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The Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN) and the Korea Association of Travel Agents (KATA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today to strengthen collaboration for bilateral tourism promotions. 

The MoU was signed by President of TAAN, Sagar Pandey, and Vice President at KATA, Kim Beomje, in the presence of Ambassador of The Republic of Korea to Nepal, Park Tae-Young. 

The MoU aims to foster the active cooperation between TAAN and KATA to promote bilateral tourism, strengthen friendship, and enhance mutual collaboration between Nepal and Korea.

As per the MoU, TAAN will collaborate with the KATA and Korean travel agencies to promote Nepali tourism products and destinations in various ways to encourage more Korean tourists to visit Nepal. TAAN will also work to enhance the safety of the Korean tourists in Nepal through information, safety training and prompt search and rescue operations.

Additionally, TAAN will work with KATA to support and promote initiatives that encourage Nepali travelers to visit Korea.

KATA will work with TAAN to organize events, campaigns, and promotional activities to attract more Korean tourists to Nepal. KATA will also help TAAN with information, technology and other logistics for enhancing the safety of the Korean trekkers and other tourists in Nepal. 

Additionally, KATA will also collaborate with TAAN to undertake initiatives that encourage Nepalese travelers to visit Korea.

The MoU signing ceremony was also graced by Bae Young Chang, the General Secretary of KATA, Cha Seung Won, Chairperson of Korea Association of Nepal and Office Bearers and Executive Committee Members of TAAN, including General Secretary Sonam G. Sherpa, Joint Treasurer Lakpa T. Sherpa, EC Member Raju Gurung, EC Member Ramesh Lamsal, EC Member Nakul Devkota, EC Member Rajendra Amgain, CEO Ram Chandra Sedai and so on.

Ukraine said on Monday it hit and disabled a Russian missile-carrying submarine docked at a Black Sea naval base using underwater sea drones for the first time, but Moscow denied the strike caused any damage, Reuters reported. 

The attack with Ukrainian-made "Sub Sea Baby" drones hit the submarine in the port of Novorossiysk where Russia has rebased many of its Black Sea naval vessels to put them out of reach of Ukrainian strikes, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said.

Footage published by the SBU showed a powerful explosion erupting from the water at a pier near where a submarine and other vessels were docked. Reuters confirmed the location of the video using the port's layout and piers, according to Reuters. 

US President Donald Trump has filed a $5bn (£3.7bn) lawsuit against the BBC over an edit of his 6 January 2021 speech in a Panorama documentary, BBC reported. 

Trump accused the broadcaster of defamation and of violating a trade practices law, according to court documents filed in Florida. 

The BBC apologised to Trump last month, but rejected his demands for compensation and disagreed there was any "basis for a defamation claim".

The nationwide tiger census, conducted once every four years, officially commenced today. 

The launch was marked by a formal inaugural program held in Sauraha, Chitwan.

The census is being led by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) under the Ministry of Forests and Environment, in coordination with the Department of Forests and Land Conservation. The National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Nepal, and the Geological Society of Nepal are providing technical and logistical support.

The tiger count is being carried out with the assistance of the Nepal Army, Buffer Zone and Community Forest Users’ Committees, it is said. 

According to the DNPWC, the census is expected to be completed within two and a half to three months, with the nationwide mobilization of 25 technical personnel.

DNPWC Director General Buddi Sagar Paudel stated that 1,100 advanced camera traps are being installed across tiger habitats. 

The tiger population will be estimated through the analysis of photographic captures of the species.

An estimated budget of approximately Rs 30 million is expected to cover the cost of the census, covering the mobilization of human resources, management of memory cards, tents, sleeping bags, and other logistical requirements.

The camera traps being used for the census were procured earlier, with each purchased at an around Rs 35,000.

Nepal has started counting the tiger population systematically using automated camera trap since 2009. 

In 2009, there were 121 tigers in Nepal. 

Counting of tigers has been carried out every four years since 2009. 

As per the Tiger Conservation Action Plan, the tiger census was already conducted in 2013, 2018 and 2022. Now, the counting of tigers is being conducted for 2026. 

Nepal has started observing Tiger Day since 2067 BS and counting of tiger population is carried out nation-wide every four years.

The population of tigers was 98 in 1995, 109 in 2000, 126 in 2005, 121 in 2009, 198 in 2013 and 235 in 2018.

To reduce the human-tiger conflict, he suggested providing alternative means of livelihood to the communities living on the fringes of the forests so that they will not have to go into the forests for livelihood and to change the attitude and behavior of the locals towards the wildlife.

18 problematic tigers caged throughout the country

The issue of problematic tigers is also rising in national parks, conservation areas and surrounding regions with a significant increase in the number of tigers.

In particular, tigers that have entered human settlements, attacked humans and domestic animals, or have been found injured are being rescued and kept in enclosures.

Currently, there are 18 troublesome tigers across the country. 

Among them, five are kept in cages at the central zoo in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, seven in Chitwan National Park, four in Bardia National Park, and one each in Banke and Parsa National Parks. 

The government has been spending a large amount annually on the daily feeding, care, treatment, and other management of such tigers.

According to the latest figures in 2025, the number of tigers in the world has increased to 5,357. 

Among them, the highest number is in India with 3,167, followed by Russia with 750, Indonesia with 400, Nepal with 355, Thailand with 189, Bhutan with 151, Malaysia with 150, Bangladesh with 146, Myanmar with 22, China with 20, Vietnam with five, and Laos with two tigers.