The soft pastels and whimsical background looked like a moment stolen from a <a href="https://archive.nepalitimes.com/news.php?id=15283">Hayao Miyazaki</a> film. The thrill on my niece’s face was palpable as she shared her first Ghibli-style portrait earlier this month. This surge in the latest generative <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/multimedia/ayo-ai">AI tool</a> can transform personal photographs into Studio Ghibli-inspired artwork. It is dubbed ‘Ghiblification’ and has captured the global imagination.&nbsp; But danger lurks.The playful trend masks serious hazards. Every image can be retained and repurposed as training data, jeopardising privacy and creating fresh pathways for<a href="https://archive.nepalitimes.com/article/nation/bal-mandir-rape-allegations,1495"> child sexual abuse</a> material, sextortion, bullying, and hate speech. A recent study by our ChildSafeNet with UNICEF Nepal on generative AI and <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/opinion/to-the-point/keeping-children-safe">child safety </a>reveals that over 60% of young people in Kathmandu have experimented with <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/here-now/kathmandu-valley-to-silicon-valley">generative AI</a>, often oblivious to the hidden costs. Every time a photograph is uploaded to create AI-generated artwork or submitted to an app like Dreamify, the user is giving away more than just pixels: they are entrusting their likeness, metadata, and private spaces to an opaque system. The image may be stored indefinitely and woven into the <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/opinion/people-power/nepal-as-an-ai-power-bank">AI model’s training data</a>.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/2025042915040_4f5bcc3d8307c72a3b98db91adb69499ab1cb8831c8f06adec2089b4897a42d2.jpg" data-media-id="editor_6" data-image-id="2025042915040_4f5bcc3d8307c72a3b98db91adb69499ab1cb8831c8f06adec2089b4897a42d2" data-rendition-name="original" width="1024" height="1536" loading="lazy" alt="Ghiblification is more than cute pixels"> </figure>  Distinctive facial features, location metadata, or even background details can be memorised and later reproduced in outputs for other users, violating privacy and breaching confidentiality. Even heavily edited or filtered images can leave a digital fingerprint that sophisticated models can reproduce. OpenAI, the company that owns generative AI models like <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/banner/chatgpt-news-about-nepal">ChatGPT</a> and DALL·E, uses the images shared by users as training data to refine the model, unless the user opts out. However, the potential for misuse is great. Read also: <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/here-now/artificial-censorship">Artificial censorship</a>, Vishad Raj Onta Viral adoption of<a href="https://nepalitimes.com/multimedia/what-to-expect-from-ai-in-2024-ue5btyc7?amp=1"> AI-generated imagery</a> makes people inclined to upload personal images, including those of families and minors. These images contain rich personal information, and serve as a significant source of data for companies, allowing <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/here-now/digital-path-to-social-buffers-in-nepal">technology firms </a>to collect valuable insights into facial features,<a href="https://nepalitimes.com/banner/nepal-is-turning-into-a-nation-of-hybrid-identities"> social dynamics, and cultural nuances</a>.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/2025042915040_b1d85cc2bc13f09acd35462a302a8e9f561d14aa3e3ba7528283d9214c3a9cce.jpg" data-media-id="editor_12" data-image-id="2025042915040_b1d85cc2bc13f09acd35462a302a8e9f561d14aa3e3ba7528283d9214c3a9cce" data-rendition-name="original" width="1536" height="1024" loading="lazy" alt="Ghiblification is more than cute pixels"> </figure>  “Such visually appealing images can be easily misused for generating seemingly credible imagery for <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/news/online-trolls-bots-snoopers-imperil-democracy">spreading misinformation </a>and reinforcing cultural stereotypes,” says computer scientist Dovan Rai with Body and Data. “Children are particularly vulnerable, as sexualised deepfake content can be generated with ease.” Most platforms that provide AI image-generation tools do not transparently disclose how they handle uploaded content. When children's photos are ingested, the model internalises these features, which can later resurface in contexts no one intended, creating an ethical time bomb. “Children’s likenesses could also appear in unexpected contexts, such as advertisements, <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/news/no-comment">memes, or controversial content</a>, all without their families' knowledge,” Rai warns. The Internet Watch Foundation recently identified over 3,500 AI-generated child sexual abuse material in one month on encrypted forums — some grotesque deepfakes superimposing children’s faces onto sexual content. While those examples were not in the Ghibli style, they demonstrate how any benign filter can be twisted into a tool for exploitation. On the other hand, AI tools have even begun to produce deepfake videos of child rape and torture by superimposing victims’ faces onto pornographic content. Such material can normalise sexual violence, facilitate grooming, enable sextortion, and serve as instruments of bullying and hate speech.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/2025042915044_d5a12a9b45c04446c731e84b97042c259c2c16160dde783e8b78321ecd07283e.jpg" data-media-id="editor_15" data-image-id="2025042915044_d5a12a9b45c04446c731e84b97042c259c2c16160dde783e8b78321ecd07283e" data-rendition-name="original" width="1600" height="1265" loading="lazy" alt="Ghiblification is more than cute pixels"> </figure>  The risks associated with generative AI have already begun to emerge in countries like Nepal, says Superintendent Deepak Raj Awasthi at the Nepal Police Cyber Bureau. “We are investigating cases involving the use of AI-generated images and videos for defamation and the spread of misinformation, disinformation, and hate against teens and young people,” Awathi says. “We have also received complaints regarding AI-generated deepfake videos aimed at defaming politicians and celebrities.”&nbsp; Parents should be concerned about how AI-generated imagery may affect children’s safety as well as creativity. Over-reliance on AI tools could diminish traditional creative skills like drawing and painting, among others. Says Kabindra Napit of Smart Parents Nepal: “Parents must<a href="https://nepalitimes.com/news/educating-girls-to-break-cycle-of-poverty"> educate their children</a> about associated online risks and stay updated on emerging threats.” <h2>Tips to protect the young</h2>  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/2025042915044_74cf15146be367c7d4f213c5b73896da525eb4d133ad8d2b5e0e58945048582d.jpg" data-media-id="editor_17" data-image-id="2025042915044_74cf15146be367c7d4f213c5b73896da525eb4d133ad8d2b5e0e58945048582d" data-rendition-name="original" width="1600" height="1463" loading="lazy" alt="Ghiblification is more than cute pixels"> </figure>  <h2> </h2> Safety-by-Design: Technology companies need to prioritise safety for children and vulnerable groups, from the very beginning of product and service development using the Safety-by-Design approach, developed by Australia’s eSafety Commissioner. Consent and Transparency: Every AI art application should provide clear disclosure that submitted images may be used as training data, offering users an easy option to opt out. Stronger Moderation: Technology companies must combine automated detection with human oversight to intercept and prevent the spread of harmful content, blocking any prompts or requests for sexualised imagery of minors and swiftly remove harmful content. Watermarking or ‘fingerprinting’ systems will help trace and block harmful AI-generated images. Legal Protection: Laws must criminalise the creation, distribution, and use of AI-generated child sexual abuse material, enhancing international collaboration will be crucial for tracking and prosecuting offenders. Multi-stakeholder Collaboration: Technology companies, law enforcement agencies, educators, and NGOs must collaborate to share knowledge and resources. Digital Literacy: Develop digital literacy skills among children so they can distinguish between fantasy art and reality, and recognise risks. Clear and confidential reporting channels must be established to report harmful content. Parental Support: Establish open and trusted communication with children about the potential dangers of AI is crucial. Parents and carers can also implement age-appropriate filters and monitoring tools to enhance safety. Support Services: Service providers need to provide child and young people-friendly counselling and legal support. Anil Raghuvanshi is the founder of <a href="http://www.childsafenet.org/">ChildSafeNet</a>. Reach out to him at <a href="mailto:anil.raghuvanshi@childsafenet.org">anil.raghuvanshi@childsafenet.org</a>

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Ghiblification is more than cute pixels

<img width="958" height="384" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109121112/636b8bb99c7e80680e06b2bajpeg.jpg" alt=""/>While citizens and the media have been focused on the COVID-19 lockdown, Satan, a greyhat hacker, has masterminded a series of hacks and data exploits on Nepali businesses.Greyhats may use illegal means, but do not carry malicious intent. They are not as pure as their whitehat peers who eschew all illegal means, but not as nasty as blackhats who try to make money through cybercrime. Greyhats are usually motivated to draw attention to security vulnerabilities in dramatic ways, and show off their skills to earn accolades from peers. On 8 April, the newly created twitter account @satan_cyber_god claimed that it had hacked sensitive customer data from Prabhu Money Transfer saying: ‘Your banking and all other systems lack security! We tried to aware you but you did not respond! Hail Satan!’Because the internet is full of tall tales and unverifiable claims, it is customary for hackers to provide some evidence that other technologists can use to verify their claims. Satan’s purported evidence was the release of email addresses of Prabhu users, shared through pastebin.com, a website that makes it easy to share large volumes of data anonymously.Satan was not the only one. Had we learned our lesson from earlier hacks by lesser forms of evil, the Prince of Darkness may not have found it necessary to get personally involved. The unspecifically sinful Twitter handle @paapi_kto_mah, released the names, phone numbers, residential and email addresses of 170,000 Vianet customers on 8 April. A month earlier, @Mr.Mugger had exploited vulnerabilities in the popular food delivery company Foodmandu’s system, and released personal details of 57,000 customers.Nepali customers have been insulated from the worst consequences of data dumps like financial fraud because credit cards are rare and cash payments are still the norm. Nonetheless, the exposure of one’s personal data has real consequences from increasing the amount of spam in inboxes to the possibility that identities will be used in cybercrime, putting individuals in the crosshairs of international law enforcement bodies.After the Vianet hack, savvy users in the Nepali tech community suspect that there is an ongoing attempt to use that data to hack into Viber accounts. With so many Nepali’s conducting much of their personal communication through Viber, this would constitute large-scale privacy violation.Yet, it would be a waste of resources and a misdirection of efforts to track down greyhat hackers. We should instead turn our attention to increasing security across all IT systems. The government is currently pushing a strategy to digitise the economy and governance through policy papers such as the 2018 Digital Nepal Framework. <img width="968" height="324" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109121112/636b8bbb9c7e80680e06b2bbjpeg.jpg" alt="">As e-commerce and digital governance become more commonplace, the consequences of data breaches will become more severe. Of particular concern are e-governance and financial systems. The former could be exploited to create false identities to hide black money, to misdirect bhatta and cash support, or even alter exam records and academic credentials.As demonstrated by the massive ATM hack recently such data are already at risk. Though largely unreported, it is an open secret within the Nepali tech community that banks here have significant security vulnerabilities which do not just result from substandard technologies but also from more prosaic errors like the use of pirated cracked software by staff. As banks offer more digital products these vulnerabilities will only grow.The three incidents of data hacking last week created a buzz amongst techies, but it was what came next that got all of us saying ‘Hail Satan’. Immediately following the 8 April hack, Satan found a security flaw on the popular e-commerce site Daraz. To Daraz’s credit, it was quickly fixed, and Satan even got a note of appreciation from its security team for pointing it out.Satan then issued specific credible warnings to both the Nepali Congress and Kantipur Media Group on its system vulnerabilities, and made a veiled threat that they would be hacked if they did not fix it. With limited evidence, the hacker claimed to have exploited a security flaw that allowed access to data from any website or database hosted on the .gov.np domains. And as a coup de grace, screenshots proving penetration and violation of Mercantile’s IT systems were shared.Satan’s aim for publicising vulnerability in Nepali digital systems have not been fully realised. While specialist online tech portals have followed the story, it has not been covered prominently by the mainstream press that would have generated pressure on government bodies and financial regulators to mandate stricter security standards. The media also has a major role in educating the public on personal digital hygiene to keep their own data secure.We recommend three actions to ensure better digital security in Nepal:<ol><li>Greater attention of owners and senior managers on IT issues. Traditionally, executives in businesses and large institutions have focused on managing financial and political risks personally while leaving all other matters to technical managers. As organisations have increasing digital footprints, senior leadership will have to treat digital security risks on par with the two aforementioned ones.</li><li>Public procurement for e-governance services will have to be reformed. No real change is possible if contracts keep going to ‘connected’ firms that do not hire the best talent available in the country. In a sector where even a talented junior developer can earn over Rs150,000 a month doing simple outsourcing jobs, and more skilled entrepreneurs can generate $1 million in revenue with just 8-10 staff members, it is unlikely that credible firms will have any incentive to engage with the insanity of politics and kickbacks that go into public procurement.</li><li>To prepare Nepali society for heightened digital intrusion we need wider debate on the broader idea of digital citizenship. Comprehensive public engagement is needed for digital security, digital IDs, fake news, privacy, closing the digital divide, and raising a generation of media literate children who can engage critically with what they find online.</li></ol>For forcing us to ask these questions and give shape to our future, we should all say ‘Thank you Satan’. Sakar Pudasaini is the founder of <a href="https://karkhana.asia/">Karkhana</a> and the author of a series of children’s books on digital citizenship. Prayush Bijukchhe is the Chief Technological Officer and Founder of <a href="http://wasp-labs.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WASP</a><a href="https://wasp-labs.web.app/?fbclid=IwAR0kgka6oyEWIsUVFVKUYsbv9gJoU1wnm649VFn8zq1NNVsKafgrDk_a9co"> </a><a href="http://wasplabs.com/">Labs</a>, a Kathmandu-based IT company.

Thank you, Satan

Nepal is known internationally for its successful community forestry programme, and the country has doubled its forest cover to over 45% in the last 25 years.&nbsp; But the opposite is true for densely populated urban centres like Kathmandu Valley which have turned into concrete jungles, with no remaining open spaces. Air pollution is increasing to hazardous levels, and the urban heat bubble means the temperature in the city is 2°C-3°C higher than in the outskirts. But there is a solution with a proven track record from similar densely populated cities in Japan — the ‘Miyawaki Method’ of growing local varieties of trees in any small patch of land in the city and turning them into compact forests. Named after Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki in the early 1970s, carefully selected native trees and plants grow in tiny plots of land, or even in household backyards. They regenerate degraded urban soil, and help restore some greenery and biodiversity back to sterile city centres. The group Lily Leaves has planted Miyawaki forests in six sites across Kathmandu, and is on a mission to green all the river corridors in the Valley. So far, it has planted more than 17,000 trees belonging to nearly 40 species in patches of land along the Bishnumati and Swayambhu, and is eyeing the UN Park area along the Bagmati. “It is extremely important to connect with nature and greenery in cities,” says Lily Katuwal of Lily Leaves. "Besides restoring nature, these forests also clean air pollution and reduce summer temperatures.” Unlike traditional reforestation where trees of the same species are planted in bulk at a distance of 3-4m, Miyawaki prioritises native varieties best suited to Kathmandu Valley’s microclimate. The saplings are packed densely together, spaced only 60cm apart. After they start growing, native grass and undergrowth also thrive. The most recent plantation was along the banks of the Bagmati in Sanepa where, in addition to camphor and jacaranda which are grown in the area, native species such as kabro (Ficus lacor), kanike (Forget-me-not), parijat (Night-flowering Jasmine or Coral Jasmine), chanp (Plumeria), harro (Ink Nut) and barro (Bahera) were planted. A new site in Kirtipur is being readied for the next plantation. Miyawaki has been carried out elsewhere in various parts of Nepal, primarily in Dhanusha which has seen forest regrowth that has brought back insect, bird, reptile and amphibian life.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20260402120428_e70c196852945760d082fc73ee18ea6883d13c16186893c00c10fd0a0ea12105.jpg" data-media-id="editor_0" data-image-id="20260402120428_e70c196852945760d082fc73ee18ea6883d13c16186893c00c10fd0a0ea12105" data-rendition-name="original" width="1201" height="1600" loading="lazy" alt="Planting seeds for a greener Kathmandu"> </figure>  EMPOWERING WOMEN Lily Leaves employs just 17 women, six of whom have hearing disabilities. Many have been neglected or abandoned by their in-laws for various reasons. They have a livelihood and learn new skills so they can also find jobs elsewhere.&nbsp; “We trained them in plantation and other skills including tailoring, as well as jewelry, bag and reusable pad making,” says Katuwal. “They are now experts in planting trees.”&nbsp; Lily Leaves gets support from Pipal Tree International in the UK and Nepal, and hopes that the idea of compact urban forest spreads. This is especially important in areas like Taudaha, which is an important stopover for migratory birds. Once noted for its aquatic and avian biodiversity, Taudaha has become lined with concrete and has turned into a loud picnic spot. Urban expansion has encroached upon what used to be the floodplain of the Dhobi Khola, Bishnumati, Bagmati and Manohara rivers. The open spaces along the river corridors are being turned into green belts haphazardly. For many wards, the concept of green space is to have cement pavements and ornamental hard-to-maintain potted plants instead of allowing urban forests to grow back naturally. “Apartment buildings and housing colonies that are being constructed can include green spaces that can increase the real estate and rent value of property,” Katuwal says. “Engineers designing the buildings can suggest such changes so that we remain connected with nature.” Although Lily Leaves needs to have permission from local ward and municipal councils before implementing any program, it continues to face challenges in ensuring smooth coordination.&nbsp; In one such plantation along the Bishnumati River corridor, for example, a heavy earthmover uprooted young trees that were just beginning to thrive. Despite this setback, Katuwal’s team returned to replant them. The land mafia often covets the last remaining open spaces in Kathmandu, deploying local strongmen to try to take them over. &nbsp;They tear down fences, uproot saplings and loot tools. There is a lack of awareness about the importance of greening the city. But now that the former mayor of Kathmandu Balendra Shah is prime minister, national awareness could translate into more urban forests not just in Kathmandu but also in overcrowded urban centres across Nepal. Says Lily Katuwal: “We just plant the seed in people’s minds. Once people in the neighbourhood see that restoring nature lifts their quality of life and increases land prices, there is support. That is when the power of a good example spreads, and communities build on the idea.” &nbsp;

Planting seeds for a greener Kathmandu

It is only April, and Himalayan expeditions are already making rotations to acclimatise on Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, and will soon be making summit pushes.&nbsp; On Mt Everest, Icefall Doctors are fixing ropes and ladders into the Western Cwm as international climbers arrive at Base Camp. Spring 2026 is going to be the busiest and most crowded so far in the Nepal Himalaya. The main reason is that China has closed expeditions from the north side for eight-thousanders Everest and Cho Oyu, and also Xixapangma.&nbsp; The closure is informal, from what one can make out. The Chinese have not put out any official statement, but there are no permits either. The reason seemingly was the ‘Rising Dragon’ firework display last September by pyrotechnic artist Cai Guo-Qiang near Xigatse.&nbsp; Working with outdoor wear company Arc’teryx, Guo-Qiang set off an impressive sequence of orange and white fireworks that wound up a mountain. The spectacular display was criticised for damaging the fragile ecology of the Tibetan Plateau. But this cannot be the only reason the north side is closed. Experienced Everest blogger Alan Arnette anticipates that about 125 climbers will shift to the Nepal side of the mountains, and expects there to be up to 900 summits this spring — up from the highest spring number so far of 876 climbers on top in 2019.&nbsp;  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20260404050428_8c31812bf38f699c4faa74f25814a6ddaee397f71a629e549023f29250f05082.jpg" data-media-id="editor_0" data-image-id="20260404050428_8c31812bf38f699c4faa74f25814a6ddaee397f71a629e549023f29250f05082" data-rendition-name="original" width="1500" height="1000" loading="lazy" alt="mountaineering"> <figcaption>Photo: KARMA TENZING</figcaption> </figure>  The early Base Camp arrivals are having problems with their first rotations because of heavy snow this season. Unlike previous springs, this year has seen back-to-back blizzards at high altitudes since February. The increased snow load on the slopes have increased avalanche danger right across the mountains.&nbsp; There has been an increase in numbers on Everest despite the West Asia war, flight disruptions, LPG shortage and new regulations. The permit fee has gone up for the first time since 2015 from $11,000 to $15,000 this year.&nbsp; The Tourism Bill passed by Nepal’s Upper House last year would have required climbers to have first summitted a 7,000m peak in Nepal before attempting Everest. However, the Department of Tourism has confirmed that there are no new experience requirements this season. Some want this rule changed to include 7,000m peaks anywhere in the world. That could be one reason people are rushing to climb Everest before the Nepal government changes its mind and enforces the new regulations on prior experience on Everest. “It’s probably going to encourage a lot of people that simply are not ready to go,” reckons Alan Arnette. “Once again, we may see a lot of inexperienced people on the mountain trying to get in before the rule comes into place, if it does.”&nbsp; Arnette has always been sceptical of Everest regulations, and points out many instances where rules have been announced but not implemented over the ten years that he has been tracking them. For example, a helicopter ban to Everest Base Camp was announced last year, but rescinded. A rule requiring climbers to bring down waste was never seriously enforced. Since there is so much money involved for the government and for the operators, any any rule that would reduce revenue is never fully implemented. This year there is another ‘High-Altitude Trash Quota’ rule requiring climbers and guides operating above Camp 2 to collect and bring down at least 2kg of waste from the higher camps.&nbsp; The Nepal government has tried to diversify peaks on offer by reducing the royalty on climbs, but the draw of Everest, Annapurna and other eight-thousanders seems to be too great. Even when the permit fees for some remote peaks like Kangri Shar, Himlung and Api, were reduced to $400, there are few takers.&nbsp;  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20260402120436_a90cd44858e97086f773aa1fbd592b3434bb07d89cd4a1843b2ca32a84e7c72d.jpg" data-media-id="editor_1" data-image-id="20260402120436_a90cd44858e97086f773aa1fbd592b3434bb07d89cd4a1843b2ca32a84e7c72d" data-rendition-name="original" width="1500" height="1125" loading="lazy" alt="Photo Damien Francois"> <figcaption>Photo: DAMIEN FRANCOIS</figcaption> </figure>  TIME LAPSE Clients and expedition operators have been trying to shorten the time needed to complete an Everest expedition from the city of origin to the top and back. Since Nepal has no rules about spending a certain number of days in acclimatisation, this has allowed some expedition organisers to use new technology.&nbsp; Austrian operator Lukas Furtenbach last May led a group of four British ex-military clients to the summit within a week of leaving London. This climb was scrutinised because the group had practiced breathing xenon gas, a substance that increases the count of red blood cells and is banned in competitive sports. The climbers had also trained for months at home in hypoxic tents, and used supplemental oxygen during the actual climb.&nbsp; The success of that expedition prompted an investigation by Nepal’s Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, but there was nothing it could do because the team had taken the xenon in Germany two weeks before their trip. But even if they had administered the gas in Nepal, it would technically not be illegal. Furtenbach is firmly in favour of speed, and of using the gas. “The only reason why we are working with xenon is to make climbing safer, to protect climbers from high altitude sickness,” he says, arguing that the less time climbers spend on the mountains, the less their exposure is to disasters, sickness, and they also generate less trash.&nbsp; His firm, Furtenbach Adventure, offers a three-week Everest South Flash expedition, at a cost of €100,000, using custom oxygen systems. Other expeditions take up to two months.&nbsp; A young American duo of Ryan Mitchell and Justin Sockett got to Everest Base Camp five days ago. They are preparing for an oxygen-free summit attempt.&nbsp; ‘ Being around these mountains for one day has already brought me so much joy. Every time I come back to the Khumbu I feel more familiar and connected,’ posted Mitchell. He and Sockett have since summitted Lobuche East (6,119m) as they continue to acclimatise and wait for the Khumbu Icefall route to be fixed.&nbsp; There are other sans-O2 trips planned this climbing season in Nepal. Norwegian Kristin Harila, the fastest in the world to climb all 14 8,000ers (in 92 days), is attempting the Nuptse, Lhotse, and Everest three-peak climb without supplemental oxygen. American Tyler Andrews and Ecuadorian Karl Egloff are continuing their race to break records in Everest. While Andrews is attempting the Fastest Known Time from Base Camp to the top without oxygen, Egloff is taking it a step further and going for a round trip: from Base Camp to the summit and back in record time.&nbsp; Both Egloff and Andrews had attempted these climbs in 2025 spring, but abandoned around 7,000m due to bad weather.&nbsp; Kami Rita Sherpa wants to extend his all-time record of total Everest summits to 32, while Kenton Cool from England is chasing 20, a non-Nepali record.&nbsp; The first summits of the season will be in late April, or early May depending on weather. Besides Everest, there are a lot of interesting climbs on lesser known peaks.&nbsp; The Japanese trio of Masayuki Takenaka, Tatsuro Sugimoto, and Ryota Nomura, for example, are attempting the unclimbed Jarkya Himal (6,473m) near Manaslu. &nbsp;&nbsp; <h2>Fake rescues</h2>  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20260402120436_600c0176e24327fd3dfcfd634e4b871f3e5314aa00eb4885ad137ac6f9c4a3b6.jpg" data-media-id="editor_2" data-image-id="20260402120436_600c0176e24327fd3dfcfd634e4b871f3e5314aa00eb4885ad137ac6f9c4a3b6" data-rendition-name="original" width="800" height="519" loading="lazy" alt="Fake rescues"> </figure>  This year’s spring climbing season has coincided with Nepal’s new government taking action against alleged perpetrators in fake rescues and insurance fraud. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) has already arrested more than a dozen trekking agency executives, hospital managers and helicopter company executives for medevac insurance fraud. Climbers are known to fabricate medical emergencies, get flown down from as high as Camp II on Everest, and then submit false insurance claims.&nbsp; Sometimes one flight is made to look like many using fake invoices. Trekking companies are also involved in fake rescues of hikers who just get tired of walking.&nbsp; Too many fake claims could lead to insurer’s losing confidence in the industry, and increased premiums, leading to delayed responses in real accidents.&nbsp; As a result of the scandal, there is now more scrutiny from the government about rescues. Already, helicopter operators have to wait for permission before carrying out rescues while their application is vetted.&nbsp; The worry is that this could cause unnecessary delays when time is of the essence in mountain rescue. Already, medevacs are delayed because of the bureaucracy needing permits to fly to sensitive regions bordering China. Last year, a climber died on Himlung because helicopter rescue took too long while operators ran from door to door in Kathmandu to obtain necessary permits. <h2>Mingma David Sherpa, MP</h2>  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20260402120432_05c1600440327f4ae4bcae641b634714951f45702080a88d4e2628587190aa25.jpg" data-media-id="editor_3" data-image-id="20260402120432_05c1600440327f4ae4bcae641b634714951f45702080a88d4e2628587190aa25" data-rendition-name="original" width="960" height="958" loading="lazy" alt="Mingma David Sherpa"> </figure>  Meet Mingma David Sherpa, Nepal’s first mountaineer to be nominated to Parliament. Sherpa is a self-made professional climber from Rolwaling, who rose up from an expedition porter to a record-breaking mountaineer and expedition organiser. As an insider, he is now in a position to streamline laws related to Nepal’s trekking and mountaineering sector. He is co-owner of EliteExped with Nims Purja, and in 2021 the two were part of a team of Nepali climbers to be the first to make it to the top of K2 in winter, the second highest mountain in the world in Pakistan.&nbsp;  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20260402120432_c4ec586e7a27b09a72e61925a3897d843f864563d9e82a3fd3e25293e22cbe54.png" data-media-id="editor_4" data-image-id="20260402120432_c4ec586e7a27b09a72e61925a3897d843f864563d9e82a3fd3e25293e22cbe54" data-rendition-name="original" width="2082" height="1396" loading="lazy" alt="Mingama David Sherpa"> </figure>  Mingma David was also on Purja’s Project Possible to climb all the 14 eight-thousanders in six months, shattering the previous record of seven years. He was featured in Purja’s documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible.&nbsp; At age 30 he became the youngest climber to reach the top of all 14 eight-thousanders for which he was awarded the Piolet d’Or. Mingma David has taken part in dozens of successful rescues of fellow climber, including the highest ever long-line rescue on Dhaulagiri and saving the life of fellow-climber from 8,600m on Everest. <h2>April Fool</h2>  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20260402120432_775afff27d4a2889a60730aa25bbc5f8eb8ea343528c8c031a6febbfd74814c4.jpg" data-media-id="editor_5" data-image-id="20260402120432_775afff27d4a2889a60730aa25bbc5f8eb8ea343528c8c031a6febbfd74814c4" data-rendition-name="original" width="1365" height="1820" loading="lazy" alt="Furtenback Adventures"> </figure>  The Austrian expedition outfitting company Furtenbach Adventures spoofed the anticipated crowds on an April First post on social media this week, showing ‘a fully galvanized, weather-resistant steel staircase, complete with a sturdy handrail’ to make the Hillary Step bottleneck on Mt Everest less dangerous.

Nepal Himalaya Spring 2026

As a direct fallout of the Israel-American war on Iran, Nepal on Monday nearly doubled the price of aviation fuel in a move that is going to impact during the spring peak tourism season. The steep price hike of jet fuel appears to have been made to cushion the impact on the general public. The price of petrol, diesel and cooking gas were also hiked for the third time in a month on Thursday.&nbsp; Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) will now cost $2,237/ton up from $1,207. The cost of ATF in Kathmandu was <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/news/sky-high-fuel-price-hits-nepal-s-tourism-airlines" target="_blank">already one of the highest among Asian airports</a>, and this price hike will affect mostly long-haul flights to Istanbul, Seoul and Narita for airlines that need to refuel in Kathmandu.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20260404130420_4ae075d1e871fc5608cf242d6e309005d30cfdb6e6d0ecfb45ca7388a851c6aa.png" data-media-id="editor_1" data-image-id="20260404130420_4ae075d1e871fc5608cf242d6e309005d30cfdb6e6d0ecfb45ca7388a851c6aa" data-rendition-name="original" width="1784" height="1294" loading="lazy" alt="aviation turbine fuel prices"> </figure>  Domestic airlines, which paid Rs127 per litre, will now have to pay Rs251 for their turboprop planes. “We have no recourse but to pass this on to passengers as a fuel surcharge,” said one executive of a domestic airline in Nepal. As it is, Nepal Oil Corporation levied a hefty tax on petrol and ATF in order to subsidise diesel and cooking gas. Many analysts were expecting a fuel price hike, but the near-doubling of the price of ATF means the new Nepal government is trying to protect ordinary citizens from raising the price of diesel and LPG even more than it has so far. Aviation fuel in Nepal is trucked in on tankers from Indian refineries and its price is highest in Kathmandu, and less in Bhairawa and Pokhara — transportation costs being higher depending on distance. But even in Bhairawa, ATF prices have doubled for the only international airline that serves it, Thai AirAsia.&nbsp; Most airlines flying Kathmandu from nearer airports in India, the Gulf and Southeast Asia will be less impacted because they can fly in on full tanks and need minimum refuelling in Kathmandu. But carriers like <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/banner/high-cost-lays-aviation-low-in-nepal" target="_blank">Turkish Airlines</a>, Cathay Pacific, Korean Air, &nbsp;and Nepal Airlines which fly wide body aircraft on long-distance routes will be hit hardest.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/2026040305040_a40db74375ebe0c28e7c35477bc262df9ae392a84e7bfa4033996181d69e0209.jpg" data-media-id="editor_3" data-image-id="2026040305040_a40db74375ebe0c28e7c35477bc262df9ae392a84e7bfa4033996181d69e0209" data-rendition-name="original" width="1032" height="689" loading="lazy" alt="sky high prices"> </figure>  However, ATF costs have also been raised in regional airports like Hong Kong, India and Singapore. Aviation fuel at New Delhi airport has risen to $1,698/ton. Korean Air is adopting emergency measures to reduce expenses to make up for rising fuel costs. South Korea gets nearly all its fuel from the Gulf, and the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz has been especially damaging for the country. Fuel makes up more than a third of the operating cost of airlines, and even a small increase in ATF prices can make a big difference. Crude oil prices have increased 50% since the West Asia war began on 28 February, and global ATF prices have doubled.&nbsp; Airlines in Asia, including Nepal, face a double shock. The first is the higher fuel cost, and the second is that fewer people are travelling. Nepal’s tourism arrivals fell in March compared to February. India has added up to 20% fuel surcharge on domestic flights, and has reduced flights by 12%. Chinese airlines have also been affected, with China Eastern preparing for a significant impact of the Gulf war. It has added fuel surcharges to new tickets, as have Cathay Pacific, Thai International and Air Asia. Vietnam has drastically cut the number of domestic flights, and the Philippines will ration ATF. Australia imports 90% of its ATF mainly from China which has stopped export to ensure domestic supply to its own airlines. Carriers like Qantas have curtailed flights, changing aircraft type on long-haul routes, and a fuel surcharge of up to 20% have been added to tickets. Most Asian airlines are adding fuel charges only to new tickets, and the increase will not affect the price of pre-sold tickets issued for April and May.

Fuel price shock hits Nepal aviation

The war in West Asia has exposed the fragility of the economic architecture Nepal has built on over two generations. If the conflict continues, growth across developing Asia will slow and prices will rise. For Nepal, this will be felt through higher living costs, weaker economic activity, and growing uncertainty for the millions of families who depend on remittances.&nbsp; Nepal now needs to structurally transform from exporting labour to investing in domestic job creation. &nbsp; The country's current path toward a knowledge economy has a blind spot. A <a href="https://iids.org.np/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/unleashing.pdf" target="_blank">report</a> by the Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS) in Kathmandu shows that IT export companies alone generated 7,228 jobs and income for 66,509 freelancers.&nbsp; We are building digital labour export, not an economy that accumulates institutional knowledge. The Nepali Upwork developer and a migrant construction worker in the Gulf are engaged in the same economic activity, but with different tools. Nepal’s reliance on a <a href="https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/BX.TRF.PWKR.DT.GD.ZS?locations=NP" target="_blank">remittance-driven economy,</a> means the country has failed to create enough <a href="https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/nepal/publication/unlocking-nepal-s-growth-potential" target="_blank">quality jobs</a> at home. For millions of young people, leaving the country is not a choice but a necessity to survive and support families back home. <a href="https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/nepal/publication/unlocking-nepal-s-growth-potential" target="_blank">Remittances</a> have no doubt helped reduce poverty. Thirty years ago, 55% of Nepal’s population lived on less than $2.15 a day, now it is 20% after the absolute poverty line was revised upwards. This progress has come at a cost — &nbsp;an economy that depends more on exporting workers than creating opportunities at home. This development reflects a deeper political failure to create meaningful jobs within the country. Since the democratic transition in 1991, Nepal’s leadership has largely recycled the same faces, with limited progress on job creation or industrial growth.&nbsp; Nepal cannot build a <a href="https://nipore.org/accelerating-nepals-startups/" target="_blank">knowledge economy</a> while its most ambitious people are outbound to Doha and Tokyo. We are also not just losing ‘labour’. We are losing the entrepreneurial risk tolerance of our youth.&nbsp; If the most ambitious 25-year-olds are abroad, who is left to support innovation and entrepreneurship? The same people who are working tirelessly abroad, are our biggest asset for development. Their work ethic and the know-how inurban renewal could well fit into the new RSP government’s mandate of 7% annual growth.&nbsp; The <a href="https://english.biznessnews.com/posts/-nepal%E2%80%99s-it-exports-cross-1-billion-" target="_blank">$1B milestone</a> of IT exports is a celebratory moment for Nepal. However, that cannot lead to a pathway to a $100 billion economy without innovation ecosystems that go beyond individual labour export. Companies like SecurityPal and industry associations such as NASIT have made significant efforts in building such an environment, recently championed by private sector leaders as a &nbsp;<a href="https://www.securitypalhq.com/blog/silicon-peaks" target="_blank">Silicon Peaks</a> model that emphasises a home growth tech cluster. The need to accelerate this transition is even more urgent with the escalating conflict in West Asia. &nbsp;The recent International Labour Organisation (ILO) <a href="https://www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/2026-03/Nepal%20LDC%20Graduation%20Employment%20Impacts%20Report.pdf" target="_blank">report</a> shows that LDC graduation is expected to adversely impact manufacturing with losses of $1 billion by 2030.&nbsp; If manufacturing takes such a large hit from losing trade preferences, then Nepal’s services and IT sectors need to structurally transform and shift from exporting individual talent to building firms. &nbsp; A generation’s frustration has finally forced a shift in Nepal’s political structure, handing the new government a clear mandate to fix failures. But the question still persists: what prevents Nepal from achieving sustained, productivity-driven growth? &nbsp;&nbsp; RSP is in the right place at the right time to put Nepal's economy on a firm footing. At the heart of Nepal’s economic underperformance lies a major development binding constraint: low returns to investment on projects.&nbsp; The government invests like a high-growth economy, with gross capital formation at around <a href="https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NE.GDI.FTOT.ZS?locations=NP" target="_blank">25–30 percent of GDP</a>. Yet economic growth remains modest. The problem is not how much the country invests, but how little it gets in return. One way to see this is by looking at how much investment is required to generate growth.&nbsp; Nepal needs large amounts of capital to produce relatively small gains in output (graph, below). For instance, in 2024, the ICOR was 8.29, this suggests that Nepal had to invest more than 8 units of capital to produce a one unit of additional economic output.&nbsp;  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20260406040412_605dc527641d2ff2dc5723ed8bbec946898331d5538a55b9941e32a0725bf811.jpg" data-media-id="editor_9" data-image-id="20260406040412_605dc527641d2ff2dc5723ed8bbec946898331d5538a55b9941e32a0725bf811" data-rendition-name="original" width="1827" height="925" loading="lazy" alt="Economy graph"> <figcaption>Source: Author's calculation based on a Growth Diagnostic simulation</figcaption> </figure>  This reflects a deeper issue in how investment is allocated and executed. Capital is often locked in low-productivity sectors or diluted by delays, inefficiencies, and policy uncertainty.&nbsp; As a result, even high levels of investment fail to translate into sustained growth. Until investment shifts toward productive, firm-building activities, higher spending alone will not deliver results. &nbsp; To reverse this, the government must focus on raising the returns to investment by enabling firms to grow and compete. This requires a shift from managing scarcity to creating an environment where capital can generate consistent and predictable returns. A central priority should be given to attracting and retaining both domestic and foreign private investment. Investors do not just respond to direct incentives, but also to policy stability in the country. Nepal’s economy cannot sustain high growth if its human capital continues to leave the country.&nbsp; The goal should not simply be to create jobs, but to build companies that scale, innovate, and compete beyond Nepal. This requires supporting sectors with strong productivity potential and ensuring that firms can expand without being constrained by infrastructure gaps or regulatory friction. Finally, the state must improve the quality of its own investment. Public spending should focus on lowering the cost of doing business through reliable electricity, efficient logistics, and digital infrastructure.&nbsp; The GenZ movement took two days to bring change. The economic transformation of Nepal might take a generation. The RSP can accelerate this transition, but only if it focuses on building a better investment climate for business and not just feeding the global labour pool. Kailash Raj Pandey is an MPA/ID and MBA candidate at Harvard Kennedy School and MIT Sloan School of Management and a fellow at MIT Kuo Sharper Center for Innovation and Prosperity.&nbsp; Siddhartha Raymajhí is a policy researcher based in Kathmandu.

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