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From the Kathmandu Press: Monday, November 13, 2017

Major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu today have prioritised political issues over others as just 13 days are left for the first phase of provincial and federal parliamentary elections. Nepal’s victory over India in a match played under the ACC U-19 Asia Cup played in Kuala Lumpur yesterday also made the front-page headlines as it was Nepal’s first win over any team of India in the history of cricket.

Important

Government says security tightened for candidates

As attacks on cadres contesting upcoming elections have been reported from various parts of the country, the government and security bodies have assured the Election Commission that they have tightened security for the candidates.

Gorkhapatra lead story says security agencies have tightened the scrutiny after analysing that candidates in Rukum, Rolpa, Jajarkot, Kalikot and Solukhumbu districts are facing more threats. Major threats include activities of Netra Bikram Chand ‘Biplav’-led CPN Maoist in hills and communal politics in Terai, according to Naya Patrika.

The Election Commission on Sunday had summoned chiefs of security bodies in the wake of various attacks carried out on candidates, in which the poll officials directed them to tighten the security, according to The Kathmandu Post.

Meanwhile, Rajdhani says the government is preparing regional security strategies for the elections even in the absence of Home Minister. In mid-October, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba had snatched away the portfolios of Maoist ministers and consequently Janardan Sharma left the Ministry of Home Affairs. Since then, PM Deuba himself is taking the charge of the vital ministry, but he has been unable to attend seminars organised to prepare such strategies, the report informs.

Nepal’s first victory against India

Nepal’s skipper Dipendra Singh Airee receives the man of the match title as his team defeat India in the ACC U-19 Asia Cricket Cup, in Kuala Lumpur, on Sunday, November 12, 2017.

All newspapers have published the news about Nepal’s victory over Indian youth team in the ACC U-19 Asia Cup Cricket yesterday in their front page. Most of them have published photographs from the match.

The reports contribute the victory to excellent performance of Nepali captain Dipendra Singh Airee, who was later awarded with the man of the match title. In the first innings, he had scored 88 runs off 101 balls while in the second, he took four wickets from the opponents.

Though it was the first win of India, Nepal earlier had defeated youth teams of other Test nations including Bangladesh, South Africa, New Zealand and Pakistan, informs Nagarik.

Meanwhile, Nepal’s coach Binod Das told The Kathmandu Post, “Defeating teams like India gives a positive message in terms of future of Nepali cricket.” Das’ Indian counterpart and former stalwart Rahul Dravid said, “All credit goes to Nepal for making a remarkable comeback in the game. On our part, we failed to capitalise on the good start.”

Ignored

‘Ill-timed’ UAE trip takes President to controversy

File: President Bidya Devi Bhandari addresses a World Environment Day function in Kathmandu, on Monday, June 5, 2017. Photo: RSS

Republica lead story for the day reports that President Bidya Devi Bhandari is leaving for the United Arab Emirates on the four-day official visit today. The visit, however, has been dragged into a controversy in the country as some foreign affairs expert say it was not an appropriate time for the President to visit Abu Dhabi as Qatar and the UAE are engaged in a diplomatic standoff over the past few months.

“As it seems to me, there is no agenda that deserves the visit by the head of the state. Instead, the visit is likely to send a message that we are siding with one of the two blocs. This is something we cannot afford to do,” a former ambassador has told the paper requesting anonymity.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, has argued that the visit coincides with the 40th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and she was invited by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Govt distributing ‘financial assistance’ to party cadres in poll run-up

File image: Ministry of Home Affairs

Notwithstanding the code of conduct imposed for upcoming provincial and parliamentary elections, the government is found distributing financial assistance to cadres of coalition member parties in the run-up to polls, reports Annapurna Post in its anchor story today.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is distributing cheques to cadres and leaders, the report says, adding a person is getting Rs 50,000 to Rs 500,000 from the government.

Meanwhile, the Ministry’s spokesperson Narayan Sharma Duwadi says the Ministry was just implementing the government decision.

PSC rejects NRB’s retirement plan

File image: Public Service Commission office in Anamnagar

The Public Service Commission on Sunday rejected Nepal Rastra Bank’s proposal on removing the 30-year service period provision from the central bank’s Employees’ Bylaws, reports The Himalayan Times.  The constitutional body responsible for selecting candidates for the government service has asked the nRB to put the issue on hold until the Federal Public Commission Act, which the government is preparing the draft for, is implemented, according to the report.

Meanwhile, NRB spokesperson Narayan Prasad Paydel said the NRB would not make any comment over the Commission’s decision now as it would be discussed by the Board of Directors.

Interesting

Supreme Court begins bloc hearing; some experts protest

File image: Supreme Court of Nepal

Republica and Nagarik have reported that the Supreme Court has recently introduced the system of bloc hearing—conducting the hearing of cases related to a single issue simultaneously by a same bench—in a bid to reduce the number of pending petitions. However, some experts have argued that the system might cause wrong judgements and injustice.

“The system may help decide many cases at the same time, but there is a need to seriously consider whether this system can help in imparting justice,” senior advocate Yadunath Khanal has been quoted in Republica.

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