ICYMI: Here are our top stories from Monday, August 26
Here are some of the top stories from The Kathmandu Post (August 26, 2019).Leadner Biesenkamp, a student of biology from Germany, stayed a week at the Chitwan National Park but refrained from one of the park’s most popular activities—the elephant safari. Ramesh Kumar Poudel/TKP
Here are some of the top stories from The Kathmandu Post (August 26, 2019).
With criticism growing, fewer tourists are riding elephants in Chitwan
For years, the elephant safari has been a mainstay of tourist attractions at Chitwan National Park. Riding on the back of a slow-moving elephant was one of the few ways that visitors could get a glimpse of the park’s elusive wildlife. But lately, tourists, especially from Europe and the US, are loath to ride the elephants, owing to growing awareness about the distressing manner in which these animals, reported to be among the most sensitive and intelligent, are treated.
Tharu community stresses reconciliation but will not give up on its demands
Four years after the Tikapur incident, Tharu leaders have decided to continue the fight for their rights. The Tikapur incident, which occurred on August 24, 2015, was the deadliest in a series of demonstrations that were held along the plains in the run-up to the constitution promulgation. Nine people, including a toddler, were killed in the violence.
At an ongoing three-day Tharuhat/Tharuwan conference in Tikapur marking four years since the incident, Tharu leaders said there is a need to launch a decisive movement to press the government for a Tharuhat province.
Labour rights groups question employers’ commitment to social security scheme
Labour rights organisations have slammed employers for not showing interest in enrolling their firms and employees with the Contribution Based Social Security Scheme.
Labour rights activists representing various trade unions blamed the private sector employers for the dismal progress in registration under the scheme, launched in November last year for protecting and securing employees working in the formal private sector.
Concerns grow over dengue spread, but government is too slow to act
The Ministry of Health and Population on Sunday discussed with stakeholders ways to deal with the dengue spread in Kathmandu Valley and other parts of the country. The meeting was held almost two weeks after dengue cases were detected and at least one person died of the disease in Sunsari district.
Bibek Kumar Lal, director at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division of the ministry, told the Post that the meeting discussed the risk of spread of the disease and possible consequences.
Europe's continued ban on Nepali airlines is unfair, civil aviation officials say
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal on Sunday said it was unfair that the European Commission had maintained a ban on Nepali airlines for five consecutive years without considering the progress made in addressing the deficiencies in the safety oversight system.
In July 2017, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) had removed the 'significant safety concerns' tag put on Nepal four years ago. In the audit, ICAO had given Nepal a score of 66 percent for effective implementation of safety standards—way above the global benchmark of 60 percent.
On December 5, 2013, the European Commission imposed a blanket ban on all airlines from Nepal from flying into the 28-nation bloc stating that Nepali carriers did not meet international safety standards.
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