Good morning!
Here’s a quick summary of important, ignored and interesting stories from Tuesday to kickstart your Wednesday.
Important
Nepal ‘successful’ in hosting SAG
The 13th South Asian Games have been over on Tuesday. Not only officials, but commentators and stakeholders have also claimed that Nepal was successful in hosting the games impressively this time though many infrastructures were not ready till a few days before the opening.
Whereas Deputy Prime Minister Ishwar Pokharel announced the closing of the regional event at a special function organised on Tuesday, Nepal also handed over the SAG flag to Pakistan, which will host the next edition of the regional event.
NCP amending statute ‘for Bamdev Gautam’
A recent meeting of the ruling Nepal Communist Party’s secretariat has decided to table a proposal at the party’s standing committee meeting for some amendments to the party’s statute. A senior leader of the party has informed that the decision was made to make its leader Bamdev Gautam a vice-chairperson of the party. The secretariat had already proposed Gautam for the vice-chairmanship a few months ago though the party does not have any provision for the position.
Likewise, amendments will be made to legalise the party’s Kathmandu Valley coordination committee and make a change to the party’s political line.
Ignored
Freedom of expression curtailed in Nepal: UN
The top United Official working in Nepal has commented that the freedom of expression has been curtailed in Nepal of late as the state detained several journalists and artists.
In a function organised on the occasion of International Human Rights Day, the UN Resident Coordinator in Nepal, Valerie Julliand, said that the youth who raised voices for human rights were considered anti-social and it was also an indication of restriction on freedom of expression.
Julliard, however, appreciated the role of the National Human Rights Commission as it provided various recommendations to the government regarding conflict-era issues urging the government to implement them.
PM undergoes another round of dialysis
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli underwent another round of dialysis for his kidney transplanted around 12 years ago on Tuesday evening. It is his fifth dialysis in the past couple of months. After watching the televised closing ceremony of the 13th South Asian Games, Oli had gone to Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Centre of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital for dialysis.
Of late, doctors are also discussing the possibility of a re-transplant for him.
Next House session to begin on Dec 20
President Bidya Devi Bhandari has summoned the next session of the Federal Parliament from December 20. A notice issued by the President’s Office on Wednesday informs that Bhandari summoned sessions of both the House of Representatives and the National Assembly, as per a recommendation from the Council of Ministers.
The two houses will hold their first meeting of the session at 4 pm on December 20.
Interesting
Writ filed against proposed NIC commissioners before official appointment
A writ has been filed at the Supreme Court against the recent nomination for three officials of the National Information Commission. Though the government is yet to formally announce the appointment of Mahendra Man Gurung, Kamala Oli and Deepak Mainali as the NIC officials, advocate Bishnu Luintel has challenged the decision of a panel to recommend the names.
Luintel in his writ states that the laws require the speaker to lead the recommendation panel, but Deputy Speaker Shiva Maya Tumbahamphe chaired the committee this time.
