Everest permits spike as Nepal hits near-record climber totals; Kathmandu braces as young leader Balen Shah makes his mark. #Nepal #Kathmandu
Nepal’s parliamentary vote is taking place as youth-driven protests have challenged the long-standing political elite. Analysts say the Gen Z-led wave, alongside rising new parties, is pushing for anti-corruption reforms and job creation while veterans defend their legacies.
Nepal held a parliamentary election on March 5, 2026, following a year of youth-led protests that resulted in the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. The vote aims to address political instability, corruption, and economic challenges, with young candidates promising reform. Results are pending, but the election marks a significant shift in Nepal's political landscape.
Nepal appointed rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah as prime minister after his party's landslide victory in March elections. Shah, 35, leads the Rastriya Swatantra Party, which secured a majority amid public frustration over corruption and instability. His rise marks a shift toward youth-led politics.
This month Nepal has seen a record single-day peak of climbers summiting Mount Everest from the south side while China has kept the northern route closed. An 18-year-old Australian has become the youngest Australian to reach the summit; veteran Sherpas have set new personal records. Several climbers have died this season and a dangerous serac and icefall conditions have delayed the route.
Nepal has issued a record 494 permits for foreign climbers this season, with more than 900 people believed to have reached the summit this spring. Sherpa guides warn that numbers are creating traffic jams and safety risks, as China’s closure of the Tibet route shifts climbers to the Nepal side. Weather is warming, increasing hazards along the Khumbu Icefall.
Nepal has long celebrated its distinct time zone, calendar and flag as symbols of sovereignty, with a national pride rooted in its mountainous geography and history of resisting colonization.