WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 344 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 28.3 C -1.5 C Wednesday, February 10, 2021 | 28-10-2077 Bhairahawa Jumla A pall of gloom and fear Oli asking poll body hangs over Baitadi village since teenage girl found dead not to get into any Schools remain closed as calls grow louder that culprit(s) party disputes should be booked. Police say, based on the post-mortem report, someone killed the 17-year-old after rape. raises concerns TRIPTI SHAHI submitted on Monday, police have con- BAITADI, FEB 9 cluded that someone had raped her As polls are not possible until the Nepal Communist Party before strangling her to death. Sanatan Dharma Secondary School Police have said the report also issue is resolved, analysts wonder if the prime minister has in ward 3 of Dogadakedar Rural showed that the girl sustained wounds Municipality, Baitadi has been closed on her head, legs, mouth, hands and a different game plan to drive his opponents into a corner. since last Thursday after the body of a genitals. 17-year-old female student was found The teenager had left for school at in a semi-naked state in a forest. around 10am on Wednesday. She left TIKA R PRADHAN the Nepal Communist Party dispute. Such has been the trauma caused by the school premises at around 2pm, KATHMANDU, FEB 9 “Saying that the commission should the apparent rape and murder of the according to her family members. not discuss the party dispute(s) any- 12th grader here that 59 other schools “We were told she was last seen at A day after the Cabinet decided to con- more, since the election period has in the rural municipality have been Khochlek Bazaar at around 2pm with duct polls in 40 districts on April 30 and already begun as per the Election closed too. some of her friends,” said Shankar 37 districts on May 10, Prime Minister Commission’s regulations, the prime “Many students, especially girls, Bhatta, the victim’s uncle. “She was KP Sharma Oli on Tuesday reached the minister expressed confidence that the have been reluctant to attend school,” apparently heading towards home Election Commission “to take stock of commission will work in accordance said Baldev Nath, headmaster of with one of the local people from the the ongoing preparations”. with the law and abide by the process,” Sanatan Dharma Secondary School. village, those who saw her told me.” The Oli government declared polls says a statement issued by the Election ‘“We are planning to open the school But she never reached home. for April 30 and May 10 on December Commission after Oli’s visit to its from Wednesday, but I don’t think we Her friends remember the victim as 20 after dissolving the House of office. “He also congratulated the com- will have all the students back—espe- someone friendly and approachable. Representatives, a move which has mission and newly appointed commis- cially girls—since they are still in a “Although I was a year senior, she been challenged in the Supreme sioners on getting a full shape.” state of shock.” and I were friends. I can’t imagine Court. The Constitutional Bench of Stating that there was no dispute On Thursday, the body of the why anyone would do something so the Supreme Court is yet to complete before December 20, Oli had said as 17-year-old from Chadepani was found terrible to her,” said Jyoti Bhatta, 18, the hearing. per the regulation on political parties 100 metres away from Khochlek- who recently completed grade 12 from The House dissolution led to the the Election Commission cannot enter Chadepani rural road. the same school. splitting of the Nepal Communist into the dispute within 120 days after Based on the postmortem report Another friend Rekha Bhatta, 17, Party, with the other faction led by the polls are announced. Oli had also said they used to walk together Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Madhav said he was the first chairman and to and from school. But on Kumar Nepal demanding restoration had signed all the recommendations Wednesday, she said her friend of the House—and on one occasion for the candidates of bypolls and left with some junior students. even asking the poll body to halt its National Assembly and therefore his “We would usually walk to preparations. signature should be valid. school together, but that day I The Election Commission is yet to As soon as the disputes arose in the wasn’t with her,” said Rekha. decide to which faction the Nepal Nepal Communist Party following the “We used to take the same path Communist Party belongs, as both Oli dissolution of the House, the Election to and from school every day, but as well as Dahal and Nepal are staking Commission had amended Rule 5(8) since her death, I haven’t been claim to the party. and Rule 23(6) of the Regulation on able to walk down that road.” Oli, who has repeatedly said the Political Parties-2018 that restricted She has not even been able to House cannot be restored and making the commission to look after the dis- step out of the house alone. POST PHOTO: ELITE JOSHI a pitch for the elections, on Tuesday putes once the election was announced. >> Continued on page 2 A policewoman stands guard at the entrance of Patan Museum in Lalitpur on Tuesday. told election officials not to get into >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021 | 02 NATIONAL Malnutrition in children serious health Oli asking poll body not to get into any party disputes raises concerns challenge in several Karnali districts >> Continued from page 1 This sort of activity is unacceptable in democratic But many, including former election officials, practices.” wonder, how elections can take place without But it’s not just about what party and symbol Oli Poverty, food shortage and lack of awareness behind existing malnutrition crisis, say experts. resolving the Nepal Communist Party dispute. gets. Analysts say the larger game Oli might be While the Dahal-Nepal faction had approached trying to play is not only getting things in his the Election Commission on December 25 seeking favour but also to drive the other faction led by his to update the changes made in the party, including opponents into a corner. office-bearers, of details in the officer-bearers–say- If the Nepal Communist Party and the sun elec- ing that they have a majority of the 441 Central tion symbol are frozen by the commission as a Committee members on their side. result of indecision—or its compliance with Oli’s The Oli faction, however, had enlarged its instruction not to get into the party dispute, the Central Committee to 1,501, saying majority mem- Dahal-Nepal faction will be left without a party. bers were with it. They won’t be able to register even a new party, On January 24 the Election Commission, howev- which will mean they either have to woo any other er, refused to recognise either faction as the legiti- party already registered with the commission or mitate Nepal Communist Party, saying it could boycott the polls altogether. recognise only one Nepal Communist Party—the Pokharel, the former chief election commission- one which was registered with it and just Oli and er, said the prime minister could have asked the Dahal as its chairs. This meant the commission did commission to focus on polls which the govern- not recognise Madhav Kumar Nepal as the chair of ment has already announced. the other faction. The other faction’s Central “It’s natural that both sides will try to influence Committee meeting on December 22 had elevated the poll body to make them look stronger,” Pokharel Madhav Nepal as the other chair of the party, giv- told the Post. “But it’s now up to the Election ing him the status equal to Dahal. Commission to take decisions analysing the devel- In an interview with the Post a couple of weeks opments in the country’s best interest.” ago, Bhojraj Pokharel, former chief election com- According to Pokharel, if the prime minister has missioner, had described elections as a game and indeed asked the commission not to get into any political parties as the players. party dispute, it will mean the Nepal Communsit “Unless the players are ready, the game cannot Party (Oli faction) also would not be able to join the commence,” Pokharel told the Post. polls. But Oli now has been asking the commission not “If polls were to be held, the players—the politi- to enter the communist party’s dispute. While both cal parties—must be ready,” said Pokharel. “And the factions have so far updated their details, none for that the Nepal Communist Party dispute must has approached the poll body with an application be resolved.” that says it wants to be registered as a new party. If the Dahal-Nepal faction is not satisfied with POST PHOTO: TULARAM PANDEY As per Section 33 (2) of the Political Parties Act- the commission decision and decides to boycott Khandachakra Municipality in Kalikot has launched a campaign to promote the consumption of locally available food to tackle malnutrition. 2017, a new party can be formed by splitting a party polls, questions could arise over the commission as with the support of at least 40 percent members of well as the validity of elections if they happen TULARAM PANDEY IN KALIKOT & the information officer at the health office. Malnutrition is a serious health crisis in the Parliamentary Party and Central Committee of without a major party or its leaders’ participation. RAJ BAHADUR SHAHI IN MUGU According to him, malnutrition treatment Karnali and other western hill districts in the existing party. Since there is no Parliamentary Officials at the Election Commission say they FEB 9 centres have been set up in 11 different the country. The Multiple Indicator Party after the House dissolution, a party split can are committed to holding the polls, despite the fact health facilities in the district to provide Survey-2019 showed that the prevalence of be ensured just with signatures of 40 percent of that they have a very limited time for that. There A pair of twin sisters, aged 18 months, of treatment to malnourished children. The wasting among children in Karnali Province Central Committee members. are, according to them, however, two pressing Khandachakra Municipality Ward No. 5 in children are kept under the direct observa- was 17.6, the highest in the country followed The Dahal-Nepal faction on February 2 had issues—the court case and the Nepal Communist Kalikot was rushed to nearby Daha Health tion of health workers for two months before by Province 1 (14.3 percent), Sudurpaschim reached the Election Commission to stake claim to Party dispute. Post last week after they suffered from diar- they are sent home. Province (14.1 percent), Province 2 (13.9 per- the Nepal Communist Party and the sun election “We are preparing to manage and procure neces- rhoea. In the course of treatment, both of Malnourishment is also prevalent in cent ), Lumbini Province (13.7 percent), symbol as per Clauses 43 and 44 of Political Parties sary logistics by shortening the procurement pro- them were found suffering from severe mal- Mugu, another remote district of Karnali Gandaki Province (8 percent) and Bagmati Act-2017. The commission says it is still studying cess and expediting the voter list update process,” nutrition and were referred to the district Province. According to the District Province (4.7 percent). the application. said Raj Kumar Shrestha, the commission’s hospital. Health Office in Mugu, as many as 108 chil- Malnutrition has been a long-standing The commission has entrusted the newly spokesperson. “Election centres have almost been Another 10-month-old girl from Ward No. dren were found suffering from severe problem in Karnali mainly due to food scar- appointed commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari finalised.” 2 of the same municipality has also been malnutrition in the district in the past six city and shortage of nutritious foods. with the task of preparing a report for settling the According to Shrestha, there is pressure given receiving treatment for severe malnutrition months. According to the Provincial Health dispute of the ruling party. the limited time. at the district hospital for the past three Parashuram Nepali, the information Directorate in Surkhet, the majority of peo- Neither faction wants to be seen as the cause of “But holding elections on schedule is our respon- days. Eight such malnourished children are officer at the health office, said that most of ple in Karnali are deprived of nutritious the split and that has put the commission in a fix. sibility,” said Shrestha. undergoing treatment at the district hospi- the malnourished children in the district foods. Even if any of the factions now wants to get Even if the court clears the way for the elections, tal at present. were from Chhanyanathrara Municipality “Many people eat almost the same food itself registered as a splinter party, it is not possi- the last outstanding issue will be resolution of the According to the data available at the and Soru Rural Municipality. He opined that every day. The local residents have to strug- ble as the deadline for making such a move has Nepal Communist Party dispute. hospital, 10 other children who suffered poverty, food shortage and lack of public gle to manage two square meals a day. already expired. Nilkantha Uprety, also a former chief election from malnutrition returned home after health awareness are the main reasons Children are the most affected by malnutri- As per Clause 44 of Political Parties Act-2017, a commissioner, said that the government that receiving treatment for malnutrition since behind the prevalence of malnutrition in tion,” said Mankumari Gurung, the senior faction must apply before the commission within declares the polls should facilitate smooth elec- the beginning of the current fiscal year on the district. nursing officer at the directorate. According 30 days from the date the dispute started. tions by extending the required support to the July 16. “The habit of consuming junk food to her, only 29.5 percent of Karnali residents In Nepal Communist Party’s case, the dispute Election Commission rather than dictating it. “The children are generally taken to instead of local food causes malnutrition. consume a variety of food. started on December 22 when the party split politi- “The government should assist the Election the hospital when they are already in a The problem can be solved largely if the Some local units in Karnali have launched cally. If the polls were to happen on the declared Commission; it cannot direct the poll body,” Uprety critical condition. So it takes time to com- consumption of local produce increases,” campaigns to promote the consumption of dates, the first phase voting must take place on the told the Post. “The prime minister’s statement plete their treatment,” said Dr Sandip said Nepali. locally available food. Khandachakra 80th day from today. could be a political one, but without ensuring Chaudhary at the district hospital. The World Food Programme has Municipality in Kalikot has launched a local Oli’s instructions to the poll body not to enter peace, elections cannot be held.” According to him, malnutrition is still a been launching a fortified flour distribution food promotion campaign in all 11 wards. into the Nepal Communist Party dispute now can According to Uprety, the Commission must serious health challenge in Kalikot due to programme through Sappros Nepal in According to Rabindra Sejuwal, the health have multiple implications, according to analysts. understand—and make it clear to all—that creat- prevailing gender discrimination, lack of Mugu since 2013 to tackle malnutrition. It unit chief of the local body, the municipali- According to Shyam Shrestha, a political com- ing obstacles to any party from taking part in the awareness regarding nutrition and work- provides three kg flour—fortified with ty has allocated Rs 4.7 million for the nutri- mentator, since Oli has already gotten his previous polls would mean the whole country would fall into load on women. all necessary micronutrients—to pregnant tion programme. party CPN-UML registered with the Election a crisis. According to the District Health Office in women, new mothers and children “The municipality has been conducting Commission, he might be trying to reclaim the “The Election Commission cannot overlook the Kalikot, a total of 168 children have been aged below five years every month to an awareness programme to end malnutri- UML and the rising sun as the election symbol. dispute in the country’s largest party,” said Uprety. diagnosed with severe malnutrition in the address chronic malnutrition problems in tion and provide nutritious foods to preg- “By telling the commission not to enter into the “The commission, as it is an independent constitu- district since mid-July. the district. nant women, nursing mothers and chil- party conflict, Oli seems to be trying to influence tional body, must work without getting influenced “Sixty-seven of them have been treated “Around 5,000 children are provided the dren,” he added. the poll body to freeze the Nepal Communist Party by orders, if there are any, from the executive. If while the remaining others are receiving fortified flour each year in Mugu. But the and the sun election symbol if it cannot make a the commission starts taking orders from the gov- treatment in various malnutrition treat- situation has not improved much,” said (Chandani Kathayat contributed reporting decision in his favour,” said Shrestha. “This is yet ernment on how it should function, that will mean ment centres,” said Katak Bahadur Mahat, Nepali. from Birendranagar in Surkhet) another example of misuse of power and position. there is no prospect of fair polls.” A pall of gloom and fear hangs over Baitadi village ... >> Continued from page 1 “What happened to our friend jolted me to the reality of how unsafe girls are, even in their own villages,” said Rekha. Parents and guardians of young girls of Dogadakedar Rural Municipality are equally terrified for the safety of their daughters. “I am worried about how to send my daughter to school. But it’s not only our daughters I am afraid for. Most women from the villages also enter the forests and work in the fields to earn a livelihood,” Ganesh Bhatta, a man from ward 7 of the rural municipality, told the Post. To make matters worse, nearly a week since the heinous crime, police have yet to make a single arrest. Bhojraj Joshi, also of Chadepani, says the delay in apprehending the culprit(s) has created more fear among the villagers. “Those who committed the crime are still out there and who can guarantee they will not strike again,” said Joshi. “We never thought that such criminals would one day reach our backyard. There POST PHOTO: PRAKASH CHANDRA TIMILSENA are dangerous people out there and Students observe a candlelight vigil at Kirtipur, Kathmandu in memory of the murdered Baitadi teenager. the authorities have not been able to nab even one.” grim reminder of yet another simi- villagers. because this incident has high- As for the police, they say that lar case in the region–in Students, teachers, civil society lighted how unsafe they are.” investigations into the case are Kanchanpur. On July 27, 2018, leaders and the general public have Jyoti, a friend of the victim, said ongoing. Given the national atten- Nirmala Pant, 13, was found dead. been staging demonstrations at that bringing the culprit(s) to book tion the crime has attracted, a dep- Police concluded that someone had several places in the district, as would bring some sense of relief, uty inspector general of police is raped and killed her but they are well as in Dhangadhi, the provin- but such incidents have brought to leading the investigation. yet to identify and arrest the cul- cial headquarters, demanding jus- the fore the fact how our society is Teams from the Provincial Police prit(s). tice for the teenager and immediate becoming corrupt and how women Office in Dhangadhi, the District Family members of the 17-year- arrest of the culprit(s). and girls still have to constantly Police Office in Baitadi, Area Police old who was found dead on The girl’s family has refused to live in fear. Office in Patan and local police post Thursday have been worried that receive her body until the perpetra- “Once the initial trauma of the in Khochlek have been deployed for the culprit(s) could go unpunished tor(s) are brought to justice. crime ebbed away, fear took over,” the case. A sniffer dog has also been as in the case of Pant. “Police officers tell us the inves- said Jyoti. “I don’t know how we brought from Dhangadhi for the There have been efforts in the tigation is ongoing. They haven’t will go on with our lives after what investigation. A team from the past to raise awareness against provided us any other details,” said happened.” Central Investigation Bureau also gender as well as sexual violence. Shankar, the victim’s uncle. “We Sooner or later, however, life has been deployed to Baitadi to But incidents of violence, rape and don’t know how close they are to must return to normal but until the assist in the investigation. murder of girls and women are still finding the culprit[s].” culprit(s) are nabbed, villagers will “The investigation has opened rife. Nath, the school principal, says continue to live in fear of the safety up many links and there are sever- “The District Police Office has the authorities must speed up their of their daughters. al people who are under suspicion,” been organising awareness pro- investigation, conduct a fair probe “We can’t even put our children’s said Narayan Prasad Adhikari, a grammes in the communities to and bring the culprit(s) to book. future on hold by not sending them deputy superintendent who is also minimise incidents of violence,” “Arresting the culprit[s] will to school,” said Ganesh Bhatta, a the district police chief. “We will said Adhikari, although the fact bring some sense of relief to the villager. “But yes, right now we soon have an answer.” would be of little comfort to the local people,” said Nath. “Young don’t want to let them out of our Thursday’s incident comes as a family and friends as well as the girls and women are living in fear sight.”

C M Y K 03 | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021 NATIONAL BRIEFING Cabinet decides to hold Forest fire destroys school building in Taplejung Secondary Education TAPLEJUNG: A forest fire destroyed a community school’s building in Sirijunga Rural Municipality-3, Taplejung, on Tuesday. The fire in Examinations centrally Shaharibhitta gutted the three-room building belonging to Phundruwa Basic School. According to Chandra The decision is against the spirit of federalism envisioned Para, a local resident, school princi- pal Tanka Bhattarai sustained inju- in the constitution, provincial officials say. ries as he attempted to salvage docu- BINOD GHIMIRE decision,” Chandra Mani Poudel, ments from his office. KATHMANDU, FEB 9 chairperson at the board, told the Post. The board had proposed to con- Rejecting suggestions from its social duct the exams in mid-June this year. Nepali girl raped and committee, the Cabinet has decided to The provincial governments, how- murdered in India conduct grade ten exams centrally. ever, have taken an exception to the BARDIYA: A 12-year-old Dalit girl from The National Examinations Board, decision. They say they had little hope Barbardiya Municipality-3 in Bardiya in coordination with the provincial that the federal government with the was allegedly raped and murdered in education directorates, will now con- centralised mindset would decide to East Champaran district of Bihar, duct the exams. delegate authority. India. The victim’s family claimed “The Ministry of Law said the gov- “I have no knowledge about the that the minor was gang-raped and ernment has to issue an ordinance to development,” Nawal Kishore Sah, subsequently murdered. The incident revise the existing Education Act to minister for social development, took place on January 21 in delegate the authority,” a personal Province 2, told the Post. “I am not Chamarpan, where the family has aide to Education Minister Krishna surprised because the present govern- been living for some time. “The vic- Gopal Shrestha told the Post. “The ment doesn’t respect the spirit of fed- tim’s relatives informed us about the Cabinet then decided to conduct the eralism.” Apart from printing the incident. We hope that Indian author- exams centrally, instead of issuing an answer sheets, the provincial govern- ities take legal action,” said Deputy ordinance.” ments have no authority in conduct- Superintendent Hem Shahi. Reports POST PHOTO: ANISH REGM Making public the government’s ing the examinations. say that an investigation has been Brick kiln workers at a water spout at Dakshinkali, Kathmandu on Tuesday morning. Once the winter harvest season concludes, kilns inside decision on Tuesday, Minister for Constitutional experts say the launched in the case. Kathmandu Valley start producing bricks, and migrant workers from rural Nepal and India come to work. Communications and Information development is yet another example Technology Parbat Gurung said the of fraud to the constitution. They say authority to hold the Secondary it is disappointing that the govern- Education Examination lies with the ment, which didn’t prioritise the National Examination Board. Following demands from provincial governments, the committee had last Ministry mulls vaccinating workers who month suggested that the Cabinet authorise the provincial social devel- opment ministries to conduct the examinations. Headed by the home minister, the come in frequent contact with public social committee has eight other min- isters, including the education minis- ter, women, and children affairs min- Bankers, transport staff and public utility workers, among other priority groups, to get the vaccine. ister, and the health minister as mem- bers. The law minister is not in the ARJUN POUDEL “We are working on plans to inocu- face problems to immunise people as tres, more people would have taken committee. KATHMANDU, FEB 9 late even the elected representatives per the priority we set,” Mahendra the jabs,” Koirala, also a professor at The eighth amendment to the in local governments and civil serv- Prasad Shrestha, chief Specialist at the Pokhara University, added. Education Act in 2016 had opened the The Ministry of Health and Population ants,” an official at the Health the Health Ministry, told the Post. Officials at the Health Ministry con- door for the decentralisation of the is likely to start inoculating people Ministry, told the Post, asking not to According to Shrestha, the World cede flaws in planning. exams, allowing provinces to conduct who provide various services to the be named. “For the elderly people, we Health Organization has said it will They said that the target number the exams on their own. POST FILE PHOTO general public, from Saturday. will provide vaccines only from the supply 2.25 million doses of Covishield was estimated as per the number of The Cabinet’s social committee had The law ministry said a separate Act would Under the programme, people work- next consignment. It will not take by the end of February under its licences issued by different profes- recommended the government to be needed to authorise provinces to ing in banks and offices related to much time for the next batch of vac- COVAX programme. sional councils such as Nepal Medical allow the provinces to conduct the conduct the exams. revenue, telecom, drinking water, elec- cines to arrive.” Apart from this, the United Council, Nepal Nursing Council, exams as they replaced the erstwhile tricity, transport, and security will India provided one million doses of Kingdom has also promised to supply Nepal Health Professional Council, development regions after the 2017’s drafting of laws as envisioned in the now get the vaccine, according to offi- the Covishield vaccine, developed by two million doses of Covishield and and Nepal Pharmacy Council, without election. According to Shrestha’s aide, constitution for around three years, is cials. However, people on the first pri- the University of Oxford and pharma- the Chinese government has assured ascertaining their exact number. the law minister said allowing prov- citing old laws to centralise ority list, who couldn’t get the jab ear- ceutical giant AstraZeneca and pro- to supply 500,000 doses of one of its Female community health volunteers, inces to conduct the test would be everything. lier due to various reasons will not get duced by the Serum Institute of India, vaccines. sanitation workers, prisoners, senior illegal until a law specifically makes “The sequence of events shows that the vaccine during the new campaign. under grant assistance on January 21. The UN’s health agency will provide citizens residing in old age homes, and provisions for it. the delay in drafting the federal laws “We are yet to make a decision. But The Health Ministry rolled out the around 10 million doses in various security personnel deployed in the The examination board in October was a deliberate attempt to delay the we do hope to start the new immunisa- vaccines on January 27 targeting phases. management of the dead were also last year had proposed to the educa- decentralisation of authority,” Raju tion drive from Saturday,” Dr Shyam 430,000 frontline workers, including Public health experts suggest that counted, but officials concerned did tion ministry to take a call on which Prasad Chapagain, chairperson of Raj Upreti, coordinator for the Covid- health workers, supporting staffers at the government prepare plans to not bother to check if everyone in authority is to be allowed to conduct Constitutional Lawyers’ Forum, told 19 vaccine advisory committee, told health facilities, female community increase the vaccine acceptance rate. these groups were eligible to take the tests. With the ministry remaining the Post. “Citing old laws to centralise the Post. health volunteers, sanitation workers, “This time too a top-down model (a the jabs. undecided, the board, a month later authority is no excuse.” Officials said that over 200,000 peo- elderly people living in old age homes, federal agency deciding where to set “We will extend the number of started the registration process for The government is yet to draft the ple will get the vaccine from the and prisoners. up the immunisation centers) has immunisation centers to the commu- the test. Federal Education Act that shall dele- remaining doses. But only 184,857 people took the jab failed the immunisation programme,” nity in the upcoming programmes,” The process to conduct the gate the authority on education to dif- “The remaining doses of Covishield under the first phase. The number is Dr Arun Kumar Koirala, a public Dr Samir Kumar Adhikari, joint Secondary Education Examination ferent tiers of government. vaccine provided by India under grant only around 43 percent of the targeted health expert, told the Post. “Instead spokesperson for the Health Ministry, usually starts in August with the reg- The constitution doesn’t give the assistance will be used to immunise group. of deciding the location from the told the Post. istration of students and concludes in federal government any authority the rest of the frontline workers, serv- The Health Ministry then started center, we should ask local govern- “We will try to set up the immuni- June the next year with the publica- over school education. However, five ing in several public offices.” inoculating people serving in diplo- ments to make the call to increase the sation booth at the place, from which tion of the results. But the exams were years after the promulgation of the Of the 1 million doses provided by matic missions and journalists from coverage rate.” we can cover the maximum number of delayed this year owing to the Covid- constitution, no step has been taken to India, the government still has 700,000 Monday using the remaining doses. According to Koirala, a lot of front- people of the targeted group.” 19 pandemic, and as a result, the regis- draft the law. left, according to officials. The minis- Neither staffers from diplomatic mis- line workers were deprived of the Adhikari however, said that the tration began in November. Instead, the government on try has decided to reserve around half sions nor journalists were on the pre- vaccine in the first phase, due to inac- final decision regarding the start of “We are yet to get notified about the December 20 decided to dissolve the of the doses from the stock to provide determined priority list. cessible immunization centers. “Had another round of vaccination is yet to government’s decision. However, we House of Representatives, closing for the second dose for people who “We will continuously run the we let the local governments decide be taken. He said the decision would had already begun our preparation doors for the promulgation of laws have already received their first dose. immunisation campaign, as we won’t where to set up the immunisation cen- be taken at the earliest. following the delay in the Cabinet’s needed to implement federalism. EXPLAINED Is Oli right to say he dissolved the House, just the way UK prime minister did? No. In October 2019 Boris Johnson invoked the Fixed-term Parliaments Act-2011 as per which his election motion was endorsed by more than two-thirds of Members of Parliament.

POST REPORT a notice published on December 20, United Kingdom? Tony Blair’s support for the Iraq War, KATHMANDU, FEB 9 the Office of the President said resulted in a surge in votes for both President Bidya Devi Bhandari While Oli was right in saying that the Liberal Democrats (an economi- On Friday, while addressing his sup- approved the recommendation, pursu- Britain does not have a written consti- cally centrist, pro-European party porters at a mass rally in Kathmandu, ant to Article 76 (1) and (7) and Article tution, he was wrong to say that the that opposed the war) and a range of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli made 85 of the constitution, by the Council prime minister dissolved the House small regional parties. No party had a yet another bid to justify his decision of Ministers to dissolve the House of despite nothing written about such a majority in Parliament. to dissolve the lower house of Representatives. The President also move. The Conservatives with 306 Parliament. Oli dissolved the House of approved the Cabinet’s recommenda- Johnson’s House dissolution move Members of Parliament and the Representatives on December 20 after tion to hold general elections on April was based on the Fixed-term Liberal Democrats 57 MPs negotiated he was cornered in his own Nepal 30 and May 10. Parliaments Act 2011. a coalition agreement to form a gov- Communist Party by his opponents. ernment, and a commitment to legis- Ever since he dissolved the House, What do the articles say? What does the Fixed-term late for fixed-term Parliament was Oli has been saying that he was forced Parliaments Act 2011 stipulate? included in the coalition deal. to take the step because his opponents Article 85 (1) states that unless dis- The coalition government intro- did not let him work. He has called solved earlier pursuant to this consti- The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 duced the Act, denying the prime min- snap polls for April 30 and May 10. The tution, the term of the House of sets a five-year interval between gen- ister the authority to unilaterally call constitutionality of Oli’s House disso- Representatives shall be of five years. eral elections, which are scheduled for fresh elections. lution move is currently being tested Constitutional experts say since it was the first Thursday in May every fifth In October 2019, Boris Johnson, who by the Supreme Court. Those pleading established in 2018 following elections year. took over as the new British prime on behalf of the petitioners who have under the new constitution in But that does not mean early elec- minister after Theresa May in June challenged the House dissolution have November-December 2017, the House tions cannot be held. that year, called a general election for argued before the court that the cur- of Representatives has not been dis- The Act has two pre-conditions for December 12 to break Britain’s Brexit rent constitution does not allow Oli, as solved earlier, and therefore its term early polls: If a motion for an early impasse invoking the Fixed-term a majority prime minister, to do so. shall be five years. general election is agreed either by at Parliaments Act 2011. Johnson’s elec- Those pleading on behalf of Oli, on Article 76, however, has different least two-thirds of the whole House tion motion was endorsed by 438 to 20 the other hand, say the prime minister clauses related to situations when the POST PHOTO (434 of the 650 Members of Parliament); votes in Parliament. possesses the inherent power to dis- prime minister appointed to lead the Ever since he dissolved the House, Oli has been saying that he was forced to take the step or if a motion of no confidence is solve the House irrespective of wheth- government in a hung Parliament can- because his opponents did not let him work. passed and no alternative government Why complicated provisions were er the constitution has or does not not get the required majority vote is confirmed by the House of incorporated in Nepal constitution have the provisions. Oli’s lawyers with support from another party or House of Representatives is complet- Representatives. Commons within 14 days. regarding House dissolution? have also cited examples of some other parties. ed within six months.” When Oli was sworn in as prime Previously Parliament was dis- other countries, including the United Article 76 (1) says: The President Clause 5 relates to the appointment minister in February 2018, his CPN- solved by the Queen, on the advice of Under the 1990 constitution, at least Kingdom, to justify that the House shall appoint the leader of a parlia- of the prime minister in a hung par- UML, which did not have a clear the prime minister, but with the Act in four prime ministers attempted House dissolution move is right. On Friday mentary party that commands majori- liament. majority, had formed the government place, Parliament can only be dis- dissolution–two were upheld by the too, while justifying his move, Oli said ty in the House of Representatives as Article 76 (7) is the only clause in with the support of then CPN (Maoist solved in accordance with the Act. court, as many were turned down. The that though Britain does not have a the prime minister, and the Council of the constitution that stipulates the Centre). The two parties merged in 1990 constitution had an explicit pro- written constitution, the prime minis- Ministers shall be constituted under House dissolution conditions. But May 2018. What prompted the United Kingdom vision under Article 53, granting the ter [Boris Johson] dissolved his or her chairpersonship. since Oli was appointed prime minis- to enact the Fixed-term Parliaments prime minister power to recommend Parliament and called snap polls. Another provision that Oli has cited ter as per Article 76 (2), constitutional Are Oli and his lawyers right to Act 2011. House dissolution. Drafters of the Was Oli right? to dissolve the House is from 76 (7), experts say Article 76 (7) could not be argue that like in the United 2015 constitution say difficult provi- Here is everything you need to which states: “In cases where the invoked. Kingdom, where the constitution Here is some parallel though–stability. sions were made in the constitution, know on Oli’s House dissolution move. prime minister appointed under Article 76 (2) says: “In cases where does not say anything on House The Fixed-term Parliaments Act denying the prime minister the clause (5) fails to obtain a vote of con- no party has a clear majority in the dissolution but the prime minister 2011 was enacted in a bid to achieve authority to dissolve Parliament on a What articles has Oli cited to dis- fidence or the prime minister cannot House of Representatives under can still dissolve Parliament? stability by making it hard for parties whim. In a 2019 video, which had solve the House? be appointed, the President shall, on Clause 1, the President shall appoint to bring the government down and recently surfaced, the two-time chair recommendation of the Prime as the prime minister a member of the No. force another election. of the Constituent Assembly, Subas Oli cited Articles 85, 76 (1) and 76 (7) to Minister, dissolve the House of House of Representatives who can After the 2010 general election, vari- Nembang is heard saying a [majority] recommend that the President dis- Representatives and appoint a date of command a majority with the support What stipulates House dissolution ous factors, including the Great prime minister cannot dissolve the solve the House of Representatives. In election so that the election to another of two or more parties in the House of and early general elections in the Recession of 2008 and Prime Minister House.

C M Y K WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021 | 04 OPINION EDITORIAL Lack of strategic thinking Close to bursting We must prioritise monitoring of glacial lakes and set up early warning systems.

With no monitoring and early warning systems, the threat of a glacial lake outburst flood looms large at Makalu Barun National Park in Sankhuwasabha district. Lower Barun, at around 4,550 metres above sea level and approximately 2.7 km long and 600 metres wide, could cause a huge loss of lives and property if it bursts. Settlements downstream on the banks of the Arun River in Sankhuwasabha, Bhojpur, Dhankuta and Sunsari districts would be inundated, according to scientists who’ve identified 20 more glacial lakes at risk of an outburst. Of these 21 glacial lakes in Nepal that can unleash catastrophic damage, only two early warning systems have been installed so far at Tsho-Rolpa and Imja. The disastrous Nanda Devi glacier event in Uttarakhand state of northern India is a clear demonstration of why Nepal and the region need to urgently heed the warnings from scien- tists about rapidly melting glaciers in the region, and the trail of destruction they can leave behind if an outburst should occur. If these glacial lakes are left unmonitored, and nothing is done to understand and mitigate the rapid changes in the mountain environment, it’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when glacial lake outbursts will occur. There is growing evidence that the volume of these glacial lakes has increased by about 50 percent in three decades due to climate change. The expansion raises outburst flood risks, which pose significant dangers to mountain communities and mega infrastructures, as past incidents have shown. Scientists who used satellite imagery and remote-sensing data and other tools to study these glacial lakes expect the number and size of the lakes to increase and even accelerate as temperatures rise SHUTTERSTOCK and melt glaciers. In Nepal, the dissolution of dential rule, the chances of which have a law and order situation, and the sister The warning that these glacial lakes may grow rapidly and The constitutional mess Parliament has prompted intense polit- diminished. organisations of political parties influ- burst their moraines is not new. Recent reports have only pro- in Nepal could lead ical discontent and street protests even Whatever happens, Nepal has gotten ence justice. vided updated estimates of glacial lakes and the devastating as the country is battling the novel into a strategic dilemma by inviting The only way forward is a fresh elec- impacts they pose for millions of people and infrastructure. coronavirus pandemic and the ruling major powers for their legitimate con- tion, but the fundamental issue is to political and Nepal Communist Party is on the verge cerns, and once again weakened public administering the election that raises Nepal is one of the most vulnerable countries in terms of cli- of a split. India noted the proceedings, trust in the political parties and their some questions. What will happen? mate change, which is already being felt in the country. security dilemmas. while the United States awaits the leadership. It is true that Nepal has Understanding and finding the root Extreme rain and snowfall events, flash floods and landslides, Supreme Court’s decision, and has gone through major political changes, cause of political disturbances is nec- frequent droughts, glacial melt and rises in the maximum and underlined the continuation of but the leadership remains the same. essary. How will it happen? The politi- BINOJ BASNYAT minimum temperatures have become the new normal, affect- American policy under the new Biden Nepal will witness political disorder cal parties will try to win by making ing agriculture, biodiversity and hydropower projects. administration. and limited law and order. Limited lots of promises and spending a lot of The reaction of democratic coun- meaning that the disorder will be con- money. Alliances of like-minded politi- According to the latest Climate Risk Country Profile devel- tries including India to the coup in fined to major cities with strategic cal parties will be formed with political oped jointly by the World Bank Group and Asian Development Myanmar will be apprehensive, but the impact. manifestations. Who will administer Bank, warming in Nepal is projected to be higher than the policy of non-interference in another There are six political and security it? There are three possibilities, one is global average, and could potentially be 1.2-4.2 degrees Celsius state’s internal affairs and interests challenges that the country will have to the current government, which is least higher by the 2080s. The rises in the maximum and minimum will balance principles, values and geo- address while moving forward to an likely. The other is an all-party election temperatures are also projected to be stronger than average, Nepal and Myanmar, two member political realities. The US State election. The political parties will pur- government may be formed and, final- states of the Bay of Bengal Initiative Department has officially called the sue politics supporting ethnic lines. ly, a civilian-led politically supported with temperature increases expected to be strongest during the for Multi-Sectoral Technical and military takeover in Myanmar a coup The likelihood of social collision based election government is most likely, sim- winter months. The report further validates the impacts of Economic Co-operation (BIMSTEC), and has threatened to impose sanc- on religion and conversion to other ilar to the one the country witnessed climate change in the country. It warns that natural hazards recently witnessed political upheavals tions. Foreign ministers from the G-7 practices will thrive. Non-state actors during the second Constituent such as drought, heatwave, river flooding and glacial lake out- that could result in strategic political group of nations condemned the coup. may engage in unwarranted activities Assembly election. When will it take burst flooding will intensify over the 21st century, potentially and security disorder. Prime Minister At an emergency meeting of the United like terrorism, both domestic and place? This election will only take place KP Oli dissolved the House of Nations Security Council, China aimed against the immediate neigh- after a year following a political settle- exacerbating disaster risk levels and putting human life at risk. Representatives with two intentions: blocked a Security Council statement bours. The impact of the economic ment. Again, these warnings are not new and serve more as a revi- One, he was not capable of working in condemning the military coup. downturn caused by Covid-19 is anoth- The root cause of the predicament sion of the devastating impacts of climate change in store, if the new party’s environment, and two, The disturbances and agitation er challenge. Further, the polarisation can be outlined as lack of strategic we do nothing to mitigate the risks and continue ignoring sci- the people voted for his leadership as against the government, particularly of political parties and further politici- thinking in the policy community, ence at our peril. Multiple reports in recent decades have head of government mainly due to the by the Pushpa Kamal Dahal and sation of left institutions will have to which is predisposed to political orien- warned that glacial lakes are a ticking time bomb. As Sunday’s merger of two communist parties. Madhav Kumar Nepal led faction of the be faced. Lastly, the political knowledge tation, alignment and association with Myanmar witnessed a return of the Nepal Communist Party, is bringing of the population is a challenge. slim chances of a Nepal Communist flash flood and previous outburst events in the region have military as it was upset with the gov- about four possible political and securi- The people generally view the admin- Party unification for the election. The shown, there is little warning before these disasters occur and ernment of the National League of ty narratives. Two of the narratives istration as being politicised and cor- knowledge that is required to adopt wreak havoc by releasing huge amounts of water and sweeping Democracy for agreeing to take back will depend on what the Supreme Court rupt. Politics takes precedence over policy is missing, like the 12-point everything in their path. Nepal must take the lead to bring the Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh, decides. The third narrative is the sum- governance. Financial assistance only agreement to bring in the then Maoists region together to assess the risks as temperatures soar. We not supporting General Min Aung moning of Parliament by the chairper- benefits politicians in power and to the democratic configuration with- must prioritise monitoring of glacial lakes and set up early Hlaing’s presidential bid, and attempt- son of the House of Representatives bureaucracy. In international relations, out an exit strategy. ing to amend the constitution that who belongs to the Dahal-Nepal fac- domestic nationalism overrides good- warning systems to save lives and property from these immi- would trim the military’s political tion. The last possible scenario is a will assistance from foreign friends. Basnyat is a strategic analyst and a nent threats. clout. declaration of emergency and presi- Regarding national security, it is more former Nepal Army major general. Overcoming the climate challenge to human development

to finance new green technologies. Many countries’ development Private money must match public funding, reinforced by plugging local models rely heavily on and international tax loopholes and withdrawing unnecessary subsidies. resource use, which is not The subsidy on fossil fuels alone costs the world economy $5 trillion a year. sustainable in the long term. In the Asia-Pacific region, such subsi- dies can equal more than 50 percent of a country’s health or education KANNI WIGNARAJA budget. The right taxes on carbon, financial transactions, and extreme wealth can raise an additional $200 billion annually for green invest- ments, according to the Sustainable Development Solutions Network’s report on SDG costing and financing for low-income countries. Financial In his autobiography, Singapore’s constraints clearly need not impede founding father, Lee Kuan Yew, told the transition to a green economy. the story of how leadership and grit Finally, we must understand that transformed a tiny nation on a sand- nature is not our adversary. The HDR bar into an open, competitive, and documents 20 cost-effective actions prosperous metropolis. related to forests, wetlands, and grass- In the decades since, Singapore has lands that can lead to 37 percent of the been governed by a famously efficient mitigation needed to keep global tem- and graft-free political class, and it peratures within 2°C of pre-industrial now boasts a highly-skilled workforce. levels. Reforestation alone accounts In the United Nations Development for two-thirds of this potential. Programme’s latest Human Recognising and protecting the local Development Index (HDI)—first con- communities that are nature’s stew- ceived 30 years ago by the Nobel laure- ards will be key. The contribution of ate Amartya Sen and the economist the Amazon’s indigenous peoples to Mahbub ul Haq—the country ranks preserving forest storage capacity, for eleventh out of 189 overall. SHUTTERSTOCK example, now equals the per capita But when the HDI is adjusted to on local ecosystems is perhaps most ment in the UNDP’s new Human reshape norms and incentives for cli- their ways of life. The HDR urges greenhouse-gas emissions of the top 1 consider carbon dioxide emissions clearly illustrated by the COVID-19 Development Report (HDR), which mate action. people to reconsider what they value percent of global emitters. and so-called material footprint pandemic. A tiny pathogen has laid examines new or underused pathways Four important areas for action highly, and to change what they con- Sen and ul Haq’s original index of (which measures the share of global bare massive vulnerabilities and to achieving human and environmen- stand out. First, cities—which account sume and how they produce, com- human progress introduced a new extraction of raw materials in a coun- gross inequalities in even the strong- tal well-being. In the future, we must for 85 percent of energy output and 75 mute, and invest. This is not impossi- way to measure how well societies try’s final demand), Singapore’s rank est and most prosperous societies, encourage countries to pursue pros- percent of CO2 emissions (estimates ble. Throughout history, we have seen manage to reach their potential. When drops by 92 positions. No country has with economic and social imbalances perity while minimising their carbon vary)—now need to pave the way for that social norms and behaviour can adjusted for planetary stress today, ever managed to reach a high level of reinforcing the damage inflicted by footprint by applying the knowledge, green renewal. The HDR highlights a change. Tobacco use, for example, has however, the index shows how their human development with low resource the pandemic. As the disease spread, science, and technology now at our role for cities as theatres for become socially stigmatised, leading choices are being radically constrict- use, and Singapore, having virtually we learned that the collective action disposal. green action: pricing the true social to a decline in smoking, and ed. Instead of passively awaiting our no natural resources of its own, needed to confront such a challenge The report reimagines the future cost of carbon, protecting green mask-wearing has become the norm fate, we must use our knowledge, rea- imports almost all of the commodities becomes far more difficult when role of governments, but it is clear spaces and planting trees, and cleaning in many places during the COVID-19 son, and agency to establish new it needs. There is nothing unusual domestic divisions and international that they will not bear sole responsi- waterways and seas of the plastic gar- pandemic. development models and shape our about this; Singapore is emblematic rivalries prevail over global solidarity. bility for the vital choices that must be bage that is devastating marine life. Third, while behavioural change collective fortunes. of growth across the planet. But the But while Singapore-style develop- made in the coming years. The HDR Second, in addition to action by cit- can stem from hard incentives (say, natural environment cannot sustain ment is not sustainable, nor is it feasi- also calls for a socially and environ- ies and national pledges—including in higher tobacco taxes) and regulations, Wignaraja is UN Assistant Secretary- this form of growth and development. ble to reframe development as a trade- mentally responsible private-sector the Asia-Pacific region—to become it can also be inspired by collective General and UNDP Regional Director The intense pressure that our cur- off between people’s livelihoods and that regards embracing nature as carbon-neutral over the next few dec- calls to action, such as those urging for Asia and the Pacific. rent development models are putting saving trees. That is a central argu- being in its own interest and helps to ades, ordinary citizens must adapt large and small institutional investors — Project Syndicate

C M Y K 05 | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021 MONEY

FOREX Tatopani border point US 116.93 Government downgrades budget Euro 141.6 reopens after three weeks Pound 161.05 The crossing in the north was closed on Japanese 11.18 expenditure by 9 percent Chinese 18.17 January 20 for Miteri Bridge repair works.

Qatari 32.11 The cutback is based on slowed economic activities and consequent plunge in revenues due to Covid-19. ANISH TIWARI Australian 90.35 SINDHUPALCHOK, FEB 9

Malaysian 28.89 The Tatopani-Khasa border point, a major customs point along the Nepal-China border, came into operation on Saudi 31.17 Tuesday. Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank Lal Bahadur Khatri, chief customs officer at the Tatopani Dry Port, said that the Chinese authority has allowed one- way traffic into the Nepali side. Shares “Cargo containers have started to enter Nepal now,” said Khatri. “Three Chinese cargo containers carrying fruits and Nepse 2,534.36pts -1.06% readymade goods had entered Nepal by Tuesday afternoon.” The Tatopani border was closed on January 20 for the HIGHEST LOSERS repair works on the Miteri bridge, or friendship bridge, that NUBL NLBBL MPFL FOWAD RSDC LLBS -5.88% -5.26% -5.13% -4.78% -4.55% -4.54% links Nepal and China. Bhotekoshi, which was flooded by torrential rains and MODERATE LOSERS CIT ALICL GMFBS SIL RMDC NMBMF water from a lake in Tibet’s Nyalm area caused damage to the -2.38% -2.38% -2.36% -2.35% -2.34% -2.31% foundation and other structures of the Miteri bridge.

MODERATE GAINERS Raj Kumar Poudel, chairman of the Bhotekoshi rural SLBS NMBHF1 IGI CMF1 NRIC BNT municipality, said they were expecting China to keep the 0.44% 0.38% 0.26% 0.20% 0.19% 0.15% border closed for the next three weeks due to the Lhosar fes- HIGHEST GAINERS tival of the Tibetan community. SIFC SFCL LBBLPO KSBBL PRVUPO AKJCL This year the Lhosar festival falls on February 12. 9.65% 9.52% 9.26% 6.80% 6.45% 5.11% “The checkpoint has been partially opened. Local busi- nessmen and workers have been affected as the border has remained closed for a long time,” said Poudel. SHUTTERSTOCK On Monday, the customs officials had said that despite the PRICE PER TOLA A number of transmission line projects have been completed, but the completion of two international airports by this fiscal year remains uncertain. completion of the bridge repair works, the border would not BULLION be opened because of snowfall for the past few days on the SANGAM PRASAIN ually,” he said. “Based on the existing scenar- For the economy, the threat even after Covid- Chinese side. After remaining closed for about four years Fine Gold Rs 91,900 KATHMANDU, FEB 9 io, the country will see average growth.” 19 is not over, said Mahat. after the 2015 earthquakes, the Tatopani-Khasa border reo- Nepal was under a total lockdown from He said that the global economy might see pened on May 29, 2019. Silver Rs 1,340 The Nepal government on Tuesday revised March 24 to July 21. Even after the stay-home a gradual recovery; but in Nepal’s case, it The border was again closed in January 2020 due to Covid- downward its budget expenditure for this order was withdrawn, the government will be slower than expected because of the 19 pandemic. The Chinese side agreed to open the Tatopani- SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA fiscal year by nearly 9 percent based on announced other restrictions to contain the current political crisis. “The political Khasa border in April last year, initially to hand over medi- slowed economic activities and spread of the coronavirus. situation is uncertain, and it has become a cines and medical equipment for the Covid-19 pandemic, but consequent plunge in revenues due to the After the pandemic struck and most coun- major threat to the economy after the cargo movements were negligible. GASOLINE WATCH Covid-19 pandemic. tries began slashing their growth projections Covid-19 pandemic.” The Tatopani-Khasa border point, 115 kilometres from Presenting the mid-term review of the as their economies ground to a halt, Nepal Nepal is in the midst of a political crisis Kathmandu, has historically been one of the main land annual financial plan on Tuesday, Finance had boldly held out with then finance minis- and renewed instability after President routes for trade with China. Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel announced ter Khatiwada setting a highly ambitious 7 Bidya Devi Bhandari dissolved Parliament Traders have been saying that around 400 containers are that the budget expenditure had been percent growth target in the budget state- on December 20 under the recommendation still stuck on the two Chinese border points—the other being trimmed to Rs1.34 trillion from the Rs1.47 ment issued on May 29, 2020. of the KP Sharma Oli-led government. Rasuwagadhi-Kerung–for over a year now. trillion announced on May 29 last year. In October, the World Bank’s South Asia Minister Paudel said that only 15 percent He said that the government had ear- Economic Focus projected Nepal’s economy of the budget allocated for national pride marked Rs7 billion to hold the general elec- to register a negligible growth of 0.2 percent projects had been spent as of the first sixth tion. The KP Sharma Oli administration has in 2019-20. months of the current fiscal year. called for snap polls for April 30 and May 10. The report estimated the economy to grow The 456-megawatt Tamakoshi Hydropower The budget presented by Paudel’s prede- by just 0.6 percent in the current fiscal year, Project in Dolakha district, which has cessor Yuba Raj Khatiwada had set aside on the basis of periodic and localised lock- reached the final phase of completion, has Rs948 billion for recurrent expenditure, downs and disruptions to tourism which been impacted by Covid-19. A number of Rs352 billion for capital expenditure and were expected to persist. transmission line projects have been com- Rs172 billion for financing provisions. Finance Minister Paudel said that infla- pleted, but the completion of two interna- Following the budget revision, Rs914.78 tion was under control. According to Nepal tional airports by this fiscal year remains billion has been allotted for recurrent Rastra Bank’s macro economic report, year- uncertain. expenditure, Rs283 billion for capital on-year inflation remained at 3.56 percent in The tourism sector does not know what the expenditure and Rs146.86 billion for the first six months of the current fiscal year. future will bring, and is still undecided about financing provisions. The central bank said that imports fell by its next move. Travel trade entrepreneurs More than Rs69 billion has been slashed 4.8 percent and exports rose by 6.1 percent. said that excepting mountaineering expedi- from the capital spending budget. Remittances swelled by 11.1 percent. The bal- tions, advance booking for the spring season The Finance Ministry said it would raise ance of payments showed a surplus of still had not picked up due to travel-related Rs1.07 trillion through revenue and domestic Rs124.92 billion, and gross foreign exchange restrictions. loans, and Rs270 billion from foreign loans reserves totalled $12.78 billion. Nepal launched a nationwide Covid-19 vac- and grants. The budget had targeted to raise Private sector credit from banks and finan- cination drive in January, and plans to immu- Rs889.62 billion from revenues and Rs225 bil- cial institutions expanded by 11.4 percent in nise 72 percent of its 30 million population in lion from domestic loans. the first half of the current fiscal year, com- three months. Qualcomm The government has not estimated the pared to a growth of 8.6 percent during the A day after starting the inoculation cam- economic growth rate for this fiscal year, same period in the previous year. paign, the government decided to re-open 16 only saying that it would be average without Former finance minister Ram Sharan border points with India and China, allowing targets markets giving any figures. Mahat said it had become a tradition of the citizens of the respective countries to travel “Economic activities were badly affected incumbent communist government to bring to Nepal. by Covid-19 at the start of the fiscal year, and an ‘artificial budget’ with a high outlay, but Paudel said they expected capital expendi- beyond phones this was vividly reflected in the country’s low spending capacity and low revenue bases. ture to increase in big projects. “The econo- economic growth,” said Paudel. “As econom- “Even the spent budget is unwise. It has my will recover on the back of economic ic activities have rebounded to their usual been spent on political hirings and unpro- activities after the Covid-19 vaccination drive with new level, we expect our economy to recover grad- ductive sectors. There are many leakages.” and reduced infections.” 5G chip

REUTERS SAN FRANCISCO, FEB 9 Bitcoin powers towards Qualcomm Inc on Tuesday released a new chip for connecting devices to 5G networks that it hopes will be adopted $50K as Tesla takes for home internet use and inside busi- nesses as a competitor to WiFi. The San Diego chip designer is the biggest supplier of modem chips that it mainstream connect smart phones and other consumer electronics to cellular REUTERS data networks. Qualcomm is aiming LONDON, FEB 9 to take advantage of the faster speeds possible with 5G network tech- Bitcoin was fast approaching the nology to expand its footprint in other $50,000 mark on Tuesday as the after- markets. glow of Elon Musk-led Tesla’s invest- The newest chip, called the X65 ment in the cryptocurrency had inves- modem, is Qualcomm’s fourth genera- tors reckoning it may become a main- tion of 5G modem but the first capable stream asset class for both corpora- of hitting peak download speeds of up tions and money managers. to 10 gigabits per second, about 10 The most popular cryptocurrency times faster than peaks on previous has gained 1,150 percent from March LTE networks and comparable to fibre 2020 lows as institutional investors broadband services. search for alternative wealth stores A major focus for the new chip and retail traders ride the wave. It will be commercial and industrial traded at a few hundred dollars only applications, such as connecting five years back. computers and equipment scattered Monday, it leapt 20 percent after across corporate campuses directly to Tesla announced it had a $1.5 billion cloud computing services when a tra- investment and that it would eventual- REUTERS ditional WiFi network would not be ly take the cryptocurrency as payment A representation of the virtual currency is feasible. for its cars. That was its largest daily seen in front of a graph in this illustration. Another will be fixed-wireless rise in more than three years. internet installations, where 5G gear The price of one bitcoin climbed to was at 72 percent compared with 16 replaces a traditional wire-based a peak of $48,216—almost enough to percent for the S&P 500 stocks index home or business broadband internet buy one of the best-selling Tesla vehi- and 6 percent for the euro currency. service. cles, Tesla Model Y SUV. Rival crypto- What’s more, with bitcoin’s value Cristiano Amon, who will take over currency ethereum struck a record tripling in the past three months, ana- as Qualcomm’s chief executive in high of $1,784.85 on Tuesday. lysts raised questions over how its June, said the networks could offer a Musk, a well-known supporter of volatility would affect someone buy- faster option for people who live in cryptocurrencies, foresees accepting ing a Tesla car in bitcoin. neighborhoods where fiber-optic the currency as a payment for Tesla “Unless the price of bitcoin internet service is not available. cars and analysts reckon this is a larg- stabilises, either bitcoin’s price falls “We now have the technology in er shift as companies and big invest- drastically and you end up having place to start thinking about all those ment houses follow small traders into won a Tesla in a lottery, or its price services beyond phones,” Amon told the asset. triples and you end up paying your reporters. “Bitcoin is definitely capturing Tesla far too expensive,” said Ipek Amon said the X65 modem will investors’ attention—I get more and Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at be used in 40 different product more questions about it,” said Marija Swissquote Bank. designs for fixed-wireless gear from Vertimane, senior strategist at State For example, if someone bought a telecommunications carriers that will Street Global Markets. Tesla Model 3 for one bitcoin on start hitting markets in the second “From a practical point of view, Sunday—when it traded for $38,000— half of 2021. using bitcoin to buy anything—Tesla the same car could be bought for Fixed-wireless sales will be report- cars—would be still extremely diffi- just 0.8 bitcoin on Tuesday, when the ed in the company’s “internet cult given its excessive volatility.” cryptocurrency traded at $46,413 as of of things” revenue in the company’s Bitcoin’s volatility has been a hin- 1145 GMT. financial results, Amon said. drance for some serious investors and Billionaire Musk has long been a Revenue from those chips grew 48 a sticking point in using it for transac- cryptocurrency fan—he has talked percent to $1 billion during tions. Realised volatility, or daily price them up online—but Tesla’s hard cur- Qualcomm’s fiscal first quarter swings measured in terms of closing rency investment came as a surprise reported last week. prices for Bitcoin over the past 90 days that has put a rocket under the sector.

C M Y K WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021 | 06 WORLD

BRIEFING Biden calls Modi,

Man suspected of leading India seeks to strengthen farm protest violence arrested NEW DELHI: Police in the Indian capital regional security arrested a man on Tuesday accused of leading a group of farmers who clashed with police and stormed the through ‘Quad’ historic Red Fort last month during the worst day of violence in months REUTERS of protests against agriculture NEW DELHI, FEB 9 reforms. Tens of thousands of farm- ers have been camping out on main US President Joe Biden and Indian highways on the outskirts of New Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed Deli for more than two months in a in a telephone call to strengthen Indo- bid to force the government to with- Pacific security through the Quad draw new agricultural laws they say grouping of countries that is seen as a benefit private buyers at the expense way to push back against China’s of growers. When India celebrated its growing assertiveness in the region. Republic Day with a military parade India, United States, Japan and on January 26, farmers organised a Australia are members of the Quad, procession of tractors that turned an informal group that Washington violent when some protesters deviat- has been promoting to work as a ed from the route and broke into the potential bulwark against China’s Red Fort complex. One person died increasing political, commercial and and hundreds were injured. military activity in the Indo-Pacific, diplomats say. Biden spoke to Modi on Monday Iraq hands five terror convicts, night in his first call since taking security sources say office last month and noted that India- NASIRIYAH: Iraq on Tuesday hanged US ties were held together by a shared five people convicted on “terrorism” commitment to democratic values. charges in a notorious southern pris- “The leaders agreed to continuing on, security sources said, despite an close cooperation to promote a free - international outcry in recent and open Indo-Pacific, including sup months over the country’s execution port for freedom of navigation, terri- record. The five men, all Iraqi, were AFP/RSS torial integrity, and a stronger region- Snow and storm disrupt life in city of Allinge on the northern part of the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea, Denmark, on Tuesday. executed in the Nasiriyah prison in al architecture through the Quad,” the Dhi Qar province, the only one in White House said in a statement. Iraq that carries out capital punish- China has denounced the Quad as ment, the security sources told AFP. an attempt to contain its development Iraqis fearfully refer to Nasiriyah jail and urged the United States to drop its as Al-Hut, the Arabic word for “Cold War mentality”. Last year, the four countries held “whale,” describing it as a vast prison WHO mission can’t trace origins of Covid-19 joint naval exercises in the Bay of complex that “swallows” people up. A Bengal after New Delhi dropped its 2005 law carries the death penalty for AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE tion of the virus—a theory that has length from the experts, but snippets at the Wuhan virology institute where hesitation for fear of antagonising anyone convicted of “terrorism,” WUHAN, FEB 9 abounded in China in recent months. of their findings crept out over they spent nearly four hours and said Beijing. which can include membership of an He also said there was “no indica- Twitter and interviews. they met with Chinese scientists Modi told Biden he would work to extremist group, even if the convict is The WHO mission to China to uncover tion” the sickness was in circulation The experts spent one month in there including Shi Zhengli, one of elevate the strategic partnership not found guilty of any specific acts. the origins of the coronavirus has in Wuhan before December 2019 when China, two weeks in quarantine and China’s leading experts on bat corona- between the two countries, the Indian failed to identify the animal source, the first official cases have been the same again on fieldwork. viruses and deputy director of the foreign ministry said in its readout of Fossil fuel pollution causes one scientists said on Tuesday. recorded. But, already over a year after the Wuhan lab. the call. Experts believe the disease—which WHO foreign expert Ben Embarak, virus emerged, some of it was of ques- Former US president Donald Trump India is locked in a military stand- in five premature deaths has gone on to kill more than 2.3 who was based in the WHO’s Beijing tionable relevance to their stated aim repeated a controversial theory that a off with China over their disputed LONDON: Pollution from fossil fuels million people worldwide—originated office for two years from 2009, backed of finding the virus source, including lab leak may have been the source of mountainous border since April and causes one in five premature deaths in bats and could have been up the assertion saying there was no a visit to a propaganda exhibition cel- the pandemic. public opinion has hardened against globally, suggesting the health transmitted to humans via another evidence of “large outbreaks in ebrating China’s recovery from the Scientists at the laboratory conduct Beijing after soldiers were killed in a impacts of burning coal, oil and natu- mammal. Wuhan” before then. pandemic. research on some of the world’s most clash there. ral gas may be far higher than previ- While transmission from animals The mission is a diplomatically The group spent just an hour at the dangerous diseases, including strains Japan’s Sankei newspaper reported ously thought, according to a study was the likely route, so far “the reser- knotty one, which was trailed before it seafood market where many of the of bat coronaviruses similar to Covid- over the weekend that the leaders of published on Tuesday. Parts of China, voir hosts remain to be identified”, began by fears of a whitewash, first reported clusters of infections 19. the United States, Japan, India, and India, Europe and the northeastern Liang Wannian, head of the China with the US demanding a “robust” emerged over a year ago. Beijing is desperate to defang criti- Australia plan to hold a summit, in a United States are among the hard- team, told reporters. probe and China firing back with a They also appeared to spend several cism of its handling of the chaotic further tightening of ties between the est-hit areas, suffering a dispropor- He added that studies showed the warning not to “politicise” the investi- days inside their hotel, receiving vis- early stages of the outbreak. four powerful democracies. tionately high share of 8.7 million virus “can be carried long-distance on gation. its from various Chinese officials It has refocused attention at home— Biden and Modi also agreed to work annual deaths attributed to cold chain products,” appearing to During the closely-monitored visit, without going out into the city. and abroad—on its handling of, and closely to fight Covid-19 and renew fossil fuels. (AGENCIES) nudge towards the possible importa- reporters were largely kept at arms’ But deeper research was carried out recovery from the outbreak. their partnership on climate change. Myanmar police fire rubber bullets at anti-coup Dozens trapped in tunnel protesters as they defy military ban on rallies after Himalayan glacier’s

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE collapse, scores still missing YANGON, FEB 9 REUTERS Kumar, director general of police in Security forces fired rubber bullets LUCKNOW, FEB 9 Uttarakhand state, where the flash and tear gas at anti-coup protesters in flood occurred. Myanmar on Tuesday as demonstra- Rescuers raced to free around 35 Officials said thermal imaging tors around the country defied a mili- Indian construction workers trapped equipment had also been deployed to tary ban on rallies. in a tunnel, two days after the hydroe- help locate would-be survivors, and Protests erupted for a fourth lectric dam they were helping to build Uttarakhand’s chief minister, straight day against last week’s coup was swept away by a wall of water Trivendra Singh Rawat, said 28 bodies to oust civilian leader Aung San Suu from a collapsed glacier that barrelled had been recovered so far. Kyi, as international condemnation of down a Himalayan river. Thirteen villages had been cut off the putsch grew. The workers were among 197 people by the floodwaters were being resup- The rallies came despite a warning who officials said were still unac- plied from the air, Home Minister from the junta that it would take counted for as the death toll from the Amit Shah told parliament. action against demonstrations that disaster - which also broke apart A government official said many threatened “stability”, and a new ban bridges, cut off villages and scarred locals had apparently managed to on gatherings of more than five peo- tracts of mountain landscape - rose to escape the waters by fleeing to higher ple. 28. ground as soon as they heard the rum- In Naypyidaw, the remote capital Packing rocks, dirt and construc- ble of the water racing down the val- purpose-built by the previous military tion debris and thought to have been ley. regime, witnesses said police fired triggered when a glacier lake fed by “The workers in the tunnel may not rubber bullets at protesters after earli- India’s second highest peak, Nanda have heard anything and got stuck,” er blasting them with water cannon. Devi, collapsed, the flood swept down the official said. “They fired warning shots to the the Dhauliganga river on Sunday. The 520 MW Tapovan project, being sky two times, then they fired (at pro- Officials said most of those still built by state firm NTPC, is one of testers) with rubber bullets,” a resi- missing were shift workers at either many run-of-river projects being dent told AFP, adding that he saw the Tapovan Vishnugad hydroelectric developed to upgrade Uttarakhand’s some people injured. project, where the tunnel was situat- power network. It remained unclear how many peo- ed, or at Rishiganga, a smaller dam Officials have yet to conclusively ple were hurt, as a hospital in which was swept away in the flood. determine what caused the disaster, Naypyidaw would not allow relatives Soldiers using bulldozers had though scientists investigating it in to see their family members, said AP/RSS cleared away rocks at the mouth of the believe heavy snowfall followed by Tun Wai, who rushed there when he Police use water cannon to disperse demonstrators during a protest in Mandalay, Myanmar on Tuesday. Police were cracking down on 2.5-km (1.5-mile) tunnel, and video bright sunshine combined with a rise heard his 23-year-old son was in the demonstrators who took to the streets in defiance of new protest bans. posted by the Indo-Tibetan border in temperatures may have triggered operation room. police service showed rescuers check- the glacier’s collapse. “My son was shot when he tried to speech on Monday evening to justify national elections by a landslide but The United States has led global ing the water level deeper inside. A clearer picture of the circum- use the megaphone to ask people to seizing power. the military never accepted the legiti- calls for the generals to relinquish Rescuers hoped to open the tunnel stances is expected to emerge later protest peacefully after the police used The first of a series of bans on gath- macy of the vote. power, and issued a fresh statement on up by Tuesday afternoon, said Ashok this week, officials said. water cannon to disperse them,” the erings in protest hotspots was also Shortly after the coup, the military Monday following the junta’s warn- 56-year-old goldsmith told AFP. announced on Monday, as was a night- announced a one-year state of emer- ings against the protesters. “He got hit in the back... I’m very time curfew. gency and promised to hold fresh elec- “We stand with the people of Burma worried about him.” But on Tuesday, fresh protests ini- tions after that. and support their right to assemble In Mandalay, the country’s sec- tially emerged in various parts of Min Aung Hlaing on Monday insist- peacefully, including to protest peace- ond-biggest city, police fired tear gas Yangon, including near the headquar- ed the military would abide by its fully in support of the democratically to disperse protesters. ters of Suu Kyi’s National League for promises and reinstall democracy. He elected government,” US State After watching hundreds of thou- Democracy (NLD). also declared that things would be dif- Department spokesman Ned Price sands of people rally in opposition to The protesters carried placards ferent from the army’s previous said Monday, using Myanmar’s former last week’s coup, junta chief General some of which read “We want our 49-year reign, which ended in 2011. name. Min Aung Hlaing made a televised leader”, in reference to Suu Kyi—who “After the tasks of the emergency Price also said US requests to speak is currently detained by the military— period are completed, free and fair mul- to Suu Kyi were denied. and “No dictatorship”. ti-party general elections will be held Pope Francis on Monday called for In Yangon’s San Chaung township, according to the constitution,” he said. the prompt release of imprisoned scores of teachers marched on the But those pledges were accompa- political leaders. main road, waving a defiant three-fin- nied by threats. The UN Human Rights Council said ger salute that has become a signature In the face of the increasingly bold it would hold a relatively rare special gesture of the protesters. wave of defiance, the military warned session on Friday to discuss the crisis. “We are not worried about their that opposition to the junta was Meanwhile, relatives of an warning. That’s why we came out unlawful. Australian economic advisor to Suu today. We cannot accept their excuse In a statement read on state media, Kyi said they were “distraught” over of vote fraud. We do not want any mil- it said “action must be taken” against his detention. itary dictatorship,” teacher Thein Win activities that threaten stability and Macquarie University professor Soe told AFP. public order. Sean Turnell was the first foreign In his televised address, his first New Zealand on Tuesday became national confirmed arrested by the since the coup, Min Aung Hlaing the first foreign government to take new junta. insisted the seizure of power was jus- concrete public action, announcing Australian Foreign Minister Marise REUTERS tified, citing the fraud claims. the suspension of high-level military Payne has summoned the Myanmar Members of the National Disaster Response Force conduct a rescue operation outside a The NLD won last November’s and political contacts with Myanmar. ambassador over the case. tunnel after a part of a glacier broke away, in Tapovan, Uttarakhand.

C M Y K 07 | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021 SPORTS | MEDLEY BRIEFING Army overcome Waling 2-0, England crush India by Man United’s Paul Pogba out for few weeks with thigh injury MANCHESTER: 227 runs in first Test Manchester United mid- Police avenge Biratnagar fielder Paul Pogba will be sidelined ASSOCIATED PRESS ings but a 2-1 series win will be enough for a few weeks due to a thigh injury Raju Tamang’s team are two points away from leaders APF who have 21 points. But the CHENNAI, FEB 9 to still make the final. he sustained during Saturday’s 3-3 “We didn’t put enough pressure on draw with Everton, manager Ole champions can further the lead if they beat sixth-placed Chandrapur on Wednesday. England inflicted on India their first England with the ball in the first Gunnar Solskjaer said on Monday. home loss in four years by overwhelm- innings,” Kohli said. “Collectively, the The 27-year-old France international who lead the standings with 21 points ing the hosts on the last day of the bowling unit was good but we needed limped off in the first half at the Old after the champions thrashed bottom first Test and winning by 227 runs on to contain a few more runs and create Trafford and was replaced by Fred. club Chaudandigadhi 14-0 on Monday. Tuesday. more pressure. It was a slow wicket He will miss Tuesday’s FA Cup fifth- APF can extend the lead further on India, handed a 420-run target to and didn’t help the bowlers. Credit to round clash against West Ham United Wednesday, with their next meeting win but batting for a draw, were England, they got stuck in and put up as well as Premier League games set with sixth-placed Chandrapur bowled out for 192 half an hour a big total on the board.” against West Bromwich Albion and Municipality. before tea. England won the toss and scored 578 Newcastle United and Europa League Army have 19 points after playing a Fast bowler James Anderson turned and 178. India made 337 and England ties against Real Sociedad. draw with Nepal Police Club in the England’s fortunes in his first over didn’t enforce the follow-on on Monday opener, with their only loss this of the day with genius inswingers. He to deliberately prevent India from season coming against APF on bowled Shubman Gill with his winning. But India began the last day Bayern Munich beat Al Ahly to January 26. second delivery and Ajinkya Rahane well. reach Club World Cup final “It is an important victory for us… with his fifth to reduce India to 92-4 in Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara briskly AL RAYYAN: European champions for the second position,” said Army the morning session. added 33 runs for the second wicket. Bayern Munich cruised into the Club coach Raju Tamang. “Waling are Six overs later, Rishabh Pant was Pujara was the first to go, outfoxed on World Cup final where they will face strong team and the match was highly caught at short extra cover, chipping 15 by another clever delivery from Tigres after two goals from Robert competitive. We did not waste our the ball off Anderson again. India Leach. Gill then reached his third Lewandowski gave them a clinical 2-0 chances and the early lead helped went to lunch 144-6. half-century in four Tests off win over Al Ahly on Monday. Bayern us a lot.” Virat Kohli was comfortable in his 81 deliveries. He added 34 runs with will meet the Mexican side in the A nine-point gap separated Army first Test after paternity leave, scoring Kohli, who was cruising until showpiece match on Thursday in a from Waling who have 11 points, and 72 until he was undone by a Ben Stokes Anderson was handed the ball. bid to win their second title in the still kept hold of the third spot on in-cutter that kept low. Spinner Jack Suddenly, the wickets of Gill, for 50, competition after Egyptians PHOTO COURTESY: ANFA head-to-head difference despite Police Leach cleaned up with 4-76 and Jofra and Rahane, for a duck, were cart- Al Ahly, the African Champions Sharmila Thapa (left) scored in Tribhuvan Army Club’s 2-0 win over Waling Municipality. getting the better of Biratnagar, cour- Archer sealed the win by dismissing wheeling in a remarkable first over of League winners, take on Palmeiras of tesy of Niru Thapa brace and Nirmala Jasprit Bumrah. reverse swing. Brazil in the third-place playoff. The SPORTS BUREAU stant search for a leveller against a Upadhyaya opener. “To take 20 wickets in alien condi- “The reverse swing was huge for us Copa Libertadores holders suffered a KATHMANDU, FEB 9 well-organised Army defence in an “We played better against a tough tions is a brilliant job from the bowl- but we knew we had to get the lengths shock 1-0 defeat by CONCACAF entertaining match and almost scored opponent but could not bring the ers,” said England captain Joe Root, right. I managed to do that,” Anderson champions Tigres in the first Tribhuvan Army Club defeated in the 14th when the club’s highest result [in our favour],” said Waling man-of-the-match for his double centu- said. “The pitch was slow so reverse semi-final on Sunday. Lewandowski Waling Municipality 2-0 to keep alive scorer Metho Eludie Ruth bulleted a coach Dilip Thapa. “The race is now ry. “Standing here, having won the swing helps us seamers feel we can fired Bayern them ahead in the 17th their title hunt in the National shot from 17 metres near the bounda- for the third position.” first game is very pleasing. (But) we take a wicket any ball. I am feeling minute as he drilled in a shot from Women’s League on Tuesday, thanks ry line to the top corner only to be Upadhyaya opened the scoring for know India are going to come back great. We had a good tour of Sri Lanka eight metres after Serge Gnabry to an early goal by Sharmila Thapa. finger-tipped by goalkeeper Anjana Police when her deflected shot from hard at us.” and have managed to carry on the squared back a Kingsley Coman Nepal Police Club were the other Rana Magar over the bar. inside the box flew over Biratnagar In Australia recently, India were form here as well.” effort across the face of goal. winners at the ANFA Complex as they Chaudhary came close to doubling goalkeeper and captain Kalpana Karki bowled out for 36 in the first Test but Anderson also removed Pant on 11 Al Ahly came forward with more saw off Biratnagar Metropolitan Army’s lead in the 27th minute when in the 41st minute. came from behind to win that series for a destructive spell of 3-5 with 6 purpose in the second half as the City 3-0. she flashed a low shot past advancing Thapa then scored two goals in the 2-1. India have lost in Chennai for the runs conceded. He finished the pace dropped but Bayern dominated Army took the lead after 53 seconds goalkeeper from the left of the box but space of three minutes. Upadhyaya first time since 1999. The teams innings with 3-17. Dom Bess then had possession and Lewandowski sealed when Bimala Chaudhary pounced on the ball bounced off the bar before it volleyed a shot from the left of the six remain in Chennai for the second Test Washington Sundar caught behind as the contest with another trademark a weak clearance by Waling defender was cleared by Waling defenders. yard box which the goalkeeper saved of the four-match series starting on India collapsed to 117-6, losing four finish in the 85th. Sarishma Thapa before connecting to However, Army were gifted with weakly allowing Thapa to Saturday. wickets for 25 runs in the space of 45 midfielder Indira Rai who quickly another goal just before the break score in the 57th minute. She then Following a sixth successive away deliveries. sent the ball over the defending line at when a cross from Sapana Thapa capitalised on a mistake from defend- win, England are on top of the world Kohli held out England for 72 from CeltaVigo interrupt Atletico the edge of the box and the waiting deflected off the Waling defender er Sarita Sherpa to avenge their first Test championship table. But they 104 balls, including nine boundaries, striker flashed it into the back of Pushpa Gurung at the goal line. leg defeat. need two more wins to qualify for the until Stokes got him with a ball that Madrid’s winning run the net. The win again reduced Army’s gap Biratnagar have 10 points from final against New Zealand in June. kept low, and soon after India’s 14-Test MADRID: Atletico Madrid striker Luis The strong Waling side were in con- with Armed Police Club to two points, eight matches and slipped to fifth. India dropped to fourth in the stand- unbeaten run at home was ended. Suarez continued his deadly run of form by scoring twice at home to Celta Vigo on Monday but could not prevent the La Liga leaders drawing 2-2 as their eight-game winning Bir Ganeshman Singh 10K Road Race set Leeds move into Premier League top half streak ended. Atletico were missing six players due to Covid-19, REUTERS a shot that took a slight deflection off Palace’s including record signing Joao Felix, to take place on March 20 in Kathmandu LEEDS, FEB 9 Gary Cahill and looped high into the net leaving and they fell behind in the 13th goalkeeper Vicente Guaita caught out. minute to a well worked goal from SPORTS BUREAU and Rs 15,000 respectively. Similarly, the fourth Leeds United’s Jack Harrison scored early before Harrison was set up by Stuart Dallas Celta when Santi Mina ghosted into KATHMANDU, FEB 9 and fifth place finishers will get Rs 10,000 and striker Patrick Bamford reached the 100 goals outside the box and he fired off a powerful the box unmarked to turn home a Rs 5,000 while the runners who finish between milestone to lift the Yorkshire side into the top strike—his third goal in his last four league cross from Hugo Mallo. Suarez equal- The second edition of Bir Ganeshman Singh 10K sixth to tenth place will get gift hampers worth half of the Premier League with a 2-0 victory games—that immediately put Palace on the ised on the stroke of halftime by slid- Road Race is set to be held on March 20 in Rs 4,000 each. over Crystal Palace on Monday. back foot. ing in to meet a Marcos Llorente Kathmandu. The event, which is being organised The winners will get an additional reward It was a first home win this year for Leeds, who Leeds’ dominance should have been better cross and scored a similar goal to put by Bir Ganeshman Sports Committee under of Rs 10,000 if they beat the last edition’s best have still lost more games than they have won at reflected in the scoreline with Pascal Struijk Atletico ahead in the 50th minute, Ganeshman Singh Foundation, will have races in timing. the Elland Road this season, and nudged them up next to squander a clear chance, with a wayward this time connecting with a Renan both men’s and women’s categories. The 13th South Asian Games gold medalists to 10th on 32 points from 22 games. diving header just before the break. Lodi ball to score his seventh goal in Sanjeev Tuladhar, the committee’s coordinator, Santosh Shrestha (39 minute 10.98 second) and Palace, who won their last away game at But the home side doubled their lead early in four league games. But the visitors said around 500 people are expected to participate Gopi Chandra Parki (32 minute 01.2 second) are Newcastle United but had to do without injured the second half after Guaita got a hand to pulled level in the 89th minute in the 10km race, which will begin from Sherpa the defending champions. talisman Wilfried Zaha, remain in 13th Rafinha’s thunderous shot only to tee up Bamford through debutant Facundo Ferreyra, Mall, Durbarmarg, and finish at the same point. Roots Fashion Private Limited, the sole place, three points behind Leeds having played a for an easy tuck away. The 27-year-old striker has who had only been on the pitch for 13 The top three players of both categories will be distributor of Adidas sportswear, is sponsoring game more. played at nine clubs and his 100 career goals minutes. (AGENCIES) rewarded with cash prizes of Rs 60,000, Rs 30,000 the event. Harrison’s opener came after 150 seconds, with include 12 in the league this season. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) **** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** You could start feeling more detached or distant Be careful who you get involved with, especially in People notice when other people stand up for their It’s true that you need friends in order to lead a more from your favourite people right about now, terms of any business dealings. Your urge to get principles, and they’ll notice when you stand up for fulfilled life, but it’s not a good idea to get too hung up but there is nothing to worry about. Don’t let what you want is so strong that it could be blinding yours today. Sure, by sticking to your guns you might about how many friends you have. It’s all about qual- your emotions convince you of things that aren’t you to some major red flags that are popping up left make things inconvenient for one or two folks, but so ity, not quantity. true. and right. what?

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** Don’t let someone else establish the framework of a If you look beneath the surface of pleasant small talk People are very different on the inside than what Your feelings for someone get even deeper today when particularly important conversation today. If the today, you’re sure to find the real intentions that lie their outside appearance may lead you to believe. Of they do something that reminds you just what a spe- topic involves deep emotions, you need to make sure behind what people are saying. There is a big discon- course, this isn’t news to you, but it’s something to cial person they are. Tell them how they make you that you say what you need to say without getting too nect between what they’re saying and what they’re keep at the front of your mind today. Stay alert! feel, and don’t be afraid to get flowery with your defensive. feeling. words.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) **** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) **** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** It’s important to stay on your toes today, but staying What you thought was going to happen isn’t happen- You’ll be able to make just about anything entertain- You need to confront someone about a difficult issue, sharp isn’t just about being alert, it’s also about being ing, and now you’re wondering if you made a mis- ing today, given the huge wave of creative but you’ve been putting it off. It’s totally understand- healthy. Make sure you start this day with a good take. Well, you’re stuck with the consequences of energy you’re riding right now. You know how to able. After all, it’s not fun to have complicated con- breakfast. You need solid brain food to keep you your actions, so just make the best of it and try not keep your brain engaged and have fun in very subtle versations. But the longer you put things off, the focused and thinking positively. to have any regrets. ways. worse things will get. CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021 | 08 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 Priyanka Chopra Jonas reveals private life details The memoir, titled ‘ Unfinished’, is a moving story of the actor’s rise to fame and of her life before anybody knew her name.

ASSOCIATED PRESS of her own battles with self-confi- NEW YORK dence and doubt as she learned to stand up for what she knew she riyanka Chopra Jonas’s deserved. memoir, “Unfinished,” is a It is the story of the racism and sex- moving story of her rise to ism she confronted throughout her life, fame—and of her life before and the depression she battled after the anybody knew her name. death of her father. It is also a love Chopra Jonas never story, chronicling how she fell in love Pintended to become the international- with her now-husband Nick Jonas. ly renowned entertainer and public Chopra Jonas’ writing is open, figure she is today. Before she was an engaging, and full of energy. She actor, producer, and UNICEF writes, it seems, to connect. The expe- REUTERS Goodwill Ambassador, she was the rience feels intimate, like Chopra JDL’s artwork entitled ‘Your Ticket to Paradise, their Gate to Hell’ is displayed on a billboard in the streets of New York. daughter of two doctors, dreaming of Jonas is exchanging stories with a becoming an aeronautical engineer. friend over coffee. Her stories are Growing up in India, her life as we exceedingly personal, and despite know it began accidentally, when her being an international movie star, brother convinced a 17-year-old many of them even feel relatable. Chopra Jonas to enter the Miss India Even those who are not already fans Artists shine a light on child competition, hoping it would get her of Chopra Jonas will find reason to out of the house so he could have her enjoy her story, one that chronicles a bedroom. deep love of family and culture and a Little did her family know, this passion for standing up for what you effort would catapult Chopra Jonas to believe in. labour in New York streets stardom and transform her into an international phenomenon. The artworks—commissioned by Street Art for Mankind—can be seen on dozens of billboards across the city.

EMELINE WUILBERCQ The United Nations said last month urgent action that lets users hear experts explaining the issues and The book also NEW YORK was needed to meet a goal of ending child labour by artists sharing the stories behind their works of art. 2025, warning that Covid-19 could undo progress Users of the app are also given suggestions on talks about the hildren’s faces appear locked in the towards tackling it and declaring 2021 as International what they can do to help tackle child labour. jaws of a sinister factory robot or war- Year for the Elimination of Child Labour. Indian Nobel peace laureate Kailash Satyarthi, depression she ily peeping out behind New York land- Child trafficking is more common in poorer coun- ILO Director-General Guy Ryder and American battled after the marks in an interactive street art cam- tries where child labour is widespread, according to actresses Ashley Judd and Mira Sorvino are among paign launched this week to raise the UN Office On Drugs and Crime. well-known figures backing the initiative. death of her father. awareness about child trafficking and Last month, a group of academics criticized the Cunderage labour. UN goal to end child labour as impractical and out of Nine striking pieces commissioned by Street Art touch, and child poverty researcher Alula Pankhurst for Mankind (SAM)—an artistic movement fighting The UN declared 2021 said anti-child labour efforts should contemplate “Unfinished” is Chopra Jonas’ child trafficking—can be seen on dozens of bill- widely divergent circumstances. deeply open and honest account of her boards across New York City. as International Year for “(They) need to take into account different local experience navigating life in the pub- “Street art is cross-generational, cross-cultural. It the Elimination of realities and avoid blanket bans that can be detri- lic eye, as well as the extreme hard really attracts everybody,” said Audrey Decker, the mental to the wellbeing of children and endanger work and dedication she put into her charity’s co-founder, who teamed up with the UN Child Labour. the survival of their families,” said Pankhurst, who career. International Labour Organization and other groups coordinates Young Lives, a global study of childhood But “Unfinished” is also about the on the #freechildren campaign. poverty following 12,000 children over 15 years. pieces of her life the public doesn’t “It’s such a great tool to raise awareness on these Victor Ash, one of the artists whose work features see. It is her story of growing up on issues, because child labour and trafficking are Street Art for Mankind has launched several cam- in the new campaign, said he hoped to make people two continents, spending time in both issues people don’t necessarily want to hear about,” paigns since its creation in 2015, such as an Art Walk think about the issue. India and the United States. she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in a video in the financial district of Manhattan in 2019 with “I don’t know if Mr. Everybody who passes in It is the story of the love she shares call. More than 150 million children are engaged in freedom murals depicting stories of survivors of front of my painting can do anything, but at least he with her family, and the way her par- AP/RSS child labour globally, with about half carrying out child labour and trafficking. can be aware of what’s happening,” the Copenhagen- ents embraced their daughter’s curve- This cover image released by Ballantine dangerous work in sectors such as construction, As a way to further engage passersby, the new based artist said in a video call. ball career path and sacrificed so she shows ‘Unfinished’, a memoir by Priyanka agriculture, mining and manufacturing. campaign includes an augmented reality application — Reuters could chase her dreams. It is the story Chopra Jonas. Thousands hit Hungary’s famous hiking trail to beat coronavirus blues This year, more than 26,000 people have hiked the National Blue Trail, a 700 mile trail that runs along Hungary’s western border with Austria.

BALAZS KAUFMANN lecting the stamps in 2020, said Csaba many families set out on the muddy PILISSZENTLASZLO Nemeth, a guide who knows the trail trails on a foggy weekend near the inside out. village of Pilisszentlaszlo, north of esperate to escape the “People have realised that ... spend- Budapest. pandemic lockdown, ing time in the forest can have a great The Miklosis walked 10km with thousands of healing impact, it relieves stress, their six children, and the small kids Hungarians have there is fresh air and quiet ... so you enjoyed being able to run around. flocked to the country’s get a different sense of time,” he said. The couple, who both work as archi- famous National Blue Even the chilly winter weather has tects, have also used hiking to meet DTrail to savour the calm, open air of not reduced the trail’s appeal, and with relatives and friends, in order to the woods. limit the risk of infections. Meandering for about 700 miles They hope to hike the entire length from Hungary’s western border with of the Blue Trail within about five Austria to the northeast, the Blue Even the chilly years. They had planned to do so long Trail originated in 1938 and was recog- winter weather has ago, but the pandemic has given them nised as Europe’s first long-distance extra incentive. trail. not reduced the “You can forget about your every- While in previous years between day problems a little and break away 6,000 and 8,000 people bought the trail’s appeal in the from ... these negative experiences Trail’s booklet to collect stamps prov- and impressions that you get every REUTERS ing they had hiked various sections, pandemic. day,” said the father, Tibor Miklosi. Staff tend to disabled dogs in mobility aids during a daily walk at The Man That Rescues Dogs Foundation in Chonburi, Thailand. more than 26,000 people started col- — Reuters Thai shelter for disabled stray dogs threatened by pandemic With a 40 percent drop in donations and a slashed number of foreign visitors, the future of the shelter is stuck in a limbo.

ATHIT PERAWONGMETHA was set up by a Swede who moved to Chidichimo, who is a sponsorship CHONBURI Chonburi in 2002 and was so dismayed coordinator at the shelter. by the poor condition of strays that he The shelter spends more than $1,300 ith tails wagging started caring for them after work. each day to care for more than 600 to a chorus of But its future is now in doubt, after dogs and feed 350 more that live on barks and yelps, the coronavirus pandemic led to a 40 the streets. Its volunteers also look more than two percent drop in donations and slashed after paralysed and disabled dogs, dozen dogs the number of foreign visitors. including physiotherapy sessions, but attached to scarce funds have forced it to suspend Wwheels that support their disabled a monthly campaign to spay and neu- hind legs scramble along a rocky path, The shelter cares for ter strays. taking their daily exercise. Thailand, estimated to have more Mostly victims of accidents, the 27 more than 600 dogs than 800,000 stray cats and dogs in 2017, dogs are being nursed back to health could see their number reach 2 million at a shelter in Thailand’s province of and feeds 350 more by 2027 and 5 million in 20 years unless Chonburi southeast of the capital, it takes some steps to control numbers, Bangkok. that live on the livestock authorities says. “It’s almost like they have no idea streets. For now, the disabled dogs in that they have a disability and once Chonburi enjoy their daily rambles. you put them in the wheelchair for the “They are eager for us to strap them first time, it’s like there’s no learning up,” said dog handler Phanuphong curve,” said shelter official “The donations are very important, Borphuak, referring to the canine Christopher Chidichimo. and the volunteers and visitors are mobility aids. “They run very fast, we REUTERS The shelter, run by a foundation equally important, because they come humans can’t keep up with them.” Tibor Miklosi and his family hike on National Blue Trail along the Pilis Mountains, during the coronavirus disease pandemic, near called The Man That Rescues Dogs, and spread our message,” said — Reuters Pilisszentlaszlo, Hungary.

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