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President Donald Trump's move to cut most of the US funding towards foreign humanitarian aid could cause more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030, according to research published in The Lancet medical journal, BBC reported.

A third of those at risk of premature deaths were children, researchers projected.

Low- and middle-income countries were facing a shock "comparable in scale to a global pandemic or a major armed conflict," said Davide Rasella, who co-authored the report.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in March that over 80% of all programmes at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) had been cancelled. The Trump administration has taken aim at what it sees as wasteful spending, according to BBC.

More than 130 charities and other NGOs are calling for the controversial Israeli and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) to be shut down, BBC reported.

Over 500 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid since the GHF started operating in late May, following Israel's three-month blockade of Gaza, the organisations said. Almost 4,000 have been injured. 

The organisations, including Oxfam, Save the Children and Amnesty, say Israeli forces and armed groups "routinely" open fire on Palestinians seeking aid.

Israel denies its soldiers deliberately shoot at aid recipients, and has defended the GHF system, saying it provides direct assistance to people who need it, bypassing Hamas interference, according to BBC.

So you swapped your plastic water bottle for a steel one and you use your own bamboo straw when you order a drink at a restaurant. These are perhaps two of the most common sustainable swaps that everyone has heard of or adopted. But there are so many other ways in which you can live sustainably. Here are some simple ways through which you can drastically reduce your trash volume and live a greener life. 

Reusable makeup removers instead of cotton balls

Most of us use cotton pads or balls to remove our makeup. We usually have a box full of these on our dresser and they’re used and tossed without a thought. On average,  we use at least two to three cotton pads per day. They are useful to remove eye makeup and foundation but that doesn’t mean their use is unavoidable. You get reusable cotton pads that are light and soft at various stores that sell makeup products these days. These can be hand washed or thrown in a washing machine (after placing them in a mesh bag). You can easily use these reusable options for over a year or even two without having to change them. Alternatively, you can even buy some cotton hankies and use these instead of disposable cotton pads.  

Cloth napkins in place of regular paper ones

Paper napkins are found in every household. We use them almost every day during meal times and even more so when we have family and friends over for lunch or dinner. They are used thoughtlessly and frivolously. We often reach for a second when the first one is barely dirty, choosing instead to wipe our fingers or dab on the stain with a  new one each time. Opting for cloth napkins can drastically bring down your use of paper napkins. They also look more classy on the dinner table. The reason most people hesitate to use them is because they don’t want to go through the trouble of washing them and some fear food stains are hard to remove. But all it takes is a bucket of water. You can simply soak them in detergent for 20 minutes and give them a good scrub and wash and hang them to dry. Most store bought napkins are polyester or some other fabric that can’t be easily stained anyway. 

Carry your own cutlery to avoid plastic spoons and forks

Most people carry their own water bottles and straws but cutlery is often forgotten or not considered as important as a steel water bottle or glass straw. But you would be surprised at how often you use disposable spoons and forks if you just started keeping track of it. And you don’t just use them for takeaways. Many restaurants, especially fast food joints, give disposable cutlery when you are dining in as well. Carrying your own spoon, fork, and knife in a little pouch in your bag can help you cut down on plastic cutlery, reducing your carbon footprint. Eco-saathi Nepal has a nifty little set of bamboo spoon, fork, knife and straw that comes in a nice wrap around bag that you can easily tuck into your purse. It doesn’t take much space at all. Alternatively, you can also carry the regular ones you have at home. Simply pop them in a ziplock bag or a pouch you might have lying around. 

The bidet instead of toilet paper

The bidet spray or the bider shower as it is called in many places is such a handy tool once you get the hang of using it. It delivers a steady stream of water to wash up after you use the restroom. If you are used to toilet paper, then this might feel a little strange at first but it’s a lot more hygienic than using just the toilet paper to clean yourself. It will help prevent UTIs and other infections. Every washroom is equipped with a bidet so it’s quite accessible as well. It’s also a gentler way of cleaning as toilet paper use can be abrasive in the long run. Once you start using it, you will not want to go back to just using the toilet paper. And trust us, you will be saving a lot of money as well. 

A small chalkboard can replace post-its

Are you one of those people who easily forgets things and needs to write them down? Or do you regularly leave notes for your family members in little colorful post-its around the house? If yes, then you might want to consider buying a small chalkboard or even a digital notepad from your local stationery shop. Set it up where you and your family members can see it easily, like the kitchen counter or a shelf in the living room and you don’t have to use little scraps of paper anymore. This will reduce place clutter as well. While you are at it, buy colorful chalks to make your notes aesthetically pleasing. It’s a small but great way to reduce your daily consumption. 

Make your own cleaning products instead of buying them

You don’t have to buy cleaning products from the store as most can be made at home. You just need simple ingredients like white vinegar and baking soda. Not only are home cleaning products gentler, and chemical free, they are also more effective and safer than all the packaged chemical-laced ones that you might be buying regularly. Replace your usual glass or kitchen cleaner with a simple solution made with one cup vinegar, a tablespoon of baking soda, and three cups of water. Keep this solution in a spray container and you can use this for all purposes, from cleaning window panes to getting stains and smells off from the couch. 

The final stage of relocating the Sinamangal Air Fuel Depot has begun, with the Pulchowk-based Institute of Engineering Studies preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR). The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) received the draft report in mid-June. An agreement, signed on 20 Nov 2024, stipulated that the DPR be prepared and submitted within six months, with the final report set for submission by July 11.

According to Pradeep Kumar Yadav, depot chief engineer, all processes are progressing as planned, and the new depot will employ cutting-edge technology. The DPR preparation contract was awarded for Rs 1m. The relocation was approved by the Council of Ministers on 12 Aug 2024, due to the depot’s proximity to Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) and nearby residential areas. Yadav stated that the relocation is being coordinated with the Air Transport Capacity Enhancement Project under the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).

The 50-year-old Sinamangal depot, operated by NOC, has a storage capacity of 7,660 kiloliters, distributing 400 kiloliters of aviation fuel daily. It consists of three 1,600-kiloliter tanks, three 760-kiloliter tanks, and eight 70-kiloliter tanks, holding roughly a month’s supply. The new site, located in Guhyeshwari near the Nepal Army Golf Course, has been allocated 60 ropanis of land. However, about 15 ropanis remain occupied by army structures and trees. Yadav noted that while CAAN has designated the land, no formal acquisition agreement has been finalized.

The NOC has repeatedly requested CAAN to formalize the land agreement, but site clearance remains incomplete. This delay has hindered preparations to invite construction bids at the start of the next fiscal year. Additional challenges include incomplete allocation of the designated land, pending removal of Nepal Army structures, and unfinalized land ownership and transfer modalities between the Corporation and CAAN. Despite these issues, a four-room site office has been constructed, and road access to the relocation site has been completed.

The government has prioritized relocating the depot due to safety risks posed to residents, highways, and aviation operations. 

Meanwhile, CAAN’s Air Transport Capacity Enhancement Project, supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), includes airport upgrades and a parallel taxiway construction. International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards require a 172.5-meter distance between the runway center and taxiway, meaning nearly half of the current depot must be removed. Regulations prohibit hazardous depots within 75 meters (sensitive area) or flammable depots within 150 meters (safety area) of runways. CAAN has pushed for relocation for five years, but the NOC previously cited budget and land shortages as obstacles. The July 21 Saurya Airlines crash accelerated compliance with the government’s decision.

The project’s estimated cost is Rs 6bn, as per the preliminary DPR. The new depot in Guhyeshwari will feature five 3,000-kiloliter storage tanks. CAAN plans to lease 60 ropanis from the Pashupati Area Development Fund for 80 years. Government rules require the NOC to pay rent from the agreement signing date, but it has requested a waiver during construction. A five-year rent exemption is provisioned under regulations. CAAN’s board agreed to waive construction-period rent, pending approval from the Ministry of Civil Aviation The ministry’s delay has stalled the agreement. The NOC estimates the depot’s construction will take three years.