Nepali Times #1234
Nepali Times ईspecial 8 - 14 November 2024 #1234
Guess what,
I have just been reminded that this is the 1,234th issue of Nepali Times since the first edition came out on 25 July 2000. You can search keywords and view all past issues in both html and PDF via the Archive Nepal site here. The archive is a valuable reference tool, and our newsroom uses it all the time.
And let me take this newsletter to introduce the compact and hardworking Nepali Times newsroom team whose bylines you will recognise: Sonia Awale (Editor), Shristi Karki (Special Correspondent), plus Pinki Sris Rana and Vishad Raj Onta (Reporters).
The page 1 story in #1234 is Donald Trump’s stunning win in the US presidential elections, and how this will impact Nepal — mainly through America’s relations in the coming years with Nepal’s two giant neighbours. In her report Trumpet Call, Shristi Karki quotes foremost Nepali geopolitical analysts and former ministers to conclude that India and China could both benefit from America’s retreat from global leadership.
The investigative journalism duo of Archana Darji and Shamshad Ahmad of our sister publication himalkhabar.com return to the flood-ravaged Rosi Valley, this time not to report on the death and destruction on 28 September, but on who was primarily responsible for the disaster.
While climate breakdown was a factor in the historically heavy rainfall, their story maps quarries upstream that made the floods much more destructive. Darji and Ahmad also identify the owners of the crusher companies and tipper trucks, and (surprise, surprise!) they happen to be elected local officials. It’s all here on page 10-11 in Politicians and Cronies Blamed for Nepal Floods.
Kathmandu airport is undergoing an upgrade and has cut its operations hours, so travellers should expect more than usual chaos. The situation is particularly bad at the security check on arrival where the Department of Customs in its infinite wisdom has decided that you are guilty of being a smuggler until proven innocent.
So don’t try to sneak in any gold teeth, but anyone with 36kg of gold in his/her/their false bottoms camouflaged as motorcycle brake pads can walk right through. These photos are of the serpentine 45-minute ‘Free Metallica’ lines on Friday morning at Kathmandu airport.
While on the subject of airports, on page 6-7 is an in-depth package on the government’s airfield-building spree, even though half of the 49 airports in the country are not in use. Check out this map.
While some of this may be kickback-driven like dozer roads and view towers, airline captain Ajay Pradhan looks into one other reason: the low retention of pilots who fly to STOL airfields. Keeping Pilots Flying in Remote Areas (page 6-7) examines the reasons why short take-off and landing pilots do not stick around.
The Editorial on page 2 (Home Is Where the Heart Is) analyses how despite the laws being in place, bureaucratic hassle and corruption are deterring non-resident Nepalis from owning property and enjoying visa-free stay. The recently concluded conference of overseas Nepalis pointed out that it is the country that loses out on a potential economic bonanza from the Nepali diaspora.
Have fun.
Kunda Dixit