Submit your Article

An Israeli attack near an aid distribution point run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) killed at least 30 people in Rafah, Palestinian news agency WAFA and Hamas-affiliated media said on Sunday, Reuters reported.

There was no immediate comment from Israel on the reported attack, which WAFA said injured more than 115 people.

The GHF, also backed by Israel, recently started operating in Gaza.

While some Palestinians expressed concern over its neutrality and biometric and other checks Israel said it would employ, Israeli officials said it allowed screening of recipients to exclude anyone found to be connected with Hamas, according to Reuters.

Nepal Press Council launched a book titled ‘Nepali Mediako Itihas, Chapa Dekhi Digital Samma’.

Minister for Education, Science and Technology Raghuji Panta, Secretary at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology Radhika Aryal, Press Council Nepal Chairman Bal Krishna Basnet, Federation of Nepali Journalists Chairperson Nirmala Sharma and senior journalist Ram Krishna Regmi jointly launched the book amidst a program held in Kathmandu.

The book covers the history of Nepali media from print to the digital age.

The book contains the research-based articles of Dr Kundan Aryal, Dr Raghu Mainali, Dr Jagat Nepal, Tirtha Koirala, Subhecha Bindu Tuladhar, Ujjwal Acharya, Bhuwan KC and Rudra Khadka, who are researching in the Nepali media.

Speaking at the event, Chief Guest Minister Pant said that Nepal’s press is more independent than other countries in South Asia.

Similarly, Press Council Nepal Chairman Bal Krishna Basnet said that the book captures the difficult situation of Nepali journalism in the past, the struggles and realities of different periods.

Four girls from Lalbhitti, Belbari Municipality-2, Morang have been reported missing.

The missing are 13-year-old Jenisa Nepali and 15-year-old Sabita Pariyar, students at Mahendra Secondary School in Sundarharaicha-11, and 12-year-old Smriti Karki Doli and Anushka Karki Doli, studying at Kabir Secondary School in Belbari-2.

It is learnt that the girls had left home on May 29, saying that they were going to meet a friend.

Chief of the Area Police Office Belbari Police Inspector Krishna Bahadur Khatri shared that they are searching for the missing girls.

Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba returned home last night after attending the signing ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organisation for Mediation (IOMed) organised in Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, on May 30.

She attended the ceremony as an observer at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A total of 32 countries signed the Convention, while more than 50 countries and over 20 international organisations participated in the event. The organisation aims to resolve international disputes between states, citizens, business and individuals across borders through mediation.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the event, the minister held a bilateral meeting with Minister Wang, which focused on strengthening the friendly relations between Nepal and China. Additionally, the meeting touched on expanding economic, technical and commercial relations between the two countries and on the timely completion of development projects in Nepal supported by China.

“As this year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and China, a discussion was also held on celebrating this occasion with special events and continuing the exchange of high-level visits between the two countries,” Minister Rana said.

The Nepali delegation led by Minister Rana included Head of the Northeast Asia Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bhrigu Dhungana and Consul General of Nepal in Hong Kong Dr Bindeswar Prasad Lekhak, as well as representatives from the Ministry and the Consulate General in Hong Kong.

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.