Nepal News: Spring Expedition & Political Updates

The spring climbing season has officially kicked off in Nepal! The Department of Tourism has issued permits to seven adventurous groups aiming to summit Mount Everest. A total of 77 climbers — 17 women and 60 men — are on their way to the world's highest peak.

Permits have also been granted for 29 other peaks, showcasing Nepal's growing mountaineering momentum. So far, 198 climbers from countries across the globe have secured permits. Highlights include 66 climbers for Annapurna I, 8 for Annapurna V, and 15 each for Makalu and Lhotse.

Road to the Sky: Icefall Doctors are battling nature to fix ladders and nails in the Khumbu Icefall region. So far, 1,100 meters of the required 2,200-meter route has been built. Four ladders and 12 nails have been secured in place to assist climbers across dangerous crevasses.

As the summer sun melts the snowcaps, the Annapurna Base Camp — nestled at 4,100 meters — is seeing a boom in visitors! From domestic sightseers to international mountaineering teams, the serene landscape is now bustling with over 100 tents.

So far, 30 men and 12 women from five climbing teams have received permission to summit the 8,091-meter-high Annapurna Himal. After a two-hour ride to Humkhola from Narchyang, visitors can reach the base camp in just two days — and return on the third. The short yet scenic journey has made Annapurna a rising star among adventure lovers.

Did you know? Annapurna was the first 8,000-meter peak ever climbed — in 1950 by French mountaineer Maurice Herzog.

Flights from Manthali to Lukla have been suspended due to thick fog blanketing the Khumbu region. As a result, more than 250 eager mountaineers and trekkers are now stranded at Manthali Airport. With weather showing no signs of letting up, desperate travelers have turned to helicopters.

On Friday alone, 45 tourists reached Lukla and 47 were flown to Phaplu via chopper. Tourists rerouted to Phaplu are trekking their way to the Everest region, showcasing the resilience of adventure seekers.

Teachers from across Nepal have poured into Kathmandu demanding the swift passage of the School Education Act. The Nepal Teachers Federation has launched an indefinite protest, refusing talks and calling for the act to be issued immediately. Their key demand is to keep teacher positions under the federal association — not local government control.

Despite repeated invitations by the Ministry of Education for dialogue, the federation has refused to back down. Protests reignite frustration over an 18-month delay since the School Education Bill was first registered. The Ministry of Education has urged teachers to be patient as the bill moves through the legislative pipeline.

The Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has appointed Vice President DP Aryal as acting president after the arrest of party president Rabi Lamichhane by the Tulsipur-Butwal bench of the High Court in connection to a cooperative fraud and organized crime case.

Lamichhane, former managing director of Gorkha Media Network, will remain in police custody in Rupandehi over the weekend. The party vowed to honor the court's ruling and stated it will pursue justice through constitutional and legal channels.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli emphasized that 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepalis' aligns with BIMSTEC's core principles of prosperity, resilience, and openness. He called for regional cooperation to navigate modern challenges and announced the first-ever Sagarmatha Dialogue in May to address mountain-ocean interconnectivity.

PM Oli held sideline meetings with Indian PM Narendra Modi and Thai PM Pe Thong Than Shinawatra, signing MoUs on tourism, culture, trade, and eye care. The 6th BIMSTEC Summit concluded with the adoption of Bangkok Vision 2030, emphasizing trade expansion, connectivity, and regional security.