Major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu on Wednesday have given priority to a host of issues from political, sociocultural and economic spheres. In the wake of a ‘gap’ surfaced between Nepal and the United States, US Ambassador to Nepal, Randy Berry has turned active in political meetings recently; and Annapurna Post and Gorkhapatra have published related reports on their front pages. Likewise, Nagarik and Annapurna Post have significantly covered leading sugar factories’ inability to pay sugarcane farmers on time.
Almost all newspapers have published reports about the arrest of a gold smuggling suspect from the UAE on their front pages. Few newspapers have highlighted restrictive provisions of the draft of a new advertising law that the government is preparing to discuss in Parliament soon, expressing concerns that the law is likely to curtain the freedom of expression.
Here is a summary of important, ignored and interesting stories from the cover pages of national broadsheets:
Important
US envoy meets PM
Ambassador Randy Berry, who reportedly boycotted a meeting hosted by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli last week, went to Oli’s official residence in Baluwatar on Tuesday afternoon and told him about the US government’s position on the current political crisis in Venezuela, according to a report in Annapurna Post.
Citing sources unnamed, the report informs that Berry during the meeting politely defended his government’s position against what the Nepal government and the ruling Nepal Communist Party stated in their statements.
Also on Tuesday, Berry went to the Ministry of Education and requested Minister Giriraj Mani Pokharel to ease visa acquisition process for American volunteers coming to Nepal for English language training programmes, according to Gorkhapatra.
Sugarcane farmers continue to live unpaid
When Matrika Yadav took over the Ministry of Industries, Commerce and Supplies last year, most sugarcane farmers were happy as Yadav showed them a hope of solving their perpetual problem. However, the farmers’ hopes have gone away now as leading sugar factories of the country continue to purchase sugar on credit, according to Nagarik.
Meanwhile, a report in Annapurna Post filed from Mahottari district also narrates woes of the farmers.
Ignored
Sajha Prakashan likely to shut down
Nagarik reports in a single column story that Sajha Prakashan, the government run publication house which had been contributing to the development of Nepal’s education and literature sectors, is on the verge of shutting down due to financial crisis.
It has been months since no book has been printed at its press. The staff have launched a protest as they have not been paid on time.
Three Gorges takes back West Seti equipment
After withdrawing from the ambitious West Seti Hydropower Project citing various differences over conditions set by Nepal, China’s Three Gorges has taken back equipment and tools it had brought for the project, Karobar reports.
The 750 megawatt project was planned around 40 years ago. However, no concrete progress has been made so far.
The report appears with a photograph of a helicopter on which the equipment are being loaded.
Nepal imports wood worth Rs 5.75 billion in one year
Though tons of wooden logs decayed in forests of the country unused, Nepal imported timbers and wood worth Rs 5.75 billion in the previous fiscal year 2017/18, according to a two column story in Rajdhani.
Nepal imported wood of different types from India, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore and Ukraine in the year, records at the Department of Customs show. India and China have been the leading wood exporters for Nepal.
Doctors prescribing banned medicines
The Kathmandu Post reports in a four column story that some doctors have been found to have prescribed medicines which were banned by the Department of Drug Administration.
“Patients across the country are handed a long list of prescriptions of vitamin supplements while experts around the world still debate if vitamin supplements are just hype or of any help at all,” the report reads, “Some doctors also prescribe vitamins even if the cause of ailments has not been establishment.”
Parliament likely to endorse law on extending TRC tenure
The House of Representatives is likely to endorse a bill on extending the term of Truth and Reconciliation Commission an Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappear Persons, according to a brief story in Republica.
In the bill, the government proposes to extend the term by one year now and another year if needed, according to the report.
Interesting
Nepal scraps 339 fake citizenship certificates acquired by foreigners
Naya Patrika reports in a snippet that the government scrapped citizenship certificates of 339 persons in a period of 20 years after finding out that they were foreigners.
Most of them have been identified as Indian nationals.
The existing citizenship law allows the Council of Ministers to scrap the certificates upon recommendation from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Meanwhile, the Ministry is investigating into more than 30 complaints demanding that fake certificates be scrapped.
