Major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published in Kathmandu on Friday have given priority to the latest developments in the 33.5 kg gold smuggling case and the murder of ‘mule’ Sanam Shakya. The strike imposed by the transport entrepreneurs against the government decision to cancel the registration of ‘NGO-style’ committees of bus operators has also received significant attention.
Important
Morang District Court starts recording statement of accused smugglers
Morang District Court has started recording the statement of the accused involved in the 33.5 kg gold smuggling case , according to lead stories in Kantipur and Nepal Samacharpatra. The reports say that smugglers used police vehicles to ‘escort’ the smuggled gold out of the airport and passed it on to smuggler Chudamani Upreti’s office in Anamnagar.
Investigators have found the involvement of high-level police officials, and suspect the involvement of airline staffers in the case. Police are going through the call details of the conversation between police officials and mastermind Upreti aka ‘Gore’ to investigate into the matter, according to Nagarik.
Govt to take action against entrepreneurs who halt services
The government has vowed to take action against public transport entrepreneurs who shut services on Friday defying government orders. The government has called on transport entrepreneurs, who are going on strike from Friday, to resolve the matter through talks, reports Karobar.
However, 121 companies involved in the transport business have supported the government decision to end the transport ‘syndicate’ system and have continued their services, reports Rajdhani. The report states that the government will scrap the route permits of entrepreneurs who go on strike.
UML-MC unification process reaches final stage
The unification talks between CPN-UML and CPN Maoist Centre has reached its final stage. The chairs of both parties held two meetings yesterday itself to declare the date of the merger. The merger might be announced on Saturday, reports Gorkhapatra.
Ignored
Finance Minister excludes governor from budget process
The central bank governor has been excluded from the budget formulation team for the first time in the country’s history, according to The Himalayan Times. At an event in which both Finance Minister and the governor of NRB were invited, the Finance Minister publicly criticised the central bank for weak regulation and supervision of banking sector, demonstrating the underlying tensions between the two, reports the paper.
CNP captures four baby rhinos to gift to China
The Chitwan National Park has completed capturing four baby rhinos to gift to the Southern neighbours. Prime Minister KP Sharma government in 2016 had decided to gift two pairs of baby rhinos to China, reports Republica. A male and a female baby rhino will be sent in the first phase and the remaining will be sent in the second phase, the report says.
Interesting
Tatopani customs point to come into operation within 1.5 years
The operation of Tataopani Customs point near the Nepal-China border will resume within 1.5 years. Both the countries have agreed on reconstructing the infrastructures to resume the service, reports Naya Patrika.
The Tatopani customs point was damaged in the devastating 2015 earthquake.
Govt proposes free education till secondary level in private school
According to the anchor story in Gorkhapatra, the government has proposed to implement the policy of providing free education till secondary level. The paper also says that the government plans to make it compulsory for private schools to provide free education to 25 per cent of their students.
