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The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday announced that Nepal has successfully eliminated rubella, also known as German measles, as a public health problem. This achievement marks a significant step forward in the country’s efforts to protect its population from vaccine-preventable diseases.

Rubella is a highly contagious viral infection that poses a serious threat to pregnant women, as it can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth or severe and lifelong birth defects. The disease, however, is preventable with safe and cost-effective vaccines.

“Nepal’s success reflects the unwavering commitment of its leadership, the persistent efforts of health workers and volunteers, and the unstinting support of engaged and informed communities,” said Dr Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge of WHO South-East Asia. She endorsed the recommendation of the Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella elimination (SEA-RVC), which verified Nepal’s achievement.

The SEA-RVC held its annual meeting from July 22-24, where it reviewed and evaluated data submitted by Nepal’s national verification committee on disease surveillance and immunization coverage rates before recommending verification of rubella elimination.

Nepal is the sixth country in the WHO South-East Asia region to achieve this milestone. The region has prioritized the elimination of measles and rubella as public health problems by 2026. Prior to Nepal, Bhutan, DPR Korea, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste from the region had eliminated rubella.

“Nepal’s achievement of rubella elimination is yet another testament to the success of the national immunization program, which has long been one of the strongest pillars of our healthcare system,” said Pradip Paudel, Minister for Health and Population. He acknowledged the steadfast support from Gavi and WHO and called on all stakeholders to continue their efforts to ensure no child in Nepal suffers from a vaccine-preventable disease.

Nepal first introduced the rubella-containing vaccine into its immunization program in 2012. Subsequent nationwide campaigns in 2016, 2020, and 2024 helped the country achieve over 95 percent coverage for at least one dose of the vaccine by 2024, despite challenges resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2015 and 2023 earthquakes.

Innovative strategies, such as ‘immunization months’ and outreach programs to vaccinate missed children, provided additional momentum. Nepal also recently introduced a robust laboratory testing algorithm, the first in the WHO South-East Asia Region, to further strengthen surveillance.

“Congratulations to Nepal for eliminating rubella. This public health achievement is the result of close collaboration between the government, dedicated health workers, partners, and communities,” said Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav, WHO Representative to Nepal. “WHO is proud to have contributed to this journey and remains committed to supporting Nepal in sustaining this accomplishment.”

The Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella elimination in South-East Asia Region (SEA-RVC) was established in March 2016 to monitor progress toward measles and rubella elimination. The WHO says that the National Verification Committees of countries in WHO South-East Asia Region report on annual progress  made towards achieving the goal of measles and rubella elimination which is then reviewed by SEA-RVC which provides suggestions and recommendations or verify them as achieved the status of measles and  rubella elimination.  

In 2013, the WHO South-East Asia Region set the goal to eliminate measles and control rubella by 2020.  In 2019 the goal was revised to measles and rubella elimination by 2023. In view of setbacks during Covid-19 pandemic, in 2024, member countries agreed to extend the target for elimination of measles and  rubella, aspiring to achieve by 2026.

As the monsoon sets in, Parthenium hysterophorus, an aggressive annual herbaceous plant, bursts into full bloom. Its invasive nature has allowed it to spread rapidly across open lands. Commonly known as Santa Maria feverfew, this deceptive weed resembles Gypsy, a popular ornamental flower used in decorations, bouquets, and even bridal hairstyles. Because of its appearance, many admire or even cultivate it, overlooking the serious threats it poses. Beyond damaging ecosystems, it poses risks to the health of all mammals. Classified as a noxious weed, its key traits include being non-native, poisonous, and unpalatable to herbivores.

Research shows that Parthenium seeds have an extremely high survival rate. On the soil surface, they can last for more than a year, and in the substratum, up to six years. They endure a wide range of temperatures and can germinate even in minimal water conditions. With longer droughts becoming common due to climate change, this species thrives while native plants struggle to germinate. A single plant can produce nearly 25,000 seeds, creating a substantial seed bank in the soil. Wind pollination (anemophily) makes dispersal even easier, as the seeds are extremely light. Though adaptable to most soil types, it is especially vigorous in alkaline, clay, and loam soils.

The blooms may appear attractive, but they are far more harmful than anticipated. Infestation can cause up to 40 percent crop loss and reduce forage production by almost 90 percent due to its allelopathic properties. The impact is particularly severe in rain-fed ecosystems and non-cropped areas. In urban centers such as Kathmandu Valley, it dominates roadsides and open lands. Prolonged contact with Parthenium is linked to dermatitis, naso-bronchial allergies, and allergic rhinitis from pollen exposure. In India alone, treatment of Parthenium-related health conditions is estimated to cost around Rs 8bn.

Parthenium hysterophorus is no longer just a weed; it has become a multi-million-dollar problem worldwide. Native to South America, it has spread aggressively to countries like India, Australia, and across North Africa, creating near-crisis situations. Complete eradication is highly unlikely; control is the only realistic option. Management strategies fall into four categories: mechanical, biological, chemical, and cultural. Among these, cultural control involves habitat management practices such as grazing regulation, prescribed burning, and physical habitat modification.

Unlike Mikania micrantha, which can be suppressed by repeated cutting, Parthenium resists such measures because of its deep carrot-like root system. No single method of control is sufficient. Success requires an integrated strategy, coordinated at the national level. Unfortunately, public awareness remains low, and existing policies, while promising on paper, lack clear and actionable measures. The absence of a coordinated system and genuine stakeholder participation has hampered progress.

Parthenium management must therefore be recognized as a national priority. Stakeholder participation, including communities, local governments, researchers, and policymakers, is crucial to address this silent but serious ecological and health threat. Citizens often resort to blame-shifting when problems arise, but meaningful change begins with advocacy and action. At a time when we already face widespread allergies and health concerns, ignoring this weed’s dangers would be reckless.

What is urgently needed is an action-oriented movement: raising awareness, acknowledging the scale of the threat, and mobilizing collective effort. A hopeful tomorrow can only be secured through a prepared present, and that means immediate dialogue with local authorities and full participation of all stakeholders.

For a long time, Nepali media took its audience for granted. Little to no research was done on reader profiles, content preferences, audience engagement or even on circulation research and readability research which form the backbone of effective print media.

Similarly, there has been a complete lack of audience ratings research for radio and television. In the absence of such insights, audiences were expected to consume and believe whatever content was disseminated. The result of this one-sided dynamic has been disastrous as traditional media are now struggling to retain its audience. 

In the 20th century, audiences did not have many ways to consume the news. The relationship between media and audiences was largely one-way traffic, and audience engagement was limited to occasional letters to the editor or phone calls.

Radio, television and print were used to influence and control public opinion, often pushing through specific narratives. Audiences were viewed as passive recipients of information, and media houses operated under the assumptions of the “magic bullet theory” introduced by Harold Laswell in the 20th century. This theory assumed that media messages had a direct, powerful effect on a passive audience.

Although audiences may have had grievances, they either did not have a channel to register their feedback or media houses simply ignored their feedback. In contrast, the digital era introduced the “two-step flow theory” which seeks greater audience participation, engagement and feedback. Still, the remnants of the old bullet theory persist in the Nepali media landscape, albeit in subtler forms.

In Nepal, things began to change with the advent and subsequent expansion of the internet. By early 2000, online news platforms began to emerge. Unlike traditional outlets, these platforms introduced comment sections from the outset, giving readers space to express their opinion and to engage with content. 

The internet, and the broader digitization of Nepali society, transformed the country’s media sphere. While audiences in the past had limited access to news, they are now inundated with options. More importantly, they now have direct access to primary sources such as government press releases, official documents and reports. This allows them to compare what media houses report with the original information and identify discrepancies.

Meanwhile, the exponential rise of social media began reshaping how Nepali people consumed news. Traditional media lost its monopoly over the creation and dissemination of information. Ironically, media houses themselves rushed to social platforms to share their contents, often produced with significant investment, without a clear strategy for engagement or monetization. 

At the same time, internet access expanded even to remote areas for Nepal, becoming affordable even for low-income communities. Equipped with smartphones and internet access, audiences began spending more time on platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). Global studies show that between 2008 and 2018, these platforms led to a fundamental shift in new consumption. Today, however, TikTok has overtaken both as a primary source of information for many users.

When media houses began sharing their content on social media, it eliminated the need for audiences to turn to newspapers, radio and television for news. Despite this, Nepali media was doing relatively well in terms of revenue and audience before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, once nationwide lockdowns were enforced to curb the spread, the media landscape changed dramatically. For the first time in the history of Nepali media, many print publications halted operations for days. Radio and television also reduced news production significantly. A few online platforms, despite health risks, continued delivering news.

As people remained confined to their homes, they turned to smartphones and digital platforms for information. At the same time, government agencies, private businesses and NGOs relied heavily on social media to communicate with the public. This combination of traditional media’s limited presence and the active role of digital platforms meant that audiences were able to fulfill their information needs without newspapers or TV.  In fact, during the COVID era, a significant portion of the audience shifted to social media for news consumption, especially in Nepal. By the time the pandemic subsided, traditional media had lost a last share of its readership and advertising revenue.

Despite these seismic changes, mainstream media in Nepal largely failed to recognize, or respond, to the shifting dynamics of news production, dissemination and consumption. Meanwhile, other platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, and short-form video formats gained rapid popularity. 

For far too long, media houses in Nepal took their audiences for granted. They failed to evolve with changing news consumption behaviors and technological trends. Now, they are faced with a three-fold challenge: finding ways to retain the audience, researching reader preferences and developing sustainable revenue models. This has become a do-or-die situation for the media.

But no scientific research has been conducted in Nepal to understand changing media consumption patterns. Neither regional nor international research organizations have included Nepal in their studies. However, it is evident even without formal data that audiences are consuming news via TikTok and other platforms rather than by reading newspapers and watching television stations. 

The Reuters Institute’s Digital News Report, while not focused on Nepal, offers useful insights. The report points out that an accelerating shift toward consumption via social media and video platforms is further diminishing the influence of institutional journalism and fostering a fragmented media ecosystem dominated by podcasters, YouTubers and TikTokers.

The report also states that populist politicians around the world are bypassing traditional journalism, opting instead for friendly partisan outlets and influences. These personalities often gain privileged access, but rarely ask questions. Many of them are involved in spreading disinformation. In many ways, India’s experience mirrors that of Nepal’s, the report says.

According to the Reuters study, Indian audiences show a strong preference for accessing news via smartphones and social media platforms such as YouTube (55 percent), WhatsApp (46 percent), Instagram (37 percent) and Facebook (36 percent), especially among English-speaking users. This trend likely holds true for Nepal as well.

Another global trend that is increasingly evident in Nepal is news fatigue. With decades of political instability, the media has been dominated by repetitive coverage of political wrangling, corruption and the same political figures. On the international front, conflict-heavy news continues to dominate headlines. Audiences are growing tired of this monotony; they no longer want to read or hear the same narratives year after year.

While mainstream media has played an essential role in strengthening democracy, exposing corruption and holding power accountable, it has lagged behind in offering diverse, engaging content. This has contributed to audience fatigue and disinterest.

In conclusion, media houses must rethink their strategy. They need to increase their presence on platforms where audiences are active, especially video-centric platforms like YouTube and TikTok. As gatekeepers of institutional journalism, they still possess the credibility and capacity to serve public interest, but they must listen more to what their audience wants. 

This means developing responsive content strategies, adopting audience research methods and creating sustainable digital revenue models. More importantly, it is time to actively implement Audience Engagement Theory, which emphasizes two-way communication and greater interaction with the public. If mainstream media is to stay relevant, it must stop treating its audience as passive recipients and start seeing them as active participants in the media ecosystem.

Donald Trump has said he would prefer a permanent peace agreement to end the Russia-Ukraine war over a temporary ceasefire, BBC reported.

Writing on Truth Social after leaving a meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska without reaching any deal, the US president said that ceasefires "often times do not hold up".

Trump had earlier said that "great progress" was made during the meeting but "we didn't get there" when it came to a deal.

On his flight back to Washington, he held a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who later said he would travel to Washington DC on Monday, according to BBC.