Think about those days that are today. Mellow is more your style right now. But don’t now, but none of it is centered around negative ener- statements. It is not a day to gloss over details and filled with boredom and how difficult they can be, think that this laid-back attitude won’t have its advan- gy. There are just a few different people with differ- just hope that everything turns out all right. Numbers and then consider yourself lucky that you are being tages, because it certainly will! You will unknowingly ing agendas working against each other, and you’re could also be important socially. kept so active and busy right now. invite more people of all walks of life to talk to you. getting caught up in the middle of it all. CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K 07 | SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2020 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE Invalid recipient We must have been just another Asian couple to their eyes. Because he could have been placed anywhere from the Middle-east to South Asia. And I could be placed anywhere from South to the Southeast of Asia.

PRATEEBHA TULADHAR meet her friends and found her seated wrote to me saying he was there and I Tubes, trying to catch the right line. with this man and an elderly woman. should try and meet him if I happened to When he saw me off at King’s Cross, he n the Tube, he stood over Over coffee, in the next hour, we had be in London. She had sent his email. held me again, more comfortably this me like he was guarding started talking about the mounting mar- So, I wrote to him: time, and said: “I’ll see you soon.” me from the world; his riage pressure on Nepali women, the Dear Mohammed, I don’t know if you It was the last time I saw him. back almost arching to moment they were in their early 20s. And still remember me. I’m Looni’s sister. I’ll We kept in touch over msn and emails. keep the world out. my sister made fun of me for how I was be in London next month and I would like Cell phone calls were expensive then, so Whenever I looked up at being hounded by relatives and how I to meet you if you have time. he would call me on the landline some Ohis face, he would look into mine and wasn’t ready. I didn’t have my sister’s P evenings and I would sit on the steps, smile, his eyes widening like he’d just fierceness and rebellious spirit. Not then. Mohammed wrote back. (Yes, that was whispering details about my slow day to received a surprise. I suppose we were his And every day, I was terrified I would just his name.) Soon, we were chatting over him. There wasn’t much happening in my surprise! cower down to the pressure. hotmail’s msn service. sheltered life then, but his was going Once, when the train tunneled in, I And just then the woman said: Just get We met in a garden. I can’t even recall through quick changes. Whenever he reached out for him in reflex and my married to someone you like and then its name or the location anymore. But I called, he always eventually arrived at the hands clutched his jumper briefly. I let go when they ask you to get married, tell remember how he came darting towards same question: “When would I go to quickly, in embarrassment. them you’re married! She was clearly a me—white shirt, sky blue jumper, black London again?” Some fellow-passengers stared at us. confident, open-minded, opinionated coat and jeans— and gathered me in a But when I did go again, it was Dashain You know how it is when people look at woman in her 30s. I envied her. hug. As though we’d always hugged. and I was busy visiting family friends. We you and then swiftly away like they never “I can’t just get married!” I had said. How odd to think now that we were didn’t get a chance to meet. looked your way, and still keep an eye on “Yes, you can!” She had said and then dressed almost identically. I decided to move back to Nepal sudden- you from the corner of their eyes? gone on to explain how I should find an I was carrying a homemade sand- ly, in the midst of political changes in the We must have been just another Asian accomplice. And before we knew, she had PHOTO COURTESY: OSHO KABEER wich—cheese and lettuce and tomatoes— country that made me feel like I had to couple to their eyes. Because he could suggested I marry him! Walkers crisps and some Tropicana in my come home. I didn’t get a chance to say have been placed anywhere from the “I can’t!” I protested. “We don’t even I was trying to hide. bag. We sat on a park bench, shared it and goodbye to him. And over the years, we Middle-east to South Asia. And I could be know each other!” talked. He told me about how difficult it kept in touch for some time over msn and placed anywhere from South to the He had just smiled through it, exposing From all sorts of had been for him to find jobs in the past then Gmail took over and I no longer Southeast of Asia. a neat set of teeth that put my tetracy- year since he moved to the UK from remembered my Hotmail account pass- He looked my way a lot. Like he was cline stained teeth to shame. He hadn’t things. From the Egypt, and that he finally had one he words. I guess we became blocked for constantly watching over me. And always said no, but had thrown his hands in the liked. each other because of a change in our with that smile, as though responding to air for a bit and smiled, like he was being world, mostly. Later, over coffee in a café, the setting email addresses. We lost each other to the some sort of serendipity. For the first shoved into some sort of adventure. of which escapes my memory, he asked ether. time, I actually noticed that he had a nice So, before I knew, my sister and this me about my plans. I said I didn’t know. I A couple of months ago, he popped up smile. I guess I had never really cared to woman darted off in the search of rings. pressure. But what was I going to say? didn’t. I had gone to the UK with no in my mind and I asked my sister: “What look at him properly during our previous With them gone, silence fell between us That I was married to someone I don’t dream, only one of being able to put off happened to your friend Mohammed?” meeting two years ago. I noticed he had and we were swallowed whole by the buzz even know? We laughed then parted, my getting married for as long as I could. But She said: “Which Mohammed? Oh! nice eyes, and his movements were grace- in the cafe. Awkward. Then he raised his secret pressed between my fingers, with it looked like I was surrounded by Right. I don’t know.” ful. Almost feminine, which made him eyebrows and asked me about work. I my sister as its witness. everything that resonated with it. Because I asked: “What’s his full name again?” attractive to me suddenly. But I remem- finally had a chance to speak for myself. I I didn’t see him in Kathmandu after here I was, sitting next to my almost-hus- She said: “I can’t remember.” bered his face had carried those sure pair think he did too. He didn’t seem to divulge that. We didn’t really have an excuse to band. He said I should move to London, I did a Google search for “Mohammed + of eyebrows from my memory of him. It much about himself, but he listened see each other. In the months that fol- look for a job. He would help me. I could Egypt=UK” and the results were always perked up now and then now, as he smiled intently when I spoke. lowed, I heard from my sister that he had move in with him. “I don’t know,” I said overwhelming. His family name remains at me. This man I had married! Then they returned with two identical left for Egypt. That’s where he came from, and smiled. lost on my memory and with that, every I had married him in a hurry. Two silver rings that looked like wedding in case I forgot to mention. As opposed to everyone else who possibility to look him up. years ago. In a random, impulsive bands. We exchanged them over sips of Two years after our hurried wedding, I seemed to be going somewhere in a hurry, moment. coffee and we were married! found myself in the UK. I was trying to we sauntered around all day, until it was Tuladhar has worked as a journalist for I had walked into our regular cafe in They told me to wag a finger at the hide. From all sorts of things. From the time for me to catch the last train to over a decade, with affiliations to Kantipur Thamel, where my sister would usually elders, anytime I came under marriage world, mostly. Then one day, my sister Cambridge. Then we jumped on and off TV and German Press Agency. Living and working with the stigma called Covid-19 I will most likely be infected with the virus in the next few days or months. But I became a physician knowing the job incurred risks.

PREETI SHAKYA care workers will have to miss work because they or their family members ou walk in for your shift at will be ill. It is clear: we still do not realise the emergency department. our own vulnerability. Shortly after your arrival, a Our hospitals only have a limited num- patient arrives gasping. ber of ICU beds isolated to treat Covid-19 Short of breath. Fever. patients. Hospitals are nearing capacity A chill runs down your and we are running out of ICU beds and Yspine but you have no time to contem- ventilators. Ambulance sirens don’t stop plate. You quickly assess the patient and beeping. The number of cases will contin- carry out the immediate interventions. ue to rise as they have in the past few More patients arrive. More assess- days. Our health care systems will become ments. More interventions. overwhelmed at any moment; a total col- You are dripping in sweat inside your lapse of the system can be very much protective suit. It is starting to get uncom- anticipated. fortable inside. You want to rip it off and Looking at the state of things, I will throw your mask away but you quickly most likely be infected with the virus in come back to your senses—because these the next few days or months. But I became are the only set of protective gear you a physician knowing the job incurred have. risks and that I have a duty towards In between hours, your phone keeps my patients and society. Even today, beeping. It’s your mother checking at the face of this pandemic and uncer- up on you. ‘Stay safe,’ she reminds you, tainty, I wouldn’t trade this life for now and then. Every day you leave for anything because this is what I signed work, you leave your family anxious at up for. home. At such a testing time, we, as a society, It’s already late afternoon and you real- need to introspect. Where are we headed? ise you haven’t had a sip of water all The decisions governments and people morning. You are too afraid to take off take now and in the next few days will your mask. You think water can wait SHUTTERSTOCK probably shape our world for years to until lunch time. You wipe again. on their feet and take immediate inter- that the shortage of protective gears. come. It will not only shape our health It’s lunch time. You wash your hands You get home. You get into the shower ventions before they have time to screen Some health care centres are down to one care systems but also other aspects of our thoroughly. All seven steps you count. as quickly as you can making sure you the patient for Covid-19. surgical mask per shift, some per day. The society including our economy, politics Has it been twenty seconds? You are not don’t touch anyone, anything. You have For young doctors like me, this is all stress level only increases when cowork- and culture. Every crisis is a challenge, sure. You repeat the hand washing. You an ageing father who is on anti-hyperten- very new. We have never been put face to ers start testing positive. yet every crisis presents itself with an cautiously take off your mask. Get your sive and anti-diabetic drugs. You fear you face with this level of anxiety and stress. I feel like I am dipping into a swamp opportunity. A crisis can be a turning lunch. Eat as fast as you can. And get back carried the virus home. So you go to your Even senior doctors are having a difficult every day. point for society, but only if we make to your shift. room and lock yourself up. Home isola- time coping with the stress. We have had There is no denying the coronavirus it thus. A few more patients. And it’s time to tion. emergencies in the past. But this is differ- has brought humanity to its feet. The leave. This is what everyday looks like for a ent because of the scale and uncertainty health care systems of countries deemed Shakya is a doctor working at the Before you leave the hospital, you wipe doctor at the emergency department. of the disease. The protocol we must fol- the most developed have failed in front of Department of Pediatric Oncology at the everything. Your phone, your wallet, your Here, patients arrive with symptoms and low changes every few hours to meet the our eyes. As cases flare up day by day, it is BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, water bottle. Check again. Are you sure? no diagnosis at all. Doctors have to think shifting dynamics of the disease. Add to expected that a certain number of health- Chitwan.

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1. Studies In Nepali History and Society: Volume 25, No.1, June 2020 by Samajwaad: Samriddhi ra Bikash Red Birds Supermarket Pratyoush Onta, Mark Liechty, Seira Editor: Uddhab Pyakurel Author: Mohammed Hanif Author: Bobby Hall Tamang, Tatruro Fujikura Publisher: Sangrila Book Publication: Grove Press Publication: Barnes & Noble 2. Cabals and Cartels by Rajib Upadhya Price: Rs 335 Price: Rs 958 Price: Rs 798 3. China Pakistan Military Nexus by P C Katoch, Sarad Tewari Edited by scholar Udhhab Pyakurel, A poignant and a thrilling satire on Dark, funny and a psychological the book consists of anecdotes of lead- US foreign policy told through the thriller, Supermarket by Bobby 4. The Politics of Nepal: Persistence and ers like Pradeep Giri, Chaitanya story of a teenage refugee and a phi- Hall is an interesting tale of Change in and Asian Monarchy by Leo Mishra, Nawin Tiwari, Supriya losopher dog, the book captures the a guy, who’s dealing with his own E Rose and Margaret W Fisher Manandhar and others about how horrors of war and criticises the problems and starts working in a 5. Nepal’s Quinquennial Mission to Nepal can become developed by filling American military and its missteps in supermarket where a crime scene China by Rri Ranta Manandhar & the gaps in political and social sectors. the Middle East. occurs. Tirtha Prashad Mishra

C M Y K SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2020 | 08 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 Not an eye-opener but still consequential Here’s why you should watch Netflix’s latest docu-series The Social Dilemma.

ANKIT KHADGI KATHMANDU

ive years ago, when I started using Instagram, the “likes” I got on my posts meant some- thing to me. For a 17-year-old, getting these “likes” meant con- stant doses of instant gratifica- Ftion. And I was so hooked to this form of social approval that my dopamine rushed if I received more likes on my posts. The fixation reached such a level that I even downloaded applications to increase likes on my posts (even if it was from bots) and spent time researching how I could be Instagram-famous and how I could look cool on the platform so more and more people would follow me. This was how Instagram made me obsessed with likes. And depicting simi- lar stories of how social media platforms are responsible for making people hooked to their phones is Netflix’s latest docu-dra- ma The Social Dilemma. Directed by Jeff Orlowski, the 94-min- ute-long docu-drama, which premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, is a genre-bending cinematic experience. The film features head-short interviews of former honchos of big tech companies like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and other platforms, who speak against the obsession brought on by the social media frenzy. Parallel to this runs a fictional story of a suburban American family, who are falling prey to social media. The family, which consists of three children, a son, a daughter, and a pre-teen kid, represents the psyche of Generation Z, whose mind revolves around their social media platforms. The son, although tries to resist his phone consumption, is hooked to his SCREENGRAB VIA NETFLIX phone so much that he even starts miss- es on how social media, because of its the audience engaged. For this kind of a subject matter of ing his soccer practice. The pre-teen girl algorithm, is polarising and radicalising Likewise, thoughtful quotes are placed surveillance capitalism, which the media, has her fair share obsession with social society in terms of political beliefs. Directed by Jeff in-between the fictional story and general people, and concerned authori- media as well. While in her age, it’s The Pizzagate scandal, the killing of interviews, through which Orlowski sub- ties have been raising their voices understandable for kids willing to con- Rohingya people, Facebook’s role in the Orlowski, the liminally tries to depict the need and against, the space to answer the questions form to social norms to get acceptance manipulation of US elections, and the docu-drama is a urgency of how we should shift our focus of battling the insecurities should from their friend circle, but social media travelling of fake news, viewers are on being aware of the consequences of also have received the space in the has made her so conscious about her exposed to the dismantling of objectivity genre-bending social media. docu-drama. looks that she starts doubting herself and falling of democratic institutions of What also works for the film is its There is no space given to digital rights when a friend of hers comments about which social media is often the cinematic experience. soundtrack, graphics, the new footage, activists, who probably have been raising her big ears. flagbearer of. and even the B-rolls. However, there’s no this topic for years also. The troupe of The film presents us how everything There have been multiple articles, doc- new piece of information or surprising ‘white-saviour’ is also evident, as white we see on our news feed is cleverly curat- umentaries, and movies that have also facts and knowledge that can incite new men are presented as messiahs who will ed by an algorithm that knows us better warned about the falling of the human As a filmmaker, Orlowski understands discourse around the effects of social help us to come out from the tunnel. than we know ourselves. The cute cat civilisation because of social media. But how the mind of his target audience media. Likewise, even though it touches Likewise, as a filmmaker, Orlowski video or a picture of a quote about loneli- what makes this docu-drama different is works, hence he provides a dramatised the issues of making technologies as should have also used the bottom-up ness, which people assume is god sending that it knows how to pursue the subject account of a family who is dealing with humane as possible, so that we can use it approach, rather than the top-bottom. We them a message to move on, doesn’t just material in a way that it can be an engag- the problems of social media, which the for our goodwill, solutions aren’t given know we are all in the Matrix. Now appear out of nowhere. The algorithm ing watch. drama-loving people of today’s genera- too much space. how can we come out of it? By knows whether we are sad, happy, Director Jeff Orlowski understands tion can relate and even engage to. The docu-drama just scratches the focusing on solutions and issues that depressed, and excited. It knows how to that the attention span of people in He also, instead of relying on just the issue and even the treatment that is there could answer all of our queries about the hit the right button and curates our feed today’s world is minimal and if he tech experts speaking on the functioning of the issue is not hard-hitting as the future, then already depicting or answer- in such a way that we keep scrolling. wants to make people engage with the of algorithm in trapping us to use or manipulation done by the people in ing the known, the series could have There’s no denying that algorithms message he wants to convey he can’t fol- phones, deploys the use of a Black Mirror- power, from the government to private incited a new discussion and imparted help us find content we like. But the prob- low the conventional documentary style. esque kind of setting, wherein a laborato- companies, to safeguard their authority people with new knowledge. The film lem it creates is it widens an already Hence he binds two genres and thus ry we see a humanoid form of an algo- and money isn’t explicitly covered, failing thus fails in some ways but there is no divided social fabric. And this is what the develops a narrative that is familiar to rithm that is making the users fall prey to to hold them accountable for the destruc- denying that in many ways the film is film depicts. The docu-drama also touch- people. its system, which is successful in keeping tion they have created. consequential.

First volume of Barack Obama’s memoir coming Nov 17 Titled A Promised Land, the book will cover his swift and historic rise to the White House and his first term in office.

HILLEL ITALIE announced first printing of 3 Decision Points, a single volume, arrived NEW YORK million. Barnes & Noble CEO James within two years). He has been Daunt likened the enthusiasm for writing during unusual times, even he first volume of former Obama’s book, which seems well posi- before the pandemic spread earlier President Barack Obama’s tioned to become the best-selling presi- this year. His successor in the memoir is coming out dential memoir in history, to the final White House, Donald Trump, has November 17, two weeks after volume of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter attacked and upended achievements of Election Day. It’s called A series. the Obama administration ranging Promised Land and will cover “This will be a book of rare conse- from the Iran nuclear treaty to This swift and historic rise to the White quence,” Daunt said in a statement. “That Obamacare. Whether Trump or House and his first term in office. it will sell as no other book has done since Obama’s vice president, Joe Biden, The publication date for the second July 21, 2007 is immensely cheering to wins the election may well determine volume has not yet been determined. booksellers.” Obama’s legacy and will shape how the “I’ve spent the last few years reflecting “’Dreams from My Father’ introduced book is read. on my presidency, and in ‘A Promised us to a little known US Senator and to a Obama is not the first president Land’ I’ve tried to provide an honest writer of poetic grace. The Audacity of to publish more than one volume accounting of my presidential campaign Hope gave a thrilling vision to his ambi- of memoirs; Dwight Eisenhower also and my time in office: the key events and tions for political office. A Promised Land wrote two. But he had been expected people who shaped it; my take on what I now offers us a grand, lyrical narrative of to write just one when Penguin got right and the mistakes I made; and the his Presidency. This will be a book of rare Random House first announced, in political, economic, and cultural forces consequence. February 2017, a multimillion joint that my team and I had to confront then— publication deal with Barack and and that as a nation we are grappling Michelle Obama. On Thursday, with still,” Obama said in a statement The book is much Crown Publisher David Drake Thursday. cited the scale of Obama’s ambition to “In the book, I’ve also tried to give read- anticipated for its write a book that captures the ers a sense of the personal journey that experiences of being president Michelle and I went through during those quality of writing and offers an inspiring story for young years, with all the incredible highs and people. lows. And finally, at a time when America and for possible “As his writing progressed and the is going through such enormous upheav- revelations. scope of the memoirs continued to grow, al, the book offers some of my broader he ultimately decided to write two vol- thoughts on how we can heal the divi- umes,” Drake said. sions in our country going forward and The November release will be wel- make our democracy work for every- But A Promised Land will face chal- comed not only by Obama readers, body—a task that won’t depend on any lenges far different from most but by booksellers and fellow single president, but on all of us as presidential memoirs, and even publishers who anticipate that the mas- engaged citizens.” from former first lady Michelle sive demand for A Promised Land Obama’s book, like his previous ones, Obama’s blockbuster book, Becoming, will raise sales for everyone during will be released by Crown, a division of which came out two years ago the holiday season. Penguin Random House. and has sold more than 10 million Its popularity may also present another The 768-page book is the most anticipat- copies. Because of the pandemic, complication: The publishing industry ed presidential memoir in memory, as the former president will likely has struggled with chronic printing much or more because of the quality of be unable to match Michelle Obama’s shortages in the US over the past two the writing than for any possible revela- spectacular, all-star arena tour. Barack years, leading to frequent delays. tions. He has been called the most Obama also may find his Drake said that Crown had taken several literary president since Abraham memoir coming out at a time measures to minimize disruption, from Lincoln and has already written when the November 3 election is still printing one-third of the copies in two highly praised, million-selling undecided and the country far Germany to arranging for a U.S. plant books: Dreams from My Father more preoccupied with who the that had been scheduled to close in and The Audacity of Hope, both next president will be than with events of October to remain open for two additional of which have been cited as aiding his the past. months. campaign in 2008 and making him the Obama has taken longer than “The president’s book should not country’s first Black president. most recent presidents to complete his impact the US print market more signifi- Even with a substantial list price of memoir, with the first volume cantly than other major bestsellers of AP/RSS $45, A Promised Land is virtually guaran- coming nearly four years after the end of late,” Drake said. This photo provided by Random House shows the cover of A Promised Land. teed to sell millions of copies, and has an his second term. (George W. Bush’s —Associated Press

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