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ICYMI: Here are our top stories from Friday, June 14
Here are some of the top stories from The Kathmandu Post (June 14, 2019).Post Report
Here are some of the top stories from The Kathmandu Post (June 14, 2019).
United in haste, ideological schisms appear in ruling party
When the Public Service Commission recently put out a notice for over 9,000 local level positions, opinions within the ruling Nepal Communist Party were sharply divided. While party leaders from the former CPN-UML stood in favour of the notice, those from the former Maoist party were against it on the grounds that the notice did not follow the principles of inclusion on par with the constitutional provisions.
The division over the notice is but one of the numerous instances where schisms have appeared in the ruling party—all because the merger between the two parties was a “marriage of convenience”, say some leaders, and not an ideological union.
Nepal government clears legal hurdles to buy lethal arms from the US
Nepal government has cleared legal hurdles to import lethal rifles from the US government which has been pending for over a year following the differences over payment modality. The plan to buy over 6,000 rifles had been delayed after the supplier demanded the entire payment in a single sum, contradicting the procurement law in the country which only allowed payments only in three tranches.
The Nepal Army has long been planning to acquire M4, M-16, and A4 rifles to equip its squads deployed as blue helmets in war-torn countries. Despite the clearance from the Ministry of Defence to procure the arms from the US Army, it had not materialised since the Nepali side couldn’t pay the entire amount before the rifles were supplied.
How to do breakfast right in Kathmandu
Picking through fried gwara mari as the cook drops more onto the platter, early morning eaters around Patan look for the crispiest morsels to take back home to their families. With the fried dough wrapped in newspaper and stuffed into small red or blue plastic bags, these blurry-eyed folk are still waking up as they walk home. Others sit inside the smokey shops, looking into the distance over their cups of tea. It’s a familiar scene in all corners of Kathmandu Valley, as the cities wake up early, and slowly.
In a typical Nepali breakfast there is no morning bacon or eggs, no bowls of muesli and there is definitely no peanut butter on toast, rather a cup of tea takes priority. This is because Nepal doesn’t traditionally follow a three-meal-a-day schedule. Classically the first meal of the day is in mid-morning.
In Bhaktapur, healthcare comes to your door
Every morning, Sabina Duwal leaves home with a medical bag containing the essentials for any health practitioner—a stethoscope, a thermometer, and a blood pressure monitor, along with everyday over-the-counter medication. She walks around the neighbourhoods in Bhaktapur Municipality, visiting every household that has sick people, elderly members, pregnant women, new mothers, and the physically and mentally challenged.
“We do our best to give proper nursing care to locals,” said Duwal, who was hired by the municipality office to provide health care services to locals—in their homes.
Army chief is leaving for China on Sunday, but no confirmation on signing of any agreement yet
Chief of the Nepal Army General Purna Chandra Thapa is leaving on Sunday for China on a weeklong visit, but as of Thursday, there was no confirmation from the Nepal Army about the agreements that he will be signing.
The signing of a protocol agreement on non-lethal assistance to Nepal Army to be provided by China’s People’s Liberation Army, however, is expected.