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

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXIX No. 179 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 34.5 C 14.0 C Monday, August 16, 2021 | 32-04-2078 Nepalgunj Jomsom Half of the population already exposed to the virus, new study says Experts caution against interpreting the number as achieving herd immunity and call for taking precautionary measures and scaling up vaccination.

ARJUN POUDEL randomly for the study, samples of the KATHMANDU, AUG 15 vaccinated population were also included. Over 50 percent of the country’s popu- According to the latest data of the lation has already been exposed to Ministry of Health, 4,684,509 people, SARS-CoV-2 that causes Covid-19, or 15.61 percent of the country’s according to a preliminary report of a total population, have taken the first large-scale seroprevalence study car- dose of the Covid-19 vaccine while ried out by the Ministry of Health and 3,364,157, or 11.21 percent, have been Population. fully vaccinated. The nationwide study carried out in Serology tests look for either immu- 76 of the 77 districts of the country, noglobulin M (IgM) or immunoglobu- except for Manang, in July, with tech- lin G (IgG), the two antibodies against nical as well as financial support from the coronavirus. the World Health Organisation, has Immunoglobulin M is the first anti- found that the majority of the popula- body developed by the immune sys- tion in densely populated cities across tem, and can be detected in the blood- the country has antibodies for the stream within a week or two after coronavirus. infection or after a few weeks of vacci- “A preliminary report of the study nation. Immunoglobulin G, mean- shows that over 50 percent of the coun- while, is detected only after two weeks. try’s population was found to have Blood samples of over 13,500 people, Post Photo: HEMANTA SHRESTHA antibodies against the coronavirus,” chosen randomly, were collected and Kantipur Editor Umesh Chauhan (left) moderates a session participated by Finance Minister Janardan Sharma, Minendra Rijal, Bimala Rai Paudyal, Shekhar Golchha and Bhogendra Jha an official at the Health Ministry told tested at the National Public Health at the Kantipur Economic Summit 2021 in the Capital on Sunday. (Report on page 5) the Post on condition of anonymity. Laboratory for antibodies. Antibodies are found in people who The Central Bureau of Statistics are already infected with the coronavi- helped in choosing the samples to rus or have been vaccinated. make the collection more scientific, “About 97 percent of the work of the according to Paudel, who is also the seroprevalence survey has been com- director of Epidemiology and Disease pleted and preliminary findings show Control Division. Taliban want full power after return to a large percentage of the population Public health experts, however, has Covid-19 antibodies,” Dr Krishna cautioned that this does not mean that Prasad Paudel, spokesperson for the herd immunity, a situation when a Health Ministry, told the Post. large portion of the population Afghanistan capital with lightning sweep “Though the final report is yet to be becomes immune to a disease, is close prepared, a significant portion of the to being achieved and that there still population, which could be 50 percent, is a need to continue with safety Taliban fighters say they have entered presidential palace and seized control as President Ashraf Ghani flees. already has coronavirus antibodies.” precautions. As blood samples were collected >> Continued on page 2

The Taliban said it was waiting for the Western-backed government to surrender peacefully. “Taliban fighters are to be on stand- by on all entrances of Kabul until a peaceful and satisfactory transfer of power is agreed,” said spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. The government’s acting interior minister, Abdul Sattar Mirzakawal, said power would be handed over to a transitional administration. “There won’t be an attack on the city, it is agreed that there will be a peaceful handover,” he tweeted. Many Afghans fear the Taliban will return to past harsh practices in their imposition of Sharia, or Islamic law. During their 1996-2001 rule, women could not work and punishments such as stoning, whipping and hanging were administered. The militants sought to project a more moderate face, promising to respect women’s rights and protect both foreigners and Afghans. “We assure the people, particularly in the city of Kabul, that their proper- ties, their lives are safe,” he told the BBC, saying a transfer of power was expected in days. Many of Kabul’s streets were choked by cars and people either try- ing to rush home or reach the airport, residents said. “Some people have left their keys in the car and have started walking to the airport,” one resident told Reuters. Another said: “People are all going home in fear of fighting.” Early on Sunday, refugees from Taliban-controlled provinces were seen unloading belongings from taxis and families stood outside embassy gates, while the city’s downtown was packed with people stocking up on supplies. US officials said diplomats were Reuters two senior Taliban commanders in being ferried by helicopters to the KABUL, Aug 15 Kabul said. The Afghan government airport from its embassy in the forti- did not confirm this. fied Wazir Akbar Khan district. An Afghanistan’s Taliban entered the American diplomats were evacuat- official for the transatlantic NATO capital Kabul on Sunday and Western- ed from their embassy by helicopter to alliance said several European Union backed President Ashraf Ghani left the airport as local Afghan forces, staff had moved to a safer location in the country, with the insurgents say- trained for years and equipped by the Kabul. US troops were still arriving at ing they were seeking complete power. United States and others for billions the airport, amid concern heavily Two officials from the militant of dollars, melted away. armed Afghan security contractors Islamist group told Reuters there Ghani’s destination was uncertain: could “mutiny” because they have not would be no transitional government a senior Interior Ministry official said been assured Washington is commit- following their lighting sweep across he had left for Tajikistan, while a ted to evacuating them, a person Afghanistan that led back to the capi- Foreign Ministry official said his loca- familiar with the issue said. tal two decades after the Taliban was tion was unknown and the Taliban US Secretary of State Antony overthrown by US-led forces. said it was checking his whereabouts. Blinken said in Washington that the Taliban fighters entered the presi- Some local social media users embassy was being moved to the air- dential palace and took control of it, branded him a “coward” for leaving port and has a list of people to get out them in chaos. of harm’s way. Taliban fighters reached Asked if images of helicopters Kabul “from all sides”, the sen- ferrying personnel were evocative ior Interior Ministry official told of the United States’ departure from Reuters and there were some Vietnam in 1975, Blinken told ABC reports of sporadic gunfire news: “Let’s take a step back. This is around the city. manifestly not Saigon.” A Kabul hospital said more A NATO official said the alliance than 40 people wounded in clash- was helping to secure the airport and es on the outskirts were being that a political solution was “now treated, but there did not appear more urgent than ever”. to be major fighting. Russia said it saw no need to evacu- It was not clear yet how power ate its embassy for the time being. would be transferred. >> Continued on page 6

C M Y K MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 2021 | 02 National Geological study finds 13 settlements of Half of the population Bahrabise at high risk of landslides, floods already exposed to ... >> Continued from page 1 as 28 percent. The study team has recommended the relocation of 5,000 households in several settlements that are at risk. They say even if the seroprevalence Doctors say that the seroprevalence study shows that the majority of the survey provides data on the preva- population has natural immunity or is lence of the coronavirus in communi- ANISH TIWARI already exposed to the virus, antibod- ties, and helps authorities prepare SINDHUPALCHOK, AUG 15 ies gained from an infection do not strategies—locate hotspots and take last long and this is shown by multiple necessary measures to contain the A geological study conducted recently international studies. spread of the virus. in Bahrabise Municipality has point- “I think the result of the seropreva- “The findings of the seroprevalence ed out that 13 settlements of the local lence study should be taken with study should help authorities priori- unit are at high risk of landslides and caution,” Dr Biraj Karmacharya, tise population groups for inoculation floods. an epidemiologist, told the Post. and take measures in the areas which A six-member technical team, “Even if 50 percent of the population have been less exposed to the virus,” including geologists Lekh Prasad has already been exposed to the coro- Dr Prabhat Adhikari, an infectious Bhatta and Govinda Pathak, visited navirus, the remaining 50 percent is disease and critical care expert, told more than 50 settlements of the still at high risk of contracting the the Post. municipality for the geological study. virus. Authorities should therefore Hospitals have reported a surge in “Thirteen settlements in wards 1 to focus on protecting those popula- admissions of serious Covid-19 9 in Bahrabise Municipality are at tions.” patients and oxygen manufactures high risk of landslides and floods. Further, as the virus continues to have said that the demand for These settlements should be relocated mutate and more dangerous variants the life-saving gas has doubled as soon as possible to protect lives and are emerging, risk has not lessened over the past week as a semblance properties,” Bhatta told the Post. and people already exposed to the of normalcy has returned although The geologists from the National coronavirus or those inoculated could some restrictions are still in place in Disaster Management Authority in get infected again, doctors say. infection hotspots like Kathmandu Kathmandu conducted the study with It is not known yet for which coro- Valley. the technical support of Pratibaddha navirus variant the antibodies have On Sunday, the Health Ministry Pariyojana, a project working in been detected in the samples tested. reported that 1,793 people tested posi- Sindhupalchok district to mitigate the The Delta variant, first found in India tive for the coronavirus in 8,088 poly- risk of natural disasters. in December last year, has been the merase chain reaction tests and an The technical team has listed most prevalent among Nepalis. additional 419 tested positive in 4,018 around 5,000 households of 13 settle- Karmacharya, who also heads the antigen tests. The number of active ments, including Nagpuje, Karthali, Department of Community cases stands at 39,298. Jambu, Bukam and Sotang, as being at Programmes at Dhulikhel Hospital, With 33 deaths reported on Sunday, high risk of landslides and recom- said all members of his family are the Covid-19 toll has reached 10,292 mended the authorities concerned to currently infected with the virus even since the pandemic began in January take initiatives for their relocation. though some of them had already last year. “Based on the report of the techni- been vaccinated. Public health experts say that sero- cal team, a team of geologists and “Within three days all of my family prevalence studies should be carried professors will soon visit the affected members got infected. The Delta vari- out on a regular basis, as they provide areas. The team will carry out another ant, which has been wreaking havoc insights into the extent of the infec- detailed geological study and submit throughout the globe, could be respon- tion in the population and help plan its reports to the government,” said sible,” said Karmacharya. “We should the fight against the pandemic accord- Sita Bhujel, the district advocacy coor- not forget what is happening in the ingly. dinator of the project. United States of America.” Authorities concerned can take a Following the geological study in Despite the fact that more than 50 call on where to enforce restrictive Bahrabise Municipality, the technical Post Photo: ANISH TIWARI percent of the total population in the measures and increase the availabili- team is now working in various wards A six-member technical team visited more than 50 settlements of Bahrabise Municipality for the geological study. United States has been fully vaccinat- ty of infrastructure such as hospital of Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality, ed, over 70,000 people are getting beds, intensive care unit beds, ventila- another landslide-hit local unit in the devastating landslide had swept away Municipality in the district while for- infected every day of late. tors, isolation wards, and oxygen sup- district. Nagpuje and BK Tole of Ghumthang ty-two people went missing. In 2014, Similarly, a study carried out in ply, according to them. According to Sushila Pakhrin, the Around 100 in Bahrabise Municipality Ward No 7 the Jure landslide killed 145 people. New Delhi in February had shown “Whatever the findings of the deputy mayor of Bahrabise on September 13, 2020, in which 15 This year, the flooded Melamchi that 56 percent of the population of study, risks of infection are Municipality, around 100 families endangered families villagers were killed while 16 others river wreaked havoc in Helambu and the Indian capital had antibodies but increasing and preventive measures have been shifted to safer locations in Bahrabise have are still missing. Likewise, two people Melamchi areas, killing at least five it became among the worst affected are still relevant,” Dr Sher Bahadur this year, as their houses are at high were killed and 17 others had gone people while 20 others are still miss- areas when the second wave hit the Pun, chief of the Clinical Research risk of landslides and floods. They are been shifted to safer missing when another landslide ing. The floods and landslides country in March. Unit at Sukraraj Tropical and now taking shelter under tents at var- struck Jambu in Bahrabise Ward No 5 destroyed around 300 houses and dis- The Health Ministry had carried Infectious Disease Hospital, told the ious locations. locations this year. on July 9 of the same year. placed hundreds of families. The risk out a seroprevalence survey in Post. “If the number of new cases “The geological survey was In the last year alone, as many as 73 of floods and landslides in the area September 2020 also, which showed keeps growing at the current pace, conducted to identify the settlements people died in different landslides in has not decreased yet, as multiple that one in eight people, or 13 percent health facilities will be overwhelmed at risk of natural disaster. Efforts said Pakhrin. Bahrabise Municipality, Melamchi landslides have been reported in of the population, had been exposed soon and we have not forgotten what are underway to shift the endangered Sindhupalchok is one of the hard- Municipality, Bhotekoshi Rural Bhemathang and other places above to the coronavirus. And in some we saw during the peak of the settlements to safer places,” est-hit districts by natural disasters. A Municipality and Jugal Rural the settlements. districts, the figure was as high second wave.”

Briefing Timber worth millions Man arrested on rape charge missing from Kapilvastu GULMI: Police have arrested a 36-year- old man from Kaligandaki Rural Municipality in Gulmi district on the charge of raping a community forest four-year-old girl. Security personnel from Bhutunga Police MANOJ PAUDEL Umesh Kumar Shah, assistant forest Post detained the suspect and KAPILVASTU, AUG 15 officer of Motipur Sub Division Forest brought him to the district headquar- Office. “The logs might have gone ters on Friday evening. “Detailed Over 900 cubic feet of timber logs have missing while they were being trans- investigation into the incident is been missing from the Shringighat ported to the field depot or inside the underway,” said Deputy Community Forest area in Banganga forest.” Superintendent of Police Municipality since the last two weeks. The community forest users’ com- Purushottam Prasad Pandey. Shringighat Community Forest, mittee is responsible for managing which covers wards 1, 3, 4 and 5 of timber in the forest. However, office Banganga Municipality, is one of the bearers of the users’ committee and Covid-19 cases up in largest community forests in the individuals responsible for manag- Nawalparasi (East) Kapilvastu district. ing timber remained tight-lipped Initially, information about the about the stolen timber. NAWALPARASI (EAST): The missing logs was kept hidden by the After information about the miss- number of Covid-19 patients has community forest consumer commit- ing logs came to light, the division been increasing in Nawalparasi tee. The incident came to light only forest office instructed the forest district in the last one week. Chhabi after some forest employees disclosed users’ committee to form a probe Subedi, information officer at the information. committee and investigate the case. the District Hospital, said, “The A team of technicians from A five-member committee headed District Hospital in Nawalparasi Motipur Sub Division Forest Office by Krishna Paudel, the secretary of (East) receives five to seven found 939.44 cubic feet of logs the forest users’ committee, was coronavirus patients on a daily missing while tallying the wood formed as per the direction of the for- Post Photo: KESHAV THAPA basis. The rate of infection has cutting records in the field. The est office. Women wash clothes at a stone spout at Bagalamukhi, Lalitpur on Sunday. doubled now.” According to the record shows that 882 cubic feet of sal The committee submitted its pre- data of the District Health Office logs and 56 cubic feet of Asana, liminary report a few days ago stating in Nawalparasi (East), there are Karman and Kusum logs are missing that logs were stolen from the commu- 749 active cases of Covid-19 in the from the field depot. Those logs were nity forest. But the report does not district. stamped and registered, said forest mention how and from where the logs officials. were stolen. And the report does not Cantilever bridge left unused after floods Security personnel deployed to On March 6, 2020, the Division state who is responsible for the inci- Forest Office in Kapilvastu had grant- dent. destroy marijuana plants ed permission to the Shringighat The forest consumers suspect that swept away approach way LAMJUNG: The District Administration Community Forest Consumers Group the probe committee prepared such an Office in Lamjung has launched a to cut down 27,508 cubic feet of wood incomplete report to protect the guilty. campaign to destroy marijuana from the community forest. “The report does not show who was plants in the district. Security per- Krishna Gopal Koju and Ganesh responsible for the missing timber. The trail should be repaired to ease transportation of food and daily essentials, locals say. sonnel, in coordination with local Bahadur Singh Thakuri, forest con- The case of timber theft will continue people’s representatives, have been sumers of Banganga Ward No. 4, had unless the guilty are punished,” said a HARIRAM UPRETY metres of the foot trail should be damaged foot trail. deployed in various settlements to received a contract to transport, consumer preferring anonymity. GORKHA, AUG 15 repaired so that people and mules can “One hundred and seventy pieces of destroy marijuana plants. “Besides unload, collect and pile timber at the As per the valuation of the commu- cross the area through the cantilever gabion boxes have been used to con- destroying the plants, we have also field depot. nity forest users’ committee, the sto- A cantilever bridge that was built bridge,” said Gurung. “The local gov- struct the temporary path. Mules can been informing people that growing On May 28, 2020, the then govern- len logs cost around Rs 700,000 based along the cliff of Yarubagar in north- ernment does not have the budget to also make their way through the new marijuana is illegal,” said Deputy ment ordered forest offices to keep the on its minimum rate fixed while sell- ern Gorkha has been left unused after carry out the repair works. The feder- trail, which has made it easier to Superintendent of Police Krishna logs inside the forest until further ing the timber to consumers. However, the flooded Budhigandaki river swept al and provincial governments should transport food grains and daily essen- Bahadur Karki. notice. Then after, works related to its market price is more than three away the approach trail one and half provide assistance for it.” tials to villages now,” said Gurung. transportation and measurement of fold. months ago. According to Gurung, a temporary On Wednesday, a team of geologists woods came to a halt. The community forest users’ “The bridge has been left unused as path has been built after the risk of from the National Disaster On January 27, the government committee claims that incidents of there is no other way to reach it,” said food crisis increased in Chumanubri Management Authority inspected the scrapped the decision and contractors timber theft are rife in the district Bel Bahadur Ghale of Yarubagar. “One Rural Municipality, which is still dis- damaged Yarubagar and Manaslu foot started to transport logs that were cut since the government imposed a has to use a rope to reach the bridge, connected from road networks. Local trail area. and recorded from the forest areas to ban on the collection, transportation which is very risky. We don’t know residents still have to rely on mules to “Locals and people’s representa- the field depots. and sale of timber from the communi- when the bridge will come to use.” carry food grains and daily essentials. tives requested the team to repair the Since June, timber logs from the ty forest. Floods in the Budhigandaki river After the July 21 flood damaged the damaged foot trail at the earliest,” Shringighat Community Forest have Meanwhile, Renu Sen, the chairper- had swept away around a 100 metres foot trail, the locals had to carry food said Dhan Bahadur Gurung, chair- been brought to the field depot in son of the community forest of the foot trail on the southern side grains and daily essentials to their man of Chumanubri Rural Madhuban Dham, a part of consumers’ committee, said, “The of the bridge. villages. Municipality. Shringighat Community Forest contractors who were given Ward Chairman of Dharche Rural “It took around two weeks to con- The 195-metre-long cantilever around six kilometres from the north- responsibility for logging could not Municipality-1 Dilip Gurung says the struct the temporary path at the cost bridge was constructed by drilling the ern part of Pawar Community Forest complete their work on time. The flood-ravaged way to the cantilever of Rs 800,000. However, we have yet to rocky cliff of Yarubagar with the sup- in Arghakhanchi. government later banned the bridge should be repaired at the earli- provide wages to the workers,” said port of the UK Department for Forest technicians had then con- logging and transportation of timber est to ease the import of goods and Gurung. “We have demanded a budget International Development in 2016. ducted a field measurement of the in the community forest. Since daily essentials. from the provincial government for There used to be wooden bridges in

k logs at the field depot. the forest guards provide security in “People are using alternative ways the work.” Yarubagar but they were swept away

stoc “The timber logs were found miss- the forest area during day time, along the river bank but the banks are Meanwhile, Chumanubri and by the flooded Budhigandaki river in er ing when the technicians were meas- the timber could have been stolen at approachable only when the water Dharche rural municipalities have 2014, cutting off the northern villages

shutt uring logs at the field depot,” said night.” level in the river is low. Around 240 taken the responsibility to repair the from the district headquarters.

C M Y K 03 | MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 2021 National Maoist party fears becoming One million applicants affected as irrelevant, stresses reforms driving licence tests yet to resume Department of Transport Management says it can’t conduct the tests without Party’s central committee meet warns Maoist Centre could turn into a reactionary party. receiving a nod from Covid-19 Crisis Management Centre. Chairman Dahal had presented an eight-page political document on ANUP OJHA Saturday and eight groups had KATHMANDU, AUG 15 presented their views on it Sunday. Dahal had proposed that the exist- Just a week before the prohibitory ing coalition of leftist and democratic orders were imposed in Kathmandu parties would continue until the Valley, Nirmala Ghimire had bought a upcoming polls but the leaders have new scooter to ease her commute to questioned whether that would be the her office from her apartment at right thing to do. Kalanki. “The meeting has amended Dahal’s She used to commute by public proposal saying that the alliance transport earlier. By getting the scoot- would continue to safeguard the con- er, Ghimire thought she was reducing stitution and democracy,” said her risk of catching the coronavirus. Neupane. The 26-year-old says she had learned The Dahal-led Maoist party has long to ride before buying the scooter and been lobbying for a directly-elected was prepared to take the test for a President but due to its weakened two-wheeler licence. strength in the second Constituent But she could not take the test as the Assembly, the party was unable to Department of Transport enshrine the idea in the constitution. Management was not conducting Post file Photo But the central committee meeting the test. Dahal presented an eight-page political document at the meeting. has again called for a directly-elected Owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, presidential system and a proportion- the department has not issued new TIKA R PRADHAN bring change in the party.” al representation election system say- driving licences since March last year. KATHMANDU, AUG 15 He, however, said that the party ing they are needed for resolving the Although the department opened leaders would believe the words only existing problems in governance. online applications for driving licenc- The first central committee meeting after the top leaders start acting However, the issue has not been high- es in mid-January this year, it has not of the Communist Party of Nepal accordingly. lighted citing that it could affect the yet conducted the driving trials. (Maoist Centre) held after it was The meeting concluded that the existing alliance of the left and demo- Ghimire says she was compelled to Post file Photo revived on March 7 by the Supreme party would be able to find a way to cratic forces. ride her scooter to work without Transport department has not conducted driving licence tests since March last year. Court has concluded that the party reform itself before the upcoming The meeting endorsed Dahal’s polit- licence when Kathmandu Valley was has become irrelevant as it is no dif- national conference scheduled for ical document with some corrections under strict prohibitory orders and ment closed its services soon after she UK has advised me to get a licence, but ferent from the other political parties. January 25-27 next year. and the party’s statute. As per the public vehicles were not allowed to had applied. it’s impossible,” the 21-year-old said. While concluding the meeting, During the two-day long meeting, interim party statute, the party will operate. According to the department, Bhusal, the spokesperson for the Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who leaders raised a host of issues for now have 299-strong central commit- “I had a travel pass issued by my around 7,000 licence applications have transport department, says currently has been leading the party for the last bringing reforms to the party. They tee, a 100-member politburo and a office but no licence,” she said. “I was been pending for a year. they can only renew the licences of three decades, said the Maoist party suggested that the party could be 33-member Standing Committee. Now stopped by traffic police more than six In nearly four months from mid-Jan- those people who are going abroad. will lose its significance unless it developed into a centre of the left par- the Maoist party will have office-bear- times during the prohibitory orders uary until the prohibitory orders were The halt in the services has left the improves on its ongoing activities. ties but for that the leaders need to ers including vice-chairperson, gener- and every time I managed to get off imposed this year, the department has buyers of two-wheelers and other Dahal said that his party may look change their existing behaviour. al secretary, deputy general secretary after showing the pass issued by my resumed services such as licence vehicles frustrated. It has also caused alright but it is not different from The party also concluded that the and secretary like in the CPN-UML. office.” renewal, vehicle registration and tax many people like Ghimire and Khadga other “bourgeois reactionary parties”. risk of regression still exists therefore The party, which waged a dec- Mina Khadga has a similar experi- collection. However, the process of to drive without a licence, because “If we continue with our current it needs to work honestly to imple- ade-long insurgency to bring change ence of riding her scooter to work issuing new driving licences remains they do not feel safe travelling in pub- activities, this party will be of no use. ment the constitution. in society, has also decided to make its without a licence during the lockdown suspended. lic vehicles, where Covid safety proto- Communist parties in the world have “Although the regressive moves of party committees inclusive with 35 last year. Loknath Bhusal, spokesperson of cols are rarely followed. fallen,” a central committee member the previous [Oli] government have percent women, 15 percent Dalits and The 25-year-old had got a new scoot- the department, said in the past 15 “Even though you can ride well and quoted Dahal as saying at the meeting. been defeated, such risks have not at least 20 percent youths. er just before the lockdown and months, an estimated 1 million people own a vehicle, the authorities do not “If we cannot be honest with our class gone away completely,” said Narayan In line with the federal system, the applied for a licence. She too is wait- haven’t been able to get their driving give you a licence under the pretext of and principles, we should rather Kaji Shrestha, party’s spokesperson, party has decided to change the exist- ing for the transport department to licences. the pandemic,” said Ghimire. “The involve ourselves in research or write following the meeting held at a party ing executive district committees into resume the tests for driving licence. “We can’t resume our service with- government should find an alterna- books by dissolving the party.” palace. district coordination committees and “I have been stopped twice by traffic out receiving a nod from the Covid-19 tive. Everything is open these days. I Dahal’s candid statement has The central committee meeting of further empower the committees in police. When they asked whether I Crisis Management Centre,” said don’t understand why the transport impressed many of the central com- the Maoist Centre was the continua- provinces and local units. have a licence, I told them confidently Bhusal. department is not conducting the test mittee, though they are not yet tion of the one that was held on March According to insiders, the party has that I have it. Luckily, they didn’t both- Among the people who are unable to when new vehicles are being sold convinced that the party’s leadership 15-16 after the court’s verdict. decided to form a mechanism to sup- er to see,” said Khadga, who lives at get driving licences are students going every day.” will change or reform itself. The March meeting had decided to port the party’s ministers serving in Bakhundole. abroad for further studies and migrant Nepal imported 208,793 two-wheel- “We discussed at length that our retain the 200 central members who the federal and provincial govern- Khadga feels bad about having to lie workers. ers worth Rs18.76 billion in the fiscal party in its present form is not neces- were included during the merger with ments to help them perform better. about having a licence. But she also Rayan Sunuwar of Gothatar has year 2019-20, according to the sary as there are many similar ones,” UML in May 2018. Among them there “We have decided to focus on educa- says she had no choice since travelling applied for a college in the United Department of Customs, while their said Lekhnath Neupane, a central are only 179 members but the party tion, health and the programmes for by public transport is not safe. Kingdom. He expects to get his visa number reached 355,959, which cost committee member. “Top leaders have has amended the statute to increase the peasants,” said a central commit- Her application for a licence was this month. Rs33.19 billion, in the fiscal year promised to reform themselves to it to 299. tee member asking not to be named. not processed as the transport depart- “One of my relatives who lives in the 2020-21.

C M Y K MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 2021 | 04 Opinion EDITORIAL Why we need an independent central bank Build bridges The government should invest in bridges rather than useless view towers.

Earlier this month, the death of Jaya Singh Dhami in the remote Darchula district shook the nation. While investiga- tions are underway to ascertain if a member of India’s Sashastra Seema Bal detached the metal cable from a tree just when Dhami was about to make it across the Mahakali River, the incident exposes how villagers in remote regions of Nepal continue to live in a state of statelessness. For the lack of a bridge, people are forced to cross rivers using tuins, unsafe boats, tubes, and wooden planks, and recurrent reports of lives lost while attempting to cross the river are worrisome. Limi village in the remote Humla district is one such exam- ple. Every monsoon, the Karnali River swells up and cuts the villagers’ access to the district headquarters of Simikot. Without a bridge, villagers swim or wade across the river by forming a human chain. An alternative route across a stream does not have a bridge, and repeated pleas for a bridge have remained unanswered, forcing people to risk their lives or wait until the water level recedes in December. For some 1,100 residents of Limi that covers Til, Jang and Halji villages, this is an annual event that disrupts their lives and puts them in a precarious situation. But the story is not limited to Limi; it reverberates across the country where access remains limit- Nepal Rastra Bank ed throughout seasons. It does not only impede socioeconom- Janata Samajbadi Party, and the ing, finance, commerce, management, the central bank’s $132 billion in cash ic development but also kills people. Ideally, politics Rastriya Janamorcha supported him. and commercial law and from among reserves. Several studies and the government’s own experiences In essence, he has many sides to please deputy governors. The finance secre- Even the world’s leading economies and central banking while Cabinet portfolios are limited. tary also chairs a three-member com- are not immune to this controversy. In have shown that bridges play an essential role in improving Budget is one other tool he can use. On mittee to recommend three names to the US in 2019 and early 2020, President people’s lives and boosting the rural economy. Schools see should be like oil August 10, Minister Sharma told fill the governor’s post. The board’s Donald Trump openly and routinely increased attendance. People seek professional medical Parliament that the government is decisions are majority-based. urged Federal Reserve Chairman advice at health posts and have access to hospitals and public and water. revising the budget presented by The presence of the finance secre- Jerome Powell to lower rates, even services. Businesses mushroom, creating jobs and trading Bishnu Prasad Paudel, his predecessor. tary can create conflict. He is a bureau- using derogatory Twitter posts. In the opportunities as bridges connect people and markets. With By convention, the Nepal Rastra Bank crat but will, in all probability, toe the nineties, Chairman Alan Greenspan all the positive socioeconomic indicators, there is no doubt Paban Raj Pandey tries to incorporate a new budget in its line of whoever is in power. In the cur- was blamed by President George Bush monetary policy. But it does not have to. rent government, the main parties for his 1992 loss to President Bill that building bridges is the most cost-effective rural infra- involved—Nepali Congress, CPN Clinton for not lowering interest rates structure development to achieve cross-sector development Objectives of the Nepal Rastra Bank (Maoist Center), Janata Samajbadi enough during the 1990-1991 recession. goals. As per the Nepal Rastra Bank Act, 2002, Party, and the Madhav Kumar Nepal- Such actions only give fodder to critics Millions of Nepalis use bridges every day to make their (1) the objectives of the bank are: (a) to led faction within CPN (UML)—all who question Fed’s independence. In way to schools, health posts, markets and district headquar- formulate, and manage, monetary and adhere to different political philoso- Japan, the Bank of Japan was criti- ters or the nearest bus stop that connects them to national foreign exchange policy needed to phies and have their own sets of prior- cised in late 2012 for making markets highways. Because of bridges, the face of rural Nepal, espe- The Nepal Rastra Bank, Nepal’s central maintain price and balance of payment ities. Deep down, they all want to win wait longer than usual for a monetary bank, published its monetary policy for stability for the achievement of eco- the next election. The party in power policy announcement; critics regularly cially in the hill and mountainous regions, has changed, the fiscal year 2021/22 on August 13. nomic stability and sustainable devel- would like to go to the voters and brag point out that the bank is subject to opening up the rural population’s access to essential services Earlier, it was on course to make it pub- opment of the economy; (b) to raise that the country did well under its lead- political interference. and markets, which have contributed significantly to all the lic in the third week of July. The delay public confidence toward the banking ership. The primary focus is growth— Ideally, politics and central banking hard-won gains in socioeconomic and infrastructure develop- was due to the change in government. and financial system by making the at any cost. Central bankers, on the should be like oil and water. But we do ment to date. And thanks to the Swiss Development After the Supreme Court on July 12 sectors stable and by increasing other hand, need to seek maximum not live in a perfect world. The issue is Cooperation, the iconic trail bridges have heralded more reinstated the dissolved House of access to financial services; (c) to employment with as keen a focus on crucial in markets such as Nepal’s that changes in people’s lives than anything else and paved the Representatives and ordered Sher develop a secure, healthy and efficient price stability. are just getting off the ground. Bahadur Deuba to be appointed as new payment system. (2) The bank, without Governments that do not acknowledge way for all other development initiatives to follow. But five prime minister, KP Sharma Oli adversely impacting the objectives Fiscal versus monetary the significance of the central bank’s decades on, bridges remain imperative to save lives and con- resigned on the 13th. Deuba took the outlined in subsection 1, will extend We often hear of politicians clashing independence will sooner or later face nect the rural community to the world. oath of office the same day, appointing cooperation to the government of with central bankers—in emerging a revolt in markets. From this perspec- Most of Nepal’s development challenges have time-tested, Janardan Sharma of the Communist Nepal in the implementation of eco- economies as well as developed ones. In tive, the 2016 second amendment of the easily replicable indigenous solutions, provided there is a Party of Nepal (Maoist Center) as nomic policy. March, the Turkish lira collapsed 15 Nepal Rastra Bank Act added section political will to implement the fundamental principles of finance minister. A new coalition gov- Sub-section 2 under section 4 is percent after President Recep Tayyip 106 C, which states that (1) the govern- economic growth through strategic policies and budget allo- ernment and a new finance minister vague, but nowhere does it say that the Erdogan sacked the country’s central ment of Nepal may give directives to meant a possible change in fiscal policy, bank needs to consult the government. bank governor. Naci Agbal had been the bank as relates to currency, bank- cation. Building bridges with homegrown experts is a cost-ef- which the monetary policy supposedly Here is the issue: The bank’s sev- raising interest rates as inflation was ing, and finance and that (2) it will be fective investment and policy framework for the government needed to accommodate. en-member board of directors is running above 15 percent. Erdogan the the bank’s duty to abide by those. This to ensure equal opportunities for citizens. Unlike view tow- The 165 lawmakers that voted for chaired by the governor—currently, politician could not stomach tighter is a huge red flag, as it gives politicians ers, welcome gates and other unnecessary concrete struc- Deuba in the reinstated parliament Maha Prasad Adhikari, who began his monetary policy. Or take India, where ample space to interfere. This section tures that are an eyesore and a total waste of taxpayers’ belong to a disparate group. Besides five-year term in April last year. Urjit Patel resigned as Reserve Bank of should be deleted, and the finance sec- money, bridges serve both design and function while improv- Deuba’s party, Nepali Congress, law- Secretary of finance and two deputy India governor in December 2018 over retary should not be a part of the ing rural connectivity. To remote Nepal and its population, makers from the CPN (Maoist Center), governors fill up three slots. The other differences with Prime Minister board. the main opposition within the three members are government appoin- Narendra Modi as the latter, ahead of bridges are a boon for the people and a lifeline that the gov- Communist Party of Nepal (United tees from among renowned persons in elections, sought to increase govern- Pandey talks markets, money and mac- ernment must extend for inclusive development. Marxist-Leninist), both factions of the the fields of economics, money, bank- ment spending by transferring some of roeconomics on hedgopia.com. A dangerous new variant of populism

one else. The government recently set unvaccinated from concerts, cinemas, People have grown weary of an ambitious goal of reducing the pro- museums, swimming pools, theatres, portion of coal in the country’s energy and restaurants where 50 people or authoritarianism, mix from 70 percent to 11 percent by more are gathered. More trouble may 2040. But that will have massive impli- ensue if nurses (only 50-58 percent of corruption, and divisiveness cations for mining, which employs whom are vaccinated) are prevented some 100,000 heavily unionised and from working until they receive two during the pandemic. politically influential workers. doses; or if railway workers raise Moreover, with little wind or sun- objections about having to enforce shine in winter, Poland is ill suited for vaccine-passport rules on local and MICHAEL BURLEIGH renewable-energy deployment. commuter trains. No job should Instead, it has set its sights on “solu- involve the risk of being headbutted tions” like nuclear power and the or punched in the face. “Baltic Pipe” gas pipeline—subsidised It was perhaps inevitable that the by the European Commission to the parasitic populist right would latch tune of €215 million ($251 million)—to onto these issues. Although Marine Le import gas from Norway via Denmark. Pen of the far-right National Rally But neither of these options has party has typically hedged her bets, Most of the “geopolitical” threats, real gone down well in Germany. If her former right-hand man, Florian or confected, that capture headlines in Poland’s efforts to align with EU poli- Philipott, was very vocal at the biggest the West nowadays are exogenous— cy put it at loggerheads with key of the many anti-vaccine rallies in emanating from China, Russia, Iran, neighbors and trade partners, it will July. These are growing in size by the and so forth. But others lie within the be damned if it does and damned if it month, with 200,000 attending the first world’s democracies. Among these are doesn’t. The conditions are set for a one in August. This “movement” the US Republican Party’s embrace of thriving anti-green populism. flourishes among the semi-educated Trumpian authoritarianism, which is Yet this populist threat is hardly in small towns and in cities like eroding the country’s democracy, and limited to Central and Eastern Europe. Marseille, where obdurate pastis guz- the possibility that new unanticipated Opposition to climate action could just zlers and religious immigrant commu- variants of populism will take hold as easily spread to Europe’s more nities also contribute to its ranks. around the world. established democracies if costly However, it is worth stressing that One new variant of populism might items like air source heat pumps and 62 percent of the silent majority in involve hostility toward both costly smart meters are rendered technologi- France supports vaccine passports, green policies and vaccination against cally redundant, or if vehicles with and 70 percent want all hospital and Covid-19. And it would be driven by a internal combustion engines are care-home workers to be fully vacci- combination of genuine concerns forced off the road by government fiat. nated. That is probably why Macron about pocketbook issues and the kinds In fact, France was briefly the epi- has stuck to his guns: he hopes that of conspiratorial lunacy that thrive on center of an anti-green backlash in rationality will prevail and that any the internet. Europe, with the rambunctious gilets increase in economic activity will ben- Anti-green populism is particularly jaunes (yellow vest) protests that Shutterstock efit his campaign in 2022. Let’s hope he likely to flourish in the more fossil began in 2018. Angry citizens who rely Slovenia, and elsewhere. People have interference in God’s work) and suspi- nated youth from nightclubs is akin to is right. fuel-dependent economies of Central on cars to get around their country grown weary of authoritarianism, cion of powers being arrogated by the Jews being sent to Auschwitz. Still, one can see the outlines of an and Eastern Europe, in response to the districts eventually forced President corruption, and divisiveness during modern state, which made vaccina- Versions of that analogy have long emerging political fusion between European Union’s new strategy for Emmanuel Macron to rescind a new the pandemic—a crisis that was gross- tion mandatory for infants or children appeared in the British Daily irrationality and pocketbook issues. reducing greenhouse gases by 55 per- tax on diesel fuel. They had a point, ly mishandled by populist govern- entering school. Telegraph, courtesy of its dogmatical- As anti-vaxxers and anti-greens join cent by 2030. Indeed, the so-called Fit for considering that the infrastructure for ments, in particular. The likes of The only unique contribution of ly libertarian commentators, who forces, any number of stray populist 55 plan would seem to call for the whole- more expensive electric vehicles sim- Hungarian Prime Minister Victor our current age is the role of social have made common cause with the demagogues might seek to lead such a sale remodeling of these economies. ply does not exist in France (or any- Orbán are the elite, not some anti-sys- media in amplifying the views of likes of the Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers movement. That underscores the Consider Poland, which generates where else). temic opposition to it. crank medics and scientists, as hap- of Italy), Italy’s homegrown fascist importance of UN initiatives such as 70 percent of its energy from coal and More recently, a significant share of Opposition to vaccination is as old pened after The Lancet published (and movement. Any enemy of the EU is Team Halo, which has brought togeth- receives additional supplies through a this cohort seems to have joined with as inoculation itself. The English city then retracted) Andrew Wakefield’s their best friend by default. Although er scientists to publicise the impor- gas pipeline from Russia. Coal is espe- militant anti-vaxxers (many of them of Leicester used to be a hotbed of it. false claims that there is a link the overwhelming majority of Italians tance of vaccines, especially on social cially abundant in southern Poland, on the far right) who have adopted In 1885, 100,000 people there attended between the measles, mumps, and support the government’s green pass media platforms. where it is used to fuel giant power various libertarian poses propagated an anti-vaccination rally, complete rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism. initiative, Fratelli’s leader, Giorgia stations that provide industry with on the internet. This confluence of with a child’s coffin and an effigy of Nowadays, any online search of Meloni, loudly does not. Michael Burleigh, a senior fellow at cheap electricity. grievance may have traction, especial- Edward Jenner, the pioneer of small- vaccines immediately reveals a dis- In the homeland of Louis Pasteur, LSE Ideas, is the author, most recently, If it is to meet EU emissions targets, ly as more conventional populist pox vaccination. Such movements proportionate number of anti-vacci- such militants are particularly exer- of Populism: Before and After the Poland is going to have to decarbonise movements have begun to take a bat- were often based on a fusion of funda- nation sites, as well as pernicious guff cised by the government’s vac- Pandemic (Hurst 2021). more extensively and rapidly than any- tering, notably in Hungary, Poland, mentalist Christianity (which opposed claiming that the barring of unvacci- cine-passport rules, which exclude the — Project Syndicate

C M Y K 05 | MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 2021 Money Nepal plans to start road to economic recovery as third wave looms Even though the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Deuba on July 13 had decided to introduce a special package to revive the economy within a month, it's yet to announce any package.

PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA But, Sharma said that the govern- KATHMANDU, AUG 15 ment has not yet considered reintro- ducing the ordinance for the budget. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba “Introducing an ordinance on a budget on Sunday said that the government is the option only in complicated situ- was working on short, medium and ations,” he said. long-term strategies to rehabilitate But, the government has promised the economy battered by the Covid-19 an economic revival plan which suf- pandemic. fered one after another setback in the But the looming third wave may wake of the first and the second waves impede the economic recovery as the of Covid-19. Whether he will intro- country’s efforts may be complicated duce such a plan through an amend- by the more contagious variant. A ment to the budget or through any third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic other means, is not clear. is imminent and unavoidable, public As a result of the nearly four- health experts, epidemiologists, virol- month-long lockdown to control the ogists as well as the Ministry of spread of the pandemic, the country’s Health and Population, all agree. economy suffered a negative And Prime Minister Deuba has also growth of 2.1 percent in the fiscal year warned the public of the looming 2019-20. It was the first time since the third wave. fiscal year 1982-83 that the economy Even though the country’s economy contracted. was on the road to recovery after the The Central Bureau of Statistics first Covid-19 wave, the second wave expected growth of 4 percent in the that hit the country in April came as a last fiscal year 2020-21 but the central major setback, as the government was bank said on Friday in the monetary forced to impose yet another pro- policy that is hard to achieve. longed lockdown slowing down eco- Amid the third wave of the pandem- nomic activities. ic looming, the central bank has The pandemic has so far claimed sought to support the enterprises over 10,000 lives, which is slightly and individuals affected by the pan- higher than the number of people demic economically. But, there are killed in the 2015 earthquakes. concerns that there has been uneven As of Friday, the country’s 57 dis- post photo : Angad Dhakal support for enterprises affected by the tricts out of 77 are under lockdowns, Participants listen to a discussion during the Kantipur Economic Summit 2021 held at Soaltee Hotel in Kathmandu on Sunday. pandemic. albeit they are not stricter, according According to the Economic to the Ministry of Home Affairs. according to the Ministry of Health demic situation improves. The budget has made provisions for support small and large enterprises Activities Study Report 2020-21 ( First As a result, the government itself and Population. Under this strategy, accelerating the conducting training on handicraft affected by Covid-19 with policies and Half), as much as 37.7 percent of agri- admitted that meeting the expected The country has so far got delivery implementation of road projects that making, plumbing, electronics, cook- financial resources. “The government culture credits went to the borrowers growth of four percent in the last fis- of 10.8 million vaccine doses from dif- would contribute to the employment ing, beauty care, masonry, and also needs to support the poor people of Bagmati province and 64.8 percent cal year 2020-21 that ended in mid-July ferent countries. “Additional 10 mil- of the poor, initiating daring legal carpeting, among others, for the peo- whose number has grown from an of industrial credit went to the firms would be challenging. lion vaccine doses will arrive in the reforms to attract investment in the ple who lost their jobs at home and estimated 18 percent,” he said. of Bagmati province. Even though the cabinet chaired by country by mid-October,” said Deuba. employment-centric industrial sector, abroad. It also talks about implement- Even though Finance Minister Central Bank Governor Maha Prime Minister Deuba on July 13 had He said that the government would improving standards of hospitals, ing the Prime Minister Employment Janardan Sharma hinted last week Prasad Adhikari said that only three decided to introduce a special package concentrate on introducing appropri- enhancing the capacity of local gov- Programme with necessary revisions while presenting the White Paper percent of the borrowers have taken to revive the economy within a month, ate relief packages while ensuring ernments to tackle disasters and to provide at least 100 days of titled ‘Information on Current 50 percent of total loans. According to it is yet to announce any package even economic stability after the vaccina- developing a national alert system (on employment. Economic Situation of Nepal’ on the the central bank, there are a total of after the deadline expired. tion is over. disaster) are other priorities of the However, there is no specific provi- state of the economy at the House of 1.7 million borrowers. Speaking virtually at the Kantipur “Protecting small enterprises, new government. sion of relief for the wage-workers Representatives that the new govern- As many as 97 percent of the bor- Economic Summit organized by addressing the issues of micro, small The long-term strategy will be even though some of the provisions ment would introduce a replacement rowers are receiving less than Rs10 Kantipur Media Group on Sunday, and medium enterprises, creating based on the conclusion of the study such as providing free electricity bill to change the current budget in million loans from the banks and Prime Minister Deuba discussed demands for production of large scale on a broader impact of the pandemic up to 20 units for the period of lock- line with new government’s priorities, financial institutions, according to the priorities of the government industries, ensuring access to people on the economy of specific geographi- down and free water up to 20,000 it appears far from sure. Adhikari. under the short-, medium-, and long- working in the informal sector and cal areas. Based on the study, priority litres per month could provide them On Sunday, he hinted at bringing a He, however, said that it was not the term strategies to revive the economy protecting the agriculture-based will be given to completing economi- some succour. replacement bill either with the exist- cause of concern as it is the reality of without making any specific industries are other immediate priori- cally transformative projects and The monetary policy unveiled by ing provision or with an amendment. the world at large as just 20 borrowers announcements. ties of the government, according to improving the quality of education the Nepal Rastra Bank on Friday for “We are still discussing whether to are receiving 16.5 percent of the total According to him, vaccination Prime Minister Deuba. and social security. the current fiscal year has sought to continue the existing provision of loans in India. against Covid-19 is the main weapon “Likewise, tourism and transporta- Even though the previous govern- help enterprises and individuals hit amending it,” said Sharma. “We should not envy the large firms to fight against this pandemic. tion services, party palaces and ment led by KP Sharma Oli came up hard by the Covid-19 pandemic by Considering the possibility that the that receive large chunks of loans as As of Sunday, a total of over 8 mil- department stores will also get relief with a number of relief measures for extending the deadline of paying bill may not be passed in the House, they also create a large number of lion people have got at least one jab. As and people in these sectors will also be Covid-19 affected people and enter- loans and offering subsidized loans speculations are rife that the govern- jobs,” he said. “Our main concern many as 4.68 million people have prioritized for vaccination,” he said. prises through the budget for the cur- and refinance facilities. ment is preparing to end the House should be whether there has been received their first jab while 3.36 mil- In the medium term, economic rent fiscal year, the new government Finance Minister Janardan Sharma session and run the state with the financial access to small entrepre- lion people have been fully vaccinated, revival will get priority after the pan- also decided to introduce a package. said that the government needed to ordinance. neurs too.”

FOREX Taliban's rapid gains give US Dollar 119.10 India’s Modi to unveil $1.35 trillion Euro 140.45 Pound Sterling 165.14 investors cause for concern infrastructure plan soon Canadian Dollar 95.20 Japanese Yen 10.87 beyond Afghanistan 7.3 percent in the fiscal year that ended in March. Economists fear Chinese Yuan 18.39 there will be no rebound similar to the Qatari Riyal 32.51 REUTERS could raise security concerns and ones seen in the US and other major LONDON, AUG 15 make it harder for Islamabad to meet economies. Australian Dollar 87.78 targets set by the IMF. At the same In his 90-minute speech, Modi also The Taliban’s rapid advance towards time, some investors say, they could listed his government’s achievements Malaysian Ringit 28.11 Kabul is not only causing concern increase Pakistan’s strategic impor- since 2014 and hailed India’s coronavi- Saudi Arab Riyal 31.76 about Afghanistan’s future but also tant for the West. rus vaccination campaign. about the impact on other countries in “The IMF is carefully watching the “We are proud that we didn’t have to Thai Bhat 3.57 the region and their economies. fast-moving situation on the ground in depend on any other country for Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank Iran and then Iraq lie to the Afghanistan,” a Fund spokesperson Covid-19 vaccines. Imagine what west of Afghanistan. Tajikistan, said on Friday, adding that it was would have happened if India didn’t Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are to premature to speculate about what have its own vaccine,” he said. Shares the north. But the immediate focus for impact the security situation could India has given more than 500 mil- financial markets and investors is have on Pakistan. lion doses of vaccines but its vaccina- Nepse 3,154.33pts -0.77% Pakistan to the east. “If the Taliban takes control [of tion drive has been marred by its slow Pakistan has a large public debt, a Afghanistan], Pakistan becomes even REUTERS pace. About 11 percent of eligible highest losers sizeable equity market and is depend- more strategically important to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inspects the honour guard during Independence Day adult Indians have been fully vaccinat- NIBLPF RHPC SIFC RHPL UPPER NRN -8.54% -8.52% -7.88% -6.34% -6.07% -6.05% ent on a $6-billion IMF programme. US,” said Kevin Daly, a portfolio man- celebrations at the historic Red Fort in Delhi, India. ed so far. Modi also said India was The prospect of years of violence and ager at ABRDN. This, he said, could committed to meeting targets for the moderate losers waves of refugees will add pressure to help keep IMF money flowing. ASSOCIATED PRESS tury Mughal-era Red Fort to mark reduction of its carbon footprint. He AHPC RLFL NHDL KPCL GLH PROFL -6.04% -6% -5.86% -5.71% -5.65% -5.61% its fiscal repair plans. NEW DELHI, AUG 15 the 74th anniversary of India’s said his government would invest

moderate gainers “It is a very troubling situation and independence from British rule. He more in electric mobility, solar energy unfortunately has set the region back India will soon launch a $1.35 trillion said the infrastructure plan will cre- and “green hydrogen”—which does EDBL RURU MEN RMDC HDL HIDCL Pakistan’s bond 4.82% 5.03% 5.96% 6.01% 6.02% 6.07% many years,” said Shamaila Khan, national infrastructure plan that will ate job opportunities for millions of not emit carbon dioxide—as part of its highest gainers head of emerging market debt at prices have already boost the country’s economy, Prime Indian youth. goal to make India energy independ- NBL MMFDB ICFC JBLB ULI KKHC AllianceBernstein. “I think the neigh- Minister Narendra Modi announced “It will help local manufacturers ent by 2047. 7.31% 8.97% 9.56% 10% 10% 10% bouring countries will have to deal fallen nearly Sunday as part of Independence Day turn globally competitive and also India celebrates its Independence with an influx of refugees in the com- celebrations. develop possibilities of new future Day a day after its neighbour Pakistan. ing months/years”. 8 percent this year. Wearing a flowing bright saf- economic zones in the country,” he The two separate states came into The United Nations refugee agency fron-coloured turban, Modi addressed said. India’s economy, pummelled by existence as a result of the bloody Price Per tola UNHCR estimates 400,000 Afghans the nation from New Delhi’s 17th cen- the coronavirus pandemic, contracted partition of British India in 1947. bullion have fled their homes this year. Only a Kay Van-Petersen, a global macro few hundred of these displaced per- strategist at Saxo Capital Markets in Fine Gold Rs 90,700 sons are known to have fled Singapore, said the impact of the cri- Afghanistan but the UNHCR estimates sis in Afghanistan could ultimately Silver Rs 1,205 there are 2.6 million Afghan refugees spread far wider. Many Afghan refu- नेपाल सरकार worldwide, with 1.4 million in gees could seek refuge in Europe, he Source: FENEGOSIDA Pakistan and 1 million in Iran. said, following an earlier influx of कृ षि तथा पशपꅍछीु षिकास मꅍरालय Pakistan’s bond prices have already migrants, mostly fleeing war or perse- fallen nearly 8 percent this year, cution in Syria, other Middle Eastern कृ षि षिभाग though many financial analysts think countries and Afghanistan. If the ref- gasoline watch this has probably had more to do with ugees travel via Turkey, he said, they delays in it obtaining its latest tranche could help Turkish President Tayyip के ꅍरीय कृ षि प्रयोगशाला of IMF money than with the security Erdogan make political or financial situation. demands of the European Union. Nearly 10,000 Pakistani civilians “Basically it’s a lever for Erdogan to हररहरभिन, लललतपरु were killed in attacks between 2010 pull with the European Union ...’Pay and 2015 South Asia Terrorism Portal us to take care of these refugees, or we figures show. Those numbers have fall- are just going to let them through’,” he बोलपर िीकृ त गने आसयको संसोलित सूचना en since then but there are concerns said. This could weigh on the euro and ० २ ७८/०४/३२ﴃthey will now rise again. lift Turkey’s lira, he said. सूचना प्रकाशशत लमलत “Another influx of refugees and the Emerging market watcher Tim Ash spillover of violent groups motivated at BlueBay Asset Management यस प्रयोगशालाबाट लमलत 2078/04/25 मा प्रकाशशते ठक्का नं. NIRTTP/PCO/MOALD/G/NCB₋(132.1 to to destabilise urban areas and infra- said that the Taliban’s advances 132.10 structure, particularly, on the western as NATO troops withdrew had dam- ) को बोलपर िीकृ त गने आसयको सूचनामा लन륍नानसारु संसोिन गररएकोले स륍िशꅍित सबकको ाानकारीका side of Pakistan... could set Pakistan’s aged US credibility and fed into the लालग यो सूचना प्रकाशन गररएको छ । recovery and reform story back,” said growing rivalry between Washington Hasnain Malik, an analyst at research and China. कबलु गरेको रकम 셁. firm Tellimer. He suggested risk might “Comparisons with Vietnam Slice No. षििरण छनौट भएको बोलपरदाता be reduced if the Taliban were includ- abound,” Ash said, recalling the evac- (땍याट बाहेक) ed in the Afghan government. uation of the last Americans and Pakistan’s IMF programme is its many South Vietnamese via from Supply, Delivery And Jai Shree Shyam Trading 9,421,000/₋ (चौरान녍बे लाख thirteenth in 30 years and is needed to the roof of the US embassy as Saigon 7. Installation Of help the government tackle a public fell in 1975. “With that feeling of Concern, Kuleshwor, Kathmandu एक्काईस हाार 셁पकया मार । debt of about 90 percent of GDP. a Saigon moment and the last US Laboratory Equipments Any Taliban attacks inside Pakistan helicopter out.

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MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 2021 | 06 world Briefing Haiti searches for survivors Children hospitalised At least 28 killed in Lebanon fuel tank explosion with Covid-19 in US BEIRUT: At least 28 people were killed after quake kills over 300 and 79 injured when a fuel tank exploded in northern Lebanon early The latest quake comes just over a month after president Moise was assassinated, on Sunday, the health ministry said. hits record number Military and security sources said shaking a country already battling poverty, spiraling gang violence and Covid-19. that the army had seized a fuel REUTERS imposing such rules. The administra- storage tank hidden by black market- WASHINGTON, AUG 15 tion of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis eers and was handing out gasoline AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE has threatened to withhold funding to residents when the explosion PORT-AU-PRINCE, AUG 15 The number of children hospitalised from districts that impose mask occurred. Lebanon is suffering from a with Covid-19 in the United States hit requirements, and Texas Governor severe fuel shortage, leading to long Rescue workers were scrambling to a record high of just over 1,900 on Greg Abbott is appealing to the state lines at gas stations and extended find survivors after a powerful Saturday, as hospitals across the South Supreme Court to overturn Dallas blackouts. The disaster happened 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck were stretched to capacity fighting County’s mask mandate, the Dallas in the town of Altalil, in the Akkar Haiti, killing at least 304 and toppling outbreaks caused by the highly trans- Morning News reported on Friday. region that is one of Lebanon’s buildings in the disaster-plagued missible Delta variant. A fifth of the nation’s Covid-19 hos- poorest areas. Caribbean nation still recovering The Delta variant, which is rapidly pitalisations are in Florida, where the from a devastating 2010 quake. spreading among mostly the unvacci- number of hospitalised Covid-19 The epicentre of the tremor, nated portion of the US population, patients hit a record 16,100 on Malaysia prime minister which rattled homes and sent terrified has caused hospitalisations to spike in Saturday, according to a Reuters tally. Muhyiddin to resign locals fleeing for safety Saturday recent weeks, driving up the number More than 90 percent of the state’s KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Prime morning, was about 100 miles (160 of paediatric hospitalisations to 1,902 intensive care beds are filled, accord- Minister Muhyiddin Yassin will kilometres) by road west of the centre on Saturday, according to data from ing to data from the Department of resign on Monday, news portal of the densely populated capital Port- the US Department of Health and Health and Human Services. Malaysiakini reported, after losing au-Prince. Human Services. The nation’s largest teachers union, his majority owing to infighting Churches, businesses, schools and Children currently make up the National Education Association, among the ruling coalition. If con- homes crumbled in the quake that about 2.4 percent of the nation’s came out in support of mandatory firmed, Muhyiddin’s resignation trapped hundreds of victims under Covid-19 hospitalisations. Kids under vaccination for its members this week. would end a tumultuous 17 months in rubble and left at least 1,800 people 12 are not eligible to receive the vac- NEA President Becky Pringle said on office but also bring more uncertain- injured, the country’s civil protection cine, leaving them more vulnerable to Saturday that schools should employ ty to Malaysia as the country grap- agency said. infection from the new, highly trans- every mitigation strategy, from vac- ples with surging Covid-19 cases and Rescuers raced against the clock to AFP/rss missible variant. cines to masks, to ensure that students an economic downturn. It was not find survivors, with the agency tweet- People search through the rubble of what used to be the Manguier Hotel after the earthquake “This is not last year’s Covid. This can come back to their classrooms immediately clear who could form ing that efforts by “both professional hit on August 14 in Les Cayes, southwest Haiti. one is worse and our children are the safely this school year. the next government. rescuers and members of the public ones that are going to be affected by it “Our students under 12 can’t get have led to many people being pulled told AFP. Hospitals in the regions Guterres said he was “following the the most,” Sally Goza, former presi- vaccinated. It’s our responsibility to from the rubble,” adding that already hardest hit by the quake were already latest unfolding tragedy in Haiti.” dent of the American Academy of keep them safe. Keeping them safe Death toll from northern overburdened hospitals continued to struggling to provide emergency care “The UN is working to support res- Paediatrics, told CNN on Saturday. means that everyone who can be vac- receive injured. and at least three were full, according cue and relief efforts,” he tweeted. The numbers of newly hospitalised cinated should be vaccinated,” Pringle Turkey floods rises to 58 Hours after the quake, the agency to Jerry Chandler, head of the civil A medical brigade of 253 Cuban Covid-19 patients aged 18-29, 30-39 told CNN. BOZKURT: Flash floods that have announced the death toll had protection agency. doctors deployed in Haiti was trave- and 40-49 also hit record highs this The US now has an average of about swept through towns in the Turkish jumped to 304, ticking upwards Haiti’s health ministry quickly ling to treat the injured and adapt a week, according to data from the US 129,000 new Covid-19 cases per day, a Black Sea region have killed throughout the day from a first report dispatched personnel and medicine Port-au-Prince hospital until now Centres of Disease Control and rate that has doubled in a little over 58 people, authorities said on Sunday, of 29 fatalities. to the southwestern peninsula, used for Covid-19 patients, their head Prevention (CDC). two weeks, according to a Reuters in the second natural disaster to The quake was felt in much of the but their arrival could be hampered said on Cuban television. The spike in new cases has ramped tally. The number of hospitalised strike Turkey this month. The floods Caribbean, emanating from the by the insecurity that has for months In Ecuador, the Quito Fire up tension between conservative state Covid-19 patients is at a six-month brought chaos to northern provinces epicentre at Haiti’s southwestern plagued the poorest country in the Department said it was preparing to leaders and local districts over wheth- high, and an average of 600 people are just as authorities were declaring peninsula. Americas. send a team of 34 personnel special- er school children should be required dying each day of Covid-19, double the wildfires had been brought under The civil protection agency said at The United States and other nations ized in urban search and rescue. to wear masks as they head back to the death rate seen in late July. control after raging through southern least 160 people were killed in the swiftly pledged support, with Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Peru and classroom this month. Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, coastal regions for two weeks. country’s South department alone. President Joe Biden approving “imme- Venezuela also offered help while School districts in Florida, Texas Mississippi, and Oregon have report- Forty-eight people died as a result “Lots of homes are destroyed, peo- diate” aid efforts and Haiti’s neigh- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro and Arizona have mandated that ed record numbers of Covid-19 hospi- of floods in Kastamonu province, ple are dead and some are at the hospi- bour the Dominican Republic ship- Sanchez said Haitians “can count on masks be worn in schools, defying talisations this month, according to a another nine people died in Sinop tal,” 21-year-old Christella Saint ping 10,000 food rations and medical the support of Spain to come through orders from their Republican state Reuters tally, pushing healthcare sys- and one in Bartin. (AGENCIES) Hilaire, who lives near the epicenter, equipment. UN chief Antonio this terrible event.” governors that ban districts from tems to operate beyond their capacity.

Government of Nepal Ministry of Home Affairs Taliban want full Hong Kong democracy Armed Police Force, Nepal Headquarters power after return group behind massive Procurement Division to Afghanistan Kathmandu, Nepal capital with protests disbands Invitation for Bids (IFB No: lightning sweep >> Continued from page 1 APF/NCB/G/05/2078/079) Earlier on Sunday, the insurgents cap- tured the eastern city of Jalalabad Date of publication: 2078/04/32 without a fight, giving them control of one of the main highways into land- 1. Armed Police Force, Nepal Headquarters (APFN HQ), Procurement Division invites electronic locked Afghanistan. They also took over the nearby Torkham border post bids from eligible bidders for the procurement of below mentioned Goods under National with Pakistan, leaving Kabul airport competitive bidding procedures specified in Public Procurement Act and Regulations. The name the only way out of Afghanistan still in government hands. and identification of the contract are as follows: “Allowing passage to the Taliban was the only way to save civilian S.N. Contract ID No. Name of Quantity Bid Bid Securi- lives,” a Jalalabad-based Afghan offi- cial told Reuters. Procurement Document ty Amount A video clip distributed by the Fee (NRs.) (NRs.) Taliban showed people cheering and shouting “Allahu Akbar”—God is 1. APF/NC- Tactical Vest 2500 Pcs 3000/- 175000/- greatest—as a convoy of pickup trucks B/G/01/05/2078/079 entered Jalalabad with fighters bran- dishing machine guns and the white 2. APF/NC- Rescue Equip- As specified in 5000/- 770000/- Taliban flag. B/G/02/05/2078/079 ments Bid Document Iran said it had set up camps along the Afghan border to provide temporary refuge to Afghans fleeing 2. Eligible Bidders may obtain further information from the office of APFN HQ, Procurement their country. Division, Kathmandu, Tel 01-5249005, email [email protected] or may Three diplomatic sources said Ali Ahmad Jalali, a US-based academic AP/rss visit www.bolpatra.gov.np/egp and former Afghan interior minister, In this June 16, 2019 photo, protesters march on the streets against an extradition bill could be named head of an interim organised by Civil Human Rights Front in Hong Kong. 3. Bidders have to download the bidding documents for e-submission from PPMO’s e-GP system administration in Kabul, though it www.bolpatra.gov.np/egp. was unclear whether the Taliban ASSOCIATED PRESS first implemented a year ago, as well had agreed. HONG KONG, AUG 15 as the closure of pro-democracy news- 4. Bidders should deposit the bid document fee as mentioned in aforementioned respective column In 2009, he was barred from running paper Apple Daily. for president after refusing to give up A pro-democracy group that organ- The crackdown has virtually in the following Rajaswa (revenue) account as specified below. his US citizenship. ised some of the biggest protests dur- silenced opposition voices in the President Joe Biden on Saturday ing months of political upheaval in city—and drawn sanctions from the Information to deposit the cost of bidding document in Bank: authorised the deployment of 5,000 US Hong Kong in 2019 is dissolving, the US against Hong Kong and Chinese Name of the Bank: Rastriya Banijya Bank,Thamel Branch troops to help evacuate citizens and group said on Sunday. government officials. ensure an “orderly and safe” draw- The Hong Kong Civil Human Rights Former leaders of the Civil Human Name of Office: Armed Police Force, Nepal Headquarters down of military personnel. Front, made up of a slew of member Rights Front, Figo Chan and Jimmy Biden said his administration had organizations, said it could no longer Sham, are currently in jail on charges Office Code no. 314053507 told Taliban officials in talks in Qatar operate. The decision comes as the related to their activism. that any action that put US personnel group faces a police investigation for While authorities have said the law Office Account no.: 1000200010000 at risk “will be met with a swift and possible violation of a national securi- would not be applied retroactively, a strong US military response.” ty law, according to local media. recent interview with a Hong Kong Rajaswa (Revenue) Shirshakno : 14229 He has faced rising domestic criti- The group, which also organized an police commissioner suggested the cism after sticking to a plan, initiated annual protest march marking the group was being investigated for hold- 5. Pre-bid meeting shall be held at APFN HQ, Procurement Division, Halchowk, Kathmandu, by his Republican predecessor Donald semiautonomous territory’s handover ing rallies in the past year. 2078/05/20 at 13:00 Hrs. Trump, to end the US military mission to China in 1997, is the largest to A statement by Hong Kong police on in Afghanistan by August 31. disband amid a sweeping crackdown Sunday said they would continue to 6. Bids must be submitted through PPMO’s e-GP system www.bolpatra.gov.np/egp on or before “An endless American presence in on dissent in the city. Earlier this spare no effort to investigate whether the middle of another country’s civil week, the city’s largest teachers’ any organization or individuals vio- 12:00 noon on 2078/05/30, Bids received after this deadline will be rejected. conflict was not acceptable to me,” union disbanded in light of what it lated the national security law and Biden said on Saturday. said were drastic changes in the polit- other local laws. It said they would 7. The bids will be opened in the presence of Bidder's representatives who choose to attend at 13:00 ical environment. pursue individuals regardless of a hrs on 2078/05/30 at the office of APFN HQ, Procurement Division. Bids must be valid for a Rights group Amnesty International group’s disbandment. expressed its concern over “the pat- Police asked the group to hand period of 90 days from the date of bid opening and must be accompanied by scanned copy of the tern of self-censorship seen this over information on its members week.” The London-based organiza- and activities as well as funding back bid security in pdf format, amounting to above-mentioned in respective column, which shall be tion said in a statement this “signals a in April. valid for 30 days beyond the validity period of the bid. concerning domino effect, as Hong Since the national security law was Kong’s draconian national security enacted, many unions, associations 8. If Pre-bid meeting date/ last date of opening /or submission falls on a government holiday, then law has triggered an accelerating dis- and political organizations have dis- appearance of independent civil socie- banded amid concerns that the law the next working day shall be considered as the scheduled date. In such case the validity period ty groups from the city.” could be used to target them. of the bid security shall remain the same as specified for the original last date of bid submission. The crackdown follows Beijing’s “Although the Civil Human Rights imposition of the national security Front no longer exists today, but we 9. The purchaser reserves the rights to accept or reject all/Partial bid and to annul the bidding process law on Hong Kong last year. The legis- believe that different groups will con- lation outlaws secession, subversion, tinue to stick to their ideals, who will and reject all Bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to terrorism and foreign collusion and not forget their original intentions, the Bidders. has been used to arrest more than 100 and continue to prop up civil society!” pro-democracy figures since it was the group said in a statement.

C M Y K 07 | MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 2021 Sports | Medley Briefing Liverpool off to flying start on Van Dijk’s return Diego Costa joins Brazilian leaders Atletico Mineiro The Reds enjoy a 3-0 win over Norwich in their Premier League opener as the Dutch defender plays full 90 minutes on his return after ligament injury. SAO PAULO: Former Atletico Madrid Agence France-Presse and Chelsea striker Diego Costa has NORWICH, Aug 15 signed for Brazilian league leaders Atletico Mineiro, the Belo Horizonte- Jurgen Klopp said Virgil van Dijk based club announced on Sunday. The showed his class in a winning return 32-year-old arrives as a free agent from injury as Liverpool eased to a 3-0 after his contract with Diego win at Norwich to open their Premier Simeone’s Atletico Madrid ended last League season on Saturday. June. Costa made just seven appear- Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino and ances last season, scoring twice. His Mohamed Salah were on target for last taste of action came on December Klopp’s men as they made a promising 22, 2020, when he replaced Luis start to their quest to take back League Suarez in the 87th minute of a 2-0 vic- title from Manchester City. tory against Real Sociedad in La Liga. Van Dijk’s cruciate knee ligament That marked the end of his second injury derailed the Reds’ title defence spell with Atletico Madrid, having last season and the Dutchman looked spent three years with Chelsea in the like his old self as he played full 90 middle. Atletico Mineiro currently minutes on his return to action. “You lead the Brazilian league. could see all his quality, all his class,” said Klopp. “It was hard for him to Afghanistan, Australia play the 90, he’ll need an ice bath and he’ll have enough time to recover.” ODI series postponed Van Dijk’s season and hopes of lead- SYDNEY: Australia’s scheduled One- ing the Netherlands as captain at Euro Day International (ODI) series 2020 were ended after a reckless against Afghanistan in India has challenge from Everton goalkeeper been postponed, the cricket boards of Jordan Pickford in a bad-tempered the competing countries said on Merseyside derby last October. The Sunday, leaving players free to fulfill 30-year-old signed a new four-year con- their Indian Premier League (IPL) tract on Friday to celebrate his return commitments. The three one-dayers to fitness, but recalled the hard days were supposed to take place ahead of that followed his clash with Pickford. the Twenty20 World Cup but that “Mentally it’s tough. You go from tournament has now been moved to one day being fully fit to the next day the United Arab Emirates because of you can’t walk, you’re full of medica- AP/RSS the prevalence of Covid-19 in India. tion, full of pain, you can’t sleep,” he Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah (front) scored for Liverpool in their Premier League match against Norwich at the Carrow Road Stadium in Norwich on Saturday. The Afghanistan Cricket Board “and added. “And obviously we were strug- Cricket Australia agreed to postpone gling last season with more injuries. Chelsea thump Crystal Palace 3-0 marked his Premier League debut But the mood was lifted straight League next season. the tour given the complexities of More injuries on key positions where Chelsea swept aside Crystal Palace 3-0 with a long-range strike to round off after half-time by Richarlison’s equal- Life for Aston Villa without Jack travel, quarantine periods and a find- we couldn’t play our game the way we on Saturday as the Premier League the scoring. iser before Abdoulaye Doucoure and Grealish got off to a terrible start ing a suitable location for the match- want to play. In the end the guys did a returned with full crowds. Elsewhere, Rafael Benitez went a Dominic Calvert-Lewin ensured as Watford celebrated their return to es given the relocation of the fantastic job to come third and we The European champions Chelsea long way to quieting his doubters at Benitez got off to a winning start. top flight with a 3-2 win at Vicarage T20 World Cup to the UAE,” the want to build on that.” dispatched Palace in Patrick Vieira’s Everton as the Toffees came from Leicester also secured all three Road. boards said in a statement. The Norwich stormed back to the top first match in charge of the Eagles behind to beat Southampton 3-1. Adam points as Jamie Vardy’s deft flick Goals from Emmanuel Dennis, IPL was suspended indefinitely in flight at the first time of asking by with ease to make their own case. Armstrong’s opener on his debut for proved the difference in a 1-0 win over Ismaila Sarr and Cucho Hernandez May after several players and staff romping to the Championship title Marcos Alonso’s free-kick and the Saints saw Benitez’s men booed Wolves. The FA Cup winners are once had the Hornets cruising towards vic- tested positive for Covid-19. The last season, but were given a stark Christian Pulisic’s scuffed finish gave off at half-time at Goodison Park with again seen as the biggest threat to the tory. John McGinn pulled a goal back remaining matches will be played reminder of the gulf they have to Thomas Tuchel’s men a commanding many of the home fans still unhappy established top four of champions and Danny Ings netted from the penal- in the UAE from September 19 bridge to compete at the Premier 2-0 lead before half-time. at the appointment of the former Manchester City, United, Chelsea and ty spot on his debut, but it was too lit- to October 15. (AGENCIES) League level. Centre-back Trevoh Chalobah then Liverpool manager. Liverpool for a place in the Champions tle, too late for Villa. Gerd Mueller—prolific striker who set records but battled demons, dies at 75

Agence France-Presse of last season. Before he turned 18, Mueller had only bettered in May 2016 when Pep West Germany enjoyed 45 wins, nine BERLIN, Aug 15 Born on November 3, 1945, Mueller’s progressed through a variety of Guardiola coached Bayern to a fourth draws and just eight loses. Then career coincided with a golden era for school and junior teams before joining straight Bundesliga title, which has abruptly, after becoming a world Gerd Mueller’s record of 68 interna- both West German football and the his local club TSV Nordlingen, for since become nine in consecutive champion at the age of 28, Mueller tional goals in 62 games for West rise of Bayern Munich. He was signed whom he scored a remarkable 180 years. announced his retirement. He retired Germany earned him the nickname by Bayern, who were then a second goals in the 1962/63 season, which Bayern’s dream team of the 1970s from all football in 1982 and descended ‘The Bomber’ for his ability to destroy division club, in 1964. attracted Bayern’s attention. In 1965, went on to win the European Cup into a deep personal crisis, battling countless defences. His short, stocky frame with a bar- Mueller, goalkeeper Sepp Maier and three times in succession from 1974 to alcoholism and depression. It took Miroslav Klose more than rel-like chest led to club coach Zlatko Beckenbauer helped Bayern win pro- 1976. He was the club’s top scorer Bayern never forget their goal-scor- double the amount of games to finally Cajkovski quipping: “What am I sup- motion to the Bundesliga. The club every season from 1964/65 to 1977/78. ing hero and Uli Hoeness, who was reach the tally of 71 goals, in 137 inter- posed to do with a weightlifter?” But never looked back, finishing third in At the 1970 World Cup finals in then team manager, helped him to get nationals, to better Mueller’s mark. Mueller’s powerful legs became the their first season in the top flight and Mexico, Mueller scored 10 goals to back on his feet, offering him a job In the 1971/72 season, Mueller, who stuff of Bayern folklore—his thighs lifting the German Cup, a feat they finish top scorer, before West Germany meeting and greeting visitors to the died Sunday aged 75 after battling were a massive 64-centimetres in repeated in 1967, 1969 and 1971. went on to win the 1972 European club, then scouting and eventually a Alzheimer’s, netted an incredible 40 diameter—and the goals he netted In 1970, Mueller became the first championships. Mueller then wrote role coaching strikers. Mueller earned league goals in 34 games. The jaw-drop- wrote him into the club’s folklore. German to be crowned European himself into German football folklore his coaching licence in 1992 and ping German league record stood As Mueller’s former team-mate Footballer of the Year. Bayern became by scoring the winning goal to seal a became head coach of the reserves in unchallenged until Bayern Munich Franz Beckenbauer said: “Everything German champions for the first time 2-1 win in the 1974 World Cup final 1995/96. He helped nurture current Reuters striker Robert Lewandowski scored that Bayern has become is due to Gerd in 1969, then won three straight titles over the Netherlands in Munich. Germany star Thomas Mueller, who Gerd Mueller was suffering from Alzheimer. for the 41st time on the final weekend Mueller and his goals.” in 1972, 1973 and 1974. The mark was In his 62 international appearances, was no relation, at Bayern. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) **** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** You’re hungry for fresh horizons today, Aries. Don’t The universe is pushing you to get productive today, Monday’s skies thrust you into action, Libra. The As a Capricorn, you rarely recognize when you need keep yourself caged up in mundane routines, as the Cancer. The moon’s presence in aspirational moon cruises through sight-seeing Sagittarius, push- to take a break. Let Monday’s skies remind you of the moon roams through exploration-ready Sagittarius. Sagittarius makes it an ideal day to expend energy ing you to step out of your comfort zone and find importance of restorative action, as the moon roams Luna’s presence here encourages you to explore edu- towards checking things off your to-do list, recon- movement. Your mind is hungry for a fresh perspec- through reflective Sagittarius. Luna’s presence here cational fields and embark on adventures. necting with your exercise regimen and craft. tive, so let yourself get lost in a good book. prioritises quiet retreat.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** Send your focus toward any unspoken feelings stir- Pleasure and playfulness reign supreme under Turn your focus towards your finances today, The past year has had you sorting through the people ring beneath the surface, Taurus. The moon roams Monday’s cosmic landscape, Leo. The moon’s pres- Scorpio. What changes could you make to strengthen who do and don’t belong in your circle. That story through philosophic Sagittarius, encouraging you to ence in optimistic Sagittarius encourages you to the state of your resources? The moon’s presence in gets touched on today, as the moon roams meanders take a look at the big picture story taking place connect with joyful activities that boost your creative lofty Sagittarius encourages you to dream big with through far-seeing Sagittarius. Today reconnect with around partnership matters. energy. Devote time to the things that bring you joy. your potential. people and form a sense of community.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) **** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) **** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** Monday’s skies send your focus towards the relation- There’s nothing wrong with pulling away into your Sagittarius, you have been forced to embrace a new Give your ambitions your all today, Pisces. The ship stories that have dominated your focus all year, own private world today, Virgo. The moon’s presence relationship with your body, your health, and your moon’s presence in aspirational Sagittarius has you Gemini. The moon’s presence in big hearted in thoughtful Sagittarius encourages you to ground sense of self. The moon’s presence in your sign today thinking about your place in the grand scheme of Sagittarius asks you to step back and examine these down and foster close family connections. It’s an doubles down on this unfolding narrative of self-dis- things. What is it you’re wishing to contribute and ongoing patterns and changes. ideal day to keep a low profile. covery. Today, explore your opportunities. change about your current career landscape? Crossword Sudoku

Yesterday’s Solution

C M Y K MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 2021 | 08 Culture & Lifestyle (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 China’s youth react to gaming curbs with anguish and cunning A censorious state scours the tech scene for signs of any firm growing too big, owning too much data or having too great a hold over China’s people.

DANNI ZHU & BEIYI SEOW ing companies will likely roll out BEIJING their own plans to restrict minors from playing and spending money t is Zhang Yuchen’s last inside games. summer break before high The impact on Tencent, for now, school, but events have will be “minimal”, given that chil- taken an unwelcome turn— dren under 16 contribute around the 14-year-old’s game time three percent of gross billings, has been decimated as said Michael Norris, research and IChina’s tech firms try to dispel strategy manager at consulting accusations that they are selling firm AgencyChina. “spiritual opium” to the country’s But with the gaming sector youth. already highly scrutinised, Norris An edict by gaming giant called it “unusual” to single out Tencent means players under 12 online gaming, which is regulat- can no longer make in-game pur- ed, if the concern was an addic- chases in multiplayer battle tion. smash-hit “Honor of Kings”, For now, Tencent’s gaming while under-18s are locked out curbs have claimed unlikely vic- after two hours during holidays tims—with some parents who and one hour on school nights. game with their children also “I wanted to cry,” an anguished locked out. Zhang said as the news ricocheted across the world’s largest gaming market, which soaked up $20 bil- Tencent’s gaming lion in the first half of this year alone. curbs have “Limiting game time over the holidays means I can’t play claimed unlikely (Honor of Kings) to my heart’s content,” he told AFP. victims. The changes—incontestable and imposed far too quickly for the liking of Zhang and his peer Programmer Peng Jianfei said group—have come as a censori- his 12-year-old son was using his ous state scours the tech scene account to play “Honor of Kings” for signs of any firm growing too while on summer break when an big, owning too much data or hav- authentication prompt appeared ing too great a hold over China’s and the boy entered his own ID people. number, triggering a block. Gaming appears to be the latest “I think such measures can, to target for regulators who have an extent, reduce minors’ gaming already strafed mega-apps provid- time,” the 45-year-old said. ing ride-hailing, personal finance “But for now... if I can’t play and online learning, as the Tencent’s games, I could always Communist Party refines the type AFP/RSS go to NetEase, don’t you think?” of capitalism it wants for society. State media reports have singled out gaming, with one article calling it ‘spiritual opium’ and another advocating an end to tax breaks for the sector. But other parents welcomed the State media reports have sin- restrictions. gled out gaming, with one article dropped the bombshell curbs on “It’s quite upsetting,” she before. ing may be excessive. “If children spend too much calling it “spiritual opium” and playtime, an early sign of broader added, noting that older teens Others have circumvented the “Investors made it a big story time on games, it’s bad for their another advocating an end to tax industry changes to come. have more self-control and should policy altogether, by borrowing by overreacting,” Ether Yin, part- eyesight,” said a 34-year-old moth- breaks for the sector. Minors complain that the meas- not be forcibly stopped from play- an adult’s account or using their ner at consultancy Trivium er in Beijing surnamed Wang. ures are too sweeping, affecting ing. She gets automatically locked parents’ mobile phones. China, told AFP. Tugging on her arm was her ‘I have nothing to do’ even teens who have finished out after hitting the two-hour hol- “By borrowing an account now, “Keeping kids from getting 10-year-old son, an “Honor of Investors rushed to sell shares in their university entrance exams iday limit. I can play two to three hours a day addicted to games has been the Kings” fan who was less enthusi- Tencent and rivals NetEase, XD and just want to relax. But there are loopholes even and of course, game after 10 pm,” policy of the land since 2018.” astic about the changes. Inc and Bilibili, despite China’s “I’m on vacation now and have with broader curbs, Li added, as said another 17-year-old student “Mum, say it’s a bad decision!” place as the world’s biggest gam- nothing to do, but I can only play playing an hour on different on condition of anonymity. ‘Why do they have to do this?’ he said. “Why do they have to do ing market. for a short while,” said a 17-year- games could still lead to teens Some analysts say the reaction To get ahead of public criticism, this?” In reaction, Tencent this month old student surnamed Li. gaming for the same hours as to state media reports about gam- however, Yin believes other gam- — Agence France-Presse

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