Nepal

The Associated Press found that cutting U.S. foreign aid programs, specifically related to USAID, has led to an increase in the deaths of pregnant women and babies in Nepal. These funding cuts caused the closure of vital nutrition and reproductive outreach programs and left many birthing centers lacking necessary equipment and staff. Experts report that this decline is significantly hindering proper prenatal care, leading to emergencies.

Global cuts to foreign aid are unraveling decades of progress in maternal and child health. This trend has raised fears that 2025 could mark the first increase in child deaths this century. In one Nepal village, neonatal deaths began rising again after a U.S.-funded program was canceled.

The Associated Press reported that the United States' decision to slash its foreign aid funding has increased pregnancy complications and deaths in Nepal. The title specifies that when aid workers stopped coming, women and babies began dying.

A conference focusing on Tibetan studies in Nepal has been canceled. The cancellation was done following a request from government officials.

A provincial government in Nepal has legalized the use and growing of marijuana for medical purposes despite a national ban.

Nepal’s Gandaki province has legalized medical cannabis farming and use despite a national ban. The provincial law requires farmers to obtain official permission and be monitored, while national law prohibits possession and distribution of marijuana. Cannabis is culturally significant in Nepal, particularly during festivals like Shivaratri.

Nepal’s Gandaki province has legalized farming and use of marijuana for medical purposes. The provincial government in Nepal approved the move to permit medical cannabis cultivation and application.

Nepal's Gandaki province has legalized medical cannabis farming and use despite a national ban. Farmers must obtain official permission and are closely monitored, while the national law imposes penalties for possession and distribution. The province, home to Pokhara, allows cannabis use during the Shivaratri festival, reflecting its cultural and religious significance.

Nepal and Pakistan mourn the deaths of 10 climbers, including British-Nepali climber Nirmal Purja and six Nepali guides, killed in an avalanche on Pakistan’s Broad Peak. Mourners in Kathmandu held a candlelight vigil, and recovery efforts continue amid harsh weather, with two bodies still missing.

Pakistan teams are searching on foot for remains of 10 climbers killed in an avalanche on Broad Peak as poor weather halts helicopter operations. Eight bodies have been recovered, including Nirmal Purja, a Nepali-born climber. Pakistan's foreign minister expressed condolences and praised rescue efforts coordinated with international embassies.

Pakistan is excluded from a new permanent US visa bond program requiring citizens of 50 countries to post up to $20,000 as a financial guarantee for visitor visas. The program, aimed at reducing visa overstays, includes Bangladesh and Nepal but excludes India and Pakistan, with the US State Department citing improved compliance after a pilot phase.

A leopard attacked a farmer in Kathmandu, highlighting growing human-leopard conflicts in Nepal driven by habitat expansion and climate change. From 2000-2020, leopards caused the most human deaths among four large mammals, with community forests in mid-hills contributing to their population growth.

Rescuers recovered the body of Nepalese mountaineer Nirmal Purja after an avalanche. Purja was known for being the fastest climber of the world's 14 highest peaks.

The article critiques the labeling of youth-led protests in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh as 'Gen-Z revolutions,' arguing it oversimplifies complex political and economic drivers. It traces the term's origin to a 2017 Pepsi ad misfiring during the Black Lives Matter movement and highlights specific grievances in each country, such as unemployment in India and economic crises in Sri Lanka.

Security has been tightened in Bihar’s Madhubani border district due to communal tensions in Nepal. Communal clashes in Sunsari, Koshi province, have led to curfews, prohibitory orders, and increased security deployment in Nepal.

The article highlights budget-friendly travel destinations, focusing on Vietnam's affordable $1 pho and 4,000 islands, as well as Nepal's Himalayan teahouse treks offering dal bhat meals and free refills.

Ten international climbers, including a team led by Nirmal Purja, are missing after an avalanche struck Broad Peak in northern Pakistan. The Alpine Club of Pakistan reported the team lost communication following the incident, which involved five Nepalese climbers and Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi.

Ten climbers, including a renowned Nepalese mountaineer, are missing on Broad Peak in Pakistan after an avalanche. The Alpine Club of Pakistan is coordinating a search-and-rescue operation with government officials.

Three people were killed in Nepal due to Hindu-Muslim unrest, with the Prime Minister urging calm and authorities enforcing curfews to restore peace and unity.

India has sent a formal invitation to Nepal PM Balendra Shah. The invitation followed discussions between Shah's advisor and India's NSA Ajit Doval in early July and was sent through diplomatic channels after PM Modi's congratulatory remarks.

Nepal has eased restrictions on Indian currency following demonetisation, allowing the entry and use of ₹200 and ₹500 notes. Previously, only notes of ₹100 or below were permitted, while the ₹25,000 limit on carrying Indian currency remained in place.

Vikramjit Singh, wanted in a 2023 Punjab case, and U.S. national Manveer Singh were arrested while entering India from Nepal. Both are linked to the 'Waris Punjab De' group.

An Associated Press post about U.S. foreign aid cuts affecting transgender aid workers in Nepal sparked conservative backlash, with critics arguing the funding should be defunded. The post highlighted how job losses led to some workers turning to sex work, while critics like Rep. Brandon Gill and Jack Posobiec framed the situation as a justification for reducing USAID funding. The controversy follows Trump's review of foreign assistance programs, which caused program disruptions and staff reductions.

An Associated Press social media post highlighted 100 LGBTQ aid workers in Nepal turning to sex work after USAID funding cuts. Critics, including Rep. Brandon Gill and Matt Walsh, argued the post justified defunding USAID, while the Trump administration paused foreign aid reviews, causing program disruptions.

Associated Press reporter Kristen Gelineau documented how U.S. foreign aid cuts have led to unemployed aid workers in Nepal turning to sex work to survive. The story highlights the impact of reduced funding on local aid workers and their economic struggles.

The United States reduced its foreign aid funding last year, resulting in over 280,000 aid workers globally losing their jobs, including in Nepal. The AP report highlights the impact of these cuts on impoverished aid workers.

Aid workers in Nepal have resorted to sex work to survive after losing jobs due to USAID funding cuts. Over 280,000 aid workers globally were jobless following the United States reducing foreign aid funding.

Ethan Lin, co-founder of Klook, one of Asia's largest travel platforms, attributes his travel passion to his multicultural upbringing. Klook, co-founded with Eric Gnock Fah after a challenging Nepal trip, expanded rapidly across Asia and now targets U.S. growth. The company delayed its IPO to 2026 amid market challenges but reports rising transaction volume from Western travelers.

Nepal's plan to eliminate a two-tier airfare system for domestic flights could lead to higher prices for locals, as foreign passengers currently pay significantly more in US dollars. Airline operators warn that scrapping this policy might make flights more expensive for Nepali citizens.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the Saarc process during a meeting with Secretary-General Golam Sarwar. Dar emphasized revitalizing Saarc to advance regional connectivity and development, while also congratulating Pakistan’s new ambassador-designate to Nepal, Aamir Khan, on his appointment.

Dhurbe the killer elephant has trampled more than two dozen people since 2010, including four members of the same Nepalese family over 14 years. The elephant's attacks have left the family with no safe refuge.

Pakistan has established a National Population Council to address high population growth and improve human development. The council aims to learn from countries like Bangladesh and India, which reduced fertility rates through education, women's empowerment, and family planning. The article highlights Pakistan's lagging human development indicators and the need for urgent investment in healthcare and education.

Nepal has culled over 600,000 birds and destroyed 1 million eggs as an H5N1 bird flu outbreak spreads to Kathmandu Valley, shutting the capital’s only zoo and raising fears of human transmission due to potential mutation. The outbreak began in eastern Nepal in March and reached the densely populated valley by mid-June, increasing human exposure risks.

Child malnutrition in Nepal has reached 'alarming' levels according to a new survey, linked to the end of USAID funding for nutrition programs. The survey is the largest ever conducted on under-fives in the country, raising concerns about reversing progress in reducing child mortality.

In Nepal’s highlands, climate change is causing floods that destroy homes and land in Lubra, Nepal’s last Bon village, threatening the survival of ancient Bon traditions.

The Nashville Zoo announced the birth of a clouded leopard, a rare species, using a co-rearing method where the mother and staff jointly care for the cub. This milestone occurs amid the zoo's opposition to a proposed data center near its property, which it claims could harm the environment. Clouded leopards are vulnerable due to deforestation, poaching, and the pet trade.

India’s Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a satirical movement aiming to channel young Indians from online protests into politics, has gained viral attention. Political analysts suggest it reflects youth anger but doubt it will become a mass movement like recent uprisings in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal due to current limitations.

India and Nepal discussed cross-border rail connectivity, focusing on standard operating procedures for passenger train services between Janakpur and Ayodhya.

Hundreds of LGBTQ+ individuals and supporters marched in Kathmandu for Pride Month, highlighting Nepal's growing community and recent advancements in sexual minority rights. The government established a dedicated ministry for women and sexual minorities and legalized same-sex marriage, with the constitution prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation.

The Cape May County Zoo has introduced two red pandas, Wally and Ember, as part of a conservation effort to protect the endangered species. Red pandas face habitat loss and population decline, with their numbers dropping by half in 18 years.