CMYK
US lawmakers meet Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen in surprise visit Page 3 Simple yet effective exploration of gender-based violence Page 5 NRB seeks to discourage imports Page 7
The Himalayan
Nepal’s No. 1
English Daily
www.thehimalayantimes.com
Printed simultaneously from
Kathmandu and Itahari
Vol. XX No. 4 s Kathmandu, Saturday, November 27, 2021, Mangsir 11, 2078, Nepal Sambat 1142
CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli inaugurating the 10th National General Convention of the party in Chitwan, on Friday.
s3(/244!+%3 Oli upbeat about UML’s poll prospects
INTERNATIONAL Tilakram Rimal
Chitwan, November 26
World takes action as new CPN-UML Chairman KP Shar-
ma Oli today expressed confi-
variant emerges in dence that his party would sin-
gle-handedly secure majority to
southern Africa form the government in the next
BRUSSELS: A slew of nations moved to stop general elections.
air travel from southern Africa on Friday, and Addressing his party’s 10th
stocks plunged in Asia and Europe in reaction National General Convention on
to news of a new, potentially more transmis-
sible COVID-19 variant. “The last thing we
need is to bring in a new variant that will
cause even more problems,” said German
Political instability is
Health Minister Jens Spahn, amid a massive
spike in cases in the 27-nation European Un-
over. Now, the
ion. Within a few days of the discovery of the
new variant, it has already impacted on a jit-
country has to zero
tery society that is sensitive to bad COVID-19
news, with deaths around the globe standing
in on development
at well over five million. There are fears that and prosperity
the new variant could be even more conta-
gious than the current predominant one and
could bypass the effectiveness of the vaccina-
tion campaigns. “Early indications show this the banks of the Narayani River,
variant may be more transmissible than the Oli said his party would start
delta variant and current vaccines may be preparing for polls after the gen-
less effective against it,” British Health Secre- eral convention got over.
tary Sajid Javid said. (Details on Page 4) “Political instability is over.
Now, the country has to zero in
on development and prosperity.
For this, the UML-led govern-
ment is a must,” said Oli.
NEPAL COUNT Oli stressed on bilateral talks
with India regarding Limpiyad-
hura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani,
242 diagnosed with
COVID in a day, 302
Updated COVID-19 figures
on Friday
Confirmed cases 820,527
recover, discharged
Himalayan News Service
Total tests (PCR) 4,599,489
Kathmandu, November 26
New Tests 7,829
Health authorities today diag-
nosed 242 cases of coronavirus
infection in the country, includ-
In Quarantine 98 ing 134 in Kathmandu valley.
With this, Nepal’s COVID case-
In Isolation 7,287 load has reached 820,527, in-
Recovered 801,722 cluding 801,722 recoveries, 7,287
active cases, and 11,518 deaths.
Deaths 11,518 Of those testing positive for
the contagion in the valley today,
(Source: MoHP)
92 are from Kathmandu, 30 from
Lalitpur, and 12 from Bhaktapur.
Of the others diagnosed with
the disease today, 16 are from
Jhapa, 14 from Chitwan, 11 from
Morang, 10 from Rupandehi,
nine from Kaski, six from Gulmi,
four from Nawalparasi (East),
three each from Sunsari, Saptari,
Makawanpur, and Ramechhap,
two each from Kavrepalan-
chowk, Kapilvastu, Kanchanpur,
and Kailali, and one each from
Ilam, Okhaldhunga, Taplejung,
FOREX Dhanusha, Mahottari, Rautahat,
CURRENCY UNIT BUYING (in Rs) SELLING (in Rs) Dolakha, Nuwakot, Sindhuli,
Indian Rs 100 160.00 160.15 Tanahun, Baglung, Syangja, Ar-
US Dollar 1 119.50 120.10 ghakhanchi, Dang, Palpa,
Euro 1 134.59 135.27 Bardiya, Banke, and Surkhet.
Pound Sterling 1 159.10 159.90 As many as 28 people tested
Swiss Franc 1 128.94 129.59 positive for antigens today.
Japanese Yen 10 10.47 10.52 The number of active COVID
Chinese Yuan 1 18.70 18.80 cases in Kathmandu valley is
The foreign exchange rates are fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank
1,730 -- 690 in Kathmandu, 558
in Lalitpur, and 482 in Bhakta-
Weather: partly cloudy
Max: 19-21oC Min: 08-10oC
Sunrise 06:34 Sunset 17:09
Late City ★★ 8 pages Rs 5
(Rs 2 additional air surcharge to
T I M E S Jomsom and beyond)
Lawyers press for
CJ’s impeachment
Ram Kumar Kamat should itself settle its issues, media out-
Kathmandu, November 26 lets interpreted it as the PM’s refusal to
back the call for CJ Rana’s exit, but I think
Office bearers of the Nepal Bar Associa- such interpretation was wrong. The PM
tion and some senior advocates met may have hinted that the CJ can resolve
Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and the judicial issues by resigning from his
handed him a memorandum listing 17 post,” Shrestha said. He said Rana had no
reasons they said were enough to im- option but to resign, as dissident lawyers
peach Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher and justices would not accept any role of
JB Rana. the CJ in assigning the cases to justices.
Former attorney general Raman Ku- A lottery-based cause list will become
mar Shrestha said NBA office bearers and operational in the Supreme Court from
other lawyers who met Deuba told him December 1. This means that the CJ, who
that while the executive had no business used to assign cases to justices, will stop
interfering in the functioning of the judi- doing that. “The NBA has said that the CJ
ciary, it was its responsibility to see should neither adjudicate cases, nor
whether or not the judiciary was comply- should he perform his duty as ex-officio
ing with rules and regulations and cater- member or chairperson of the Judicial
ing to needs of service seekers. “Lawyers Council and the Judicial Service Com-
and justices have been boycotting mission. I expect that even the Constitu-
benches for almost a month. Since there tional Council will not allow him to sit in
are allegations of anomalies and corrup- the panel after such a prolonged protest
tion in the judiciary, executive should be against him,” Shrestha said. He said once
concerned,” Shrestha said. the CJ realised that he was in no position
NBA General Secretary Lilamani Pau- to do anything in the judiciary, he would
del said the PM told the lawyers’ team not feel like holding the post of CJ.
RSS
that he was aware of all the issues they The lawyers’ team that met the PM to-
had raised and he would try to sort them day included former attorney general
out in the next couple of days after dis- Badri Bahadur Karki, senior advocates
cussing them in the five-party ruling alli-
ance. He said the lawyers’ team did not
directly tell the PM or any other political
leader to impeach the CJ, but the 17 rea-
Shrestha, Harihar Dahal, Shambhu
Thapa, Satish Krishna Kharel, NBA Presi-
dent Chandeshwor Shrestha, NBA Gen-
eral Secretary Lilamani Paudel, Supreme
which his government had in- CPN-Maoist Centre leader Lilama- sons listed in their memorandum were Court Bar President Purna Man Shakya,
corporated in the new map of ni Pokhrel, Janata Samajbadi Par- enough for lawmakers to impeach the CJ. and some other office bearers of the NBA
Nepal. He talked about following ty-Nepal’s Upendra Yadav, and Lok- He said the NBA indirectly told the PM and the SCBA.
the policy of maintaining equal tantrik Samjabadi’s Chair Mahantha that the CJ must be impeached. Meanwhile, the NBA and dissident jus-
distance from all neighbours Thakur also extended their best wish- The NBA and protesting justices have tices continued to protest against CJ
and friendly countries. “We want es for the success of the UML’s general accused the CJ of seeking a quid pro quo Rana.
to maintain cordial and friendly convention. deal with the executive to get his brother- While protesting lawyers staged sit-in
relationship with our neigh- The party’s closed-door session will in-law appointed to the Cabinet and de- at the entrance of the SC, dissident jus-
bours,” Oli added. take place in Sauraha on November laying hearing of cases filed against ap- tices continued to boycott hearing of cas-
He said every country, be it 27 and 28. The convention will con- pointments made to constitutional bod- es other than habeas corpus writ peti-
rich, poor, large, or small, was clude after electing the party’s new ies. tions, reconciliation petitions, and peti-
equal and every na- leadership. “When the PM said that the judiciary tions seeking case withdrawal.
tion should be treated
based on equality and
mutual co-existence.
“UML wants to move
ahead with collabora-
tion and mutual un-
derstanding,” said Oli.
Oli condemned the
five-party alliance and
said those who had
unseated him from
power and prevented
him from functioning
were creating hurdles for Prime
Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba as
well.
At the programme, Prime
Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba
stressed the need to have com-
mon understanding among po-
litical parties on the issues per-
taining to people and the coun-
try. He extended his best wishes
for the success of the UML’s gen-
eral convention.
Contagion claims
two more lives
KATHMANDU: Two
COVID patients have died
in the past 24 hours, tak-
ing the death toll from the
respiratory contagion in
the country to 11,518 at a
case fatality rate of 1.4 per
cent, the health ministry
said on Friday. — HNS
pur. Kathmandu and Lalitpur
are the only two districts in the
country to have more than 500
active COVID cases.
According to the Ministry of
Health and Population, 302 peo-
ple were discharged from health
centres across the country in the
past 24 hours after recovering
from COVID. So far, 97.7 per cent
of COVID patients have recov-
ered in Nepal.
The ministry said 175 COVID
patients were in intensive care --
30 in Province 1, three in Prov-
ince 2, 103 in Bagmati, 15 in
Gandaki, 21 in Lumbini, and
three in Sudurpaschim. As many
as 33 of them are on ventilator
support -- 14 in Province 1, 17 in
Bagmati, and one each in
Gandaki and Lumbini.
 CMYK
PAGE 2 www.thehimalayantimes.com THE HIMALAYAN TIMES, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2021

NATIONAL

%NUMERATIONOVERDATAPROCESSINGTOBEGINSOON
Rastriya Samachar Samiti
Kathmandu, November 26
Major work of the National
Census 2021 — data collection
— was over yesterday. The
fieldwork of the national cen-
sus that had begun on Novem-
ber 11 has been completed,
according to Central Bureau of
Statistics.
With this, the next step of
the census — data processing
— would begin, said CBS Di-
rector General Nebin Lal
Shrestha, adding that coun-
0ROTECTINGCONSTITUTIONDUTY
try’s population was likely to
reach 30 million. The prelimi-
nary result of the census
would be announced after
three months. However, final
result would be made public
after a year, he added.
Shrestha thanked the enu-
merators, supervisors and re-
spondents for making the
mega campaign of enumera-
tion successful. The CBS also
extended thanks to all others
contributing to the census.
The national census was
conducted delaying five
s.!4)/.!,#%.353
months than the scheduled
date because of the COVID-19
pandemic. In a press release
distributed after the press con-
ference today, the CBS said,
“We learnt many things while
conducting census this time. It
will help us enrich future cen-
sus and surveys.
It was further informed that
use of digital technology, mo-
bilisation of more qualified
enumerator, involvement of
The census was affected for
some time as some ethnicities
like ‘kayat’ of Dhorpatan Mu-
local unemployed youths, ba- nicipality-9 in Baglung denied
sic data collection up to ward sharing information. After
level from community ques- holding discussion, the com-
tionnaire were some features. munity resolved the problem
The census was conducted in and resumed the census.
all places of mountain, hills Similarly, lack of roadway
and southern plains. However, from Nepali side to reach
the census would be held in Chhanru and Tinkar of Byas
the disputed area via diplo- Rural Municipality-1 in
matic initiative, CBS stated. Darchula district forced enu-
The enumerators also merators to opt for Indian
shared the experience of hard- route to reach there. But, per-
ship while collecting data. mission to reach there via In-
dian side was denied by the
Indian government, which af-
fected the data collection.
The census is held every 10
year in Nepal. The first census
was held 109 years ago during
the premiership of Chandra
Shumsher Rana. The last cen-
sus taken 10 years back had
put Nepali population at 26.5
million.
There were 80 questions in
the census this time. As many
as 40,000 enumerators and
8,500 supervisors were mobi-
lised for the census.
OFFICE
Photos: THT / RSS
s/.#%/6 %2
Congress district
convention halted
DHANGADI: Nepali Congress’s Kailali
district convention has been halted.
Though the convention from the
ward to regional level was completed
in the district, the district convention
slated to happen on Friday, however,
was put off. According to NC district
member and convention publicity
department Chief Nripa Sunar, the
district convention had to put shelved
given the provincial general conven-
tion slated to happen on December 2.
“As there are many aspirants for the
district chairperson post, and the
election is likely to stretch into second
phase as well, it will affect the prepa-
ration of the provincial convention
and therefore had to be put on hold
until later,” he said. Meanwhile, a par-
ty insider, however, said that the dis-
trict convention had to be halted due
to the internal dispute in the party. All
the candidates vying for the post of
the district chairperson are said to be
from the party president Sher Baha-
dur Deuba camp here. — HNS
Tusker attack kills one
JHAPA: One person died in tusker at-
tack in Jhapa’s Bhadrapur on Friday.
The deceased has been identified as
60-year-old Ram Bahadur Burja
Magar of Bharapur Municipality-9.
According to District Police Office SP
Sanuram Bhattarai, Magar was at-
tacked by a wild elephant while he
was plucking tea leaves in a tea gar-
den in Mechinagar Municipality-14 at
6:30am on Friday morning. He died
on the spot. His dead body has been
sent to Mechi Hospital for post-mor-
tem. — HNS
EMERGENCY
NUMBERS
PHONE NO.
Police Control Room . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Traffic Police Control Room . . . . . . . . 103
Fire Fighters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Traffic Jam Information (SMS) . . . JAM 4321
Emergency Police Service . . . . . . . 4228435
Crime Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4412748

OFALLSAYS0-$EUBA Child Missing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

Himalayan News Service
Chitwan, November 26
Prime Minister Sher Baha-
dur Deuba today said it was
the duty of all to protect the
constitution, adding that
solution of every problem
could be found under the
constitution.
“Whether we’re in the
government or not, it’s the
duty of all political parties to
protect the constitution
promulgated from a constit-
uent assembly and I hereby
ask UML too to show its
commitment towards the
national charter. We can
find solution to every prob-
lem through the constitu-
tion itself,” addressing the
inauguration session of
CPN-UML’s 10th National
General Convention in Chit-
wan today.
Further, the prime minis-
ter also called for coopera-
tion among all political par-
ties for the development of
the country. “We political
parties might have differ-
ences regarding our ideolo-
gies and policies but if we
are committed to coopera-
tion, achieving develop-
ment of the country and
welfare of people won’t be
difficult,” he said, stressing
the need to form a common
stance on major issues
through cooperation and di-
alogue among all political
stakeholders.
The Nepali Congress pres-
ident also remembered the
days when he had spent his
time in prison with UML
Chair KP Oli and other UML
leaders and said it was im-
Top leaders extend best wishes on UML’s general convention
Rastriya Samachar Samiti
Chitwan, November 26
Top leaders of various parties
have extended best wishes on
the occasion of the 10th Na-
tional General Convention of
the CPN-UML that kicked off
on the banks of the Narayan
River today.
Extending his best wishes,
CPN-Maoist Centre leader
Leelamani Pokhrel stressed
the need of unity among the
portant to make sure that
p e o p l e i n t h e f u t u re
wouldn’t have to suffer as
they did.
The NC president also ex-
tended his best wishes and
congratulations to the op-
position for holding its gen-
eral convention as per the
spirit of democratic and
parliamentary system. “We
need everyone’s support to
rise above the partisan inter-
est for the development of
the country,” he said.
communist parties in the
country. He said, “There
should be no differing views
among communists in regard
with the matters of national
interest and development.”
As he explained, unifica-
tion, struggle and coopera-
tion are continued processes
in the political sphere and the
cooperation among the com-
munist parties is essential de-
spite differing views and mu-
tual bitterness.
(Top) Cadres of CPN-UML participating in the 10th National General Convention of the party;
Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba (centre) and UML Chair KP Sharma Oli observing silence
during the inaugural session organised on the banks of the Narayani River, Chitwan, on Friday.
Janata Samajbadi Par-
ty-Party Chair Upendra Yadav
was of the opinion that the
constitution should be more
inclusive and federalism
should be implemented ef-
fectively to further strengthen
the federal democratic re-
public.
Loktantrik Samajbadi Par-
ty-Nepal Chair Mahantha
Thakur thanked UML Chair
Oli for what he said latter’s
maximum efforts to address
issues concerning the Mad-
hes movement. As he argued,
Oli lived up to promises made
in course of the Madhes
movement.
Rastriya Janamorcha Chair
Chitra Bahadur KC said he
saw no alternative to unity
among the communist par-
ties. Only unity among the
communists could serve the
interests of the nation and the
people. Rastriya Prajatantra
Party Chair Kamal Thapa
Nepal Electricity Authority . . . . . . . 4153164
Blood Bank, Pradarshani Marg. . . . . 4225344
Nepal Red Cross Society, Teku . . . . 4270650
Bhaktapur Red Cross . . . . . . . . . . . 6611661
Army Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4271940
Bir Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4221988
Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital . . . . . . 6611532
Chirayu National Hospital. . . . . . . . 5905888
Kanti Children Hospital. . . . . . . . . . 4411550
Norvic Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4258554
Police Hospital. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4412430
Patan Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5522295
Om Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4476225
Star Hospital, Sanepa . . . . . . . . . . . 5550197
Teaching Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4412505
Grande Hospital. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5159266
claimed UML Chair Oli made Dr. Iwamura Memorial Hospital . . . 6612695
his presence feel in favour of
Tilganga Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4493775
the nation and people.
“He is credited for institu- Hearse (Shav Vahan). . . . . . . . . . . . . 6612266
tionalising a revised political
map of Nepal incorporating
areas like Lipulek and Limpi-
yadhura.” He further said that
the Oli-led government was
successful in bringing the
@/FFICECHIEF
Madhes-based separatist
force and the rebelling Biplav
group to the mainstream pol-
RESPONSIBLEFOR
itics.
CONTROLLINGGRAFT
Rastriya Samachar Samiti

Weather may improve #ALLTOENDVIOLENCEAGAINSTWOMEN Surkhet, November 26

Chief Commissioner of the Commission for
the Investigation of Abuse of Authority Prem

only after some days Himalayan News Service

Rastriya Samachar Samiti
Kathmandu, November 26
The weather that has remained
partially to generally cloudy in
majority of the parts of the coun-
try for some days will continue
for some more days.
T h e we a t h e r c o n d i t i o n
formed due to the influence of
the local wind will improve grad-
ually, according to the Depart-
ment of Hydrology and Meteor-
ology.
Kathmandu Valley has been
hazy due to local wind and air
pollution. Meteorologist Manju
Basi shared, “The current weath-
er condition shows that the
weather will not improve imme-
diately.”
A high wind or heavy rainfall is
must to clear off the hazy condi-
tion. Meteorologist Basi ruled
out possibilities for both condi-
tions in immediate days. Prov-
ince 1, Bagmati Province,
Gandaki Province and hilly re-
gions have been partially to gen-
erally cloudy. Other provinces
have clear weather condition,
she shared.
Similarly, light snowfall is pre-
dicted today in a couple of plac-
es in the high hilly and moun-
tainous region in Gandaki Prov-
ince and Province 1.
Likewise, Province 1, Bagmati
Province, Gandaki province and
Lumbini province will have par-
tial to generally cloudy weather
tomorrow. Remaining provinces
will witness clear weather condi-
tion. Chances of light snowfall
are higher in high hilly and
mountainous region of Province
1, Bagmati Province and Ganda-
ki Province tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the minimum
temperature in Kathmandu Val-
ley today was 8.8 degrees Celsius
and maximum was 20 degrees
Celsius, said the Department.
Jumla recorded the lowest
temperature today at -2.8 de-
grees Celsius while Bhairahawa
had the highest temperature at
29.8 degrees Celsius.
Kathmandu, November 26
One in three women experi-
ence physical and/or sexual
violence in her lifetime,
shows WHO’s new estimates.
Most of this occurs as inti-
mate partner violence. Esti-
mates suggest the South-
East Asia Region, which also
includes Nepal, ranks second
highest, at around 33 per
cent.
According to a press re-
lease issued by the Regional
Office for South-East Asia to
mark the 16 Days of Activism
against Gender-Based Vio-
lence which ends on Human
Rights Day (December 10),
such violence has serious
health impacts, both imme-
diate and long term, includ-
ing injuries, sexually trans-
mitted infections, HIV and
unplanned pregnancies as
well as mental health prob-
lems. These place violence
against women among to-
day’s priority public health
issues.
The annual campaign
aims to strengthen aware-
ness and action to end vio-
lence against women. On its
30th anniversary of this an-
nual campaign, the WHO has
joined the call ‘Orange the
World: End Violence Against
Women Now!’ “Such vio-
Evidence suggests that
violence against women has
increased during pandemic
lence only tends to increase
during emergencies and epi-
demics, resulting in higher
risks to the health and safety
of women and girls. Evidence
suggests that violence
against women has in-
creased during the ongoing
COVID-19 pandemic.
“Women have been dis-
proportionately affected by
loss of livelihoods, increasing
their economic vulnerability
and dependence, and by
school closures. Their un-
paid work burdens have in-
creased dramatically. This in-
creased vulnerability comes
at a time when the pandemic
has disrupted social protec-
tion services, such as hot-
lines, shelters and legal aid,
and disrupted vital sexual
and reproductive health ser-
vices, often the first point of
contact for survivors of vio-
lence,” said Dr Poonam
Khetrapal Singh, WHO Re-
gional Director for South-
East Asia. According to Dr
Khetrapal Singh, health poli-
cymakers and managers
must strengthen the capacity
of the health system and
health service providers and
ensure continuity, adequate
resourcing and appropriately
adapted delivery of services
for survivors as part of essen-
tial health services. The
health sector has a role to
play, with other sectors and
stakeholders, in preventing
violence against women and
girls. The health sector has a
role to play in advocating for,
developing and implement-
ing evidence-informed poli-
cies and strategies for gen-
der-based violence preven-
tion and response.
Community members can
also help increase awareness,
stay in touch with survivors
in safe ways, and discreetly
offer information and sup-
port, she suggested. Accord-
ing to data released by Wom-
en, Children and Senior Citi-
zens Service Directorate of
Nepal Police, 18,927 cases of
cases of violence against
women and children were
recorded in Nepal in fiscal
2020-21 compared to 15,830
in the previous fiscal, an in-
crease by 17.8 per cent.
Kumar Rai has said that chiefs of the con-
cerned offices are key persons in controlling
corruption.
Inaugurating the new building of Surk-
het-based office of CIAA yesterday, Rai said
that secretaries at the ministries and chiefs of
other offices should play crucial roles in en-
suring good-governance and integrity.
On the occasion, he said that the CIAA had
submitted its recommendations to the gov-
ernment for corruption control along with
the reasons of corruption and anomalies but
they were not implemented.
Rai said that complaints at CIAA against the
local levels had increased lately while adding
that other complaints being registered in-
clude from education, land management,
forest and environment sectors.
The chief commissioner also suggested
that frequent monitoring of the projects was
needed adding that the timely completion of
the projects was delayed due to poor moni-
toring. He also asked the stakeholders show
concerns about the protection of public and
government properties.
Secretary of CIAA Toyam Raya and chief
secretary of Karnali Province Government Raj
Kumar Shrestha, among others, expressed
their opinions on good-governance and in-
tegrity during service delivery.
The building was constructed in three years
at the total cost of Rs 93.1 million.
 CMYK
THE HIMALAYAN TIMES, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2021
US lawmakers meet Taiwan President
Tsai Ing-wen in surprise visit
Associated Press
Taipei, November 26
Five US lawmakers met Tai-
wanese President Tsai Ing-
wen today in a surprise one-
day visit intended to reaffirm
the United States’ “rock solid”
support for the self-governing
island.
The bipartisan group of
lawmakers from the US
House of Representatives ar-
rived in Taiwan yesterday
night and planned to meet
senior leaders including Tsai,
said the American Institute in
Taiwan, the de facto US em-
bassy. No further details were
provided about their itiner-
ary.
The visit comes as tensions
between Taiwan and China
have risen to their highest lev-
el in decades. Taiwan has
been self-ruled since the two
sides split during a civil war in
1949, but China considers the
island part of its own territory.
China was quick to con-
demn the trip when news first
broke yesterday night.
“When news of our trip
broke yesterday, my office re-
ceived a blunt message from
the Chinese Embassy, telling
me to call off the trip,” Repre-
sentative Elissa Slotkin, a
Michigan Democrat who is
part of the delegation, wrote
on Twitter.
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign
Ministry spokesperson Zhao
Lijian condemned the visit,
calling it a violation of the
“one-China principle” under
which Taiwan is considered
part of China. “That individu-
al US politicians wantonly
challenge the one-China
principle and embolden the
‘Taiwan independence’ forces
has aroused the strong indig-
nation of 1.4 billion Chinese
people,” Zhao said. He added
that unification of Taiwan and
China is an “unstoppable his-
torical trend.”
Representatives Mark
In this photo released by the Taiwan Presidential Office, US Representative Mark Takano (left) being greeted by Taiwanese
President Tsai Ing-wen at the Presidential Office in Taipei, on Friday.
Takano, D-Calif., Colin Allred,
D-Texas., Sara Jacobs, D-Ca-
lif., and Nancy Mace, R-S.C.,
are also part of the delegation.
“We are here in Taiwan this
week to remind our partners
and allies, after two trying
years that we’ve endured, that
our commitment and shared
responsibility for a free and
secure Indo-Pacific region re-
main stronger than ever,”
Takano said. Takano added
that the US relationship with
Taiwan is “rock solid and has
remained steadfast as the ties
between us have deepened.”
Tsai, who welcomed the
lawmakers at the Presidential
Office in Taipei, noted the two
sides’ cooperation in veter-
ans’ affairs, economic issues
and trade while reiterating
the island’s close alignment
with the US.
“Taiwan will continue to
step up cooperation with the
United States in order to up-
hold our shared values of
freedom and democracy and
to ensure peace and stability
in the region,” Tsai said.
www.thehimalayantimes.com
NEIGHBOURS
The visit is the third by US
lawmakers to Taiwan this year
and comes just a few weeks
after a group of six Republi-
can members of Congress vis-
ited the island. That delega-
tion met President Tsai, Na-
tional Security Secretary Gen-
eral Wellington Koo and For-
eign Minister Joseph Wu,
among others.
In June, three members of
Congress flew to Taiwan to
donate badly needed vac-
cines at a time when the is-
land was struggling to get
AP
enough.
The Biden administration
has also invited Taiwan to a
Summit for Democracy next
month, a move that drew a
sharp rebuke from China.
In the Solomon Islands this
week, anti-government riot-
ers held protests and looted
parts of the capital city in part
over complaints about a 2019
decision to switch diplomatic
recognition from Taiwan to
China. China has been on a
campaign to poach Taiwan’s
remaining diplomatic allies.
India to tighten COVID-19
testing for tourists amid new
variant concerns
Reuters
New Delhi, November 26
India issued an advisory to all states to
rigorously test and screen international
travellers from South Africa and other
“at risk” countries amid concerns over a
new coronavirus variant, after easing
some of its travel restrictions earlier this
month.
The federal health ministry said re-
ports of mutations in the new variant,
identified as B.1.1.529, had “serious
public health implications”.
“This variant is reported to have a sig-
nificantly high number of mutations,
and thus, has serious public health im-
plications for the country in view of re-
cently relaxed visa restrictions and
opening up of international travel,”
health secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in
a letter to states late yesterday.
While some major Asian countries
rushed to tighten border controls and
restrict travellers, India had not yet is-
sued a notification, a senior government
source said. “This has not been studied
fully by the Ministry of Health,” the
source told Reuters, declining to be
identified in line with policy.
The federal health and foreign minis-
tries did not respond to a Reuters re-
quest for comment on whether India
India, Russia, China concerned
about Afghan humanitarian crisis
Reuters
New Delhi, November 26
The foreign ministers of India, Russia
and China expressed concern today at
the deteriorating humanitarian situa-
tion in Afghanistan and the spread of
drug trafficking in the country.
Afghanistan has been plunged into
crisis by the abrupt end of billions of
dollars in foreign assistance, following
the collapse of the Western-backed gov-
ernment and return to power of the Tali-
ban in August.
“Expressing concern over deteriorat-
ing humanitarian situation in Afghani-
stan, the Ministers called for immediate
and unhindered humanitarian assis-
PAGE 3
will ban foreign travellers.
Today, the UK Health Security Agency
said the new variant has a spike protein
that was dramatically different to the
one in the original coronavirus that
COVID-19 vaccines are based on. And it
could make existing vaccines less effec-
tive.
Britain has banned flights from six Af-
rican countries, and asked returning
British travellers from those destina-
tions to quarantine.
India, the world’s second-worst af-
fected country by COVID-19, posted the
smallest rise in new cases in one-and-a-
half years this week, due to rising vacci-
nations and antibodies in a large section
of its population from previous infec-
tions. The country’s total cases of the
coronavirus reached 34.56 million to-
day. India’s daily caseload has halved
since September and the country re-
ported 10,549 new cases today.
Earlier this month, India identified 10
countries “at risk” that includes Europe,
Britain, China, South Africa, and New
Zealand, among others and has opened
its borders to 99 countries overall.
Indian shares tumbled more than 2%
today, as investors fled risky assets pan-
icking over the impact of the new vari-
ant. The losses were in line with steep
falls seen in markets across Asia.
tance to be provided to Afghanistan,”
said a joint statement released following
a virtual meeting between India’s S Jais-
hankar, Russia’s Sergey Lavrov and Chi-
na’s Wang Yi.
The statement called on the Taliban to
respect the results of United Nations
resolutions on Afghanistan and the cen-
tral role of the UN in the country.
The three countries also pledged to do
more to combat drug smuggling in the
region.
“The spread of illicit drug trafficking
in opiates and methamphetamine from
Afghanistan and beyond... poses a seri-
ous threat to regional security and sta-
bility and provides funding for terrorist
organisations,” the statement added.
 CMYK
PAGE 4 www.thehimalayantimes.com THE HIMALAYAN TIMES, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2021

INTERNATIONAL

World takes action as new variant emerges in southern Africa

People wearing masks on an escalator at a shopping mall in Johannesburg, on Friday. Advisers to the World Health Organisation are
holding a special session on Friday to flesh out information about a worrying new COVID-19 variant that has emerged in South Africa.
Associated Press
Brussels, November 26
A slew of nations moved to stop
air travel from southern Africa
today, and stocks plunged in Asia
and Europe in reaction to news
of a new, potentially more trans-
missible COVID-19 variant.
“The last thing we need is to
bring in a new variant that will
cause even more problems,” said
German Health Minister Jens
Spahn, amid a massive spike in
cases in the 27-nation European
Union.
Within a few days of the dis-
covery of the new variant, it has
already impacted on a jittery so-
ciety that is sensitive to bad COV-
ID-19 news, with deaths around
the globe standing at well over 5
million.
There are fears that the new
variant could be even more con-
tagious than the current pre-
dominant one and could bypass
the effectiveness of the vaccina-
tion campaigns.
“Early indications show this
variant may be more transmissi-
ble than the delta variant and
current vaccines may be less ef-
fective against it,” British Health
Secretary Sajid Javid told law-
makers. “We must move quickly
and at the earliest possible mo-
ment,” he said.
Israel, one of the world’s most
vaccinated countries, an-
nounced today that it has detect-
ed the country’s first case of the
new variant in a traveller who re-
turned from Malawi. The travel-
ler and two other suspected cas-
es have been placed in isolation.
It said all three are vaccinated
but that it is currently looking
into their exact vaccination sta-
tus.
The new variant immediately
infected stock markets around
the world. Major indexes fell in
Europe and Asia and Dow Jones
futures dipped 800 points ahead
of the market opening in the US.
“Investors are likely to shoot
first and ask questions later until
more is known,” said Jeffrey Hal-
ley of foreign exchange broker
Oanda.
Oil prices plunged, with US
crude off 6.7% at $73.22 per bar-
rel and the international Brent
benchmark off 5.6% at $77.64,
both unusually large moves for a
single day.
The pandemic caused oil pric-
es to plunge during the initial
outbreak of the pandemic in
2020 because travel restrictions
reduced demand for fuel.
AP
Airlines shares were ham-
mered, with Lufthansa off 12.4%,
IAG, parent of British Airways
and Iberia, off 14.4%, Air France-
KLM down 8.9% and easyJet fall-
ing 10.9%
The World Health Organisa-
tion cautioned not to jump to
conclusions too fast.
Speaking before the EU an-
nouncement, Dr. Michael Ryan,
the head of emergencies at the
WHO said that “it’s really impor-
tant that there are no knee-jerk
responses.”
“We’ve seen in the past, the
minute there’s any kind of men-
tion of any kind of variation and
everyone is closing borders and
restricting travel. It’s really im-
portant that we remain open,
and stay focused,” Ryan said.
It quickly fell on deaf ears.
The UK announced that it was
What is this new
Reuters
coronavirus variant?
Johannesburg/London,
November 26
Global authorities have react-
ed with alarm to a coronavirus
variant detected in South Afri-
ca, with the EU, Britain and In-
dia among those announcing
stricter border controls as sci-
entists seek to determine if the
mutation is vaccine-resistant.
Where and when was new
variant found?
South African scientists de-
tected a small number of the
variant - called B.1.1.529 - on
Tuesday, in samples from Nov.
14-16.
On Wednesday South Afri-
can scientists sequenced more
genomes, informed the gov-
ernment that they were con-
cerned and asked the World
Health Organisation to con-
vene its technical working
group on virus evolution for
today.
The country has identified
around 100 cases of the vari-
ant, mostly from its most pop-
ulated province, Gauteng.
Where else has it been
identified?
South African scientists say
early signs from diagnostic lab-
oratories suggest it has spread
rapidly in Gauteng and may al-
ready be present in the coun-
try’s other eight provinces.
The country’s daily infection
rate nearly doubled yesterday
to 2,465. The South Africa’s Na-
tional Institute for Communi-
cable Diseases (NICD) did not
attribute the resurgence to the
new variant, though local sci-
entists suspect it is the cause.
banning flights from South Afri-
ca and five other southern Afri-
can countries effective at noon
today, and that anyone who had
recently arrived from those
countries would be asked to take
a coronavirus test.
Botswana detected four cas-
es, all foreigners who arrived
on a diplomatic mission and
have since left the country.
Hong Kong has one case, in a
traveller from South Africa and
Israel one in a traveller return-
ing from Malawi.
The variant is relatively easy
to distinguish in PCR tests
from Delta, the dominant
COVID-19 variant and the
most infectious so far. Unlike
Delta, it has a mutation known
as the S-gene drop-out.
Why is it worrying
scientists?
All viruses - including SARS-
CoV-2, the virus that causes
COVID-19 - change over time.
s%80,!).%2
Most changes have little or no
impact on their properties.
However, some changes
may affect how easily they
spread, their severity or the
performance of vaccines
against them. This one has
drawn scrutiny because it has
more than 30 mutations of the
spike protein that viruses use
to get into human cells, UK
health officials say.
That is about double the
number of Delta, and makes
this variant substantially dif-
ferent from the original coro-
navirus that current COVID
vaccines were designed to
counteract.
South African scientists say
some of the mutations are as-
sociated with resistance to
neutralising antibodies and
enhanced transmissibility, but
Germany said its flight ban
could be enacted as soon as to-
day night. Spahn said airlines
coming back from South Africa
will only be able to transport
German citizens home, and trav-
ellers will need to go into quaran-
others are not well understood,
so its full significance is not yet
clear.
UK Health Security Agency
Chief Medical Advisor Dr Su-
san Hopkins told BBC radio
some mutations had not been
seen before, so it was not
known how they would inter-
act with the other ones, mak-
ing it the most complex variant
seen so far. So more tests will
be needed to confirm if it’s
more transmissible, infectious
or can evade vaccines.
The work will take a few
weeks, the World Health Or-
ganisation’s technical lead on
COVID-19, Maria van Kerk-
hove, said yesterday. In the
meantime, vaccines remain a
critical tool to contain the vi-
rus.
No unusual symptoms have
been reported following infec-
tion with the B.1.1.529 variant
and, as with other variants
some individuals are asympto-
matic, South Africa’s NICD
said.
What has the World Health
Organisation said?
The UN agency will decide if
it should be designated a vari-
ant of interest or variant of
concern. The latter label would
be applied if there is evidence
that it is more contagious and
vaccines work less well against
it, and it would be given a
Greek name.
The WHO has so far identi-
fied four variants “of concern” -
Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Del-
ta. Two variants of interest are
Lambda, identified in Peru in
December 2020, and Mu, in
Colombia in January.
tine for 14 days whether they are
vaccinated or not.
Germany has seen new record
daily case numbers in recent
days and passed the mark of
100,000 deaths from COVID-19
yesterday.

Protesters break into Lebanese France lashes out

ministry as crisis deepens
Associated Press
Beirut, November 26
A small group of protesters
broke into a ministry build-
ing in Beirut early today and
removed a photo of the pres-
ident from one of its main
rooms, as the Lebanese
pound hit new lows amid a
worsening economic and
political stalemate.
The nearly dozen protest-
ers who entered the Ministry
of Social Affairs said condi-
tions in the crisis-hit country
have become unbearable as
a result of the rapid econom-
ic collapse and ongoing
crash of the pound, which
reached 25,100 to the US dol-
lar. The previous record was
25,000.
Prices have been skyrock-
eting in recent weeks as the
government lifted subsidies
on fuel and some medicines,
making them out of reach of
many in Lebanon. Some
three quarters of the popula-
tion of six million, including
a million Syrian refugees,
now live in poverty.
The minimum monthly
wage is now worth about
$27.
Protesters have blamed
the ministry for sluggishness
in issuing ration cards that
are supposed to give poor
families monthly financial
aid.
The protesters broke into
the meeting room at the
ministr y and turned a
framed picture of President
Michel Aoun upside down
before removing it.
They replaced it with a
banner in Arabic that read
“revolutionaries of October
17.”
The protesters were refer-
ring to the start of nation-
wide protests on Oct. 17,
2019 against the country’s
ruling class.
They are blamed for dec-
ades of corruption and mis-
management that threw the
small nation into its worst
economic and financial cri-
sis in its modern history.
“Those who usurped pub-
lic money cannot conduct
4HREE,EBANESEJUDGES
resign over political
interference, low pay
Reuters
Beirut, November 26
Three senior Lebanese fe-
male judges have ten-
dered their resignations
in protest at political in-
terference and the col-
lapse in the value of their
pay as a financial and po-
litical crisis rages.
A political system
based on sectarian bal-
ance and patronage has
led to decades of eco-
nomic mismanagement
and corruption, and has
undermined a legal sys-
tem where many judges
are appointed for their
loyalty rather than effec-
tiveness. There is dramat-
ic evidence of this in a
campaign by politicians
to hobble a judicial in-
quiry into last year’s cata-
strophic Beirut port blast.
“This is a wake-up call
about everything that is
going wrong: the living
conditions, the political
intervention - basically
the country is falling
apart,” Rola Husseini,
who quit as head of Bei-
rut’s Criminal Court of
Appeal, told Reuters.
Husseini was recently
passed up for a position at
the top judicial body, the
reforms,” shouted one of the
protesters before leaving the
building following police in-
tervention. “We have hit rock
bottom. Things cannot get
worse.”
The crisis has been made
worse by the coronavirus
and the Aug. 4, 2020 port
blast that killed 216,
wounded more than 6,000
and destroyed part of the
capital.
Higher Judicial Council,
which went to a judge
seen as close to the parlia-
mentary speaker.
Judge Jeanette Hanna,
who has resigned from
Beirut’s Appeals Court,
declined to comment
while Carla Kassis, who
stepped down from the
Court of Cassation, could
not be reached for com-
ment. The resignations
have not yet been accept-
ed by the Judicial Council
because the judges are
“exceptional members of
the judiciary”, a Council
spokesperson said.
Hanna recently issued
a ruling that rejected at-
tempts by former minis-
ters charged over the ex-
plosion to remove the
judge heading the inquiry.
She was then targeted
with a lawsuit seeking her
removal from the case.
The spokesperson also
confirmed that a fourth
judge, Ziad Mkanna, had
resigned about a month
ago. Mkanna had investi-
gated malpractice allega-
tions against Central
Bank Governor Riad
Salameh. Justice Minister
Henry Khoury did not im-
mediately respond to a
request for comment.
The Cabinet, formed in
September after a 13-month
vacuum, has not met in more
than six weeks amid deep di-
visions between rival groups
over the judge leading the in-
vestigation into the port ex-
plosion.
Comments by a Cabinet
minister that triggered a dip-
lomatic row with oil-rich gulf
nations has added to the ac-
rimony.
People attending the 95th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Manhattan, New York City, on Thursday.
Survivor found in coal mine accident
in Siberia; dozens presumed dead
Associated Press
Moscow, November 26
Rescuers have found a survivor in
a Siberian coal mine where dozens
of miners are presumed dead after
a devastating methane explosion,
a top local official announced to-
day.
Sergei Tsivilyov, governor of the
Kemerovo region where the mine
is located, said on the messaging
app Telegram that the survivor
was found in the Listvyazhnaya
mine in southwestern Siberia, and
“he is being taken to the hospital.”
Acting Emergency Minister Al-
exander Chupriyan said the man
found in the mine was rescuer Al-
exander Zakovryashin who had
been presumed dead. “I can con-
sider it a miracle,” Chupriyan said.
Zakovryashin was conscious
when rescuers found him and has
been hospitalised with carbon
monoxide poisoning of moderate
severity, according to emergency
officials.
The authorities had confirmed
14 fatalities yesterday — 11 miners
were found dead and three rescu-
ers died later while searching for
others who were trapped at a re-
mote section of the mine. Six more
bodies were recovered today
morning, and 31 people remain
missing. Gov. Tsivilyov said finding
other survivors at this point was
highly unlikely.
Hours after a methane gas ex-
plosion and fire filled the mine
with toxic fumes yesterday, rescu-
ers were forced to halt the search
because of a buildup of methane
and carbon monoxide gas from
the fire. A total of 239 people were
rescued from the mine; 63 of
them, as of today morning, have
sought medical assistance, ac-
cording to Kemerovo officials.
Authorities have put the death
toll at 52 yesterday evening, saying
that there was no chance of find-
ing any more survivors. Rescuing a
survivor today morning brings
that down to 51.
It appears to be the deadliest
mine accident in Russia since
2010, when two methane explo-
sions and a fire killed 91 people at
the Raspadskaya mine in the same
Kemerovo region. In 2016, 36 min-
ers were killed in a series of meth-
ane explosions in a coal mine in
Russia’s far north. In the wake of
the incident, authorities analysed
migrants
Reuters
the safety of the country’s 58 coal
mines and declared 20 of them
potentially unsafe. Media reports
say the Listvyazhnaya mine wasn’t
among them, however in 2004 a
methane explosion in the mine
killed 13 people.
Russia’s top independent news
site, Meduza, reported that this
year authorities suspended the
work of certain sections of the
mine nine times.
Inspections of the mine carried
out in April found over 100 viola-
tions, including breaches of fire
safety rules.
Law enforcement officials also
said today that miners had com-
plained about the high level of
methane in the mine.
Regional officials have declared
three days of mourning. Russia’s
Investigative Committee has
launched a criminal probe into
the fire over violations of safety
regulations that led to deaths. It
said the mine director and two
senior managers were detained.
One more criminal probe was
launched today into the alleged
negligence of state officials that
inspected the mine earlier this
month.
at Britain’s latest
proposal on
Associated Press
Calais, November 26
France reacted with fury today to Brit-
ain’s latest proposals for dealing with
the deadly flow of migrants between
their shores as the war of words be-
tween the two countries over the dan-
gerous crossings across the English
Channel ramped up further.
In a public letter to French Presi-
dent Emmanuel Macron, British
Prime Minister Boris Johnson laid out
a series of proposals of how the two
countries can deal with the crisis, fol-
lowing the sinking of a boat on
Wednesday that saw 27 people die.
The letter, which was made public
on social media, was deemed “unac-
ceptable” by French government
spokesman Gabriel Attal. As a result,
he said Britain’s Home Secretary Priti
Patel was no longer welcome at a Eu-
ropean meeting on Sunday to discuss
the problem. “We are sick of dou-
ble-speak,” Attal said.
Among his recommendations,
Johnson asked that France take back
all migrants who cross illegally from
its shores to Britain.
Attal dismissed the idea as “clearly
not what we need to solve this prob-
lem.” He said the letter “doesn’t corre-
spond at all” with discussions that
Johnson and Macron had Wednesday
after the tragedy.
Johnson also set out proposals for
British border officials to begin pa-
trols on the beaches of northern
France as early as next week — some-
thing Paris has long resisted. He also
recommended joint or reciprocal
maritime patrols in each other’s terri-
torial waters and airborne surveil-
lance by manned flights and drones.
British Transport Secretary Grant
Shapps said Johnson had made the
proposals in “good faith” and urged
the French to reconsider their deci-
sion. “I don’t think there is anything
inflammatory to ask for close co-op-
eration with our nearest neighbours,”
he told BBC radio. “The proposal was
made in good faith. I can assure our
French friends of that and I hope that
they will reconsider meeting up to
discuss it.”
The French move marks a sharp de-
terioration in relations between the
two countries which have for weeks
become increasingly strained by the
migrant crisis in the Channel.
 CMYK
THE HIMALAYAN TIMES, NOVEMBER 27, 2021
The Himalayan ON
s/44").').'
Simple yet effective
R
omance, comedy, horror —
everything from fun to fear
exploration of
is on the cards this weekend
as part of your favourite
OTT streaming extravaganza.
popsugar-assets.com
gender-based
A Castle for
Christmas
Cast: Brooke Shields, Cary Elwes,
violence
Raju Upreti
Vanessa Grasse, Suanne Braun, Lee Kathmandu
Ross, Mark Fleischmann, Andi
N
Osho, Drew Barrymore, Eilidh Loan, epali theatre has often
Stephen Oswald times advocated and
Director: Mary Lamber expressed in opposition
Screening platform: Netflix to the social stigma
Release date: November 26 which has been crip-
pling our society, community and
To escape a scandal, a bestselling nation as a whole. The ongoing
author journeys to Scotland, where theatrical production of One World
she falls in love with a castle — and Theatre with support from the Amer-
faces off with the grumpy duke ican Embassy — Stop Kiss — has con-
who owns it. The romantic comedy tinued in that tradition.
film is expected to offer a refreshing Penned by the Asian-American
take on love. playwright Diana Son, Stop Kiss, ef-
fectively explores the issues of LGB-
facebook.com
TIQ rights and violence against
women via its simple execution.
The play, that began staging on
November 25 at Shilpee Theatre,
Battisputali, marking the Interna-
tional Day for the Elimination of Vio-
lence against Women and the start of
the United Nation’s 16 days of the ac-
tivism against Gender Based Vio-
Chhorii lence (GBV).
Set in the nineties in New York, the
Cast: Nushrratt Bharuccha, Mita play is about two young women Cal-
Vasisht, Rajesh Jais, Saurabh Goyal lie (Ranjana Bhattarai) and Sara
Director: Vishal Furia (Samapika Gautam). Callie is a radio
Streaming platform: Amazon traffic reporter, and Sara, a midwest-
Prime Video erner who, against her parents’ wish-
Release date: November 26 es, has moved to the city to teach
third-grade students in the Bronx.
Chhorii is an official remake of When the duo meets they talk about
Vishal Furia’s 2017 Marathi movie their boyfriends, lives, profession
Lapachhap. It depicts the story of an and other casual things. Soon they
eight-month pregnant Sakshi, who create a strong bond with each other
needs to save her unborn child from and have an unspoken attraction for
the evil within society. each other. In this happy scene of
theirs come a moment which chang-
i2.wp.com
es their life entirely. They meet a trag-
ic consequence in an incident —
a gay bashing, as they for the first
time kiss and share the joyous mo-
ment of their lives.
Directed by Loonibha Tuladhar
and co-directed by Kavita Srinivasan,
the play masterfully depicts the idea
of the playwright through its well-
crafted scenes, movements, actors’
expressions and well-designed tech-
nicalities including projected screen
Dil Bekarar and animated videos.
Cast: Akshay Oberoi, Sahher
Bambba, Raj Babbar, Poonam
Dhillon, Sukhmani
Director: Habib Faisal
Streaming platform: Disney +
Hotstar
Release date: November 26
Based on the novel Those Pricey
Thakur Girls by Anuja Chauhan, the
show takes you to the 80s. It is set in
colonial Delhi, struggling to shed
the past, excitedly looking forward
to a liberalised future. The light-
hearted drama series unravels the
day-to-day life of the Thakur family
as they battle their ideological con-
flicts in the times of telegrams, tele-
phones, and Gold Spot.
imdb.com
Prasanna Pandey
Kathmandu
W
orking as an executive
French Exit chef in five-star hotels is
a daunting task due to
Cast: Michelle Pfeiffer, Lucas Hedg- the responsibilities that
es, Tracy Letts, Valerie Mahaffey, come with the position. Yet Sunal
Susan Coyne, Imogen Poots, Thakur, the newly appointed Execu-
Danielle Macdonald, et cetera tive Chef at Radisson Hotel Kath-
Director: Azazel Jacobs mandu, enjoys this the most — being
Streaming platform: BookMyShow a chef and the responsibility that
Stream comes with it.
Release date: November 26 Born on January 6, 1971 in Kolkata,
India, Thakur had always been “very
A socialite is decamping from fond of food since childhood and al-
Manhattan to Paris to live out ways had a desire to become a chef”.
her days after her dead husband’s “Food has been an integral part of
fortune runs out. She cashes out my life since childhood as I have al-
whatever is left and goes with her ways loved food and enjoyed cooking
son and her cat, who happens to be at home,” he shared.
the embodiment of her long-dead In order to fulfil his childhood
partner. dream of becoming a chef someday,
Thakur pursued a career in the food
www.thehimalayantimes.com
S A T U
The characters are the life of this
play — Bhattarai and Gautam nail
their characters with their expres-
sions, and their precise dialogue de-
livery makes the affair seem real.
In terms of dialogue timing, it’s well-
balanced and co-ordinates well.
Likewise, Gaurav Bista as George,
Tuladhar as Mrs Winsley, Sushrut
Acharya as Detective Cole, Anahita
Sarabhai as a nurse , and Bruno De-
ceukelier as Peter, too deliver an ex-
ceptional performance.
The story unfolds in a chronologi-
cal order — alternating scenes take
place respectively before and after
the incident and all this is done with
care making the scenes flow swiftly
and each scene is engaging.
In the coordination aspects, the
directors have done a commendable
job as there is an accurate organisa-
tion of props and sets in each scene
break. There are two different sets —
an apartment and a hospital room.
Though the scene break time may
seem long, it draws a curiosity
among the audience about what will
happen next. And the set design
looks realistic.
The projected video of brutal
scenes and building shapes looks
promising and adds more value to
the play. Meanwhile, though the dia-
THT
industry after completing his school-
ing — he joined the Indian Institute
of Business Management (IIBM)
from where he completed his Diplo-
ma in Hotel Management in 1995.
To further his career in the hospi-
tality sector, Thakur joined The Ober-
oi, Bengaluru as a junior chef in 1995
and worked there for two years. In
1997, he joined the Grand Kakatiya
Hotel in Hyderabad as a junior chef
and worked there until 2000.
“After amassing the necessary
skills like coordinating with food
preparation, overseeing food quality,
maintaining kitchen hygiene, team
management, et cetera, I joined a lux-
ury hotel in Dar es Salaam — the
largest city of Tanzania — as a Sous
Chef and worked there until 2002.
In 2004, I returned to India and
joined the Holiday Inn, Tamil Nadu
as its Executive Chef and worked
there for four years.”
R D A Y
logues contain some abusive lan-
guage, it flows as per the scenes and
is justified.
In terms of sounds and lights, they
interplay well.
The play successfully points out
the much-needed idea that it’s not
just the deprived and marginalised
women who get suffer from GBV, but
gives a clear insight on how women
from all nations, cultures, and creed
remain victims of violence, irrespec-
tive of their socio-economic back-
ground, or whether they live in the
Master of flavours
Thakur’s journey as an Executive
Chef continued at the Taj Usha
Kiran Palace, Gwalior from 2007 to
2012. He also worked as an Executive
Chef at different other places from
2007 — Taj Hotels in India and Sri
Lanka — and continued till 2016. He
worked as an Executive Chef at Mov-
enpick Hotels and Resort in Saudi
Arabia “for five years, until last year”
as per Thakur.
His career journey shows he had
been working as an Executive Chef in
different places at the same time.
How difficult (or easy) was it to juggle
multiple jobs at the same time?
“The fun of following my passion
for food kept me going with ease,”
said Thakur as the passionate chef
elaborated, “The feeling of fulfilling
my childhood dream of becoming a
chef has kept me going all these years
despite carrying the heavy responsi-
bilities as Executive Chef for more
than a decade”.
He also said that getting to know
about a wide variety of food from
around the world, travelling to plac-
es, meeting people and learning
about different cultures “are some of
the best parts of my job, which I like
very much”.
As such he has never felt pressure
being a chef “as I enjoy playing with
food and flavours”.
And now Kathmandu food lovers
will get to see his love for food as
Thakur is here to begin a new chap-
ter in his career with the Radisson
Hotel Kathmandu as its Executive
Chef permanently. “Radisson Hotel
developed world or the developin
nations. The play reflects this
through the plight of independent,
modern, educated and strong wom-
en like Callie and Sara
The play also makes you ponder
Kathmandu is a reputed five-star ho-
tel and I am very excited to be a part
of it,” shared Thakur, who “specialis-
es in European cuisine”. But he is
“equally good at preparing Indian
and Asian cuisines, among others”.
As he shared about his culinary ex-
pertise, Thakur also talked about the
food culture in the West and the East:
“The Europeans mostly eat small
amounts of food at each meal, which
is just the opposite of the people of
the other hemisphere. However, food
is also related to one’s culture and
there are many dimensions to it.”
Interestingly, Thakur who has al-
ready tried a few Nepali dishes like
daal-bhaat-tarkaari and sekuwa
among others, shared that he has al-
ways been in favour of promoting lo-
cal cuisines wherever he has been
and “will do the same in Nepal too”.
Sharing about his familiarity with
Nepali cuisine, Thakur explained,
“We had lots of Nepali staff at the
Taj Usha Kiran Palace, and there were
more than 40 per cent Nepali staff
at the Movenpick Hotels and Resort
in Saudi Arabia. My friendship with
Nepalis at different times helped
me know more about Nepal, the cul-
ture, and obviously the food, which I
am fond of.”
When asked about his plans as
the Executive Chef at Radisson,
Thakur shared that he would be con-
tinuing what he has long been doing
throughout his career — “offering
high quality cuisine to the guests
and satisfying their taste buds to
the maximum”.
PAGE 5
Photos: Naresh Shrestha /THT
upon the issue related to violence
against women.
The play is being staged on Novem-
ber 27, 28, and December 1, 2, 3, and 4
at 5:30 pm with additional shows on
Saturdays at 1:30 pm.
“However, enjoying any food is not
just about taste but includes other
sensory processes too like viewing,
smelling, feeling the textures before
finally munching it. Hence, I will be
taking care of every nuance related to
the culinary art as part of my job and
offer the best customer service.”
Thakur, who had been providing
different types of “culinary training
programmes in India and abroad”,
also wishes to do the same here
which includes “charitable culinary
training for women and children for
their empowerment”.
According to Thakur, the team he
is currently working with at the
Radisson is cooperative and he
hopes to do “progressive things —
develop and promote local food as
well as carry out training and other
programmes in culinary art for the
locals — in Nepal’s hospitality sector
together with them.”
Equally excited is Thakur about his
first ever visit to Nepal and is looking
forward “to explore the country’s
food and culture”.
He plans to visit “the beautiful Luk-
la airport in Solukhumbu” with his
wife and daughter “who will be visit-
ing next year”.
Asked if the ongoing COVID-19
pandemic has been a problem,
Thakur said, “Things have improved
this year as compared to last when
businesses across the world got shut
down and even the supply of raw ma-
terials required was disrupted. The
business is slowly taking off and we
hope for better days ahead.”
 CMYK
PAGE 6 www.thehimalayantimes.com THE HIMALAYAN TIMES, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2021

GLITTERATI

Undergrad student
)SRAELHOLDS wins online K-Culture
.EPALSFIRST EVER video contest Courtesy: Embassy of Republic of Korea

@DRIVE INFILMFEST K
ATHMANDU: Shreya
Koirala, an under-
g ra d u a t e s t u d e n t
from Lalitpur, was declared
were selected. The contest-
ants had to create 2-4-min-
ute videos related to Korea
or Korean culture, how they
dividual gift hampers.
The Korean Embassy be-
lieves that these kinds of
event promote cultural ex-
c h a n g e s f u r t h e r m o re
strengthening the relation-
ship between the two
countries. — HNS
the winner of the ‘K-Culture came to know about Korea.
Courtesy: Embassy of Israel
Online Video Contest’ or- The second place was

K
ATHMANDU: The
13th Israeli Film
Festival is under-
way, and what’s ex-
citing about this edition is
that it is the first-ever drive-
in film show in Nepal.
According to a press state-
ment issued by the Israeli
Embassy, the inaugural cer-
emony was held on Novem-
ber 25 at Hotel Soaltee with
a special screening of A Fish
Tale directed by Emma-
nuelle Mayer.
The press statement
notes that though the drive-
in film concept is not new,
such a screening is being
held for the first time in Ne-
pal. The reason being the
COVID-19 pandemic.
“Drive-in film shows allow a
person wishing to enjoy
films with family in their
won safe capsule,” the press
statement says.
Welcoming all to the film
festival, the statement
quotes Ambassador of Israel
Hanan Goder as saying,
“Culture is the spirit of our
nations. It is right for Israel,
Nepal or any other nation.
We are so proud to share
today this story on foreign
workers and the challenges
in Israel.”
The event’s chief guest
Minister for Culture, Tour-
ism and Civil Aviation Prem
Bahadur, who was “very ex-
cited to experience the
‘drive-in’ concept”, was also
quoted as saying, “Art has
universal language. If we
want to learn about any na-
tion’s culture and tradition,
we should watch their films
… I believe this film festival
will be a milestone, in shar-
ing and promoting each
other’s culture, language
and values.”
He also extended an invi-
tation to “Israeli film pro-
ducers and investors to
come to Nepal and capture
our nation’s amazing beauty
in your films”.
Superstar Rajesh Hamal,
who was the special guest, is
quoted to have said, “Cine-
ma has an ability to build
cultural ties, a soft diploma-
cy of bringing people to-
gether. I hope that the Ne-
pali population will not only
enjoy the entertainment
side of the movie but will
also relate to the cultural as-
pects of Israel, the Human
emotions of Israel.”
Four films from Israel will
be screened at the festival.
These are Golden Voices and
Laces on November 26 at
5:00 pm and 7:00 pm re-
spectively, and A Place in
Heaven (5:00 pm) and The
Unorthodox (7:00 pm) on
November 27.
The first-ever drive-in
film festival to be held in Ne-
pal is open to the public
from November 26 to 27.
Entry is free, but to secure a
parking place at the drive-
in, interested viewers will be
required to register via Hotel
Soaltee website (www.soal-
tee.com). — HNS
ganised by Embassy of the
Republic of Korea at an
award ceremony held on
November 25, as per a press
statement from the South
Korean Embassy.
Koirala lists facts about
Korea and learning through
K-Vlogs. She compares Ko-
rean and Nepali cultures.
talks about the Hallyu Wave,
and how Korea is ending
some stereotypes.
She won a cash prize of Rs
25,000 which was handed
over by South Korean Am-
bassador Park Chong Suk.
According to the state-
ment, in the contest on the
theme ‘What I love about
Korea’ held from October
4-28, a total of 22 videos had
been sent in out of which 14
shared by two persons —
Sharia Ali and Riya Dhungel,
each winning a cash prize of
Rs 15,000. Four persons
placed third — Team Prince,
Swati Tamrakar, Agnesh
Lama and LasataTuladhar
— winning a cash prize of Rs
6,000 each. The fourth place
was shared by Niraj Gurung,
Sheetal Maharjan, Summi
Gurung, Saru Gurung and
Phazehaze, who all won Rs
4,000 each. Two special priz-
es were given to two partici-
pants who made their “vide-
os in the Korean language
sharing experiences of Ko-
rea while in Korea” — Shar-
ad Maharjan and Ananda
Limbu, who won a cash
prize of Rs 5,500 each. The
winners were also given in-
s9/52,5#+
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: You are friendly, positive and very perceptive.
You also have a focussed, aggressive behaviour when you want to
display it. You are always alert and curious about everything. This
year is a time of learning for you, and for some, a year of teaching
as well. Make time for some solitude for yourself, because this will
be helpful to you.
Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important deci-
sions today. The Moon is in Virgo.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Today you have to put
duty before pleasure. Not only do you have to take
care of errands to support yourself, you also might
have to perform a service for someone else. It is what
it is. As Popeye would say, “I yam what I yam.”
Tonight: Protect your pet. ✹✹✹
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Today the Moon is in
your fellow Earth sign Virgo, which supports your
sign. Feel free to be who you really are. Romance
is favoured along with social outings and playful
activities with kids. Enjoy sports events. Tonight: Be
mindful of kids. ✹✹✹✹✹

POTPOURRI GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Today you will prefer to

cocoon at home and enjoy your own privacy. You
might be involved with a family member, perhaps a
female. Enjoy your own privacy and the comfort of
BLONDIE Dean Young and Denis Lebrun DENNIS Hank Ketcham familiar surroundings. You deserve this. Tonight: Sur-
prise at home. ✹✹✹
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Conversations with
others are important to you today, which is why you
want to avoid polite chitchat. You want to get down
to the nitty-gritty and have a “gut level” conversation
with someone. You want people to tell it like it is.
Tonight: Pay attention. ✹✹
LEO (July 23-Aug 22): Today you identify with your
possessions, which is why you might have a strong
attachment for something or you might not want to
let someone borrow something or use what you own.
You also might give more thought to your values in
life. What really matters? Tonight: Guard your possessions. ✹✹✹
VIRGO (Aug 23-Sept 22): Today the Moon is in your
sign. It’s in your sign for two days every month, and
when this occurs, although it heightens your emo-
tions, it slightly boosts your good luck. It’s a tiny
HAGAR Chris Browne boost, but hey, we can use all the luck we can get!
Ask the universe for a favour. Tonight: Interruptions. ✹✹✹✹✹
LIBRA (Sept 23-Oct 22): Solitude in beautiful sur-
roundings will please you today, especially with good
food and drink to make things pleasant and comfort-
able. Even though you’re a social sign, today you feel
less like socialising. Tonight: You might explore mysti-
cal or spiritual disciplines. ✹✹✹
SCORPIO (Oct 23-Nov 21): Your emotional contact
with friends is important today. Likewise, you might
be emotionally invested in your contact with a group
or a club. This influence will tend to make you feel
protective and supportive of others. (You might even
be jealous if ignored.) Tonight: Someone will surprise you. ✹✹✹
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22-Dec 21): For various reasons,
your most intimate and personal life might be on
HOCUS FOCUS Henry Boltinoff public display more than usual today. You won’t be
BEETLE BAILEY Mort Walker able to hide certain facts about yourself. Be aware of
this in case you have to do some damage control.
Look for ways to help someone by using your influence or clout.
Tonight: Be polite. ✹✹✹
CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19): Today you have a strong
urge to get away from it all. You want to do something
different, like hop on a jet and go someplace exciting!
If possible, take a day trip somewhere. Go someplace
you’ve never been before. Study and learn something
new. Tonight: Cancellations. ✹✹✹✹
AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 18): Don’t be alarmed if your
emotional experiences are much more intense than
usual today — it’s just what’s happening. Be aware
of this and be more patient and learn how to temper
your reactions to others. (You don’t need to be in
someone else’s face.) Tonight: Check your finances. ✹✹✹
PISCES (Feb 19-March 20): Today you will turn your
BEAU PEEP Andrew Christine and Roger Kettle attention to your most personal relationships —
close friends, spouses and partners. Obviously, these
people are more important to you. Because of your
heightened feelings, it follows that these conflicts
with others also will be more emotional. Guard against knee-jerk
reactions. Tonight: Stay mellow. ✹✹

Born today: Actor Jaleel White (1976), actress Elizabeth Marvel (1969),
actress Alison Pill (1985) By Georgia Nichols
The Stars Show the Kind of Day You’ll Have: 5-Dynamic; 4-Positive; 3-Average; 2-So-so; 1-Difficult


QUICK CLUES
Himalayan Double Crossword — 8413 Across: 1 Inconsistency (11) - 9 ___
tribes: tribes like gypsies who refuse
to settle down at one place ? (7) - 10
Clip or cut (5) - 11 Monetary unit of
Vietnam (3) - 13 Wading bird (4) - 16
Let __ __ : tell ? (2,2) - 17 Dotes
upon; loves excessively (6) - 18
Dines or lunches ? (4) - 20 A small
hand-pushed cart for infants (4) - 21
Occult theosophy (6) - 22 Belonging
to you (4) - 23 Heavy blow; thrash (4)
- 25 ‘Me’ in French (3) - 28 Gentle
poke (5) - 29 Mix up or sift through ?
(7) - 30 Renewed strength (11).
Down: 2 Metrical feet (5) - 3 Musical
tailpiece ? (4) - 4 Make a design on
metal, using acid (4) - 5 As well as (4)
- 6 Less dirty ? (7) - 7 Come to an
______: have a pre-mature death ?
(8,3) - 8 It converts sound waves into
electric waves for sending them over
long distances ? (11) - 12 Stadiums
(6) - 14 England’s elite military force
(3) - 15 Salad item (6) - 19 Wheel or
roll along (7) - 20 Foot of an animal
(3) - 24 Like a sprite or a mischie-
vous child (5) - 25 Jan van der ____ :
famous Dutch artist ? (4) - 26 Egyp-
tian goddess (4) - 27 Coal dust; an-
thracite coal of poor quality (4).
CRYPTIC CLUES
Across: 1 That is fixed up with some
sort of a brace and is rudimentary
(11) - 9 Employs a little knowledge
first and pours in (7) - 10 Go one bet-
ter than unelected party (5) - 11 Edge
towards the end of the song (3) - 13
Settle in the constituency (4) - 16 A
no-nonsense start can be made
shortly (4) - 17 Anne’s going out with
North Polar explorer (6) - 18 Amphib-
ian went astray (4) - 20 A ton de-
signed international organisation (4)
- 21 A bed is badly slanted to one
side (6) - 22 Mark of a bad writer ?
(4) - 23 In the dyer’s workshop, he
may work in a rage ! (4) - 25 Put in
jail for stealing a container (3) - 28
Weapon that is a kind of a knife (5) -
29 A boy’s name or a girl’s name (7)
- 30 Confirm the business with an
unfortunate boat error (11).
Down: 2 Fan given article featuring
operatic comedienne (5) - 3 Firm
way to bring a charge (4) - 4 Only a
little darn (4) - 5 Dining in it is part of
the domestic scene (4) - 6 She sets a
nation in turmoil (7) - 7 Find riding
gear and Robert’s odds and ends
(4,3,4) - 8 Programme to bring
broadcasting home to you? (4,4,3) -
12 Extremely clever somewhat in
part (4,2) - 14 What a blow back-
wards and forwards this can deliver!
SOLUTION FOR 8412
QUICK
35$/+5
(3) - 15 Moved unit is unmoved (2,4)
- 19 At least three times how impor-
tant one is to be there (4,3) - 20
Where our army personnel are
trained and somewhat differently too
! (3) - 24 Writer of no substance (5) -
25 Mock like a clown when a man of
god is thrown out (4) - 26 Rounded
mass of world-without-end (4) - 27
Uncouth character having nothing -
nothing right i.e. (4).
YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION
HOW TO SOLVE:
Every number from
1 to 15 must appear in
each of the 15 vertical
columns, in each of the
15 horizontal rows and in
each of the 15 boxes
CRYPTIC
 CMYK
THE HIMALAYAN TIMES, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2021 www.thehimalayantimes.com PAGE 7

Business
s"):"2)%&3 .2"SEEKSTODISCOURAGEIMPORTS
Himalayan News Service
Kathmandu, November 26
a provision whereby cash a trade deficit of Rs 568.17 in mid-October had dwin- Meanwhile, the NRB has
Thousands of
Indian farmers
deposit has been made billion in the first four dled to $10.98 billion from made no changes to the pol-

In a nod to Nepal’s burgeon-

AP
A boy laughing while selling spices
in a street market, in Herat, on
Thursday.
Nabil SSE launched
KATHMANDU: Nabil Bank on Friday
officially launched ‘Nabil School of
Social Entrepreneurship (Nabil SSE)’,
a CSR initiative to support, develop
ing trade deficit, the Nepal
Rastra Bank through its first
quarter review of the Mone-
tary Policy of 2021-22 has
adopted numerous meas-
ures to shore up the coun-
try’s depleting foreign ex-
change reserves.
Among the measures in-
troduced through the review
as announced during a vir-
tual event held today, the
central bank has introduced
Portugal to
hold first
mandatory to open LC for
imports.
Earlier, an importer was
able to open the LC by keep-
ing as collateral the relevant
documents of the company
such as updated registration
certificate, income tax regis-
tration certificate, along
with the various forms pro-
vided by Nepal Rastra Bank,
among others.
The recently unveiled De-
partment of Customs data
showed that Nepal incurred
m o n t h s ( m i d - Ju l y t o
mid-November) of this fiscal
year, a surge of 56.83 per
cent compared to the corre-
sponding period of the pre-
vious fiscal.
Nepal’s export stood at Rs
82.12 billion in the review
period, while the country
imported goods worth a
whopping Rs 650.29 billion.
The latest macroeconom-
ic data of the central bank
also revealed that Nepal’s to-
tal foreign exchange reserve
$12.55 billion in mid-Octo-
ber of 2020.
The NRB, nonetheless,
has projected gradual recov-
ery of COVID-battered
economy with the decline in
the number of people test-
ing positive to the coronavi-
rus, increased availability of
the anti-COVID vaccines,
more number of people opt-
ing for foreign employment,
increase in tourist arrivals
and as the country has now
started exporting electricity.
icy rates such as the statuto-
ry liquidity ratio (SLR) and
cash reserve ratio (CRR).
celebrate one
Similarly, the 90 per cent cap
on credit-deposit (CD) ratio
has also been left un-
changed.
year of key
The central bank has also
introduced a provision
whereby commercial banks
protests
can issue collateral for loans Associated Press
in foreign currency for com- New Delhi, November 26
mercial agriculture, manu-
facturing industries, tour- Thousands of jubilant Indian farmers
ism and projects. waving green and white flags today
marked the anniversary of their move-
ment by celebrating a victory that
forced Prime Minister Narendra Modi
to withdraw three agriculture laws the
farmers feared would drastically reduce
their incomes and leave them at the
mercy of corporations.
Using tractors, jeeps and cars, farm-

and promote social entrepreneurship
in Nepal. Through Nabil SSE, the
bank aims to foster socio-economic
transformation by promoting social
entrepreneurship within the society
based on innovative solutions to
long-term social problems. To create
learning programmes under Nabil
SSE, the bank has partnered with the
School for Social Entrepreneurs In-
dia, who will be playing the role of
‘technical partner’ to help identify,
support and encourage entrepre-
neurial capacity amongst people
working towards creating social im-
pacts. Nabil SSE will be offering two
different programmes — Fellowship
auction of
ers from New Delhi’s neighbouring
states last November converged on the
highways on the outskirts of the capital,
braving a harsh winter, a scorching
right to instal summer and a devastating coronavirus
surge.
Farmer groups are continuing to
floating solar
camp out, mainly at Singhu, Tikri, and
Ghazipur border points with New Del-
hi, waiting for the laws to be officially
panels withdrawn during a parliament session
scheduled to begin next week.
Rakesh Tikait, a top farmer leader,
said they also want government assur-
Reuters ances of guaranteed prices for certain
Lisbon, November 26 essential crops, like wheat and rice — a
system introduced in the 1960s to help

Programme in Social Entrepreneur-
ship and Certificate Course in Social
Entrepreneurship. The fellowship
programme will be a six-month long
programme conducted in partner-
ship with Tribhuvan University
School of Management, Faculty of
Management. Similarly, the bank has
partnered with seven different colleg-
es or universities from every province
to run a three-month-long certificate
course. — HNS
Thailand visitors up
BANGKOK: Thailand has received
more than 100,000 visitors after
launching a scheme earlier this
month that allowed vaccinated tour-
ists to skip quarantine, an official said
on Friday, nearly as high as the num-
ber of arrivals in the first ten months
combined. From next month, Thai-
land plans to deploy rapid antigen
tests rather than PCR tests to shorten
wait times for tourists, said Coronavi-
rus Taskforce Spokesman Taweesin
Wisanuyothin, in a move hoped to
further boost the vital sector. But
numbers still remain far below the
norm — Thailand received 40 million
arrivals in 2019 — and some busi-
nesses and returning tourists have
complained about virus restrictions
that remain in place. — Reuters
France-UK spat
CALAIS: French fishing crews are
threatening to block French ports
and traffic under the English Channel
on Friday to disrupt the flow of goods
to the UK, in a dispute over
post-Brexit fishing licences. It’s the
latest tension point between the
neighbouring countries, who are also
trading blame for not doing enough
to prevent the deaths of at least 27
migrants whose boat sank Wednes-
day off Calais, in the choppy waters of
the world’s busiest shipping route.
French fishermen are angry at the
British government for not granting
more licences to fish in UK waters —
and angry at their own government
for not doing more to defend them.
The fishing industry is economically
tiny but symbolically important for
both Britain and France. — AP
P
ortugal has launched its first
auction for the right to instal
floating solar parks on the wa-
ters of seven of the country’s dams,
with a total production capacity of
263 megawatts.
Floating panels are being tested
around the world, and Portugal’s En-
ergy Secretary Joao Galamba said
the technology not only had benefits
for the environment but was also
more energy-efficient.
They often complement hydroe-
lectric generation, reusing existing
Daraz aims to beef up as
Amazon eyes market share
Reuters
Islamabad, November 26
Pakistan’s largest e-com-
merce retail platform Daraz
aims to host up to 300,000
small to medium enterprises
(SMEs) in two years, its CEO
said, as the firm seeks to bol-
ster its position in its home
market in the face of potential
competition from global gi-
ant Amazon.
E-commerce growth in the
country of 220 million is yet to
take off fully, like in neigh-
bouring India where the mar-
ket features retail heavy-
weights such as Amazon and
Walmart and large local plat-
forms run by India’s Reliance
and Tata groups.
Daraz, founded in 2012 in
Pakistan and acquired by Chi-
nese giant Alibaba in 2018,
has 100,000 SMEs in Pakistan
on its platform.
“We want to get to 300,000
active and educated SMEs
selling on our platform within
the next two years, and that
will basically create a million
India shore up its food reserves and
prevent shortages. He demanded that
Reuters
the government set up a committee to
facilities and avoiding the use of biggest projects of the seven, which said, adding interested parties must settle their demand.
more land. are all expected to be operating by submit their bids by April 4 so a final “We are not going away until our oth-
Portugal’s plan is to instal solar 2023, Galamba said. decision can be made on April 19. er demands are met,’’ he said. There
parks with a capacity of up to 100 Portugal’s largest utility EDP has He said the electricity tariff at was no immediate response by the gov-
MW on the waters of the southern been preparing for the expansion of which bidders commit to sell the en- ernment.
Alqueva dam, the largest artificial this kind of renewable energy and ergy they produce would be decisive Lal Kumar, a 42-year-old farmer, said,
lake in Western Europe, as well as 50 installed a pilot floating solar power in choosing the winners. “Modi has accepted defeat.” With his
MW on the Castelo de Bode dam, lo- plant in the Alto Rabagao dam in Portugal held two auctions in low farm income, Kumar said he was
cated in the central region. 2017 to test the technology. 2019 and 2020 for on-land solar unable to look after his family properly.
The Alqueva and the Castelo de “We’re certain this auction will at- parks and both set world records for Farmers worried that the now-with-
Bode floating solar parks will be the tract enormous interest,” Galamba the lowest price of future output. drawn laws would have left them at the
mercy of corporations that would have
no legal obligation to pay them guaran-
#HINAAMENDS
teed prices.
For Modi’s government, the demon-
strations were its biggest challenge yet.
Experts say key state elections in Febru-
TOBACCOMONOPOLY ary-March could be a major reason be-
hind Modi’s reversal.
Farmers form most influential voting
jobs,” CEO Bjarke Mikkelsen
told Reuters in an interview
Pakistan and Bangladesh over
the last two years, Mikkelsen
LAW bloc in India and politicians have long
considered it unwise to alienate them.
Elections next year will cover Uttar
on Wednesday. said. Reuters Pradesh, India’s largest and most popu-
Pakistan’s rapidly growing It is targeting sales this year Beijing, November 26 lated, Uttarakhand and Punjab states,
middle class, over 60 per cent of nearly $1 billion through its where Modi’s party hopes to win them
youth population and broad- platform, having seen 100 per China amended its tobacco monopoly law today back or shore up its rule. The three
band subscriptions of over cent order growth year-on- to include e-cigarettes, stepping up regulation of states have a sizeable farmer popula-
100 million, makes it a lucra- year in the last four years, he the fast-growing vaping industry in the world’s tion, particularly Punjab.
tive destination for e-com- said. largest tobacco market. Modi’s Bharatiya Janati Party is in
merce platforms. The e-commerce sector in The cabinet order, published on the Chinese charge in Uttar Pradesh but is under
Amazon announced earlier Pakistan grew over 35 per government’s website and signed off by Premier immense pressure over its response to
this year that it will allow Pa- cent in value in the first quar- Li Keqiang, comes into effect immediately. pandemic and the struggling economy.
kistani entrepreneurs to sell
products on its marketplace.
ter of 2021 to 96 billion Paki-
stani rupees ($548.89 million)
A number of Chinese e-cigarette companies
have been set up in recent years to tap into do-
If farmers desert his party, it will not
only shrink its prospects to form the
Before the inter view, compared to 71 billion Paki- mestic sales potential, among them market lead- state government for a second term but
Mikkelsen met Prime Minis- stani rupees ($405.95 million) er RLX Technology Inc. also weaken its chances to get an over-
ter Imran Khan and his fi- over the same period of last Chinese regulators had in March this year whelming majority in 2024 national
nance and investment teams year, according to commerce flagged plans to bring the rules governing the elections.
to discuss coordination ministry data. sale of e-cigarettes and other new tobacco prod- Over the past year, dozens of farmers
on free zones where tech Out of the 70 million users ucts into line with those for ordinary cigarettes. died due to suicide, bad weather and
companies would get special who visited the Daraz website They had previously been in a regulatory grey COVID-19 during the demonstrations,
incentives to flourish, and last month, 35 million were area. which drew international support.
an e-commerce university from Pakistan. Mikkelsen said China’s tobacco industry is controlled entirely The protest has been largely peace-
Khan said Pakistan will be Pakistan was seeing more via a government monopoly, and strict controls ful. However, violence erupted on Janu-
opening. people now ready to use digi- determine which companies and retailers can ary 26 when thousands of farmers
Daraz operates in four oth- tal services. produce and sell cigarettes. stormed New Delhi’s historic Red Fort
er South Asian nations — Ne- He added that e-commerce The government outlawed the sale of e-ciga- and briefly took over it over and hoisted
pal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh in the South Asian nations rettes to minors in 2018 and banned online sales a Sikh religious flag. Most are members
and Mayanmar — with access where Daraz operates was the following year, while Chinese state media of the Sikh minority.
to 500 million customers with only two per cent of the retail have warned of the health and safety risks of us- At least one protester died, and sev-
a team of 10,000 employees. It market, which could be ing the products. eral were injured, as were more than
has invested $100 million in scaled up 10 to 20 times. 390 police officers.

Indonesia jobs law

JAKARTA: A court ruling in Indonesia
against a new jobs creation law could
dim its investment outlook, experts
said on Friday, in a potential blow to
President Joko Widodo’s drive to
boost investment and reduce the
economy’s reliance on consumption.
The Constitutional Court on Thurs-
day ordered the government to
amend the legislation within two
years, citing procedural flaws in its
handling. The government said it will
comply. Indonesia had touted the law
to try to lure foreign investors, citing
related structural changes that have
seen measures introduced to relax la-
bour rules, reduce red tape and speed
up permitting. The deadline of late
2023 for amendments is just before a
general election in 2024, Helmi Ar-
man, an economist with Citibank
said in a note, a period when law-
makers might be distracted. — Reuters
-ALAYSIATOINVESTIGATE$YSONDECISIONTOCUT!4!TIES
Reuters
Kuala Lumpur, November 26
Malaysia said today it will in-
vestigate British home appli-
ance maker Dyson’s decision
to sever ties with ATA IMS over
the Malaysian supplier’s la-
bour practices.
Dyson said on Thursday it
was ending its contract with
ATA after an audit of the com-
pany’s labour practices and al-
legations by a whistleblower.
Malaysia’s Human Resourc-
es Minister M Saravanan said
government wanted to hear
the reasons from both parties.
“I am informed that Dyson
did not want to continue the
contract due to (a) worker
shortage. There are two differ-
ent stories,” Saravanan told re-
porters, adding that he was
waiting to hear Dyson’s side of
the matter.
Malaysia has faced scrutiny
over claims that migrant work-
ers are subjected to abusive
working and living conditions,
while ATA is already being in-
vestigated by the United States
over forced labour allegations.
Saravanan said he has re-
ceived complaints on the use
of forced labour in Malaysia,
specifically forcing workers
into excessive hours due to la-
bour shortages and the collec-
tion of recruitment fees by
agents.
Dyson and ATA did not im-
mediately respond to his com-
ments.
ATA said today it was taking
seriously allegations of forced
labour in an audit summary it
received from Dyson and
claims of physical abuse raised
by a former worker.
The manufacturer said as
soon as it was notified of Dy-
son’s audit it had appointed an
unnamed firm of consultants
to review and verify findings
and to take necessary steps.
ATA said it had hired a law
firm in Malaysia to conduct an
independent review of allega-
tions of physical abuse by the
former worker, and a detailed
report will be finalised soon.
“The preliminary findings of
the independent law firm in-
dicates that the allegations
may be unjustified,” it said.
Former ATA worker Dhan
Kumar Limbu told Reuters that
ATA officials took him to a po-
lice station in June where he
was questioned about sharing
information on conditions at
the factory with activists and
then beaten by police.
Malaysian police did not re-
spond to a request for com-
ment.
Limbu told Reuters he had
recounted his experience in an
interview with Dyson’s law-
yers.
ATA said it is subject to regu-
lar audits and inspections of
the working and living condi-
tions of its workers.
“In none of these audits and
inspections were issues of
forced labour found in the
company,” it said, adding that
some of the inspections by
government departments and
the national human rights in-
stitution were on ad-hoc basis.
In interviews with Reuters,
seven current and former ATA
employees said they had
worked overtime in excess of
limits under Malaysian law
and paid recruitment fees in
their home countries to labour
brokers, a practice activists
have criticised as a form of
debt bondage.
Shares in ATA, which makes
parts for Dyson’s vacuum
cleaners and air purifiers,
plunged a further 36.6 per cent
today and have lost more than
half their value since the Reu-
ters report.
Dyson contributes around
80 per cent of ATA’s revenue
and analysts said it may face
years of losses and challenges
in securing new customers, as
well as dealing with an ongo-
ing labour shortage.
Many factory workers in
Malaysia are migrants and as
borders in Asia have not reo-
pened during the COVID-19
pandemic, industries have not
been able to hire, while some
of those who returned to their
home countries have been un-
able to return.
AmInvestment Bank said in
a note that the full impact of
Dyson’s withdrawal is expect-
ed in the 2023 financial year,
which would ‘severely impact’
ATA’s earnings that year and
beyond.
ATA may have enough time
to replace some of its lost or-
ders with other existing cus-
tomers, AmInvestment said.
“We also foresee challenges
ahead ... to secure new orders
given its dented reputation
and ongoing labour shortage
crisis, which is being viewed as
an operational risk until a con-
crete solution emerges.”
 CMYK
PAGE 8 www.thehimalayantimes.com THE HIMALAYAN TIMES, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2021

Sports
Satdobato Youth Club’s Hemant Thapa Magar (centre) shoots the ball during their Qatar Airways Martyrs Memorial A Division League match
against Three Star Club at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu on Friday.
s4)-%/54
Newly-promoted Satdobato stun
Team off to Bahrain Three Star; Sankata beat Friends
Himalayan News Service
Kathmandu, November 26
Newly-promoted Satdobato
Youth Club stunned Ruslan
Three Star Club 1-0 in the Qatar
Airways Martyrs Memorial A
Division League here at the
Dasharath Stadium today.
Sudip Gurung scored the soli-
tary goal of the match as Satdo-
bato maintained their unbeaten
KATHMANDU: Nepali taekwondo
run in the league. Satdobato
and badminton players on Friday left
for Bahrain to participate in the Asian
Youth Para Games slated for Decem-
ber 2-6 in Manama. Nepal is taking
part in taekwondo and badminton in
had played a goalless draw
against Friends Club in the first
round match.
Fed by Martins Kayode Ajayi
the Games, which features a total of
nine events. Paralympian Palesha
Goverdhan (57kg), Bishal Garbuja
(58kg) and Srijana Ghising (52kg) will
just outside the danger zone,
unmarked Gurung slammed
home a powerful shot leaving
Three Star goalkeeper Guillame
Yves Priso Njanga stranded in
take part K-44 category events in the 29th minute. Satdobato
taekwondo, while coach Kabiraj Negi came close to doubling the tally
Lama accompanied the players to six minutes later bur Neeraj
Bahrain. Prakash Adhikari will partic- Chaudhary shot wide following
ipate in singles event under SL-44 a pass from Sushil Rai.
category of badminton event. Na- Satdobato goalkeeper Ab-
tional Sports Council Board Member
hishek Baral blocked a powerful
Nanda Basyal is the team leader. — HNS
shot from Three Star’s Ritik Ku-
mar Khadka in the 37th minute,
Sherpa cremated while Neeraj Chaudhary saw his
attempt saved by Three Star
custodian Priso in the 63rd min-
ute. Priso saved his side again in
the 72nd minute when he
blocked Ajayi’s attempt from
close range. Neeraj Chaudhary
!NSARIHITSTONAS
0ROVINCE
)TRIUMPH
KATHMANDU: Former Deputy
Prime Minister Bam Dev Gautam,
Minister for Youth and Sports Ma-
heshwor Jung Gahatraj and Nepal
Olympic Committee President Jeevan Himalayan News Service
Ram Shrestha, representatives from Kathmandu, November 26
national association, players and
coaches paid last tribute to Lama Sonu Ansari scored a century as Province-I
Tendi Sherpa at the Sherpa Monastry defeated Province-II by seven wickets in the
in Bouddha, where he was cremated Wai Wai U-19 National Cricket Tournament
on Friday. The former General Secre- here at the TU Stadium today.
tary of NOC and President of Nepal Batting first, Province-II were bowled out
Basketball Association, Sherpa for 211 runs in 48.2 overs before Province-I
passed away at the age of 50 on raced to 214-3 with 35 balls to spare. Opener
Wednesday morning after a three- Ansari single handedly took the control over
year battle with neurology-related the match with an unbeaten century. Ansari
diseases. Earlier, National Sports struck 14 boundaries and three sixes in his
Council organised a condolence 119 not out off 145 and he also earned the
meet on the NSC premises. NSC player-of-the-match award.
Member Secretary Bishnu Raj Dipesh Kandel scored 33 off 53 balls with
Dhakal, department heads Kul Baha- the help of three fours and a six, while Bibek
dur Thapa, Madhu Sudan Basnet, Ar- Anand Mehta remained unbeaten on 24 off
jun BK and Mahendra Rai, staff mem- 29 balls that included four fours. Ansari and
bers and players offered flowers and Anand added 65 runs for the unbroken fourth
paid tribute to Sherpa. — HNS wicket to take the team home safely. Skipper
Ankit Subedi, who shared a 47-run opening
stand with Ansari, hit three fours in his 23-ball
Action against racism 14. Skipper Bibek Yadav, Gulsan Jha and Trit
LONDON: The England and Wales Raj Joshi took one wicket each for Province-II.
Cricket Board (ECB) on Friday re- Earlier, skipper Yadav top scored for Prov-
leased a 12-point action plan to ince-II with 71-ball 70, while Rohan BK struck
tackle racism and discrimination six fours and two sixes in his 47 off 59 balls.
in the sport, including a review of Samsad Mansuri (16) was the next best con-
the “dressing room culture” across tributor for Province-II.
teams and a standardised approach Dipesh Kandel was the pick of the Prov-
to whistleblowing. — Reuters ince-I bowlers taking 3-44, while Dipak Joshi
and Gaurav Katuwal bagged two wickets each
and Abhinaya Rajbanshi claimed one.
Published by: International Media Network Nepal (Pvt) Ltd, APCA House, Baidya Khana Road, Anamnagar, Kathmandu, Nepal, PO Box 11651 Phone: 4770358 E-mail: editorial@thehimalayantimes.com Regd No 143/051/052 Postal Regd. 62/072/73 Printed at: Sama Printers (Pvt) Ltd, Sainbu, Lalitpur. Acting Editor: Rajan Pokhrel
was a unlucky man as he was
denied again by Priso two min-
utes later. Three Star skipper
Bikram Lama headed over the
bar following a corner from Nis-
han Khadka in the 82nd minute.
Satdobato coach Meghraj KC
lauded his players from a bril-
liant performance. “I am not
praising the players because we
won the match. They played re-
ally well against a strong side
like Three Star,” he said. “We are
a new side but the way the play-
ers made attacks on goal was
commendable,” added the for-
mer Three Star coach. “But we
need to improve in finishing.”
Three Star coach Urjan Shres-
tha said his side found it very
hard to tackle the pressure from
opponents. “We missed services
of Hemant Thapa Magar after
he suffered from upset stomach
and we failed in almost every
department. The new team
[Satdobato] played really well
and the result will affect us a lot
in our bid to become champi-
ons,” said Shrestha, adding the
team was looking to sign a strik-
er to strengthen the attack.
In another match, Sankata
Club came from a goal down to
beat Friends Club 2-1. Friends
skipper Prakash Budhathoki
opened the scoring before
Sankata hit back in the second
India’s Shreyas Iyer celebrates after scoring a century against New Zealand on the
second day of their first Test match in Kanpur on Friday.
Naresh Shrestha / THT
half with goals from Niraj Bas-
net and Fode Fofana.
Budhathoki, who missed the
first match due to his engage-
ment, put Friends ahead in the
42nd minute with a perfectly
taken strike from the edge of the
box. Basnet levelled the scores
in the 57th minute when he
headed home following a cor-
ner from Subash Gurng, while
Fofana received a pass from Jor-
dan Junior Owona and beat a
couple of defenders before slot-
ting home to seal all three
points for Sankata.
Earlier, Sankata missed a
chance to take the lead in the
30th minute when Subash Gu-
rung failed to score in one-on-
one situation with Friends goal-
keeper Rahul Ramchandra Ya-
dav after a fine pass from Jay
Gurung. Laxman Ruchal saw
his long-range effort saved by
Yadav in the 45th minute in re-
bound.
Yadav denied Fofana in the
71st minute, while Sankata
goalkeeper Raja Babu Thapa
saved an attempt from Friends
skipper Budhathoki a minute
later. Friends created a chance
to level the scores in the 90th
minute but Prezen Tamang
failed to put the ball into the
nets in one-on-one situation
with Sankata goalie Thapa.
.EPALBEAT-ALAYSIA
KEEPHOPESALIVE
Himalayan News Service
Kathmandu, November 26
Nepal defeated Malaysia by
six wickets to register their
third straight victory in the
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup
Asia Region Qualifiers at the
ICC Academy grounds in
Dubai today.
Nepal restricted Malaysia
for 92-7 in 20 overs and over-
came the total losing four
wickets with 10 balls to
spare. Nepal, who had lost
against Hong Kong in the
first match, are second on
six points, two behind un-
beaten hosts United Arab
Emirates. Hong Kong are
third on six.
Malaysia (two), Bhutan
(two) and Kuwait (zero) are
already out of the race. The
table toppers will make it to
next year’s global qualifiers
and Nepal need to beat the
UAE in the last match on
Sunday with a good net run
rate to progress ahead. UAE
have a NRR of 2.398, while
Nepal have 2.088. Hong
Kong, who have a NRR of
0.447, are also mathemati-
cally in the race to finish at
the top of the table.
Nepal had a chance to
better the NRR after they re-
stricted Malaysia for 92 in
the day’s match but they
took 18.2 overs to reach the
target. Elsa Hunter top
scored for Malaysia with
39 off 48 balls hitting
four boundaries, while Mas
Elysa (14) and Yusrina
Yaakop (12) were the other
batters who contributed in
double figures.
Sabnam Rai took 2-27 for
Nepal, while Kabita Kunwar,
Sita Rana Magar and skipper
Rubina Chhetry grabbed
Iyer scores century on debut,
Kiwis mount strong reply
Reuters
New Delhi, November 26
India’s Shreyas Iyer smashed
a century on his Test debut
b u t Ti m So u t h e e’s l i -
on-hearted bowling and
New Zealand’s top order
left the opening Test be-
tween the teams evenly
poised on Friday.
Southee claimed 5-69, on
a track that had prompted
both sides to pack three
spinners into their respec-
tive teams, to bowl out India
for 345. Openers Will Young
and Tom Latham then
overs too but once again
AP
Nepal’s Sita Rana Magar (left) receives the player-of-the-
match trophy after the ICC T20 World Cup Asia Region
Qualifiers match against Malaysia in Dubai on Friday.
one wicket each.
In reply, Nepal lost opener
Indu Barma (four) with just
16 runs on the board before
vice-captain Rana Magar
and skipper Chhetry added
48 runs for the second wick-
et. They also departed in the
space of four runs, while Ka-
bita Kunwar was dismissed
at a time when Nepal need-
ed three runs to complete
mounted a strong reply for
New Zealand who finished
day two on 129 for no loss,
216 behind, at Kanpur’s
Green Park Stadium.
Young was batting on 75,
with Latham on 50 at the
other end when bad light
stopped play. Young hit 12
boundaries in his assured
knock, while Latham’s stay
was more eventful. The
29-year-old was given out
lbw twice early in his knock
but survived as replays con-
firmed edges before the ball
hit his pad on both occa-
sions. He was adjudged
caught behind in the final
Latham successfully re-
viewed the decision to pro-
long his stay.
India had resumed on
258-4 and all eyes were on
Iyer as the 26-year-old, only
making his debut with sev-
eral frontline batsmen rest-
ed, approached his hun-
dred. He showed no nerves
and hit Kyle Jamieson (3-91)
for back-to-back boundaries
and then took two off him to
bring up his century, the
Mumbai batsman kissing his
helmet and raising his arms
while the sparse crowd in
the stadium cheered.
Southee, who had dis-
missed Ravindra Jadeja for
his overnight score of 50,
wrecked India’s middle and
lower order. His victims in-
cluded Iyer, who made 105
before playing a lazy drive
that was pouched by Will
Young at cover. It was a tame
end to an otherwise stellar
knock studded with two six-
es and 13 boundaries.
Southee, who bowled 11
overs on the trot in the
morning session, went on to
complete his 13th five-wick-
et haul in test cricket. It was a
terrific bowling display by
the 32-year-old, who missed
part of Thursday’s play with
a groin strain but returned to
Photo Courtesy: CAN
the victory.
Player-of-the-match Rana
Magar struck three fours in
his 38-ball 30, while Chhetry
scored 20 off 29 balls. Kun-
war contributed 10. Sarita
Magar (15) and Apsari Be-
gam (one) completed the
formality. Except for Barma,
who was dismissed by Aisya
Eleesa, three Nepali batters
were run out.
torment the Indians after
taking pain-killers. “Having
played a bit of cricket, you
tend to sort of be able to play
through some sort of stiff-
ness and some soreness...,”
he said. “It’s nothing new to
be able to play through a lit-
tle bit of pain...I think the
best painkiller is wickets.”
Spinner Ajaz Patel re-
moved the last two Indian
batsmen as New Zealand
conceded 87 runs on Friday
to claim the last six wickets.
Liton, Mushifur
rescue Tigers
CHATTOGRAM: Liton Das
hit his maiden century as
Bangladesh recovered from
a shaky start to reach 253-4
against Pakistan on the
opening day of the first
cricket Test on Friday.
He and Mushfiqur Rahim
combined for an undefeated
204-run partnership after
Bangladesh was reduced to
49-4 in the first session. They
kept the Pakistan bowlers at
bay from the first half of the
morning session through
the entire second and third
sessions. At stumps owing to
bad light, Liton was on 113
and Mushfiqur on 82. “The
guys showed a great deal of
character and skills after we
were 40-odd for four today,”
Bangladesh batting coach
Ashwell Prince said.
The first hour belonged to
the Pakistan fast bowlers,
who utilised the early mois-
ture on the pitch. Opener
Saif Hasan hit fast bowler
Hasan Ali for two bounda-
ries in the second over to
hint at a good start for Bang-
ladesh. Opening partner
Shadman Islam struggled
against Shaheen Shah Afridi,
who moved the ball well, but
Saif grew with confidence,
driving the left-arm pacer
through mid-off for four.