Himalaya Airlines to start direct flight on Kathmandu-Hangzhou-Kathmandu route

Himalaya Airlines (IATA: H9), Nepal's international private airline, is expanding its commercial flight operations in China with the launch of direct scheduled flight service between Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, and Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH) in Hangzhou China. The inaugural flight is scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, 2026, marking a defining milestone in Nepal's civil aviation history and international connectivity, according to a press note issued by the Himalaya Airlines.
With this launch, Himalaya Airlines will become the first and only commercial carrier in the history of civil aviation to operate a direct scheduled flight on the Kathmandu-Hangzhou-Kathmandu sector, establishing a new and strategically significant air corridor between Nepal and one of China's major cultural hubs, it claims.
Hangzhou is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang province in eastern China. It is one of China's Eight Ancient Capitals and is best known internationally for its cultural legacy and the scenic West Lake. The city is home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: The West Lake Cultural Landscape, the Grand Canal, and the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City.
The Kathmandu-Hangzhou route is strategically aligned with Himalaya Airlines' broader mission to develop direct air connectivity to ten key tourism and economic centres across China, with the long-term objective of promoting Nepal-China tourism and trade, the airliners says, adding that the service is expected to serve a wide range of travellers, including leisure tourists, business travellers, trade delegations, students, and cultural exchange participants from both nations. "Commencing at the onset of Nepal's peak autumn tourism season, the route is expected to provide a meaningful boost to inbound tourism and the broader hospitality sector, supporting the country's economic recovery and growth objectives."
Himalaya Airlines will initially operate two weekly frequencies on the route. Outbound flights from Kathmandu will depart every Wednesday and Sunday, with return flights from Hangzhou operating every Monday and Thursday. The airline will review and consider increasing frequency in response to passenger demand and load factors, it adds.
The Kathmandu-Hangzhou flight (H9 225) will depart Tribhuvan International Airport at 17:15 (Nepal local time) on September 30, 2026, arriving at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport at 01:05 (China local time) the following day. The return flight, Hangzhou-Kathmandu (H9 226), will depart Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport at 02:05 (China local time) on October 1, 2026, and land at TIA at 06:20 (Nepal local time) the same day.
"Himalaya Airlines aims to operate flights to ten different tourism and economic centres across China to welcome one million Chinese tourists to Nepal," vice-president of Himalaya Airlines Vijay Shrestha said ahead of the launch of the new route.
"We have pioneered trailblasing new routes to China, leading the way ahead of conventional market trends," he said, adding that the introduction of the Kathmandu-Hangzhou service is a testament to that commitment. "With this route, Himalaya Airlines aims to connect two historical and cultural hubs of Nepal and China."
The aoirlines will create memorable travel experiences while upholding the highest standards of safety and service quality, he said, "We look forward to welcoming passengers on board and facilitating the discovery of the extraordinary beauty and opportunities that both Nepal and China have to offer."
Himalaya Airlines (H9) is a Nepal-China joint venture International Airlines, established in 2014 with two complimenting objectives: to promote people-to-people contact between Nepal and other countries, as well as to boost Nepal’s trade and tourism industries. The joint venture alliance is between Tibetan Civil Aviation Development and Investment Company Ltd (TCADIC) and Yeti World Investment Pvt Ltd.
H9 young fleet consists of total 4 aircraft: three Airbus 320-214 (180 all-economy seats) and one Airbus 319-115 (144 all economy seats). H9 is currently operating passenger flights to prominent countries of Middle East & South Asia, the airliner further claims.

President calls for global cooperation in combating climate change impact on Himalayan region

President Ram Chandra Paudel emphasised that nations affected by climate change, including Nepal, should stand to benefit significantly from financial and technical assistance aimed at mitigating its impact.

Speaking at the 40th anniversary ceremony of International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) today at Lalitpur, he underscored that the repercussions of climate change, environmental degradation, and biodiversity loss extend beyond national borders, affecting the entire global community. "The current global crisis arising from human-induced climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental pollution," he said, highlighting the heightened impact of climate change in mountainous regions like the Hindu Kush Himalayas, attributing it to the sensitive terrain and socio-economic vulnerabilities.

Despite Nepal's negligible contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, the President pointed out the disproportionate impact of climate change on the country. He also recalled urging global attention to this issue during the visit of the United Nations Secretary-General, stressing the urgency of addressing climate change impacts on nations with minimal carbon emissions.

"Minimizing the effects of climate change to improve the lives of people in this region is a significant challenge," he said, "Events such as the melting snow, glacier bursts, mountain landslides, and floods in the south due to climate change inflict severe damage on the economy, environmental systems, and humanity."

highlighting Nepal's commitment to collaborating with neighbouring countries and international partners on climate change, environmental protection, disaster risk reduction, biodiversity conservation, and livelihood issues he reiterated ongoing support for the institutional development of ICIMOD and sustainable development in the entire Hindu Kush mountain region.

The President also suggested that ICIMOD should actively engage with the nearly two billion people in its influence area and coastal countries, encouraging collaboration to enhance environmental services from the Hindu Kush Himalayan region.

The ICIMOD marks four decades of catalysing sustainable development in the complex terrain of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region.

Under the theme 'Moving Mountains 2030', the 40th anniversary event highlighted ICIMOD’s journey and its commitment to shaping the future of the HKH region.

The 40th-anniversary agenda included a series of key moments, showcasing ICIMOD’s achievements and the enduring partnerships that have fuelled its success, a press note issued by the ICIMOD reads. "Importantly, this moment marks an opportunity to consolidate urgent actions for the future in a context of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss."

The anniversary event featured a range of activities, including the release of a commemorative book highlighting four decades of ICIMOD’s contributions, launched by the Right Honourable Mr Ramchandra Paudel, and the inauguration of a new annex building. 

During the event, the winners of the Dr Andreas Schild Memorial Mountain Prize were also announced. The Mountain Prize sets out to amplify the voices of those on the front lines of the climate crisis in the HKH, recognising outstanding individuals and groups actively engaged in on-the-ground sustainable solutions, the press note reads. "This year’s winners were Sathi Eco Innovation India Pvt Limited and Rupani Foundation Pakistan (RFP)."

Reflecting on this milestone, Director General of ICIMOD Dr Pema Gyamtsho, said, “ICIMOD's 40-year legacy is a testament to our resilience and the collaborative efforts of our partners. We’ve addressed diverse challenges, enabling sustainable development in the HKH. As we move forward, our ambition remains high, guided by the lessons of the past.” 

Also attending the event was Bhutan’s advisor for Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and Governor of the Royal Monetary Authority, Dasho Penjore, and high-level representatives from other member countries of ICIMOD – Bangladesh, China, India, , Nepal and Pakistan. Attendees also included ICIMOD’s board and support group members from the region and beyond, as well as the diplomatic corps based in Kathmandu.  

Speakers at the event included prominent personalities from ICIMOD’s past, including appointed Regent of ICIMOD in 1983 Peter Gueller, initial ICIMOD chair from Switzerland Dr Ruedi Hoeger and long-serving former chairperson of ICIMOD’s Programme Advisory Committee and former Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Bhutan Lyonpo Dr Kinzang Dorji, vice chair of National Planning Commission (NPC) and Board Member of Nepal and Chair of ICIMOD Support Group Dr Min Bahadur Shrestha, and ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to Nepal Torun Dramdal.

ICIMOD, on the occasion, expressed gratitude to its partners and supporters, acknowledging the integral role they’ve played in working towards the organisation's mission.

Following the signing of the agreement at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris on 30 September 1981 by Nepal government and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), ICIMOD was established and inaugurated in December 1983 with its headquarters in Nepal’s capital. As per the ICIMOD Act 2040 (1983), ICIMOD was mandated to carry out study, research and other necessary functions in order to develop the mountain area of Hindu Kush Himalayan regions in an integrated manner. 

ICIMOD reaffirmed its dedication and commitment to further strengthen its role in supporting its regional member countries to address the current and emerging challenges that the HKH region is facing from climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss as a neutral convenor and facilitator for sharing information, knowledge and sustainable policies and practices. 

The 40th-anniversary event served as a moment to celebrate past successes, present achievements, and chart a course for a more robust pathway towards a greener, more resilient and inclusive development of the HKH region.

Growth of private schools fails to close widening gap between richer and poorer students

According to a report, increase in private educational institutions in Nepal has failed to bridge the gaps between the richest and poorest.

The report launched today at an event at Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS) in Kathmandu also provides a comprehensive and invaluable analysis of the role of non-state actors in the education system of Nepal, and across South Asia. Produced by UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring Report and Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS) Nepal, the study ‘Who Loses, Who Chooses,’ reveals the inequalities in education experience and learning outcomes which have resulted from a rapid growth in the private education sector.

There has been rapid growth in access to education in Nepal in recent decades. If late enrollment is included, 95 per cent of children reached the last year of primary school, meaning Nepal almost achieved universal primary completion within a generation. As across the whole of South Asia, where private education has grown faster than any other region, much of this expansion has been in privately provided schools. Half of children in pre-primary and one quarter of students in primary and secondary education in Nepal attend privately funded schools, according to the report.

But the report warns that education quality is suffering. Learning levels are growing more slowly in South Asia than in the rest of the world, it reads, adding that only 39 per cent have minimum proficiency skills in reading by the end of grade 5 in Nepal. The report also calls for greater oversight of the quality of all schools by the government, whether schools are state or non-state provided. It notes the prevalence of unregistered madrasas and Buddhist and Hindu schools in Nepal. “Up to 3,000 madrasas may be operating unregistered,” it adds.

“Governments need to collaborate with the range of private and other non-state schools and universities in Nepal to ensure fruitful regulations and financing across the full system,” GEM Report senior policy analyst Priyadarshani Joshi, said on the occasion.

The report acknowledges that Nepal and India prohibit profit making in education in the country. However, it notes that the rise of private education has increased financial burdens on households all the same. Household incomes currently account for 63 per cent of total spending in pre-primary education. Due to stigma regarding the quality of state education, individuals are more likely to invest in and support private industries. The report finds that in two districts, even the ‘best’ public schools struggled to attract students from wealthier backgrounds.

Growing competition in the labour market has also resulted in an increase in the demand for private tutoring, adds the report, citing that the positive example in Nepal of regulations on tutoring for other countries in the region, including the quota for tutoring for marginalised groups, the caps on fees and the necessity of a government permission for private tutoring classes to be established. Nonetheless, as with tutoring across the whole region, the report warns about the practice continuing to widen education gaps between the richest and poorest.

The also recommended five policies to enhance the quality and equity of education in South Asia:

1. Fulfil the commitment to make 1 year pre-primary and 12 years primary and secondary education free. Most countries in the region are not nearly reaching the necessary minimum funding to ensure free access to education.

2. Set quality standards that apply to all state and non-state education institutions and improve state capacity to ensure their implementation. Governments should work to establish universal standards for quality of education in both state and non-state schools to promote more equitable outcomes for all learners. Governments should dedicate funding to frequent school inspections and assessments to ensure parity across sectors.

3. Establish common monitoring and support processes that apply to all state and non-state institutions through a system of clear and standardised regulations on teacher training, curriculum, and testing. This will help to ensure that students in all education systems receive a more equitable education.

4. Facilitate the spread of innovation through the education system for the common good.

Mistrust between governments and non-state actors has negatively impacted both standardisation and student performance. Governments should recognise good practices used by non-state actors and work to incorporate them into public education systems.

5. Maintain the transparency, inclusivity, and integrity of public education policy processes. Open communication between all actors should be prioritised, with the common goal of increasing education quality and access of all learners at the heart of discussions.

Lonely Planet ranks Everest base camp as 4th best trek in the world

Though Covid-19 has halted the movement worldwide hurting the tourism industry, Lonely Planet has listed Nepal’s Everest base camp as 4th best trek in the world.
“The Everest base camp trek that passes through Sherpa villages, glaciers and finally to the lap of the world's highest mountain – Mt Everest – has been ranked 4th best treks in the world,” reads the leading travel guide book publisher in the world, Lonely Planet. ‘The 10 best treks in the world’ – updated in June 2020 by the travel guidebook – reads that everybody wants a glimpse of the world’s highest mountain and that’s the reason why the Everest base camp trek has become so popular. “Reaching a height of 5,545m (18,193ft) at Kala Pattar, this two-three-week trek is extremely popular, thanks to its spectacular scenery but also romanticism; successful trekkers are able to proudly say they've stood at the base of the world's highest mountain.”
The trail threads between small, characterful mountain villages en route to the famous campground and is trafficked by Sherpa people of the Solu Khumbu, it further reads, adding that the heights reached during this trek are literally dizzying until you acclimatise to the altitude, and the continuous cutting across valleys certainly has its ups and downs. “Be warned: prime trekking season brings serious crowds.”
Most of the trek is through the Sagarmatha National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site as Sagarmatha is the Nepali name for Mt Everest – and a refuge for musk deer, snow leopard, Himalayan tahr, black bear and many spectacular types of iridescent pheasant.
Among the top 10 lists of the world's best trek, Mt Everest base camp trek trails behind the GR20 trail that goes through Corsica, France diagonally from North to South; Inca Trail in Peru and Pays Dogon in Mali, one of Africa’s most breathtaking regions. Other best treks, according to the Lonely Planet, are—Indian Himalayas in India; Routeburn Track in New Zealand; Overland Track in Australia; the Narrows in the US; the Haute Route in France-Switzerland and Baltoro Glacier & K2 in Pakistan.
The travel guidebook reads that these 10 classic treks are amongst the best on the planet; all of them require a sturdy pair of lungs, fit legs and a good amount of preparation. But the reward is an experience that lasts a lifetime.
Mt Everest has captivated intrepid men and women since the 1920s. The exploits of legends including George Mallory, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa put the mighty mountain on the map; thousands have followed, making huge sacrifices – many with their lives – in their own attempts to the summit, according to Lonely Planet.
Popularly known as the ‘Third Pole’, the trek to Mt Everest base camp has become an achievable goal for people from all walks of life who want a glimpse of the world’s highest peak in past few years. “In 2018, more than 56,000 people trekked in the Everest region.”

Development Partners provide roadmap for safe reopening of schools

Four development partners – UNESCO, UNICEF, WFP and World Bank – have issued new guidelines on the safe reopening of schools amidst ongoing closures affecting nearly 1.3 billion students worldwide.
Warning that the widespread closures of educational facilities in response to the Covid-19 pandemic present an unprecedented risk to children’s education and wellbeing, particularly for the most marginalised children, who rely on school for their education, health, safety and nutrition, the guidelines offer practical advice for national and local authorities on how to keep children safe when they return to school.
“Rising inequality, poor health outcomes, violence, child labour and child marriage are just some of the long-term threats for children who miss out on school,” said UNICEF executive director Henrietta Fore. “We know the longer children stay out of school, the less likely they are to ever return,” Fore said, adding that unless we prioritise the reopening of schools – when it is safe to do so – we will likely see a devastating reversal in education gains.
The new guidelines note that while there is not yet enough evidence to measure the impact of school closures on disease transmission rates, the adverse effects of school closures on children’s safety and learning are well documented. Gains made in increasing access to children’s education in recent decades risk being lost and, in the worse cases, reversed completely.
“In the poorest countries, children often rely on schools for their only meal of the day,” WFP executive director David Beasley said, adding that with many schools now closed because of Covid, some 370 million children are missing out on these nutritious meals, which are a lifeline for poor families. “They are also being denied the health support they normally get through school.”
This could do lasting damage, so when schools reopen it is critical that these meal programmes and health services are restored, which can also help to draw the most vulnerable children back to school,” Beasley added.
The best interests of children and overall public health considerations – based on an assessment of the associated benefits and risks to education, public health and socio-economic factors – must be central to national and local authorities’ decisions to reopen schools, the guidelines read.
Schools must look at how they can reopen better – with improved learning and more comprehensive support for children at the school including health, nutrition, psychosocial support and water, sanitation and hygiene facilities.
As countries grapple with when to reopen schools, UNESCO, UNICEF, WFP and World Bank – as part of the Global Education Coalition – urge governments to assess the benefits of classroom-based instruction compared to remote learning, and the risk factors related to reopening of schools, noting the inconclusive evidence around the infection risks related to school attendance.
“While many students are falling behind in their learning journey because of prolonged school closures, the decision of when and how to reopen schools, while far from straightforward, should be a priority,” UNESCO director-general Audrey Azoulay said, adding that once there is a green light on the health front, a whole set of measures will need to be in place to ensure that no student is left behind. “These guidelines provide all-round guidance for governments and partners to facilitate the reopening of schools for students, teachers and families,” Azoulay added. “We share one goal: to protect and advance the right to education for every learner.”

The guidelines include:
• Policy reform: Policy implications address all dimensions of the guidelines, including clear policies for school opening and closure during public health emergencies, reforms needed to expand equitable access for marginalised and out of school children as well as strengthen and standardise remote learning practices.
• Financing requirements: Address the impact of COVID-19 on education and invest in strengthening education systems for recovery and resilience.
• Safe operations: Ensure conditions that reduce disease transmission, safeguard essential services and supplies and promote healthy behaviour. This includes access to soap and clean water for safe handwashing, procedures on when staff or students feel unwell, protocols on social distancing and good hygiene practices.
• Compensating learning: Focus on practices that compensate for lost instructional time, strengthen pedagogy and build on hybrid learning models such as integrating approaches in remote and distance education. This must include knowledge on disease transmission and prevention.
• Wellness and protection: Expand the focus on students’ well-being and reinforce the protection of children through enhanced referral mechanisms and the provision of essential school-based services including healthcare and school feeding.
• Reaching the most marginalised: Adapt school opening policies and practices to expand access to marginalised groups such as previously out-of-school children, displaced and migrant children and minorities. Diversify critical communications and outreach by making them available in relevant languages and in accessible formats.
“Once schools begin to reopen, the priority becomes reintegrating students into school settings safely and in ways that allow learning to pick up again, especially for those who suffered the biggest learning losses,” World Bank global director for Education Jaime Saavedra said, adding that it is a critical moment as it is the launching pad for a new normal that should be more effective and equitable. “To manage reopenings, schools will need to be logistically prepared with the teaching workforce ready.”
And they will need to have plans specifically for supporting learning recovery of the most disadvantaged students, Saavedra said. “The guidelines offer a framework for moving forward that the major UN agencies are aligned around.”

Bhaktapur to start ‘night heritage walk’

Bhaktapur Tourism Development Committee – in association with Visit Nepal Year 2020 (VNY2020) secretariat – has taken a new initiative to start ‘night heritage walk’ beginning from Thursday evening to promote the historic city of Bhaktapur and its heritage sites for the Visit Nepal 2020.
The night-walk is the first of the initiatives – by the tourism development committee – in anticipation of the tourism year starting in a few weeks. The government is expecting to welcome some two million tourists in the Visit Nepal Year 2020. “We have chosen Bhaktapur for the new move because there are many new and unique things to offer the tourists during night time,” according to chief executive officer (CEO) at Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) Deepak Raj Joshi. “Gradually, we will be launching the programme in Lalitpur and Kathmandu as well because all of them are historic and cultural cities.”
The committee has – for the night-walk – especially hired 10 city tour operators, who will be informing the visitors regarding the lifestyles of people and their cultural processions. The city hosts various cultural activities during the night time to lure tourists. “This is going to be a new practice in the tourism sector to attract more tourists,” he added.
Welcoming the drive, the Mayor of Bhaktapur municipality Sunil Prajapati termed it a milestone to promote the historic city of Nepal. “The municipality is working to install street lamps in all the alleys,” he said, adding that they are almost in the last phase of laying stones in each and every alley to make the tourists walk a joy and easy.
Officials at the committee also claimed that the night heritage walk will help tourists understand the lifestyle and activities of local Newar communities.
Bhaktapur – also known as the ‘city of devotees’ – is located in the eastern corner of the Kathmandu Valley, which is half an hour ride from Kathmandu Durbar Square. A stronghold of the Newar community, Bhaktapur also has Durbar Square, like in the other city in the Valley, Lalitpur.
Bhaktapur is also one among the seven most famous UNESCO World Heritage sites in the Valley. The city – among the three cities in the Valley – is famous for traditional arts, architecture, wooden craftworks, pottery, culture as well as stone-carved temples dating back to the Malla era.

Indian Women’s Association hands over two electric vehicles to PADT

President of the Indian Women’s Association (IWA) Namrita Puri today handed over two 8-seater electric vehicles (EV) with high end Lithium ion batteries to member-secretary of Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) Dr Pradip Dhakal at the premises of Pashupatinath Temple.
“These eco-friendly vehicles are manufactured by an Indian Company Gayam Motor Works,” according to a press note issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.
Puri, on the occasion, said that these eco-friendly vehicles will be helpful for the pilgrims visiting the holy Pashupatinath temple especially for elderly anddifferently abledpeople, women and children. “These vehicles will also create employment opportunity for two women,” she said, adding that handing over of e-vehicles will be another milestone in strengthening cultural and religious ties between people of India and Nepal and bringing people of the two countries closer.
Indian Women’s Association (IWA) – an organisation of Indian Women under the patronage of Embassy of India in Kathmandu with the aim to provide friendly meeting ground for Indian Women resident in Nepal – provides a forum for interaction with Nepali women and works to promote goodwill and friendship between the Indian and Nepali community. It organises philanthropic activities to benefit women and children in Nepal. Recently, it has organised charitable events with Nava Indradhanus English Boarding School in Kathmandu, Koseli Foundation, Bal Sarathi, Nepali Snehi Kaakha and Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital.
Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) is established to conserve and operate the Pashupatinath Temple and adjoining Area, which is enlisted as UNESCO’s World Heritage Site.

On average two journalists killed a week, UNESCO report says

Nearly 500 journalists were killed throughout the world between 2014 and 2018 which accounted for an 18 per cent increase in the number of killings, compared to the preceding five-year period (2009-2013).
According to a report published by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) ‘Intensified Attacks, New Defences', 2 journalists were killed every week on average in the period.
Of the total, some 149 were killed in the Arab States, the deadliest region for media followed by 127 in Latin America and the Caribbean region and 120 in Asia and the Pacific region. Similarly, 51 journalists were killed in Africa while 28 and 20 journos were murdered in Western Europe and North America, and Central and Eastern Europe respectively.
Although the majority of journalists killed were men (449), killings of women journalists almost doubled compared to the previous five-year period. Some 24 female journalists were killed in 2009-2013, compared to 46 in 2014-2018.
When it comes to media types, in the year 2018, TV journalists formed the largest group among journalists killed (33 per cent), followed by reporters working mainly for print media outlets (26 per cent). Of them, 19 per cent and 15 per cent belonged to radio and online sectors respectively. The least 7 per cent of journalists who worked for cross platforms were killed in the same year, according to the report.
Over the past five years, the three most dangerous countries were Syria, Mexico and Afghanistan with 54, 53 and 46 journalists killing.
The period witnessed an inversion in the proportion of journalists being killed outside of conflict zones. While in 2014 and 2015, a majority of journalist killings occurred in conflict regions, in 2017 and 2018 more killings occurred outside conflict regions. This trend reflects the changing nature of violence against journalists, who are increasingly silenced for reporting on issues of corruption, crime and politics.
According to the report, out of the 61 states requested in 2019 to provide an update, only 37 responded. The highest response was recorded in 2017 (74 per cent) while only 27 per cent of states responded in 2014. The UNESCO director-general sends an annual request to the member states to provide updates on the status of judicial follow-up of killings of journalists recorded by the Organisation. Of the 1,109 killings that the DG condemned between 2006 and 2018, the organisation has received information on 733 cases.
The report reveals that impunity level is very high as 88 per cent of cases of killings of journalists remain unresolved worldwide with perpetrators of violent acts against journalists walking freely. The highest percentage of resolved cases has been reported in Central and Eastern Europe (48 per cent of cases resolved), followed by Western Europe and North America (45 per cent of cases resolved). The region with the lowest percentage of resolved cases is the Arab States region, where only 1 per cent of cases have been reported resolved by the concerned member states.
The trend shows that journalists have been exposed to other forms of threats and violence apart from fatal attacks such as violence and intimidation. Journalists have reported facing violence at the hands of armed insurgent groups, organised crime, and state authorities. Several studies indicate a rise in the number of journalists incarcerated, held hostage, or who have disappeared. Numerous journalists’ testimonies also document the continued use of torture.
Similarly, digital threats are being escalated from both state and non-state actors. Censoring and silencing journalists have been growing. Cyber-mediated attacks are used to hamper journalistic work. The recent trends also reveal that female journalists are targeted more frequently and more viciously by online abuse and harassment than their male colleagues.

New Target: Cut ‘Learning Poverty’ by at least half by 2030

The World Bank introduced today an ambitious new Learning Target, which aims to cut by at least half the global rate of Learning Poverty by 2030. Learning Poverty is defined as the percentage of 10-year-olds who cannot read and understand a simple story.  Using a database developed jointly with UNESCO Institute of Statistics, the Bank estimates that 53 per cent of children in low- and middle-income countries cannot read and understand a simple story by the end of primary school. In poor countries, the level is as high as 80 per cent. Such high levels of learning poverty are an early warning sign that all global educational goals and other related sustainable development goals are in jeopardy.
“Success in reaching this learning target is critical to our mission,” World Bank Group president David Malpass said, adding that tackling learning poverty will require comprehensive reforms to ensure domestic resources are used effectively. “The target points to the urgency of investments in better teaching and better coordination of vital learning priorities.”
This new target aligns with the Human Capital Project’s efforts at building the political commitment for accelerating investment in people. Much of the variation in the Human Capital Index – used to track countries’ progress in health, education, and survival – is due to differences in educational outcomes.
“We know that education is a critical factor in ensuring equality of opportunities,” said World Bank Group vice president (Human Development) Annette Dixon. “Many countries have almost eliminated learning poverty – with levels below 5 per cent,” Dixon said, adding that it is incredibly high – but in others – and we are putting at risk the future of many children. “That is morally and economically unacceptable. This Learning Target aims to galvanise action toward an ambitious but reachable goal.”
Several developing countries are showing that accelerated progress is possible. In Kenya, progress has been accomplished through technology-enabled teacher coaching, teacher guides, and the delivery of one textbook per child – in both English and Kiswahili – with contents suitable to the level of students. In Egypt, the government has changed its curriculum and assessment systems, so students are evaluated throughout the year, with the key element of the reforms focused on learning, instead of getting a school credential. And in Vietnam, the clear and explicit national curriculum, the near-universal availability of textbooks, and the low absenteeism among students and teachers are credited for contributing to the country’s outstanding learning outcomes.
Unfortunately, in many other countries the current pace of improvement is still worryingly slow. Even if countries reduce their learning poverty at the fastest rates seen over the past 20 years, the goal of ending it will not be attained by 2030.
“Cutting learning poverty by at least half is feasible but requires large political, financial and managerial commitments and a whole of government approach,” said Global Education Director at the World Bank Group Jaime Saavedra. “Taking learning poverty to zero -assuring that all children are able to read- is a fundamental development objective, as is eliminating hunger or extreme poverty,” Saavedra said, adding that all children have the right to read – and in each country, a national dialogue is needed in order to define how and when learning poverty can be eliminated, and to set intermediate targets for the coming years.
The bank says, it will use three pillars of work to help countries reach this target and improve the human capital outcomes of their people: A literacy policy package consisting of country interventions that have proven to be effective in promoting reading proficiency at scale: ensuring political and technical commitment to literacy grounded in adequately funded plans; ensuring effective teaching for literacy, through tightly structured and effective pedagogy; preparing teachers to teach at the right level and providing practical in-school teacher training; ensuring access texts and readers to all; and teaching children in their home language.
A refreshed education approach to strengthen entire education systems, so that literacy improvements can be sustained and scaled up and all other education outcomes can be achieved. This approach comprises of five pillars: i) prepared and motivated learners, ii) effective and valued teachers, iii) classrooms equipped for learning, iv) safe and inclusive schools, and v) a well-managed education system.
An ambitious measurement and research agenda to include measurement of both learning outcomes and their drivers, as well as a continued action-oriented research and innovation, including smart use of new technologies, on how to build foundational skills.
Change is needed at scale, quickly, and for large populations. That cannot be done without technology. Open-source digital infrastructure and information systems will be used to assure resources reach all teachers, students and schools.
Tracking progress calls for a dramatic improvement in the capacity to measure learning, particularly in low-income countries. A World Bank-UNESCO Institute for Statistics partnership will help countries strengthen their learning assessment systems and improve the breadth and quality of country data on learning to better monitor performance over time and in internationally-comparable ways. Further, the World Bank’s new Learning Assessment Platform will enable countries to evaluate student learning more efficiently and effectively.

International brand Marriott comes to Kathmandu

Kathmandu Marriott Hotel opens in the capital city, marking the debut of the flagship brand in Nepal. Designed to expand the mind of modern travelers, the hotel’s prime location connects next generation travelers to attractions throughout the fascinating cultural city, according to the hotel management.
“We are proud to introduce our flagship brand in the beautiful kingdom of Nepal,” area vice president of South Asia at the Marriott International Neeraj Govil said, adding that Nepal welcomed 1 million tourist arrivals in 2018, reaching a new record to show that this country has great tourism potential. ”The hotel will offer our guests brilliant stays in Kathmandu, stimulating guests with cultural experiences that speak to their inventive nature.”
Nepal offers many UNESCO World Heritage Sites with stunning experiences while guests unwind and recharge in the comfort of sophisticated spaces and the warm hospitality of Marriott, for both business and leisure travelers, he added. “Upon entering the hotel, guests will see thoughtful touches paying tribute to the country including a 500-kg Nepali praying bell hanging from the ceiling while local paintings and crafts adorn the walls.”
Likewise, the patterned carpets mimic the detailed weaving seen in the Dhaka Topi, a brimless cap that is part of the traditional Nepal national dress, according to the hotel, that has the 214 well-appointed rooms reflecting streamlined Marriott Modern design complemented with premium elegance and intuitive technology.
“The Kathmandu Marriott Hotel is thoughtfully designed to ensure a brilliant stay,” said general manager of Kathmandu Marriott Hotel Jean-Louis Ripoche. “We look forward to delivering unparalleled guest experiences backed by comfort and great service through best in class facilities and amenities for both international and local guests,” he said, adding that the hotel’s four distinctive dining venues, offering sumptuous local and international cuisines, promise to raise the bar within the Kathmandu culinary scene.
With over 740 sqm of banquet space, the Kathmandu Marriott Hotel has one of the largest meeting spaces in the city with the latest technology for seamless conferencing and meetings, he added.

Nepal to lobby to keep Kathmandu on heritage site list

Nepal is set to lobby for maintaining the world heritage site status of Kathmandu valley, after the UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee proposed to list the valley as ‘World Heritage in Danger’. The authorities will make a presentation at the WHC’s 43rd session to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from June 30 to July 10.
The WHC had listed Kathmandu valley as ‘property proposed for inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger’. But once a site got formally listed as ‘World Heritage in Danger’, it would be difficult to regain its previous status, and chances of getting it removed from UNESCO’s World Heritage Site would increase, according to the Department of Archaeology.
The department has prepared a comprehensive report to lobby for removing Kathmandu valley from proposed ‘World Heritage in Danger.’
This is not the first time that WHC has proposed to list Kathmandu valley as ‘World Heritage in Danger.’ Kathmandu valley had been in the proposed list after the 2015 devastating earthquake for the reason that ‘Nepal may not rebuild the heritage destroyed by the earthquake.’
But the department is confident that the committee will vote in Nepal’s favour after hearing the success story of rebuilding the heritage sites, into their original forms by complying with the standard archaeological principals. The decision made by majority – out of the representatives of 21 WHC member countries taking part in the conference – will be final regarding enlisting sites as ‘World Heritage in Danger.’
A team led by secretary of Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Mohan Krishna Sapkota and Department of Archaeology chief will participate the WHC’s forty-third session in Baku.

Indian state of Rajasthan to pay for Pashupatinath trip

Indian state of Rajasthan has decided to pay for airfare of its senior citizens – above 65 years – coming on pilgrimage to Pashupatinath in Kathmandu.
According to Indian media, “The Rajasthan government has decided to fly its senior citizens free of cost to three more pilgrimage destinations, including Pashupatinath Temple in Nepal, an official statement said Thursday.”
The three new locations have been added by the Ashok Gehlot government in the list of 6 existing destinations, the media reported, adding that the Indian state of Rajasthan has been bearing pilgrimage expenses of senior citizens under the ‘Senior Citizens Pilgrimage Scheme’.
Pashupatinath Temple – listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list in 1979 – has been a prime destination for Hindu pilgrims across the globe. Indian nationals top the visitors’ number every year due to religious tourism during February, when Maha Shivaratri, a major festival dedicated to Lord Shiva, is celebrated.
The latest decision of the Indian state government is likely to help promote Visit Nepal Year 2020 campaign too. 

Customs duty makes books expensive

After the government introduced a new tax provision for imported books, it has become expensive hitting not only the students but also a reading culture.
The budget – brought by the finance minister Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada – for the next fiscal year has mandated a 10 per cent customs duty on all imported books. Earlier, there was never a tax on the imported books, especially schoolbooks – according to UNESCO’s Florence agreement, which prohibits customs duties on the import of books and publications that can be classified as educational, scientific and cultural – as Nepal is also one of the signatory of the agreement. The government’s new move, however, contradicts the UNESCO’s Florence agreement, affecting thousands of students.
Though the tax will be applicable to the books published only in foreign countries, most of the books used in the schools and colleges are imported. According to director of the Department of Customs Shishir Ghimire thefe should be tax on finished goods – imported books – as there is a tax on raw materials like papers for publishing in Nepal.
Due to no tax on imported books, most of the domestic publishers lately have started printing the books in India and bring it back to the market, which according to some domestic publishers, is hitting the domestic publishing business very hard.
The government wants to promote the publishing industry in Nepal, according to Ghimire, who, like some domestic publishers, think that the printing Nepali books in India, though a recent trend, has hit the domestic publishers. Currently, a majority of Nepali publication houses print their books in India, as it is cheaper than to print in Nepal, according to them.
But those publishers – who are opposing the government decision – are afraid that the customs duty will hit the reading culture among young people. “A reading culture was finally emerging in Nepal, but the added customs will again discourage them,” a publisher said, adding that there are very few libraries that could encourage reading culture.
The National Booksellers' and Publishers' Association of Nepal (NBPAN) said that the government move will encourage piracy. Protesting the government move of customs duty on all types of books, including schoolbooks, the association has decided to halt imports of books for the time being. The association also blamed the government for not consulting them before bringing the new law. “We found out only when transportation companies informed publishers about the new price in the invoices for future shipments,” the association added.

UNESCO warns not to ignore the education needs of internal migrants

Three quarters of all those on the move are internal migrants, often moving from rural to urban areas to find better opportunities. Depending on the definition, Asia has the highest rates of internal migration, at each education level. The new UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report, 'Building bridges, not walls,' looks at the implications for these movements on education systems.
Director of the GEM Report Manos Antoninis said that countries are underestimating the education needs of children on the move. "Many governments, such as India, have made efforts, including to track migrant children, to set up seasonal hostels or boarding schools and translate school materials," he said, "But they may be missing the bigger picture."
Schools must reflect cultural differences and improve teacher training. Until then, the value of an education will always lose to the attraction of earning money through work, he added.
The report further reads that in India 10.7 million rural children lived in households with a seasonal migrant in 2013. About 28 per cent of youth aged 15 to 19 in these households were illiterate or had not completed primary school, compared to a national average of 18 per cent. About 80 per cent of temporary migrant children in seven Indian cities lacked access to education near worksites. Children of brick kiln workers in Punjab state in 2015 were found to work 7-9 hours a day.
The report also warns of registration and documentation requirements set up to reduce migratory flows that make it harder to enter schools, and have effects even long after they have been eased.
Likewise, the report emphasises the acute education needs faced by children living in slums in the region. It estimates these needs will increase with 80 million more children expected to live in slums globally by 2030. While scarce, data tend to show that education in slums is far worse than in other urban areas.
Slum dwellers’ education needs are often severely impacted by eviction and resettlement: In India, 18 per cent of the students displaced by a River Front Project in Ahmedabad dropped out, and an additional 11 per cent had lower attendance. The 2016 India Habitat III national report committed the government to universal provision of basic services including education. Yet research from the same year showed that urban planners were not being trained to understand the particular needs of slum dwellers.
Children who have left home to become domestic workers are found to be the most vulnerable to exclusion from education.
The report further warns of the negative impact on children’s education that being left behind as parents migrate can have.

UNESCO report warns not to ignore the education needs of internal migrants

Three quarters of all those on the move are internal migrants, often moving from rural to urban areas to find better opportunities, and the governments are failing to address their education needs.
Depending on the definition, Asia has the highest rates of internal migration, at each education level. The new UNESCO Global Education Monitoring (GEM) report, 'Building bridges, not walls', looks at the implications for these movements on education systems.
"Countries are underestimating the education needs of children on the move," director of the GEM report Manos Antoninis said, adding that many governments, like India, have made efforts, including to track migrant children, to set up seasonal hostels or boarding schools and translate school materials. "But they may be missing the bigger picture."
Schools must reflect cultural differences and improve teacher training, the report reads, "Until then, the value of an education will always lose to the attraction of earning money through work."
The report also shows that in India 10.7 million rural children lived in households with a seasonal migrant in 2013. "About 28 per cent of youth aged 15 to 19 in these households were illiterate or had not completed primary school, compared to a national average of 18 per cent," it states, adding that about 80 per cent of temporary migrant children in seven Indian cities lacked access to education near worksites. "Children of brick kiln workers in Punjab state of India in 2015 were found to work 7-9 hours a day."
 Entitled ‘Building bridges, not walls’, the report also warns of registration and documentation requirements set up to reduce migratory flows that make it harder to enter schools, and have effects even long after they have been eased.
Likewise, in China, despite major reforms to reduce residence permit restrictions since 2006, migrants in Beijing still have to provide five certificates to enroll in schools.
The report emphasises the acute education needs faced by children living in slums in the region.
The report also warns of the negative impact on children’s education that being left behind as parents migrate can have.
The report – published by UN – identifies the education of internal migrants being at risk of neglect by governments in Asia, with the acute education needs of migrant children and slum dwellers not being met. The report substantially covers the education policies and status across India, China, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Indonesia and highlights the systematic neglect of the Rohingya community in the region.

Kathmandu joins the global movement to 'Light up the World in RED to End TB'

Kathmandu and Patan Durbar Squares, Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) and World Health Organisation (WHO)-Nepal lit two important UNESCO heritage landmarks of Nepal – Patan and Kathmandu Durbar Squares – in red, marking the first ever United Nations High-Level Meeting (UNHLM) on Tuberculosis (TB), held today in New York. The initiations will set pathway for an accelerated and coordinated response to save millions of lives and prevent TB, a commitment towards a world free of the disease by 2030, according to the UN.
Heads of State and Government, TB survivors, affected communities, technical partners, researchers, private sector representatives, and other key stakeholders are attending United Nations High-Level Meeting (UNHLM) on Tuberculosis in New York to put TB in the spotlight and this is the first time TB has been addressed in the UN General Assembly.
The UNHLM on TB, with the theme 'United to End Tuberculosis: An Urgent Global Response to a Global Epidemic', is the biggest opportunity to raise political priority for TB and is the most significant political meeting on TB which will lead to a political declaration endorsed by the heads of state.
TB is the 9th leading cause of death globally and is now the leading world’s infectious killer with 1.6 million deaths in 2017 alone, with profound economic and social consequences.
The 'Light up the world in RED to End TB' ceremony was inaugurated by dignitaries from MOHP and WHO country representative to Nepal. During this historical event for a huge global momentum for ending TB in the world, the two important UNESCO heritage landmarks of Nepal has joined the global cities that has participated in the campaign. Every city is invited to join the global movement and light the city in red to bring world’s attention to the devastating impact of TB.
"The presence of the dignitaries from the MOHP and partners here today to commemorate this historical UNHLM on TB is a testimony of Nepal’s commitment towards a world free of TB," WHO representative Dr Jos Vandelaer said in his welcome remarks.

Meghauli Serai featured among the best new hotels of 2017

Travel & Leisure magazine has featured Meghauli Serai – a Taj Safaris lodge – as one of the best new hotels of 2017.
Meghauli Serai is a part of CG Hotels & Resorts, a hospitality portfolio arm of Chaudhary Group (CG).
Travel & Leisure has showcased some 44 hotels and resorts around the globe in its annual 2017 'ItList' as the Best New Hotels. The US-based magazine is a globally renowned publication on luxury hospitality travel and tourism.
"This year, the competition was fiercer than ever," the magazine writes. "The 44 hotels and resorts are making waves for different reasons – some for killer design, others for culinary bona fides or an unbeatable location – but all are inspiring the rest of the hospitality world to take note."
The 2017 'Best Hotels in the World' ItList covers 44 hotels and resorts in 31 countries on six continents.
"We are truly humbled by this amazing recognition which has put Nepal and CG on the global map for providing world-class hospitality experiences,” said executive director of Chaudhary Group and MD of CG Hotels and Resorts Rahul Chaudhary. "CG Hotels & Resort's hospitality portfolio consists of some of the most iconic properties globally in destinations such as the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Dubai, the Philippines, China, Indonesia and New York to name a few," he said, adding that the company is proud of its partnership with Taj and is confident that Meghauli Serai's feature in Travel & Leisure will result in the influx of high-end tourism into Nepal. "This is the 5th high-end lodge within our portfolio under Taj Safaris in India and Nepal."
Located next to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Chitwan National Park, Meghauli Serai offers the visitors an opportunity to experience rich diversity of wildlife and vegetation. The park is especially renowned for its protection of one-horned rhinos, Royal Bengal tiger and Gharial crocodiles.

Adventure TravelNews asks tourist to visit Nepal

Despite damage to historical and cultural monuments due to devastating earthquakes on April 25 and May 12, Nepal is still able to welcome tourists with open arms, according to Adventure TravelNews.
Roads and air transport links remain intact across the country; the majority of hotels and restaurants are already back in operation; and apart from the regions of Manaslu and Langtang, most trekking areas have escaped widespread damage, it wrote in its site today.
Tourism is one of the mainstays of Nepali economy, and Nepal will certainly need the income that tourism brings as it attempts to recover from this disaster.
Asking the tourists to travel to Nepal, Adventure TravelNews suggested to visit Nepal in October and November, the peak season for tourism, and the best time of year to visit Nepal. "Trekking in Langtang region has, sadly, been highly impacted, so it will probably not be until the end of the September that tourism resumes here in earnest," it said, adding that the people of these areas have lost everything as a result of the earthquake; the best way to support them is by helping to restore their former way of life. "Most of the people of the area depend highly on the income generated from tourists visiting the region; it is only really this income that will help the people recover from the tragedy."
The majestic Himalayan mountains and lush countryside still await the more intrepid visitor, while the people of the region busily rebuild so they can welcome visitors with the friendliness and generosity that the Nepalis are famous for. Travelling to these areas will help the local economy enormously, and will function as a primary source of ongoing sustainable aid, the Adventure TravelNews wrote further. "And one needs have no fear for one's own safety – Nepali architecture from now on will tend more towards stronger and safer structures."
It also assured that other than the highly affected areas of Manaslu and Langtang, trekking in most other regions can be undertaken at any time; Manaslu will start by end of September and probably Langtang too. "Pokhara is very safe, and still captivates with its magnificent mountain views and serene lakes," it read, adding that Chitwan and Bardia also escaped widespread damage, and are thus ready to showcase their abundance of natural life. "The birthplace of the Buddha, Lumbini, did not incur much damage and is thankfully all set to welcome visitors back to its sacred soil."
Inviting tourists to visit magnificent and bustling country of Nepal, and support as she attempts to stand proudly on her feet once again, the Adventure TravelNews suggested to walk the beautiful trails in the shadow of the most magnificent mountains on earth and help Nepalis reset their course on the path to prosperity.
The Adventure TravelNews has also asked the visitors to show the rest of the world that Nepal is once again a safe place to visit and explore; that there is nothing to fear and everything to be gained by witnessing first-hand the indomitable spirit of its people as they set about constructing a new identity, a new architecture, a new legacy on top of the still living and breathing vestiges of the old identity, the old architecture, and the old legacy.
Nepal is now embarking upon the most fascinating period in all of its ancient history, and one could be right there to see it happen.
The devastating earthquake of 7.8-magnitude hit the country on April 25. The earthquake was followed by a number of severe aftershocks that were felt as far away as India, Bangladesh, and Tibet. As a result, more than 8,600 people died and thousands more injured, not to mention the wholesale destruction of buildings throughout the whole of the country. The earthquake also leveled some of the nation’s historic monuments including centuries-old palaces and temples listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Likewise, the earthquake triggered an avalanche on Mt Everest in the famous trekking regions of Manaslu and Langtang sending the mountaineers back home for the season.
However, the devastating earthquake and subsequent aftershocks has shaken Nepal but it has been unable to shake the courage, strength, and spirit of the people as they are ready to welcome the tourists as always.
The Kathmandu Valley is alive and kicking and striving to get back on its feet.
Relief is slowly reaching the earthquake-affected villages, with local government and various NGO’s and INGO’s joining forces in an effort to bring life back to normal. Heritage sites like Swayambhu, the Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur Durbar Squares, and many other ancient settlements and monuments will not be fully reconstructed for some time, but the locals together with local authorities have at least initiated plans for their renovation. In time, all of these magnificent structures will be repaired and brought back to life, it added.

Earthquake strikes Nepal, hundreds dead, history crumbled

A powerful earthquake struck at 11.56 am today suspected to be killing hundreds and injuring thousands across the country.
The quake epicentered at some 80-km northwest of Kathmandu had a depth of only 11-km, which is considered shallow in geological terms. The shallower the quake the more destructive power it carries and it is said that the trembling and swaying of the earth went on for almost two minutes.
The 7.8-magnitude earthquake violently shook earth collapsing houses, leveling centuries-old temples and historical monuments at world heritage sites, and cutting open roads. The worst tremor to hit Nepal in over 82 years has brought down the centuries old temples in world heritage sites in all the three cities – Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur Durbar Square – in the valley, apart from nine-storey Bhimsen Tower. The historic tower –Dharahara – one of Kathmandu's landmarks built by the then prime minister Bhimsen Thapa as a watchtower in the 1800s. A UNESCO-recognised historical monument, Dharahara has been reduced to rubble in minutes and it is suspected that over hundred people are trapped underneath. Due to a holiday, there was a long queue of people to go up to the viewing platform on the eighth story. Bhimsen Tower collapsed followed by the centuries old temples in world heritage sites with clouds of dust swirling all around the city.
The Gorkha-centred earthquake – though expected – has hit the densely populated Kathmandu valley harder than it has been expected as the people are seen running out of the houses and buildings to the open. It is said some one dozen districts have been hit hard by the devastating earthequake.
The 7.8-magnitude earthquake is said to be spreading in all directions – from north toward the Himalayas and Tibet, south to the Indo-Gangetic plains, east toward the Brahmaputra delta of Bangladesh and to west toward the Lahore in Pakistan. The US Geological Survey revised the magnitude from 7.5 to 7.9 but then lowered it to 7.8.
The second worst earthquake to hit Nepal after 1934 has also hit India, China, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Apart from Nepal, some more people are said to be killed in India, Tibet and Bangladesh, according to the police sources. Two Chinese citizens also died at the Nepal-China border. "Given the scale of the destruction, the death toll is going to rise," according to the Home Ministry.
An hour later, another 6.6-magnitude earthquake hit back followed by smaller aftershocks that continue to jolt the nation for hours. The injured were rushed to hospitals. Tribhuvan International Airport has been shut down immediately after the earthquake.