Summary:

Nepal, particularly Kathmandu, is a growing destination for LGBTQ+ travelers, blending rich culture and natural beauty with increasing queer inclusivity. Aayam Poudel, co-founder of Queermandu, offers specialized tours catering to LGBTQ+ visitors, combining local experiences like cooking dumplings and forging traditional knives. Despite societal challenges, Nepal is making strides in LGBTQ+ rights, and Queermandu helps promote acceptance through tourism.

Key points:

• Kathmandu is a historic and cultural hub with UNESCO heritage sites, popular for trekking and tourism.
• Nepal is one of the few gay-friendly countries in Asia; same-sex relations are legal, and there's a push toward legal recognition of same-sex couples.
• Aayam Poudel, from a small village, co-founded Queermandu in 2023 to offer LGBTQ+ focused tours with licensed queer guides.
• Tours include unique experiences such as cooking lessons (“Homo Momo”) and local craft workshops.
• Queermandu mainly serves international clients, with many from the USA, Europe, and Asia.
• Poudel’s family, initially unsure about his sexuality, has grown more accepting through exposure and engagement with the LGBTQ+ community.
• Nepal’s societal attitudes are improving but still lag behind progressive laws.

Archive: https://archive.ph/Wlnwa

Summary:

An artifact of archaeological importance stolen from Kumari Ghar in Kathmandu has been successfully brought back to Nepal from the UK. The object is a Toran (a decorative wooden craft) from the Malla era, stolen in 2057 BS (around 2000 AD).

With coordination between Nepal’s Department of Archaeology, heritage activists in Nepal and abroad, and by using international legal provisions on the return of cultural property, the Toran was located in the UK, legally reclaimed, and reinstalled at its original place in Kumari Ghar.

According to Department officer Sarita Subedi, when such stolen Nepali artifacts are found abroad, a formal reclaim process is started under international law, and the country currently holding the artifact is responsible for the transportation costs. Nepali communities and heritage activists overseas also support and facilitate getting these items back to Nepal.

Archive: https://archive.is/RF141

Summary: The Nepali government and consular officials have launched an online portal to collect reports from students defrauded by fake higher-education institutions operating in UAE free zones. Many Nepalese were sent by local consultancies to institutions that falsely claimed international affiliation, physical infrastructure, and guaranteed jobs; students found minimal facilities, online-only classes, or no classes at all. The portal aims to document victims and institutions involved; the Nepali Education Ministry has tightened NOC rules so certificates are issued only to UAE-accredited institutions.

Key points:

• A consular portal was created to record victims’ details: student name, consultancy used, UAE destination, institution joined, and money spent.
• Many bogus colleges/universities operate in UAE free zones (Ajman, Sharjah, Dubai) under easy trade licences, avoiding education-authority oversight.
• Complaints include false affiliation claims, lack of infrastructure, online-only instruction, broken job promises, and hundreds of students affected.
• An informal victims’ network of at least 229 members exists; actual cheated numbers likely much higher.
• From Nov 14, Nepal’s Education Ministry tightened No Objection Certificate (NOC) issuance to require UAE government academic accreditation.

Archive: https://archive.is/XCZGB

Summary:

Security forces in Nepal used excessive and unlawful force against youth-led "Gen Z" protests on September 8, 2025, in Kathmandu, killing at least 17 protesters and injuring hundreds. The protests erupted in response to government corruption and a social media ban. On September 9, violence escalated as mobs—some apparently unaffiliated with the original protest—set fire to government buildings, attacked politicians, journalists, schools, businesses, media offices, and freed prisoners from jails. The interim government, led by Sushila Karki after the prime minister’s resignation, formed a commission to investigate at least 76 deaths nationwide over two days. Human Rights Watch documented indiscriminate police gunfire, lack of warning before using lethal force, and failures to protect people and property during subsequent arson attacks. The organization calls for independent, transparent investigations and accountability for both security forces and any political actors responsible for rights abuses. Decades-long impunity in Nepal is identified as a root cause of repeated violence and abuses.

Archive: https://archive.is/lAd3p

Local: https://kathmandupost.com/national/2025/11/20/human-rights-watch-says-nepal-security-forces-used-disproportionate-force-on-youth-protests

Summary:

Amnesty International’s report reveals that Nepali and other migrant workers on the Riyadh metro project faced severe exploitation. Workers paid illegal and exorbitant recruitment fees, pushing many into debt before even leaving home. They endured long hours (up to 60 per week), extremely low wages ($1–$2/hour), and dangerous working conditions, including exposure to extreme heat, with daytime temperatures often exceeding 40°C. The government’s protections, like bans on outdoor work during peak heat, were inadequate. The report criticizes both the Saudi government for failing to enforce labor protections and countries of origin (Nepal, Bangladesh, India) for not regulating recruitment agencies. Amnesty calls for better accountability to prevent ongoing abuse.

Archive: https://archive.is/Kqq75

Amnesty report: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/11/saudi-arabia-migrant-workers-behind-the-riyadh-metro-system-subjected-to-decade-of-devastating-abuse/

Summary:

Former government secretary Arjun Kumar Karki was arrested by Nepal's Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) over alleged irregularities in leasing Nepal Trust land located at Durbar Marg to Thamserku Trekking Pvt Ltd, part of Yeti Holdings group, for 30 years. The arrest followed an investigation into fraud and criminal breach of trust related to the lease deal, which reportedly caused losses to Nepal Trust, an organization managing assets of the former royal family. The lease process did not comply with legal procedures. Earlier, former joint secretary Lekh Bahadur Karki was also arrested in connection with the same case. The investigation continues to determine further involvement and financial misconduct.

Archive: https://archive.fo/94vk5

Summary:

Green Tara Nepal, in partnership with Budhiganga Municipality, has started providing free ultrasound and lab services to pregnant women across all 10 wards of Bajura, Nepal. Medical teams visit each ward monthly to conduct checkups, ultrasound scans, and lab tests such as screening for anaemia, blood sugar, and urine analysis. The initiative aims to reduce maternal and infant mortality by enabling early detection of complications and referring high-risk cases to hospitals. Local health workers are trained to continue these services, replacing costly and time-consuming trips to the district hospital. The program has made access to maternal healthcare easier and more effective for local women, with similar initiatives running in other municipalities in Bajura as well.

Archive: https://archive.is/z4BlV

Summary:

After India banned online gambling, illegal online casino apps have surged in Nepal, targeting Nepali users with aggressive social media campaigns and large cash bonuses. Despite strict prohibitions in Nepal, these platforms—often registered overseas—exploit gaps in cyber laws and weak banking oversight, using local banking channels for deposits and withdrawals. They also rely on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to attract users, taking advantage of lax social media regulation. Arrests related to online gambling in Nepal have risen sharply, with 147 arrests in 2023/24 alone. Experts say current laws are insufficient, and call for holding social media platforms accountable for hosting such advertisements. Existing legal provisions ban gambling without government permission and empower authorities to fine those promoting illegal content, but enforcement remains weak.

Archive: https://archive.fo/WkKA2

Summary:

A 61-country study of 57,000 people, published in Ambio and led by Miles Richardson (University of Derby), ranked Britain 55th for “nature connectedness” — a psychological measure of how close people feel to the natural world. Nepal ranked highest, followed by Iran, South Africa, Bangladesh and Nigeria; several European countries (Croatia, Bulgaria, France) also featured near the top. Countries near the bottom included the Netherlands, Canada, Germany, Israel, Japan and Spain.

Key findings and points:

• Nature connectedness links to better wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviour; low connection is identified as one of three major contributors to biodiversity loss (alongside inequality and prioritising individual/material gain).
• Strongest positive predictor of nature connectedness was societal levels of “spirituality” (importance of religion and belief), measured using World Values Survey data.
• Higher urbanisation, higher mean income and greater internet use correlated with lower nature connectedness. A World Bank “ease of doing business” score also correlated with reduced connection.
• Surprisingly, high national membership in environmental organisations (as in Britain) did not translate into greater personal nature connectedness.
• Richardson suggested ways to foster connection: integrating nature into healthcare and mental-health treatments, enshrining nature rights in law, including nature in corporate governance and biodiversity-net-gain policies, and designing urban nature that fosters deeper emotional/spiritual engagement rather than just parks.
• Graham Usher (Bishop of Norwich) supported the idea that spiritual and early-life nature experiences (forest schools, wild church) help cultivate care for nature.

Archive: https://archive.fo/BEHIY

Summary:

A growing number of Nepalis are being lured abroad with fake IT or digital-job offers and then forced to work in organised online scam centres — a form of digital human trafficking. Cases described include Nepalis taken from Dubai to Oman and held in compounds where passports and phones were seized, victims were confined, beaten or closely monitored, and forced to run scams (cryptocurrency fraud, fake online gambling, romance/pig-butchering schemes) for long hours under threat. Police raids in Oman and elsewhere have uncovered dozens of Nepali victims; in one March raid in Sohar, 20 Nepalis were arrested and later deported after short jail terms and fines. The UN Human Rights Office and Interpol reports describe Southeast Asia as a major hub for such operations and warn these camps meet international definitions of trafficking — victims are exploited, not perpetrators.

Drivers include recruitment through fake ads and social-media contacts, professional-looking interviews, arranged travel and forged documents. Countries implicated include Myanmar, Cambodia, the Philippines, Gulf states (Oman, UAE) and others. Rescue is difficult; Nepali embassies and rights groups say awareness, diplomatic cooperation and stronger rescue mechanisms are needed. Interpol’s Operation Storm Makers has targeted trafficking-related scams, making arrests and rescuing victims, but experts call for coordinated global action to address the rising problem.

Archive: https://archive.is/NS6pK

The Mustang region spans about 80 kilometers northeast of Nepal. Every year, villagers of this kingdom surrounded by mountains bring their horses south to escape the winter’s harshness. We follow these men through this spectacular and ancestral migration, crossing remote and beautiful valleys, discovering old villages, and always with the majestic peaks of the Himalayas in the background.

Summary:

This study assesses long‑term land subsidence in Kathmandu Valley (2017–2024) using LiCSBAS SBAS-InSAR (Sentinel‑1) outputs, validated with PS‑InSAR and GNSS, and analyzed with Emerging Hot Spot Analysis (space–time cube). Key findings:

• Extent and rates: Maximum vertical subsidence rates reach ~21 cm/yr, with cumulative local displacement up to ~1.5 m over ~7.6 years. Subsidence is widespread across urban centers (Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur) and extending toward peripheral/open areas.
• Hot spots and trends: Emerging hot spot analysis shows many intensifying and persistent hot spots concentrated along the Ring Road and major urban corridors (e.g., Baluwatar, Samakhusi, Lainchaur, Koteshwor, Patan/Gwarko, Madhyapur Thimi). Some zones show diminishing hot-spot behavior since 2021, likely linked to reduced groundwater pumping after the Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP).
• Drivers: Primary driver is over-extraction of deep confined aquifers leading to inelastic compaction of thick clay/aquitard layers (Kalimati, Gokarna formations). Urbanization (large built-up expansion, sealed surfaces) reduces recharge and worsens groundwater decline. Seasonal elastic rebound is observed near river-connected shallow aquifers, but deep-aquifer decline dominates the long-term trend.
• Validation: LiCSBAS SBAS results agree well with PS‑InSAR (high correlations; RMSE ~5–6.5 mm/yr in test regions) and are consistent with GNSS at the available station (minor differences explained by data gaps, look angles, sampling). Histogram comparison of ascending/descending differences indicates low bias.
• Groundwater observations: Groundwater records (limited, heterogeneous) indicate declines up to ~0.7–2.5 m/yr in heavily pumped areas. MWSP increased surface supply and reduced groundwater extraction, contributing to slowed subsidence in some areas, though around 40% of demand remains unmet and MWSP interruptions have occurred.
• Spatial controls: Highest subsidence correlates with areas of thick, compressible lacustrine clays (central valley formations), dense urban development, and clusters of deep tubewells. Peripheral encroachment onto recharge zones exacerbates the problem.
• Implications and recommendations: Kathmandu Valley shows very rapid subsidence comparable to some of the world’s fastest-sinking cities. The authors call for (a) comprehensive groundwater monitoring (mandatory borehole registration, deeper well records), (b) better land-use planning to protect recharge zones and promote artificial recharge/rainwater harvesting, (c) regulatory restrictions on pumping in vulnerable zones, and (d) continued InSAR + ground monitoring to guide mitigation and resilience planning.

Data and tools: Sentinel‑1 LiCSAR unwrapped interferograms (COMET‑LiCS), PS‑InSAR (ASF), GNSS (NAST), groundwater well datasets (GWDP, S4W), LULC maps (Esri/Sentinel‑2). The study’s interactive results are made available online by the authors.

Overall, the paper provides a multi-method, basin‑scale assessment of accelerating subsidence in Kathmandu Valley, links it primarily to deep groundwater depletion and urban expansion, and documents early signs of stabilization in some areas after MWSP surface-water supply improvements — while stressing continued risk and the need for stronger groundwater and land‑use management.

Archive: https://archive.fo/uppd6

Summary:

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has ordered all domestic airlines to provide large airfare discounts for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, effective immediately. The discounts scale by age: 50% for those 70+, 70% for 75+, and 80% for 80+. People with disabilities get at least a 50% discount. Airlines were directed to implement these concessions from the day of the announcement.

Key points:

• CAAN directive effective immediately to all domestic carriers.
• Senior citizen discounts: 50% (70+), 70% (75+), 80% (80+).
• Persons with disabilities: minimum 50% fare discount.
• Aim: improve accessibility and inclusivity of domestic air travel in Nepal.

Archive: https://archive.fo/wkPwC

Summary: Between 1992 and 2016 Nepal nearly doubled its forest cover (from ~26% to ~45%) largely through community-led forest management. Faced with severe degradation in the 1970s–1990s from livestock grazing and unchecked fuelwood harvesting, Nepal shifted policy in the 1980s–1990s culminating in the 1993 forestry law that allowed communities to take management responsibility for nearby national forests. Community forest user groups developed local rules (restricting grazing and tree cutting, limiting fuelwood collection, patrolling, and managing resource extraction) that enabled widespread natural regeneration, especially across middle elevations in the Himalayan foothills.

Key points

• Timeframe and data: Analysis used Landsat imagery (1988–2016 datasets from Landsat 5/7/8) plus interviews and field studies to map change.
• Magnitude of change: National forest cover rose from about 26% in 1992 to about 45% in 2016. In some local sites the gains were dramatic (example: Devithan sacred grove rose from 12% canopy in 1988 to 92% in 2016).
• Mechanism: The 1993 forestry act enabled formal community forestry. When local people gained management rights and incentives, they restricted damaging uses and allowed natural regeneration; limited planting was needed mainly in low-elevation barren areas.
• Scale and institutions: Today community forests cover roughly 2.3 million hectares, managed by ~22,000 community forest groups and involving ~3 million households. In many districts (e.g., Kabhre Palanchok and Sindhupalchok east of Kathmandu) community forestry was an early and effective approach.
• Supporting evidence: Multiple studies and reports (NASA Land-Cover/Land-Use Change program, peer-reviewed papers, FAO and World Bank reports) document the pattern and drivers of recovery.
• Broader context: Nepal is cited among a few countries showing net tree-cover gains in recent decades, driven largely by social policy and collective action rather than large-scale planting alone.

Takeaway: Transferring management rights to local communities created incentives for protection and sustainable use, leading to substantial, largely natural forest regeneration across Nepal’s mid-elevations.

Archive: https://archive.is/yf4Cu

Source: old.reddit.com/r/Nepal/comments/1o8hwuw/nepals_forest_area_1992_vs_2016/

Summary:

The Department of Money Laundering Investigation (DMLI) has opened an inquiry into suspected illicit wealth of three former prime ministers — Sher Bahadur Deuba, KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal — and two former ministers, Arzu Rana Deuba and Deepak Khadka. Deuba’s son, Jaybir Singh Deuba, is also under scrutiny. The DMLI has requested financial and corporate records from Nepal Rastra Bank, the Securities Board, the Office of the Company Registrar, and land records from the Department of Land Management and Archives; land revenue offices in all 77 districts and banks were instructed to supply property, account, transaction, jewellery and cash details. Forensic analysis is being done on burnt currency and ashes recovered after protesters set several leaders’ homes on fire during September 9 demonstrations; samples have been sent to the Central Investigation Bureau. The probe will cover assets and transactions across three generations and, after compiling agency data, enter a phase of statements and detailed scrutiny focusing on businesses, bank dealings, property, shares and beneficiaries. This is the first formal asset probe into such senior political figures, prompted by an interim government formed after mass protests that toppled KP Sharma Oli’s administration. The article notes historical allegations against the leaders — including misuse of public office, irregular land and contract deals, and past accusations related to funds during the Maoist insurgency — many of which were never formally investigated.

Archive: https://archive.is/qmGuD

Summary: Researchers discovered two new bent-toed gecko species hiding in mossy walls of once-abandoned forts in Nepal’s Churia (Siwalik) Hills. Named Cyrtodactylus makwanpurgadhiensis (from Makwanpurgadhi Fort) and Cyrtodactylus chure (from Hariharpurgadhi Fort), the species differ from other Nepalese bent-toed geckos by ≥11% in mitochondrial DNA and from each other by ~17%. They also show distinct scale patterns, body proportions, and placement of dorsal/limb/tail tubercles, highlighting that even well-visited heritage sites can conceal previously unknown biodiversity in underexplored regions like the Churia Hills.

Key points:

• Two new gecko species discovered in the mossy walls of Makwanpurgadhi and Hariharpurgadhi forts near Kathmandu.
• Named Cyrtodactylus makwanpurgadhiensis and Cyrtodactylus chure; described in ZooKeys.
• Genetic divergence: ≥11% from known Nepalese bent-toed geckos; ~17% between the two new species.
• Distinct morphological traits: scale bumps (tubercles), scale patterns, and body proportions.
• Discovery suggests Churia Hills may harbor more undiscovered species and that heritage sites can be important refuges for biodiversity.

Archive: https://archive.is/kGqKb

Summary:

Maggie Doyne, named a 2015 CNN Hero, used babysitting money to buy land in rural Nepal and has since built the BlinkNow Foundation and Kopila Valley projects that now serve thousands. What began as a small “bamboo shack” school and an orphanage grew into a comprehensive community organization: Kopila Valley School (now serving about 1,000 students from toddlers through 12th grade), the Kopila Valley Children’s Home (caring for 93 children), a Children’s Village, an on-site daycare, a full medical clinic, programs for at-risk girls, and food- and farming-based programs training Indigenous women. The foundation runs a “Futures” job-readiness program for secondary students and focuses on keeping families together when possible while providing safety and long-term support when needed. Doyne credits the work to community collaboration and a large local team (about 175 staff). The article also notes Doyne’s personal tragedies, including the 2015 accidental drowning death of her son Ravi, and describes her partnership and marriage to filmmaker Jeremy Power Regimbal, who documented the work in the film Between Mountain Sky. Doyne’s core message: small acts of care and persistence can produce large, lasting change.

Archive: https://archive.md/A78Th

Summary: Prakash Bohora, part of Nepal’s Gen Z protesters, was shot during massive 8 September demonstrations in Kathmandu against corruption and a draconian social-media ban. The protests—leaderless, driven largely by young people—escalated into a rapid political upheaval: the government was toppled, parliament dissolved, and anti-corruption former chief justice Sushila Karki became interim prime minister. Nineteen protesters died that day; Bohora remains hospitalized fighting to save his leg and frustrated at slow reforms. Gen Z activists demand real anti-corruption investigations and accountability for senior politicians, while major parties contest the interim government’s legitimacy and political stability ahead of promised March elections.

Key points:

• Bohora was shot outside parliament on 8 September; his bloodied trainer became a viral symbol of the deadliest protest day (19 killed).
• The largely spontaneous Gen Z movement lacks centralized leadership; Karki emerged as interim PM through online-driven consensus (Discord polls).
• Main demand: thorough investigations and prosecutions for high-level corruption, especially involving former PM KP Sharma Oli and ex-minister Ramesh Lekhak.
• Interim government pledges to remove political obstructions to probes but faces bureaucratic hurdles and skepticism from major parties (Nepali Congress, Maoists) who question its legitimacy.
• Analysts see the uprising as a reckoning for Nepal’s old political guard; its long-term impact depends on whether parties reform or continue power struggles.

Archive: https://archive.is/Nc7N1

Summary:

A peaceful Gen Z-led protest in Kathmandu against social media bans and corruption on Sept. 8 unexpectedly spiraled into deadly violence and nationwide chaos. Security forces shot into crowds, killing at least 19 people; subsequent days saw arson, looting, and government buildings burned. The turmoil toppled Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, the military intervened, and retired chief justice Sushila Karki was installed as interim prime minister. Many original young organizers say they wanted reform, not revolution, and now face a fractured aftermath with uncertainty about real political change.

Key points:

• A planned youth protest against corruption and a social-media ban drew tens of thousands; organizers intended nonviolent action but older, aggressive elements infiltrated the crowd.
• Security forces fired live rounds; at least 19 protesters were killed (including students), dozens injured. Videos and eyewitness accounts show police firing and chaotic scenes near Parliament.
• Widespread arson and looting followed: Parliament, the Singha Durbar government complex and other major buildings were burned; some police stations and homes of political figures attacked.
• Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned; the army stepped in, convened Gen Z representatives and political figures, and backed the appointment of Sushila Karki as interim prime minister.
• Original Gen Z activists—economically frustrated, tech-savvy, overeducated—feel the movement was hijacked, worry the bloodshed may yield little structural change, and face political co-option and personal danger.

Archive: https://archive.is/Vbs5r

Government Suspends Passports of Five, Including former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli

Summary:

The Nepali government has decided to suspend the passports of five officials, including former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, based on recommendations from an inquiry commission investigating the crackdown on the Gen Z protests. The passport restriction also bars them from leaving the Kathmandu Valley without permission. Those affected are: KP Sharma Oli, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, Home Secretary Gokarna Mani Duwadi, National Investigation Department chief Hutaraj Thapa, and outgoing Kathmandu Chief District Officer Chhabi Rijal. The action follows the protest on 23 Bhadra when police use of lethal weapons caused 19 deaths; authorities say directives were given to prevent protesters reaching the federal parliament building, while Oli denied ordering the police to shoot.

Archive: https://archive.is/c8DhW

Summary: Nepal recorded their first-ever victory over a full-member nation by defeating two-time T20 World Cup champions West Indies by 19 runs in the first T20I at Sharjah on September 27, 2025. Batting first, Nepal posted 148/8 on a slow Sharjah surface with captain Rohit Paudel top-scoring 38 (35), supported by Kushal Malla (30 off 21) and Gulshan Jha (22 off 16). West Indies never recovered, slumping to 56/4 midway and struggling against tight Nepal bowling; despite late efforts from Faiq Al-Ali/Faiban Allen (report lists Faiban Allen 19 off 14) and captain Akeal Hosein (18 off 9), they fell short. The second T20I in Sharjah is scheduled for September 29, 2025.

Archive: https://archive.is/JHfkn

Summary:

A prominent social activist and climate campaigner from Ladakh, Sonam Wangchuk, was arrested by a police team led by DGP S.D. Singh Jamwal from his home village Uleykatopo in Leh. The Indian government blamed him for recent unrest in Ladakh following a violent protest on September 24. After the arrest, internet services were suspended in Leh, a curfew was imposed for the third consecutive day, and schools and colleges were closed until Saturday. The clashes left four young protesters dead, about 80 people (including 40 policemen) injured, and around 60 people detained. During the protest, demonstrators pelted stones, clashed with police, and set fire to a local BJP office. The Home Ministry’s statement said Wangchuk had incited youth by citing Nepal’s recent “Gen-Z” movement as an example. Wangchuk’s wife, Geetanjali Angmo, protested his treatment, calling him a lifelong advocate of peace and nonviolence. Political figures including former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah and parties like Aam Aadmi Party, PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti, J&K Congress leader Gulam Ahmad Mir, and CPI (M-L) criticized the arrest. Protesters have long demanded full statehood for Ladakh and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution; the demonstration over this demand turned violent, prompting strict administrative measures. Following Wangchuk’s arrest, tensions appear likely to increase.

Archive: https://archive.md/hqDzr

Summary:

Hamas’s Qassam Brigades on Saturday posted a compilation photo of 48 hostages, including Nepali student Bipin Joshi, who have been held since the October 7, 2023 attack. The image, shared online with a caption referencing missing Israeli air force captain Ron Arad, shows faces of both living and deceased captives. Joshi was taken from Kibbutz Alumim while participating in Israel’s Learn Earn Programme; ten Nepali students were killed in the October 7 assault and 251 people were taken hostage. Hamas warned that intensified Israeli air strikes on Gaza endanger the hostages’ lives. Israel’s ambassador to Nepal called the photo release “psychological warfare,” dismissing Hamas’s claims about hostage locations as a tactic. Families of hostages continue to press the Israeli government for negotiations; some captives have been freed previously through prisoner exchanges and rescue operations.

Archive: https://archive.is/PDopn

Summary:

• The US will hand over two M28 “Skytruck” aircraft to the Nepali Army in the first week of September; one is configured as an air ambulance. These are part of a five-aircraft package: four are grants from the US and one is to be procured by Nepal (the fifth’s exact status is unclear).

• Two Skytrucks previously delivered in 2019; the US also handed over two Skytrucks and one Bell helicopter earlier this year under a military assistance package valued at about Rs 13.38 billion. The US has hinted at providing additional Bell helicopters.

• The new M28s (short take-off/landing, STOL) were ordered from Poland’s PZL Mielec under a roughly $30.3 million contract that covers the aircraft, training, spare parts, medical equipment and ferrying support. Deliveries were delayed from April 30 to late August.

• M28 features (high-wing, rugged gear, STOL) suit Nepal’s mountainous terrain and will boost the Army’s cargo transport, medevac, personnel movement and humanitarian/rescue missions. Each carries 12–18 passengers depending on configuration.

• Nepali Army currently operates seven small/medium fixed-wing aircraft and 15 helicopters. The US has also indicated intent to provide up to $100 million in Foreign Military Financing to strengthen Nepal’s rotary-wing capabilities, pending Congressional approval.

• Official handover requires customs and airfield clearances; a ceremony is expected with US embassy participation. The Nepali Army has not yet received formal internal notification of the handover, a spokesperson said.

Archive: https://archive.md/keAiZ