Optimism for Kashmir?

Interesting photos of Kashmiri Pandits return to Kashmir.  Controversy is that, because they are Hindu, Pakistan sees them as a threat. 

An opinion article in the Times of India reports results from a recent survey about the Line of Control.  The article states that conflict was ready to be smoothed out before 11/26.  Since, the terrain for resolution, or at least compromise, has been rocky.

Record Year for Everest Summits

It's the time of year for Everest summits - this month (and April, sometimes) is the best time for teams to try for a summit.  If teams go earlier, the weather is too cold and unpredictable.  The snow is too thick to cross the crevasses in the winter.  If they go later, the monsoon is an issue creating mudslides and more unpredictable weather.  

Times of India article talks about this seasons's summiters in this article. This year, a 13-year-old from the US broke the youngest person record. 

"However, while climbers continued to try to overcome human limitations on Mt Everest and make the impossible happen, in Nepal, the gateway to the magic mountain, its wizardry failed to make any impact on the greedy politicians who continued to push the country on the brink of disaster."- TOI


The article concludes with this and another paragraph addressing the political situation in Nepal these days.  It's not a pretty picture.