All major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu Valley on Monday have published reports about the government decision to nominate three ambassadors with the topmost priority. The launch of an indefinite sit-in by parents of Nirmala Pant in Kanchanpur district in farwestern Nepal and the increasing conflict between the centre and provincial governments over an executive order on the formation of provincial police body have also been highlighted.
Meanwhile, the ongoing talks among three parties of Panchayat-era royalists have failed to produce any concrete outcome immediately and the newspapers have published reports about the obstructions with priority.
Few other political, sociocultural and economic issues have been featured on the front pages of major Kathmandu broadsheets today.
Important
Nepal’s sending envoy to India after months
While the government nominated ambassadors for its missions in India, Malaysia and UAE, most of the newspapers have highlighted the nomination of constitutional expert Nilamber Acharya for the New Delhi mission.
The Nepali Embassy in the Indian capital was vacant for over one year after then envoy Deep Kumar Upadhyay to contest parliamentary elections from the Nepali Congress.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet did not officially make public any decision of the meeting held yesterday, Kantipur reports in a snippet.
RPP unification process halted
Naya Patrika, Rajdhani and Gorkhapatra report that the parties led by Kamal Thapa, Pashupati Shamsher Rana and Prakash Chandra Lohani have failed to finalise the unity deal they were discussing.
Naya Patrika says the bones of intention are the unified party’s election symbol and its view over monarchy. It explains that Thapa wanted monarchy to be the party’s political agenda, which Lohani and Rana denied.
Provinces to jointly fight against the centre over police law
Seven provincial governments across the country are preparing to jointly launch an initiative against a recent executive order issued by the federal government over the formation of provincial police body, arguing it is “too little, too late, and has no significance, according to a story in The Kathmandu Post.
Meanwhile, the provincial leaders have also questioned the constitutionality of the order, reports The Himalayan Times.
Ignored
Fuel stations found cheating customers
Naya Patrika and Karobar report that some fuel stations of the country were found cheating their customers with a computer programme that shows inaccurate amount of fuel on the display.
Government monitors sealed six fuel stations of the country recently whereas they have suspected that around 15 per cent of the petrol pumps in the country are involved in the black marketing.
PM to directly oversee big infrastructure projects
The government is introducing a new law on the execution of national pride infrastructure projects, according to which the Prime Minister’s Office will directly oversee the projects if they require an investment more than Rs 25 billion, according to Karobar.
The Finance Minister has sent the draft of the bill of the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers for its comments, the report informs.
Did NAC really buy wide body aircraft?
One day after Minister Rabindra Adhikari denied his role in irregularities in the purchase of two wide body aircraft for the Nepal Airline Corporation, Annapurna Post reports in its lead story that the aircraft were not purchased, but borrowed on lease.
Quoting a press release from the manufacturer, Airbus, the report says Nepal’s national flag carrier received the aircraft as it was leased from Portuguese lessor Hi Fly. Hi Fly also confirmed the lease, according to the report.
Country faces tetanus vaccine shortage
A three column story in Republica reports that tetanus vaccines are in short supply across the country for past six months, affecting people needing it. Quoting officials of the Department of Drug Administration and some pharmacies, the report informs that only 10 per cent of the total demand for the vaccines has been fulfilled at present.
Interesting
Children to be made responsible for care of ageing parents
A new law is being formulated making children obliged to take care of their ageing parents, Annapurna Post reports in its anchor story.
If Parliament passes the Senior Citizen Bill as it is in the draft version, the children have to give at least 10 per cent of their income to their parents, the report informs.
Ethiopian carrier interested to establish partnership with NAC
The Kathmandu Post reports in its lead story for the day that Africa’s largest airline Ethiopian Airlines has forwarded a partnership proposal to Nepal’s national flag carrier, Nepal Airlines Corporation.
Ethiopian Ambassador to Nepal Asfaw Dingamo held a meeting with Civil Aviation Minister Rabindra Adhikari last week and floated the proposal for a strategic alliance, according to the report.
