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From the Kathmandu Press: Sunday, January 27, 2019

Major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu on Sunday have given priority to a host of issues from political, sociocultural and economic spheres.

Rohit Paudel becoming the youngest cricketer to score 50 runs in an ODI match has received considerable attention along with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli telling the press to not worry about Dr Govinda KC. The papers also carry news of SP Balaram Pokharel losing his life in a jeep accident.

Here is a summary of important, ignored and interesting stories from the front pages of national broadsheets:

Important

Rohit Paudel creates record against UAE

Kantipur, Annapurna Post, The Kathmandu Post, Nagarik, Repubica, Naya Patrika and The Himalayan Times all report about Rohit Paudel becoming the youngest man to hit 50 runs in an ODI match after hitting 55 runs off 58 balls against UAE, on Saturday.

With a remarkable batting display at the age of 16 years and 146 days, Paudel has beaten legendary Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar and Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi. Afridi had secured his ODI half-century against Kenya at the age of 16 years and 217 days. Likewise, Tendulkar had come up with his ODI half-century at the age of 17.

SP dies in jeep accident

Kantipur, Nagarik, Rajdhani and Republica report that Armed Police Force SP Balaram Pokharel has died in a road accident in Bara on Saturday evening.

Pokharel was heading to Kalaiya with Chief District Officer (CDO) Ganesh Bhattarai, who is in a critical condition. The jeep (Na 1 Jha 1663) belonging to CDO hit a parked tractor at Pachaha Khola. SP Pokharel died on the spot whereas CDO Bhattarai has been rushed to Birgunj for further treatment. However, it is reported that preparation is underway to airlift CDO Bhattarai to Kathmandu.

PM dismisses issues on medical education bill

Kantipur, The Himalayan Times and Rajdhani report that PM KP Oli returning from Davos said that the issues raised over the National Medical Education Bill should not be a matter of worry. Oli’s party had bulldozed the bill through the House of Representatives on Friday. When asked to comment on the Nepali Congress’ threat to continue House obstruction and launch street protests to oppose the passage of the Bill and Dr Govinda KC’s ongoing hunger strike, the PM said that every one needed to follow certain procedures and the his government was only doing so. He also asked the opposition party to follow the laws.

Ignored

NMA likely to shut down health services

The Himalayan Times reports that Nepal Medical Association is planning halting medical services (except emergency) throughout the country if the government fails to meet Dr Govinda KC’s demands. KC has been staging a hunger strike for the past 19 days demanding incorporation of the nine-point agreement he signed with the government on July 26. NMA has urged all medical doctors to attend a meeting on Sunday to discuss how to save KC’s life. NMA President Dr Mukti Ram Shrestha said that the government was not serious about their concerns and had to protest to pile pressure. Shrestha said that if KC’s health gets worse, they will stop attending patients outside of emergency.

Five Nepalis held hostage in Libya, agent captured

Kantipur reports that the agent, who promising jobs in Italy sent five Nepalis to Libya, has been arrested. Jit Kaji Gurung of Pokhara has been accused of taking Rs 5.1 million from the victims and taking the captive individuals to Libya through Dubai promising jobs in Italy.

The families knew the whereabouts of their kin after they received a one-minute video in which they say their captors have been threatening them to kill. They said they were held up by a gang of local goons. As of late, Libya has become one of the major transit points for human traffickers to send aspiring migrant workers to Europe and the United States of America.

 Former ambassador to return to Nepal

Nepal Samacharpatra reports that Bharat Bahadur Rayamajhi, who severed as Nepal’s Ambassador to Spain, is returning to Nepal. He will arrive in Kathmandu on Sunday. The Cabinet last month had given Rayamajhi three weeks to return to Nepal, but Rayamajhi, challenging the government decision hadn’t returned and was planning to file an asylum request to remain in Spain. However, after pressure from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rayamajhi has decided to return to Nepal.

Interesting

Surrounded by marshals, Nepali Congress lawmakers state a protest in the House of Representatives, on Friday, January 25, 2019.

Souring ties between NCP, NC leave law amendments in crisis

Republia reports that bad relations between the main ruling and opposition political parties have posed a challenge for the government in the amendment to over 170 existing laws that are at variance with the spirit and provisions of the constitution.

Protesting against the government’s decision not to approve two hospitals named after Nepali Congress former presidents for operating under the federal government, the main opposition party has been obstructing both houses of parliament for a week.

L-R: KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal

Oli unaware of Dahal’s statement on Venezuela

Republica reports that Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli has said he is unaware of the comments made by is fellow chairperson of Nepal Communist Party Pushpa Kamal Dahal on the South American country of Venezuela. Oli said he had only “heard a little bit” about Dahal’s statement and declined to comment on the statement. In his statement concerning recent developments in Venezuela, Dahal had slammed the US and its allies for what he called “intervention in the internal affairs” of that country, thus joining China and Russia in supporting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

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