Two major issues that have received the topmost attention from newspapers today are young Nepali cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane’s entry into the Indian Premier League and the finalisation of power sharing model for provincial governments in six provinces by CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Centre. Almost all newspapers have carried stories on these two events on their front page today.
Besides, other contemporary political, socio-cultural and economic issues have also received some attention.
Important
Lamichhane hopes that gates for other players will be open with his IPL entry
Almost all newspapers have considered Lamichhane being sold to Delhi Daredevils for this year’s prestigious Indian Premier League as a significant achievement for Nepal’s cricket world.
Meanwhile, Lamichhane hopes that his selection will open gates for other players too, quotes The Himalayan Times. “I will try my best to do well which could open the gates for other players in the future,” he has been quoted in the newspaper’s anchor story, “I am happy that I could take my country’s name to the next level. This is the result of my dedication and hard work and I am hoping for the best to do well.”
The 17-year-old is currently in Dubai with the national team to prepare for the ICC World Cricket League Division-II to be held in Namibia next month.
Left alliance finalises provincial power sharing model
The CPN-UML and the CPN-Maoist Centre on Sunday reached a deal to divide key provincial government positions in six provinces. According to newspaper reports, the UML will get positions of chief ministers in provinces 1, 3, 4 and 5, whereas the provincial governments will be led by the Maoist Centre in provinces 6 and 7. On the other hand, the UML will get provincial speakers in provinces 1, 3, 6 and 7 whereas the Maoist Centre in 4 and 5. In the provinces with Maoist speaker, the UML will get deputy speaker, and vice versa.
The two parties have agreed that the size of each provincial government will be from seven to 11 members, according to The Kathmandu Post. The report adds that the parties have shared the positions on a 70:30 ratio.
Meanwhile, The Himalayan Times has published a list of potential candidates for chief ministers.
Modi sending Swaraj to Kathmandu this week
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is sending his External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to Kathmandu later this week, “apparently to mend New Delhi’s frayed ties with CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, who is tipped to be the next PM,” according to The Kathmandu Post anchor story.
Quoting top diplomatic sources, the report says the report of her visit has been proposed for February 1 and 2, subject to slight changes. The report reads, “An announcement of her visit will be made probably on Monday… Swaraj will be the first high-level foreign visitor to Nepal after completion of three tiers of elections.”
Ignored
Nepal ‘not interested’ in Kerung-Kathmandu railway
Nagarik lead story for the day says the government of Nepal has not paid much attention to the construction of proposed Kerung-Kathmandu railway though the Chinese government is positive about the project.
In November, a Chinese team had studied the possibility of the project and the two countries had agreed to meet again in December for further discussions. But, no discussion has been held since then, according to the report.
Quake survivors yet to get interest-free loan
The government has been repeatedly promising that it will let survivors of 2015 earthquake get an interest-free loan from banks and financial institutions. But, the promise has not been kept yet, reports Republica in its lead story today.
The decision to provide interest-free loan of Rs 300,000 was unveiled in the budget of fiscal year 2016/16. However, the government has failed to make arrangements for providing the subsidised loan even after more than a year and a half since the announcement, according to the report.
CDOs don’t want to work under provincial govts
Rajdhani informs that chief district officers, who currently enjoy a comparatively powerful position under the current administrative structure, have warned that they may not become ready to work under provincial governments as the country is heading towards implementation of the new federal structure, reports Rajdhani.
CDOs of all 77 countries have collectively urged the government to amend laws to ensure that they and their district administration offices will remain under the jurisdiction of federal government.
In recent formal and informal meetings hosted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the officials have also expressed their dissent over the new order of precedence (protocol list) of state officials, according to the report.
New EU team to check Nepal’s aviation security situation again
Karobar lead story for the day says the European Union is sending a team to Nepal to study the situation of aviation security here. The decision is apparently yet another bid to check if the country meets aviation standards higher enough to get itself removed from the regional bloc’s safety list.
Nepali airliners are being barred from the European sky for over four years now and Nepal has been repeatedly urging the EU to reconsider its decision.
Interesting
32-year-old claims to be Nepal’s shortest woman
The Sundarharaicha Municipality in Morang district is demanding that 19-year-old Malati Rishidev be declared the shortest woman of the country as she measures just 32 inches now, according to Republica.
