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The Patan High Court declared the letter issued by Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal to the Annapurna Media Network as illegal, invalid and malicious in a verdict delivered on Monday.

The court also issued a stay order, directing the concerned authorities to refrain from implementing the letter. 

The letter, which was issued beyond the jurisdiction of the civil aviation regulatory body, had sought clarification regarding the news published in the Annapurna Post daily, which is part of the AMN. 

Delivering his ruling, the single bench of Justice Ramesh Dhakal underscored the severity of CAAN's transgression, condemning its undue interference in matters of the press. “It is a direct interference in the constitutionally enshrined press freedom, and it is imperative to stop the implementation of the letter issued by CAAN.” 

The High Court’s ruling came in response to a writ petition filed by Simrik Air against both CAAN and the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. Senior advocate Sushil Kumar Pant and Narendra Prasad Gautam represented the petitioner’s side during the hearing. Notably, the court's ruling emphasized that the legal framework does not grant CAAN, or its Director General Pradeep Adhikari, the authority to oversee media content. 

If CAAN found published content objectionable, the appropriate recourse would be to request the publication of factual, accurate information. Similarly, if media outlets disseminated information detrimental to CAAN's reputation, the court posited that the Press Council Nepal should be the avenue for redress. As democratic norms dictate, oversight and critique of government agencies, including CAAN, are not only warranted but crucial. Stakeholders have the prerogative to express concerns and voice opinions on CAAN's directives, decisions, and policies. 

Ahead of implementation of Millennium Challenge Corporation which was endorsed by Parliament, some fringe communist parties have begun criticizing the agreement.

The meeting of the board of directors of the Millennium Challenge Account Nepal Development Committee (MCA Nepal) held on August 16 decided to implement the MCC agreement. Senior MCC Officials have arrived in Kathmandu to witness the formal implementation of the MCC-Nepal compact.

Madhav Kumar Nepal, a former Prime Minister and Chairman of CPN (Unified Socialist) - a ruling partner, has called for more discussion on the 'interpretative declaration' of the MCC.

Speaking at the meeting of the International Relations and Tourism Committee of the House of Representatives on Monday, Nepal said concerns that have been raised regarding the MCC must be addressed. "Issues related to nationality and other significant matters have come to the forefront. Similarly, concerns have been voiced on the implementation of the interpretative declaration of the MCC," Nepal said.

He said Nepal should move ahead in accordance with a policy of non-alignment and adherence to the principles of the UN Charter.

Similarly, Jhala Nath Khanal, another former Prime Minister and senior leader of the Unified Socialist, termed MCC agreement an unfortunate development for Nepal. "The MCC agreement is not in Nepal's best interest, and some of our leaders have inadvertently damaged the country's reputation,” Khanal said.

Addressing a separate event in Kathmandu, Khanal said he had no information about parliament. “I knew it was signed in agreement after it was tabled in parliament. I raised serious concerns about the agreement when it was presented for endorsement.”

Similarly, Maoist Center General Secretary Dev Prasad Gurung said although parliament has attached an interpretative declaration to the MCC, the US government hasn't said anything about the agreement. "Since the US hasn't said anything about the declaration, this process cannot conclude," he added.

The official statement of MCC released after the MCC agreement was ratified by the parliament doesn't mention anything about the interpretative declaration. "The decision to ratify the Nepal Compact has always rested with the Government of Nepal as a sovereign democratic nation," the statement said.

In the meantime, the CPN (Maoist) led by Mohan Baidya has declared its intent to prevent the implementation of the MCC Compact.

CP Gajurel, a leader of CPN (Maoist), said that his party would organize protests in various parts of the country to oppose the MCC's implementation. He said that although the MCC agreement has been ratified by parliament, it doesn’t mean that it cannot be reconsidered. "While the parliament approved the MCC, it doesn't mean that it cannot be reversed. The government retains the authority to distance itself from the MCC. The authority rests with the people of Nepal," he added.

Gajurel reaffirmed his party's commitment to continue protests until the MCC agreement is rescinded.

MThe government is using the $500 million MCC Compact to upgrade a 77-kilometer segment of the East-West Highway and the construction of a 315-kilometer 400kV transmission line along with three substations.

The parliament ratified the MCC agreement on February 27, 2022.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said that his visit to China will further strengthen the historical relations between the two countries.

During a question-answer program with Prime Minister Dahal at the Parliament meeting on Tuesday, Dahal said that the visit is focused on giving a new momentum to the social and economic development of Nepal.

During the visit, Prime Minister Dahal said that he would stress on the implementation of the agreements reached earlier.

He claimed that his visit would make the trade between Nepal and China easier.

The Prime Minister said that discussions will also be held to make the border operation effective and to open a new border point.

He said that priority will be given to the roads, energy and agriculture sector.

A visiting delegation of industrialists from South Korea including Ambassador to Nepal Park Tae-Young called on Minister for Physical Infrastructures and Transport Prakash Jwala and sought a proposal for the investment in the infrastructure sector in Nepal.

During the meeting held at the Minister's office in Singh Durbar on Monday, the delegation reminded them that they were investing in Nepal's hydropower, and now ready to invest in the infrastructure sector as well.

Ambassador Park said South Korea is ready to invest in the roadway and railway in Nepal. So, the government of South Korea is prepared to hold thorough discussion on any concrete project to this regard, he said.

He also recalled that although Nepal and South Korea were ready for Korean investment in the infrastructure sector in 2018, change in government obviated the signing of agreement.

After some months, the establishment of diplomatic ties between Nepal and South Korea is reaching 50 years. South Korea is interested to utilize the occasion with investment in Nepal.

In response, Minister Jwala said he would make utmost initiative to prepare a proposal for the investment. If significant agreements on Korean investment in infrastructure were made, it would further strengthen two-country relations.

He thanked the Korean government for providing training to Nepali engineers at different times.