Nepal

Traveling monks work on a sand mandala at Lake Street Church in Evanston, Illinois.

Tibetan monks on tour in US as China continues to restrict religion in Tibet

A group of Tibetan Buddhist monks, living in exile in India, are doing a “sacred arts tour” this month in the US. They’re demonstrating an ancient artistic and spiritual practice, creating big, colorful sand mandalas. They say Buddhist traditions like this are under threat because of Chinese government policies in their historic homeland of Tibet.

Tibetan monks on tour in US as China continues to restrict religion in Tibet
After migrants arrive in Capurgana's harbor, they are loaded on tuk-tuks and taken to the shelter on the edge of town.

Migration across Darién Gap changes Colombian village’s economy

Migration across Darién Gap changes Colombian village’s economy
Rescuers scour the crash site in the wreckage of a passenger plane in Pokhara, Nepal, Jan.16, 2023.

Flight data, voice recorders retrieved from Nepal crash site

Flight data, voice recorders retrieved from Nepal crash site
Prem Pariyar stands in front of Alexander Meiklejohn Hall on the campus of California State University, East Bay.

'Hidden discrimination': California university joins national trend to protect against caste bias on campus

'Hidden discrimination': California university joins national trend to protect against caste bias on campus
People wade past a flooded area in Dipayal Silgadhi, Nepal.

Flooding and mudslides kill about 200 people in Nepal

Flooding and mudslides kill about 200 people in Nepal
Man wearing a blue coat and sunglasses holds his head up to the sun with a snowy mountain in the background

Zhang Hong becomes the first blind person from Asia to climb Mount Everest

There aren't many opportunities for the millions of blind people in China, but Zhang Hong has defied the odds to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

Zhang Hong becomes the first blind person from Asia to climb Mount Everest
Birds fly above Mount Everest against a blue sky

COVID-19 may impact Nepal's climbing season, but government denies rising cases

Mountaineers say COVID-19 is rapidly spreading on Mount Everest. "We could have a very, very bad tragedy this year," said Leo Namen, a climber from Canada.

COVID-19 may impact Nepal's climbing season, but government denies rising cases
The latex-covered hands of a medical professional are shown drawing a shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.

US backs waiver on patent protections for COVID-19 vaccines

Top of The World: The Biden administration announced it backs a temporary waiver on patent protections for COVID-19 vaccines. And, the IFRC warned of an impending crisis in Nepal due to the surge in COVID-19 cases. Also, Ugandan warlord Dominic Ongwen, the former child soldier turned top commander of the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army, was sentenced by the International Criminal Court to 25 years in prison

US backs waiver on patent protections for COVID-19 vaccines
A tiger crosses a road in India’s Ranthambore National Park.

GPS tracking could help tigers and traffic coexist across Asia

An infrastructure boom threatens endangered tigers across Asia. Scientists want to know more about how tigers behave near roads so they can design wildlife-friendly transportation networks.

GPS tracking could help tigers and traffic coexist across Asia
A man and woman are shown sitting in chairs while medical workers administer vaccinations.

Virus surge, vaccine shortages spread beyond India's borders

The surge in coronavirus cases in India has created huge worries for neighboring countries like Bangladesh and Nepal.

Virus surge, vaccine shortages spread beyond India's borders
On Jan. 14, 2020, Nadhira al-Harthy became the first Arab woman to reach the summit of Mount Ama Dablam — about 22,000 feet — according to mountain records.

‘Married to the mountains’: Arab women mountaineers set records despite social restrictions, pandemic

Meet some of the Arab women following their dreams to climb mountains despite resistance from their families and society.

‘Married to the mountains’: Arab women mountaineers set records despite social restrictions, pandemic
Former rebel fighters parade during a ceremony at Nepalese Military Academy in Kharipati, Nepal, Aug. 26, 2013. 

Civilian labor in reconstruction: Part II

Critical State, our weekly foreign policy newsletter, takes a deep dive into a new article by Margaux Pinaud, on how the Nepalese government explicitly turned to civil society organizations to monitor a ceasefire between the government and Maoist rebel forces.

Civilian labor in reconstruction: Part II
People walk along a downtown street in Johannesburg, South Africa, Monday, March 16, 2020. Millions of women and girls globally have lost access to contraceptives, abortion services and related care because of the coronavirus pandemic.

How women and girls are especially at risk of hunger during the pandemic 

They are more likely to go without food so others in their family can eat. And, for them, hunger leads to other dangers.

How women and girls are especially at risk of hunger during the pandemic 
Mount Everest, the world highest peak, and other peaks of the Himalayan range are seen through an aircraft window during a mountain flight from Kathmandu, Nepal, Jan. 15, 2020.

Climate change deeply affects the entire planet — including Mount Everest

Human activity is impacting the planet, from the deepest parts of the ocean to the tallest peaks. The highest point in the Himalayas is no exception.

Climate change deeply affects the entire planet — including Mount Everest
A young boy is shown holding a large white sign that says, "Unite here! Local 11, Protect TPS!" on it.

Court: Trump can end temporary legal status for 4 countries

The Trump administration can end humanitarian protections that have allowed hundreds of thousands of people from El Salvador, Nicaragua, Haiti and Sudan to remain in the United States, a divided appeals court ruled Monday.

Court: Trump can end temporary legal status for 4 countries