Nepal

Menstrual Huts Are Illegal In Nepal. So Why Are Women Still Dying In Them?

3:00pm December 17, 2019

by Emily Vaughn

Nepali police recently made their first-ever arrest for the outlawed practice of banishing women to huts during their periods. But advocates say legal measures aren't enough to keep women safe.

Mountaineer Nirmal Purja, shown here at a press conference in May, has climbed the world's 14 highest mountains in six months.

Nepalese Climber Summits World's 14 Highest Peaks In 6 Months, Smashing Record

4:17pm October 29, 2019

by Merrit Kennedy

"I hope to have proven that anything is possible with some determination, self-belief and positivity," said climber Nirmal Purja. The previous record-holder took more than seven years longer.

Manisha Jaisi, 16, poses at the shed outside her house where she sleeps when she has her period. Jaisi got her period two months after her neighbor, Dambara Upadhyay, died of unknown causes while sleeping in a similar shed in 2016. Jaisi says she never go

Why It's So Hard To Stop Women From Sleeping In A Menstrual Shed

9:29pm May 13, 2019

by Danielle Preiss

In western Nepal, women often sleep in a hut outside the house during menstruation because of beliefs about impurity — and they sometimes die. The government is trying to end the practice.

Queue Listen Now

At 69, Kul Gautam has written his life story and won an award from the Peace Corps (which is fitting, since a volunteer was one of his early English teachers).

Rejection By The King Of Nepal Was Not The End Of The Road

2:37pm September 21, 2018

by Melody Schreiber

When Kul Gautam got a royal "no" for his passport request, he decided to do something special with his life. He tells of his journey from a tiny village to the upper ranks of the U.N. in a new memoir.

Sangita Magar bears the scars of an acid attack that took place three years ago. She was a plaintiff in a public interest case to change Nepal's law on acid and burn violence.

Health & Safety

Survivor Of Acid Attack Helps Bring Change To Nepal's Criminal Code

4:01pm August 21, 2018

by Danielle Preiss

In the past, survivors of acid and burn assaults could not get immediate compensation for treatment. The criminal code now addresses that issue — and sets stiffer penalties for perpetrators.

Rescuers carry a Sherpa injured by an avalanche that flattened parts of Everest Base Camp on April 25, 2015. A 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Nepal and took at least 17 lives at Everest Base Camp, including seven Sherpas.

World News

One-Third Of Everest Deaths Are Sherpa Climbers

7:00am April 14, 2018

by Danielle Preiss

The job of guiding climbers up the Himalayas has brought money and development to their communities, but little glory for the Sherpas.

Nepalese rescuers work after a passenger plane from Bangladesh crashed at the airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Monday.

World News

Pilot Of Plane That Crashed In Nepal Reportedly Was Confused About Runway Approach

3:19am March 13, 2018

by Scott Neuman

At least 49 people were killed in the crash of the Bombardier Dash 8-Q400, carrying 71 passengers and crew, at Kathmandu's main airport.

Sarita Chaudry is a first-grade teacher but she does not lead a fully independent life.

Health & Safety

It's A Rocky Road To Power For Rural Women

10:06am March 08, 2018

They don't make the headlines, like women in Hollywood and the corporate and political worlds who are fighting for equality. How can the world help them overcome harassment and discrimination?

Doma Hyolmo, 15, carries skis during her first attempt at skiing in Kalinchowk, a village in the mountains of Nepal. While a few adventure tourists come to ski in Nepal, most Nepalese haven't tried the sport.

A Nation With Some Of The World's Highest Mountains Is Finally Starting To Ski

7:00am March 03, 2018

by Danielle Preiss

Despite Nepal's wealth of mountains, downhill skiing is not a popular sport. It's expensive and there's a lack of infrastructure for it. But enthusiasts are encouraging young people to try the sport.

Residents walk through floodwaters in Malda, West Bengal, India, on Thursday. The death toll from floods sweeping South Asia has climbed above 1,000, according to news services tracking official tallies.

World News

Floods In South Asia Have Killed More Than 1,000 People This Summer

6:27pm August 29, 2017

by Camila Domonoske

For the past several weeks, monsoon-triggered floods have devastated regions in Nepal, Bangladesh and India. This week, a new series of storms has brought everyday life in Mumbai to a near halt.