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India on Saturday handed over a newly constructed building to Shree Mahendra Secondary School in Achham.

The building was built with the Indian government’s financial assistance of Rs 32. 40 million under ‘Nepal-Inda Development Cooperation’.  

Lalit Bahadur Kunwar, Chief, District Coordination Committee, Achham,  Rajendra Bahadur Kunwar, Mayor, Sanfebagar Municipality and  Shri Suman Shekhar, First Secretary, Embassy of India, Kathmandu jointly handed over the building.

Political representatives, government officials, social workers and teachers of the school, students and their parents were also present on this occasion.

The Government of India’s grant under ‘Nepal-India Development Cooperation’ has been utilised for the construction of the school building comprising class rooms, laboratory, computer room, staff room, administration section, principal’s room, library, accounts section and toilets for boys and girls, reads a statement issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.

The grant has also been utilised for the procurement of furniture and computers. The project was taken up as a High Impact Community Development   Project (HICDP) and was implemented through DCC Achham.

Shree Mahendra Secondary School was established in the year 1960 as a Secondary School and subsequently upgraded to Higher Secondary school.

Since 2003, Government of India has taken up over 573 HICDPs in Nepal in various sectors and has completed     495 projects. Amongst these, 43 projects are located in Sudurpashchim Province including Shree Mahendra Secondary School in Achham.

In addition to these, the Government of India has gifted 1009 ambulances and 300 school buses to various hospitals, health posts and educational institutions in Nepal. Amongst these,70 ambulances and 27 school buses have been gifted in Sudurpashchim Province. Out of these, 6 ambulances were gifted in Achham.

Massive land plotting activities are underway at Ghising Danda in Ratamate, Kankrabari, Suryabinayak Municipality–9 of Bhaktapur, putting at risk the area’s natural landscape, irrigation canals, public roads, small settlements, community lands, and forest areas. The destruction has alarmed locals, especially as natural springs within the lush community forest have started drying up.

For the past month, over two dozen bulldozers have been aggressively clearing the area, but local authorities—including the municipal government, Division Forest Office, and other concerned district agencies—appear to be unaware or inactive. Approximately 535 ropanis of hillside land have already been leveled and cleared. The work is being carried out by Nik Bhujikik Housing Pvt Ltd, which claims it is for housing development purposes.

Following local complaints, a joint field inspection led by Bhaktapur’s Chief District Officer Gopal Prasad Aryal took place a couple of weeks ago. The team included senior officials from the Bhaktapur District Police, Armed Police Force in Duwakot, Survey Office, Kathmandu Valley Development Authority (Bhaktapur Branch), Division Forest Office, the Chief Administrative Officer of Suryabinayak Municipality, and the ward chairperson. They instructed the company to immediately halt all activities. However, the housing company appears to have ignored the directive.

According to locals, forested areas, water sources, traditional public rest stops (patis), canals, roads, pipelines, and streams have been destroyed in the name of plotting. Six houses, located in a high-risk zone, have already been demolished, and their residents relocated. Ward Chairperson Bhagawan Khatri of Suryabinayak Municipality-9 stated that the plotting has encroached upon 12 ropanis of public land and 19 ropanis of forest area.

The municipality had received an application from the company seeking permission to level land, but no official approval had been granted. “They carried out major construction activities under the guise of site clearance without getting approval. Entire settlements have been removed, and we are shocked. No further work will be allowed,” said Taranath Luintel, then municipality’s Chief Administrative Officer.

Saphal Shrestha, head of the Bhaktapur branch of the Kathmandu Valley Development Authority, clarified that any planning involving over 50 ropanis of land requires central-level approval from the authority, which had not been sought. Hence, the district office was unaware of the project. Dinesh Thapa Magar from the Division Forest Office reported that although the Survey Office had previously identified forest boundaries, bulldozers had entered approximately 19 ropanis of forest land, destroying several pine trees in the process.

Nepal’s political landscape has undergone many changes—from the tightly controlled monarchy to a democratic system that promises freedom and representation. But what do those who have lived through it all really think? ApEx spoke to three senior citizens to reflect on the past and present. Their voices reveal the complex and evolving sentiments on Nepal’s governance.

Gopal Shrestha, 81

In the past, people used to say ‘Tanashahi’ to describe the era when there was no freedom, and no one dared to speak about the royal family. But now things have changed. People are free to express their dissatisfaction and openly criticize the government. Corruption existed back then too, but it was hidden due to strict media censorship. Today, we have the freedom to expose these issues, even those within powerful ministries, and that’s a positive change. I’m personally happy with the democratic system, and I sincerely hope that people will continue to become more educated and aware. But for democracy to succeed, we need honest and committed leaders—people who genuinely care about Nepal, not those who show up for six months and disappear without making any real difference.

Guna Kesari Phonju, 77

As a farmer, I personally feel life was better during the Rana period. They carried out a lot of development work, and especially during the reign of King Birendra, there were many notable improvements. We also felt safer back then, as the policies in place seemed more effective than those we have now. A lot has changed over the years, and to be honest, I believe a king should rule our country. It feels like a matter of national pride to be able to say we have a monarch. Without one, it almost feels like something important is missing and that makes me feel disheartened. But it depends who takes the throne. People should choose wisely and support whoever they believe is best for the country.

Shiva Narayan Gothe, 61

I have experienced both systems, and in my view, the monarchy operated in an authoritarian way, which many people didn’t like. Eventually, it was the people themselves who chose to bring an end to the monarchy, as they wanted change and hoped for a better future through democracy. But people seem disappointed. They had hoped for a systematic transformation, but what they see today isn’t what they envisioned. The same people who once rejected the monarchy are now demanding its return. This shows that people aren’t necessarily tired of democracy itself, but rather of the individuals and leadership they once believed in. Personally, I also think that monarchy should be reinstated—but bringing it back will not be easy. It will take time, effort, and strong public will. People had high expectations from democracy, hoping it would improve their lives. But as those expectations remain unfulfilled, dissatisfaction has grown and I too am disappointed.

Many people struggle with self-doubt and overthinking, which affects their daily lives. How can someone break free from the cycle of negative self-talk and build confidence?

Answered by Kapil Sharma, counseling psychologist, Better Mind

Many people struggle with self-doubt and overthinking, and it can feel like driving through thick fog—you can’t see the road ahead clearly. But just like a fogged-up windshield can be cleared with a defogger, our minds can also be cleared with the right tools and actions. It’s not a one-time fix—it requires regular effort and care.

Negative self-talk often comes from our inner critic, which is shaped by past experiences like critical parenting styles, lack of emotional validation, or constantly being compared to others. Perfectionism plays a role too—setting unrealistically high standards makes any mistake feel like total failure.

To break this cycle, start by building awareness. One powerful method is the ‘friend test’—ask yourself: If my friend were going through this, what would I say to them? Then apply that same compassion and advice to yourself.

Overthinking pulls us into the past with guilt or into the future with anxiety. Grounding techniques like journaling, breathing exercises, physical movement, or even tapping can bring your mind back to the present.

Pay attention to your internal dialogue. The way you speak to yourself matters. Shift from ‘I can’t do this’ to ‘I’m learning how to do this.’ That small change can build hope and motivation. Confidence and mental well-being are like muscles—they grow stronger with consistent practice. Start with small acts of courage. Over time, these build trust in yourself.

Finally, aim to build a healthy relationship with your inner voice. Treat yourself with the same kindness and patience you would offer to someone you care about. With time, awareness, and practice, it’s absolutely possible to break free from self-doubt and step into a more confident, grounded version of yourself.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has questioned Russia’s commitment to upcoming peace talks in Istanbul, citing a lack of response to Ukraine’s ceasefire proposals. He warned the meeting could be “fruitless” without clear preparation.

Russia confirmed its attendance but has not shared its terms. Both sides reported fresh explosions ahead of the talks. Russia currently controls about 20 percent of Ukraine, including Crimea, BBC reported.

US President Donald Trump announced a sharp increase in tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, raising them from 25 percent to 50 percent. Speaking at a rally near Pittsburgh, Trump said the move aims to strengthen the US steel industry and protect American jobs, according to Reuters.

The new tariffs, which go into effect Wednesday, will apply to both raw metals and related products. The statement coincided with Trump's approval of a $14.9bn merger between Nippon Steel and US Steel.

Allies criticized the decision, with Canada and Australia describing it as damaging to economic cooperation and commerce. Meanwhile, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc's shares rose 26 percent on anticipation of increased profitability as tariffs rise, Reuters reported.

The Trump administration has ordered federal agencies to stop using race, sex, ethnicity, or national origin data in hiring, as part of efforts to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.

A memo from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) directed agencies to base choices entirely on merit and job-related criteria, and prohibited the use and broadcast of demographic statistics in recruitment, Reuters reported.

The directive also promoted broader recruiting beyond elite institutions, including as public universities, vocational schools, and religious colleges.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met US Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender in Washington from May 27–29 to discuss deepening economic ties and coordination on upcoming Financial Action Task Force (FATF) processes, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

The conversations were part of a larger effort to improve the India-US COMPACT project, which focuses on defense, trade, and technological collaboration, according to Firstpost.

The talks come as India prepares to advocate for Pakistan's removal from the FATF grey list, claiming substantial proof of its support for cross-border terrorism following the recent Pahalgam incident in Jammu and Kashmir.

India is also expected to highlight Pakistan’s increasing defence spending amid economic crisis, raising concerns over misuse of international financial aid, Firstpost reported.