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

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXIX No. 81 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 35.3 C 6.5 C Monday, May 10, 2021 | 27-01-2078 Dhangadi Jomsom Oli dangles a carrot as Nepal-Khanal faction wavers Nepal-Khanal group remains indecisive as prime minister faces a trust vote today. Janata Samajbadi is a divided house. Congress waits and watches. So do the Maoists.

TIKA R PRADHAN the coronavirus “situation is under KATHMANDU, MAY 9 control” in Nepal. And other parties that could have 8,277 new coronavirus infections. held the government to account for 88 deaths. its spectacular bungling in handling 88,160 active cases. the pandemic have proven themselves 400,000 infections which the country to be useless, analysts have said time is going to log soon since the pandem- and again. ic began. As the ongoing pandemic has failed These were the numbers related to to become Nepali politicians’ priority, the Covid-19 pandemic on Sunday. on Sunday, they were busy holding Nepal’s political parties, however, meetings on crunching their own had some other numbers to focus on. numbers. CPN-UML chair and Prime Minister Had leaders of the Madhav Nepal- KP Sharma Oli was busy figuring out Jhala Nath Khanal faction made a how to achieve the magic number in “decisive move”, as they had prom- the House of Representatives on ised, there would have been some clar- Monday. His bete noire Madhav ity on how Monday’s vote of confi- Kumar Nepal was totally engrossed in dence would move forward. figuring out what number of lawmak- The Nepal-Khanal faction, however, ers he could make resign. The Nepali could not take any decision. Later in Congress was calculating if it could the day, Oli sent his two close aides, get the required numbers to lead the Bishnu Poudel and Subas Nembang, government after unseating Oli. The to convince the Nepal group to put Post pHOTO: SANJOG MANANDHAR Janata Samajbadi Party deliber- their resignation plan on hold. A cancer patient needing chemotherapy waits at Bir Hospital in Kathmandu on Sunday to get a PCR test done. The hospital requires a Covid-19 ated on how to keep its numbers “We have decided to wait until 9am negative report before treating or admitting a patient. in the House intact and how to tomorrow [Monday] for Oli to express utilise them. The Communist his commitment to bringing the Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), party to the stage where it was before which appears to have totally May 2018,” Yogesh Bhattarai, a UML lost the game, appeared to be sit- secretary, told reporters following ting helpless with non-signifi- hours-long meeting after the message Hospitals requiring recommendation for cant numbers in its kitty. from Oli. “Oli must commit to run- That the government has ning the party on the basis of consen- given up its fight against the sus. We will try our best till the last pandemic has already become an moment to ensure that the party oxygen raises concerns about red tape understatement, especially after remains united.” Oli told CNN on Saturday that >> Continued on page 3 Authorities say there is uneven distribution of oxygen and they needed to step in to address shortage in a coordinated way. Police have also stepped in.

name of 10 oxygen manufacturers, most of them based in Kathmandu Valley, instructing them not to supply oxygen to hospitals whether they are public, private or community-run without its recommendation letter. Private hospitals have condemned the government’s decision, saying that the decision would be harsh on private and community hospitals and that it adds bureaucratic hassles just to get the life-saving gas. “At a time when the country needs a unified response from the govern- ment, private sector and all other sec- tors in the current Covid-19 crisis, the government’s unilateral decision is aimed at harassing hospitals run by communities and the private sector,” the Association of Private Health Institution of Nepal, a grouping of private hospitals, said in a statement. Kathmandu-based oxygen plants Post Photo: Beeju Maharjan produce around 8,000 cylinders a day Police take note of an individual buying oxygen at the Patan Industrial Estate on Sunday. but manufacturers say the current demand far exceeds their capacity. PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA will take no more Covid-19 patients But oxygen manufactures are fol- KATHMANDU, MAY 9 without increased oxygen supply. lowing the directive. Authorities have stepped in but that “From Sunday, we have stopped sup- There is a widespread scramble for has not been widely welcomed. plying oxygen to anyone without a bottled oxygen across the country. Blaming the current crisis on mis- recommendation from the ministry,” With surging cases of Covid-19, hos- management in oxygen distribution, said Gaurav Sharda, president of pitals are facing oxygen shortage, the Ministry of Health and Population Oxygen Industries Association. prompting many to declare that they on Saturday issued a circular in the >> Continued on page 2 Air pollution not only impacts health, but can also trigger floods and landslides, study finds Pollutants facilitate the formation of larger clouds that remain for a longer period during which more water is accumulated. When it rains, its intensity is therefore higher.

CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL perature,” Pramod Adhikari, co-au- KATHMANDU, MAY 9 thor of the study, told the Post from the University of Nevada in Reno, United In the last week of March—when wild- States over the phone. “Aerosols, the fires raged across the country, the tiny particles suspended in the atmos- country was shrouded in haze and phere, modulate cloud properties and harmful smoke. hence the intensity and amount of the Nationwide forest fires had taken rainfall. Such a phenomenon can the air quality to hazardous levels result in excessive rainfall and can leaving the general public gasping for cause natural disasters.” clean air. For one of its kind study in the The situation called for a public region, researchers—Adhikari and health emergency. John Mejia, associated with the However, the adverse impact of air Division of Atmospheric Sciences, pollution and deteriorated air quality Desert Research Institute—analysed is not limited to human health. the long-term satellite data of 16 The effects of air pollution tran- post file photo years from 2002 to 2017, focusing on scend public health and can lead to Study shows the freezing point was higher Nepal and northwestern India, to massive loss of lives and property by by 136.82 metres on days with extreme understand the atmospheric impact unleashing catastrophic events like levels of pollution in the atmosphere. of aerosols. floods and landslides, according to the Researchers had then separated pol- findings of a recent study published in tation, and the freezing temperatures luted days and clean days—280 days as Climate Dynamics, a scientific journal. over Himalayan foothills and the polluted and 275 as clean days through Researchers had studied the climat- mountainous region of Nepal. a fixed parameter—to study the level ic impact of aerosols—a collection of “Our findings suggest that atmos- of effects of aerosols on polluted and solid particles or liquid droplets dis- pheric pollution affects the clouds, clean days. persed in the air—on clouds, precipi- rainfall, and the free air freezing tem- >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021 | 02 National Delayed PCR test reports risk coronavirus Air pollution not only ... >> Continued from page 1 is not timely,” Indira Kadel, senior Aerosols include dust, pollutants divisional meteorologist and chief of emitted from sources like vehicles and the climate analysis section at the transmission in Sarlahi district factories, wildfire, and construction Department of Hydrology and sites, among others. Meteorology, told the Post last week. Those who were in contact with the suspects can transmit virus to others while waiting for reports, health workers say. According to Adhikari, aerosols “It’s sensitive. You need proper plan- present in the atmosphere can block ning so that risks are minimised.” sunlight or radiation from reaching Besides water-induced extreme OM PRAKASH THAKUR positive for Covid-19. have been collected in the district for The majority of Covid-19 suspected the surface and, as a result, increase events, air pollution has been a regu- SARLAHI, MAY 9 “We are facing difficulties to man- PCR testing within the last three days. individuals have been provided with atmospheric temperature. lar problem for the country for several age Covid-19 suspects due to delay in “PCR testing has also been affected supplemental oxygen at the hospital. An increase in temperature means years. Every year, the air quality dete- A 55-year-old man from Malangwa receiving test reports. This has due to frequent power cuts. This is “The flow of patients is increasing the 0°C isotherm altitude, the freezing riorates severely in the dry season Municipality Ward No. 8, the district increased the risk of Covid-19 trans- why we are unable to release test now and it’s already beyond the hospi- level that represents the altitude in before improving once again in the headquarters of Sarlahi, took medi- mission,” said Devendra Yadav, mayor reports on time,” said Sah. tal’s capacity. If this situation contin- which the temperature is at 0°C or monsoon season. cines for seasonal flu after suffering of the municipality. “Those who were Until now, the District Hospital has ues, the hospital cannot handle any known as the freezing point of water However, this study has even come from high fever and common cold. But in contact with the suspects can easily collected 390 swab samples after it more patients,” said Upadhyay. in a free atmosphere, is pushed fur- up with findings that the pollution even after several days of taking med- transmit the virus to others while started PCR testing from its own lab According to doctors, it takes at ther up in the atmosphere. levels have a detrimental impact dur- icines, he was not feeling well. So he waiting for the test results to be from April 29. Out of 244 swab samples least five days to receive PCR test “What aerosols do is push freezing ing the monsoon too. went to the District Hospital in Sarlahi released. This is why it is necessary to tested, 85 tested positive for Covid-19, reports after swab collection. “We col- point up from the earth’s surface,” The researchers applied Aerosols to get his swab tested for Covid-19. perform PCR tests and release reports the hospital data showed. lect swabs twice a week and send them said Adhikari. “Our study has found Optical Depth (AOD), a measurement It took three days for his results to soon.” Meanwhile, Kailali is also facing a to Dhangadhi for lab tests. The hospi- that the freezing point had gone up in of particles in the atmosphere which arrive. He tested positive for Covid-19. Sarlahi has 260 active cases at pres- delay in obtaining PCR test reports, as tal receives PCR reports after several Nepal and the northwestern part of calculates how much direct sunlight is “I stayed with my family at the ent with four fatalities, according to the collected swab samples from the days,” Upadhyay said. India on polluted days because the prevented from reaching the ground same house. Now my family might the data of the District Health Office. district are being sent to Dhangadhi In the last few weeks, the hospital radiation from the sun was absorbed by these aerosol particles, and discov- also have contracted the virus. No The District Hospital in Sarlahi has for testing, health workers say. has collected 407 swab samples. and the temperature had increased.” ered that pollution level was higher contact tracing has been conducted a PCR laboratory in operation. “The “We have to keep patients under Among them, the hospital received The study recorded that the freezing even during the monsoon. here,” he said. “Some of my family lab can test 94 swab samples at once. observation until the PCR test reports only 285 test results, 88 of them posi- point was higher by 136.82 metres on The region recorded an average 0.41 members have also complained of The testing becomes expensive if we arrive from Dhangadhi. Usually, tive, as per the data of the hospital. So days with extreme levels of pollution Aerosols Optical Depth value during throat irritation. I would have isolated test just a few samples at a time. This patients showing symptoms of fever, far, nine people have died of Covid-19 in the atmosphere. And the impact of the monsoon season. myself had I gotten the results earli- is why we conduct testing only after headache and common cold are sus- in Tikapur alone, according to the this could be evident on the ground. A value of 0.01 spells an extremely er.” having collected 94 samples, which pected of having Covid-19. If test data of the District Health Office in “With the elevated level of freezing clean atmosphere whereas a value of On Thursday, Godaita Municipality takes a few days,” said Shree Prasad reports are released soon, treatment Kailali. point, there could be rainfall in areas 0.4 would correspond to a very hazy in Sarlahi collected 32 swab samples Sah, senior public health inspector at can be done accordingly,” said Dr where there should have been snow- condition. An average aerosol optical but the reports of only 12 samples the hospital. Ramesh Upadhyay of Tikapur (Ganesh Chaudhary in Tikapur fall,” said Adhikari. “More rainfall depth for the US is 0.11 to 0.15. have arrived so far. Ten of them tested According to him, 390 swab samples Hospital. contributed reporting.) means melting of the existing snow- “We [erroneously] tend to believe pack and glaciers.” that with frequent rainfall, pollutants With the rising temperatures and settle down and the atmosphere is rel- climate change, mountains have atively cleaner,” said Adhikari. already witnessed excessive melting “However, the pollution level was still of snow, and most of the Himalayan high in the higher reaches of the Hospitals requiring recommendation for oxygen raises ... glaciers are rapidly melting and atmosphere. On polluted days, the shrinking. Such melting of glaciers Aerosol Optical Depth value had even leads to a shortage of freshwater clocked to 0.9.” >> Continued from page 1 stored in mountains. Nepal and its Capital Kathmandu Private hospitals have also criti- Also, the rapid shrinking and are constantly ranked as one of the cised the manufacturers’ decision. retreating of glaciers influences the most polluted countries and cities in They say that oxygen manufacturers formation and expansion of glacial the world. A 2020 study concluded that have failed to fulfil their contractual lakes, multiplying the risk of glacial more than 42,000 deaths are attributed obligation of supplying oxygen to pri- lake outburst floods—a threat to com- to air pollution in the country. The vate hospitals after the government’s munities living downstream and country’s geographic location and its ‘unwanted’ intervention. infrastructures. topography, which keeps pollutants “The government hospitals are Researchers Adhikari and Mejia trapped, further worsen pollution. without beds. The private hospitals, also found that the presence of aero- According to Adhikari, in addition where beds are available, have not sols had a bearing on the intensity and to locally emitted aerosols, the aero- been able to provide services due to amount of rainfall. sols are lifted from the Ganga basin, the lack of oxygen due to the govern- According to Adhikari, heavily pol- one of the world’s most polluted ment’s decision,” the association said. luted days with higher aerosols facili- regions, and transported towards the Kumar Thapa, senior vice-president tate the formation of taller and broad- Himalayas with the monsoonal flow. of the association of private hospitals, er clouds over the foothills and moun- “When the monsoonal flow enters said they were forced to make rounds tainous regions of the Nepal the country, it brings that pollution to of the government authorities when Himalayas and northwestern India. mountains from the Indo-Gangetic oxygen should be made available Such a phenomenon increased the plains,” said Adhikari. “Moreover, urgently. intensity and the amount of rainfall, pollutants are also deposited on the “We have been queuing at oxygen which could lead to catastrophic snowpack and this accelerates the plants till now. With the government’s floods and landslides. melting of glaciers in the region.” decision, we have been forced to queue “Besides pushing the temperature Nepal’s vulnerability to climate up at the ministry for the recommen- up, the aerosol level can affect cloud change is likely to exacerbate the dation letter,” said Thapa, who is also condensation nuclei which are tiny impact of air pollution, as pointed out a promoter at Alka Hospital. particles of a cloud droplet. Aerosols in this study. But the government has argued that source: Health Ministry can impact the process of cloud for- The study concluded that freezing the Health Ministry’s recommenda- oxygen. tion letter until the hospital is about to were selling oxygen cylinders in the mation,” said Adhikari. “These cloud line altitude moving higher by 136.82 tion was made mandatory to address Also, according to Gautam, the run out of oxygen,” said spokesperson black market and also hiding cylin- particles remain smaller and will take meters during the heavily polluted the shortage of oxygen in a coordinat- move on the need for recommenda- Gautam. ders in shops and warehouses for time in converting into raindrops. days than relatively cleaner environ- ed way. tions to avail of oxygen is also aimed But oxygen continues to be a scarce future use. Those were confiscated by Such clouds will hang on in the atmos- ments can also be critical in changing “Who knows how many patients are at discouraging distribution of oxy- commodity as well as the cylinders the police,” Kunwar told the Post. phere for a long time and can accumu- the snowline and melting of glaciers there in every hospital, how many are gen to individual households amid that hold it. But despite the efforts, the supply late more water and ultimately lead to which in turn would impact the hydro- in ICUs, on ventilators and wards?” shortage of oxygen at hospitals. Nepal Police has started collecting may not meet the demand. excessive rainfall when it rains, as our climate of the Himalayas. asked Jageshwar Gautam, indicating Oxygen manufacturers say they oxygen cylinders from businesses and There are over 80,000 infected peo- study found.” This higher intensity “Freezing level going up means that only the government has such have been distributing oxygen to indi- factories and distributing them to hos- ple in home isolation, according to the rainfall results in the triggering of snowline, the line that demarcates data. “Therefore, oxygen should also viduals too as per the prescription of pitals. Health Ministry. floods and landslides in the region, snow-covered and snow-free areas, be distributed as per the number and hospitals or doctors. According to the data provided by “Even if 20 percent of them need according to the study’s findings. will move up too. An area that wit- condition of the patients in each hos- Public health experts too have ques- Nepal Police, till Saturday evening treatment, we are not in position to The study found that on polluted nessed snowing earlier would not pital. For this, the government got tioned whether the government’s deci- they have collected 2,781 oxygen cylin- provide treatment,” an official at the days precipitation went up by 1.28mm receive snowfall, but the only area involved to ensure that oxygen is dis- sion would be practical. ders from across the country. Department of Health Services, told on average compared to cleaner days. above,” said Adhikari. “When we tributed properly.” “Hospitals that are overwhelmed by “Nine hundred oxygen cylinders the Post, asking not to be named. “The 1.28mm surge in rainfall could receive less snowfall, glaciers will Despite Gautam’s claims, the gov- Covid-19 patients might require oxy- were given to hospitals that were in On Sunday 88 Covid-19 related seem trivial as it was the average for melt quicker and water will not be ernment every day publishes data on gen even at midnight,” Dr Baburam need of emergency supply while 1,881 deaths were recorded throughout the entire period [of 280 days] we ana- held in the mountain regions where it the number of Covid-19 patients in Marasini, a former director of the cylinders were distributed to oxygen the country. The Health Ministry said lysed. However, on some days, the had been deposited in the snowpack. hospitals. However, the data is not Epidemiology and Disease Control manufacturers,” according to senior that 52 of them died in the last 24 surge was much higher and it can be The water crisis will loom large as complete. For example, there were 50 Division, told the Post, adding, “Will superintendent Basanta Bahadur hours. termed significant,” said Adhikari. mountains store fresh drinking water Covid-19 patients at Kist Hospital on the ministry prepare a recommenda- Kunwar, also the spokesperson for “The other 36 people had died in “Other studies in Arunachal Pradesh in the form of the snowpack.” Saturday, according to the hospital but tion letter at midnight?” Nepal Police. different periods and different places,’ and Himachal Pradesh in India too Researchers like Adhikari feel the the situation report for Saturday does Authorities, however, say that the According to SSP Kunwar, oxygen Gautam, the spokesperson. “Some have shown that one or two days effects of air pollution should be dis- not show Kist hospital as having any process of seeking recommendation cylinders which were being used by had died on the way to hospital, some before the extreme events took place, cussed beyond its immediate impact Covid-19 patients. letters would not hamper hospitals’ businesses for non-medical purposes at home and some tested positive after there was a higher level of aerosols or on human health as it affects the cli- The hospital ran out of oxygen ability to receive oxygen in time. were taken by the police after request- their death only.” pollution in the atmosphere.” mate and everyday weather potential- Saturday afternoon and was able “The hospital management remains ing the owners. The country recorded 8,777 new Nepal, as a natural disaster-prone ly leading to loss of lives and property. to get it from a government hospital to aware of its oxygen stock and they “Many people were also found to cases in the polymerase chain reac- country, is annually battered by vari- “Aerosols emanating from vehicles save the lives of its patients on should not wait to get a recommenda- have kept oxygen in stock, while some tion tests. ous disasters, mainly monsoon-relat- and factories, dust, construction sites, Active cases stand at 88,160. ed calamities like floods, landslides or even wildfires impact human As the Covid-19 pandemic contin- and thunder strikes. health. Besides, they can linger in the ues unabated, doctors warn of fatali- Changing weather patterns, attrib- atmosphere for days and even several ties increasing if patients with uted to climate change, have been weeks and travel far, impacting cloud breathing difficulties are not provid- unleashing erratic and intense rain- formation and precipitation else- ed oxygen support. fall in recent years. The last monsoon where,” said Adhikari. “If we have 2,000 beds and suffi- was considered the deadliest one in a “These pollutants have a direct cient oxygen supply, that will make a decade in terms of the loss of lives impact on health but can also alter lot of difference,” Dr Kiran Pandey, and properties. rainfall patterns, increase snowpack physician at the Hams Hospital, told The upcoming monsoon season, meltings as cascading effects. For the Post. “The major problems are in which is predicted to receive ‘above these reasons too, emission of pollut- the management and coordination normal’ rainfall, is likely to bring sim- ants should be controlled at their among the agencies concerned.” ilar disasters, meteorologists have sources. Measures must be adopted already warned. for minimising pollution sources, if (Arjun Poudel and Shuvam “An above-normal monsoon could not fully control them. Otherwise, the Dhungana contributed reporting.) prove to be a disaster if the response results will be catastrophic.”

C M Y K 03 | MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021 National Oli dangles a carrot as Nepal-Khanal ... >> Continued from page 1 the party has decided not to vote in Oli on Sunday evening also issued favour of Oli. a statement, which did strike a con- “Lawmakers are free to stay neu- ciliatory tone but carried a veiled tral or vote against Oli’s trust threat too. motion,” said Yadav. “It is our con- “There have been attempts to sensus decision not to vote in favour defeat the party and some are even of Oli’s confidence motion. We have planning to resign [as lawmakers] left our lawmakers free to use their en masse,” reads the statement. conscience, whether to stay neutral “Will history forgive those involved or vote against Oli. It’s about the in such activities? Let’s think, what vote of conscience.” will we tell the people tomorrow? But another leader Rajendra So, as a party chair I would like to Shrestha said that the faction led by appeal and request not to be involved Thakur and Mahato could vote in in such criminal activities knowing- favour of Oli. ly or unknowingly. “Yes, the party has decided to vote Oli in his statement has also said against Oli or remain neutral,” said that he would like to assure “all that Shrestha who is from the Yadav- the party will not discriminate Bhattarai faction. “We will vote against anyone.” against Oli, but the group led by The Nepal-Khanal faction’s Thakur and Mahato could vote in announcement that its lawmakers favour.” would resign en masse by Sunday Oli can save his government afternoon never looked convincing, if he manages to stop lawmakers given their vacillation over the past from the Nepal-Khanal faction few months. However, it did pile from resigning. Sending Nembang pressure on Oli, especially after a and Poudel to meet Nepal on faction of the Janata Samajbadi Sunday evening was Oli’s last-ditch Party communicated to him that it effort to convince the opponents. won’t vote in his favour. “We had candid talks. We con- The Mahantha Thakur-Rajendra veyed the party chair Oli’s concerns Post Photo: KESHAV THAPA Mahato faction of the Janata and comrade Nepal too shared his Two boys play a game on a smartphone outside a shuttered shop at Maru, Kathmandu on Sunday, the twelfth day of the lockdown enforced to contain Covid-19. Samajbadi had been in negotiations grievances,” Nembang told the with Oli for the past few weeks. reporters after the meeting. “We But the party itself is a divided House. The Upendra Yadav- Baburam Bhattarai faction in the Leaders from the party is opposed to the idea of supporting Oli. Nepal faction say Chief justice in dock for attending council meet The Nepal-Khanal faction is said to have control over 20 things have reached lawmakers, and their en masse Experts say Rana, who has refused to hear a petition against ordinance on Constitutional Council Act, committed judicial misconduct. resignation would reduce the House a point of no return. strength to 251 from 271 and Oli’s BINOD GHIMIRE can be held if the majority of members Forum, told the Post. “His participa- He, however, didn’t provide the list of votes to 101. KATHMANDU, MAY 9 are present. Before the amendment, at tion in Sunday’s meeting clearly the appointees. In that case Oli would have need- had a serious discussion on why least five members and the chairper- demonstrates that he is deliberately According to sources, former secre- ed 26 more votes to win the vote of party unity is important and how Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher son’s presence was a must to hold a pushing back the petition against the tary Madhav Regmi has been recom- trust. Thakur and Mahato’s mes- we can save the party unity.” Rana’s participation in the meeting of meeting. The constitution has envi- ordinance and appointments.” mended as the chair of the Public sage that they would rather stay With Oli’s position increasingly the Constitutional Council has raised sioned six-members in the prime min- Under Oli, many have been saying Service Commission. Similarly, Dilip neutral has put Oli in a fix. becoming untenable, the Nepal- some serious questions, with many ister-led Council. the principle of separation of powers Regmi, former chief of the National But the likelihood of forming a Khanal faction leaders were also calling it a judicial misconduct and a Currently, there are only five mem- has come under attack, as the lines Investigation Department, has been coalition government after Oli fails concerned that Oli could postpone fraud on the legal system. bers, as there is no deputy Speaker in between the executive, the judiciary recommended as a member of the the trust vote is also low. Monday’s House session by employ- A meeting of the Council, called by the House. and the legislature have been blurred. Commission for Investigation of Abuse The Janata Samajbadi, which has ing Sheetal Niwas. its chair Prime Minister KP Sharma As per the constitutional provisions, Some allegations also have surfaced of Authority. Another person recom- 32 votes (2 lawmakers are suspend- After his meeting with Oli’s confi- Oli, recommended 18 names for various chief justice, House Speaker, leader of if Prime Minister Oli and Chief Justice mended as a member of the anti-cor- ed), has not committed to support- dants, Nembang and Poudel, Nepal posts in different constitutional bodies the opposition, National Assembly Rana are working in collusion. ruption agency is Hari Poudel, accord- ing the Nepali Congress, thereby briefed the lawmakers from his fac- on Sunday. chair and deputy Speaker are the mem- After overturning the House dissolu- ing to sources. creating confusion in the main tion. The meeting, skipped by the leader bers of the Council. Oli as prime minis- tion decision on February 23, which Likewise, former secretary Bir opposition if it should take the lead “There was nothing new,” said of the opposition and House Speaker, ter chairs the Council. was seen as a major setback for Oli, the Bahadur Rai has been recommended as to form a new government. Bhattarai. “It looks like they [the was attended by Chief Justice Rana as Experts say since the earlier recom- Supreme Court within two weeks, on a commissioner of the Election The Congress and the Maoist Oli group] want to buy time and well as National Assembly chair mendations were challenged in the March 7, in a dramatic verdict had Commission. Centre have already decided that distract us.” Ganesh Timilsina. court, Rana as the head of the judiciary made Oli emerge as a powerful prime Nepal’s constitution envisioned a they would vote against Oli’s trust Rumours also did rounds that Oli Experts say Rana should have avoid- Constitutional Council with a view to motion. With 61 votes (two lawmak- could even tender resignation to ed the Council meeting because a peti- appointing individuals to the constitu- ers are suspended) with the avoid the trust motion and stake tion against the recommendations tional bodies on the basis of merit and Congress and 49 votes with the claim to the prime minister’s post as made on December 15 is pending at the qualification so that such entities can Maoist Centre, they will need 16 per Article 76 (3), as the leader of a Constitutional Bench, which he heads. keep a close eye on the government and seats if they were to form a coali- party with the highest number of The petition was filed on December 16. hold it to account. tion government. members in the House. “This is the height of judicial mis- But for years, the constitutional If such a situation arises, Late in the night, Nepal respond- conduct and it is an out and out fraud councils have become a place where the country could head towards ed to Oli through a six-point letter, on the legal system,” said senior advo- leaders place people of their choice, polls. where he demanded that the party cate Dinesh Tripathi, who specialises with some vested interests. If Oli fails in a trust vote and the chair run the organisation as per on constitutional law. In a recent case, the appointments to Congress-Maoist Centre faction the party statute, procedures and The government on Tuesday re-is- the National Human Rights fails to form a new government, the established norms. sued an ordinance on the Constitutional Commission have come into question, President will invoke Article 76 (3), Nepal has also demanded that Oli Council Act (Functions, Duties and with the United Nations and interna- asking the leader of the party that scrap the March 12 decisions. Procedures) 2010, seeking to amend the tional human rights commands the most number of On March 12, through a Central provisions related to calling of the organisations too expressing their seats, which is of course Oli, to form Committee meeting, Oli had decided Council meeting. The same ordinance reservations. They have said the way a government. to amend the party statute to incor- was issued earlier on December 15, and the Oli government has appointed indi- If Oli is appointed prime porate 23 leaders of the Maoist accordingly, as many as 38 names were viduals in the national rights watchdog minister under this clause, he will Centre and changed the responsibil- recommended for various posts, includ- jeopardises the constitutional body’s need to seek a vote of confidence ities of party leaders, stripping ing the chief commissioner of the RSS independence. within 30 days from the date leaders close to Nepal of their Commission for Investigation of Abuse The Council’s meeting recommended 18 names for various posts in different constitutional Chief Justice Rana is complicit in all of the appointment. If he fails responsibilities. of Authority bodies on Sunday. these appointments, experts say. again, the House would be dissolved Nepal has said his faction could But that was challenged in the According to Tripathi, Rana’s and fresh elections would be take a decision on the next move, Supreme Court. The petition was should have avoided the Council meet- minister, as it invalidated the Nepal complicity has become apparent in declared. including what to do with Oli’s moved to the Constitutional Bench for ing unless he redressed the earlier Communist Party (NCP) and revived Oli’s unconstitutional and illegal Leaders from the Nepal-Khanal Monday trust vote only after Oli a hearing. issue. According to them, Rana’s reluc- the CPN-UML and the Communist moves. faction said everything depends on agrees to correct himself. However, though the issue was sched- tance to conduct any hearing and par- Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre). Sundays’ Council meeting to recom- how Oli comes up on Monday morn- UML Chief Whip Bishal Bhattarai uled for hearing over a dozen times, ticipate in a Council meeting to recom- The March 7 verdict, in effect, had mend names for the constitutional bod- ing. has already issued a whip to all the Rana did not take initiative to conduct mend more names for the constitution- caused a split in the alliance formed by ies was held a day ahead of Oli’s trust According to Bhattarai, if Oli lawmakers to vote in favour of Oli’s a hearing. al commissions based on the same ordi- Madhav Kumar Nepal and Pushpa vote in Parliament. refused to express commitment by trust vote. Of the 38 people recommended, 32 nance amounts to a major conflict of Kamal Dahal. Nepal is currently strug- “It has become evident now that the 9am Monday, lawmakers close to the According to the leaders of the were appointed on February 3. They interest and an attack on the judicial gling within the UML against Oli, and longer Rana remains the chief justice, Nepal-Khanal faction would take a Nepal faction, things have reached a did not go through the parliamentary system. Dahal is leading the Maoist Centre, the more deterioration of the decision from their meeting sched- point of no return. hearing process, as Oli on December 20 “The way Rana is behaving shows which after the court verdict was judicial independence the country will uled for 9:30am. “We are planning to finalise had dissolved the House of that as though he heads the legal reduced to the third force in the House. see,” said Tripathi. “It’s an irony that Meanwhile, the Janata Samajbadi everything as soon as the offices Representatives. department of the Oli government and Sunday’s Council meeting recom- the person who is supposed to protect has decided not to issue a whip to its open on Monday,” said Metmani Oli had amended the Constitutional not the judiciary. He has failed to main- mended 18 names for various constitu- the constitution and who is the ulti- lawmakers. Chaudhary, a lawmaker close to Council Act so as to make it easier for tain the integrity and independence of tional bodies, said Udaya Timilsina, a mate arbiter of the constitution has However, according to Upendra Nepal. “Our resignation is essential holding the meetings of the Council. As the judiciary,” Raju Prasad Chapagain, personal aide to National Assembly emerged as a threat to the very Yadav, who leads an opposition fac- to ensure that Oli does not continue per the amendment, a Council meeting chair of the Constitutional Lawyers’ chair Timilsina. constitution.” tion in the party, told reporters that as prime minister. No immediate plan to evacuate workers affected by flight suspension Officials say the government will repatriate the affected workers if the flight suspension remains for an extended period.

CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL abroad,” Kafle told the Post. “We are closely worse in Nepal and India than in the destina- Even after going through long waits work as per the existing repatriation KATHMANDU, MAY 9 watching the situation and getting updates tion countries,” said Shrestha. “As of now, for evacuation flights and complicated guidelines or new guidelines are needed. from other government bodies like the Foreign there are no Nepalis stranded in destination procedures, the stranded workers had to pay But for this month [Nepali Baisakh month], Following the suspension of international Employment Board, which is responsible for countries. So the situation is not alarming many times higher prices for their tickets on nothing has been planned so far.” flights by Nepal from May 6 midnight, hun- the repatriation of workers.” enough so as to warrant immediate repatria- the evacuation flights home. Nepali missions abroad and the Foreign dreds of returnee and outbound Nepali The Labour Ministry, meanwhile, said it tion. But if the suspension is prolonged fur- After the Supreme Court directed the Employment Board can help if any Nepali migrant workers who had already booked their does not have any data on the number of ther then we will have to step in.” government to repatriate the Nepali workers, worker is currently in difficulty due to the flights have been affected. migrant workers affected by the flight suspen- Last year in 2020, when the world was rav- who were languishing in lockdowns in various flight suspension, according to Kafle. As part of its Covid-19 containment meas- sion. destination countries, on the state’s expenses, “A few flights are still allowed from India ures, the government of Nepal has issued pro- According to Rajan Prasad Shrestha, execu- the government had come up with a set of every week. So some workers can even return hibitory orders banning all non-essential ser- tive director with the Foreign Employment All international flights, repatriation guidelines. However, only around using the Indian route,” said Kafle. vices and travel and suspended both domestic Board, on average about 700 Nepali workers 200 Nepali workers could benefit from the Shrestha, the executive director with the and international flights. As per the govern- return home every day from various labour except for two weekly scheme and returned home on the state’s Board, also concurred with Kafle that ment order, international flights to and from destination countries. expenses. anyone facing difficulty abroad due to the Nepal, except for two flights per week between “From last year’s repatriation experience, ones between Nepal and According to government officials, if the flight suspension can seek support from the Nepal and India, remain suspended from mid- we had estimated that around 700 workers flight suspension prolongs for an extended Nepali missions. He said the board would night of May 6 to May 14. return home daily. Most of them return India, remain suspended. period then the government itself might provide necessary funds to the missions. This has also affected migrant workers who because their work contracts have expired,” repatriate the Nepali workers. “The foreign missions abroad can wish to return home to flee the pandemic in the said Shrestha. “So there could be around 6,000 “For now, the flight suspension is only coordinate with the host government and labour destination countries. to 7,000 Nepalis waiting to return home during aged by the first wave of the Covid-19 pandem- for eight days and the government will take care of the workers whose work contracts According to Dipak Kafle, a spokesperson the flights suspension period.” ic, Nepalis living and working in labour desti- decide about whether to end it or prolong it have expired but are unable to return with the Ministry of Labour, Employment and However, Shrestha believes the number of nation countries, mainly in the Persian Gulf further depending upon the Covid-19 situation. home. The number of such workers could be Social Security, the government has been close- Nepali migrants desperate to return home region, Malaysia and South Korea, faced many Since only a few days remain for the current very small and manageable for now,” said ly monitoring the situation. could be smaller this time. hardships. suspension to end, we have not thought of Shrestha. “Earlier, before suspending the internation- “The situation does not look as grim as it Last year, tens of thousands of Nepali any plan for the returnees,” said Kafle, who “Besides, last year’s repatriation guidelines al flights, the government would give a few was in 2020 when the pandemic had hit both migrants had lost their jobs, lived under the is also a joint secretary with the Labour are still in place, so the workers can be evacu- days for people to prepare themselves, but this the source and destination countries. This fear of infection, faced shortage of basic neces- Ministry. “If the disruption continues for ated under the same guidelines. Also, the time the suspension came in a short notice, so time, Nepali migrants might be reluctant to sities and ultimately returned home emp- long, then the government must work to rescue Board has been repatriating workers, who are the cancellations of flights affected the Nepalis return home as the Covid-19 situation looks far ty-handed. its citizens in difficulties. We will see if we can in difficulty, throughout the year.”

C M Y K MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021 | 04 Opinion EDITORIAL China’s pandemic diplomacy Out of control It is the coronavirus pandemic, and not the media narrative, that should be under control.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli thinks everything is under con- trol, just the way Emperor Nero thought everything was under control even as Rome burned, the way Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar thought everything was under control even as Company forces reclaimed Delhi. The situation is under control, except that dozens of people are dying due to the virus every day and thousands of people are being infected. The situation is under control, except that for a patient to get an ICU bed, another patient must either recover or die altogether. It is the coronavi- rus situation, and not the media narrative, that is expected to be under control, Mr Prime Minister. If the situation was under control, the PCR test results of dozens of parliamentarians and staff at Parliament Secretariat would not come back positive. If everything was under control, Oli’s own henchmen inside Baluwatar would not test positive for a second time. If everything was under control, ambulances would not be speeding on empty roads blaring their melanchol- ic sirens, social media walls would not be full of condolence posts and desperate calls for help in securing hospital beds and Shutterstock oxygen supplies, international media would expend their pre- corridor to Afghanistan, and further Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia in response and economic recovery. China cious space raising alarms that Nepal was headed the India way The diplomatic offensive unleash the dividends of regional con- September; Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos is providing an additional grant of in pandemic management. nectivity.” Wang added, “We should and Thailand in October; Japan and medical equipment and materials Hospitals are reported to have stopped admitting patients as shows China’s desire give play to our geographical advantag- South Korea in November; and Nepal worth 5 million RMB (Rs57,000,000). At they are running short of beds and oxygen cylinders. Friends es, strengthen exchanges and connec- and Pakistan in December. The visits the same time, mainly the US, European to be well connected in tivity between the four countries and are said to boost relations, deepen coop- nations, India and the World Bank have and relatives of the patients are running from pillar to post Central Asian countries, and safeguard eration and elevate military mutual been providing grants and assistance trying to manage ICU and ventilator beds for their loved ones. South Asia. regional peace and stability.” trust as part of China’s neighbourhood to counter Covid-19 challenges. Philanthropically-oriented individuals are donating blood, diplomacy. The diplomatic engagement money and food to strangers so that humanity continues to Military alliances is also to safeguard China’s core inter- Nepal’s non-aligned policy thrive despite the crisis. And yet, the prime minister, sitting in BINOJ BASNYAT The four rounds of discussions led by ests particularly from the southwest Nepal’s political parties, particularly China dealt with various themes and containment from the United the communist parties, are trying to his cosy bubble inside Baluwatar, tells the international media including consolidating consensus on States-led alliance and the multifaceted win votes by effectively mobilising that everything is under control. unity; joint prevention and control of international environment. There is a Nepali nationalism but without hurting What’s more, if the denial of the coronavirus crisis and con- the Covid-19 pandemic; avoiding politi- rise in military assistance to South Indian sentiments. The shifting and trol of the media narrative were not enough, the prime minister cisation and stigmatisation of the coro- Asian countries. complications of great power relations navirus with firm support to the World Connectivity, shared consensus on has stressed Nepal’s non-alignment, had the audacity to blame the people for spreading the virus. Health Organisation to maintain multi- common challenges, regional struc- which may be questioned in the years First, he blamed the opposition for not letting him do his work. China has conducted four rounds of lateralism; jointly building global tures, economic advancement, strate- ahead. Nepal adopted the non-aligned Then he blamed the Pushpa Kamal Dahal faction of his erst- multilateral virtual conferences with health community; impact of the pan- gic connectivity and relocating with policy when India was part of it, and while Nepal Communist Party (NCP) for jeopardising their South Asian countries in the last 10 demic with the resumption of econom- ‘good neighbourliness’ will drive China China was strategically important for political future. Then he charged his own comrades supporting months amid speculation and unspeci- ic and trade cooperation; continuation and the nations in South Asia, with the both the Soviets and the US during the fied information about the Covid-19 pan- of BRI infrastructure projects to main- hypothesis ‘will pandemic diplomacy Cold War. China and US rivalry has put the Madhav Kumar Nepal faction with pushing the party demic. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, tain stability of industrial and supply lead to pandemic politics?’ India in diplomatic ambiguity as India towards a split by conducting parallel activities under the CPN- Pakistan and Sri Lanka were among the chains; and creating new economic The Himalayan region of the Indo- needs the US as it needs China and UML. And now, it is the people who are to blame for making a members of the South Asian Association growth points in the digital field. A Pacific Region with the emerging QUAD Russia. A China and Russia conver- mess of the pandemic. for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) who proposal to establish a China-South coalition and the evolution of China’s gence can turn the regional security-po- Perhaps the people did not gargle with guava leaf water took part. State Councillor and Chinese Asia Emergency Supply Mechanism pandemic diplomacy is a disconnected- litical environment in a different tone. Foreign Minister Wang Yi opened the and China-South Asia Poverty ness of India’s influence in South Asia. With China now at the centre, Nepal enough. Perhaps they did not drink turmeric water enough. series of conferences with various Alleviation and Development Even if Nepal reframes its foreign poli- and other South Asian countries will Perhaps they did not sneeze enough. Perhaps they did not follow assistance and strategic programmes Partnership Centre has received con- cy from the customary basis of have to choose which side they would any of the remedies he had prescribed to fight the virus. under its pandemic diplomacy initiative sent, and initial consensus was estab- non-alignment and strategic autonomy like to represent once again with com- If Prime Minister Oli’s method of assessing the coronavirus in July 2020; the last one was held in lished on dealing with non-traditional that has defined independent Nepal’s munism versus democracy with the situation is not entirely different from the globally accepted April 2021. The diplomatic offensive security challenges, enhanced informa- foreign policy, it has a big undertaking question of non-alignment or mul- shows China’s desire to be well connect- tion sharing and advancing sustainable in convincing India, China and the US ti-alignment. Nepal needs India as it methods, then he should have seen clearly that the situation has ed in South Asia. development. or the ‘strategic triangle’ on the merits, needs China and the US, hence the need been out of control for weeks now. It could actually have been The July meeting focused on engag- China’s Defence Minister Wei as foreign policy behaviour is ques- to successfully demonstrate the possi- under control had the government tried to control its despera- ing the South Asian region with the Fenghe called on Sri Lanka and tioned time and again in international bilities for engaging both her immedi- tion for staying in power and focused on the virus. It could have China Pakistan Economic Corridor Bangladesh to oppose powers from out- relations. Beijing’s outreach to the ate neighbours and the only global been under control had the prime minister not focused only on (CPEC) and the Trans-Himalayan side the region setting up military alli- South Asian region comes with closer power is the argument. Decisions in Multi-Dimensional Connectivity ances in South Asia. General Wei com- cooperation in the fight against Covid- Beijing, New Delhi and Washington putting a leash on his party comrades. It could have been under Network. The third conference dis- ments occurred for a push back from 19. When India is battling a resurgence will have an influence on Kathmandu’s control had he been considerate enough to check if hospitals cussed assistance for treatment along the QUAD grouping which is viewed by in coronavirus cases, China is shoring politics like the 12-point agreement, were prepared to deal with the second wave and if the vaccine with Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) China as a pseudo-military alliance or up ties with South Asia through strate- which was adopted in New Delhi and procurement plan was on track. projects for linking up with the Indian as the beginning of another military gic cooperation. whose impact is still ongoing. It is the prime minister’s ineptitude, and that of his friends Ocean. Wang said, “We will actively alliance like the North Atlantic Treaty Nepal’s foreign minister Pradeep promote the building of the CPEC and Organisation or the Indo-Pacific Kumar Gyawali supported the need for Basnyat is a strategic analyst and a and foes, that has resulted in hospitals overflowing with the Trans-Himalayan Connectivity Region. an enhanced level of regional and former major general in the Nepal patients, and cremation grounds overflowing with dead bodies. Network, support the extension of the Wang Yi visited Russia, Kazakhstan, international cooperation for Covid-19 Army. Money alone won’t ensure global vaccine equity

Greece, for example, more than 70,000 Only a transparent, asylum seekers are being excluded from the national vaccination pro- inclusive and gramme. Persecuted minorities, such as well-designed strategy Myanmar’s Rohingya population and India’s Dalits (the lowest-ranked can do that. group in the country’s caste system), are also at high risk of being over- looked. And coordination in conflict ROSALINd MCKENNA zones, such as in Syria, may pose a challenge, with governments poten- tially even ignoring people in these territories. In-country vaccination programmes must include clear protections for the most vulnerable groups, with the World Bank using its leverage to pre- In March, South Sudan received its vent discrimination in the implemen- first batch of Covid-19 vaccines. While tation of its projects. Any vaccine that is good news, it came almost four funding must be made contingent on months after the first doses were its fair and safe distribution. Moreover, administered in the United Kingdom, there must be supervision and moni- highlighting the wide disparities in toring of these projects, as the Bank’s global vaccine distribution. If these own board recently urged. gaps are not narrowed soon—with For this to work, the World Bank international bodies leading a trans- must engage directly with marginal- parent and equitable global vaccine ized groups. Their perspectives are rollout—the entire pandemic response essential to determining how best to will be compromised. spend the pledged funds and to ensure Sudan received its doses thanks to accountability by challenging misuse the Covid-19 Vaccine Global Access of resources and misallocation of vac- (COVAX) facility, which has been at cine doses. the forefront of efforts to ensure equi- The global vaccine rollout is a criti- table access to Covid-19 tests, treat- cal test for an institution whose stated ments, and vaccines worldwide. mission is to ‘end extreme poverty and Institutions like the World Health advance shared prosperity.’ Organization, the World Bank, and Fortunately, there is reason to hope UNICEF have supported these efforts. Shutterstock that the World Bank will pass. Its pres- But rich countries are hampering before many low-income countries such intervention is becoming urgent. knows, poor programme design and substantial—factors that can further ident, David Malpass, has called the progress by continuing to hoard sup- even begin their vaccine rollout. The three US pharmaceutical firms flawed vaccine rollouts can lead to undermine a programme’s efficiency, Covid-19 crisis a ‘pandemic of ine- plies. In the United States, more than To accelerate progress, internation- with approved vaccines—Pfizer, exorbitant costs and unfair outcomes. if not addressed effectively. quality,’ one of its hallmarks being 2.1 million doses are being adminis- al development banks have committed Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson— The first World Bank-financed Covid- These projects are being designed at unequal access to vaccines. tered per day; South Sudan has admin- considerable funding to help poor have already shared with investors 19 vaccine-procurement operation, rapid speed. Too often, however, World But simply throwing money at the istered around 1,000 vaccines in total. countries purchase and distribute vac- plans to raise vaccine prices in the launched in Lebanon in January, was Bank teams—whether at the Bank’s problem will not be enough to solve it. Overall, residents of high- and mid- cines, tests, and treatments. The World near future. In making $12 billion nearly suspended within a month of headquarters in Washington, DC, or Only a transparent, inclusive, and dle-income countries have received Bank alone has promised to contrib- available for vaccine procurement and its launch because politicians were in the countries seeking funds—are well-designed strategy that explicitly 83% of the 1.2 billion vaccine doses ute $12 billion. But the details of its deployment, it remains unclear what cutting in front of higher-priority developing these vaccine programmes protects the interests of the most vul- delivered so far. pledge are getting lost, raising the risk steps the World Bank is taking to individuals, such as health workers. without input from all essential stake- nerable and gives them a way to sound In fact, the combination of export that this much-needed money will be make vaccine manufacturers share Transparency is vital to limiting holders. If groups at risk of being the alarm when things go wrong can bans, hoarding and supply shortages wasted for lack of scrutiny. the technology and know-how to ramp such behaviors, but the World Bank excluded from the vaccine rollouts are do that. That would be money well has meant that COVAX has so far man- For starters, the World Bank has yet up global production. may be setting itself up for more of not involved in project design and spent. aged to deliver only one in five of the to clarify how it will use its market Furthermore, the World Bank is the same: It recently approved a pro- monitoring, it will become all the Oxford-AstraZeneca doses that were power to ensure that doses remain still struggling to explain how it plans ject in Ethiopia, where similar more likely that they will be left Rosalind McKenna is a team manager supposed to arrive in countries by the affordable. But as vaccine producers to ensure that its expenditure is trans- queue-jumping is a known risk. It has behind. in the financing division of the Open end of this month. At this rate, such as Johnson & Johnson back away parent, or ensure that countries abide also approved a project in Tunisia, Such groups include refugees, pris- Society Foundation’s Public Health advanced economies will be able to from their pledges to make vaccines by plans to get vaccines to priority where vaccine hesitancy and skepti- oners, and people living in slums and Program. vaccinate their entire populations available on a not-for-profit basis, populations. As the World Bank cism, and disinformation efforts, are other overcrowded conditions. In — Project Syndicate

C M Y K 05 | MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021 Money

FOREX Greece reopens US Dollar 117.92 Industry department recommends review of Euro 143.44 beaches after Pound Sterling 164.78 Japanese Yen 10.86 minimum threshold on foreign investment lockdown Chinese Yuan 18.33 REUTERS In May 2019, the government had revised the minimum threshold for FDI to Rs50 million from Rs5 million. However, at that ATHENS, MAY 9 Qatari Riyal 32.38

Australian Dollar 92.50 time, the private sector had opposed the move saying that the potential investors might consider the policy restrictive. With widely spaced sun loung- ers and regular disinfections, Malaysian Ringit 28.68 KRISHANA PRASAIN changes in the economy, foreign Greece reopened its organised KATHMANDU, MAY 9 investment commitment has been beaches on Saturday as the Saudi Arab Riyal 31.44 increasing after the fiscal year 2017-18, popular Mediterranean holi- Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank Two years after the government the report said. day destination eases Covid-19 had implemented the minimum thresh- The report also highlighted some curbs in preparation for the old requirement for foreign direct problems in the implementation of the return of foreign visitors Shares investment, a government committee Foreign Investment and Transfer of next week. has recommended that the minimum Technology Act, 2019 (FITTA). Tourism accounts for about Nepse 2,618.56pts -0.70% threshold be revised sector-wise to For instance, technology transfer, in a fifth of Greece’s economy improve the country’s foreign invest- general, is the transfer of knowledge, and jobs, and—after the worst highest losers ment attractiveness. skill, technology from one side to anoth- year on record for the industry MLBSL BBC SHEL UNHPL SMB RRHP -10% -9.99% -9.56% -9.24% -7.44% -7.29% The study report on foreign direct er, but as per the existing Act, the con- last year—the country can ill investment-2021 published by the sulting service purchase from foreign afford another lost summer. moderate losers DHPL KKHC JSLBB BARUN CHL USLB Ministry of Industry, Commerce and countries also comes under technology “We’re pinning our hopes -6.63% -6.06% -5.11% -5.02% -4.89% -4.76% Supplies said that the investment transfer. on tourism,” said Nikos

moderate gainers threshold of Rs50 million in all sectors There is no clear provision for inves- Venieris, who manages a SHINE SPDL MBL RBCLPO KBL MEN is not practical. tors who want to cancel the investment, sandy beach in the seafront 1.5% 1.62% 1.63% 2.01% 2.24% 2.24% In May 2019, the government the report said. suburb of Alimos, just outside highest gainers had revised the minimum threshold for There is no situation for investors to the capital, Athens, where SRBL BOKL RBCL CORBL RURU SMATA foreign direct investment from Rs5 mil- reinvest their earned profit in the com- social distancing measures 2.63% 2.95% 3.55% 4.64% 9.82% 9.99% lion to Rs50 million. However, at that pany although there is provision for will remain in place. time, the private sector had opposed the reinvestment, the report said. Under current measures, move saying that potential investors Foreign investors can invest 100 per- beach managers like Venieris might consider the threshold policy cent as per the provision in the Act but will have to place umbrellas at Price Per tola restrictive. other rules of governing bodies do not least four metres, carry out bullion After nearly two years, the report pre- allow 100 percent foreign investment in regular disinfections and test pared by Jiblal Bhusal, director general many sectors like casino, aviation, tele- beach bar employees and other Fine Gold Rs 91,800 at the Department of Industry, said that communication among others, accord- staff for Covid-19. the investment ceiling can be insuffi- ing to the report. Greece fared well in keeping Silver Rs 1,345 cient for investors investing in industry POST FILE PHOTO The most crucial service providers the first wave of the pandemic but it’s high for those willing to invest in The five-star standard 45 Keys Boutique Resort in Kaskikot, Pokhara built with foreign direct like the Department of Industry, Office under control last year but a SoG urce: FENE OSIDA service sectors like software companies. investment from Singapore has postponed its opening date due to the coronavirus. of the Company Registrar, Investment resurgence in cases pushed Nepali private sector has been saying Board and the central bank are not digi- health services to the limit that small businesses, such as restau- According to the central bank survey tized and it has been causing hassles for and prompted authorities to gasoline watch rants, coffee shops and hotels need a report, between 1995-96 and 2019-20, total investors as they need to do traditional impose a second lockdown in lower threshold. “We have realised that The service sector actual foreign direct investment inflow paperwork which is time consuming, November. As infections have it would be more practical if the foreign stood around 34.1 percent of total for- according to the report. fallen and vaccinations gath- investment limitation is fixed based on attracts most of the eign investment approval. As the FIITA regulation has provi- ered pace, authorities have sector-wise investment,” said Bhusal. foreign investment According to the Department of sioned providing commercial visas for steadily eased restrictions, The Federation of Nepalese Chambers Industry report, sector-wise, the service only two foreign investors, the report opening bars and restaurants of Commerce and Industries, the coun- while infrastucture sector has been able to attract most of has suggested expanding the privilege earlier this week. try’s apex private sector body, have also the foreign investment while the infra- to at least five people based on the been arguing that the investment limita- sees the least. structure sector saw the least. investment. tion of Rs50 million is not practical for Industry-wise, foreign investment in Although the government had startup companies. the energy industry has attracted most announced a VAT refund in hydropower “Foreign investment commitment is tially the most affected, the decline has of the investment because of the huge projects, it has not been implemented, expected to be hit severely by the sec- now spread to developing countries, investment in nature. the report said. ond-wave of the pandemic. It is hard to with inward investment in most coun- Similarly, the report said that the As per the existing law, foreign meet the target this fiscal year as invest- tries falling in 2020. The decline in for- number of foreign investment inflows is direct investment up to Rs6 billion is ment has stopped following the closure eign direct investment poses significant high in Bagmati province and very low approved by the Industry Department, of offices,” Bhusal said. challenges for many developing coun- in the Sudurpaschim province. while investment of more than Rs6 bil- According to Nepal Rastra Bank, the tries like Nepal, as it has become one of In the past decade, the highest foreign lion is approved by the Investment country’s central bank, foreign direct the major sources of external financing investment commitment of Rs253.52 bil- Board Nepal. investment flows fell abruptly in 2020 in recent years. lion was approved in the fiscal year Bhusal said that there are many prob- globally as a result of the Covid-19 pan- The recent trend of foreign invest- 2015-16, right after the earthquake of lems that they have identified in the demic. The decline is projected to be ment realisation shows that there is a 2015 that killed nearly 9,000 people report that need to be sorted out by more severe than those seen after the huge gap between approved foreign and damaged infrastructure worth bil- amending the foreign investment law Global Financial Crisis in 2009. direct investment and actual foreign lions of dollars. and regulation to build up investor con- While developed economies were ini- direct investment inflows in Nepal. With political stability and positive fidence in Nepal.

C M Y K MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021 | 06 world Myanmar junta China to create brands ousted As coronavirus cases grow, India’s ‘line of separation’ lawmakers ‘terrorists’ vaccination campaign falters at Everest summit ASSOCIATED PRESS BANGKOK, MAY 9 So far, around 10 percent of India’s population have received one shot while just under 2.5 percent have got both. on Covid-19 fears

Myanmar’s junta has labelled a book a slot. For Gurmukh Singh, a REUTERS shadow government of lawmakers marketing professional in the city, this BEIJING, MAY 9 and politicians ousted in a February has been impossible. “It gets really coup and a people’s defence force that frustrating, having so many hospitals China will set up “a line of separa- is being set up to confront security and vaccine centres around but not tion” at the summit of Mount Everest forces as terrorist groups. being able to get access because they to prevent the mingling of climbers The government of national unity are all pre-booked,” he said. from Covid-19-hit Nepal and those was established by elected legislators Experts also point to a new ascending from the Tibetan side as a who were barred from taking their policy change by the government, precautionary measure, Chinese state seats when the military seized power which has upended how doses are media reported on Sunday. and detained civilian leader Aung San being distributed. Everest base camp on the Nepalese Suu Kyi and others. Previously, all of the stock was side has been hit by coronavirus cases The junta has previously accused bought by the federal government and since late April. The Nepalese govern- them of treason, and the announce- then administered to the population ment, starved of tourism revenue, has ment on state TV Saturday said they through both public and private yet to cancel the spring climbing sea- were being branded terrorists because health facilities. son, usually from April to early June of their participation in a civil disobe- But from May 1, all available stock before the monsoon rains. dience movement—a popular revolt has been divided in two, with 50 per- It was not immediately clear how against the military takeover that has cent purchased by the government the line would be enforced on the sum- seen people taking to the streets daily going to public health centres to inoc- mit, a tiny, perilous and inhospitable despite the lethal use of force by ulate those above 45. The remaining area the size of a dining table. authorities. half is being purchased by states and A small team of Tibetan climbing the private sector directly from manu- guides will ascend Everest and set up facturers at set prices to give adults the “line of separation” at the summit The junta has below 45. This has led to lags as states to stop any contact between mountain- and private hospitals, still adjusting to eers from both sides of the peak, previously accused new rules, struggle to procure sup- Xinhua news agency reported, citing plies on their own. the head of Tibet’s sports bureau. ousted lawmakers AP/rss “You have now taken it out of a fair- A group of 21 Chinese nationals are Relatives stand near the funeral pyre of their loved one who died due to Covid-19 at a cremation ground in Prayagraj, India. ly efficient system where every dose en route to the summit on the Tibetan of treason. was still centrally-controlled,” said side, Xinhua reported. ASSOCIATED PRESS reaching states. Complaints of oxygen Bhramar Mukherjee, a biostatistician Jacob John, a professor of community The Tibetan guides will set up the BENGALURU, MAY 9 shortages have dominated the top at the University of Michigan who has medicine at Christian Medical separation line ahead of their arrival, More than 700 protesters and court recently, which stepped in been tracking India’s epidemic. College, Vellore. “But with market the state-run news agency said, without bystanders have been killed by securi- Since India opened vaccinations to all earlier this week to make sure the One reason for the drop in shots is forces at play and unprepared describing what the line would look like. ty forces since the February 1 coup, adults this month, hoping to tame a federal government provided more that there are just not enough availa- states burdened with such a daunting It was also unclear whether the according to several detailed esti- disastrous coronavirus surge sweep- medical oxygen to hospitals in the ble, experts say. Currently, India’s two task, the efficiency of the system Tibetan guides would be the ones mates. The junta has said the death ing across the country, the pace of capital, New Delhi. vaccine makers produce an estimated has fallen.” enforcing the “separation”, or wheth- toll is about one-third of that, and that administering the shots has dropped The country’s massive vaccination 70 million doses each month of the Things could change in the coming er they would remain in the so-called the use of lethal force was justified to with states saying they only have lim- drive kicked off sluggishly in January two approved shots—AstraZeneca, months, as the government last month death zone, where many lives have end what it called rioting. ited stock to give out. when cases were low and exports of made by the Serum Institute of India, gave an advance to the Serum Institute been lost due to a dearth of oxygen, to Last week, the shadow government Cases meanwhile are still rising at vaccines were high, with 64 million and another by Bharat Biotech. of India and Bharat Biotech, which hold the line. announced the formation of “People’s record pace in the world’s second-most doses going overseas. But as infec- Vaccine supply has remained near- could help boost manufacturing. And The top of the 8,848-metre peak is a Defence Force,” which would serve as populous nation. Alongside a slow- tions started to rise in March and ly the same since the drive began in last week, India received its first batch small mound of snow with barely a precursor to a “Federal Union down in vaccinations, states have April, India’s exports drastically January, but the target population eli- of Sputnik V vaccines. Russia has enough space for half a dozen climb- Army” of democratic forces. gone to court over oxygen shortages as slowed down so doses went to its own gible has increased by threefold, said signed a deal with an Indian pharma- ers and guides at any one time. The National Unity Government hospitals struggle to treat a running population. So far, around 10 percent Chandrakant Lahariya, a health poli- ceutical company to distribute 125 China has not allowed any foreign has the backing of several major eth- line of Covid-19 patients. of India’s population have received cy expert. “In the beginning, India had million doses. climbers to ascend from the Tibetan side nic minority groups who for decades On Sunday, India reported 403,738 one shot while just under 2.5 percent far more assured supply available But with vaccines currently in since the outbreak of the new coronavi- have been seeking greater autonomy confirmed cases, including 4,092 have got both. than the demand, but now the situa- short supply, there are worries that rus last year due to infection concerns. and who maintain their own guerrilla deaths. Overall, India has over 22 mil- At its peak in early April, India was tion has reversed,” he added. those most in need are missing out. Tourists in the Everest scenic area forces. The two most important are lion confirmed infections and 240,000 administering a record high of 3.5 In Kerala state, the drive to inocu- The goal should be to prioritise pre- in Tibet are also banned from visiting the Kachin in the north and the Karen deaths. Experts say both figures are million shots a day on average. But late all adults is crawling venting deaths, which means fully the base camp on the Tibetan side. in the east, both actively engaged in undercounts. this number has consistently shrunk along because “our single biggest vaccinating the elderly and vulnera- Mainland China on Sunday report- combat with the government’s mili- India’s Supreme Court said since, reaching an average of 1.3 mil- problem is the very slow arrival of ble first, said Dr. Gagandeep Kang, a ed 12 new Covid-19 cases on May 8 - all tary forces. Since the coup and crack- Saturday it would set up a national lion shots a day over the past week. supplies,” said the state’s Covid-19 microbiologist at Christian Medical of which involved travellers arriving down on opponents, students and fac- task force consisting of top experts Between April 6 and May 6, daily officer, Amar Fetle. College, Vellore. from overseas - up from seven a day tory workers have fled to territory and doctors to conduct an “oxygen doses have dropped by 38 percent, In New Delhi, many are waiting for “You need to give it (earlier) to peo- earlier. Nepal reported 9,023 new cases controlled by the ethnic guerrilla forc- audit” to determine whether supplies even as cases have tripled and deaths hours outside vaccination centres— ple who are more likely to die first,” on Friday, the country’s biggest one- es to take military training. from the federal government were have jumped sixfold, according to but only after they’ve been able to Kang said. day increase.

Briefing Putin reviews Russian

Afghan school blast toll rises to 58, families bury victims military might as KABUL: The death toll from an explo- sion outside a school in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul has risen to 58, Afghan tensions with West soar officials said on Sunday, with doctors struggling to provide medical care to REUTERS “Russia will again and again uphold at least 150 injured. The bombing on MOSCOW, MAY 9 international law, but at the same Saturday evening shook the city’s time we will firmly protect national Shi’ite Muslim neighbourhood of President Vladimir Putin reviewed interests (and) ensure the security of Dasht-e-Barchi. The community, a Russia’s traditional World War Two our people.” religious minority in Afghanistan, victory parade on Sunday, a patriotic This year’s parade precedes parlia- has been targeted in the past by display of raw military power that mentary elections in September and Islamic State militants, a Sunni mili- this year coincides with soaring ten- comes at a time when Moscow’s rela- tant group. A car bomb was detonated sions with the West. tions with the West are acutely in front of the Sayed Al-Shuhada The parade on Moscow’s Red Square strained over issues ranging from the school on Saturday, and when the stu- commemorating the 76th anniversary conflict in Ukraine to the fate of jailed dents rushed out in panic, two more of the Soviet Union’s victory over Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. bombs exploded. Officials said more Nazi Germany in World War Two fea- The United States and Russia have than 150 people had been wounded, tured over 12,000 troops and more than expelled each other’s diplomats in adding that most of the victims were 190 pieces of military hardware, recent months in a series of retaliato- female students. Afghan President including intercontinental ballistic ry moves and Moscow and EU mem- Ashraf Ghani on Saturday blamed missile launchers, and a fly-past by ber states have been involved in a the attack on Taliban insurgents but nearly 80 military aircraft under similar tit-for-tat diplomatic dispute. a spokesman for the Taliban denied cloudy skies. Sunday’s parade follows a massive involvement. Putin, who has been in power as show of Russian military force near either president or prime minister the borders of Ukraine and in Crimea, since 1999, stood beside Soviet war which Russia annexed from Kyiv in US Navy seizes weapons veterans on a review platform set up 2014, and an uptick in fighting in east- likely bound for Yemen on Red Square. ern Ukraine between Russian-backed DUBAI: The US Navy announced on “Unfortunately there are once again separatists and Ukrainian govern- Sunday it seized an arms shipment of attempts to deploy many things from ment forces. thousands of assault weapons, the ideology of the Nazis, those who Moscow said the build-up, which machine guns and sniper rifles hid- were obsessed with a delusional theo- alarmed the West, was a training exer- den aboard a ship in the Arabian Sea, ry on their exclusiveness. And not cise in response to activity by the apparently bound for Yemen to sup- only (by) all sorts of radicals and NATO military alliance and Ukraine. port the country’s Houthi rebels. An international terrorist groups,” Putin It has since ordered a withdrawal of American defence official told The said in what appeared to be a common some troops. Smaller military parades Associated Press that the Navy’s ini- denunciation of the West but what the took place on Sunday in cities across tial investigation found the vessel Kremlin said was aimed at the rise of Russia and in annexed Crimea, and at AP/rss came from Iran, again tying the neo-Nazism in Europe. Russia’s Hmeymim air base in Syria. People who are against the Tokyo 2020 Olympics march around Tokyo’s National Stadium during an anti-Olympics demonstration on Sunday, Islamic Republic to arming the Houthis despite a United Nations arms embargo. Iran’s mission to the UN did not immediately respond to a request for comment. ‘Freedom’ fiestas: Spaniards celebrate end of Covid-19 curfew Chinese rocket debris lands in REUTERS “Young people, like everyone else, Only four regions were keeping it: Indian Ocean, draws criticism MADRID/BARCELONA, MAY 9 have been very restricted,” said shop the Balearic Islands, the Canary BEIJING: Remnants of China’s worker Paula Garcia, 28, on the beach Islands, Navarra and Valencia. biggest rocket landed in the Indian Exhilarated Spaniards danced in in Barcelona. “Now was time to give “It was time they let us out,” said Ocean on Sunday, with most of its streets, chanted “freedom” and us a bit of freedom to enjoy a little of store clerk Andreu Pujol, 25, also on components destroyed upon re-entry partied on beaches overnight as a the summer.” the beach in Barcelona. into the atmosphere, ending days of Covid-19 curfew ended across most of But social media videos of large “Even so, I am still very unhappy speculation over where the debris the nation. groups paying little heed to Covid-19 with the handling (of the pandemic). would hit but drawing US criticism In scenes akin to New Year’s Eve distancing drew criticism from You can see that in this country over lack of transparency. The celebrations, hundreds of mainly some. “Freedom does not include all they do is make things up as they coordinates given by Chinese state young people gathered in Madrid’s breaking the rules,” said Madrid’s go along,” . media, citing the China Manned Puerta del Sol square to applaud the conservative mayor Jose Luis As impromptu parties sprung up in Space Engineering Office, put the clock striking midnight while in Martinez-Almeida, emphasising town centres around the nation, police point of impact in the ocean, west Barcelona revellers headed to the that gatherings to drink on the kept a wary eye, reminding some of the Maldives archipelago. Debris beach with drinks in hand. street, known as “botellones”, were revellers that drinking on the street from the Long March 5B has had Police in Barcelona had the prohibited. was prohibited. some people looking warily sky- strange task of moving people on after One of Europe’s worst-hit nations, Madrid’s right-wing regional presi- ward since it blasted off from the last curfew began at 10pm, only to Spain has suffered 78,792 coronavirus dent Isabel Diaz Ayuso just won ree- China’s Hainan island on April 29, let them back at midnight when it deaths and 3.6 million cases. But infec- lection after campaigning on looser but the China Manned Space ended for good. tion rates have fallen and vaccinations measures, but the city has the second Engineering Office said most of REUTERS Some people wore masks but there are progressing fast, enabling most of highest infection rate in Spain and the debris was burnt up in People celebrate on a street in the neighbourhood of Born, as the state of emergency gets was scant social distancing as friends the 17 regions to scrap the curfew was still ordering bars and restau- the atmosphere. (AGENCIES) lifted in Barcelona, Spain. kissed, hugged, danced and sang. until dawn. rants shut from midnight.

C M Y K 07 | MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021 Sports | Medley Kathmandu Rayzrs end league rounds on top Man United delay Man Bal Gopal Maharjan-led side edge Chitwan FC 2-0 to move three points clear on top of the Nepal Super League standings. City’s coronation SPORTS BUREAU KATHMANDU, May 9 Agence France-Presse Douglas Luiz playing in Traore. The BIRMINGHAM, May 9 Burkina Faso international turned Kathmandu Rayzrs edged FC Chitwan neatly and held off the challenge of 2-1 in the last league match to finish Manchester United put Manchester Victor Lindelof before beating United the group rounds as table toppers in City’s Premier League title celebra- goalkeeper Dean Henderson with a the Nepal Super League football tour- tions on hold after coming from powerful shot into the far corner. nament at the Dasharath Stadium in behind to win 3-1 away to Aston Villa United nearly equalised five min- Tripureshwor on Sunday. on Sunday. utes before half-time but Greenwood’s The result did not have much signif- Defeat for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s low shot was pushed away by Emi icance for either team as former side would have handed the title to Martinez. But United were level in th national coach Bal Gopal Maharjan- City and their local rivals would have 52nd minute when Fernandes scored led Kathmandu were already assured enjoyed seeing Villa’s Bertrand Traore from the spot after Paul Pogba was of a playoff place and top two finishes opening the scoring midway through brought down in the box by Luiz. irrespective of the outcome of the last the first half. And they led in the 56th minute group match. Coach Meghraj KC-led But United hit back with two goals after Aaron Wan-Bissaka found Chitwan were the first team to crash in four minutes after the break, Bruno Greenwood inside the box, with the out from playoff contention and their Fernandes equalising from the penal- teenage England forward beating bottom place finish was also con- ty spot before Mason Greenwood put Martinez with a low shot. Worryingly firmed before the kick-off. them ahead. United wrapped up the for United, defender Harry Maguire However, it was a prestige game as win thanks to substitute Edinson limped off 12 minutes from time. But the win secured Kathmandu first Cavani’s goal three minutes from Cavani made the game safe with an place finish in the league rounds with time. 87th-minute glancing header from 13 points in the first ever franchise Victory left second-placed United 10 Marcus Rashford’s cross. football league of the country. They points behind leaders City, with 12 still And there was still time for Villa’s replaced Dhangadhi FC, the only side on offer to the Red Devils from their Ollie Watkins to be sent off after he that defeated Kathmandu, from the final four league games. was shown a second yellow card for summit winning four, losing one and United, however, face Leicester and diving. drawing one match each. Chitwan Liverpool in the coming week and On Saturday, Sadio Mane’s first-half became the only team to bow out win- defeat in either of those matches will header and a late effort by Thiago less with two points, losing four and Post Photo: Hemanta shrestha see City, beaten 2-1 at home to Chelsea earned Liverpool an unconvincing playing draw in two matches. A scene from the Nepal Super League football match between Kathmandu Rayzrs (red) and FC Chitwan at the Dasharath Stadium on Sunday. on Saturday, crowned champions 2-0 win at home to Southampton to All three goals came in the first half before Pep Guardiola’s men are away keep Juergen Klopp’s side in the hunt as Cameroonian winger Messouke E raising my voice today but everything Oloumou, who had scored a to Newcastle on Friday. for a top-four finish in the Premier Oloumou gave an early lead to will come out in due course. There are NEPAL SUPER LEAGUE Table hat-trick against Biratnagar City FC, United kicked off having not lost a League. Kathmandu taking his scoring tally to a lot of hidden things,” said put Kathmandu ahead in the 17th min- Premier League match at Villa Park Liverpool were far from their best, the highest five goals. Sanjok Rai dou- Karmacharya. Team P W D L GF GA Pts ute with his solo display as he since 1995, a year before current man- and keeper Alisson saved them on bled the advantage for Kathmandu Kathmandu and Dhangadhi will vie Kathmandu 6 4 1 1 9 8 13 rounded up two Chitwan defenders ager Solskjaer joined the club as a several occasions. But the win moved before Rajiv Lopchan cut the deficit in the first playoff match on Tuesday Dhangadhi 6 3 1 2 8 5 10 and beat goalie Roman Rasaili in a striker. Villa’s hopes of ending that them into sixth spot with 57 points for Chitwan. with the winners among them secur- Lalitpur 6 2 3 1 7 3 9 one-versus-one situation to open the run against United were not helped by from 34 games, six points behind Referee judgment again drew con- ing a place for the final. The losing scoring. Midfielder Rai doubled the England international Jack Grealish’s fourth-placed Leicester City with a Butwal Lumbini 6 2 2 2 7 6 8 troversy as Chitwan assistant coach team will play in the second qualifier advantage in the 37th minute with a ongoing absence due to a shin injury, game in hand. Sailesh Karmacharya questioned on Thursday, where they will play the Pokhara 6 2 2 2 3 4 8 well placed shot from the area after he with Egypt forward Trezeguet a long- Mane got on the end of Mohamed their integrity. winners among Lalitpur City FC and Biratnagar 6 2 1 3 11 12 7 capitalised on a defensive error of term absentee as well. Grealish looked Salah’s flighted pass into the area in “The referee did not give good [fair] Butwal Lumbini FC. Chitwan 6 0 2 4 5 12 2 Chitwan. on from the stands on Sunday as did the 31st minute, seconds after decisions but I am not saying that they Kathmandu coach Maharjan said Rajiv Lopchan pulled one back in England manager Gareth Southgate, Southampton’s Che Adams had been are not good,” said Karmacharya . he was happy to get into the playoff as a good performance in the playoff. We the 40th minute after he collected the himself a former Villa defender. denied an opener for the visitors. The “Not only me, others have also made table toppers. “We have our first tested some new players today due to ball parried by Kathmandu’s second Villa went ahead against the run of three points looked far from safe until such remarks. Their level must be match against Dhangadhi and we the injury of some regular starters choice goalie Dinesh Shrestha in his play in the 24th minute. Fred’s poor Thiago buried a low shot into the cor- checked. They go blind despite seeing were defeated by them in the league and we were successful in the experi- effort to block Sunil Shrestha’s strike pass to Scott McTominay allowed ner in the 90th minute — his first goal many things. I may be punished for stage. But we will try to come up with ment,” said Maharjan. on goal. John McGinn to gain possession, with since joining from Bayern Munich. Bayern Munich’s missing challengers in Bundesliga causing concern

Atessocia d Press Monchengladbach. with seven rounds remaining. Other Bayern digging in and doing enough beaten finalists Paris Saint-Germain. match or break Muller’s record. BERLIN, May 9 “It’s a huge task every year, and a lot challengers simply failed to material- when it mattered most. Bayern were already knocked out in Flick is leaving voluntarily after the of heart and soul goes into it. But, of ise. Bayern have a 10-point lead over the second round of the German Cup season to be replaced by Nagelsmann, Munich police issued a missing per- course, we have a great team every Borussia Dortmund’s title bid fiz- Leipzig with two rounds remaining. by second-division Holstein Kiel in the coach of the team that pushed son’s notice for Bayern Munich’s year,” said Thomas Muller, who along zled out early on under coach Lucien They have dropped points only nine January. Bayern hardest this season. Bundesliga challengers on Saturday. with teammate David Alaba has won Favre, who was fired in December and times in 32 games so far. Their goal Despite Flick’s misgivings, Bayern Bayern have won 30 of the 58 Local law enforcement celebrated 10 league titles with Bayern. replaced with Edin Terzic. Gladbach difference (plus-52) is almost twice as still had enough quality to trump their Bundesliga titles since the league was Bayern’s record-extending ninth con- Bayern’s long-established domestic fell into disarray in February when good as any of their rivals. Leipzig are domestic rivals. Not even formed in 1963. secutive German title by joking on dominance was never in doubt all sea- the club announced that coach Marco next with plus-29. Lewandowski’s knee injury toward Bundesliga chief executive Twitter that they were looking for son, though their weakened squad Rose was leaving to take over Flick complained last month that the end of the season dented the Christian Seifert warned in 2017 that Bayern’s missing rivals over the past compared to the season before, and the Dortmund next season. Bayer his squad wasn’t as strong as it was team’s campaign. Lewandowski recov- it would be a problem “if Bayern nine years. improvement of second-placed Leipzig Leverkusen were unbeaten and lead- last season when he led Bayern to a ered and raised his tally to 39 goals Munich win the title 10 or 15 times in Bayern’s latest title had an air in Julian Nagelsmann’s second year ing the Bundesliga until the 13th trophy treble of Champions League, with a hat-trick in Bayern’s rout of a row.” But it seems there’s no one to of inevitability after Hansi Flick’s as coach gave neutrals some hope of a round when Bayern took over with a Bundesliga and German Cup. Gladbach – just one off Bayern great stop the Bavarian powerhouse. Police team began the season with an title race. late 2-1 win in Leverkusen. Robert Ultimately, the outgoing coach was Gerd Muller’s all-time record from the in Monchengladbach responded to 8-0 demolition of Schalke. They cele- It didn’t last long. Lewandowski scored the winner in proven right as his team went on to be 1971-72 season. their Munich colleagues’ appeal by brated clinching the league on Bayern defeated Leipzig 1-0 on April injury time. knocked out in the quarter-finals of The Poland star still has games saying their search had failed to yield Saturday with a 6-0 rout of Borussia 3, stretching their lead to seven points It was to become a recurring theme; the Champions League by last year’s against Freiburg and Augsburg to any results. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) **** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** Aim to bring open-ended projects to completion The moon’s phase always has a direct effect on your Monday’s skies make the week slow to start, Libra. Don’t expect to find yourself in “work mode” beneath today, Aries. The moon’s presence in practical energy levels, Cancer. Monday’s skies find the moon You’re likely to be feeling extra sensitive and craving Monday’s skies, Capricorn! The moon wades through Taurus helps you ground down and steadily tackle deep in her waning phase, as she trudges through closeness in your interactions today, as the gentle sensual Taurus, turning your attention toward play. your errands, yet her deep waning phase can lend to peace-seeking Taurus. Taurus moon pulls you in a reflective, rest-seeking low energy levels. mindset.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** Tune into what your body needs today, Taurus. The Monday’s skies wipe the slate clean, Leo. The hard- Tune into the stories stirring deep within your heart You’re in no mood for public involvement today, moon’s presence in your sign calls for restorative working Taurus moon tiredly plows forward through today, Scorpio. Messenger Mercury finds itself Aquarius. Let yourself lean into your need to be a action, pampering, and prioritizing your personal her waning phase, suggesting the need to bring merged with the North Node of fate. This pairing is hermit, as the gentle Taurus moon helps to ground needs above all else. open-ended projects towards completion. likely to deliver important news, revelations, or you down in your home space. direction.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) **** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) **** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** Dial into the messages swirling around you under Keep your ear to the ground today, Virgo. Your ruling It’s time to put the finishing touches on a few unfin- Give your mind a break today, Pisces. The moon is Monday’s skies, Gemini. Your ruling planet, expres- planet, messenger Mercury, merges with the North ished projects today, Sagittarius. The waning moon closing up shop in preparation for tomorrow’s new sive Mercury, merges with the North Node of fate Node of fate. This once-a-year meeting brings impor- glides through steady Taurus, helping you ground moon, prompting low energy levels and the urge to today. tant news, revelations, or conversations to the career down and tackle any errands still looming on your bring completion to recent undertakings. front. to-do list. Crossword Sudoku

Yesterday’s Solution

C M Y K MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021 | 08 Culture & Lifestyle (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 On social media, memories pop up from a pandemic still going Social media’s throwbacks, reposts and commemorations crack open the digital time capsule of the pandemic before it’s even over.

KANTELE FRANKO seeing memories of all the activi- COLUMBUS ties and friends he was missing. “It just was too sad of a remind- hen the pan- er,” says Acunis, 28. demic passed That tension isn’t lost on the the one-year folks behind the app. In March, on mark, Lisa the anniversary of the pandemic Phillips declaration, Timehop tweeted a wasn’t exactly reminder that users can hide Weager to walk down memory lane. unwanted memories, noting they She had developed symptoms and sometimes “need to be put away.” quarantined with a suspected case There’s no surge in the use of of Covid-19 last spring, lost her that option so far. But if things mother to the disease in July and change in the coming months, been hospitalised in November Timehop might consider altering from what she describes as a nerv- how people hide memories or ous breakdown fueled by grief and encouraging breaks if that would isolation. benefit users, CEO Matt Raoul But Phillips also wasn’t ready to says. delete the apps that provide those “We try to balance that reminders that showed her each mantra of ‘we do not want to day what she’d shared on social curate your memories and we media just a year earlier. That want to show you everything’ with pain, she says, shouldn’t be forgot- giving people the tools to control it ten. So she still wanted to save the in a way that’s best for them,” memories—but for later. Raoul says. As we navigate these weeks that Phillips, a vice president at a are unspooling a year after March, cloud computing services compa- April and May 2020, memories ny, now skips Timehop and social from earlier in the Covid-19 crisis media altogether on days when are popping up in people’s social her grief feels especially sharp or media feeds when throwbacks, she doesn’t have mental or emo- reposts and commemorations tional space for what they might crack open the digital time cap- serve up. She says she also seeks sule of the pandemic before it’s help from others through profes- even over. sional care, therapy and talking Out spill the first reminders of with family and friends. a zillion virus-inflected anniversa- She still considers it valuable to ries, ranging from the relatively document moments and mile- trivial to the tragic: the empty toi- AP/RSS stones on social media so she can let paper shelves, the new masks, When the anniversary of the pandemic arrived, Lisa Phillips from Phoenix was not eager for a trip down memory lane. look back at the difference over the start of remote work or school, time. “There’s a part of me,” she the gratitude to exhausted health who researches empathy. Now posts about them are show- what they’ve learned, what’s been shared experience, it’s probably a says, “that doesn’t want to lose the care staff, the In Memoriams. People’s circumstances vary ing up again on her smartphone, lost and gained, or where they’ve good idea to disengage and dis- sort of archival element.” For Phillips, 42, of Phoenix, the widely, and the pandemic has she says, bringing a sinking feel- seen resilience or joy in the midst tract yourself with an activity Zaki, too, thinks the pandemic trauma still feels fresh. “If you’re exposed lots of inequities, dispro- ing of loss. of greater hardship. To navigate that helps replenish you, Levens is worth remembering—not only not ready to relive the anniversary portionately impacting communi- “I sit with it and just let it flow that content in a healthy way, says. because of what it caused but and beginning of this ongoing ties of colour. “But at some level,” through me so it won’t pop up in experts recommend that people Disabling social media notifica- because of what it revealed about pandemic, you’re not alone,” she Zaki says, “many of us are dealing other ways,” she says. “It’s like pay attention to what kind of tions and muting or unfollowing the loneliness, depression and tweeted. with a very similar type of anxie- you can click off the thing and social media posts and stories accounts that negatively impact anxiety that people increasingly Social media’s insistence on ty, uncertainty, mourning and still go about your day, but the per- they’re viewing—how the content your mental health can help. Some felt even before it descended. serving our own experiences back loss.” son is still gone.” makes them feel and whether users are even more proactive, “I really hope we don’t forget up to us—even if desired—can Zillah Wesley, an organiser with The pandemic has been a collec- they’re actually getting something intentionally limiting how they this time and don’t just snap back complicate the coping. But experts the anti-poverty Poor People’s tive trauma, and sharing personal useful from it. use digital tools that resurface into whatever normal was before, say it also provides opportunities Campaign in Washington, DC, emotional experience can help “Just like you would be mindful their own memories. because normal before was not to realise connection—and to says she has known more than 40 people feel supported and find of doom-scrolling, I think we need Brian Acunis, a soon-to-be grad- that normal. We were fracturing frame how we move forward. people who have died during the meaning in that, says Sara Levens, to be mindful of pandemic-scroll- uate student who has lived part of as a culture. Trust was diminish- “In certain ways—not all pandemic, including several rela- a University of North Carolina at ing,” says Elana Newman, a the past year in New York, says he ing,” Zaki says. “And I think that ways—we have more in common tives and friends’ relatives. Many Charlotte psychology professor University of Tulsa psychologist deleted the reminiscing app in a lot of ways the pandemic, like with more people on the planet of them died in the early months, whose lab studies emotion. and trauma researcher. Timehop from his phone just a few other disasters, exposes some deep than we probably have in any she says, and nearly all of them Some people may find it helpful If the posts you’re reading start months into the pandemic. He truths about who we are, what we other year,” says Jamil Zaki, a were fellow members of the Black to look back on their own or oth- to feel more overwhelming and gave up a three-year streak with it need and who we can be.” Stanford University psychologist community. ers’ experiences and reflect on less like you’re plugging into a because he didn’t want to keep — Associated Press

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