WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 74 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 34.5 C 2.6 C Saturday, May 09, 2020 | 27-01-2077 Dhangadi Jumla India opening a road via Lipulekh is Nepal’s diplomatic failure, analysts say Despite the furore in Kathmandu over the inclusion of Kalapani on a new Indian map, the government has done little to reclaim lands that Nepal claims as its own.

ANIL GIRI Two senior Nepal government offi- KATHMANDU, MAY 8 cials said that they were not aware of the new development except for a Back in November, India’s inclusion briefing from the Nepali Embassy in of Kalapani within its territory on a New Delhi about the inauguration of new political map had created an the road section. uproar in Nepal and left Kathmandu The Delhi mission communicated to scrambling for a response. Six months the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on later, with no real progress from the Friday, saying it is following develop- Nepali side, New Delhi, on Friday, ments, according to a diplomatic announced the opening of a road link source. in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh via the “It looks like India has upgraded Lipulekh pass, another disputed area. the section of road by blacktopping At a time when boundary disputes it,” said the diplomat. “We are waiting with India vis-a-vis Kalapani and for a complete report from New Delhi. Susta remain, the opening of a road Based on that, the Foreign Ministry through Lipulekh is an outcome of will take a position.” Kathmandu’s spectacular failure on The diplomat said that the timing of POST PHOTO: ELITE JOSHI the diplomatic front, say foreign poli- the inauguration of the road may look Chinese nationals protest outside Singha Durbar, asking to be allowed to go home. A clash erupted when police resorted to a baton charge to clear the protesters, injuring two Chinese and four cy analysts. odd, given the pandemic, but it won’t police personnel. (Report on page 4) Lipulekh is a strip of land on the change Nepal’s stated position on northwestern edge of Nepal, lodged Lipulekh, Kalapani or Limpiyadhura. between Nepal, India and Tibet. While some call it a tri-junction between these three countries, Nepal has been claiming the southern part of the pass Upcoming budget to put new projects on and has refused to recognise it as a tri-junction. During the visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqang to India in May 2015, India hold as the economy braces for a hit and China had agreed to open and expand the border points at Nathu La, Lipulekh and Shipki La. When India The coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown’s impacts have meant that revenue collection has fallen, and China agreed to expand a trade PHOTO: DEFENCE MINISTRY INDIA/TWITTER route through Lipulekh pass near India on Friday said it inaugurated a link Kalapani, Kathmandu was caught road from Dharchula to Lipulekh. forcing the federal government to revise its budgetary ceilings. unawares, and now India has built a road link via the disputed territory, “I only learned about the latest devel- PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA & SANGAM PRASAIN The impact of the lockdown on once again surprising Nepali officials. opment from a media report,” said KATHMANDU, MAY 8 businesses and a drastic reduction in “We came to know that India and Nawaraj Dhakal, spokesperson for the remittance, all caused by the Covid-19 China were in intense talks to open Survey Department. “We don’t know The Finance Ministry has begun writ- pandemic, will be reflected in the three border points to link Mansarover more than what has been reported.” ing to several other ministries to put reduced size of the annual budget and since 2013,” said Toyanath Baral, for- According to Foreign Ministry offi- new projects on hold as it prepares to its spending allocation. mer director general of the Survey cials, Foreign Secretary Shanker Das introduce the budget for the next fis- Ever since the government institut- Department. “It would have been good Bairagi spoke with Indian Ambassador cal year amid a slowing economy due to ed a nationwide lockdown to prevent if we had put pressure on India and Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Friday the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. the spread of Covid-19, Nepal has been China since then. In 2015, India and regarding the road, expressing Nepal’s The government has frozen new in the midst of financial stress. The China managed to reach an agree- displeasure and its principal position hires and there won’t be an increase in lockdown, which has been in place for ment. Now it is too late as India has on the boundary dispute. the salaries of civil servants this year over a month, has reduced consumer already built a road.” Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali even as tax rates go up, according to spending and impacted domestic According to Baral, who was confirmed to the Post that Nepal had Finance Ministry sources. worker wages and money remitted by involved in the last round of boundary taken up the matter with India, but migrant workers, according to talks with India held in 2007, Nepal only said that he would only issue an offi- economists. protested after the 2015 agreement was cial statement after receiving a “This, in turn, has caused signed between India and China. detailed report from the Nepali sales and income tax revenues, India’s Union Defence Minister Embassy in New Delhi. the major source of capital in the POST PHOTO: DEEPAK KC Rajnath Singh inaugurated the newly After India placed Kalapani, which annual budget, to plummet,” The Department of Roads expects its budget allocation to be reduced by 20-25 percent. built road on Friday. Nepal claims as its territory, within its said economist Bishwamber “With this move, the Indian securi- borders on a new government map in Pyakurel. “Given the deficit in According to government officials, employment generation, as tens of ty post at Indo-China border in Vyans November, the Nepal government had financial resources, the govern- the upcoming budget will focus on thousands of Nepali migrant workers valley of Pithoragarh district is now formed two committees, headed by the ment should dramatically reduce improving health infrastructure as are expected to return home after los- connected with the rest of the country joint-secretaries of the India and the size of the budget, with allo- the pandemic has brought to light its ing their jobs in foreign countries due via a 75.54-km long road from China desks at the Foreign Ministry, cation only for development pro- poor state, which has increased to the global economic crisis caused Ghatibagar in Dharchula to Lipulekh to conduct field visits and prepare a jects that are in the final phase Nepal’s vulnerability to the coronavi- by the pandemic. near the border with China,” the status report on the border. of completion.” rus. The budget will also focus on >> Continued on page 4 Hindustan Times reported. >> Continued on page 4

C M Y K SATURDAY, MAY 09, 2020 | 02 MEDLEY

Inside the Post Quote of the day

Thousands of Nepali migrant workers from Persian Gulf National and Malaysia expected to return home soon, Page 3 At least 127,000 Nepali migrants are expected to return home once all travel restrictions are lifted in the immediate aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a preliminary study by the Foreign Employment Board. “While there is already pressure to save existing employment opportunities and Money create new jobs inside the country, a large The US Department of Commerce is close to signing off on a new rule that would allow US companies to work with China’s Huawei Technologies on setting stand- number of migrant workers returning ards for next generation 5G networks, people familiar with the matter said. home definitely adds pressure.” World Suman Ghimire, spokesperson for the Ministry of Labour, on looming unemployment crisis as thousands of migrant workers are expected to return European leaders held muted commemorations Friday to mark the end of World home in the immediate aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. War II on the continent, as coronavirus lockdowns kept crowds from celebrating VE Day.

Sports Most read online The Bundesliga season will restart on May 16 after a suspension of more than two months, the German Football League (DFL) said on Thursday, becoming the first India train crushes migrant workers killing 14 European league to resume amid the coronavirus pandemic. An Indian train ran over migrant workers sleeping on the track on Friday, kill- ing at least 14 of the group, who were apparently on their way to their home vil- Culture & Arts lages, the railway ministry and media said. Santosh Sen’s ‘Prem Geet 3’, Sudarshan Thapa’s ‘Ma Yesto Geet Gauchu 2’, and Arjun Kumar’s ‘Chapali Height 3’ were all ready for release and were in the midst Empty trails and deserted villages: the pandemic brings the of promotions when the lockdown was announced. And even after the lockdown eases, these film makers will hold back their release dates because, well, they’re mountain economy to a standstill all franchise films with large investments, and do not want to take chances. Every year between March and May, Biswas Gurung, a trekking guide and tour- ism entrepreneur from Ghandruk, would hardly get time for anything else apart from work. During these three months, hundreds of trekkers from around Nepal and across the world would visit Ghandruk, a picturesque village in Kaski dis- trict, within the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, and guides like Gurung, News Quiz specialised in organising guided treks in the region, would be in high demand.

1. Which province has relaxed d. Sarlahi restrictions for construction pro- Nepal Army writes to China to expedite delivery POST PHOTO: KESHAV THAPA jects after 40 days of lockdown? 4. Which province has been sealed Vehicles ply a road in Kathmandu on Friday. Traffic volume has increased in the city after the of medical equipment a. Gandaki Province for a week starting Monday fol- government decided to relax the lockdown restrictions on some businesses and factories. The Nepal Army has written to the Chinese government to expedite the delivery b. Karnali Province lowing a rise in the number of of testing kits, RNA extraction kits, masks and personal protective equipment c. Sudurpaschim Province Covid-19 cases in the neigh- after delays in customs clearance. The army, which was planning to send two d. Province 2 bouring provinces? chartered flights to Guangdong on Tuesday to ferry the cargo, couldn’t do so as a. Sudurpaschim Chinese customs authorities are yet to release the cargo due the May Day public 2. A large flock of endangered b. Province 1 On this day in history holiday. Asian woolly neck was recently c. Bagmati spotted in which district? d. Karnali a. Bardiya Bangladesh pins hope on garment industry b. Chitwan 5. Which organisation has Police officials adopt stringent measures to prevent people c. Sunsari approved a disbursement of $214 DHAKA - Ready-made garment export in Bangladesh has in the last calendar year from entering Valley without valid reason d. Kapilvastu million to Nepal under the rapid attained a growth of 48.76 percent in terms of foreign exchange earnings that With the number of Covid-19 cases reported in the country registering a sharp credit facility to help cover the reached 1.4 billion US dollars or 60 percent of the country’s total export earnings. increase in the last few days, police officials have put in place stringent meas- urgent balance of payments and While in terms of generating new employment, the growth rate is 40 percent, ures to stop members of the general public from entering the Valley. fiscal needs stemming from the which provided additional employment to more than 200,000 people, of whom 85 Covid-19 pandemic? percent are drawn from the womenfolk. a. International Monetary Fund Bangladesh is now the seventh largest garment exporter to the United States, b. World Bank ninth largest garment exporter to Canada and the largest exporter of shirts and c. Asian Development Bank T-shirts to the EEC. d. International Finance Ready-made garment export in the country witnessed an impressive growth in Corrections PHOTO COURTESY: BASU BIDARI Corporation the last decade. 3. Security personnel fired a Our reporters and editors do their best to make sure our reporting is free from warning shot to disperse the 6. People from which district are The Kathmandu Post errors. But when we make mistakes that warrant correction, we will be transparent crowd attempting to enter using their vocational skills May 9, 1993 and clarify at the bottom of the specific article. Nepal from India at a border while in quarantine facilities? If you believe we have got something wrong and it requires correction, please point in which district? a. Rautahat email us at [email protected] with “correction” in the subject line. a. Morang b. Rupandehi Answers to News Quiz: 1(a), 2(b), 3(c), 4(d), 5(a), 6(c) For the most recent corrections, visit kathmandupost.com/corrections. b. Sunsari c. Rukum East c. Bara d. Rukum West HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) CANCER (June 22-July 22) LIBRA (September 23-October 22) CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** *** **** ***** Although this may not be the most exciting day, This latest project of yours is closer to comple- Looking at the many sides of an issue is smart, Trust your senses today. It’s only a matter of you won’t be bored. That’s because your regular tion than you might think. If you take time to but it can also be paralyzing. Every new point time before you’re proven right, so just bide routine could be thrown on its ear at an incon- organize what you’ve done so far and complete of view could serve as an excuse to do nothing. your time. Of course, someone as gracious and venient moment, and you could be quite busy the detailed infrastructure, you’ll see that you Sooner or later, you’re going to have to make up mature as you won’t gloat when your victory just trying to figure out how to right it again. can dispel any doubts you had about meeting your mind (and please, make it sooner)! The comes, but there’s every reason to make sure But don’t worry. The interest it adds to your life this deadline. You’re finally starting to realize confused phase you’re in right now indicates people recognise the fact that you know what will far outweigh any annoyance you feel. how capable you really are! that action is better than inaction. you’re doing.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) LEO (July 23-August 22) SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** **** *** **** Throughout today, you could feel the impact of How are your finances doing? Take another look You should always be prepared to create your Turn down your analytical brain and stop think- past actions very strongly. This could include both at your bank account today, because there could own happiness, and that task can be a lot easier ing so hard about things! There are a lot of pleasant reminders of what you’ve accomplished be an accounting error or forgotten payment if you get active! Do something physically details around you, and if you take each and and unpleasant reminders of what you haven’t waiting for you. Little details have been falling active today. It would be nice to play a team every one into account you’ll never have enough managed to do yet. Be prepared for pangs of sad- through the cracks lately, and while you certain- sport with your friends, or opt for a long walk time or energy to draw conclusions. Timing is ness to pop up here and there. There’s no going ly think you know why, the reasons don’t matter or hike. Even yoga or tai chi can offer a wonder- everything, so keep one eye on the clock while back, so don’t succumb to any regret. anymore. ful boost to your mood and energy you go through the day.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) VIRGO (August 23-September 22) SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) PISCES (February 19-March 20) **** ***** **** **** Standing up for yourself today is not only going Be extra critical of any unsolicited messages Not everyone has your sense of humour, which Yes, it’s true that you’ve been the recipient of to be essential, it will also be lots of fun! Few you receive today, especially if they relate to will be obvious today when someone takes a many generous acts from your friends, but you things are as rewarding as telling someone who business. The sender could be concealing a few light comment seriously. You can try to temper know you can help them out, too! Sharing is thinks they know how you should run your life details that they don’t want you to know about— the situation by laughing, and maybe this per- definitely a two-way street, so contact one of to take a long walk off a short pier. When you important details that could negatively affect son will get the hint and follow suit. But you your friends today and share some of what you say your piece, expect some applause to erupt you. Probe a little deeper, ask a few more ques- can’t make someone else find something funny, have, whether it’s money, time, jokes, clothing, from the peanut gallery. tions, and you may learn the real story. so don’t put too much effort into it. or good advice.

CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K 03 | SATURDAY, MAY 09, 2020 NATIONAL Thousands of Nepali migrant workers As uncertainty grows over from Persian Gulf and Malaysia Grade 10 finals, calls expected to return home soon grow louder to scrap SEE A study by the Foreign Employment Board estimates that at least 127,000 migrants will It is too early to conclude the exams cannot be conducted, officials say. return home immediately once the travel restrictions are lifted. BINOD GHIMIRE evaluation,” Pabson said in its letter to the KATHMANDU, MAY 8 government. CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL In view of the current situation, the National KATHMANDU, MAY 8 After private schools and the non-governmen- Examination Board should issue grade sheets tal organisations working in the education and certificates to Grade 10 students based on At least 127,000 Nepali migrants are expected sector, lawmakers also have suggested the gov- their internal evaluation scores, Pabson has to return home once all travel restrictions are ernment to scrap the Secondary Education proposed. lifted in the immediate aftermath of the Covid- Examination and authenticate internal evalua- “We request the Nepal government to resolve 19 pandemic, according to a preliminary study tions to promote Grade 10 students. the legal problems, if there are any, and pro- by the Foreign Employment Board. The final board exam, which was scheduled vide certificates authenticating the marks the Ever since the pandemic shut down coun- for March 19, was postponed indefinitely five students have received in internal evalua- tries across the world, labour migration schol- days before the government on March 24 tions,”Pabson Chairman Tika Puri said. ars have been warning about the potential imposed a nationwide lockdown to contain the The request from private schools came days impact to Nepali migrants abroad, many of spread of Covid-19. after a government panel concluded that the whom have already lost their jobs. Hundreds It remains uncertain when the 482,219 stu- exams for the grade 10, 11 and 12 students could of thousands are currently unemployed and dents, who had registered for this year’s finals, be held next month. under lockdown in foreign lands. Most of these will be sitting the test. A panel led by Chandra Mani Poudel, chair- workers are expected to return home, accord- Speaking at a meeting of the Health and person of National Examination Board, had ing to the Foreign Employment Board, the Education Committee of the Lower House on suggested conducting the SEE from the third government agency responsible for the welfare POST FILE PHOTO Wednesday, Nepal Congress lawmaker Gagan week of June. of migrant workers. Returning migrants will need to be placed in quarantine, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. Thapa said the uncertainty of the exam has Earlier on April 21, the National Campaign According to the study, 127,000 Nepali offered the government an opportunity to for Education, an umbrella body of 300 non-gov- migrant workers are expected to return home major labour destinations in the Persian Gulf, According to Ghimire, the government is think about permanently cancelling the test. ernmental organisations working in the educa- immediately while another 407,000 others are and Malaysia, a fear of Nepali workers losing working on a phase-wise response plan to “We don’t need the SEE in the present format tion sector, had also suggested the government expected to return in the long run as econo- their jobs and returning home en masse has bring back workers. as there’s a national board in grade 12,” he told to scrap the SEE and the Grade 11 and 12 finals mies contract due to the effects of the Covid-19 loomed large. “Several ministries have been working on the meeting. “This is the right time to change and promote the students through internal pandemic. “The number looks high also because flight management, collecting information, the modality of this test.” evaluation. “The estimated number of workers who migrant workers have not returned home quarantine facilities, and socio-economic rein- Nepal Communist Party lawmaker Bhairab But the examination board had ruled out the might return home has been compiled after since the country is under a lockdown. On tegration for migrants,” said Ghimire. Bahadur Singh also seconded Thapa’s view. possibility of promoting students based on coordinating with Nepali missions and an normal days, if hundreds of Nepali workers Returning migrants will need to be placed in He said the SEE should be conducted as any internal evaluation, arguing that the certifi- analysis of the situation in consultation with are leaving to work, then hundreds of workers quarantine, in light of the pandemic. But given other regular school term tests. “We need to cates based on internal evaluation could raise experts,” said Rajan Prasad Shrestha, the are also returning home,” said Shrestha. “The the number of migrants returning, existing review the Grade 10 board exam now,” he said. the question of accreditation. Foreign Employment Board’s executive direc- number has gone up also because many have quarantine facilities might not be adequate, While lawmakers Thapa and Singh have sug- “There is a reason for holding the broad tor. “We wanted to estimate the number of lost their jobs and undocumented or illegal said Ghimire. gested scrapping the SEE permanently, the exams. We cannot change our test modality workers returning home and those who have migrants have applied for general amnesty in “We are considering several options,” he private schools and the organisations working abruptly. It needs extensive study and plan- lost jobs.” The estimated number of workers the host countries in order to return home.” said. “For example, they can be kept in 14-day in the education sector have proposed that the ning,” Poudel, chairman of the National returning home only includes Nepalis in seven According to Shrestha, the report has been quarantine either in the Kathmandu Valley, government validate internal evaluation to Examination Board, had told the Post. destination countries—Qatar, Saudi Arabia, submitted to the Ministry of Labour, which is the entry point, or in their respective promote the Grade 10 students only for this Tulashi Thapaliya, director general at the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Employment and Social Security. provinces or the local level.” year. On Tuesday, the Private and Boarding Centre for Education and Human Resource Oman, and Malaysia. These seven countries The thousands of migrants who will return The highest number of Nepali workers Schools’ Organisation, Nepal (Pabson), an Development, said while multiple options host an estimated 1.3 million Nepali migrant home looking for jobs will unleash a crisis in affected by Covid-19 and awaiting their return umbrella body of the private schools, had should be opened at the time of uncertainty, it workers. the country, according to Labour Ministry home is in Qatar, where they have been living asked the government to authenticate the was too early for Pabson to suggest the govern- According to the study, nearly 280,000 spokesperson Suman Ghimire. under squalid conditions. According to the internal evaluations and issue certificates ment to promote Grade 10 students through Nepalis have already lost their jobs since the “While there is already pressure to save study by the employment board, 75,000 Nepali accordingly. internal evaluation. pandemic hit these countries and therefore existing employment opportunities and create workers wish to return home immediately, The Pabson has said as the postponement of “I am sure the government will come up with want to come home. The estimated number of new jobs inside the country, a large number of whereas nearly 145,000 are estimated to return the examination has created an undue pressure a proper solution if the uncertainty persists,” 127,000 includes those who will return immedi- migrant workers returning home definitely in the near future. on the students and their parents, the govern- he told the Post. ately but all of the 280,000 who’ve already lost adds pressure,” said Ghimire. “But in any case, Labour migration experts have been calling ment should end the dilemma by authorising The government has extended the lockdown their jobs are expected to return eventually. workers who are stranded and whose visas and on the government to arrange for employment the respective schools to conduct internal till May 18 and there is no possibility that the As a large number of Nepali workers have work contracts have expired need to be brought opportunities for migrants through special assessment to promote the students. academic institutions will open even if the already lost their jobs, many are without food home.” plans and policies in the upcoming budget. Most schools have already conducted at least lockdown is relaxed. and money. But they cannot return home Earlier this week, Foreign Minister Pradeep “Migrant workers are not a burden on the three internal tests for the Grade 10 students to Only on Monday the Ministry of Education because Nepal has suspended all international Gyawali said that a plan to repatriate migrant country as they will return with skills and prepare them for the board finals. had asked the respective schools not to start flights until the end of May. workers who’re in critical condition abroad is experience,” said Ghimire. “We will be collect- “Even the renowned universities and the admission as the threat of Covid-19 still per- Ever since the Covid-19 pandemic, which underway. Gyawali estimated that over 35,000 ing details on their skills and will employ them examination boards across the world have sists. The new academic session, in normal originated in China in December, spread to workers need immediate repatriation. in the respective sector.” started authenticating the results of internal condition, starts in mid-April.

Message on Europe Day-2020 40% of the world’s public climate finance comes from the European Union, as part of the Green Deal, the Commission will 70th anniversary refocus macroeconomic of the Schuman coordination to Declaration integrate the United Nations’ sustainable development goals.

health and assistance packages the most vulnerable is lessened Leyen has said, ‘Becoming the fight climate change. I want to H.E. Veronica Cody to third countries, investing in and Nepal can regain its positive world’s first climate neutral take this opportunity to invite the Ambassador recovery solutions with research trajectory towards the Sustainable continent is the greatest Government and the people of European Union Delegation to Nepal and vaccines, and preparing the Development Goals (SDGS). As challenge and opportunity of Nepal to engage in a conversation long-term recovery through Team part of our almost 50-year-old our times.’ Human and planetary on how we can work together and Europe. The aim of Team Europe friendship, we want to reaffirm welfare are interconnected, and make a green alliance with Nepal. oday is Europe Day, an Governments have put in place, is to support partner countries in our commitment to assist Nepal in making Europe climate-neutral This is an opportunity to support occasion for us to celebrate and the determined work of our the fight against the coronavirus these difficult times. and protecting our natural habitat Nepal’s green growth strategy peace and unity in Europe. scientists to research cures and pandemic and its consequences, But now is also the time for will be good for people, planet and towards a modern, resource- ThisT year’s 9th of May marks the vaccines. To support our citizens, and it combines resources from us to look forward, and use this the global economy. Economic efficient and competitive economy. 70th anniversary of the Schuman the European Commission is the EU, its Member States, and opportunity for Building Back growth and sustainability can go This can happen by turning climate Declaration of 1950, which coordinating a common European financial institutions, in particular Better to achieve a sustainable, hand in hand; in Europe, between and environmental challenges into planted the seed for what is today response to the coronavirus the European Investment Bank green and just recovery from 1990 and 2018, greenhouse gas opportunities across all policy the European Union: a peace outbreak, reinforcing the public and the European Bank for COVID-19, and invest in preparing emissions decreased by 23%, areas, changing our modes of project for the continent after health sectors and mitigating Reconstruction and Development. for future pandemic risks. while the economy grew by 61%. production and consumption to World War II. Born out of the most the socio-economic impact in In Nepal, the EU has offered The pandemic has also been a The European Green Deal reduce waste, save energy, protect devastating tragedy in Europe in the European Union. It is also a grant aid package of NPR 9.8 reminder of another looming crisis, extends to our work with our the environment, and basically live the 20th century, and 70 years into mobilising all means at our billion (75 million euros) to the climate change. The European partner countries and long- and work in a sustainable manner. this joint venture, the European disposal to help our Member Nepal Government to mitigate the Union has demonstrated its standing friends. 40% of the We need to make this transition Union, we can say today that our States coordinate their national adverse impacts of the pandemic. determination to lead the world world’s public climate finance just and inclusive for all. strength lies in unity, diversity responses, providing objective Of this, 72 million euros is a direct into a sustainable future with comes from the European Our celebrations for Europe and solidarity. The 27 Member information about the spread of grant to the treasury, to the red the passing of the European Union, and climate change is Day are necessarily virtual this States and their citizens build our the virus and effective efforts to book, in what we call “budget Green Deal in March 2020. The mainstreamed in our external year, but we will explore many Union every day with their actions contain it; as well as supporting support”, so that the Government European Green Deal will be action. Also, European Green of the above themes in a range and their commitment, making our scientists in research for cures can access and use the money the motor for the mid- and long- Deal strategies, such as Climate of different activities which are it stronger through challenging and vaccines. swiftly in the socio-economic term recovery of the European Change Adaptation, biodiversity, advertised on our website and times such as the COVID -19 But our response is not recovery. We have seen many Economy post COVID-19. food safety and the protection of social media, in which we hope pandemic. confined to Europe. The EU fully examples of EU solidarity, be it The European Green Deal the environment are already being you will participate. Our history The pandemic has hit understands that the pandemic is the 9 repatriation flights to Europe aims at improving the well-being implemented today in support of has shown that together we can European countries very hard, a global challenge and requires organized so far, or in providing of people through an ambitious COVID-19 recovery, to address overcome crisis, live to create with many lives and livelihoods a unified, global response, and it financial and medical assistance long-term agenda, in which root causes in partner countries, a better world, and celebrate lost. Europeans are rising to the has proven once again that it is to our friend and partner- Nepal. we will change the way we and to build back better. our common humanity. Happy occasion, through the bravery of good at overcoming adversity and We sincerely hope that our consume, produce and live by We want to take it further, Europe day! And may the our health workers, the discipline working with partners towards contribution will support the efforts making Europe climate-neutral. to help each other uphold the friendship between Nepal and of our citizens to respect the social that goal. The EU is dealing with of the Government to respond to As the President of the European commitments we have taken the European Union grow ever distancing measures that the the immediate crisis through this crisis, so that the impact on Commission, Ursula von der with the Paris Agreement to deeper and stronger.

C M Y K SATURDAY, MAY 09, 2020 | 04 NATIONAL Hundreds of Nepalis stranded at Nepal-India 19 Indians out of contact since borders as federal government fails to respond leaving quarantine facility in Local units in the bordering areas say they can’t let the people enter the country until Kathmandu takes a decision. Saptari on Wednesday night

MADHAV DHUNGANA health posts near the no-man’s land in The individuals managed to leave the Koshi Basic School RUPANDEHI, MAY 8 the district. Dirgha Narayan Poudel, chief dis- quarantine despite round the clock security. A month and a half since the Nepal- trict officer of Kapilvastu, said that India border was closed, the border while the people are currently shel- points are still crowded with Nepalis tered by the local units, they can’t be seeking to enter their native country let inside Nepal until the federal gov- every day. ernment takes a decision. Confusion looms large among the “We have informed the Home district authorities that border with Ministry about the situation,” he said. India for the federal government has “We will have to shelter them until we not formulated any policy to deal with are instructed on what to do.” the returnees still locked outside the In West Nawalparasi, where four country. local units share borders with India, Some Nepalis are stranded at the there’s a reported rise in the number border points while there are many of people in quarantine facilities, as more who have completed their time people have been using proxy routes in quarantine facilities in India wait- to enter Nepal. ing to return home. The government POST PHOTO: MADHAV DHUNGANA “Those who enter Nepal through has yet to make a decision about just There are over 1,000 Nepalis across the Belahiya border who want to come to Nepal. porous border points are quaran- what to do with them. tined,” Radhe Shyam Chaudhary, “We are having a hard time trying to Ishwari Adhikari, a police inspec- have requested their Nepali counter- chief of Sarawal Rural Municipality, to manage the crowd. We can’t do any- tor at the Belahiya-based Area Police parts in the border to take back the said. According to Chaudhary, the thing until higher authorities instruct Office, there are over a 1,000 Nepalis Nepali nationals who have completed number of quarantined individuals in us what to do,” a security officer in across the border who want to come to their time in quarantine. Many of the the district increased from 142 to 193 Rupandehi said on conditions of ano- Nepal. stranded Nepalis came walking to the this week. Dhruba Nepal, administra- nymity. “Meanwhile, the Indian “Many people show up at the border border from various parts of India, tive officer at the Rupandehi District authorities are mounting pressure on every day seeking entry to Nepal, but while some were provided with trans- Administration Office, said his us to let in the quarantined Nepalis for a lack of government order, we portation facilities by the Indian office has repeatedly informed back.” Both Nepal and India have been don’t know what to do with them. We authorities, Adhikari said. higher authorities about the situation under a nationwide lockdown for over return them to India in coordination The lack of a government decision but hasn’t received anything in a month-and-a half now in response to with the Indian Police,” Adhikari has raised the risk of people entering response yet. POST PHOTO: ABDHESH KUMAR JHA the spread of Covid-19. Two weeks said, adding that on Thursday alone, Nepal through proxy routes across the “We can’t do anything unless we There were 72 Indian nationals staying at the quarantine facility in Hanuman Nagar Kankalini ago, the Nepal government had 106 Nepalis were returned to the porous open border. receive a decision from the upper ech- Municipality Ward 1 for the last two weeks. allowed entry to 300 Nepalis who had Indian side of the border. Meanwhile, in Kapilvastu, local elons of the government,” Nepal said. completed the three-week quarantine Nearly a half of all those stranded units have sheltered a total of 896 peo- ABDHESH KUMAR JHA Municipality has been providing food period in Nautanwa, India. in the border have already completed ple who entered Nepal to escape the (Manoj Poudel in Kapilvastu and SAPTARI, MAY 8 and accommodation for the individu- But the crowd at the border of their quarantine period in Nautanwa, rain and storm on Thursday. They are Nabeen Paudel in West Nawalparasi als staying in the quarantine. Belahiya has not subsided. According Adhikari said. The Indian authorities sheltered in various schools and contributed reporting.) Nineteen Indian nationals staying at a According to the municipality, those quarantine facility in Hanuman at the facility haven’t undergone coro- Nagar Kankalini Municipality Ward 1 navirus tests. (Koshi Barrage) left the facility on Washing his hands off the situa- Wednesday night and have been out of tion, Mayor Shailesh Kumar Sah said contact since. the municipality is only responsible Upcoming budget to put new projects on hold ... The individuals managed to leave for providing food, accommodation the Koshi Basic School quarantine and treatment for those in the quaran- >> Continued from page 1 told the Post early this week that the could go down by 15 percent,” said But the government is also under despite round the clock security pro- tine. “How nineteen people escaped The Ministry of Labour and resource committee he heads will like- Madhusudan Adhikari, a secretary at pressure to provide relief to the unem- vided by personnel from Nepal Police the facility amid high security is Employment has projected that ly make a downward revision in the the ministry. ployed and stimulus packages to busi- and the Armed Police Force. something the security personnel will around 400,000 Nepalis are expected to budget ceiling by 5-10 percent. According to Adhikari, his ministry nesses. There were 72 Indian nationals stay- have to answer,” said Sah. return home. This number will sup- Various ministries and government will continue to implement the plan of “The government will need to roll ing in quarantine for the last two However, Saptari police said plement the thousands of domestic agencies prepare a list of projects and creating urban centres along the mid- out a raft of fiscal and monetary meas- weeks. They were on the way to West their personnel were also unaware of workers who will also lose jobs at programmes based on the ceiling set hill highways and constructing major ures to provide credit and tax relief to Bengal and Bihar of India from vari- such an incident until Thursday home. by the resource committee and the infrastructure, including the new par- companies, especially small business- ous parts of the country but were morning. According to finance experts, a Finance Ministry, taking the planned liament building on the premises of es that have been hit hard by the out- refused entry to Province 1 and were “There were only 53 Indian reduction in the size of the budget projects into account, prepares the Singha Durbar. break,” said economist Pyakural. instead quarantined in Saptari. nationals in the quarantine when could benefit the country, as every budget. The government has been forced to The Central Bureau of Statistics The other 53 people at the facility we conducted a headcount in year, a large budget is introduced and The Department of Roads expects lower the budget ceiling as it has been last week projected the country’s econ- came to know about those who left the morning. That’s when we realised the government fails to spend it. its budget allocation to be reduced by collecting far less revenue than in the omy to grow at a meagre 2.27 percent the facility only on Thursday that 19 had gone missing over the “This government appears to 20-25 percent, said Shivahari Sapkota, previous years due to the lockdown. in the current fiscal year, the lowest morning. night,” said Tilak Bharati, deputy believe that a bigger budget brings the department spokesperson. Customs offices are major sources of since the 2015-16 fiscal year when the “Their belongings including bags, superintendent of police in Saptari, about development and prosperity “Besides a reduction in the budget revenue for the treasury but ever country witnessed a growth of just 0.2 slippers and shoes were found in their adding that they are searching for the faster,” Ram Sharan Mahat, a former ceiling, we have been advised not to since the closure of the international percent after experiencing devastat- room. All of them were staying in a missing. finance minister, told the Post. “But incorporate any new projects,” he border, only medical goods and essen- ing earthquakes in 2015 followed by an single room,” said Mukesh Kumar, The Post tried to contact Sagir Rain, the success of the budget depends on said. tial food items have come in, and these Indian trade blockade. one of the Indian nationals staying in a sub-inspector deployed at the Area its implementation.” According to In the current fiscal year, the Road goods are either at zero or very low With economic activities battered the quarantine. “There are security Police Office in Bhardaha, but he was Mahat, who is also the coordinator of Department received a budget alloca- tariffs. by the ongoing lockdown and uncer- personnel deployed 24/7. How did not available for comment. Bhardaha the special budget committee formed tion of Rs124 billion. But in line with The domestic economy too has tainty over the end to the pandemic, they manage to flee the facility police have been guarding the quaran- by the opposition Nepali Congress, the Mahat’s assessment, Sapkota admit- come to a standstill, affecting internal the government is facing the prospect unsuspected?” tine facility. size of the budget should not be bigger ted that only 32 percent of that budget revenue collection. Income tax and of low revenue collection in the Koshi barrage is the border between On Friday, the District Police Office than Rs 1.2 trillion. had been spent so far, as most projects value added tax have not been collect- upcoming fiscal too, prompting it to Provinces 1 and 2. “The missing indi- recalled Rain and four other police In February, the government had have stalled due to the ongoing lock- ed as the government decided on April review the budget ceiling. viduals have not reached Sunsari. personnel and deputed a new sub-in- whittled down the budget for this fis- down. The lockdown, however, was 30 to allow businesses to postpone As of mid-April, the federal govern- They can only enter India by crossing spector to the facility. Asked about the cal year by 10 percent after realising only imposed on March 24, just around payments in light of the impact of ment’s revenue collection had been the Koshi river on a boat,” said a local new transfer, Bharati said, “It’s our that it wouldn’t be able to spend the two months before the end of the fis- Covid-19. short of its target by Rs200 billion, resident. “Those who escaped from internal matter.” amounts allocated. In the mid-term cal year in mid-May. Given the shortfall in revenue col- according to the Finance Ministry. the facility must be hiding in one of Sunil Khanal, the Saptari chief dis- budget review, Finance Minister The Ministry of Urban Development lection, the government has been According to economist Pyakurel, the settlements.” trict officer, did not comment on the Yubaraj Khatiwada had trimmed the had a ceiling of Rs29 billion for the seeking more funds from donors, but the upcoming budget should be draft- Since the lockdown, the local incident. “I don’t know anything budget down to Rs 1.38 trillion from Rs next fiscal year. donor economies too are predicted to ed with a clear roadmap for the next unit and security personnel have about the missing Indians. You have to 1.53 trillion. “We had prepared our programmes contract in the aftermath of the pan- two years. “A poor response to the been monitoring all boats on the ask the respective chiefs about the Pushpa Raj Kandel, vice-chairman based on the ceiling given to us, but we demic, likely affecting the amounts pandemic and a failure to revive the Koshi river, according to locals. matter. I don’t want to make any com- of the National Planning Commission, have been told that the revised ceiling they provide. economy could be disastrous,” he said. Hanuman Nagar Kankalini ments,” said Khanal. Six injured as Chinese Local units in Gorkha start immunisation India opening road via nationals clash with police Lipulekh is Nepal’s ... drive against measles-rubella >> Continued from page 1 SHUVAM DHUNGANA The committee surveying the border with India KATHMANDU, MAY 8 has completed its visit but the committee that was Several cases of measles have been reported in the district during the lockdown period. supposed to study the China border had yet to start Six people were injured when a group of Chinese nationals its work when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. clashed with police outside Singha Durbar on Friday. HARIRAM UPRETI From Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to Foreign According to police, the clash ensued after over 20 Chinese GORKHA, MAY 8 Minister Gyawali, along with other ministers as well nationals gathered for a sit-in outside Singha Durbar, demand- as top leaders of the ruling party, had all vowed to ing that they be allowed to go home. Gandaki Rural Municipality in Gorkha reclaim the disputed tract of land after the Kalapani Senior Superintendent Kiran Bajracharya, spokesperson for has started a campaign to vaccinate issue emerged. But not a single round of talks has the Ranipokhari Metropolitan Police Office, said the Chinese children against measles and rubella taken place in the last six months. nationals gathered at Singha Durbar after demonstrating from Friday. In February last year, long before the Kalapani before the Nepal Tourism Board office and visiting the Chinese Beli Shrestha, chief at the health issue reemerged, Foreign Minister Gyawali had told embassy. “They were not maintaining social distance and were section of the rural municipality, said a parliamentary committee that India and China trying to enter the restricted zone outside Singha Durbar. That the campaign was launched after five “cannot discuss Lipulekh in Nepal’s absence.” was when the clash ensued,” said Bajracharya. measles patients were discovered in Gyawali told the Parliamentary International Two Chinese nationals and four police personnel, including Chhatibangaira village of Ward No. 7 Relations Committee that the Nepal government does Deputy Superintendent Hari Basnet from the Singha Durbar recently. not accept Lipulekh as a tri-junction between Nepal, Metropolitan Police Circle, were injured in the incident. “The highly infectious disease was India and China. “Basnet, who was hit by a stone hurled by the protesters, has seen in three children between the ages He had also said that the Nepal government would been taken to the police hospital,” said Bajracharya. According of six months and 12 years old, a 17-year not sign the 182 strip maps proposed by India, unless to police, 38 Chinese nationals have been taken into custody old girl and a 29-year-old man. They are the issues surrounding Kalapani and Susta were and are kept at the Nepal Police Club, Exhibition Road. receiving treatment from the local resolved. health centre and are out of danger,” In 2007, India came up with 182 strip maps between said Shrestha. Nepal and India which excluded Susta and Kalapani. The rural municipality plans to vac- Back in 2017, when India and China had a standoff cinate 1,707 children by mid-May. over Doklam, experts in Nepal had advised that “The vaccination programme is Nepal raise its border issues with both countries to being run from 43 immunisation cen- POST PHOTO: HARIRAM UPRETI avoid any friction between the neighbours. tres,” said Shrestha. Gandaki Rural Municipality in Gorkha plans to vaccinate 1,707 children by mid-May. But Nepal failed to take any initiative, and India in Meanwhile, Gorkha Municipality November last year reinforced its claim by issuing a has also launched a vaccination drive provide Vitamin A drops to children through droplets from the nose, mouth political map that placed Kalapani, Lipulekh pass against measles and rubella from between six months to five years old or throat of infected persons. Early and Limpiyadhura inside its territory. Thursday. and vaccinate children between nine symptoms, which usually appear 10-12 Nepal protested through diplomatic channels and Although the municipality was set to months to five years old against mea- days after infection include high fever, proposed talks with India at the Foreign Secretary organise the vaccination programme sles and rubella. runny nose, bloodshot eyes and white level to settle the row. But there has been no progress from March 28, the plan was cancelled Measles infection has also been tiny spots inside the mouth. yet. “This is the failure of successive governments,” due to the nationwide lockdown. detected in a nine-month-old baby from Several days later, a rash develops on said Dinesh Bhattarai, who served as foreign rela- “We started the campaign after some Sahid Lakhan Rural Municipality Ward the face, upper neck and other parts of tions advisor to former prime minister Sushil Koirala cases of measles were found in neigh- No. 7 in Gorkha. the body. According to doctors, people during whose tenure India and China signed the deal bouring Gandaki Rural Municipality. The test was confirmed by the of all age groups are vulnerable to the to expand the trade route via Lipulekh. The vaccination programme will be National Public Health Laboratory in disease and underage children, preg- According to Bhattarai, the Koirala government conducted from 49 immunisation cen- Teku, Kathmandu, on May 2. nant women, elderly people and those had immediately taken up the issue with both India tres. We plan to immunise 3,800 chil- Birendra Shrestha, chief at the with compromised immune systems— and China. dren and also provide them Vitamin A health section in the rural municipali- HIV infected people—are highly “Since then we have had dozens of visits from to drops,” said Rajanraj Pant, mayor of ty, said the municipal office was also vulnerable. either side, but we never raised the issue of land Gorkha Municipality. preparing to run a vaccination pro- Some people may suffer from severe encroachment,” Bhattarai told the Post. “Our According to Ishwor Regmi, chief at gramme from mid-May. complications, such as pneumonia and land is being encroached upon, but this government, the health section of the municipality, Measles and rubella are contagious encephalitis, and the infection could which never tires of talking about nationalism, has health workers have been mobilised to viral diseases, which are transmitted also lead to death. no idea.”

C M Y K 05 | SATURDAY, MAY 09, 2020 MONEY

FOREX Bank of England: UK US Dollar 121.17 Banks to reopen from Sunday with

Euro 131.36 Pound Sterling 149.94 limited staff and reduced hours economy could shrink Japanese Yen 11.39 Chinese Yuan 17.12 Government offices will also resume service with a bare minimum number of employees. by nearly a third Qatari Riyal 33.28 PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA Australian Dollar 78.93 KATHMANDU, MAY 8 ASSOCIATED PRESS Over the longer term, the bank LONDON, MAY 8 thinks that the British economy Malaysian Ringit 27.96 Most banks will be reopening from could revive quickly if the pandemic Sunday after Nepal Rastra Bank on The Bank of England warned on comes under control globally. It Saudi Arab Riyal 32.26 Friday said they could resume service Thursday that the British economy thinks that the economy could Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank but not to call more than one-third of will suffer a historically deep reces- pick up by a record 15 percent next their staff to work. sion as a result of the coronavirus year and be back to where it was The central bank said there was a pandemic that could see it shrink by before the outbreak within three PRICE PER TOLA need for caution to prevent potential nearly a third in just half a year. years, with the financial sector help- BULLION virus infections while slowly unfetter- In what it describes as a “plausible” ing the corporate sector get through ing the economy and allowing busi- scenario, the bank said the British the strain. Fine Gold Rs 77,000 nesses to resume. economy will be 30 percent smaller at “We expect the recovery of the econ- “In order to provide service, they the end of the first half of the year omy to happen over time, although Silver Rs 720 can work remotely from home and than it was at the start of it, with the much more rapidly than the pull-back attend office in shifts,” Nepal Rastra second quarter seeing a 25 percent from the global financial crisis,” said SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA Bank said. slump alone following a 3 percent Andrew Bailey, the bank’s new gover- The central bank’s directive came decline in the first. nor, who has only been at the helm two days after the cabinet on SHUTTERSTOCK Unemployment is projected to more since March. GASOLINE WATCH Wednesday decided to allow banks As per the central bank’s directive, banks and financial institutions should make sure the staff than double to around 9 percent, but “We expect that there will be some and financial institutions, insurance receive sanitisers, masks, disinfectants, thermal scanners and gloves, among other materials. that figure does not include the 6 mil- longer-term damage to the capacity of companies, securities related organi- lion workers who have been retained the economy, but in the scenario sations and cooperatives to get back to As per the central bank’s directive, offices, we have asked them to refrain by firms as part of a scheme that sees we judge these effects to be relatively work with a maximum of one-third of banks and financial institutions from calling more than one-third of the government pay up to 80 percent small.” their employees providing essential should make sure the staff receive their indispensable employees,” said of salaries, up to 2,500 pounds ($3,075) That scenario clearly depends on services. sanitisers, masks, disinfectants, ther- Basanta Adhikari, spokesperson for a month. how long the lockdown restrictions “As president of the Nepal mal scanners and gloves, among the Ministry of Federal Affairs and The central bank said the economy remain in place. The bank has Bankers’ Association, I have issued a other materials. General Administration. should start to recover during the sec- assumed that both the furlough notice asking commercial banks to They should not allow crowds to “Another intention of the govern- ond half of the year as the lockdown scheme and social distancing guide- reopen all their branches as far as gather at the offices, and encourage ment decision is to make the office restrictions start to be lifted and lines will be phased out between June possible,” said Bhuvan Dahal. The their customers to use electronic chief responsible for managing the “materially so” in the latter part of and the end of the year. It has mean- association comprises chief executive transactions, according to the central staff in a secure way during the the period. It noted that the timeliest while not factored in a second wave of officers of the country’s commercial bank’s directive. lockdown.” indicators of UK demand have gener- infections. banks. The banks and financial institu- According to Adhikari, the govern- ally stabilised in recent weeks, The gloomy outlook was issued According to him, the head offices tions can apply to the District ment has discouraged opening the albeit at very low levels, after unprec- after the bank’s Monetary Policy of most banks have remained open Administration Office for travel pass- offices to provide service to the public edented falls during late March and Committee decided to keep its main despite the lockdown, but most es for a maximum of one-fourth of like during normal times, but the early April. interest rate at the record low of 0.1 branches were shuttered. “I think their staff vehicles. office chief can perform internal As a result, it anticipates that the percent and opted against a further most of the bank branches will open As per the cabinet decision, govern- office work. economy will end up 2020 with a 14 expansion of its bond-buying pro- from Sunday for two-three hours a ment offices and public enterprises “For example, Land Revenue Offices percent contraction. That would be far gramme. day,” he said. “They can provide ser- have also been allowed to resume ser- can process the documents on file to greater than anything seen during the Two of the nine policymakers want- vices like deposit and withdrawal, vice with a bare minimum number of allow them to provide prompt world wars, the Spanish flu of a centu- ed to increase the bank’s stimulus remittance, foreign exchange and let- staff working in shifts. service when they reopen to the pub- ry ago or the global financial crisis programme by another 100 billion ter of credit.” “Issuing a directive to government lic,” he said. of 2008-9. pounds ($124 billion).

Top US, China Japan eyes another trade officials stimulus package as agree to strengthen pandemic crushes cooperation economy

REUTERS REUTERS BEIJING, MAY 8 TOKYO, MAY 8

Top US and Chinese trade representa- Japan will look into additional steps tives discussed their Phase 1 trade to cushion the economic blow from the deal on Friday with China saying they coronavirus pandemic, its economy agreed to improve the atmosphere for minister said on Friday, signalling its implementation and the United that more stimulus measures could be States saying both sides expected obli- forthcoming as the country sinks into gations to be met. deep recession. The discussion in a telephone call Japan compiled a record $1.1 tril- comes amid escalating tension lion economic stimulus package in between the countries, exacerbated by April that focused on cash payouts to a war of words over US criticism of households and loans to small busi- China’s handling of the novel corona- nesses hurt by the pandemic. virus outbreak. Ruling coalition lawmakers are US President Donald Trump and ramping up calls for more assistance, other top officials have blamed China as the government’s decision on for the deaths of hundreds of thou- Monday to extend a state of emergen- sands from the outbreak and have cy through May heightens the chance threatened punitive action, including of more bankruptcies and job losses. possible tariffs and shifting supply Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on chains away from China. Monday the government will look into Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, US ways to offer rent relief for businesses Trade Representative Robert and help university students who lost Lighthizer and US Treasury Secretary part-time jobs pay tuition. Steven Mnuchin agreed during the call that the two countries would work together to create a favourable envi- Japan compiled a ronment for implementing the Phase 1 trade deal reached this year, China’s record $1.1 trillion commerce ministry said. The US Trade Representative’s economic stimulus office said both sides “also agreed that in spite of the current global health package in April. emergency, both countries fully expect POST PHOTO: BEEJU MAHARJAN to meet their obligations under the A worker is seen at a factory in Patan Industrial Area. Since Friday, the government has eased the lockdown in the manufacturing sector but factories are facing shortages of agreement in a timely manner”. raw materials as they have to be imported. “We’re moving quickly to scrutinise what further steps are necessary, in consultation with the prime minister and close coordination with the ruling coalition,” Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura told a news Mexico auto plants to reopen as country weighs virus risks conference. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party will present a proposal to Abe ASSOCIATED PRESS ting the needed elements together to assembly plants in Ciudad Juarez, including a plan for the government to MEXICO CITY, MAY 8 ensure a stable supply chain.” across the border from El Paso, Texas, cover two-thirds of the rent for In a statement on its reopening workers have demonstrated against small businesses hit by the pandemic On a day Mexico saw its worst daily plans, GM said: “We are waiting for being forced to work in close quarters for up to six months, the Nikkei news- increase yet in coronavirus cases, for- the plan that the Economy Department and with inadequate protection paper said. eign-owned auto plants began setting will present for a gradual resumption measures. The sticking point will be on how to dates for reopening. of activities in the automotive indus- But in other parts of Mexico, many pay for the plan. Some lawmakers are Volkswagen de Mexico said late try. As soon as authorities present that residents appear eager to get back to demanding the government compile a Thursday it is planning to reopen its plan, we will be able to restart GM some semblance of normality. second supplementary budget, follow- assembly plant in Puebla state and operations” in Mexico. Mexican Twitter users are using the ing one that was put together to partly its engine factory in Guanajuato state But workers at the GM plant in hastag #conlacervezno to bitterly fund the $1.1 trillion package. on June 1. Silao reported receiving messages complain about the scarcity of beer— Finance Minister Taro Aso, howev- General Motors said it hadn’t with a GMC logo telling them to report and the increase in price for what lit- er, said any additional spending fixed “an exact date” for reopening its for temperature checks and health tle remains. should first be covered by 1.5 trillion plant, also in the Guanajuato city of questionnaires at the plant. The National Alliance of Small yen ($14 billion) worth of reserves set Silao, but some workers there report- Mexico says it wants to be cautious, Business Owners said it is getting aside under the first supplementary ed getting notices to report for work and indicates that hard-hit cities like tired of lockdown measures like road- budget. on May 18. Mexico City, Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez blocks, curfews and checkpoints that “We don’t know yet how big any Toyota, Nissan and Ford did not and Villahermosa probably won’t are often imposed, quasi-legally, at the new spending package would be,” Aso immediately respond to requests for allow widespread business reopening local level. told a briefing on Friday. “We’re not at comment on possible re-openings of anytime soon. “More than 340 townships across a stage to say when and how much” their plants in Mexico. Assistant Health Secretary Hugo the country have taken unreasonable, the government will need to spend, he Pressure is growing both domesti- López-Gatell said Thursday that severe and illegal measures, prevent- added. The economy likely shrank for cally and from the United States for REUTERS re-opening “doesn’t mean that every ing free movement of supplies into a second straight quarter in the first Mexico to re-open manufacturing A file photo shows Honda’s production line at an automobile plant in Guanajuato, Mexico. place is going to get back to the same their towns,” the group said in an three months of this year, a Reuters activities, something President level of normality.” open letter to federal authorities. poll showed, meeting the technical Andrés Manuel López Obrador says have closed themselves off for fear of especially auto plants. In the past, officials have mentioned López Obrador feels the frustration. definition of a recession as the pan- could happen by May 17 in areas of the contagion. But the dangers of re-opening are re-opening business in the least-affect- “There are whole regions where demic crushed consumption and busi- country that haven’t been hit hard by In late March, the US government evident. On Thursday, Mexico report- ed states, but limiting inter-state trav- there are no cases ... so there, with a ness activity. the virus. launched a campaign to get Mexico to ed its largest one-day increase so far el through highway checkpoints. lot of care, with health checkpoints, Gross domestic product (GDP) Mexico has lost about 500,000 jobs reopen assembly plants, suggesting in confirmed coronavirus cases, with However, the usual measures prac- we can start activities, depending on data on May 18 is likely to show the because of the pandemic lockdown, the supply chain of the North almost 2,000 new infections nation- ticed at such checkpoints—taking what happens in the coming days,” he world’s third-largest economy con- and small store owners wrote American free trade zone could be wide—a 7.2 percent increase com- travelers’ temperatures and has said. “That way we can start to see tracted an annualised 4.6 percent in a public letter to López Obrador on permanently affected if they didn’t pared from Wednesday’s rise. Total asking about symptoms—are of limit- economic activity, which one? The January-March, the poll of 14 analysts Wednesday complaining they resume production. Mexico has deaths neared the 3,000 mark. ed use in stopping the spread of the construction industry, export indus- showed on Friday. Many believe the can’t get stocks of basic supplies said it is working on a joint plan with Volkswagen said in a statement it coronavirus. tries, the automotive industry, tour- slump will be even deeper in the cur- because hundreds of towns in Mexico the US and Canada to reopen factories, was reopening “with the aim of get- In some places, like the border ism and other activities.” rent quarter.

C M Y K SATURDAY, MAY 09, 2020 | 06 WORLD Indian train kills Grappling with 14 workers laid-off coronavirus, in coronavirus Malaysia’s premier to lockdown face confidence vote

REUTERS SATARA, MAY 8

An Indian train killed 14 migrant workers who had fallen asleep on the track on Friday while they were head- ing back to their home village after losing their jobs in a coronavirus lock- down, police said. Tens of thousands of people have been walking home from India’s big cities after being laid off because of the lockdown to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus since late March. The driver tried to stop the freight train when he saw the workers on the tracks in the western state of Maharashtra, the railway ministry REUTERS said, adding it had ordered an inquiry. Muhyiddin Yassin Fourteen people were killed and five were injured, said a railway spokes- REUTERS man, CH Rakesh. KUALA LUMPUR, MAY 8 “I have just heard the sad news about labourers coming under the Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin train, rescue work is underway,” will face a confidence vote in parlia- Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said ment on May 18, having been focused on Twitter. Under the lockdown, all on fighting an outbreak of the corona- public transport has been suspended virus in Malaysia since emerging at so migrant workers heading home the head of a new coalition a little often have to walk long distances to AP/RSS over two months ago. get there. The government has extend- A just-married couple kiss in the registry offices after the civil ceremony in Milan, Italy, on Friday. The municipality of Milan restarted celebrating civil marriages on Thursday, The motion proposing a confidence ed the lockdown until May 17. as the city is slowly returning to life after the long shutdown due to the coronavirus outbreak. vote was brought by Mahathir Police said the labourers worked for Mohamad, Malaysia’s 94-year-old vet- a steel company and were walking to eran leader who resigned the premier- their village in the neighbouring state ship in February as the multi-ethnic of Madhya Pradesh. coalition he had led fell apart. “They had been walking all night, Muhyiddin, who had formerly been they were exhausted and fell asleep on among Mahathir’s trusted lieuten- the tracks,” a police officer said. Lockdowns mute Victory Day celebrations ants, was sworn in on March 1, having Because of the lockdown, they were emerged at the head of an ethnic probably not expecting any trains to Malay dominated coalition whose par- be moving, an official said. ties together hold a slender majority, India’s eight-week long lockdown, controlling 116 of the 222 seats in par- one of the world’s most stringent, has as Europe grapples with pandemic liament. Muhyiddin had earlier post- helped contain the coronavirus offi- poned the start of parliamentary pro- cials say, but it has hit the poor hard. ceedings by two months in March, as Criticism has mounted about how Experts believe all those figures—especially the Russian death toll—understate the true impact of the coronavirus. the opposition pushed for a confidence Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s gov- vote to challenge his new government. ernment has arranged planes to bring ASSOCIATED PRESS deaths, France is among the world’s Walter Steinmeier, Chancellor Angela ed more coronavirus cases after relax- On Friday, Lower House Speaker back Indians from overseas, while PARIS, MAY 8 top five hardest-hit nations in the pan- Merkel and the heads of the parlia- ing restrictions. Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof said he had leaving labourers stranded in big cit- demic. Britain, with over 30,000 con- ment and top court laid wreaths at the South Korea’s 13 new infections approved Mahathir’s motion for a con- ies with little food or cash. European leaders held muted com- firmed deaths, is second only to the memorial to victims of war and vio- were its first increase higher than 10 fidence test once parliament convenes Modi said on Twitter he was memorations Friday to mark the end US, which has seen nearly 76,000 peo- lence in Berlin. in five days. A dozen were linked to a for the first time this year on May 18. anguished by the loss of lives in the of World War II on the continent, as ple killed by the virus. Russia has As European nations and US states 29-year-old who managed to visit three “As Speaker of the Lower House, I train accident and all possible assis- coronavirus lockdowns kept crowds reported only 1,625 virus deaths, but plot tentative, chaotic and often com- nightclubs in Seoul last weekend. must study and ensure all motions put tance was being provided. “Shocked from celebrating VE Day. Across the infections are jumping by over 10,000 pletely different road maps out of South Korea’s top infectious forward fulfil and abide by the stand- by the deaths of migrant workers hit ocean, Americans awaited what is each day. Experts believe all those fig- their lockdowns while still attempting disease expert said the country could ing orders... whatever consideration by train. We should be ashamed of expected to be the worst set of unem- ures—especially the Russian death to avoid a second wave of infections, possibly push back its plans to reopen and decision by the Speaker of the how we treat our nation-builders,” ployment figures since record-keeping toll—understate the true impact of China and South Korea highlighted schools if infections surge again over Lower House must be fair and upholds said Rahul Gandhi, leader of the main began in 1948. the coronavirus. the risks of easing such measures. the upcoming weekend after a weeks- the integrity of the House,” Mohamad opposition Congress party. The European celebrations came in In Germany, President Frank- Both Asian nations on Friday report- long decline. Ariff said in a statement. stark contrast to the way millions In China, where the new coronavi- The prime minister’s office referred of its citizens spilled onto the streets rus first emerged late last year, author- requests for comment to the minister 75 years ago, waving flags, flashing ities reported 17 new virus cases, in charge of law and parliamentary victory signs and dancing in joy including 16 people not showing any affairs, who did not immediately BRIEFING because the carnage on their conti- symptoms. No new deaths have been respond. Should Mahathir’s group nent had ended. reported for more than three weeks. succeed in weaning away some of Street parties this year were banned Health experts say every nation will Muhyiddin’s support, Malaysia could ‘Hackers accessed emails from in Britain. In France, President see some type of second wave of infec- once again go to the polls. At the last Merkel’s constituency office’ Emmanuel Macron laid a wreath tions after their lockdowns ease. election in 2018, Mahathir’s multi-eth- at the Arc de Triomphe monument On the anniversary of Nazi nic alliance oused then prime minis- BERLIN: Russia’s GRU military at the top of a largely deserted Germany’s surrender to Allied forces ter Najib Razak, tapping popular intelligence service appears to have Champs-Elysees Avenue since the in Europe in 1945, United Nations anger over their leader’s alleged got hold of many emails from country is still under a strict lock- Secretary-General Antonio Guterres involvement in a multi-billion dollar Chancellor Angela Merkel’s down until Monday. warned that the coronavirus pandem- graft scandal at sovereign fund constituency office in a 2015 hack A day earlier, Macron spoke to his ic is unleashing “a tsunami of hate 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB). attack on Germany’s parliament, Der Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, and xenophobia, scapegoating and Returning for a second stint in Spiegel magazine reported on Friday, who had to cancel his own huge scare-mongering.” He appealed for power, having led Malaysia for 22 without citing its sources. A Victory Day parade that had been “an all-out effort to end hate speech years until 2003, Mahathir was unable spokesman for the German govern- planned for Saturday in Moscow. globally.” to hold his rag-tag coalition together. ment had no immediate comment. Macron said the pandemic “makes the The UN chief warned that “anti-for- To secure power, Muhyiddin broke There was also no immediate com- construction of peace and stability on eigner sentiment has surged online with Mahathir and forged a new ment from Moscow, which has denied the continent and in the rest of the and in the streets, anti-Semitic con- Malay nationalist coalition with previous allegations of hacking world more necessary than ever,” AP/RSS spiracy theories have spread and Najib’s corruption-tainted party—the abroad. Der Spiegel said federal according to a statement. People applaud as a WWII veteran walks past after two minutes of silence was observed in Covid-19-related anti-Muslim attacks United Malays National Organisation, criminal police and the federal cyber With nearly 26,000 confirmed virus Whitehall in London, on Friday on the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. have occurred.” and an Islamist party, PAS. agency had been able to partially reconstruct the attack and found that two email inboxes from Merkel’s office had been targeted. They contained email correspondence from 2012 to 2015 and Der Spiegel said the hackers appear to have Indian police file Biden’s accuser says he should managed to copy both mailboxes to another computer. complaint against LG Taliban blow up police chief drop out of White House race JALALABAD: Afghanistan’s Taliban REUTERS assault at the time. Another friend insurgents killed a provincial Chem after deadly gas leak WASHINGTON, MAY 8 told the Times that Reade told her in police chief and two others in a 2008 about a previous traumatic inci- roadside bomb attack, the local REUTERS makes polystyrene products used in The woman who alleges presumptive dent involving Biden. Reade’s brother governor said on Friday, in the latest CHENNAI, MAY 8 manufacturing electric fan blades, Democratic presidential nominee Joe also confirmed parts of Reade’s violence hindering a US-brokered cups and cutlery and containers for Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993 account to The Intercept and the Post. peace process. The blast took place Indian police have filed a complaint cosmetic products. said in a video interview on Thursday Reade, 56, told media interviewers late on Thursday in the southeastern against an LG Chem subsidiary over a “LG Chem has asked the police to that he should withdraw from the she complained at the time about sex- province of Khost, killing police toxic gas leak at its chemical plant in evacuate residents as a precautionary White House race. ual harassment, though not sexual chief Sayed Ahmad Babazai, his the south of the country that killed 11 measure as there are concerns that Tara Reade’s comments in an inter- assault, to three of Biden’s Senate secretary and another officer, as people and sickened almost a thou- tank temperatures would rise,” South view with former NBC and Fox News aides. The Biden campaign released a well as wounding another person, sand more. Korea’s biggest petrochemical maker journalist Megyn Kelly came six days statement from one, Marianne Baker, said governor Halim Fidai in a Authorities doubled the evacuation said in a statement. “We are taking after Biden said in his first public who said she never received any statement. Taliban spokesman area around the factory in Andhra necessary measures, including put- remarks about the alleged incident report of inappropriate behaviour in Zabihullah Mujahid said on Twitter Pradesh to a 5 kilometre (3 mile) radi- ting water into the tank.” that it “never happened.” nearly 20 years of working for Biden. the militants claimed responsibility us on Friday, a day after the gas first N Surendra Anand, a fire officer in “You and I were there, Joe Biden. The Post and Times interviewed the for the attack. began leaking. Around 800 people Visakhapatnam district, had earlier Please step forward and be held REUTERS other two aides, both of whom told the were hospitalised. told Reuters that more people were accountable,” Reade said in a portion Joe Biden newspapers they had no recollection A copy of the police complaint filed being evacuated because of renewed of the interview posted on Twitter by of Reade’s complaint. Iran quake kills two, injures 38 against the management of LG emissions from the plant: “the situa- Kelly. “You should not be running on tant in Biden’s U.S. Senate office from Biden last week asked the Secretary DUBAI: Two people died and 38 Chem’s subsidiary LG Polymers, tion is tense.” Residents said police character for the president of the December 1992 to August 1993, has of the Senate to make public any were injured when a 5.1 magnitude viewed by Reuters, cited several began moving them out of their United States.” accused Biden in media interviews of records containing a complaint or earthquake struck northern Iran in counts of negligence and culpable homes and into waiting buses from Asked if Biden should withdraw pinning her against a wall in 1993, other documents relating to Reade’s the early hours of Friday and people homicide. around midnight. from the race, Reade said: “I wish he reaching under her skirt and pushing allegation, if they exist. The Senate fled their homes in panic, state The report, which precedes a full Srijana Gummalla, commissioner would, but he won’t.” Responding to his fingers inside her. Biden, 77, who denied the request because of confi- television reported. There were at police investigation and potential of the Greater Visakhapatnam Reade’s latest interview, Biden’s depu- will be the Democratic nominee to dentiality requirements. least 40 milder aftershocks, but no charges, refers to negligent handling Municipal Corporation, said gas emis- ty campaign manager, Kate face Republican President Donald Some prominent Democratic serious damage from the quake of poisonous substances and causing sions had been fluctuating through Bedingfield, said on Thursday that Trump, 73, said in a MSNBC interview women including U.S. House of that struck after midnight on hurt and endangering public life due the day and had largely subsided. “more and more inconsistencies keep last week that “I’m saying unequivo- Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi the border of the provinces of to negligence. Culpable homicide is LG Chem shares fell as much as 2.4 emerging” in Reade’s account. cally it never, never happened.” and US Senator and former presiden- Tehran and Mazandaran, it added. classified as not amounting to murder. percent in early trade on Friday, before “Women must receive the benefit of Reade was one of eight women who tial rival Elizabeth Warren have The epicentre was south of Iran’s An LG Chem spokesman in Seoul regaining some ground to be down 0.6 the doubt,” Bedingfield said in an last year came forward to say Biden defended Biden, who was President highest peak, the snow-capped declined to comment on the police percent against the broader South emailed statement. “At the same time, had hugged, kissed or touched them in Barack Obama’s vice president. Mount Damavand, according to the report. There was confusion about Korea market’s 1 percent gain. The we can never sacrifice the truth. And ways that made them uncomfortable, Reade, who describes herself as a United States Geological Survey. whether Friday’s expanded evacua- stock lost nearly 2 percent on the truth is that these allegations are though none accused him of sexual Democrat and supporter of Vermont The 5,761-metre mountain is volcanic, tion orders were sparked by a renewed Thursday. false and that the material that has assault. Reade publicly accused him senator and former presidential but Iranian officials said the quake leak, as reported by at least one local India’s government has formed a been presented to back them up, under of the assault on a podcast in March. candidate Bernie Sanders, has hired was not triggered by volcanic activi- fire official, or by the fear that rising committee, which includes senior scrutiny, keeps proving their falsity.” Several news outlets that have pub- the New York law firm of Wigdor ties. Press TV reported boulders temperatures at the plant could lead to bureaucrats, to investigate the leak, The statement did not address lished Reade’s account, including the LLP, which has represented some of blocking the road leading to the another leak. identified by authorities as coming Reade’s call for Biden to drop out of New York Times and the Washington the alleged sexual assault victims mountainous Damavand area. LG Chem said on Friday there was from styrene, a principal raw material the race. Post, have interviewed a friend who of Hollywood producer Harvey (AGENCIES) no second leak at the plant, which at the plant. Reade, who worked as a staff assis- said Reade told her about the alleged Weinstein, to represent her.

C M Y K 07 | SATURDAY, MAY 09, 2020 SPORTS BRIEFING German football faces uphill battle Chinese football Klostermann extends Leipzig association for pay contract until 2024 cuts up to 50 percent LEIPZIG: Leipzig defender Lukas to convince public, fans Klostermann has signed a contract ASSOCIATED PRESS extension with the club through 2024, BEIJING, MAY 8 the team said Friday. The 23-year-old Polls showed at least half of respondents saying they are against the plan to restart the season set to resume on May 16. Klostermann had one year remaining Players and coaches in the Chinese on his contract. The Germany inter- Super League could have salaries cut national has played in 23 of 25 match- by up to 50 percent to help clubs man- es this season and in all eight games age losses from the coronavirus pan- during the team’s run to the demic. Champions League quarter-finals. The head of China’s football associ- Klostermann was 18 when he joined ation said teams would implement Leipzig in 2014, right after the team temporary player pay cuts of 30 per- had been promoted to the second cent to 50 percent. Chen Xuyuan also division. “I can look back with the told state broadcaster CCTV that club on a very successful path, matches would be resumed on a stag- which definitely has potential for gered schedule but gave no specific more success in the future and I dates. Sports in some countries are would like to be a part of it,” slowly returning after the lockdown. Klostermann said on the South Korea’s K-League was set to Leipzig website. kick off on Friday and play games in empty stadiums. Taiwan has taken the first steps to bring back sports fans England’s Sri Lanka tour back to venues and will 1,000 fans to rescheduled for January 2021 attend upcoming baseball games. The Chinese Football Association LONDON: England’s two-match Test issued a statement saying the pay cuts series in Sri Lanka, which has been in were not compulsory but urged postponed due to the Covid-19 pan- clubs and players to engage in fair demic, has been rescheduled for negotiations. “The Covid-19 epidemic January next year, Sri Lanka Cricket has had a big impact on the football CEO Ashley de Silva has said. industry. All levels of leagues were England were scheduled to play Tests forced to postpone the 2020 season, in Galle and Colombo in March which influenced the normal opera- before the coronavirus outbreak shut tion of clubs,” the China Daily news- down sport worldwide. “We are in the paper on Friday reported the CFA process of rescheduling the tours that announcement as saying. “With low have been postponed,” De Silva told income and high labour costs, the Sri Lankan newspaper Daily News. clubs are facing growing financial “England has been already resched- pressure.” uled for the month of January next The CFA recommended the cuts be year but the dates have not been backdated to March 1 and should finalised.” include foreign players, but should exclude players or coaches on low Five substitutions to be allowed monthly incomes. China on Friday announced one on temporary basis REUTERS new virus case, a local infection in the BERN: Teams will be allowed up to five A file photo shows Bayern Munich players during a training session in Munich, Germany. northeastern province of Jilin, and 16 substitutions per match, instead of new cases of those who have tested the usual three, as a temporary meas- ASSOCIATED PRESS Wednesday and gave their approval. Mönchengladbach fans gathered “Games without spectators are some- positive but are not showing symp- ure to help cope with potential fixture DUSSELDORF, MAY 8 But even German football’s hardcore outside and celebrated a win with the thing particular. It’s all about the men- toms. No no new deaths were report- congestion in the aftermath of coro- fans—whose colorful displays are usu- players. Fan groups from various tality.” ed. Just 260 people remain hospital- navirus outbreak, FIFA said on The German politicians have been ally a major part of the league’s mar- clubs have asked their members Bayern players trained in Munich ised for having the virus and 890 are Friday. The change in the rules will persuaded to allow football to resume keting appeal—have their doubts not to stage a repeat when games on Friday on a field enclosed by a under isolation for being suspected be allowed in all competitions which in the country despite the coronavirus about playing without fans inside the resume. large curtain before moving into a cases or for having tested positive but are due to finish by the end of this pandemic. The public, it seems, still venues. High-profile German athletes in hotel for a quarantine period—a without showing symptoms. China year and it will be up to individual needs to be convinced. “Football without fans is nothing,” Olympic sports, too, have raised con- league requirement—ahead of their has reported a total of 4,633 deaths competition organisers whether to Three polls from German broad- read a joint statement from several cerns about special treatment for soc- first game on May 17 at Union Berlin. among 82,886 cases since the outbreak implement it. FIFA also said that casters published Thursday and Bayern Munich fan groups after the cer at a time when they can’t compete Other clubs are finding creative ways started in Wuhan late last year. competitions currently using the Friday showed at least half of league decided Thursday on a restart and some can’t train. When the season to adapt. Meanwhile, the CSL season could video replay system would be free to respondents saying they are against date. “Football alone in front of the was suspended, Bayern held a four- Werder Bremen coach Florian kick off in late June with the coun- discontinue its use on restarting. the plan to restart the season. The top TV at home can be nice, too. But it point lead over Borussia Dortmund. Kohfeldt said he is moving training try’s football association preparing Football’s rule-making body IFAB two divisions will resume on May 16 would surely never have developed Leipzig was a point further behind sessions to the stadium as his various plans to complete the cam- agreed to make the change to the following a two-month suspension, into a mass phenomenon.” in third. team prepares to host Bayer paign delayed by the Covid-19 pandem- rules “based on a proposal received playing in empty stadiums. When the Bundesliga hosted its “What happened earlier this season Leverkusen on May 18. “We’re train- ic. The league was scheduled to start from FIFA seeking to protect The decision was made after first game in an empty stadium in doesn’t matter any more. Everyone’s ing all the time in the same on February 22 but was pushed back player welfare”, the statement German Chancellor Angela Merkel March, shortly before the league starting from scratch,” Bayern coach atmosphere that there will be on game because of the novel coronavirus added. (AGENCIES) met with state governors on was suspended, hundreds of Borussia Hansi Flick told the DPA news agency. day,” Kohfeldt said. outbreak Tottenham forward Son finishes Four Sampdoria players Brescia captain says his team military training in South Korea test positive for Covid opposes resuming Serie A REUTERS ASSOCIATED PRESS LONDON, MAY 8 SEOUL,MAY 8 ASSOCIATED PRESS Four players from Italian side Sampdoria have ROME, MAY 8 Tottenham forward Son Heung-min finished his three- tested positive for the novel coronavirus, week military training in South Korea on Friday and including one for the second time, the Serie With his team based in the Lombardy was right near the top of the class. club said. region where nearly 15,000 people The 27-year-old Son entered the Marine Corps train- “Currently asymptomatic, they have been have died from the coronavirus, ing camp on the southern island of Jeju on April 20 for placed in quarantine and will be constantly Brescia captain Daniele Gastaldello a basic training period that he undertook while the monitored as per protocol,” the club said in a said his entire squad opposes resum- Premier League was suspended because of the corona- statement on Friday. Fiorentina said three ing the Serie A soccer season. virus pandemic. Social distancing restrictions still in players and three staff members tested posi- “In Brescia we’ve all been touched,” place in South Korea meant Son’s graduation ceremony tive while a day earlier Torino said one player Gastaldello told Italian daily La was closed to the public. That didn’t stop dozens of fans had contracted the new coronavirus. Repubblica in an interview published from waiting outside. REUTERS On Thursday, the government said it was Thursday. “We all know someone who Local media reported that Son was presented with an In this undated photo provided by South Korea Marine Corps’ still examining medical guidelines of the has been directly hit by the tragedy. award given to the top five performing trainees in the Facebook on Friday Tottenham Hotspur Son Heung-min Italian football federation, which are seen as We’ve realized how little it takes to group of 157, and achieved a perfect record in shooting. salutes at a boot camp in Seogwipo on Jeju Island, South Korea. the stumbling block to a resumption of the ruin a family.” South Korea’s Yonhap news agency cited a military season.Teams have been allowed to start prac- While most clubs in the Italian official as saying Son received a “Pilsung” prize, which complete all military duties. Tottenham said Son would ticing this week with players training individ- league are resuming training on an is one of five awards for top performers. return to the club next week. The Premier League is ually and adhering to social distancing proto- individual basis this week, last-place “All the courses were judged in a fair and strict man- trying to find a way to resume in June but group prac- cols. Full team practices are due to begin on Brescia is one of the holdouts. “We ner, and his military training officers have said he went tice sessions have not yet started. May 18, but only if the medical protocol is don’t feel safe. They’re asking us to through the training faithfully,” the Marine Corps South Korea’s K-League kicked off Friday with approved. resume training and to get back out officer told Yonhap. Son was fulfilling requirements of defending champion Jeonbuk Motors facing Suwon Five Sampdoria players—Manolo onto the field right away, concentrat- the military service exemption he earned by winning Bluewings in the southwestern city of Jeonju. The Gabbiadini, Morten Thorsby, Albin Ekdal, ing 12 matches in 1½ months. It’s put- the gold medal for South Korea in the football tourna- K-League had been scheduled to start on February 29 Omar Colley and Antonino La Gumina—as ting all of the players’ safety on the AP/RSS ment at the 2018 Asian Games. but had to be delayed because of the virus outbreak. No well as team doctor Amedeo Baldari had tested line,” Gastaldello said. “I’m speaking Daniele Gastaldello Without the exemption, he would have been required fans will be allowed in stadiums, many of which were positive in March. Italy has recorded more for me and for my teammates. If the by law to serve 21 months. After basic training, he still built for the 2002 World Cup and have capacities of more than 215,000 cases of the virus, which has price of resuming is us getting seri- “A new beginning, a step forward,” has community service obligations to finish by 2023 to than 40,000. caused over 29,000 deaths in the country. ously injured, it’s not worth it any- Juventus center back Leonardo more. … We’re afraid.” Bonucci wrote Wednesday on Eight Serie A players have tested Instagram after returning to training. positive for the virus in pre-training “Little things that let us look to the testing this week: one at Torino, three future positively.” at Fiorentina and four at Sampdoria. Gastaldello also suggested that a K-League kicks off without fans, but big broadcast interest Gastaldello said he and his teammates last-minute government decision on were never tested for the virus during Sunday to allow clubs to resume train- ASSOCIATED PRESS to show what we can do and play some the nationwide lockdown in Italy, so ing this week on an individual basis JEONJU, MAY 8 attacking football,” Jeonbuk midfield- “we’ll know if we’ve had it only once “wasn’t fair” because it resulted in er Kim Bo-kyung said. they test us before training.” some teams starting before others. It could be the most significant game For all South Korea’s success in Brescia president Massimo Cellino “We should have all started in uni- of football since the coronavirus pan- containing the virus—the country has last month threatened to forfeit son,” he said. demic caused the shut down of most reported 10,822 cases of Covid-19 and Brescia’s remaining games if the sea- Full team training is scheduled to leagues around the world. 256 deaths—there is a recognition that son resumes—and he said it has noth- resume on May 18, according to gov- South Korea’s K-League season new cases could surface at any time. ing to do with avoiding relegation. ernment guidelines, although no deci- kicked off Friday with Jeonbuk The league, which paid for 1,100 test Gastaldello echoed a statement by sion has been made yet about restart- Motors hosting Suwon Bluewings in on players and staff at the end of another relegation-threatened club, ing matches. Italian Premier Giuseppe an empty World Cup Stadium in April that all came back negative, has Eibar in Spain, which said it was Conte said he plans to meet with all of Jeonju. Foreign interest is suddenly already been shortened from 38 “afraid” of playing again. the soccer stakeholders to discuss the high in the oldest professional football rounds to 27. That number could be “Yes we’re afraid. We’re all exposed, situation. league in east Asia, with broadcasters reduced further to 22 games if there is not just the players but also the equip- Meanwhile, football authorities dis- from at least 17 countries recently second wave of coronavirus, ment managers, the physical thera- cussed revising their health protocol obtaining rights for the competition The opening game takes place on pists, the massage therapists,” in a meeting with the government’s and taking the live feed for some Parent’s Day in in South Korea. “We Gastaldello said. “Everyone inevitably virus task force on Thursday—but games as far away as Germany, India won’t be able to see our parents today comes into contact.” without making any decisions. and Australia. but they will be able to watch the game Football officials have floated the There are 12 rounds remaining in “There had been some interest in at home,” Suwon defender Hong Chul idea of secluding teams from their Serie A, plus four matches that were the K-League before but the number said. “The best present we can give families in a sealed-off environment postponed from the 25th round. Also, has surged after the announcement of them is to win the game.” to conclude the season, or holding all the Italian Cup semifinals were inter- the league starting,” K-League presi- Friday’s season-opener will be fol- of the matches in central and south- rupted after the first-leg matches. The dent Kwon Oh-gap told The Associated AP/RSS lowed by three games on Saturday as ern Italy —furthest from the virus league was suspended on March 9, Press. “We have completed contracts Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors’s Han Kyo-won (left) vies for the ball with Suwon Samsung Ulsan Horangi, runner-up in 2019, hotspots. “It doesn’t make sense. It’s when the government ordered a with a number of countries and are Bluewings’s Park Dae-won during the opening game of South Korea’s K-League football match hosts Sangju Sangmu, Incheon United against nature,” Gastaldello said. nationwide lockdown. negotiating with other broadcasters.” at the Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, South Korea on Friday. faces Daegu FC and Gwangju takes on “We’re professionals but we’re also Gastaldello is getting tired of the While international audiences will Seongnam. The round concludes human beings. We have wives and constant discussions over what to do be higher than ever for the 12-team allowed in stadiums for the K-League five of the past six years and is aiming Sunday with Pohang Steelers playing children.” about the season. “Whoever has the league, there’ll be no close up viewing games, at least for the first few rounds. to start the season with a victory Busan I’Park and FC Seoul traveling There are players on other teams, power to decide,” he said, “should for local fans. No supporters are Jeonbuk has been champions for against the FA Cup holder. “We want to Gangwon FC. however, who seem anxious to resume. decide.”

C M Y K SATURDAY, MAY 09, 2020 | 08 CULTURE & ARTS (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 Can Nepali cinema survive the viral outbreak? The Post’s in-house film critic on what the ongoing pandemic could mean for the Nepali film industry which is already fraught with problems.

ABHIMANYU DIXIT Deepak Rauniyar believes online screening and virtual cinema might be the new norm. He t feels like forever, but the last film I saw is optimistic of newer technology coming into in a theatre was only two months ago. I the forefront. His film ‘White Sun’ is available was in Kolkata travelling without a shad- on Amazon prime, and he hopes for other ow of worry. It was my last day in the Nepali films to follow suit. “There’s a lot of city, and I decided to experience IMAX online streaming platforms coming up in before heading back to Kathmandu. South Asia, and they’re interested in Nepali IThe film I was watching was ‘1917’, which cinema for their catalog,” says Rauniyar. was being touted as Sam Mendes’ technologi- Nepal too has its own streaming services cal marvel. I expected the theatre to be filled that seem to be doing well for themselves, like with people, as Kolkata is known for its vibrant iflix, Video Pasal and Dish Home. More such cinema culture. But there were only three peo- streaming services are slated for launch in the ple in the theatre, including me. near future. “After the pandemic, traditional Things seemed off. Then, during the inter- establishments like cinema halls might col- val, I overheard the popcorn vendors discuss- lapse entirely, and online platforms might not ing there were 40 confirmed Covid-19 infec- be enough for filmmakers to survive on,” says tions in Southern India, some 2,000 kms away. Rauniyar. It was then that I looked into my bag of pop- However, for the industry to survive, private corn—a little fearful for the first time—and investments will not be enough to make the gave it a second thought. It would take me industry stable. Therefore the need for the another month or so to truly understand the hour is government intervention. Some Nepali gravity of the crisis that was unfolding, espe- film makers, distributors, and exhibitors from cially for Nepali cinema. the Nepal Motion Pictures Association agree Today, we’re on the seventh week of the lock- with Rauniyar. To bring that into effect, they down and it looks like it’s not going to end submitted a memorandum to the Finance anytime soon. With their shooting schedules Minister Yubaraj Khatiwada recently. The postponed, Nepali celebrities have found news memorandum broadly requests for a care pack- ways of entertaining themselves and their age to save Nepali cinema from economic dev- audiences. Reema Biswakarma holds regular astation. interaction sessions with her fans where she’s But the Nepali government has notoriously discussing everything from Covid-19 to films to PHOTOS VIA FACEBOOK stayed away from any sort of investment in food. Others like Keki Adhikari and Priyanka Franchise films Prem Geet 3, Ma Yesto Geet Gauchu 2, and Chapali Height 3—all ready for release—were in the midst of promotions when the lockdown was announced. Nepali cinema. The closest the government has Karki are also regularly interacting with fans come to working with the industry was when on social media. And although social media thing, the lockdown was announced. Along with the filmmakers, Nepali audienc- Visit Nepal 2020 had a programme that promot- seems to provide some relief, the larger truth is But what we also need to consider is that es too were also rediscovering Nepali cinema, ed ‘Nepal as a film destination’. While the pro- that the industry has come to a grinding halt. Nepali films weren’t doing well even before the Nepali cinema has gone and films ran to packed theatres. Then, came gramme might have helped Nepal appear on And its future is uncertain. Even scarier is the virus. Last year alone, only three out of around through a lot of turbulence, the 2015 earthquakes that put the industry at a the global map as a tourist spot, there’s nothing fact that many insiders doubt that the industry 55 films were financially successful and only standstill for almost four months. The films for the local cinema industry. will get back on its feet even after the lockdown seven broke even. Covid-19 is only another and perseverance has that were released after the standstill had bet- The next most viable alternative for cinema opens—whenever that is. addition to a long list of problems Nepali cine- ter storytelling and were commercially suc- then is international funding but that too will Santosh Sen’s ‘Prem Geet 3’, Sudarshan ma was already struggling with. Film makers carried us through it all. cessful. require government assistance. International Thapa’s ‘Ma Yesto Geet Gauchu 2’, and Arjun have always battled against adversities since Makers like Dipendra K Khanal, Deepak Raj funding and co-production opportunities with Kumar’s ‘Chapali Height 3’ were all ready for the inception of cinema in Nepal. Hopefully, it will now too. Giri with Deepa Shree Niraula, and Khagendra filmmakers from foreign countries require the release and were in the midst of promotions The first Nepali film was produced from Lamicchane told local stories in their genre of state to be involved at the policy level. A co-pro- when the lockdown was announced. And even Kolkata in 1951. Nepal’s first film came much comfort. Nepali filmmakers enjoyed interna- duction agreement usually requires both coun- after the lockdown eases, these film makers later from Kathmandu in 1964. And we fell in tional exposure in notable festivals too. Feature tries agreeing on certain prerequisites. “Film will hold back their release dates because, well, love with it right away. In 30 quick years, we in the films of that time bear striking resem- length films of Min Bham and Deepak makers today need the state’s support, partici- they’re all franchise films with large invest- already had our superstars, chartbusters, and blance to Hindi films. Rauniyar, and short films from Pooja Gurung pation, and investment,” Rauniyar says. ments, and do not want to take chances. The multiple film halls around the country. In the Lama and his contemporary reviewers, with Bibhusan Basnet, Rajan Khatet, and For now, no one really knows how this pan- CEO of QFX cinemas, Roshan Adiga, in an ‘90s there were around 500 cinema theaters, including directors like Deepak Rauniyar and Ankit Poudel garnered accolades around the demic will turn out. But it’s in our best interest interview with Kantipur, said they’re set to including Hi-vision halls and video halls. That Manoj Pandit, were doing their best to discour- world. if we can plan ahead our route to normalcy. close until June, which means Nepali films will is without counting many unregistered screen- age the practice through their writing. Film maker Prashant Rasaily, who is watch- Although there are many other areas that be stuck in a limbo at least until the mid of this ing spots that showed films through a VCR. Then, when the digital age rolled out, it ing Kathmandu closely from Gangtok, has a require urgent attention, cinema and art will year. But with the armed political conflict and helped evolve Nepali cinema. It provided a rather optimistic outlook on the current sce- be important in helping us ease into normalcy. But even before the lockdown began in persistent attacks on theatre owners during platform for original stories from young film- nario—despite the gloomy reality. “Every-time Cinema until now has survived two global Kathmandu, things had begun to be wary. the insurgency, hundreds of theatres closed makers. It became easier to create, distribute, there is a huge world changing event—a varie- wars, numerous political transitions, and eco- Shooting schedules were disrupted and film- down. Director Dipendra Lama, who worked as and exhibit cinema. This new wave gave us ty of significant contents have emerged. The nomic devastations. Nepali cinema can even makers were pushing their release dates. a film critic then, says, “A lot of films were just directors like Nischal Basnet, Rambabu Second World War gave us Italian Neo-Realism add natural calamities to that list. But positiv- There were confusions about payments, con- ripping off Indian cinema at that time.” The Gurung, Prashant Rasaily, and Deepak and French New Wave Cinemas,” he says. ity and perseverance has carried us through tracts and pre-selling of overseas rights. And story line, characters, action sequences, and Rauniyar, all of whom had a distinct style of These waves transformed cinema across the tough times. Hopefully, it will now too. then before anybody could understand any- even the sound design and background scores presentation and storytelling. globe, and he hopes for something similar now. See you at the cinemas, soon.

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