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ICYMI: Here are our top stories from Saturday, June 8
Here are some of the top stories from The Kathmandu Post (June 8, 2019).Post Report
Here are some of the top stories from The Kathmandu Post (June 8, 2019).
From mellow to high: How the movement to legalise marijuana is lighting up Nepal
The renewed debate over whether or not cultivation and consumption of cannabis should be legalised in Nepal comes at a time when a number of countries around the world—from Canada to South Africa to Thailand—have legalised cannabis, either for medicinal or recreational use or both, under a regulatory framework. And with more research into the plant's medicinal values also being conducted, governments around the world are confronting the thorny question of legalisation. More here by Leena Dahal.
Competing bid from Germany puts security printing press deal with France in limbo
Despite an existing memorandum of understanding with France on setting up a state-of-the-art security printing facility in Nepal, a competing bid from Germany has placed the government in a fix, just as Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli prepares to visit France on Saturday.
Both France and Germany’s proposals will cost Nepal Rs32 billion, but their funding modalities are different. France has proposed a mixed model of a soft loan of 100 million euros along with technology transfer while Germany has offered a complete soft loan of 260 million euros at 2 percent interest to build the printing facility at an information and communication park in Banepa, Kavre. Anil Giri with the story here.
Former child soldier files petition at UN Human Rights Office demanding justice
Lenin Bista, a former Maoist child soldier, has petitioned the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva demanding justice for the thousands of former child soldiers who have been largely left out of the transitional justice process.
The petition, submitted on Thursday, seeks UN support to asking the Nepal government to prioritise justice for former child soldiers, recalling that a serious crime was committed against the thousands of minors forced to fight on behalf of the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist during the 10-year armed insurgency. More here by Binod Ghimire.
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