The Asia Pacific Summit beginning in Kathmandu on Friday has created further controversies, particularly due to the disputed fame of the organiser and the government’s investment in the summit. Therefore, most of major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu on Friday have published reports about the event. Likewise, the abduction and murder of an eight-year-old boy in Gongabu of Kathmandu has also been featured on the front pages of major newspapers today.
Meanwhile, the Nepal Army took action against dozens of officials and personnel for their involvement in irregularities concerning recruitment of personnel. Many newspapers have covered it on their front pages.
The meeting of Nepali Congress district presidents among other political, sociocultural and economic issues has been featured on the broadsheet covers today.
Important
Asia Pacific Summit controversy intensifies
Kantipur says Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and his wife are among 1,500 couples who will receive ‘blessings’ from the Unification Church amidst the Summit today. The Kathmandu Post informs that various government agencies are spending millions of rupees for various purposes during the summit.
Meanwhile, the government is receiving international guests, though it is an INGO function, reports Naya Patrika.
Another child murdered in Kathmandu
Prayas Kunwar, an eight-year-old boy living in Gongabu of Kathmandu, was found murdered on Thursday afternoon, according to newspaper reports. He was missing since Tuesday evening. Police have said he was murdered after the abduction.
Meanwhile, police arrested Mahendra Sarki, a driver of the guesthouse operated by the victim’s father, in connection with the case. It has been learned that he had told the investigators about the location of his body.
Court martial in Nepal Army after recruitment irregularities
The national military organisation says it has taken action against 173 personnel after they were found involved in irregularities during the recruitment of personnel. Kantipur says 11 persons including three officers were fired from the job.
While the army had begun a court martial process against 187 persons, 14 of them were found innocent.
Ignored
Cabinet likely to endorse staff adjustment law next week
After months of discussion, the government has finalised the ordinance to mobilise existing civil servants at local, provincial and federal levels, Rajdhani reports in a four column story.
The Legislation Committee of the Council of Ministers finalised the draft ordinance on Thursday, and it is likely that the next Cabinet meeting to be held early next week will endorse the draft.
The law will come into effect after President Bidya Devi Bhandari enacts it.
Ncell CGT hearing deferred again
The Supreme Court once against postponed the hearing on the issue of capital gains tax to be paid by Ncell, Gorkhapatra reports.
A five-member bench of the apex court is looking into the case for past few months. The Supreme Court had included the case in the cause list of Thursday when it published its weekly schedule. However, the case was already removed when the court published its daily cause list yesterday morning.
Trade deficit goes on increasing
The Kathmandu Post reports in a snippet that Nepal’s trade deficit ballooned 40.3 per cent in the first four months of the current fiscal year. Rising imports of fuel and agricultural goods continue to dent the economy, the report informs, citing the data of Trade and Export Promotion Centre.
The country’s trade deficit amounted to Rs 454.47 billion as of mid-November.
Minister Ganskota threatens private media
Communications Minister Gokul Prasad Banskota has warned media owners and journalists to their about their investment s and jobs while writing about news stories against the government, reports Republica.
Speaking at his weekly press conference, Minister Banskota said the media should not write against the government as it is the main source of news as well as advertising revenue.
Interesting
New Everest height after 13 months
Recently, the Nepal government has completed measuring the height of Mount Event, the highest peak of the world. Now, it is preparing the report and it is likely that the publication of the result will take next 13 months, Rajdhani reports in its snippet.
It is the first time that the government is measuring Everest.
