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The wet season, like the winter, comes with very many challenges and dengue is one of them.

Caused by the dengue mosquito (Aedes aegypti), this vectorborne disease has emerged as a major seasonal public health threat, especially in urban areas of Nepal.

A number of factors like rising temperatures resulting from climate change, the lack of proper drainage systems, rapid urbanization, potholes resulting from shoddy road construction works, lack of public awareness about the disease and inefficiency on the part of ‘responsible’ government authorities are behind this scourge.

Some reports point out that while the first case of dengue was reported in Nepal as a travel case in 2004, indigenous cases of the disease have become quite common since then.

Province-wise, as of 10 Sept 2022, the Bagmati had the highest number of dengue cases (6205), followed by Lumbini province (1284), Koshi province (282), Sudurpaschim (206), Gandaki (150), Madhes (144) and Karnali (56).

In 2022 and 2023, dengue emerged as a major threat, with 54,784 and 51,243 cases reported.

Are these data not enough to indicate to our responsible authorities that dengue is a clear and present danger?

If they are, what are these authorities doing to bring down dengue cases this time around?

Have they begun de-watering the pits and puddles, and started patching the holes that have become integral parts of our roads? Will they even bother to make sure that stagnated pools of water do not become breeding grounds for these mosquitoes?

While all three tiers of the government have a vital role to play in dengue control and management, blaming the government will not make us safe and secure. The onus is also on us to make sure that our homesteads and localities do not become breeding grounds for the dreaded vector like the mosquito, posing a threat to our health and well-being.

Interestingly, according to a study, mosquitos account for 725,000 deaths every year, followed by people (4.75 lakh), snakes (50,000), dogs (25,000), freshwater snails (10,000), hippos (500), elephants (100) and sharks (10).

According to the World Health Organization, the highest number of dengue cases was recorded in 2023, affecting over 80 countries in all regions of WHO. Since the beginning of 2023 ongoing transmission, combined with an unexpected spike in dengue cases, resulted in a historic high of over 6.5m cases and more than 7300 dengue-related deaths reported.

Water holding containers such as bird baths, pet water dishes, plant saucers, children's pools, boats and junks such as old tires, and discarded appliances are ideal breeding spots for this vector. As the vector lays eggs on water, getting rid of stagnated water is a wise step along with the use of mosquito nets and repellents.

As prevention is better than cure, let’s channelize our energies on keeping this dreaded vector away. Together, we can—and we should. 

At a time when public trust in state institutions is dwindling, Nepal’s Parliament has remained completely dysfunctional for over two weeks. Opposition parties are obstructing proceedings, demanding the resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak over the visit-visa scam—despite a lack of concrete evidence linking him to the scandal.

Parliamentary obstruction, regardless of pretext, undermines public confidence—a chronic issue since the restoration of democracy in 1990. The problem is not just the current deadlock; if political parties are truly committed to strengthening the system, they must refrain from such disruptions and allow the people’s representatives to function independently. 

Due to incessant power struggles, the parliament has been unable to legislate or provide effective oversight of state mechanisms. There must be a broad consensus among parties to end this practice, or public faith in the political system will further erode. Citizens expect substantive debates on pressing issues—not political theatrics. Negotiations between the Nepali Congress and opposition parties suggest a possible compromise. However, forming panels to investigate controversies has become a hollow ritual, with little impact over the past three decades.

Meanwhile, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has taken a proactive stance, filing corruption cases one after another—raising hopes of accountability in a system plagued by graft. If sustained, these efforts could help curb corruption, a major threat to Nepal’s democracy.

Within the CPN-UML, a debate over a proposed 70-year age limit for party leadership has resurfaced as the party prepares for its statute convention. While some advocate for the cap, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli (74) appears set to seek re-election as party president. Meanwhile, former President Bidya Devi Bhandari dismissed reports of growing tensions with Oli during her visit to eastern Nepal. Observers are closely watching whether the two will reach a consensus or engage in a leadership contest, as dissenting UML leaders rally behind Bhandari.

Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) has performed Nepal’s first successful male-to-female sex reassignment surgery. The six-hour procedure, conducted on a 25-year-old transgender patient from Janakpur, involved reconstructing female genitalia using male genital tissues. The surgery was part of a special camp organized by TUTH’s Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery. Dr Jayan Man Shrestha, head of the department, announced plans to establish a dedicated gender affirmation clinic to provide comprehensive care for transgender individuals.

Monarchist forces, which had staged protests in recent months, have largely suspended their campaign. Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chairperson Rajendra Lingden cited the monsoon season as a reason to halt large demonstrations. However, deep divisions within the royalist camp have also surfaced, with leaders airing grievances on social media. While King Gyanendra and his supporters had framed the protests as decisive, internal debates now question whether the RPP should continue advocating for monarchy and a Hindu state. Some argue that, given the improbability of restoring the monarchy, the party should pivot to corruption and development issues ahead of the 2027 elections—a relief for mainstream parties wary of royalist resurgence.

The Prime Minister’s Office has raised concerns over unauthorized staff appointments at Tribhuvan International Airport’s Immigration Office, following a complaint to the CIAA. The Home Ministry stands accused of exceeding approved quotas in multiple departments, including immigration.

Within the Nepali Congress, rival factions continue to voice discontent with the ruling coalition. Senior leader Shekhar Koirala has called for the NC to lead the government, citing the country’s deteriorating situation. Though General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa and Koirala recently held talks, they remain at odds. Both, however, are pressuring party President Sher Bahadur Deuba to convene a timely general convention. Despite internal friction, the coalition government faces no immediate threat.

The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has begun drafting its monetary policy for FY 2025-26, consulting stakeholders for input. The new governor, Biswo Poudel, has pledged to align monetary policy with fiscal goals while strengthening financial oversight. Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel expressed confidence in improved policy coordination to tackle economic challenges.

Nepal’s children are facing increasingly severe risks to their health, development, and future as the impacts of climate change intensify across the country. Despite contributing only 0.1 percent to global greenhouse gas emissions, Nepal ranks as the fourth most vulnerable nation to climate change, according to the Global Climate Risk Index. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, shrinking snow caps, and extreme weather events are no longer distant warnings—they are now disrupting the lives of millions of children nationwide.

Data from the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) show that Nepal’s annual maximum temperature is increasing by 0.056°C per year. This seemingly small rise has serious implications, especially for mountain ecosystems, where even a 1.5°C increase can drastically alter the environment. The visible effects include reduced snowfall, shifting precipitation patterns, and more frequent and intense disasters such as floods, landslides, and droughts.

These climate changes are having direct and devastating consequences for children. According to UNICEF, over 236,000 children in Nepal were displaced by weather-related disasters between 2016 and 2022, with 95 percent of those displacements caused by flooding. In 2024 alone, more than 23,000 students saw their education disrupted by climate-related events. Meanwhile, over 10m children are at risk from vector-borne diseases that are becoming more prevalent as temperatures rise and rainfall becomes erratic. Water scarcity affects another 8m children, further compounding their vulnerability.

The impacts are not limited to physical health. Psychological trauma, educational disruption, and the erosion of essential services are affecting children’s cognitive and emotional development. Climate-related stressors are increasingly linked to mental health issues such as anxiety, especially among youth. A UNICEF-supported survey found that more than half of children and youth living in climate risk-prone areas in Nepal have already experienced at least one form of climate-induced hazard, and four out of five believe they are at future risk. Half of the victims of climate-induced deaths and injuries in six of Nepal’s most climate-vulnerable municipalities were children or youth.

Air pollution, exacerbated by changing weather patterns and urban growth, has become another deadly threat. In 2021, more than 4,000 children under the age of five died in Nepal due to pollution-related causes as per UNICEF Global Health Estimates, 2022. These deaths are especially tragic because they are largely preventable through cleaner energy sources and improved public awareness.

Young children are particularly vulnerable to environmental hazards because of their physiology and behavior. Between birth and age three, 80 percent of brain development occurs. During this time, children’s immune systems are not yet fully developed, making them more susceptible to diseases. They also consume more air, food, and water per unit of body weight than adults, which increases their exposure to environmental toxins. Their natural behaviors—such as crawling and putting objects in their mouths—also place them at higher risk of ingesting pollutants in soil, water, and air.

Beyond immediate health impacts, the longer-term consequences of climate change include undernutrition due to declining agricultural productivity, the spread of disease, loss of livelihood, and eventual migration. These factors together fuel cycles of poverty, inequality, and deprivation that extend far beyond the childhood years, creating intergenerational consequences for Nepal’s most vulnerable communities.

UNICEF warns that nearly 66 percent of young people in Nepal are unable to clearly explain what climate change is, even though about half report feeling extremely worried about their future because of it. This gap between awareness and understanding underscores the urgent need for climate education, child-centered policies, and stronger adaptation measures across all levels of government and society.

As the climate crisis accelerates, Nepal’s children are increasingly paying the price, say the experts. “Their exposure to both immediate and long-term risks requires urgent action—ranging from better health protections and safer learning environments to stronger disaster preparedness and climate literacy.”

An Air India flight to London crashed shortly after take-off at the Ahmedabad airport on Thursday afternoon, India Today reported.

The flight, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carried 242 passengers. Visuals from the area showed thick black smoke in the air as more details about the accident were awaited.

Emergency services rushed to the spot following the crash, including seven fire engines, according to India Today.