Submit your Article

A severe sandstorm has swept through central and southern Iraq, blanketing cities in an orange haze and forcing the closure of airports as health facilities reported an alarming increase in respiratory issues.

This storm, the largest of the year, reduced visibility to less than one kilometer in various areas, Reuters reported.

Hospitals have been overwhelmed, with Muthanna province alone reporting approximately 700 cases of suffocation, as confirmed by health official Mazen Al Egeili. In nearby Najaf province, at least 250 individuals were hospitalized due to breathing difficulties, while Diwaniyah province treated around 322 patients, including children.

Additionally, more than 530 residents in Dhi Qar and Basra provinces sought medical assistance for respiratory problems.

In light of the hazardous conditions, airport operations in Najaf and Basra were temporarily halted, according to Reuters.

This latest sandstorm highlights Iraq's vulnerability to such climate events, as research by the United Nations identifies the country as one of the five most affected by climate change.

Police have arrested a person with 6. 97 kg of cannabis from Tribhuvan International Airport. The arrestee is a 27-year-old man from India.  

TIA Security Chief and Senior Superintendent of Police, Somendra Singh Rathaur confirmed the arrest of the Indian national from TIA who arrived in Nepal on Thai Air flight last night.

The contraband was found during a luggage check at arrivals. He has been sent to the Narcotics Bureau Koteshwor for further investigation into the case. 

Recent rainfall may have brought brief respite from the choking smog that blanketed Kathmandu and other urban areas, but the problem is far from over. The haze has settled—for now. But the plastic waste and air pollutants that fueled it haven’t gone anywhere. If anything, the clean skies may lull the public into forgetting a crisis that is both ongoing and worsening.

Plastic pollution has become a silent emergency in Nepal. According to a 2022 report by the Ministry of Forests and Environment and ICIMOD, Nepal generates over 60,000 metric tons of plastic waste annually. Alarmingly, nearly one-third of it ends up in rivers. This staggering volume exposes a stark reality: Nepal’s waste management systems are overwhelmed. Landfills are overflowing, open dumping is rampant, and in many municipalities, the default response is to burn plastic waste—releasing toxic fumes and microplastics into the air. The result is not only deteriorating air quality but also a serious public health threat.

This isn’t just about pollution—it’s about the systems’ failure. Government policies exist, such as the ban on plastic bags thinner than 40 microns, but enforcement remains weak. Most municipalities lack basic infrastructure like waste segregation units or recycling centers. There’s a wide gap between the demand for structured recycling solutions and the supply of services to meet it.

Experts say Nepal must urgently adopt a proven, practical solution: plastic recycling.

Recycling isn’t a novel idea. It’s a globally recognized, cost-effective method for reducing waste, cutting emissions, and recovering valuable materials. Countries across Asia, Europe, and the Americas have shown that recycling can transform plastic from a threat into a resource—turning waste into opportunity.

In Nepal, however, recycling remains underutilized. Informal waste pickers form the backbone of the system, yet they work without safety gear, proper training, or fair compensation. Even so, much of the plastic they collect is eventually burned or dumped due to the absence of structured recycling systems and markets. Only around 15 percent of Nepal’s plastic waste is recycled, according to a 2023 UNEP assessment.

To bridge this gap, Nepal needs to invest in a formal, inclusive recycling infrastructure. This includes supporting municipalities with proper waste segregation systems, funding recycling facilities, and integrating informal waste workers into official supply chains—offering them fair wages, dignity, and protection. 

There are already small glimmers of progress. In some areas, plastic waste is being turned into eco-bricks or construction blocks. Others are piloting neighborhood-based recycling hubs. These initiatives demonstrate that localized, creative solutions can work—but they remain small-scale and isolated without broader government backing.

Another critical issue is the low level of awareness among policymakers. Despite the growing threat of plastic pollution, the topic rarely ranks high on political agendas. Experts believe a national-level behavioral shift is necessary—not just among citizens but also within local governments and decision-makers.

Public participation is equally vital. Recycling begins at the household level, with simple acts like separating plastic from organic waste. Civic education, school outreach programs, and mass campaigns are essential to build a culture where recycling becomes a norm, not a novelty.

On the regulatory front, Nepal can draw inspiration from global best practices. For example, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws—where producers are held accountable for managing plastic at the end of its life cycle—have driven recycling rates up in countries like Germany, Japan, and South Korea. Such policies can provide funding for infrastructure, promote innovation, and shift the cost burden away from municipalities and informal workers.

Experts emphasize that while banning plastic outright might not be feasible in the short term, better management absolutely is. Recycling isn’t just an environmental solution—it’s a long-term strategy for resilience. It reduces pollution, conserves resources, and creates green jobs in the process.

But time is running out. The rain may have temporarily cleared the air, but unless Nepal changes how it handles plastic, we’ll be right back under the same toxic haze or perhaps even worse. We must stop treating pollution as a seasonal inconvenience and start addressing it as a structural failure that demands systemic, sustained action.

The disgruntled teachers are to boycott Grade 12 exams and halt new admission procedures.

The teachers, who have been staging protests in the Bijulibazaar area for the past 13 days under the leadership of Nepal Teachers’ Federation, have said that they would boycott the Grade 12 exams if their demands are not addressed.

As per the previous announcement, the Grade 12 exams will be conducted from April 24.

Meanwhile, the new academic session of schools has also begun.

General Secretary of the Federation Tula Bahadur Thapa said that no teachers or staff will take part in the Grade 12 exams until their demands are met.

He informed that the Federation’s meeting held recently has decided to boycott the Grade 12 exams and halt the new admission procedures.

According to Thapa, an appeal will also be made to stop the exams conducted by CTVT.

“We have heard that CTVT has been conducting the exams, we will urge them to stop the exams by issuing a press release,” Thapa said, adding, “We have heard that some institutional and community schools have also been opened, we will appeal them to close the schools at the earliest by issuing a statement. The decision was made earlier too.”

The teachers have been staging the protests demanding immediate enactment of the School Education Act.