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Former Prime Minister and CPN (Unified Socialist) chair Madhav Kumar Nepal has been charged with corruption in connection with the Patanjali land scam.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on Thursday filed a corruption case at the Special Court against Nepal and other defendants involved in the land misappropriation case.

The anti-graft body has demanded compensation of Rs185.5 million from Nepal for causing losses to the state coffers.

The CIAA has also charged then law minister Prem Bahadur Singh, then land reform minister Dambar Bahadur Shrestha, then chief secretary Madhav Prasad Ghimire, then Secretary at the Ministry of Land Reform Chhabiraj Pant; Shaligram Singh, head of Patanjali Yogpeeth and Ayurveda Company Nepal, secretaries and other top officials.

The case involves alleged misappropriation of land acquired for Patanjali Yogpeeth Nepal under government exemptions for land ownership ceiling.

Archive: https://archive.md/Eb9QV

Summary:
The Nepal Police, the national law enforcement agency of Nepal, has allegedly become the victim of a significant data breach, with a large cache of sensitive information reportedly being offered for sale online. The Nepal Police, established in 1955, is a crucial institution responsible for maintaining law and order, investigating crimes, managing traffic, and leading disaster response operations under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The compromise of its data could have serious implications for national security and the privacy of individuals connected to the agency.

A threat actor is allegedly selling a 48 GB data dump purportedly originating from the Nepal Police website (www.nepalpolice.gov.np). The actor is demanding $15,000 for the information. The contents of the breach allegedly include a wide array of personally identifiable information and official records. This incident highlights the persistent threats faced by governmental organizations and the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures.

The compromised data allegedly includes:

ID CARD ( FRONT/ BACK )
FACE IMAGE
SIGNATURE
FIRST NAME
LAST NAME
GENDER
AGE
BIRTH YEAR
ROLL NUMBER
ADVERTISEMENT NUMBER
CLASSIFICATION
EXAM TITLE
ADVERTISEMENT DATE
EXAM CENTER
CATEGORIES APPLIED UNDER

Archive: https://archive.md/wR6QP

Open corruption involving Dangol and Oli Government

Summary:
According to city officials, the suspension follows allegations that Pandey obstructed CAO Guragain from entering the KMC office—actions taken at the verbal direction of Mayor Shah in the first week of April.

The controversy surrounding CAO Guragain—who was deputed at the city office by the federal government—began when he was accused of procedural and financial irregularities in approving a revised design for the Kathmandu Tower, increasing its height from 12 to 19 storeys. The changes reportedly bypassed mandatory seismic and structural reviews, leading Mayor Shah to suspend Guragain pending investigation. However, the federal government refused to send a replacement, effectively paralysing key municipal functions, including payroll approvals.

On April 4, while Mayor Shah was outside the city, the federal government reinstated Guragain to the city office. During the controversy, while the mayor wanted to replace Guragain, Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol and most of the ward chairs stood in favour of allowing the CAO to work.

Summary:
The article discusses a secret CIA report from 1983 concerning the Nepalese royal family and political situation. The report predicted potential instability within Nepal's monarchy, specifically noting that King Birendra Shah's health was at risk due to hereditary heart problems and his heavy drinking habits, which could lead to an early death. It foresaw that in case of King Birendra's demise, his younger brother Gyanendra Shah might take control of the palace with the support of the army and conservative royal family members.

The CIA report also highlighted internal palace power struggles and political dynamics, including the role of Queen Aishwarya and the traditionalist faction. It suggested that Gyanendra, who had briefly ruled as a child during the 1950 revolution, saw himself as more deserving of the throne than Birendra, though he did not openly challenge Birendra's legitimacy.

Additionally, the report examined Nepal’s complex political environment in the early 1980s, including the weakening relevance of political parties like the Nepali Congress and communist groups, internal feudal structures, and Nepal’s strategic importance as a buffer state between India and China. It emphasized American concerns about maintaining regional stability and supporting Nepal's gradual political liberalization without provoking India-China tensions.

King Birendra’s Western education was noted as a bridge between tradition and modernization, but he was seen as hesitant and inconsistent in implementing reforms. The report also touched on Nepal’s Panchayat system, decentralization efforts, and the ambivalence within the royal family regarding power sharing and democratization.

Overall, the CIA’s 1983 report foresaw potential turmoil in the Nepalese monarchy and political system, predicted that Gyanendra could dominate palace politics if a succession crisis occurred, and highlighted Nepal's delicate geopolitical position.

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cross-posted from: https://lemm.ee/post/65595617

Many workers in Mumbai's sex industry are sold by their families or forced into the industry to pay off debts. Unfortunately, many are mere children.

Girls as young as 9 are trafficked into Indian brothels from Nepal.

Invidious: https://inv.nadeko.net/switchbackend?backend_id=2&referer=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Do9PDr-Pm0FY

#nottheonion

Summary:
The second Potato Summit 2025 was held in Kathmandu to develop strategies for boosting Nepal's potato industry. Organized by the Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock Development, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the summit focused on improving the potato seed value chain, market development, processing opportunities, and private sector engagement.

Key points discussed included:

• Adoption of improved seed varieties.
• The importance of cold storage to reduce post-harvest losses.
• Targeted financing to strengthen the potato value chain.
• Promotion of crop insurance as a risk-reduction strategy for farmers.
• The role of financial institutions in providing loans for infrastructure and agribusiness models.
• Strategic investments in processing, storage, and marketing to enhance competitiveness.

Agriculture Minister Ram Nath Adhikari highlighted the government's commitment to supporting the sector through policy reforms and incentives. FAO representative Ken Shimizu emphasized the importance of aligning with market trends and consumer preferences, noting the Hand-in-Hand Initiative's role in promoting highland potatoes as a priority commodity for rural development and food security.

Overall, the summit aimed to optimize potato production, improve farmer livelihoods, and boost the sector's growth in Nepal.

Many workers in Mumbai's sex industry are sold by their families or forced into the industry to pay off debts. Unfortunately, many are mere children.

Girls as young as 9 are trafficked into Indian brothels from Nepal.

Invidious: https://inv.nadeko.net/switchbackend?backend_id=2&referer=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Do9PDr-Pm0FY

Summary:
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Nepal invited Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli as the chief guest for its silver jubilee anniversary celebration.

The invitation was extended two weeks in advance, but just hours before the event, Oli's secretariat informed the commission that the Prime Minister was busy and could not attend.

The NHRC officials rejected this explanation, noting that previous Prime Ministers usually sent representatives if they couldn’t attend themselves, but this time there was no government representation at all.

The NHRC suspects the boycott is linked to recent political tensions, including a controversial statement by Oli accusing party members of controlling parts of Kathmandu ahead of a pro-monarchy demonstration on May 29.

The commission criticized Oli’s remarks, stating they undermine the rule of law and democratic freedoms.

The NHRC also expressed frustration over the government’s failure to implement its recommendations; since its formation in 2000, only about 15% of recommendations have been fully implemented.

In recent years, implementation has worsened, with no compensation or legal action taken on recommendations in the last four years despite 444 recommendations being made.

The commission accused the government of indifference toward human rights and warned it might blacklist agencies or officials who refuse to comply.

Oli’s media expert claimed the PM was busy and cannot attend every event, dismissing claims that the absence was politically motivated.

Summary:
The Mid-Hill Highway (Pushpalal Highway), constructed to last at least 40 years, is already showing serious damage just four years after completion. The RCC (reinforced cement concrete) structures built in the Jaharkot area of Dailekh district have started to deteriorate. Specifically, the RCC on the uphill section near Chamghat Khola is coming apart, exposing steel rods and disrupting traffic.

The construction company, Motidan, is blamed for using poor-quality materials and workmanship. Despite the highway being designed with durable RCC layers to withstand long-term use, defects appeared early on due to these lapses. The Highway Planning Office in Dailekh has issued a repair contract, but doubts remain about the quality of repair work.

Local leaders and residents express concern about the lack of proper supervision and accountability from both the contractor and planning office. They emphasize that technical staff and contractors from the original construction phase should be held responsible.

Additionally, the asphalt (blacktop) surfaces in Dailekh are also reported to be of poor quality, causing further road degradation.

The Highway Planning Office states they have awarded repair contracts and acknowledge multiple factors could cause road damage, but stress that such roads shouldn’t fail so quickly.

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Summary:
On June 28, 2023, Nepal’s Supreme Court ordered the government to temporarily register same-sex marriages. This was hailed as a historic decision, and the country made headlines registering its first same-sex marriage in November 2023.

However, despite the court order, queer couples still face significant bureaucratic hurdles and discrimination when trying to register their marriages. Many local government offices either reject applications or are unaware of the procedures.

For example, the couple Sushila Ramtel and Pramila Tamang faced harassment, rejection, police intervention, and family opposition when trying to register their marriage in Sindhuli. Their struggle highlights persistent resistance and ignorance among local officials.

The Department of National ID and Civil Registration does not have official data on queer marriages, and provisional registrations are not fully integrated into national databases.

A directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs allows local bodies to register same-sex marriages in separate books with provisional certificates, but many officials remain unaware or refuse to comply.

Bureaucratic inertia and moral policing by local officials cause delays, harassment, and extra costs for queer couples. Unlike heterosexual couples who can register marriages quickly without legal help, queer couples often need advocates and spend significant time and money.

Provisional certificates lack full legal recognition, especially for binational couples seeking marriage visas or other rights. Inconsistent forms also force queer couples to pick gender roles that erase their identities.

The government has started training local officials on same-sex marriage registration, but efforts remain limited.

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Summary:
Kami Rita Sherpa, a Nepali mountaineer, has reached the summit of Mount Everest for the 31st time, extending his own world record for the most ascents of the world’s highest peak. The 55-year-old climber reached the 8,848.86-meter summit around 4 am on Tuesday under stable weather conditions.

Kami Rita was serving as the lead climbing guide for the Indian Army Adventure Wing Everest Expedition. Mingma Sherpa, chairman of Seven Summit Treks and the expedition organizer, praised Kami Rita’s unmatched skills and professionalism.

Born in the Solukhumbu region, Kami Rita first climbed Everest in 1994 as support staff and has since become one of the most accomplished high-altitude climbers globally. He is followed by Pasang Dawa Sherpa, who has summited Everest 29 times, including two ascents during the spring season.

This achievement further cements Kami Rita Sherpa’s status as the record holder for the highest number of successful Everest ascents, a record unmatched by anyone else.

Archive: https://archive.md/TMuNT