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From the Kathmandu Press: Wednesday, April 4, 2018

All newspapers, English and Nepali alike, published from Kathmandu on Wednesday have accorded their top priority to the address of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to two Houses of Federal Parliament yesterday, in which he informed lawmakers about his state visit to India beginning this Friday. The second in the priority list is the talks ongoing between Oli’s CPN-UML and Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s CPN-Maoist Centre as a part of their preparations to the party merger.

Other contemporary political issues including challenges in bringing a remarkable shift in the administrative setup as the country has recently adopted federalism, and proroguing of the first session of Parliament have also been highlighted on the front page of newspapers today.

Important

PM assures protection of national interests during India trip

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli addresses the House of Representatives meeting, in Kathmandu, on Tuesday, April 3, 2018.

PM Oli told both the House of Representatives and the National Assembly on Tuesday that he would utilise the opportunity to pay a state visit on the giant neighbour in order to protect ad and promote national interests. Gorkhapatra lead story says the PM was of the view that economic development and mutual benefits would be the priority of the visit.

Oli said he would also take initiatives to ensure implementation of former agreements signed with India than trying to sign new ones, according to Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet meeting held yesterday morning also endorsed the PM’s visit agenda. The Prime Minister will lead a jumbo team of around 60 persons to New Delhi, according to Rajdhani.

UML-Maoist unification likely on April 22

File: KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal

It has been more than six months since the two biggest communist parties of the country have announced their plan to merge into a unified new party. However, the unification has not yet been formally announced though the two parties have partnered to lead federal and six provincial governments.

In this context, two task forces formed by the Party Unification Coordination Committee have suggested that the unification be announced on April 22, on the occasion of the establishment day of Communist Party of Nepal, multiple newspaper reports inform.

Meanwhile, Naya Patrika says UML Chairman Oli and Maoist Centre counterpart Pushpa Kamal Dahal will give a try at settling three contentious issues before Oli’s India trip scheduled for Friday.

New law on cards to control foreign junkets

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

Republica and Nepal Samacharpatra have informed that the government is preparing a new law in order to control unnecessary foreign visits of officials and bureaucrats. A panel has been formed under the leadership of Secretary Prem Kumar Rai, according to Nepal Samacharpatra.

Meanwhile, a snippet in Rajdhani says the Cabinet meeting held yesterday rejected the Supreme Court proposal to send some of the justices to foreign country as the proposal did not mention objectives of the visit.

Ignored

Medical Education Ordinance endorsed

File: Nepal’s Parliament building

The House of Representatives on Tuesday endorsed the Medical Education Ordinance the government had issued around two months ago, report The Kathmandu Post and Republica. Earlier, medical education reform activist Dr Govinda KC had warned of staging a fast-unto-death if the ordinance was not endorsed.

The previous Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government had issued the ordinance earlier owing to the pressure from Dr KC.

Voluntary retirement scheme put on hold

File: Lalbabu Pandit

Naya Patrika lead story for the day says that Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration Lalbabu Pandit has decided to put proposed voluntary retirement scheme on hold citing the state needs them at the time of administrative restructuring. The decision will save upto Rs 30 billion, according to the report.

Minister Pandit says those who are physically and mentally incapable of doing the jobs only will be given retirement for now.

Supreme Court functioning affected due to CJ’s absence

File image: Supreme Court of Nepal

Nepal Samacharpatra has carried a three-column story to inform that day-to-day functioning of the Supreme Court and implementation of plans made for reforms have been affected as the new Chief Justice has not been appointed even weeks have been passed since incumbent Gopal Parajuli resigned.

Meanwhile, experts have suggested that federal lawmakers immediately call a meeting of the Parliamentary Hearing Special Committee to take the process ahead.

The Judicial Council has already forwarded its recommendation for the position.

Interesting

Nepali coffee ranks high in international market

Karobar and Nagarik inform that a Nepali coffee product has ranked high in an international coffee review event. The Lekali coffee produced in Nuwakot of Nepal got an impressive score of 90 in the review done by the US-based Coffee Review, according to the reports.

They quote officials of Nepal Tea and Coffee Development Board to say that this is the highest achievement in Nepali coffee industry so far.

Pashupati area is now begging-free

If you are hesitant to visit the holy Padhupatinath are just because of insisting beggars outside the gate, you must be relieved now—for the Kathmandu Metropolitan City and the Pashupati Area Development Trust have decided to make the area begging-free, reports Rajdhani in  its four-column boxed anchor story. For this, the bodies rescued 81 helpless beggars and are planning to relocate them in other places like Budhanilakantha, Samakhusi and Hetaunda.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari made the announcement amidst a function organised inn Kathmandu yesterday.

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