Search This Blog

Civil Aviation

State of Civil Aviation in Nepal | Interactive Report

Civil Aviation in Nepal

A comprehensive analysis of infrastructure, market dynamics, and the unique challenges of flying on the "Roof of the World".

Status Report
Total Airports
53
~33 Operational
Airlines
20
9 Fixed, 11 Rotary
Annual Pax
7.5M+
Dom. & Int'l combined
Safety Status
EU Ban
Since 2013

© 2025 Civil Aviation Authority Analysis

Data synthesized from industry reports. No SVG or Mermaid JS used in this visualization.

India–New Zealand Trade Deal 2025: Zero-Duty Access and the Waning Clout of America

How the India NZ Free Trade Agreement strengthens resilience, expands markets, and redefines Indo-Pacific trade

✍️ India and New Zealand have sealed a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA), unlocking $20 billion in investment, slashing tariffs on 95% of New Zealand exports, and granting India zero-duty access for all its goods—a strategic move that strengthens Indo-Pacific trade resilience amid Washington’s tariff wars.

India-New Zealand

India and New Zealand have sealed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
Indian markets welcome New Zealand.

The India-New Zealand Trade Deal marks a historic milestone in Indo-Pacific Trade, cutting tariffs, boosting investment, and deepening India-New Zealand Economic Ties. With Zero Duty Access India and mobility for professionals, this India-NZ Free Trade Agreement reshapes global commerce in 2025, while highlighting America’s waning clout in geopolitics.


📊 Key Highlights of the India–New Zealand Trade Deal

  • Tariff Cuts: New Zealand will eliminate or reduce duties on 95% of its exports to India 

  • Zero-Duty Access: India gains zero-duty access for all its goods entering New Zealand

  • Investment: The deal unlocks $20 billion in investment over 15 years

  • Mobility: Indian professionals will benefit from new visa pathways

  • Protected Sectors: India shields sensitive industries, notably dairy, from full liberalisation

  • Trade Volumes: Current bilateral trade remains modest—New Zealand exports apples, dairy, and wool, while India exports pharmaceuticals, textiles, and IT services


🌏 India’s Strategic Trade Expansion

  • Third Major Pact in 2025: After agreements with Oman and the EFTA bloc (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein), India now adds New Zealand

  • Other FTAs: India also has trade deals with ASEAN, Japan, South Korea, Mauritius, the UAE, and Australia

  • Resilience Strategy: As Washington’s tariffs bite, India diversifies markets to reduce dependence on the US


🎭 Cultural & Sporting Ties

Cricket Diplomacy: A Pillar of the India-New Zealand Relationship

The shared passion for cricket serves as a powerful and visible bond between India and New Zealand, extending far beyond the boundary ropes to symbolise goodwill and deepen diplomatic ties. This cricketing relationship is multifaceted, encompassing sporting, economic, and political dimensions.

Economic and Sporting Synergy through the IPL:

A key element of this connection is the Indian Premier League (IPL). Over the last 15 years, the IPL has become a crucial proving ground and financial powerhouse for numerous New Zealand cricketers. Participation in this premier T20 tournament allows New Zealand players to:

  • Hone their skills: Competing against the world's best cricketers in high-pressure, varied conditions significantly enhances their technical and tactical abilities, directly benefiting the New Zealand national team.

  • Achieve significant financial benefits: The lucrative contracts offered by IPL franchises provide substantial income, contributing to the economic well-being and security of the players.

  • Gain global exposure: The IPL's massive viewership elevates the international profiles of both players and New Zealand cricket as a whole.

New Zealand Cricket's Recognition of Indian Clout:


The New Zealand Cricket board is acutely aware of India's dominant influence in world cricket, particularly through the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which is a major driver of the sport's global economy and decision-making. This awareness underscores the importance of a cooperative, positive relationship, as evidenced by the monetary figures and statistics detailing the financial contributions and investments flowing between the two cricketing nations.


The Diplomatic Dimension:

This sporting affinity has been effectively leveraged in the diplomatic arena. High-profile cricket-related events are often integrated into official state visits to highlight the cultural closeness between the two nations. A recent and notable example was the New Zealand Prime Minister's visit to India, during which they participated in a friendly cricket match alongside respected Indian cricket icons. Such events are not merely photo opportunities; they are influential acts of public diplomacy that communicate shared values and mutual respect, translating the goodwill of the sporting field directly into the diplomatic sphere.

  • Diaspora: Over 300,000 Indians in New Zealand form a “living bridge” that strengthens cultural and economic ties,

  • Education & Tourism: Indian students and tourists contribute significantly to New Zealand’s economy.


📚 Earlier Articles on the subject

Together, these articles reinforce the narrative: India is building resilience while America’s dominance erodes.

🔮 Closing Note


📈 The India-New Zealand Trade Deal aims to strengthen economic ties between the two nations, promoting mutual growth and collaboration. With the outline of the India-NZ Free Trade Agreement in place, both countries are set to significantly enhance their trade relations.

In 2025, many analysts believe that the India Trade Agreements 2025 will revolutionise the economic landscape of the Indo-Pacific region. New Zealand's exports to India have shown a steady increase, reflecting the growing interest in this strategic partnership.

The Zero Duty Access to Indian markets will provide New Zealand exporters with a competitive edge, enabling them to penetrate the Indian market more effectively. As both nations focus on Indo-Pacific Trade, the potential for expanded partnerships seems promising for both economies.

The India NZ Free Trade Agreement is more than a tariff cut—it is a geopolitical signal. As America’s clout wanes, India and New Zealand are scripting a new chapter in Indo-Pacific Trade, balancing resilience with opportunity.

Will India’s diversification strategy shield it from future shocks? 

Can New Zealand fully tap into the world’s largest consumer market

And most importantly, does this deal not mark another step towards a post-American trade order?

👉 Share your thoughts below, and let’s discuss how this agreement reshapes the global economy.

Tags

#indianewzealand #tradedeal #fta #globaleconomy #indiatrade #newzealand #tariffcuts #economicresilience #breakingnews #worldbusiness

Wildlife Odyssey: Tanzania & Kenya’s Untamed Heart

There are places where the horizon feels infinite, where the rhythm of life is written in pawprints and wingbeats. Tanzania and Kenya are not just destinations—they are living epics, landscapes where survival and beauty intertwine.

Golden savannah horizon with giraffes walking under a fiery sky

The "tower" of Masai giraffes in their natural habitat in East Africa. Masai giraffes are native to central and southern Kenya and Tanzania. They are the tallest land mammals and are distinguished by their large, jagged, and irregular, leaf-like spot patterns. 

Giraffes are herbivores that play a crucial role in their ecosystem by grazing on leaves and twigs and aiding in seed dispersal. They can be found in grasslands and open woodlands in reserves such as Tanzania's Serengeti National Park and Kenya's Amboseli National Park. 

From the Serengeti’s golden plains to the Maasai Mara’s rolling savannah, I followed the pulse of migration: wildebeest surging like rivers, lions crouched in patient silence, flamingos painting lakes in impossible shades of pink. Each dawn was a lesson in resilience, each dusk a reminder of nature’s quiet grandeur.

But beyond spectacle lies meaning. Watching elephants move in familial procession, I thought of legacy—how memory and renewal shape both wilderness and human communities. The wild teaches us balance, humility, and the dignity of adaptation.

This odyssey is not just about travel. It’s about listening to the earth’s untamed heart and carrying its lessons into our own lives.


What does wilderness mean to you? Renewal, adventure, or perhaps a reminder of what we risk losing?


🔖 #WildlifeOdyssey #SafariLife #TravelAfrica #NatureStories #EcoTravel #AdventureWriting

The Ancient Future: Old Wisdom in a Digital World

🌌Ancient wisdom is not lost—it’s being reinterpreted in our digital age.


Humanity’s search for meaning has never truly changed. From the hymns of the Vedas to the algorithms of the digital age, we continue to ask: What is our place in the universe?

In my latest Medium article, The Ancient Future: How Old Wisdom Shapes Modern Spirituality in the Digital Age, I explore how timeless philosophies—Vedic cycles, Taoist flows, Stoic logic—resurface in modern forms, reminding us that existence is rhythm, not rupture.

“Crossing Light” — A bridge between worlds, over the Saryu River, where human design meets Nature’s glow. The sunset softens steel, reminding us that infrastructure can coexist with serenity.


Achievement is not just in building—it’s in balancing. This bridge scene captures the harmony between man-made structure and natural beauty. It’s a quiet metaphor for progress that respects the rhythm of the world it inhabits.

Matter, Spirit, and the Eternal Cycle


The Vedas taught that matter cannot be created or destroyed. Science confirms this truth, and mathematics echoes it through the Fourier Series, where sine waves embody periodicity: what goes around comes around. Creation, maintenance, and dissolution are not separate events but parts of one eternal cycle.

Stillness in Bloom

A tranquil aquatic ecosystem, where water lilies rise from muddy depths to greet the light. Their bloom reflects purity, resilience, and the quiet wisdom of Nature’s cycles.

Nature heals through rhythm. The lilies teach us that growth need not be loud—it can be graceful, patient, and luminous. In their stillness, we find clarity. In their bloom, we find renewal.

Materialism and Spiritualism


Materialism seeks to measure and control; spiritualism aims to transcend. Yet both are bound by emotion—the universal language of joy, grief, awe, and love. Even royal palaces, with their opulent materialism, carried spiritual symbolism in their architecture and rituals.

“Living Legacy” Luxury is not merely excess—it is expression.



Global Evolution of Thought


From Baudhayana’s Sulba Sutras (predating Pythagoras by centuries) to Taoist wisdom and Stoic philosophy, humanity’s intellectual journey is global. Each tradition reflects the same pursuit: to harmonise human life with cosmic order.

This opulent palace interior reflects the material grandeur of royal life, where architecture served as both power and poetry. The gold-accented columns and luminous design evoke a lifestyle steeped in ceremony, craftsmanship, and cultural symbolism.

In such spaces, materialism and spiritualism often coexisted. Palaces were not just homes—they were sanctuaries of cosmic order, where rituals harmonised the earthly with the eternal.





Dravidian temple architecture blends engineering with mythology, creating sacred spaces that endure across centuries. It is a testament to how belief can shape stone—and society.

“Gopuram at Dusk” This temple skyline celebrates human achievement in devotion, design, and storytelling. Each sculpture is a verse, each tower a prayer—rising from earth to ether.


Success as Continuity


True success is not a summit but a rhythm. It is a sustained presence, not a fleeting achievement. The ancients knew this, and today’s leaders and innovators rediscover it in cycles of renewal.

Nature as Teacher


Whether through rivers, forests, or digital networks, Nature continues to teach us. The five elements—earth, water, fire, air, ether—remain eternal, translated into new forms but never diminished.

Closing Thought


From royal halls to temple towers, from blooming lilies to ancient theorems, we see that wisdom is not bound by time. Whether expressed through luxury, Nature, healing, or architecture, the human spirit continues to seek clarity, connection, and continuity.

We are not inventing new truths—we are rediscovering old ones, in new guises.

Old gods wear new guises, but their wisdom endures. In every age, we return to the same truths: that we are part of a rhythm larger than ourselves.

Historic BJP Victory in Kerala: NDA Wins Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation

Christian and Hindu communities rally behind the BJP as Kerala witnesses a political turning point.

A new sun rise
A fresh sunrise in the Kerala horizon

The BJP-led NDA has achieved a historic breakthrough in Kerala by winning the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation—the first time the NDA has come to power in a municipal corporation in the state. 

Today’s big news is the victory in the Trivandrum Mayor election, marking a significant achievement for the BJP in Kerala! In the recent Kerala Local Body Polls, the BJP has achieved a remarkable triumph, with the NDA clinching 50 out of 101 seats in the Thiruvananthapuram municipal corporation, representing a substantial mandate for the first time in this area. The BJP has surprisingly emerged as a major contender, grabbing headlines as the NDA, under its leadership, wins 50 seats in the 101-member municipal corporation in Thiruvananthapuram, once again highlighting its unprecedented success in the region.

This victory marks the end of LDF’s dominance and signals the BJP’s long-term plans in Kerala, reshaping the political landscape of God’s Own Country (Kerala).


BJP Victory in Kerala

The BJP’s triumph in Thiruvananthapuram is not just a local body win—it is a historic BJP victory in Kerala that reflects years of grassroots effort, sacrifices of thousands of BJP/RSS workers, and a growing trust in development-oriented governance.

Christian support for BJP, Kerala politics, NDA breakthrough

  • In Kerala, a significant section of the Christian community, once neutral, has now moved closer to the BJP.
  • Politically conscious Hindus, who had earlier aligned with both left and right parties, are increasingly supporting the BJP.
  • This shift is rooted in the perception that successive left and right governments governed by appeasing only the Muslim community, leaving others marginalised.

Christian Outreach and Munambam Victory

The BJP stood firmly with 500 Catholic fisherman families in Munambam, Ernakulam, when their land was grabbed by the Waqf Board. This solidarity has not been forgotten—Munambam, a Christian-majority village, voted unanimously for the BJP.

The BJP’s success in Christian-majority states of the Northeast and Bengal demonstrates its ability to build bridges across denominations. Kerala, with its diverse Christian communities, presents a similar opportunity for outreach and consolidation.

A symbolic illustration of unity in Kerala, blending Christian fishermen’s nets, Hindu temple motifs, and civic buildings into one harmonious design. The artwork represents cultural diversity, grassroots strength, and political breakthrough.
Kerala’s unity in diversity—Christian fishermen, Hindu traditions, and civic progress woven together in a historic moment of political change.


Leadership and Grassroots Effort

Heartfelt congratulations to Sri Rajeev Chandrasekhar for the remarkable performance and inspiring victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation elections. This achievement reflects:

  • Visionary leadership
  • Tireless grassroots effort
  • Growing public trust in transparent, development-oriented governance

May this victory pave the way for stronger civic administration and people-centric progress in Kerala’s capital city.

For context on Kerala’s cultural and political uniqueness, see Kerala: God’s Own Country.


National Context and Future Outlook

The BJP’s Kerala breakthrough adds momentum to its national expansion strategy. With Christian-majority states in the Northeast already under BJP rule, Kerala’s shift signals a broader trend.

According to The Hindu, this victory is being seen as a milestone in reshaping Kerala’s political future.

Hopefully, West Bengal will follow in the next state elections, further strengthening the BJP’s footprint across India.


Closing Note

This victory in Thiruvananthapuram is more than a local milestone—it is a symbol of Kerala’s changing political tide. The sacrifices of thousands of BJP/RSS workers, the support of Christian fishermen in Munambam, and the rallying of politically conscious Hindus all point to a new chapter in Kerala politics.

👉 Will Kerala’s Christian community continue to embrace the BJP in future elections?
👉 Can this municipal victory translate into a larger state-level breakthrough?
👉 Will West Bengal follow Kerala’s lead in the next elections?

The answers lie in the evolving political consciousness of India’s diverse communities.

Tragedy at Bondi Beach: A Hanukkah Celebration Turned Deadly

A Terrorist Attack Claims Lives and Sparks Global Condemnation

A devastating terrorist attack struck Sydney’s Bondi Beach on December 14, 2025, during a Hanukkah celebration, leaving 11 dead and dozens wounded. Amid the chaos, a local fruit seller heroically tackled one of the gunmen, while police neutralised the other. Leaders worldwide have condemned the assault as a brutal act of antisemitic violence.

Bondi Beach at dusk with the Hanukkah menorah glowing, police lights flashing in the background, and a symbolic silhouette of a man tackling a gunman near rubbish bins
A sombre yet heroic scene blending tragedy with resilience

📰 The Attack

  • On the first night of Hanukkah, hundreds gathered at Bondi Beach for the annual Chanukah by the Sea event.
  • Around 6:30 pm, two gunmen opened fire on the crowd, killing 11 people and injuring at least 29 others, including a child and two police officers.
  • Witnesses described scenes of panic as families fled toward the Bondi Pavilion and nearby streets.

👨‍🦱 The Heroic Act

Ahmed Al-Ahmed, a 43-year-old fruit shop owner and father of two, tackled one of the shooters near rubbish bins. Despite being shot in the leg and shoulder, he managed to pin the attacker down until police arrived. 

Ahmed Al-Ahmed’s courage stunned the world. India and global leaders have responded with grief, solidarity, and calls for unity against antisemitic terror.

Ahmed Al-Ahmed from Sutherland, Sydney, was near Bondi Beach when gunfire erupted during the Hanukkah celebration. Unarmed and without hesitation, he tackled one of the gunmen, pinning him down near rubbish bins despite being shot in the leg and shoulder.

His actions likely prevented further casualties, and he is now recovering in the hospital. Ahmed’s bravery has gone viral, with tributes pouring in from across Australia and beyond.


🚔 Police Response

  • Police quickly launched a massive emergency operation:
    • One gunman, identified as 24-year-old Naveed Akram, was shot dead by officers.
    • The second suspect was critically injured and taken into custody.
    • Authorities discovered suspicious items, including possible explosives, near a pedestrian bridge close to the beach.
  • The attack has been officially classified as a terrorist incident targeting Sydney’s Jewish community.

🇮🇳 India’s Response

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack as a “ghastly act of terror” and expressed solidarity with Australia and the Jewish community.

  • Indian authorities issued security alerts for Jewish establishments in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru amid concerns of coordinated threats during Hanukkah.

  • Indian media and citizens have praised Ahmed’s courage, with hashtags like #AhmedAlAhmed and #BondiHero trending across platforms.

🌍 Global Reactions

  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the attack a “cancer of antisemitism” and criticised Australia’s prior silence on rising hate crimes.

  • President Isaac Herzog and other Israeli leaders expressed grief and demanded stronger international safeguards for Jewish communities.

  • UK Labour Leader Keir Starmer and other European leaders condemned the shooting as a targeted antisemitic terror attack, urging global unity.

  • Australian PM Anthony Albanese called it a “cowardly act” and pledged full support to the Jewish community, emphasising that Hanukkah should be a time of joy, not mourning.

  • Jewish organisations worldwide expressed grief and solidarity, emphasising the need for vigilance against antisemitism.
  • Leaders across the globe, including those from the United States and the European Union, denounced the violence and offered condolences to the victims’ families.
  • The incident has reignited debates about public safety, communal harmony, and counterterrorism preparedness in multicultural societies.

✨ Closing Note

This tragedy, unfolding on a night meant for light and joy, underscores both the fragility of peace and the resilience of human courage.

Ahmed’s act reminds us that heroism knows no religion or background. In a moment of terror, a fruit seller became a shield for strangers. As the world mourns, it also unites — against hate, and in honour of courage.