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Smokers urged to quit now or face greater risk from coronavirus

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A WORLD-renowned lung disease expert says that smokers should quit the habit and that tobacco companies should stop producing cigarettes, to help cut health risks increased by the coronavirus pandemic.

Photo: WHO

Dr. Gan Quan, a director at the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, said: “The best thing the tobacco industry can do to fight Covid-19 is to immediately stop producing, marketing and selling tobacco.”

His group brings together international respiratory and lung specialists, officials and health agencies, euroweeklynews writes.

They said that they are very worried about the impact of coronavirus on smokers, especially in poorer countries with inferior health services.

Smoking is known to weaken the immune system, making it less able to respond effectively to infections.

Smokers may also already have lung disease or reduced lung capacity which would greatly increase the risk of serious illness.

Quan said governments around the world had a “moral imperative” to advise smokers to stop.

“This is the absolute best time to quit smoking,” Quan pleaded.

The Union also quoted new evidence taken from studies of coronavirus patents in China and in other countries, which suggests that smokers may become more severely ill if they get the virus.

It includes suffering with greater breathing difficulties.

A “history of smoking” was among the factors which were identified by the study which took place between December 30 last year and January 15, The Sun writes.

Age, maximum body temperature on admission and respiratory failure were among other notable factors, according to the study, which was published in the Chinese Medical Journal.

These results “can be used to further enhance the ability of management of Covid-19 pneumonia”, it concluded.

Evidence

The first two patients to die at Jinyintan Hospital in Wuhan, detailed in the Lancet Medical journal, were both long-term smokers.

Researchers from China and the US carried out an analysis of the first 8,000 cases of coronavirus.

They found that men were more likely to be diagnosed with the disease and suffer severe symptoms, including pneumonia.

Their findings also revealed that the survival rates between males and females were markedly different.

In the first six weeks of the outbreak 1.7 per cent of women died compared with 2.8 per cent of men.

Experts believe there are a few reasons for this discrepancy, including some biological and other lifestyle choices, such as smoking.

In China, men are much more likely to smoke than women, which can lead to a weaker immune system.

In fact China has the largest population of smokers in the world – accounting for nearly a third of the world’s smokers – but just two per cent of them are women.

Meanwhile, in the UK 16.5 per cent of men – around 3.9 million – and 13 per cent of women – around 3.2 million – reported being current smokers.

Coronavirus: The total death toll in the UK reached 5,373 after 439 died on Sunday

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London — The death toll in the UK has soared once again amid the coronavirus crisis – reaching more than 5,000 on Monday as UK coronavirus deaths rise by 439.

Positive cases have now reached 51,608 – up from 47,806 yesterday – as Britain continues to be gripped by the deadly disease.

The total figure, as of 4pm on Sunday, is 5,373 – up from 4,934 the previous day, the Department of Health said.

England deaths: 403 more – total of 4,897

Wales deaths: 27 more – total of 193

Scotland deaths: two more – total of 222

Northern Ireland deaths: seven more – total of 70

Patients were aged between 35 and 106 years old.  15 of the 403 patients (aged between 52 and 94 years old) had no known underlying health condition.

Maha Prasad Adhikari appointed new governor of Nepal Rastra Bank

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Kathmandu — The government has appointed new governor in its central bank in Nepal .
Maha Prasad Adhikari as the 17th governor of Nepal Rastra Bank.

A cabinet meeting held on Monday decided to appoint Adhikari to the top central bank job.

He has served as the chief executive officer of Nepal Investment Board and deputy governor of NRB earlier.

NRB, which was established in 1956 under the Nepal Rastra Bank Act-1955 is the monetary, regulatory and supervisory authority of banks and financial institutions in the country.

ECAN To Assist Nepali Students Abroad

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RSS, Kathmandu : The Educational Consultancies Association of Nepal (ECAN) has started taking complaints through emergency forms from Nepali students abroad. Nepali students pursuing higher education in any country can register their complaints using the emergency form, ECAN stated.    
ECAN said it started the ECAN COVID-19 Emergency Registration Form process after students in abroad study started facing problem and inconveniences due to the spread of coronavirus.    
Association president Prakash Pandey said the Nepali students reporting their problem through the emergency form would be assisted through the joint cooperation of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology; the embassies of the countries concerned, the Non-resident Nepalis Association (NRNA), the educational consultancies based in Nepal, the consultancies of the related countries and various associations.    
Before this, Nepal Rastra Bank has made provision by which parents of Nepali students who are in foreign countries can send maximum 500 US Dollars as expense to their children. ECAN has also called for increasing this amount.

Canada to arrange ‘special’ flight out of Nepal to bring stuck citizens due to Covid crisis

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Kathmandu — A repatriation flight for hundreds of Canadians stranded in Nepal during the COVID-19 pandemic is in the works, according to Global Affairs Canada.

“The High Commission of Canada to India is arranging for a special flight out of Nepal that is likely to take place in mid-next week,” Global Affairs spokesperson Krystyna Dodds said in an email Sunday.

The department is aware that there are Canadians in Nepal seeking a return to Canada, she said. All travellers, she added, should register with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service and follow the government’s updates on social media, the Globalnews.ca writes.

“Specifically for Nepal, travelers should follow @CanadainNepal on Twitter,” Dodds wrote.

That Twitter account had one update on Sunday for Canadian citizens and permanent residents stuck in Nepal: “Canadian Citizens/PR holders in Nepal: we continue to work on flight arrangements out of Kathmandu & appreciate your patience. Check ROCA messages & social media for updates.”

There are more than 378,000 Canadians currently registered as overseas, with 1,101 registered in Nepal, but there could be more since registration is voluntary.

Don McClymont from Edmonton told Global News his 27-year-old daughter was in Nepal trying to find her way back to Canada for the past week, when she and a friend finally found a seat on a U.S.-sponsored flight to Washington, D.C.

For only the fourth time in 68-year reign, Queen Elizabeth addressed the U.K, PM Johnson hospitalised

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London — For the fourth time in her 68-year reign, Queen Elizabeth addressed the U.K. during a primetime broadcast Sunday, warning of difficult days to come as the coronavirus crisis intensifies across the country.

The speech was recorded at Windsor Castle, where she is currently self-isolating along with Prince Philip. The queen thanked the medical professionals of the NHS and discussed the importance of social distancing to reduce the virus’s spread.

“I am speaking to you at what I know is an increasingly challenging time. A time of disruption in the life of our country: a disruption that has brought grief to some, financial difficulties to many, and enormous changes to the daily lives of us all,” she said. “Together we are tackling this disease, and I want to reassure you that if we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been admitted to hospital for tests, 10 days after testing positive for coronavirus, Downing Street has said.

He was taken to a London hospital on Sunday evening with “persistent symptoms” – including a temperature.

It is said to be a “precautionary step” taken on the advice of his doctor, BBC writes.

The number of people who have died from coronavirus in the UK has risen by 708 to 4,313 – the highest number since the outbreak of the pandemic.

A total of 41,903 people have now tested positive for the virus in the UK, and 4,313 of those hospitalised have died.

 

UK announces charter flights from India to bring British nationals home

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London — The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has announced the first round of rescue flights from India this coming week.

In a Tweet, the FCO said

“We are delighted to announce the details of the first round of charter flights from India to the UK, enabling British travellers to return home. These flights are for UK travellers who normally reside in the UK and their direct dependants.”

Details of how to book the flights are also detailed on the following Tweet, which says the following, The Business Traveller writes.

Flights from Delhi to London Heathrow will take place on the 9 and 11 April, 2020 to London Heathrow.

Flights from Mumbai to London Heathrow will take place on the 9 and 11 April to London Heathrow

Flights from Goa will take place on the 8, 10 and 12, 2020 to London Stansted.

To see details for each flight follow the links above.

The flights are being organised by travel management company CTM which says the following about the Delhi flights.

“CTM is working on the authorisation of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office to help as many UK-resident British Nationals as possible to return home from Delhi.

“If you are a British National who normally resides in the UK and currently visiting Delhi, and you wish to return the UK, please use this online form to provide your details.

“Special return flights have been arranged for Thurday, 9th April. If you complete this registration, you should have your bags packed and be prepared to depart Delhi by the afternoon of Wednesday, 8th April.

“Please note that registration does not guarantee a place on a flight.  You will be sent further information if you are allocated a flight. Those who are not allocated a place on a flight will be put on a waitlist for the next available set of flights.

“These flights are offered to UK travellers who normally reside in the UK and their direct dependants (spouses and children, regardless of nationality, only). Anyone found not eligible to fly will be denied boarding and we reserve the right to deduct an administration fee before offering any refund.

“Please begin by selecting the number of travellers for whom you are registering and then proceed by completing individual registrations for each traveller. The cost of the flight is £581.00 for each traveller and infants, under the age of 2, will travel free of charge.”

The cost of flights from Goa is £681.00 and from Mumbai £600.

Reports say that the FCO is working with 14 commercial airlines to organise rescue flights form around the world.

Speaking in the tweet, Jan Thompson says,

“Next week is just the start. We will not be able to get everyone home immediately so please bear with us.”

A significant problem is the India lockdown which prevents people from travelling around India.

It means those citizens waiting for relief from, for instance, the Punjab or Gujarat will now be helped by these flights.

To those people, the FCO says,

“We are looking to arrange flights from other locations in India, where we know there are large numbers of British nationals. We will run flights based on need and circumstance.”

  • To book flights and register their details, British nationals should use the following city-specific webpages: Goa, Mumbai and New Delhi
    • Movement within India is currently very restricted. Travellers should only apply for flights leaving from the state they are currently in.
    • These flights are for UK travellers who normally reside in the UK and their direct dependants.
    • A number of seats will be reserved for those deemed vulnerable. Individuals in this group will be contacted directly.
    • Details regarding luggage allowance, flight costs and carriers will be available on the booking portal.
  • The UK continues to work with partners to secure seats for British nationals on flights that other countries are running. On 4 April, 113 of the most vulnerable British nationals left Goa on an Irish flight.
  • An estimated 35,000 British Nationals are currently in India. Over 20,000 have told us they wish to return to the UK as soon as possible.
  • In response to the unprecedented travel restrictions in place worldwide, the UK Government on 30 March announced a new partnership with airlines to enable British travellers to fly home. Where commercial routes do not exist, the Government will provide up to £75 million to enable special charter flights to bring home UK residents.
  • British nationals in India are advised to follow our travel advice and social media channels for the latest information, and to call the following consular numbers if they require immediate assistance:

New Delhi: +91 (11) 2419 2100
Chennai: +91 (44) 42192151
Mumbai: +91 (22) 6650 2222

Media

Sally Hedley, Head of Communications
Press and Communications, British High Commission
Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021
Tel: 24192100; Fax: 24192400

For media queries, email: BHCMediaDelhi@fco.gov.uk

Two young nurses and five London bus workers die after contracting Covid-19

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London — Five London bus workers have died from coronavirus, a trade union has announced.

Unite, which represents workers from Transport for London (TfL), described the losses as a “terrible tragedy” and said it was doing everything in its power to ensure the safety of bus drivers.

Regional secretary Peter Kavanagh said: “Unite will assist the families of our members in every possible way during this terrible time.

“Unite has been working continuously with Transport for London (TfL) and the operators to ensure the safety of drivers and others in the industry who are performing a heroic job in getting NHS and care workers to their places of work, iNews writes.

“These measures include deep cleaning of buses, additional cleaning of touch points, the sealing of screens around the driver, the provision of hand sanitiser for all and placing the passenger seating closest to the driver out of bounds.

Kavanagh confirmed that he had been in direct contact with the Mayor of London “who shares our view that bus drivers must be fully protected.”

“My officers are holding daily meetings with TfL, exploring further safety improvements and we are absolutely committed to doing everything in our power to make the driving of buses safe during this unprecedented crisis.

“We are also calling on the government to make provisions for transport workers in terms of personal protective equipment.”

Bus services across the UK have continued to run despite demand for bus travel having fallen by about 90 per cent due to the virus.

Two young nurses die

Two nurses in their 30s have died after contracting coronavirus, and it has emerged that nurses and frontline health workers are being offered grief counselling and psychological support, with the loss of more NHS lives anticipated.

Areema Nasreen, a 36-year-old NHS nurse from Walsall in the West Midlands, who was believed to have had no underlying health issues, died shortly after midnight on Thursday in intensive care at Walsall Manor hospital, where she had worked for 16 years, The Guardian writes.

Tributes were also paid to another NHS nurse, named locally as mother of three Aimee O’Rourke, who is is believed to have contracted the virus before she died. She was described as “a wonderful friend and colleague” to those who worked with her at the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother hospital in Margate, Kent.

MP Virendra Sharma congratulates Keir and Angela

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London—Labour Party MP, Virendra Sharma, has congratulated Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner, for being elected as Leader and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.

Speaking after the result, MP Sharma said, ““Keir and Angela have stood on platforms of uniting the party and holding the government to account. The result today will bring unity to the Labour Party, show the country we are serious party of government in waiting and prepare to win the next General Election.

I am delighted to have worked with both Angela and Keir, to know them, and proud to now call them Leader and Deputy Leader of the Party. They are a winning team, to win the next election and show the weakness of Boris Johnson and his pathetic government. Congratulations to both on their wins, and to all the candidates who put in such hard work. I also want to thank Jeremy Corbyn for his work as Labour leader,” he added.

Keir, 57, defeated Lisa Nandy and Rebecca Long-Bailey in a ballot of party members and supporters, to get elected to the Party leader. He will replace Jeremy Corbyn.

The lawyer, who became an MP in 2015, won on the first round of voting, with more than 50% of ballots cast.

After his victory, Sir Keir spoke to PM Boris Johnson and agreed to meet next week to discuss the coronavirus crisis, reports said.

Another 708 people have died after contracting coronavirus, taking the UK death toll to 4,313

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London — Another 708 people have died after contracting coronavirus, taking the UK death toll to 4,313.

It is another record daily rise since the beginning of the outbreak, following yesterday’s figures.

A total of 41,903 people have now tested positive for Covid-19. The Scottish Government said 46 more people had passed away, bringing Scotland’s total to 218. A further 13 deaths were recorded in Wales, taking the country’s toll to 154, and Northern Ireland’s total rose by eight to 56, the Metro writes.

Public Health England said of the extra 637 English deaths in hospitals, patients were aged between five years and 104 years old.

It brought the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 3,939, with 40 of those who had died in England – aged between 48 and 93 years old – having no known underlying health condition, Sky news reported.

 

Keir Starmer elected UK Labour chief, vows to ‘tear out’ party anti-Semitism

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AFP, London — Britain’s main opposition Labour party on Saturday said that Keir Starmer had been elected as its new leader, replacing Jeremy Corbyn who resigned after its crushing December election defeat.

Photo : Wikipedia

“Congratulations to @Keir_Starmer, the new Leader of the Labour Party!” the party announced on Twitter after a three-month leadership campaign.

Starmer takes the helm of a defeated and divided party in the midst of the coronavirus crisis.

In his victory speech, the 57-year-old Starmer apologized to the Jewish community for anti-Semitism in Labour’s ranks, calling it a “stain” and pledging to stamp it out.

“On behalf of the Labour Party, I am sorry,” he said. “”I have seen the grief that [anti-Semitism] brought to so many Jewish communities.

“I will tear out this poison by its roots and judge success by the return of Jewish members and those who felt that they could no longer support us.”

Starmer has previously said he would take action to eliminate prejudice against Jews in his party “on day one” in order to demonstrate “the difference that new leadership will make on the issue.”

He has also said he would look to fully cooperate with the Equalities and Human Rights Commission’s report into anti-Semitism in the party, which is currently in the works, but that he had no intention of waiting for its results in order to take action.

Starmer is a former director of state prosecutions and Labour’s Brexit spokesman.

His wife, Victoria Alexander, comes from a Jewish background and he has extended family living in Tel Aviv.

“My wife’s family is Jewish. Her dad is Jewish, their family came over from Poland. The extended family live in Israel,” he told Britain’s Jewish News in February.

He’s never been to the Jewish state but ”we’re in regular contact with them and we’ve got various visits planned, basically to take our kids for the first time.”

During a campaign event organized by the Jewish Labour Movement, other candidates said they were “Zionists” while Starmer was hesitant.

“I do support Zionism,” he later told Jewish News. “I absolutely support the right of Israel to exist as a homeland. My only concern is that Zionism can mean slightly different things to different people, and… to some extent it has been weaponized. I wouldn’t read too much into that. I said it loud and clear — and meant it — that I support Zionism without qualification.”

He also told the Jewish Chronicle: “If the definition of ‘Zionist’ is someone who believes in the state of Israel, in that sense I’m a Zionist.”

Still, it was particularly his personal ties to Judaism that brought Starmer under criticism by some for failing to do enough against anti-Semitism while serving in Corbyn’s Shadow Cabinet. Some even accused him of seeking to hide his connection to Judaism while the issue was contentious within Labour.

The Daily Mail on Saturday published comments reportedly made by the late London Rabbi Dr David Goldberg, who died last year of cancer. A friend of Goldberg said the rabbi had told him he was “very disappointed with Keir Starmer.

“Particularly as his wife and children are members of my synagogue. It’s their community which is under threat and yet he’s done so little. It’s pathetic,” Goldberg’s friend quoted him as saying.

The announcement of Starmer’s election was a low-key affair, with a planned special conference cancelled due to restrictions on social gatherings imposed to stem the spread of COVID-19.

Instead, the result was put out in a press release mid-morning — and candidates were asked to pre-record their victory speeches.

Smart and studious, but accused of lacking charisma, Starmer has vowed to get the party back in shape after December’s general election, when it suffered its worst result since the 1930s

WHD initiates Covid Times Poetry competition “You inspire / We Award “

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London —  An International NGO “World Humanitarian Drive (WHD)”  has initiated a COVID time poetry competition.  Abdul Basit Syed, a British Indian social activist who is the founder and
Chairman of WHD believed the the best way to illuminate the surrounded gloom in peoples lives during this crisis is by giving hope of inspiration to humanity through words.

He has inspired many people from different countries to stay at home to break the chain of corona virus outbreak by his multi language digital campaign posters and initiating an International poetry contest “Covid Times Poetry” commenced on the 27 th March 2020.

Abdul Basit Syed is determined to break the barrier of fear of Covid 19 by promoting hope through people’s inspirational poems. The competition is to encourage every individual during this lockdown to ideate in kindling their poetic skills to motivate humanity around the world even from inside their homes through this online poetry contest.

This is the first time in human history a global poetry competition has been organised to save the planet through everyone’s inspiration from inside their home and collective efforts, emphasizing the oneness amongst all, the contest is open to all languages, nationalities and age group, says Abdul in a press note provided to media.

Poems are sequentially posted in Instagram: @whd.org.uk for the winners to
be picked and honoured with “WHD Humanitarian Award.”

Sent your poems to inspire the world from your home
WhatsApp +44 794 632 8097 or email: Support@whd.org.uk
#You Inspire_We Award
#U 2 Can Write
#Let Your Words Inspire From Home
#Covid_Times_Poetry

‘We need a regional thinking for the protection of migrant workers in South Asia’ – — Dr Jeevan Raj Sharma

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Senior Lecturer in South Asia and International Development, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh.

He is the author of “Crossing the Border to India: Youth, Migration and Masculinities in Nepal” which published by the Temple University Press (2018) and Bloomsbury (2019). Dr Sharma spoke to BHAGIRATH YOGI and JAGAN KARKI on the impact of coronavirus and lockdown in South Asian countries on migrant workers. 

Excerpts of the interview:

Tens of thousands of Indian migrant workers returned to their villages from mega cities after PM Narendra Modi announced three-week long nationwide lockdown. Could there be a better way to fight with the Covid-19?

 

It is very natural for politicians/governments to prefer the policy of lockdown in their attempt to contain the contagion. Likewise, it is very natural for low-income migrants to try and return to their villages in a context where their economic security is threatened and they are left without any social support and protection. On 24 March, Indian PM Narendra Modi announced a national lockdown to contain the spread of covid-19 with very little notice. For reason that remains unclear, the Indian state didn’t consider the impact such lockdown with very little notice would have on millions of internal as well as cross-border migrants leading to an exodus migrants attempting to return to their villages. In addition to the ‘potential’ public health benefits of lockdown, the policy of lockdown gives state a certain sense of control and legitimacy.

Indian PM could have given a longer notice for lockdown so migrants would have been able to able to travel to their village, and additionally he could have offered economic and social security packages for this group of population.

We need a regional thinking when it comes to the welfare and protection of migrant workers in South Asia.  First and foremost, migrant workers are human beings with human rights and second, as labor, they are economic citizens with certain entitlements and economic and labor rights. If we are able to involve these two, the situation of migrant workers will be far better.

 How is the situation of internal and cross-border migration in South Asia? What do you think needs to be done to protect the life and dignity of internal and cross-border migrant workers?

 

South Asia is a region of migration; migration to cities and town has a long history and this has escalated in the last few decades. There are about 200-300 million people moving from countryside to cities and towns, both internally and across the border. As economic hubs, South Asian cities and smaller towns attract members of marginal rural households experiencing difficult economic, political and social conditions at home.

The cities and town in this sense offer a sense of economic security and freedom although the situation of low-income migrants in South Asia has been appalling with poor conditions of work, pay, living conditions and rampant ill-treatment. Universal access to basic services without having to prove citizenship and documents would be a good start but that’s a wishful thinking in the current political context of South Asia, but Covid-19 does give an opportunity to consider this.

 

Hundreds of Nepali migrant workers are stranded at the Nepal-India border at present. Should they be allowed to return home?

 

As I indicated above, large number of Nepalis go and work in India in search of economic opportunities. They return home as they have left their family, farms and social support behind. It is only natural that Nepali migrants want to return home when there is a lockdown with no economic security and protection. Of course, they should be allowed to return home with proper public health measures such as testing, quarantine and isolation. It is disappointing, to say the least, that low-income migrants are treated like virus in the border and are left stranded.

 

 You have studied about the plight of Nepalese working in India. What did you find out?

 

Given the limited economic opportunities in rural Nepal, young men from low-income households have historically relied on comparatively large economy of Indian cities where they travel regularly in search of various work opportunities so they can support and maintain their families back home. Although Nepal and India share unique open border, ‘open border’ and ‘equal treatment’ do not apply to poorer migrants who are subjected to ill-treatment and humiliation during travel and border-crossing. The working and living conditions are poor, and access to basic services limited. Nepali migrants are regularly subjected to ill-treatment and discrimination. My research shows that while the idea of freedom remains extremely important in men’s migration decision, Nepali migrants’ actual experience are often of suffering and lack of freedom.

Despite all these, gendered ideas of masculinities and involvement in various forms of opportunities for consumption and adventure, it offers powerful means by which these migrants continue to travel to India, despite many difficulties they face.  

 

People from Nepal and other neighbouring countries work in India in huge numbers but they often seen unseen and unheard. What do you think respective governments should do to protect their interests?

 

I think we need a regional thinking when it comes to the welfare and protection of migrant workers in South Asia.  First and foremost, migrant workers are human beings with human rights and second, as labor, they are economic citizens with certain entitlements and economic and labor rights. If we are able to involve these two, the situation of migrant workers will be far better.

 It is disappointing that low-income migrants are treated like virus in the border and are left stranded

 The corona virus pandemic has once again showed that poor and marginalised communities bear the biggest brunt. Do you think the time has come to rethink our overall development paradigm?

Exactly, this virus isn’t democratic as some people have commented. Both the virus and the response of the governments have disproportionate impact on the poor and the marginal groups. Not only are low-income migrants already vulnerable due to their poor working and living conditions, they have no or poor access to healthcare. Additionally, they bear the significant impact of lockdown measures we have seen in South Asia. Broader public health messages such as ‘washing hand’, ‘social distance’ and ‘isolation’ do not reflect the context in which millions of migrant workers live and work in South Asia where they live in cramped housing, lack access to water, many work in settings where social distance is not possible and are simply difficult to trace and track. Additionally, they are now seen as the source of virus who are being stopped from crossing the border (without any testing) and news reports show racialised and humiliating treatment of migrants as photographs of migrants being cleansed circulated in India media.

For further information Dr Sharma could be reached through the following link :  http://www.sps.ed.ac.uk/staff/south_asian_studies/jeevan_sharma

Rights groups, academics call to repatriate stranded Nepalese

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London—Human rights groups as well as Nepali academics have called upon the Nepal government to allow Nepali citizens stranded at the Nepal-India border to return their homeland.

International Solidarity For Nepal (INSOFN)  — a  human rights group based in London—has called upon the Nepal government to allow hundreds of Nepalese stranded at the Nepal-India border on the banks of Mahakali river to return home.

“To stop Nepali citizens at the border  in the name of Corona lockdown is the violation of citizens’ fundamental rights enshrined in Nepal’s constitution and international law,” said Dr Krishna Upadhyay, coordinator of the INSOFN UK chapter.

The group also called Nepali authorities to provide basic amenities to the stranded people during the quarantine when they return home.

Human Rights Watch, a New York-based human rights group, has also called upon the Nepal government  to act immediately so that its citizens can come home and also work with other governments to ensure the protection of its citizens abroad.

“Nepali authorities have made little provision for returning citizens because they have few facilities to quarantine them. Imposing restrictions without addressing the needs of citizens entitled to return home denies them their basic rights. Such restrictions are also less likely to be effective, if they force people to live in crowded conditions, or evade controls instead of cooperating with quarantine requirements,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia Director of the Human Rights Watch said.

Meanwhile, talking to SOUTH ASIA TIME, Dr Surya Subedi, Professor of International Law at the University of Leeds, UK said that it would be unlawful under the spirits of the rights of citizens guaranteed in the Constitution of Nepal and in the international human rights and humanitarian law treaties ratified by Nepal not to allow Nepali citizens to return home.

“Nepal is under an obligation to ensure the right of Nepali citizens to return to their own country under both treaty law and customary international law,” said Prof. Subedi. He also called upon the governments of Nepal and India to put in place immediately a mechanism for better coordination to ensure same and smooth repatriation of citizens of both the countries.

Both Nepal and India have announced weeks-long nationwide shutdown in a bid to stop transmission of coronavirus. It has, however, resulted in hundreds of Nepali as well as Indian citizens stranded across the border while trying to enter their own country.

‘Healthy’ NHS nurse, 36, dies after contracting COVID-19

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London— A 36-year-old NHS nurse, who was believed to have no underlying health issues, has died after contracting coronavirus.

Areema Nasreen died shortly after midnight in intensive care at Walsall Manor Hospital in the West Midlands, where she had worked for 16 years.

The mother-of-three developed symptoms of coronavirus on March 13, including body aches, a high temperature and then a cough.

She had tested positive for COVID-19 a week later and a doctor at the hospital previously told Sky News her condition “deteriorated very quickly”, klfm writes.

In a tribute to her posted on Facebook, her friend Rubi Aktar said: “My beautiful best friend Areema Nasreen has just passed away. My heart is broken. She fought and fought but Allah decided to take her.

“She was the most loveliest, genuine person you could ever meet, she went above and beyond for everyone she met.

“I’m so grateful that I had the honour to call her my best friend, she saw me at my best and my worst and accepted my every flaw. I am so broken that words can’t explain.

“I can’t believe I will not see your smile again. You made me the nurse that I am today, with your support, motivation and inspiration I am the nurse that I am today and I hope I can do you proud Areema.

“I love you so much and I will never forget you. You had so much to live for, I am sorry you didn’t get to see your kids grow up and I’m sorry that you didn’t get to complete your career.”

According to guardian, the  new figures reveal the age groups of those who have died to date. More than half of the patients (52%) who have died with coronavirus were over 80 years of age. Most of the other deaths (40%) were among patients aged between 60 and 79. A further 7% of deaths occurred in those aged between 40 and 59.

Labour to announce it’s new leader on Saturday

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London — Voting in the contest to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader has closed.

Rebecca Long-Bailey, Lisa Nandy or Sir Keir Starmer will be announced as the new leader on Saturday.

The party’s next deputy leader – replacing Tom Watson who resigned in December – will also be revealed, BBC writes.

It is understood members will hear the result via email and the media after a special conference was cancelled over the coronavirus outbreak .

Mrs Long-Bailey confirmed earlier this week that the candidates had been asked to record a victory speech “so it can be sent out over the airwaves as quickly as possible”

Labour election process  :

Firstly you need to get on the ballot. To begin with, the candidates had to win the backing of at least 22 MPs or MEPs apiece to make it into the second round. Then they had two routes to pursue.affiliated unions such as the GMB, Aslef or Unite.

The party have published a list of nominations as they come in, updating it daily during the first stages of the contest.

Before they make it to the final ballot, the candidates must first make it through the nomination period.

Previously for a candidate to make it onto the ballot they just needed the support of 15% of MPs and MEPs. This famously came to prominence in 2015 where a number of MPs ‘lent’ their nominations to Jeremy Corbyn in order to ‘broaden the debate’ in the leadership contest only for Corbyn to win overall when the elections went out to the membership.

Due to changes to the Labour Party’s Rule Book agreed by Labour Party Conference, candidates must now receive nominations from not only 10% of MPs or MEPs (a reduction from the previous rules) but also nominations from CLPs and affiliates too.

Based on the current size of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) this means candidates will need 22 nominations.

To make it onto the final ballot candidates must receive nominations from either 5% of constituency parties or at least three affiliates (two of which must be trade unions) which make up five percent of affiliated membership.

Once the nomination period closes on Monday 13 January the candidates who have reached the required threshold will go forward to a ballot of members, and supporters.

Once PLP nominations close the two-day window to sign up as a registered supporter, for a one off payment of £25, opens which will allow Labour supporters/voters the change to vote in the contest.

Labour members and supporters pick the leader based on a one-member, one-vote system. It means that all members, affiliated supporters and registered supporters — from the shadow cabinet to the registered supporters — have a vote of equal value.

Members vote via post or online using the alternative vote (AV) system – ranking candidates in order of preference by putting a 1 next to their favourite, a 2 for their second favourite and so on. The numbers are guidance for where the vote should go if no candidate gets half the vote. The candidate first to secure more than 50% of the vote is declared the winner.

The counting takes place in rounds, so if no candidate reaches the 50% threshold in the first round of counting, the candidate with the fewest first preference votes is eliminated and the voters who put that candidate as number 1 have their vote moved to their second choice. This process continues until a winner is chosen.

Because of the AV system members and supporters won’t need to vote tactically in the ballot. If their first choice does not gain enough support and is eliminated, then their second preference will count too. It’s impossible for a lower choice to hurt a higher one, so it’s always worth putting a number beside all the candidates. From : electoral-reform.org.uk