Tag: special

As of Friday, 498 individuals have obtained climbing permits for the upcoming autumn season. For Manaslu mountain climbing, 451 climbers from 38 teams have secured permits, including 120 women. This season, the government has collected 2.11 billion Nepalese Rupees in royalty fees from climbers as of Friday. (September 13, Kathmandu)

Despite the significant impact of the Rasuwa-Bhotekoshi flood on the tourism sector, adventure tourism has not experienced a major decline. The number of permits issued for mountain climbing this autumn is approaching 500. According to the Department of Tourism, 451 climbers, including 120 women, have obtained permits for Manaslu. Members of a total of 38 teams have been authorized.

Additionally, three climbers have received permits for Makalu mountain. For Dangga mountain, two groups comprising 16 climbers have permits, while for Dhaulagiri, two groups totaling 19 climbers have been authorized, according to the Department of Tourism. Furthermore, two climbers have obtained permits for Gangapurna mountain and seven for Thorong Peak. This season’s permits have been granted to climbers from 63 countries.

The largest group of climbers is from China, including 100 individuals and 29 women. Following that, 53 climbers are from Russia, 37 from the United States, and 28 from the United Kingdom. Additionally, France has issued permits to 27 climbers, while Germany and Japan each have 16 authorized climbers.

September 14, Biratnagar – Anilkumar Sah has been unanimously elected as the president of Morang Industry and Trade Association, one of Nepal’s oldest and most prestigious business organizations. Alongside Sah’s unopposed selection as the president of the association’s 35th executive committee, Anil Sarda was chosen as senior vice president, Vikas Kumar Begwani as vice president for commerce, Sanjay Kumar Shrestha as vice president for industry, and Amit Kumar Sarada as general secretary.

The new executive committee also includes Amit Rathi and Dipesh Subedi as secretaries, Vinit Sanghaniya as treasurer, and Manish Maru as deputy treasurer. The spokesperson duties were assigned to Sushil Surana.

Committee members selected are Rajesh Kumar Agrawal, Vivek Agrawal, Anveet Ghimire, Pawan Rathi, Devashish Golcha, Bedant Jaju, Dr. Bandana Jain, Lokesh Tiwdewal, Dhiraj Mohta, and Omprakash Sharma. Invited members include Dr. Deependra Naulakha, Amit Agrawal, Shruti Sharma, Pankaj Dagad, and Vikas Agrawal. From the women entrepreneur committee, Sadhana Jha was appointed coordinator and Gina Shrestha deputy coordinator. The tenure of the new executive committee is set for two years.

Bagmati Province Chief Minister Kiran Thapa Magar and Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) President Anjan Shrestha held talks in Teku focusing on post-disaster industrial and business recovery, investment environment, and employment opportunities. Shrestha expressed FNCCI’s readiness to support the establishment of a “Disaster Employment Bank,” skill-based training, and the development of new markets in affected areas. Chief Minister Thapa proposed working with the private sector under a public-private partnership (PPP) model for reconstruction, children’s education, and infrastructure development in the impacted districts. The meeting took place on 28 Bhadra in Kathmandu.

On Sunday, Chief Minister Kiran Thapa Magar and FNCCI President Anjan Shrestha met at the FNCCI Secretariat in Teku. The discussion covered damages caused by floods and landslides in Rasuwa and other districts, restoration of affected industries and businesses, enhancing the investment climate, job creation, and revitalizing economic activities in the province. Both parties committed to strengthening coordination and collaboration to identify concrete areas for advancing the province’s economic development, expanding private sector investments, and promoting entrepreneurship effectively in the coming days.

During the meeting, President Shrestha highlighted FNCCI’s active role in relief, rescue, and recovery efforts following the disaster and assured the federation’s cooperation with the provincial government to create a conducive environment for resuming operations of affected industries and businesses. He stated, “To make collaboration with the province more impactful, FNCCI is positive about expanding investment and entrepreneurship in Bagmati Province. We are also willing to work on establishing new local markets, hospitals, and rebuilding schools.”

Chief Minister Thapa acknowledged the private sector’s commendable contribution to the restoration and reconstruction of affected areas. He emphasized the need for partnership with FNCCI to support education for children affected by the disaster, job creation, and the revival of the local economy. Additionally, he proposed implementing public-private partnership (PPP) models for road and other infrastructure development projects across Bagmati Province.

Environmental scientist Uttambabu Shrestha has stated that the Bhote Koshi flood has caused more damage than any of the Himalayan floods in the past six years. He identified the main causes of the flood as cascading events where glaciers melt to form glacial lakes, which then breach and pour into rivers. Shrestha pointed to climate change as the primary culprit behind the Bhote Koshi flood and emphasized the need for multidimensional preparedness to confront such disasters.

In the first episode of the dialogue series titled ‘Life After Bhote Koshi,’ a conversation was held with former CEO of the Disaster Risk Reduction Authority, Anil Pokharel. In the follow-up interview conducted as part of the second series, environmental scientist Uttambabu Shrestha analyzed the Himalayan floods of the past six years in comparison with Bhote Koshi. “The extent of damage caused by Bhote Koshi has outpaced that of any other flood,” Shrestha explained.

According to him, trends have been observed where rivers are blocked or dammed, landslides, debris, and ice fall into the rivers, and massive destruction occurs in downstream floodplains. Although multiple factors contributed to the Bhote Koshi flood, he asserts that climate change is the primary blame. “Nowadays, disasters occur in a cascading sequence. That means a landslide or soil erosion happens, forming lakes that block rivers, which then trigger more devastating events. These cascading disasters compel us to prepare in a comprehensive, multi-faceted way,” Shrestha added.

Uttambabu Shrestha, head of the Global Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies, discussed Nepal’s future course of action in an interview conducted by Basanta Basnet. Video: Shankar Giri

Father, you offered a handful of water to the flowing river. The river seemed enraged, wounded by pain and shame, cascading over me. Stunned and silent, I pondered—was this the river’s rebellion fueled by thirst against the forests emitting hot gases that the earth cannot absorb? Or was it a desire within the river’s womb to embrace me? When I was in my mother’s womb, submerged in water, how warm and safe that water felt! How beautiful and soothing was my splash within it. Yet, the river’s womb is far more harsh than a mother’s; it thrashes me wildly, hurtling me toward distant destinies, crashing against cruel stones and towering riverbanks.

I endure the punishment for a fault I never committed—in this river of life, hope, and joy. But now, mixing with muddy water, I struggle and gasp, flowing farther away from you—how far must I come at such times? Thoughts and rebellions should not surge violently within the mind. The flood of questions should not overwhelm the heart, nor should I ever have to ask the river, “What fault did I have that you take revenge on me?” But how can I not ask? Why do you thrust a dagger into my innocent father’s heart, piercing his very life? A tempest rages within me.

From eyes blurred by tears amidst this muddy water, sparks of anger ignite. The greedy minds that emit heat enough to make mountains crumble, the ruthless hands that silence the river’s voice, the proud chests that drag nations into war—I pray endlessly, “Give me another birth, oh Mother!” In that life, may there be no heat to melt the mountains, no hands to poison the rivers, no smoke to shroud the skies, and no hunger for power that surpasses the value of human life.

September 13, Kailali – In Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City–2, Milan Chowk, a child lost his life and a motorcycle rider was injured when an auto rickshaw collided with the motorcycle. The auto rickshaw bearing registration number Sup.01–002 C 611, driven by 18-year-old Ankit Gupta from Adarsha Tol, Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City–2, struck a motorcycle (registration number Sup.01–008 Pa 5959) that was traveling from the intersection towards the customs area.

According to Yogendra Timilsina, Information Officer at the District Police Office, the accident resulted in the death of 14-year-old boy Kris Gotame from Ward 8 ‘K’, Punarbas Municipality, Kanchanpur, who was riding as a passenger on the motorcycle. Additionally, the motorcycle rider, 22-year-old Dinesh Thapa from Ward 8, Ghodaghodi Municipality, Kailali, sustained injuries in the crash. Police have stated that a further investigation into the incident is underway.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has expressed support for the proposal to slow down the development of the most advanced artificial intelligence systems for a period of time. He stated that, if necessary for humanity’s safety, OpenAI is prepared to shut down all its GPUs. However, he noted that the likelihood of such a scenario happening is only a reasonable estimate.

Altman endorsed the proposal made by Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, which called for a temporary reduction in the pace of advanced AI development to ensure security and responsibility. He shared these views during an interview with Fortune.

Regarding independent safety testing, Altman revealed that OpenAI will have its AI systems evaluated by independent organizations. He committed to providing these testers with the same level of access and information as OpenAI employees. The independent evaluators will assess whether OpenAI’s AI systems pose risks to humans and whether the company is making sufficient efforts to mitigate those risks.

The phrase “shutting down GPUs” refers to turning off the graphics processing units required to build and operate AI systems. GPUs play a crucial role in processing large amounts of data. Therefore, when Altman says OpenAI is “ready to shut down all GPUs,” it means that if risks become excessive, OpenAI is prepared to pause rapid AI development and deactivate its computing infrastructure. He further emphasized that to ensure AI safety and protect humanity’s interests, it may be necessary at times to slow development repeatedly through such agreements, not just occasionally.

September 14, Kathmandu – Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized that the era of imposing arbitrary will through force should end in today’s world. He made these remarks during the 18th BRICS Summit held in New Delhi, India. Addressing the second session of the summit, President Xi stated that countries worldwide should have long abandoned the mindset that “might is right.” He stressed that every nation, whether large or small, rich or poor, deserves respect.

“Developing countries must strengthen multilateralism and bolster the role of the United Nations to ensure equal participation of all nations in international affairs,” he said. President Xi expressed concern over the current global situation, describing it as highly unstable. “In such circumstances, BRICS nations should take a leading role in uniting developing countries and act as a positive force to maintain global peace and stability,” he added.

Furthermore, Xi warned of the risks posed by a rules-free world, likening it to “an intersection without traffic lights,” where chaos and disorder are almost inevitable. “Fairness and justice are universal aspirations, and international rules must be crafted collectively by all countries,” he affirmed. The Chinese leader urged Global South countries to jointly uphold the rule of law in international matters. “Fundamental principles of international relations such as sovereign equality, non-interference in internal affairs, and peaceful resolution of disputes must be protected,” he asserted.

New Delhi – Former Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had at one point planned to include India as a potential target for terrorist attacks. This fact has been revealed through documents released by the U.S. intelligence agency CIA. These documents were made public on the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks carried out by Al-Qaeda on New York’s World Trade Center.

According to The Hindu, the CIA disclosed on Friday (September 11, 2026) sixty-nine intelligence briefings and over 100 pages of material that were shared with then U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Included among these is a memorandum dated August 28, 1998, which noted that bin Laden and other Al-Qaeda terrorists had successfully evaded U.S. attacks in Afghanistan.

The memorandum indicated that bin Laden intended to conduct attacks in Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula. Additionally, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, India, Pakistan, Uganda, and possibly Nigeria were identified as potential targets. Repeated warning documents suggest that from September 1998 through September 2001, the CIA continuously alerted the American presidents about possible attacks originating from bin Laden.

While it is not the first time reports have confirmed Al-Qaeda’s plans to attack the United States, this information has not been previously released in such detail. The 2004 9/11 Commission report had also confirmed Al-Qaeda’s intent to target America. The CIA documents now provide evidence that the U.S. administration was forewarned about the potential attacks. According to the 9/11 Commission investigation, the failure to act effectively on these warnings stemmed from multiple factors, including limited intelligence capabilities, inability to fully anticipate the threat, and administrative and policy priorities.

You can strengthen your biceps at home without going to the gym by performing exercises such as close-grip push-ups, using water bottles as weights, plank-to-push-ups, and concentration curls. Regular exercise is essential for maintaining good health and a fit body. Many people living in urban areas lead sedentary lifestyles and visit gyms to stay fit. However, the number of individuals wanting to develop an attractive and well-toned physique without gym visits is increasing. While gyms offer machines to build abs and biceps, many cannot afford gym fees or find the time to go. But don’t worry, you can build strong biceps at home with some simple exercises.

Close-grip push-ups are a variation and advancement over regular push-ups that effectively strengthen the biceps. To perform this exercise, place your hands closer than shoulder-width apart and get into a high plank position. Keep your body straight, tighten your core muscles, and keep your elbows close to your body. Lower your chest toward the floor without touching it, then push back up. Repeat this regularly for best results.

If you don’t have heavy dumbbells, you can use water bottles filled with water as weights. This is an excellent alternative for biceps curls. Hold one water bottle in each hand with your palms facing forward. While lifting and lowering your forearms, keep your elbows fixed beside your body. This exercise helps effectively build stronger biceps.

To do the plank to push-up exercise, begin in a plank position and then transition one arm at a time into a push-up position. This exercise is important for strengthening biceps, triceps, and shoulders together.

Concentration curls also help develop stronger biceps. Sit on a chair, hold a water bottle or a brick in one hand, rest your elbow against your thigh, and slowly raise and lower your forearm. This motion aids in rapid and effective biceps growth and strengthening.

September 13, Kathmandu – The youth wing of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP), the Young Communist League (YCL), has initiated a plan to construct 150 temporary shelters in flood-affected areas. In the first phase, 150 temporary houses will be built for families affected in Belkotgadhi-7 of Nuwakot, specifically in Thulo Khola, Lamoswati, Ratmate, and Mahadevphanta, confirmed YCL President Pushpa Oli.

According to Oli, YCL has been regularly deploying 600 volunteers in rescue and relief operations within the flood-affected regions. The organization has been actively involved in searching for missing individuals, rescuing them, providing medical treatment to the injured, and distributing food and necessary relief materials.

The organization has delivered gas cylinders, petrol, solar lights, rice, salt, oil, lentils, power banks, mobile phones, sanitary pads, mattresses, and other essential items as part of the relief efforts. Due to the disruption of the Trishuli riverside road network, relief supplies were transported through Dhadhing to Wards 7, 8, and 9 of Bidur Municipality, Oli added.

“So far, affected families have not been able to clean their homes and belongings, nor have safe places to reside been identified,” Oli stated. “To address these challenges, construction of temporary shelters will commence soon.”