As US Supplies Vaccines to Some Countries, Nepal Waits and Wonders Nepal Fails to Become Washington’S Priority for Vaccine Aid Despite Its Urgent Needs

WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXIX No. 135 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 36.6 C 14.2 C Saturday, July 03, 2021 | 19-03-2078 Dipayal Jomsom As US supplies vaccines to some countries, Nepal waits and wonders Nepal fails to become Washington’s priority for vaccine aid despite its urgent needs. There is no clarity on doses and delivery of the jabs White House announced last month.

ANIL GIRI the government made a clarion call to KATHMANDU, JULY 2 the international community for support, seeking medical supplies and On June 3, US Ambassador to Nepal vaccines. Various countries, including Randy Berry celebrated the Joe Biden the United States, have come forward administration’s announcement that to show their generosity by providing Nepal would be among the countries medical goods. But Nepal has not to receive vaccines against Covid-19. received a single dose of vaccine from “I join my fellow Americans & all any country besides India and China. friends of Nepal, in celebrating the @ On June 21, the Biden administra- Whitehouse announcement that Nepal tion made yet another announcement will be among the countries to receive of sharing 55 million doses—of the direct vaccine donations from the total 80 million doses announced in United States,” Berry wrote on April—among various countries. Twitter. “More details are coming Nepal was on the list of recipients of soon,” he added, referring to the fact the doses under COVAX, an interna- sheet announced by the White House tional vaccine sharing scheme backed for the first time. by the United Nations. The White House had announced “Approximately 16 million for Asia that approximately seven million to the following countries: India, POST PHOTO: RAMESH KUMAR PAUDEL doses would be given to India, Nepal, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Workers use a bulldozer on Friday to remove a rock that fell on the Narayangadh-Muglin road at Chaudha Kilo on Thursday disrupting vehicular movements, in Chitwan. Following continued Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Lanka, Afghanistan, Maldives, rainfall, the giant boulder had broken off the adjoining hillock, releasing a flood of mud. According to a local resident, small stones had been falling on to the road for the last couple of days. After Afghanistan, Maldives, Malaysia, Bhutan, the Philippines, Vietnam, rockfall stopped and the debris was cleared, one-way traffic resumed. Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Thailand, Laos, Papua New Guinea, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan, Taiwan, and the Pacific Islands Cambodia, and the Pacific Islands,” through Covax. There was no clarity read the White House fact sheet. on the number of doses Nepal would Though the US ambassador claimed receive. It’s exactly a month since the that Nepal would receive “direct” vac- INSIDE Oli tells Nepal faction to withdraw announcement but Nepal has not cine support from the Biden adminis- received a single dose of vaccine yet. tration, Nepali officials in Kathmandu After Nepal crumpled under the and Washington, DC, say they have no Sudurpaschim reports cases Covid-19 onslaught when the second clue about it. after relaxation in restrictions support to Deuba. Dissidents refuse wave of coronavirus hit the country, >> Continued on page 2 KANCHANPUR/ACHHAM: Until June 26, the number of Covid-19 recoveries With the court verdict on House dissolution imminent, he were higher than that of active cases in Kanchanpur, according to the tells party lawmakers to abandon the opposition alliance District Health Office in Kanchanpur. The district did not record any new for any chance of unity between the warring factions. cases while the lockdown was in

place. But June 27 onwards, the dis- omegawatches.com trict authorities in Kanchanpur allowed the operation of businesses and transportation services from 6am to 6pm. This has contributed to an increase in public movement, leading to a resurgence of coronavirus cases in the district, health workers say. According to the record of the District Health Office, there were only 80 active cases in Kanchanpur before the relaxation of prohibitory orders. (Details on Pg 2)

Rule eased for recruiting agencies to renew licence KATHMANDU: Several hundred recruiting agencies that hire and supply Nepali workers overseas have survived the prospect of losing their operating licences for failing to send a stipulated number of workers. POST PHOTO: DEEPAK KC Recruiting agencies will be able to Hope for immediate unity between the two factions has faded with Oli’s latest moves. renew their licences and run their business in the fiscal year 2021-22 TIKA R PRADHAN of 153 lawmakers from his party, UML, after the government allowed them KATHMANDU, JULY 2 and the Janata Samajbadi Party. one-time relaxation. The Cabinet A five-member Constitutional meeting on Monday paved the way for CPN-UML chair KP Sharma Oli has Bench of the Supreme Court has been licence renewal of recruiting agen- given an ultimatum to the Madhav hearing the case since June 23. cies that could not supply at least 100 Kumar Nepal-led faction: withdraw On Friday, lawyers of two of the workers in each of the last two fiscal the signatures in the writ petition three defendants—Office of the years—2019-20 and 2020-21. The filed at the Supreme Court demanding President, the Office of the Prime Cabinet asked the line agency, the the restoration of the House of Minister and Council of Ministers, Department of Foreign Employment, Representatives and the appointment and Prime Minister Oli—completed to renew licences even if they did not of Nepali Congress President Sher their arguments. meet the minimum number of work- Bahadur Deuba as prime minister. The final verdict is expected next ers sent requirement. (Details on Pg 3) Or else unity between the two fac- week. tions will not be possible, Oli has Before the verdict, lawyers of warned. Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota, who Farmers boost yield by using “Party unity is not possible if they has already termed the dissolution of System of Rice Intensification refuse to withdraw their signatures by the House unconstitutional, will pres- 5pm Monday,” a Central Committee ent their arguments. This will be fol- BIRATNAGAR: Paddy farmers in member quoted Oli as saying at the lowed by briefs from a four-member Province 1 are using a low-water and party’s Central Committee meeting on amicus curiae and rebuttal by plain- labour-intensive growing method Friday. “No UML member can make a tiffs’ lawyers. called System of Rice Intensification Congress leader prime minister. This Analysts say that the UML has (SRI) in a bid to increase yield. The RECORDING OLYMPIC DREAMS SINCE 1932 is not acceptable.” reached such a complicated point seedlings are transplanted individual- The Nepal faction remains defiant. that the two warring factions can nei- ly in a widely spaced pattern as “We won’t follow his orders,” said ther move ahead nor turn back. opposed to the traditional method of Every athlete has a dream. It lives in their heart and it pushes them towards Ghanshyam Bhusal, a deputy general Nothing will happen in the UML until planting them in clumps. The rice secretary of UML who is with the the Supreme Court’s verdict, accord- victory. At the Olympic Games in Tokyo, these dreams will be given a stage. seeds are transplanted when they are Nepal faction. “Now we don’t care ing to them. much younger than usual, using dif- This is the moment when inspiration meets performance, when ambition about any of his actions or punish- All eyes are now on the Supreme ferent amounts of water at critical ments. We will wait until the court’s Court, said Shyam Shrestha, an ana- times of their growth cycle, and meets precision, and when the Official Timekeeper OMEGA records it all. verdict.” lyst who has followed Nepal’s left poli- improving soil conditions with organ- On May 24, two days after President tics for decades. ic manure. (Details on Pg 5) Bidya Devi Bhandari invalidated Ever since Oli dissolved the House, the claim Deuba made to form his position has become untenable, as the government, 146 lawmakers the Supreme Court has passed at least of the dissolved lower house half a dozen orders against his gov- went to court. Of them 23 belong ernment’s decisions. to the UML. As the court is expected to pass its The President had refused to verdict soon, and many expect the appoint Deuba saying that his bench to order the restoration of the claim, despite having the sup- House, Oli seems to be attempting to AVAILABLE AT: port of 149 members of the placate the Nepal faction. REGENCY WATCH: Annapurna Arcade, Durbar Marg 275-member House, was ‘insuffi- Oli now wants to ensure that the 1 Durbar Mall, Thamsherku Center, Durbar Marg cient’. On May 21 Oli too had dissidents withdraw their signatures MGA International Pvt Ltd staked a claim to government as before the court verdict, according to per Article 76 (5) of the constitu- Bhusal. tion, saying he had the backing >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K SATURDAY, JULY 03, 2021 | 02 NATIONAL Sudurpaschim reports new Covid-19 cases Oli tells Nepal faction ... >> Continued from page 1 parties and the bond within our group In their arguments, the plaintiff ’s and lure some leaders from our group lawyers have said that the House dis- into his fold,” Gyawali told the Post. solution was illegal since Oli did not While there were 203 members in after relaxation of prohibitory orders go for a floor test, a mandatory process the UML Central Committee on May defined in Article 76 (4) for a prime 16, 2018, it was expanded to 241 before minister appointed under Article 76 the merger with the Maoist Centre the Increase in public movement has led to a resurgence of coronavirus cases in Kanchanpur, health workers say. (3). They have also argued that the next day. Oli then unilaterally expand- President must appoint Deuba prime ed it to include 23 leaders who defected rise in cases.” minister as he had the signed support to his party from the Maoist Centre in In Achham, the district administra- of the majority of the lawmakers December last year. tion office has imposed prohibitory while Oli only had the decision of the Before the Central Committee met orders till July 5. However, two parties. on Friday, three leaders close to senior market places continue to be open However, the lawyers representing leader Nepal—Surendra Pandey, from 7am to 3pm every day. Public the Office of the President and Oli Gokarna Bista and Bhim Acharya— movement has increased during the have argued that the decision of the had reached Baluwatar to request Oli opening hours, with people crowding President does not come under judi- to postpone the meeting. But he public places, health institutions, cial review and that the House dissolu- refused. “We asked Oli to postpone the financial institutions and offices of tion is a political issue and therefore meeting and not spoil the environ- the local units. the court cannot look into it. ment for party unity,” said Pandey. With the decline in the number of During the hearing on Friday, advo- The meeting, scheduled to discuss tests conducted, the number of coro- cate Ramesh Guragain, who was argu- party unity, the upcoming Supreme navirus cases has decreased but ing on behalf of the defendants, Court verdict and the contemporary health workers say the number does claimed that the Parliament cannot political issues, decided to ask the not reflect the ground reality. give a government even if the court Nepal faction not to go against its own Dr Atul Bharadwaj at the district decides to reinstate it. party and not to support Deuba’s bid hospital says low numbers of testing “After the House is reinstated, the for the premiership. and people’s hesitancy to come prime minister cannot prove a majori- Following the meeting, Pradeep forward for testing are the ty and nobody else can do so,” said Gyawali, party’s spokesperson, said, reasons behind the decrease in cases Guragain. “Earlier too, the reinstated “We have made it clear to all con- in the district. House failed to give an alternative cerned that in a multi-party system, “There are only two Covid-19 government. Nor could the parties signatures of the members made with- patients in the isolation ward, which bring a no-confidence motion. Since a out the party’s decision cannot be is a good sign. But the truth is there similar situation will arise once again, valid.” The Nepal faction, however, is are no tests being conducted to deter- the dissolution is appropriate.” prepared to defy Oli’s directives. mine the actual number of cases,” Oli had sought a vote of confidence “We are expecting even worse said Bharadwaj. “Cases are decreas- in the House on May 10 following the actions from Oli in the coming days,” ing because fewer tests are being restoration of the House on February Bhusal told the Post. “Oli is unpredict- conducted.” 23 and the split of the Nepal able. If he feels weakened he can take Health workers say that the infec- Communist Party (NCP) into CPN- any decision.” tion rate will rise with the increase in UML and Communist Party of Nepal The Nepal faction had demanded the movement of people. (Maoist Centre) on March 7. But he that Oli finalise the unity deal includ- “People have begun returning to lost the confidence vote. ing taking it into confidence in the their offices and farmers are busy However, he was appointed prime running of the government and the working in their fields without follow- minister on May 13 as the leader of party and its fair representation in the ing health safety protocols,” said the largest party in Parliament as per Central Committee before the Bharadwaj. Article 76 (3) of the constitution after Supreme Court’s verdict but that did Tek Bahadur Bista, the information no one laid claim to the post. not happen. POST PHOTO: BHAWANI BHATTA officer at a PCR laboratory in Kamal With the verdict of the Constitutional It now believes that the court deci- People are crowding public places in Kanchanpur without following health safety protocols, officials say. Bazaar, has a similar view regarding Bench nearing, in a bid to appease the sion will weaken Oli and he will be the dwindling number of cases in Nepal faction, Oli on Wednesday had forced to accept the terms it has put BHAWANI BHATTA IN KANCHANPUR & But by Friday, five days after the new ing more swab samples for PCR tests Achham. He said the number of decided to convert the 10th national forth. If the Supreme Court decides to MENUKA DHUNGANA IN ACHHAM lockdown rules were introduced, the in the last few days. infected patients has gone down since convention organising committee into reinstate the House, Oli will be under JULY 2 number of active cases in the district “Until last week, we used to test 30 even symptomatic patients have the party’s Central Committee. Oli’s pressure as he is not prepared to give had shot up to 113. to 35 swab samples a day but this stopped coming for testing. message was that he was turning the up the prime minister’s post and he Until June 26, the number of Covid-19 “Ten to 15 new Covid-19 cases are week, we are running more than 100 According to him, there are clock back to May 16, 2016. could do anything to secure it, accord- recoveries were higher than that of being reported on a daily basis with PCR tests in a day,” said Keshav Joshi, many symptomatic patients in the vil- The Nepal faction had long been ing to leaders of the Nepal faction. active cases in Kanchanpur, according only five to seven recoveries a day. It PCR lab in charge at the hospital. lages but they are reluctant to carry demanding that the party’s structures “If the court reinstates the House, to the District Health Office in seems that the rate of infection has Out of 110 samples tested on out tests. existing prior to May 18, 2018, before Oli will have to go for a floor test as per Kanchanpur. The district did not increased after the relaxation of the Thursday, five tested positive for “All 10 local units in Achham used the UML merged with the Maoist 76 (4) for which he needs our support,” record any new cases while the lock- prohibitory orders,” said Shivaraj Covid-19. On Wednesday, four out of 61 to collect swabs for PCR tests. But we Centre, be revived. said Beduram Bhusal, another leader down was in place. Sunar, chief at the District Health samples tested positive for the virus. have not received any swab samples But the Nepal faction did not attend close to Nepal. But June 27 onwards, the district Office in Kanchanpur. “Individuals who are seeking to for testing in the last month,” said Friday’s Central Committee meeting. But analysts say this fight has gone authorities in Kanchanpur allowed According to the District Health enter India in search of jobs are get- Bista. According to Bista, the PCR Yubaraj Gyawali, a leader close to beyond quests for positions. the operation of businesses and trans- Office, all nine local units are conduct- ting tested,” said Joshi. tests of five Covid-19 suspects from Nepal, said they would not take part in “I don’t think there is much chance portation services from 6am to 6pm. ing antigen tests to trace, test and Currently, two Covid-19 patients are Sanfebagar and five from Kamal the meeting called by an illegal com- of the two UML factions joining hands This has contributed to an increase in treat Covid-19 patients. undergoing treatment at Mahakali Bazaar were conducted on Thursday. mittee. “Oli’s call seems to be ill-inten- anytime soon,” said Shrestha, the public movement, leading to a resur- “Local units are conducting over Hospital. “All five from Sanfebagar and three tioned,” he said. political analyst. “Even after the gence of coronavirus cases in the dis- 200 antigen tests on a daily basis. Dr Govinda Rokaya, the Covid-19 from Kamal Bazaar tested positive for He said that in order to ensure unity Supreme Court verdict, it’s difficult to trict, health workers say. Antigen tests are being carried out in focal person at the hospital, said, “The Covid-19. This shows that the infec- in the party, there must be cordial dia- say that Oli will give ample space to According to the record of the Gaddachowki and Gauriphanta bor- bazaar areas are already crowded. Not tion rate has not decreased in the logue between the top leaders so as to the Nepal faction as he has made it a District Health Office, there were only der points as well,” said Sunar. many people are following health pro- community. The local units have finalise the agenda of the meeting. prestige issue. And Nepal has said 80 active cases in Kanchanpur before Mahakali Hospital in tocols even in public spaces. This is stopped collecting swab samples for “Oli’s only intention is to break the that he will not abandon the opposi- the relaxation of prohibitory orders. Mahendranagar has also been receiv- very dangerous and could lead to a testing,” he said. existing alliance of the opposition tion alliance.” As US supplies vaccines to some countries, Nepal waits and wonders >> Continued from page 1 and Moderna for commercial deals have also been denied, like Dianne Feinstein among others in Washington,” “But it’s a simple fact that when a commodity is scarce According to multiple officials the Post spoke to, as of with both saying they won’t be able to supply vaccines Sharma told the Post. “We have to find leaders or celebrities and it is in high demand, one needs to use strong diplomacy now Nepali authorities have no idea how many doses Nepal before 2022. With India still reluctant to resume vaccine or any strong lobbyist who can influence the White House to get it or place orders in advance with payments,” said the will receive directly from the United States or under COVAX. export, Nepal’s vaccine import prospects have massively or the State Department to get things done.” former ambassador who did not wish to be named. They said they were completely unaware of the number of diminished. If what officials claim and ministry statements, including According to the former ambassador, one major mistake doses and the shipping and delivery dates. Against this backdrop, Nepal has been desperately look- by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are anything to go by, the Oli administration made was it tried to get vaccines A Foreign Ministry official in Kathmandu said that as ing to the United States for vaccines. Nepal has been consistently requesting vaccines from the under donations and grants. matters stand at present, the US will provide vaccines to Nepal so far has received direct vaccine donations from United States. “If other countries can secure vaccines from the US, why Nepal only through COVAX. India (1 million doses) and China (1.8 million doses). Nepal Then foreign minister Pradeep Gyawali on May 24 had not us?” he wondered. “We have former ministers in New According to a briefing by the Embassy of Nepal in had signed a deal to procure 2 million doses from India’s made a telephone call to the US Deputy Secretary of State, Delhi, Beijing and Washington, DC, serving as ambassa- Washington, DC, last week, the total US vaccine support doses Serum Institute, but after supplying 1 million doses, it Wendy Sherman. dors. But they have miserably failed to secure the vaccine available for the group of 17 Asian and the Pacific Island expressed its inability to provide the next consignment. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, commend- when we need it the most.” countries, including Nepal, has now reached 23 million. “Our rough estimate is that we might receive around one ing the US leadership on garnering collaborative response Nepal needs to vaccinate 72 percent of its 30 million pop- “However, as of today, it has not been clear how much million doses or so from the United States,” said a Nepali against the global pandemic, Gyawali had requested ulation, or around 22 million people, for which it needs each country, including Nepal, will get out of the total 23 diplomat in Kathmandu who spoke on condition of anonym- Sherman to accord due priority to Nepal during the distri- around 44 million doses. As COVAX had committed to pro- million doses,” reads the embassy briefing. “The embassy is ity. “Under the COVAX facility too, it is the US or the donor bution of surplus vaccines among the developing nations. viding around 13 million doses, enough to vaccinate 20 per- putting forward its case with the US side for more vaccine country that dictates the numbers and priority.” President Bidya Devi Bhandari on May 27 wrote to US cent of the population, it needed to secure 31 million doses, doses to Nepal on the basis of prevalent higher case inci- For direct vaccine donations, according to the White President Biden seeking immediate vaccine support to either through commercial deals or under bilateral cooper- dence and its income status.” House’s fact sheet, the United States has received requests Nepal. Nepal’s Ambassador in Washington Yubraj ation or grant assistance. Amid this, reports of Washington “directly” supplying from countries all over the world. Khatiwada had handed over the President’s letter to Ervin Besides the devastating second wave, Nepal was scram- vaccines to other South Asian countries like Bangladesh “The US will share up to one-quarter of its donated doses Massinga, a senior advisor at the US Department of State, bling for vaccines also because it was struggling to get and Pakistan, however, come as a surprise for vac- directly with countries in need, those experiencing surges, on May 28. AstraZeneca doses for the 1.4 million people aged 65 and cine-starved Nepal. immediate neighbours, and other countries that have Many wonder if Nepal’s failure to move the Millennium above who had already taken their first shots. Earlier this week, the White House said it would begin requested immediate assistance,” reads the fact sheet. Challenge Corporation (MCC) forward has become an irri- Amid reports that Washington was supplying vaccines to shipments of 2.5 million doses of Moderna vaccine each to With just commitments but no actions on vaccines from tant for Washington. The MCC was signed back in 2017, but Bangladesh and Pakistan, the Post enquired the Embassy of Bangladesh and Pakistan. the United States, concerns in Nepal have grown if the KP its parliamentary ratification has been delayed due to divi- the United States in Kathmandu if the Biden administra- On Tuesday, the White House said it began the shipment Sharma Oli administration’s failure to engage Washington sions among political parties over the programme under tion has plans to ship doses to Nepal. of 2.5 million doses of Moderna vaccine to Bangladesh. The is the cause. which Nepal is supposed to receive $500 million under grants. In response to the Post’s query on possible vaccine cooper- Biden administration also said that the US would also ship Some diplomats and experts say the Oli administration Sharma, the former ambassador to Washington, however, ation, the US embassy said that it is not aware of direct vac- two million doses of Pfizer vaccine to Peru and 1.5m doses indeed failed to lobby and make a strong case for Nepal to does not see the MCC as a cause for the US reluctance to cine support or bilateral donation to Nepal, besides COVAX. of Moderna vaccine to Honduras. ensure that it is eligible to receive vaccines from the United extend vaccine support. “As President Biden has announced, the United States Nepal, however, has failed to become a priority for the US States under an immediate priority. “There may have been some hiccups but I do not see much government is committed to providing vaccine assistance to when it comes to vaccine supplies, even as the country faces Shanker Sharma, a former ambassador to Washington, problem in Nepal-US ties,” Sharma told the Post. “The gov- help fight Covid-19 globally, including in Nepal,” the embas- a grave threat of the third wave of the coronavirus. So far, a DC, says a strong lobby is what is required in the United ernment appears to be supportive of the MCC and it has sy said in an email response to the Post. “The United States little less than 9 percent of the total population in Nepal has States to get things done. also committed to its ratification and execution. So Nepal is working closely with the government of Nepal and been vaccinated. Only about 2.5 percent of the population “Probably we could not lobby much in Washington for should have been listed as a priority country for vaccines.” COVAX to deliver vaccine doses.” has received both doses. vaccines. There are some Americans who are friends of Questions, however, remain why Nepal is failing to To the Post’s query if it is due to Nepal’s poor commit- Nepal’s requests to American firms Johnson & Johnson Nepal. There are also some influential Democrat senators become a priority country for the White House even as it is ment to the Indo-Pacific Strategy or delay in the approval of sending vaccines to other countries under direct donations, the MCC that the US vaccine support to Nepal has not been besides the Biden administration’s commitment to provide prompt, the US embassy said that “its support does not have the jabs through COVAX. any strings attached”. As soon as countries managed to develop the vaccine “The United States is sharing vaccines with the singular against Covid-19, it immediately became one of the world’s objective of saving lives,” said the embassy. “We are not shar- most in-demand commodities and a tool for international ing these doses to secure favours or extract concessions.” diplomacy. Observers say Nepal failed to realise both facts— Officials in Kathmandu said it does not matter whether the Oli administration neither made a move to order the Nepal receives vaccines under direct donations or through jabs nor it used diplomacy to acquire them. COVAX and that the most important thing is the jabs should A former Nepali ambassador to the United States told the be available at the earliest. Post that there are some reasons behind the current mess. “There is no difference between getting the vaccine He, however, refused to elaborate on them. directly from any country or through COVAX,” a senior official at the Foreign Ministry told the Post, who also sought to remain unnamed. “Even if the vaccine comes under the COVAX, it is as good as bilateral donation, as the country concerned is providing the jabs to the vaccine sharing facility.” What is most important, according to the official, is when and how many doses of vaccines Nepal is going to receive from the US. The official said that Nepal had even apprised US officials of Nepal’s urgency and requested to advance some doses by taking into account the pressing timeline for second dose to some 1.4 million people who took their first shots in the second week of March. “We were still hoping that Washington could announce some vaccine support to Nepal around July 4, when the US celebrates its Independence Day,” the official told the Post. “But it looks like it is not going to happen.”

C M Y K 03 | SATURDAY, JULY 03, 2021 NATIONAL Nepal received above normal rainfall in June causing disasters Officials warn of more extreme weather events with nearly three months of monsoon remaining.

CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL floods and landslides. Districts like KATHMANDU, JULY 2 Sindhupalchok, Manang, Lamjung and Gorkha were hit hard. This year’s monsoon received a lot of “Heavy rainfall led to monsoon-in- rain in its very first month. duced disasters like floods and land- Rainfall data for the month of June, slides in different districts. Haphazard the first month of the four-month construction of roads and other infra- monsoon season, show that most parts structure in the hilly areas and of the country received above average encroachment of riverbanks multi- rainfall for the month, unleashing plied the effects of rain-triggered dis- floods and landslides in various parts asters,” Kadel said. “When roads are of the country. haphazardly built in hilly areas, the According to precipitation data topsoil can be washed away with the from 71 stations across the country, rain, causing landslides or debris flow the month of June received 399mm as we have seen during floods.” of rain. The country also witnessed an As per the Department of above normal pre-monsoon (March Meteorology and Hydrology data, the to April) this year. When the monsoon normal rainfall of those 71 stations for season finally came, it came with the month of June is 295.1mm. This a bang. June, however, these stations received Even mountain districts like rainfall 35.2 percent above average. Mustang and Manang, which are oth- “June has received a lot of rainfall erwise dry areas, saw a lot of rain in in most parts of the country,” said June. Manang suffered unprecedented Indira Kadel, a senior meteorologist floods and landslides that displaced with the department. “If we look prov- hundreds of families. ince-wise, a significant amount of According to a fortnightly report of rainfall was concentrated in Gandaki monsoon 2021, prepared by the Province and districts around Kaski.” National Disaster Risk Reduction and Most of these areas—starting from Management Authority, as many as 26 the western part of Province 2 to hilly districts were affected by monsoon-in- districts of Bagmati, Gandaki, duced disasters between June 14 and Lumbini, Sudurpaschim and Karnali June 29. Provinces— received 110 to 200 per- “If we include more incidents in the cent of their normal rainfall in June. last few days, then a total of 35 dis- An area is said to have received tricts have been affected by the mon- “normal” rainfall if it receives rain soon mayhem so far,” Bed Nidhi POST PHOTO: ELITE JOSHI equivalent to 90 to 110 percent of the Khanal, deputy spokesperson for the A boy feeds pigeons from his hand at Mangalbazar, Lalitpur on Friday. average rainfall. If the figure falls authority, told the Post. “We have below 90 percent, the area is said to experienced an aberrant monsoon have received “below-normal” rain- with extreme and intense rainfall, fall. Figures above 110 percent are which can be linked with the impacts deemed “above-normal” rainfall. of climate change. We are witnessing The rainfall data of the same 71 too much rain in a short period of Election body preparing for polls despite uncertainty stations have shown that the average time, leading to loss of lives and prop- rain for the monsoon period (June- erties.” September) has been 1490.1mm and According to the report, the mon- June already contributed 26.78 per- soon caused massive damage in The Election Commission plans to issue a tender notice next week for the procurement of election materials. cent of their average rainfall for the Sindhupalchok and Manang, among four-month period. other districts. PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA “Besides these materials, we will April 30 and May 10, the commission the elections, cannot say no to holding The rainfall recorded for June also The report compiles a total of 144 KATHMANDU, JULY 2 also procure medical goods consider- had issued a tender notice for procure- elections. looks bigger compared to normal pre- water-induced disaster incidents—33 ing the Covid-19 pandemic,” said ment of 11 different types of election Besides procuring election materi- cipitation for the month of June accu- floods, 67 landslides and 44 heavy rain. Even though the midterm elections Komal Dhamala, assistant spokesper- materials on February 23. als, the commission is also updating mulated between 1981 and 2010. These incidents left 27 people dead, 26 planned for November hang in the son at the commission. But, on the same day, the Supreme voters’ lists in different districts. Another set of data for rainfall missing, 22 injured and displaced 676 balance over the constitutionality of After approving the working proce- Court reinstated the House forcing the When the updating process was con- recorded in 221 stations shows June families, most of them in Manang, the House dissolution move, the dure on election expenditure, the commission to scrap its plan to pro- cluded in January for the planned on average contributes 19.3 per- Sindhupalchok and Lamjung. Various Election Commission is making Finance Ministry had decided to cure election materials. elections in April and May, the total cent—281.7mm—rainfall to the mon- road networks were also disconnected preparations to procure materials release the budget for holding the elec- It was forced to prepare for the polls number of voters were 16.3 million. soon period. and public properties like schools, required to hold the polls. tions. According to the election body, when the President once again dis- “More voters will be added for the “Except Province 1, which recorded suspension bridges, concrete bridges, On May 21, President Bidya Devi the working procedure has talked solved the House in May. elections in November,” said Dhamala. normal and below normal rainfall, government offices, hydropower pro- Bhandari dissolved the House of about allocation of the budget for dif- Officials at the election body say According to him, there will be and central and eastern parts of jects were also hit by floods and land- Representatives for the second time in ferent tasks of election management. though the House dissolution case is around 22,000 polling centres for the Bagmati Province that recorded nor- slides last month. five months and announced mid-term When President Bhandari on being challenged in the Supreme upcoming elections. mal rain, most of the areas have seen On Thursday alone, as the monsoon elections for November 12 and 19 on December 20 last year dissolved the Court, the Election Commission, as Considering the health risks due to above-normal rainfall,” said Kadel. is picking up once again, at least six the recommendation of Prime House and announced elections for the constitutional body to hold Covid-19, the commission is also pre- “Some areas like Manang and people were killed in monsoon-in- Minister KP Sharma Oli. The consti- paring health and safety guidelines to Mustang in Gandaki Province record- duced disasters in different parts of tutionality of the President’s move is make the election process safer. Some ed more than 350 percent of their the country. There are once again being heard at the Supreme Court, health officials have projected that a normal rainfall.” warnings of surging water levels in raising the question if the elections third wave of Covid-19 could hit the The highest proportion of rainfall rivers and streams, causing floods and would be held on set dates. country around the same time when in June was recorded in Mustang. inundation in the nearby areas. But the commission has said that it elections have been planned. Jomsom station, with a normal aver- Vehicular movements were once again would start the procurement process Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, chief of the age rainfall of 23.9mm for June, disturbed on Friday because of heavy next week after the Finance Ministry Clinical Research Unit at Sukraraj received 200mm—835 percent of its rainfall which also swept away many approved Rs7.72 billion for holding the Tropical and Infectious Disease average rainfall. The Thakmarpha bridges. elections. Hospital in Teku said that based on station of Mustang received 218mm As per the prediction, the country is In a statement, the ministry said it the gap between the first and second rain against the normal of 43.4mm in likely to see above normal monsoon approved the budget for the commis- wave of Covid-19, the gap between the June, 501.6 percent above normal pre- which could lead to more disasters in sion to procure election materials two waves is 2-3 months. cipitation. the coming weeks. and election management. This A Reuters survey among health In terms of rainfall amount, Officials say that with nearly three budget however does not cover the experts predicted that a third 1,195mm of rainfall occurred at Lumle months of the monsoon remaining, expenses for security arrangements wave of pandemic would hit India station of Kaski district in June the public needs to be safe as the coun- for the polls. by October. against a monthly average of 890—35 try will witness more extreme weath- “We are planning to issue a tender Officials at the election body admit percent of its average rain. er events. next week for all the goods required the risk and are planning various Dhankuta station received only 42.2 “If we do not work towards mini- for holding the elections, except for measures not to turn the elections percent of its average rainfall for mising risks by relocating vulnerable ballot boxes which we have in ade- into a super-spreader event. June, which is 147mm, as it recorded communities, improving early-warn- quate number,” said Raj Kumar “Through code of conduct, we can 62.1mm last month. ing systems, changing our settlement Shrestha, spokesperson at the com- limit the participation of people in In eastern Nepal, districts like patterns and building infrastructure mission. The commission is currently the assembly of political parties,” said Khotang, Okhaldhunga, Udayapur, considering the risk, we will continue preparing the specifications for over Dhamala. Bhojpur, Taplejung and Panchthar to face losses of lives and properties,” 50 types of goods to be procured. While the commission is making received rainfall below normal. said Khanal. Some of the items that the election logistical preparations, the political The adverse impact of above nor- “With at least 100 days of the mon- body plans to procure are ballot box situation continues to remain fragile mal rainfall was evident in the form soon remaining, we all need to be stickers, identity cards, poll books, for holding elections. of monsoon-related disasters in vari- extra alert and follow weather updates. security seals, rubber stamps, voting “Again, besides settlement of legal ous parts of the country. We need to avoid making unnecessary stamps, markers, stamp pad and ink, issues, political consensus is again Days after the monsoon entered the travel plans at least, especially polythene bag and shack, photocopy the most important factor to hold country, several districts, mainly in when the traveling is done by road in paper; gluesticks, stapler machines, POST FILE PHOTO the elections on the scheduled date,” the hilly region, were buffeted by hilly areas.” scales and scissors and pens. The government has announced midterm elections for November 12 and 19. said Dhamala. Government relaxes licence renewal rule for pandemic-hit recruitment agencies 732 recruitment agencies will benefit from the decision. As per the rule, an agency must send at least 100 workers abroad every year for two consecutive years for licence renewal.

CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL under the Foreign Employment many as 732 agencies could not meet the Tamang told the Post. “Now, all the all-time low—first because of the to the government for repealing the KATHMANDU, JULY 2 Act, 2007, recruiting agencies minimum supply threshold and faced agencies will be able to operate in the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic provision last fiscal year. must send at least 100 workers for the threat of losing their licences. upcoming fiscal year.” and then the current second wave,” As part of giving relief to the for- Several hundred recruiting agencies foreign employment every year for “The government decision has The association is a grouping of 855 said Tamang. eign employment sector, the govern- that hire and supply Nepali workers two consecutive years fir licence come as a respite for more than 700 recruiting agencies that supply work- The Covid-19 pandemic had hit the ment had allowed their licence renew- overseas have survived the prospect renewal. such agencies, which is a big number. ers to various labour destinations. foreign employment sector hard. al just before the end of the fiscal year, of losing their operating licences for According to Kamal Tamang, acting Only 123 agencies had managed to As the date for licence renewal was As Nepal and labour destination provided they send 200 workers com- failing to send a stipulated number of president of Nepal Association of supply the minimum 100 workers in coming closer with the end of the fis- countries sealed their borders by bined in two fiscal years if they could workers. Foreign Employment Agencies, as each of the last two fiscal years,” cal year 2020-21, a majority of recruit- imposing various restrictions to con- not meet the threshold of 100 workers Recruiting agencies will be able to ing agencies feared losing their licenc- tain the spread of the coronavirus, each in two consecutive years. renew their licences and run their es as they had not been able to send Nepalis could not take up jobs abroad, However, the recruiting agencies, business in the fiscal year 2021-22 after the required number of workers. rendering losses for foreign employ- which call the provision ‘discrimina- the government allowed them one- The association, which had long ment agencies. tory’, demand that the rule should be time relaxation. The Cabinet meeting been calling for scrapping of the rule, The study, ‘Rapid assessment of the scrapped forever. on Monday paved the way for licence had once again reached out to the impact of Covid-19 on private recruit- “If the agencies want to conduct renewal of recruiting agencies that government agencies, requesting ment agencies in Nepal,’ conducted by their business by depositing millions could not supply at least 100 workers them to make arrangements for the International Labour of rupees and paying taxes, then the in each of the last two fiscal years. licence renewal as they could not Organisation, Nepal, found that these government should not create such The Cabinet meeting asked the line achieve the worker supply threshold agencies suffered the impact of the obstacles,” said Tamang. “We have agency concerned, which is the due to various challenges, mainly the pandemic on various aspects of their just faced the first and second waves Department of Foreign Employment, Covid-19 pandemic. business operations, such as recruit- of the pandemic, and it remains to renew their licences even if they “Recruiting agencies could not even ment, deployment, and the decline uncertain how long the pandemic will could not meet the requirement of open their offices for several months, of labour demand from destination stay or when the business will bounce sending the minimum number of POST FILE PHOTO let alone send workers abroad. Since countries. Affected by the first wave back. Removing this rule is a long- workers. As per the existing provision Only 123 agencies managed to supply the minimum 100 workers in each of the last two fiscal years. March, the business has been on an of the pandemic, they had reached out term solution.”

C M Y K SATURDAY, JULY 03, 2021 | 04 WORLD BRIEFING India virus death toll crosses Era ends, war looms as Five suspected rebels, Indian soldier killed in Kashmir 400,000; experts say it’s higher US forces quit main SRINAGAR: Five suspected rebels and an army soldier were killed in a gunfight in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Even as cases are on the decline, experts worry India could be at risk of another surge of Friday, officials said, as violence in base in Afghanistan the disputed region has increased in the virus because less than 5 percent of the population has been fully vaccinated. recent weeks. The gunfight erupted REUTERS coffees”. Two runways perpetually shortly after scores of counterinsur- ASSOCIATED PRESS KABUL, JULY 2 roared. Presidents flew in and gave gency police and soldiers launched an NEW DELHI, JULY 2 speeches; celebrities came and told operation based on a tip that mili- American troops pulled out of their jokes. tants were present in a village in India on Friday crossed the grim mile- main military base in Afghanistan on An Afghan official said the base southern Pulwama district on late stone of more than 400,000 people lost Friday, leaving behind a piece of the would be officially handed over to the Thursday, police said. Five militants to the coronavirus, a number that World Trade Center they buried 20 government at a ceremony on were killed in Friday’s firefight, though massive is still thought to be a years ago in a country that the top US Saturday. police said in a statement and vast undercount because of a lack of commander has warned may descend The US defence official said General Inspector-General Vijay Kumar called testing and reporting. into civil war without them. Austin Miller, the top US commander the operation a “big success.” An More than half of India’s reported “All American soldiers and mem- in Afghanistan “still retains all the Indian soldier wounded overnight coronavirus deaths—the third most of bers of NATO forces have left the capabilities and authorities to protect died in a military hospital. any country—have occurred over the Bagram air base,” said a senior US the force” stationed in the capital, past two months as the delta variant security official on condition of ano- Kabul. of the virus tore through the country nymity. Earlier this week, Miller told Hong Kong court denies bail and overwhelmed the already strained Though a few more troops have yet journalists in Kabul that civil war to democracy activist health system. to withdraw from another base in the for Afghanistan was “certainly a HONG KONG: A Hong Kong court New cases are on the decline after capital Kabul, the Bagram pullout path that can be visualised”, with denied bail on Friday to pro-democra- exceeding 400,000 a day in May, but brings an effective end to the longest Taliban fighters sweeping into dis- cy activist Chow Hang-tung, who was authorities are preparing for another war in American history. tricts around the country in recent re-arrested on the eve of the anniver- possible wave and are trying to ramp AP/RSS The base was where the US military weeks as foreign troops flew home. sary of the former British colony’s up vaccination. Body of a Covid-19 victim is brought for cremation in New Delhi, India. has coordinated its air war and logisti- handover to Beijing and the cente- The Health Ministry said that 853 cal support for its entire Afghan nary of the Chinese Communist people died in the past 24 hours, raising mission. The base will be Party. Chow, the vice-chairwoman of total fatalities to 400,312. It also report- “We consider this withdrawal a pos- a group that organises annual vigils ed 46,617 new cases, taking the coun- Experts question if WHO should itive step. Afghans can get closer to handed over to for the victims of China’s 1989 try’s pandemic total past 30.4 million. stability and peace with the full with- Tiananmen crackdown on pro-democ- India, a country of nearly 1.4 billion drawal of foreign forces,” Taliban the government people, is the third to cross 400,000 lead pandemic origins probe spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told racy protesters, was released this on Saturday. month after being arrested for pro- deaths, after the United States and Reuters. moting an unauthorised assembly on Brazil. BEIJING: As the World Health ed concluded in March that the Other Afghans were more circum- June 4. She was again arrested on Experts believe India’s reported Organization draws up plans for the virus probably jumped to humans spect: “The Americans must leave Wednesday and charged with incite- deaths and infections are massive next phase of its probe of how the from animals and that a lab leak Afghanistan and there should be Two other US security officials said ment to knowingly take part in an undercounts. They say an untold num- coronavirus pandemic started, an was “extremely unlikely.” The next peace in this country,” said Kabul res- this week the majority of US military unauthorised assembl y. ber of people died during the April and increasing number of scientists say phase might try to examine the first ident Javed Arman. “We are in a diffi- personnel would most likely be gone May surge outside of hospitals and the UN agency it isn’t up to human cases in more detail or pin- cult situation. Most people have fled by July 4, with a residual force remain- before they could be tested for the virus. the task and shouldn’t be the one to point the animals responsible—pos- their districts and some districts have ing to protect the embassy. Over 6 million EU citizens apply A model from the University of investigate. sibly bats, perhaps by way of some fallen. Seven districts in Paktia prov- That would be more than two Washington’s Institute for Health Numerous experts, some with intermediate creature. ince have fallen and are now under months ahead of the timetable set to settle in post-Brexit UK Metrics and Evaluation estimates strong ties to WHO, say that politi- But the idea that the pandemic Taliban control.” by Biden, who had promised they LONDON: More than 6 million there have been more than 1.1 million cal tensions between the US and somehow started in a laboratory— It was at Bagram, by a bullet-ridden would be home by September 11, the European Union citizens applied to Covid-19 deaths in India. China make it impossible for an and perhaps involved an engineered Soviet-built air strip on a plain 20th anniversary of the attack that settle in the UK before the end-June India’s federal ministers from the investigation by the agency to find virus—has gained traction recently, hemmed in by the snow-capped peaks brought them here. deadline that the British government ruling Bharatiya Janata Party have credible answers. with President Joe Biden ordering a of the Hindu Kush, that New York City Washington agreed to withdraw in had imposed as part of the country’s dismissed reports of undercounting The first part of a joint WHO- review of US intelligence within 90 firefighters and police were flown to a deal negotiated last year with departure from the bloc. In a state- as exaggerated and misleading. China study of how Covid-19 start- days to assess the possibility. (AP) bury a piece of the World Trade Centre the Taliban under Biden’s predecessor ment on Friday, Britain’s Home Office Even as cases are on the decline, in December, 2001, days after the Donald Trump, and Biden said of the 6.02 million people who experts worry India could be at risk of Taliban were toppled for harbouring rejected advice from generals to had applied, 400,000 applications another surge of the virus because Osama bin Laden. hang on until a political agreement were made in the final month before less than 5 percent of the population cy, the federal government will buy 75 lations in the coming months. Last It was also here that the CIA ran a could be reached between the the end of the EU Settlement Scheme. has been fully vaccinated. percent of all vaccines in use in India month, the head of India’s Covid-19 “black site” detention centre for ter- insurgents and the US-backed “Having more than 6 million Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and give them to states for free. Private task force told reporters that about 2 rorism suspects and subjected them to Kabul government of President applications to the scheme is an said Wednesday that vaccination hospitals can buy the remaining 25 billion doses could be available by abuse that President Barack Obama Ashraf Ghani. unprecedented achievement and I am speed has picked up after a new policy percent at prices that have been December under a roadmap that subsequently acknowledged as Last week, Ghani visited delighted that we have secured the announced last month ended a com- capped and can charge for them. depends on India’s two main suppliers torture. Later it swelled into a sprawl- Washington. Biden told him: “Afghans rights of so many EU citizens—our plex system of buying and distribut- Vardhan also said 120 million doses — Serum Institute of India and Bharat ing fortified city for a huge interna- are going to have to decide friends, neighbours and family ing vaccines that overburdened states will be made available by the govern- Biotech—ramping up production and tional military force, with fast food their future, what they want”. Ghani members,” Home Secretary Priti and led to inequities in how the shots ment in July. The hope is that India five other potential vaccines being joints, gyms and a cafe serving said his job was now to “manage the Patel said. (AGENCIES) were handed out. Under the new poli- will achieve a rapid increase in inocu- made available in the coming months. something called “the mother of all consequences” of the US withdrawal. Forced labour main human trafficking crime in Malaysia

REUTERS tries,” said Johnstone. KUALA LUMPUR/BANGKOK, JULY 2 The downgrade comes after a string of complaints by rights groups and US Malaysia’s predominant human traf- authorities over alleged exploitation ficking crime is forced labour, the US of migrant workers in plantations and State Department said on Friday, after factories. downgrading the Southeast Asian Neighbouring Thailand was down- country to the worst tier in its annual graded to ‘Tier 2 Watchlist’ in the report, report on human trafficking. which found a high number of traffick- Malaysia fell to ‘Tier 3’ in this year’s ing victims subjected to forced labour in closely watched Trafficking in Persons the fishing and agriculture industry. (TIP) report as it continued to conflate “Trafficking victims are also sub- human trafficking and migrant smug- jected to sex trafficking in brothels, gling crimes, and did not adequately massage parlours, bars, karaoke address or criminally pursue credible lounges, hotels and private residenc- allegations on labour trafficking, the es,” Johnstone said. report said. Thailand’s foreign ministry called Malaysia’s home ministry has not the downgrade disappointing and said commented publicly on the report and it does not fairly reflect significant did not immediately respond on efforts and progress it has made to Friday to a request from Reuters for combat human trafficking. comment. It said it has taken several meas- In a teleconference with reporters, ures, including granting workers from Acting Director of the State Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar an Department’s trafficking office Kari extended period of stay during the Johnstone said the overwhelming coronavirus crisis. majority of trafficking victims in “The TIP Report, after all, unilater- Malaysia are migrant workers, of ally makes an evaluation from the US’ which there are an estimated 2 million very own view and by no means repre- who are documented, and a greater sents any international standard,” the number undocumented. ministry said in a statement. “The sectors primarily where we Thailand has faced criticism from see the greatest forced labour—which rights groups in recent months over a is the predominant form of the crime “bubble and seal” Covid-19 contain- within Malaysia—includes on palm ment policy prohibiting migrant oil and agriculture plantations, in workers in factories and construction construction sites, in the electronics, site from leaving their workplace dur- AP/RSS garment and rubber product indus- ing an outbreak. A man feeds fish in front of a hill coated with layers of ash from the Taal volcano in the town Agoncillo, Batangas province, Philippines on Friday. China’s ruling party grooms new members for its next century

ASSOCIATED PRESS “We stay upright even as we’re sur- Zhengzhou, described Jinggangshan Communist Party’s general secretary the Leadership Academy, which caters very remarkable and profound,” said JINGGANGSHAN, CHINA, JULY 2 rounded by countless enemy forces!” as “a spiritual shock and a kind of in 2012, launched a campaign in to high-ranking professionals and another trainee, Wei Yanju, deputy declare the men and women, who baptism.” February to increase teaching of party officials. The China Daily news- chairwoman of the Women’s Backs straight, heads high, three are on a two-week course at the “When I came here, I felt that my party history. paper said in 2016 that the party Federation in the eastern province of dozen Communist Party members in China Executive Leadership belief as a member of the Communist That official history skips over a has a total of 2,900 training centres Shandong. red neckties who hope for leadership Academy. “Together, we will defeat the Party has become firmer,” said Zhou, 1959-61 famine caused by Mao’s poli- nationwide at different levels of gov- “I hope everyone can come to posts belt out a poem by revolutionary enemy!” 49 and a party member since cies that killed as many as 50 million ernment, ranging from county to understand China and see how leader Mao Zedong at a historic moun- As the party celebrates the 100th 2009. “Their education of party people, the millions killed in the provincial. superior and great China is,” she said. tainside battle site in central China. anniversary of its 1921 founding, spirit, theory and ability are ultra-radical violence of the 1966-76 Participants in the two-week Party members are required to take training centres such as the one in thirst-quenching.” Cultural Revolution launched by Mao “Jinggangshan Spirit” course spend 6 at least 32 sessions of training per Jinggangshan play a key role in efforts Trainees say they want to serve the and the deadly 1989 crackdown on 1/2 hours a day in class starting at 8:30 year. Some leadership posts require 56 by President Xi Jinping’s government public, but people who are picked for pro-democracy protests under then-su- am, with occasional evening events. sessions. to extend its control over a changing higher party posts also receive bene- preme leader Deng Xiaoping. Students took a field trip to “Party officials know that being society. fits including more influence and It is silent on power struggles Huangyangjie, where Mao’s guerrillas sent to certain select classes at a Drawn from among its 95 million quicker promotions at state compa- among party leaders and complaints fought off enemy forces on August 30, party school may indicate a bright members, ambitious people at state nies, universities and government of rampant corruption and other 1928. According to party history, the future for them in the party,” said companies and government offices are ministries. abuses. Communists were outnumbered but Charlotte Lee, author of the book schooled in an idealized version of the Party schools are meant to “pro- Xi hopes “the party can preserve the repelled the attack. “Training the Party: Party Adaptation party’s early revolutionary fervour mote the faithful” and ensure they myth that it has always been correct Mao heard about the victory on his and Elite Training in Reform-era before Mao’s guerrillas fought their “ask no questions about the top lead- and brilliant in promoting China’s way to Jinggangshan and celebrated China.” way to national power in 1949. ership” and party ideology, said Willy position in the world,” Lam said. by writing the poem recited by the “They have to demonstrate Zhou Xiaojing, who works at a polit- Lam, a politics specialist at the The campus in Jinggangshan, an students. loyalty and certain skills in return,” ical training centre for the Chinese Chinese University of Hong Kong. early site where Mao’s army devel- “This spirit of sacrifice and dedica- said Lee, who teaches at Berkeley City central bank in the central city of Xi, who took power as the oped, is one of three nationwide for tion for the party and the people is College.

C M Y K 05 | SATURDAY, JULY 03, 2021 MONEY

FOREX Big Tech’s push into US Dollar 119.89 Farmers boost yield by using System Euro 141.74 financial sector raises Pound Sterling 164.84 concerns, Reserve Japanese Yen 10.75 of Rice Intensification Chinese Yuan 18.50 Average productivity soared to 7 tonnes per hectare in Morang, compared to the national average of less than 4 tonnes. Bank of India says Qatari Riyal 32.40

Australian Dollar 89.32 BINOD BHANDARI REUTERS BIRATNAGAR, JULY 2 MUMBAI, JULY 2 Malaysian Ringit 28.80 Paddy farmers in Province 1 are using Plans by Big Tech to foray further into Saudi Arab Riyal 31.97 a low-water and labour-intensive India’s financial sector pose risks for Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank growing method called System of traditional banks as the tech firms Rice Intensification (SRI) in a bid to have the potential to become domi- PRICE PER TOLA increase yield. nant players in financial services, the BULLION The seedlings are transplanted indi- central bank said. vidually in a widely spaced pattern as The plans will also create govern- Fine Gold Rs 91,300 opposed to the traditional method of ance-related challenges for regulators, planting them in clumps. the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) wrote Silver Rs 1,310 The rice seeds are transplanted in its bi-annual financial stability when they are much younger than report on Thursday. SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA usual, using different amounts of Major technology firms “straddle water at critical times of their growth many different lines of business with cycle, and improving soil conditions sometimes opaque overarching gov- GASOLINE WATCH with organic manure. ernance structures,” it said. The system is more labour-inten- The RBI said concerns included sive, but has generated extraordinary operational risks, too-big-to fail issues, results, according to experts. The SRI challenges for antitrust rules, cyberse- method of growing crops was devel- curity and data privacy. But it added oped over 30 years by small farmers in that positive outcomes could include more than 20 countries. efficiency gains and more access to In Nepal, only a few farmers financial services. in Morang, Sunsari and Jhapa districts in the eastern part of the country have been adopting this sys- RSS The warnings come tem for decades. A farmer in Belauri, Kanchanpur uses power tiller to weed a rice crop. Nepal’s paddy production reached a record high for the fourth straight The SRI method has been widely year in 2020 due to good monsoon rains and an abundant supply of farmhands. at a time of much adopted in India, China, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam. widely. Upreti, who holds a master’s but when sowing with SRI technology, When water is stored in the paddy tension between the Rajendra Upreti, spokesperson for degree in SRI technology from the 5 kg of paddy saplings are enough for field, the roots of the sapling do not the Ministry of Land Management, University of Wageningen in the the same amount of land. spread, and when the soil is kept Indian government Agriculture and Cooperative of Netherlands, was also awarded a Despite the increased cost of weed- moist, only the roots of the sapling Province 1, said India reported a scholarship by the university when he ing the paddy field, it costs less to spread, he said. “But the only disad- and US tech giants. record yield of nearly 24 tonnes of presented a report on the technology plant paddy using the technology com- vantage of this method is that it will paddy rice per hectare using SRI. at the Second World Paddy Conference pared to traditional technology. cost more to weed the field without A decade ago, Upreti said he intro- in New Delhi, India, a decade ago. Traditionally, the cost of producing water stored on the land.” Amazon.com Inc and Google cur- duced the system in Nepal after read- At first, he was afraid while request- 1 kg of paddy ranges from Rs7-10, but According to Upreti, if the govern- rently provide basic payment services ing a news article about the SRI ing farmers to adopt this method. under the SRI method, it costs Rs1.91 ment makes this technology mandato- in India. Both companies as well method published in a magazine in “Many farmers called me crazy. But to Rs2.74 per kg. According to Upreti, ry for all farmers in the lowlands and Facebook and others have applied for the Netherlands. He then wrote to they were surprised when they saw the production cost using the tradi- hills like Indonesia, it will boost licences to operate broader retail pay- Norman Uphoff, a professor at Cornell the yield,” Upreti told the Post. tional farming system comes to national food security with increased ment and settlement systems in part- University in the United States, Within eight to 12 days of sowing in Rs24,900 per hectare. The total income productivity. nership with Indian companies such explaining the technology in detail. low-water soil, only one of the three- per hectare is Rs32,000, giving farmers Nepal’s paddy production reached a as Reliance and lenders. Facebook to finance Upreti had then piloted it in Bahuni leafed saplings should be planted at a a net income of Rs7,000 per hectare. record high for the fourth straight The central bank’s warnings come of Morang with a handful of seeds spacing of about 25 cm. A sapling But various research and trials year in 2020 due to good monsoon at a time of much tension between the using the technology. produces at least 80 new plants. have shown that planting paddy under rains and an abundant supply of Indian government and US tech giants regional Australia Nepal’s average paddy productivity He says that when four to five sap- the SRI method enables farmers to farmhands, even though a severe over issues that range from e-com- is less than 4 tonnes per hectare, lings are planted as is traditionally earn Rs62,700 per hectare, Upreti said. shortage of chemical fertiliser during merce rules to data privacy and con- according to the Ministry of done, they produce 15 new plants each. Deducting the production cost of transplantation and top dressing tent posted on their platforms. newspaper fund Agriculture and Livestock The technology was invented in Rs23,200 per hectare, farmers take caused distress among farmers. Amazon, Facebook, Facebook-owned Development. The average yield, after Madagascar in 1983. Indonesia, home a net income of Rs39,500 per According to the Ministry of WhatsApp and Twitter have all been REUTERS adopting the SRI in Morang, was 7 Cambodia, China, India, Thailand and hectare. Agriculture and Livestock caught up in disputes with New Delhi. SYDNEY, JULY 2 tonnes. The maximum yield reported Vietnam have been adopting this tech- This method is more effective in the Development, Nepali farmers harvest- India’s largest state-run bank and was 12 tonnes per hectare. In Morang, nology since 1997 after producing 9 hills and other lands that do not hold ed 5.62 million tonnes of paddy, up by UNI Global Union which represents Facebook Inc will provide money for more than 500 farmers have been tonnes of paddy per hectare. water for a long period. When planting a marginal 1.28 percent compared to about 20 million workers globally last an “innovation fund” for 170 regional planting paddy with this technology. When sowing paddy with tradition- paddy under the SRI method, the field last year. The national average paddy month also raised concerns about the Australian newspapers as part Upreti said that the ministry was al technology, 50-60 kg of paddy seed- should not be flooded but the soil productivity grew 0.28 percent to 3.82 entry of large tech companies into the of a planned licensing deal, the working to promote this system more lings are required for 1 bigha of land, should be kept moist. tonnes per hectare. country’s payments sector. parties said on Friday, calling the move a show of co-operation between the social media giant and local publishers. The move brings a grassroots ele- ment to a string of deals announced Swiss hope for visitors by Facebook in Australia since the 130 countries back deal on global country legislated to make it and Alphabet Inc’s Google negotiate content payments to media outlets or risk from Europe as Asian government arbitration. minimum tax for companies Since the law took effect in February, dominant news providers like News Corp, Nine Entertainment Co tourists stay away Holdings Ltd and the Australian Broadcasting Corp have signed REUTERS more French guests, but overall over- deals or letters of intent with the Big JUNGFRAUJOCH (SWITZERLAND), JULY 2 night stays are expected to dip another Tech players. 5 percent this year before recovering The deal planned by Country Press It’s a quiet day at Jungfraujoch, the in 2022. Australia (CPA) and the tech giant Swiss tourist attraction dubbed “Top Switzerland eased travel restric- would bring Facebook money closer to of Europe”, a mountain saddle con- tions last week, opening its doors to mastheads like The Bunyip, circula- necting two 4,000-metre peaks in the fully vaccinated international visi- tion 8,750, and Gympie Today, circula- majestic Bernese Alps. tors, but this comes too late to save the tion 4,000, since they are among the Before the Covid-19 pandemic, up to summer season. 170 outlets represented by it. 5,500 people a day would visit Europe’s “We think we’ll see the first guests Terms of the deal including time highest railway station at 3,454 metres from the US, also from the Gulf frame, the amount of money and how above sea level. Now the spacious cab- states,” Nydegger said. “The long-dis- it will be divided or spent were not ins of the new cable car pass the Eiger tance markets in Asia will come later.” disclosed in a joint statement from North Face almost empty. Naegeli said Jungfrau Railways CPA and Facebook. “Last year, the number of visitors hoped Chinese visitors would The statement said the parties had dropped by two-thirds to 362,800. We return in October for the Golden signed a letter of intent to strike a expect a similar number of guests Week holiday. deal only. this year,” said Kathrin Naegeli, Jungfraujoch has heavily marketed “This funding support will help spokesperson for Jungfrau Railways. itself to Asian groups who often visit Country Press Australia’s members Over a million people visited Switzerland for just a day while tour- build their digital businesses and Jungfraujoch in 2019, about 70 percent ing Europe. To speed access, Jungfrau reach new audiences,” said Facebook’s of them from Asia. Railways invested 470 million Swiss news partnership lead for Australia AP/RSS Switzerland’s tourist industry is francs in a new cable car inaugurated and New Zealand, Andrew Hunter. A file photo of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development headquarters in Paris, France. bracing for another tough year as in December. “It’s part of our continuing invest- Swiss and European travellers are not “After Covid, people will maybe no ment in Australian journalism and ASSOCIATED PRESS digital taxes aimed at US tech giants remain to be worked out. She said expected to fully make up for the longer travel in big groups. We expect our collaboration with the news FRANKFURT, JULY 2 such as Amazon, Google and Facebook; what was approved was “pretty much absence of Asian tourists kept at more individual travellers,” Naegeli industry to build sustainable business under the deal, they would agree to the US proposal,” noting that it was home by Covid-related restrictions. said. Meanwhile, Swiss tourists on models,” he added. Some 130 countries have agreed on a withdraw those taxes, regarded as “hugely important” for the US to “We already lost half of this year, Jungfraujoch enjoyed the absence global minimum tax backed by unfair trade practices by the US, in obtain a commitment from other we can’t catch up. But we want to of crowds. President Joe Biden as part of a favour of the global approach. The countries to withdraw their unilateral make the most of the second half,” “It’s my first time up here. I decided worldwide effort to keep multination- French tax on tech giants prompted digital taxes. Martin Nydegger, director of to come now because it’s not so busy,” al firms from dodging taxes by retaliatory tariffs under former US Under the deal, countries could tax Switzerland Tourism, told Reuters said one man from near Basel who shifting their profits to countries with President Donald Trump, and France their companies’ foreign earnings up last week. gave his name as Stephan. low rates. has welcomed the Biden administra- to 15 percent if they go untaxed The sector has got 40 million Swiss Hotelier Andreas von Almen, who The agreement announced on tion’s push to reach a global deal. through subsidiaries in other coun- francs ($43 million) in state aid so far welcomes mostly Europeans at his Thursday is an attempt to address “Online giants must pay their fair tries. That would remove the incentive and many companies have also applied venerable ‘Bellevue des Alpes’ oppo- challenges presented by a globalized share of taxes where they have activi- to use accounting and legal schemes to for support under the shorter-working site the impressive 1,800-metre Eiger and increasingly digital world econo- ties,” he said. “There is no reason a shift profits to low-rate countries hours scheme. North Face, said he wouldn’t regret it my in which profits can be relocated small or medium business should pay where they do little or no business, The Alpine country, also known for if mass tourism was gone for good. across borders and companies can more taxes than an online giant since the profits would be taxed at the Matterhorn and picturesque Lake “I’m afraid it will all go back to nor- earn online profits in places where simply because it’s physically present home anyway. Such tax avoidance Lucerne, expects to welcome 15 per- mal, but I hope it will change a bit as they have no taxable headquarters. in the country where it carries out practices cost countries between $100 cent more Germans and 20 percent well,” he said. The deal calls for a global minimum its activities.” billion and $240 billion in lost revenue REUTERS tax of at least 15 percent, a key ele- US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen annually, according to the OECD. The Facebook logo is displayed on a mobile ment pushed by Biden as he seeks to called it a “historic day.” Not all of the 139 countries that phone in this picture illustration. raise more revenue for his infrastruc- “For decades, the United States has joined the talks signed on to the deal. ture and clean energy plans. Technical participated in a self-defeating inter- Ireland’s finance ministry said it had CPA President Andrew Manuel said details still need to be worked out and national tax competition, lowering “broad support” for the approach used the Facebook funding would “help it would be at least 2023 before the our corporate tax rates only to watch in the agreement but could not agree sustain original public interest jour- agreement takes effect. other nations lower theirs in to the 15 percent minimum. Finance nalism in the multitude of regional The agreement, announced by response,” she said in a statement. Minister Paschal Donohoe has said and local communities” where the the Paris-based Organization for “The result was a global race to the the country’s 12.5 percent rate is a body’s member newspapers were Economic Cooperation and bottom: Who could lower their corpo- “fair rate.” Ireland said it would “con- published. Development, also provides for taxing rate rate further and faster?” structively engage” in discussions Before the Australian laws were part of the profits of the largest global Yellen said lower rates deprived going forward. passed, Facebook and Google cam- companies in countries where they do countries of money for infrastructure, Signers included Bermuda and the paigned against them including a business online but may have no phys- education and efforts to fight the Cayman Islands, regarded by econo- move by Facebook to cut all ical presence. pandemic. mists as tax havens, and major eco- content from newsfeeds in the country French Finance Minister Bruno Manal Corwin, a tax principal at nomic powers China and India. briefly. The US firms have Le Maire called it “the most important professional services firm KPMG and More discussion is expected at the since unveiled numerous deals, international tax agreement in a former Treasury Department offi- meeting of the G-20 finance ministers although some smaller publishers a century.” cial, said the deal put together “the big in Venice next week, ahead of a final REUTERS have said they still have not been able Countries led by France have pieces” of an overall agreement, endorsement by the full G-20 summit Tourists walk in front of the railway station as the Eiger North Face is seen in the background to get to negotiating tables. already started imposing unilateral although technical complexities of country leaders in October. on Kleine Scheidegg mountain pass, in Switzerland.

C M Y K SATURDAY, JULY 03, 2021 | 06 SPORTS | MEDLEY

BRIEFING Ranatunga slams Djokovic marches on, Jabeur beats sickness Sri Lanka over Felix undergoes ankle surgery MADRID: Atletico Madrid forward Joao The defending champion edges Denis Kudla 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (9/7) while the Tunisian defeats Muguruza 5-7, 6-3, 6-2. Felix has undergone surgery on his Indian ‘B’ team tour ankle, the La Liga champions said on AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE physically weaker,” said Swiatek, Friday. Felix, who cost a club record LONDON, JULY 2 beaten in the Wimbledon first round AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE fee of 126 million euros has sustained in 2019. “I didn’t actually have an idea COLOMBO, JULY 2 four separate ankle injuries and World number one Novak Djokovic on how to play on grass. This time it’s started less than half of Atletico’s La clinched his 75th win at Wimbledon on much, much better, so I just developed Sri Lanka’s World Cup-winning skip- Liga games since joining from Friday as Ons Jabeur overcame vomit- overall.” per Arjuna Ranatunga on Friday Benfica in 2019. His injury problems ing on match point to become the first In a wide open women’s draw, slammed the island’s sports leaders continued at Euro 2020 as he missed Tunisian woman to reach the second Swiatek is just one of three top 10 for agreeing to a tour by a “second Portugal’s games against Germany week at the All England Club. seeds still standing along with top- level” India side. and France with a muscle problem Defending champion Djokovic sur- ranked Ashleigh Barty, who plays the Ranatunga, 57, said the tour under- before coming on as a substitute in vived a nervy third set to defeat third round on Saturday, and second mined the country’s “dignity” as he their 1-0 defeat by Belgium in the last 114th-ranked American qualifier seeded Aryna Sabalenka. Sabalenka attacked Sports Minister Namal 16. Atletico’s statement said the Denis Kudla 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (9/7) to book a made the last 16 for the first time by Rajapaksa and Sri Lanka Cricket. 21-year-old was treated under super- place in the fourth round of a Grand beating Colombian qualifier Maria India’s team led by Shikhar Dhawan vision from the club’s doctors but did Slam for the 55th time. Djokovic, chas- Camila Osorio Serrano 6-0, 6-3. arrived in Sri Lanka on Monday to not state when he would return to ing a record-equalling 20th major, Sabalenka next faces fellow big-hitter prepare for the three one-day interna- action. Spanish newspaper Marca cruised through the first two sets but Elena Rybakina, the 18th-seeded tionals and three Twenty20 games that said Atletico were hopeful he then had to fight back from 1-4 down Kazakh who saw off Shelby Rogers start July 13. could return just in time for and also 1/4 in the tiebreaker on 6-1, 6-4. Top stars Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, the start of the new season, Court One. Former world number one Karolina Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah which begins on August 15 “It’s the trademark of every pro Pliskova made the last 16 for the third and Rishabh Pant were noted absen- when they visit Celta Vigo. athlete that you never give up,” said time with a 6-3, 6-3 win over fellow tees. All are preparing for a Test series Djokovic who is halfway to becoming Czech Tereza Martincova. Pliskova in England next month. only the third man in history—and will meet Russian wildcard Liudmila “The Indian squad that came to Sri Scotland’s Gilmour joins first since Rod Laver in 1969—to com- Samsonova who defeated former US Lanka is not their best, it is a second plete the calendar Slam. “I am always Open champion Sloane Stephens level team,” Ranatunga said. “Didn’t Norwich on season-long loan trying to give my maximum out there 6-2, 2-6, 6-4. our sports minister or cricket admin- LONDON: Scotland midfielder Billy especially when playing one of the Samsonova, who won the Berlin istrators know this. Sri Lanka may Gilmour has joined Norwich City on biggest tournaments.” title after coming through qualifying have gone down (in the rankings), but a season-long loan from Chelsea, the Next up for Djokovic is Chilean on the eve of Wimbledon, fired 33 win- as a cricketing nation we have an newly promoted Premier League club 17th seed Christian Garin who ners to Stephens’s eight. The Russian |identity, we have dignity, we should said on Friday. Gilmour played 11 defeated Spain’s Pedro Martinez 6-4, has now won 10 successive matches on not be sending our best to play an games in all competitions for Chelsea 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. grass. Indian B team.” last season as they finished fourth in World number 24 Ons Jabeur defeat- Russian fifth seed Andrey Rublev Ranatunga, who led Sri Lanka to its the league and won the Champions ed 2017 champion Garbine Muguruza booked a last-16 spot for the first time 1996 World Cup triumph, said the League by beating Manchester City in 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 on the back of 44 winners by seeing off mercurial Italian Fabio game’s administration had deteriorat- the final. The 20-year-old recently fea- and generating 29 break points. Fognini 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2. Rublev next ed and called for a major clean-up to tured for Scotland at Euro 2020, play- Muguruza saved 24 of them but was faces Marton Fucsovics who stunned improve playing standards and skills. ing a big role in their second goalless still unable to break the spirit of Arab Argentine ninth seed Diego He said authorities had not consid- draw with England in the Group D trailblazer Jabeur who came through Schwartzman 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 6-4 to ered the humiliation Sri Lankan play- match before missing their 3-1 defeat despite throwing up at the Royal Box AP/RSS become the first Hungarian man in ers would suffer. According to by Croatia in third match due to a end on Centre Court as she served for Ons Jabeur becomes the first Tunisian player to enter into the fourth round of Wimbledon. the fourth round since Balazs Taroczy Ranatunga, cricket leaders considered positive Covid-19 test. Norwich won the match. in 1980. only the financial gains. “The secret the second-tier Championship last “I’m actually having a problem with Jabeur next takes on Poland’s Iga Swiatek, the 2018 junior champion, Karen Khachanov made it a double behind agreeing to an Indian B team is season to earn promotion to the my stomach. I have inflammation,” Swiatek, the seventh seed, who had only won one match on grass on Russian celebration by putting out TV rights,” Ranatunga said. “The Premier League. They begin their said Jabeur. “It has been going on for a was the first player into the last 16 the main tour prior to Wimbledon. Frances Tiafoe—who had knocked out board wants to make money from this league season at home to Liverpool while. It bothers me probably with the with a 55-minute 6-1, 6-0 demolition “It’s hard to compare my previous third seed Stefanos Tsitspas in the tournament even if it means pitching on August 14. (AGENCIES) stress.” of Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu. years on grass, because in 2019 I was first round—6-3, 6-4, 6-4. our players against a B team.” England thump Sri Lanka to win ODI series Kroos calls time on international career REUTERS England got off to a flier as Curran first five-wicket haul for his country AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE be there more as husband and father semi-final demolition of hosts Brazil, LONDON, JULY 2 took the first three wickets - two lbw when he had Karunaratne caught BERLIN, JULY 2 for my wife and children,” he wrote. as Loew’s side lifted the World Cup and one bowled - in his first two overs, behind to spark a great celebration for “Due to the (international) breaks that trophy. England seamers Sam Curran and leaving Sri Lanka 12-3, which soon the Surrey man on his home ground. Germany midfielder Toni Kroos said I will get in the future, I believe that I Kroos said he had considered retir- David Willey shared nine wickets to became 21-4 when Willey had Charith Willey claimed his fourth as Sri Lanka Friday he was retiring from interna- can recharge my battery better,” he ing after Germany’s disastrous 2018 set up a crushing eight-wicket victory Asalanka caught. Dhananjaya de ended on 241-9 - a battling effort after tional football, days after the team was added. World Cup campaign in Russia, when over Sri Lanka on Thursday as the Silva, ably assisted by Wanindu their early struggles. knocked out of Euro 2020 by England. Thanking supporters and critics they finished last in their group, but hosts chased down 241 with seven Hasaranga (26) and Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka needed early wickets “I have played 106 times for alike, Kroos also had special words for Loew talked him out of it. “The train- overs to spare to go 2-0 up in the three- steadied the ship, initially digging in again to have any chance but their Germany. There will not be another Joachim Loew, who bowed out as er had to call more than once,” Kroos match one-day international series. and then playing their shots with attack lacked menace as England’s time,” the 31-year-old Real Madrid star national coach on Tuesday following told German daily Bild, revealing that Curran took 5-48 from his 10 overs, growing confidence. prodigious opening duo of Roy and wrote on Twitter. “I had already made 15 years in the job. “He made me a Loew’s replacement Hansi Flick had with fellow left-armer Willey grabbing De Silva, who missed the first game Jonny Bairstow put on an untroubled the decision to retire after this tourna- national team player and a world wanted Kroos to stay on after Euro 4-64 as Sri Lanka made 241-9, some- of the series on Tuesday, eventually 71 before the latter played on for 29. ment,” he added, referring to the champion. He trusted me. We wrote a 2020. thing of a recovery after they were departed for an entertaining 13-bound- Roy departed via a brilliant, diving European championships which success story together.” Kroos says he would have “loved” to 21-4 in the seventh over. It never looked ary 91. Shanaka then took up the reins Chamika Karunaratne catch for 60 off ended for the Germans when they lost Loew first picked Kroos for a friend- have seen Germany go on to reach the remotely enough, though, as Jason before he was caught off Willey for 47 52 balls. 2-0 to England in the last 16 on Tuesday ly against Argentina in 2010. He went Euro 2020 final and win “this one big Roy (60) started the chase strongly and in the 45th over, just when it had Both reached risk-free half-centu- at Wembley. “It had been clear to me on to play a bit-part in that year’s title”. “It was a great honour for me to Joe Root, unbeaten on 68, and captain appeared that the tourists might be ries before putting their foot down and for a while that I will not be available World Cup campaign in South Africa wear this jersey for such a long time. I Eoin Morgan (75 not out) gave the able to scramble a total that would finding the boundary, Morgan finish- for the World Cup 2022 in Qatar.” when the Germans finished third. did it with pride and passion,” he half-capacity 12,500 Oval crowd plenty have given them something to defend. ing with a four as England ended on Kroos said he planned in the next Four years later he was a key compo- added. There had been calls to drop to cheer, if not the exciting finish they England’s bowlers smelled blood, 244-2. Curran was named the man-of- years to place his “full concentration” nent, playing every minute of every Kroos during Euro 2020 after below- might have hoped for. however, and Curran completed his the- match. on Real Madrid. “I would also like to game and scoring twice in the 7-1 par performances in the group stages. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) **** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** You’re something of a match waiting to be lit today, Saturday’s skies are undoubtedly heated Cancer. As a Scorpio, you seek cosmic guidance from your Relationship intensities are likely to emerge on the Aries. Your ruling planet, self-directed Mars, finds Aggressive Mars locks into a contentious square ruling planet, go-getter Mars. Saturday’s skies find scene today, Capricorn. Lean into the shifting terrain itself in a heated square with change-demanding with mould-breaking Uranus today, prompting an Mars in a tense position, as it locks into a square emerging in the romance department, as hot-headed Uranus. This explosive aspect is liable to spark some intense clash between your changing goals and your with rebellious Uranus. It’s an ideal day to seek a Mars locks into an explosive square with free- tensions. raw, unrefined talents. physical outlet. dom-seeking Uranus.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** Saturday’s skies are likely to be contentious, Taurus. Things are intensifying under Saturday’s skies, Today’s cosmic landscape requires patience and Saturday’s skies are undoubtedly heated, Aquarius. Hotheaded Mars locks into a square with free- Virgo. Self-assertive Mars locks into a square with steadiness, Leo. Hotheaded Mars forms an intense Aggressive Mars locks into a square with erratic dom-seeking Uranus, prompting heightened tempers rebellious Uranus, intensifying your mental atmos- square with erratic Uranus today, highlighting Uranus today, raising tempers and intensifying rela- and an intense need for space. This tension is likely phere. Aim to free up space in your mental world and underlying tensions between your sense of inde- tionship matters. This aspect highlights existing to emerge in your own sense of independence. physical routine. pendence and the demands of your career. underlying tensions in your family.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) **** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) **** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** Be mindful of your words beneath Saturday’s skies, Libra, you naturally try to keep the peace wherever People crave freedom above all else. It’s important Your work life is likely to be a point of tension today, Gemini. Hot-headed Mars receives an explosive visit you go. That will be challenging today, as aggressive for you to honour that need today, as self-motivated Pisces. Hotheaded Mars locks into a contentious from freedom-seeking Uranus today, cranking up the Mars locks into a square with erratic Uranus. This Mars squares off with erratic Uranus. This intense square with rebellious Uranus, highlighting any intensity of your mental environment. unsettling aspect can bring increased tempers and a pairing highlights underlying frustrations between dormant frustrations at work. Aim to take on a phys- heightened need for freedom. your current day job and your dream job. ical outlet that helps you find release. CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K SATURDAY, JULY 03, 2021 | 07

Spain beat Swiss on penalties to reach semis England expect Goalkeeper Simon saved from Switzerland’s Akanji and Schar while Vargas shot over the bar as the La Roja won 3-1 in the shoot-out. but Ukraine believe Alba, whose left-footed volley was diverted REUTERS past Sommer by Switzerland midfielder MANCHESTER, JULY 2 Zakaria, only playing in place of Xhaka. It was the 10th own goal of Euro 2020, more This time England expects. than the other 15 editions combined. Whereas Gareth Southgate’s team went into their last-16 tie Alvaro Morata wasted an excellent with Germany amid relentless reminders of historic failures opportunity by heading too close to against their old rivals and the fear of yet another, they are Sommer when unmarked, but then simply expected to beat Ukraine in Rome on Saturday. Switzerland started to grow into the game. It is not only the media and fans in England, buoyed by Silvan Widmer headed off target from a Tuesday’s victory at Wembley, that makes the Three Lions corner, before Steven Zuber thought he had clear favourites—any objective analysis of the two teams won a penalty only to be flagged offside. would reach the same conclusion. Spain coach Luis Enrique sent on Dani England are ranked third in the world while Ukraine are Olmo for Pablo Sarabia at half-time and the 24th. The average player value of the England team is 57.8 RB Leipzig man threatened inside 60 sec- million euros—while Ukraine’s is 6.6 million euros. England’s onds, seeing his low volley well held by captain Harry Kane is valued at over 100 million euros and Sommer. Ukraine’s top player Oleksandr Zinchenko is worth less than Zakaria came agonisingly close to mak- a quarter of that amount. ing up for his earlier own goal when his In the group stage of the tournament, England were header span narrowly wide. unbeaten and finished top of their group while Ukraine lost Switzerland had an even better chance twice and finished third, the only team with three points to for a leveller in the 64th minute, as Shaqiri make it to the knockout stage. This is their first Euro quar- sparked a quick counter-attack which ter-final match while it will be England’s sixth. ended with Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon Ukraine have conceded six goals in their four matches reacting well to keep out Zuber’s stabbed while England have let in none and in seven meetings effort at his near post. between the two nations, England have won four times and But the underdogs found the equaliser Ukraine just once. they deserved four minutes later, as Freuler While Southgate’s men go into this game still buzzing from latched onto a loose ball after a mix-up in the electric atmosphere at Wembley, Ukraine are also on a the Spanish defence and squared for high after Artem Dovbyk’s header at the end of extra-time Shaqiri to slot into the far corner and score gave them a 2-1 win over Sweden. his third goal of the tournament. The pressure is all on England for whom defeat would The pattern of the game changed in the mean the tournament is viewed as a failure and they will 77th minute though, when referee Michael leave their home turf for the Stadio Olimpico where the Oliver gave Freuler his marching orders crowd will be smaller but probably backing their underdog for a sliding challenge on Spanish substi- opponents. tute Moreno. “This is a big challenge for us. We’ve got to go away from Switzerland managed to keep Spain at Wembley, to somewhere where there might not be many fans, bay until the end of normal time with rela- it’s quite hot, and play an opponent where not many of their tive ease, but in the third minute of the players are known to us,” Southgate said. AP/RSS additional half an hour Moreno should His counterpart, Andriy Shevchenko, is relishing the Coach Luis Enrique’s Spain are bidding to reach their first major tournament final since winning the European Championship in 2012. have put Spain back in front, only to mis- chance to take on England at a ground where he played kick Alba’s cross wide from close range. against Roma and Lazio during his years as a prolific AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE their history. But Simon saved from Fabian Schaer and Switzerland were perhaps lucky not to goalscorer with AC Milan. SAINT PETERSBURG, JULY 2 Spain forged ahead early on when Denis Manuel Akanji, while Ruben Vargas blazed have another man sent off shortly after- “They are incredibly difficult to score against but their Zakaria put through his own net, but over in a tense finale as Spain snuck wards, when Widmer escaped a second yel- strength shouldn’t scare us,” he said. “It should motivate us Goalkeeper Unai Simon was the hero as Switzerland were the better side for long through, with Mikel Oyarzabal smashing low card for a cynical foul on Olmo. because everything is possible in football as in life and Spain edged past 10-man Switzerland 3-1 on periods and Xherdan Shaqiri, standing in home the winning spot-kick. Moreno somehow passed up another we will play our hearts out to give our fans even more to penalties to reach the Euro 2020 semi-finals for the suspended Granit Xhaka as captain, After scoring 10 goals in their previous golden opportunity, denied at point-blank cheer about.” on Friday. equalised in the 68th minute. two matches, this was a return to the type range by Sommer, before the Borussia After a 1-1 draw in Saint Petersburg The Swiss were reduced to 10 men with of profligate performances which saw Moenchengladbach stopper made an excel- which saw the Swiss play for 43 minutes a 13 minutes remaining, though, when mid- Spain draw their first two group games lent diving save from Oyarzabal. Today’s Fixture man down, Simon made two saves in the fielder Remo Freuler was controversially against Sweden and Poland. But the 2008 Sommer made eight saves in extra time shoot-out to help keep Spain’s bid for a dismissed for a tackle on Gerard Moreno. and 2012 winners had made a dream start to alone, but his one in the shoot-out from record fourth European crown alive. Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer, this quarter-final, taking the lead in Rodri was not enough, despite Sergio It was heartbreak for Switzerland, who the hero of the penalty shoot-out win over fortunate circumstances in only the eighth Busquets also hitting the post, as were bidding to reach the semi-finals world champions France in the last 16, minute. Switzerland missed three of their four of a major tournament for the first time in made a string of fine saves in extra time. A corner was cleared only as far as Jordi penalties.

Players to Watch Jack Grealish (England ) Oleksandr Zinchenko (Ukraine) The Aston Villa captain started one of The 24-year-old was a vital part of Czech Republic vs Denmark England’s four games but he still pro- Man City’s title-winning campaign 21:45 NST, Saturday vided four assists. The fan favourite last season where he played as a was the game-changer after his intro- left-back. At his national team, he is Ukraine vs England duction 20 minutes from time with a deployed in a much more attacking 00:45 NST, Sunday part in both goals in historic win over role on the left-hand side of the Germany. Grealish’s ability to tease midfield. The versatile player and torment defenders with his clever underlined his attacking threat flicks and deft passes mark him out as scoring a goal and assisting the Results something different to the other winner in 2-1 win over Sweden and Switzerland (1) 1-1 (3) Spain options available to Southgate. England know it. Denmark dreaming of 1992 repeat AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE would set up a last-four meeting with display to beat the 10-man Netherlands BAKU, JULY 2 either England or Ukraine at Wembley. 2-0 in Budapest last time out, but have Youngster Mikkel Damsgaard has expressed their frustrations about Denmark will be dreaming of shone since taking the place of having to play in Baku. following in the footsteps of the Eriksen in the second group match, A packed Puskas Arena, including side who claimed a shock European scoring a wonderful opening goal 7,000 Czech fans, saw them beat the title in 1992, but standing in their against Russia. Dutch, but it will be far more difficult way of a semi-final place at Euro “The match against Wales was the for supporters to travel to the 2020 on Saturday are the Czech biggest of my career,” he said. Azerbaijani capital. Republic, who have sent them packing “You fly a distance like this to Baku before. only to play in front of an empty stadi- The Danes were in danger of an Denmark have not um, now that we saw the atmosphere early exit after group-stage losses to in Budapest,” said midfielder Petr Finland and Belgium, the first of reached a major Sevcik. “We are all sad about it. But which was overshadowed by star play- that’s how things are this year, we er Christian Eriksen suffering a cardi- tournament semis can’t do anything about it.” ac arrest on the pitch. But, roared on Jaroslav Silhavy’s men have by a raucous Copenhagen crowd, they since lifting the reached the last eight at a major cham- thrashed Russia 4-1 to finish second in pionship for the first time since 2004, Group B, before travelling to trophy 29 years ago. when they lost to Greece in the semis, Amsterdam to thump Wales 4-0 in the by conceding only two goals in four last 16. games while relying on in-form strik- Denmark have not reached a major “The next match will be the biggest er Patrik Schick. tournament semi-final since lifting match I have ever played, so it’s The Bayer Leverkusen man has net- the trophy 29 years ago, when they getting even crazier all the time ted four times already, including one initially failed to qualify but were late for me.” of the all-time great Euro goals replacements for Yugoslavia. Hjulmand is expected to have a full against Scotland, to sit just one behind “It’s a chance that we might never squad to choose from, with the excep- Cristiano Ronaldo in the race for the have again,” coach Kasper Hjulmand tion of Eriksen, although RB Leipzig Golden Boot. said ahead of Saturday’s last-eight forward Yussuf Poulsen may only be Schick is the only player still in the match against the Czechs in Baku. fit enough to play for an hour. tournament to have scored four goals “It’s many years’ work for lots of peo- The last time Denmark reached a or more and is aiming to become the ple. We want to make the most of this major quarter-final was at Euro 2004, second Czech, after Baros, to finish as chance.” where they were beaten 3-0 by a Czech European Championship top-scorer. The Scandinavians have gone from Republic side inspired by Pavel “Of course we would like Pata to AFP/RSS strength to strength in the tourna- Nedved and two goals for Milan Baros. win the Golden Boot. We’ll do our best Czech Republic’s forward Patrik Schick (second left) attends a training session at the Olympic Stadium ment and know victory in Azerbaijan The Czechs produced an excellent to help him,” Sevcik said. in Baku, on the eve of their Euro Championship 2020 quarter-final football match against Denmark.

C M Y K SATURDAY, JULY 03, 2021 | 08 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 AFCAN publishes its first volume of AFCAN Review Association of Former Career Ambassadors of Nepal’s first ever book is a laudable exercise.

MADAN KUMAR BHATTARAI non-functional. The very reason many initiatives he undertook to trospect on this aspect. In other that there was a division of further promote Nepal-France countries, former career ambas- stablished in 2007, the responsibility between career relations. Ambassador Paras sadors are generally asked to take Association of Former professionals and political picks Ghimire has dwelt at length on up major responsibilities in vari- Career Ambassadors as represented by Sharma and both theoretical and practical ous state duties to take advantage of Nepal, known more Shrestha, respectively, speaks of underpinnings of Nepal- of their expertise. Likewise, popularly by its acro- the possible negative effect of Myanmar ties. Last but not least, associations of former ambassa- nym, AFCAN, has attempted amalgamation of two Ambassador Dr Khaga Nath dors are taken as major think- Eretired ambassadors belonging to crops of diplomats, a practice Adhikari has thought it pertinent tanks in terms of imparting the category of trained diplomat- popular in recent Nepali parlance to fill the otherwise soaring gap greater inputs and feedback to ic professionals. Possibly to prove as bhaagbandaa (which indirect- in the book by contributing a the Foreign Ministry. It is still a the maxim that it’s better late ly means political give and take). solid article on protocol matters long way for AFCAN to assume than never, the body has done a While AFCAN took its birth in covering both similar and vary- such duties given our own pecu- commendable job by publishing 2007 with the membership of ing practices of presentations of liar circumstances that have the first volume of the ‘AFCAN career professionals alone, the Letters of Credence by accredited guided our foreign policymaking Review’. The book has a collec- pent-up feelings apparently on ambassadors in the ASEAN both in theory and spirit. tion of fourteen pertinent articles the part of politically favoured (Association of Southeast Asian I congratulate the AFCAN in along with the biodata of thirteen ambassadors of being left out Nations) world. general and members of the edi- contributing professionals, a list probably prompted them to have The section on obituaries con- torial board in particular for the of AFCAN members, detailed their own network by establish- tributed by former Foreign excellent publication they have obituaries of five senior career ing the Association of Former Secretary Ambassador Dr Madan brought out for the benefit of diplomats who played instrumen- Nepali Ambassadors (AFNA) on Kumar Bhattarai relates to three both the diplomatic community tal roles in shaping and directing July 22, 2018 under the chairman- successive Presidents of AFCAN and general readers who are Nepal’s diplomacy in various ship of an academic Dr Shambhu (Ambassador Keshav Raj Jha, interested in the realm of foreign ways during their long innings in Ram Simkhada, who served as Prabal Shumshere Rana and policy and diplomacy. I wish the Nepal’s foreign service. Nepal’s first residential Pushkar Man Singh Rajbhandary) AFCAN all the success in its Ambassador Sundarnath Permanent Representative to the and Ambassadors Dr Singha endeavours to become a major Bhattarai, senior-most among the UN in Geneva. Bahadur Basnyat and Pradip policy think-tank in the annals of contributors in terms of entry to Articles in the AFCAN Review Kumar Khatiwada. After the pub- foreign affairs. the exclusive service, has penned cover a cross-section of issues lication of the book, two more two articles. In his first article, he ranging from a highly researched career stalwarts Ambassador Bhattarai is a former Foreign has given a cursory account of and solid topic on the age-old Madhu Raman Acharya has dealt Beijing, have written on Nepal- Narendra (Rameshwar) Bikram Secretary and author involved the factors that led to the formal practice of diplomatic gifts by in detail well-recognised but least China relations with focus on Shah and Ambassador Indra in the study of Nepal’s foreign establishment of the AFCAN in Ambassador Rudra Kumar Nepal practised saga of the primacy of strategic partnership and Belt Bahadur Singh have passed away relations from a historical 2007 after an initial attempt by to Ambassador Dr Dinesh New Delhi posting for a better and Road Initiative, respectively. in recent weeks. Shah was among perspective. He is available some top foreign affairs stal- Bhattarai’s portrayal of a more understanding of Nepal’s diplo- Ambassador Madhuban Prasad our best foreign secretaries. I on [email protected]. warts, both career and political normative and constitutional macy along with a comprehen- Paudel, who commands a mas- have personally assessed Shah as appointees, to set up what can be aspects of the accepted domain sive account of his own contribu- tery of Nepali literature and is so one of the navaratnas (nine jew- called a composite unit, of central government in terms tions on Nepal-India relations far the only diplomat to head mis- els) of our foreign service. Ambassadors’ Club, lost its of foreign policy vis-à-vis the during his short stint in the sions in two Gulf countries, and Despite some proof mistakes AFCAN REVIEW, VOL 1, steam. Constitution of Nepal 2015 imbib- Indian capital. Ambassador Hari Ambassador Dr Niranjan Man that seem to have inadvertently DECEMBER 2020 The Ambassadors’ Club was ing federalism, with a historical, Kumar Shrestha, a senior hand Singh Basnyat have extensively crept in, it is a laudable exercise Association of Former established on December 8, 1999, geopolitical, comparative and on South Asia with an estab- dealt with status of labour and on the part of AFCAN to bring Career Ambassadors of and it was headed by Ambassador theoretical perspective. lished knack for travelogues, has employment in the two Gulf out the first work after 13 years of Nepal (AFCAN) Jitendra Raj Sharma and Likewise, two former Foreign contributed a very nice article countries and Malaysia, respec- its formation. There is, therefore, Ambassador Surya Prasad Secretaries Kedar Bhakta with a tell-tale title on the intrica- tively. These two pieces shed light a genuine expectation that the Publishers: Association of Shrestha as president and Shrestha and Gyan Chandra cy of Nepal-India relations. on various aspects of our labour exercise is given continuity in Former Career Ambassadors vice-president, respectively. Acharya have written good arti- Ambassadors Sundarnath diplomacy. view of our past experience as of Nepal (AFCAN), Bhattarai does not give an exact cles on different aspects of Bhattarai and Dr Rambhakta Ambassador Mohan Krishna many such initiatives have lost Kathmandu, 2020 explanation for the nascent diplo- Nepal’s foreign policy. Thakur, two senior diplomats Shrestha has adequately high- direction in due course. Pages: 143 matic organisation to become Another Foreign Secretary with experience of serving in lighted his achievements and the It may be pertinent to self-in- SAVE BIG Meats & Egg LIMITED TIME OFFER Vegetables per 500 gram

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