KATHMANDU: The government has halted the work permit of Nepali migrant workers leaving for five destination countries citing security reasons.

Similarly, the government has adopted strict measures on Nepali migrant workers bound for Gulf countries and Malaysia.
Likewise, the Ministry has also imposed a ban on the visa renewal of Nepali youths returning home from these five countries.

The work permit for five destination countries, including Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq, Kenya and Syria have been halted due to conflicts taking place in those countries, Dilip Kumar Chapagain, Director General of the Department of Foreign Employment told Khabarhub.

Likewise, the Ministry has also imposed a ban on the visa renewal of Nepali youths returning home from these five countries.

“Since we are analyzing the situation of those countries, we have currently suspended the visa process,” said Dilip Kumar Chapagain, Director General of the Department Foreign Employment.

Around 100 service seekers visit the Department of Labor seeking work permit on a daily basis.

BHADRAPUR: An endangered species of python was found in a river in Arjundhara Municipality-4 in Jhapa district on Thursday.

Locals spotted the python while fishing, Chief of Division Forest Office Bishnulal Ghimire said.

The python weighing eight kilograms is six feet in length. The locals rescued and submitted the python to the Shanishchare Police Post.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Rajan Khadka shared that the endangered python would be handed over to the Haluwagadh Community Forest based in ward no. 1 in the same municipality for its conservation as per the directive of the Division Forest Office.

The standoff witnessed between the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) and the US government on the Venezuela political crisis created ripples, morphing into a blurring, confounding situation. Even the leaders within the ruling NCP and those in government are befuddled and divided over party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s strong-worded statement that denounced “the US and its allies’ intervention in the internal affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela”.

Prime Minister K P Oli, who is also the Chairman of the NCP, has been striving to resolve the wave of paranoia with the US Embassy through his confidantes. However, with no signs of cheering gestures, PM Oli took the initiative himself and held talks with the US Ambassador to Nepal Randy Berry at his Baluwatar residence on Tuesday evening.

Observers have labeled this as a ‘positive gesture’ on the part of the government. In fact, the ruling NCP should not have dragged the government into controversy. What had to be noted before issuing the statement was Nepal has had ‘old and close ties’ with the United States, not Venezuela.

Nepal’s long-standing relations with the United States, which dates back to 1947, is even older than the diplomatic ties with her neighboring countries, and receives substantial assistance and aid from Washington.

The relation with a country, which is distant can’t be taken at the cost of a country, which Nepal has long-standing and friendly relations. Therefore, Nepal’s relations with the United States should not be jeopardized because of a statement issued by a party Chairman.

Given the current scenario, Dahal’s statement, which has given a negative impression, needs to be corrected by taking tangible initiatives. The urgent need is to issue a common statement with a common stance from PM Oli and Chairman Dahal.

PM Oli’s initiative to settle the current confusion and incomprehension with the United States has been praiseworthy. To recall the meeting between Nepal’s Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in December 2018, it was then conceived as an effort to further consolidate the diplomatic relations between the two friendly countries.

Given the current scenario, Dahal’s statement, which has given a negative impression, needs to be corrected by taking tangible initiatives. The urgent need is to issue a common statement with a common stance from PM Oli and Chairman Dahal.

It would be judicious for a country like Nepal to maintain extreme cautiousness and restraint while issuing statements on international developments.

Nepal, in fact, does not have any meaningful relations with Venezuela and it is clear that the latter is not in the position to contribute to Nepal’s development. It is natural that leaders in a political party have divergent views. That even furthers democratic practice. However, contradictory views from the party leaders causing serious impact in the country’s diplomatic relation bespeaks of half-baked diplomacy.

Nepal’s foreign policy has remained sensitive because of its geopolitical and strategic location. Considering this, it is high time that the confusion between the Government of Nepal and the US government came to an end since the longer the situation persists the more complicated it becomes, which eventually will lead to souring relations.

The requisite action is to have a diplomatic resolution to ensure that Nepal and the US engage in a dialogue to sort out the differences. Despite reiterating his initial stance on Venezuela, Dahal, too, had in the past, endeavored to maintain smooth relations with the US through his confidantes, including the present Speaker of the House of Representatives Krishna Bahadur Mahara.

A Norwegian, and a British diplomat too had played a constructive role to narrow down the differences between Dahal and the US Embassy. The initiative to maintain Maoist’s relations with the United States was first taken when Nancy J Powell was the US Ambassador to Nepal. Dahal had established relations with the US through formal letters by taking into confidence some Nepali mediators.

Dahal, thanks to his sheer practical sense, has been successful in steering the warring Maoist party into mainstream politics, in uniting the communist parties, and in ameliorating the aggravated relationship with the USA. These facts have established him as a seasoned player in the political arena.

Dubbed by the USA as ‘terrorist’ the relationship between the Maoist party and the USA was suffused with suspicion during the peace process. However, none of them could ignore each other. The then Maoist party could ultimately earn USA’s faith.

At this juncture, it is wise that both the party leaders reach an amicable conclusion freeing the self from the clutches of mere principals or doctrines. What is important is to earn the friendship of the USA as ever by mending the damage caused.

Editor

DOLPA: Massive snowfall that occurred in the Karnali region has crippled air services. The Jufal airport in the district could not operate due to accumulation of snow on the airfield. Heavy snowfall that occurred from this morning has also obstructed the regular flights to and from the airport.

Thick snow that has piled up on the runway has obstructed the landing while extremely poor visibility has affected the flights to and from the airport, Bal Kumar Sharma Civil Aviation office Jufal chief said. There were slim chances of resuming the air services for few days. The snowfall and chilling cold have created difficulties to the locals. The same scenario has been seen in Jumla, Humla and Mugu districts as well.

Meanwhile, the preparation classes being run for students appearing in the SEE exams have also been affected due to cold. The students are failing to attend the classes at school, said Deepak Parajuli, a teacher at Janaprabha secondary school Liku, headmaster.

KATHMANDU: Rainfall affected normal life in Kathmandu and other parts of the country on Thursday, as the Meteorology Forecasting Division forecasts moderate shower for another two days.

The Division has issued a forecast of rainfall in most parts of the country with snowfall in the mountainous region.

On Thursday, most parts of the country received rain and snowfall due to the influence of the westerly winds. Meanwhile, light snowfall is expected in areas such as Fulchowki, Daman and Chandragiri on Friday, the Division said.

In Humla, heavy snowfall has thrown life out of gear creating hardship to the locals. According to the Division, the weather system that entered into Nepal from Jammu Kashmir of India has spread its influence from the west to the eastern part.

The influence is spreading to the eastern region, according to the Division.

KATHMANDU: In a bid to curb the production and consumption of domestically brewed alcohol in Kathmandu Valley, the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Office (KMPO), Ranipokhari has seized and destroyed altogether 137,620 liters of hooch in the last six months of the current fiscal year.

The liquor was in ready position to be delivered to the market in various places in the valley, said Spokesperson at the KMPO and Superintendent of Police Puja Singh. Of the confiscated liquor, 126,000 liters was from Kathmandu, 7,360 liters from Lalitpur and 4,260 liters from Bhaktapur.

SP Singh asserted that police have launched a crackdown on the production and consumption of homemade alcohol in view of the growing cases of violence such as rape, dispute and death among others under the influence of such liquor.

She said, “Police have been keeping an eye on the people and places where such liquors are brewed and sold. Production and sales of such domestically brewed liquor have been banned.”

Furthermore, police have also destroyed 121,000 kilograms of raw materials used to produce hooch totaling. Some 118,000 kilograms of raw material was confiscated from Kathmandu while the rest was from Lalitpur.

RUPENDEHI : With an aim to promote greenery in the city, the Butwal Sub-metropolitan City is mulling a plan to construct at least one public park in every ward. It has 19 wards.
The sub-metropolitan city, the temporary capital of the Province-5, has allocated Rs 12 million for the same in the current fiscal year, according to Kalpana Aryal, an official at the tourism promotion division of the Sub Metropolis.
The project was forwarded with the collaboration of the province government. The hill park, Ramapithecus Park and Mani Mukunda Sen park were being constructed and upgraded lately.
Mayor Shivaraj Subedi stated that this would help to attract more tourists.
Prior to this, the sub-metropolis has developed a long term plan to develop it as an archaeological settlement, building Batauli Museum in the old building of the then Butwal Municipality, construction of a massive statue of Buddha at Hill Park and Buddha Circuit Park, preparation for the construction of Ramapithekas Geological Park at Shivanagar community forest.

CHITWAN: Chairman of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Thursday reiterated his stance over the ongoing political crisis in Venezuela.

He maintained that the statement on Venezuela crisis issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) was on the same base and spirit as his statement.

Speaking at a press conference in Chitwan, Dahal dubbed his statement as ‘political’ and that it was issued with an objective of not tolerating any kind of external intervention on the internal affairs of any sovereign, independent country. He maintained that the statement on Venezuela crisis issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) was on the same base and spirit as his statement.
On the occasion, Dahal also termed the joint press statement from various foreign countries on Nepal’s peace process as “irrelevant and unnecessary interest” of foreign diplomatic missions.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister KP Oli, speaking in a television program ion Wednesday, had said that Dahal made a gaffe by issuing the statement on Venezuela. On the occasion, he also informed that the issue came up during his meeting with US Ambassador to Nepal Randy Berry Tuesday evening. PM Oli labeled Dahal’s statement as a “little slip”.

SINDHULI:  As many as four people died while eight others sustained injuries when a Bolero jeep, Ba 15 Cha 9422,  met with an accident at Chandibhanjyang of the district on Thursday morning.

The accident took place when the ill-fated jeep was heading to Sindhuligadhi from Fikal Rural Municipality, according to DSP Lok Darshan Thapa of the District Police Office, Sindhuli.

The identities of the deceased are yet to be ascertained. The injured have been rushed to a local health post after rescue, police said.

KATHMANDU: Police arrested two persons in possession of leopard hides at Kathmandu Metropolitan City-32, Jadibuti.