WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 180 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 35.0 C 15.8 C Sunday, August 23, 2020 | 07-05-2077 Dipayal Jumla How government defied science and disregarded experts as Covid-19 spread Even after 146 deaths and over 31,000 cases, there’s no specialist-led national committee as the Oli administration continues to take decisions on ad-hoc basis.

ARJUN POUDEL country, the Oli administration is at KATHMANDU, AUG 22 its wit’s end. Public health experts and even On June 18, when Nepal’s number of some ministers admit that the Covid- Covid-19 cases soared to 7,848 and the 19 surge is also due to the govern- death toll reached 22, Prime Minister ment’s disregard for experts’ warn- KP Sharma Oli was downplaying the ings and Oli’s defiance of science, threat of the coronavirus and ped- facts and truth. dling dubious cures that have no med- Dr Baburam Marasini, former ical standing. director at the Epidemiology and At the National Assembly, Oli deliv- Disease Control Division, said the Oli ered a long lecture, trivialising Covid- government has shown an uncanny 19, a disease that has brought the loathing of experts even when the world to its knees. country is faced with an emergency. “Corona is like the flu,” said Oli. If “Instead of paying attention to contracted, one should sneeze, drink experts’ advice and implementing hot water and drive the virus away.” their suggestions, authorities were Three months before Oli’s claims, rather bent on prosecuting them,” the World Health Organisation on Marasini told the Post. POST PHOTO: HEMANTA SHRESTHA March 11 had declared Covid-19 a pan- “Warnings against Dr Sundarmani Children practise cycling in Patan, Lalitpur on Saturday. Schools have been shut since April in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in the country. demic. There were over 118,000 coro- Dixit of legal action when he called navirus cases in over 110 countries for expanding tests and action against and territories around the world and Dr Sher Bahadur Pun are just a few the UN health agency warned that examples.” there was sustained risk of further Seven months after the first Covid- global spread. 19 case was detected, the Oli govern- As pandemic slows down economic activities, That, however, was not the first ment has not set up a single commit- time Oli was making light of the dead- tee that is led by an expert as the ly virus that has now killed 803,808 national coordinator. people across the world and infected The Covid-19 Crisis Management construction sector hits a brick wall 23,152,472. Committee, which is tasked with fight- The prime minister, however, had ing the virus, does not have a single made it a habit of using his bully pul- individual with expertise on health-re- Worker shortage, low factory output and an uncertain future put brakes on the booming construction industry. pit to make unsubstantiated claims lated issues. like Nepalis have strong immunity The organisational structure of the least six trips supplying construction Jagadish Chandra Pokharel, an and that drinking turmeric water committee, led by Defence Minister materials. economist and former vice-chairman could cure the disease. Ishwar Pokhrel, has the prime “Now, there are orders only sporad- of the National Planning Commission, Today, when the number of minister at the top and is filled with ically,” said Awale. said that the Covid-19 impact on the Covid-19 deaths has reached 146, with politicians. Nepal’s construction sector country was worse-than-expected and 31,117 positive cases reported in the >> Continued on page 2 witnessed a double digit growth for has hit the construction industry very two consecutive years following the hard. reconstruction drive after the 2015 “It is too early to estimate the full earthquake. In the previous fiscal year financial impact of the crisis. But less 2018-19 too, the sector saw a robust 8 capital expenditure by the govern- percent growth, taking the annual ment and investment in projects by output of the construction sector to the private sector will have its first over Rs 232 billion, according to the impact on employment and will even- Central Bureau of Statistics. tually hit consumption,” Pokharel The coronavirus outbreak, however, told the Post. has put the brakes on the growth >> Continued on page 2 momentum. According to the Bureau, the construction sector will be one POST PHOTO: ELITE JOSHI of the worst hit by the Covid-19 According to statistics, construction sector’s growth is headed for negative territory. pandemic and its growth is expected to plunge into negative KRISHANA PRASAIN been few orders for the sand and territory, at -0.31 percent in the KATHMANDU, AUG 22 bricks that he supplies. His depot has fiscal year 2019-20 that ended in remained closed since March. mid-July. Buddha Awale, a construction materi- Since the last week of July, The financial stress upon the al supplier in Dhobighat, Lalitpur, has every morning, he opened his depot construction sector is expected been spending his days at home even at 11 and waited for buyers. There to worsen over the current fiscal after the lockdown was lifted in the were none. Before the lockdown, his year, according to economists POST PHOTO: ELITE JOSHI third week of July. There have only pick-up truck was busy, doing at and industry executives. Experts have called for stepping up measures to contain the virus spread.

C M Y K SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020 | 02 NATIONAL Mayor plans to build isolation centres, but no one knows when Experts say isolation centres are urgently needed to prevent the disease from getting transmitted in the community, as home isolation is not possible in a densely populated city.

ANUP OJHA Mayor Shakya has always been pital has been testing only 100 people KATHMANDU, AUG 22 reluctant to establish even quarantine per day. centres in the city. He has been blam- “Due to lack of transportation facil- Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s ing the provincial government for let- ities and strict monitoring, very few Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya, who also ting people from outside enter into the people are coming to the hospital,” leads the Valley’s mayor forum, Valley without restrictions. said Pun. He said that prohibitory announced plans to build integrated orders don’t work, unless the contract isolation centres to accommodate tracing and testing is done swiftly. 5,000 people, on August 10. “There is a danger of transmission Nearly two weeks after his Fewer people are of the disease within the family as announcement, as the number of visiting hospitals for many families share a building in Covid-19 cases steadily rises in the Kathmandu,” said Pun. That’s why city, no one knows where the isolation Covid-19 with the separate centres are needed to isolate centres will be built and when, though the infected, he added. POST PHOTO: KESHAV THAPA there has been a lot of chatter about it start of restrictions. When the Post contacted the city A monkey swims in the pond on the premises of Swayambhunath Stupa in Kathmandu. in the news and on social media. office’s chief executive City Ek Shakya, even on Tuesday, the day Narayan Aryal to ask about the inte- before the three chief district officers However, looking at the present grated isolation centre the mayor has of the valley announced restrictions growth in Covid-19 cases in the valley, been talking about, he said city offi- on public mobility, reiterated his experts say it’s become necessary to cials have been consulting with the plans to build the 5,000-bed-isolation establish the isolation centres soon. federal government and the Cabinet As pandemic slows down ... wards by working with the central, Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, a virologist at has already approved the plan. federal and local governments inside the Teku-based Sukraraj Tropical and “According to our estimate, around >> Continued from page 1 stay home.” brink of collapse. ” the Valley within a week. According to Infectious Disease Hospital, said that 500 people, including traffic police and For the construction sector, January From mid-February to the end of The four-month-long lockdown the municipal public health division in the absence of isolation centres, the Nepal Police personnel, are in home to May are considered good business last fiscal year, only 15 to 20 percent of forced 61 percent of businesses to of the city, as of Thursday 1,411 people disease will get more pervasive in the isolation in the city,” Aryal said. He months—just after the winter season construction work was taking place. close down completely, causing a dire have been infected with Covid-19 in community, even when restrictions on said setting up integrated isolation and before monsoon. The first Covid- “We have estimated that the sector effect on the economy by rendering the metropolis. mobility are enforced. centres was now possible as the gov- 19 case was detected in Nepal in alone lost around Rs65 billion,” Singh tens of thousands of people jobless “The mayor announced that the iso- The hospital’s data shows that since ernment hiked the money allocated January. On March 24, the country told the Post. and disrupting the production and lation centres will be established near- the local authorities announced the for each isolation bed from Rs 175 to went into lockdown, which lasted Consumption is considered the key supply chain, according to a survey of ly two weeks ago, but the plans haven’t prohibitory order on Thursday, the Rs 1,800. “With this amount, we can until July 21. driver of the economy. Without con- Nepal’s central bank. materialised yet,” said Shakya’s depu- number of people visiting the hospital run the isolation centre at a given Tens of thousands of workers were sumption, the thinking of economists Mahendra Bahadur Chitrakar, pres- ty Hari Prabha Khadgi adding that she with Covid-19 has steadily come down. standard,” he said. rendered jobless, according to indus- goes, there is no economic growth. ident of the Federation of Nepal Brick doesn’t know the details of the may- Before the restrictions came into Aryal however, didn’t know about try executives. “As thousands of workers remain Industries, said that the demand or’s plan. “We need the centres now effect, 300 of the 1,000 people who concrete plans to build the centres, Material supplies stopped, worker’s out of jobs, it eventually will lead peo- for bricks has declined by more than urgently as Covid-19 cases are increas- would visit the hospital would get test- and how much time it will take to movement came to a virtual standstill ple to have less income or no income. 50 percent after the lockdown. “We ing by the day in our city,” she added. ed. But after the restrictions, the hos- do so. and key contractors were unable to Less income means a slowdown in have 40 percent of production in arrange resources for construction consumption,” said Pokhrel, the stock,” he said. activities. Most of the mobilised former vice-chair of the planning According to a study report of the resources and machinery remained commission. federation, annually six billion bricks idle at the construction sites. The shortage of raw materials to are produced in Nepal from more than Udayapur bans movement of Covid suspects Few national pride projects like make construction materials prompt- 1,000 brick kilns. international airports in Pokhara and ed many factories in the Birgunj, “My factory used to supply 20,000 Bhairahawa and Upper Tamakoshi Biratnagar-Itahari and other industri- pieces of bricks daily, which now has DILLIRAM KHATIWADA hydropower project partially opened. al corridors to close, according to fallen to 2,000 pieces in a week,” said UDAYAPUR, AUG 22 But they also suffered as technicians, Singh. Chitrakar, who owns Uma Maheshwar who are normally foreigners, have Factories remained closed and the Brick factory in Chandragiri in The District Administration Office in Udayapur has prohib- been stuck in their countries. supply chain was disrupted. Kathmandu district. ited the movement of those individuals who are waiting for Even though the government has Satya Narayan Keyal, director at “People are not building houses this their Covid-19 test results. decided to resume international pas- Narayani Strips, said that the price of year as their income has fallen,” said On Saturday, the joint meeting of the Corona Crisis senger flights from September 1, with steel strips has also increased due to Chitrakar. Management Centre and the District Security Committee only Nepalis and those associated the hike in MS billet price in India, the Bricks manufacturers, however, made the decision, citing that the suspected patients can with diplomatic missions allowed to raw material to make steel. have increased the prices to Rs12 per transmit coronavirus to other individuals at the community enter, technicians are unlikely to “The steel industry’s daily produc- piece from Rs10 to offset their losses level. According to the decision, the ban on movement also return anytime soon. tion capacity has dropped 75 percent,” incurred during the lockdown, he applies to those individuals who fall under contact tracing. Uncertainties, therefore, remain. said Keyal. “There are only 30 percent said. “But people are not buying.” “People are found going out of their houses after provid- Except for a few road and bridge steel factories operating due to An estimate suggests there are a ing their swabs for tests. This has increased the risk of a POST PHOTO: DILLIRAM KHATIWADA projects, almost all projects have come the lack of Indian workers and total 1.5 million workers in the con- coronavirus outbreak,” said Chief District Officer of Individuals waiting for their Covid-19 test results have been to a standstill. technicians.” struction sector. Besides, there are Udayapur Chakrapani Pandey. “But the meeting has decid- prohibited from going out of their homes. “Even after the government The story is similar in the case of around 500,000 Indian skilled labour- ed to collect swab samples of people on condition that they announced the opening of the indus- cement factories which are operating ers. The construction sector is wor- stay in home isolation after providing their swabs,”. released,” said Subedi. trial sector and projects were allowed at 20 percent of capacity, according to ried that if the situation does not According to the District Administration Office, According to Subedi, coronavirus cases are on the rise, as to resume works, the demand for con- Dhurba Raj Thapa, president of the improve before Dashain, it will not the local administration will take action on the basis of the most people do not follow health guidelines and social dis- struction material declined 80 percent Cement Manufacturers Association of only impact the government’s reve- Infectious Disease Act 1964 if anyone is found violating the tancing protocols in the district. because there were no workers availa- Nepal. nue, but reduce consumption sharply decision. Saturday’s meeting also formed a 10-member district-lev- ble,”said Rabi Singh, president at the “The demand for cements has fallen as major consumption and economic As of Saturday, Udayapur has reported 125 coronavirus el inspection team led by Sashi Kumar Lamsal, assistant Federation of Contractors Association 80 percent,” he said. “We are now wait- activities happen at this time. cases, as per the record of the District Health Office. chief district officer, to make sure people are following the of Nepal. The construction business ing for big government projects to According to economist Pokharel, According to Mohan Subedi, chief at the District Health health guidelines. The meeting also extended the prohibito- started getting affected in mid-Febru- begin after the monsoon.” the government should encourage the Office, his office has collected 6,914 swab samples so far. ry orders in Triyuga, Chaudandigadhi and Belaka munici- ary before the lockdown started on Cement factories are being operated projects that can be operated by main- “Until Saturday, we have obtained test results of 6,715 palities until the midnight of August 28. Those orders were March 24. at 20 percent capacity, he said. taining health and safety protocols. swab samples. The results of 199 samples are yet to be issued a week ago. “The mass migration started in “The turnover of the cement indus- “As construction works normally mid-February. Construction workers try is around Rs600 million every day,” begin from mid-September,” said mostly from India went home and he said. “The industry has already Pokhrel, “early preparations can help most of them did not return,” Singh incurred losses of Rs 30 billion during save jobs of thousands of workers— said. “And Nepali workers were told to the lockdown period. We are on the and the economy as well.” How government defied science ... >> Continued from page 1 fused,” said Bidari. “Leaders told the without any plan,” he said. “A gradual Ministers for Home Affairs, General government that the issue was techni- lifting of the lockdown by taking peo- Administration and Federal Affairs, cal and therefore joint efforts were ple into confidence could have helped Finance,Industry, Commerce and necessary. The political leadership did control the virus.” Supplies, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture not have any concrete idea on fighting After there was a sudden spike in and Livestock Development, Energy the pandemic.” Covid-19 cases when the lockdown was and Water Management, Culture, The prime minister has so far held lifted on July 21, the Oli administra- Tourism and Civil Aviation and consultations with experts twice, but tion relied on chief district officers, Health and Population are members those who participated in the consul- empowering them to take measures in the directive committee. tation meetings have expressed doubts like prohibitory orders to contain the The facilitating committee has if they were indeed invited for sugges- virus. More than 40 districts are cur- secretaries and joint-secretaries from tions, as no one has paid heed to those. rently under virtual lockdown. When the said ministries, officials from According to Bidari, the Health the lockdown was imposed on March the security agencies and their Ministry used to be in touch with pub- 24, there were only two Covid-19 cases representatives. lic health experts to discuss issues in the country. By the time it was lift- Experts say some of the countries related to the pandemic. He, however, ed, 40 deaths were confirmed and did well in the fight against the virus said he was not updated about those there were 17,994 cases. because of the political will of their meetings. Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and governments, their reliance on sci- Dr Bhagwan Koirala, who has par- Lalitpur have been put under ence and trust on the people. ticipated in a few such meetings, said prohibitory orders since Wednesday Countries like Germany and New that he has stopped attending them. midnight. Zealand have been largely successful “I have realised they are not going Experts are wondering if the pro- in combating the virus for one com- to take my suggestions,” Koirala told hibitory orders alone will be effective mon reason—both relied on science. the Post a few weeks ago. in breaking the virus transmission German Chancellor Angela Merkel, While public health experts say chain if authorities fail to utilise the a scientist, followed science and evi- there were missteps galore on the part period to expand testing, contact trac- dence-based reasoning and remained of the government, a minister told the ing and isolating the infected. honest with her citizens in the fight Post that things took a turn for worse The authorities are still continuing against the pandemic. She told her when the prime minister started act- to defy the fact that only experts can countrymen that up to 70 percent of ing like he was the government. deal with such a crisis, according to the population could be infected from “The problem began with the prime officials. the coronavirus and appealed to them minister as he failed to assign proper An official at the Department of to take the risk seriously at the very responsibilities to ministers and make Health Services summed up govern- beginning of the spread of the pan- them accountable for their works,” ment activities in the fight against demic. said the minister who spoke on condi- pandemic, repeating what is attribut- Her government took the infection tion of anonymity. ed to Albert Einstein. seriously, focussed on testing, and “Then some other problems started “The government is doing the same tracing and isolating. Life is becoming to emerge. Health Minister Bhanu thing over and over again and expect- normal now and millions of children Bhakta Dhakal was given the respon- ing different results,” the official told are returning to schools. sibility of almost everything—even the Post requesting anonymity for he New Zealand’s Prime Minister tasks that were to be performed by the feared reprisals. Jacinda Ardern’s tough response may foreign ministry and the finance min- “The government has yet to make a have faced criticism in the beginning istry were given to Dhakal.” national network of specialists and for one of earliest and toughest Dhakal, who was embroiled in a technicians to fight the virus in an self-isolation measures in the world, corruption controversy, however, was effective way.” but she offered a model response of not functioning on his own, multiple According to the official, the empathy, clarity—and above all trust Health Ministry officials had told the Epidemiology and Disease Control in science. Post in June. Division, which is responsible to con- Several Asian countries--Singapore, “The deputy prime minister tain the epidemic, does not have a Taiwan, South Korea and Vietnam [Pokhrel] was given a major role, but single epidemiologist. among others—have also successfully he failed. The prime minister himself “The government can bring an ordi- contained the contagion because they then took the charge,” said the minis- nance to split political parties, but it put in place national plans and lis- ter. “But the prime minister failed to does not want to do anything to hire tened to expert advice. take proper steps.” experts,” said the official. Narayan Prasad Bidari, a former Pokhrel too was pulled into contro- “But it is reluctant to hire experts member secretary of the Covid-19 versy regarding the procurement of and specialists and form a national Crisis Management Centre, said that medical supplies to fight the virus. committee led by an expert. Nor the government did squander the According to the minister, the gov- is it paying heed to what experts are opportunity to make necessary prepa- ernment also failed to take citizens saying.” rations to fight the pandemic. into confidence and convince them. “The political leadership was con- “The lockdown was lifted abruptly, Tika R Pradhan contributed reporting.

C M Y K 03 | SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020 NATIONAL

BRIEFING Asymptomatic patients

Food depots empty in Mugu MUGU: Food shortage looms large in staying home raises fear Mugu, as all five depots of the Food Management and Trading Company are empty. A meeting of the District Food Management Committee held on among city residents Friday decided to transport 6,000 quintals of subsidised rice immedi- ately by air. According to the compa- ny, the subsidised rice transported in The government decision came after a surge in the the last fiscal year was already over and the food as part of the quota number of active Covid-19 cases across the country. approved for the current fiscal is yet to be transported due disruption in SHUVAM DHUNGANA country has so far reported 31,117 the Karnali Highway. KATHMANDU, AUG 22 Covid-19 cases—2,4533 in Kathmandu alone, making it the Ojir, 37, is one of the 42 Covid- district most affected by coronavi- Campus chief held on charge of infected persons in Kathmandu rus in the country. Metropolitan Ward 32 currently in According to Maiya Saiju, a vandalising isolation ward home isolation. He and his family health worker at Kathmandu SANKHUWASABHA: Police on Friday had tested positive for Covid-19 on Metropolis, the city has assigned 10 detained Matrika Timsina, chief of August 13. dedicated teams of 4-5 members Himalaya Kiran Campus in But isolating at home is not easy for contact tracing and keeping Khandbari, on charge of vandalising for Ojir, who lives in a rented flat in records of infected persons in home an isolation ward set up at the cam- Koteshwor with his family of six. isolation. pus building. An identified group “Due to a lack of quarantine cen- “When a person tests positive in vandalised the isolation ward and tres and hospital beds, we have to Kathmandu, we get details about took away health equipment and stay isolated at home as instructed the patient from the Epidemiology medicines worth around Rs 1.5 mil- by local authorities. It’s scary and Disease Control Division under lion on Thursday night. Timsina was because we are not getting any the Ministry of Health and held for investigation based on a com- POST PHOTO: ANISH REGMI treatment nor are we getting food Population,” said Saiju. plaint filed by the district hospital, A labourer sits on a cart waiting for work in Yetkha, Kathmandu. Daily wage earners in the city have been jobless due to the prohibitory orders issued and essentials from local authori- “Then we contact them and ask said police. in the Valley to contain the coronavirus spread. ties or the government,” said Ojir, about their symptoms.” who wished to identify himself only According to Saiju, if an infected by his first name. person and their family do not show According to Ojir, he and his fam- any symptoms, the health team does ily went to Teku Hospital to get not test all of them. They are simply tested for Covid-19 after another asked to isolate at home by health person in the same house was found workers, who check on their health Despite call for changes in Nepali to be infected. condition from time to time through “My family and I haven’t shown a phone call, she said. any symptoms so far, but we are really scared, as no one has come to check on our health conditions,” Managing the Congress, old guard clings on to power Ojir said. “The last call that I got from a health worker from infected is proving Kathmandu Metropolitan City was With six months to go for the general convention, alliances are being built, but younger leaders are not ready to take over. nearly a week ago and there has difficult due to lack been no follow-up since then.” ANIL GIRI support me,” Nidhi told the Post. “I Ward No. 32 is one of the of isolation beds. KATHMANDU, AUG 22 can’t wait as next time, a new hardest hit wards in Kathmandu generation will come up to claim the Metropolitan City by Covid-19, with With the old guard in the Nepali leadership.” a total of 96 people infected so far. Due to a lack of isolation beds in Congress refusing to let go of its posi- One party leader told the Post if Out of the 92 infected, 42 are getting Kathmandu Metropolis, managing tion and the youth ranks not strong Nidhi decides to go against Deuba, he treatment in various hospitals, 47 infected people has become one of enough to challenge them, the grand will pose a serious challenge to him are kept in home isolation and the the major challenges in the fight old party of Nepali politics still seems and Deuba may not get elected for a remaining six have already been against Covid-19, said Saiju. to be finding its feet to make itself rele- second term. discharged from hospitals, accord- “We have stopped contact tracing, vant again. Sources inside the party said that ing to ward member Hira Devi as Kathmandu lacks isolation and With six months to go for the general attempts are also underway to create Pokharel. quarantine facilities. We don’t have convention, which is to choose a new different alliances. This would include On Thursday, a Cabinet meeting any option rather than telling leadership, several senior leaders have a compromise between the two Koiralas had decided to hospitalise only infected people to stay in home iso- thrown their hats in the ring and are and then between the Koiralas, Nidhi symptomatic patients while asymp- lation,” said Saiju. “We have been trying to forge alliances to ensure and Singh. tomatic patients would be asked to requesting the government to their win. Another possible alliance that is isolate at home. Finance Minister address the problem.” “On the one hand, the number of being touted is one that will field a lead- Yuba Raj Khatiwada, also the gov- However, Dr Jageshwor Gautam, candidates is increasing and alliances POST PHOTO er below 70 (such Nidhi, Singh or ernment spokesperson, made the spokesperson for the Ministry of are being built,” said Puranjan Several senior leaders of the party, including Sher Bahadur Deuba, plan to contest the elections. Koirala) as president and someone decision public during a press meet Health and Population, claimed that Acharya, a long time Nepali Congress from the youth ranks like Gagan Thapa, in Kathmandu on Friday evening. they are only keeping those people watcher. “On the other, the new the hands of the Left Alliance during and vision,” said Nabindra Raj Joshi, a Pradeep Poudel or Bishwa Prakash The decision of the government in home isolation who have seper- generation has failed to claim the new the 2017 general elections, in which the youth leader. “Therefore like in the Sharma as general secretary. to not hospitalise asymptomatic ate rooms and toilets. leadership.” party won 23 seats of 165 in the first- past, we will continue to remain in the Poudel, Deuba’s bete noire, and his Covid-19 patients has created fear “Those who do not have such Party leaders and political commen- past-the-post system and 40 of the 110 shadows of the older generation.” camp has half a dozen aspirants and among many people living across facilities are kept in an isolation tators say old faces, who have expressed seats in the proportional representa- For the older leaders, this is the last they are quietly following develop- the Valley, especially among those centre,” Gautam told the post. their intent to contest for the party tion system, leaders have been calling chance for them to land the top job in ments in the Deuba and Nidhi camps. who live in cramped spaces. They According to Ishwar Man Dangol, presidency, seem to be fighting for their for a fundamental change in the way the party as they will be unable to fight Attempts are also underway to send are worried that if they test positive spokesperson for the Kathmandu personal legacies, and not for changes the party is run. the next leadership election due to the Deuba and Poudel into retirement and for Covid-19, they would have to stay Metropolitan City, there are in terms of organisation, and political Freshness can only come into the unwritten understanding that those bring in a new leadership on the basis in home isolation, exposing their currently no isolation centres in ideology or to enthuse fresh ideas into party if the Nepali Congress gets rid of above 70 will not seek leadership roles. of consensus or to set the stage for a family to the virus. the city. the party. the present leadership, said Acharya. They are therefore forging up alli- fight between a limited number of “A man from another flat of the “However, the government is So far besides the incumbent Sher “I see a lot of suffocation inside the ances. At present, Deuba is on one side candidates. house we live in got infected but he planning to construct a 6,000-bed Bahadur Deuba, 74, senior leader Ram party,” he told the Post. and on the other his challengers. But The party needs an overhaul in its was told to isolate at home. It was isolation centre in Kathmandu to Chandra Poudel, 75, vice president One hope is the youth to take over, Deuba’s position has become shaky organisational structure, leadership only after he started showing symp- keep the infected people who do not Bimalendra Nidhi, 63, general secre- but that looks far-fetched, he said. with long-time ally Bimalendra Nidhi and ideology to cope with new emerg- toms that he was admitted to a hos- have the means to safely isolate at tary Shashanka Koirala, 61, Krishna If youth leaders come up with a con- joining the fray. ing challenges, said Acharya. pital,” said Ojir. “If the person was home,” said Dangol. Prasad Situala, 71, Shekhar Koirala,69, sensus and form a team, then youth Nidhi, Deuba’s trusted lieutenant in “It needs a leader who is vocal, artic- taken to a hospital immediately Meanwhile, Ojir from Koteshwor and Prakash Man Singh,64 have leader Gagan Thapa has also expressed the party, was appointed vice president ulate, well-versed and has a clear-cut after testing positive, my family and says he and his family have been expressed their intent to fight for the his intent to contest the upcoming of the party for his support during vision on domestic and international I wouldn’t have gotten infected.” staying in and drinking turmeric leadership. Two more leaders, Ram elections. the last general convention held in issues.” The government decision came hot water in hopes of recovering Sharan Mahat,69, and Arjun Nar Singh “But our generation is confused. It’s March 2016. “The Nepali Congress represents his- after a surge in the number of from the virus. KC, 72, have also expressed their desire a question of capability and self- confi- “I have made my position clear to torical legacies and family relation- active Covid-19 cases across the “We are. We don’t know what else to contest. dence to lead the party and the nation. Deuba that I will contest because he ships, but it is now in dire need of country, resulting in a shortage of to do or how long we will have to be Following the humiliating defeat at We youths have no clear-cut mission promised me last time that he would change,” said Acharya, the NC watcher. isolation beds in hospitals. The in home isolation,” he said. Timber collection ban discourages user groups from continuing conservation Due to restrictions, community forest users are in trouble and they have lost their valuable source of income.

CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL thing from our forest.” ly-harvested timber, consumers poverty alleviation. KATHMANDU, AUG 22 But this year, farmers like Sapkota, are compelled to buy wood for con- Currently, 23,500 such groups man- who have worked day and night to take struction and other purposes at exor- age over 2.5 million hectares of forest, For Ram Sapkota, a farmer in care of the forest turning barren land bitant rates. around 34.5 percent of the national Gaindakot Municipality, Nawalpur, into green cover, haven’t been allowed With permission from the local for- forest cover, benefiting over 3.2 mil- feeding his 10 goats and four cows has to collect wood. est authority, community forests lion households across the country. been a challenge in the last few Sapkota, who would get firewood at start harvesting forest products from But concerns are growing of late months, especially since the govern- Rs 2 per kg from the forest, now has to January-February before the window that the community forests may not ment imposed restrictions on move- buy at Rs 25 from the local sawmills. closes at the end of May. sustain themselves due to three levels ment amid the Covid-19 pandemic. “With no cash income, I can’t buy This year, however, the window of taxes on them and the ban on sell- Sapkota blames it on the scarcity of firewood from the market,” said period was marred first by the nation- ing of forest yield at a crucial time of firewood in his village. Sapkota. “First, the lockdown came as wide lockdown and then government the trade season. “I couldn’t buy cooking gas cylin- a threat to our health and then the ban on selling of timber imposed Community forest members fear ders during the lockdown. Also, a government ban on timber has affect- from May. that if people are not allowed to utilise farmer like me can’t afford to use ed our livelihood as this year we could The government decisions have not their forest resources that they pro- cooking gas to cook fodder for my cat- not get anything from our forest.” only affected households, they have tected for years, they would be dis- tle,” Sapkota, told the Post over phone. Following reports of illegal felling also hampered forest groups’ couraged to actively participate in “I had been using whatever wood I of trees in the name of scientific for- income, and ultimately their conser- forest conservation. found around the house and relied on est management, the government vation efforts. According to Subedi and Sapkota, my biogas plant to cook food for my imposed a nationwide ban, which was The Community Forestry the government should have investi- family.” relaxed on June 10, to allow the cut- Guidelines, 2014, says that community gated areas where trees were cut Like Sapkota’s family, thousands of ting of trees except for sal (shorea forest users’ groups have to spend rampantly instead of imposing a households across the country that robusta). their earnings on forest development blanket ban. depend on firewood to feed themselves However, the damage has been done. (25 percent), poverty eradication and While the timber lays in the forest, and their cattle find themselves in a “Although the government ban is livelihood (35 percent) and on social Subedi has been struggling to pay sal- difficult situation after the govern- now only on sal timber, local commu- development (40 percent) programmes. aries for three staff members as the ment on May 28 imposed a ban on nities have been unable to use other Subedi’s community forest aimed to group’s income has dwindled follow- felling of trees and the collection, forest products either,” said Bharati raise about five to six million by sell- ing the ban. transportation and sale of timber Kumari Pathak, chairperson of ing nearly 4,400 cubic feet of timber After years of work, families associ- from forests, following complaints Federation of Community Forestry and other forest products. Last year, ated with Shiva Community Forest that trees were being cut haphazardly Users’ Nepal, the umbrella organisa- they had made nearly Rs 2.2million. Users Group in Kawasoti had turned and illegally in the name of “scientific tion of forest user groups. “There are “The timber is lying in the forest. an empty and encroached area on the forest management”. some that need the wood to make their POST FILE PHOTO We have been unable to sell a single northern side of the East-West “In the past, local farmers and cowsheds, others need timber to With permission from the local forest authority, community forests start harvesting forest cubic feet of it,” said Subedi. “Nearly Highway, into a forest covering 104 members of marginalised groups rebuild their quake-affected houses. products from January-February before the window closes at the end of May. 150 families had applied months ago hectares with valuable trees and would get to collect firewood, timber The government’s abrupt decision to for wood, and they have been waiting wildlife. and other products from the forest ban the felling of trees and haphazard him when they can get firewood The government ban on felling of since then.” “This season, we had cleaned the every year,” said Sapkota, who has implementation of the rule by local or timber for which they applied trees has left a similar impact on other Nepal’s community forest system is forest and also mobilised resources to been a member of Sundari Community officials hurt communities.” months ago. parts of the country as well. a globally-recognised model of protect it from wildfires,” said Subedi. Forest Users Group for nearly 25 The struggle for forest products is “We have been hearing complaints While various parliamentary com- conservation that engages the local “But when we needed money and the years. no different for nearly 850 households from locals every day. We have been mittees and government panels have communities to conserve forests. locals needed wood, we can’t have it. “We would collect fallen wood and associated with Shiva Community unable to provide firewood even for started investigating the rampant Besides recovering the country’s Why would people give their blood and other products and pay cheaper prices Forest Users Group, Kawasoti. religious occasions such as cremation deforestation that led to the ban, valu- green coverage in the last two-and- sweat to conservation if they can’t use compared to that of the market. This Every day, locals visit Hari Subedi, of the dead, let alone for cooking,” able timber worth millions have been half decades, these forest user the forest’s resources when they need time, we have been deprived of any- joint secretary of the group, to ask said Subedi. left to decay. In the absence of local- groups have also contributed towards them the most?”

C M Y K SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020 | 04 OPINION The eternal dream of self-government

bad old 90s. It took close to a decade People keep hoping for and a devastating earthquake for the new statute to be put in place. self-determination. But The story with the majority govern- ment voted into office on the strength when it arrives, leaders of fantastic promises of transforming the country has been no different, and always seem to disappoint. the results were there for all to see even before the shameful past few months. A naked power struggle has DEEPAK THAPA consumed the ruling party at the time of a pandemic that not only is likely to AS I LIKE devastate the economy but also lead to a huge loss of lives. Yet, for all the fire and brimstone emanating from both sides, neither has come up with any game plan on how best to take on the coronavirus threat. The last we heard The multiple feelings of déjà vu were was that the resolution to all these unexpectedly overwhelming. It hap- months of political wrangling that pened while I was listening to the BBC ensured the absence of any political on developments in Belarus, where leadership in the country would come Alexander Lukashenko is currently in the form of a cabinet reshuffle. Talk on the back foot. While reporting on of a damp squib. factory workers chanting ‘Leave’ to The poet Sylvia Plath wrote: ‘If you the face of the embattled president expect nothing from anybody, you’re who had sought to bolster his position never disappointed’. That, unfortu- by speaking before what he thought nately, cannot apply to the relation- would be a sympathetic audience, the ship between people and their govern- BBC presenter commented on how ment. Expectations are always high tenuous his hold on power seemed to and politicians almost always fail to be. That was when the flood of memo- deliver; it appears to be an unalterable ries from history, our own and beyond, truism of the human condition no came with a rush. Memories that matter how many times we opt for reminded not only how such moments something else. The only constant is fervently embodied the hopes of a the human longing for freedom with nation but also the sure-as-certain let- dignity. down that lay in store for the Mugabe started off as prime minis- Belarusians. POST FILE PHOTO ter before graduating to the presiden- This is not some kind of soothsay- still remember him, besides being an carried out in hushed tones in private what our textbook said. The multipar- his departure from the scene. cy and crafting a polity that ensured ing on how the opposition leader, imposing personality, was due to my circles, I began attending political ty side lost the following year in the his re-election over and over again. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, would per- wonderment in those days before events in Khula Manch. I was there plebiscite widely believed to have been Only hope remains The art of winning elections is what form if and when Lukashenko were to instant information at how one pro- when BP Koirala spoke for the first rigged. Little were we to know how For all the disappointments played out Lukashenko had perfected as well. quit. Like most reasonably well-in- nounces his surname (it is en-Komo). time in public after his deposal two those who thundered against an unac- over and over again everywhere we That game plan has evolved over time formed people away from its immedi- For the next 40 years though, we learnt decades earlier and still remember the countable regime were to prove such look, hope does lie eternal since peo- and is in use across the globe. Given ate vicinity, all I know about Belarus a lot about Mugabe, how he ran this shock many in the audience felt at big washouts when their own time ple continue to strive towards the half the chance, there are many is that it has been long ruled by an resource-rich country into the ground first hearing the squeak his voice had came. ideal of a government responsive to among our current crop of leaders ‘elected’ strongman who has wrapped before being ousted following years of become due to the throat cancer that But there was time enough for that, its citizenry. The absolute certainty of who would have loved to be at the head himself into a strong embrace with discontent. Unfortunately, for a coun- was to ultimately consume him. a full decade. In the meantime, things better times once the current crisis of a similar political system. Not that Russia. With my very limited knowl- try that has suffered so much, the My route back from school had me shifted in favour of popular will here blows over is driving the Belarusians template has not been tried out here as edge about its politics, I had never record of his successor has not been change buses in the Ratna Park area and there, notably, the Argentine one at the moment. That feeling of height- well, with the introduction of all even heard of Tikhanovskaya either. much better, having now spawned the and I would turn into Khula Manch in 1982, the Filipino in 1986, and then ened optimism is something we had kinds of laws that would subvert The above was only a personal reflec- human rights campaign, from Bir Hospital en route to the mini- the momentous dismemberment of the (mis)fortune of experiencing two democracy by undermining the tion on how common similar hopeful #ZimbabweanLivesMatter. Enough bus stop across the road from the head the Soviet empire in 1989-90. We fol- times within a generation: in 1990 and media and civil society. Thankfully, moments have been in the last four said. office of the-then Nepali Electricity lowed on the heels of the last with our 2006. The second time around at least popular will is still strong enough in decades or so—and how badly these In 1979, when I turned 14, we were Corporation. The speeches would take own 1990 People’s Movement and saw our politicians appeared contrite and Nepal to have stymied most of those generally end up. able to witness history in the making. place in the late afternoons, and I the restoration of democracy after actually promised not to repeat their attempts. With the student unrest seeming to would pause almost every day to lis- three decades. And, almost immedi- mistakes of the past in what they said That is why I get the shivers every Hope for democracy and equity threaten the regime itself, king ten. Over the months I must have ately came face-to-face with the inex- would become a New Nepal. time someone mentions the stability The first one I can remember is from Birendra hurriedly announced a ref- heard most politicians worth his (do plicable reality that politicians, Even if they had actually meant it that would come with an executive when I was 13—the independence of erendum on the Panchayat system. not recall any ‘her’) name speak in whether from the revolutionary at the time, the squabbling began soon presidency. The only comfort we in Rhodesia (and gradual transition into The political activism that had gone words we of the Panchayat generation stream or otherwise, invariably belie after they were put back in power on Nepal can take is that we will have the Zimbabwe). The names that stuck in underground after the 1960 royal coup had never heard before. Here we were the high hopes that propel them to the back of a popular mobilisation of pleasure of booting out the rulers my mind were of Ian Smith, the last became possible again. Despite having cramming propaganda to get through power. Perhaps the only notable excep- the kind never before seen in Nepal’s through the ballot box if things do not prime minister of Rhodesia, Joshua barely any comprehension about poli- the subject known simply as tion in recent decades has been Nelson history. Instead of focusing on draft- improve by the time elections come Nkomo and Robert Mugabe. Nkomo is tics apart from what I could imbibe Panchayat, and there were all these Mandela’s South Africa but there, too, ing a constitution, we saw govern- around. That is more than can be said now almost forgotten and the reason I from sitting in on adult conversations legendary names calling the lie to the downward slide began soon after ments come and go in a repeat of the for where Belarus is now.

Internet access is a human right Affordability, accessibility and availability must be ensured to build a digital Nepal.

NARAYAN PRASAD GHIMIRE

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown that forced people to stay indoors, various sectors ranging from schools and uni- versities to banks took to the internet to continue operations. Non- governmental organisations, both the local and the international, resorted to Zoom meetings and discussions to conduct awareness programmes. Even government offices curtailed human resources, urging them to work from home utilising the world wide web. The internet, which has been ingrained in everyone’s life, is applied widely in different offices and profes- sions. Though forced upon many, internet use expanded alarmingly— thanks to Covid-19. As internet permeates every person and profession, facilitating access to other fundamental human rights like freedom of expression and informa- tion, and freedom of assembly and association, it is relevant to ponder over it. As per the Nepal Telecommunications Authority, inter- net penetration in the country has reached 72.22 percent of the popula- tion. Irrespective of the cost, speed SHUTTERSTOCK and quality, the expansion of the internet access as a human right. Last ment while the Sustainable tal freedoms, in accordance with limited to a particular area, class, gen- decision that ignores the marginal- internet cannot be belittled. Some year, the Indian state of Kerala Development Goals is a global advoca- national legislation and international der, race or community, but to the ised, women and backward is quickly have argued that the time has come to declared internet access a human cy policy the government adopted as a agreements’. Nepal has fully embraced entire human race. Any curtailment censured online, thus playing the role recognise internet access as a human right. In 2010, Finland became the first UN member country. Although the the Sustainable Development Goals of internet access, filtering and block- of a constant watchdog. In the wake of right in Nepal too. The debate on country to ensure a broadband con- Digital Nepal Framework does not but there has not been adequate home- ing of contents, or shutting down of Covid-19, even calls for people’s assem- internet and human rights grew fur- nection of 1 megabit per second to its explicitly advocate for internet access work to address Target 16.10. Few dis- websites often draws criticism from a bly and demonstration were made ther, particularly after the United citizens as a legal right. as a human right, it aims at digital cussions have been held on this target wide section. The very universal char- online and the assemblies held. Nations declared internet access a Amid a surge in internet use follow- empowerment of the people besides as compared to other goals and tar- acter of the internet is worth reiterat- It is high time we saw the internet human right in 2016. ing the lockdown, the approval of the improving the education, health and gets. The use of technology and the ing to highlight its status as a human as a human right. As this debate inten- government’s Digital Nepal agriculture sectors. For digital internet cannot be ignored to realise right. sifies, it will bring up myriad issues Global trends Framework which envisages making empowerment, the internet is indis- other goals and targets like gender surrounding internet governance. The UN declaration must have come the greatest use of technology to pensable. Therefore, affordability, equality, digital inclusion and quality Voices of the downtrodden The discussions should draw the after a growing number of countries achieve national objectives, and the accessibility and availability of the education. Of late, the internet has brought to the attention of the legislature and the declared the internet a human right adoption of the Sustainable internet must be ensured to build a Freedom of expression and infor- fore the voices of the downtrodden in judiciary to the importance of the and regional and global forums inten- Development Goals (specifically 16.10) digital Nepal. mation is regarded as a foundational Nepal. Public officials have been held internet. It is also necessary to explore sified debates and discussions about which aims to ensure public access to Sustainable Development Goal 16 is human right which enables other accountable, and public decisions cor- the potential of the internet to curb it. In 2001, Estonia became the first information and protect fundamental devoted to establishing an inclusive rights and freedoms. Internet rected, following online criticism. misuse, thereby boosting the internet country to declare the internet a freedoms, the advocacy of internet and peaceful society, providing access access can be argued as being the Irrespective of some hate speech, the ecosystem of which every person human right. France followed suit in access as a human right has assumed to justice and creating accountable foundation of foundational rights. exercise of freedom of expression is a part. 2009. This prompted the legislatures further relevance. institutions. To this end, Target 16.10 Like human rights, the concept of the online has not only broken the tradi- and judiciaries of other countries to The Digital Nepal Framework was urges states to ‘Ensure public access internet is universal and frontier-less. tional hierarchy but also created a Ghimire is a journalist and media gradually think of acknowledging prepared and launched by the govern- to information and protect fundamen- Access to the internet must not be digital civic space. Any news story or researcher.

C M Y K 05 | SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020 MONEY Buoyant Indian stock Lack of clarity in rules, and hindrances markets to correct: drive e-retailers to operate amid confusion RBI governor With vendors allowed to operate only for a limited time, retailers say they are having problems managing stock. KRISHANA PRASAIN e-commerce and address the problem certain time, we are also facing prob- Supplies by the Department of REUTERS KATHMANDU, AUG 22 for delivering essential goods,” said lems with the supply part,” said Commerce, Supply and Consumer MUMBAI, AUG 22 Subal Chitrakar, co-founder and oper- Adhikari. Protection in July, is yet to be reviewed On Tuesday, Surakchya Adhikari, ation head at Sasto Deal, another Anil Basnet, founder and CEO of before it is submitted to the Cabinet India’s stock market is not in sync co-founder and Chief Operating online retailer. MetroTarkari, said that as the vegeta- for its approval which is under with the real economy which will Officer at Thulo.com, an online retail Agreeing with Chitrakar, Adhikari ble wholesale market is open only discussion. result in a correction, Reserve Bank store, was busy looking over at the said that since the lockdown began on until 7 am in the morning, they “We have been waiting for e-com- of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta numbers of orders the company had March 24, the government has neither are having problems in supplying merce policy so that it would be law- Das warned on Friday. received for Teej. But as the day came realised the importance of e-com- vegetables. “Vendors have been fully easy for us to operate our busi- “There is so much liquidity in the to end, a Cabinet meeting decided to merce at the time of pandemic nor running out of stock and the limited nesses,” said Adhikari. “We have been system, in the global economy, that’s implement prohibitory orders in the formulated a strategy for such servic- time has impacted our deliveries,” following safety protocol strictly, as an why the stock market is very buoyant Valley to curb the spread of Covid-19 es to operate smoothly. says Basnet. infection in our delivery team will and it is definitely disconnected with starting Wednesday midnight. For instance, Adhikari said that the The delivery numbers have also have a deep impact on the team the real economy,” Das said in an “With the immediate restriction government has still not clearly men- been reduced. While earlier they were and business too,” she said. But interview with the CNBC Awaaz order, I did not get the time to properly tioned whether two-wheelers are getting 50-60 orders on a daily basis, the government too has to do their bit, news channel. plan for the delivery of goods the next allowed to deliver or not. Delivering from Thursday they have been getting she added. “There will definitely be a correc- REUTERS day. And amid confusion and a lack of goods on two-wheelers in comparison only 25-30 orders, said Basnet. Unless the government comes up tion but we can’t say when.” RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das. clarity, we had to remain closed for the to four-wheelers is comparatively “It is high time the government with policies that ensure smooth oper- The blue-chip NSE Nifty 50 index next two days,” Adhikari said. The more efficient, say e-retailers. But implements delivery policy or stable ations for e-commerce, such sudden and the S&P BSE Sensex have gained According to minutes of the latest sudden shuttering of operations nothing has been defined yet. operation rules so that business orders will have an impact on the 37.1 percent and 35.2 percent respec- monetary policy committee meeting, meant she could not make the most of Confusion arose on Thursday morn- does not get impacted by the sudden businesses, says Chitrakar. “The gov- tively, as of their last close, in this released on Thursday, it suggested the festive week, a time when sales ing when despite the government stat- implementation of safety measures,” ernment needs to come up with financial year, starting in April. that the bank sees little room for rate would have peaked, she says. ing that the supply of essential goods Adhikari said. clear rules so that no confusion This month, the monetary policy cuts in this environment. The government’s immediate deci- will be allowed to operate, police The demand for online delivery of occurs for the businesses that are try- committee held interest rates Retail inflation in June rose to 6.09 sion of shutting down the Valley has administration stopped delivery. daily consumable goods has swelled in ing their best to survive the pandem- steady due to rising inflation but Das percent, higher than the RBI’s 2 per- added stress to e-retailers already E-retailers were flooded with orders the Valley since the beginning of lock- ic,” he added. reiterated that the central bank had cent-6 percent mandated target range, struggling from the initial lockdown, amid the festival Teej but due to the down, with people preferring to order According to e-commerce traders, enough policy space and would use it forcing it to keep rates steady. A which lasted from March to June, restriction orders, deliveries were online rather visiting the market the e-commerce market in Nepal is as needed. breach of the band for three and is causing them operational delayed and orders were cancelled, physically, said e-traders. worth around $35-40 million with 300 The RBI has already reduced the straight quarters requires the com- hindrances. E-retailers are uncertain said e-traders. But with no e-commerce policy in percent growth largely due to growing repo rate by a total of 115 bps since mittee to offer an explanation to the as to how they can go about managing But now, three days into the week- the country, there is a lack of clarity smartphone users and increasing February, on top of 135 bps in an eas- government. At a time when the econ- and planning their supply system long restrictions, e-retailers are now and communication from the govern- internet penetration in the country. ing cycle last year. omy is severely hamstrung by the and stock. allowed to deliver all day but with ment, affecting daily operations, said “E-commerce is the only option for “We have policy space. We have to novel coronavirus pandemic, the RBI “It has been more than five months vendors allowed to open shop for lim- e-retailers. people who are staying home and abid- keep the arsenal dry and we have expects severe contraction in gross that pandemic hit the nation but the ited time they are having problems The proposed E-commerce Bill 2020 ing by the government’s orders. And to use that judiciously in the future,” domestic product in the first half of government has not been able to come managing stock, they say. law, which had been sent to the meeting their needs needs to be he said. this financial year. up with an operation strategy for “As the market is open only for a Ministry of Industry, Commerce and encouraged,” he said.

FOREX European economic US Dollar 120.05

Euro 141.51 Pound Sterling 157.77 rebound slows as Japanese Yen 11.36 Chinese Yuan 17.35 coronavirus cases rise Qatari Riyal 32.97

Australian Dollar 86.18 ASSOCIATED PRESS LONDON, AUG 22 Malaysian Ringit 28.72 Survey finds firms The European economy’s rebound are cutting jobs Saudi Arab Riyal 32.01 from the coronavirus recession Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank appears to have slowed in August for a sixth as a resurgence in new confirmed contagions across the region makes PRICE PER TOLA consecutive month. BULLION businesses, shoppers and travellers more cautious. Fine Gold Rs 98,800 An indicator of business activity index, which is based on a survey published Friday by research firm of 5,000 companies across the 19-coun- Silver Rs 1,370 IHS Markit fell back to a level that try eurozone, dropped to 51.6 points in suggests the economy is barely grow- August from 54.9 in July. The 50-mark SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA ing after a relatively strong burst in separates economic contraction from July, when many countries had phased growth. The survey found that compa- GASOLINE WATCH out the restrictions on public life that nies are cutting jobs for a sixth consec- were imposed in the spring to contain utive month, though not by as much as the pandemic. in April, with layoffs biggest in the Coronavirus contagions are rising manufacturing sector. rapidly in many European countries, A significant weakening in even if deaths remain at a relatively European business would be a blow to low level. That has made some the global economy as the region had consumers more cautious. Europe’s been one of the most successful in busiest airline, Ryanair, said this getting the pandemic under control. week it was cutting back further on The European economy is forecast to the number of flights as demand recover more rapidly from recession remains low. than the United States, which hasn’t That suggests the European econo- yet managed to significantly reduce my, which had been expected to its first wave of contagions. bounce back from recession more The eurozone economy shrank by a forcefully than the United States, devastating 12.1 percent in the April- could take longer to heal. June period from the previous quarter “The path taken will likely depend but other indicators have pointed to a in large part on how successfully return to growth—from retail sales to Covid-19 can be suppressed and manufacturing. The unemployment whether companies and their custom- rate has held steady thanks to massive ers alike can gain the confidence nec- aid from governments to keep redun- essary to support growth,” said dant workers on company payrolls. POST PHOTO: HEMANTA SHRESTHA Andrew Harker, economics director at Some of that aid will phase out or A woman buys meat from a shop with a plastic divider in Patan, Lalitpur. Kathmandu Valley recorded 216 new coronavirus infections on IHS Markit. be reduced in coming months, mean- Saturday, the highest in a single day, according to the Health Ministry. The so-called purchasing managers’ ing job losses are likely to pile up. Empty jewellery Turkey discovers large natural gas reserve off Black Sea shops plague India ASSOCIATED PRESS meet Turkey’s energy needs for the acting to protect its interests and ANKARA (TURKEY), AUG 22 next two decades. those of Turkish Cypriots. The Greek market as Dubai He also noted that it usually takes Cypriot government of the ethnically Turkish President Recep Tayyip up to a decade to extract gas from a split island has slammed Turkey for Erdogan announced on Friday the dis- new discovery and that investors seem encroaching in its waters and econom- exports arrive covery of a large natural gas reserve skeptical about the claim that the find ic rights. off the Black Sea coast that will help would eliminate Turkey’s current The discovery of the natural gas in REUTERS ease the country’s dependence on account deficit. the Black Sea comes as a welcome MUMBAI/BENGALURU, AUG 22 imports. While the find is significant, it’s respite for the country, which depends Erdogan said the amount of gas smaller than other discoveries in the on Iran, Iraq and Russia for its energy Physical gold dealers in India this discovered is 320 billion cubic meters, nearby eastern Mediterranean. It’s and is grappling with economic woes. week offered the highest discounts in a sum industry analysts said was nota- about a third of Egypt’s Zohr field, Last year, energy imports cost the more than one and a half months, as ble but not a “game-changer” that one of the largest discovered in the country $41 billion. buyers stayed away even as more bul- might turn the country into a regional Mediterranean, which is estimated to The Turkish lira has tumbled to lion flowed in from the United Arab energy hub or materially alter its hold 850 billion cubic meters, or 30 record lows this months, fueled by Emirates. financial fortunes. trillion cubic feet of natural gas. high inflation, a wide current account On Friday, gold futures in India, Turkey hopes to start extracting The Turkish drilling ship, Fatih, deficit and the Turkish government’s traditionally the world’s second big- and using the gas by 2023, when had been carrying out exploration push for cheap credit to drive an econ- gest gold consumer after China, were Turkey marks the centenary of the operations in the western Black Sea omy that was already fragile before trading around 51,800 rupees ($691.24) founding of the republic, Erdogan for the past month. the Covid-19 pandemic hit. per 10 grams, having surged to a said. The discovery comes as tensions The fact that gas has been found in record high of 56,191 rupees earlier “Turkey has realized the greatest between NATO allies Turkey and the Black Sea where Turkey has this month. natural gas discovery in its history,” Greece are running high over oil and already delimited its border with “A significant amount of gold was he said. “We are determined to gas exploration in disputed waters in coastal neighbors, was also seen as a imported from Dubai last week and solve our energy issue. We will not the eastern Mediterranean. Greek and positive development. AP/RSS customs cleared that this week. But stop until we become a net exporter Turkish warships have been shadow- “It’s incredibly significant for A file photo of Turkey’s drilling ship, Fatih. demand is not there because of vola- of energy.” ing each other after Turkey sent a Turkey because the find was in the tile prices,” said Chanda Venkatesh, Berat Albayrak, the economy minis- research ship to look for potential Black Sea, unlike the eastern rience developing an offshore gas field stepped-up French military presence managing director of CapsGold, a bul- ter and Erdogan’s son-in-law, said the undersea oil and gas deposits. France Mediterranean, which is riddled with of their own.” in the region, saying it’s not aimed at lion merchant in the city of government hopes it will eliminate has also sent ships to monitor the east- all kinds of geopolitical problems,” The news was broadcast with some “stoking the coals” of conflict. “The Hyderabad. Turkey’s current account deficit. ern Mediterranean in support of said John Bowlus of the Center for fanfare in Turkey and people greeted goal is to show our support for our Discounts of up to $20 an ounce Independent experts were less Greece. Energy and Sustainable Development it with some hope for the economy. Greek and Cypriot partners ... and our were offered against official domestic convinced of that claim. The Turkish ship is scheduled to at Istanbul’s Kadir Has University.” “Natural gas or oil weren’t found in attachment to international law and prices—including 12.5 percent import Ulrich Leuchtmann, head of foreign search for energy reserves there until Bowlus said however: “Turkey will our country for years,” said Ayhan freedom of navigation.” and 3 percent sales levies—versus the exchange research at Commerzbank, Aug. 23. Turkey is also at odd with need to raise a lot of capital to invest Ozkan, 58. “I am unbeliavably She expressed hope in German $2 premiums last week. said the discovery is positive news for Cyprus over energy exploration in building this field. Alongside that, happy. I hope it will be beneficial for mediation efforts between Turkey and The country remained in the grip of Turkey, “but it’s not the game changer around the island. It has dispatched they’re going to have to partner with our country.” Greece and hope in restoring a “posi- the coronavirus, with the third high- that some were expecting” after earli- warship-escorted vessels off Cyprus’s some kind of international company Meanwhile, French Defense tive agenda with Turkey” after est number of cases globally. er reports suggested the find would coast to drill for gas, insisting that it’s in the sense that they don’t have expe- Minister Florence Parly defended the Turkish “excesses.”

C M Y K SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020 | 06 WORLD

BRIEFING Battered by South Korea imposes strict measures Democrats, Trump IAEA chief plans trip to pressure Iran fires back against VIENNA: The UN nuclear watchdog’s as Covid-19 caseload continues to grow chief Rafael Grossi will make his ‘total anarchy, first trip to Tehran in that role on India records another 24-hour jump in infections as virus spreads to southern states after plateauing in major cities. Monday to pressure Iran to grant inspectors access to two suspected ASSOCIATED PRESS daily rise in cases for 18 consecutive madness and chaos’ former atomic sites after a months- SEOUL, AUG 22 days. Some 2.2 million people have long standoff, he said on Saturday. recovered from the disease in India REUTERS The International Atomic Energy South Korea is banning large gather- since the first case was diagnosed WASHINGTON/ARLINGTON , AUG 22 Agency’s 35-nation Board of ings, closing beaches, shutting night- in late January. Governors passed a resolution in spots and churches and removing fans India has the third-highest caseload After being accused by Democrats of June raising pressure on Iran to let from professional sports in strict new after the United States and Brazil, and being a chaotic and dishonest leader, inspectors into the sites mentioned in measures announced Saturday as it its 55,794 deaths give it the fourth-high- President Donald Trump has coun- two quarterly IAEA reports because battles the spread of the coronavirus. est death toll in the world. tered that Democrats, not he, would they could still host undeclared nucle- Health Minister Park Neung-hoo China on Saturday reported anoth- bring chaos to the United States if Joe ar material or traces of it. “My objec- announced the steps shortly after the er 22 new cases brought by travellers Biden wins the White House in tive is that my meetings in Tehran Korea Centers for Disease Control and from abroad, with no additional local November. will lead to concrete progress in Prevention reported 332 new cases— infections. The National Health “If our opponents prevail no one addressing the outstanding questions the ninth straight day of triple-digit Commission said 454 people remain in will be safe in our country,” Trump that the Agency has related to safe- increases. The national caseload is treatment and 3,667 are in isolation. told conservative activists in his first guards in Iran and, in particular, to now at 17,002, including 309 deaths. While local spread of the virus speech since the Democratic National resolve the issue of access,” Grossi, While most of the new cases came AP/RSS appears to have been contained in Convention ended late on Thursday. said in a statement. from the densely populated Seoul met- A woman holding bags of fresh flowers wears a face mask to protect against the coronavirus mainland China, the semi-autono- “I’m the only thing standing ropolitan area, which has been at the as she stands outside a market in Beijing on Saturday. mous southern city of Hong Kong between the American dream and West African mediators centre of the viral surge in recent continues to struggle with its worst total anarchy, madness and chaos,” weeks, infections were also reported outbreak since the pandemic began. Trump said. jet to Mali for talks in practically every major city and The territory’s leader Carrie Lam said In a preview of what Republicans BAMAKO/LONDON: Mediators from town, raising concerns that transmis- WHO hopes pandemic will last less than two years Friday Hong Kong will offer free coro- will argue at their own convention West Africa’s regional bloc are due in sions are slipping out of control. navirus tests to its residents over a next week, Trump hammered at the Mali on Saturday for talks aimed at The government had already GENEVA: The World Health nected now,” he told a briefing in period of two weeks starting Sept 1, in law-and-order theme he has embraced reversing a coup that has been con- imposed elevated social distancing Organization hopes the coronavirus Geneva. hopes of restarting the services-de- in response to anti-racism and police demned abroad, but celebrated by measures in Seoul this week after pandemic will be shorter than the 1918 “But at the same time we have also pendent local economy. The city’s brutality protests in US cities includ- many in a country battling an resisting them for months out of eco- Spanish flu and last less than two the technology to stop it and the economy contracted 9 percent in the ing Portland, Oregon. Islamist insurgency and simmering nomic concerns. years, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom knowledge to stop it. So we have a dis- second quarter of this year. A new political unrest. Leaders from the “We are now in a very dangerous Ghebreyesus said on Friday, if the advantage of globalisation, closeness, surge in infections has more than tri- 15-nation Economic Community of situation that could trigger a world unites and succeeds in finding a connectedness but an advantage of pled the number of cases in the city to West African States have taken a par- massive nationwide spread of Covid- vaccine. The WHO has always been better technology. “So we hope to fin- 4,632, with 75 deaths. ticularly hard line on Tuesday’s oust- 19,” Park said. cautious about giving estimates on ish this pandemic (in) less than two New cases of Covid-19 in Australia’s er of President Ibrahim Boubacar Churches had been a major source how quickly the pandemic can be years.” He urged “national unity” and Victoria state continued to decline Keita. They shut borders and ended of new cases in the Seoul area before dealt with while there is no proven “global solidarity”. Saturday with 182 new infections, financial flows, a move diplomats said authorities shut them this week. vaccine. Tedros said the 1918 Spanish “That is key with utilising the avail- along with 13 deaths. It was the second was as much about dissuading oppo- Nightclubs, karaoke bars, buffet res- flu “took two years to stop”. able tools to the maximum and hoping day in a row in which the number of nents at home as stabilising Mali. taurants and computer gaming cafes “And in our situation now with that we can have additional tools like new infections has fallen below 200. in the greater capital region have also more technology, and of course with vaccine.” More than 22.81 million peo- Only 24 of the latest cases are without closed and spectators are banned more connectiveness, the virus has a ple have been reported to be infected a known source, a contrast to the Seoul, Beijing hold highest-level again from baseball and soccer games, better chance of spreading, it can by the coronavirus globally since it start of August when hundreds could talks since outbreak just weeks after teams had been move fast because we are more con- was first identified in China. (REUTERS) not be traced. Australia’s second larg- allowed to sell portions of their seats. est city, Melbourne, and parts of rural SEOUL: South Korea said on Saturday The same measures will apply Victoria were placed in full lockdown REUTERS it held talks with China’s top diplo- nationwide from Sunday, although shutting schools, halting professional after participating in an anti-govern- in early August. It’s due to continue Donald Trump mat over trade, denuclearisation and Park said local governments will be sports and advising private companies ment protest last week where he until September 13. the coronavirus response, in the first permitted to exercise some level of to have employees work from home. shared a microphone on stage with “Whilst tomorrow’s numbers will He said police had been weakened visit by a high-level Beijing official flexibility, such as advising business Yoon Taeho, a senior Health other activists. More than 100 infec- be for tomorrow, we are all pleased to in “Democrat-run” cities and cited a since the Covid-19 pandemic erupted shutdowns rather than enforcing Ministry official, said the government tions have been tied to protesters. see a ‘one’ in front of these additional spike in murders in Chicago, late last year. Yang Jiechi, a member them, if infections are low. will review the effect of the restric- India recorded another 24-hour case numbers, and to a certain extent, Minneapolis, New York and of the Communist Party Politburo, KCDC Director Jeong Eun-kyeong tions before deciding whether to jump in coronavirus infections as the it is perhaps at that level a little quick- Philadelphia. He urged Americans to met with South Korea’s new national has endorsed even stronger restric- strengthen them further. disease spreads across the country’s er than I thought it might be,” Victoria turn back “radical left socialists and security adviser, Suh Hoon, in the tions. If there’s no sign that the virus As of Saturday afternoon, nearly southern states after plateauing in the Premier Daniel Andrews said. Marxists.” southern port city of Busan. The two spread is slowing after the weekend, 800 infections have been linked to a capital and the financial centre of Meanwhile, an outbreak linked to a He called protesters in Portland sides discussed topics such expanding she said the country should consider Seoul church led by a vocal critic of Mumbai. The Health Ministry report- youth detention centre in Queensland “crazy.” cultural exchanges as well as the elec- elevating social distancing measures the country’s president. Sarang Jeil ed 69,878 new cases on Saturday, bring- state has caused the state’s premier to “So the future of our country and tion of the World Trade Organization to “Level 3,” which includes prohibit- Church pastor Jun Kwang-hun was ing the total to 2,975,701. Globally reintroduce restrictions on public indeed our civilisation is at stake on Director General. (AGENCIES) ing gatherings of more than 10 people, hospitalized with Covid-19 on Monday India has been reporting the biggest gatherings. Nov 3,” he said in the speech in Arlington, Virginia, to the 2020 Council for National Policy. Biden and his running mate, US Senator Kamala Harris, accepted Kremlin critic Navalny is their party’s nomination at the four- day Democratic convention, where speaker after speaker characterized Trump’s four years in office as chaot- flown to German hospital, ic. The convention, held virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic, showcased scathing criticism of in ‘worrying’ condition Trump’s character and his handling of the health crisis, in which more REUTERS than 170,000 people in the United BERLIN, AUG 22 States have died. Democrats sought to present a Gravely ill Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was evacuated to diverse, united front with the integri- Germany for medical treatment on Saturday, flown out of the ty and faith they said Trump lacks. Siberian city of Omsk in an ambulance aircraft and taken to a Biden opened his acceptance speech hospital in Berlin. on Thursday night by saying, “The There was no word yet from the Charite hospital on his current president has cloaked condition but the founder of the activist group that arranged America in darkness for much too the flight called Navalny’s health condition “very worrying”. long. Too much anger. Too much fear. A long-time opponent of President Vladimir Putin and cam- Too much division.” paigner against corruption, Navalny collapsed on a plane on In his speech on Friday, Trump Thursday after drinking tea that his allies believe was laced called it “the darkest and angriest and with poison. Medical staff at the hospital in Omsk said on gloomiest convention in American Friday evening, after clearing Navalny to be flown out, that he history.” was in an induced coma and his life was not in immediate He also suggested, without provid- danger. The air ambulance, arranged by the Cinema for Peace ing an explanation or evidence, that Foundation, flew to Berlin’s Tegel airport early on Saturday the Democratic speaker of the House and Navalny, 44, was rushed to the Charite hospital complex. of Representatives could become The hospital said in a statement it would provide an update president if the results of the Nov 3 about his condition and further treatment once tests have election were not clear by the end of been completed and after consulting with his family. It added the year. this could take some time. “I don’t think you’ll know two “His health condition is very worrying,” Cinema for Peace AP/RSS weeks later. I don’t think you’ll know founder Jaka Bizilj told reporters outside the hospital. A devotee wearing a mask carries home an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh for worship during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, on Saturday. four weeks later,” he said. “We got a very clear message from the doctors that if there had not been an emergency landing in Omsk, he would have died,” said Bizilj, adding that it would be up to doctors and Navalny’s family to provide further information on his condi- tion. Bizilj, a Slovenian-born activist and filmmaker, was ear- lier quoted by Bild tabloid as saying Navalny’s condition was Northeast India recalls ‘Stalingrad of the East’ stable during the flight and after landing.

ASSOCIATED PRESS town that was also the British headquar- or ration rice, a variety that many in KOHIMA (INDIA), AUG 22 ters in the Naga Hills. The station, on the Kohima still cultivate. Indian border with Myanmar, was consid- A population never While many Nagas supported the Allied Request for Proposal (RFP) To Kuozeu Vizo, the landscape was as ered strategically important for Japanese exposed to life beyond forces, others backed the Japanese with for the supply/delivery of spellbinding as a rice field, golden and advancement into British-held India. whom they shared some physical features ripe for harvest, but it was her village The face-off that ensued earned nick- village saw tanks and and in the hope that they would help the Security Operation Center burned black. names like the “Stalingrad of the East”—it Nagas achieve independence from Britain. “I still wonder how they even knew was a decisive turn in the war—and “The planes drop bombs BK Sachu, 86, recalled the kindness (SOC)/SIEM/FIM which land belonged to whom when they Battle of the Tennis Court,” referring to of a doctor who “could not watch children Nepal Electronic Payment Systems Ltd. (NEPS), a Fin Tech started rebuilding the village,” said Vizo, the setting around which heavy fighting over their land. suffer, he would treat them. From him I company promoted by banks, invites sealed tenders for 98. She and fellow Naga people in north- went on for days, at times involving hand- understood how good the Japanese were,” provision of Security services: eastern India recalled the end of World to-hand combat. he said. War II ahead of the anniversary of Japan’s The lines of the court have been pre- Kohima town is the village area, home to But Japanese troops were low on sup- 1) Security Information & Event Management (SIEM)&File surrender on Sept 2. served in the well-manicured lawns of the Angamis, a fiercely independent Naga plies. It is said that it was hunger that cost Integrity Monitoring (FIM) through Security Operations In April 1944, 15,000 men from the 31st the Kohima War Cemetery, the final resting tribe. Between April and June 1944, the them the battle of Kohima. Local help was Center (SOC)managed service and ancillary Division of Japan’s Imperial Army com- place for more than 1,420 British Japanese and Allied forces battled across imperative in this rough mountainous ter- Security Service viz. VAPT/ ASV Scanning. manded by Lt Gen Kotoku Sato arrived Commonwealth soldiers. Kohima and the villages around it. rain. Anger toward the Japanese grew as 2) Tender documents can be obtained through Email: with the aim of taking over Kohima, a hill Adjoining the administrative center of Kuou Kesiezie, 108, vividly remembers the starved soldiers forcibly took away [email protected] from 23 August, 2020 till sprinting down the base of the Pulie what the villagers had. Badze mountain. A British army porter, “I was carrying a loaded basket with a 29 August, 2020, and information is also available at : she had hurried back home after drop- chicken placed on top. Japanese soldiers https://neps.com.np/medias/notice. ping off a load of supplies when just lifted the chicken and took it away 3) Fully completed and proposals must be submitted as she realised she still had an ammuni- without even saying anything,” Vizo said. specified in the RFP document, by 5.30 PM Nepalese tion belt on her shoulder, she recalled British Field Marshal Sir William Slim Time on 6th September, 2020. with a chuckle. acknowledged the tribespeople’s role in his 4) Tenders will be opened at 4:00PM of next day of last A population that had never been 1956 book “Defeat into Victory.” submission day by NEPS's staff. exposed to life beyond the village saw “There were the gallant Nagas whose 5) If there is a public holiday on the last date of tender battle tanks and fighter planes dropping loyalty even in the most depressing times submission or tender opening date, these activities will bombs over their beloved land. of the invasion had never faltered. Many a take place on the next working day. But it was war and they had no British and Indian soldiers owe his life to choice, said Visakuolie Suokhrie, 83. the naked head hunting Naga,” he wrote. 6) NEPS reserves the right to accept/reject tenders fully or “They had to burn our village down The war and soldiers are long gone. But partially without assigning any reasons whatsoever. to chase the Japanese out,” he said. reminders of the devastation remain. A Nepal Electronic Payment Systems Ltd. (NEPS) They returned home to total bare- weedy plot bears the mangled bodies Narayanchaur, Naxal, Kathmandu, tel: 4411687, 4411701 ness—there were no seeds even to plant of eight children who were killed in 1976 weblink: https://neps.com.np/medias/notice. anew. The British provided supplies to when a war-era bomb exploded where rebuild homes. They planted “rusulho,” they played.

C M Y K 07 | SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020 SPORTS | MEDLEY BRIEFING Sevilla clinch sixth Europa title with 3-2 win over Inter Bangladesh batting coach McKenzie steps down Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku’s own goal in the second half poured cold water in the Italian side’s ambition of lifting first European trophy in a decade. DHAKA: Neil McKenzie has stepped ASSOCIATED PRESS with a diving header off a cross from down as Bangladesh’s batting coach, COLOGNE, AUG 22 right-back Jesus Navas. De Jong was citing the need to stay with his family rewarded with a start after scoring the amid the Covid-19 crisis, the coun- The longest Europa League season winning goal as a substitute against try’s cricket board said. The former came down to a defender’s spectacular Manchester United in the semi-finals. South Africa Test player accepted the shot and a striker trying to keep it out. The Dutch striker gave Sevilla a 2-1 job in July 2018 and is credited with Instead of blocking Diego Carlos’ lead in the 33rd with a header at the the team’s confident white-ball bat- overhead kick—which was going far post at a free kick, but three min- ting. “Neil has informed us that he wide—Romelu Lukaku deflected it utes later Inter scored in nearly identi- was unable to continue as the into his own net. That handed Sevilla cal fashion, Diego Godin heading in Bangladesh batting coach, as in the a 3-2 win in the final Friday and a from almost the same position off changed world scenario it was impor- record sixth Europa League title. Marcelo Brozovic’s free kick. tant for him to stay close to the family And it gave Lukaku the distinction De Jong put Sevilla in front 2-1 with in South Africa,” Bangladesh Cricket of scoring for both teams. The Belgium a header at a freekick in the 33rd, but Board chief executive Nizam Uddin striker had given Inter a perfect start Inter defender Diego Godin responded Chowdhury said in a statement on with an early goal after winning his with his own headed goal three min- Friday. Bangladesh are scheduled to first duel with Diego Carlos, who utes later. Lukaku could have put Inter tour Sri Lanka in October for a three- could easily have been sent off in the back in front in the 65th when he burst Test series. process. in behind Sevilla’s defence but Bounou The Brazilian defender was the last charged out to block his low shot. defender when he fouled Lukaku on a After Sevilla reclaimed the lead, Nishikori tests positive for counterattack in the third minute but Jules Koundé stopped Inter leveling the coronavirus again was only given a yellow card. Lukaku once again when he cleared substitute NEW YORK: Kei Nishikori, the 2014 US scored the spot kick, but Sevilla fought Alexis Sanchez’s shot off the line in Open runner-up, said on Friday he its way back into the game with two the 82nd. tested positive for Covid-19 a second headers from Luuk de Jong, setting Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui said time. Nishikori wrote on his mobile the stage for Diego Carlos to hit his he was delighted to win a trophy with app that he will take another test next game-winning kick in the 74th. REUTERS Sevilla in his first job since spending week, “at which time we will update “If you win the penalty and it’s a Sevilla players celebrate after defeating Inter Milan in the final of Europa League at the Rhein Energie Stadium in Cologne, Germany, on Friday. barely three months in charge of Real you with more information.” He orig- red card, if indeed it was a red card, Madrid in 2018. He had lost his job as inally tested positive for coronavirus then ultimately the match would have brought runner-up finishes in Serie A over the problems that we’ve encoun- when a Sevilla attacking throw-in was Spain coach on the eve of the World last Sunday and announced that day been a lot less tough,” Inter coach and the Europa League. The loss tered,” said Sevilla right-back Jesus cleared, and Diego Carlos pushed him Cup over his decision to take over he was pulling out of the Western & Antonio Conte said through a transla- extended Inter’s wait for a first Navas, who won his third Europa down as he prepared to shoot. Real. “It was a very emotional game Southern Open, the hard-court tour- tor. “The referee made a decision in European trophy since Jose Mourinho League with Sevilla—14 years after Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou had but in the second half we controlled nament that will precede the US Open the end. That’s the way he read this led the Italian club to the Champions his first. The game started at break- played a key part in Sevilla’s run to the game a bit better we dug in,” in New York. He cannot play in the decision and there’s also VAR, but we League title in 2010. Sevilla has won neck pace despite being the 54th game the final but could do nothing to stop Lopetegui said through a translator, Grand Slam tournament if he has know VAR is used differently in every the Europa League in four of the last of 2019-20 for both teams in a season Lukaku’s powerful penalty kick into paying particular tribute to Diego Covid-19. The 30-year-old from Japan different country.” seven seasons. extended because of the coronavirus the bottom-left corner. Carlos. “He gave away the penalty has been ranked as high as No 4 and Conte also hinted he could leave “This group deserve this. We’ve pandemic. After just three minutes The lead lasted just seven minutes then he scored that wonderful over- is currently No 31, which puts him in Inter after his first season as coach been fighting all season and getting Lukaku surged away with the ball before Luuk de Jong leveled the score head kick.” line to be seeded for the US Open. Nishikori has enjoyed his greatest Grand Slam success at the US Open, reaching the semi-finals in 2016 and 2018. Di Maria looking forward to ‘home’ ground Pullouts will not diminish

Four Crystal Palace REUTERS Estadio da Luz, as well as the final... It’s LISBON, AUG 22 been a great combination for me, it’s felt US Open title, says Serena players extend contract really great.” LONDON: Crystal Palace full back If any player has felt perfectly at home PSG manager Thomas Tuchel has REUTERS history lesson. I think regardless, Jeffrey Schlupp, midfielder James during the unique circumstances sur- shown a lot of faith in Di Maria and has NEW YORK, AUG 22 there is always going to be some McArthur, centre back Martin Kelly rounding the climax to this year’s been rewarded. But he will need another asterisk by it, because it’s never and goalkeeper Stephen Henderson Champions League, it is Paris St big performance from the Argentine Serena Williams believes the with- been done before. If you win, it have been handed contract exten- Germain’s Argentine winger Angel to help them ruffle a Bayern side drawal of some of the world’s top was, like, wow, I was able to win in sions, the English Premier League Di Maria. who obliterated Barcelona 8-2 in the tennis players from this year’s US this crazy circumstance where club said on Friday. Ghanaian defend- As soon as UEFA decided that quarter-finals. Open amid the Covid-19 pandemic there was no fans. It was just so er Schlupp has made 97 appearances Portuguese capital Lisbon would host “They’re tough, they’re a really will not take the shine off a poten- sterile and weird, but I mentally for the Eagles since his arrival from the quarter-finals onwards in a well-organised team, and I think this tial record-equalling 24th Grand came through. It might be a more Leicester City in January 2017. mini-tournament, in light of the COVID- REUTERS will be their 11th European Cup final,” Slam title for her. mental test than anything.” However, a hip injury limited him to 19 pandemic, Di Maria felt good vibes. Angel Di Maria Di Maria said. Six of the top 10 women’s play- Williams, who has a history of just 17 league appearances this past After PSG scrambled past Atalanta in “We know they have amazing players, ers, including defending champion blood clots and pulmonary embo- season. McArthur, 32, has been a a dramatic comeback, the 32-year-old winning Europe’s most-coveted club players in incredible form, but we also Bianca Andreescu and world num- lisms, said she had concerns over mainstay in Palace’s midfield the past was then instrumental as the Parisians crown for the first time. have good players, our own system, our ber 1 Ash Barty, have dropped out travelling to New York and is few campaigns. Kelly has made 145 outclassed RB Leipzig in the semi-finals “When they changed the venue to own way of playing, and I think we have of the August 31-September 13 US living in a rented house instead of appearances for Palace since his to set up a meeting with Bayern Munich Lisbon, I had a strange feeling in my a group that deserves to win the Open, boosting Williams’ chance of the official players’ hotel as a move from Liverpool in 2014, while at the home of Benfica on Sunday. body that reminded me of the old Champions League.” winning the major for the first time precaution. Henderson, who signed from It is the ground at which Di Maria times when I lived here for three years When Real won the 2014 title it was since 2014. “I have health issues and I don’t Nottingham Forest in 2019, is yet to played for three seasons while with the and how happy I was in Lisbon during their 10th, a special moment in their “It still has to be tennis that’s necessarily want to get sick, and if make his competitive debut for Roy Portuguese club and the one which he those years,” Di Maria told UEFA’s history. Di Maria says helping PSG to a played, asterisks or not,” the six- I do, I want the good version,” she Hodgson’s side. Palace did not dis- returned to in 2014 to help inspire Real website. first would be just as big a milestone. time US Open champion said on said. close the lengths of the new deals. Madrid to an emphatic victory in the “To be able to get to a final and make “Winning that tenth title was some- Friday. “I didn’t want to be in the hotel Palace, who finished 14th in the Champions League final against history with a club like Paris—reaching thing amazing for Madrid and I became “I think this whole year deserves because I have lung issues and felt Premier League last season, will Atletico Madrid. their first final—and because I won it in part of the club’s history,” he said. an asterisk, because it’s such a spe- it was a big risk for me personally. begin their 2020-21 campaign at Di Maria was man of the match in 2014 with Real Madrid in the same stadi- “Winning a first title here would be cial year—history we have never In a house, I can control more. I home against Southampton on that clash and now has the perfect stage um... “And to also have the chance to unforgettable for me personally, because been through in this world.” needed to put my mind at rest so September 12. (AGENCIES) to help PSG realise their ambition of play the quarters and semis at the that’s been my goal since I joined.” “I think we are living a future that I could perform.”

HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) **** CANCER (June 22-July 22) **** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) **** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) ** This day will be a long one, but it is going to be chock Your ability to see through false facades is strong Look at a vacancy in your life today. What or who is This day will challenge your ability to be flexible. full of interesting prospects—especially if you have today. And when a braggart comes along, you won’t missing from it? After all, you can’t fill that void Your expectations will not match the expectations of been on the lookout for a new romance. If you are fall for their act. They deserve an award for their until you know what you’re looking for, can you? the people. To add stress to the situation, people willing to take a little bit of a risk with your heart, showing-off skills, and they’re pretty stellar at talk- Happiness takes effort to achieve, but the good news won’t be very tactful with their communication, and you will be rewarded. ing up how great they are. is that effort is rewarded doubly over time. negotiations will be strained.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) ***** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** An amusing misunderstanding today will If you feel pressured to spend a lot of money today, do Your exceptional sense of humour will be your Let other people get involved in power struggles help you learn how to be more tolerant with people not give in! If friends feel like going out for an elabo- most valuable asset today—use it to make someone today. Shift your focus away from business and work. who act in ways that you don’t always understand. rate dinner, suggest a pizza instead. Just focus on the powerful laugh. Then laugh again, and again. Each It’s time to have some fun. If you can’t get away from Harmony is a lot easier to achieve when you think fact that you’ll have more cash later on. Money saved time you do, your ego will get a huge shot of empow- work or school to kick your heels up, then at least the best of someone. is money earned. ering energy. make plans.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) *** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) *** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) **** Today is going to be a very good day for you, especial- Don’t get all flustered if someone calls you to cancel If you are about to go on a trip, your excitement is In order to gain the level of confidence you want, you ly if you are about to start a new venture. The lessons or reschedule a date. It’s not as big of a deal as you growing to a fever pitch. Today, it will hit such have to stop focusing so much on what other people you have learned from past mistakes are going to think it is. If you can just be flexible and go with the heights that it might be difficult for you to get any think. Does that sound counterintuitive to you? It come in handy—and they’re going to ensure that you flow right now, you will be able to make room for new real work done. Upcoming travel should not force shouldn’t. Only insecure people base their status on reach a much higher level of success this time! people and new experiences. you to live in the future, however. what other people think. CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2020 | 08 BLACKBOARD (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 Reclaiming Teej as a celebration They said, “She for being a woman gave up”. PRITAM KOIRALA Instead of focusing this beautiful occasion around the love women have for their husbands, When she was brought into this world, Teej should focus on the love women have for themselves. she was kept warm by her mother, but she was not welcome. rejoice womanhood, cleaned of past evils in body Her tiny blue eyes did not see happiness in the wrin- and spirit; where women rejoice menstruation, as an emblem for muliebrity. kled face of her grandma, The #ReclaimingTeej has been popularly circu- nor a smile underneath her father’s moustache. lating around social media platforms such as As a child, she struggled Instagram and Twitter for the past couple of weeks. The hashtag is a response and a rebellion to play with her brother and against the normalised generational misogyny to dress up like him. and its reiteration time and again in the name of When she was teen aged, culture and tradition. Young women around the country are using she struggled to hide her menstrual pains. their voices to speak up on the oppression society She struggled even to even dream. places on men and women and how different ritu- With time, she began to learn to dream, als practiced within a religion are proof of this. Social media influencers, both males and females, but before pursuing it are using this opportunity in order to raise aware- she was made to battle with ness of the stigmas held within our communities the so-called social norms. against gender equality, menstruation, femicide, sexual assault, and how simple cultural rules and Unarmed, she struggled to regulations impact the ‘big picture’. One would win over a well-armed society. POST FILE PHOTO argue that our religion continuously teaches But she was defeated, ANISHA KARNA Another legend however says that goddess women to place their significant others on a high- Parvati and her fellow peers carried out this fast- er pedestal than themselves; however, it is not and they said, “She gave up”. n the month of August, we see Hindu ing because she was revolting against her family religion but policies that still limit women and women all over the country (and in differ- who were trying to get her married to lord Vishnu, girls from achieving their dreams and goals. Koirala is a class 11 student at Koshi ent areas of the world) posting pictures in not lord Shiva. As legend claims, she ran into the People are finally saying that it is time we beautiful red sarees, green bangles, and forests with her friends and refused to eat, sleep, acknowledge the oppression for what it is and St James School in Itahari. hands filled with mesmerising mehendi, all or talk to anyone until her family accepted lord start questioning: “Why is a woman’s natural dressed up. Women gather in groups and Shiva as her husband. phenomena like menstruation considered a sin? Icook delicious traditional food, laugh, and dance. No matter the origin of the festival, today it is How are men always pure? Why do husbands not Most importantly, women decide to fast for the instead seen as a day where women, both young fast for their wives? How does the politics of patri- entire day. and old, prove their love to their husbands. It archy work using women as the tool and the tar- As a child, I grew up in a household where my becomes drearily ironic that the festival that get?” It is time we acknowledge the organised mother and father equally distributed household should celebrate women empowerment and ‘rebellion’ that women in the past and present chores. Some days my dad would attempt to cook femininity, primarily and ultimately, revolves have shown and how they claim their cultural pasta for my sister and I, and some days my moth- around men. unity (through their songs and dances) against er would teach me mathematics. Both my parents If such is not enough, women are constantly the ludicrousness of patriarchy. were religious, and they both fasted on various criticised for their frivolous spending throughout Instead of focusing this beautiful occasion days during the week; and when my mother would the month of Teej, for their right to receive one around the love women have for their husbands, I fast, my father would do everything he could for day off of work, for their partying. The patriar- believe Teej should focus on the love women have her comfort and ease. chal society points out that these women should for themselves. It should be celebrated for what it But during the festival of Teej, I would ask my not consume alcohol and should not be staying is: womanhood, female empowerment, and mother, “How come you fast for the longevity of out too late. Thus, the celebration of womanhood strength shown by stay-at-home mothers, young Daddy’s life, and he doesn’t do the same for you?” ends up becoming just another symbol of gen- girls, working women, and anyone, around the She would look at me, sometimes tired of my der-specific oppression. world, every day. incessant questioning, and say, “That’s just the Another problematic narrative that the celebra- It is time we reclaim what is rightfully ours, way it has always been.” tion of Teej carries is how women bathe on the and so that young girls, like me, will look at their The festival of Teej is popularly celebrated as a third day in order to ‘wash away’ the sins that are mothers, with awe-inspired eyes, and see as they dedication towards goddess Parvati and her union brought forth by menstruation. Menstruation is a dance and laugh, like strong women from centu- with lord Shiva. According to legend, Parvati had symbol of fertility and the ability to create life, ries before them, and centuries of strong women to go through 108 cycles of birth and rebirth, until and it is in no way sinful. So why is it not celebrat- to come. lord Shiva finally agreed to marry her. Women ed as such? Instead of labelling the day as a day carry out their fast and pray on this festival for for ‘cleansing one’s sins’, the third day of bathing Karna is an MBBS student at Chitwan Medical

the protection of their husbands. can be celebrated as a day where individuals College, Chitwan. SHUTTERSTOCK FICTION PARK My Valentine’s Day gift She’s an erudite, pretty, eloquent, courteous girl and if I portray her as anything more, you’ll think I’m exaggerating.

AMAR BAHADUR SHERMA So I bought a pregnancy test kit to con- firm pregnancy. The result is positive.” feel dizzy and look a bit run-down, The word “pregnancy” really struck as I’ve been lying on the same bed terror into my heart. My mind went in a hospital for a fortnight. blank. I was overwhelmed. I wondered There’re more than 10 beds in here. what step Suraj would take to cope It’s 11pm. Almost every patient is with it. Someone knocked on the door. It asleep, but relatives of some was Suraj’s cousin who left a cup of Ipatients are still keeping a vigil. I look hot tea on the table. As he left, he left the around. Luckily, my most beloved mother door ajar. isn’t around. Two nurses of my age are No sooner had I taken two sips of tea continually talking to their boyfriends on than an idea struck my mind. I started the phone. I’m wondering why nurses scanning his room for his diary. I found it speak politely to high-class patients only and went through it. I found a page with a and give them special attention. But there patch of glue. Perhaps Reena’s photo was is one who is completely different from unstuck. Below the mark, there was a the rest. Every patient feels good when poem entitled “My Reena” read: she is here. Nobody loves you, It’s Reena. She’s an erudite, pretty, elo- Nobody likes you, quent, courteous girl and if I portray her Because I am Nobody. as anything more, you’ll think I’m exag- “Amar! Amar!” I heard Suraj’s voice gerating. I usually watch the TV hung on coming from the gate. I threw his diary the wall or read English newspapers where it was taken from and pretended to when I feel bored. But if she’s with me, I’ll read a book. We had a short chat. He told look into her hazel eyes. I’ve been seeing me many things about Reena before I took them since I was admitted here and still my leave. have no idea what lies behind those inno- It started to rain, I felt thoroughly cent eyes. I never even had a hint what chilled. I had just made it home. My moth- that pair of eyes was looking for. I didn’t er had already fallen asleep. The light of think their glances would cut through the thunder and lightning hit my ears con- heart and leave someone helpless and stantly. Needle of the clock was striking miserable for the rest of life. one…two…three... The bouquet on the windowsill was I was lost in deep thought. given to me on Valentine’s Day by her. *** That reminds me of her presence. I know “Amar! Amar! Wake up. It’s already 7.” I’ll be discharged after a week. I’m pray- I am in the hospital bed. My mother ing for my slow recovery. Sickness isn’t comes in with a cup of hot water and exactly a happy condition, but it’s also some buns. “It’s time to take you medi- true that it has given me a chance to cine. How are you feeling?” she asks me, redeem my sense of loneliness. Earlier, placing her warm and soft palm on my my face used to sparkle with light and joy forehead. and I was recovering faster owing to her Day is just breaking. Feeling bored, I love. She was angelic and charismatic. ask my mom to get me a newspaper, as Our relationship was blossoming gradu- always. “You’re not well. Can’t you just ally. Spending time with her gave me rest now?” she says. heavenly bliss. So I don’t want to lose her. My eyes catch sight of two familiar I was hooked to her like a fish to a bait. photos on the front page of a newspaper I’m looking outside through the win- that looks many days old. My heart is dow. I’ve never looked outside before. Tall palpitating due to shock. I pick the news- trees, green plants and beautiful flowers paper abruptly and read the headline “A are hung with snow. Trees are standing couple commits suicide”. bare. The horizons appear as a blur in the Then, I see the Valentine’s gift, the bou- frost. I want to bask in the sunlight. But SHUTTERSTOCK quet, has a card in it. I unfold it and there is no sunlight. her. Suraj, my best friend and colleague, Facebook account was opened automati- there’s a note. When I was admitted into the hospital, would be happy to see her. I dial his num- cally. Suddenly, a message popped out. It “Dear Amar, no one was beside me. A nurse came to me ber. But it is out of reach. Maybe his was from a girl, Reena. “My honey, what’s This isn’t a rose but a keepsake of our and felt my pulse. I fell in love with her at phone is switched off. He’s a busy up?” I pretended to be Suraj and answered, relationship which will remind you of first sight. After a while she placed a ther- Mathematics teacher. We often had tea at Sickness isn’t exactly a “Fine n u my sweet heart?” “I really need our unforgettable time that we spent mometer in my armpit. “Don’t get wor- a shop in the afternoons. He is a down-to- to meet u at any cost. We r ruined”, she together in the hospital. I know you love ried. Everything will be okay. Isn’t your earth man. He does everything with happy condition, but it’s sent. Again I typed, “What’s the matter? R me selflessly and I love you, too. But it’s spouse taking care of you?” she said. meticulous care in his profession. u okay?” She didn’t reply. In the mean- too late. So please forget me as a pleasura- “Miss, I’m single,” I retorted. “If so, miss Besides, he’s creative and decent. also true that it has given time, I minimised the Messenger chat box ble dream. I’ve a boyfriend. We love each the coy smile of your girlfriend,” she rec- Just before I came here, I had been to me a chance to redeem and was browsing the web. Fifteen min- other very much. Goodbye, take care of ommended. “If you have no girlfriend, his house. It was a holiday. There was utes later, I shot a glance at a notification yourself. then look into my eyes and feel good.” nobody other than his cousin. He told me my sense of loneliness. at the bottom of the screen. I clicked on to Reena.” Now, I’m used to looking into her eyes. to surf the Internet on his laptop until he the chat box. It was a melancholy text My eyes badly want to see her. I wish returned. I turned his laptop on. As he’d from Reena. Sherma is the Head of English Suraj were with me, I’d introduce him to saved his password on the laptop, his The text read: “I didn’t get my periods. Department at Euro School

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