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The Madhes Province government is initiating a tree plantation campaign to prevent the destruction of the Chure region and to protect the environment.

Under the campaign, the Madhes Province government will plant 8.6 million saplings of various varieties of trees.

The Secretary at the Ministry of Forests and Environment of the provincial government, Uddhav Bahadur Ghimire, said that the campaign aims to plant 400, 000  saplings only along the roadside in the province.

"In the current fiscal year, the tree plantation would be carried out on 50 kilometers of roadside and an area of 278 hectares," Ghimire added. 

The Ministry stated that out of 8.6 million saplings, 6.2 million plants will be produced from the provincial government's budget and the remaining through conditional grants from the federal government.

He said that those plants will be distributed to the public free of charge. Among the produced plants, about eight percent will be planted in areas under government forests and the division forest offices, while the remaining 80 percent will be planted on private land.

The provincial government has set the long-term goal of maintaining environmental balance along with the expansion of greenery through this initiative.

 It is believed that this campaign will contribute positively to the conservation of forests, the protection of the Chure region, the prevention of river and land erosion, and environmental protection and improvement.

According to Anil Sah, the Forest Officer of the Division Forest Office Dhanusha, the planting of 4,400 saplings has already begun on both sides of the Janakpur-Dhalkebar road section in Dhanusha district.

Israel has carried out a wave of air strikes across the Gaza Strip, triggering the mass displacement of hundreds of Palestinian families, witnesses say, BBC reported.

Rescue teams recovered the bodies of five people, while dozens of injured civilians were evacuated to Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, according to local reports.

The bombardment follows one of the largest evacuation orders issued since the war resumed in March. 

It comes amid increasing pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refocus efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement, according to BBC.

Nearly a week of heavy monsoon rains and flash floods across Pakistan have killed at least 46 people and injured dozens as continuing severe weather similar to past emergenicies remains possible, officials said Monday, Associated Press reported.

The fatalities caused by abnormally strong downpours since Tuesday include 22 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 13 in eastern Punjab province, seven in southern Sindh and four in southwestern Balochistan, National Disaster Management Authority and provincial emergency officials said.

“We are expecting above-normal rains during the monsoon season and alerts have been issued to the concerned authorities to take precautionary measures,” said Irfan Virk, a Pakistan Meteorological Department deputy director, according to Associated Press.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 11. 99 points to close at 2,634. 27 points on Monday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 2. 70 points to close at 451. 30 points.

A total of 14,172,535-unit shares of 318 companies were traded for Rs 6. 38 billion.

Meanwhile, Rapti Hydro And General Construction Limited (RHGCL) was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 9. 97 percent.

Likewise, Panchakanya Mai Hydropower Ltd (PMHPL) was the top loser as its price fell by 4. 92 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 1. 48 trillion.

The jeep safari services operated inside the Chitwan National Park (CNP) have been suspended from today (June 30) in view of the monsoon and the breeding season of wildlife and birds. 

CNP closes the jungle safari every year during the monsoon season. 

As the monsoon ends, the safari is opened around mid-September when the festivals begin. If the monsoon prolongs, the opening time is also postponed accordingly.

Avinash Thapa Magar, CNP Information Officer, said the jungle safari will be reopened after repairing the roads damaged due to rain during the monsoon.

It is said that during the monsoon season, floods occur and rivers swell, trees fall, roads become slippery and muddy, and with the growth of grass and shrubs, even wild animals cannot be seen easily.

Although the jungle safari inside the park will be stopped, he mentioned that jeep safaris will continue in the community forest of the park buffer zone.

Information Officer Thapa Magar said that tourist activities including trekking inside the reserve and observing the crocodile breeding centre will be regularly conducted. 

Thirty-two jeeps are operated from Sauraha area, 10 from Kasara, seven from Meghauli, and five from Amaltari providing jungle safari to tourists.

The Karnali Highway has been obstructed due to a landslide. 

Since this morning, the Sukhet–Jumla Road section along the Karnali Highway from Gagane Khola, Kalikot to Humma has been blocked. 

The highway was obstructed as various places from Gagane Khola to Humma experienced landslides following the rain that started Sunday evening.

Due to heavy rain overnight, a landslide fell into Gagane Khola, completely obstructing the vehicular movement, said Kalikot's Deputy Superintendent of Police, Tek Bahadur Rawat.

“There is no condition to operate the vehicle therefore a JCB has been sent to remove the landslide,” he said. 

Police said that vehicles heading to and from Kalikot, Jumla, Mugu, Bajura, Humla to Surkhet have been stranded mid-way due to the obstruction.

Speaker Devraj Ghimire has called on the political parties represented in the Parliament to maintain the dignity of the Parliament, fostering inter-party consensus through dialogue and collaboration as well as to move ahead in unity in addressing the people's aspirations.

On the occasion of Parliament Day, 2082 BS, today, Speaker Ghimire extended best wishes to all Nepali brothers and sisters, current and former members of the federal parliament, and representatives of provincial assemblies and local levels. 

He expressed gratitude for the contributions of the free press, civil society, and the conscious citizens towards making the Parliament more effective, accountable, and responsive to the people. 

On the historic occasion of Parliament Day, while paying heartfelt tribute to the martyrs who dedicated their lives to the movement for parliamentary democracy, he also recalled the contributions of political warriors.

Parliament Day is celebrated every year on the 16th of Ashad in commemoration of the first meeting of the people-elected House of Representatives in Nepal.

A 4.3 magnitude earthquake shook Mugu district on Monday.

According to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center, Lainchaur, Kathmandu, the tremor occurred at 8:39 with its epicenter in Kotdanda, Mugu.

On June 29, an earthquake of 4.8- magnitude had occurred with its epicenter in Jima of Mugu. 

Nepal has experienced several earthquakes and aftershocks with varying magnitudes. 

The country is considered an earthquake prone zone as it lies in the Himalayan region.