National
ICYMI: Here are our top stories from Tuesday, August 20
Here are some of the top stories from The Kathmandu Post (August 20, 2019).Post Report
Here are some of the top stories from The Kathmandu Post (August 20, 2019).
Without issuing formal statement, foreign minister says Kashmir issue should be resolved through dialogue
Two weeks after India’s decision to repeal the special status accorded to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Indian constitution, Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali on Monday said that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute should be resolved through dialogue.
Although the government has refrained from issuing an official statement on Kashmir, Gyawali, responding to a question during a press conference on Monday at the Foreign Ministry, said, “The Nepal government is in favour of regional peace and stability. The dispute should be resolved through talks and we firmly believe that the government of India has the acumen to resolve the dispute peacefully.”
Tarai residents protest in the Capital, demanding Chure conservation
Unabated exploitation of the Chure range for natural resources—riverbed materials, forest products, and timber—have weakened this ecologically significant zone, adversely impacting the people living in its foothills.
Unchecked degradation of the fragile Chure range over the years has resulted in the drying up of water resources, annual flooding, and seasonal drought, among other natural disasters.
On Monday, protesters were joined by environmental activists and students from Kathmandu, demanding that the authorities rein in the exploitation of the Chure range and put a halt to the plan to cut down trees for the airport project.
Himalaya Airlines cleared to operate flights to Beijing
Himalaya Airlines is poised to begin the first direct service between Kathmandu and Beijing in late October, an initiative analysts say could give a major boost to the upcoming Visit Nepal 2020 campaign when authorities hope to attract at least half a million visitors from northern neighbour China.
The private Nepali carrier plans to operate three weekly flights to Beijing Daxing International Airport. According to Himalaya Airlines vice-president of administration Vijay Shrestha, China has granted operating authorisation, and preparations are being made to conduct the maiden flight to the Chinese capital.
Parties finalising names for two transitional justice bodies this week
Four months after the two transitional justice commissions became vacant, the parties are close to finalising their new leadership this week. If there is no change in the present dynamics, a cross-party meeting called for Wednesday will decide the seat-sharing and candidates to steer the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission of the Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons.
32 INGOs wind up Nepal operations: Social Welfare Council
A total of 32 international non-governmental organisations have either left Nepal or are winding up their operations in the country, according to the Social Welfare Council.
The council, the body that regulates both domestic and international non-governmental organisations in the country, said it ended affiliation of about half of the 32 INGOs which had applied for de-affiliation. Applying for de-affiliation also included six existing organisations which had entered Nepal after the deadly earthquakes in 2015 to carry out relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction.