National
ICYMI: Here are our top stories from Friday, November 15
Here are some of the top stories from The Kathmandu Post (November 15, 2019).Post Report
Here are some of the top stories from The Kathmandu Post (November 15, 2019).
Intelligence department to get sweeping powers to carry out domestic and foreign counterintelligence
The government has registered an amendment bill at the National Assembly that will give sweeping powers to the National Intelligence Department to carry out counterintelligence work, including spying on foreign countries, institutions or groups that it deems “detrimental to national security”.
A draft amendment to the Special Service Act-1985 was registered last week at the Upper House. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has brought the National Intelligence Department directly under the Prime Minister’s Office, vowing to transform the department into a national security agency “that would not only gather and analyse information but also help set key national security policies”.
For elderly visitors to Swayambhunath, even crossing the road is a hazard
Swayambhunath begins to stir as early as 3 am, when the elderly faithful begin their slow walk from their homes to the stupa for morning prayers. By late morning, hundreds of Buddhist locals cross the Ring Road to get to Swayambhu for the daily kora, where pilgrims circumambulate the stupa.
But for the elderly, who constitute the bulk of the worshippers, crossing the Ring Road is fraught with danger, from speeding vehicles and due to a large area to cover for older, slower people. And now that 8.2km Kalanki-Balaju-Maharajgunj section of the Ring Road is being expanded, there are fears that things could get much worse.
Parties close to consensus on chairperson for Truth and Reconciliation Commission
The long-awaited appointment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission finally looks like it might happen, with parties nearing consensus on Ganesh Datta Bhatta, associate professor at Nepal Law Campus, to lead the transitional justice body.
Sher Bahadur Deuba, president of the Nepali Congress, proposed Bhatta’s name in a recent meeting with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Co-chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Deuba, who refused to attend Wednesday’s Constitutional Council meeting, has been miffed that the ruling party appointed members to the constitutional commissions without his approval, according to ruling party insiders. His proposal of Bhatta’s name, therefore, is believed to be a quid pro quo on appointments for the Nepal Communist Party.
Nepal’s invincible ladies lift historic volleyball trophy
Nepal created history on Thursday as they claimed the Asian Volleyball Confederation Central Zone Senior Women's Volleyball tournament—their first major international title. In the final held at Shaheed Suhrawardy Indoor Stadium in Mirpur, Bangladesh, Nepal overpowered the Maldives 25-13, 25-12, 25-8.
After a slow start early on, Nepal in the opening set hardly faced much resistance from the Maldives in the summit clash.
Nepal overturned a 4-7 deficit, winning 12 points in succession to open up a 16-7 lead before sealing the set with a 12 point margin.