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Summary:
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Nepal invited Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli as the chief guest for its silver jubilee anniversary celebration.

The invitation was extended two weeks in advance, but just hours before the event, Oli's secretariat informed the commission that the Prime Minister was busy and could not attend.

The NHRC officials rejected this explanation, noting that previous Prime Ministers usually sent representatives if they couldn’t attend themselves, but this time there was no government representation at all.

The NHRC suspects the boycott is linked to recent political tensions, including a controversial statement by Oli accusing party members of controlling parts of Kathmandu ahead of a pro-monarchy demonstration on May 29.

The commission criticized Oli’s remarks, stating they undermine the rule of law and democratic freedoms.

The NHRC also expressed frustration over the government’s failure to implement its recommendations; since its formation in 2000, only about 15% of recommendations have been fully implemented.

In recent years, implementation has worsened, with no compensation or legal action taken on recommendations in the last four years despite 444 recommendations being made.

The commission accused the government of indifference toward human rights and warned it might blacklist agencies or officials who refuse to comply.

Oli’s media expert claimed the PM was busy and cannot attend every event, dismissing claims that the absence was politically motivated.

Summary:
The Mid-Hill Highway (Pushpalal Highway), constructed to last at least 40 years, is already showing serious damage just four years after completion. The RCC (reinforced cement concrete) structures built in the Jaharkot area of Dailekh district have started to deteriorate. Specifically, the RCC on the uphill section near Chamghat Khola is coming apart, exposing steel rods and disrupting traffic.

The construction company, Motidan, is blamed for using poor-quality materials and workmanship. Despite the highway being designed with durable RCC layers to withstand long-term use, defects appeared early on due to these lapses. The Highway Planning Office in Dailekh has issued a repair contract, but doubts remain about the quality of repair work.

Local leaders and residents express concern about the lack of proper supervision and accountability from both the contractor and planning office. They emphasize that technical staff and contractors from the original construction phase should be held responsible.

Additionally, the asphalt (blacktop) surfaces in Dailekh are also reported to be of poor quality, causing further road degradation.

The Highway Planning Office states they have awarded repair contracts and acknowledge multiple factors could cause road damage, but stress that such roads shouldn’t fail so quickly.

Archive: N/A

Summary:
On June 28, 2023, Nepal’s Supreme Court ordered the government to temporarily register same-sex marriages. This was hailed as a historic decision, and the country made headlines registering its first same-sex marriage in November 2023.

However, despite the court order, queer couples still face significant bureaucratic hurdles and discrimination when trying to register their marriages. Many local government offices either reject applications or are unaware of the procedures.

For example, the couple Sushila Ramtel and Pramila Tamang faced harassment, rejection, police intervention, and family opposition when trying to register their marriage in Sindhuli. Their struggle highlights persistent resistance and ignorance among local officials.

The Department of National ID and Civil Registration does not have official data on queer marriages, and provisional registrations are not fully integrated into national databases.

A directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs allows local bodies to register same-sex marriages in separate books with provisional certificates, but many officials remain unaware or refuse to comply.

Bureaucratic inertia and moral policing by local officials cause delays, harassment, and extra costs for queer couples. Unlike heterosexual couples who can register marriages quickly without legal help, queer couples often need advocates and spend significant time and money.

Provisional certificates lack full legal recognition, especially for binational couples seeking marriage visas or other rights. Inconsistent forms also force queer couples to pick gender roles that erase their identities.

The government has started training local officials on same-sex marriage registration, but efforts remain limited.

Archive: N/A (site isn't accessible for some reason, if you can post the archive link in the comments)

Summary:
Kami Rita Sherpa, a Nepali mountaineer, has reached the summit of Mount Everest for the 31st time, extending his own world record for the most ascents of the world’s highest peak. The 55-year-old climber reached the 8,848.86-meter summit around 4 am on Tuesday under stable weather conditions.

Kami Rita was serving as the lead climbing guide for the Indian Army Adventure Wing Everest Expedition. Mingma Sherpa, chairman of Seven Summit Treks and the expedition organizer, praised Kami Rita’s unmatched skills and professionalism.

Born in the Solukhumbu region, Kami Rita first climbed Everest in 1994 as support staff and has since become one of the most accomplished high-altitude climbers globally. He is followed by Pasang Dawa Sherpa, who has summited Everest 29 times, including two ascents during the spring season.

This achievement further cements Kami Rita Sherpa’s status as the record holder for the highest number of successful Everest ascents, a record unmatched by anyone else.

Archive: https://archive.md/TMuNT

Summary:
"Rainfall patterns have changed, they are shorter, have higher intensity & are localised. Mudslides are now a big problem,” says Upadhyay.

We need specific intervention for specific places, taking into account geological & other factors to increase preparedness.

Archive: https://archive.md/jTDDh

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJhj6luWgHk

Summary:
The uncontrolled movement of trucks and tippers (heavy vehicles) is causing more than just air pollution; it is also affecting people's health. In the nights, especially after 9 PM, there is a continuous stream of trucks and tippers passing through areas like the Nakkhu Khola corridor in Lalitpur. The noise and dust from these vehicles make it difficult for residents to sleep and live peacefully.

Locals, including residents like Nanumaiya from Lalitpur Metropolitan-12, suffer from respiratory issues such as asthma because of the constant dust and fumes. The behavior of truck and tipper drivers is reckless, showing little regard for pedestrians or other vehicles such as cars, motorcycles, and bicycles.

The dust and pollution cause eye and skin problems, as well as coughs and colds among the general public. The heavy vehicles also cause vibrations that disturb homes and lead to physical and mental health issues, especially among the elderly in residential areas.

Drivers often use short cuts through residential areas without proper control or regulation, exacerbating the problem. Excessive honking also leads to hearing issues. Despite the existence of better alternative routes, drivers continue to use congested roads like the one from Pharsidol to Bungmati market in Godavari Municipality, causing distress among locals.

Local officials note that a lack of coordination between local government, road departments, and other authorities has prevented a permanent solution to this problem.

Archive: https://archive.md/WD47Q

Summary:

The article from Nepali Times highlights how corruption in Nepal's private sector has become a major growth industry, deeply intertwined with political cronyism and collusion. While politicians and bureaucrats are often blamed for corruption, the private sector is also heavily involved in practices like insider trading, cartels, price-fixing, and conflicts of interest. Business tycoons often become politicians and vice versa, creating a system that stifles free market competition, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

Examples include cement cartels sabotaging foreign investment, industrialists lobbying against foreign investments in agriculture, and various cases of businesses blocking multinational companies from entering the market. The business environment lacks ethical practices, with many influential business leaders involved in controversies such as insurance fraud, illegal land acquisition, tax evasion, environmental exploitation, and political lobbying to influence regulatory bodies.

Despite Nepal's Communist parties supporting neoliberal economic policies in theory, cronyism is widespread across political lines. The business community often prioritizes profit over social welfare, workers, and consumers, undermining free market principles. There are also reports of businesspeople using political connections to manipulate the judiciary.

The article calls attention to a need for greater integrity and ethical conduct in Nepal's private sector to ensure a healthier business environment that respects governance, consumer protection, environmental care, and overall social responsibility.

Summary:

A Nepali female student from Birgunj, Parsa, named Prisha Sah, studying at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha, India, was found dead by hanging in her hostel room on Thursday evening around 8 PM. The Nepalese Embassy in New Delhi confirmed the incident. Consular officer SSP Sanjeev Sharma Das reported that the embassy began investigating after forced entry was required to open her door during a routine check. Prisha lived on the fourth floor of the Queens Castle-4 hostel with senior students, but no one was present in the room at the time. Most students had gone home due to summer vacation, though first-year students were still taking exams; Prisha was a first-year B.Tech student.

This incident follows the earlier death of another Nepali student, Prakriti Lamsal, also at KIIT. Prakriti was found dead in the hostel in mid-February and had reportedly suffered mental harassment and blackmail.

The investigation into Prisha's death is ongoing.

Archive: Archive.is/md/ph domains aren't working for me, someone archive and post a link

In Nepal, cannabis isn’t just a plant—it’s sacred. Every year during Shiva Ratri, over a million devotees gather to honor Shiva, the god of creation, by lighting up at Kathmandu’s holiest temple. But outside of this one day a year, cannabis remains illegal—a law rooted in the US-led War on Drugs, which pressured Nepal to abandon its ancient traditions in the 1970s.

Summary:

• Sudip Neupane from Kalikanagar, Butwal (Rupandehi district, Nepal) was among 26 people killed in a terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
• His mother was injured in the attack and is undergoing treatment.
• The family had traveled to the region for a holiday.
• Nepal’s Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba confirmed the incident and expressed condolences, stating Nepal is in close contact with Indian authorities and the embassy to provide necessary support.
• The attack was carried out by a militant group called ‘Kashmir Resistance,’ which claimed responsibility via social media, protesting the settlement of 85,000 outsiders in the region.
• This is considered the worst terrorist attack on civilians in Kashmir in nearly two decades.
• Nepal strongly condemned the attack, offering condolences and support to India during this time.
• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut short his Saudi Arabia visit to return to India after the attack.
• This is the deadliest attack targeting civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
• Attacks on tourists in Kashmir are rare; the last major incident was in June 2024 when nine Hindu pilgrims were killed.

Archive: https://archive.md/2h5nA

The real rainfall hasn't even started yet and the infrastructure is already a mess. Construction everywhere just feels like corruption in process.

Summary:

• Pre-monsoon rains have caused daily traffic jams lasting hours on the Narayangadh-Butwal section of the Mahendra Highway, especially around Daunne, where a 14 km stretch can take 4-5 hours to cross. Some travelers have spent almost 24 hours stuck on narrow hilly roads.

• The situation is expected to worsen during the full monsoon season. The Department of Roads plans to discuss urgent measures to keep roads passable during heavy rains, including completing ongoing culvert construction, adding more culverts, avoiding digging drainage ditches that disrupt traffic, and using gravel to maintain road usability.

• The Narayangadh-Butwal road widening project remains incomplete after multiple deadline extensions; the Daunne section is not expected to finish soon due to complex terrain and construction difficulties.

• Alternative routes like the Kaligandaki Corridor exist but are longer and more challenging, especially since roads like the Siddhartha Highway regularly become unstable during rains.

• Experts note a lack of interconnected alternative routes among Nepal’s three main east-west highways (Hulaki, Mahendra, and Madan Bhandari), which could help reduce traffic problems during disruptions.

• Other highways also face issues: the BP Highway near Dhulikhel and Bardibas has damaged sections from last year’s heavy rains; some stretches need complete reconstruction, which may take over two years.

• Earthquake and flood damage from previous monsoons continue to affect roads in various regions, with temporary fixes in place but permanent solutions pending.

• The government is working on emergency measures like installing temporary bridges, clearing landslides quickly, and completing critical infrastructure before monsoon intensifies.

• Despite efforts, many highway sections will remain problematic during the coming rainy season, posing risks and travel delays.

Archive: https://archive.is/LurCe

Summary:

In Nepal, hospitals, particularly the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) in Kathmandu, faced serious health and environmental issues due to the toxic emissions from its incinerator, which caused respiratory issues among staff and patients.

In Nepal, hospitals have found an innovative solution to manage medical waste, particularly placentas, by using biodigesters to convert it into cooking gas. Traditional methods like incineration posed health risks due to toxic smoke, leading to respiratory issues among staff and patients. The Health Environment Climate Action Foundation (HECAF360) proposed replacing incinerators with underground biodigesters, which effectively manage both food and pathological waste.

The biodigester works by digesting organic waste and producing methane gas, which can be used for cooking. This system not only reduces harmful emissions but also improves waste management practices in hospitals. The Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) in Kathmandu has successfully implemented this system, significantly reducing CO2 emissions and improving air quality within the hospital.

Despite initial resistance from hospital staff, the project has shown positive results in waste management and environmental sustainability. The biodigester at TUTH is expected to last for 20 years and has the potential to be expanded to other hospitals in Nepal and beyond. However, challenges remain, including funding, awareness, and the need for proper training in waste segregation among hospital staff.

Archive: https://archive.md/2Q757