Submit your Article

Minister for Forest and Environment, Nawal Kishore Sah Sudi, said that climate incidents are unpredictable and unprecedentedly increasing every year.

In his remarks during the opening session of Mountains, People, and Climate today, he said, "Climate change is a global and cross-cutting issue, we all know that we all are disproportionately impacted across the countries. Both mountains and island countries and their people are facing multiple crises of temperature rise, erratic rainfall, drought and desertification, landslides, floods, inundation, forest fires, glacier melting, and sea rise levels."

He said that gathering and adversities that impact climate change in the mountainous countries are higher than elsewhere in the world, appealing to all mountainous and developed countries to allocate additional financial resources for adaptation with open hearts and minds so that collective measures could be taken to address the climate crisis.

Urging the international communities and parties to discuss this matter in the upcoming expert dialogue on mountains and climate change on June 5 in Germany and take additional decisions on mountains and amplify the finance and adaptation targets for the sake of mountain communities for their lives and livelihoods, he requested SBSTA chair Harry too, to take a message on why and how mountainous issues are important in the climate negotiation process.

"Harry, SBSTA chair, I am looking for your crucial role as an ambassador of mountainous countries to give a sense of urgency to the international community to take appropriate actions on mountains and their people in the upcoming COP2029 and beyond," he mentioned.

He also expected continued collaboration and positive outcomes that will surely emerge from our collective efforts in the days to come.

The US States said that freedom of press, accountability, and transparency are guiding principles for the United States as it continues to work for “a more perfect union.”

“We expect that as Nepal continues to show its hard-won democracy, the Government and people of Nepal will also have a meaningful dialogue about how to ensure good governance, freedom of the press and people’s fundamental rights,” reads a statement issued by the US Embassy in Kathmandu.

The Embassy issued the statement a day after police detained Kailash Sirohiya, chairperson of Kantipur Media Group (KMG) in connection to an alleged fake citizenship case filed against him in Dhanusha district.

Prior to his arrest, Sirohiya issued a statement on Kantipur TV, saying that the arrest warrant against him was issued with the aim of blackmailing Kantipur daily and its other sister news outlets into stopping the coverage of cooperative frauds.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that 'a unified mountain voice' is urgently needed to address the growing concern about the effects of climate change.

"I firmly believe that a unified mountain voice is urgently needed to address the growing concern about the effects of climate change on mountain communities and the ecosystem services they provide," he said while addressing the Global Dialogue on Mountains, People and Climate here today.

The Prime Minister also pointed out the need of economic and technical cooperation to countries most affected by climate change impact.

Stating that climate change impact in mountains is unprecedented, he said, it is evident that occupying the front lines of the global climate crisis, mountainous countries are disproportionately burdened by the adverse effects of warming and called for collective resolve to address this pressing issue.

Kami Rita Sherpa has set a new record in mountain climbing by scaling Mount Everest, the world's tallest peak, for the 30th time.

According to the Department of Tourism's temporary office at the Everest Base Camp, Sherpa reached the summit at 7:49 am today.

Office Chief Khimlal Gautam confirmed Sherpa's remarkable achievement, marking his 30th successful ascent to Everest, thereby breaking his own previous records.

Born in Thame of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality in Solukhumbu, the 54-year-old Sherpa is a proficient mountain guide. His first ascent to the world's tallest mountain was recorded on May 13, 1994. Sherpa also holds the record for the most ascents to peaks above 8,000 meters.

This spring season has witnessed a significant number of climbers attempting Everest, with over 460 individuals, including Sherpa guides, having successfully reached the summit thus far, according to office records.

Last year, Pasang Dawa Sherpa of Solukhumbu accomplished a notable feat by scaling Everest for the 27th time.

The Everest expedition for this year's spring season officially commenced on May 10. A total of 414 climbers, comprising 339 males and 75 females, obtained permission from the Department for their Everest expedition. These climbers represent 41 expedition teams, with 75 percent having already successfully summited the peak.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 100 per tola in the domestic market on Tuesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 140, 500 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 140, 600 per tola on Tuesday.

Similarly, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 139, 800 per tola. It was traded at Rs 139, 900.

Meanwhile, the price of silver, however, has increased by Rs 15 and is being traded at Rs 1,900 per tola today.  

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal inaugurated the 'Mountains, Human and Climate Change: International Dialogue of Experts' in Kathmandu today by pouring water to a plant.

The dialogue is organized to draw the attention of the international community to the impact of climate change on the mountains. Also, it is to strengthen action based on mountain ecosystems.

Experts from 25 countries, mountainous and small island countries, international community, development partners, international NGOs, private sector and civil society representatives are participating in the dialogue.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Bhutan's Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Lyonpo Younten Phuntsho, Bangladesh's Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Saber Hussain Chaudhary, President of the UN Assistant Agency for Scientific and Technical Advice on Climate Change (SABTA) Harry Bhireu, Chief Secretary Baikuntha Aryal, chiefs and officials of diplomatic missions here as well as high-ranking officials of Nepal government are present.

The speeches of distinguished speakers are continuing in the dialogue.

It is estimated that the cost of promoting the multi-hazard early warning system will be around Rs 81.4bn ($614m). This cost is required to implement the government strategy to integrate the multi-hazard early warning system with the goal of minimizing the potential loss of property due to various disasters and making the early warning system effective.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has said  preparations are being made to organize the multi-disaster early warning system and it has made a preliminary estimate that it will cost more than Rs 81bn to update the system. 

According to the Authority, preparations are being made to promote a multi-disaster early warning system with the goal of providing early warning of future disasters and assisting in increasing the response capacity to reduce potential risks.

Despite the development of an early warning system in Nepal related to floods and landslides, there is no provision for early warning of other natural disasters in Nepal. For the first time, the government is starting preparations with the goal of enhancing disaster response capacity by installing an early warning system on multi-disaster scenarios. Anil Pokharel, the executive head of the authority, has informed that the estimated cost for the next seven years will be Rs 81bn. 

“After the development of flood forecasting in Nepal, there are multiple examples of saving many lives and preventing the loss of millions of property. But the effective system for getting prior information about natural disasters such as landslides, lightning, forest fires, floods, cold waves, avalanches, windstorms, hailstorms, and air pollution was not developed so far,” he said.

Since the loss of property is increasing due to these disasters, we have aimed to develop an early warning system to reduce the possible damage caused by such multi-catastrophic events. He said that discussions are being held with relevant stakeholders for the development of a multi-disaster early warning system with the goal of reducing the human and economic losses caused by all kinds of disasters. 

The NDRRMA chief informed that the information collected from the multi-source information system will be provided in the local language so that it could be understood by the general public.

Police have detained Kailash Sirohiya, chairperson of Kantipur Media Group (KMG) in connection to an alleged fake citizenship case filed against him in Dhanusha district.

A team led by SSP Sanuram Bhattarai of the Kathmandu Valley Crime Division took Sirohiya under custody from the Kantipur headquarters in Thapathali, Kathmandu, on Tuesday.

Sirohiya’s arrest follows a series of news stories about Home Minister  Rabi Lamichhane’s alleged involvement in misappropriating cooperative funds. Lamichhane has repeatedly discredited the media for publishing news critical of him

Prior to his arrest, Sirohiya issued a statement on Kantipur TV, saying that the arrest warrant against him was issued with the  aim of blackmailing Kantipur daily and its other sister news outlets into stopping the coverage of cooperative frauds. 

“The media must demand justice and a fair investigation into the embezzlement of the hard-earned savings of over 7.1m depositors in various cooperatives,” he said. “There’s no doubt that the complaint and arrest warrant against me intend to silence Kantipur and divert attention.”

Sirohiya vowed that Kantipur would not relent in exposing societal wrongdoings, including the cooperatives scam. “Those who misuse their authority to retaliate against a media house for its reporting must answer for their actions,” he said, referring to Home Minister Lamichhane.

Journalists have decried Sirohiya’s arrest from his office as an attack on the press. 

President of Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) Bipul Pokharel, senior journalist Yuvraj Ghimire, FNJ Vice-president Ramesh Bista, and Nepal Press Union President Shiva Lamsal condemned the police action, calling it a mockery of democracy.

Several Nepali Congress MPs, including Ramhari Khatiwada and former Foreign Minister NP Saud, visited the Kantipur headquarters to show support. They denounced the arrest warrant as an assault on press freedom and democracy.

In a parliamentary session on Tuesday, Deputy General Secretary of Nepali Congress Badri Pandey accused Home Minister Lamichhane of issuing the warrant for personal reasons.

Freedom Forum, a media rights advocacy group, expressed concern over the incident. 

“The arrest warrant against media entrepreneur Sirohiya appears to be influenced by the home minister. Regardless of the citizenship investigation, the media’s right to report freely and expose irregularities should not face harassment,” said Taranath Dahal, executive chief of the forum.