POST PHOTO: KESHAV THAPA

Women collect fodder grass from a wheat field at Sirubari in Bhaktapur on Monday.

ANIL GIRIKATHMANDU, MARCH 14

Nepal signed up to the $500 million Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact in September 2017. After years of lingering, and controversy and discord in recent months, the lower house of parliament on February 27 ratified the compact along with a 12-point declaration. The decision has already been communi-cated to the MCC headquarters.

A board meeting of the MCC sched-uled for this week is expected to adopt the decision made by the Nepali par-liament before the compact enters into force.

Four months prior to the signing of the US compact, Nepal had signed up to the Framework Agreement on Belt and Road Initiative, an ambitious mul-ti-billion-dollar infrastructure initia-tive undertaken by China that seeks to

connect Asia with Africa and Europe via land and maritime networks with the aim of improving regional integration, increasing trade and stimulating economic growth.

But not a single project under the BRI has taken off in Nepal even five years after the signing of the framework agreement.

Multiple sources in the gov-ernment and political leadership told the Post that the major pur-pose of the upcoming visit of

Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councillor Wang Yi is to push for the implementation of the BRI and sign at least two projects during the visit if possible. Foreign Minister Wang is scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu on March 26 on a two-day official visit where he will call on President Bidya Devi Bhandari, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and hold delegation level talks with his Nepali counter-part Narayan Khadka. Accompanied by some senior leaders of the Communist Party of China, Wang will meet several leaders from the ruling and opposition parties.

“We have already received the text of the project implementation plan of the BRI from China,” a senior govern-ment official told the Post, adding, “During the visit, both sides are expect-ed to agree on the text of the project implementation plan, which will pave the way for execution of BRI projects.”

During internal consultations with regard to BRI projects in December last year, the Ministry of Finance, in its recommendations to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had suggested that the two countries should set up a joint mechanism for the selection of pro-jects.

The official said the recommenda-tions also include avoiding commer-cial loans for the implementation of BRI projects because they are too expensive.

>> Continued on page 2

ANUP OJHAKATHMANDU, MARCH 14

A Nepali song released on Friday, which has attracted more than 5.3 mil-lion views till Monday evening, has over the last four days prompted a fierce debate over the Maoist “people’s war”, with social media platforms flooded with comments for and against.

Prakash Saput’s new music video titled “Pir”—which means sorrow in Nepali—tells the story of the plight of a couple that fought as Maoist fighters but now struggles to eke out a living, even as those who led the war live lav-

ish and comfortable lives.While the Maoists have taken excep-

tion to the song, calling it misleading and saying that it undermines the well-intended “people’s war”, others say Saput has shown the mirror to the Maoist leadership who flagrantly abandoned the foot soldiers who made the fundamental pillars of the armed insurgency.

Some Maoist members have even sent warnings to pull down the video from YouTube. Observers say while Saput’s song depicts the real picture of society, there are some key ele-ments that are completely lost in the

social media cacophony. Lokraj Baral, a former professor of

political science at the Tribhuvan University, says the problem with the Maoist Centre leadership is that they could not fulfil what they had prom-ised during the time of the armed insurgency.

“They talked about many things that were not achievable to make peo-ple join the war,” said Baral. “Hence there is dissatisfaction among many former fighters.”

There is one section that has always loathed the Maoist war and now is riding on the song to deride the Maoists and their armed struggle.

Observers say the Maoist war’s con-tribution in bringing socio political transformation in Nepali society can-not be ignored, but the way the leader-ship was co-opted after the peace deal and became part of the same parlia-mentary system that they once fought against is something they should introspect.

“The Maoists deserve credit for set-ting the agenda of republicanism. Inclusivity is one key issue that they raised fiercely,” said Baral. “But over the years, they have lost direction. They don’t even have the ideological foundation now.”

>> Continued on page 2

KRISHANA PRASAINKATHMANDU, MARCH 14

Pradeep Baniya Chhetri often gets bewildered when going shopping because he finds the prices of goods changing hourly like stock quotes. What upsets him most is the wildly fluctuating cost of food.

“I feel like I am being cheated every-where,” Chhetri, 52, who owns a hand-icraft shop in Indra Chowk, told the Post.

“Sellers say whatever prices they like. There is no market monitoring,” he said, adding that, in most cases, consumers do not even know what is consumable.

According to consumer activists, sales of adulterated goods are going on unchecked everywhere. Nepal has been battling for a long time to clean up its tainted image as a bad place to shop. Consumers are being cheated left and right, but the government isn’t doing much to change that, they said.

“There is no right place to lodge complaints either. I have heard that we are consuming vegetables laced with pesticides even after paying high pric-es,” Chhetri said.

World Consumer Rights Day is cele-brated every year on March 15, but rising global awareness about con-sumer rights will not make much of a difference for consumers like Chhetri who are defrauded in price, quality and quantity, say activists.

From making obscure contracts to purchase Covid-19 vaccines to issuing

fake PCR reports to the public, the pandemic period was a bumper year for scammers.

The biggest fraud was the sale of “duplicate” honey. In January, the Metropolitan Crime Division arrested Naresh Shrestha, 38, of Sindhupalchok for producing and selling fake honey.

>> Continued on page 7

BRI to be in focus when Wang Yi visits Nepal this month

A song that took the country by storm

Consumer fraud proliferates as government drags its feet

Signing on at least two projects likely during the Chinese foreign minister’s trip, on the heels of ratification of American grant that Beijing has taken exception to.

Prakash Saput’s music video portrays the disillusionment of former Maoist fighters while depicting the real story of society, observers say.

World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated every year on March 15, but there has been little respite for harassed Nepali consumers, activists say.

C M Y K

W I T H O U T F E A R O R F A V O U RNepal’s largest selling English dailyPrinted simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj

Vol XXX No. 25 | 10 pages | Rs.5Tuesday, March 15, 2022 | 01-12-2078

35.3 C 3.0 CDharan Jumla

O O

PHOTO COurTESy: METrOPOliTAn CriME DiViSiOn

In January, the Metropolitan Crime Division seized 600 kg of fake honey produced by mixing glucose and sugar among other things from Jyatha, Kathmandu.

A still from Prakash Saput’s music video ‘Pir’ captured from YouTube.

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TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2022 | 02

NATioNAl

Post Photo

Import and revenue of the first seven months of the current fiscal year 2021-2022.

BRiEfiNg

>> Continued from page 1The 16-minute video has a straight-

forward story. A couple, both former Maoist fight-

ers, lives in Kathmandu with their small daughter. The struggle is immense. The husband owns a small meat shop that barely earns enough to sustain the family.

The wife, frustrated at the hus-band’s meagre income, decides to go for foreign employment. They discuss what they achieved by participating in the bloody war—both had received bullets while fighting. The husband limps; the wife has a big scar of a wound on her right ribs.

“Did we not take the bullets in the name of the country and the people?” the wife asks. “What did we achieve?”

“Ganatantra [republic],” the hus-band responds, keeping his calm.

The wife ultimately goes abroad, leaving the daughter with her hus-band. About three months later, the husband learns she has been trapped in the foreign land and is pleading for

help. He reaches out to his former comrade, who is now a minister. The minister, however, not only ignores his pleas but even refuses to recognise him.

He decides to leave the country. The daughter then leaves him perplexed when she asks: “What does a country mean?”

One dramatic element that Saput has inserted in the story is: the hus-band one day, at the persuasion of his friend, goes to a sex worker, only to find she is also a former Maoist fighter.

Maoist members have taken umbrage at it, saying the singer has crossed the boundary of creativity and insulted former women fighters by depicting them as sex workers.

“The music video that depicts women combatants who fought for the country’s political transformation as characterless is unacceptable,” Suman Devkota, coordinator of the Young Communist League Nepal, youth wing of the CPN (Maoist Centre), wrote on

Facebook. “I would like to request Saput to take the video down.”

Satya Pahadi, a Central Committee member of the Maoist Centre, said on a Facebook Post that the singer has disrespected the bravery, courage and sacrifice of Maoist fighters.

“The singer has not only committed violence against those women who participated in the war but also all the women,” she posted. “This is not only condemnable but also liable to legal action.”

Baburam Bhattarai, who is consid-ered a key architect of the Maoist insurgency, however, took to Twitter to urge all not to threaten the singer.

“Being a former leader of the peo-ple’s war, I reserve the right to com-ment on Saput’s song. There is noth-ing to feel offended about,” reads Bhattarai’s tweet. “The song does not oppose the people’s war. It has depict-ed the pain of the incomplete revolu-tion. There is a need to take the revo-lution forward in a new way. Why threaten the creator of the song?”

Amid the intense debate over the song, Saput, the singer, on Monday issued a statement.

“I have only tried to portray a com-mon man’s expectations from the state and the rejection they receive,” Saput wrote on Facebook. “I have only tried to say that the country witnessed the change because of the people’s war but people’s situation could not improve.”

“I have tried to show the growing gap between the comrades who once fought for equality,” he added. “But are not these the same issues which have been shown on television pro-grammes… written and read in news-papers…?”

According to Saput, he has created the characters from what he learned from former Maoist fighters who he interacted with during his four years of singing at a restaurant.

“Many of those I came across who would sing, play musical instruments, cook and serve were Maoist fighters,” he said.

Responding to calls to remove the video, Saput has said such an act would devalue the insurgency, move-ments, republicanism and freedom of speech.

“I am an artist and my creations are my voice,” he said. “Controversy is not in my nature. Nor is it my strength.”

Even 16 years after the signing of the peace deal, the debate continues—whether the “people’s war” indeed was needed or was it just an outcome of adventurism of some communist leaders who romanticised revolution.

While top Maoist leaders continue to justify the war, they admit that they have failed to maintain the momen-tum to keep the revolutionary agenda alive. Mumaram Khanal, who quit the Maoist party about two decades ago, says the dreams sold by those who call themselves revolutionaries are diffi-cult to achieve.

“This has happened with the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML as well,” Khanal told the Post. “The Maoist war

issue keeps recurring and is talked about a lot because this is the latest in Nepal’s political history.”

According to Khanal, after joining mainstream politics, Maoist leaders were co-opted.

“Maoists were radical in their liter-ature but that does not work in real life and they need to become pragmat-ic in politics. Therefore there appears to be a contradiction,” he said. The main question is, said Jhalak Subedi, a political commentator, whether the Maoist leaders are working to ensure that they are accountable to the people who participated in the revolution and those at the grassroots.

“After the political change, one sec-tion of the Maoist party has drastical-ly changed their lifestyles, while those who sacrificed a lot were left high and dry,” said Subedi, who has followed leftist politics for decades. “The prob-lem lies with those who have changed, not with those who are at the receiv-ing end and who are demanding accountability.”

A song that took the country by storm

400 kg marijuana seized while being smuggled through a waterway in UdayapurUDAYAPUR: An Armed Police Force (APF) team seized around 400 kgs of marijuana from the Saptakoshi river in Belaka Municipality-8, Udayapur, on Sunday. Acting on a tip-off, security personnel seized the marijuana while it was being smuggled through a waterway on a bamboo raft. Three youths were detained in possession of the marijuana while the others fled by jumping into the river. The detained suspects and the seized drugs were handed over to the District Police Office in Udayapur for further investigation.

Two dead, 26 injured in road accident while returning from wedding ceremonySINDHULI: Two persons died and 26 others were injured, six critically, when a tipper truck carrying wedding attendants met with an accident at Sirthauli along the Madan Bhandari Highway in Sindhuli district on Sunday night. Police identified the deceased as Ajaya Danuwar and Dipendra Kunwar of Katari Municipality-2 in Udayapur district. The vehicle was returning to Katari from Sirthauli in Sindhuli. The bride and bridegroom are unhurt as they were in another vehicle.

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Bajhang’s elderly receive new set of teethAs many as 150 people received a new set of dentures at a health camp organised by the federal health ministry and Bajhang hospital. BASANTA PRATAP SINGHBAJHANG, MARCH 14

Rana Bahadur Singh of Naura in Jayaprithvi Municipality-6, Bajhang, is in his eighties. A tall sprightly man, he often takes a two-hour walk to Chainpur, the district headquarters of Bajhang, and rarely looks his age except for when he smiles. His toothless gums have been haunting Singh ever since he started losing his teeth in his sixties.

But his worries came to an end last week when he visited a health camp organised by the federal health ministry in coordination with the Bajhang District Hospital. On the premises of the district hospital where the camp was organised, as many as 150 people who had lost their teeth received a new set of dentures.

Those who received the dentures were ecstatic as it guaranteed they could now enjoy all the food items denied to them for a lack of teeth.

Singh, who is fond of eating meat and chapatis, had for more than 20 years been unable to relish his favourite dishes.

“I have always enjoyed eating meat but being toothless meant I could not enjoy meat as much as I liked,” said Singh. “Being una-ble to eat properly also made me think my days were numbered. I felt old since I couldn’t enjoy the food I liked. But now I have regained my vigour for life. I feel that if I get to enjoy my food, I will live a long and healthy life.”

Seventy-one-year-old Gauri Rokaya of Kimruk in Khaptad Chhanna Rural Municipality-1 says she missed laughing out loud after she lost all her teeth when she was nearing her sixties. She received a new set of dentures at the health camp and says she has again started to enjoy her laughs.

“I hadn’t been able to laugh heartily for more than 15 years. My family and even my friends and neighbours called me a ‘tooth-less old woman’. It hurt me and made me laugh less,” said Rokaya.

“Because I didn’t have any teeth, forming proper words was difficult. People would

make fun of me if they heard me speak so I stopped speaking unless absolutely neces-sary. I had turned into a recluse but now I don’t have to worry. I have a new set of teeth and I can laugh and talk as much as I want.”

Those who received a new set of teeth at the health camp say they get to live life with renewed self-confidence. Several of the recipients had never tried getting dentures or dental implants before since the rural areas did not have health institutions that could provide such a service free of cost.

“I did not have the money to go to Dhangadhi or Kathmandu for dental implants or to get dentures,” said Juna Kami, aged 63, of Jayaprithvi-4. “I could not chew chapatis and did not enjoy eating food because I didn’t have teeth. But now I feel

comfortable with my new teeth and can’t wait to enjoy meat bones.”

According to health workers, dental work costs around Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000 in Kathmandu. And if the rural folks are to make the journey to cities to get their dental work done, they will have to shell up to Rs 200,000, including transportation and accom-modation costs.

“The dental health camp was organised for senior citizens of rural areas who cannot afford costly dental procedures,” said Prakash Budhathoki, secretary at the Federal Ministry of Health and Population. “Seeing the smiles return on elderly people’s faces encourages us to organise such health camps in the remote parts of the country.”

According to the Bajhang District

Hospital, a team of 22 doctors and six technicians from several hospitals and insti-tutions in Kathmandu were involved in the dental health camp. Dr Sandip Okheda, chief at the Bajhang District Hospital, said 150 people with complete loss of teeth, 77 people with partial loss and 425 others with various dental ailments benefited from the six-day health camp that concluded on Thursday.

Singh from Naura village feels like he has got a new lease on life after receiving the new set of dentures. “I got a second life with a set of new teeth. The pain of not having teeth is inexpressible in words but gaining a new set means I can go back to living like I was 60 again,” said Singh. “I feel like I will live to be a 100.”

>> Continued from page 1“In our recommendation, we have clearly stated that

we should seek preferably a grant from China or conces-sional loans at less than 2 percent annual interest to fund the projects under the BRI. Our economy is too small to be able to afford commercial loans, so we should avoid such loans,” a senior Finance Ministry official said.

Former Nepali ambassador to China Mahendra Bahadur Pandey said during his term, Nepal held dis-cussions on potential BRI projects and worked on the text of the project implementation agreement. “It’s a good volume with 40-45 pages in both English and Chinese,” he said.

Pandey, who was appointed by the former KP Oli-led government, was recalled in September last year after Sher Bahadur Deuba came to power.

Although the project implementation plan is not a prerequisite for implementing the BRI Framework Agreement, some countries have developed such a plan before selecting and negotiating for projects, according to another Nepali diplomat who had served in Beijing.

“As per the suggestions of the Chinese side, we had prepared the plan, sent it to Beijing for their inputs and now we have received it,” the official added.

The major impediment to the selection and implemen-tation of projects under the BRI is the lack of clarity on financing modality, according to officials. Nepal, say officials, is seeking donations, but the Chinese are insist-ing on soft loans.

“We have already received the text from Beijing and we are exchanging final notes and comments regarding the modalities to finance the projects,” a senior official privy to the upcoming Chinese visit said. “Once the two sides sign the implementation plan, we will enter the project negotiation phase.”

So far, close to 140 countries have signed up to the BRI.When Nepal signed the BRI agreement in 2017, it was

touted as a watershed moment in Nepal-China ties. But with no project taking off under the Chinese pro-gramme, there were concerns, especially by some Western countries, if there was reluctance from Nepal itself due to some geopolitical reasons.

India, Nepal’s southern neighbour, and the United States see the BRI as China’s bid to exert influence in the region using its economic heft. Countries like Sri Lanka and Pakistan in South Asia too are part of the BRI.

When Nepal agreed to build projects under the BRI, Pushpa Kamal Dahal of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) was prime minister. After him, Sher Bahadur Deuba of the Nepali Congress led the govern-ment, followed by KP Sharma Oli of the CPN-UML. And Deuba is back again in the prime minister’s seat.

After successive governments failed to initiate any project under the BRI, according to people familiar with the matter, there was some kind of unease on the Chinese side if Nepal was really committed to what it signed up to.

The only development with regard to the BRI from the Nepal side is that Kathmandu in January 2019 sent a list of nine projects to China. There was no further progress on negotiations.

Since Wang is likely to push for BRI implementation against the backdrop of the MCC compact’s ratification, the finalisation and signing of the project implementa-tion plan are necessary before the projects can enter the implementation phase, said a senior foreign ministry official.

Other issues on the Nepali agenda during Wang’s visit include full-fledged reopening of the northern border points–Rashuwagadhi and Tatopani, which are major trading points between Nepal and China, resumption of flights between the two countries, problems faced by Nepali students enrolled in various Chinese universities who had to return home abruptly due to the pandemic, and other regular issues related to tarde, commerce, infrastructure, among others.

China has closed most of its land border points since the Covid pandemic hit the country in 2019.

Meanwhile, during a recent interview with the Global Times, a mouthpiece of the Chinese government President Bidya Devi Bhandari also expressed her dis-may over the slow progress on the BRI projects.

“We see them [BRI projects] as opportunities for Nepal’s infrastructure development and would like to advance this process. For many reasons, the BRI projects are yet to gain momentum even as we had signed the memorandum of understanding some five years ago. We need to put our common effort toward expediting them,” Bhandari said in the interview.

According to the Finance Ministry official, China will definitely push and seek assurance from Nepal to con-struct the Kerung-Kathmandu cross border railway as the Chinese have already expressed their intent to carry out a feasibility study for the project in recent virtual meetings with Nepali officials.

Initially there were talks that China would be building two separate railway projects linking China’s Kerung to Kathmandu and Kerung to Pokhara, whose detailed study is still being carried out.

China has already agreed to carry out the study on the proposed rail links under the banner of Nepal-China Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network. The study, however, was halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to a joint secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transportation, the Chinese side has already made it clear that they will undertake the feasibility study of the Kerung-Kathmandu railway network and an agreement to this effect is expected dur-ing the visit. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sewa Lamsal said officials are currently consulting several stakeholders to prepare an agenda for the high-level meeting with the Chinese foreign minister. “Once the consultations are completed, we will officially announce the agenda and the date of the visit.”

Post Photo: BAsANtA PRAtAP sINGh

A team of 22 doctors and six technicians from several hospitals and institutions in Kathmandu were involved in the six-day dental health camp.

Camp was organised for senior citizens of rural areas who cannot afford dental procedures.

BRI to be in focus ...

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03 | TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2022

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TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2022 | 04

OpiniOn

One of the key reasons for the perpetu-ated sorry state of and underper-formance by public enterprises, includ-ing several academic and other institu-tions, is blatant political interference in the appointment of their chief exec-utives. The obvious resultant pitfalls thereof are mismanagement and unchecked corruption in them. The government recently appointed Umesh Prasad Thani as managing director of Nepal Oil Corporation, the natural monopoly in the nation’s petroleum distribution. The government is alleged to have amended the eligibility criteria in the interest of a particular candi-date by adding “practice of engineer-ing” as “countable” experience for the position. Last month, Pradeep Adhikari got appointed as managing director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, who surprised a couple of his seniors vying for the post.

On the face of it, these selection pro-cesses appear as if they are impartial. The government of the day, almost from a template, constitutes a selection committee, the committee invites “expression of interest” from interest-ed candidates who are also given the opportunity to compete by presenting their “leadership vision” supposedly to turn around the fate of, invariably, an ill-managed or loss-making enterprise. In reality, however, the candidate intended to be handpicked by the polit-ical leadership is predetermined. The selection committees so instituted are strictly instructed not to leave behind the favoured candidate at each stage of the evaluation process. Finally, the very person who, very often than not, would have already struck a pecu-niary deal with the ultimate political master ostensibly gets the coveted appointment.

This has been an accepted pattern for decades now, replicated by the gov-ernment of every political hue. The selection committees themselves are a pure sham because, in the first place, their members themselves are picked according to the vested interest of the person in power. Therefore, the prospect of impartiality in the selection process is compromised at its very outset.

Sadly, the practice of this “pattern” has now extended even to esteemed academic institutions, well beyond the state-owned production or business entities. For example, appointing the vice-chancellor of the Rapti Academy of Health Sciences is now ongoing. A

committee headed by Health Minister Birodh Khatiwada has recommended three names—Rishikesh Shrestha, Narayan Thapa and Ramesh Koirala. But it is public knowledge that the final appointment will be determined not based on the merits of the shortlisted candidates but political affiliation by bartering between the Nepali Congress Party heading the coalition govern-ment and the CPN (United Socialist) as the coalition partner that heads the Health Ministry.

What went wrong?The extractive political class has found this practice of creating a cam-ouflage of the selection committee very convenient. They are killing two birds with a single bullet. For pub-licity and public consumption about the impartiality of the process, these committees prove to be a very effective shield for them. Yet, the politi-cal leaders have no difficulty in appointing their henchmen to attrac-tive public positions according to their wishes.

What has also been apparent over the years is that most deserving candi-dates, in terms of qualification, calibre and integrity, generally do not even bother to submit their initial “expres-sion of interest”. First, they know the entire process is just a hoax, and how-ever qualified one maybe, one is unlike-ly to be selected without political patronage. Second, for people with a reasonable amount of self-respect, par-ticipating in the process is humiliating

and demeaning to their credentials when far less qualified political clowns, ultimately, are sure to overtake them in getting appointed.

Ideally, the government of the day should have all the right to make such appointments if done in good faith, and the institution’s best interest in ques-tion. This also means that the govern-ment must also be fully accountable for the appointee’s performance. This is exactly where politics has failed the country. There is invariably a mala fide intention of appointing underqualified cadres in blatant disregard to the future of the enterprise or institution. And political leaders, to seek protec-tion from public wrath against favouritism, are slipping into the “committee-based selection process” cocoon. It is their indirect confession that they neither intend to be honest nor accountable.

Past effortsAfter persistent and widespread criti-cism of successive governments for handpicking underqualified cadres to head important public institutions, a Public Enterprise Management Board headed by former finance secretary Bimal Wagle was created in 2012. Its twin objectives were to bring this per-vasive malpractice of “handpicking” to an end and impartially select profes-sionals to head public enterprises. The board set some ground rules for the evaluation process, and in its initial days, selected about half a dozen chief executives for the public enterprises.

But its relative assertiveness soon became a headache for political leaders of all hues. They perceived that the political “prerogative” of distributing these lucrative positions had been sud-denly snatched away from them, and the selected “professionals” were more proud of their merits for their appoint-ment and less obliged to politicians. Most importantly, it ended the scope of clandestine pecuniary tradeoffs for the appointment.

For the same reasons, the authority originally bestowed upon the board was gradually withdrawn or infringed upon under different excuses. Neither was the tenure of Chairman Wagle renewed after three years nor was there any incentive for politicians to appoint a new chairman. For years, it was left in limbo and finally scrapped in 2018.

Then, slowly but decisively, the new “selection committee” culture, a separate one for selecting the chief executive in each public entity, crept in; thanks to the connivance of shrewd political bigwigs that effectively killed the institution with the true potential of impartially selecting pro-fessionals for the “right positions”. It is already too late to put such a flawed practice to an immediate end and bring back the institutions like the Public Enterprise Management Board with more autonomy and credibility and a broad mandate to take charge of all public appointments beyond the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission.

At the end of the 1980s, political liber-alisation swept across Africa, seem-ingly indicating that it was the continent’s turn to embark on histo-ry’s inexorable march toward democ-racy. Some commentators argued that, by increasing the legitimacy of African governments, political reform contributed to the subsequent decline in military coups.

But since the start of 2021, a string of military takeovers in West and Central Africa—in Chad, Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso, as well as a recent attempted coup in Guinea-Bissau—has seemingly turned back the clock. International and regional organisations routinely advocate democratisation and condemn coups. But recent developments should prompt reflection about whether tout-ing democratisation as the sole solu-tion for fragile states is sufficient.

In particular, the spate of recent coups highlights the fragility of democratisation in countries that are at an early stage of economic develop-ment and, perhaps more importantly, face major security challenges.

The popular protests that erupted in many parts of Africa in 2021 partly reflected the growing alienation of young people, who aspire to better liv-ing conditions and economic opportu-nities. Social media have made Africa’s youth increasingly aware of how bad their situation is, relative to

their peers elsewhere, fueling griev-ances over poor governance, growing insecurity, and deteriorating econom-ic conditions. Too many young Africans lose their lives by embarking on a dangerous journey to Europe in an effort to escape the constraints they face at home.

Significantly, the military coups have occurred against the backdrop of civilian governments’ failure to stop terrorism. The 2011 NATO-led mili-tary intervention in Libya continues to cast a long shadow over security in the Sahel. And the growing security concerns of populations there and in other parts of Africa that have been

hit by terrorist attacks make the exclusive focus on democratisation seem naive.

In addition to causing loss of life, these attacks have led to population displacement, including across still-porous borders in some parts of the continent. The economic cost of terrorism in Africa, in terms of lost income and reduced investment, is estimated to be over $10 billion per year, aggravating vulnerable popula-tions’ hardship and severely testing the ability of civilian governments to meet development goals.

Moreover, in several African coun-tries, the military have complained

that rampant corruption is depriving them of the necessary resources to fight insurgencies. According to an Afrobarometer survey, 65% of Africans think the continent’s governments do a poor job of fighting corruption.

Besides their greater security expertise, military officials are some-times also perceived as being more disciplined than corrupt civilian polit-ical elites. But while surveys show that Africans tend to trust the mili-tary, they reject military rule. Military leaders’ past involvement in politics has often become entrenched, owing to rents from land, oil, mining, or tele-

coms. And ending military rule is generally much more difficult than ousting a civilian government in an election.

A further complicating factor is widespread foreign involvement in Africa’s security sector, including by former colonial powers such as France and the United Kingdom. Foreign forces that have established military bases on the continent or signed agreements to fight insur-gencies have increasingly aroused the hostility of young nationalists. Many African leaders have played a populist game by appealing to such sentiments, although some, such as

the deposed leaders of Burkina Faso and Guinea, have lost legitimacy because of their inability to fix gov-ernance problems—including in the security sector.

New players such as Russia have come to the fore by assisting African governments in fighting insurgencies or wars. That aid also is likely to come with strings attached. But while many question the sustainability of a regional security model where foreign actors substitute for domestic players, military involvement in politics is not the answer.

The increasing frequency of mili-tary coups is a symptom of the short-comings of democratisation in Africa’s poorest countries, where elec-tions have failed to produce legitimate governments capable of delivering security and development. Where institutions are weak, elections alone will not make leaders accountable.

For democracy to have a chance, it needs to be much more prescriptive in terms of commensurate improve-ments in governments’ capacity to ensure security and development. And the real test of benevolent leadership lies in its attachment to meritocracy, so that countries’ capacity to respond to their citizens’ needs and preferenc-es improves over time.

To succeed, African democracies must combine high meritocratic standards with results-based frame-works. Parliamentary democracies are not among the countries in Africa which have experienced coups, and their political institutions enable them to gain public support for a renewed focused on results, perhaps through pre-agreed performance indicators that are reported transpar-ently to citizens. Unless and until African countries embrace such an approach, the continent’s coup wave will continue to rise.

Arezki, former chief economist and vice president at the African Development Bank, is a senior fellow at Harvard Kennedy School.

— Project Syndicate

Africa’s coup wave

ACHYUT WAGLE

‘Impartiality’ in public appointmentsEDiTORiAL

Revival of domestic tourismThe industry may have to rely on the domestic

market for some time to come.

The obvious resultant pitfalls thereof are mismanagement and unchecked corruption.

It has been almost two years since the cancellation of an event that might have attracted the highest inflow of tourists to Nepal from all corners of the world. Alas, it was not to be. Visit Nepal 2020 was touted to be a year to infuse new life, particularly into the tourism sector. Instead, no sooner had the year begun than news reports of the novel coronavirus started doing the rounds; and before long, governments worldwide imposed restrictions on travel. From the onset, it was pretty clear that the brunt of such measures would be felt the most by the tourism industry.

In the ensuing months, those involved directly in promot-ing tourism realised the scale of the impact. And the indus-try was left with the choice of either promoting local tourism or risking survival. Hotels and resorts have had to reorganise their menus and activities to suit the needs of local travel-lers. This has fortunately proven to be pretty successful in these difficult times. And the noteworthy point of consid-eration for all those in the tourism industry should be that due to the unpredictable nature of the ongoing situation, they may have to rely on the domestic market for some time to come.

It may be true to a certain extent that the charm of the mountains primarily attracts most tourists who fly in from beyond the continent, and as a result, indulge in trekking activities. Still, statistically speaking, of the 1.2 million inter-national tourists that visited Nepal in 2019, about 65 percent cited pleasure as their purpose of visit, and a mere 16 percent said they came for adventure related activities, including trekking and mountaineering. It is not to say that adventure tourism is to be neglected, although it seems to fall in the category of people who operate on a tight budget. But a focused rejig to target the sector that travels for pleasure may pay rich dividends.

But that means investment in infrastructural development to the highest standard. Perhaps the new Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa could aid in drawing pressure away from Kathmandu as a port of entry for those arriving by flight. Another sector that has been overlooked is the development of accessible tourism. While most hoteliers are aware of accessible or inclusive tourism as a concept, not much has been achieved in terms of invest-ment in infrastructure and staff training to an acceptable level to ensure that the needs of disabled tourists aren’t ignored.

While the effects of the pandemic recede, more and more people from all corners of the country have been flocking to well-preserved nature reserves. Bardia National Park alone saw more than 10,000 tourists in February alone as thrill-seek-ers shook off the shackles of restrictive pandemic measures. This is the sort of payoff Nepal has been waiting for through a campaign of successfully protecting wildlife and biodiver-sity. And while we wait for the numbers to swell, perhaps some thought should go towards how we can cater effectively to the domestic market as well.

RAbAH AREzki

Too many young Africans lose their lives by embarking on a dangerous journey to Europe.

ShutterStock

reuterS

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05 | TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2022

NATioNAl

Nationwide vaccination against typhoid starting on April 8Doctors say without improving water and sanitation conditions, waterborne diseases including typhoid cannot be defeated.ARJUN POUDELKATHMANDU, MARCH 14

The Ministry of Health and Population is planning to launch a nation-wide vaccination campaign against typhoid from April 8. Around seven million children between the ages of 15 months and 15 years will be immu-nised with a vaccine during the month-long campaign, according to officials.

“The vaccine will also be included in the regular immunisation list once the campaign is over,” Sagar Dahal, chief of the National Immunisation Programme, told the Post.

Once the typhoid vaccine is includ-ed in the regular immunisation list, the number of vaccines provided through regular immunisation pro-grammes will reach 13.

Typhoid fever, usually called typhoid, is a highly contagious disease caused by Salmonella typhi, which spreads through contaminated food or water. Studies have shown that the disease can be fatal in up to 10 percent of the reported cases.

Typhoid fever has been found throughout the world but the problem is acute in areas where safe drinking water and sanitation is a problem. Nepal has also recorded major typhoid outbreaks in the past, but very few cases have been reported in the last few years.

Although authorities concerned are in the final phase of launching the

vaccine campaign, there are divided opinions among experts about it.

Some say mass vaccination against typhoid and the jabs’ inclusion in the regular immunisation list is needed, as it lessens the morbidity and mortality rates, but others believe authorities are launching the pro-gramme without having convincing scientific evidence on the prevalence of the disease.

Those not very keen on typhoid mass vaccination say the programme should be made more specific by launching it in the hotspots and the areas where the condition of drinking water and sanitation is very poor.

“It would be better, if we could make the programme more evidence-based,” said Dr Baburam Marasini, former director at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division.

In 2015, the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division had carried out a study in Chitwan and Kathmandu to know the prevalence of typhoid.

Doctors involved in the study found typhoid cases but not in significant numbers. “We found that hospitals were not performing stool cultures in significant numbers; typhoid cases were fewer,” said Marasini, who was director at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, then.

The Ministry of Health and Population said that data of the last five years show that around 450,000 people get sick with typhoid every

year. And typhoid is among the top three diseases that are caused by con-taminated food and water, and the fourth cause of hospitalisation in Nepal, according to the data of the last three years maintained by the Health Management Information System.

Officials at the Health Ministry said that a study carried out at Patan Hospital in the past found 1,062 people per 100,000 have been infected with typhoid.

The number of infected people over 100 in every 100,000 is considered a high prevalence. Experts, however, question the authenticity of the Health Management Information

System’s data.“Our Health Management

Information System cannot keep the record of all the people inoculated with particular vaccines and vaccine doses, so how can we rely on the infor-mation it provides?’’ questioned a for-mer official at the Department of Health Services, requesting anonymi-ty. “How many stool samples were tested to claim 450,000 people were infected with typhoid every year?”

Vaccines for other diseases, which are being provided in the regular immunisation programme, work life long but that is not the case with the typhoid vaccine, which has to be taken

every five years.Experts also raised questions about

the sustainability of the programme after the inclusion of the typhoid vac-cine in the regular immunisation list, as aid agencies do not always provide the jabs. On top of that, typhoid is not like any other disease which can be eradicated, as it can occur in areas where sanitation and water condi-tions are poor.

“We have not had a major outbreak of typhoid for the last several years,” said Dr Senendra Upreti, former secretary for Health. “But that does not mean the problems will not arise again.”

Doctors say that without improving water and sanitation conditions, prob-lems of other waterborne diseases cannot be addressed. To improve water and sanitation problems, long-term investments and multisectoral approaches are needed, they say.

“Instead of including the typhoid vaccine, authorities could launch the programme in the areas where drink-ing water and sanitation is problemat-ic,” an official at the Department of Health Services, said, asking not to be named. “No vaccine is 100 percent effective and infection of typhoid largely depends on how healthy food and water we eat and drink.”

Health Ministry officials claimed that inclusion of typhoid vaccine doesn’t increase economic burden, as the vaccine doses and all logistical expenditures have been provided by

the Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation.

They claimed that the cost of typhoid vaccination will not be high compared to the morbidity rate even after the aid agencies stopped the sup-port in the vaccination.

“Typhoid patients have been found throughout the country and hundreds of thousands of people get infected every year with the disease,” Dr Bibek Kumar Lal, director at the Family Welfare Division, said. “And what is concerning is antimicrobial resist-ance is very high in the antibiotic used in the typhoid treatment. So we opted for typhoid vaccination.”

The Health Ministry said the World Health Organisation has provided a pre-qualified certificate to the typhoid conjugate vaccine, which Nepal has planned to include in the regular immunisation programmes and nationwide campaigns.

Symptoms of typhoid include weak-ness, stomach pain, headache, diar-rhoea or constipation, cough and loss of appetite.

Doctors say problems of typhoid and other waterborne diseases will not stop unless the condition of water and sanitation improves.

“Vaccination cannot be a replace-ment of the water and sanitation pro-gramme and data must support that vaccination is necessary, ” said Dr Bhagwan Koirala, chairman of Nepal Medical Council, the national regula-tory body of medical doctors.

NEA lowers purchase price of solar electricityThe power utility says it cannot pay more than Rs5.94 per unit. Solar companies say move will discourage new investors.PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHAKATHMANDU, MARCH 14

The Nepal Electricity Authority has decided to reduce the maximum pur-chase price for electricity generated by solar plants as the state-owned power utility prepares to procure solar energy through com-petitive bidding.

The power utility body has decided to pay a maxi-mum of Rs5.94 per unit for solar-generated electricity.

For the last three years, the authority has been paying Rs7.30 per unit for three years as provisioned in the Working Procedures on Grid-Connected Alterna-tive Electric Energy Deve-lopment-2017.

“A recent board meeting decided to pay a maximum of Rs5.94 per unit to solar plants willing to sell elec-tricity to us,” said Suresh Bhattarai, spokesperson for the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). “We have proposed the new rate to the Electricity Regulatory Commission for approval.”

The commission is responsible for fixing the purchase price of electrici-ty or power purchase agree-ment (PPA) rate for the power sold to the NEA by private sector producers.

Bhattarai said that the NEA would not pay more than what its board has approved for the electricity produced by private sector solar farms. “There will be competition among solar power producers at prices below the maximum rate,” he added.

However, the commis-sion is unlikely to take decision on the matter immediately for lack of officer bearers. After the removal of its three office bearers recently over their alleged failure to perform their duties, the commis-sion currently has no office bearers.

Last week, the govern-ment announced vacancies for these vacant posts.

“I am not aware of the price recommendation of the NEA. If the NEA has recommended the maxi-mum PPA rate for solar-gen-erated electricity, a deci-sion on the matter will be made after office bearers are appointed,” said Gok- arna Raj Pantha, secretary at the commission.

In late January, the NEA’s board had decided to procure solar energy only through competitive bid-ding by ending the fixed rate regime of the last three years maintained as per the decision taken on

June 10, 2018. The board in January had also decided that it would set a new max-imum price per unit for solar energy.

Meanwhile, the new price per unit proposed by the NEA has left the solar power developers unimpressed.

“The reduction in the maximum rate to be offered to solar developers will affect those who have already invested heavily in the hope of selling their electricity at the existing Rs7.30 per unit,” said Prakash Bikram Basnet, president of Solar Electric Manufacturers Assoc- iation Nepal.

According to him, the association had requested the NEA to keep the maxi-mum rate at Rs6.8 per unit.

“But the rate proposed by the NEA is far lower than what we had proposed. We will discuss the issue among our members and draw the attention of the government to our con-cerns,” said Basnet.

He said that the proposed maximum PPA rate could discourage potential and new investors in the solar power sector as setting up solar farms has become difficult due to high land costs and soaring solar panel prices.

The NEA, however, maintains that it decided to implement a competitive pricing mechanism consid-ering decreasing prices of solar energy international-ly. In November 2020, solar energy prices in India hit a record low of INR2 per unit under competitive bidding.

Bhattarai, the NEA spokesperson, said compet-itive bidding would help discover actual market price of solar energy besides contributing to decreasing the price.

“It is not that solar plants here would be able to sell electricity at the rate as cheap as that in India but a competitive bidding would help to lower the prices for the NEA,” said Bhattarai.

Another reason, accord-ing to the NEA, is that it is in no position to procure energy from all solar manufacturers who have applied for PPA.

According to the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, the power utility body has already signed PPAs with 21 solar energy producers for a total of 110MW. As much as 21 MW of electric-ity has already been con-nected to the national grid, the ministry said in a state-ment in January.

SHUTTERSTOCK

Impure drinking water and poor sanitation provide a breeding ground for typhoid germs.

C M Y K

Briefings

TUesDAY, MArCH 15, 2022 | 06

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Kyiv apartment block shelled but ‘hard’ Ukraine peace talks go aheadREUTERSLVIV, MARCH 14

Ukraine said it had begun “hard” talks on a ceasefire, immediate with-drawal of troops and security guaran-tees with Russia on Monday, despite the fatal shelling of a residential building in Kyiv.

Both sides suggested at the weekend some results could be in sight after earlier rounds have primarily focused on ceasefires to get aid to towns and cities under siege by Russian forces and evacuate civilians; those truces have frequently failed.

Firefighters tackled the remains of a blaze at the damaged apartment block in the capital, where a stunned young resident described the chaos of the previous night in a city targeted by the Russian advance but so far largely spared bombardment.

Officials said at least one person died in the shelling and a second per-son was killed by falling debris after a missile strike on another part of the Ukrainian capital.

“The staircase was not there any-more, everything was on fire,” Maksim Korovii told Reuters, describing how he and his mother had first hid inside their dust and smoke-filled apartment, thinking Russian forces were break-ing down the door.

“We didn’t know what to do. So we ran out to the balcony. We managed to put on whatever clothes we had at hand and made our way from balcony to balcony and in the end we climbed down by the next building’s entrance,” he said.

Russia denies targeting civilians, saying it is conducting a “special operation” to demilitarise and “dena-zify” Ukraine. Ukraine and Western allies call this a baseless pretext for a war of choice.

Russia’s defence ministry said at least 20 people had been killed and 28 wounded when what it said was a Ukrainian missile with a cluster charge exploded in the capital of the eastern Donetsk region, without providing evidence.

Pro-Russian separatists who control the region said earlier a child was among those hit in what it called a war crime.

Ukrainian officials denied the reports, which Reuters was unable to independently verify.

Ukrainian negotiator Mykhailo Podolyak, who on Sunday said Russia was beginning to talk “constructive-ly”, wrote ahead of the talks: “Negotiations. 4th round. On peace, ceasefire, immediate withdrawal of troops & security guarantees.”

He later said discussions had start-ed but were hard, because the political systems of Russia and Ukraine were too different.

Podolyak said he believed Russia “still has a delusion that 19 days of violence against [Ukrainian] peaceful cities is the right strategy.”

Russia has accused Ukraine of

using civilians as human shields, an allegation Kyiv has firmly denied.

The Kremlin said everything was going to plan after one of Putin’s clos-est allies, National Guard chief Viktor Zolotov, made the strongest public acknowledgement yet that the operation was slower than hoped.

“Not everything is going as fast as we would like,” Zolotov, once in charge of Putin’s personal security, said in comments posted on the National Guard’s website. “...But we are going towards our goal step by step and vic-tory will be for us.”

Russia has sufficient military clout to accomplish its aims in Ukraine on time and in full, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, accus-

ing the United States and European Union of tempting Russia into attacking major population centres in Ukraine, something he said Putin had asked the army not to do.

While Russian troops have yet to enter the capital, thousands of people have died in other occupied or encir-cled towns and villages since the inva-sion on February 24.

The Kyiv city administration said the Antonov aircraft plant there had been shelled. Reuters was not immedi-ately able to verify that report.

Regional governor Oleksiy Kuleba said frontline towns near Kyiv were being evacuated for a fifth day, although he could hear occasional explosions in the distance.

Both sides suggested at the weekend some results could be in sight; earlier truces have frequently failed.

India not only depends on Russian weaponry, but it also relies hugely on Moscow for military upgrades.

Mainland China has seen relatively few infections since the initial Wuhan outbreak.

India unsure of Russian arms to meet China, Pakistan threats

ASSOCIATED PRESSNEW DELHI, MARCH 14

India is exploring ways to avoid a major disruption in its supply of Russian-made weaponry amid US sanctions following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tightrope walk could become more difficult due to a contin-uing border standoff with China.

Experts say up to 60 percent of Indian defence equipment comes from Russia, and New Delhi finds itself in a bind at a time when it is facing a two-year-old standoff with China in eastern Ladakh over a terri-torial dispute, with tens of thousands of soldiers within shooting distance. Twenty Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers died in a clash in 2020.

“The nightmare scenario for India would be if the US comes to the conclusion that it confronts a greater threat from Russia and that this justifies a strategic accommoda-tion with China. In blunt terms, concede Chinese dominance in Asia while safe-guarding its European flank,” Shyam Saran, India’s former foreign secretary, wrote in a recent blog post.

Would China, drawing lessons from Ukraine, be an aggressor in disputed east-ern Ladakh or in Taiwan?

“It is very possible they might do it,” said Jitendra Nath Misra, a retired diplomat

and distinguished fellow in the Jindal School of International Affairs.

President Joe Biden has spoken about unresolved differences with India after the country abstained from voting on United Nations resolutions against Russian aggres-sion in Ukraine. Modi has so far avoided voting against Russia or criticising Putin for invading Ukraine.

In the early 1990s, about 70 percent of Indian army weapons, 80 percent of its air force systems and 85 percent of its navy platforms were of Soviet origin. India is now reducing its dependency on Russian arms and diversifying its defence procure-ments, buying more from countries like the United States, Israel, France and Italy.

From 2016-20, Russia accounted for near-ly 49 percent of India’s defence imports while French and Israeli shares were 18 percent and 13 percent, respectively, accord-ing to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

India not only depends on Russian weap-onry, but it also relies hugely on Moscow for military upgrades and modernisation as it moves toward self-reliance in its defence sector, said Lt General D S Hooda, a former Indian military commander.

“Russia is the only country that leased a nuclear submarine to India. Will any other country lease India a nuclear submarine?” Hooda asked.

China battles multiple outbreaks, driven by Omicron

ASSOCIATED PRESSTAIPEI, MARCH 14

China banned most people from leaving a coronavirus-hit north-eastern province and mobilized military reservists on Monday as the fast-spreading “stealth Omicron” variant fuels the country’s biggest outbreak since the start of the pandemic two years ago.

The National Health Commission reported 1,337 locally transmitted cases in the latest 24-hour period, including 895 in the industrial province of Jilin. A government notice said that police permission would be required for people to leave the area or travel from one city to another.

The hard-hit province sent 7,000 reservists to help with the response, from keeping order and registering people at testing centres to using drones to carry out aerial spraying and disinfection, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

Hundreds of cases were reported in other provinces and cities along China’s east coast and inland as well. Beijing, which had six news cases, and Shanghai, with 41, locked down residential and office build-ings where infected people had

been found.“Every day when I go to work, I

worry that if our office building will suddenly be locked down then I won’t be able to get home, so I have bought a sleeping bag and stored some fast food in the office in advance, just in case,” said Yimeng Li, a Shanghai resident.

While mainland China’s num-bers are small compared to many other countries, and even the semi-autonomous city of Hong Kong, they are the highest since Covid-19 killed thousands in the central city of Wuhan in early 2020. No deaths have been reported in the latest outbreaks.

Hong Kong on Monday reported 26,908 new cases and 249 deaths in its latest 24-hour period. The city counts its cases differently than the mainland, combining both rapid antigen tests and PCR test results.

The city’s leader, Carrie Lam, said authorities would not tighten pandemic restrictions for now. “I have to consider whether the pub-lic, whether the people would accept further measures,” she said at a press briefing.

Mainland China has seen rela-tively few infections since the ini-tial Wuhan outbreak as the govern-ment has held fast to its zero-toler-ance strategy, which is focused on stopping transmission of the coro-navirus by relying on strict lock-downs and mandatory quarantines for anyone who has come into contact with a positive case.

The government has indicated it will continue to stick to its strategy of stopping transmission for the time being.

Officials on Sunday locked down the southern city of Shenzhen, which has 17.5 million people and is a major tech and finance hub that borders Hong Kong. That followed the lockdown of Changchun, home to 9 million people in Jilin prov-ince, starting last Friday.

Dutch, Australians launch case against Moscow over MH17ASSOCIATED PRESSAMSTERDAM, MARCH 14

The Dutch and Australian govern-ments have launched a legal case against Russia at the International Civil Aviation Organisation seeking to hold Moscow accountable for its alleged role in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17.

The case announced on Monday in The Hague and Canberra is the latest bid to hold Russia legally responsible for the missile strike that brought down the passenger jet over eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 people on board.

An international investigation con-cluded that the Amsterdam-to-Kuala Lumpur flight was shot down from territory held by separatist rebels using a Buk missile system that was driven into Ukraine from a Russian military base and then returned to the base. Moscow denies involvement.

The Dutch government said the tim-ing of the case isn’t connected to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but alluded to the devastating conflict in its announcement.

Foreign Affairs Minister Wopke Hoekstra stressed that the Dutch gov-ernment would continue to do all it can to hold Russia responsible.

“The deaths of 298 civilians, includ-ing 196 Dutch citizens, cannot remain without consequences,” he said. “The current events in Ukraine underscore the crucial importance of that.”

The Australian government said in a statement that “Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine and the escalation of its aggression underscores the need to continue our enduring efforts to hold Russia to account for its blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter, including threats to Ukraine’s sovereignty and airspace.”

Among the victims were 38 resi-dents of Australia.

The latest legal action comes as the Dutch murder trial in absentia of three Russians and a Ukrainian for their alleged roles in the downing of MH17 continues. Verdicts are expect-ed late this year.

Prosecutors have sought life sen-tences for the suspects. Three of the suspects have boycotted the trial, one is represented by a Dutch legal team, which insists he is innocent.

REUTERS

Rescuers work next to a building damaged by air strike, as Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues, in central Kharkiv, Ukraine on Monday.

AP/RSS

A file photo shows workers assembling a MiG-29K fighter jet for the Indian Navy in Moscow.

Chernobyl nuclear plant power line damaged by Russian forces, grid operator saysLVIV: A high-voltage power line to Ukraine’s Chernobyl nuclear plant was damaged by Russian forces not long after electricity supplies were restored to the facility, grid operator Ukrenergo said in a statement on Monday. It did not say if all external power supply to the plant had been lost as a result of the damage, but demanded access to the area to carry out repairs.

India to start vaccinating 12- to 14-year-olds against Covid-19BENGALURU: India will start adminis-tering Covid-19 vaccinations to 12- to 14-year-olds from March 16, the country’s health ministry said on Monday, as schools reopen across the country with standard restric-tions amid a significant fall in cases. The government also decided to remove the condition of co-morbidity for people above 60 years to receive a booster shot, the ministry said in a statement. India has so far been vac-cinating children aged 15 and above.

Germany to buy dozens of US fighter jets in spending spreeBERLIN: Germany plans to buy up to 35 US-made F-35 fighter jets and 15 Eurofighter jets, a parliamentary source said Monday, as part of a major push to modernise the armed forces in response to Russia’s inva-sion of Ukraine. The F-35 jets made by Lockheed Martin would replace Germany’s decades-old Tornado fleet, according to media reports confirmed by the source.

Australia joins allies in sanctioning Russian oligarchsSYDNEY: Australia said on Monday it was imposing new sanctions on 33 Russian oligarchs and business people, including Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich and Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller, over the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Australia supported moves by the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, the European Union and New Zealand to take action against key Russians. (AGENCIES)

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AP/RSS

Residents walk their dog past shuttered shops in the Huaqiangbei area, the world’s biggest electronics market, in Shenzhen, on Monday.

C M Y K

07 | TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2022

MonEY

gASolinE wATCH

FoREX

US Dollar 122.80

Euro 134.76

Pound Sterling 160.19

Canadian Dollar 96.25

Japanese Yen (10) 10.41

Chinese Yuan 19.30

Qatari Riyal 33.60

Australian Dollar 89.04

Malaysian Ringit 29.20

Saudi Arab Riyal 32.73

Thai Bhat 3.68

Korean Won 9.92

Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank

bUllionPRiCE PER TolA

SoURCE: FENEGoSIDA

Fine Gold Rs 102,300

Silver Rs 1,415

nepse2,668.11pts

0.01%

ALICL LICN FMDBL GLICL SLICL GMFBS2.77% 2.77% 2.63% 2.45% 2.38% 2%

RULB ENL CORBL SWBBL PRIN NIBSF26.1% 4.02% 3.75% 3.25% 3% 2.88%

HigHEST gAinERS

MDB SSHL SAPDBL RBCLPO GLH NYADI-2.4% -2.58% -2.59% -2.71% -2.72% -2.89%

GRDBL GLBSL MKJC STC UMRH SLCF-2.94% -3.48% -3.48% -3.84% -3.91% -5.73%

HigHEST loSERS

MoDERATE loSERS

MoDERATE gAinERS

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Sri Lanka finance minister meets top IMF official amid economic crisisCOLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s finance minis-ter held talks with a top International Monetary Fund (IMF) official on Monday, two sources said, as the island nation seeks help to deal with its plunging reserves, a sliding cur-rency and surging inflation. IMF Asia and Pacific Department Director Changyong Rhee met Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Treasury Secretary S R Atygalle, two finance ministry officials told Reuters. Sri Lanka is expected to start formal negotiations with the IMF in April on a possible programme that could boost reserves and put growth on a sustainable path. (REUTERS)

German airport strike causes flight cancellations, delaysBERLIN: More than 1,000 security per-sonnel walked off their jobs on Monday at airports across Germany, leading to dozens of flight cancella-tions and delays. Security staffers at airports in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hannover and elsewhere began their one-day strike at midnight to press for higher wages, German news agency dpa reported. The walkouts are part of a wage dispute between Verdi union and the Federal Association of Aviation Security Companies. The union is negotiating with the employers’ association for a new agreement for about 25,000 secu-rity staff nationwide. (AP)

Russia accuses West of seeking ‘artificial default’MOSCOW: Russia’s finance ministry on Monday accused foreign countries of wanting to force Russia into an “arti-ficial default” through unprecedented sanctions over Ukraine and said it would meet its debt obligations. As Russia is due to make an interest payment on its external debt later this week, Moscow warned that it will be doing so in rubles if sanc-tions prevent it from using the cur-rency of issue. “The freezing of for-eign currency accounts of the Bank of Russia and of the Russian govern-ment can be regarded as the desire of a number of foreign countries to organise an artificial default that has no real economic grounds,” Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said in a statement. (AFP)

bRiEFingS

The Next Level Of Knowledge (Marketplace: Amazon, Kobo, Lulu)Puny Thought (published in Nepal/ Amazon)

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Mr Deuja is pursuing his career internationally. He believes on creativity, research and experience as the key development of a person. His recent published book “Puny Thought” is being distributed by “Sann Books and Distributors” Chuchepatti, Nepal. Please contact 9851004817 Mr. Nabin Khatri, for retail orders and print on demand sales.

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Police also confiscated 600 kg of the bogus product which he had made by mixing glucose and sugar. For a long time, Shrestha had been distributing his duplicate honey to wholesale and retail markets, including hotels and restaurants in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Pokhara.

In February, police raided Sparsh Food Products and Packaging Company located at Sunakothi in Lalitpur which made bread and cook-ies. According to the police, the facto-ry was making cookies using expired bakery products, which could cause serious health issues.

A joint team of the Department of Commerce, Supply and Consumer Protection Management and the Nepal Police swooped on the warehouse of Agad Nepal Venture in Balaju last August, and found large stocks of date-expired packaged food products like pasta, biscuits and chocolates.

Police seized a labelling machine which the traders used to relabel the packages with new expiry dates. They found hundreds of tonnes of packaged food products like chocolates, choco chocos, Swiss rolls, soy chunks, Mexican vegetable cracker biscuits, carcakes, pasta and other items.

Last August, the Nepal Police arrested two people at Sanobharyang-15 and Bhote Bahal-22 for relabelling expired cosmetic items like body spray, air freshener and shampoo.

The Nepal Police have arrested several staffers and middlemen of hospitals for producing fake PCR reports without collecting swabs and testing them.

Consumer rights activists say that, in many cases, such unscrupulous traders are protected by powerful political party leaders and govern-ment officials.

“The government is not sensitive towards consumers. It is also not both-ered to effectively implement the con-sumer rights protection law,” said Bishnu Prasad Timilsina, general sec-retary of the Forum for Protection of Consumer Rights-Nepal.

“In Nepal, political party leaders, powerful businesspersons and bro-kers collude with each other for finan-cial benefit. People pay the price,” he said.

Food adulteration is widespread in Nepal with a long list of food items ranging from milk, dairy products, spices and water to tea, edible oil, and lentils including others found to be contaminated with unhealthy ingredients.

Consumer rights activists said the production and distribution of adulterated and expired foods kept rising even during the lockdown period.

“Consuming expired food items and fruits and vegetables contaminated with pesticides impacts the liver and reduces immunity. It might cause can-cer in the long term,” said Dr Atul Upadhyay, a nutritionist.

“The relabelling of expired pack-aged food products and even cosmetic

items is concerning these days. The harmful toxins in expired food affects human health in many ways,” he said.

“The rights of consumers are addressed in the constitution. There are several laws related to protecting consumers, but they are not imple-mented in reality,” said Timilsina, a consumer lawyer.

World Consumer Rights Day was inspired by then United States presi-dent John F Kennedy, who sent a spe-cial message to Congress on March 15, 1962, in which he formally addressed the issue of consumer rights.

The consumer movement first marked that date in 1983, and now mobilises action on important issues and campaigns on that day every year.

In Nepal, one of the world’s poorest

countries with a low human develop-ment index and where political insta-bility is frequent, ordinary people yearn for justice for months and years even in fraud cases.

In 2018, Nepal amended the Consumer Protection Act which con-tained a provision requiring the gov-ernment to establish a consumer court. On February 20, the Supreme Court ordered the government to establish a consumer court in each of the seven provinces.

To establish consumer courts, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies needs to make the first move, and the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs needs to approve it.

But since Sher Bahadur Deuba

became prime minister in July last year, he has not appointed a new min-ister of industry, commerce and sup-plies to replace the old one who stepped down. Consumer rights activ-ists doubt the court order will be implemented.

“Lack of coordination between government bodies has always been a problem,” said Timilsina. “The long vacant position of industry minister shows how much the government is concerned and committed to consum-er rights,” Madhav Timalsina, presi-dent of the Consumer Rights Investigation Forum, told the Post.

“It’s a big question whether the gov-ernment will obey the order of the Supreme Court to establish consumer courts.”

As consumers don’t want court cases, particularly going to the Supreme Court, opportunist traders take advantage.

“But once consumer courts are established, it will be easier to file complaints and there will be fewer hassles. This will lead to the develop-ment of a culture of standing up against traders who cheat consum-ers,” said Timalsina.

“The government has not been able to do even basic things to protect con-sumers. But the court will do it,” Timalsina said.

“There are many shortcomings in the government’s monitoring bodies. They normally do not interfere in the market when prices of essential goods like sugar and oil go up. There are no effective quarantine labs to test most of the imported consumable goods,” he said.

“Besides, there is a need to amend the consumer law which provides very minimal punishment to unscrupulous traders and manufacturers. Now, with the announcement of local elections, traders start hiking prices because they pay for the political parties and the money is raised from consumers,” said Timalsina. “Government bodies remain mere spectators.”

Kitchen expenses have increased by three to five times, making it hard for ordinary people like us to survive,” said Chhetri. “I feel cheated at every step in the market because there is no government presence for people like us.”

Consumer fraud proliferates as government drags ...Consumer rights activists say that, in many cases, unscrupulous traders are protected by powerful political party leaders and government officials.

PoST FIlE PhoTo

Consumer rights activists said the production and distribution of adulterated and expired foods kept rising even during the lockdown period.

World faces food crisis due to Ukraine war, Russian billionaire saysREUTERSLONDON, MARCH 14

A global food crisis looms unless the war in Ukraine is stopped because fertiliser prices are soaring so fast that many farmers can no longer afford soil nutrients, Russian fertil-iser and coal billionaire Andrei Melnichenko said on Monday.

Several of Russia’s richest busi-nessmen have publicly called for peace since President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion on February 24, including Mikhail Fridman, Pyotr Aven and Oleg Deripaska.

The United States and its European allies have cast Putin’s invasion as an imperial-style land grab that has so far been poorly executed because Moscow underestimated Ukrainian resistance and Western resolve to pun-ish Russia.

The West has sanctioned Russian businessmen, including European Union sanctions on Melnichenko, fro-zen state assets and cut off much of the Russian corporate sector from the global economy in an attempt to force Putin to change course.

Putin refuses to. He has called the war a special military operation to rid Ukraine of dangerous nationalists and Nazis.

“The events in Ukraine are truly tragic. We urgently need peace,” Melnichenko, 50, who is Russian but was born in Belarus and has a

Ukrainian mother, told Reuters in a statement emailed by his spokesman.

“One of the victims of this crisis will be agriculture and food,” said Melnichenko, who founded EuroChem, one of Russia’s biggest fertiliser pro-ducers, which moved to Zug, Switzerland, in 2015, and SUEK, Russia’s top coal producer.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has killed thousands, displaced more than 2 million people, and raised fears of a wider confrontation between Russia and the United States, the world’s two biggest nuclear powers.

Putin warned last Thursday that food prices would rise globally due to soaring fertiliser prices if the West created problems for Russia’s export of fertilisers—which account for 13 percent of world output.

Russia is a major producer of pot-ash, phosphate and nitrogen contain-ing fertilisers—major crop and soil nutrients. EuroChem, which produces nitrogen, phosphates and potash, says it is one of the world’s top five fertil-

iser companies. The war “has already led to soaring prices in fertilisers which are no longer affordable to farmers,” Melnichenko said.

He said food supply chains already disrupted by Covid-19 were now even more distressed.

“Now it will lead to even higher food inflation in Europe and likely food shortages in the world’s poorest coun-tries,” he said. Russia’s trade and industry ministry told the country’s fertiliser producers to temporarily halt exports earlier this month.

Melnichenko, who was just 19 when the Soviet Union collapsed, started out trading foreign currency while a phys-ics student at the prestigious Moscow State University. A gifted mathemati-cian who once dreamt of becoming a physicist, Melnichenko dropped out of university to dive into the chaotic—and sometimes deadly—world of post-Soviet business.

He founded MDM Bank but in the 1990s was still too minor to take part in the privatisations under President Boris Yeltsin which handed the choic-est assets of a former superpower to a group of businessmen who would become known as the oligarchs due to their political and economic clout.

Melnichenko then began buying up often distressed coal and fertiliser assets. His fortune in 2021 was estimated by Forbes to be $18 billion, making him Russia’s eighth richest man.

India considers buying discounted Russian oil, commodities, officials say

REUTERSNEW DELHI, MARCH 14

India is considering taking up a Russian offer to buy its crude oil and other commodities at discounted pric-es with payment via a rupee-rouble transaction, two Indian officials said, amid tough Western sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

India, which imports 80 percent of its oil needs, usually buys about 2 percent to 3 percent of its supplies from Russia.

But with oil prices up 40 percent so far this year, the government is look-ing at increasing this if it can help reduce its rising energy bill.

“Russia is offering oil and other commodities at a heavy discount. We will be happy to take that. We have some issues like tanker, insurance cover and oil blends to be resolved. Once we have that we will take the discount offer,” one of the Indian gov-ernment officials said.

Some international traders have been avoiding Russian oil to avoid becoming entangled in sanctions, but the Indian official said sanctions did not prevent India importing the fuel.

Work was ongoing to set up a rupee-rouble trade mechanism to be used to pay for oil and other goods, the official said.

The officials, who both declined to be identified, did not say how much oil was on offer or what the discount was.

The finance ministry did not immediately reply to an email seeking comments.

Russia has urged what it describes as friendly nations to maintain trade and investment ties. India has long-standing defence ties with Russia and abstained from a vote at the United Nations condemning the invasion, although New Delhi has called for an end to the violence.

Russia’s Surgutneftegaz allowed Chinese buyers to receive oil without providing letters of credit (LC) pay-ment guarantees in order to bypass sanctions, sources told Reuters.

The Indian government, which could see its import bill rise by $50 billion in the fiscal year starting in April, is also looking for cheaper raw materials from Russia and Belarus for fertiliser, as the cost of its subsidy programme has rocketed.

The government, which has already doubled its subsidy bill for the fiscal year to the end of March 31, allocated a further 149 billion Indian rupees ($1.94 billion) on Monday.

The government expects the fertil-iser subsidy bill to rise by at least 200 billion to 300 billion rupees in the next financial year, from the current esti-mate of 1.05 trillion rupees, the two officials said.

“If we can get cheaper fertiliser from Russia then we will take that. It would help in easing some fiscal con-cerns,” one official said.

Russia is a major producer of potash, phosphate and nitrogen containing fertilisers.

Several of Russia’s richest businessmen have publicly called for peace.

Work is ongoing to set up a rupee-rouble trade mechanism to be used to pay for oil and other goods, an official says.

REUTERS

A worker holds a nozzle to pump petrol into a vehicle at a fuel station in Mumbai, India.

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India thump Sri Lanka to sweep series

Agence FrAnce-Presse BANGALORE, MARch 14

A bowling attack led by Jasprit Bumrah helped India thrash Sri Lanka by 238 runs inside three days at Bangalore’s pink ball Test to sweep the series 2-0 on Monday.

Chasing 447 for victory, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 208 in the second session after skipper Dimuth Karunaratne’s valiant 107, on a pitch that turned from day one.

Fast bowler Bumrah ended Karunaratne’s spell and got one more to take his match tally to eight wickets while spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took four over the day.

Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant, respectively named man of the match and man of the series, scored 67 and 50 in India’s 303-9 declared on day two.

Their key roles brought an emphat-ic victory that left the hosts unbeaten in all three of their home day-night Tests.

India also won the opening Test in three days and this win gives new all-format captain Rohit Sharma a winning start to his Test leadership.

“It’s been a good run, (I) enjoyed it personally,” the skipper said after the match. “As a team, there were so many things we wanted to achieve and I think we did.”

Left-handed Karunaratne made a second wicket stand of 97 before Ashwin broke through for the stump-ing of the captain’s overnight partner Kusal Mendis, who recorded his 12th Test half-century.

Karunaratne went on to wage a lone battle and raised his century—the sole hundred for a Sri Lankan batsman in

this Test series—with a boundary off Bumrah.

“I would have been more happy if we had won,” Karunaratne said after-wards. “We batted under lights and it was tough,” he added. “We have a good team, (but) the batting didn’t capital-ise on these conditions.”

India, who gained crucial Test championship points in the white-wash, remained dominant from day one after Iyer hit 92 and lifted the team from a precarious 86-4 to 252 all out.

Bumrah then returned figures of 5-24 for his maiden five-wicket haul at home to dismiss Sri Lanka for 109.

The series will be remembered as marking Virat Kohli’s 100th Test in the opening game in Mohali, though the star batsman scored just 45, 23 and 13 in the three Indian innings.

The former captain twice fell lbw in

this Test to take his average down to below 50 for the first time since 2017, but the crowd at M Chinnaswamy Stadium gave him a rousing reception.

Sri Lankan quick Suranga Lakmal took one wicket in his last Test and finished his career with 171 scalps in 70 five-day matches since his 2010 debut.

Lakmal scored one before being bowled by Bumrah, who joined India’s team in a rush to farewell the 35-year-old veteran.

The tourists, who lost the opening Test by an innings and 222 runs, suf-fered a total whitewash after they lost the preceding Twenty20 series 3-0.

Players from India and across the world will now assemble for the Indian Premier League, which begins March 26.

Captain Rohit Sharma’s team win by 238 runs inside three days at Bangalore’s pink ball Test to take the series 2-0.

AP/Rss

Players of India pose with the winners trophy after beating Sri Lanka in the second cricket Test match on Monday. India have extended their winning streak at home to 15 Test series.

Starc wrecks Pakistan to put Australia in driving seatAgence FrAnce-Presse KARAchI, MARch 14

Spearhead Mitchell Starc led the Australian pace attack with three wickets Monday to put the visitors in the driving seat on day three of the second Test against Pakistan in Karachi.

The lanky left-armer used reverse swing to devastating effect, taking 3-29 as Pakistan were bundled out for a paltry 148 in reply to Australia’s mam-moth first innings of 556-9 declared.

Despite a big 408-run lead, Australia did not enforce the follow-on and at close were 81-1 in their second innings to take their lead to 489 with nine wickets intact.

Opener Usman Khawaja was unbeaten on 35 and Marnus Labuschagne 37 after David Warner fell to Hasan Ali for seven.

Australia have two full days to enforce a big win and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series on their first tour of Pakistan for 24 years.

Pakistan’s collapse in 53 overs was in complete contrast to Australia, who stayed out for 189 overs, plundering runs at ease.

Starc, who went wicketless in the drawn first Test in Rawalpindi last week, had Azhar Ali (14), Fawad Alam (nought) and Sajid Khan (five) out as Pakistan lost six wickets in the space

of 62 runs after being 38-1 at lunch. Debutant leg-spinner Mitchell

Swepson finished with 2-32 including the wicket of Azam, who miscued a drive and was caught at long-off.

It all went wrong in the first over after lunch when Haq—who scored twin centuries in the opening Test—fell to a rash shot, lofting spinner Nathan Lyon to skipper Pat Cummins

at mid-on. Starc then had Azhar caught in the

slips and next ball trapped Alam with a sharp in-dipping yorker. He almost had a hat-trick when Mohammad

Rizwan was beaten neck and crop, but didn’t edge.

Rizwan didn’t last long, however, as he edged Cummins for wicketkeeper Alex Carey to take a simple catch on six, and next over Cameron Green trapped Faheem Ashraf leg before for four.

Starc then had Sajid caught behind, taking 3-24 in 10 incisive overs as wickets fell in a cluster, in contrast to Australia’s run-spree on a low bounce National Cricket Stadium pitch.

Earlier, opener Abdullah Shafique was run out for 13 as Pakistan faltered at the start. Shafique, who hit a bril-liant unbeaten century in Rawalpindi, had made 13 of Pakistan’s 26-run opening stand when he failed to beat Swepson’s direct throw from point after being called for a sharp single.

Australia had resumed the third day on 505-8 as Cummins opted to bat on. Pakistan struck with the second ball of the day when fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi had Starc caught at cover by Azhar without adding to his overnight 28. But that was all the success they had as Cummins, who finished on 34 not out, added a brisk 51 for the ninth wicket with Swepson (15) before declaring.

All-rounder Ashraf was the pick of the attack with his 2-55 from 21 overs, while off-spinner Sajid Khan took 2-167 from 57 overs.

The left-arm quick take 3-29 to help the Aussies bundle out Shaheens for a paltry 148 in reply to Australia’s first innings of 556-9 declared.

Havertz gives Chelsea moment of joy after turbulent weekAssociAted Press LONDON, MARch 14

After a week of unprecedented tur-moil for Chelsea, Kai Havertz gave the club’s fans and staff a reason to forget about their worries for a moment.

In a game that came to symbolize the Premier League’s connections to so-called “sportswashing” by unsa-voury owners, Havertz netted an 89th-minute winner to give Chelsea a 1-0 victory over Newcastle in the Premier League on Sunday.

Havertz used an exquisite first touch to control a cross into the box and then slotted a calm finish into the net to set off wild celebrations among the capacity crowd at Stamford Bridge.

It may be some time before Chelsea play in front of a sold-out home stadi-um again after the UK government imposed sanctions on Russian owner Roman Abramovich, but the uncer-tainty surrounding the club’s future has so far not had an effect on the field.

The win followed a 3-1 victory over Norwich on Thursday and maintained Chelsea’s solid grip on third place in the standings. More importantly, it gave everyone involved in the club some much-needed joy and manager Thomas Tuchel dedicated the victory

to the Chelsea staff worrying about their jobs.

“They worry much more at the moment than actually us (players and coaches) because we are still privi-leged,” Tuchel said. “For them, it’s important that we show fighting spirit like this.”

For Newcastle, it was the club’s first league loss of the year, ending a nine-game unbeaten run.

In other games, relegation-threat-ened Watford and Leeds both earned much-needed wins, while Everton’s struggles continued and Ukraine for-ward Andriy Yarmolenko scored an emotional goal to help give West Ham a victory.

But the Chelsea-Newcastle clash was always going to be the day’s stand-out game because of events off the pitch.

Chelsea have been granted a special licence to keep playing after Abramovich was sanctioned because of his ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, halting his attempt to sell the club and preventing sales of merchandise and tickets.

Newcastle, meanwhile, are facing renewed scrutiny after Saudi Arabia carried out a mass execution on Saturday, putting to death 81 people convicted of various crimes.

Newcastle were bought by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund in October, although both the club and the Premier League have insisted that the Saudi state isn’t involved in the

running of the club. Havertz may have been fortunate to

escape with just a yellow card for elbowing Dan Burn in the head in an aerial duel in the first half. In the end,

his goal meant Chelsea escaped with a win that may quell talk of a full-blown crisis—for now.

Relegation fight heats upIn the tightening race to avoid relega-tion, Watford and Leeds both boosted their chances of staying up while Everton slipped closer to dropping out of the top flight for the first time in 71 years.

Cucho Hernandez netted twice to give Watford a 2-1 win at Southampton, while Leeds ended a six-game losing streak by beating last-place Norwich by the same score thanks to an inju-ry-time winner.

Kenny McLean had equalised for Norwich at the start of stoppage time but Joe Gelhardt then came off the bench to net the winner for Leeds and hand American manager Jesse Marsch his first victory at the third attempt.

At Goodison Park, boyhood Liverpool fan Conor Coady headed home a second-half winner for Wolverhampton to secure a 1-0 victory over 10-man Everton.

The England international expertly glanced home Ruben Neves’ cross and Jonjoe Kenny was then sent off for two yellow cards in the space of three minutes to damage Everton’s hopes of

a comeback. The results mean Watford are now

tied on points with 17th-place Everton, although Frank Lampard’s team have three games in hand. Leeds moved four points above the relegation zone.

Yarmolenko was back in West Ham’s squad for the first time since being granted compassionate leave due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and was in tears after netting the opening goal to help his team beat Aston Villa 2-1.

Yarmolenko celebrated his 70th-minute goal by dropping to his knees with both arms pointing up to the sky as he was mobbed by his team-mates. Yarmolenko had received a standing ovation from both sets of fans as he came on as a 53rd-minute substitute for Michail Antonio.

Pablo Fornals doubled the lead in the 82nd before Jacob Ramsey pulled one back for Villa in injury time.

In the late game, Arsenal main-tained their grip on fourth place with their fifth straight league victory, beating Leicester 2-0 at home.

Thomas Partey netted early and Alexandre Lacazette added a sec-ond-half penalty for the Gunners, who stayed one point above fifth-place Manchester United with three games in hand.

The German midfielder scores an 89th-minute winner in a 1-0 victory over Newcastle. Chelsea’s future remain uncertain following sanctions on their Russian owner Abramovich.

AP/Rss

Chelsea’s Kai Havertz (foreground) celebrates his goal against Newcastle United on Sunday. The win maintained Chelsea’s solid grip on third place in the Premier League standings.

AP/Rss

Australia’s fast bowler Mitchel Starc was wicketless in the drawn first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi last week.

Neymar and Messi jeered by PSG fans in 3-0 home winAssociAted PressPARIS, MARch 14

Record-breakers Neymar and Lionel Messi felt the heat from Paris Saint-Germain’s angry fans following anoth-er Champions League humiliation, getting whistled every time they touched the ball during a 3-0 home win against Bordeaux on Sunday.

Even when Neymar scored the sec-ond goal against rock-bottom Bordeaux the fans jeered him. Even when Messi embarked on a trademark run from deep and hit the post he got booed.

“I feel sad about what I saw today,” PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino said. “All of us were upset.”

While the runaway leaders moved 15 points clear in a league they usually dominate, the fans want success else-where. Yet PSG blew it again in the Champions League this week against Real Madrid.

“We have to accept responsibility for what happened,” Pochettino said “We share the disappointment of the fans.”

PSG have already been knocked out of the French Cup and Pochettino is widely expected to be replaced next season.

At which point Kylian Mbappe, who scored PSG’s first goal against Bordeaux midway through the first half, might be playing for Real Madrid. His contract runs out in June and he can leave on a free transfer.

PSG’s top scorer was the only player spared the whistles when the team names were read out.

“Obviously we understand, we understand their hate and their screams,” PSG defender Presnel Kimpembe said. “We’re all to blame, not one more than the other.”

But record seven-time Golden Ball winner Messi and Neymar—the world’s most expensive player at 222 million euros ($242 million)—were booed throughout. The two former Barcelona stars were also on the receiving end of some hostile chants encouraging them to leave.

A banner read “Direction Demission” (Directors Resign) seem-ingly aimed at sporting director Leonardo and president Nasser Al-Khelaifi. PSG’s ultras group—known as CUP—demanded in a state-ment Saturday night that Al-Khelaifi leave. Some fans in the Auteuil section at Parc des Princes even turned up 15 minutes late in protest at PSG’s midweek meltdown. The team’s sup-porters are seething at the manner of the latest humiliating Champions League exit.

PSG were up 2-0 on aggregate but fell apart following goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma’s error. Madrid star Karim Benzema scored three goals in 17 minutes to knock PSG out of the competition that their cash-rich Qatari owners crave so much. Three years ago PSG became the first team to be eliminated after winning the away leg 2-0, losing to Manchester United 3-1. In 2017, they were the first to be eliminated after winning the first leg 4-0, losing 6-1 away at Barcelona.

Bordeaux have leaked 68 goals, the most in the league, but almost scored in the first minute on Sunday.

With Donnarumma dropped, it was Keylor Navas in goal. He saved Remi Oudin’s 20-metre strike before Jean Onana’s header from the corner went just wide.

Neymar lost the ball against Madrid and against Nice in PSG’s 1-0 loss last weekend with both times leading to counterattack goals. His goal against Bordeaux came in the 52nd minute with a tap-in. A powerful strike from midfielder Leandro Paredes made it 3-0 in the 61st.

Barcelona thump Osasuna 4-0BARCELONA: Ferran Torres scored a brace as Barcelona rolled over Osasuna 4-0 on Sunday to earn their fourth consecutive La Liga win. Torres opened the scoring 14 minutes into the game with a penalty after Gavi was tripped from behind inside the area. Seven minutes later, he dou-bled his tally, receiving a brilliant pass by Ousmane Dembele in behind the defence. Dembele teed up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to net Barca’s third from close range. Substitute Riqui Puig completed the victory col-lecting a rebound in the 75th minute.

Pakistan, England face exit in ICC Women’s World Cup MOUNT MAUNGANUI: Defending champi-ons England were on the brink of women’s 50-over cricket world cup elimination Monday while Pakistan’s campaign imploded after Bangladesh made history with their first-ever win. England suffered their third straight defeat when South Africa held on for a three-wicket win. Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones scored half centuries for England but Marizanne Kapp took 5-45 to limit them to 235-9. Laura Wolvaardt’s 77 helped South Africa chase down the target. Pakistan remain bottom of the standings with four losses and almost out after losing to Bangladesh by nine wickets. Fargana Hoque inspired Bangladesh to 234-7.

Magath named Hertha coach FRANKFURT: Felix Magath has taken charge of Hertha Berlin for the rest of the season, it was confirmed Sunday, hours after Tayfun Korkut was sacked with the team winless in their last nine Bundesliga games. Magath, 68, won the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg in 2008-09 having also steered Bayern Munich to back-to-back league titles between 2004-06. However, he takes over with Hertha second from bottom, two points from safety and morale low in a squad which is winless in 2022. (AGENCIES)

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09 | TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2022

SpoRTS | MEDlEY

YESTERDAY’S SolUTion

CRoSSwoRD

HoRoSCopE

SUDokU

CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **You may feel as though the foundations you’ve worked so hard to lay are under attack. More rocky energy will come through this afternoon. Drama within your circle of friends could threaten to add more upheaval into your sphere.

AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) ***

If you’re in a relationship, you may butt heads with your beloved. More wonky vibes will flow, which could make it difficult for you to focus on your to-do list. Do your best to make peace if there’s any drama lingering in your life.

PISCES (February 19-March 20) ***You may need to put up your guard today to focus on work. While you might have a lot going on in your personal life, you won’t have a chance to sort through it all until later in the evening, once you’ve complete your to-do list.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) **The day could create issues within your friend-ship group, especially if you feel as though oth-ers aren’t respecting your personal boundaries. The cosmic climate will put you in an intense mood, which could inspire you to take a break.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) ***

Watch out for issues within your love life this afternoon. These vibes could also bring a lover from the past back into your periphery, but you should avoid starting back up with someone who has a history of disappointing you.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) ***

You may feel a bit closed off intuitively this morning. The day makes it difficult for you to focus on your daily tasks and responsibilities. You should try to focus on relaxing and recharg-ing for the evening to recover from a rocky day.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) **Try not to let your closest companions throw you off your balance. It could leave you ques-tioning the health of your connections, inspir-ing you to step away from anyone that is no longer contributing to your happiness.

LEO (July 23-August 22) **

Dissatisfaction within your domestic or profes-sional life could manifest, creating upheaval in the areas of your existence that are no longer working to your advantage. Stabilize your emo-tions and collect your thoughts.

VIRGO (August 23-September 22) ***You’ll have a lot on your mind right now. It could make it difficult to focus on your to-do list for the day, especially if you’re caught up sort-ing through some heavy thoughts or emotions. Reconnect with your mind, body, and soul.

LIBRA (September 23-October 22) ****You might have difficulty focusing on your responsibilities today. These vibes will have you longing for fun when you should be working under today’s skies. Unfortunately, skirting your to-do list will only lead to internal frustrations.

SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) ***

You may need to set emotional boundaries with your coworkers. Unfortunately, drawing lines with your colleagues might not go as smoothly as you’d like. For this reason, you may want to consider flying under the radar.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) **You may feel a bit out of sorts, which could cre-ate mental blocks for you. If you’re having diffi-culty focusing, you may need to turn to your spirituality by tapping into your favorite grounding and mindfulness techniques.

Junior badminton prodigy Dahal eyes bigger success

SPORTS BUREAUKATHMANDU, MArcH 14

Teenage shuttler Prince Dahal has become a household name in the Nepali sports fraternity. The 17-year-old has achieved a rare feat in Nepali sports arena—securing junior world No 1 spot in badminton, which none of his predecessors had achieved before.

His success at a young age, however, did not come overnight. It was the result of his persistent hard work for more than a decade. “My target is to become Nepal No 1. But I know very well that I need to work real-ly hard to achieve the goal,” Dahal had told the Post three years ago and now he is junior World No 1.

The native of Khalanga in

Darchula has been nominated for the peoples’ choice award for the annual Pulsar Sports Award set to take place in the capital on March 22.

National women’s football team goalkeeper Anjila Tumbapo Subba, cricketer Kushal Bhurtel, table tennis player E l i n a M a h a r j a n and middle dis-tance runner

Santoshi Shrestha are the other nomi-nees for the awards.

The winners will be decided on the basis of eSewa votes, Facebook likes on the official page of the Sports Award and points allocated by head coaches of 27 sports associations affil-iated with the Nepal Olympic Committee and members of the Nepal Sports Journalists’ Forum. The eSewa votes will have 50 percent weightage, Facebook likes 25 percent and the points allocated by coaches and NSJF members will have 12.5 percent weightage each.

Dahal developed interest in badmin-ton when he was just seven. It was his father who was instrumental in draw-ing him into the game.

“My father is an avid sports lover who could play any game possible in the local surroundings. It was he who taught me the basics of badminton in my early days,” recalled Dahal, who came into limelight in 2018 after he won the U-15 gold in the Dubai International Series.

A year later, he won U-19 gold in Dubai and was also one of the nominees of the same award category. He played 11 official series from April, 2019 to March, 2020, and witnessed one after another success to leapfrog on top of the international rankings.

Dahal’s next ambition is to convert the success he achieved at the age group to the senior level. He is well aware that his success at the junior level would not have much signifi-cance at the senior level.

At the national level too, he has already claimed the ranking (senior) title. He has already defeated top ranked players at the domestic level. He secured Pushpalal Ranking Badminton title last year in Siraha and Tope-21 in Sindhupalchok.

Dahal believes that match exposure is a key factor in enhancing perfor-mance. The 11th grader at Pinnacle College feels that he needs to make improvements in forehand, net and

defence while having physi-cal superiority.

However, he has not played any international

series in the last two years owing to the Covid-19 pan-

demic. He is preparing for an international series to take place in Europe next month though.

With a view to keeping Dahal’s momentum, Nepal Badminton Association has committed support. Dahal has got a special scholarship for the 2024 Olympics.

The junior world number one shuttler, winner of the U-15 and U-19 Dubai International Badminton Series, has also claimed the ranking (senior) title at national level.

Prince Dahal won Pushpalal Badminton in Siraha and Tope-21 in Sindhupalchok last year.

Army edge hosts to claim Jhapa Gold Cup

Post Photo

Members of Tribhuvan Army FC celebrate with the Jhapa Gold Cup trophy at the Domalal Stadium in Birtabazar on Monday.

ARJUN RAJBANSHIBIrTAMODE, MArcH 14

Hosts Jhapa XI failed to fulfil their ambition of winning the Jhapa Gold Cup for the first time after they suc-cumbed to a 2-1 defeat against Tribhuvan Army FC who claimed the trophy for the third time in a row at the Domalal Stadium in Birtabazar on Monday.

Early goals by midfielder Tek Bahadur Budathoki and captain George Prince Karki became suffi-cient for the departmental side to claim the trophy for the fourth time out of five editions possible so far.

For the home team, who pulled one back through Nepali international Bimal Gharti Magar, it was another frustrating final as they lost the final of the tournament for the fifth time in a row. Though the home team have made it to the final on all editions of the tournament, they have lost four times against Army and once against Manang Marshyangdi Club in 2017.

Winners Army bagged a purse of Rs1.255 million along with the win-ners’ trophy while the runners up Jhapa got Rs605,000.

Budathoki broke the deadlock in the 18th minute as he made a clean finish with a one-touch strike from the box to convert defender Suman Aryal’s cross, silencing jam-packed home sup-porters. The departmental side dou-bled their advantage three minutes later capitalising on an unforgivable error by goalie Deep Karki.

The custodian made a poor judge-ment and rushed forward to collect a ball released by his opposite number Bikesh Kuthu of Army as the ball bounded inside the area and sailed over him providing an easy opportuni-ty for forward Karki to tap it at the open net.

Hungry for success, Jhapa cut the deficit in the 24th through Gharti Magar. The forward, left unmarked,

headed Ulrich Siwe’s cross just ahead of the goalline.

Though Jhapa dominated the remaining period, controlled ball pos-session and created some chances, they failed to capitalise on scoring opportunities and their quest for lift-ing their maiden trophy at home remained unfulfilled.

Jhapa defender Devendra Tamang was declared the best player and was awarded a two-wheeler. Army’s Bikesh Kuthu was adjudged the best goal-keeper and Nabin Neupane of the departmental team was awarded with best coach award. Jhapa’s Manoj Rai was declared best defence and Andreas Nia best midfielder.

All of them received Rs21,000 each. Jhapa forward Gharti Magar won the highest scorer award for his five goals in the tournament and won Rs25,000.

Meanwhile, Jhapa’s midfielder Bishal Rai ‘A’ was honoured with a lifetime achievement award before the kickoff. Rai, who featured as a player for the last time in the final, was given a motorbike.

The knockout tournament featured 10 teams in total.

Hyundai Open Golf on March 19SPORTS BUREAUKATHMANDU, MArcH 14

Laxmi Intercontinental Pvt Ltd is set to organise the 10th Hyundai Open Golf Tournament at the Gokarna Golf Club on March 19.

The amateur tournament will be played over 18 holes, informed Deepak Acharya, the senior golf director of Gokarna Forest Resort at a press con-ference in Kathmandu on Monday. The event will be played over 18 holes on stableford 3/4 handicap format.

However, the event could also be

extended to two days if the number of participants exceeds 100, according to Acharya.

“The event has become renowned in the golf fraternity and attracts a large number of players due to its continui-ty over a long period,” said Acharya, adding that they were expecting around 130 golfers.

The winner, first runner up, second runner up, gross winner, ladies win-ner, senior winner (age 60 and above), junior winner (age 17 and below), longest drive, closest to the pin and most birdies will be awarded with

attractive prizes. Similarly, there will also be a competition among Hyundai Car owners.

The organisers have announced a Hyundai Venue car worth around Rs4 million for hole in one in the tenth hole.

Sandee Sharma, the marketing manager of Laxmi Intercontinental, said that the company has also been investing in football as it is the sponsor of Manang Marshyangdi Club in the ‘A’ Division League and Pokhara Thunders in the Nepal Super League.

Jhapa XI have lost the finals of all five editions of the Jhapa Gold Cup.

The departmental team beat Jhapa XI 2-1 to lift their fourth and third successive title.

ReuteRs

Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter arrive at the 75th British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain.

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2022 | 10

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JILL LAWLESS LONDON

S

ci-fi epic “Dune” won five priz-es and brooding Western “The Power of the Dog” was named best picture as the British Academy Film Awards

returned Sunday with a live, black-tie ceremony after a pandemic-curtailed event in 2021.

New Zealand filmmaker Jane Campion was named best director for “The Power of the Dog,” becoming only the third woman to win the prize in the awards’ seven-decade history.

Lead acting trophies went to Hollywood star Will Smith and British performer Joanna Scanlan, as an event that has worked to overcome a historic lack of diversity recognised a wide range of talents—including its first deaf acting winner in Troy Kotsur for “CODA.”

Last year’s awards ceremony was largely conducted online, with only the hosts and presenters appearing in person. This year’s return to collec-tive celebration at London’s Royal Albert Hall took place in the shadow of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine.

British film academy chairman Krishnendu Majumdar opened the show, hosted by Australian actor-co-median Rebel Wilson, with a message of support for Ukraine.

“We stand in solidarity with those who are bravely fighting for their country and we share their hope for a return to peace,” he said.

After that came the glitz, with 85-year-old diva Shirley Bassey and a live orchestra performing “Diamonds Are Forever” to mark the 60th anni-versary of the James Bond films, Britain’s most successful movie export. Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune,” a space epic set on a desert planet, took five trophies from its 11 nominations: visual effects, production design, sound, Greig Fraser’s cinematogra-phy and Hans Zimmer’s score.

“The Power of the Dog,” set in 1920s Montana and starring Benedict Cumberbatch as a ranch owner, was nominated in eight categories and

won two big ones: best film and best director. Campion is only the third female winner in that category, but the second in two years after Chloe Zhao for “Nomadland” in 2021. Cumberbatch lost to Smith, who was named best actor for his performance as the father of Serena and Venus Williams in “King Richard.”

Scanlan was a surprise best-actress winner, beating contenders including Lady Gaga to win for “After Love,” a first feature by Aleem Khan about a woman who makes a life-changing discovery after her husband’s death.

Kenneth Branagh’s semi-autobio-graphical “Belfast,” the story of a childhood overshadowed by Northern Ireland’s violent “Troubles,” was named best British film.

Ariana DeBose was named best sup-porting actress for her performance as Anita in Steven Spielberg’s lavish musical “West Side Story.” The sup-porting actor prize went to Kotsur for “CODA,” in which he plays the deaf father of a hearing daughter.

Lashana Lynch, who made a splash as a double-0 agent in Bond thriller “No Time To Die,” took the rising star award, the only category chosen by public vote. “No Time to Die” also won the prize for best editing.

Japanese director Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Oscar-nominated drama “Drive My Car” was named best film not in English. “Encanto,” the story of a Colombian clan with magical pow-ers, was named best-animated feature, and 1960s Harlem music extravaganza “Summer of Soul” won the best docu-mentary prize.

— Associated Press

SrIzu BAJrAchAryAKATHMANDU

T

here is a part of us that will, in time, always yearn for our youth. A period in our lives when we are trying to dis-cover the world around and

within us. Youth is when we are both afraid and unafraid to take chances in life.

And it’s also during our youth that we feel the tormenting weight of our emotions. We are either too detached or deeply entwined to discover who we are (or to do something) that we often-times become frustrated with the uncertainty of our journey. We are eager for answers, and we are willing to explore the breadth and length of our ideas and realisations.

At the Gallery Mcube’s latest exhi-bition, ‘Young Artists Show 2022’, it’s our youth that we are thinking about as we pace through the 34 artworks of ten young artists. In December last year, the gallery, through its social media page, made an open call for young artists to send their artworks for the exhibition. Of the 42 young artists who sent their ideas and works, 10 were selected and they were guided by curator Manish Lal Shrestha.

‘Young Artists Show 2022’ is a part of the gallery’s ongoing attempt to provide young emerging artists with a platform to share their works.

As a result, the show has no dis-cernible theme. Some artists dwell in the ordinariness of their surround-ings; some look into their own com-munity to identify their belonging-ness; one artist tries to express melan-cholia; and many of these youth also look into social and cultural issues of safe space, urbanisation, and heritage preservation.

And though unintentional, it is visi-ble that the subjects the exhibition brings forward are topics the young artists are currently coming to terms with. And they all thread together in their experience as a youth. But you could even see the works as expres-sions of their urge to transform the things they have experienced, seen, and heard of.

For example, in Prakash Pun Magar’s sculpted fibre resin artwork, ‘Modern Puppet’, the artist depicts human figures as puppets moving around as per the directives of an invisible higher one. In the artwork, he also engraves the letters, ‘IF YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT, YOU’LL FOREVER BE IT’S PUPPET’. Magar’s works in the same puppet series are perhaps his interpretation of the society we live in, and how important it is to under-stand the systems that govern our world, question them, and forge our own path in life. The dark bronze col-our palette of his work intones his idea as a creed that one must come to adhere to.

What’s interesting to deconstruct with the idea is that we become pawns

even when we understand the concept of things, and that is a reality that we constantly confront.

Manisha Shah’s installation art-work, ‘Vision’, is raw, uncomfortable, and has an impactful gaze. Her large artwork is made up of several A4 sheets with images of eyes printed on them. A white drape covered with red handprints hangs in one section of the artwork. The work appears to be a commentary on the role our patriar-chal society continues to play in con-

fining women. Personally, the work would have been more effective if the images of the eyes had been of diverse people instead of just one person. This could have shown the dexterity of the photographer or the artist behind the work.

Priyanka Singh Maharjan’s pen and ink series, ‘Somewhere I come from’, evokes the joy of observing life from a distance although her series is about the neighbourhoods she is familiar with. In the series, we see Newa women sitting, working together, and enjoying what is perhaps a lazy after-noon; her artworks immediately transport us to old Newa neighbour-hoods in the Valley. Perhaps Priyanka is romanticising intimate but fleeting moments of life’s beauty in her com-munity’s neighbourhoods.

Priyanka is known for her art series, ‘In the Realm of Recollections,’ in which she embroidered distinct ele-ments of her family’s personal pic-tures in fabrics to emphasise the fam-ily’s history, their values, and her emotions. However, this time, she chooses to deviate from her personal family history and the usual tech-nique of her art: embroidery.

Regardless, people who have known her work before will see how she still carries the traits of her previous series in technique and the idea of bringing a tangible understanding to the relationships she knows and val-ues.

Sofia Maharjan’s embroidered art-works of the humdrum of neighbour-hood marketplaces are also interest-ing. Sofia’s art series reflects her understanding of life—of how our lives become common in the process of living and surviving in this world. We are all rushing towards our goals and purposes. But instead of dwelling in the dullness of the grind, she cap-tures these moments to admire the beauty of living a common story in a busy world.

Sabin Acharya’s artworks about how human activities are affecting nature and wildlife are also intrigu-ing. Although we have already seen many works that discuss the Anthropocene, seeing young artists raise the issue of human impact on the planet reflects the concern many young people share about living in a world heading towards climate change catastrophe.

‘Young Artists Show 2022’ unknow-ingly covers a lot of pertinent issues that the youth are passionate about.

But the credit of why this exhibition

works also goes to the young artists themselves for bringing works that speak to youths like them. Given that the open call had not limited itself to just one topic, the variety of subjects the artists bring forward is praisewor-thy. The exhibition reflects the con-cerns of the youth while also high-lighting how these young people are trying to explore themselves as artists.

The exhibition feels beautiful because we are reflecting on our own youth as we observe the works. We find ourselves brooding over the efforts we are making in the world.

When walking around the gallery, one is not that awestruck by the line-up of works, and we just simply admire the artists’ works for what they are.

The exhibition lives up to its name justifiably in the spirit of young art-ists. And what makes this exhibition worthwhile is the sense of youthful challenge. A lot of us will leave the exhibition on a hopeful note with the realisation that these artists will have grown the next time we see their new works.

After all, youth is the time of transformation.

‘Young Artists Show 2022’ will be on display until March 31 at Gallery Mcube, Chakupat.

GrIffIn ShEA JOHANNESBURG

D

igital art is nothing new to vonMash, who describes his blend of painting, video and sound as “afro-delic”—a psyche-

delic twist on Afrofuturism.But when the South African started

thinking about selling his work as crypto-art on a blockchain, he hesitat-ed.

“I’m not fully for it because of the energy consumption that it takes,” he explained.

Selling art as non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, uses the same technology as crypto-currencies like Bitcoin. The buyer receives a verified digital token, which proves the artwork is an origi-nal.

The boon for artists is that if their work goes up in value and is resold, they receive a portion of every future sale.

“If another person buys my NFT, I automatically get a share of that,” vonMash said. With traditional art, if a buyer pays 100 dollars, and then “sells it for 100,000, I would not get a cent of that.”

Warehouse of computersWhat worries vonMash and other art-ists is how those digital tokens get verified.

Ownership of the artwork is authenticated through complex math-

ematical puzzles—so complex that the calculations require warehouses of computers.

Companies who solve the puzzles get rewarded with new tokens, and their solutions add a “block” to the

chain of the authentification.The number-crunching requires

vast amounts of energy, often pro-duced by coal-power electricity plants.

Most NFTs are currently traded on a platform called Ethereum. Tech

watchdog Digiconomist estimates that Ethereum uses as much electrici-ty as all of the Netherlands, with a carbon footprint comparable to Singapore’s.

“The energy it takes for the proof of

authentication for the artwork, it’s so much,” vonMash said.

He has reason to worry.Climate concerns have sparked a

backlash against NFTs.K-pop fans in South Korea last year

staged a brutal campaign against plans for popular groups include BTS and ACE to sell crypto-art.

“Essentially NFTs are a giant envi-ronment-destroying pyramid scheme,” read a widely retweeted com-ment from @ChoicewithACE typical of comments that prompted the group to cancel their offering.

BTS’s music label Hybe decided to postpone their launch, looking for greener alternatives.

In South Africa, environmentalism is an unquestioned article of faith among many artists.

One collective called The Tree creat-ed a platform for artists to sell NFTs, and then collaborate with a Cape Town charity called Greenpop to plant trees to offset the carbon emited from the crypto-art sales.

Evolving worldFhatuwani Mukheli said that system made him feel confident about the two NFT sales he’s already made. “The world is constantly evolving,” he said. “If I just hold on to what I know, then the bus is going to miss me.”

For vonMash, the solution was not to sell on Ethereum, but to place his art on a platform called Cardano, which uses a different authentication

system. Rather than have companies solve ever-harder puzzles, Cardano uses a mechanism called “proof of stake”.

Instead of earning new tokens by solving puzzles—and gobbling up elec-tricity—users can simply pony up tokens they already have.

Essentially, they’re using their money in the form of crypto-currency to vouch for the authenticity of a digi-tal artwork.

If someone tries to game the sys-tem, or simply makes a mistake, they could lose their financial stake in the network.

The underlying technology can be confusing, but social impact consult-ant Candida Haynes said “the short story is that there are less environ-mentally hazardous options for NFTs.”

“Ultimately, blockchain developers have to also engage with sustainabili-ty and help keep less technical folks, including artists, informed about the state of environmental sustainability in blockchains,” she said.

— Agence France-Presse

How the young see the worldGallery Mcube’s latest exhibition, ‘Young Artists Show 2022’, reflects the concerns of youth, while also highlighting how these young people are trying to explore themselves as artists.

‘The Power of the Dog’ wins best picture at UK’s BAFTAsNew Zealand filmmaker Jane Campion was named best director for ‘The Power of the Dog.’

Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Dune,’ a space epic, took five trophies from its 11 nominations.

Amid NFT boom, artists worry about climate costsThe number-crunching requires vast amounts of energy, often produced by coal-power electricity plants.

AFP/Rss

Visual artist vonMash poses for a portrait in his studio in Springs, South Africa, as he covers his face with a painters’ palette.

Most NFTs are currently traded on a platform called Ethereum.

Post Photos: elite Joshi