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ICYMI: Here are our top stories from Tuesday, October 15
Here are some of the top stories from The Kathmandu Post (October 15, 2019).Post Report
Here are some of the top stories from The Kathmandu Post (October 15, 2019).
Despite rape and murder charges, Mahara and Alam remain ‘honourable’ lawmakers
Up until last year, any police complaint lodged against a sitting lawmaker would automatically suspend them from their post. The rationale behind this provision in the House of Representatives Regulations was that lawmakers should not just be clean but should also be perceived to be clean by the public.
However, last year, when the House Regulations for the new federal parliament were drafted by a committee led by Nepal Communist Party lawmaker Krishna Bhakta Pokhrel, it refrained from including this provision, allowing members of Parliament accused of criminal charges to continue as lawmakers. Mahara has been accused of rape while Alam is accused of murder, both heinous crimes, and yet, they are still lawmakers; only their pay, perks and privileges have been stripped.
Nepal and China elevate bilateral ties to a ‘strategic partnership’ but no one’s certain what that entails
A joint communiqué issued after the conclusion of Xi’s visit on Sunday categorically mentioned that both sides have “decided to, on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, Charter of the United Nations and principles of good neighbourliness, elevate Nepal-China Comprehensive Partnership of Cooperation Featuring Ever-lasting Friendship to Strategic Partnership of Cooperation.”
This is the first time that a joint communiqué issued by Nepal and China has ever mentioned the phrase “strategic partnership”, leaving experts and foreign policy watchers confused as to what exactly this means for Nepal and whether the phrase has any “security and military” connotations.
Government has agreed to promote Mandarin in Nepali schools and not everyone seems pleased
The Ministry of Education signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese Embassy in Nepal on Volunteer Chinese Teachers' Programme in Nepal during the visit of Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi last month. The deal is aimed at gradually expanding Mandarin language classes in public schools in the country.
As per the agreement, 100 volunteer teachers from China will be assigned to teach Mandarin, the official Chinese language, in public schools in the first phase, according to Mahesh Dahal, secretary at the ministry.
Health Ministry to monitor hospitals to curb sex-selective abortions
In a bid to curb sex-selective abortions being illegally practised in several parts of the country, the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services has decided to monitor private hospitals and abortion centres.
The move of the division comes after several studies as well as national newborn data showed a wide gap between the number of boys and girls.
Nepal Rastra Bank asks fund managers to enforce anti-money laundering laws
Nepal Rastra Bank has asked state-owned Employees Provident Fund, Citizen Investment Trust and Postal Savings Bank to enforce anti-money laundering measures.
The central bank issued the directive to implement anti-money laundering laws at government operated fund managers to prevent transfers of illegally acquired money in accordance with a Cabinet decision.