WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 60 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 34.5 C 4.4 C Saturday, April 25, 2020 | 13-01-2077 Nepalgunj Jumla Repealing ordinances might quell dissent but Oli still faces moral questions Prime minister needs to answer for a series of political events, including an alleged kidnapping, triggered by the two controversial ordinances, leaders and analysts say.

ANIL GIRI KATHMANDU, APRIL 24

Five days after issuing two ordinances to a mass outcry, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, on Friday, backtracked and withdrew both the ordinances. Although the withdrawal could somewhat quell the dissent that had arisen from across the political spec- trum, including his own party, leaders PHOTO COURTESY: PM’S SECRETARIAT and analysts say that the repeal alone Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli doesn’t absolve Oli of his moral failings. The Oli Cabinet on Friday decided amendment allowing 40 percent of to recommend that both the ordinanc- central committee or Parliamentary es—one related to political parties and Party members to split a party. the other to the Constitutional Based on the new provision, a sec- Council—be repealed. President Bidya tion of leaders from the Samajbadi Devi Bhandari accordingly repealed Party had sought to split the party. But both the ordinances, in much the same the Samajbadi leadership’s sudden manner that she had approved them— decision to merge with the Rastriya without delay and consultation. Janata Party blocked that plan. “Though the government has decid- Surendra Yadav, a lawmaker from ed to withdraw both the ordinances, the Samajbadi Party Nepal, has the prime minister still needs to alleged that he was forcefully brought answer some moral questions,” said to Kathmandu from Janakpur at Oli’s Jhala Nath Khanal, a senior ruling behest, leading to allegations of kid- party leader and former prime minis- napping. ter. “The move to issue ordinances “There are reports that a lawmaker triggered a series of events that also was kidnapped and if that’s true, this include allegations that a lawmaker incident was triggered by the decision was kidnapped. Who’s answerable?” to issue the ordinance,” Khanal of the The ordinance on the Political Party Nepal Communist Party (NCP) told POST PHOTO: ANGAD DHAKAL Act sought to ease party split and reg- the Post. Ranipokhari, one of the iconic monuments ravaged by the earthquake five years ago, has yet to be rebuilt fully. The reconstruction campaign started here but disputes have delayed work. istration of a new party, with the new >> Continued on page 4 A normal monsoon could boost agricultural output, if only farmers weren’t locked down A labour shortfall due to the Covid-19 pandemic and a potential shortage of chemical fertilisers could offset any potential gains from a bountiful rainfall, economists say.

“Farmers can go ahead with normal crops this monsoon. When the mon- soon is below normal, they have had to go for paddy varieties prescribed for a drought-like situation, or flood-toler- ant varieties in case of excessive rain during an above-normal rainfall,” said Kadel. “Normal monsoon also means fewer natural disasters, but that doesn’t mean there will not be any extreme events.” Normal monsoon boosts farm out- put and farmers’ incomes, and helps keep inflation in check. A normal monsoon also has positive impacts on hydropower, irrigation, drinking water and groundwater recharge. The country has witnessed a nor- mal monsoon for three consecutive years, propelling the country to record growth rates of over six percent for three years in a row, driven largely by the agricultural sector. In the fiscal year 2016-17, the coun- try’s economy expanded by 7.74 per- POST PHOTO: MANOJ POUDEL cent, the highest since 1993-94. Farmers haven’t been able to work the fields due to a lockdown lasting more than a month. An above-normal monsoon record- ed in 2016-17 helped Nepal secure the SANGAM PRASAIN & CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL March 24, there are fears that the biggest paddy harvest, which jumped KATHMANDU, APRIL 24 boost a normal monsoon could pro- 21.66 percent to 5.23 million tonnes, vide to paddy plantation this year bucking the trend of two consecutive Nepal is looking at a favourable ‘nor- could be lost. years of falling harvests triggered by mal’ monsoon season this year, which The sixteenth session of the South drought. would, in normal times, bode well for Asian Climate Outlook Forum, a con- The economy grew by 6.3 percent in the country’s paddy plantation. But sortium of meteorologists and hydro- the following year 2017-18, according these are extraordinary circumstanc- logical experts from South Asia, has to the Central Bureau of Statistics. In es and thousands of farmers remain predicted a normal monsoon over 2017-18, Nepal’s paddy output totalled indoors under lockdown due to the South Asia this summer. 5.15 million tonnes, down 1.49 percent Covid-19 pandemic. “Broadly speaking, the SASCOF-16 from the 2016-17 bumper harvest. The rice plantation period normally has predicted that Nepal can expect a The country’s economy grew by 7.1 begins in early May in the hills and normal monsoon this year,” said percent in 2018-19. June in the Tarai, the country’s food Indira Kadel, senior divisional mete- But there are worries that the bene- basket. The monsoon usually begins orologist and chief of the climate fits of a normal monsoon could be on June 10 and lasts till September 23. analysis section at the Department of lost, with a looming shortage of chem- Nearly three-quarters of annual rain- Hydrology and Meteorology. ical fertilisers as factories across the fall in the country occurs during the “On a countrywide scale, rainfall is world remain closed. monsoon and sustains the livelihood predicted to be normal, but if we look A shortage of workers could affect of 66 percent of the population that is at the prediction minutely, it can the delivery of chemical fertilisers for dependent on agriculture. swing between near-normal and the upcoming paddy plantation peri- But as tens of thousands of farmers below-normal, as the probability is od, according to Bishnu Prasad have been under lockdown since between 40-50 percent,” she said. “But Pokhrel, spokesperson for the the chances of a below-normal Agriculture Inputs Company, the state- monsoon are low.” run supplier of subsidised fertiliser. The weather and climate, as “We have enough stock of diammo- well as the agriculture of Nepal nium phosphate, the most widely used and the entire South Asian phosphorus fertiliser, but there could region, is dominated by the mon- be a shortage of urea if suppliers fail soon, which supplies nearly 70-80 to deliver it on time,” said Pokhrel. percent of annual rainfall. According to Pokhrel, the company According to Kadel, a normal currently has 70,000 tonnes of chemi- monsoon means favourable con- cal fertiliser, which includes both DAP ditions for agricultural produc- and urea, in stock, but paddy planta- tion, as rainfall is directly linked tion during the June-August period with the country’s agriculture requires more than 150,000 tonnes. and in turn, the economy. >> Continued on page 4

C M Y K SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020 | 02 MEDLEY

Inside the Post Quote of the day

Repealing ordinances might quell dissent National but Oli still faces moral questions, Page 1 The country marked the fifth anniversary of the deadly disaster on Friday, and the government is still struggling to ensure funds for the reconstruction projects. “The move to issue ordinances triggered Money a series of events that also include Dipak Khadka, who has been working at ND’s Café and Restaurant at Mahabouddha allegations that a lawmaker was kidnapped. for the past 16 years, did not think that staff salaries would be stopped because the place has been closed for the past month due to the virus lockdown. Who’s answerable?”

World Jhala Nath Khanal, a senior leader of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP), questions Prime Minister Oli’s motive behind issuing two ordinances, Muslims across the world began marking the holy month of Ramadan under only to later repeal them. unprecedented coronavirus lockdowns on Friday as the US added another half a trillion dollars to an economic support package and Europe groped towards its own huge rescue plan.

Sports Most read online UEFA is keener on leagues adopting new formats to determine final league places for European qualification if suspended domestic competitions cannot be com- Health ministry to recommend easing of lockdown restrictions pleted due to government restrictions or financial concerns caused by the coronavirus pandemic. in areas outside coronavirus hotspots The Ministry of Health and Population is likely to recommend the Covid-19 high-level committee and the Crisis Management Center to ease lockdown Books restrictions in areas outside infection hotspots. Sangam is quite an accomplishment when it comes to Nepali poetry in translation. Since the translator himself is a distinguished poet, he has taken great care of not just passing the meaning into another language but giving the Nepalis in England on the receiving end of xenophobia final product its much-deserved rhythm, cadence and life. amidst Covid-19 fears On Wednesday, April 15, Milan Limbu was playing video games in his room when he heard a loud explosion. At first, he thought it was the sound of fire- works. But it was 11 pm in the otherwise quiet neighbourhood of Maidstone, an News Quiz English town south-east of London. How Oli aimed ordinances at splitting parties 1. Remittance in Nepal is expected c. Bundesliga but instead led to their merger to drop by what amount this d. La Liga year? POST PHOTO: HEMANTA SHRESTHA The introduction of two controversial ordinances on Monday by Prime Minister a. 135 billion 5. Which head of government sug- Weaver birds fly near their nest in Kirtipur, Kathmandu, on Friday. KP Sharma Oli set into motion a chain of events that eventually culminated in b. 145 billion gested injecting disinfectant the alleged “kidnapping” of a political leader and the long-awaited merger of c. 155 billion into the body to treat coronavi- two Madhesi parties. Late Wednesday night, the Samajbadi Party Nepal and the d. 165 billion rus triggering an outcry? Rastriya Janata Party Nepal, the third and fourth largest parties in the federal a. Boris Johnson On this day in history parliament, finally agreed to merge in order to “deal a blow to Oli’s ill-intended 2. Health authorities in which dis- b. Donald Trump move of splitting the Samajbadi Party,” they said. trict have run short of rapid c. Justin Trudeau diagnostic test kits for surveil- d. Emmanuel Macron lance of suspected coronavirus Hijacker of Indian Airlines plane threatens to open fire Nepal stands to lose Rs145 billion in remittance this year patients? 6. When is Global Handwashing Remittance to Nepal is expected to drop by a whopping 14 percent this year, a. Jhapa Day celebrated? AMRITSAR, India – A Kashmiri Muslim separatist hijacked an Indian Airlines signalling an economic distress stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic, said a b. Baglung a. March 20 Boeing 737 to this northern city on Saturday and threatened to blow up the World Bank report released on Wednesday. This drop in remittance roughly c. Darchula b. October 15 aircraft if it was not allowed to fly to Kabul, officials said. translates to a loss of Rs145 billion, based on the current exchange rate of d. Saptari c. January 1 Police ringing the plane said that the hijacker, aimed with two pistols and a $1=Rs120. d. April 20 hand grenade, had fired two shots on board the plane, carrying 135 passengers 3. When was the pilot phase of the and a crew of six, but it was not clear if anyone was hurt. 2021 National Population An Indian Airlines spokesman said, however, that the hijacker had fired a Census supposed to start? single shot into the air after opening door of the plane, commandeered while on a. March 28 a flight from New Delhi to the Kashmiri summer capital of Srinagar. Corrections b. April 17 c. February 27 The Kathmandu Post Our reporters and editors do their best to make sure our reporting is free from d. April 11 April 25, 1993 errors. But when we make mistakes that warrant correction, we will be transparent and clarify at the bottom of the specific article. 4. Which football league said it If you believe we have got something wrong and it requires correction, please was ready to return to football- email us at [email protected] with “correction” in the subject line. ing action on May 9? Answers to News Quiz: 1(b), 2(d), 3(a), 4(c), 5(b), 6(b) For the most recent corrections, visit kathmandupost.com/corrections. a. English Premier League b. Serie A REUTERS HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) CANCER (June 22-July 22) LIBRA (September 23-October 22) CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** *** **** **** Your confidence is increasing to an all-time Keep in mind that people have very long Your wallet won’t get any fatter if you follow You need a dose of culture today. Investigate a high, so your efforts will finally start to yield memories, so invest in making yourself a good that growing urge to spend today. Keep away virtual show at an art museum, watch a classic some good results. You can throw all your one. Helping others today will take you a long from those online retailers. It’s time to remind movie, or just enjoy making some food. New patience because you won’t need it. Just be way tomorrow. Set your own needs aside and yourself of the difference between wanting types of art, music, or food might confuse you, aware that fast action will create some forward free up time to prioritize someone else. Keep an something and needing it. This applies to your but the act of stepping out of your normal rou- momentum, so be sure you know what direction open mind and look out for shy folks who don’t personal life, too. Are you demanding too much tine is a powerful way to remind yourself that you want to go before opening your mouth today. quite know how to get your attention. from the people around you right now? your life is a path you choose to take.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) LEO (July 23-August 22) SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) **** **** **** *** Today, the cautious, humble side of you is tell- The fastest way to learn something new is by Today, you could find yourself in the perplex- Your mindset is much more centered around ing you to stop for a moment to review the situ- exploring something that is unknown. This ing situation of having plenty of energy but informal right now. Faded jeans and a T-shirt ation. Listen to this little voice, and don’t get could be something universally intimidating not much to do. Channel your energy toward will win out over some spiffy designer duds, and caught up in the moment. You shouldn’t be in like skydiving, but it could also be something stirring up something new to master, or jump a hamburger will hit the spot much more accu- any hurry to get anywhere right now, so take all that’s harmless. Check your ego at the door and into a co-worker or friend’s stressful situation rately. In this phase of modest pleasures, make a the time you need to map out your plan of jump into learning something new about your and help them sort it out. Choose the former, virtual date with a friend you haven’t seen in a action. capabilities. and you’ll end the day in a bit of frustration. while. Get back to basics with them.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) VIRGO (August 23-September 22) SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** *** *** *** Focusing on your limits today isn’t going to help When someone confides in you today, you have You may not realise it, but you’ve just about In a business or school environment, you’re you get past them. Right now, you need to forget to take what they tell you very seriously. They’re reached the end of a journey. Stop your engines, approaching a critical point, but you should about whatever is holding you back. The more sharing their true sense of purpose with you step outside your vehicle, and take a look at look upon this day like any other. The worst you think about it, the more power you’re giving and it’s probably going to alarm you a bit, either where you are right now. This is it. If it doesn’t thing you can do right now is get intimidated by it. It’s time to fake it until you make it! Stride because it’s the last thing you expected or quite look the way you expected it to look, unreasonable expectations. If you overthink forward with all your energy, and don’t even because it’s the same thing that drives you. Stay that’s a good sign. It means that there is still things, you’ll lose perspective, and you could think about failure. cool, calm, and collected. mystery in your life to explore. end up selling yourself short.

CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K 03 | SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020 NATIONAL 62-year-old man from Jhapa tests positive for Covid-19

POST REPORT KATHMANDU, APRIL 24

The total number of Covid-19 cases in the country reached 49 on Friday, with a man from Jhapa district testing pos- itive for the disease. The Ministry of Health and Population confirmed that a 62-year- old man from Jhapa tested positive for Covid-19.

SHUTTERSTOCK The patient’s address and his travel history was not immediately clear. He had undergone nasal and throat swab tests at the Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences. The patient is said to be kept in the hospital’s isolation ward after testing positive for the disease. Earlier on Thursday, three peo- ple—a 55-year-old woman from Udayapur, a 14-year-old boy from Dhanusha and a 26-year-old man from Bhojpur, had tested positive for Covid-19. So far, 10 Covid-19 patients have been discharged from various hospi- tals across the country after making recovery. As of late Friday evening, the coun- try had 39 active cases of Covid-19. All the patients are under medical obser- POST PHOTO: KESHAV THAPA vation. Mobility-challenged Shanti Tamang pushes her wheelchair alongside her six-year-old daughter as they make their way towards a relief distribution centre in Babarmahal, Kathmandu, on Friday. Five years after earthquake, schools and Municipalities seek funds to health facilities still await reconstruction provide essentials for families The term of the National Reconstruction Authority is likely to be extended by at least one year. affected by lockdown BINOD GHIMIRE reconstruction of individual homes,” Sushil PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA Rs 50 million to procure rapid test kits and KATHMANDU, APRIL 24 Gyewali, the chief executive officer of the KATHMANDU, APRIL 24 medical equipment and make provisions for authority, told the Post. quarantine facilities, says it cannot provide A year after the destructive Gorkha earth- A report released by the authority on Officials at the Kathmandu Metropolitan City relief to more families as it also needs to spend quakes in 2015, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli Thursday mentions that 88 percent of private had estimated that they may have to distribute on the city’s bid to fight the disease. endorsed the Post Disaster Recovery houses have been rebuilt so far. daily essentials to a maximum of 20,000 fami- “Considering the expenses incurred for Framework, a detailed plan of action for the Out of 781,176 households who signed for the lies severely affected by the nationwide lock- relief packages and fight against Covid-19, the reconstruction, in May 2016. government grant to rebuild their homes, down to contain the spread of Covid-19, federal and provincial governments will The Rs 838 billion five-year plan proposed 494,044 (63 percent) have already finished But when distribution began, they ended up have to provide us funds to continue completing the reconstruction of all quake-hit building new houses while 190,145 (25 percent) providing packages that contain rice, pulses, distributing relief packages to the needy,” said academic institutions and health facilities households are at different stages of the recon- salt, cooking oil, soap bars and sugar to around Raju Maharjan, spokesperson for the city. within three years. struction. 55,000 families. The list of households is still According to him, there is growing pressure The country marked the fifth anniversary of Gyewali said the progress would have been growing. from the local people, who have their own the deadly disaster on Friday, and the govern- far better had the government released an ade- “An additional 25,000 families have sought homes, to provide relief for them as their ment is still struggling to ensure funds for the quate budget. relief packages,” said Ishwor Man Dangol, income suffers due to lockdown. reconstruction projects. The buildings of the “There are multiple reasons for the delay in spokesperson for the city. But the city, which is “During the first phase, 80 percent of academic institutions and the health facilities reconstruction projects and lack of funds is using emergency funds to finance the beneficiaries are those who are staying in that should have been in place last year are the major one,” he told the Post. programme, does not have the money to rent,” said Maharjan. “We may be forced to still nowhere near complete. The reconstruction authority has so far distribute essentials to all the families that compromise with local people in the second A report by the National Reconstruction spent Rs 381 billion in the post-earthquake have requested aid. phase.” Authority shows out of 7,553 schools that need- reconstruction works, including Rs 72 billion “We are distributing relief using money Amid growing demand for government aid, a ed reconstruction, only 5,598 have been com- through various non-governmental organisa- from the Rs 100 million Covid-19 emergency recent meeting of the Kathmandu Valley pleted fully or partially. About 26 percent tions. fund. I don’t think we can afford a second Mayors’ Forum, a grouping of chiefs of munic- (2,015) of the quake-damaged schools are yet to An estimated Rs 488 billion is required to round of relief distribution without the feder- ipalities in the Valley, decided to seek resourc- be rebuilt. complete the entire reconstruction works. al government’s support,” said Dangol. es from the central government to continue the The Central Level Project Implementation POST FILE PHOTO Gyewali said the authority was short of Rs 107 The government on March 29, four days after distribution of aid. Unit (Education), an entity under the authori- A classroom ravaged in the earthquakes of 2015. More billion to see the project through. the nationwide lockdown came into force, Municipal Association of Nepal, a grouping ty formed to reconstruct school buildings, had than 7,000 schools were destroyed in the disaster. The authority plans to cover Rs 74 billion announced that local governments shall pro- of municipalities and National Association of sought Rs 11 billion to rebuild 1,806 public from the government’s internal source, but it vide essentials to daily waged workers and Rural Municipalities in Nepal, a grouping of school buildings in the current fiscal year. “If the needed budget is made available, we will still need Rs 33 billion. destitutes. The local governments were sup- rural municipalities, have also asked provin- The Ministry of Finance, however, allocated expect the reconstruction project of school The authority’s term is expiring in posed to finance the programme by mobilising cial and federal governments funds to continue only Rs 9.23— Rs 8 billion of which was in buildings to be completed in next two years,” December. But since the post-earthquake their savings and funds received from federal their relief distribution programmes. loans pledged by the Indian government Shrestha told the Post. recovery works are unlikely to be completed and provincial governments allocated for pro- Ashok Kumar Byanju, president of the through Exim Bank. Meanwhile, the rebuilding works of the for at least another one year, preparations are jects of least priority. municipal association, said his office wrote to As Exim Bank has set tough loan precondi- earthquake-ravaged health facilities are also being made to extend its term. Like Kathmandu Metropolitan City, many the all seven provincial governments and the tions, the unit was left with Rs 1.23 billion, lagging far behind the schedule. “It is sure the reconstruction will not be other local governments are also overwhelmed central government last week to facilitate the which is 12 percent of the required budget, to Out of 1,197 health centres, only 669 (56 per- completed by December, therefore, the recon- by the demand for aid and are seeking addi- establishment of quarantines and distribution invest in school reconstruction projects in the cent) have been completed so far while 145 of struction authority could get an extension. If tional funds from the centre. of aid packages. current fiscal. them are mid-construction. not, the respective ministries will take on the As the fate of the lockdown remains uncer- Likewise, the rural municipality association Dilip Shekhar Shrestha, deputy chief at The records of the national rebuilding construction works further,” Gyewali said. tain amid rising cases of Covid-19, officials say on Tuesday urged the federal government to the unit, said the additional funds pledged authority show that construction of 32 percent Issuing a statement on the fifth anniversary they might have to continue providing essen- provide money for the Covid-19 fund created by by the Ministry of Finance had not been of the quake-damaged health infrastructure of the disaster, Oli on Friday said though the tials to the needy. rural municipalities. issued yet. has not even started. reconstruction works have been affected by the Lalitpur Metropolitan City has distributed “We urge the federal government to make The unit has planned a school reconstruc- “I agree that we have missed the deadline for Covid-19 pandemic, his government was com- essentials to around 19,000 families by necessary arrangements of resources as the tion budget of Rs 21 billion for the upcoming the reconstruction of schools and health facili- mitted to completing the remaining tasks at spending over Rs 20 million so far. The Covid-19 fund is facing increased liabilities,” fiscal year and Rs 17 billion for the next. ties, but we have made good progress in the the earliest. city, which established a Covid-19 fund of the association said in a statement. Emergency food relief has not reached many poor families in Province 2 There have been several reports of irregularities in relief distribution in many local federal units in the eight Tarai districts.

CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL “I had heard that relief items would families of government employees, ties, the provincial government KATHMANDU, APRIL 24 be distributed in all villages. When I pensioners and individuals owning recently intervened in the relief pro- visited the ward office, I was told noth- businesses or salaried by non-govern- gramme. It’s been over three weeks since the ing had come,” said Bikram, who is ment organisations. But numerous “There were complaints of irregu- Province 2 government announced a physically challenged and has difficul- cases have emerged in recent times larities during the relief distributions relief programme for the families ty walking. where the relief packages are going to and selection of beneficiary families,” affected by the coronavirus lockdown, Like Bikram, Mina Devi Mandal the wrong hands. said Shailendra Prasad Shah, the and all Kano Devi has received so far had also visited her ward office to ask Instances of irregularities in relief minister for land management, from her local government is two bars for relief, only to return empty-hand- distribution have been reported in all agriculture and cooperatives. “Some of soap. ed. On March 29, the provincial gov- eight districts of the province. local levels had not spent the money “We are poor. We have nothing, not ernment had rolled out a scheme to The Province 2 government had while others said they could not buy even a farming land. All I have is this provide food items to the families of announced to provide Rs 2.5 million foodstuffs for relief because of the house, but we have received nothing poor and daily wage workers who had for a metropolitan city, Rs 2 million for shortage caused by the lockdown.” substantial from the government so no means of earning during lock- a sub-metropolitan city, Rs 1.5 million Minister Shah said the provincial far,” said Kano Devi, a resident of down. Weeks since the relief pro- for a municipality and Rs 1 million for government has decided to buy the Ratbara in Mahottari Rural gramme was announced, most of the a rural municipality to support the foodstuffs through a tender and hand Municipality Ward 4, Mahottari. targeted and vulnerable groups poorest and the vulnerable people dur- them over to the local governments for Bikram Mandal, another resident remain out of the relief coverage. ing lockdown. However, several local distribution. from the same ward, is also struggling “Our financial condition is in ruins. governments have faced public criti- The local units will have to to put food on the table since the lock- If I do not work, I cannot feed my fam- cism for failing to even utilise the distribute the relief to the affected down was enforced on March 24. ily,” said Bijnath Das, a villager of budget issued by the provincial gov- families within 24 hours of receiving He has already visited the ward Mahottari Rural Municipality Ward 3. ernment. Some local units, mean- the delivery from the provincial gov- office twice to inquire about the relief “We are the ones in need of relief and while, have been accused of nepotism ernment. materials. On both occasions, he was we are the ones who are being POST PHOTO: LAXMI SAH while distributing relief in their “The relief distribution work will turned away by the ward representa- deprived.” Rajesh Raya (right), the mayor of Kailaiya Sub-metropolitan City in Bara, was recently areas. be overseen by the committees set up tives. The relief plan had excluded the arrested for distributing rotten lentils as relief to poor local families. Following the reports of irregulari- by the government,” he added.

C M Y K SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020 | 04 NATIONAL Repealing ordinances Province 5 loosens lockdown measures might quell dissent ... with no Covid-19 case detected so far >> Continued from page 1 facing criticism for its poor handling “All these incidents have hurt the of the pandemic but it could have Even though the province has zero cases, the risk is still high, as many of its districts share borders with India. party and damaged the party’s reputa- made up with a quick response,” said tion. The prime minister is not above Shrestha. “But the recent events have the party. He must answer the ques- raised moral questions. It will be diffi- GHANASHYAM GAUTAM tions that are being raised.” cult for Oli to regain his political capi- RUPANDEHI, APRIL 24 The primary opposition Nepali tal.” Congress too has said that the with- According to Shrestha, it won’t be a As of Friday, Province 5 has tested drawal of the ordinance does not surprise if calls for Oli’s resignation over 3,000 individuals for Covid-19 and mean “crime prompted by the ordi- intensify in the coming days. has reported no positive cases. Out of nance can be absolved”. Oli had also come under increasing the 3,000 tests, 2,874 were done with Issuing a statement, the Congress pressure from his own party members rapid diagnostic testing kits and 298 party has demanded an investigation over the ordinances. via Polymerase Chain Reaction meth- into Yadav’s allegations and action During Thursday’s Secretariat od. The province has yet to test about against the guilty. meeting, a majority of Secretariat 6,500 individuals currently quaran- Observers, however, say how things members, including the other tined across its districts. unfolded over the past five days should party chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal, As the province has not reported not be analysed by viewing them in had requested that Oli withdraw any positive cases, authorities are isolation as mere events. the ordinances, according to party gradually loosening the lockdown. According to experts on constitu- leaders. Five days ago, Butwal Sub tional affairs, the two ordinances that Six of the nine members in the Metropolitan City had decided to Oli tried to push through directly chal- Secretariat even held a late Thursday allow grocery stores, vegetable and lenged the constitution and the spirit meeting in Bhaisepati at party vice- fruit stalls and medical clinics, among of parliamentary democracy. chair Bamdev Gautam’s residence to others, to open from 8am to 5pm. Bipin Adhikari, a former dean at discuss recent developments and Many people who arrived in Butwal the Kathmandu University School of demand a meeting of the Standing this week were also sent to their Law, told the Post on Thursday that Committee, according to a Secretariat native villages by Rupandehi’s local both ordinances were brought with member who spoke on condition of units, albeit without proper testing. mala fide intentions, with Oli aiming anonymity. This has led Butwal locals to worry POST PHOTO: MADHAV DHUNGANA to consolidate more power. Dahal, Khanal, senior leader about the spread of the viral Nepali nationals who were quarantined in the neighbouring Indian town of Nautanwa for 25 days cross the Sunauli border to return home. “The ordinance on the Madhav Kumar Nepal, General disease and question the sub-metropo- Constitutional Council contradicted Secretary Bishnu Poudel, and party lis’ monitoring. temperature test. 6am to 3pm while social-distancing said Sudarshan Baral, the province the constitution,” said Adhikari, who spokesperson Narayan Kaji Shrestha “There are more people on the “Local units and security authori- regulations have been relaxed. minister of social development. The had warned that the Supreme Court were all present at the meeting. streets these days,” Durgadutta ties should pay attention to regulate Meanwhile, in Dang, Tulsipur province has set up four corona-specif- could nullify the ordinance if it wasn’t Many in the ruling party see Ghimire, a local of Kalikanagar, said. the movement of people and be extra sub-metropolis has allowed essential ic hospitals and three labs to fight the withdrawn. Poudel’s presence in Bhaisepati as a “At this rate, we are afraid that there cautious in the border area, as the risk shops to open for only three days a disease. The 2015 constitution provisions six major development in intra-party might be an outbreak of the disease. of the disease’s spread is still high,” week in the morning, according to “We are in no way relaxing the lock- members for the Constitutional dynamics. Social-distancing rings in front of said Binod Kumar Giri, health direc- Mayor Ghanashyam Pandey. down as the risk still runs high,” he Council, to be headed by the prime In the Secretariat, Poudel and shops have wiped out, even though the tor of Province 5. “We have failed to “The risk has barely subsided,” said. Acting Police Chief of the prov- minister, and that all decisions be Ishwar Pokhrel, who is also deputy crowd gathering outside has swelled.” maintain enough precautions.” Pandey said. “So we are still adopting ince Naresh KC echoed Baral, saying made unanimously. prime minister and defence minister, Moreover, the sub-metropolis has The situation is similar in strict measures.” the lockdown is still in place. The Chief Justice, Speaker and had sided with Oli so far, with five not monitored the vehicles carrying Nepalgunj and Kohalpur, two other Even though the province has “We are punishing those who defy Deputy Speaker of the House, the others in the Dahal camp. daily essentials from India. The vehi- cities in Province 5 with a high densi- reported no cases so far, the risk is the lockdown and urge everyone to chair of the National Assembly, and “We decided to demand a Standing cle drivers and their helpers are ty of population. In Nepalgunj, essen- still high given many districts in the stay inside their homes, as the risk is the leader of the primary opposition Committee meeting to discuss all con- allowed into the country after a simple tial shops are allowed to open from province share borders with India, still high,” he said. are members of the council. temporary issues and controversies Oli’s amendment would have surrounding the government and the removed the unanimity provision, party,” Khanal told the Post. allowing three members to take deci- Party members had called for a sions by a majority vote. The Standing Committee meeting for Gosaikunda Rural Constitutional Council makes appoint- Saturday, but Oli held a Cabinet meet- Baglung District Crisis Committee orders ments to constitutional bodies like the ing on Friday and decided to repeal Commission for Investigation of the ordinances. Municipality Abuse of Authority and the National According to one leader, Oli felt Human Rights Council, along with weakened, as a majority of Secretariat locals to clear fences set up at entry points starts providing ambassadorial appointments. members were against the ordinanc- According to ruling party insiders, es. “If Oli fails to convince the PRAKASH BARAL IN BAGLUNG Poudel, a local of Badagaun, said. in both districts. So there is no reason Oli had told NCP members that the Standing Committee, his stay in power & AGANDHAR TIWARI IN PARBAT The local administration, however, to obstruct the movement of ambu- door-to-door amendment was required because of could become untenable,” said Haribol APRIL 24 claimed that the Parbat was closed off lances and other essential vehicles.” the intransigence of the leader of the Gajurel, a Standing Committee mem- for outside districts. Baglung district has so far conduct- opposition [Sher Bahadur Deuba], ber. “Members will question Oli’s The District Crisis Management “Vehicles carrying patients and ed 1,000 rapid tests for the coronavi- health services leading to vacancies in several consti- intentions.” Committee in Baglung has instructed essential goods are allowed to pass,” rus. Medical teams have been deployed tutional bodies. Insiders say that although Oli even- the local governments to remove the Chief District Officer Kalpana throughout the district to run door-to- BALARAM GHIMIRE But analysts say that Oli was aim- tually capitulated to pressure, he has roadblocks placed to prevent outsiders Ghimire Nepal, said. door tests, Dr Pradip Shrestha, of RASUWA, APRIL 24 ing to appoint officials of his own refused to acknowledge that the ordi- from entering their areas in order to Dhirendraraj Pant, administrative Dhaulagiri Zonal Hospital, said. choosing to a few powerful constitu- nances were a mistake. Oli has main- stop the spread of coronavirus. officer at Baglung District Shrestha said medical teams had to Gosaikunda Rural Municipality in tional bodies, including the corrup- tained that he introduced the ordi- The committee on Wednesday told Administration Office, said that there clear numerous roadblocks to reach Rasuwa has started providing door-to- tion watchdog, in order to strengthen nances for the larger good of the peo- the concerned local governments to was no reason to be paranoid since different villages for the rapid test door health services to all residents of his own power. ple and the country. remove such roadblocks, as they have both districts had maintained caution campaign. “The new decision to the local unit. According to Shyam Shrestha, a “But the prime minister said that disrupted the free movement of ambu- regarding the pandemic. remove the roadblocks will be of The campaign, led by the rural political analyst who has followed they [the ordinances] had to be lances and other vehicles offering “People returning home from out- much help to our medical tests,” Suraj municipality Chairman Nepal’s leftist politics for decades, the repealed to respect the people’s and essential services. side are being tested and quarantined Gaure, a medical officer, said. Kaisangnurpu Tamang, has already recent events are a major setback for the party’s voices,” said a minister. “Despite the lockdown, there should taken off in wards 5 and 6. “We started the government, the ruling party and be free movement of ambulances and this campaign three days ago and have Oli himself. Binod Ghimire and Tika R Pradhan vehicles carrying essential goods. So, reached out to more than 200 individu- “The government may have been contributed reporting. instead of obstructing roads, we als so far,” said Tamang. should focus on other preventive Women volunteers and health work- measures to fight the virus,”Chief ers of various health posts in the District Officer Gaulochan Saiju, who rural municipality have been deployed heads the committee, said. for the campaign. “The volunteers and A normal monsoon could boost The roadblocks were placed after health workers enquire about people’s two individuals in the district tested health conditions and take their positive for the virus earlier this temperatures,” said Bimal Ghimire, agricultural output ... month. chief at the health section of the In neighbouring Parbat, the roads rural municipality. “The families are >> Continued from page 1 Sapkota, the disruption to the labour and bridges that link the district with taught preventive measures to fight The government has increased the market and a likely lack of agricultur- Baglung remain blocked despite the Covid-19.” budget for subsidised chemical fertil- al inputs, particularly imported chem- presence of security personnel to According to Ghimire, the health iser from Rs5 billion to Rs9 billion this ical fertiliser, are definitely going to monitor the movement of people. workers are also distributing masks fiscal year to ensure timely supply and affect summer crops, particularly The bridge of Badagaun, which con- and soaps to the families they visit sufficient quantity, but given the paddy. “The negative effect from these nects Parbat’s Kushma and Baglung, during the campaign. Covid-19 pandemic and the subse- will more than offset the potential remains locked. “The villagers are shown the proper quent lockdown, this support might gains from a normal monsoon,” said “Since the movement of people way to wash hands using soap,” said not materialise. Sapkota. “So food prices pressures are crossing the bridge didn’t stop, we POST PHOTO Ghimire. According to economist Chandan likely to be high.” were compelled to lock it,” Prakash The bridge of Badagaun, which connects Parbat’s Kushma and Baglung, remains blocked. Lakpa Tamang, a resident of the local unity’s ward no. 6, said he feels at ease now that he and his family mem- bers have gone through the prelimi- nary screening for the virus. “Our fears are at bay now. The Lockdown adversely affects vegetable farmers in Dhangadhi health workers screened us for fever and other symptoms. They also told us the importance of wearing face masks While farmers are compelled to throw away vegetables due to the lack of buyers given the lockdown, consumers are compelled and taught us the right way to wash our hands,” said Lakpa. to buy vegetables from middlemen at exorbitant prices. According to the rural municipal office, the campaign was initiated to MOHAN BUDHAAIR Like Chaudhary, more than a dozen prevent the spread of the novel coro- DHANGADHI, APRIL 24 commercial vegetable farmers in navirus in the local unit. Chairman Pathariya Village are facing the same Tamang said his office has also Ever since the government enforced problem. Bir Bahadur Chaudhary, a decided to provide medicines to the nationwide lockdown to prevent retail vegetable seller, said the whole- patients who are on medication for the outbreak of Covid-19, Mundre salers have started selling vegetables other diseases. Chaudhary has been selling cauliflow- themselves. “The campaign will soon reach the ers that he grew in his farm for as less “This has hampered retailers like rest of the four wards of the rural as Rs 10 per kilogram. On Friday, us. The situation worsened after municipality,” said Tamang. Chaudhary, a vegetable farmer in Covid-19 cases began surfacing in the The rural municipality has set up Pathariya of Dhangadhi Sub district,” he said. While farmers are quarantine facilities at Timure (8 Metropolis, returned home empty compelled to throw away their vegeta- beds), Syaphrubesi (15 beds) and handed, as he could not sell even a kilo bles due to lack of buyers given the Dhunche (50 beds). It has so far con- of cauliflowers. lockdown, consumers are compelled ducted rapid diagnostic tests on nine “I fed cauliflowers to my cattle to buy vegetables from middlemen at individuals who had stayed in the today since nobody bought my vegeta- exorbitant prices. quarantine facilities. All nine results bles. I fear I’ll have to do the same “We have been purchasing cabbages came out negative. tomorrow,” he said. and cauliflowers at around Rs 45 per In the last few days, the rural Chaudhary has been commercially kilogram, which is much higher than municipality received nine individu- farming vegetables in his 10 katthas the normal rate. The prices of gourd, als who had reached on foot from var- of land for the last seven years. It is pumpkin, potato and onion are also ious parts of the country. his only source of income. high now,” said Tara Devi Joshi, a “All of them are kept at the quaran- “The lockdown has greatly affected resident of Dhangadhi. “Consumers tine facility in Syaphrubesi. We are farmers like me,” said Chaudhary, “I have been forced to pay the rate fixed going to conduct their RDT tests couldn’t even break even this season. I by the shopkeepers.” soon,” Tamang said. had invested Rs 200,000 to cultivate Hari Prasad Regmi, chairman at the Meanwhile, the district authorities cabbages and cauliflowers in five kat- National Consumer Forum in have been conducting rapid diagnostic thas of land. This is the peak selling Dhangadhi, said the middlemen are tests on all individuals who have time but I haven’t been able to sell my purchasing vegetables from farmers arrived in Rasuwa from abroad or vegetables.” at a very low cost and selling them to other districts since the start of the Chaudhary has also cultivated consumers at a high price. lockdown. chilly, cucumber, gourd and pumpkin, “We are going to monitor the mar- Fifty seven individuals from abroad among other vegetables, in the ket in coordination with the repre- have entered the district so far. Chief remaining five katthas of land. sentatives of the local units and the District Officer Arjun Bhandari said, “Sales of these vegetables are also administration,” said Regmi, adding “We have conducted 57 rapid diagnos- low. I am not getting good prices for POST PHOTO: MOHAN BUDHAAIR that both farmers and consumers are tic tests in the district. All test results them,” said Chaudhary. Sales of vegetables have been low since the nationwide lockdown started, farmers say. affected by the current situation. were negative.”

C M Y K 05 | SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020 MONEY

FOREX Renault seeks US Dollar 122.63 Restaurant workers put under financial Euro 132.31 state-backed loan Pound Sterling 151.61 Japanese Yen 11.40 strain due to extended lockdown as coronavirus Chinese Yuan 17.32 With restaurants being shuttered for more than a month, many workers have lost their income. crisis drags on Qatari Riyal 33.68

Australian Dollar 78.16 KRISHANA PRASAIN lion in salaries each month, said REUTERS KATHMANDU, APRIL 24 Jaiswal. PARIS, APRIL 24 Malaysian Ringit 28.13 According to him, 25-30 percent Restaurant cook Dipak Khadka was of the restaurants are using loan Renault is in talks with the French Saudi Arab Riyal 32.61 expecting his bank to notify him that capital totalling Rs4-5 billion, and government to secure a state-backed Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank his salary had been deposited into his almost all of them are situated on loan worth several billion euros by account as it used to do every month. rented premises. mid-May to shore up its liquidity dur- But the notification never arrived. Out of the total revenue, 40 percent ing the coronavirus pandemic, the PRICE PER TOLA Khadka, who has been working at is spent on daily purchases, 15-20 per- French carmaker said on Thursday. BULLION ND’s Café and Restaurant at cent on staff salaries and 10 percent Interim Chief Executive Clotilde Mahabouddha for the past 16 years, on rent. This leaves a profit margin of Delbos said Renault, which is 15 per- Fine Gold Rs 77,000 did not think that staff salaries would around 10 percent, he said. cent owned by the French state, was be stopped because the place has been Jaiswal, who owns Mela Restaurant lining up credit lines and aid when Silver Rs 720 closed for the past month due to the and Bar at Lainchaur, said he would possible, including in France and virus lockdown. pay the salaries for the past month as emerging markets. SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA The 40-year-old cook is the sole paid leave. “It is our duty to be on the safe side breadwinner for his family of five, Acharya has paid last month’s and to cover even black, black, black and he has to support his parents in salaries, but he says he has not decid- scenarios,” Delbos said on a call with GASOLINE WATCH his home village in Sindhuli too. He ed what to do from next month. The analysts, adding that it was unclear says he needs the money to feed them, association has not reached any deci- how long the crisis would last and and market prices have spiked due to sion regarding the salaries of restau- what impact it would have on earn- supply chain disruptions. rant workers. Talks are being held ings this year. Khadka’s employer had told him a POST FILE PHOTO with the government and trade She said, however, that Renault had few weeks ago that all workers would The restaurant sector employs 60,000 people and pays Rs140-150 million in salaries each unions, he added. enough liquidity to make it through get their pay. But he has not month, according to the Restaurant and Bar Association of Nepal. “Restaurants which have been oper- the coronavirus turmoil, including heard from him since then, and he ating for years are unable to manage covering a monthly cash burn of 600 dares not contact him again for fear of have lost their income which has put have a combined investment of Rs25 the salaries of workers for some million euros ($647 million) linked to losing his job. them in great difficulty. billion, officials said. months, and that too in a situation the closure of its plants and dealer- According to him, the 52 workers at “Even before the lockdown, busi- As per the association, 60 percent of like this,” said Mukti Dahal, central ships during the health crisis. the restaurant have not received their ness had started shrinking with peo- the restaurants have a local client general secretary of the All The company had 10.3 billion euros salary for the past month. The compa- ple refraining from eating out due to base while tourists make up most of Nepal Hotel, Casino and Restaurant of liquidity reserves at the end of ny is under financial strain, but it pandemic fears,” said Mohit Acharya, the customers at the rest. Workers Union. March -- including an unused 3.5 bil- should be able to pay the staff for a owner of Bricks Café, Kupondol. Restaurants that depend on tourism “Though some restaurants have lion euro credit line -- though that was month or two despite being closed for Pramod Kumar Jaiswal, immediate will take a long time to rebound with decided to pay salaries in full for still 5.5 billion euros lower than the a month, Khadka said. past president of the Restaurant and less tourist movement due to the coro- last month, others said they would be end of 2019. The first quarter is tradi- “It has become tough to survive in Bar Association of Nepal, said that navirus, Jaiswal said. It will be some able to pay only half of the salaries,” tionally a period when carmakers use Kathmandu,” he said. His landlord turnover had dropped to almost zero time before locals start dining out he said. cash to boost vehicle stocks. has been asking for last month’s rent with 100 percent loss. wholeheartedly because nothing “As many workers are receiving Renault’s Japanese alliance partner for his apartment, and he has been There are around 2,500 standard will remain like before due to the pan- minimum wages, halving the salary Nissan posted its first quarterly loss managing by dipping into his savings restaurants in Kathmandu, Pokhara demic, so there will be a long-term will impact the lives of thousands of in nearly a decade in February and the and borrowing from friends. and Sauraha, according to the associa- loss, he added. workers,” he said. “We are waiting for two are due to present plans to reboot With restaurants being shuttered tion. There is no authentic data, but The restaurant sector employs the government’s decision on the mat- their partnership in May, including for more than a month, many workers these establishments are estimated to 60,000 people and pays Rs140-150 mil- ter,” he added. industrial projects. EU agrees on budget and Boeing to lay off 10 percent of workers in civil aviation

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE tions. Workers who take Boeing’s vol- Covid-19 recovery plan WASHINGTON, APRIL 24 untary layoff offer would receive a pay and benefits package as part of ASSOCIATED PRESS lacking confidence that relatively Boeing plans to reduce the workforce the programme that “aims to help BRUSSELS, APRIL 24 wealthier northern EU partners like in its civil aviation unit by 10 percent reduce the size of our workforce Austria, the Netherlands or Germany to cut costs as the coronavirus causes through voluntary actions and, impor- European Union leaders agreed on are willing to take swift, sweeping a crisis for airlines, two sources famil- tantly, minimize future workforce Thursday to revamp the EU’s long- measures backed by real economic iar with the matter told AFP. actions,” the spokesman said. term budget and set up a massive firepower. But the leaders did agree to The layoffs would impact the unit The company, already under recovery fund to tackle the impact of task the European Commission with manufacturing the troubled 737 MAX, strain amid the controversy surround- the coronavirus and help rebuild the revamping the EU’s next seven-year which has been grounded for more ing the top-selling 737 MAX and uncer- 27-nation bloc’s ravaged economies, budget—due to enter force on Jan. 1 than a year after two deadly crashes, tainties over when the plane will but deep differences remain over the but still the subject of much disagree- as well as the 787 and 777 long-haul return to the skies, has suffered a best way to achieve those goals. ment—and devise a massive recovery aircraft, the sources said. wave of order cancelations from air- With more than 100,000 Europeans plan. While no figure was put The job cuts could affect up to lines struggling to survive as air trav- known to have died from the virus, on that plan, officials believe that 1-1.5 7,000 workers. Boeing employs el has ground to a halt amid the pan- according to the European Centre for trillion euros ($1.1-1.6 trillion) would more than 160,000 people worldwide, demic shutdowns. Disease Prevention and Control, and be needed. including 70,000 in Washington state, Aircraft leasing company Avalon business only slowly starting to open “There is only one instrument that where most of its civilian aircraft canceled an order for 75 of the 737 in some countries, the urgent need for can deliver this magnitude of task are assembled. The plant in MAX planes, and the China funds in hard-hit countries like Italy behind the recovery and that is the South Carolina produces only part of Development Bank scrapped a request and Spain has never been starker. European budget clearly linked to the the 787. for 29 of the aircraft. “This pandemic is putting our recovery fund,” European Commission The news comes just a day after the There also is uncertainty about an societies under serious strain. President Ursula von der Leyen company slowly resumed production REUTERS order from Norwegian Air for 92 MAX The well-being of each EU member said. “The budget is time tested. at its Puget Sound facility in A worker enters the Boeing Renton Factory, where 737 MAX airliners are manufactured, in planes and five 787 planes after four state depends on the well-being of the Everybody knows it. It is trusted by all Washington, with new measures to Renton, Washington, US. subsidiaries filed for bankruptcy. whole of the EU. We are all in this member states.” keep workers six-feet apart along The spokesman said “there is no together,” European Council President Northern European countries, like with health checks and hand-washing Boeing has sought $60 billion in But the government aid is condi- doubt the aviation industry will look Charles Michel told reporters after the Netherlands and Germany, gener- stations. public aid for the US aerospace tional on companies agreeing not to very different as we eventually recov- chairing the leaders’ video-conference ally remain reluctant to share too Chief Executive David Calhoun industry in light of the heavy hit to lay off workers once they have er from this pandemic.” summit. much debt out of fear of having to wants to resolve the downsizing plan the aviation business from the corona- received taxpayer dollars. Boeing also may replace the execu- The uneven impact of the virus on foot the bill for others, and debate before Boeing embarks on complex virus crisis. A spokesman for the Boeing said tive in charge of the MAX programme countries with very different raged Thursday over what form some and sensitive negotiations with the US Around $17 billion aimed at Boeing the company is offering “voluntary in announcements that could come budgetary means has eroded trust, of the funding should take, either Treasury to win in federal support for was included in the giant federal layoff” programmes, but did not con- when the company releases quarterly with Italy and Spain notably grants or loans. the industrial giant, the sources said. relief bill approved in late March. firm the size of the planned reduc- results April 29, the sources said. Investors flock to South Korea as wins in coronavirus battle earn reward

REUTERS SEOUL/SINGAPORE, APRIL 24

South Korea’s stock market has bounced back harder amid the corona- virus pandemic than any other major bourse in the world, and bond inflows lead Asia, as investors bet Seoul’s han- dling of the crisis will see it through sooner and stronger than others. Asia’s fourth-largest economy is among the first countries to bring a major outbreak of the virus under control, with a vigorous without man- datory lockdowns or a gigantic debt-funded rescue package. With one of the world’s most vigor- ous testing regimes and social distanc- ing campaign in place, South Korea’s REUTERS confirmed cases of the virus have People wearing face masks to protect themselves against contracting the new coronavirus been kept to less than 11,000 so far, walk on a street in central Seoul, South Korea. with 240 deaths. That has foreigners buying Thailand, and bettered only by return,” said Shin Hwan-jong, head of bonds at a clip for their reliable yield, Argentina’s S&P Merval, which is less fixed income at NH Investment and while the benchmark Kospi stock than 1 percent of the Seoul market’s Securities in Seoul. index has soared by nearly a third size by value. A 6 percent slide in the Korean won from March lows as investors, from The jump has come even as South this year versus the U.S. dollar is also dabblers to institutions, buy into the Korea’s exports have cratered and the shallower than 10 percent drops in the recovery ride. economy has contracted. similarly risk-sensitive Australian “It is one of the examples of manag- South Korean bonds posted a third and New Zealand dollars. ing the crisis really well,” said Esty straight month of inflows in March, South Korea’s virus containment Dwek, head of global market strategy attracting $3.6 billion in a month when strategy rests on testing, intensive at $1 trillion French fund manager Asian bonds as a whole had the big- contact tracing and tracking Natixis Investment Managers. gest foreign outflows in seven years. apps, while avoiding lingering “We think it’ll be one of the win- A 1.56 percent yield on 10-year mandatory lockdowns or forced busi- ners, along with emerging Asia, Korean government debt makes it an ness closures. compared to other regions that are attractive trade, compared with a So far it is working: Authorities are likely to suffer much more,” she yield of 1.23 percent in Thailand or hoping to see daily new cases drop to said. “It is one of the areas (to which) just 0.078 percent in France and 0.292 zero in the coming days, after falling we’ve moved some money only a few percent in Britain, which have the below 10 in the past week. In Seoul, weeks ago.” same credit rating. shoppers are back in malls and resi- The Kospi index is up 31 percent “Simply put, there is no other dents are out and about enjoying POST PHOTO: MANOJ POUDEL from a low point hit on March 19, a emerging country with similar credit spring weather and the tail-end of the A farmer harvests green beans at Buddhabhumi Municipality in Kapilvastu. performance matched only by smaller rating, that can yield this much cherry blossom viewing season.

C M Y K SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020 | 06 WORLD Coronavirus Countries take lockdown pushes different approaches refugees in Russia in lifting lockdown ASSOCIATED PRESS to the brink MADRID, APRIL 24

REUTERS Without a tried-and-tested action plan MOSWCOW, APRIL 24 for how to pull countries out of lock- down, the world is seeing a patchwork Khatera Noory, an Afghan refugee in of approaches. Schools reopen in one Moscow, says her family of six would country, stay closed in others; face starve without charity food donations. masks are an obligation here, a simple Noory’s husband Zabiullah used to recommendation there. have a steady job as a labourer in a Kids still attend soccer practice in fruit market, but with lockdown Sweden while they are not even measures against the coronavirus in allowed outside in Spain. In the US place and trade mostly closed, a state of Georgia, gyms, hair salons week can now pass without a day’s and bowling alleys were being allowed work for him. to reopen Friday even as American When there is work, Zabiullah hospitals still heave with virus emer- brings home just 500 roubles ($6.70) a gencies. In other parts of the day–half as much as it used to be and globe, the prospect of a haircut is still not nearly enough to pay the rent for weeks away. the family’s small apartment outside There is no simple, one-size-fits-all Moscow. answer. As governments and scien- “Under the quarantine people’s dif- tists fumble around, still struggling ficulties have doubled,” Noory said, with so many unknowns, individuals adding that she is too scared to go out are being left to take potentially life-af- even for shopping as her family does fecting decisions. not have legal papers or medical In France, for instance, the insurance. government is leaving families to Noory is one of up to a 200,000-strong decide whether to keep children at refugee population in Russia, accord- home or send them back to class when ing to the Civic Assistance Committee, the nationwide lockdown, in place an NGO providing legal help and since March 17, starts to be eased humanitarian aid to refugees and from May 11. migrants. Only 487 refugees in Russia have official status and papers AP/RSS that allow legal employment, accord- A man with a face mask watches empty chairs with names of bars and restaurants on the Roemerberg square in Frankfurt, Germany, on Friday. Due to the ing to Rosstat, the governmental sta- coronavirus all bars and restaurants in Germany are still closed, with this campaign their owners protest against that shutdown. Kids still attend tistics agency. soccer practice in Residents in the Moscow area are only allowed outside to buy food or Sweden while they medicine nearby, receive medical treatment, walk the dog or take out are not even allowed the rubbish. Those stopped by police in the street can be fined up to 40,000 Muslims start Ramadan under lockdown outside in Spain. roubles ($535) if they do not provide an official registration address— something unobtainable for the major- “It is hard to decide,” said Helene ity of refugees and migrants. Alston, a French tax lawyer with a Last week, authorities introduced a as United States beefs up virus support daughter and a son in middle school. digital travel permit system, which “I think I will send them back to made getting around close to impossi- school because it allows us to restore a ble for paperless non-residents. The coronavirus has upended life around the planet as nations try to stop the spread of the disease that has bit of normality in our lives.” According to the Civic Assistance But “we don’t want to deliberately Committee, up to 50 families in need so far claimed more than 190,000 lives, infected 2.7 million people and hammered the global economy. put them in a dangerous situation,” call their hotline daily with requests she said Friday. “I might change my for food and other support compared AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Strip, said he was not sure how his mind.” to just several per week before the JAKARTA, APRIL 24 family would cope without Ramadan In Spain, parents face a similarly lockdown. donations. knotty decision: whether to let kids The committee said most of those Muslims across the world began mark- “The markets and mosques are get their first fresh air in weeks when calling have lost their jobs and say ing the holy month of Ramadan under closed. The good people who give us the country on Sunday starts to ease they have no food, no money to buy unprecedented coronavirus lock- money or aid each Ramadan are fac- the total ban on letting them outside. medicine and fear they will lose their downs on Friday as the US added ing a tough situation,” he said. Even then, they will still have to homes as they cannot pay the rent. another half a trillion dollars “This is the hardest Ramadan abide to a “1-1-1” rule: no more than to an economic support package and we have faced. We don’t know how we one hour per day, within a 1 kilometer Europe groped towards its own huge will cope.” radius of their house and with no rescue plan. The economic devastation wreaked more than one supervising adult. The virus has upended life around by lockdowns that have half the planet The imperative to reopen is largely BRIEFING the planet as nations try to stop the indoors is huge, with the world facing driven by economics, with lockdowns spread of the disease that has so far its worst downturn since the Great bleeding companies and government claimed more than 190,000 lives, infect- Depression. coffers of cash. In a trend seen around Biden predicts Trump will try ed 2.7 million people and hammered US lawmakers covered their faces the globe, roughly 26 million to postpone election the global economy. with masks and voted in small groups Americans have filed for jobless aid in Ramadan spirits have been damp- to approve a $483 billion stimulus five weeks, pushing unemployment to WASHINGTON: Presumptive Democratic ened by movement restrictions on plan, on top of the $2.2 trillion pack- levels last seen during the Great presidential nominee Joe Biden has hundreds of millions of Muslims age already enacted. Depression of the 1930s and raising predicted that US President Donald from Southeast Asia to the Middle The money will back small busi- the stakes over how and when to Trump will try to postpone the coun- East and Africa, with bans on nesses on the brink of bankruptcy and ease shutdowns of factories and other try’s November election in an attempt prayers in mosques and large REUTERS hard-pressed hospitals as the businesses. to win.”Mark my words, I think he is gatherings of families and friends to A Muslim man wearing a face mask prays at a mosque on the first day of the holy fasting American economy reels, with more But the risk of reopening too much, gonna try to kick back the election break the daily fast, a centrepiece of month of Ramadan, amid the coronavirus disease outbreak, in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday. than 26 million people losing their too fast is possible fresh infection somehow, come up with some ration- the month. jobs since the pandemic hit. spikes that again overwhelm hospital ale why it can’t be held,” Biden said But despite the coronavirus threat, “I’m not worried because I’m wear- rate Islamic congregations in The United States is now the ICUs. Japan initially seemed to have during an online fundraiser on clerics and conservatives in many ing a face mask and keeping my dis- Malaysia, Pakistan and India since worst-affected nation in the world, controlled the outbreak by going after Thursday. The 77-year-old former vice countries including Bangladesh, tance,” said Cut Fitrah Riskiah, one of the virus first emerged late last year with about 50,000 coronavirus clusters of infections. But on Friday, president said it is “the only way he Pakistan and Indonesia—the world’s those in attendance at the biggest in China. deaths. Japanese medical experts issued a thinks he can possibly win.” largest Muslim-majority nation—have mosque in Aceh’s capital. Distancing measures and the severe In Europe, leaders haggled by stark warning that the country’s pushed back against social distancing The World Health Organization has economic impact of the pandemic video conference over their own pack- emergency medicine resources are rules, refusing to stop gatherings in called for a stop to some Ramadan have also meant many charitable age that could top one trillion euros, starting to collapse amid dire shortag- China signals World Cup mosques. activities to lower the risk of infec- activities during Ramadan, especially as the European Central Bank chief es of protective gear and test kits. ambitions Several thousand people attended tions, and authorities in several food distribution and other donations, warned of the risk of “acting too lit- “We can no longer operate normally, evening prayers on Thursday at the countries have explicitly warned of have been hit hard. tle, too late”. and in that sense I say the collapse BEIJING: China is in the throes of a biggest mosque in the capital of the threat from large religious Salah Jibril, an unemployed The 27-nation European Union of emergency medicine has already multibillion-dollar splurge on new Indonesia’s conservative Aceh prov- gatherings. Palestinian man who lives with his agreed to ask the bloc’s executive arm started,” said Takeshi Shimazu, football stadiums, ramping up ambi- ince, and there were similar scenes at There have already been explosions wife and six children in a cramped to come up with a rescue plan by May head of Japanese Association for tions to be a superpower in the sport many sites in Pakistan. of coronavirus cases from three sepa- two-bedroom apartment in the Gaza 6, sources told AFP. Acute Medicine. and host a World Cup as early as 2030. The building spree is taking place despite the coronavirus pandemic which has brought much of the world to a standstill, ravaging economies and putting live sport on hold. But with the outbreak receding in China, Mystery of India’s lower death rates seems to defy coronavirus trend where it emerged in December, Chinese Super League (CSL) champi- REUTERS Overall deaths plummeted 67 per- ties from all-too-common rail acci- ons Guangzhou Evergrande last week MUMBAI/AHMEDABAD, APRIL 24 cent in Ahmedabad, the biggest city in dents have also plunged. In Mumbai began construction on their 12 billion Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s alone, for example, more than half a yuan ($1.7 billion) new home. With a Parts of India have recorded dramatic home state of Gujarat, over the same dozen people typically die every day capacity of 100,000, the lotus flow- falls in mortality rates after a nation- period. on the rail network. er-shaped stadium will for a time wide lockdown was imposed to fight Data from at least two other cities, Neeraj Kumar, who is in charge of a trump Barcelona’s Camp Nou, which the new coronavirus, suggesting there along with accounts from state health crematorium on the banks of the holy is set for expansion, as the world’s has not been an undetected surge in officials, show a similar pattern. Half Ganges river in Uttar Pradesh state, biggest football arena, once it is com- virus-related deaths. a dozen funeral businesses and crema- said victims of crime were also not pleted by the end of 2022. All over the world, mortality rates toriums also reported slumps in busi- being brought in. are being scrutinised to determine the ness, especially in April. “We used to get at least 10 acci- Pompeo says China may have true impact of the coronavirus, which “If we’re not seeing an increase in dent-related bodies every day and emerged in China late last year and is deaths, the suspicion that there may many related to murder cases. But known of virus in November known to have infected more than 2.7 be more Covid-19 fatalities out there is after the lockdown we’re only receiv- WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State million people globally, with nearly not true,” said Giridhar Babu, profes- ing natural death cases,” Kumar said. Mike Pompeo charged on Thursday 190,000 deaths. sor of epidemiology at the Public The site used to perform up to 30 that China may have known of the While death rates in some countries Health Foundation of India. cremations a day but in the month new coronavirus as early as have risen sharply in recent weeks, Modi imposed a lockdown of India’s since March 22, only 43 people November, renewing accusations that in India the opposite seems to be 1.3 billion people on March 25 in a bid had been cremated, Kumar said after Beijing has not been transpar- happening, at least in some places, to stop the spread of the coronavirus, leafing through the crematorium’s ent.”You’ll recall that the first cases leaving hospitals, funeral parlours which has infected some 23,077 people, record book. of this were known by the Chinese and cremation sites wondering what killing 718 of them, according to the But the lower rates might also government maybe as early as is going on. latest figures. reflect difficulties in reporting deaths November, but certainly by “It’s very surprising for us,” said India has tested about 525,000 peo- during the lockdown, officials said. mid-December,” Pompeo said in Shruthi Reddy, chief executive officer ple, meaning some 4 percent “There could be an increase when an interview.” of Anthyesti Funeral Services, which were positive. In the United Sates, the lockdown ends,” said Dr Bhavin operates in the eastern city of Kolkata about 18 percent of tests are REUTERS Joshi, a senior health department offi- and the southern tech hub of positive, according to the Covid Health workers walk on a railway track as they arrive in a slum for a door-to-door verification cial with the Ahmedabad Municipal French minister: Crisis not Bengaluru. Tracking project. of people to see if they have developed any Covid-19 symptoms, in Kolkata, India, on Friday. Corporation. The company handled about five India’s apparently lower death rates Requests for India-wide data from changing EU’s Brexit priorities jobs a day in January but has only had stands in contrast to what has been torium employees suspect the lower killed more than 151,400 people in the national registrar went unan- PARIS: The coronavirus outbreak cri- about three a day this month. seen elsewhere. death rate is in large part attributable 2018, according to official data, the swered, while an official at the New sis does not change European priori- “We’ve declared employee pay cuts The Netherlands recorded about to fewer road and rail accidents. world’s highest absolute number. Delhi Municipal Council said they ties in the Brexit negotiations, if revenue falls below a threshold,” 2,000 more deaths than normal in the “Road accident cases, and even The coronavirus lockdown, which could not provide numbers. French European Affairs Minister Reddy said. first week of April, for example, patients with alcohol or drug abuse, is due to end on May 3, will cut Reuters was also unable to obtain Amelie de Montchalin said on Other numbers tell a similar story. while in Indonesia’s capital of Jakarta stroke and heart attacks have been road deaths by at least 15 percent data for the state of West Bengal, Friday. She also told a French Senate Central Mumbai, home to some 12 the number of funerals rose sharply coming in fewer numbers,” said Dr this year compared with 2018, where some doctors have accused the hearing that a no-deal Brexit would million people, saw deaths fall by in March. Himanta Biswa Sarma, health minis- Paresh Kumar Goel, a director at the government of understating coronavi- be an extra shock on top of the Covid- about 21 percent in March compared Some towns in Italy also saw a jump ter for the northeastern state of Ministry of Road Transport & rus deaths. Only a state-appointed 19 crisis but Britain would suffer the with the same month of 2019, accord- in recorded deaths. Assam. Highways, said. committee is allowed to declare that a most. (AGENCIES) ing to municipal data. Indian doctors, officials and crema- Accidents on India’s chaotic roads With passenger trains halted, fatali- patient has died from the virus.

C M Y K 07 | SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020 SPORTS BRIEFING Empty stadiums for football games is not that simple K-League season to begin on May 8 behind closed doors The Bundesliga is planning to have a maximum of 213 people in the stadium including players and other essential manpower including television cameramen. SEOUL: The 2020 K-League season will ASSOCIATED PRESS kick off on May 8 behind closed doors NEW YORK, APRIL 24 after more than two months of delay caused by the Covid -19 pandemic, the It will soon be the new norm, a cold South Korean league announced on and often unnerving sight that foot- Friday. Five days prior to its original ball and many other sports will have February 29 start, the 12-team league to get accustomed to over the coming was postponed but South Korea is months. now among the first countries to Games taking place in empty stadi- bring a major outbreak of the virus ums. But will these stadiums actually under control. Defending champions be empty? Far from it. “It’s not about Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors will host 22 players walking onto a pitch and Suwon Samsung Bluewings in Jeonju (kicking) a ball about,” FIFA vice pres- in the opener, the Korea Professional ident Victor Montagliani told The Football League said in a statement. Associated Press, referring to what he In keeping with the Korean govern- called the “phased-in approach” that ment’s social distancing guidelines, football—and society as a whole—will early season matches will be played need to take to get back to normal fol- without fans. lowing the coronavirus outbreak. Some teams in Europe have experi- ence in staging games without Hoffman appointed Premier flag-waving and loudly cheering League chair fans—be it while serving a punish- LONDON: Investment banker Gary ment for crowd trouble or, as was the Hoffman was appointed chairman of case in February and March, because the Premier League on Friday, work- of a rapidly spreading virus that ing with chief executive Richard turned into a pandemic. Masters. The Premier League said in Now, almost every club will be plan- a statement the 59-year-old would ning for such a scenario as football take up the role from June 1 after leagues start to ramp up preparations shareholders voted unanimously in for a resumption which will be stag- favour. Hoffman, chairman of the gered depending on how well coun- Coventry Building Society and Monzo tries have managed to contain Bank, earlier served notice of his the virus. intention to resign as non-executive Of Europe’s major leagues, chair of Hastings Group Holdings Germany appears to be closest to lift- before taking up the new role. The ing its suspension, with some state former chairman of the Football governors even hoping to resume Foundation, who began his career at games on May 9. The Bundesliga is Barclays and was a chairman of Visa planning to have a maximum of 213 AP/RSS Europe, succeeds acting chair people in the stadium—everyone from Supporters of Bundesliga team Borussia Moenchengladbach place ‘cardboard comrades’ at the Moenchengladbach stadium in Germany on April 9. Claudia Arney. players to TV cameramen. In Britain, which is in the peak of the virus out- There is a four-person team of could include caterers, ground staff, attendees, as mass gatherings in Some public officials have expressed break, a return in late June is the match officials (referee, two assistant ball boys and girls, maintenance, Sweden currently are, the number of concern about people crowding Spurs’ Dier charged by FA possible—albeit optimistic—call from referees and a fourth official), along ground-safety officers, people who run coaches needed could be shrunk, together for TV viewing parties. clubs in the Premier League. One lead- with a replacement official. Then advertising hoardings and stewards. fewer ball boys could be used and Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp for confronting fan ing club official spoke of the need for there’s the coaching staff—managers, The number of journalists attend- press could be limited. He said two made similar comments before the LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur’s Eric at least 300 people at matches. assistants, fitness coaches, physios ing would vary from country to coun- locker rooms could be used by each shutdown. There’s also the question Dier has been charged by the Football In Sweden, where football authori- and a club doctor. try, but that could easily be slimmed team. “We can manage a match with of what players do away from the Association (FA) over a confrontation ties are planning for a June 14 restart, Other essential people include a down. However, what’s unlikely to be 50 people,” af Geijerstam said. “We stadium. with a fan after his side’s defeat on a venue official at champion match delegate, an anti-doping offi- altered is the TV set-up for top have to if we want to play.” Germany is proposing coronavirus penalties by Norwich City in the FA Djurgarden told the AP that it would cial, official photographers and staff European competitions that generally Games can still attract a crowd even tests for players before each game, Cup fifth round last month, the gov- be possible to limit numbers to 50 if from broadcasters (like sound engi- uses between 10 and 15 cameras, plus when spectators are not in the stands. which risks a public backlash. The erning body said on Thursday. fans aren’t allowed in stadiums. In neers, technicians, camera crew and technicians and interviewers for the Thousands of fans gathered outside league says it would use “less than Following the shootout at Tottenham Switzerland, leaked plans attained by producers), and medical workers. In host broadcaster. the empty Parc des Princes to cele- 0.5%” of the national testing capacity, Hotspur Stadium, video footage daily newspaper Blick this week stat- England, for example, there needs to When Borussia Mönchengladbach brate a Paris Saint-Germain win over but that still means thousands of tests showed England international Dier ed there should be no more than 200 be four paramedics and an ambulance played Cologne last month, under dif- Borussia Dortmund in the Champions to finish the season. climbing over seats and confronting a essential staff at games. driver at every game. ferent societal circumstances, there League on March 11, tightly packed The deputy head of Germany’s pub- home supporter before he was Much depends on the directives In a list provided by the Spanish were 600 people in the stadium, together and waving flares. Players lic health body has criticized the plan, restrained by security guards and from governments and the demands league while it planned for games Gladbach said. That included 250 went to celebrate with them. saying that tests should be reserved other fans. “Eric Dier has been of domestic and international broad- without fans in March, other groups media representatives, 200 security So, any game played in an empty for people who have symptoms or are charged with misconduct for a breach casters, whose money clubs increas- getting stadium access included both staff, 80 players and team staff mem- stadium still will need security guards suspected to be part of an outbreak. of FA Rule E3,” the FA said in a state- ingly rely on. Players and match offi- teams’ board of directors, community bers, 50 other club employees and or police posted around the venue to The National Rugby League in ment. Spurs manager Jose Mourinho cials obviously are on the list. Each managers, integrity officials and what smaller numbers of ball boys and stop people from gathering. Australia has come up with its own said at the time that he had sympathy squad for a match has 18 or 20 players it termed “technical staff with func- paramedics. Information from Spain included the idea. Its “Project Apollo” think tank for Dier but his actions were wrong. in major European leagues, and some tions strictly related to holding the Tomas af Geijerstam, head of need for “public and private security proposed making players live on a The FA said Dier had until May 8 to back-ups will be required in case of games,” which could be a group of up matches and venues at Djurgarden, agents,” firefighters and first-re- remote island camp. No football league respond to the charge. (AGENCIES) late withdrawals. to a maximum of 100 people. That said if a game was restricted to 50 sponse personnel. has yet tried to copy that plan. Neville to leave English women Broad, Anderson eye UEFA keen to adopt new one last Ashes before coaching job next year retirement formats to settle leagues ASSOCIATED PRESS proposed tournament scheduling REUTERS LONDON, APRIL 24 we will now be working to plan for LONDON, APRIL 24 that can’t complete a revised match calendar once it is Phil Neville will step down from safe and appropriate to do so,” England’s new ball pair of James Anderson and coaching the England women’s Neville said. “I am looking for- Stuart Broad have their eyes on the 2021-22 Ashes ASSOCIATED PRESS Spain, Germany, Italy and France—all team when his contract expires ward to getting back to work with series in Australia before they consider retire- NEW YORK, APRIL 24 have a traditional format where teams next year, missing out on leading the team as soon as possible. We ment, the duo have said. play each other home and away. Some the country at the rescheduled have a fantastic squad of players Anderson, England’s highest test wicket-taker, UEFA is keener on leagues adopting countries like Belgium have a system European Championship in 2022. and there is plenty to work on as will be 38 in July while Broad, second in that list new formats to determine final league where the league splits after 30 games The former Manchester United we look to progress as a team and four years younger, does not expect his places for European qualification into playoffs. player could still coach the British going into 2021.” career to last as long as that of his bowling part- if suspended domestic competitions “If a domestic competition is pre- Olympic team. Due to the corona- The FA wants the same manager ner. “I don’t think I could go until your age,” cannot be completed due to govern- maturely terminated for legitimate virus pandemic, the Tokyo Games in charge of England’s next two Broad told Anderson during an Instagram Live ment restrictions or financial reasons ... the procedure for selecting have been pushed back a year to REUTERS tournaments. “In light of the chat. “Your action’s so smooth, it looks a lot calm- concerns caused by the coronavirus clubs should be based on objective, July 2021—the endpoint for Phil Neville impact of current global events on er on your body whereas mine is a little more pandemic. transparent and non-discriminatory Neville’s England contract. the sporting calendar and in the forceful through my body I think. But I’m loving With UEFA announcing a desire for principles,” UEFA said. Sue Campbell, the English with the semifinal loss to the US best interests of the England the environment at the minute. I love playing for qualification for the Champions UEFA acknowledged there could be Football Association’s director of and included a defeat in a reunion Women’s team, both parties were England. I still have huge motivation to keep League and Europa League being set- orders by authorities prohibiting women’s football, said she “will with the world champions at the in agreement that our shared pri- playing and you just assess that year by year. And tled on “sporting merit,” the state- sports events so “domestic competi- now discuss next steps” about the invitational SheBelieves Cup last ority was to ensure the Lionesses we’ve got that carrot dangling over us of Australia ment on Thursday opens the door to tions cannot be completed before Olympics with the British Olympic month. England only has friendly have continuity of coaching going in Australia which looks like an achievable car- leagues temporarily implementing a date that would make it possible Association and the federations in matches until the European into the home EURO and looking rot to grab.” playoff systems. to complete the current season in Northern Ireland, Scotland Championship since it qualified as towards the 2023 FIFA World Cup,” Anderson felt if he could stay fit and perform UEFA referenced the use only of a good time before the next season to and Wales. The Olympics start in hosts for a tournament that was Campbell said. at the same level, there was no reason why he “different format.” Averaging out start.” July 2021. due to be staged in July 2021. The “Once football returns after this could not join England’s bid to reclaim the Ashes. points based on games already played UEFA also said it was aware “insur- The 43-year-old Neville, who coronavirus outbreak led to the difficult period, Phil will continue “The big thing is standards. If your standards is another potential option to deter- mountable economic problems” could took charge of England in January men’s Euros being postponed until his work with the Lionesses on the feel like they’re dropping then yeah you might mine final placings in an unprecedent- mean trying to complete fixture pro- 2018, took the Lionesses to the sem- 2021, which led on Thursday to further development of his squad. consider finishing,” Anderson said. “But as long ed situation. UEFA cautioned that grams is “impossible because it would ifinals of the World Cup last year UEFA confirming the need to I will support him fully with that as my standards stay high, my fitness levels stay teams could be denied places in put at risk the long-term financial in his first job in women’s football. delay its women’s showpiece until important task whilst moving for- good and my skills stay where I want them to be Europe if leagues are prematurely stability” of leagues or clubs. But seven of the last 11 games have July 6-31 2022. ward with the crucial succession and my speed stays pretty good which they have halted and “there is a public percep- But UEFA did announce on been lost, a dismal run that started “As a result of the changes to the planning process,” she added. been (I’ll keep playing).” tion of unfairness.” Thursday it would share almost 70 Domestic and continental competi- million euros ($75.5 million) among tions were suspended last month. 676 clubs that released players for UEFA also said it was exploring the European Championship qualifiers Champions League and Europa and Nations League games in the past League resuming in parallel with two years. domestic competitions or in August The money is being released early after they have hopefully been com- to help “in light of the current crisis pleted. and the financial difficulties many Some Champions League and clubs are facing,” UEFA said. Europa League last-16 matchups are A longstanding agreement between yet to be played, but domestic games UEFA and the European Club are being given priority. Belgium is Association guarantees clubs at least the only major top-flight so far to 200 million euros from Euro 2020 announce plans to halt the competi- revenues to compensate for releasing tion, while the Dutch federation players to national duty in the 2018-20 also has plans to cancel the rest of the cycle. season. Payments to clubs were due after “The ideal scenario, should the Euro 2020 but were being issued now pandemic situation permit it, is to after the coronavirus outbreak forced have the currently suspended the tournament to be postponed to domestic competitions completed ena- next year. bling football clubs to qualify for The highest-earning club will get UEFA club competitions on sporting 630,000 euros calculated pro rata merit in their original format,” UEFA per player named on a national said. “Should this outcome not be pos- team’s match sheet. That club was not sible, in particular due to calendar identified. issues, it would be preferable that UEFA said 2.7 million euros of the suspended domestic competitions money will go to clubs after the would restart with a different format 16-nation Euro 2020 playoffs later this in a manner which would still year. Players selected for the Euro facilitate clubs to qualify on sporting 2020 tournament will earn at least 130 REUTERS merit.” million euros more for their clubs Bayern Munich players during a training session at their training ground in Munich on Friday. Football in Germany has been suspended since mid-March and will remain so until at least April 30. Europe’s top leagues—England, from UEFA.

C M Y K SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020 | 08 BOOKS (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 ‘Sangam’: A conflux of multiple poetic voices Sangam is quite an accomplishment when it comes to Nepali poetry in translation, but it has a few quibbles.

BIBEK ADHIKARI

oetry is often regarded as an untranslatable art form. While attempts have been made to translate other forms of art, poetry remains almost impossi- ble to translate, for the act risks Pit losing its essence, which is weighed by every calculated word. However, various efforts have been made, and translators, especially poets, seem to have achieved what poet Octavio Paz called “similar results.” Sangam is an example of one such “similar result.” Readers looking for a comprehensive anthology of Nepali poems in translation can pick up Haris Adhikari’s latest foray into translating poetry and peruse the 64 poems in English. The anthology encompasses SHUTTERSTOCK poets of three different generations, and with love and lust, often by employing emphasising the meaning of the sentence leaving readers wondering. Also, Raj thus provides a confluence of unusually fresh imagery. by foregrounding the predicate or the Manglak’s Freedom is a delightful con- multiple contemporary poetic voices of Many critics hold the view that only verb, is an archaic poetic tool. A hundred crete poem—the first one I’ve ever seen in proto-modernists to post-modernist poets. poets should translate poetry. The reason years ago when everyone was writing in Nepali poetry. What readers of Nepali This heteroglossia results in an antholo- is all too obvious. And Adhikari has meter and rhyme, the inversion would poetry need is the experimental flair cou- gy that is meant to be not just read, but played the game well, breaking rules at help the poets get the perfect meter. pled with local everyday subjectivity, not savoured. times, while inventing his own con- However, this practice is almost obsolete. just on the level of content but also the In his lengthy, seminal translator’s straints sometimes. His major strength is Take, for instance, the closing stanza of way poems appear on the page. Sadly, note, Adhikari writes that “translation is that the translated poems are equally Anmol Kandel’s The Mirage: “After reach- whatever Nepali poets have been writing SANGAM: CONTEMPORARY more an art than a science.” To translate poetic. Readers do not feel like they’re ing / Right in front of you / Was my race is still reminiscent of Bhupi Sherchan or NEPALI POETRY IN the essence of one language into another, reading prosaic pieces, and the desire to done.” The stress goes on to the word Ishwor Ballav’s works. TRANSLATION the translator should have some essential go back to the original works springs only “was” rather than “my race,” giving it a Another bitter-sweet aspect of this skills in his arsenal. Knowing how the once in a while. The translated verses are feel of Victorian impulse. anthology is the use of non-standard Translator : Haris Adhikari grammar and syntax of the target self-contained; they suffice poetically and Also, some readers consider capitalis- Nepali English sparingly across some Publisher : Shabdayatra language functions, learning the otherwise. ing the beginning of every new line poems. This might amuse some readers, Prakashan effect of proper punctuation, and decid- Here are some memorable sections throughout the poem a traditional prac- but the sceptical ones may easily question Price : Rs 400 ing the purpose of choosing a certain line from the book. The closing stanza of tice, but this is still debatable. Modern the intention. Yet, some stanzas suffer by length over countless other choices are all Hangyug Agyat’s Dust employs the con- poets generally prefer sentence case; being cluttered and clunky. Let’s take this science. What culminates thereafter is ceit of dust elegantly. “Dust is all-perva- whereas the experimental post-modern section: “Sort of similar / We are / the poem, the anthology is a pleasant art—or perhaps the heart—of transla- sive in my heart. / I will have to live my ones may go on to the extent of eschewing Returned together, / Like there’s no other read. tion. life with it” is the poet’s philosophic dec- capitalisation and punctuation altogeth- person hungry.” This part, along with Overall, Sangam is quite an accom- The 64 poems in this anthology show laration in this metapoem. I was also er. For the latter, the way words appear on some other sections from the same poem, plishment when it comes to Nepali poetry the best of Nepali writings. From the enchanted with a phrase from Suman the page, sprawling with flowing white suffers from the same fate of being in translation. Since the translator him- works of prominent poets like Dinesh Pokhrel’s Bereft of Poetry - II: “the wreck- spaces, is what makes poetry different heavy-handed. self is a distinguished poet, he has taken Adhikari, Shailendra Sakar, and Tulasi age of broken time.” Also, the ending of from prose. Since we have the works of If one can overlook the pardonable mis- great care of not just passing the mean- Diwas to the writings of emerging poets Mukul Dahal’s In Between the Mountain mostly modern Nepali poets, we can takes like “vision in their eyes,” “chant- ing into another language but giving the like Anil Nembang, Nabin Pyassi, and and the Sea is so very perfect. As such, argue on the graphology or the lineation ing with their lips,” “little kids,” “a hum- final product its much-deserved rhythm, Nirvik Jung Rayamajhee, the collection the anthology has its moments of bril- of the poems. ming hunter with a gun,” “philosopher cadence and life. Non-Nepali readers are showcases the works of Nepali poets for liance. The translator has, however, attempted man,” and the remnants of legal lan- sure to enjoy these poems if the collection the last fifty years. Many of these poems The major quibble about this work of experimenting with Hem Pravas’s guage in “hereafter,” “herein” or “where- goes through a thorough editorial review. search for roots albeit with some hidden translation is the overuse of sentence Country by playing with the spaces and on” as well the occasional “O yea!” or Adhikari is a poet and critic. He tweets political edginess. Some of them deal inversion. Inversions, though used for letter cases. The result is quite amusing, “‘cause,” punctuating the formal tone of as @bibek_writes. AS IT IS Dark in, dark out Just before the lockdown was announced, a bus appears as a post-apocalyptic travel package.

UMESH BAJAGAIN longing. The Capital was entangled in definitely saved me the rest of the night. categorically placed country wise were aren’t there? No, I’m not talking about classificatory tropes of outsider and The number of Covid patients are ris- human beings. Those numbers are not god. God is not the problem. ne hour to go. One post on insider, the endgame was simple: some- ing. I saw the numbers before rushing to just random entities but stand-ins for the It is us, I realise. In the face of crisis, we my Facebook feed read: body must take the entire blame. Who get out of Kathmandu After all, these fate of humanity on this blue dot. can’t put emotion in one pan, and reason, “When in trouble, people then? Mostly the government. numbers in the world we live in mattered. But more than the virus out there, the logic, and evidence in the other. We find flee Kathmandu--self- “Earthquakes and invading coruna; we Doctors see your numbers to assure virus inside was more troublesome. We someone to blame. Anyone. We spark centred.” I felt it, I hit must have done something gravely wrong you’re alive there; numbers determine are the ones who believe viruses can be panic. We don’t ask what we can do. back: “Not fleeing, rather to have faced it,” the lady began, again. So how well a country is doing—the right killed by helicopter sprays. We’re the By the time I reached Inaruwa, it was Ofalling back towards home. That’s where there it was. The man added, “Lord numbers of economy of course, not the ones who blame the government for every six in the morning. And I hadn’t slept. I people want to die, if they must.” Pashupatinath will save us all.” With this statistically insignificant numbers of the stutter in the earth’s rotation. The cause dragged the cumbersome bags home, The phone rang. It was the bus company. closing remark, silence. I cannot say poor and hungry—each of these numbers is not the government’s, not in entirety. un-frenzied. Some things kept me awake The guy on the other end said I couldn’t whether the Lord will save us all, but he represented in a neatly fashioned table What makes us believe in things that for a while but I lost the battle to bed. make it if I didn’t run to the pickup spot. He called half an hour before arrival, and the spot was half an hour away! I hitched a ride halfway, then took a cab at double the price—Rs 150—to the stop. Far too much, I think to myself. The bus folk were prepared to proffer every ounce of their linguistic repertoire to encourage my timeliness. I, 7A, was who they were waiting for, so there was no point of didacticism. Once on the bus, I walked down the carpet, or mat, or what- ever it was lying on the aisle. I had just made it. Had I missed it, I’d be posting on Facebook about how I remained valiantly in the Capital. I brandished my mask and fastened it to hide my face. Tweaking its nose, I marched to 7A. The bus appeared to be a post-apocalyptic travel package, awaiting its last survivor. My seat was visible from afar; it was the only one empty. I saun- tered further down the aisle regally, not because I was dressed so; rather the peo- ple parted, moving to extremes to avoid any contact. The guy next to me demarcated a space between us enough to fit a child. But there was no child. I looked at him, he seemed more interested in the broken USB port in the seat afront him; maybe he wanted to fix it. We were silently square. But there was this particular man, right behind me, scaring the shit out of everyone. The next couple of hours his clatter, crude and creative, crashed into my cochlear duct. Backed by another lady in the same row, they chewed the fat about economics, science, virology, epidemiolo- gy, politics, psychology. The others gradually succumbed to this subtlety ultimately. The woman in the B-column would often jump out of her seat to make a point; the country was all over the talk, stuff like how leaders should have acted—we know this stuff, don’t we? A random voice yelled: “They say dozens have been killed in the hospitals. The façade is delusional,” followed by an outright rejection, “You’re panicking for no reason, Nepalis consume plenty of turmeric and herbs; no way we’re going to die.” From secret foreign agents meddling in the mud to insiders taking helicopters to hover over rooftops to sprinkle showers of ‘medicines’, I heard it all and couldn’t decide who won the vehicular (p)residen- tial debate. The only thing I contributed was a ‘yeah’ that nobody paid attention to. And then silence. Only the engine roll- ing. We were indeed leaving Kathmandu, unattended, unchaperoned. Deserted, the bus must have its own stories to tell to the ones who’ve never been willing to listen, neither the ones ‘belonging’, nor the ones

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