Kathmandu

A senior Iranian official has stated that Iran will make no concessions on its nuclear programme, according to a report carried by The Kathmandu Post. The declaration signals a hardening of Tehran's negotiating stance, and is likely to draw reactions from world powers involved in efforts to reach a nuclear deal and limit Iran's uranium enrichment activities.

Nepali media are reporting that Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah has been placed under tight security, with claims that the United States has accorded him special importance. The coverage links his name to Donald Trump and Rabi Lamichhane and has drawn heavy attention from Nepali-speaking audiences, who are debating what enhanced American interest in a local mayor could mean for Nepali politics.

Balen Shah, mayor of Kathmandu, has proposed a Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism aimed at addressing the environmental threats facing Nepal's mountain region. The initiative focuses on protecting Himalayan ecosystems and communities from the impacts of climate change, and the proposal is drawing attention across South Asia, where glacial melt and extreme weather are pressing concerns.