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From the Kathmandu Press: Friday, November 16, 2018

Major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu on Friday have covered various issues from political, sociocultural and economic sectors on their front pages. The white paper issued by the country’s national flag carrier, Nepal Airlines Corporation, has received the top priority on most of the newspapers. Likewise, the Cabinet decisions made public by the government on Thursday have also received significant attention. The most highlighted among them is the nomination of Anjan Shakya, a relative of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, as newspapers have apparently criticised the decision as an example of nepotism.

The ministerial consultation of Colombo Process has also been covered on the front pages of some newspapers. Naya Patrika in its lead story has published a follow-up report about misuse of the government’s self-employment fund.

Important

NAC seeks govt support to avoid bankruptcy

File image: A Nepal Airlines aircraft

Nagarik, Annapurna Post, Karobar, Abhiyan, The Kathmandu Post, The Himalayan Times and Republica have reported that the NAC has called on the support to extend support to the Corporation claiming it is in a grave financial crisis.

The monthly loss of the Corporation currently stands at Rs 310 million, according to a two column story in Karobar.

The Corporation has cited recently purchased two wide body aircraft as the major reason of the possible bankruptcy, Annapurna Post reports, adding the purchase itself has been dragged into controversy of late and huge irregularities have been suspected.

PM’s relative gets ambassadorial job

File: Anjan Shakya

Recalling incumbent Niranjan Thapa from its Tel Aviv mission, the government has nominated former journalist Anjan Shakya to take over the position, according to newspaper reports. The decision has sparked a controversy as Shakya is known as a relative of Prime Minister Oli than a former journalist or a foreign affairs expert.

Meanwhile, Republica writes, “Sources within the government say this is just the beginning of the recall of ambassadors appointed by the erstwhile government.”

Communications Minister challenges journalists’ right to information

Communications Minister Gokul Banskota during a meeting of the Development and Technology Committee of Parliament, on Thursday, October, 4, 2018.

While the government is under fire for its bid to hide decisions of the Cabinet meeting ‘until they become mature’, the government spokesperson and Communications Minister Gokul Prasad Bankota on Thursday challenged journalists to finding out the decisions through their investigations, reports Kantipur.

Meanwhile, The Himalayan Times adds that the Prime Minister has warned his Cabinet colleagues not to reveal the decisions until the government spokesperson did so.

Ignored

Govt fails to execute good conduct policy under INGO pressure

File image: Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers

Nagarik reports in a brief box story that the government has decided to put the implementation of a good conduct policy on hold now owing to the pressure from INGOs working here. The policy was envisaged to ensure discipline of lawmakers, government staff, businesses, international diplomats, national and international NGOs and foreigners living in Nepal.

However, the Office of the Prime Minister has claimed it is still committed to implementing the policy.

Nepal expels 163 foreigners in four months

Nepal expelled 163 foreign citizens accusing them of various offences in past four months, Rajdhani reports in its anchor story.

Officials of the Department of Immigration have said some of these people were involved in illegal businesses whereas some were found to be forcing Nepali nationals for religious conversion.

Total 622 foreigners were expelled from Nepal in the last fiscal year.

Annapurna Post has also published a brief story about foreigners’ involvement in forced religious conversion.

Niramala Pant’s parents taken ill

Local activists stage a rally demanding action against the murderer of Nirmala Pant, in Kanchanpur, on Sunday, November 11, 2018.

Nepal Samacharpatra reports in a snippet that parents of Nirmala Pant, who have begun an indefinite sit-in demanding the action against rapist and murderer of their daughter some days, have been taken ill and some health workers provided treatment to them at the demonstration site on Thursday.

Kartik Nach suffers resource crunch

File: Kartik Nach

The Kathmandu Post reports in its anchor story that locals of Patan have suffered a serious resource crunch to continue the centuries-old tradition of Kartik Nach.

Around 100 personnel are needed to conduct the 12 day annual dance festival, but the local government, Lalitpur Metropolitan City, gave them just Rs 200,000 this year, according to the report.

Interesting

World Bank investing in Nepal hydropower after 23 years

Karobar reports in its lead story that the World Bank is making an investment in Upper Arun Hydropower Project and it will be the first investment of the Bank since it pulled out of the Arun III project due to political reasons after around 23 years ago.

The report informs that the Bank recently accepted the investment request floated by Nepal Electricity Authority.

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