At least 300,000 people in parts of the Himalayan region could now be living in the path of potential disasters, a new study suggests. Researchers found that the amount of built-up land in high-risk zones in northern Nepal, parts of south-eastern Tibet and a corner of India's Uttarakhand had grown by about 45% between 2016 and 2023. In areas particularly threatened by flooding from glacial lakes, development increased even faster, rising by almost 78% over the same period, according to the peer-reviewed study published in Scientific Reports. The team of scientists behind it said the true number of people under threat could be much higher, as they only analysed a specific territory and not neighbouring areas which face similar risks. The study was carried out before August's devastating mass floods which left more than 1,400 dead and thousands missing in Nepal. More recently there have been several smaller incidents, including flooding along the Budhi Gandaki river on 11 October that damaged 200 houses, swept away five bridges and left five people missing. Archive: https://archive.is/z3gl4

The fund’s board agreed on Thursday, at its first extraordinary meeting, to set the money aside, the first time the fund has responded to a disaster, after Nepal became the first country to invoke its emergency procedures Archive: https://archive.is/DtpYb The world is not prepared for natural disasters caused by climate change.

On Aug. 26, a rock and ice avalanche triggered a huge flood that swept through a steep valley in Nepal, leaving thousands dead and missing. It was an extreme example of a growing problem across the Himalayas. As glaciers melt, glacial lakes expand and mountain permafrost thaws, the risks from floods, landslides and other high-mountain hazards are increasing. At the same time, more people and infrastructure are moving into the valleys where these hazards are most likely to strike. Our new study shows how quickly this exposure is growing. We focused on Nepal and the catchment areas of rivers that drain into Nepal. In that region, between 2016 and 2023, the built-up areas potentially exposed to flooding increased by 46%. Across the Nepalese Himalayas, we estimate almost 300,000 people live in these flood-prone areas, including more than 100,000 downstream of glacial lakes. Archive: https://archive.is/tagtX

On the night of July 26, a Hindu procession was on its way back after collecting holy water from the Koshi River. The procession being taken out at Kaptanganj of Sunsari district in eastern Nepal was accompanied by loud music, to which some local Muslims objected. A scuffle broke out. Police got involved. Hindu-Muslim tensions soon spread across Nepal’s Tarai-Madhesh belt, the east-west strip of land abutting India. In ensuing clashes between protesters and the police, four people died while curfews disrupted life across the region.     Such incidents follow a recognizable pattern. One newspaper investigation identified 17 Hindu-Muslim documented clashes over the past decade – with around two-thirds of them involving religious processions or idol immersions. The number of undocumented cases is undoubtedly higher. continued on the article... Archive: https://archive.is/rUSAQ

cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/65970337

cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/66327371

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/68393517

After the United States slashed its foreign aid funding last year, more than 280,000 aid workers worldwide lost their jobs

Archived version: https://archive.is/newest/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/hiv-nepal-usaid-aid-workers-sex-work-b3019945.html ——— Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/68749502

Nepal's wild tiger population has climbed to an estimated 429, up from 355 in 2022 and nearly four times the 121 recorded in 2010, the government announced on Wednesday as the country marked the 17th Global Tiger Day.

Archived version: https://archive.is/newest/https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/nepals-tiger-population-climbs-to-429-nearly-quadrupling-since-2010 ——— Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.

Summary: Child malnutrition in Nepal is worsening due to cuts in international funding, insufficient treatment coverage, rising food costs, and competing health priorities. This threatens past progress in reducing child mortality and requires urgent integrated interventions. • Child malnutrition in Nepal has reached alarming levels, with a recent government survey showing high rates of wasting (7.8%) and severe wasting (1.6%) among children aged 6 months to 5 years. Wasting is the percentage of children who are underweight for their height. • In Madhesh province, near the Indian border, wasting rates were as high as 12.3%, and 24.2% of children were underweight. • The survey covered over one million children but only about half of the relevant age group nationwide; rates may be worse in remote areas. • Nepal had seen a 72% decline in under-five mortality from 1996 to 2022, but gains are now at risk due to rising malnutrition. • Malnutrition greatly increases the risk of death (12 times higher risk) and negatively impacts school performance and future productivity. • USAID, which previously funded nutrition programs reaching nearly 9 million people in 48 districts with $72 million over five years starting in 2025, stopped funding after being closed by the US government. • Helen Keller International, running nutrition programs in Nepal, has only raised under $5 million to cover 223,000 people in nine districts after USAID funding ended. • The government purchases Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), but aid cuts stopped community outreach and health worker follow-ups, reducing treatment access. • Rising food prices are worsening food insecurity; eggs, a nutritious food, have become very expensive compared to staples like rice. • Malnutrition competes with other health priorities like immunization for domestic funding. • Only about 35% of children needing treatment for wasting currently receive it, with supplies still insufficient according to UNICEF Nepal. Archive: https://archive.is/dZC4N

Summary: A Sherpa guide who had been missing on Mount Everest was found alive days later, crawling near base camp and then flown to a hospital. His family had already started funeral rituals, so the rescue came as a huge surprise and relief. Key points: • Dawa Sherpa was last seen on May 29 descending Everest and was found Thursday near the Khumbu Icefall/base camp area. • A cleanup crew spotted him, and he was airlifted to HAMS Hospital in Kathmandu. • His wife and teenage daughter had begun funeral rites before learning he was still alive. • The Everest season had just ended, and more than 1,000 climbers and guides had scaled the mountain this year, one of the busiest seasons ever. Archive: https://archive.is/rC027

Summary: Nepal Electricity Authority has launched Nepal Digital Infrastructure Company to build and share digital backbone infrastructure (optical fiber, underground ducts, poles) with ISPs on a plug-and-play rental model. The goal is to expand affordable, quality internet—especially in remote areas—reduce duplicate civil works, clear overhead cable clutter in Kathmandu, lower ISPs’ capital spending, and shift competition to service quality. The company will also offer data-center services and prioritize underground duct sharing to improve urban aesthetics and safety. Key points: • New state-owned company (subsidiary of Nepal Electricity Authority) now fully operational to develop and rent passive digital assets. • ISPs get plug-and-play access to optical fiber, ducts and poles—no need for separate pole installation or repeated road digging. • Expected benefits: lower ISP capex, cheaper internet for consumers, reduced cable clutter and fire/accident risks, and faster rural connectivity. • Focus on competition based on service quality rather than duplicate infrastructure; plans include data-center services and supporting national digital-connectivity goals. Archive: https://archive.is/PARoQ

Summary: On May 20, 2026, a record-breaking 274 climbers reached the summit of Mount Everest from the Nepalese side in a single day. This surpassed the previous records for the number of climbers summiting in one day. The climbers took advantage of clear weather after a delayed spring climbing season due to threats from ice falls on the normal route. All climbers used supplementary oxygen and Sherpa guides, except one Ecuadorian climber, Marcelo Segovia, who summited without oxygen. The large number of climbers led to congestion and long queues in the "death zone" near the summit, raising safety concerns. Veteran guide Kami Rita Sherpa made his 32nd summit this week, breaking the record for most Everest ascents. This year’s climbing season started late due to risks from a large serac (glacial ice cliff). A total of 494 climbing permits were issued by Nepal for this season, costing $15,000 each. Authorities are still confirming final numbers based on climbers’ return and photographic evidence. The event highlights ongoing issues with overcrowding on Everest during peak climbing conditions. Archive: https://archive.is/xOp13

Summary: On May 17, 2026, two Nepali mountaineers made historic ascents of Mount Everest. Kami Rita Sherpa set a new record by completing his 32nd summit of the world's highest peak. Meanwhile, Lhakpa Sherpa became the first woman to reach the Everest summit 11 times. Key Points: • Kami Rita Sherpa, aged 55, reached Everest summit at 10:12 am local time, marking his 32nd climb. • He plans to retire from Everest climbing after 2026 but will continue trekking. • Kami Rita has also climbed other major peaks multiple times and holds several Guinness World Records. • Lhakpa Sherpa, aged 53, summited Everest at 9:30 am, becoming the first woman with 11 ascents. • Lhakpa lives in Connecticut, works as a dishwasher, and climbs to empower women and inspire youth. • Both climbers' achievements highlight Nepal's strong legacy in high-altitude mountaineering. Archive: https://archive.is/9nG4c

Summary: Nepal's Ambassador to Thailand, Dhan Bahadur Oli, met with Urasa Mongkolnavin, Director-General of Thailand's Department of South Asian, Middle East and African Affairs, to discuss enhancing bilateral cooperation between Nepal and Thailand. The talks covered trade, tourism, investment, culture, agriculture, education, and security cooperation. Key Points: • Reviewed progress on eight Memoranda of Understanding signed last year with a focus on effective implementation. • Discussed easing visa procedures and improving tourism services reciprocally. • Strengthened cooperation on combating human trafficking, money laundering, and cybercrime through information sharing. • Explored early agreements on agricultural cooperation and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. • Planned the next Nepal-Thailand Joint Consultative Mechanism meeting in Nepal. • Reaffirmed commitment to regional and multilateral cooperation with mutual support in international forums. • Aimed to boost bilateral trade by integrating Himalayan and ocean-based goods and leveraging product complementarities. Archive: https://archive.is/Rt2aK

Summary: The article reports that Nepal’s government has expanded a high-level probe commission’s mandate to investigate assets of senior politicians, bureaucrats and officials dating back to 2006-07, explicitly including wealth stashed abroad. While this signals a tougher anti-corruption stance, experts and former officials say tracing and recovering offshore assets is complex and challenging because of legal, diplomatic and investigative hurdles. Key points: • The commission, led by a former Supreme Court justice, can coordinate directly with Nepali diplomatic missions, Interpol and foreign investigative agencies and examine suspects’ financial status overseas. • The mandate covers a wide range of public officeholders (from local chiefs to prime minister, senior civil servants, first-class officers in army and police) and targets cases flagged by complaints, departmental action, unusual wealth, intermediaries and high-risk sectors (tax, land, transport, procurement). • Legal experts note past commissions yielded limited results; tracing assets in Switzerland, India or elsewhere has proven difficult despite diplomatic efforts. • Practical obstacles include weak mutual legal assistance mechanisms, limited diplomatic capacity, reluctance of foreign jurisdictions to cooperate, complex money‑laundering methods, and difficulties extraditing fugitives. • The article cites several failed or stalled cases: Pawan Kumar Karki (convicted in Nepal, residing in the US, not extradited), Michael Ryder (British national convicted in a Sudan-related procurement scam), GB Rai (absconded, whereabouts uncertain), and others linked to cooperative and procurement frauds. • A detailed example: Biklal Paudel’s case showed bribes routed through Singapore banks into US investments and property, but authorities still could not recover the funds. • Experts (former CIB chief Hemanta Malla, ex-attorney general Badri Bahadur Karki) say recovery is not impossible but requires sustained diplomatic initiatives, effective use of Interpol and foreign counterparts, clear legal tools and strong state capacity. Archive: https://archive.is/2nFeY

Description from YouTube:

What is in the air we breathe every day?

This story is based on the stories and perceptions of people living around industrial area who are suffering from air pollution. This is the first part of the series "What's in the Air?"

सिर्सियाको शिरानतिरका गाउँघरमा यही पानीले खेतका गह्रा भिज्छन् । यही पानी वरपर भेटिन्छन् माछा, भ्यागुता, पुतली र घामकिरीहरु । नागबेली बग्दै बग्दै सिर्सिया नदी, अरु सानातिना कुला खोल्सालाई समेट्छ । त्रिभुवन राजपथ वरपरको घना औद्योगिक क्षेत्रतिर आइपुगेपछि नदी मैलिन थाल्छ र हावा धमिलिन थाल्छ ।

यो कथा औद्योगिक क्षेत्र वरिपरि वायु प्रदुषण भोगिरहेका मानिसहरुको भोगाई र धारणामा आधारित छ । "हावामा के छ ?" श्रृंखलाको यो पहिलो भाग हो ।

Summary: The Nepalese government has reduced the number of federal ministries from 22 to 18 to improve administrative efficiency and performance. The Prime Minister's Office and 8 other ministries remain unchanged, while several ministries with similar functions were merged. Notable changes include the creation of a separate Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, split off from the Ministry of Education to focus on technology and research. The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of Urban Development, and Ministry of Water Supply were merged into a single Ministry of Infrastructure Development. The Ministry of Education now includes sports, becoming the Ministry of Education and Sports. The youth sector was combined with the Ministry of Labor, renamed Ministry of Youth, Labor, and Employment. The Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens expanded to include gender and sexual minorities and social security, becoming the Ministry of Women, Children, Gender Sexual Minorities Social Security. This restructuring aims at administrative reform, frugality, and more effective governance. Archive: https://archive.is/Qg7Tk

Summary: Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal urged Ukraine to release nine Nepali nationals held as POWs on humanitarian grounds during a call with his Ukrainian counterpart, who said Ukraine is open to discussions. Some people were coerced with job opportunities in Europe, but were conscripted to fight for the Russian army. Archive: https://archive.is/vFW8O Further reading: • https://kyivindependent.com/reuters-nepal-stops-issuing-work-permits-for-russia-due-to-citizens-killed-fighting-in-ukraine/ • https://kyivindependent.com/media-nepal-appeals-to-russia-to-stop-army-recruitment-of-nepalese-men/ • https://kyivindependent.com/military-intelligence-5/ • https://thewire.in/world/nepali-men-in-russia-tricked-into-ukraine-frontline-deployment-appeal-to-india-for-help

Summary: Nepal formally protested to both India and China over India’s plan to run the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Lipulekh Pass, asserting Lipulekh (with Limpiyadhura and Kalapani east of the Mahakali River) belongs to Nepal per the 1816 Sugauli Treaty. Nepal asked India to stop activities there and informed China of its claim. India rejected Nepal’s objection, calling the claim unilateral and not historically justified, and said the Lipulekh route has been used for the yatra since 1954 while remaining open to diplomatic talks. Nepal reaffirmed it will pursue a diplomatic resolution using historical treaties, maps and evidence. Key points: • Nepal lodged formal protests with India and China over use of Lipulekh Pass for the 2026 Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. • Nepal claims Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani are Nepali territory based on the Sugauli Treaty (1816) and asked India to stop construction, trade and pilgrimage there. • India dismissed the claims as unjustified and unilateral, noting the yatra route’s long use since 1954 and offering diplomatic dialogue on boundary issues. • Nepal reiterated reliance on historical treaties, maps and evidence and seeks resolution through diplomacy. Archive: https://archive.is/R0ewn

Summary: In the past 24 hours in Kathmandu Valley, traffic police fined 1,720 drivers for various violations, collecting Rs. 858,000 for the state treasury. Offenses included: 136 for drunk driving, 124 for illegal ride-sharing, 129 for running red lights, 175 for speeding, 206 for lane indiscipline, 28 for honking in prohibited areas, 92 for roadside parking, 20 for improper passenger pick-up/drop-off, and 1,810 for other violations. Archive: https://archive.is/1NYzm Not much but still