Mikhail Gorbachev: Last Soviet leader dies aged 91
Mikhail Gorbachev, the former Soviet leader who brought the Cold War to a peaceful end, has died aged 91, BBC reported.
Mr Gorbachev, who took power in 1985, opened up the then-USSR to the world and introduced a set of reforms at home.
But he was unable to prevent the slow collapse of the Soviet Union, from which modern Russia emerged.
Tributes have been paid worldwide, with UN chief Antonio Guterres saying he "changed the course of history".
"Mikhail Gorbachev was a one-of-a kind statesman," UN Secretary General Mr Guterres wrote in a Twitter tribute. "The world has lost a towering global leader, committed multilateralist, and tireless advocate for peace."
The hospital in Moscow where he died said he had been suffering from a long and serious illness.
European Union President Ursula von der Leyen praised him as a "trusted and respected leader"who "opened the way for a free Europe".
"This legacy is one we will not forget," she added, according to BBC.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he admired Mr Gorbachev's courage and integrity,adding: "In a time of Putin's aggression in Ukraine, his tireless commitment to opening up Soviet society remains an example to us all."
Mr Gorbachev became general secretary of the Soviet Communist Party, and de facto leader of the country, in 1985.
His policy of glasnost, or openness, allowed people to criticise the government in a way which had been previously unthinkable.
But it also unleashed nationalist sentiments in many regions of the country which eventually led to its collapse.
Internationally he reached arms control deals with the US and refused to intervene when eastern European nations rose up against their Communist rulers.
He is seen in the West as an architect of reform who created the conditions for the end of the Cold War in 1991 - a time of deep tensions between the Soviet Union and Western nations, including the US and Britain.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 "for the leading role he played in the radical changes in East-West relations".
Mr Gorbachev made one ill-fated attempt to return to political life in 1996, receiving just 0.5% of the vote in presidential elections.
His divisive legacy is reflected in the tributes that followed his death.
Henry Kissinger, who served as US Secretary of State under President Richard Nixon, told the BBC's Newsnight programme that Mr Gorbachev will be "remembered in history as a man who started historic transformations that were to the benefit of mankind and to the Russian people".
James Baker, who negotiated the reunification of Germany with Mr Gorbachev's government, told the New York Times that "history will remember Mikhail Gorbachev as a giant who steered his great nation towards democracy".
But many Russians never forgave him for the turmoil that followed the collapse of the USSR.
Vladimir Rogov, a Russian-appointed official in occupied Ukraine, said Mr Gorbachev had "deliberately led the (Soviet) Union to its demise" and called him a traitor, BBC reported.
He will be buried in Moscow's Novodevichy cemetery, the resting place of many prominent Russians, next to his wife Raisa who died of leukaemia in 1999, Tass news agency said.
Foreign Secretary Paudyal meets Australian counterpart Jan Adams in Canberra
Foreign Secretary of Nepal Bharat Raj Paudyal held a meeting with Jan Adams, Secretary of Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia, in Canberra on Tuesday. During the meeting, they discussed various matters of bilateral relations and agreed to further expand and strengthen cooperation in different areas of mutual interests, read a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On the occasion, the memorandum of understanding was signed between the government of Nepal and the government of Australia on Cooperation on the Fields of Water Resources Management. Dinesh Kumar Ghimire, Secretary at the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat of Nepal and Jan Adams, Secretary of Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective governments, the statement read. A Nepali delegation led by Foreign Secretary Paudyal arrived in Canberra on August 28 to hold the second meeting of the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia which was scheduled to be held on August 30. Other delegation members from Nepal include Dinesh Kumar Ghimire, Secretary, Water and Energy Commission, Kailash Raj Pokharel, Ambassador of Nepal to Australia, Lok Bahadur Thapa, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sita Basnet, Under Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Kul Bahadur Magar, Deputy Head of Mission of Embassy of Nepal.
Second meeting of Bilateral Consultations Mechanism between Nepal and Australia held
The second meeting of the Bilateral Consultations Mechanism (BCM) between Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of Australia was held in Canberra on Tuesday. Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal and Justin Hayhurst, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia, led their respective delegations to the BCM meeting. The two sides reviewed the bilateral relations between Nepal and Australia and exchanged views on further strengthening the bilateral relations and cooperation in different fields including education, energy, investment, trade, tourism, technology transfer, migration, cooperation in climate action, and disaster risk reduction, among others, read a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both sides agreed to prioritize the exchange of high-level visits, promote people to people contacts, and facilitate trade, investment and transfer of technology. They also discussed cooperation in multilateral forums, including the exchange of experiences in UN Peace keeping operations. While appreciating Australian cooperation to Nepal, Foreign Secretary Paudyal requested the Australian side to place Nepal as a priority country for Australian aid, support for post-COVID economic recovery, graduation from the LDC status, and realize the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, and consider issuing visa services from the Australian Embassy in Kathmandu, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Earlier, Nepal and Australia signed MOU on Cooperation on Water Resource Management yesterday under which Australia will provide support on capacity development and training technical assistance in water resource management among others. The Nepali delegation led by the Foreign Secretary comprised Dinesh Kumar Ghimire, Secretary, Water and Energy Commission, Kailash Raj Pokharel, Ambassador of Nepal to Australia, Lok Bahadur Thapa, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sita Basnet, Under Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Kul Bahadur Magar, Deputy Head of Mission of Embassy of Nepal. Bilateral Consultation Mechanism between Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia was established on 14 July 2017 and its first meeting was held in Kathmandu on 16 August 2018.
Teej helps to erase discrimination: Speaker Sapkota
Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota has said Haritalika Teej is the festival to raise voices in a collective manner. It helps to foster family unity and social harmony, and erase discrimination, he added. Giving a message of best wishes on the occasion of the Teej festival today, Speaker Sapkota hoped that the Teej would help create the atmosphere conducive for women's freedom, security and dignified life. Speaker Sapkota also reminded the women to be aware of scientific value in lifestyle while celebrating the festival.
