- Palestinians call for Israeli ban as Gaza war spills into football
- Crisis-ridden Boeing hopes for quiet annual meeting
- Vienna Festival director Milo Rau hits back at anti-Semitism accusations
- China says could buy up commercial housing to boost property market
- Rapidus 'last opportunity' to put Japan back on global chip map
- Despite Western pressure, China in no hurry to reduce Russia support
- For sale: unique piece of land in strategic Arctic archipelago
- La Rochelle in the spotlight as tight Top 14 run-in commences
- Three key issues to watch for in La Liga this weekend
- Departing Hayes urges Chelsea to seize 'second chance' in WSL race
- Leverkusen eye 'immortality' as Union fight for final day survival
- Klopp leaves lasting legacy after restoring Liverpool to elite
- Putin in trade push on final day of China trip
- Timberwolves crush Nuggets to stay alive in NBA playoffs
- Taiwan president takes office under close scrutiny
- Israel to hit back at 'genocide' claims at UN top court
- Chinese officials meet to mull support for developers: Bloomberg
- 'Hindu nation': Religion trumps caste in India vote
- Asian stocks mixed after Wall St, Europe retreat from records
- Taiwan's Lai to bolster 'porcupine' defence against China threat
- Dominican Republic to vote in poll dominated by Haiti crisis
- The Dominican Republic: from Columbus to cruise ships
- Forced to give birth after rape, Honduran woman seeks UN remedy
- Reddit gives OpenAI access to its wealth of posts
- Turkey court jails Kurdish leader for 42 years over 2014 unrest
- US plans to end leasing in its largest coal-producing region
- Kim's sister denies N. Korea exporting weapons to Russia
- Schauffele equals record-low major round with 62 to lead PGA
- Alternate Lee seizes opportunity to grab LPGA Americas Open lead
- Swiatek to face Sabalenka for Rome title and Serena record
- Mystik Dan goes for Triple Crown 2nd leg in Preakness
- 'Grand Theft Auto VI' release set for late 2025
- Global coral bleaching event expanding to new countries: scientists
- US Republicans confront Biden over pausing arms to Israel
- Lopez double earns Barca win at relegated Almeria
- Weather eases Canadian oil sands city wildfire menace
- Messi's record $20.4 million salary dwarfs entire MLS teams
- Jarry stuns Tsitsipas to reach Rome Open semi-finals
- US ends leasing in its largest coal-producing region
- Chad junta chief officially wins election
- Florida slammed for bill striking climate change from state law
- Exhibition traces Jewish origins of Hollywood
- 'I'm ready': Fury to pray for Usyk before heavyweight clash
- Murray's French Open build-up suffers Bordeaux glitch
- Ethiopian legend Bekele returns to Olympics after 12 years
- McIlroy passes emotional test to stay in hunt for PGA win
- Coppola's long-awaited epic 'Megalopolis' divides Cannes
- Ukraine battles to hold back Russia advance
- Kante returns from wilderness as Deschamps announces France Euro squad
- Superb Schauffele plays his best with hunger to end win drought
Nepal battles raging wildfires across the country
Firefighters and local residents battled a massive wildfire on the outskirts of Nepal's capital Thursday as the Himalayan republic endures a severe fire season authorities have blamed on a heatwave.
Nepal sees a spate of wildfires annually, usually beginning in March, but their number and intensity has worsened in recent years, with climate change leading to drier winters.
Emergency crews worked through the night to fight the blaze which engulfed a forested area in Lalitpur, on the southern periphery of the Kathmandu valley.
More than 4,500 wildfires have been reported this year across the country, nearly double compared to last year according to government data but less than the worst fire season on record in 2021.
"Wildfires have increased in an unimaginable ratio, and the season is expected to last for a month more," Sundar Prasad Sharma of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority told AFP.
"It is challenging to put out fires because of our difficult terrain," he added.
Environment ministry spokesman Badri Raj Dhungana said the increase in the number of wildfires this year was because of a lengthy drought and heatwave conditions in Nepal's southern plains.
"Generally, wildfires peak late April but this year they are still increasing because of rising temperatures," he said.
Extensive scientific research has found climate change is causing heatwaves to become longer, more frequent and more intense.
Large swathes of South and Southeast Asia have sweltered through a heatwave since last month, with the El Nino phenomenon also driving this year's exceptionally warm weather.
Temperatures have risen above 40 degrees Celsius in the Buddhist pilgrimage city of Lumbini and other parts of the south, with more hot weather forecast in the days ahead.
More than a hundred schools in the southern city of Butwal were closed on Thursday for two days out of fears the heatwave would impact the health of students.
O.Bulka--BTB