loki

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

Summary:

• Nepali women are eager to join the British Army as Gurkha soldiers and have started training for it, inspired by the opportunity to work abroad and secure stable jobs.
• The British Ministry of Defence announced in 2018 that they would start recruiting Nepali women as Gurkhas. However, in 2019, Nepal's Parliament blocked the recruitment of female Gurkhas, stating that no women should be recruited into the British Army without the Nepal government's consent.
• The British Embassy says that any change allowing female Gurkha recruitment would require coordination with the Nepal government, which has not yet responded to the UK's interest.
• Training centers like Salute Gorkha Training Center have included women trainees, but unlike men, women do not have the option to join the British Army due to Nepal's restrictions.
• Many young Nepali women see joining military forces abroad as a valuable opportunity for independence and career growth. However, family permission remains a significant hurdle.
• Advocates say allowing women to join would provide equal opportunities and greatly improve their livelihoods.
• Despite government resistance, female trainees remain motivated and hopeful about future changes.

In short: Nepali women want to join the British Gurkhas and are preparing for it, but Nepal's government currently blocks female recruitment into the British Army, limiting their chances despite growing interest and training efforts.

Archive: https://archive.md/L3wU6

Summary:

• Nepal's implementation of recommendations from the third cycle of the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) has been poor, according to a consortium of NGOs representing 530 civil society organizations.
• In January 2022, Nepal agreed to implement 233 recommendations covering 42 thematic issues but has either partially implemented or completely ignored many of them.
• Key areas with poor implementation include child rights, sexual and gender-based violence, national human rights institutions, and equity/non-discrimination.
• For example, none of the recommendations on child rights were fully implemented; 60% were partially implemented, and 40% ignored.
• Recommendations regarding gender-based violence saw only 61% partial implementation; promises to fund shelters and crisis centers for victims remain unfulfilled.
• Only one out of four recommendations related to human rights institutions was fully adopted.
• On equity and non-discrimination, none of the accepted recommendations were fully implemented; 80% partial and 20% unimplemented.
• Experts criticize the government for lack of accountability and warn that failure to meet commitments could affect international funding for human rights and rule of law programs.
• NGOs urge the government to allocate sufficient budgets, strengthen legal frameworks, ratify additional international conventions (like the Convention on Enforced Disappearances, Migrant Workers Convention, Rome Statute, etc.), and improve coordination to fulfill its human rights obligations.
• The next UPR review is scheduled for January 2026.

The article highlights significant gaps between Nepal's commitments and actual progress on human rights issues.

Archive: https://archive.md/DfeKE

From December 16, 2024

Summary:

• Nearly 50% of women in Nepal experience domestic violence, with many showing symptoms of anxiety and depression.
• Emotional abuse, a form of gender-based violence (GBV), is often ignored because it leaves no physical scars, making survivors like Panthi (a pseudonym) feel trapped and unheard.
• Emotional abuse includes controlling behaviors, verbal assaults, manipulation, humiliation, and isolation, which cause deep psychological harm.
• The United Nations defines GBV to include physical, sexual, and psychological harm, but society and authorities primarily recognize only physical violence.
• Survivors of emotional abuse often hesitate to report due to lack of evidence, social stigma, fear of financial insecurity, and dismissive attitudes from family and authorities.
• Psychological abuse is often a precursor to physical violence and leads to mental health issues like depression, PTSD, anxiety, and suicidal tendencies.
• Research in Nepal shows a strong link between domestic violence and mental health problems; nearly half of women experiencing domestic violence show signs of anxiety or depression.
• Cultural norms pressure women to endure abuse silently; 58% of abused women in Nepal do not seek help.
• Nepal’s current laws (Domestic Violence Act-2009) include emotional abuse but lack an integrated framework for identifying and reporting such cases.
• Experts stress the need for trained counselors, psychologists, police, and social workers to support survivors properly.
• Patriarchal norms also affect men, discouraging emotional expression and contributing to aggression and violence.
• Integrated services for survivors—legal, healthcare, housing—are fragmented in Nepal, making it hard for victims to get help.
• Educating men on emotional intelligence and better resource integration could reduce GBV.

The article highlights the urgent need for broader recognition of emotional abuse within GBV frameworks in Nepal to provide better protection and support for survivors.

Archive: https://archive.md/1lnbS

Summary:
On July 8, 2025, a massive glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) hit Nepal’s Rasuwa district near the Nepal-China border, causing severe damage and loss of life. The flood swept away parts of a key border highway, killed seven people (including six Chinese workers), and caused an estimated $100 million in losses. The event disrupted trade and tourism, with a major border crossing closed and local businesses affected.

What Happened?

• A glacial lake formed in March 2025 about 35 km upstream inside Chinese territory rapidly expanded and then burst on July 7.
• The sudden release of water flooded downstream areas, sweeping away infrastructure, vehicles, and camps.
• Scientists attribute the event to climate change-driven warming, which is accelerating glacier melt and increasing the number and size of glacial lakes.

Why Is This Happening?

• The Himalayas are warming faster than many other regions (0.42°C per decade between 2008–2018).
• Nepal’s glaciers are shrinking; the number of glacial lakes has increased by 154% since 1977.
• Many lakes pose high risk of bursting, threatening millions downstream.

Past Incidents & Future Risks

• Similar GLOFs occurred recently in Nepal: - May 2025 in Humla district displaced 20 families.

• August 2024 in Thame village destroyed homes.

• 2021 flood killed 24 people in Sindhupalchok district.

• Experts warn these events will become more frequent and intense.

• ICIMOD and local scientists emphasize urgent need for monitoring and disaster preparedness.

This “Himalayan tsunami” is a stark warning of the increasing danger posed by climate change in mountain regions, with serious implications for Nepal and neighboring countries.

Archive: https://archive.md/MBW2z

Universities Operate from the Prime Minister’s Residence

Summary:
The article from Nagarik News highlights the ongoing issue where Nepal's universities hold their key meetings and budget approvals at the Prime Minister's residence in Baluwatar, rather than on their own campuses.

Key points:

• The Prime Minister is the formal chancellor of all universities and institutions, but his busy schedule means university officials often have to go to Baluwatar to get their policies, programs, and budgets approved.
• In the recent fiscal year, nine universities and one institution have attended meetings at the Prime Minister's residence to get their budgets and plans passed.
• This practice is criticized by academics as undermining university autonomy and academic dignity. Experts say universities should be self-governing institutions where decisions are made internally.
• For example, Tribhuvan University, Nepal's oldest and most prestigious university, held its 14th meeting at Baluwatar, approving a budget of over NPR 2.8 billion. However, only a limited number of senate members were called, excluding student union leaders, which weakened the legitimacy of the meeting.
• Former university officials argue that the chancellor's role should be symbolic, offering guidance but not running university affairs from the Prime Minister’s office.
• They urge that universities should have autonomous governance with internal leadership managing meetings and decisions without government interference.
• Overall, the article suggests that this trend reflects growing political interference in academic institutions and calls for reform so that universities regain their independent status and hold meetings on campus.

In short: Nepalese universities are increasingly dependent on the Prime Minister’s office for administrative approvals, which experts say damages academic independence and university dignity. They recommend shifting back to autonomous governance within the universities themselves.

Archive: https://archive.md/iRbIB

Sustainable Development Goals Progress Slow

Summary:

The United Nations released the "Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Progress Report 2025," marking the 10th annual assessment since the 2030 Agenda adoption. The report praises improvements in health, education, energy access, and digital connectivity, which have enhanced millions of lives globally. However, progress toward the 2030 targets is slow:

• Only 35% of the SDGs are on track with moderate progress.
• Nearly half of the goals are advancing very slowly.
• 18% of targets have regressed compared to original plans.

Key achievements include a 40% reduction in new HIV infections since 2010, significant malaria prevention efforts saving over 127 million lives since 2000, expanded social protection coverage to over half the global population, increased school enrollment by 110 million children since 2015, declines in child marriage, increased female parliamentary representation, and electricity access for 92% of the world by 2023. Internet use has also grown from 40% in 2015 to 68% in 2024, boosting education, jobs, and civic engagement. Conservation efforts have doubled, aiding biodiversity.

Despite these gains, serious challenges persist:

• Around 800 million people still live in extreme poverty.
• Billions lack access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene.
• 2024 was the hottest year on record due to climate change.
• Conflict caused about 50,000 deaths and displaced 12 million people.
• Over 112 million live in inadequate housing or informal settlements.
• Official development assistance dropped by 7.1% in 2024 and may decline further in 2025.

The report calls for urgent action across six priority areas: food systems, energy access, digital transformation, education, employment, social protection, climate, and biodiversity. The next five years are critical for achieving the SDGs by 2030. UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the situation as a "global development emergency," emphasizing that no country can tackle these interconnected challenges alone. The SDGs represent a shared commitment and responsibility for all humanity. Though progress is slow, immediate, unified, and determined efforts can still realize the goals. The report stresses that sustainable development is not optional but an essential duty to current and future generations.

Archive: https://archive.md/3OIGU

Summary:

The Madhesh Province in Nepal is facing a severe drinking water shortage due to prolonged drought and depleted groundwater, causing traditional sources like tube wells and hand pumps to dry up. In response, the provincial government has deployed eight fire engines, along with additional tankers from the Nepal Army and Forest Office, to deliver water to the hardest-hit districts, including Bara and Parsa. These fire engines, each with a 5,000-liter capacity, operate 24 hours a day under coordination with the Nepal Army. The government is covering fuel and logistical costs and is also coordinating with the federal government for further support. The crisis stems from inadequate rainfall during the monsoon season, leading to an acute water shortage in the province.

Archive; https://archive.md/YsVPO

Summary:

• Ram Pukar Sah, the mayor of Kalyanpur Municipality in Siraha district, was caught and detained by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) while accepting a bribe of Rs 100,000 at the municipal office.
• Sah had demanded a 20% commission from a consumer committee responsible for overseeing a drainage project worth Rs 2 million.
• When the committee refused to pay, Sah withheld the project cheque.
• After a week of negotiation, Sah agreed to release the cheque only after receiving Rs 100,000 in advance, with the rest to be paid after clearance of the cheque.
• CIAA Bardibas chief Ram Bahadur Kurumbang confirmed that a detailed investigation is ongoing.

Archive: https://archive.md/5C462

Summary:
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has formed a special committee to investigate suspected human trafficking involving people who traveled to Spain under the pretext of attending a United Nations conference. The panel is led by Senior Superintendent Police Hobindra Bogati and includes investigators from the Bureau of Human Trafficking Transportation Control. The investigation was prompted by concerns that an organized network may be using government channels to smuggle people into Europe, with reports indicating that around 82 individuals traveled to Spain claiming to be conference participants, and an additional 55 were stopped at Tribhuvan International Airport.

The investigation follows the recent visit of a 21-member official Nepali delegation led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, Spain. The probe aims to determine if any government officials were complicit in facilitating unauthorized travel using forged documents and unofficial channels. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has directed authorities to scrutinize the allegations, and opposition lawmakers have raised concerns in Parliament. The committee is expected to submit its report soon after completing the inquiry.

Key points:

• CIB formed a special panel to investigate suspected human trafficking linked to a UN conference in Spain.
• Around 82 suspicious travelers claimed to attend the conference; 55 were stopped at the airport.
• Possible use of forged documents and unofficial routes to enter Europe.
• Investigation includes examining potential government complicity.
• The case has drawn public and political attention in Nepal.

Archive: https://archive.md/vKra1

Reflection of three families affected by the maoist revolution and government oppression at the time, left behind with broken promises and broken families.

"उज्यालो समय कैद भएको अँध्यारो कोठाभित्र उदासी मिसिएको अनौठो मौनता छ । क्रान्तिको राजधानीको एउटा कुनामा रक्तिम सपनाहरुको अवसान छ । "

Translation:

"There is a strange silence mixed with sadness inside the dark room where bright times are imprisoned. In a corner of the revolutionary capital, there is the end of crimson dreams."