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This year's Sohra Shraddha, also known as Pitri Paksha, has begun from today.

As stated in the calendar approved by the Nepal Calendar Determination Development Committee, the Shraddha of the Pratipada should be performed today. The Pindadan (offerings) of the Pratipada should be completed by this afternoon, Member of Committee Prof Dr Devmani Bhattarai said.. 

It is a 16-lunar day period when Hindus pay homage to their ancestors, especially through food offerings. 

The day begins from the full moon day of Bhadra, according to the lunar calendar. 

Hindu people throng the temples to perform Shraddha, the annual death rituals, in Sohra Shraddha.

According to Hindu mythology, the souls of three preceding generations of one's ancestors reside in Pitri–loka, a realm between heaven and earth. 

The performance of Shraddha by a son during Priti Paksha is regarded as compulsory by Hindus, to ensure that the soul of the ancestor goes to heaven. 

In the Kathmandu Valley, Hindu devotees visit Pashupatinath Temple and perform rites in the name of their ancestors.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has received over 15,000 new complaints related to human rights violations committed during the 10-year long Maoist insurgency, bringing the total number of registered complaints from 65,000 to 78,909. 

A majority of the newly registered complaints are related to rape and other forms of sexual violence allegedly committed by both Maoist combatants and state security forces during Nepal’s decade-long armed conflict. 

In recent years, survivors of sexual violence—many of whom had remained silent due to stigma, fear, and lack of institutional support—have begun to speak out more openly about their experiences. In an effort to address these long-overlooked grievances, the newly appointed office bearers of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), who assumed office in May 2025, reopened the complaint registration process for victims who had previously been unable to file their cases.

The recent appointments of Lila Devi Gadtaula and Mahesh Thapa as chairs of the Commission on the Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP) and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), respectively, are being viewed as a critical step toward revitalizing Nepal’s long-stalled transitional justice process.

Both officials took their oath of office and secrecy in May, signaling renewed commitment. However, concerns remain regarding their limited experience in transitional justice, a highly specialized and sensitive domain requiring a deep understanding of conflict-era grievances, legal frameworks, and victim-centered approaches.

Nepal’s transitional justice system was established in response to the decade-long Maoist insurgency (1996–2006), which left over 17,000 people dead, thousands more displaced, and countless others affected by torture, sexual violence, enforced disappearances, and other human rights violations. As part of the 2006 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the government pledged to address these grave abuses, leading to the formation of two transitional justice bodies in 2015: the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission on the Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons.

Despite their formation and subsequent appointments in 2016, both commissions have made little progress. Over the past decade, they have investigated only a fraction of the more than 63,000 complaints filed—only a few hundred cases have undergone preliminary investigation. Political interference, lack of adequate funding, absence of skilled personnel and experts, and internal divisions within the commissions have all contributed to their ineffectiveness.

Of particular concern is the underreporting and lack of investigation into sexual violence and rape cases. Initially, only 314 complaints related to sexual violence were filed. However, under increased advocacy and awareness, it was revealed that there are at least 883 such complaints from Jajarkot district alone—a far-western region that was a major epicenter of the Maoist insurgency. This discrepancy highlights the broader issue of stigma, fear of retaliation, and lack of trust in state mechanisms that prevent survivors—particularly women—from coming forward.

Adding to the challenges, international attention and funding for Nepal’s transitional justice process have significantly dwindled in recent years. Donor fatigue, shifting geopolitical priorities, and the government’s failure to demonstrate progress have led many development partners to scale back their assistance. Securing adequate financial resources for victim reparations, investigations, and institutional strengthening remains a critical hurdle.

The newly appointed commission members have expressed commitment to completing investigations and delivering justice, but their success largely hinges on the government’s political will and financial support. As some TRC officials have noted, with sufficient resources and autonomy, they could feasibly complete the investigation of all registered cases.

The government has again urged all social networking platforms to join the registration process in the country. 

Issuing a press statement on Sunday, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has urged all social networking sites to get registered in Nepal adding that the government was committed to ensuring a systematic and accountable digital environment, upholding the right to freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution of Nepal. 

Ministry's Spokesperson and Joint Secretary Gajendra Thakur has urged all the social networking platforms to get enlisted in Nepal by naming a focal point, residential grievance handling official or officials to abide by the self-regulation. 

Thakur also mentioned that no cost is charged for getting enlisted and the social networking sites will be reactivated after their enlistment. 

The Ministry has mentioned that the social networks should be run by adhering to Nepal's law. 

The government has emphasized the need that social media platforms cannot be operated by going beyond legal provisions, while underscoring the importance of their registration. 

According to the Ministry, the Smart Idea Private Limited (Hamro Patro) and Global Diary Private Limited were reactivated following their registration.  

Likewise, social sites Twitter ( X) and Wechat have communicated with the officials for the listing process. 

Furthermore, the Ministry has urged one and all not to use unsafe, unofficial and risky virtual private networks (VPN) meant to access the deactivated social networking platforms. 

The officials said that systematic operation of the social media platforms helps secure national interests. 

Earlier, the Nepal Telecommunication Authority had directed mobile and internet service providers to deactivate 26 unlisted social media platforms in Nepal. The Authority has directed to deactivate various social media platforms in Nepal including Facebook,  Messenger, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, Twitter (X), LinkedIn, Snapchat, WeChat and some others. Along with the NTA's directive, the mobile service providers have shut down the unlisted social media platforms.

A ministerial-level meeting on Thursday made a decision to deactivate social media platforms that have not been registered in Nepal. 

The Ministry began the process to implement the order of the Supreme Court and the decision of the Council of Ministers made on August 25. 

The Ministry has stated that the government decision was aimed at creating an environment for systematic, decent and accountable use of social platforms through self-regulation instead of restricting, controlling and limiting the social networking platforms.

CPN-UML Chairman and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that anything else could be tolerated, but disrespect towards the country is intolerable. 

Addressing the representatives on the last day of the party's statute convention taking place at Godavari, Lalitpur, from Friday, Chair Oli underlined, "We are a force that sacrificed for freedom of expression and national sovereignty. 

The CPN-UML is not against social networking sites. Earning money doing business in Nepal, but not living in accordance with the law is unacceptable." 

"The thinking of so-called intellectuals is not independent. It is seen that those, who call themselves great intellectuals, have tried to influence the society through negativity. Attempts have been made to inciting society in the name of Gen Z in recent periods. But the 'Gen Z’ generation loves the country," he stressed. 

Recalling that the government had been urging the social networking sites to register for one year, Chair Oli argued, "Country's sovereignty matters a lot rather than losing employment by a few people. Sovereignty is achieved through self-respect, and freedom also through self-respect."

Police arrested almost 900 people at a demonstration in support of Palestine Action in the United Kingdom, in the latest round of detentions of its supporters since the pro-Palestinian group was banned by the government as a “terrorist” organisation, Aljazeera reported.

Police arrested 857 people for showing support for a proscribed group, while 33 people were arrested for other offences, including 17 for assaults on police officers, the Metropolitan police said on Sunday, according to Aljazeera.

Defend Our Juries, the organising campaign, estimated 1,500 people joined the London demonstration on Saturday, assembling with placards stating “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action”.

Chief Secretary Eak Narayan Aryal has asked the government officials to pay attention to the market monitoring and price control of the essential goods during the upcoming festive season.    

At a meeting of the central monitoring and evaluation committee held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers today, the Chief Secretary directed the Salt Trading Company Limited and Food Management and Trading Company Limited to ensure accessibility of the consumer goods at fair prices.

"The joint market monitoring is essential to ensure accessibility of the consumer goods during the festivals; control price hike and end cheating in measurement," Aryal added. 

He also asked the officials of all line agencies to be visible and work seriously.

Similarly, the Chief Secretary directed the officials to make arrangements for a joint monitoring within three days comprising the Chief District Officer, Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection and the Trading Company.

The meeting dwelt on controlling black marketeering, sales of substandard goods and ensuring coordination of all bodies.   

Likewise, Aryal asked the Home Ministry for coordination to maintain a strong law and order; control revenue evasion and ensure regular service of the essential public service delivery even in the time of public holidays.

Home Secretary Gokarnamani Duwadi, Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Ram Prasad Ghimire, Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Management Keshav Kumar Sharma, Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Hari Prasad Mainali and others were present at the meeting. 

During the meeting, Secretary Dr Ghimire shared that the fair price shops will be run across the country by targeting the festivals and a trustworthy supply system will be ensured. 

On the occasion, Chief of Nepal Police Chandra Kuber Khapung and Chief of the Armed Police Force Nepal Raju Aryal vowed to effectively implement festival-targeted security plans.

Bangladesh faces a fast-worsening public health crisis as the mosquito-borne diseases dengue and chikungunya spread side by side, overwhelming hospitals and heightening fears of an even bigger outbreak in the weeks ahead, Reuters reported.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services, the country has recorded more than 33,800 dengue cases and 132 deaths in 2025. In the first week of September, at least 10 people died and more than 1,500 were admitted to hospitals with fever.

Chikungunya, absent for years, is making a forceful return, according to Reuters.

More than 15,000 people have taken to the streets in Israel to call for an end to the war in the Gaza Strip and urge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a deal to free the remaining hostages, BBC reported.

Families and supporters of the hostages still being held by Hamas thronged Jerusalem's Paris Square, with others gathering in Tel Aviv.

Of the 48 hostages still being held in Gaza, as many as 20 are believed to be alive.

Israel has yet to formally respond to a deal that would see the release of some hostages, but has previously demanded the return of all the hostages in any agreement. Netanyahu insists total victory over Hamas will bring the hostages home, according to BBC.