Here are some of the top stories from The Kathmandu Post (September 17, 2019).
On social media, Nepalis are forever at war
Arguing on the internet, according to someone on the internet, is a lot like playing chess with a pigeon. No matter how skilled you are at the game, the pigeon is going to knock over the pieces, crap on the board, and then strut around like he’s won.
Nepali internet currently looks a lot like that.
More than 48 hours after the altercation inside a Buddha Air flight in Nepalgunj, the Nepali internet remains divided, as warring sides continue to scream at each other with exclamation points and block letters. Some have called out Tourism Minister Yogesh Bhattarai, whose late arrival at the airport on Saturday delayed the Kathmandu-bound flight. Others, including the minister, are weaving wild theories about the person heard screaming at Bhattarai.
But this isn’t the first time Nepali internet has become a battleground for debates, which on most occasions, yield nothing but more outrage and resentment.
Nepal is heading to the World Cup. But you may have never heard of the sport
Pesapallo made its foray into Nepal a little over two years ago. But in that short time, the game has established the country at an international level.
Nepal is now preparing to take part in 10th Pesapallo World Cup, to be held in Pune, India, from November 26 to 30 later this year. Thirteen players have been called up for a closed camp training in Bahundangi in Jhapa as part of their preparations for the World Cup. A coach from Finland has been training the team in the camp. Twelve countries including Nepal are taking part in the world cup.
Investment Board summons GMR to discuss the fate of Upper Karnali
Investment Board Nepal has summoned Indian infrastructural company GMR Group to discuss the planned Upper Karnali hydropower project which remains in limbo for lack of an agreement with prospective energy buyer Bangladesh over tariffs. The export-oriented 900-megawatt scheme is located in western Nepal.
According to Maha Prasad Adhikari, chief executive officer of Investment Board Nepal, GMR officials are expected to arrive this week to hold formal discussions on issues pertaining to project development, deadline extension and financial closure.
Statements by ruling party’s youth wing against democratic values, analysts say
On Monday, as the debate over the tourism minister’s delaying of a Buddha Air flight continued online, Yogesh Bhattarai’s personal aide issued a statement, which many said was in bad taste for the choice of words.
Prem Guragai’s statement reeked of braggadocio. And as though it was not enough, the Kaski chapter of the ruling Nepal Communist Party’s youth wing—Rastriya Yuwa Sangh Nepal—issued another statement late Sunday, declaring that Gyanendra Shahi, the person who led an altercation with Bhattarai in Nepalgunj for delaying the flight, has been banned from entering the district.
Health Ministry pays Rs 5.8 million to release insecticidal mosquito nets stuck at customs
The Ministry of Health and Population has paid Rs 5.8 million to release long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets held at the customs for months.
The ministry had purchased 77, 800 such bed nets with last year’s budget for free distribution among the people vulnerable to malaria. But due to the inability to pay import duties, all the nets were stuck at the customs.
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