These are some of the best stories from The Kathmandu Post (February 4, 2020). Nepal Airlines took delivery of the first of the two Airbus A320s in February 2015. Post File Photo
These are some of the best stories from The Kathmandu Post (February 4, 2020).
Airbus admits to paying at least 340,000 euros in bribes to Nepali officials
Airbus, the European aerospace company, paid at least 340,000 euros in bribes to Nepali businessmen and officials in order to secure contracts for two narrow-body Airbus A320 jets for Nepal Airlines Corporation, according to a settlement document released by the French National Financial Prosecutor’s Office.
The settlement, which alludes to a total financial commitment of $1.8 million, says that this payment is “likely to qualify as bribery of a foreign public official”. It is unclear whether the total $1.8 million, equivalent to Rs200 million, was paid to Nepali intermediaries and officials, but 340,000 euros were paid to a third-party that is believed to have routed the payment to Nepali officials.
Government focuses on Nepalis in Hubei, but travellers from rest of China are neither screened nor quarantined
The government plans to evacuate citizens from China’s Hubei, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak in China, but Nepalis from the rest of the country are already returning home on their own, that too in hordes. However, the country’s only international airport neither quarantines nor screens them or anyone else returning from China.
As health experts express concern about the lack of a quarantine facility in the country, and the risk of virus spreading, the government is still undecided on where Nepali evacuees will be isolated after they are brought to Kathmandu.
Unable to trust adults, rescued children end up back on the streets
Four months ago, Shanker, whom the Post is identifying only by his first name as he is a minor, was rescued from the streets of Kalanki by the National Child Rights Council (NCRC), a governmental agency that deals with child rights, and was referred to the drop-in centre run by Voice of Children, an organisation that works to rehabilitate and reintegrate street children. However, after spending just a month at the centre, Shanker ran away, only to end up back on the streets.
Shanker was rescued again and referred to the same drop-in-centre a month ago, in January. Shanker said that he does not intend to run away this time.
While on the streets, children are often physically and sexually abused and end up addicted to drugs, which can cause them to relapse once rescued.
Sajha explores legal options as government demands Rs 3 billion back along with interest
Ten days after the government announced it was taking back money it gave to Sajha Yatayat to buy electric buses, the company says it is exploring its legal options.
The government invested in the company by buying shares worth Rs 3 billion, it did not provide the amount as a grant or a loan, said Bhushan Tuladhar, chief executive officer of Sajha Yatayat.
Law ministry starts drafting transitional justice law amendment without victims onboard
Despite reservations from conflict victims and rights activists, the law ministry is giving final touches to a bill to amend the Enforced Disappeared Enquiry and Truth and Reconciliation Act.
The Ministry of Law and Justice plans to present the amendment before Parliament during its current session without conducting a national-level discussion on the issue.
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