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Hospitals that were closed for illegal and substandard facilities in Madesh have started reopening ‘In Settings’ as in corruption with the officials

Summary:
Several private hospitals in Nepal’s Madhes province that were closed during a government campaign to shut down health facilities operating without proper standards or licenses have started reopening. The Madhes provincial government had launched a strict inspection and closure drive called the “Operation Hospital” campaign to crack down on illegal and substandard hospitals. Over 130 such hospitals were found operating without proper registration or failing to meet health regulations and were ordered closed.

However, after the campaign ended, many of these hospitals resumed operations. Some reopened with local government permissions, while others allegedly reopened through unofficial arrangements or bribes. Hospital operators claim they paid intermediaries to get reopening approvals despite still lacking proper standards, raising concerns about corruption and negligence.

The provincial health minister confirmed that only a few hospitals that completed legal paperwork were officially allowed to reopen, but many more are operating without proper oversight. Officials monitoring the situation accuse local governments of forcing hospitals to reopen, undermining the provincial government's efforts. This situation highlights ongoing challenges in regulating private health facilities and ensuring public health safety in the region.

Archive: https://archive.md/0ihvA

Summary:
At least six major highways in Nepal are fully blocked due to floods and landslides caused by heavy rain. The blocked highways include:

• Koshi Highway (Sankhuwasabha)
• Mechi Highway (Tamor Corridor, Panchthar)
• Kaligandaki Corridor (Nawalparasi East)
• Sahid Highway (Rolpa)
• Jajarkot-Dolpa section of Bheri Corridor (Rukum West)

Some roads allow one-way traffic, including Tokha-Nuwakot road, parts of the Kaligandaki Corridor, Mid-Hill Highway (Galkot), and Sahid Highway (Rolpa).

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has advised people to avoid long-distance travel unless necessary due to ongoing monsoon risks. The Meteorological Forecasting Division predicts light to heavy rainfall in various provinces, with some hilly and mountainous areas expecting rain and snowfall.

Rescue efforts are underway amid continued disruptions.

Archive: https://archive.md/QLQBI

Summary:

• In the fiscal year 2024-25, Nepal recorded 18,926 cybercrime cases, averaging 52 cases daily. This is slightly lower than the previous year's 19,730 cases.
• The decrease does not necessarily mean improvement; it may reflect underreporting and decentralization of case management to district police offices.
• Cyber fraud is the most common crime, with 7,723 cases (40.82% of total), an 87.82% increase from the previous year.
• Other cybercrimes include hacking (3,503 cases), fake impersonation accounts (3,067), bullying/harassment (1,801), criminal defamation (1,026), hate speech (495), sexting (437), sextortion (84), sexual assault (8), threats, image morphing, and cases involving minors.
• Facebook Messenger led in cybercrime platforms with 9,829 incidents, followed by TikTok, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Instagram.
• Telegram-related cases mostly involved online fraud but posed investigation challenges due to limited data access.
• Men are the majority of victims overall, mainly targeted in financial scams, while women face more harassment, bullying, sextortion, and threats.
• Cyber-dependent crimes such as unauthorized server access and malware attacks increased and are harder to investigate due to technical and international cooperation challenges.
• Nepal's current cybercrime law (Electronic Transaction Act 2008) is outdated and lacks clear definitions covering modern cybercrimes.
• The Cyber Bureau highlights the need for updated laws, better resources, technical expertise, infrastructure, and international cooperation to effectively combat cybercrime in Nepal.

Archive: https://archive.md/OfjIl

Caste-based discrimination in Nepal creates inequality from knowledge production to justice

Summary:
In Nepal, there is discrimination in knowledge production and justice delivery that favors dominant groups. Although the constitution guarantees the rights of marginalized communities like Dalits, implementation is weak. Laws protecting Dalit rights exist, but judicial punishments are minimal, and discretion often benefits the dominant classes. Victims are required to gather evidence themselves, which increases their vulnerability. Discrimination based on caste and gender is also present in education and knowledge production. Although bonded labor has been abolished legally, there is no proper rehabilitation or support system for those freed, causing ongoing problems. Human rights are seen as rights against the state, which must be held accountable, but this accountability is lacking.

In short, social and caste-based discrimination in Nepal creates inequality from knowledge production to justice, and there is a pressing need for better enforcement and reforms.

Archive: https://archive.md/TqemD

Summary:
Manaslu region in northern Gorkha saw a record 12,512 foreign tourist arrivals in the fiscal year 2024-25, up from 9,783 in 2023-24, according to the Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP). This sharp rise follows recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Tourists from France and Germany led the numbers, with 1,407 French and 1,130 German visitors. Other frequent visitors came from the Netherlands, Israel, Australia, Spain, Canada, Poland, and Italy. Peak trekking seasons are March-May and September-November. Improvements in trekking trails, especially in the Chaurikharka section of Chum Valley, and installation of 35 signposts and 16 trail markers have made travel safer and easier. Further upgrades are planned for Chum and Nubri valleys.

Archive: https://archive.md/X3QKu

Summary:

• One-way traffic for light vehicles has resumed on the Syaphrubesi–Rasuwagadhi road after being disrupted for 13 days due to severe flooding of the Bhotekoshi River on July 8.
• The flood washed away about one kilometer of road, cutting off a 16-kilometer stretch and halting access between Timure and Rasuwagadhi, affecting emergency transport and food supplies.
• Road authorities initially targeted reopening by July 19 but faced delays due to complications near the Lingling landslide area.
• Temporary tracks were built and rock drilling was done to create new paths, allowing light vehicles to pass.
• Heavy vehicles are still barred as repairs continue; studies are ongoing to allow freight transport in the second phase.
• The flood also destroyed the Miteri Bridge linking Nepal and China. China has expressed willingness to construct a temporary Bailey bridge within two months, and permanent bridge work is expected to start soon.
• The road section was part of a Chinese grant project started in 2019 but slowed by COVID-19.
• Local residents welcomed the reopening as essential deliveries resumed, preventing a crisis.
• Cross-border trade remains suspended due to the damage at Rasuwagadhi customs and other flood impacts on nearby roads.
• The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport is coordinating with China to expedite reconstruction before the upcoming Dashain festival.

Archive: https://archive.md/7B27s

Summary:
Nepal has banned the messaging app Telegram due to concerns over rising online fraud and money laundering. The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) ordered internet service providers to immediately block access to Telegram, citing its misuse for criminal activities. Telegram, known for its privacy features, has been criticized for enabling illegal activities. This ban follows a similar move against TikTok in 2023, which was later lifted after the company agreed to comply with government regulations. Experts argue that such bans are difficult to enforce as users often use VPNs to bypass restrictions and suggest stronger regulatory measures instead of blanket bans.

Archive: https://archive.md/qogJ7

To reach the highest point on our planet is at once a measure of our ambition and achievement, and at the same time, of our frailties and vanity.

More than 100 years on from the tragic events of the 1924 Mount Everest Expedition, Julie Summers, the great niece of Sandy Irvine, and mountaineer and narrator Matt Sharman seek insights into the 1920s Everest expeditions in interviews with many well-know climbers, including Sir Chris Bonington, Rebecca Stephens, Krish Thapa, Dr. Melanie Windridge, Stephen Venables, Dawson Stelfox and Leo Houlding.

Along with extensive historical footage, photographs and documents, as well as interviews with Everest scholars and mountaineers the pair don't just re-tell the story of the three Everest expeditions of the 1920s, but re-examine them, asking what the mountain means for climbers and the people of Nepal 100 years on from the infamous disappearance of George Mallory and Sandy Irvine.

'Everest Revisited' is an Alpine Club production, produced with support from the Mount Everest Foundation. It was directed by John Porter and Dom Bush.

It stars Sir Chris Bonington, Leo Houlding, Rebecca Stephens, Jonathan Westaway, Stephen Venables, Melanie Windridge, Krish Thapa, Ed Douglas, Dawson Stelfox, Noel Odell, Julie Summers and Matt Sharman.

The film won the Jury Special Mention Award at the 2024 Krakow Mountain Festival and was runner-up for the Audience Choice Award at the 2024 London Mountain Film Festival.

Summary:
Nepal is currently battling two extreme weather problems simultaneously:

Dry Spell in Tarai:

• The southern Tarai region is experiencing a prolonged dry spell during mid-monsoon, severely affecting farmers.
• Hundreds of farmers can’t plant paddy due to lack of rainfall and irrigation issues.
• Irrigation canals like the Narayani system are clogged with river sediments and need urgent clearing.
• Local authorities struggle with stolen equipment and inadequate infrastructure.
• The drought has forced the Madhesh provincial government to declare the entire province drought-hit and supply drinking water by tanker trucks.
• This situation threatens food production and the region’s economy.

Floods and Landslides in Mountains and Hills:

• Mountainous regions are facing erratic weather with sudden floods and landslides, causing deaths and injuries.
• Glacial lake outbursts have triggered floods, notably the Bhotekoshi flood from a supraglacial lake previously unnoticed in Tibet.
• The unpredictable river rises and floods catch locals off guard.
• Infrastructure damage worth billions of rupees reported due to floods and landslides.

Broader Climate Context

• Nepal is one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to climate change, facing increasing extreme weather events like glacial lake outbursts, droughts, and abnormal temperature rises.
• The country’s temperature is rising faster than the global average, with maximum temperatures increasing by 0.05°C per year.
• Despite these challenges, Nepal lacks adequate infrastructure and coordinated systems to handle such climate crises effectively.

Calls for Action

Experts stress that Nepal must develop better coordinated government responses and infrastructure to tackle climate challenges. The current situation, especially in Tarai, is an emergency affecting food security and livelihoods.

Archive: https://archive.md/PqSwh

Summary:
Nepal once saw a major push for domestic biogas systems, which convert livestock and human waste into methane gas used for cooking and lighting. This technology helped many rural households reduce dependence on firewood and petroleum fuels, easing environmental pressure and saving money.

• History & Impact: Between 1992 and 2011, about 260,000 biogas digesters were installed across Nepal through a government partnership with the Netherlands. These systems significantly reduced firewood use, helping conserve forests and reduce household expenses.

• Current Challenges: Despite early success, the biogas movement is now stalling. Many households can no longer maintain biogas systems due to migration (people moving to cities or abroad), fewer cattle being raised, and high maintenance needs. About 50-55% of installed digesters are now non-functional.

• Energy Shift: As biogas use declines, reliance on imported liquified petroleum gas (LPG) has increased, raising energy security concerns due to Nepal’s dependence on India for fuel imports. Around 40% of households now use LPG cylinders.

• Technical & Social Issues:

• Biogas systems need proper upkeep; chemicals or sick cattle waste can disrupt bacteria inside digesters, lowering gas production.

• Hydrogen sulfide in biogas causes corrosion of zinc roofs common in rural homes, adding repair costs.

• Elderly people, who often remain in rural areas, struggle to manage cattle and maintain the systems.

• Potential & Solutions: Nepal has the potential for around 2 million biogas plants but has only installed about 450,000. Biogas could produce energy equivalent to 110 million LPG cylinders annually. To revive the movement, experts suggest:

• Promoting mixed renewable energy solutions including solar and wind alongside biogas.

• Offering better subsidies and support programs.

• Innovating smaller, portable biogas digesters suitable for families with fewer cattle.

• Educating users on maintenance to keep systems functional.

• Grassroots Efforts: Projects like those by Wildlife Conservation Nepal focus on making biogas affordable and training locals to maintain digesters, especially in areas where cattle numbers are dropping.

Bottom Line

Nepal’s biogas revolution improved rural energy access and environmental health but now faces decline due to demographic shifts and maintenance challenges. Reviving it will require innovation, government support, and integration with other renewable energy options to ensure energy security and sustainability.

Archive: https://archive.md/DGDNo

Summary:
Nepal's government debt increased by NPR 2.31 trillion (two trillion, thirty-one billion fifty-four crore) within one year. At the end of fiscal year 2080/81 (mid-July 2023), the total public debt was NPR 24.34 trillion, which rose to NPR 26.65 trillion by the end of fiscal year 2081/82 (mid-July 2024).

Key reasons:

• Difficulty in meeting current expenditures, forcing the government to borrow both domestically and externally for development projects.
• Revenue collection did not increase as expected.
• Reliance on foreign aid, foreign loans, and internal borrowing to balance the budget.

The government plans to collect NPR 13.15 trillion in revenue in the fiscal year 2082/83, with the remainder of the budget to be financed through foreign grants, foreign loans, and internal borrowing. The Finance Ministry highlights the challenge of reducing dependency on loans by managing external resources more effectively.

Despite some increase in revenue collection (a 11.33% rise compared to the previous year), the government’s revenue is insufficient to cover expenses, resulting in a continued rise in public debt.

Archive: https://archive.md/fd4UG

Summary: Between mid-April and mid-July 2025, Nepal experienced over 2,000 disaster events, resulting in at least 93 deaths and 22 people missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Authority (NDRRMA). These disasters affected more than 4,100 families and caused 445 injuries.

Key details:

• Floods: 137 incidents causing 13 deaths and 22 missing; notably, a glacial lake outburst flood on July 8 in Rasuwa caused significant casualties.
• Landslides: 175 events with six fatalities.
• Other causes of death included lightning strikes (26), fires (14), animal attacks (12), and altitude sickness (11).
• Additional hazards included strong winds, snake bites, and heavy rainfall.
• Floods affected 1,246 families; fires impacted 1,048 households.
• Many people were displaced and suffered losses due to these weather-related events.
• The data corresponds to the first quarter of the Nepali year 2082.

Nepal remains highly vulnerable to climate change and extreme weather disasters, with such events expected to increase as the monsoon season continues.

Archive: https://archive.md/7lLad