Nepal

Earthquakes
Nepal sits on a continental collision zone between the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate. On April 25, 2015, Nepal was devastated by an earthquake that claimed over 8,000 lives, especially after avalanches on Mount Everest. A second major earthquake struck the region on May 12 as an aftershock, likely caused by the previous quake. Many Sherpas, whose homes, lodges, and restaurants were destroyed in the disasters, complained of a slow response from the government, despite billions of dollars of Western aid.

Constitution
Nepal's 239-year old monarchy was abolished in 2008, seven years after an unhinged crown prince killed the king and eight members of his family at the height of a Maoist uprising. The Maoists laid down their arms in 2006 and joined democratic politics in an India-brokered peace deal that paved the way for the constitution.

The earthquakes that killed more than 9,000 people in the spring of 2015 galvanized politicians, who had squabbled for seven years to finish the charter. On September 20, 2015, Nepal adopted its first democratic constitution in a largely peaceful event, a historic step for a nation that had seen war, a palace massacre (2001), and devastating earthquakes more than 65 years prior. It created seven states in a secular, federal system, but it was opposed by some groups who wanted to re-establish Nepal as a Hindu nation, and others who felt it was unfavorable to people in the plains, near India. Clauses over citizenship were some of the most contentious, with critics saying they discriminated against women who married foreigners.

Energy
Nepal faced an acute fuel crisis since September 23, 2015, as imports of petroleum from India dwindled from 300 fuel trucks to 5-10 trucks daily. This was due to protesters in the lowland south - angered that a new constitution failed to reflect their interests - prevented supply trucks from entering, crippling the landlocked Himalayan nation trying to recover from the earthquakes that displaced millions.

Tourism
In the past, deadly accidents on Mount Everest did little to dent the mountain's popularity, with risk being part of the allure; however, bookings for Mount Everest pointed to a sharp drop in foreign mountaineers heading for Nepal in 2016, deterred by ruined infrastructure from avalanches and earthquakes in 2014 and 2015, and an economic blockade along its border with India that threatened supplies of fuel and equipment. Sherpas and climbers continued to fight over deep-rooted frustrations over a lack of recognition of the risk local guides had to take; they wanted a bigger slice of the $360 million annual adventure travel industry, taking the biggest drop since commercial climbing began on Everest in the early 1990's, leaving many Sherpas struggling for work. The acute fuel crisis since September 2015 threatened the climbing season due to a shortage of fuel equipment and other necessities.