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Poland has accused Russia of seeking to influence the May 18 residential election through cyberattacks and disinformation. 

Digital Affairs Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski stated on Tuesday that Russian activity targeting key infrastructure, like as utilities and government networks, has more than doubled since last year, according to Reuters.

Poland, a critical hub for humanitarian aid to Ukraine, has faced heightened risks from Russian sabotage. Authorities claim these hybrid attacks are intended to disrupt governmental activities and undermine the electoral process

The Russian Embassy has not replied to the claims, Reuters reported.

Israel has restricted access to 70 percent of the Gaza Strip through forced displacement orders and no-go zones, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported.

Since late March, the majority of Rafah in southern Gaza has been deemed off-limits. In the north, practically all of Gaza City is under evacuation orders, with only a few enclaves in the northwest remaining accessible, according to Al Jazeera.

Additional sites around Shujayea and along the Israeli border have been declared as restricted zones.

According to OCHA, these measures have increased since the truce collapsed on March 18 Al Jazeera reported.

Hamas has stopped its participation in cease-fire talks, blaming Israel's continued military offensive and deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza.

Basem Naim, a top Hamas official, stated that there is no purpose in discussions while hunger and destruction persist, according to BBC.

The decision comes after Israel's approval of increased operations in Gaza, which include mass displacement. Almost all people have already been displaced from their houses.

Gaza remains under total blockade, with critical shortages of food, water, and medicine, BBC reported.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot described Israel's conduct as a violation of humanitarian law.

The UK government is prepared to tighten visa requirements for nationals of Pakistan, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka, following an increase in asylum claims from those who entered the country legitimately, BBC reported.

According to government sources, persons on employment or study visas submitted over 20,000 asylum applications in 2023. Ministers feel that this practice undermines immigration controls and leads to long-term overstays.

The Home Office, which stopped publishing exit data in 2020 due to accuracy difficulties, claims that many departures go undetected, according to BBC.

A new immigration white paper will propose improvements.

Friedrich Merz, the head of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), fell six votes short of the 316 votes needed to win a parliamentary majority and become Germany's next chancellor on Tuesday, BBC reported.

Merz earned only 310 votes in a secret ballot, even though the Social Democrats held 328 seats and he was part of the CDU-Christian Social Union (CSU) combination. This is the first time a candidate for chancellor has lost on the first vote since World War II. Germany's DAX stock index dropped 1.8% as a result.

Olaf Scholz, the departing chancellor, is still serving in a caretaker capacity while the parties negotiate the next course of action. In order to guarantee leadership stability, CDU officials have demanded a speedy second vote, as stated by BBC.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday exchanged congratulatory messages with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union, according to Xinhua.

President Xi stressed the worldwide significance of China-EU relations, stating that they had helped to promote mutual development and global stability. He indicated his willingness to improve cooperation, increase mutual openness, and resolve disagreements through communication.

Xi also advocated for collaborative efforts to maintain fairness and justice in international affairs, while rejecting unilateral moves and bullying on the global stage, Xinhua reported.

The number of visitors to Rara is steadily increasing, supported by improved road and air connectivity that has boosted tourism in the region. Situated at an altitude of 2,990 meters above sea level in Mugu district, Rara is Nepal’s largest lake and a growing attraction for both domestic and international tourists.

Since Mugu was connected to road and air transport 12–15 years ago, tourism promotion efforts have gained momentum. Tourism entrepreneurs say the recent surge in visitors signals a shift in Rara’s tourism landscape.

Fifteen years ago, limited transport and minimal publicity made reaching Rara difficult. Travelers had to fly to Jumla or Bajura and then walk two days to reach the lake. The opening of Rara Airport in 2003 and the Nagma-Gamgadhi road in 2013 have significantly improved accessibility.

According to Rara National Park, around 10,000 domestic and international tourists have visited Rara so far this fiscal year. Over the past five years, more than one million tourists are estimated to have visited the area. Tourism entrepreneur Gopal Bam suggests that with stronger promotion and better infrastructure—such as upgrading the Surkhet-Nagma road, paving the Nagma-Gamgadhi section, and ensuring regular flights—Rara could attract over a million visitors annually.

Although Rara previously lacked well-equipped hotels, several small and medium-sized accommodations have been established along the lakeshore. Approximately a dozen hotels now operate in Salleri, with another dozen in Ghatta Murma Top, contributing to local employment and encouraging business in the region, says hotelier Kal Bahadur Rawal.

Despite rising tourist numbers, many local youths had previously been preparing to go abroad, citing a lack of economic opportunities. However, the popularity of horse safaris among tourists has encouraged some to stay and engage in tourism-related businesses.

Horse breeder Krishna Prasad Bham recalls that horses once sold for Rs 50,000–80,000, but due to transport improvements, demand fell sharply, and horses couldn’t even be sold for Rs 20,000. Now, with the return of demand for horse safaris, horses are again selling for Rs 100,000–150,000.

Horse safari is currently one of the most lucrative businesses in the region. Youths from Murma, Jhayari, Topla, and Sigadi villages are engaged in this sector, earning Rs 50,000–100,000 monthly during peak season. These safaris transport tourists between Upper Mili, Danfe, and various resorts and hotels in the area.

To address the shortage of well-equipped accommodations, construction of a four-star resort has begun at Murma Top, backed by investment from Nepalis living in Australia. The project, led by Abhishek Bikram Shah and his team, was announced during the third investment summit in Kathmandu and is being developed under Rara Holdings Resort in coordination with the Government of Nepal. The resort is expected to be completed within 18 months.

The resort, to be built on 73 ropanis of land with a total investment of Rs 1bn, will offer 36 rooms in the first phase and 98 beds in 19 high-end rooms in the second phase, accommodating around 100 guests daily.

Project Manager Arun Chand stated that the resort aims to promote tourism in Karnali’s religious and natural sites by linking destinations such as Sinja Valley, Rara, Chhayanath, and Khaptad. According to resort representative Aitan Malla, the project will provide direct employment to 120 people and indirect employment to over 1,000.

Additionally, several large hotel companies have begun purchasing land in Murma Top, Salleri, and surrounding areas to develop infrastructure for future tourism ventures.

Speaker Devraj Ghimire has issued a ruling to the government to respond to various concerns raised in the House of Representatives (HoR) over time.

During today's HoR meeting, lawmakers from the Janamat Party stood in protest over the recent detention of Nagarik Unmukti Party patron Resham Chaudhary by police for several hours without explanation.

Janamat Party lawmaker Abdul Khan announced that the party would not allow the House to function until the government provides a convincing explanation regarding the incident.

In response, Speaker Ghimire urged lawmakers to allow proceedings to continue, stating that Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak is scheduled to address the issue during a House session on May 8. The matter has now been officially listed on the parliamentary agenda.

Meanwhile, the budget session has begun with party-wise discussions on the government’s new policies and programs for the fiscal year 2082/83 BS.