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The Bagmati Clean-up Mega Campaign, which was launched 12 years ago to restore the sanctity of the Bagmati River, has reached its 623rd week. Meanwhile, the government’s broader project to ensure a sewage-free Bagmati near the Pashupatinath area has completed 29 years. 

Yet, despite an investment of over Rs 18bn, the river remains heavily polluted and the project goals are far from achieved. While volunteers continue to clean up the river every Saturday, sewage continues to flow directly into the Bagmati, and solid waste dumping along the riverbanks has not stopped. This contradiction underscores the limitations of existing efforts.

To preserve the civilization that once flourished along the Bagmati, the government first formed the Pashupati Area Environment Improvement and Monitoring Committee in 1994, later upgraded in 2007 to the High-Powered Bagmati Civilization Integrated Development Committee. In 2010, a Bagmati Action Plan was also introduced. The current clean-up drive began on 19 May 2013, with the ambitious goal of making the river suitable for ritual bathing once again. 

The campaign, launched under the leadership of then-Chief Secretary Leela Mani Paudyal with the slogan “Two Hours for the Nation,” has seen the participation of over 1.5m volunteers and the removal of more than 20,000 tons of waste. But despite this massive civic effort, the river remains far from clean.

To prevent direct sewage discharge, a wastewater treatment plant was set up in Guheshwori with a total investment of Rs 2.55bn, including a loan of Rs 1.4bn from the Asian Development Bank. Its primary objective was to make the river near Pashupati suitable for ritual bathing. 

However, the plant has failed to demonstrate significant results. Once a sacred and culturally rich river, the Bagmati has now deteriorated to the status of a dying river. It flows through the heart of the Kathmandu Valley and should be closely tied to people’s daily lives. Instead, its foul smell caused by pollution disrupts urban life.

Despite park development and tree plantation efforts along riverbanks in areas like Gokarna, Koteshwor, Shankhamul, and Teku, proper sewage management remains lacking. Unplanned urbanization, industrial discharge, and plastic waste continue to degrade the river’s existence day by day. Efforts by both governmental and non-governmental bodies have so far failed to produce meaningful change. 

Experts say that effective collaboration between individuals, local governments, provincial authorities, and the federal government is crucial. To revive the Bagmati, the dumping of waste must be strictly prohibited, water flow needs to be increased, and a systematic sewage management system must be implemented. Only then can this river, which flows through the capital, become a center of environmental and touristic attraction.

Five people have drowned after huge waves hit parts of Australia at the start of the Easter weekend, BBC reported.

Off the shores of Victoria and New South Wales, two more are missing. A man's body was discovered in the water on Saturday close to Tathra in southern New South Wales. It happened the day after two other guys and a 58-year-old fisherman were discovered dead in other events across the state. Near Sydney, a man washed into the river and is being sought by rescuers.

Additionally, their group was washed into the sea near San Remo, Victoria, on Friday, resulting in one woman drowning and one man being missing. "One of the women managed to make her way back to shore but the other woman and the man were unable to," according to BBC.

Pakistan has deported over 19,500 Afghans this month as part of a broader trend that has seen more than 80,000 individuals leave ahead of an April 30 deadline, according to the United Nations.

The government has intensified its efforts to expel undocumented Afghans and those with temporary residency permits, citing capacity issues. Currently, 700 to 800 families are being deported daily, BBC reported.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar recently visited Kabul to discuss the deportations, which Afghan officials expressed concern over. Many deported Afghans report having been born in Pakistan, with the UN estimating 3.5 mn Afghans reside in Pakistan, including around 700,000 who arrived post-2021 Taliban takeover, half of whom are undocumented.

As stated by BBC, the situation has also led to increased border tensions, with clashes between security forces attributed to militants based in Afghanistan—a claim the Taliban denies. These mass deportations are straining Afghanistan's fragile infrastructure amid ongoing economic challenges.

Donald Trump has stated that if Moscow or Kyiv "make it very difficult" to strike a peace deal, the US will "take a pass" on brokering future Russia-Ukraine negotiations, BBC reported.

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Friday that he did not anticipate a truce to be reached in "a specific number of days," but that he wanted it done "quickly." 

His remarks came hours after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that discussions will be abandoned unless significant signs of progress were seen within days. "We're not going to continue with this endeavour for weeks and months on end," Rubio said, adding that the US has "other priorities to focus on", according to BBC.

This comes as Russian attacks on Ukraine continue, with two people killed and more than 100 injured in the north-eastern cities of Kharkiv and Sumy on Friday.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently spoke with Elon Musk about potential collaboration in "technology and innovation." Modi shared details of the conversation on X, revisiting earlier discussions from their Washington meeting, BBC reported.

The talk comes as India seeks to finalize a bilateral trade agreement with the US to counteract potential tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump. It also precedes the upcoming visit of US Vice-President JD Vance to India.

Musk, associated with Trump and leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is aiming to expand his business in India. His company Starlink signed an agreement with major Indian telecom firms to deliver satellite internet and is awaiting government approval to launch services, according to BBC.

The dialogue follows Trump's announcement of a 27% tariff on Indian goods, which has since been paused, prompting ongoing trade negotiations between the two nations.

Youngster Nehal Wadhera played a composed and confident knock to guide Punjab Kings (PBKS) to a comfortable win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in a rain-affected Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday. Chasing a target of 96 in a 14-over-a-side contest, PBKS reached 98/5 in 12.1 overs, registering their fifth win of the season. Wadhera remained unbeaten on 33 off just 19 deliveries, laced with three fours and three sixes. Marcus Stoinis sealed the game with a six, providing the finishing touch to a clinical chase.

Punjab got off to a quick start through openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh. However, the duo fell in quick succession. Prabhsimran was the first to go, dismissed for 13 by Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Arya followed soon after, scoring 16 off 11 balls before falling to Josh Hazlewood. At that stage, PBKS were 32/2 in 3.4 overs.
Captain Shreyas Iyer and Josh Inglis attempted to stabilise the innings, but both fell cheaply. Iyer was removed for 7 by Hazlewood, who also got the better of Inglis (14 off 17) shortly after to complete a superb three-wicket haul. PBKS were suddenly wobbling at 53/4.

Shashank Singh was dismissed for 1 by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, leaving PBKS at 81/5. However, Wadhera and Stoinis steadied the ship and ensured there were no further hiccups. Their calm and calculated partnership saw Punjab over the line with 11 balls to spare. 

For RCB, Josh Hazlewood was the standout bowler with figures of 3/14, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar chipped in with 2/26. Earlier, Punjab Kings' bowlers stuck to their plans and restricted Royal Challengers Bengaluru to 95/9 in the rain-curtailed match in which each side will get to play 14 overs. PBKS Shreyas Iyer won the toss and opted to bowl first against RCB. The duo of Virat Kohli and Phil Salt opened the innings for RCB. Arshdeep Singh removed Phil Salt in the very first over for 4. RCB skipper Rajat Patidar joined Virat Kohli in the middle.

In the second over, Rajat Patidar crossed 1000 IPL runs and became the second fastest Indian batter to do so. Arshdeep took early wickets as he removed Virat Kohli in the third over for 1(3), and Liam Livingstone joined Patidar at the crease. Xavier Bartlett removed Livingstone in the fourth over, for 4. PBKS players took good catches in the power-play, Jitesh Sharma joined RCB skipper. Veteran spinner Yuzvendra Chahal removed wicketkeeper/batter Jitesh Sharma for two in the 7th over. RCB kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

RCB's impact player Manoj Bhandage didn't make any impact with the bat as he was removed by Jansen for one in the ninth over. Harpreet Brar, playing his first match of this season, took back-to-back wickets in his first over. He removed Bhuvneshwar for 8 and Yash Dayal in the 12th over. David was the lone warrior for RCB in batting. He smashed three sixes in the final over and scored an unbeaten 50 off 26 balls.

Marco Jansen (2/ 10)was the pick of the bowlers for PBKS. Arshdeep, Chahal, and Brar took two wickets each, and Xavier Bartlett grabbed a wicket.

ANI

In less than a year, Katy Perry has released an album, campaigned for Vice President Kamala Harris and, just this week, flown to space. As she heads to Mexico City to kick off a world tour on Wednesday, the pop superstar shows no intention of slowing down.

“I’m always open and I say, ‘Why not?’ and ‘Let’s just try,’” she told The Associated Press recently at her Southern California rehearsal space. “The power of your thoughts are so incredible because everything starts with a thought. I had this thought, ‘I want to go on tour.’ And here we are.”

With that openness to try comes accepting that not every endeavor will be a victory. Her September album, “143,” was critically panned, and she was simultaneously criticized for reuniting with embattled producer Dr. Luke. Celebrities like Olivia Munn and Emily Ratajkowski critiqued the spaceflight’s use of resources as superfluous and indulgent. And Harris ultimately lost the November election to President Donald Trump.

But Perry’s longevity and the scale of her fame since her 2008 breakout hit, “I Kissed a Girl,” are attributable at least in part to her willingness to get back up in the wake of a setback, as she belts in her 2013 empowerment anthem, “Roar.”

“I can control what I can control,” she said.

That mantra has been refined over the past 15 years through her practice of Transcendental Meditation. The meditation technique has been embraced by a handful of celebrities, including — perhaps most zealously — the late David Lynch, whom Perry credits with spreading the practice and its message.

“That changed my life. And I’ve gone on a long inner space journey to untangle some wires, to answer some questions, to become more grounded, to find the power within myself,” she said.

Perry is fascinated by all things spiritual, casually weaving into conversation references to astrology, the enneagram and cardology, which purports to impart mystical insights into an individual’s personality through playing cards. Perry also credits having her daughter, Daisy, with propelling her along a journey of self-discovery and enhancing her “feminine divine.”

“Being a mother just makes you level up with that type of power,” she said. “I think I’ve just grown into the strong woman that I’ve always dreamed of and idolized.”

That journey has informed her approach to music and performing, down to the narrative of her sci-fi themed “Lifetimes Tour.” Citing films like “Blade Runner” and “The Fifth Element” as visual and thematic inspirations, Perry will play a video game character who faces off against evil forces.

“It’s really about believing in yourself and leading with love. Those are always my messages, no matter how I wrap it or whatever tour I bring. It’s love and empowerment,” she said. “When I can lead by example, it just ripples.”

Perry’s tour of more than 80 performances will primarily be a career-spanning showcase of past hits, but with a dance-infused flare to some of the traditional pop songs. “I tell everybody they have to wear some sensible shoes,” she explained.

In the nearly two decades since Perry emerged as a pop star, she has made tongue in cheek lyricism — in line with her “very sarcastic” sense of humor — and catchy messages of empowerment a signature of her songs. Critical reception to her more recent albums has been less than enthusiastic, but that hasn’t stopped the 40-year-old from going all out for this tour, calling it “Disneyland on wheels.”

“I feel a responsibility to my audience who have really been with me on this ride during this whole lifetime to give them that feeling that they had when they first heard ‘Teenage Dream,’” she said.

AP

The Kremlin said on Friday that some progress had already been made in talks about a possible peace settlement to end the war in Ukraine but that contacts were rather complicated with the United States.

"Contacts are quite complicated, because, naturally, the topic is not an easy one," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

"Russia is committed to resolving this conflict, ensuring its own interests, and is open to dialogue. We continue to do this."

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he wanted to achieve a peace deal quickly, but could not be involved in the search for a settlement indefinitely "if one of the two parties makes it very difficult".

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking earlier in Paris after meeting European and Ukrainian leaders, said the sides had just days to show progress or Washington would abandon its efforts.

Asked if the United States could withdraw from the search for a peace settlement in Ukraine, Peskov said that was a question for Washington.

"We believe that some progress can already be noted," Peskov said, citing a temporary moratorium on strikes against energy infrastructure, though he said Ukraine had not adhered to it.

"Therefore, certain developments have already been achieved, but, of course, there are still many complex discussions ahead."

Peskov, when asked if the energy moratorium was over, said that it had already been a month but that no orders from the president had been received to change Russia's position.

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia's Security Council and a representative of Russian hawks, expressed approval for the US remarks on the X social media platform.

"American officials have said that if there is no progress on the Ukrainian case, the United States will wash its hands of it. Wisely," Medvedev wrote in English. "And the EU should do the same. Then Russia will figure it out faster."

Reuters