Sacred History Resonates in Kathmandu

Al-Qaeda-linked extremists believed to be targeting Asian flights

(NEWSER) - Nepal's only international airport has been placed on high alert after warnings from Indian authorities that it could be the target of a terror plot. Intelligence suggests that flights in Nepal and other South Asian countries are part of a new plot by al-Qaeda, AP reports. Travelers using Kathmandu's airport have been warned to expect long delays. More»

Country running short of goats ahead of major Hindu festival

(NEWSER) - Baa-ad news. Nepal is facing a severe shortage of sacrificial goats ahead of one of the Hindu calendar's biggest festivals, the BBC reports. Officials are searching the countryside for as many as 4,000 goats to buy and bring to Kathmandu ahead of the Dashain festival, in which goats are ritually slaughtered to appease the goddess Durga. The government blames the shortage on China exporting fewer goats to Nepal, causing prices to skyrocket. More»

(NEWSER) - Nepal's once-pristine natural beauty has been ravaged by years of civil war, neglect, and corruption, the Washington Post reports. Dangerous levels of pollution now cloud Kathmandu, forcing many residents to wear masks. Even the top of Mount Everest is marred by litter left behind by generations of climbers, and many warn the government that the tourists vital to the country's economy will start staying away if it doesn't take action. More»

'West Coast White House' added to list of America's most endangered buildings

(NEWSER) - Fans of 20th-century architecture are rallying to save an LA landmark from the wrecking ball, reports the Los Angeles Times. Developers want to raze the '60s-modernist Century Plaza hotel—once known as the West Coast White House due to its appeal among politicians and celebs—but supporters have persuaded the National Trust for Historic Preservation to add it to its list of America's most endangered buildings. More»

Hangzhou aims to become World Heritage site

(NEWSER) - Hoping to turn the city into a World Heritage site, China is lopping top floors off tall buildings in Hangzhou, the BBC reports. Two hotels, a TV tower, and other buildings will get the shrinking treatment in a $5.8 million effort; the city’s government has said that all buildings higher than 79 feet will need trimming. Considered one of China’s most beautiful cities, Hangzhou was the Chinese capital in the 12th and 13th centuries. More»