WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 71 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 33.0 C 8.0 C Wednesday, May 06, 2020 | 24-01-2077 Biratnagar Jomsom A deal might have been reached in the ruling party but suspicions remain Many Nepal Communist Party leaders do not trust Oli to live up to his promises, given numerous past instances of him not implementing agreements.

TIKA R PRADHAN anonymity, citing the fluid situation KATHMANDU, MAY 5 in the party. The party averted a crisis on On Monday night, Nepal Communist Saturday after Oli managed to steal Party spokesperson Narayan Kaji party vice-chair Bamdev Gautam Shrestha warned that deviating from from the Dahal faction and reached an the conclusions reached at Saturday understanding with Dahal to run the Secretariat meeting could once again government as per party instructions invite an internal crisis. and allow the latter to lead the party. “There should not be any ifs and On Sunday, Dahal started writing a buts; it just cannot be done. Protecting political document to present at the party unity, abiding by the system and scheduled Standing Committee meet- government functioning as per party ing and provide clarity on the func- instructions… and for that self-criti- tioning of the government and party, cism and commitment to start afresh. and internal power-sharing. That’s the conclusion,” Shrestha The major source of conflict in the wrote on Twitter. ruling party was over power-sharing, Shrestha’s warning came just two and according to party insiders, a deal days after the party had managed to satisfying every leader’s interest was POST PHOTO: HEMANTA SHRESTHA defuse what looked like an insur- not easy to pull off. Mountains emerge behind clouds in this view of Kathmandu Valley captured from Santaneshwar, Lalitpur. mountable crisis in the wake of grow- According to Khanal, as long as Oli ing factionalism in the party. Until implements the party decision, there Friday, the faction led by party chair won’t be any problems. Pushpa Kamal Dahal and senior lead- “I have told him that the party will ers Madhav Kumar Nepal and Jhala be fine if we set up a system and fol- Nath Khanal was bent on calling for low proper procedures,” Khanal, who Despite calls to ease the nationwide lockdown, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s met with Oli on Tuesday, told the Post. resignation. But in a series of events “I advised him to follow the party’s that even ruling party leaders are instructions.” describing as miraculous, party chair Establishing a proper system has high-level committee recommends its extension Oli managed to retain his position long been one of Nepal’s major while dismantling the Bhaisepati alli- demands, who has also periodically ance of his detractors. asked that the party adopt the “one Steering panel concludes that lifting restrictions right now is unwise, given the rising number of coronavirus cases. But not two days have passed that person, one responsiblity” system, clouds of suspicions have once again which means that if Oli leads the gov- SANGAM PRASAIN the number of cases this week alone, gathered, as the party prepares for a ernment, he should relinquish the KATHMANDU, MAY 5 with 23 new cases reported since crucial Standing Committee meeting post of party chair. Sunday. Seven new cases in Nepalgunj on Thursday. Oli had attempted to placate Nepal The high-level coordination commit- of Banke on Tuesday took the coun- “There are indications that Oli is by offering him a new position as tee for the control and prevention of try’s tally to 82, prompting the author- not keen on abiding by the under- third party chair alongside him and Covid-19 has recommended yet anoth- ities to put the district on high alert. standing reached at Saturday’s Dahal, along with at least two posi- er extension to the ongoing lockdown On Sunday, the district had reported Secretariat meeting,” a party leader tions as chief minister and some min- in light of the rising number of coro- 15 Covid-19 cases. who has close relations with isterial berths for his faction. navirus cases in the country. According to Bidari, since catego- Nepal told the Post on condition of >> Continued on page 5 “We have decided to recommend rising the districts into different zones that the government continue with did not look feasible, the committee the ongoing lockdown but easing the has recommended that strict security production and movement of essen- be implemented so as to ensure that tial goods,” said Narayan Prasad only essential items, like medicines, Bidari, member-secretary of the can be transported across districts. high-level coordination committee. “We concluded that categorising districts into different zones is practi- POST PHOTO: DEEPAK KC cally not possible,” Bidari told the Post. A prolonged lockdown has been painful for the public, particularly the poor people. Nepal has been on lockdown since March 24, with the last extension set Various ministries had pro- dropped it for now,” he said. “So the to expire on May 7. posed that one of the ways in committee decided to continue the Bidari said the committee, however, which the lockdown could be lockdown while putting no restric- did not discuss how long the lockdown eased was by categorising the tions on essential services and gradu- should be extended for. country into zones, but Bidari said ally easing the lockdown in the indus- “Tomorrow’s Cabinet meeting will the committee dismissed the idea. trial and agricultural sectors.” take a decision,” said Bidari. “The “Since the concept of different As the country went into the sixth committee, however, concluded that zones isn’t appropriate for a week of lockdown, discussions had the lockdown has been instrumental small country like ours, today’s started about relaxing the restric- in containing the spread of the virus.” POST FILE PHOTO meeting discussed the idea but tions. But there was a sudden rise in >> Continued on page 5 The top Nepal Communist Party leadership is preparing for a crucial meeting on Thursday.

C M Y K WEDNESDAY, MAY 06, 2020 | 02 MEDLEY

Inside the Post Quote of the day

Hoteliers agree to pay their workers for Chaitra but National yet to decide about coming months, Page 3 Following complaints from many hospitality sector workers that they did not get paid for the month of Chaitra, representatives of hotels on Monday agreed to pay their staff in a talks between the two sides interceded by the Ministry of Labour “The decision of the Hotel Association of and Social Security. Nepal on wage cuts is against the labour law. It is also against the government’s Opinion We pollute our air and water, weaken our respiratory system and make ourselves decision. The government has been shaking vulnerable to viral attacks. We wipe out thousands of other species that rely on clean air and water to sustain them. If the earth spoke in our language, she will its legs to enforce its own decision.” probably call us the most lethal of viruses. Pushkar Acharya, president of Nepal Trade Union Congress, on the decision taken by hotel operators to slash the wages of their employees. Money Apple Inc on Monday capitalised on the Federal Reserve’s emergency measures in response to the coronavirus outbreak to issue its cheapest bonds in years, making it the latest blue-chip company to do so to fund stock buybacks and dividends. Most read online Apple’s offering illustrates how companies with the best credit ratings are boost- ing shareholder returns by tapping cheap debt made available through the Fed’s backstopping of the credit markets. Hotels decide to cut their losses by remaining shuttered for six months World Hotels teetering on the edge amid the coronavirus closure have decided to cut Britain on Tuesday became the first country in Europe to confirm more than their losses by remaining shuttered for six months, as they don’t expect tourists 30,000 coronavirus deaths, and infections rose sharply again in Russia, even as to visit Nepal for at least another year. Officials said more than 3,000 hotels will other nations made great strides in taming the virus, and China marked its third send their staff home because they can’t keep paying their salaries with no rev- week with no new virus deaths. In the US, some states began halting steps to lift enue coming in due to the lockdown. the lockdown restrictions being blamed for throwing millions out of work and upending the global economy even as thousands of new US infections and deaths were being reported daily. Government considers bringing back Nepali migrant workers from Covid-19-affected countries The government has said it is considering repatriating workers stranded in Covid-19 affected countries, weeks after tens of thousands of Nepalis abroad News Quiz urged authorities to allow them to return home. Who gets to return home in the POST PHOTO: ELITE JOSHI first phase, however, will be decided by a host of factors such as an individual’s A woman makes cotton wicks for oil lamps in Bungmati, Lalitpur, on Tuesday. living condition, job and visa status, the situation of their family back home, 1. Seven people were injured on Pulitzer Prize for fiction twice? and how the outbreak pans out in Nepal in the days to come. Monday after members of the a. Suzanne Collins public clashed with police over b. Christopher Paolini distribution of relief materials c. Colson Whitehead Without proper contact tracing, the lockdown in which district? d. Stephenie Meyer On this day in history will have little effect, doctors say a. Saptari b. Siraha 4. Which district recorded seven On Sunday, 15 new cases of Covid-19 were detected in Nepalgunj, the highest c. Kanchanpur new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday? Crown Prince graces Buddha Jayanti function number of coronavirus infections reported in the country in a single day so far. d. Baglung a. Chitwan All of Nepalgunj’s 15 cases were related to those previously identified in the city, b. Banke KATHMANDU - To mark the 2537 Buddha Jayanti His Royal Highness Crown according to Dr Basudev Pandey, director of the Epidemiology and Disease 2. Nepal Airlines Corporation has c. Sarlahi Prince Dipendra hoisted the Buddhist flag at a function organized by Yashodhar Control Division. asked what amount to the gov- d. Siraha Mahavir sangha, Lalitpur on Wednesday. ernment to buy new aircraft to Accorded a traditional Buddhist welcome by the Vihar elders and the organiz- serve remote mountain air- 5. On 16 April, which show was ing committee; the Crown Prince, monks, local dignitaries and members of the Seven new Covid-19 cases confirmed in Banke fields? viewed by 77 million people, Buddhist community present were led in prayer by Vikshu Buddha Nepal’s Covid-19 tally has reached 82 with seven new cases reported in a. 4 billion apparently setting a world Mahasthabir. Speaking on the occasion, committee chairman Ganeshman Nepalgunj, Banke. The Health Ministry said on Tuesday that three men and four b. 8 billion record for the most-watched TV Vajracharya said, “Baishakh Purnima is commemorated as the day of Buddha’s women from Banke have tested positive for Covid-19. c. 12 billion show globally? birth, his enlightenment and nirvana; an auspicious day when peace-loving indi- d. 20 billion a. Friends viduals can free themselves from sorrow.” b. The Big Bang Theory Buddha Jayanti souvenirs and the books “Yashodhar Mahavir Sangha” and c. Game of Thrones “Yashodhar Mahavir Sthith Manjushree” were released by Govinda Raj Joshi, d. The Ramayan Minister for Education and Culture during the function. Corrections

6. The Mahayana tradition began The Kathmandu Post Our reporters and editors do their best to make sure our reporting is free from in which country and moved to May 6, 1993 errors. But when we make mistakes that warrant correction, we will be transparent present-day Korea and Japan? and clarify at the bottom of the specific article. a. Nepal If you believe we have got something wrong and it requires correction, please POST FILE PHOTO b. China email us at [email protected] with “correction” in the subject line. 3. Which US author became only c. Bangladesh Answers to News Quiz: 1(b), 2(a), 3(c), 4(b), 5(d), 6(b) For the most recent corrections, visit kathmandupost.com/corrections. the fourth writer ever to win the d. Sri Lanka HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) CANCER (June 22-July 22) LIBRA (September 23-October 22) CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) *** **** *** *** When a friend or loved one gets in a bind, it’s Someone else’s lack of good judgment could If you want to be more self-sufficient right now, Someone’s walls could start coming down today, only natural that you feel protective of them. turn your perfectly good day into a less than you need to be braver. Instead of waiting for and you’re a big part of the reason. Your open But before you do your best impression of a good one. But, luckily, you have some amazing friends to introduce you to new people, sign up mind and giving nature have encouraged this mother bear protecting her cubs, stop and wait friends in your corner, and they can lift you out with a dating app and start connecting. Call up shy person to be more vulnerable, and they’re for them to ask you for help. You can’t take of any blue mood quickly. When mistakes are that company and see if they’re hiring. The going to share some wonderful news with you. responsibility for other people, no matter how made, call your sweetest friend and give them things you want in life are a lot easier to get Be aware that you’re becoming more and more much you think they need your help. the scoop. than you realise. Just go for it. important to them.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) LEO (July 23-August 22) SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) **** **** *** ***** Try to avoid having any pseudo experiences Have you made a few wrong decisions lately? A You could be in possession of some informa- Are you being careful enough about where you today. You need to live in the here and now and moment of clarity today could put things back tion that should be shared with someone else. put your money and your trust? Now is not the rooted in reality. This means that if you’re into perspective. This could be the breakthrough They think you’re keeping this secret on pur- time to be paranoid, but you should be very care- going to the grocery store, stop at the bank first. you’ve been waiting for, although the truth pose. Speak out about whatever you’re working ful in any business deals right now. These deals Use cash because plastic is just too easy to max might be a little harder than you were expecting on. By showing that you’re being open, you will could be anything from something major, like a out right now. Using real currency reminds you or hoping for. Try to stay positive despite any go a long way toward easing the minds of some corporate buyout, to something a bit more mod- that there’s an exchange involved. shattered illusions. worried folks. est, like the purchase of equipment.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) VIRGO (August 23-September 22) SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) PISCES (February 19-March 20) **** **** *** **** Family ties can be comforting, but sometimes If you have any spare time today, fill it with It might feel like someone is trying to make Today, the act of selflessly helping others can (like now), they can be a bit uncomfortable. If activities. Tidy up around the house, clean out your life difficult right now, but they aren’t. In help you get rid of any guilty feelings you may you’re having any difficulties with family mem- your desk, or give your car a good washing. reality, this person is merely trying to get you have about your good fortune. You shouldn’t feel bers, separate yourself from the rest of the clan There’s never enough time to do everything, to understand the power and abilities you have. the need to justify your life, but you should defi- for now. You should take a little time to get a grip of course, but even if you just take care of They’re challenging you to do more and be nitely remind yourself how lucky you are. Put on what’s going on and figure out why you’re one or two things, you’ll feel much better about more. You can (and should) rise to the chal- your needs after the needs of others today, and feeling the way you do. yourself. lenge they’re throwing at you right now. you’ll feel better about your place in the world.

CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K 03 | WEDNESDAY, MAY 06, 2020 NATIONAL Seven new Covid-19 cases confirmed in Banke POST REPORT KATHMANDU, MAY 5

Nepal’s Covid-19 tally has reached 82 with seven new cases reported in Nepalgunj, Banke. The Ministry of Health said on Tuesday that three men and four women from Banke have tested posi- tive for the disease. “Samples tested at the Bheri Hospital laboratory confirmed the Covid-19 patients,” said the ministry in a statement. The total number of Covid-19 cases in Banke has now reached 23, making it the district with the most number of active cases after Udayapur. Earlier on Sunday, 15 people in Banke had tested positive as Nepal recorded its highest daily increase in coronavirus cases. “The women who have tested posi- tive for Covid-19 are aged 9, 32, 24, 55,” said the ministry. “The men are aged 22, 30 and 40.” All of them are from Nepalgunj Ward No. 8. The ministry said the health condi- tion of all the patients is normal and they are under observation of health workers. The number of active Covid-19 cases in the country stands at 66, as 16 patients have already returned home after recovery. Nepal’s first Covid-19 case was reported in January. The number of cases started to rise only in the recent weeks, especially after the government-imposed nation- wide lockdown came into force since on March 24. Nepal, however, has not reported any deaths due to the virus so far. With the detection of new cases, prohibitory orders have been issued in Nepalgunj to enforce the lockdown strictly. According to the ministry, POST PHOTO: ANISH REGMI contact tracing and testing have been Workers carry out the restoration work of a temple damaged in the 2015 earthquakes in the Pashupati area, Kathmandu, on Tuesday. The lockdown has delayed the reconstruction of several quake-hit monuments and expanded. heritage sites in the country.

Labs across country Hoteliers agree to pay their workers for Chaitra running out of but yet to decide about coming months Trade union representatives demand the government enforce its decision on wages to protect the workers.

Covid-19 test kits PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA and businesses have been shut down businesses. the situation which is out of control KATHMANDU, MAY 5 due to the lockdown that has been The business community came up and in the situation where there are The Nepal Army, which was to procure medical equipment going on since March 24, putting the with their own plan after the govern- economic crises, lack of electricity Following complaints from many hos- livelihood of hundreds and thousands ment on April 30 said that employers and raw materials. During such a peri- through a fast track process, is yet to deliver the kits. pitality sector workers that they did of people at stake. need to pay their workers 50 percent od, workers who are in reserve, should not get paid for the month of Chaitra, Issuing a joint statement on Sunday, of their wages for the month Baishakh be paid 50 percent of their usual representatives of hotels on Monday the Federation of Nepalese Chambers (Mid-April-Mid-May) and the remain- wages. ARJUN POUDEL medical equipment, including 28,000 agreed to pay their staff in a talks of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) ing sum after the businesses have “The decision of the Hotel KATHMANDU, MAY 5 polymerase chain reaction test kits between the two sides interceded by and Confederation of Nepalese resumed. Association of Nepal on wage cuts is through a fast track process about a the Ministry of Labour and Social Industries (CNI), two representative The government has also promised against the labour law,” Pushkar Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious month ago, after a contract signed Security. bodies of the business community, refinancing facilities at lower interest Acharya, president of Nepal Trade Disease Hospital in Teku, Kathmandu, with Omni Business Corporate During the meeting between the said that the employers were not in rates through the central bank to sup- Union Congress and the head of Joint stopped conducting rapid diagnostic International, a private firm, was representatives of the Hotel the position to pay their workers more port the struggling businesses. Trade Union Coordination Centre, tests on Covid-19 suspects on Tuesday, scrapped. Association of Nepal and trade union, than 50 percent of their wages due As per the Labour Act 2017, enter- told the Post. “It is also against the as it ran out of test kits. But the army too has failed to deliv- the former expressed a commitment to the closure of industries and prises can put workers in reserve in government’s decision. The govern- The hospital has directed doctors at er those items on time. to pay the workers for the month of ment has been shaking its legs to the out-patient departments to recom- Mahendra Prasad Shrestha, direc- Chaitra (Mid-March-Mid-April). The enforce its own decision.” mend polymerase chain reaction (lab) tor general at the Department of two sides, however, are yet to decide He also questioned the different tests only for those that have a history Health Services, concedes that the the terms of payment for the months decisions of the Hotel Association and of travelling to the disease-hit areas ministry doesn’t have enough rapid ahead. the joint decision of FNCCI and CNI or reported close contact with the diagnostic kits. “We have already per- “They have agreed to continue the regarding wage cuts, one offering 12.5 infected. formed over 52,000 tests,”Shrestha negotiations regarding the wages for percent and another offering 50 per- “Everyday over 40 people, including told the Post. “The remaining tests are the coming months,” said Suman cent of wages. those that have returned home after distributed throughout the country.” Ghimire, spokesperson at the Ministry Binayak Shah, senior vice-presi- travelling abroad, or stayed in judicial Similarly, laboratories capable of of Labour and Social Security. dent of Hotel Association of Nepal, custody, used to seek Covid-19 tests at conducting polymerase chain reaction The tourism sector—covering the told the Post that it was hard for hotel our hospital,” Dr Sagar Rajbhandari, tests are also running out of kits. The broader hospitality industry includ- operators to keep paying the employ- director, told the Post. “But due to lack labs might have test kits sufficient for ing hotels, restaurants, airlines and ees since nobody knew how long the of rapid diagnostic test kits, we are the next five days, according to trekking and tour businesses, has pandemic was going to last. performing polymerase chain reac- Shrestha. been hit hard due to domestic and He, instead, demanded that the tion tests, that too only on a few.” “Due to the May Day holidays in global travel restrictions triggered by workers be paid from the social China, both the army and our other the Covid-19 pandemic. security fund. contractors have not been able to An emergency meeting of the Hotel But the government has insisted bring in the medical equipment Association of Nepal on Sunday that the hoteliers must pay their including reagents,” Shrestha told the decided to pay only 12.5 percent of the workers. Post. basic salary to the employees while Ghimire, spokesperson at the “The cargo is ready in China. Once deciding to close the hotels for six Labour Ministry, said that during the flights resume, we will bring it months. Monday’s meeting between the Hotel here.” The basic salary for each employee Association of Nepal and the trade Shrestha claimed that no one need- set by the government is a little over union representatives, the ministry ing a test has been denied so far. “We Rs13,000. In addition, employees will officials had reminded the hotel oper- have been performing polymerase also get the service charges that are ators that they need to pay their staff chain reaction tests on those referred accumulated and often distributed on the humanitarian grounds as well by doctors,” added Shrestha. after six months, according to the since the government was also offer- SHUTTERSTOCK Multiple officials the Post talked to association. ing them several incentives to rescue Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) said that they were encouraged to per- The tourism sector employs over their businesses out of the current tests are more expensive than rapid form polymerase chain reaction tests one million people in the country, crisis. tests, and take a longer time to pro- only on those who have returned from according to the World Travel and “The ministry has made itself clear cess. While rapid tests look for anti- the disease-hit areas and have symp- Tourism Council’s report published on this issue. The government just bodies in the blood, PCR tests look for toms as the test is costly compared to last year. cannot agree with the wage cut deci- virus genes in patients’ nasal or throat rapid tests. Meanwhile, the other sectors are POST FILE PHOTO sion of the Hotel Association of swabs. When asked why the army and pri- also proposing wage cuts as industries The hospitality industry has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. Nepal,” Ghimire told the Post. Like Sukraraj hospital, several hos- vate contractors failed to deliver the pitals across the country have run out medical equipment on time, Shrestha of rapid diagnostic and some even said that the Health Ministry and lack reagents for the PCR tests. The Foreign Affairs Ministry are involved situation is such that even people from in the deal being pursued by the army. Covid-19 hotspots are being deprived “The army is just a medium. The Patients under regular medication face of testing. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and I “We had decided to test at least one myself are involved in the process of shortage of medicines due to lockdown member of every family of hot spots, “ buying equipment through the gov- Krishna Prasad Khatiwada, a health ernment to government process,”he BASANTA PRATAP SINGH two weeks. She was brought to the hospital in a worker at Triyuga Municipality, added. BAJHANG, MAY 5 critical condition and we could not save her,” Udayapur, told the Post over the Shrestha said that authorities in Dr Sandip Okheda said. Phone. “But due to lack of rapid diag- China are testing medical equipment Shortage of medicines triggered by the pro- According to Okheda, the medicine that nostic test kits, we haven’t been able to being sold by private companies to tracted lockdown is taking its toll on the people Bohara had been taking is not available in the perform tests.” check for conformity with safety who are on regular medication in Bajhang. district. “But had we been informed earlier, we Of the 75,000 rapid diagnostic test standards. Kanka Devi Bohara, 47, of Dhalaun in Saipal would have made arrangements for the medi- kits the government procured recent- Meanwhile, seven more people have Rural Municipality, died on Monday as she cines to be supplied from outside the district,” ly, over 52,000 have already been tested positive for Covid-19 in the could not get her regular medicine. She had he said. used up. country, pushing the tally to 82. been on medication for the past six years but Bohara is just a case in point. Hundreds of The Department of Health Services According to the ministry, all new had run out of her prescription two weeks ago. patients of non-communicable diseases such as had signed a contract to procure cases are from Nepalgunj, Banke, and “Her relatives and neighbours would bring heart ailment, diabetes and high blood pressure 100,000 rapid diagnostic test kits the cases have been detected through her medicines from Kathmandu but not since are at risk due to the shortages of medicines through a fast track process, but the contact tracing of other cases. “All 23 the lockdown,” said Karishma BK, Bohara’s during the lockdown. contractor has not been able to deliver cases are interlinked with the first neighbour. “If the patients run out of their supply of those test kits on time. cases in Nepalgunj, “ Dr Sameer Bohara died in the course of treatment at the medicines and they don’t make it to the hospital The Ministry of Health had also Adhikari, deputy spokesperson for the district hospital. on time, their lives could be at risk,” said assigned the Nepal Army to procure ministry, told the Post. “She hadn’t been taking her medicines for Okheda.

C M Y K WEDNESDAY, MAY 06, 2020 | 04 OPINION EDITORIAL Time for a rethink No time to lose It is shameful that it has taken over a month for the government to begin talking about rescue flights.

It has now been 44 days since Nepal declared a nationwide lockdown and a sealing of the border to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus. This also means that it has been 45 days since Nepalis stuck abroad who have wanted, or needed, to come back have been unethically barred from doing so. The Post on multiple occasions has spelt out the potential illegali- ty of this forced exile—for what else can a barring of citizens who have wanted to come back home be called? After all, Article 45 of the constitution ‘guarantees that citizens will not be exiled’. But this goes beyond the legality of the situation. The muted and delayed response to the calls from different sec- tions—out-migrants, civil society, the media and the families of those stuck abroad—to plan for the urgent repatriation of Nepalis shows the lack of empathy on the federal govern- ment’s part. It also shows the government’s hypocrisy. China expanded an unprecedented lockdown in Wuhan and sealed most major cities from the rest of the world on January 24. It did so because it realised, perhaps a little too late, the emer- gency. Back then, Nepal joined a long list of countries to quickly repatriate its citizens. An emergency rescue flight to Hubei province, the epicentre of the disease, was planned and executed by February 15—mere weeks into China’s harsh lockdown. Perhaps the Nepal government acted in haste then because the evacuees from Hubei were mostly students, whereas most of those asking for urgent help now are low-skilled migrant workers. But it is because of the predicament of those cur- rently asking to be allowed back that it becomes even more necessary for the government to arrange rescue operations in SHUTTERSTOCK haste. The sense of emergency that existed in China then now We need to start with some fundamen- itise some lives over others because we seconds of sobering silence, calmly said, applies to all parts of the world, making the situation worse. If the earth could speak, it tal questions. But before that, it is impor- neither have sufficient equipment nor ‘Naresh! No one conquers Mt Everest. I Nepal has in the past few decades allowed many citizens to tant to dispel the notion of ‘winning’ manpower to take care of all who need reached the summit with some friends’. go abroad to earn a living. In fact, it can be said that the state’s would surely call out humans this battle. care. After this humiliation, the asser- His message: you cannot conquer nature; policy has been to encourage it, issuing 3.5 million labour as viruses to the natural tion that ‘we will win and come out of it respect and live in harmony with her. permits between 2008 and 2017. It has put to good use an Will we ever win? stronger’ sounds like a taunt from a Those days, ‘conquer’ was the word used ever-growing young population that would otherwise have Epidemiologists are working day and defeated bully. The fact is we will eventu- to celebrate the successful ascent of environment. night to understand the structure of ally get through the Covid-19, but to call mountains. had to compete for jobs domestically. The rewards have been SARS-CoV-2 and to develop a vaccine. it a win is nonsense. BP Koirala was an advocate of sustain- handsome, too. Migrant workers contributed $8.1 billion to NARESH KOIRALA Social distancing measures and lock- able development and of a simple life in the national income in 2018 alone; the contribution has con- downs to control its spread are being Fundamental questions harmony with nature. He used to argue sistently been equal to around one-third of the country’s strictly enforced. That is a good thing Could it be that, following the Darwinian that the American economic model is gross domestic product for years. and there are signs, for now, this is help- logic, viruses from bats or snakes, which unsustainable. He said so to an American But now, with Covid-19 and its preventative measures dis- ing to save lives. But none of this may are allegedly the source of Covid-19, audience when he was in the US in the rupting the economies all around the world, the jobs that were help us if we are struck by another evolved to sustain their species in the late seventies. BP was a fan of economist equally lethal pandemic in the future. environment we forced upon them? But EF Schumacher’s book Small Is so plentiful for Nepalis to cash in on have now become Viruses are, like us, products of evolu- why did they evolve now? After all, Beautiful: A Study of Economics As If scarce—not to mention more exploitative than ever before. A ‘Invisible enemy’; ‘We are at war’; tion. We are more similar to viruses than humans have been eating exotic wildlife People Mattered and encouraged his report by the International Labour Organisation said the cur- ‘Surprise attack’; ‘Victory’; ‘We will win’ we think. Viruses lodge in our cells, for centuries. admirers to read it. Schumacher was rent crisis was expected to wipe out 6.7 percent of work hours and ‘We will come out even stronger attack our immune system, replicate and The fundamental question here is critical of the culture of ‘gigantism’ in the latter half of 2020 alone. This is equivalent to 195 mil- after this’. Covid-19 has given renewed kill us. When we die, they die with us. whether there is a relationship between (everything big is good) and believed lion full-time workers. Nepalis have already begun to feel the currency to these battle cries of yester- That is hardly different from what we do the emergence of new viruses and our insatiable consumption robbed humani- pressure. In many countries, Nepalis have been forced to work years, yet there is no battlefield per se. the earth. Like the novel coronavirus, we assault on the natural environment, ty from ordinary workers. The modern through a lockdown, but with reduced hours and pay. Further, It is true that we are in a crisis. We recklessly exploit the resources provided predicated by our current economic economic machine has destroyed the must be on the war footing to mitigate by our host (the earth) and disrupt its model. We should be asking whether this environment and made us ‘cogs in an reports from Sharjah in April showed how Nepalis had been Covid-19’s immediate impact. But to call ecosystem. When the earth dies we model is conducive to creating new economic wheel’. brought to the streets after losing their jobs. the virus an enemy is misleading. It did die with her. strains of viruses and is innately Willi, BP and Schumacher foresaw the Now, 44 days since Nepalis migrants first began to appeal to not evolve to kill human beings and it We destroy 85,000 acres of forest every insecure. inherent instability in the current eco- the government to let them come home, plans remain tenta- does not go about looking for human day and eliminate some 50,000 species a The urgency to address these ques- nomic model and the human cost of its tive. Only some 1,300 who walked on their own to the Nepal- prey. It is a product of nature’s process- year to fuel the global economic engine tions and reconsider our economic model failure. We are suffering because we India border have been allowed to return as of now, that too es—much like a forest fire, an earth- we have built. That is not all. We pollute is underscored by the fact that if another ignored them. after a long quarantine in India. Minister for Foreign Affairs quake or a flood. The impact of fires or our air and water, weaken our respirato- pandemic strikes or Covid-19 keeps Covid-19 has given us a wake-up call. It floods or earthquakes is local, but Covid- ry system and make ourselves vulnera- evolving, and we go back to social sepa- has reminded us of what matters. It is Pradeep Kumar Gyawali recently remarked how Nepal now 19 is global. That is the only difference. ble to viral attacks. We wipe out thou- ration and lockdowns, the world econom- time to rethink our economic model. The plans to stagger the number of arrivals from abroad, ensur- We do not call natural disasters the sands of other species that rely on clean ic order is sure to collapse. sooner we recognise that we have a com- ing the quarantine facilities here are not overwhelmed. That enemy; why call Covid-19 that? air and water to sustain them. If the As I write this I am reminded of two mon destiny with other species that the minister is still talking of such potential measures is Characterising the virus as such and earth spoke in our language, she great thinkers I was fortunate to meet inhabit this planet and change our life- shameful. The government had more than a month, which it inciting battle cries may, for the time will probably call us the most lethal of during my lifetime. One was Willi style to be in harmony with the earth’s seems to have wasted, to plan, assess and implement stag- being, help rally citizens around efforts viruses. Unsoeld and the other was our own BP ecological order, the better are our gered repatriation. Now, it must invest more resources to to manage its impact and appeal to sta- SARS-CoV-2 has exposed our frailty as Koirala. Willi’s gentle rebuke in 1972, chances to minimise the damage by ramp up quarantine facilities, just as it hastens the frequency tus-quoists who dream of a return of the never before. We are not as powerful as when I congratulated him for ‘conquer- future pandemics/natural disasters. pre-Covid-19 economic order, but a seri- we pretend to be. A tiny little thing, a ing’ Mt Everest, is etched in my head and number of rescue flights. After suffering so much to send ous rethinking of our current economic millionth of an inch, has brought the forever. Somewhat dismayed with my Koirala is a Geotechnical Consultant in their earnings back home, Nepali migrant workers deserve model is required if we want to avoid biggest powers on earth to their knees. choice of the word conquer, Willi looked Vancouver, British Columbia, that much. similar catastrophes in the future. We have to ration medical care and prior- straight into my eyes and after about 15 Canada. Learning in the time of Covid-19

Ensuring that all children While this framework is not complete, and may not even be optimal, it nonetheless allowed across the country receive our discussions to deepen and move towards tackling practical problems. It allowed us to equal access to remote visualise what kind of principles should be applied to developing distance and remote learning is important. learning. In particular, we noted making text- books and traditional lecture-based lessons available would not be sufficient. Instead, SAKAR PUDASAINI activity-based lessons with an emphasis on showing or modelling and permitting children to replicate these practices were also needed. We even felt that this crisis was also an oppor- tunity to extend co-curricular programmes, which until now have been available only to elite students in Kathmandu schools, across the country. The ongoing Covid-19 crisis will necessitate It was also clear to us that content should the provision of remote and distance learning remain consistent across multiple platforms across Nepal. While it is difficult to predict such as radio, TV, digital and print. While each how the pandemic will unfurl, the possibility of these media channels demands its own of an extended national lockdown exists. Other SHUTTERSTOCK adaptations, it was necessary to have an possibilities include localised ‘hot spots’ that agreed to start with two broad groups—those safety guidelines. new approaches to accommodate learners with expert-verified repository of content from result in local school closures, strict social dis- with digital access and those beyond digital. As On the other side of the digital divide, we additional challenges. The four categories of which everyone drew to ensure coherence. It tancing that makes it possible for schools with the deliberations matured, it became neces- identified the Radio Reachable—families that special needs learners revolved around paren- also became apparent that content that has fewer students to open but requires schools sary to bifurcate each of these groups again. are reachable through the television or the tal literacy levels, atypical living situations, elements of peer-to-peer and older-to-younger with densely packed classrooms—such as radio, but not digitally. While some families physical/mental abilities and learning needs. children interaction in learning were called many private schools and community schools A need for classification can be reached by just TV, some by just radio First, guardians with limited or no literacy for. For example, utilising older siblings to read in the Tarai—to remain closed. In all these Our consensus was that while digital material and many by both, the way of catering to this pose a special challenge, especially for early storybooks or demonstrate activities to their scenarios, remote and distance learning will cannot and will not reach all Nepali families, target group is the same: produce channel years learning where their role is of elevated younger siblings were good for both age groups. be required. their low cost of delivery makes them attrac- appropriate content and work with traditional importance. This challenge is elevated when Ideas such as these would not have been possi- Some have suggested that digital learning is tive options to reach the families with access. media operators such as NTV, national radio one considers that the greatest percentage of ble without first agreeing to a framework that the answer. In response, others have raised the Within the digital space, we see two target syndicates and community radio. Some fami- such families are likely to be in the ‘hard to we felt included all children and their families. legitimate question of how we bridge the digi- audiences. The Digitally Able are sophisticated lies, however, also fall beyond the reach of tra- reach’ category, where the cost of contact is It is to the credit of the government that tal divide. Some activists have even gone so far users of the internet where a family mem- ditional media channels. These Hard To Reach already highest. numerous efforts to ensure remote learning as to denigrate digital education as an elitist ber—a parent, older sibling or guardian—has families will need to be targeted through mate- Second, children who are in atypical living are on the way. We also appreciate the work of venture that does not deserve state support. In sufficient digital literacy to utilise digital rial in print and in-person. Reaching this tar- situations may have additional needs and critics in academia and the media in asking if the midst of these contentions, a small group resources with minimal support. This popula- get group will take a tremendous effort, but it require additional support. This includes chil- these solutions will truly impact all Nepali of educators and early childhood specialists tion only needs to be made aware of digital is absolutely necessary to ensure equity in dren in single-parent homes and those children children. However, with the traditional holiday decided to convene a private working group to content and can be trusted to do the rest on learning, as these households are likely to be living with their grandparents. It should period ending, and many elite private schools consider this complicated question. We met out their own. the most vulnerable. The only way to reach this include children living outside their fully shifted to online classes, ensuring that of concern that we were not hearing consid- While the former group is quite small in group will be by empowering local govern- own homes as live-in domestic helpers or in learning continues for all children across the ered, careful and comprehensive arguments— Nepal, there is a larger group of the Digitally ments and school management committees. orphanages. country should take on heightened impor- neither from the state nor from its critics. Trainable. These are families who are internet Third, children with physical, mental and tance. A consensus framework like this may In our discussions, we quickly realised that users (they have internet-ready devices and Additional challenges sensory impairment, including but not limited allow the public conversation to move past a though there is a lack of credible data, it was access to WiFi/data), but they primarily use This framework helped focus our discussions, to those that are hard of hearing or visually back-and-forth debate on big picture questions still necessary to build a consensus framework the internet for social media and personal com- but it had one clear flaw: it did not offer a way impaired will need additional support. Finally, and towards a more critical appraisal of the to understand the types of users in Nepal and munication. This population needs not only to make visible learners with special needs. children with learning disabilities including solutions being implemented on the ground. their access to media. Otherwise, we would awareness that digital content exists but also Reviewing our discussions through a special but not limited to dyslexia or dysgraphia will remain stuck in the same back-and-forth loop training to help them use digital resources for needs lens resulted in both the occasional need special care in the design of learning Pudasaini, the founder of Karkhana.asia, as the public discourse. Consequently, we their children’s education, including child small tweaks but also the creation of whole material and program delivery. is an educator and technologist.

C M Y K 05 | WEDNESDAY, MAY 06, 2020 NATIONAL Despite calls to ease Around 1,000 Manang the nationwide ... Health workers in Dang lack >> Continued from page 1 Calls, however, have been growing of residents returned late to gradually relax the lockdown by protective gear to tackle Covid-19 identifying areas where the chances of the spread of the virus are lower. Health staff involved in the treatment of coronavirus patients are at risk of being infected. According to Bidari, the committee home during lockdown concluded that if the lockdown has to be eased, it needs to be done in phases. Meanwhile, Vice Chancellor of A joint-secretary at the Ministry for Rapti Health and Science Academy Dr Industry, Commerce and Supplies said Sangeeta Bhandari said PPEs are pro- that the ministry will issue detailed vided to health workers whenever nec- guidelines to allow companies providing essary. “Even the senior doctors essential services and industrial estab- among us are using only masks while lishments to gradually resume activities. doing our rounds to check on Earlier on Tuesday, Minister for patients,” she said. “PPEs should not Industry, Commerce and Supplies be misused and we have provided the Lekh Raj Bhatta told reporters that equipment to those who absolutely restrictions and relaxations in vari- need it.” ous provinces would be based on the Bhandari said posting on social incidence of Covid-19. media about PPE shortage at the hos- During a virtual interaction with pital was unacceptable. “It is not reporters organised by the Society of becoming of health workers to Economic Journalists Nepal, Bhatta said demand PPEs even when it’s neces- that in the first phase, food industries sary, and taking to social media to that are directly related to people’s daily publicise it,” she said. “The Academy lives could be allowed. In the second and has five PPEs at the ready and they third phases, construction and can be used when necessary. But it’s export-oriented industries could be not a good practice to take to social POST PHOTO: AASH GURUNG allowed to resume operation respectively. media to post about PPEs.” The people’s representatives of all four local units in Manang had urged lawmakers to bring As the government has ordered She, however, denied that DC and home the stranded people. everyone to stay at home to tame the Shrestha were fired for their social virus, offices, schools and factories have media posts. AASH GURUNG Manang,” said Chalise. “As many as closed, and life has come to a halt, affect- They were relieved of their duty LAMJUNG, MAY 5 143 people entered the district on April ing Nepal’s fragile economy and push- POST FILE PHOTO after their contracts were over, she 26 alone.” ing millions of Nepalis out of work. Health personnel at the Rapti Academy of Health Sciences in Dang say they were denied claimed. Nearly 1,000 people have entered The people’s representatives of all The coronavirus is set to deliver a personal protective equipment while treating people suspected of having Covid-19. In another incident, the Dang Manang, a remote mountain district four local units in Manang had urged massive blow to Nepal’s economic District Court held an online hearing in Gandaki Province, amidst the lawmakers to bring back the stranded growth, bringing it down from targeted DURGALAL KC Soon, the hospital administration in a timber smuggling case after nationwide lockdown enforced by the residents of Manang. 8.5 percent to 2.27 percent this fiscal year, DANG, MAY 5 fired her, taking issue with her social the defendants could not undergo government to prevent the spread of “The villagers returned home with the lowest in the past four years, accord- media post. She was relieved of her medical tests as the staff at District Covid-19. the help of lawmakers,” said Mingma ing to the Central Bureau of Statistics. On March 20, a man who had recently job on April 13. “I was fired just Health Office refused to test them cit- Most families in Manang migrate to Chhiring Lama, the chairman of “We are discussing the management returned from India was admitted to because I complained about the lack ing lack of medical equipment includ- Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan and Narpabhumi Rural Municipality. of workers with trade unions to resume Rapti Health and Science Academy on of PPE,” DC told the Post. “I raised the ing PPEs. Besisahar of Lamjung in October- The local administrations in operation of factories,” said Bhatta. suspicion of Covid-19. Health workers issue for the security of health “The court had demanded coronavi- November every year to avoid the bit- Manang have set up health desks to “Besides, we plan to resume operations at the hospital were alarmed as they workers who are on the frontline in rus test reports of the defendants to ing cold, and return home in March. examine the health status of the in industries that have been classified had never been involved in the treat- the battle against Covid-19. But proceed with the hearing. But we This year, however, they could not incoming people. Deputy as sick on a public-private partnership ment of Covid-19 patients before. the hospital administration discour- could not get the defendants tested at return to their home district due to Superintendent of Police Mekha model through the upcoming budget, Soon, the number of suspected Covid- aged everyone who speaks for our the District Health Office,” Deepak the lockdown that has been in place Bahadur Kunwar said the newcomers which is due on May 29.” 19 cases at the hospital rose to five. security.” Gyawali, chief of Sunpur Forest Sub- since March 24. were allowed to enter the district only Bishnu Agrawal, senior vice-presi- Prakriti DC, a nurse employed at Dr Amrita Shrestha, who works at division Office, said. But since this is a crucial time for after having their health examined. dent of the Confederation of Nepalese the medical ward in the hospital, was the hospital’s emergency ward, was Sunita Poudel, chief of the health Manang residents to engage in agri- “We have asked them to stay in Industries, said that industries are suf- deployed to care for these patients. DC also fired because she also posted office, said the facility did not have cultural activities, federal parliament self-quarantine,” he said. Manang is fering, with zero income, and paying knew she had to wear PPE to secure about the lack of protective equip- PPE to test suspected Covid-19 members Polden Chhopang Gurung the smallest district in terms of popu- salaries has become a major concern. herself and asked the hospital admin- ment on Facebook. “When the admin- patients. and Karma Ghale made arrangements lation. According to the fresh census The hotel sector is already in the istration to provide the suit. But Dr istration didn’t take heed of my con- “We require WHO-certified PPEs to to bring the district’s residents back carried out after the implementation doldrums and all industries could face Basanta Lamichhane, dean at the hos- cern, I resorted using a public plat- test and treat the patients. We haven’t home from various cities during the of federalism in 2017, there are 5,904 similar problems if the lockdown is pital, told her that PPEs were not nec- form, and I was fired for doing that,” had any cases so far. But once the lockdown period. people living in Manang. extended, he said. essary at the moment. Shrestha said. cases start to emerge, we may not be “The lockdown was enforced at a To take a decision on lockdown, the “I hadn’t asked for a PPE while look- Even today, many health workers in ready to do our jobs without proper time when Manang locals return government is also taking into consid- ing after other patients, but taking Dang who are involved in the treat- protective gear,” Poudel said. home to work in their fields. We, there- eration how neighbouring India, with care of suspicious cases required me ment of Covid-19 patients or suspects Dhundiraj Poudel, a senior physi- fore, coordinated with the authorities which the country shares an around to use PPE to protect myself from con- are without protective equipment and cian, said that every health worker concerned to arrange for their return 1,800-km-long open border, is respond- tracting the disease and spreading it are at risk of catching the virus. dealing with a COvid-19 patient or a to the district during the lockdown,” ing. India said on Friday that it will further,” DC said. “The dean said PPE “Health workers should have been suspected patient should be provided said Gurung. extend its lockdown for another two shall be used only when there’s a cri- encouraged at a time like this, but with a reliable PPE. According to Sharada Chalise, weeks beyond May 4 but will allow sis situation and that at the moment instead we are being thrown under the “Many health workers around the assistant chief district officer of considerable relaxation in lower-risk we should make do with aprons and bus,” Shrestha said. “This is discour- world have been infected with the Manang, a total of 985 people from districts. India has marked some dis- masks.” aging for all health workers.” viral disease due to a lack of proper several local units in the district tricts as green and orange zones based A few days later, DC sent out a WHO has recommended not to use security measures, and that can hap- returned home in the past one and a on the incidence of cases. India has Facebook story stating that for health PPEs until they’re necessary to mini- pen here too,” Poudel said. “If the half months. been on lockdown since March 25. workers like her, looking after patients mise the risk of shortage, and hospital health workers themselves get infect- “555 people of Nisyang, 214 of India as of Tuesday evening report- suspected of Covid-19 without PPE is administrations are misinterpreting ed, then that would be a very danger- Narpabhumi, 178 of Chame and 26 of ed more than 46,000 positive cases and akin to soldiers going to war without this recommendation to deny the pro- ous situation, so everyone should be Nason have returned home since over 1,550 deaths. any weapon. “This is how things are tective equipment to even the physi- committed to providing security to March 15. We have been informed that Tika R Pradhan contributed reporting. in our Academy,” she wrote. cians and nurses, health workers say. health workers.” 12 other people are on their way to A deal might have been reached in the ruling party but suspicions ...

>> Continued from page 1 On Tuesday, 19 of the 20 Standing suspicions if the China factor had The offer was made at the April 29 Committee members who had worked. Secretariat meeting after Dahal, Nepal demanded a meeting in writing held Leaders, however, had dismissed and Khanal demanded Oli’s resigna- discussions to finalise the agenda and any Chinese role and attributed the tion. strategies for Thursday’s meeting. breakthrough largely to Oli’s “first-ev- Nepal did not respond to the offer. Chief whip Dev Gurung, a former er self-criticism” and his promise to After Saturday’s meeting, the equa- Maoist leader, however, was not pres- follow the party’s instructions while tion has suddenly changed in the ent in the meeting. running the government. nine-member Secretariat. Oli, who “The meeting dwelt on how we can A Standing Committee member was in the minority, now has a majori- present our issues in a unified man- who has close relations with ty, with Gautam switching sides and ner at Thursday’s meeting,” said a Nepal said that Oli had just Dahal cosying up to him, much to Standing Committee member who did pulled a trick on Saturday as almost Nepal’s chagrin. not wish to be identified. all the promises he made were verbal, A majority in the Secretariat with no guarantees if they will be ful- could have emboldened Oli again, say filled. insiders. “It’s in Oli’s character to make deals On Monday, Dahal, Nepal, Khanal Leaders dismissed and never implement them,” the mem- and Shrestha held a meeting at ber told the Post. Shrestha’s residence in Hattiban, any Chinese role But leaders close to Oli say that Lalitpur to discuss recent develop- there is no reason to doubt Oli’s com- ments and indications that Oli could and attributed the mitment. backtrack on his promises. “There’s no need for him to back- According to Birodh Khatiwada, a breakthrough to track. No other agreements have been Central Committee member reached except what the party spokes- who has close relations with Nepal, Oli’s self-criticism. person told the media,” Subas everyone knows how grave the prob- Nembang, a Standing Committee lem is within the party and that the member who has close relations with Standing Committee needs to take up When leaders reached a sudden deal Oli, told the Post. all the issues that are plaguing the on Saturday, some sceptics had After Saturday’s Secretariat meet- party. described it as a “temporary truce”, ing, Spokesperson Shrestha had said “The Standing Committee should which had been achieved largely due ‘all the leaders have decided to move come up with concrete guidelines for to Gautam’s decision to desert the ahead in a unified way’. government-party relations,” camp and Dahal’s move to side with “There’s no alternative to imple- Khatiwada told the Post. “All Oli. menting the conclusions of Saturday’s issues should be discussed at the The deal had also been reached Secretariat meeting,” Shrestha told Standing Committee and sorted out if on the heels of a series of meetings the Post. “I believe they will be imple- we want to avoid a similar crisis in the by Chinese envoy Hou Yanqi with mented and doing so will be in the future.” Oli, Dahal and Nepal, giving rise to favour of the party.”

C M Y K WEDNESDAY, MAY 06, 2020 | 06 MONEY

FOREX Qantas secures more US Dollar 121.31 Shoes and garment makers ponder next Euro 131.61 funding to wait out Pound Sterling 150.90 coronavirus crisis Japanese Yen 11.36 move after lockdown cuts off revenue Chinese Yuan 17.18 REUTERS There are 1,500 footwear factories in Nepal which provide 50,000 jobs. SYDNEY/BENGALURU, MAY 5 Qatari Riyal 33.32

Australian Dollar 78.04 KRISHANA PRASAIN lion pieces, and a total investment of Qantas Airways Ltd said on Tuesday KATHMANDU, MAY 5 Rs6 billion. it had secured enough funding to last Malaysian Ringit 28.17 The association has asked the gov- it through the end of next year, boost- The Nepali footwear industry faces ernment to contribute 50 percent of ing its shares, as it reviews its fleet Saudi Arab Riyal 32.31 the second month of the virus lock- the salaries of the workers for the with the expectation that most inter- Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank down with empty coffers and payday month of Baisakh. It has 54-55 gar- national travel could take years to looming ahead. ment factories as its members. rebound. The coronavirus has come as anoth- Basant Kumar Maharjan, managing The Australian carrier secured PRICE PER TOLA er blow to the country’s shoemakers— director of Nitya Traditional Tex, said A$550 million ($352.99 million) against BULLION already struggling in a market his factory located in Lubhu was oper- three of its Boeing Co 787-9 aircraft half of which is dominated by ating at 20-25 percent of capacity and said it could raise another A$2.7 Fine Gold Rs 77,000 imports—as the economic standstill using workers residing nearby. billion from other aircraft assets if cuts off revenue while expenditures He has finished garments worth needed. It also said it would reduce its Silver Rs 720 continue to mount. Rs15-20 million piled up in his cash burn rate to A$40 million a week Krishna Kumar Phuyal, president warehouse which he can’t export or by the end of June. SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA of the Footwear Manufacturers sell domestically because of the virus “This means we are very well placed Association of Nepal, said the foot- closure. to ride this out and to take part in the wear industry was racking up losses He is running low on the raw mate- recovery when it arrives,” Qantas GASOLINE WATCH of Rs30-40 million daily as production rials imported from India; and after Chief Executive Alan Joyce told and sales have ground to a halt. they are gone, he will have to shut reporters. “Because Australia has flat- According to the association, most down production, he says. tened the curve there is some hope of Nepal’s imports of sports and leath- POST FILE PHOTO Maharjan had a monthly turnover travel demand will come back faster er shoes come from China. The coun- A file photo shows workers producing sandals at a factory in Biratnagar. of Rs1 million, but sales were down to than expected,” he said, referring to a try’s footwear requirement amounts zero in the last two months. He owes plateau in the COVID-19 infection rate. to 80 million pairs annually, half of “There are chances of footwear rials from China which stopped arriv- Rs6-7 million to his bank, and has Qantas shares climbed as much as which is fulfilled by domestic manu- companies running short of capital, ing right before Chinese New Year. administrative operating expenses. “I 5.6 percent during trading after the facturers. There are 1,500 large and so banks and financial institutions He said the company had paid the am in trouble. I don’t know how to market update. small shoes factories in the country should provide financial relief, and salaries of employees having a bank manage all the costs with no busi- Australia has recorded around 6,800 which provide 50,000 jobs, said the the government should come with account in full, but those who have ness,” he said. infections and 96 deaths from COVID- association. some provision towards this end,” returned to their home towns have not Maharjan paid the salaries for 19 and has maintained low single-digit “I have been informed that most of he said. received their pay. Shikhar Shoes has Chaitra in full to employees who came daily rises in new cases for weeks, them have paid the staff salaries for Phuyal added that they had 250 employees. to work regularly. Those who were not leading to a loosening of social dis- March. The industry is facing a man- no plans to restart production any- The readymade garment industry able to come to work received half of tancing restrictions in some states power crisis as it is, and we cannot let time soon with cases of infection sur- too is reeling from the virus lockdown, their pay. and hopes for a domestic tourism the workers down,” he said. “We are facing daily. “What’s the point in mak- industry insiders say. The major markets for Nepali revival this year. holding talks with the government ing shoes when the market is all According to Chandi Prasad Aryal, readymade garments are Canada, Qantas has cancelled most domestic and different umbrella organisations closed?” president of the Garment Association Europe, Australia and India flights until the end of June and inter- about the payment of salaries Ram Krishna Prasain, managing of Nepal, the lockdown has resulted in which accounted for 90 percent of all national flights until the end of July. for April.” director of Shikhar Shoes, said the a loss of Rs1.25 billion, and garment shipments. A full recovery in international Phuyal said it would be six-seven company had suffered a loss of Rs15- manufacturers are in no position to Following the Covid-19 outbreak in travel, with the possible exception of months before the industry gets 20 million following the lockdown. pay their employees. these markets, Nepali manufacturers New Zealand, could take years, back to its old self even after the pan- Prasain said they were already Nepal’s apparel industry has an face an uncertain future as postponed Joyce said, sparking a review of the demic stops. encountering a shortage of raw mate- annual production capacity of 6-7 mil- or cancelled orders are expected. airline’s fleet. Apple borrows on the cheap to fund buybacks, dividends

REUTERS NEW YORK, MAY 5 The US Federal Apple Inc on Monday capitalised on Reserve slashed the Federal Reserve’s emergency measures in response to the coronavi- interest rates rus outbreak to issue its cheapest bonds in years, making it the latest to almost zero blue-chip company to do so to fund stock buybacks and dividends. in March. Apple’s offering illustrates how companies with the best credit ratings are boosting shareholder 28, Apple spent $38.5 billion to repur- returns by tapping cheap debt made chase its own stock. The Fed slashed available through the Fed’s backstop- interest rates to almost zero in March ping of the credit markets. Apple and said it would act as buyer of last shares are virtually flat year-to-date, resort in the investment-grade corpo- compared with a 12 percent drop in rate bond market, in a bid to help the S&P 500 Index. cash-strapped companies access capi- The technology company raised $8.5 tal markets roiled by the economic billion by selling four different bonds fallout from the pandemic. with maturities ranging from three While the Federal Reserve has yet to years to 30 years. It sold a $2 billion buy a single corporate bond, the inter- three-year bond and a five-year $2.25 vention has fueled record issuance by billion with coupons of 0.75 percent companies in need of funding, such as and 1.125 percent respectively, the low- Boeing Co, Marriott International Inc est rates the company has paid on and Ford Motor Co. bonds with such durations since 2013, The policy has also allowed finan- according to Refinitiv IFR data. cially strong companies such as The coupons on Apple’s 10-year and Apple, which had just over $40 billion 30-year bonds were also the lowest the in cash as of the end of March, to company has paid in the past years, reduce its cost of capital to the benefit according to the Refinitiv data. of shareholders. The funds will go toward general In the past week, drugmaker Biogen corporate purposes, including share Inc and US health insurer Anthem Inc repurchases and dividend payments, have also sold new bonds at low rates, POST PHOTO: KABIN ADHIKARI Apple said in a regulatory filing. which the companies said were partly Farmers are seen harvesting wheat in Tarkeshwor Municipality, Kathmandu. During the six months ended March to fund share buybacks. Oil prices extend gains Top German court to hear first ‘dieselgate’ case

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE for the federal court to accept the dam- on demand hopes as KARLSRUHE (GERMANY), MAY 5 ages claim,” VW said in a statement, reiterating that Gilbert had “full use” Herbert Gilbert is just one of tens of of the car throughout. lockdowns ease thousands of drivers who have sued Gilbert’s lawyers argue that VW Volkswagen for cheating emissions “deliberately harmed” their client, REUTERS to $43 per barrel and $55/bbl by tests, but he will make legal history and expect the court to deliver a “key LONDON, MAY 5 mid-2021. Tuesday when his “dieselgate” case ruling” that will have bearing on other “The outlook for this and next year becomes the first to reach Germany’s “dieselgate” cases snaking their way Oil prices jumped again on is turning brighter: demand should be top court. through German courts. Tuesday on hopes for a recovery supported by a recovering global econ- Judges at the Federal Court of The individual complaints are sepa- in vehicle traffic and fuel demand omy,” UBS commodities analyst Justice in Karlsruhe will not immedi- rate from a massive US-style class as some European and Asian coun- Giovanni Staunovo said. ately deliver a ruling on Gilbert’s action suit that Volkswagen settled in tries along with several US states Reflecting hopes that the oil indus- demand for compensation. Germany last week. began to ease coronavirus lockdown try may have passed the worst of coro- But they are expected to give a hint The out-of-court settlement brought measures. navirus-induced lockdowns, hedge of which way they are leaning—in an end to Germany’s biggest ever law- West Texas Intermediate (WTI) funds and money managers were what could have major repercussions suit after VW agreed to pay around 750 crude CLc1 futures were up 11.2 per- buyers of petroleum derivatives for a for the barrage of other cases against million euros in compensation to cent, or $2.29, at $22.68 per barrel 1215 fifth straight week in the week ended the German carmaker. some 235,000 customers, or between GMT. The US benchmark has closed April 28. The saga started in 2015 when 1,350 and 6,250 euros per car. higher for the last four sessions. Morgan Stanley said the peak of Volkswagen was forced to admit it had But it’s a modest amount compared Brent crude LCOc1 futures were up oversupply in global markets had like- installed “defeat devices” in 11 million with the much larger payouts drivers 7.2 percent, or $1.97, at $29.17. ly been reached and a storage crunch diesel engines worldwide designed REUTERS in the United States have received. Italy, Spain, Nigeria and India, was abating. to dupe lab tests and make the A file photo shows VW cars being loaded in a delivery tower at the plant of German carmaker Overall, the dieselgate scandal has together with Ohio and other US “Inventories have built but not cars seem less polluting than they Volkswagen in Wolfsburg, Germany. cost the VW group—which includes states, began allowing some quite a strongly as feared: With really were. the Porsche, Audi and Skoda brands— people to go back to work and opened social distancing measures ramped One of the cars equipped with the Accusing Volkswagen of deliberate- roughly 68,000 individual cases still more than 30 billion euros in fines, up construction sites, parks and up in March ... the observed rigging software belonged to Gilbert, a ly deceiving him, he wants to return pending. Gilbert first filed his com- buybacks and compensation. libraries. inventory increases have not been life-long Volkswagen customer. the car and be paid back for the full plaint in 2017 with the district court in The group remains entangled in a Vehicle traffic in most of the United quite as strong as feared,” it said “I was shocked and very disappoint- purchase price. Bad Kreuznach, near the western city web of legal woes. States, including those yet to lift shel- in a note. ed when VW wrote to me to tell Volkswagen rejects his claim, say- of Mainz. Investors in Germany have joined ter-in-place orders, has also rebound- Still, global oil demand and prices me my car was affected,” the 65-year- ing he suffered no economic damage The court rejected his claim, forces to demand billions of euros in ed, RBC Capital Markets research said suffered historic losses in April and old told reporters in an online press from the scam and was able to but Gilbert won on appeal with compensation over VW’s steep share in a note. recovery is likely to be slow with air conference organised by his lawyers keep driving his car. The cheating judges ordering VW to take back the price plunge in the days after the scan- Swiss bank UBS said the easing traffic not expected to rebound any last week. function was removed in a mandatory car and refund the plaintiff to the dal became public knowledge. of restrictions would help lead time soon. Gilbert had bought a used software update. tune of 25,616 euros—less than Gilbert Investigations and court cases to a balance in supply and demand Australian national carrier Qantas Volkswagen Sharan from a dealership The judges are expected to publish had sought. against several top VW figures, includ- for the oil market in the third Airways’ Chief Executive Alan Joyce in 2014 for 31,490 euros ($34,370), which their opinion on key points in the case Both VW and Gilbert appealed the ing present boss Herbert Diess and quarter and even projected an said on Tuesday that “international he said he chose specifically because on Tuesday. judgement, pushing the case up to former chief executives Martin undersupply by the fourth, forecast- travel demand could take years to of its alleged environmentally friend- Their verdict will follow at a later Germany’s highest civil court. Winterkorn and Matthias Mueller, ing an end-2020 recovery of Brent return to what it was.” ly credentials. time and will set a precedent for the “In our view, the hurdles are high also remain open.

C M Y K 07 | WEDNESDAY, MAY 06, 2020 WORLD Britain becomes Europe’s virus epicentre; Delhi imposes 70 China marks third week of no new deaths percent ‘corona tax’ on British government hopes to roll out safety app across the country later this month. alcohol to deter crowds ASSOCIATED PRESS region have also suppressed their out- LONDON, MAY 5 breaks, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Australia and Britain on Tuesday became the first New Zealand, which has had zero new country in Europe to confirm more cases for two days. than 30,000 coronavirus deaths, and But experts say India, a nation of infections rose sharply again in 1.3 billion people, has yet to see the Russia, even as other nations made peak of its outbreak. great strides in taming the virus, and In Britain, which unlike other China marked its third week with no European nations remains in lock- new virus deaths. down, a trial began on Tuesday of a In the US, some states began halting mobile phone app that authorities steps to lift the lockdown restrictions hope will help contain the outbreak. being blamed for throwing millions The app, which warns people out of work and upending the global if they have been near an infected economy even as thousands of new US individual, is being tested on the Isle infections and deaths were being of Wight, off England’s south reported daily. coast. The government hopes it can be Britain looks set to surpass Italy as rolled out across the country later REUTERS Europe’s hardest-hit nation. The gov- this month. A police officer tries to control the crowds outside a wine store during an extended ernment says 28,734 people with The British government’s chief sci- nationwide lockdown to slow down the spread of the coronavirus, in New Delhi, on Monday. Covid-19 had died in UK hospitals, entific adviser, Patrick Vallance, nursing homes and other settings acknowledged o Tuesday that “if we’d REUTERS violated social distancing measures to while Italy has reported 29,079 fatali- managed to ramp up testing NEW DELHI, MAY 5 queue up in their hundreds for alco- ties. Tallies from both nations are capacity quicker it would have been hol, also hiked prices. likely to be underestimates because beneficial.” Officials in India’s capital imposed a The increases come as India report- they only include people who tested AP/RSS Governments around the world special tax of 70 percent on retail liq- ed 3,900 new infections on Tuesday for positive and testing was not wide- A woman wearing a mask looks out of the window of a bus in London, on Monday. have reported 3.5 million infections uor purchases from Tuesday, to deter its highest single day rise, taking the spread in Italian and British nursing and more than 251,000 deaths, large gatherings at stores as authori- tally to 46,432. The death toll stood at homes until recently. including nearly 69,000 deaths in the ties ease a six-week lockdown imposed 1,568, the health ministry said. Yet official UK statistics released on WHO urges countries to investigate early Covid-19 cases United States. to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Health experts said the daily Tuesday that take into account people Deliberately concealed outbreaks, Taxes on alcohol are a key contribu- increase shows India remains at risk who died with suspected Covid-19 give REUTERS better understand the potential virus low testing rates and the severe tor to the revenue of many of India’s despite a severe lockdown that has a fuller picture and put Britain’s coro- GENEVA, MAY 5 circulation of Covid-19,” he added, strain the disease has placed on health 36 states and federal territories, confined its population of 1.3 billion navirus toll at more than 30,000 dead. saying other possible earlier cases care systems mean the true scale most of which are running short of to their homes since late March, with The statistics, which cover up to The World Health Organization said could emerge after retesting samples. of the pandemic is undoubtedly funds because of the lengthy disrup- all public transport halted and eco- April 24, show that deaths were a third on Tuesday that a report that Covid-19 A French hospital which has retest- much greater. tion in economic activity caused by nomic activity nearly frozen. higher than in the government had emerged in December in France, ed old samples from pneumonia With pressure growing in many the virus. “The curve has not shown a down- count. A comparable figure for Italy sooner than previously thought, was patients discovered that it treated a countries for more measures to restart Police baton-charged hundreds of ward trend. That is cause for con- was not available. “not surprising”, and urged countries man who had Covid-19 as early as the economy, politicians were trying people who had flocked to liquor shops cern,” said Dr Randeep Guleria, direc- In Russia, the number of infections to investigate any other early suspi- December 27, nearly a month before to boost funding for research into a when they opened on Monday for the tor of New Delhi’s premier All-India rose sharply again, with Moscow cious cases. the French government confirmed its vaccine for Covid-19. There are hopes first time in a relaxation of the world’s Institute of Medical Sciences. reporting more than 10,000 new cases The disease later identified as first cases. Lindmeier encouraged one could be available in months, but biggest lockdown, which is set to run India’s average daily increase in for three days in a row. Covid-19 was first reported by Chinese other countries to check records for many scientists warn it could take until May 17. cases has been 6.1 over the past At the same time, many European authorities to the WHO on 31 pneumonia cases of unspecified ori- much longer. The Delhi state government week, behind Russia and Brazil but countries that have relaxed strict December and was not previously gin in late 2019, saying this would give Developing a vaccine will be the key announced the “special corona fee” in higher than Britain, the United States lockdowns after new infections believed to have spread to Europe the world a “new and clearer picture” to returning to less restricted a public notice late on Monday. and Italy. tapered off were watching their virus until January. “This gives a whole new of the outbreak. everyday life. An alliance of world “It was unfortunate that chaos was The biggest spikes were recorded in numbers warily. picture on everything,” WHO spokes- Asked about the origins of the virus leaders on Monday pledged to give 7.4 seen at some shops in Delhi,” the western states of Maharashtra, Widely seen as a success story, man Christian Lindmeier told a UN in China, Lindmeier stressed that it billion euros ($8 billion) for the said Arvind Kejriwal, the state’s home to India’s commercial capital of South Korea reported only three new briefing in Geneva, referring to the was “really, really important” to effort, but the US and Russia were chief minister. Mumbai, and Gujarat as well as Delhi. cases of the virus, its lowest total French reports. “The findings help to explore this. notably absent. “If we come to know about viola- These densely populated urban cen- since February 18. Schools will The money raised will be chan- tions of social distancing and other tres drive India’s economy, powered by be reopened in phased steps, starting nelled mostly through recognised norms from any area, then we will armies of migrant workers. with high school seniors on May 13, since any new deaths have been firmed, and fewer than 400 patients global health organisations. French have to seal the area and revoke the Government officials said the lock- but the highlight Tuesday was the reported in the country where the are still being treated for Covid-19, President Emmanuel Macron said he relaxations there,” he added. down had helped avert a surge of baseball season. pandemic began late last year. Just health officials said. was convinced the US would at some Other states, such as southern infections that could have over- In China, it has been three weeks one new case of infection was con- Other places in the Asia-Pacific point join the initiative. Andhra Pradesh, where people also whelmed medical services, however.

BRIEFING Ireland sees crisis in Brexit

Venezuela detains US citizens allegedly involved in incursion talks if no progress soon CARACAS: Venezuelan authorities have REUTERS point of view is very, very serious,” detained two US citizens working DUBLIN, MAY 5 Coveney said. with a US military veteran who has The end of June also marks the claimed responsibility for a failed Trade talks between Britain and the deadline for the two sides to extend armed incursion into the oil produc- European Union will hit a crisis point negotiations beyond the end of the ing country, President Nicolas unless there is progress the coming year, something Britain has ruled out. Maduro said on Monday. In a state tel- weeks, Irish Foreign Minister Simon A hard Brexit without a new trade evision address, Maduro said authori- Coveney warned on Tuesday. deal in place is “a distinct possibility,” ties arrested 13 “terrorists” on But he said the EU side would not acting Irish Prime Minister Leo Monday allegedly involved in a plot back down on its insistence that pro- Varadkar, who is in talks with rivals he said was coordinated with gress is made on fisheries and lev- about forming a new government, said Washington to enter the South el-playing-field provisions in parallel last week. American country via the Caribbean to trade talks. If Britain sticks to its refusal to coast and oust him. Eight people were Coveney was speaking after con- extend, talks would need to be con- killed during the foiled incursion sulting with chief EU negotiator cluded by early November to allow attempt on Sunday, Venezuelan Michel Barnier ahead of EU-British time for ratification, Coveney said. authorities said. Maduro showed talks next Monday—one of two rounds When talks resume next week, the what he said were the US passports remaining before the European Union EU will continue to insist on progress and other identification cards belong- makes an assessment of progress in on its priorities of fisheries and lev- ing to Airan Berry and Luke early July. el-playing-field provisions, including Denman, who he said were in custody The EU’s tortuous Brexit talks with in areas such as tax and state aid, in and had been working with Jordan Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s gov- parallel to trade talks, Coveney said. Goudreau, an American military vet- ernment were renewed in late April, “The UK seems to want to simply eran who leads a Florida-based secu- but quickly hit snags, according to pick the areas where they want to deal rity company called Silvercorp USA. diplomats and officials in Brussels. early and solely focus on those,” he “The truth is that progress has said. “The EU has made it very clear not been good,” Coveney told RTE that that is not an approach that they Germany issues arrest warrant radio. “The necessary progress really can work with.” for Russian suspect in hack isn’t there.” Britain, which is pushing for a basic BERLIN: German federal prosecutors “Unless there is significant pro- free trade agreement, says the EU is issued an arrest warrant for an indi- gress in those negotiating rounds then making demands not sought from vidual they suspected of hacking into I think we are going to reach yet other trading partners. It says it won’t the German parliament’s computer another crisis point in the Brexit accept measures that would tie it to AP/RSS systems in 2015 on behalf of Russia’s negotiations, which from the Irish European standards. Three goslings walk at the banks of the river Mainin Frankfurt, Germany, on Tuesday. GRU intelligence service, the Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported on Tuesday. The newspaper reported that their suspect was Dmitry Badin, who is also sought by United States authorities for hack attacks including Billions projected to suffer nearly unlivable heat in 2070 the theft of e-mails from Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party in the run-up to the 2016 Presidential ASSOCIATED PRESS people will live in extremely hot areas. it gets. The scientists looked at places election. Without giving a source, the KENSINGTON, MAY 5 That’s a third of the projected 2070 projected to get uncomfortably and newspaper said that investigators population. considerably hotter than the sweet were “certain” that Badin, 29, was In just 50 years, 2 billion to 3.5 billion But even scenarios considered more spot and calculated at least 2 billion also involved in the April 2015 people, mostly the poor who can’t likely and less severe project that in 50 people will be living in those condi- hack attack on Germany’s Bundestag afford air conditioning, will be living years a couple of billion people will be tions by 2070. parliament. in a climate that historically has been living in places too hot without air Currently about 20 million people too hot to handle, a new study said. conditioning, the study said. live in places with an annual average With every 1.8 degree (1 degree “It’s a huge amount and it’s a short- temperature greater than 84 degrees— Afghanistan distributes Celsius) increase in global average time. This is why we’re worried,’’ said far beyond the temperature sweet annual temperature from man-made Cornell University climate scientist spot. That area is less than 1 percent free bread climate change, about a billion or so Natalie Mahowald, who wasn’t part of of the Earth’s land, and it is mostly KABUL: Afghanistan’s government people will end up in areas too warm the study. She and other outside scien- near the Sahara Desert and includes began distributing free bread to hun- day-in, day-out to be habitable without tists said the new study makes sense Mecca, Saudi Arabia. dreds of thousands of people across cooling technology, according to ecolo- and conveys the urgency of the man- But as the world gets more crowded the country this week as supplies gist Marten Scheffer of Wageningen made climate change differently than and warmer, the study concluded have been disrupted during the coro- University in the Netherlands, co-au- past research. large swaths of Africa, Asia, South navirus shutdown and prices have thor of the study. In an unusual way to look at climate America and Australia will likely be soared, officials and experts said. How many people will end up at change, a team of international scien- in this same temperature range. Well More than 250,000 families in the cap- risk depends on how much heat-trap- tists studied humans like they do over 1 billion people, and up to 3.5 bil- ital Kabul started receiving ten flat ping carbon dioxide emissions are bears, birds and bees to find the “cli- lion people, will be affected depending ‘Naan’ breads per day in the first reduced and how fast the world popu- mate niche” where people and civiliza- on the climate altering choices phase of the project. President Ghani lation grows. tions flourish. They looked back 6,000 humanity makes over the next half has said the bread distribution pro- Under the worst-case scenarios for years to come up with a sweet spot of century, according to lead author Chi gramme was also taking place in population growth and for carbon pol- temperatures for humanity: Average Xu of Nanjing University in China. other cities as rising prices were hit- AP/RSS lution—which many climate scien- annual temperatures between 52 and With enough money, “you can actu- ting what is already one of the poor- In this 2015 photo, water is sprayed over Muslim pilgrims to cool them down during the tists say is looking less likely these 59 degrees (11 to 15 degrees Celsius). ally live on the moon,” Scheffer said. est countries in the world, with more afternoon heat as they walk outside the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. days—the study in Monday’s journal We can—and do—live in warmer But these projections are “unlivable than half of the population living A new study released on Monday, says 2 to 3.5 billion people in 50 years will be living in a Proceedings of the National Academy and colder places than that, but the for the ordinary, for poor people, for below the poverty line. (AGENCIES) climate that historically has proven just too hot to handle. of Sciences predicts about 3.5 billion farther from the sweet spot, the harder the average world citizen.”

C M Y K WEDNESDAY, MAY 06, 2020 | 08 (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053

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