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With the floods sweeping away the Miteri Bridge at Rasuwagadhi, an international trade border with China, the road connecting Nepal with the northern neighbour has been disrupted.

The floods triggered by torrential rainfall washed away the bridge that came into operation in 2019 last night.

When the floods in 2020 damaged the bridge, it was repaired and brought back into operation.

The bridge, which was further damaged by the 2015 earthquake, was built by Tibet Engineering Company Limited's Tan Sun Road and Bridge with Chinese investment.

The bridge was constructed five meters northeast of where it was before after the trade increased.

The business, which was previously affected by landslides, has become even more uncertain after the flood washed away the bridge.

Arjun Poudel, Chief District Officer of Rasuwa, said that talks are also being held with the Consulate General in China and Chinese officials at the border on this issue.

“Right now, we are busy rescuing the people trapped in the floods. Nine people have been rescued so far. Search is also going on for the missing persons,” he said.

Meanwhile, three policemen, including an assistant sub inspector, who were deployed to rescue those trapped in the floods, have gone missing.

Those missing have been identified as Assistant Sub Inspector Lal Bahadur Shrestha, Police Constable Munna Thakur and Lokendra Bohora, according to the District Police Office, Rasuwa.

They were deployed from the Area Police Office, Timure to rescue the people trapped in the floods.

Police said that 18 people including six Chinese nationals have gone missing in the floods.

Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force personnel have been deployed to search for the missing persons.

According to the list available from the Armed Police Force, the missing Chinese nationals have been identified as Yu Yue, Li Huaqing, Yang Chuan, Yu Hai Hang, You Xiao Qiu and Jou Yong.

Police identified the other missing persons as  Zipan Chaudhary, Santosh Dayat, Buddhiram Tharu, Laxmi Narayan Tharu, Suresh Tharu, Narendra BK of Baglung, container driver Phurba Lama, mixer driver Govinda Moktan, and Hilux driver Lokman Tamang.

Similarly, the floods also damaged the dry port being built near the Rasuwagadhi border crossing. The workers working there are also out of contact.

Assistant Chief District Office Dhruva Prasad Adhikari said that 18 have been reported missing.

The floods have also caused damage to the charging stations and the Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project on the border.

Cargo containers and electric vehicles were also swept away by the floods.

More than 90 percent of the savings deposited in troubled cooperatives has yet to be returned to rightful depositors, even seven years after the government formed a committee to resolve their financial woes. The Problematic Cooperatives Management Committee, which was formed in 2018 to manage the assets and liabilities of failing cooperatives, has been able to return only about 10 percent of the total amount claimed by depositors. 

So far, the federal government has declared 23 cooperatives as problematic and assigned the committee to handle their settlements. Of the Rs 38.42bn claimed by depositors from 22 of these institutions, the committee had returned just Rs 3.71bn to around 5,000 depositors by the end of June.

The committee has yet to begin reviewing complaints from depositors of Ideal Yamuna Cooperatives, which was declared problematic only recently. Data released by the Office of the Problematic Cooperative Management Committee shows more than 50,000 depositors are still awaiting the return of a combined Rs 34.71bn from these institutions. To recover these funds, the committee has been working to auction the movable and immovable assets of cooperative promoters and managers.

Committee Chairperson Shriman Kumar Gautam said the committee has expedited efforts to identify and freeze assets held by the promoters and managers of troubled cooperatives. “Asset valuation and auction processes have also been initiated accordingly,” he said. “We returned Rs 2.88bn to depositors in the current fiscal year alone, compared to just Rs 836.5m in the previous year.”

Under the Cooperative Act, 2017, the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, and Poverty Alleviation can declare a cooperative “problematic” if it fails to return deposits parked by its members, faces a financial crisis or engages in irregularities. The ministry may appoint a committee to oversee the resolution process on the recommendation of the concerned registrar.

Of the 23 cooperatives declared problematic so far by the federal government, the committee has completed settlements in only three: Kuber Saving and Credit Cooperative, Chartered Saving and Credit Cooperative Limited, and Standard Multi-Purpose Cooperative. Several provincial governments have also declared cooperatives under their jurisdictions as problematic.

The cooperative sector, which was once described as one of the three pillars of the economy along with the public and the private sector, is now plagued by deep-rooted problems stemming from weak regulation, political interference and poor governance. Many cooperatives without proper oversight, allowing financial mismanagement and misuse of public deposits to flourish.

Two persons trapped in an island of the flooded Trishuli river have been rescued safely in Nuwakot district this morning.

They were airlifted safely by a Nepal Army helicopter, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority.

The rescued ones are Palden Tamang (67) and his spouse, Mangali Tamag (62) of Milan Chautara, Bidur Municipality-1, Nuwakot. The couple had reached the island to collect pieces of wood brought by the flooded river.

The river was flooded due to heavy rainfall upstream.

Its tributary, Lhende stream in Rasuwa district, was also swollen after the rainfall in the northern side bordering China.

The sexual and gender minority community have expressed their dissatisfaction saying that some groups are taking over the Blue Diamond Society to fulfill their vested interest.

Former Constituent Assembly member Sunil Babu Pant had formed the Blue Diamond Society in 2001 to ensure the identity, rights and security of the community.

During a program held in Anamnagar on Monday, the participants said that they would no longer tolerate the interference.

They further said that they would not remain a mute spectator if anyone tries to control the Blue Diamond Society under any pretexts.

Maya Gurung, who performed the first legal same-sex marriage in South Asia, clearly stated that after the exit of Sunil Babu Pant, Blue Diamond is being operated by some groups to serve their personal interests.

“Opacity, exploitation and oppression have crossed the line,” Gurung said.

Mayako Pahichan Nepal Vice Chairman Madhu KC said that the time has come to unite and stand on the side of truth.

On the occasion, founder Pant said, "I established this organization to help the community in times of crisis. Now the question arises, where did that purpose go?"

Pant added, "We don't want a dispute. The buildings, institutions, and property belong to all communities, and we should move ahead accordingly."

Meanwhile, the community said that they need health, education, housing, legal aid, and mental empowerment, underscoring that their problems will not be solved by holding programs in hotels and resorts.

The UN has warned that Gaza is running out of fuel, threatening critical services like hospitals, ambulances, and water supply. Amid Israel’s ongoing blockade, the UN urged immediate fuel entry and unimpeded humanitarian access.

The World Food Programme reports severe hunger, with one in three people going days without food. Civilians are being killed while trying to access aid, and displacement continues to rise, with over 700,000 forced to flee since March.

The UN called on Israel to open all crossings, allow aid delivery, and protect civilians under international law, according to UN News.

BRICS leaders on Monday dismissed US President Donald Trump’s claim that the bloc is “anti-American,” following his threat to impose fresh tariffs on member countries. Speaking at the conclusion of the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva stated, “The world doesn’t need an emperor,” and emphasized the bloc’s aim to reshape global trade dynamics, Firstpost reported.

Lula reiterated his stance against the overreliance on the US dollar in international trade, calling for responsible coordination between central banks to explore alternative systems. Trump had previously warned BRICS nations of potential 100 percent tariffs if efforts to weaken the dollar continued.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa downplayed tensions, saying BRICS does not seek rivalry but cooperation. China also responded cautiously, with foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stating that tariffs should not be used as pressure tools, and reaffirmed BRICS’ commitment to “win-win” collaboration, according to Firstpost.

US President Donald Trump announced Monday that 25% tariffs will be imposed on imports from Japan and South Korea starting August 1.

In letters posted on Truth Social and addressed to the leaders of both nations, Trump stated that the tariffs are designed to address trade imbalances and will be distinct from existing sector-specific tariffs. He warned that any retaliatory actions will be countered with equivalent US tariff increases, Xinhua reported.

Trump stated that companies from Japan or South Korea may avoid the tariffs by shifting manufacturing to the United States, offering expedited clearances for such moves.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that an executive order will extend the current pause on reciprocal tariffs until August 1. She added that similar notices would be sent to around a dozen other countries, according to Xinhua.

Sometimes everything seems to be fine but, deep down, something feels heavy and empty at the same time. Is it normal to feel empty even when everything seems fine?

Answered by Karmendra Prakash Shrestha, psychology student, intern at Happy Minds

Before answering the question, I would like to acknowledge your awareness of this feeling. Noticing that something doesn’t feel right even when everything appears fine on the outside is a meaningful and courageous step. It’s easy to ignore or dismiss these experiences, often brushing them aside in the rush of daily life. But recognizing them is the first step toward understanding and healing.

Emotions, regardless of whether they are positive or negative, are a normal part of life. Happiness, sorrow and their many different varieties, color our lives. So, it’s important to remind ourselves that feeling down, sad or any other negative emotions is okay and it’s actually important to allow ourselves to feel them. When emotions are suppressed or left unacknowledged, they often resurface in other, more complex ways. 

However, the moment the conversation changes is when such emotions persist for a long time and start affecting other parts of your life (social, personal, professional, love life). If everytime you feel heavy and empty when things are seemingly fine, then it might be an indication that an issue is present deep within you. Our emotions, experiences, and traumas don’t always come to the surface. Due to busy  lives, it’s perfectly possible not to know why we’re feeling certain emotions, difficulties or problems. Issues that come from one’s childhood can be especially difficult to identify and treat. They remain dormant, showing little to no indication of its existence, until something significant change and/or event occurs which causes the issue to emerge to the surface. 

It’s also worth exploring what ‘empty’ or ‘heavy’ truly means for you. These words can reflect a wide range of feelings. Emptiness can refer to loneliness, boredom, sadness, or a lack of meaning, while heaviness might come from guilt, shame, overwhelm, or mental/physical exhaustion. Being able to name what you’re feeling more specifically can bring clarity and direction. One useful tool for this is the ‘emotion wheel’, which is a visual guide that helps people identify and articulate their emotions more accurately and can be easily found through a simple google search. Often, just naming what we feel can reduce some of the confusion and offer a sense of relief.

If these feelings begin to interfere with your daily life, your relationships, or your sense of self, it might be time to seek support. The feeling of heaviness and emptiness while everything seems fine can be an indicator of the presence of some underlying issue. Speaking to a therapist can be a valuable way to understand what’s beneath the surface in a safe and supportive environment. Therapy isn’t only for moments of crisis, it’s a space for self-discovery, growth, and healing, even when things seem okay on the outside.