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Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk and other well-known visitors joined President Donald Trump on his first significant diplomatic trip of his second term, which took him to Saudi Arabia.

Trump was hosted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at a formal lunch in Riyadh. The visit marks the start of a four-day tour of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, aimed at securing major investments in the US economy, according to BBC.

Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has said that the prisons would not only be transformed into open correction homes but also into an industrial village.

Inaugurating the newly constructed building and facility of the Morang Prison Office today, Home Minister Lekhak made it clear that the aim is to modernise the prison and transform it into an industrial village with the objective of helping inmates make productive use of their time and earn a living.

He stated that although there is a mandatory provision to keep the convicted persons in jail in accordance with the prevailing legal provisions, the government is sensitive to the human rights of the inmates.

Stating that the human rights of all individuals will be guaranteed in a democracy, the Home Minister informed that necessary preparations are underway to address the complaint of prison buildings being fewer compared to the number of inmates and the lack of necessary infrastructure.

The Minister of Internal Affairs and Law of Koshi Province, Rewati Raman Bhandari, expressed confidence that the newly constructed prison building will provide additional facilities to inmates, clarifying that the government is on the side of human rights along with the proper utilization of inmates’ labour.

The Chief District Officer of Morang, Indradev Yadav, expressed his commitment to address the issues seen in the prison and to treat the inmates appropriately.

Lawmaker Amanlal Modi, Province Assembly member Bhim Parajuli, Chief of the Federal Urban Development and Building Construction Office Pradeep Kumar Singh, and Director General of the Central Department of Prisons Narayan Bhattarai expressed their views in favour of the employment and human rights of prisoners.

The Department of Building has stated that a total of Rs 361 million and 285 thousand has been spent for the construction of the newly built prison building. The new building is constructed in the complex of the old District Jail located at Hathkhola in Biratnagar.

The prison building can accommodate 218 male and 99 female inmates.

Lawmakers have put forth their views on contemporary issues in today’s meeting of the House of Representatives.

On the occasion, Thakur Prasad Gaire said organizing ‘Sagarmatha Sambaad’ for climate justice at a time when the country is facing climate-induced crisis, is the matter of pleasant and expressed the belief that the program would seek solutions to the climate crisis.

He shared that there should not be any delay to establish climate justice as the risk of flood and landslide as well as incidents of other natural disasters are increasing due to climate change.

Similarly, Dig Bahadur Limbu demanded the government to allocate a budget for irrigation and drinking water facility at Morang constituency-1 as sources of drinking water and irrigation are drying up due to floods that occurred last September.

Likewise, Dol Prasad Aryal drew the government’s attention to create an environment for disaster management on time as the citizens have to face difficulties due to landslide and flood during rainy season while Tara Lama Tamang asked the government to resettlement of the families displaced after expansion of Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve.

Tosima Karki demanded the government to forward construction activities of Kathmandu-Tarai-Madhes fast track, the national pride project and Dikpal Kumar Shahi urged to make power supply at Aathbis municipality of Dailekh systematic.

Similarly, Deepak Bahadur Singh stressed the need of stopping policy-level corruption while Narayani Sharma drew the government’s attention towards power outage at a time when mercury is rising in Tarai-Madhes.

Likewise, Nisha Dangi pointed out the need for a country’s sustainable development, skill development training and employment as well as quality education and good governance.

Pushpa Bahadur Shah asked the government to allocate a budget for Achham District Hospital in the coming fiscal year as a contract for construction of a 50-bed hospital has been forwarded.

Other lawmakers including Prakash Jwala, Prem Bahadur Maharjan and Bindabasini Kansakar also put forth their views.

Lawmakers call for formulating budget that meets citizens’ aspiration for development

Lawmakers have emphasized that the budget for the upcoming fiscal year should be brought in a way that addresses the high economic growth rate and the development aspirations of citizens.

In today’s meeting of the House of Representatives, they stated that the budget should be focused on the implementation of fundamental rights, infrastructure development, productivity enhancement, and job creation.

Those airing their views on this line were Deepak Giri of the Nepali Congress, Juli Kumari Mahato of the CPN-UML, Ranendra Barali of the CPN (Maoist Center), Santosh Pariyar of the Rastriya Swatantra Party and Anisha Nepali of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party.

Born and brought up in a middle-class family in Pokhara, Noble Basnet, widely known by his stage name Jamesy, was an average student in school.

Growing up as a kid, he was surrounded by books. His parents always encourage him to read books of various genres from poetry to fiction or nonfiction.

But after school, a friend of his introduced rap music to his life. During that time, rap music was in its growth stage in Nepal. When he heard hip-hop music for the first time, he was so engrossed in rap for its raw expression and storytelling. Back then, he used to listen to 50 Cent, J Hus, Meekz as they inspired him with their powerful lyrics and real-life connections.

With the time passing by, he started dreaming of becoming a successful rapper like them, triggering him to write verses. He was very good at wordplay skills as he spent most of leisure time reading novels and poems in his school life and had an aptitude for appreciating and understanding music.

At the beginning, his writing skill was not on par with other rappers in Nepal, compelling him to work harder than ever. By degrees, he was growing in his writing skill.

But there was limited exposure, platforms and even it was not easy for him to record the song as there was a lot of negative stigmas about rappers.

He released his debut song ‘Euro Gang’ in 2019, tapping into the Nepali rap industry. The song could not become an instant hit.  He, however, exerted himself with significant effort and dedication and released another song GVNMAN in 2020. The song made him popular in the first place.

In October, 2024, he released another song named ‘Amsterdam’. Soon after the release, the song became popular overnight and hit the airwaves of major cities of Nepal, which made him the person he is today.

Till date, the song has amassed 14 million views, making him one of the country’s popular rappers.

So far, he has performed in many places from vibrant streets of Kathmandu to the iconic stages of Europe and beyond.

In just a short span of six months—from November 2024 to April 2025—Jamesy has performed at over 80 events across Nepal and various international cities. This attainment has not only established him as one of the busiest artists but also coagulated him into a rising star.

His journey has already seen sold-out concerts in Australia, Dubai, Japan, Hong Kong, and the UK.

With irresistible impetus, Jamesy’s programs are in pipeline in Australia (again), South Korea, Bahrain, Dubai, Japan, and more.

The demand for his shows continues to grow as his fan base expands far beyond the Nepali diaspora, reaching new territories where his music speaks to hearts regardless of language or location.

Soon, he will be releasing his new songs “Wagwan Remix”, a fiery rework of a crowd favorite, and “Dior”, an exciting international collaboration featuring Chinoir, among others, sparking a lot of curiosity among his fans.

His inimitable fusion of Nepali culture with international styles has made him one of the most sought artists.

More than just an artist, Jamesy is a movement—a symbol of what it means to dream big and take Nepali music to the world.

“My music is more into trap, focusing on hard-hitting beats, catchy hooks, and lyrical storytelling,” Jamesy said, adding, “Though there may be elements of drill in some tracks, my style is predominantly influenced by the trap genre.”

In the question, where do you see yourself in the next five to 10 years, he said that he would see himself in the international platforms in the next five to 10 years performing among thousands of audiences and expanding his influence beyond Nepal. 

“Additionally, I plan to contribute to the growth of Nepal’s hip-hop scene, mentoring upcoming talents and possibly launching my own label or management company,” he further said.

Learning shouldn’t be limited to classrooms. We all know that but as the daily grind takes over, learning often takes a backseat. Many people ApEx spoke to confessed that without classes to attend and the threat of exams looming over their heads, they weren’t very likely to try and learn something new by themselves. While that is understandable, there are some skills that can possibly give your career a boost as well as help you feel confident about yourself. The best part is that you don’t even have to spend a lot of time every day to learn these essential skills. Just a few minutes of daily practice are enough. We recommend five handy skills that can help you become better at what you do and force you to be a little creative too, which is always a good thing.

A new language

Studies have shown that learning a new language, activates different parts of your brain and slows down age related changes. Nowadays, it’s not difficult to learn a new language from the comfort of your home. There are many apps that take you through the basics of any language you want to learn in just a few minutes a day. Learning a new language might also help you be considered for promotions especially if you work for multinational companies or open up new job opportunities. You might also be able to look into cultural exchange programs, things who previously had no access to. Additionally, learning a new language is also fun and engaging.

Basic photography skills

All of us take pictures on our phones, but how many of us can actually say that the photos we take are pleasing to look at? Learn the basics of photography through tutorials on YouTube or you can even ask a professional photographer if they would let you tag along during their assignments. Most photographers will let you assist them in their projects. There are many workshops and courses, both physical and virtual, that you can join to pick up a few tips and tricks. You don’t need fancy equipment to take good photos. Just your phone will do.

Graphic design

Graphic design is used in a wide range of fields from marketing and publishing to product design. It’s a great tool of visual communication and thus more important today than ever before. No matter which profession you are in, it helps to have some knowledge of graphic design. Are you interested in print or web design or is it motion graphics that holds a special appeal? Figure out which path you wanna take and get on board with some courses. Learning graphic design is a mentally stimulating activity.

Sewing and stitching

Many people don’t know how to mend a popped button and it’s unfortunate because you end up spending a lot of time and money fixing small things. We believe sewing and stitching are skills everyone should possess. And it’s not hard to learn either. But if you can work with a needle and thread, why not take things a step further by learning how to sew and stitch some basic items. This is something you can do as a family activity as well. Think about it, won’t it be fun to wear clothes that you made yourself? And if things turn out well, you can even start thinking of running a small clothes business in the future. 

Public speaking

Everyone, irrespective of who you are and what you do, can benefit from a public speaking course. It will make you more confident and better able to express yourself. These days, many organizations and corporate houses have realized the importance of public speaking and hold workshops and training for their staff. You can also learn public speaking by listening to experts in the field and picking up pointers on how to be a more effective communicator. This is a soft skill that has huge benefits.

Samsung Electronics has unveiled the Galaxy S25 Edge, its slimmest flagship smartphone, featuring enhanced AI capabilities and a 5.8mm-thick design.

The device includes multimodal AI, allowing users to engage with speech and vision via the camera. Samsung rebuilt internal components to provide performance despite its slimmer design, Reuters reported.

The S25 Edge launches in South Korea on May 23 and in the US on May 30, with a global rollout to 30 countries. The starting price is $1,099.

Addressing concerns, Samsung said a redesigned vapor chamber ensures effective heat management. The launch is seen as a strategic move ahead of Apple’s expected release of a thinner iPhone later this year, according to Reuters.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 14. 24 points to close at 2,634.86 points on Tuesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 1. 47 points to close at 444. 66 points.

A total of 21,828,231-unit shares of 314 companies were traded for Rs 9. 63 billion.

Meanwhile, Crest Micro Life Insurance Limited (CREST) and Om Megashree Pharmaceuticals Limited (OMPL) were the top gainers today with their price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Gurans Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (GLBSL) was the top loser with its price dropped by 7. 93 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 38 trillion.

Do all the things you throw away on a regular basis—plastic bags, straws, paper, wrapping paper, cotton buds etc.—make you feel guilty? Does your trash can overflow with stuff between pick-ups? Do you find yourself wishing you could cut back on unnecessary waste but don’t know where to start? If yes, then this helpful guide is for you. Some of the things in this guide might be stuff you are familiar with but still unable to put to practice. We will help you build habits that can make sustainability a part of your daily routine without you having to put too much effort into it.

The trick to using cloth bags

We are sure everyone knows the importance of using cloth bags instead of plastic bags. Most of us have at least a few cloth bags stuffed in random drawers in our homes. But what happens is that we forget to carry these when we go out shopping and we end up either using a plastic bag or buying another cloth bag which will eventually end up in the same random drawers. The trick to make sure you don’t use plastic bags is to always have a reusable bag with you. When you put away your groceries, don’t just toss your reusable bag in a drawer. Fold it away and put it in your bag, in the dashboard of your car, or next to where you keep your keys in your entryway. This way you’ll always have a reusable bag with you on hand. You can also hang a few on a hook in the kitchen so that when you have to make impromptu grocery runs, you can quickly grab one. Make sure your cloth bags are lightweight and strong.

Reusing whatever you can

Before you throw anything away, take a look at it with fresh eyes. Most of the time, we tend to throw things that can be reused in various ways. Whether it be empty cans or jars or wrapping papers and gift bags, everything can be repurposed and used for different things around the house. You can use empty cans and jars to store spices and grains. You can repurpose them to hold pens or remote controls. The reason most of these jars and cans end up in the trash bin is because they’re hard to clean. To get pesky labels off, immerse empty jars in a bowl of water overnight and then you can simply scrub them off with a steel wool the next day. Did you know that you can repurpose gift bags to make pretty boxes that you can use to store documents and little trinkets around the house? You can find many tutorials on Instagram and Pinterest. Wine and liquor bottles can be used to store oil, as water bottles, and even as flower vases. A great way to ensure that you reuse things and don’t toss them away is to make a list of all the ways you can do just that. It helps to have a reminder on hand.

Small actions

There are many little things you can do to live an eco-friendly life,  from carrying your own water bottle and metal straws to mending your clothes.

You just have to put a little thought into it but that is often easier said than done. Don’t try to make drastic changes overnight. Start with one thing at a time. For instance, in the month of May vow to not buy mineral water when you’re out. For this, you’ll have to carry your own water bottle. Invest in a steel or a glass bottle and carry water with you everywhere. Once you’ve gotten into the habit of doing this, pick up another action. Instead of carrying tissues, tuck a small handkerchief in your bag. Wherever possible, choose reusable options. Switching to a menstrual cup instead of tampons or pads can significantly lower your trash volume during your periods. The key here is not to start doing everything at once. Choose one action at a time and once you’ve mastered that move onto the next.

Buy what you need 

Most of us buy things without a second thought, and it’s not unusual for us to have multiples of everything, from notebooks and stationery to cookware and bags. Impulse shopping is something that we all succumb to every once in a while. One of the main things you have to do if you want to live a sustainable life is to look into your consumption patterns. Are you buying things because you need them or because you want them? Remember that things start to lose their appeal once you’ve bought them. The thrill only lies in the purchase. When you go out shopping, make a list of things you need and only buy what’s on it. Mend your clothes so that a simple tear or a popped button does not have you running to the store to replace the item. Try using what you have at home before you buy more things. This goes for items like bags, shoes, and clothes, as well as staples like pasta and grains among others. Don’t fall into marketing traps. Understand your needs and only buy things that you know you will use.