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

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXIX No. 92 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 33.2 C 10.0 C Friday, May 21, 2021 | 07-02-2078 Dharan Jomsom With President’s complicity, Oli hammers another nail in the coffin of the constitution Bhandari’s call to form a new government in less than 24 hours at the request of the incumbent one bypassing the due parliamentary process is unconstitutional, experts and political parties say.

ANIL GIRI the government, not on the govern- KATHMANDU, MAY 20 ment itself, according to them. Article 76 (5) is invoked only when Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on the prime minister elected under Thursday recommended that Article 76 (3) fails the confidence vote President Bidya Devi Bhandari initi- in the House. ate a process to appoint a new prime Article 76 (5) says in cases where the minister. President Bhandari prompt- prime minister appointed under ly obliged. Article 76 (3) fails to obtain a vote of Experts on constitutional matters confidence and any member presents were quick to point out that in doing a ground on which he or she can so, both the implementer and the pro- obtain a vote of confidence in the tector of the constitution shredded the House, the President shall appoint top law of the country apart. such member as prime minister. Oli’s vote of confidence is pending Article 76 (5), in essence, is an exten- in Parliament and he has not resigned. sion of Article 76 (2). “The prime minister has no right to Article 76 (2) says in cases where no recommend a new process to form a party has a clear majority in the new government,” said Bhimarjun House, the President shall appoint as Acharya, an advocate who specialises prime minister a member of the on constitutional law. House who can command majority “Government formation is a pro- with the support of two or more par- cess which is Parliament’s preroga- Post file Photo ties in the House. tive, not something which a Cabinet In this April 2 photo, President Bhandari inaugurates Melamchi Dhara at Bhrikutimandap, Adhikari, the law professor, called decides,” said Bipin Adhikari, former Kathmandu while Prime Minister Oli applauds. On Thursday, Bhandari initiated the process to the government recommendation to dean of the Kathmandu University appoint new prime minister as per Article 76 (5) of the constitution on Oli’s recommendation. pave the way for the formation of a School of Law. new government flawed, prima facie. Following his reappointment on the constitutional route and gone for a decision meant it was not going to “The recommendation does not con- May 13, after losing a trust vote in the floor test or resigned. support Oli in his confidence vote. form to norms of the parliamentary House on May 10, Oli is constitutional- “There are only two ways to pave That would have led to the fall of the system. The prime minister should ly bound to prove in the House within the way for the formation of a new Oli government, thereby prompting resign to complete the course before 30 days—by June 14—that he has the government—he fails the confidence the President to invoke Article 76 (5). recommending the government for- confidence of the House. vote or resigns,” said Acharya. “It is The decision to recommend that the mation under any other article of the After his trust motion failed in out and out unconstitutional to President invoke Article 76 (5) was constitution,” Adhikari told the Post. Parliament on May 10, President request the President to call on the taken by Thursday’s Cabinet meeting. “The government cannot make a Bhandari had given the political par- parties to form a new government According to a minister, the prime request to the President to skip any ties until 9pm of May 13 to form a new when there is a legitimate govern- minister intimated that he would pave step without completing the due con- government as per Article 76 (2). But ment in place.” the way for the formation of a new stitutional process.” the parties failed. President Bhadndari Oli’s request to President Bhandari government under Article 76 (5). Oli’s intentions, however, appear to then appointed Oli prime minister as to pave the way for the formation of a Experts say Oli overrode the consti- be clear. He is bent on getting the per Article 76 (3) as the leader of the new government comes on the heels of tutional process by asking the House dissolved so that he could justi- party with the highest number of the Janata Samajbadi Party’s decision President to invoke Article 76 (5). It’s fy his December last year’s decision to Post photo: Angad Dhakal members in the House. that it would rather seek to form a gov- incumbent upon the President to go for fresh elections. A child tries his hand at reaping wheat at Jhaukhel in Changunarayan Municipality, Bhaktapur. Experts say Oli should have taken ernment under its own leadership. The invoke any article on the formation of >> Continued on page 2

Inside Dhulikhel Hospital Covid-19 patients reluctant to stay in isolation facilities under strain as virus BAITADI: As many as 17 people who had been staying at an isolation cen- tre set up at a school building in Sigas Rural Municipality-7, Baitadi cases spike in villages fled the facility on Saturday. Three of them were Covid-19 infected while the other 14 were suspects. People’s rep- The hospital is dealing with more Covid-19 patients from resentatives, health workers and security personnel are searching for nearby districts lately, as experts warn of a catastrophe. those who left the facility. Similarly, 11 Covid-19-infected people ran away from another isolation centre estab- lished at Jagannath Multiple Campus in Dasharathchand, the district head- quarters of Baitadi, on Friday. They were later found and brought back to the centre. (Details on Pg 2)

Ban on food delivery business hits jobs KATHMANDU: Meal delivery service Foodmandu receives a hundred calls a day even though they closed from the first day of the lockdown. Company founder Manohar Adhikari said they were forced to suspend ser- vices as the government has not allowed home delivery of cooked food. Araniko Rajbhandari, president P Ost photo: Angad Dhakal Covid-19 patients wait outside at Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital in of the Restaurant and Bar Kathmandu on Wednesday. According to doctors, pressure eased on Thursday as the hospital Association of Nepal, said almost all had a few beds available. its member establishments had shut down totally. “Except for a very few ANUP OJHA about what if the virus has transmit- providing takeaway and home deliv- KATHMANDU, MAY 20 ted to other family members,” said ery, most major restaurants and cafes Lama. are shuttered,” he said. (Details on Pg 5) Shankar Lama’s pregnant daughter When the prohibitory orders were returned to her father’s home in announced two days before they came Deadly ‘black fungus’ surges Panchpokhari Rural Municipality, into effect, a lot of people working and Sindhupalchok the day before prohib- studying in Kathmandu left for their among Covid-19 patients itory orders were enforced in the villages. Many people working and New Delhi: Special hospital wards will Kathmandu Valley on April 29. studying in the Capital also returned be set up in India’s capital to fight But days later she had a dry cough, to Lama’s village. ‘black fungus’, officials said on fever, and breathing difficulties--all “There are many villagers who have Thursday as the life-threatening symptoms of Covid-19. Lama rushed similar symptoms as my daughter but infection surged among Covid-19 her to the nearby health post. Health they do not go for a check-up until patients. A rare disease in normal workers there advised him to take her they become severe,” said Lama. times, authorities say thousands have to Dhulikhel Hospital as she was also Besides Kavrepalanchok, Covid-19 developed Mucormycosis—or black pregnant. patients from nearby districts like fungus—across India as it battles a Pregnant women have lower immu- Sindhupalchok, Ramechhap, Dolakha, Covid-19 wave that has killed over nity and if infected they are more at Sindhuli and even as far as Mahottari 100,000 in the past month. Doctors say risk, according to doctors and interna- also come to the hospital, according to the high use of steroids to combat the tional studies. Biraj Karmacharya, chief of the coronavirus has caused the black fun- At the hospital she tested positive Department of Community Programs gus explosion. (Details on Pg 6) for the virus. She was admitted to the at Dhulikhel Hospital, a Kathmandu intensive care unit at Dhulikhel University Hospital. Hospital where she spent a week. Ramesh Shrestha brought his sis- “Now her condition has much ter-in-law from Bhimeshwar improved and her test result has Municipality in Dolakha and she also come negative,” the 61-year- spent 15 days at the hospital. She was old father told the Post over the discharged on Wednesday. phone Thursday afternoon. “Luckily, we saved her,” said “Maybe this evening she will get Shrestha. “She would not have sur- discharged.” vived if we had not taken her there.” But his worries are not over. She was taken to hospital after she His wife, son and daughter-in- had breathing difficulties and was law also live with him. given oxygen therapy at the intensive “Till now nothing has hap- care unit. pened to us but I am really scared >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021 | 02 National Covid-19 patients reluctant to stay in isolation facilities There are multiple reports of people fleeing various isolation and quarantine centres in Baitadi district, putting communities at risk of a local transmission of the virus. TRIPTI SHAHI stay in isolation facilities or run away “I left the facility because I don’t BAITADI, MAY 20 from one. have any symptoms and health com- “We have a tough time convincing plications. Why should I stay here? I As many as 17 people who had been the infected people to stay in isolation would rather self-isolate at home,” he staying at an isolation centre set up at centres. Some have agreed to stay in said. a school building in Sigas Rural one only after receiving counselling According to the District Health Municipality-7, Baitadi fled the facili- from health workers and security per- Office, around 700 infected people in ty on Saturday. Three of them were sonnel. The infected people, mainly Baitadi are currently staying in home Covid-19 infected while the other 14 the asymptomatic ones, run away isolation. were suspects. from isolation centres claiming good Health officials say that the district People’s representatives, health health,” said Hemanta Singh Saud, is at high risk of community trans- workers and security personnel are in-charge of Dhungad Health Post in mission of Covid-19 due to unman- searching for those who left the Sigas-5. aged home isolation. facility. “Some of the infected are walking “More than 90 percent of the infect- Similarly, 11 Covid-19-infected peo- freely in the villages. It is so difficult ed people in Baitadi share a common ple ran away from another isolation to make people understand the impor- toilet with other family members. It is centre established at Jagannath tance of isolation and maintaining almost impossible to follow health Multiple Campus in Dasharathchand, physical distance,” he said. safety protocols in the rural areas the district headquarters of Baitadi, All 10 local units in Baitadi have set where people stay in large families,” POST PHOTO: KESHAV THAPA on Friday. They were later found and up isolation and quarantine facilities, said Dr Basanta Raj Joshi, chief at the A woman feeds monkeys at Swayambhu, Kathmandu on Thursday. brought back to the centre. as the district sees a rise in Covid-19 district hospital in Baitadi. “Covid-19 There are multiple reports of peo- cases during the second wave of the is spreading rapidly in ple fleeing various isolation and quar- pandemic. According to Yogesh Prasad Dasharathchand, Patan, Melauli, antine centres in Baitadi, putting the Bhatta, chief at the District Health Pancheshwor and Dogadakedar local communities at risk of a local trans- Office in Baitadi, there are a total 338 units of the district mainly due to mission of the virus. isolation beds across the district. unmanaged home isolation.” With President’s complicity, Oli hammers ... Covid-19 cases are on the rise in The health authority and the local Meanwhile, the district administra- Baitadi, a hill district of Sudurpaschim units say they have been running tion claimed that it has started moni- >> Continued from page 1 laid down by Article 76 (6). Devkota, who was backed by Oli’s Province that borders India. The dis- well-managed isolation facilities with toring the patients who are staying in In what constitutional experts had Failure to do so would lead to invo- nemesis Madhav Kumar Nepal. trict has reported 867 active cases. provisions for meals and proper bed- home isolation. “We started visiting called a fraud committed on the con- cation of Article 76 (7), which says in Analysts say the turn of events in According to the District Health dings, but they have still failed to the homes of the infected people to see stitution, Oli on December 20 had sud- cases where the prime minister the day also prompted Oli to take such Office, 158 of the infected are staying convince people to stay in the facilities. if they are meeting the health proto- denly dissolved the House and called appointed under Article 76 (5) fails to an erratic decision of recommending in isolation centres while the remain- One of the Covid-19 infected cols during the isolation period,” said snap polls for April 30 and May 10. The obtain a vote of confidence or the a new process to form a new govern- ing are in home isolation. patients who left the isolation centre Chief District Officer Rajendra Dev Supreme Court, however, overturned prime minister cannot be appointed, ment while himself being the legiti- According to health officials, the at Sigas on Saturday says he doesn’t Pandey. his decision and restored the House, the House would be dissolved. The mate prime minister. virus is spreading rapidly in the dis- want to stay at the facility not because The district administration has in what was described by many as a country then must hold polls to elect a A UML leader, however, said that trict, as the infected people and other it is poorly managed but because he imposed prohibitory orders until May “landmark decision” and a big blow to new House of Representatives within Oli’s Thursday decision is in line with suspected patients either refuse to feels there’s no need to isolate. 31 to control the spread of the virus. Oli. But two weeks later, on March 7, six months. what he has believed all along. hours before the meeting of the Opposition parties have strongly “The prime minister has time and restored House was scheduled, the objected to Oli’s Thursday’s move. again said that this Parliament’s rele- Supreme Court in a dramatic verdict The Nepali Congress, the primary vance is over,” said Subas Chandra resurrected Oli’s CPN-UML and opposition, has called an emergency Nembang, a UML leader and close Dhulikhel Hospital under strain ... Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s Communist meeting of the incumbent and former aide to Oli. “I believe the prime minis- Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) which office bearers as well as senior leaders ter has apprised all the stakeholders >> Continued from page 1 are infected,” said Pun. Some of them do not even make it to had merged in May 2018 to form the to discuss the latest political situation. of his move.” Her husband, who is a driver of a At Dhulikhel Hospital, the number the hospital as they come there at the Nepal Communist Party (NCP). “The President’s notice calling on Nembang, the two-time chair of the passenger jeep, and two sons, did not of people coming with severe cases of last moment. The court order threw the parties to form a new government Constituent Assembly, who has drawn test positive. Covid-19 has gone up significantly On Wednesday night, a 35-year-old country’s already fluid politics into under Article 76 (5) is illegal and flak for not speaking a word when Oli But in their village there are people over the last two weeks and they are man rushed to the hospital from uncertainties. unconstitutional,” senior Congress violated the constitution in the past on who are ill. from the villages. Jaleshwar Municipality, Mahottari Oli has made all attempts to prove leader Ram Chandra Poudel told the Thursday once again defended his Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, chief of the “Earlier we used to get Covid-19 died on the way. that the House was irrelevant. Insiders Post. “How can she accept such a rec- party chair. Clinical Research Unit at the Sukraraj patients mainly from Kathmandu and Pun said he has now started getting say his sudden decision on May 2 to ommendation letter from the prime “The prime minister does not need Tropical and Infectious Disease Bhaktapur after beds in hospitals calls from people in Humla and Jumla seek a confidence vote in the House on minister unless he resigns or fails a to resign,” said Nembang, himself a Hospital, is not surprised to hear of there were filled, but now more cases and other remote parts complaining May 10 was part of his bid to get the vote of confidence.” seasoned lawyer and known as an the growing number of cases in villag- are coming from remote villages,” that they have Covid-19 symptoms. House dissolved. Poudel described the prime minis- expert on constitutional affairs, who es across the country. said Karmacharya. “We rarely get “Now the virus has reached rural After failing the trust vote, he was ter and President’s acts as a choreo- oversaw the entire constitution-draft- “The number of cases will gradual- cases from the Valley.” parts, and I am really worried people reappointed, but yet another trust graphed ploy to overthrow the consti- ing process. ly increase in the villages,” Pun told In the Valley, hospitals report that there are not vaccinated, they don’t vote failure could, however, have given tution. “When we have to go for the Post. the rush of new patients is not as bad have access to good hospitals and oxy- a chance for the House to survive. “If the prime minister thinks he another process of government for- On April 14 when the second wave of as it was about two weeks. gen, so if the state does not work to If the Janata Samajbadi Party, will fail the confidence vote, which is mation, the prime minister need not the pandemic was entering the country “Throughout Thursday I rarely ensure oxygen supply, in remote parts which has 34 members (two suspend- mandatory as per the constitutional resign because this government and there were more than 500 cases noticed ambulances coming to the more people will die on their way to ed), could manage to get the support provision, he should resign and let the is the continuation of the same nationwide for the first time since hospital with patients,” said Pun. the health facilities,” said Pun. of the Nepali Congress, which has 63 President invoke the required article,” government.” early January, there were zero cases in “Two weeks ago there was a new Apart from the mass exodus of peo- members (two suspended) and the said Poudel. “How can one individual Nembang refused to go into the con- Kavrepalanchowk, where Dhulikhel patient coming every 10 minutes.” ple who left the Kathmandu Valley Maoist Centre, which has 49 members, lawmaker prove a majority in 20 stitutional provision that requires Oli Hospital is situated, zero in Dolakha Patients were treated on floors and before the authorities enforced pro- Oli would have been thrown out of hours? The prime minister and the to secure the vote of confidence. and just two in Sindhupalchowk. the courtyard. hibitory orders, according to Baluwatar. President have plotted a conspiracy to “[Our] prime minister never goes On Tuesday, Kavrepalanchowk According to Dr Sagar Kumar Karmacharya, people’s participation Analysts say Thursday’s move by dissolve the House.” against the letter and spirit of the recorded 315, Dolakha 90, and Rajbhandari, director at Sukraraj in mass gathering in social functions Oli is his one last ditch-effort to get the Oli’s move follows some dramatic constitution,” he said. Sindhupalchowk 105. On Thursday, Tropical and Infectious Disease like wedding and other life rituals like House dissolved. events earlier in the day. Constitutional experts, however, the figures for these three districts Hospital, five beds in the emergency bratabandha and people’s unfounded Since the Janata Samajbadi Party is In the afternoon, the Supreme Court say ever since Oli came to power, he were lower at 125, 67 and 9, respective- ward were unoccupied Thursday belief that the virus would not affect a divided house, it could be extremely scrapped the appointment of seven has shown utter disregard for the con- ly. Nationwide, 8,227 new infections evening. people in villages where there is fresh difficult to clinch the required num- ministers, including Ram Bahadur stitution and rule of law. From the were reported on Thursday taking the “Now the flow of patients is normal air, has created this problem. ber–136–in less than 24 hours, as the Thapa, of the Oli Cabinet, calling it ordinance on the Constitutional total tally to 488,645 of which 115,852 and people do not have to stay in line “But the virus has reached remote President has given until 5pm Friday unconstitutional. Council Act to House dissolution, they cases are still active. for oxygen,” said Rajbhandari. “There villages,” said Karmacharya. “For to form a new government. Thapa, a long-time Maoist leader, say Oli has attempted to destroy the The Ministry of Health and are a few patients in the corridors but most people who come to our hospital If the Janata Samajbadi does not had defected to Oli. The Maoist Centre system one step at a time. Population reported 190 more deaths they are in beds and they are only it is their last resort.” take the lead, the Nepali Congress and had sacked Thapa as a member of the “What happened today in collusion in the last 24 hours taking the total toll moderately ill.” But at Dhulikhel The prognosis seems dire. the Maoist Centre could make a move National Assembly last month. But he between the prime minister and the to 5,847. Hospital of the total 120 beds in the “There is going to be a catastrophe to form a new government, but they was immediately appointed to his post President,” said Acharya, the consti- But according to Dr Pun, the record- hospital, 100 are occupied by Covid-19 as health facilities in the rural areas will need the support of the Janata of home minister by Oli. tutional lawyer, “is nothing but a ed cases so far do not reflect the actual patients. do not even have oximeters to measure Samajbadi. Hours after the court order to scrap well-choreographed conspiracy to number of cases in Nepal. “Every day the hospital gets an the oxygen level,” said Pun. “The cen- A prime minister appointed under the appointment of Thapa and six destroy the system and the constitu- “In many villages PCR tests or anti- average of 15 new patients. They all tral and federal government should be Article 76 (5), however, needs to secure other ministers, all former Maoist tion–the top law of the country.” gen tests are not possible and this need oxygen therapy,” said Dr aware of this fact and work together the vote of confidence within 30 days leaders, Thapa lost the National creates the problem of finding the Rajendra Koju, dean of the medical with local governments without any from the date of the appointment, as Assembly by-election to Khim Lal (Tika R Pradhan contributed reporting) real data on the number of people who college. delay.” Bed shortage at public hospitals pushing Covid-19 patients to expensive private hospitals There are only two Covid-19 specific government hospitals in Kaski. As of Wednesday, 427 patients were being treated at private hospitals and 116 at government hospitals in the district.

DEEPAK PARIYAR structure and skilled human resourc- patients were admitted to government POKHARA, MAY 20 es,” said Dr Bikash Gauchan, the exec- hospitals—Western Regional Hospital utive director of the hospital. and Tropical and Infectious Disease On April 15, the Ministry of Health Within the third week of April, all Hospital in Pokhara, the two Covid-19 and Population directed all govern- beds at the Tropical and Infectious specific government hospitals in Kaski. ment hospitals across the country to Disease Hospital were occupied amid A Covid-19 patient at Charak allocate half of their beds for Covid-19 the surge of Covid-19 in the district. Memorial Hospital, one of the private treatment. However, the Pokhara- The Western Regional Hospital start- hospitals in Pokhara, has to submit Rs based Western Regional Hospital ed providing treatment for Covid-19 150,000 as a deposit for treatment at the under the Pokhara Academy of Health patients after beds in Tropical and intensive care unit of the hospital. Sciences, which is a referral hospital Infectious Disease Hospital got fully Patients have to pay around Rs 20,000 of the Western Region, did not pre- occupied. per day for a bed without oxygen or pare as directed by the federal govern- Since mid-April, critical Covid-19 ventilator support at private hospitals. ment. cases have been reported in Kaski There are 16 Covid-19 intensive care The hospital, one of the largest hos- district and patients have been com- beds at Charak Memorial. Out of the pitals in the country, allocated only 50 pelled to seek treatment at private 16 beds, only one bed was empty at the beds out of the total 370 beds and start- hospitals given shortages of beds and hospital on Wednesday. The treatment ed Covid-19 treatment from April 29 human resources at government hos- cost at Mediplus Hospital and Manipal onwards. pitals. Teaching Hospital, among other pri- It is now running 93 beds including According to the administration of vate hospitals in Pokhara, is also high, 38 isolation beds, 25 intensive care the Western Regional Hospital, the making it increasingly necessary for unit beds and 30 high dependency unit Ministry of Health has already allo- government hospitals to be fully pre- beds. However, as per the directive of cated Rs 90 million for the installation pared to take in Covid-19 patients. the ministry, the hospital should allo- of 200 high dependency unit beds. But A Pokhara youth from Ward No 12 cate at least 185 beds for Covid-19 the hospital has been unable to expand who has admitted his Covid-19 infect- patients from across the province. the high dependency unit since the ed father to Gandaki Medical College, The hospital has permission to hospital does not have an oxygen lamented to the Post about the bur- operate 500 beds altogether. plant. geoning medical bill. “I have already Sisuwa-based Tropical and A week ago, a 60-year-old Covid-19 P ost PhoTO: DEEPAK PARIYAR spent over Rs 500,000 for my father’s Infectious Disease Hospital in patient of Chapakot Ward No 6 in Western Regional Hospital in Pokhara has been treating Covid-19 patients in its emergency ward due to a shortage of beds. treatment. There was no bed available Pokhara, which is run by the provin- Syangja was taken to the Western in any of the government hospitals,” cial government, was the only desig- Regional Hospital for treatment. But, could not save him.” installing an oxygen piping system. Office showed that two government he said. “I had to bring him here but nated Covid-19 specific hospital until the hospital did not admit him citing a Dr Bharat Bahadur Khatri, director The tender process is taking some hospitals, one community and 16 pri- despite the expenses, I am glad he is the Western Regional Hospital was shortage of beds. Later on, the patient of the Pokhara Academy of Health time,” said Khatri. vate hospitals in Pokhara are provid- recovering.” roped in. was taken to Charak Memorial Sciences, says the Western Regional Currently, 71 Covid-19 patients are ing Covid-19 treatment. According to the data of the The Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital for treatment. However, the Hospital has been providing treat- undergoing treatment at the Western Until Wednesday, 427 Covid-19 Provincial Health Directorate, 700 Hospital has a total capacity of 50 beds patient died on Tuesday. “We took ment to Covid-19 patients from the Regional Hospital and 50 are undergo- patients were admitted for treatment Covid-19 patients are undergoing but has added five more beds. It now him to Charak due to a shortage Emergency Ward because of a short- ing treatment in Tropical and at the Western Regional Community treatment at various hospitals in the has 15 isolation and 40 high dependen- of beds at the government hospital,” age of beds. “We are still in the pro- Infectious Disease Hospital, according Hospital, Charak Memorial, Manipal, Gandaki Province. Out of the total 65 cy unit beds for Covid-19 patients. “We said a relative of the deceased, adding cess of inviting a tender for oxygen to the data of the District Health Gandaki Medical College and ventilators in the province, 26 are have not established an intensive care that they spent a huge amount on the pipes installation. The high dependen- Office in Kaski. Mediplus among other private hospi- occupied, the data of the Provincial facility here due to a lack of infra- treatment of the patient. “But we cy unit can be operated only after The data of the District Health tals in Pokhara while 116 Covid-19 Health Directorate showed.

C M Y K 03 | FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021 National Nepalis can fly abroad on City decides to conduct school exams, chartered rescue flights but community schools unprepared A school principal says many of his students in remote villages are unreachable. Government is also considering allowing a limited number of scheduled flights from June. ANUP OJHA amid rising infections and deaths due will conduct exams once they are CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL Nepal, the government had allowed people and had been facing hardships KATHMANDU, MAY 20 to the pandemic. back,” said Maharjan. KATHMANDU, MAY 20 Turkish Airlines and Qatar Airways here,” said Lamichhane. “More than On Thursday the country reported However, education experts say the to operate some flights to rescue anything, they were allowed to fly to Seventeen-year-old Ramesh Sharma, a 190 Covid-19 related deaths, with 8,227 City’s decision to conduct exams dur- The government is mulling some foreign nationals out of Nepal. Saudi Arabia purely on humanitarian tenth grader at Durbar High School, new infections in the past 24 hours. ing the pandemic is hasty and imprac- changes to its Covid-19 travel restric- “There still are a few chartered grounds.” Kathmandu, is in home isolation at “More than 60 percent of our stu- tical. Not only Kathmandu, but the tion regulations that will allow the flights remaining. If Nepali citizens He added that the government was Tajakot Rural Municipality in Jumla. dents have left for their villages and Pokhara Metropolitan City and Ilam citizens to return home and fly abroad. also want to go abroad on those sched- equally concerned about Nepali Sharma, along with his three class- most of the students from remote dis- Municipality have also made similar Amid soaring Covid-19 cases in the uled flights, they can purchase tick- migrant workers who have been una- mates, a few juniors and other villag- tricts including Mugu, Kalikot and announcements to conduct the exams. country, the government suspended ets,” said Lamichhane. “However, pri- ble to fly to various labour destination ers had left Kathmandu last week by Jumla among others are not reachable “The local units should be training international flights from midnight of ority will be given to foreign nationals. countries. chartering a bus. “None of us are so it is not possible to conduct exams their entire focus on saving people’s May 6. Later, the suspension was This also does not mean that the gov- The suspension of international aware about anything back in virtually,” said Shiva Raj Adhikari, lives because health comes first and extended until May 31 midnight. ernment is prioritising chartered flights has mostly affected Nepali Kathmandu, but we feel safer here,” the principal of the Sanskrit School, a everything else later,” said Binay Many Nepalis, including migrant flights.” migrant workers, as flights to and said Sharma on the phone. Although community schools that shares the Kusiyait, a professor at the Tribhuvan workers, both at home and abroad, have Despite the flight restriction, the from major labour destination coun- he has not done a Covid-19 test, he building of the Durbar High School. University. been affected by the flight suspension. government is still allowing two week- tries have also been suspended. decided to quarantine himself as a The Sanskrit School runs classes “There is a big investment in educa- But as per the latest decision, Nepali ly flights from India. Likewise, Nepal Nepali youths who were ready to precaution. He and his friends from from grade six to 10 and has a total of tion from the private sector, it seems nationals can leave the country on Airlines and Himalaya Airlines have migrate abroad to take up jobs and the same village lived at the hostel of 344 students. the government bodies came under chartered flights which have been been given permission to operate those who had planned to return home the Durbar High School. “Since the pandemic is at its peak the influence of the private schools,” allowed to fly into the country to res- chartered flights to ferry Indian after their employment contracts Sharma says they left for the village now, I think most of the students are said Kusiyait. He said exams can be cue foreign citizens. nationals from Nepal to Saudi Arabia. expired have been hit hard. after the government extended the pro- not mentally ready for any kind of conducted when the situation becomes Many Nepali workers have been left hibitory orders for another 15 days, till exams,” said Adhikari. normal. stranded without jobs and are strug- May 27 and their Secondary Education Similarly the teachers of the Durbar When the Post contacted Ram gling to make ends meet as they are Examinations became uncertain. High School, which is also known as Prasad Subedi, the chief of unable to return home. The National Examinations Board Bhanu School, share similar views as Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s In a bid to facilitate the movement had earlier announced that the grade Adhikari. Education Department, and asked of Nepali workers and others, the gov- 10 finals would start from May 27 but Also, some guardians have about its decision to conduct the ernment is also considering allowing after the extension of the prohibitory expressed their disappointment with school exams, he said the decision was a limited number of scheduled pas- orders the exams have been postponed the City’s decision to conduct the taken after consulting the schools. senger flights from June 1, according indefinitely. Most schools have not yet exams in the middle of the pandemic. “We have to start the new academic to Lamichhane. conducted the terminal exams for “In my house except for my daugh- session after a month, so exams have Post file Photo Allowing limited passenger flights other grades. ter and me, everyone including the to be conducted,” said Subedi. “Many International flights have been suspended until May 31 amid a surge in Covid-19 cases. is based on the assumption that the “None of us would like to think grandparents and her father was schools have been running classes Covid-19 situation will be normal by about the exams in this difficult situa- infected with Covid-19. We all are liv- online and we have given various According to Buddhi Sagar The operation of chartered flights then, according to officials at the Civil tion. We do not have the internet. ing in fear and now the prospect of options to the schools to conduct the Lamichhane, joint secretary at the for Indian nationals, who had come to Aviation Authority of Nepal. Phone conversation is very rare examinations will add more stress to exams without putting extra pressure Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Nepal to fly to Saudi Arabia, has The differences between chartered because my phone hardly picks the the children,” said Rojina Tuladhar, on students,” said Subedi. Civil Aviation, Nepalis can buy tickets drawn criticism, especially when reg- and scheduled passenger flights is signal,” said Sharma. 33, a mother of a seventh grader at a Again on Wednesday, the depart- and travel abroad on chartered flights ular flights from Nepal to countries that the fare for chartered flights will But two days after Sharma and his private school. ment published a new notice as per a ministerial decision of May 12. like Saudi Arabia have been suspend- cost double the normal rate as they friends left Kathmandu, the Education “My daughter’s school has sent all instructing schools on how to assess “I believe many students and Nepali ed for Nepali citizens. are normally a one-way flight and Department of the Kathmandu the exam materials and she can sit the the performance of students, migrant workers have come home on “While thousands of Nepali have to return empty. Metropolitan City, on May 16 pub- exams virtually from home, but given especially the eighth graders who vacation or for attending family func- migrant workers have been barred These limited scheduled flights can lished a notice to all private and com- the current pandemic situation, were to appear in the district-level tions and some even accompanied from flying to Saudi Arabia, the operate to and from countries where munity schools in the city to complete exams add to the anxiety of the stu- exams. As per the notice, the students back their relatives who had gone Government of Nepal has given a spe- chartered flights have already been the final exams by June 3. dents,” said Tuladhar who lives in should be given 40 percent abroad for treatment. With interna- cial privilege to Indian migrant work- allowed. A total of 640 private and 91 commu- Sitapaila. marks based on their performance tional flights suspended, they were ers to use the Kathmandu airport as a “For instance, one weekly flight can nity schools fall under the purview of Meanwhile, Natikaji Maharjan, the in the first and second terminal stuck here,” said Lamichhane. “Such transit to Saudi Arabia and allowed go to Turkey, two or three to Qatar. the City’s education department. principal of Gyanodaya School at exams, another 40 percent based on individuals can fly back on chartered ten flights to Saudi Arabia per week,” Likewise, one or two flights can oper- The department’s notice said the Kalanki says his school has decided to their overall performance and activi- flights that are available. Although the Nepal Association of Foreign ate to Malaysia and China. A couple of schools conduct exams in whatever conduct exams as per the demands of ties in the class, and the remaining 20 government’s priority will be to send Employment Agencies said in its flights can also take place between way possible, either in person or vir- the students and the guardians. “Our percent based on the performance of foreign nationals safely back to their statement condemning the govern- Nepal and Saudi Arabia,” said tually, through telephone or by email- exams were scheduled to start from the students in telephone or email- countries on special flights, Nepalis ment’s “unfair” decision. Lamichhane. “The government is dis- ing questions to the students. But April 25, but we had to postpone them based exam, and, the marks should be also can leave the country on such Lamichhane, the joint secretary, cussing this plan. Operating regular many government schools say con- after the government enforced the pro- sent to the department via flights, space permitting.” however, defended the government’s flights will not just mean carrying ducting the exams is not possible as hibitory orders. Then we rescheduled www.kmcdoe.org. The government had allowed some decision, saying the flights for Indian passengers but also bringing in essen- most of their students have already the exams for May 9, but restrictions But educational experts like chartered flights to evacuate foreign migrant workers were allowed on tial medical supplies which the coun- left the Valley and many of them are have continued and exams have also Kusiyait are opposed to any form of nationals although the regular domes- humanitarian grounds. try needs. If there are certain sched- unreachable in lack of access to either continued,” said Maharjan. examination during these difficult tic and international flights remain “Indian migrant workers had come uled flights, suppliers and donors can telephone or the internet, while many “That is why many of our students times. “This is not a sensible thing, suspended for two weeks now. At the to Nepal and got stranded here for also make the required arrangements parents say the children are not psy- didn’t leave the Valley. And for those the city should reconsider its deci- request of the foreign missions in weeks. Even they were working class for sending supplies accordingly.” chologically ready to sit the exams who have already left the Valley, we sion,” he said.

C M Y K FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021 | 04 Opinion EDITORIAL A pandemic of apathy: How our Death and taxes MPs failed to address Covid-19 The lockdown has bankrupted businesses, and they need sensible relief packages. It’s our great misfortune that the ones in power Following a dip in new infections after peaking in October last year, Nepal was only starting to crawl towards recovery continue to protect their as businesses looked forward to making up for the unprece- own interests. dented loss. There were positive indicators of a rebound ear- lier this year as the government launched a nationwide vac- cination campaign; but as a direct consequence of lax meas- Madhukar Upadhya ures to contain Covid-19, a deadlier second wave of the pan- demic has now brought with it the same set of chilling chal- STARTING lenges as stay-at-home orders are imposed or extended across POINT the country in the wake of a record surge in cases and deaths. It’s a rerun of 2020. Only this time, the deficit of governance has been exposed to a new high as our uncertainties extend with no indication of when we will start to see the curve flat- A fairly innocent question keeps nag- ten and, with it, a gradual and safe opening of the economy. ging me during lockdown these days: whom do I ask about getting the second While science-guided decisions and mandatory safety pro- dose of my Covid-19 vaccine? Do I ask tocols are imperative to get out of the prohibitory orders the government officials responsible when cases eventually start to dip, the government needs to for managing and administering the urgently address the concerns of citizens, especially the most doses or do I contact the Member of Parliament I voted for who is responsi- vulnerable who have again found themselves in an unfortu- ble for making policies to serve my nate situation amid stringent measures. Last year, the gov- needs and represent my interests? This ernment announced some relief programmes in kind. But question probably resonates with the almost a month since prohibitory orders have been in effect, other 1.3 million senior citizens also the government has failed to provide any respite this time. It awaiting their second dose. The country is barely coping with is the state’s responsibility to ensure that taking care of the the deadly second wave of the novel poor is not left to private charity alone. coronavirus. The number of cases esca- Last year, following the four-month-long nationwide lock- lated so quickly that our health facili- down to prevent the pandemic, Nepal Rastra Bank had ties are currently on the brink of col- released some alarming figures. Tens of thousands of people lapse, desperately trying to provide basic care to patients. Some of these had been rendered jobless, and a whopping 61 percent of patients are being treated on the floor Shhutterstock businesses had shut their operations, according to the cen- and in the hallways of hospitals. to serve themselves before anyone else? sion, members could’ve summoned a almost all our MPs, barring a few who tral bank’s report. The study, which covered 52 districts, Hospital beds are in such short supply It’s our great misfortune that the ones special session to discuss the ongoing are equipped with the relevant infor- showed that 22.5 percent of employees had been laid that those who don’t require oxygen are in power or those close to power cen- crisis and directed the government to mation and have a working plan. Even advised to remain home. The supply of tres continue to protect their own inter- take the necessary steps to ease the the parliamentary committees that are off by businesses with the largest layoffs in the hotel and oxygen is nowhere near its actual ests during times of crisis. After all, stress on our public health system and supposed to oversee the state of affairs restaurant sector, followed by small and medium-scale enter- demand. In April, the lack of vaccines democracy is the rule of the people, individuals. It never happened. haven’t shouldered the responsibility prises that laid off 30.5 percent of their employees. Putting led the government to momentarily where citizens are the masters and the The current crisis is too serious to be of coming up with a plan despite the numbers to despair, the study also reported that small and halt its vaccination campaign. representatives are public servants. left to the hands of healthcare workers resources at their disposal. The com- medium-scale enterprises were among the worst hit with 77.2 Many noted the juxtaposition of law- These citizens expect their elected rep- or a ministry of the government alone. mittees also can mobilise citizens, as makers, including former ones, and resentatives to ensure their welfare Healthcare workers are there to treat they have occasionally done for pre- percent of the businesses even unable to pay salaries. On their families queuing up to get vacci- especially during harrowing events patients, not manage oxygen or add budget discussions, to discuss how we, average, the survey revealed, businesses trimmed 18.2 per- nated recently during a time when like global pandemics. Moreover, we beds and ventilators. Unfortunately, as a society, can address a problem as cent of their payroll. more than a million senior citizens are elect MPs to solve our problems, not to doctors in Nepal are forced to work grave as the pandemic. Unfortunately, The government cannot ignore these exhaustive figures. still waiting for their second dose. With create a new class of nobles. Private long days and perform multiple tasks these committees are seen giving direc- And these are limited assessments that do not give us the full no vaccines in stock and uncertain citizens cannot be blamed for becoming to help Covid-19 patients, which they tives and never following up on the imports, sadly, lawmakers were in a disillusioned with democracy itself can only do to a certain extent before subject to see if those directives have picture. Various reports have also repeatedly warned hurry to secure enough vaccines for when they’re effectively abandoned by they exhaust themselves. Therefore, been complied with. Neglecting these that a significant number of people would slip into extreme themselves and their relatives instead those they voted for and the state. addressing a crisis like this requires functions reinforces the lack of ‘checks poverty due to the pandemic. There is no job security, and of ensuring vaccines for the very citi- mechanisms capable of garnering and balances’. thanks to weak implementation of labour laws, people have zens they represent. Role of parliament support from all possible sources This is not the first crisis we’ve faced again found themselves in a difficult situation as the prohib- Representatives prioritising their The role of the parliament is not limit- from within and without through a nor will it be the last one. People antic- own needs over those of their constitu- ed to making laws; it’s also responsible wartime approach. ipate further waves of the virus in the itory order restricts all nonessential work. But there is no ents, unfortunately, is a tale as old as for ensuring that the right policies are days and months ahead. Our MPs respite for the citizens save penalty waivers on loans and time. For instance, recall the aftermath formulated and implemented to What can MPs do? need to take full advantage of the recovery deadlines as directed by Nepal Rastra Bank or of the 2015 earthquake when tents were address the problems facing the coun- The people’s representatives have the powers vested in them by the office the Supreme Court decision on Wednesday not to impose supplied to people in power and those try. Parliament is the vital link between capability to rally people for better they’re elected to in order to create connected to them, while citizens were citizens and the state. Unlike the gov- cooperation and mobilise assets includ- ethical, equitable policies to help our fines on taxpayers. living under tarps even a year after the ernment, which makes plans for a ing managing policy inconsistencies. country from going over the inevitable These are welcome measures but are not enough for citi- quake. Even during fuel shortages, fixed period, legislators need to be They have unfettered access to infor- humanitarian crisis we’re hurtling zens and businesses who’ve taken a massive hit in which we experience every so often, prudent and more vigilant when assess- mation and resources, domestic and towards. They need to be better pre- their income and revenue sources last year, and are again ordinary people spend hours in a queue ing any situation, before making poli- international. They can establish a pared to assess the possibility of such reeling under restrictions. The government must identify to get a rationed quota of petrol or, dur- cies. If representatives fail to function more transparent line of communica- eventualities and mobilise everything ing particularly acute shortages, are to the tune of peoples’ needs, voters tion with their constituents, provide under their jurisdiction to formulate the concerns of citizens to duly address them as it prepares forced to buy it on the black market. need to steer them in the right direc- more institutional support, and effective policies, connect with citi- to present the federal budget for the next fiscal year. It needs Meanwhile, people from power centres tion—which is only possible through establish a mechanism to consult zens, establish mechanisms to imple- to pursue both short- and long-term objectives to lift people can secure their needs without having discussions and debates among parlia- experts and agencies and identify ment these policies, and assure their and business out of this crisis. Only correct economic and to wait in line. mentarians and between citizens and implementation gaps or overlaps to constituents that they’re there to help social policies will lead us there and protect the fundamental Times of crises serve as a litmus test their MPs. strengthen our current systems. Sadly, cope with the inevitable—and prove for a leader’s strength of character. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen any our MPs are content to sit back and that democracy indeed is of the people, rights of the people. The government must respect and pro- Will they ensure fair and equitable aid discussions in the House about Covid- serve their petty interests. by the people, and most importantly, for tect these rights. for those in need or will they cut in line 19. Even when the House isn’t in ses- These opportunities are wasted by the people.

Our responsibility to South Asia

misinformation. In an environment Future generations where fraudulent miracle cures are being propagated widely on will remember what social media, the world should help fund and support vaccine literacy the world did, or programs. Campaigns to increase the acceptance of masks, vaccines, failed to do. social distancing, and other measures are needed especially in rural parts of the subcontinent, where Kevin Rudd complex sociocultural factors and linguistic diversity pose additional challenges. Finally, there is the problem of insufficient oxygen—canisters, con- centrators, and tankers to transport them. Of all the requests we have heard from our friends in the region, Almost one-quarter of humanity the plea for more oxygen has been the lives on the Indian subcontinent. That most urgent. India has only around fact is easily forgotten elsewhere, as 1,600 cryogenic tankers capable of world leaders focus on combating out- transporting oxygen from production breaks of Covid-19 and its new vari- facilities to hospitals. And that ants within their own countries. But includes the tankers it already sup- when our descendants pass judgment plied to Nepal, which itself has such a on this moment in history, they won’t paucity of oxygen canisters that it is remember just the lockdowns, face now asking mountaineers returning masks, and vaccination programs. from Mount Everest to donate their They will also remember India and its empty ones. neighbours. Shipping cryogenic tankers and They will remember how human oxygen canisters to South Asia will remains have been found bloated and help save the lives of those threatened decomposing on the banks of the by the shortage, rather than by Covid- sacred River Ganges; how bodies 19 itself. Here, developed countries had to be left in the heat outside with ample production capacity can crematoria, owing to a lack of wood Post Photo: Sanjog Manandhar help in ways that local non-govern- for funerary pyres. They will remem- our Asia 21 Young Leaders network, things will only worsen as this deadly Start with vaccination: we need to plies and equipment, would help mental organisations cannot—and ber how hospitals ran low on ‘An uncle passed away last evening. wave expands unchecked to rural put shots into at least a billion arms as India’s sizable pharmaceutical indus- help they must. oxygen, medication, and hospital Another the day before. A friend’s areas of the subcontinent, where fast as possible. To date, fewer than 10 try to increase production, thereby Ultimately, this pandemic, and the beds, while people lined up outside father last week. Everyone I know has essential medical facilities are even percent of citizens in each South reducing vaccine shortages domesti- legacy of our global response, belongs emergency departments and clinics someone they’ve lost.’ scarcer. As fellow members of the Asian country (with the exception of cally and in the region. to all of us. Each generation is begging for someone to save their There are already too many of these human family, and as citizens of Bhutan) have received at least one It is also incumbent on countries confronted by challenges great loved ones. stories, and now this tragedy is spill- democracies that stand up for each vaccine dose, according to Our World with excess vaccine supplies—par- and small, and this one is ours. Unless All of this will be seared in memory ing across India’s borders. In Nepal, other when help is required, we all in Data. We must pull new levers to ticularly those in the developed we can truly protect people every- and history. Beyond inflicting agony where one out of every two citizens is need to act—governments, businesses, speed things up. world—to share the wealth. Earlier in where by arresting the virus and slow- on the sick, the coronavirus outbreak testing positive for the virus, the hard- and private citizens. The quicker we To that end, the rest of the world the pandemic, India set an example by ing its mutations, we may find our- in the world’s most populous democra- ship is multiplied by the fact that do so, the more lives we might save. should join the United States and sending more than 66 million doses of selves facing the prospect of a perma- cy is now robbing victims of their India is the country’s principal suppli- Helping South Asia is not only the 100-plus other countries in backing vaccines to 95 countries around the nent pandemic. dignity in death, too. er of vaccines and oxygen; that supply right thing to do; it is also in our own a temporary World Trade Organisation world when it could have vaccinated At the Asia Society, we hear line is now shut down. self-interest. The rampant spread of waiver of intellectual-property protec- its own people more rapidly. It is time Rudd, a former prime minister of accounts almost daily from friends While these up-close images reveal the virus anywhere can create more tions on vaccines. While not a silver to return the favour. Australia, is President of the Asia and colleagues who have lost their an unfolding humanitarian calamity, deadly variants that threaten all of us. bullet, this initiative, coupled with the Equally important, more must Society. relatives. According to one member of the 30,000-foot perspective shows that So, what can be done? removal of restrictions on related sup- be done to counter the scourge of —Project Syndicate

C M Y K 05 | FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021 Money

FOREX Vaccine patent US Dollar 117.27 Ban on food delivery business hits jobs Euro 142.91 waiver will not be Contactless meal delivery service helps prevent the spread of Covid-19, industry insiders say. Pound Sterling 165.58 enough: WTO chief Japanese Yen 10.76 KRISHANA PRASAIN Chinese Yuan 18.21 KATHMANDU, MAY 20 REUTERS BRUSSELS, MAY 20 Qatari Riyal 32.20 Meal delivery service Foodmandu Australian Dollar 90.80 receives a hundred calls a day even Waiving intellectual property rights though they closed from the first day for Covid-19 vaccines will not be Malaysian Ringit 28.29 of the lockdown. Company founder enough to narrow the huge supply gap Manohar Adhikari said they were between rich and poor countries, the Saudi Arab Riyal 31.27 forced to suspend services as the gov- head of the World Trade Organization Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank ernment has not allowed home deliv- said on Thursday. ery of cooked food. South Africa and India have urged Araniko Rajbhandari, president of fellow WTO members to waive IP Shares the Restaurant and Bar Association of rights on vaccines to boost produc- Nepal, said that almost all its member tion. Poorer countries that make up Nepse 2,787.18pts 0.23% establishments had shut down totally. half the world’s population have “Except for a very few providing take received just 17 percent of doses, a highest gainers away and home delivery, most major situation the World Health GFCL MFIL SMATA GUFL UMRH JFL 10% 10% 9.96% 9.88% 9.87% 9.77% restaurants and cafes are all shut- Organization head has labelled “vac- tered,” he said. cine apartheid”. moderate gainers GMFIL MDB EDBL LBBL ICFC MPFL During the first lockdown last year, US President Joe Biden said last 9.45% 9.35% 8.78% 8.33% 8.31% 8% restaurateurs resumed operations week he supported the waiver idea,

moderate losers after a two-month break by providing but the European Union and other UMHL MHNL NHDL AKJCL KPCL PMHPL take away and home delivery service. developed country opponents said it -2.8% -3.01% -3.02% -3.11% -3.18% -3.31% But as per Rajbhandari, this time they will not increase output. highest losers do not have any plans to reopen the Speaking to the European BBC OHL RURU JOSHI KKHC PPCL restaurants anytime soon with case- Parliament on Thursday, WTO direc- -3.63% -3.77% -3.85% -4.33% -4.78% -6.56% loads and mortality rates remaining tor-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said in the highs. it was clear that an IP waiver alone GP Sharma, owner of Nomad would not be enough. Restaurant and Bar in Thamel, said “To have solved the unacceptable Price Per tola they stopped all services from the first problem of inequity of access to vac- bullion day of the prohibitory order. He cines, we have to be holistic. It’s not doesn’t plan to provide even take away one or the other,” she said, adding this Fine Gold Rs 93,700 or home delivery service in the near could not drag out for years. future. According to him, all restau- The European Commission out- Silver Rs 1,360 rants in the area are shuttered. lined a plan on Wednesday it sees as a “If this situation extends and the more effective way of boosting output, SoG urce: FENE OSIDA government imposes strict rules for using existing WTO rules, rather than running restaurants, we will have no POST FILE PHOTO a waiver. It notes countries can grant option but to shut down for good,” More than 130,000 workers directly engaged in the approximately 3,500 restaurants in the Valley have lost their incomes after they closed. licences to manufacturers to produce gasoline watch Sharma said. with or without the patent-holder’s More than 130,000 workers directly said Adhikari of Foodmandu which Home food delivery entrepreneurs fails to follow the health standards,” consent. Bolivia signed a deal last engaged in the approximately 3,500 delivers restaurant foods. say that the online system allows them Adhikari said. week with a Canadian company restaurants in the valley have lost Rohit Tiwari, CEO and co-founder to conduct contact tracing if any of The District Administrative Office Biolyse Pharma Corp to produce the their incomes after they closed. of Foodmario, said they have also the delivery boys should get infected, has not mentioned food delivery Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which And with the eateries shuttered, been receiving endless inquiries but and help to prevent the spread of and take away system in its would require Biolyse to secure thousands of jobs in the online food are unable to fill orders. infection. prohibitory order and has disallowed authorisation from Johnson & delivery sector have also evaporated. “Delivering cooked food at this “Each food on-demand service deliv- such services. The government has Johnson or a “compulsory licence” Foodmandu, which used to employ time of need is more than just doing a ering meals to people’s doorsteps not allowed restaurants to open for from Canada. Okonjo-Iweala said 250 people, has trimmed its workforce business. It is serving customers who means at least 100 families do not have take away, and since no deliveries developing countries had complained to 85 due to the lockdown. are in a difficult situation, and help- to come out of their homes,” said are permitted after 10 am, everything the licencing process was cumber- Last July, the Restaurant and Bar ing to support the economy too by Tiwari.E-food entrepreneurs say that is closed. some and should be improved. Association of Nepal and three trade providing jobs to many people,” they can assure safety while operating Foodmario, which delivers home- Manufacturers should work to unions reached an agreement to pay Tiwari said. their businesses. “During last year’s cooked food, stopped services from the expand production, she said, pointing Rs4,100 monthly to all employees, and Contactless home delivery systems lockdown, when the government first day of the lockdown. to idle capacity in Pakistan, this arrangement will be implemented help to prevent the spread of infection allowed us to operate, we were doing “The government’s belief that pro- Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand, this time too, Rajbhandari said. besides building trust in ecommerce, regular PCR tests for our team,” viding home delivery service will Senegal, South Africa. There also With the restaurants closed and the he said. Tiwari said. spread the virus is totally wrong. needed to be a transfer of technology government banning home delivery “People whose relatives are in hos- As services need to be provided fre- There is no data showing that stop- and know-how, with vaccines often services, most food on-demand busi- pital and cannot visit them and give quently, the company makes sure that ping delivery services will stop the harder to produce than drugs. nesses have shut down. them food are also making inquiries all precautions are taken by following spread of the virus,” Tiwari said. “I’m convinced that we can agree a “We have been receiving enquiries to deliver meals to them. We find our- health standards, he added. “If the government wants to reduce text that gives developing countries mostly from infected people who can- selves in a helpless situation when we “If the government has doubts the infection caseload, it needs to that kind of access and flexibility, not go out to buy daily essentials and have to say no to them,” Tiwari told regarding our service, they can make allow delivery companies to provide whilst protecting research and inno- have difficulty cooking their meals,” the Post. inspections and take action if anyone their services,” he said. vation,” she said.

Gorkha Brewery joins hands Greece banks on tourists for bad loan relief with Temasek Foundation and Lotus Life Foundation to REUTERS And despite shedding billions of es and promised to withdraw support RHODES (Greece), MAY 20 euros of NPLs since the debt crisis, only gradually, but the tourism indus- donate medical equipment Greek banks still have the highest try badly needs to get back to work. KATHMANDU: Gorkha Brewery Pvt Rhodes ferry operator Paris Kakas levels in the European Union, with After a decade of growth, it suffered Ltd has joined hands with Singapore cannot afford another summer lost to 47.4 billion euros ($58 billion) of NPLs, its worst year on record in 2020, based entities Temasek Foundation the pandemic if he is ever to repay the or 30.2 percent of their portfolios, with just 7 million visitors compared and Lotus Life Foundation in millions of euros he owes: “When the more than 10 times the EU average. with a record 33 million in 2019. order to provide medical equipment bank comes asking, we say: sorry.” “For one entire year of operation, The sector brought in revenue of 4 for Covid testing and treatment His anxious wait for tourists to some hotels did not open so this is billion euros, less than a quarter of return highlights a crucial test for obviously affecting their books,” said 2019’s 18 billion. worth more than Rs200 million Greek banks, still grappling with Ioannis Hatzis, who owns three hotels This year, as vaccines are rolled out, to the Ministry of Health and Europe’s heaviest burden of bad debts on Rhodes and sits on the board of the the authorities are counting on 40 per- Population, Government of and the legacy of the financial crisis. country’s hoteliers federation. cent of 2019 levels. Nepal. The effort hopes to help Greece is counting on salvaging this “Any corporation that tried to grow Greece opened its doors on Saturday mitigate the impact of Covid-19 summer season to head off a wave of in the past years and has actually to tourists from the EU and other key in Nepal, reads the press release insolvencies among tourism business- increased debt will not be able to ser- markets such as the United States, issued by the company. es, already on their knees after a disas- vice it if tourism does not bounce Israel and Britain, lifting the need for Equipment donated include trous 2020. back,” he said. people to quarantine as long as they ventilators, bipap machine, Rhodes attracted 2.4 million visitors The government has pumped in have been vaccinated or tested nega- pulse oximeters, fortitude kit in 2019 but in April this year, shut- about 40 billion euros to help business- tive for Covid-19. and swabs and more. tered luxury resorts and rental car lots overgrown with daisies gave the Greek island near the Turkish coast REUTERS the air of a ghost town. A woman walks by the Parthenon temple atop the Acropolis hill in Athens, Greece. The Greek central bank estimates that a quarter of loans to the tourism lapse when the coronavirus pandemic try came to 3 billion euros ($3.6 bil- sector, which in turn accounts for a brought travel to an abrupt standstill. lion). More worryingly, a third of all fifth of the overall economy, are now While data for loans by economic loans protected under debt moratoria non-performing. sector is patchy, former deputy tour- introduced when Covid-19 struck are “Last year, essentially, we stopped ism minister Manos Konsolas told par- in the vulnerable accommodation and paying,” said Kakas, whose ferry com- liament in October that non-perform- food services sector, according to the pany Sea Dreams saw revenue col- ing loans (NPLs) in the tourism indus- Bank of Greece.

C M Y K FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021 | 06 world Briefing Renewed violence over Gaza despite Maradona New India cyclone doctors face warning as death toll rises AHMEDABAD (INDIA): A major new ceasefire moves gaining speed murder charge, storm was brewing in the Bay of Bengal off India’s east coast, forecast- ers warned on Thursday, days after Global agencies appeal for a halt in violence to allow medical and other supplies into the Palestinian territory. source says the biggest cyclone to hit the west of the country in decades left at least 110 Reuters Agence France-Presse people confirmed dead. Scientists say GAZA/JERUSALEM, May 20 B suenos Aire , May 20 cyclones in the region are becoming both more frequent and stronger as Diplomatic efforts towards a ceasefire Seven people under investigation over climate change leads to warmer sea in the Gaza war gathered pace on the November death of Argentine temperatures. Cyclone Tauktae pum- Thursday amid a worsening humani- footballing legend Diego Maradona melled India’s western coast late tarian crisis in the Palestinian territo- face charges of premeditated murder, Monday and left a trail of destruc- ry, but Israeli air strikes again pulver- AFP has learned from a judicial tion, compounding the misery for a ised the enclave and Hamas rockets source. country struggling with a devastating targetted towns in Israel. The accused—which include surge in coronavirus cases. Even International agencies appealed for Maradona’s neurosurgeon Leopoldo before it made landfall in Gujarat, a halt in the violence to allow medical Luque, psychiatrist Agustina with gusts up to 185 kilometres per and other supplies into Hamas-run Cosachov and psychologist Carlos hour, heavy rains at its outer bands Gaza. “The severity of injuries is Diaz—face eight to 25 years in prison and strong winds killed 20 people in straining an already overwhelmed if found guilty. western and southern India. health system,” WHO regional direc- The indictment is based on findings tor Ahmed Al-Mandhari said in Cairo. by a board of experts into Maradona’s A senior official in the Hamas mili- death from a heart attack last year, a France’s Sarkozy goes on trial tant group said on Wednesday a cease- source from the San Isidro Attorney over 2012 campaign financing fire could take hold within days. General’s Office, which is leading the PARIS: The trial of former French Rocket attacks on Israel stopped for investigation, said on Wednesday. President Nicolas Sarkozy on charges eight hours early on Thursday but That report concluded that the foot- that his unsuccessful 2012 reelection then resumed against communities balling icon received inadequate bid was illegally financed has formal- near the Israel-Gaza border. medical care and was left to his fate ly started on Thursday. The scandal An Israeli minister said Israel for a “prolonged, agonizing period” had thrown his conservative party would halt its offensive only when it before his death, which came just into turmoil. Sarkozy, 66, is facing had achieved its goals, and Israeli weeks after undergoing brain surgery allegations that he spent almost twice warplanes unleashed more air strikes on a blood clot. the maximum legal amount of 22.5 on the densely-populated enclave on “After so many injustices, the million euros ($27.5 million) on the an 11th day of hostilities. case has come full circle,” the source presidential race he lost to Socialist Since the fighting erupted on May told AFP. Francois Hollande. He has denied 10, health officials in Gaza say 230 The accused are prohibited from wrongdoing. Sarkozy wasn’t present Palestinians, including 65 children leaving the country and must appear Thursday at the Paris court, where he and 39 women, have been killed and ahead of an inquiry between 31 May was represented by his lawyers. The more than 1,700 wounded in aerial REUTERS and 14 June. trial is scheduled to last until June 22. bombardments. Smoke rises following an Israeli air strike, amid Israeli-Palestinian fighting, in Gaza, on Thursday. The legal proceedings were prompt- Sarkozy, who was president from 2007 Israeli authorities put the death toll ed by a complaint filed by two of to 2012, faces up to one year in prison to date at 12 in Israel, with 336 people smoke and we couldn’t see anything,” a “de-escalation”. An Egyptian securi- ed by fear and grief, the International Maradona’s five daughters against and a fine of 3,750 euros. treated for injuries in rocket attacks she said from her hospital bed. ty source said the sides had agreed in Committee of the Red Cross said. Luque, who they blamed for their that have caused panic and sent people Nearly 450 buildings in Gaza have principle to a ceasefire but details “People in Gaza and Israel urgently father’s deteriorating condition after rushing into shelters. been destroyed or badly damaged, needed to be worked out. need respite from non-stop hostili- the brain surgery. China says providing vaccines Israel carried out more than a dozen including six hospitals and nine pri- A Hamas political official, Moussa ties,” said Fabrizio Carboni, regional Prosecutors believe Maradona’s air strikes on Gaza after midnight, mary care health centres, the United Abu Marzouk, said he believed the director for the Middle East, said in a death was not the result of malprac- to almost 40 African states targeting what it said was a weapons Nations humanitarian agency has efforts to reach a ceasefire would suc- statement. tice or negligent actions of his doc- BEIJING: China said on Thursday it is storage unit in the home of a Hamas said. More than 52,000 people have fled ceed. “I expect a ceasefire to be The WHO’s Mandhari said the clo- tors, but that they knew the former providing Covid-19 vaccines to nearly official, and military infrastructure in their homes in Gaza, which is blockad- reached within a day or two, and the sure of Gaza crossing points for football star would die and did noth- 40 African countries, describing its the homes of other commanders. ed by Israel and Egypt. ceasefire will be on the basis of mutu- patients and health teams, and restric- ing to prevent it. actions as purely altruistic in an Hamas-run radio said a woman was Israelis living in areas frequently al agreement.” tions on the entry of medical supplies The prosecutors obtained a series apparent intensification of what has killed and four children were wound- targeted by rocket fire began their Asked if a truce would begin on were making the crisis worse. of messages and audio that show that been described as “vaccine diploma- ed in one attack on the town of Khan workday without the usual sound of Friday, Israeli Intelligence Minister A UN convoy to bring humanitarian the medical team were aware that cy”. The vaccines were donated or Younis in southern Gaza. Witnesses warning sirens. But after an eight- Eli Cohen told Kan public radio: “No. aid, including 10,000 coronavirus vac- Maradona was using alcohol, psychi- sold at “favourable prices,” Foreign said several main roads were also hour break, the sirens blared again. We are definitely seeing very signifi- cines, into Gaza and to bring wounded atric medication and marijuana in the Ministry official Wu Peng told report- damaged in the air strikes. No casualties or damage were report- cant international pressure... we will people out was ready to enter as soon last months of his life. ers. Wu compared China’s outreach to In the Gaza City suburb of Sabra, ed. Israel said some 4,000 rockets have finish the operation when we decide as it could get access, WHO head for Among the conclusions of the the actions of “some countries that Amira Esleem, 14, and three family been launched at it from Gaza, some we have attained our goals.” the West Bank and Gaza Rik report, the medical board said that have said they have to wait for their members were wounded in one Israeli falling short and others shot down by Qatar-based Al Jazeera television Peeperkorn said. “the signs of life risk” shown by the own people to finish the vaccination attack, which she said caused parts of its Iron Dome air defences. said UN Middle East peace envoy Tor “Until there is ceasefire agreed, all former Naples and Barcelona star before they could supply the vaccines their house to collapse. US President Joe Biden on Wennesland was meeting Hamas parties to the conflict must agree to a were ignored, and that his care in his to foreign countries,” in an apparent “We were sitting on the sofa when a Wednesday urged Israeli Prime chief Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar. humanitarian pause to ensure access final weeks was “plagued by deficien- dig at the United States. (As gencie ) missile landed. There was heavy Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to seek Civilians on both sides are exhaust- into and out of Gaza,” cies and irregularities”. Deadly ‘black fungus’ surges among Covid-19 patients US, Russia at odds over Agence France-Presse present in soil and decaying organic N ew Delhi, May 20 matter, but once inside humans, they can infect air pockets behind the fore- military activity in the Arctic Special hospital wards will be set up head, nose, cheekbones and between in India’s capital New Delhi to fight the eyes and teeth. Associated Press maintain its focus on peaceful cooper- ‘black fungus’, authorities said on Some doctors say there has been RE YKJAVIK, Iceland, May 20 ation on environmental issues, mari- Thursday as the life-threatening infec- panic use of steroids to combat Covid- time safety and the well-being of tion surged among coronavirus 19 which has helped the spread of The Biden administration is leading a indigenous people in the region. patients. black fungus. campaign against Russian attempts to “The Arctic is a region for strategic A rare disease in normal times, Coronavirus patients with diabetes assert authority over Arctic shipping competition that has seized the world’s authorities say thousands have devel- and a weakened immune system are and reintroduce a military dimension attention,” Blinken said. oped Mucormycosis—or black fun- particularly prone to black fungus. to discussions over international “But the Arctic is more than a stra- gus—across India as it battles a Covid- Many of the drugs used to fight the activity in the area. tegically or economically significant 19 wave that has killed more than coronavirus suppress the body’s As Russia assumed the rotating region. It’s home to our people, its 100,000 people in the past month. immune system that would normally chairmanship of the Arctic Council hallmark has been and must remain Some doctors say the high use of ward off a fungal infection. on Thursday, the US rallied other peaceful cooperation. It’s our respon- steroids to combat the coronavirus members to oppose Moscow’s plans to sibility to protect that peaceful cooper- has caused the black fungus explo- Covid vaccines appear protective set maritime rules in the Northern ation and to build on it.” sion. The disease kills more than 50 against variants: WHO official Sea Route, which runs from Norway to Blinken stressed the importance percent of sufferers within days. In LONDON: Covid-19 vaccines currently Alaska, and its desire to resume of upholding “effective governance some cases, eyes and upper jaws are being deployed in the fight against the high-level military talks within the and the rule of law” to ensure that removed by surgeons to stop the pandemic in Europe appear able to eight-nation bloc. Those talks were the “Arctic remains a region free spread of the infection. protect against all variants that are suspended in 2014 over Russia’s of conflict where countries act New Delhi’s chief minister Arvind circulating and causing concern, the actions in Ukraine. responsibly.” Kejriwal said special wards would be ap /rSS World Health Organization’s regional The effort reflects growing con- He had previously questioned the set up at three hospitals to handle the An Indian doctor checks a man who recovered from Covid-19 and now infected with black director said on Thursday. cerns in Washington and among some legality of the proposed Russian mar- increased number of black fungus fungus at the Mucormycosis ward of a government hospital in Hyderabad, India, on Thursday. Hans Kluge said health authorities NATO allies about a surge in Russian itime rules and expressed deep reser- cases. He also vowed to ensure that all should remain vigilant on the rising military and commercial activity in vations about Russia’s military activi- patients will get the medicines they Indian social media has been flood- Authorities have not been able to number of cases in the region of the region that is rapidly opening up ty in the far North. need, with anti-fungal drugs the latest ed with requests from relatives of give a figure for Mucormycosis deaths Covid-19 caused by a variant that due to the effects of climate change. Several other foreign ministers, shortage to hit India’s already Mucormycosis sufferers pleading for since the coronavirus wave hit six emerged in India, but stressed that Russia has expressed similar suspi- including those from Canada, Iceland, stretched healthcare system. help to find medicines. weeks ago. vaccination and infection control cion about NATO’s motives. Finland, Norway and Sweden, echoed There are more than 200 black fun- The Rajasthan and Telangana states Black fungus is caused by organ- measures would help prevent its At a meeting of Arctic Council for- Blinken’s call to keep the Arctic peace- gus patients in New Delhi hospitals, have declared black fungus epidemics. isms called mucormycetes, which can spread. Europe is rolling out vaccines eign ministers in Reykjavik, the capi- ful and free of conflict under the with dozens on waiting lists for beds, Maharashtra state alone has reported enter the body through breathing or from Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca tal of Iceland, US Secretary of State authority of international, rather according to media reports. more than 2,000 cases. skin injuries. These are naturally and Johnson & Johnson. (Reuters) Antony Blinken said the group should than that of individual countries. Record 55 million people internally displaced worldwide, report shows

Agence France-Presse report showed. displaced people, she said, warning fastest growing displacement crises G eneva, May 20 “Both numbers this year were unu- that “those numbers may rise even last year. sually high,” IDMC director Alexandra more as countries go down further Drawn-out conflicts like those Conflicts and natural disasters forced Bilak told AFP, saying the surge in into an economic crisis.” in Syria, Afghanistan and the someone to flee within their own internal displacement was “unprece- The report found that three quar- Democratic Republic of Congo had country every second of last year, dented”. ters of people who fled internally last also continued to force large numbers pushing the number of people living The number of internally displaced year were victims of natural disas- of people to flee. in internal displacement to a record people is now more than double the ters, in particular ones related to Unlike disaster-driven displace- high, monitors said on Thursday. some 26 million people who have fled extreme weather. ment, which is usually short-lived as This came despite strict restrictions across borders as refugees. Intense cyclones, monsoon rains people return to rebuild damaged or on movement imposed around the “It’s shocking that someone was and floods hit highly exposed and destroyed homes once the storms have globe in efforts to halt the spread of forced to flee their home inside their densely populated areas in Asia and passed, conflict-fuelled displacement Covid-19, which observers had expect- own country every single second last the Pacific, while the Atlantic hurri- can last years. ed to push down displacement num- year,” NRC chief Jan Egeland said in a cane season “was the most active on All but seven million of the 55 mil- bers last year. statement. record,” it pointed out. lion people living in internal displace- But 2020 was also marked by intense “We are failing to protect the world’s “Extended rainy seasons across the ment at the end of last year had fled storms, persistent conflicts and most vulnerable people from conflict Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa conflict, the report said. explosions of violence, forcing 40.5 and disasters.” uprooted millions more.” It also warned that a convergence of million people to become newly dis- Bilak said it was “particularly con- Experts say that climate change is conflicts and natural disasters was placed within their countries, accord- cerning that these high figures were increasing the intensity and frequen- making the problem worse, with 95 ing to a joint report by the Internal recorded against the backdrop of the cy of such extreme weather events. percent of last year’s new conflict dis- Displacement Monitoring Centre Covid-19 pandemic”. “We can only expect with the future placements occurring in countries (IDMC) and the Norwegian Refugee Pointing out that movement restric- impacts of climate change for these vulnerable to the impacts of climate Council (NRC). tions obstructed data collection and disasters to become more frequent AP change. That is the highest number of newly “fewer people sought out emergency and more intense, and therefore for Internally displaced children read the Quran on the outskirts of Jalalabad, Afghanistan, “Climate change and the displaced reported in 10 years, and shelters for fear of infection”, she sug- the numbers of internally displaced overexploitation of natural resources brings the total number people living gested the true figures were higher. people to grow,” Bilak said. fleeing conflicts and violence, the and the expansion of extremist groups may aggravate instability and in internal displacement around The pandemic had meanwhile exac- In addition, nearly 10 million of report said. in Ethiopia, Mozambique and Burkina conflict, which in turn may trigger the world to a record 55 million, the erbated socioeconomic conditions for those newly diplaced last year were It added that escalating violence Faso had fuelled some of the world’s displacement.”

C M Y K 07 | FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021 Sports | Medley Atalanta could be unlikely saviours of Juventus’ season Reuters REGGIO EMILIA, May 20

Juventus are normally preparing for a trophy-lifting party going into the final weekend of the Serie A season, but this year they face the real possi- bility of missing out on Champions League football for the first time since 2011-12. Post Photo: Hemanta Shrestha New champions Inter Milan have Nepal national football team attend a training session at the Dasharath Stadium on Thursday, as part of their preparations for the upcoming Iraq friendly and 2022 World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup Joint Qualifiers. booked their spot in Europe’s elite Nepal meet Iraq at the Barsa International Stadium on May 29 before playing their Group ‘B’ qualifier matches against Chinese Taipei on June 3, Jordan on June 7 and Australia on June 11 in centralised venue Kuwait. club competition, with second-placed Atalanta guaranteed a top-four place by virtue of their better head-to-head record over Juventus. AC Milan and Napoli are both on 76 points, the former holding the best head-to-head record of the pair, while Premier League’s European battle goes to the wire Juventus are one point adrift in fifth. If Milan and Napoli win on Sunday, Juve’s fate is taken out of their hands With Man City and Man United guaranteed Champions League berths, Liverpool, Chelsea and Leicester will vie for the remaining two spots on final day. and they will be playing Europa League football next season. Agence france-presse time, but Kane applauded fans on all While Napoli face a seemingly easi- LONDON, May 20 sides of the stadium in a gesture er home clash with Hellas Verona on which may have served as his fare- Sunday, Juve’s saving grace could Liverpool set up a dramatic final-day well. “He means a lot. He’s a Tottenham come in Bergamo. Milan travel to battle to qualify for the Champions player,” caretaker boss Ryan Mason Atalanta in the standout fixture of the League with a vital 3-0 win at Burnley, said. “I’m very disappointed with the final weekend. While Gian Piero while Tottenham’s bid to reach the result. It wasn’t how we wanted to Gasperini’s side know their Europa League suffered a blow in a 2-1 finish the season in front of our fans.” Champions League spot is safe, they defeat against Aston Villa on West Ham are on course to qualify have never finished as high as second Wednesday. for the Europa League after a 3-1 win in the Italian top flight, so will not be Jurgen Klopp’s side moved into at relegated West Bromwich Albion. letting up. fourth place in the Premier League The Hammers started badly as Declan “We have always done our duty, but thanks to goals from Roberto Firmino, Rice hit the post with a third minute we are not responsible for the fate of Nathaniel Phillips and Alex Oxlade- penalty before Matheus Pereira’s cor- others, everyone is responsible for Chamberlain. ner was flicked into his own net by their own,” Gasperini said. “We have Liverpool are above fifth-placed Tomas Soucek in the 27th minute. But scored points and we will play to fin- Leicester on goal difference, with the Soucek equalised in first-half stop- ish in second place, knowing however Reds on +24 and the Foxes on +20. If page time, setting the stage for Angelo that we have hit our target.” Liverpool win their final game at Ogbonna and Michail Antonio to score Juve face a tough trip to Bologna, home to Crystal Palace on Sunday, in the final eight minutes. where victory is a must. If Milan and they should finish in the top four and David Moyes’ side know a draw in Napoli both lose and Juve draw, they salvage a difficult campaign that saw their last game against Southampton will all finish on 76 points, yet Juve’s them tamely surrender the title to will secure European football. record in the head-to-head league with Manchester City. After the match, West Brom boss Milan and Napoli and their inferior Leicester host Tottenham on Sam Allardyce confirmed he will leave goal difference to Napoli would see Sunday, while third-placed Chelsea, at the end of the season. them finish fifth, barring a 10-goal one point above Liverpool, travel to Everton remain in the hunt for the defeat for the Naples club. Aston Villa. Europa Conference League after However, Andrea Pirlo’s side will be Firmino put Liverpool on course for Richarlison’s 48th minute header buoyed by the fact they put in what their fourth consecutive victory with sealed a 1-0 win against Wolves. several Italian newspapers described a clinical finish from Andy Robertson’s Arsenal won 3-1 at Crystal Palace as their best performance of the sea- 43rd minute cross. Phillips got the and could still qualify for the Europa son on Wednesday to clinch a 14th second goal in the 52nd minute with a Reuters Conference League as they battle to Coppa Italia crown, beating Atalanta header from Sadio Mane’s cross for A 3-0 victory at Burnley moves Liverpool into fourth place in Premier League, one point behind Chelsea and above Leicester on goal difference. avoid missing out on European foot- in the final. his first goal for the club. Oxlade- ball for the first time since 1995-96. “We have to recover, to put our focus Chamberlain lashed in Liverpool’s Tottenham will have to wait until after reportedly telling the club he February and the Dutch winger cele- Nicolas Pepe’s 35th minute volley on Bologna, which will be the match third in the 88th minute. their last game of the season to discov- wants to leave. The England captain is brated his return with a superb strike put Arsenal ahead before Christian of our lives,” Pirlo told Juventus TV. “We had to win the ‘semi-final’ and er their European destiny. A second keen to move on as he chases the first in the eighth minute. But Tottenham’s Benteke equalised in the 62nd minute. “We have seen it in this week’s games, we did. Nothing is decided yet but we defeat in their last three games left trophies of his career, with lead lasted only 12 minutes as Sergio Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli both with Lazio and with Crotone that improved our position and we have them in seventh place, level on points Manchester City, Manchester United Reguilon sliced Marvelous Nakamba’s netted in stoppage-time before Pepe they are honouring the championship the final,” Klopp said. “That’s what we with eighth-placed Everton and three and Paris Saint Germain among the cross into his own net. Villa punished struck again with virtually the last and competing. We have to do our best needed. It’s what we deserve because points behind sixth-placed West Ham. clubs linked with the striker. more sloppy Reguilon defending in kick. With their season finale against and try to win the game, hoping that this was a top performance.” They will have to beat Leicester and Tottenham fans in the 10,000 crowd the 39th minute when Bertrand Brighton to come, ninth placed something positive can happen.” Fifth and sixth place finishes secure hope West Ham lose to Southampton urged Kane to stay as they chanted Traore pressured the defender into Arsenal sit one point behind Champions Inter can sign off on a a spot in next season’s Europa League, to pip their London rivals on goal dif- “Harry Kane, he’s one of our own” surrendering possession, allowing Tottenham and Everton. high with victory at home to Udinese, while seventh place brings entry into ference. before kick-off. Ollie Watkins to fire home from Newcastle beat relegated Sheffield as they look to stretch their record a play-off for the new Europa Harry Kane was named in Tottenham’s Steven Bergwijn was close-range. United 1-0 thanks to Joe Willock’s home winning streak in Serie A to 16 Conference League. Tottenham’s starting line-up just days making his first league start since Tottenham were booed off at full- header just before half-time. consecutive matches. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) **** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** A breath of fresh air arrives under Friday’s skies, It’s time to withdraw into your shell for some quiet A welcome change of pace arrives under Friday’s It’s time to get serious about what you want to be Aries. After weeks of sorting out your finances, reac- healing time, Cancer. The sun departs from earthy skies, Libra. After weeks of sorting through difficult doing with your time, Capricorn. After weeks of quainting yourself with your natural talents and Taurus and moves forward into reflective Gemini relationship material and dealing with your own learning to reconnect with what brings you joy, skills, and shoring up your self-confidence—you’re today. This transition propels you into a strong need hang-ups head on, you’re ready for new terrain. you’re ready to get organised and efficient with your ready for the next step. for solitude, retreat, and rest. skills.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** This past month has helped you reconnect with your You’ve been tirelessly pushing ahead with your ambi- As a Scorpio, part of your life’s work is to explore Things are beginning to brighten up, Aquarius. After core self, Taurus. After several weeks of redefining tions, Leo. Now it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your intimate relationships down to their depths. After several weeks of needing to secure your roots and your approach to your own individual wants and labour. The sun departs from workaholic Taurus and weeks of exploring partnership energy in a new explore different family dynamics, you’re ready to needs, you’re prepared for new terrain. moves forward into social-butterfly Gemini. Your light, you’re ready to take the deep dive. Your energy embrace a change of pace. Take on creative pursuits. social network also takes on added importance. should focus on transformational work. Reconnect to the activities that bring you joy.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) **** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) **** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** Your season finally arrives today, as the sun moves You’re on the brink of great things, Virgo. After weeks Your focus begins to shift with the arrival of Friday’s The universe is slowing your pace, Pisces. After forward out of melancholic Taurus and bounces into of rebuilding your vision for your life and examining skies, Sagittarius. After weeks of hard work and weeks of being on-the-go and constantly caught up your sign. This shift heralds the start of your person- the big picture, you’ve got an idea of what’s needed dedication to self-betterment, you’re ready to explore on in important exchanges, you need a moment to al new year, and helps you focus in the weeks ahead next. Today’s skies find the sun departing from practi- new terrain. Single or taken, now’s the time to rejoin catch your breath. The month ahead offers you time on getting to know yourself in an entirely new light. cal Taurus into mentally sharp Gemini. the scene or to deepen your current commitment. to heal familial connections. Crossword Sudoku

Yesterday’s Solution

C M Y K FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021 | 08 Culture & Lifestyle (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 Can monthly cash payments cut child poverty by nearly half? The monthly cheques of up to $300 per child are part of an ambitious attempt to shrink child poverty and rethink the American social safety net.

ASHRAF KHALIL marked to help cushion her family’s transition ALBUQUERQUE to stability. The 36-year-old mother of three had been staying in an Albuquerque motel he cheque won’t arrive until converted into a family shelter and would soon mid-July, but Katrina Peters be getting her own subsidised apartment already knows what she’ll do with through Cuidando Los Ninos. her Child Tax Credit payments. “I’ll be able to pay my utilities and basic The 20-year-old mother of three has supplies, plus gas to go look for work,” said applied to work as a driver with a Mora, an unemployed caregiver. “And I need to Tfood delivery app, and the extra cash is ear- work on my debt. My credit score isn’t so marked for repairing, registering and insuring great.” her car. The money isn’t only going to the neediest. “I just need to make sure it’s 100 percent and Carissa Oswald, a stay-at-home mother in then I can start working and get an income,” Albuquerque whose partner works with the Peters said, cradling her 3-week-old son, local railroad, counts herself as middle class. Armani. “That’s where it starts.” But having given up her work as a caregiver to The payments are a key part of Democrats’ raise her 11-month-old daughter, she finds that Covid-19 aid bill passed in March, but for poli- money is frequently tight. cymakers they are more than just an attempt to “Kids are expensive, right? It would let us help families recover from the pandemic. The breathe a little bit easier,” she said. “The ten- monthly cheques of up to $300 per child for sion is real. The stress is real.” millions of families are part of an ambitious New Mexico state Rep Javier Martinez, a attempt to shrink child poverty and rethink Democrat from Albuquerque, calls the CTC a the American social safety net in the process. “philosophical shift from mid-20th century With an emphasis on direct, no-strings cash programs” like Medicaid and food stamps. support, the payments are a deliberate depar- “And I don’t think we’re going back,” he said. ture from a system that for decades has tried to Martinez highlights the fact that CTC pay- control how Americans spend their govern- ments will be monthly, instead of some annual ment assistance by funnelling it to food, hous- balloon payment, as a crucial distinction. The ing or child care. Peters is as free to use the smaller monthly boosts, he said, are more like- cash on her car as she is to spend it on diapers. ly to be incorporated into the household budget “There’s something huge happening with and “create certainty in a family.” the idea that the lowest-income people need The expanded CTC expires in 2022, although cash assistance the most,” said Teague President Joe Biden has proposed extending it Gonzalez, public benefits director with the through 2025. Whether that happens may New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty. “The depend on whether advocates can demonstrate pandemic opened up a connection to the idea a positive impact—and whether opponents, of giving people cash and letting them decide primarily Republicans, find evidence of waste. how to use it.” Heinrich said he expects that opponents will The expanded CTC payments, which are due have no problem gathering examples of par- to begin going out July 15, are only meant to ents spending money on things deemed unnec- last a year, but architects and proponents essary and he is braced for a revival of the aren’t trying to hide the fact that they want to AP/Rss Ronald Reagan-era “welfare queen” trope. make this permanent. The coronavirus pan- This May 4, 2021 image shows teacher Graciela Olague-Barrios working with two infants at Cuidando Los Ninos in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The future of the programme may well be demic, they say, laid bare the inadequacies of riding on the outcome of the 2022 congression- America’s support system and provided the could lift 45 percent of children living in pover- programme benefits. ment of struggling families. al elections, when Democrats will seek to political momentum to make lasting changes. ty above the poverty line — cutting Black child “Sixteen dollars a can, and he goes through “It’s an issue of trust. We need to trust these retain their slim majorities in both the House “If implemented well, this could be trans- poverty by 52 percent, Hispanic child poverty it in two or three days,” she said. families to do what’s right,” said Jeffrey and the Senate. formative,” said Emma Mehrabi, director of by 45 percent and Native American child pov- Democratic New Mexico Senator Martin Hoehn, executive director of Cuidando Los For now, CTC supporters are counting on poverty policy at the Children’s Defense Fund. erty by 62 percent. Heinrich said the philosophy behind the pay- Ninos, an Albuquerque charity that provides enough positive examples to counter the criti- “This could cut child poverty in nearly half.” In places like New Mexico, a state with one ments is to treat child poverty as an avoidable housing, child care and financial counselling cisms, plus the fact that monthly cash should Part of the American Rescue Plan, the Child of the highest rates of children living in pover- traumatic event—one that has been proven to for mothers transitioning from homelessness. be popular with both Democratic and Tax Credit provisions will increase the pay- ty, this is a potential crossroads. One in four impact future academic performance, emotion- “We find that our single moms, they know Republican families up and down the income ments and greatly expand the number of fami- New Mexican children is considered impover- al stability, earning power and legal record. where every single penny goes. It’s just that ladder. lies eligible. The practical result will be direct ished, compared with one in seven nationally. “It affects your ability to have positive rela- they don’t have enough pennies.” “There will be plenty of compelling anec- payments for each child to families ranging With three kids under age six, Peters is due tionships, both professionally and in your Hoehn said different families will have shift- dotes on either side of it,” Heinrich said. “At from impoverished to solidly middle class — to receive up to $900 per month, and all of it is home life. ... The more of these stack up, you’re ing needs and resources from month to month, the same time we will have the data by then to $3,600 per year for children under age 6 and welcome. Her construction worker boyfriend more likely to have problems with the legal putting the cash toward rent, utilities or even show what a difference it has made. I want to $3,000 per year for older children. Roughly 39 has been out of work due to the pandemic, she system, unsuccessful relationships, lower life- therapeutic leisure activities. In a sprawling see the data, and I suspect that in New Mexico, million households will receive at least partial said, her government subsidised housing time income,” Heinrich said. town like Albuquerque, it’s hard to find work this will have an enormous impact.” payments, covering an estimated 88 percent of voucher has expired and only the national evic- Besides a basic acknowledgement by the without a car, and Hoehn said many families — Associated Press American children. tion moratorium has protected her. Armani government that raising children is expensive his group works with are looking to the extra Columbia University’s Center on Poverty requires a special kind of baby formula that for almost anybody, advocates said the pay- cash to acquire or fix a vehicle. Associated Press writer Susan Montoya Bryan and Social Policy estimates the cash infusions she can’t buy with her government nutrition ments are an expression of faith in the judg- For Margarita Mora, the money is ear- contributed to this report.

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