Broadsheet dailies (both in Nepali and English) published in Kathmandu on Tuesday, April 21, 2016, have given prominent space to the suspension imposed on Nepal’s cricket association by the ICC. As there wasn’t any major political development, the newspapers do not have any other common story.
Important
ICC suspends CAN
The Himalayan Times, Republica, Nagarik, Gorkhapatra and Naya Patrika have a report on the ICC’s move to suspend the membership of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN).
The Himalayan Times in its single-column box story on the lower fold says, “The world governing body accused the National Sports Council of leading Nepali cricket leadership into vacuum and said the suspension would remain “until such time as the CAN becomes free of government interference and is properly structured to begin exploiting the tremendous cricket talent and opportunities that exist in Nepal.”
Republica in its report says, “The ICC decision means CAN will not be entitled to receive any ICC funding. However, ICC decided that the Nepali cricket teams would be able to continue to feature in ICC events.”
‘Speaker Gharti writes to President to convene Parliament’
Rajdhani, in its four-column lead story with a double-decker screaming headline says Speaker Onsari Gharti has written to the President to convene Parliament on May 3 (Tuesday). The report says that according to the constitution, the President can only convene the House upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister. It says that the government has no knowledge of the letter, and the President has not responded to it.
Nepali Congress top leadership out of country
Naya Patrika in its lead story says that top leaders of the main opposition party, who were supposed to raise their voice against the myriad of problems the common people are facing, have gone abroad leaving the people to fend for themselves. While party president Deuba is in Delhi, general secretary Sashank Koirala is in the US, and senior leader is also on his way to the US, the report says.
Ignored
Driest April in 30 years
Republica in its anchor says that Kathmandu Valley received 19.6 millimeter rainfall this month while average rainfall for April has been is around 61 millimeter. Quoting a meteorologist, the report says, Nepal experienced its worst droughts in 1982, 1992 and in 1997. The report says that the El Niño effect, the prolonged warming in temperature of Pacific Ocean, was behind the scarce rainfall.
Drought affects wildlife
Nagarik in its lead-cum-box story of the day says wildlife in one of Nepal’s most important reserves have been severely affected by the drought. Authorities at the Suklpahanta Wildlife Reserve in western Nepal, which is home to the famous swamp deer (Barasinghe), say they are pumping ground water in certain areas of the reserves so that animals can get at least some water.
Interesting
Barpak now has 24-hour power supply
The villages around Barpak, the epicentre of the April 25 quake last year, now has 24-hour power supply, Gorkhapatra reports in its anchor for the day. The report says that a small-scale hydro project, which had gone out of order following the quake, has now been restored. The power station was inaugurated by 102-year old local Kalli Ghale recently.
Nepal to get its first security press
Karobar in its lead story reports that the Investment Board has formed a committee to recommend different modality for the operation of a ‘security press’ in Nepal. According to the report, after a security press is setup in Nepal, passports, and bank notes, among others can be printed in Nepal itself.
