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Annapurna journo Bishnu Thapa has launched his latest book ‘Kheladi: Sangharsha Dekhi Safalatasamma’, which chronicles the journeys of Nepali athletes. The book was officially unveiled on Friday at a ceremony in Kathmandu by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development, Prakash Man Singh.

Speaking at the launch, Singh emphasized that sports are an essential indicator of a nation’s prosperity. He remarked that the book would not only serve as a source of inspiration for future generations but also as an important documentation of Nepali sports history.

Member-Secretary of the National Sports Council, Tanka Lal Ghising, praised the book for filling a gap in sports documentation. “Although stories about athletes appear in the media, they rarely get compiled into books. This book will inspire many others to write similar works,” he said, stressing the need to continue writing about athletes’ struggles and triumphs.

Author Thapa shared that the book captures the journeys of nearly five dozen athletes who have seen both ups and downs in their careers and brought recognition to Nepal at national and international levels. He said the material is based on his decades-long journalistic work, starting from Punarjagaran Weekly and spanning multiple publications over the years.

The book covers stories from Jit Bahadur KC, who earned Nepal’s first medal, to Palesa Goverdhan, who made history by winning a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. “I felt that the sacrifices, dedication, struggles, and successes of both veteran and young athletes should not just remain on newspaper pages—they deserve to be preserved as historical documents,” sports journalist Thapa said. He added, “This book will not just serve as a record for future generations but also motivate aspiring individuals to pursue a career in sports. We must now move beyond just writing stories—we must also archive them in book form.”

The ‘Divya Pashupatinath’ campaign was officially launched at the Pashupatinath Temple premises on Monday. The campaign aims to address environmental challenges in the area surrounding the UNESCO World Heritage Site. These include littering, poor waste management, and environmental degradation. The initiative incorporates community clean-up efforts, tree plantation programs, safety training for frontline workers, and awareness outreach through social media.

More than 200 people participated in a tree plantation drive held during the launch event, symbolizing a collective commitment to environmental conservation around the temple site. Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey, was present at the event, along with Deputy Superintendent of Police for Gaushala, Sukdev Khanal, representatives from Kathmandu Metropolitan City. In his remarks, Minister Pandey highlighted the cultural importance of Pashupatinath and noted the campaign’s relevance to sustainable urban development. 

The campaign is part of the Climate Smart Cities project, an initiative led by CREASION and implemented in partnership with various organizations. It is one of the key activities of the Mainadevi Foundation. Foundation’s founder KP Khanal outlined the year-long activities under the campaign, emphasizing local engagement and environmental protection. Sujata Koirala, General Secretary of CREASION shared plans to extend similar initiatives to Kathmandu and Bharatpur, aiming to promote sustainable urban practices in multiple locations. The Divya Pashupatinath campaign will continue throughout the year with a focus on improving waste management, reducing plastic use, promoting recycling, and supporting eco-friendly practices while preserving the cultural heritage of the temple area.

VayuDrishti, a startup from Nepal, has been selected among the top 20 finalists in the global Hult Prize competition, chosen from over 15,000 entries worldwide. The team will now compete in the final round in London for a chance to win the $1m grand prize. The Hult Prize, now in its 16th year, is one of the world’s largest student startup competitions, engaging more than 200,000 students from over 130 countries. It aims to support entrepreneurial solutions to pressing global challenges.

VayuDrishti has developed a patent-pending device that integrates air quality monitoring, purification, and AI-based pollution forecasting. The device is intended to offer an accessible and scalable approach to air pollution management and public health protection. The team is led by 19-year-old Shakriya Pandey of Saraswati Multiple Campus, along with team captain Shrisha Pandey and member Manjila Pandey. Their selection marks a significant milestone for Nepal in international student-led innovation competitions.

Nepal has submitted its first-ever Child-Centered Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Report on Children and the Environment (Climate) to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNOHCHR). The report contributes to the country’s Fourth UPR Cycle, highlighting children’s rights in the context of climate change and environmental challenges. The initiative was supported by DKA Austria and coordinated by the youth-led organization Yuwalaya. 

The report was finalized during a National Validation Workshop held in Kathmandu. The event brought together 48 participants in its initial session, including civil society representatives, development partners, technical experts, solidarity members, and the report consultant. In the second session, the report’s key findings and recommendations were formally presented to government representatives. 

The report reviews Nepal’s policy and legal frameworks and assesses the country’s implementation of its human rights obligations, particularly in relation to children’s rights to education, health, protection, a clean environment, development, and participation. A total of 24 recommendations were refined at the workshop, including suggestions for emergency education during crises, improved child protection systems in remote areas, enrollment protocols for environmentally displaced children, promotion of school gardening, and programs to build children’s resilience to climate change.

In addition, a Youth-Led UPR Report has also been submitted to the UNOHCHR for the 51st Session (Jan–Feb 2026). Developed in partnership with Plan International Nepal and IM Swedish Development Partner, the process involved collaboration with 68 organizations and civil society groups. The report draws on inputs from 279 young people aged 18–35 across all seven provinces through provincial consultations, focus group discussions, and a national validation workshop. It was led by four young women and incorporates feedback from consortium members.

The youth report focuses on issues such as employment, health, education, meaningful youth participation, climate change, equality, non-discrimination, and digital technology.