National
ICYMI: Top stories from Wednesday, February 19
These are some of the best stories from The Kathmandu Post (February 19, 2020).Post Report
These are some of the best stories from The Kathmandu Post (February 19, 2020).
After the executive, legislature restricts media’s access
In May last year, when the parliamentary State Affairs and Good Governance Committee barred media from its meeting, there was widespread outcry among mediapersons, who accused committee Chairperson Shashi Shrestha of attempting to curb press freedom and the right to information.
Almost a year later, Purna Kumari Subedi, a lawmaker and former deputy speaker, has followed in Shrestha’s footsteps, refusing to allow reporters to cover meetings of the Agriculture, Cooperatives and Natural Resources Committee, which she heads.
Poultry farmers picket the office of the Department of Commerce
Poultry farmers on Tuesday picketed outside the office building of the Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection Management accusing it of not taking action against hatcheries and feed factories for hiking prices.
The National Poultry Entrepreneur Struggle Committee, which organised the protest, said that chicks became dearer by Rs30 per bird over a week. Between January 24 and February 1, the price of chicks jumped from Rs40 to Rs70 per bird.
Army rehearsal shuts down airport for two hours, affecting scores of flights
After suffering through bad weather conditions that had already delayed a number of flights on Tuesday morning, domestic and international passengers at Tribhuvan International Airport were treated to yet another two-hour-long delay.
Nearly three dozen domestic flights were cancelled and numerous others, including international flights, were delayed because Kathmandu airspace was being used by “other users”, according to an air traffic controller. Except for east, all sides of Kathmandu's airspace were locked for two hours on Tuesday afternoon.
Conflict victims warn non-cooperation to the transitional justice commission until Act is amended
The attempt of the Commission of the Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons to engage with the conflict victims has faced a setback as they are not ready to cooperate with the transitional justice commissions until an amendment to Enforced Disappeared Enquiry and Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act, 2014.
The umbrella bodies of the victims of the decade-long Maoist insurgency had boycotted the interaction called on February 13 by the disappearance enquiry commission. They are also set to snub the provincial level consultations the commission is preparing to start from Tuesday. The consultation will begin from Butwal, the headquarters of Province 5, and will be held in all provincial capitals within this month, according to the officials.
Health Ministry plans to carry out a study on cesarean birth trend
The family welfare division under the Department of Health Services plans to carry out a study on cesarean section deliveries being performed at all major hospitals throughout the country.
The division’s plan comes amid a growing practice of cesarean deliveries in both private and government health facilities, which health experts say, is unnecessary most of the time.