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On Oct 7, Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a resolute condemnation of the attack orchestrated by Hamas in Israel. 

“The Government of Nepal vehemently denounces the recent act of terrorism in Israel, which tragically resulted in the loss of precious human lives and left many others injured,” the statement read.

The attack claimed the lives of hundreds of people, including ten Nepali students, and left thousands wounded. Notably, subsequent statements from the ministry omitted the term ‘terrorist’, a move that has captured the attention of foreign policy experts and observers. This marks the first instance of Nepali nationals being casualties of a Hamas assault.

However, the ministry officials emphasize that there has been no shift in Nepal’s established policy regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict, which dates back to the 1960s. A senior foreign ministry official clarified, “Nepal’s stated policy remains one of condemning terrorist activities, and it does not support Hamas and its actions.” Experts concur, asserting that Nepal's stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict remains unaltered.

Formed in 1987 during the uprising against Israel’s presence in Gaza and the West Bank, Hamas has long been associated with the Muslim Brotherhood. Numerous countries, including the US, the UK, Canada, the European Union, and others, designate Hamas as a terrorist organization due to its history of activities such as suicide bombings, kidnappings, and civilian killings. China, however, does not recognize Hamas as a terrorist group.

Nepal regularly engages in discussions concerning Israel and Palestine at the United Nations, and frequently faces multiple proposals related to the issue. On humanitarian grounds, Nepal extends support to Palestine on certain matters, although it does not formally recognize Hamas, which has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007. The extreme position taken by Hamas is spoiling all the peace deal attempts. 

Nepal’s voting positions in the UN have, at times, displeased Israel. Notably, in 2021, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution disavowing Jewish ties to the Temple Mount, designating it solely by its Muslim name, al-Haram al-Sharif. While 64 countries, including India, did not support this resolution, Nepal backed it. This was a departure from Nepal’s previous neutral positions on similar votes in 2018, 2019, and 2020. 

Nepal supports the two-state solution, calling for the creation of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip alongside Israel. However, Hamas rejects this proposal, complicating the matter, while major powers, including the US, China, Russia, and India, stand in favor of a two-state solution. 

During the 78th General Assembly of the United Nations, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal expressed Nepal's unwavering commitment to peace for the Palestinian people, urging an end to the prolonged conflict. Nepal reiterated its support for a two-state solution, envisioning Israel and Palestine coexisting peacefully within internationally recognized borders, aligned with relevant UN resolutions.

Nepal and Israel established diplomatic relations in 1960, with Israel opening its embassy in Kathmandu in March 1961, while Nepal established its embassy in Israel in 1993. Notably, Nepal’s recognition of Israel’s existence and continuous diplomatic relations with the nation set it apart in South Asia until recently.

The Foreign Ministry’s official documents affirm Nepal’s ongoing support for Israel’s right to exist within secure and internationally recognized boundaries. Nepal’s historical involvement in recognizing Israel as an independent state, including visits by prominent leaders, underscores the enduring nature of their diplomatic relations.

 The first democratically elected Prime Minister BP Koirala acknowledged Israel as an independent state at a time when the entire world was yet to do so. Koirala paid an official visit to Israel in 1960, and three years later, the then king, Mahendra Shah, had also paid an official visit to Israel.  

In contrast, Nepal does not maintain diplomatic relations with Palestine, although both nations are members of the Non-Aligned Movement.

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What Nepal said on Israel-Palestine situation

2023: The Palestinian people deserve peace ending the prolonged conflict. Nepal reiterates its support for a two-state solution with Israel and Palestine, living peacefully side by side, within recognized international borders based on the relevant UN resolutions.

2022: Protracted violence and conflicts continue to inflict pain and suffering on Palestinian and Israeli civilians. Nepal reiterates its long-standing view for a two-state solution, whereby Palestine and Israel live side by side in peace and security within the recognized international borders.

2021: In the Middle East, we reiterate our long-standing position and want to see peace and security with a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine living side by side within secure and recognized international borders. 

2020: We would like to see peace and stability in the Middle East with a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security with secure and recognized international borders based on relevant United Nations resolutions.

2019: We want to see meaningful steps being taken to resolve the protracted Middle East issue. We support a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security with secure and recognized international borders based on relevant United Nations resolutions.

2018: With this commitment we must ensure that the voice of the people struggling for their rights, liberty, freedom and justice in various parts of the world, including Syria, Yemen, Palestine, and many other places must be heard and addressed.

With a conflict intensifying between Israel and Hamas after the recent Hamas attack, the Middle East, which was gradually heading toward unity and harmony, is plunging into a war, once again. Regardless of its root cause, the hostilities in the region can have a spillover effect, which can polarize the world. A conflict like this can also become a breeding ground for fresh rebellions, terrorists and criminal gangs.

No rational human being can support terrorism anywhere in the world. Talks and negotiations are a must to bring back normalcy in the region and beyond for the greater good of humanity and human civilization. War is never a solution. War begets more war and results in a lose-lose outcome. There is no alternative to peace and harmony. Thus, the international community in general and the parties to this conflict in particular should reconsider the “Framework for Peace in the Middle East”.

The author is a geostrategic thinker

If the presidency of the G-20 symbolizes India’s growing prominence in global power politics, it is evident that India has indeed emerged as a significant player on the world stage. The successful hosting of the G-20 Summit in New Delhi, under the theme of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’, underscored the profound concept of ‘Vasudhaiva kutumbakam’, which translates to “the world is one family” in Sanskrit, considered the mother of all languages spoken today in the world.      

During the summit, India’s leadership demonstrated its commitment to fostering unity and collaboration among nations. The emphasis on the interconnectedness of all nations and the importance of collective action showcased India’s diplomatic prowess and its role as a bridge between Eastern and Western perspectives. On the global stage, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister S Jaishankar have been strongly raising the issues of developing nations, which account for a major share in global politics. 

Prime Minister Modi and Foreign Minister Jaishankar have been instrumental in promoting the values rooted in the Eastern knowledge system, often referred to as ‘orientalism’, on the global stage and within the United Nations (UN). Besides ‘'Vasudhaiva kutumbakam'’, one significant achievement was his leadership in declaring ‘Yoga’, an ancient tradition of physical and mental exercises, as the International Yoga Day, an observance recognized and celebrated annually by the UN. The United Nations had proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga, as proposed by PM Modi in his address at the opening of the 69th session of the General Assembly in 2014.  It was endorsed by a record 175 member-states.   

Yoga, known for its positive impact on physical and mental well-being, has been embraced worldwide as a valuable tool for promoting holistic health and wellness. Before the concept of a modern state system based on geography, the entire Himalayan region, including the south of the Himalayas, was a very fertile land for knowledge, Yoga, meditation and many other ancient innovations, which modern developed states are following these days. 

Certainly, India faces a range of complex challenges, and PM Modi has not been immune to criticism from the opposition parties. Any country’s domestic situation is purely their issue to resolve. And, in a democracy, parties based on different ideologies share differences and that might take the shape of conflict too. But the most important thing is whether they share enmity or differences on foreign policy, foreign relations and building the international image of their country or not. India has set the tone that despite extreme political polarization, the country has never been divided on issues related to external relations.    

There’s no denying that PM Modi and Foreign Minister Jaishankar have effectively elevated India's international standing and ensured that it is noticed and recognized by major global powers. While foreign policy is often considered an extension of domestic policy and circumstances, Modi has managed to navigate the global stage without getting embroiled in divisive domestic politics. On his part,  Jaishankar has played a major role to elevate the image of India as a key player on the global stage. And, it is Jaishankar, who has shown the way to the Europeans and advised them to change their mentality toward Asia. It is Jaishankar, who has adopted a ‘multi-alignment’ policy, according topmost priority to India’s national interest.  

 Let’s enter into the announcement of India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and its significance to the world. One achievement made on the sidelines of India’s G-20 Summit was the new initiative to develop a rail and shipping corridor connecting India with Europe via the Middle East with leaders from the US, India, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, France, Germany, Italy and the European Union signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of IMEC.

 IMEC is significant from an infrastructure and connectivity perspective as well as from a geopolitical angle. The project involves two separate corridors—the eastern corridor, which connects India with the Arabian Gulf, and the northern corridor, which connects the Arabian Gulf with Europe. According to the MoU, IMEC is “expected to stimulate economic development through enhanced connectivity and economic integration between Asia, the Arabian Gulf and Europe.” That some of the major Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, Israel, the UAE, and Jordan, are part of it makes it noteworthy, especially fro

m a geopolitical perspective. Announcing this on the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), the leaders noted that IMEC will involve rail connectivity, shipping lines, high-speed data cables and energy pipelines. 

IMEC has been perceived as a counter-move of BRI launched by China in 2013. Whether it aims to challenge BRI or not, connectivity is an important precondition for development. New Delhi, which has a vital role to play in IMEC, should be aware that such connectivity projects shouldn’t be used strategically to control the power of China or any other countries. Indian leaders must understand that the future of the world largely depends upon what kind of relations the emerging Asian powers maintain.   

As a neighbor of emerging economies (India and China), Nepal would be happy to embrace the rising significance of them, but it should strongly object to any move from the third countries to destabilize Asia, including the South Asia region.

As soon as Facebook introduced Meta verified, you may have seen the trend of verified profiles with blue ticks all over  Facebook. While few people know how this works, many are still unaware about the subscription. So what is Meta Verify? Who gets it? Can you get it? Is Meta verification as effective as legacy verification? Let’s find out.

What is Meta Verify 

Meta Verify is a subscription officially launched by Meta, in which users can pay $8 per month, so that their profiles get a verified blue tick along with few other benefits, such as increased account protection and access to account support.

Who can get Meta verified? 

While celebrities, politicians, and other public figures used to get legacy blue ticks from Meta after satisfying multiple criterias, Meta Verify can be subscribed  by anyone with a genuine account on the platform meeting this criteria: 

• To be at least 18 years old 
• A public or private profile that’s associated with your full name, aligns with naming standards and has a profile picture that includes your face
• To meet minimum activity requirements, such as prior posting history
• A valid photo ID that matches your profile name and profile picture
• Two-factor authentication enabled on your profile
• Must follow Facebook Community standards

Are the legacy and Meta Verify ticks the same?

No, the tick given by Meta to celebrities is free and lifetime, while Meta Verify is a paid subscription, in which you have to pay $8 monthly to Meta. If the money is not paid, the tick will be removed within 24-72 hours.

It is also very difficult to get the legacy tick, as Meta verifies accounts by reviewing various criteria such as:

• Authentic: Represent a real person, registered business or entity.
• Unique: Be the only presence of this person or business. Only one Page or profile per person or business may be verified, with exceptions for language-specific Pages and profiles
• Complete: Have an about section, Page or profile photo and recent activity, including at least one post
• Notable: Represent a well-known, often searched person, brand or entity. We review Pages and profiles that are featured in multiple news sources and paid or promotional content as sources are not considered  for review.

Another big difference is that there are no restrictions on legacy verified accounts and Meta Verify has various restrictions, such as—profile photo can be changed only once a month (which  also needs to get  approved by Meta), account name or username cannot be changed.

How to get a legacy tick? 

Things to understand before applying to get a legacy tick: This tick is given by Meta by reviewing many factors, including the news in national media, page/profile activity, followers on the page, and results from your name on Google etc. If you meet all the criteria mentioned above you can submit verification application from https://www.facebook.com/help/contact/295038365360854 and get verification by giving the information as requested in the application, within 1-48 hours after submitting the application, Meta will send you the response through mail and notification on facebook/insta app ,stating whether application has been approved or not and if the application is not approved, you can submit another application after 30 days.

How to get Meta Verify? 

One can subscribe to Meta Verify by following the mentioned steps: go to your profile, go to three dots visible on the right side of the “edit profile” option, go to “Meta verified” option and follow on-screen instruction, pay $8 and submit a copy of your citizenship or passport.  Although Facebook has officially rolled out subscriptions in most countries, it may not yet be visible to all profiles in Nepal. If you don't have this option on your profile, you may try logging in to your account from a meta verified eligible county for a few days. 

After the success of meta verified on personal Facebook and Instagram profiles, Facebook is now testing (currently in New Zealand) Meta Business Verified, which helps brands and organizations to verify their Facebook page and Instagram handle. Meta verified business subscriptions will be available for purchase on Instagram and Facebook in the coming weeks in select test countries. Monthly subscriptions start at $21.99/month per Facebook page or Instagram account, or $34.99/month for both on WhatsApp. Meta will begin testing in the future with small businesses using the WhatsApp Business app before introducing Meta Verified to businesses on the WhatsApp Business Platform.