Major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu on Wednesday have covered a multitude of issues and events on their front pages. Most newspapers have given the top priority to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s briefing to Parliament about his recent China visit. However, there are many other issues from sociocultural and financial spheres that have been featured on the front pages.
Important
PM assures transit protocol with China next month
While briefing the House of Representatives about achievements of his China visit yesterday, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Tuesday announced that Nepal and China would sign the Protocol to Transit and Transport Agreement within next one month, according to Gorkhapatra.
The Kathmandu Post adds that the Prime Minister blamed the reluctance of two governments before the present coalition in following through the trade and transit agreement he had signed in Beijing two years ago for the delay in signing the protocol.
Karobar anchor story also carries the same statement.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister told the House that the government would do its best to protect the country’s borders and territorial integrity, reports The Himalayan Times in its lead story. Responding to a question of Nepali Congress lawmaker Dilendra Prasad Badu on the trijunction boundary point between Nepal, India and China, the Prime Minister said there would be no transaction related to Nepal’s borders and land on any pretext.
20,000 court verdicts yet to be written
Annapurna Post reports in its lead story that more than 20,000 verdicts, already handed down, are yet to be written in the full statements. A report prepared by the Joint Registrar of Supreme Court, Lal Bahadur Kunwar, the apex court is yet to write 4,000 verdicts. High courts and district courts are yet to prepare full statements of 9,000 and 7,000 verdicts respectively.
Meanwhile, Acting Chief Justice Deepak Raj Joshee has complained that the government did not sufficiently allocate budget for the judiciary, according to the report.
On the other hand, courts across the country collectively require 2,100 more staff, Nepal Samacharpatra reports in a story.
Ignored
Intelligence officials’ ‘gang fight’ in Darbarmarg
Officials of the National Investigation Department have engaged in a ‘gang fight’ at a restaurant in Darbarmarg of Kathmandu on Sunday evening, reports Nepal Samachapatra in its two-column front page story. Quoting unnamed sources, the report claims that officials led by Surendra Koirala and Tek Raj Timilsina attacked each other with fists over the issue of ongoing promotion process.
It has been learned that some officials acted so under the influence of alcohol.
Govt spends billions for vehicles
Naya Patrika reports in its lead story that the government has spent around Rs 54 billion in past 14 years in purchase and operation of various vehicles for the use of ministers and top government officials.
Rs 23.14 billion has been spent in the purchase whereas the fuel cost Rs 17.66 billion. Likewise, Rs 12.91 billion was spent in maintenance of the vehicles, according to the report.
Provincial govts decide vehicle tax on their own
The lead story in Karobar reports that provincial governments have exercised autonomy in deciding the vehicle tax as they have fixed different rates.
Governments in provinces 1 and 3 have increased the tax by 10 per cent whereas Province 7 government made a decision for a nominal increase. Four other provinces, however, have not changed the rate.
Meanwhile, the provincial governments have to handover 40 per cent of total vehicle tax to local governments and keep 60 per cent on their own, according to the report.
Interesting
All local levels will have internet in two years
The anchor story in Gorkhapatra says the government will make the internet service available in all 753 local levels within next two years. The government spokesperson and Minister for Communications and Information Technology Gokul Banskota made the announcement while responding to lawmakers’ concerns during the House of Representatives meeting yesterday.
According to the minister, local levels of 50 districts will have the facility within next one year whereas other 27 districts will get it the next year.
Chinese aircraft coming to Nepal to take rhinos
It has already been months since Nepal has agreed to gift four one-horned rhinoceroses to China as the northern neighbour requested. Now, the government is in the final phase of handing over the gift, Naya Patrika reports in its anchor story.
According to the report, a veterinarian team is coming to Nepal this week to examine two of the four animals and after the examination, a cargo aircraft will land in Nepal to fetch them. Two other rhinos, however, will be sent to Beijing the next year only.
