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From the Kathmandu Press: Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu Valley on Tuesday have given priority to a host of issues from political, sociocultural and economic spheres. From politics, key issues to get featured on the broadsheet covers are the meeting of ruling Nepal Communist Party and statements made by the main opposition Nepali Congress about contemporary political issues including the government decision to hand over Budhigandaki Hydropower Project to a Chinese firm.

As the 15-day festival of Dashain, which is considered the biggest festival for most of the Nepalis, is beginning tomorrow, newspapers have published stories about Dashain as well. Annapurna Post has published two supplements covering different dimensions of the festival.

Important

Bamdev Gautam likely to contest Kathmandu bypoll

File: Bamdev Gautam

The ruling Nepal Communist Party is preparing to ask its lawmaker Rambir Manandhar, who represents Kathmandu-7 in the House of Representatives, to tender his resignation so as to let its senior leader Bamdev Gautam get elected to the vacant position after a byelection, according to reports in Kantipur and Naya Patrika.

Kantipur claims Manandhar has already expressed his readiness to agree on the proposal if the party thinks it is necessary. Naya Patrika adds he has already filed an application in the party to let him resign.

‘Pant murder probe report not sufficient to file case’

A candlelight vigil organised to demand justice for Nirmala Pant, at Maitighar Mandala, on Thursday, September 13, 2018.

The Office of the Attorney General has stated that the report made by the Ministry of Home Affairs about the rape and murder of Nirmala Pant does not give any evidence to let the government file a case against perpetrators, The Himalayan Times reports.

Police have to move the probe further to collect sufficient evidence for the legal action, according to the report. Rajdhani in its lead story says police are trying to approach the case from additional perspectives.

On the other hand, locals have demanded action against police and Bam sisters, according to a box story in Republica.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said the government could not find the perpetrators behind the incident as no one cooperated with him, according to Annapurna Post lead story.

PM’s consultant tapping private data?

Lead stories in Nagarik and Republica claim that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s IT consultant Asgal Ali has put pressures on officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs to provide private information about members of the general public that he could use for commercial benefits.

Ali is also the Chief Executive Officer of eSewa Fonepay Private Limited.

Meanwhile, a case has been filed against Ali at the National Vigilance Centre demanding investigation, according to the reports.

Ignored

Constitution amendment issue will be settled soon, assures PM

A meeting between Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Rastriya Janata Party Nepal leaders, in Baluwatar, on Thursday, July 19, 2018.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said the government will decide before Dashain, which is just one week away, if a constitution amendment proposal will be tabled anytime soon, according to Gorkhapatra lead story.

Responding to a delegation of the Rastriya Janata Party in Kathmandu yesterday, the Prime Minister said he was positive about the amendment, the report informs quoting RJPN leader Anil Kumar Jha.

NAC lends planes without competition

The country’s national flag carrier, Nepal Airlines Corporation, has been found lending its aeroplanes to private companies without competition, Nagarik reports in a snippet.

Newly appointed Executive Chairman of Madan Kharel has lent the aircraft to travel agencies for chartered flights at a cheap rate, the report claims.

Govt tells sugar factories to pay farmers in five days

As Nepalis are preparing to celebrate their greatest festival of Dashain, the government has urged sugar factories to pay outstanding dues to the farmers within next five days, according to Abhiyan.

The factory owners say they are yet to pay Rs 1.5 billion to the farmers, expressing commitment to clear the dues at the earliest.

Interesting

World Bank predicts hopeful economy for Nepal this year

The World Bank has revised its prediction for Nepal’s economic growth for this fiscal year, and said it would be around 5.9 per cent, according to a snippet in Naya Patrika. However, the figure is still lower than the government target of 8 per cent.

Earlier in June, the Bank had said it would be around 4.5 per cent.

17 per cent rise in tourist arrival in first 9 months of 2018

File: Chinese tourists in Nepal

Total 772,816 foreign tourists visited Nepal in the first nine months of 2018 as per data maintained by Nepal Tourism Board, according to a two column story in Karobar. This is 17 per cent more than the number recorded last year, according to the report.

The next three months are likely to receive more tourists and the total number of foreign tourists for this year will be around 1.2 million, claims NTB Chief Executive Officer Deepak Raj Joshi.

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