Nepal

Shepherds in Rukum are preserving centuries-old traditions of sheep herding and wool craftsmanship, vital to their culture and economy: men graze flocks in the highlands, women weave durable goods; modern competition challenges this heritage's survival

From next September, climbing Everest will become more expensive: the Nepalese Tourism Department has announced a 36% increase in the price of permits, up to $15.000 during peak season

The 50-year-old Tilawe River bridge in Parsa district collapsed four months ago due to a broken pillar, and repairs have yet to begin; a temporary diversion is in poor condition, raising concerns about possible disruptions during the upcoming rainy season

Three pairs of bar-headed geese, one of the few bird species capable of flying over the altitude of 9.000 meters, were spotted in Jagadishpur Bird Sanctuary in Kapilvastu, showing Nepal’s role in bird conservation and is ecotourism potential

In Janakpur, southeast Nepal, many transgender individuals live in hijra gharanas, traditional communities led by a guru; they earn through ceremonial performance but face harassment, inadequate social inclusion, discrimination and limited healthcare

In Karnali Province, pervasive poverty compels thousands to migrate to India for work, leaving behind villages populated mainly by women, children and the elderly; despite government efforts, significant progress remains elusive

Two new postage stamps have been emitted in what is the first issue of postage stamps in the 2024 series; entitled '150th World Post Day' and 'INTERPOL- 100Th Anniversary' they and bring the total types of postage stamps printed to 1.452

Microcredit loans have transformed rural entrepreneurship: returnee migrants are increasingly engaging in agribusiness and the average size of farm loans has risen from Rs1,5 to Rs5million (from 10.500 to 14.00 euros), enabling commercial-scale farming

Tangled wires from utility poles in New Road and nearby areas famous among tourist have been removed by Kathmandu Metropolitan City authorities; haphazardly placed and potentially dangerous, they had long been criticised for also creating an eyesore

Former Minister for Internal Affairs and Law of Koshi Province, Lilaballav Adhikari, is under police investigation after the court granted a two-days remand for further inquiry; he is accused of attempting to traffic youths to Japan using fake documents