Submit your Article

Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba, and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President Tanaka Akihiko held a meeting on Friday.

During the meeting held at Tokyo-based JICA Headquarters, they discussed issues related to Nepal-Japan bilateral relations and mutual welfare as well as climate change, natural disasters and good governance, according to Minister Rana's Secretariat.

On the occasion, Foreign Minister Rana on the behalf of Nepal thanked JICA for its support provided for the socio-economic development of Nepal for long.

She appreciated the support the Japanese government has been providing through JICA in various areas of Nepal including construction of Nagdhunga tunnel route and reconstruction and maintenance of Sindhuli Bardibas road.

US President Donald Trump’s administration revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students on Thursday, and is forcing current foreign students to transfer to other schools or lose their legal status, while also threatening to expand the crackdown to other colleges, Reuters reported.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered the department to terminate Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification effective for the 2025-2026 school year, the department said in a statement.

Noem accused the university of “fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party.”

Harvard said the move by the Trump administration - which affects thousands of students - was illegal and amounted to retaliation, according to Reuters.

Pokhara International Airport was in the spotlight this week. China CAMC Engineering, the contractor responsible for building the airport, has strongly rejected a report prepared by a subcommittee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which alleges serious irregularities in the airport’s construction. 

The Chinese state-owned company called the report inaccurate and lacking in professional, objective analysis. Despite this reservation from the Chinese firm, the PAC has decided to forward the report to the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).

The CIAA now faces the task of investigating the case, using the PAC report as a reference. Several corruption complaints in the airport’s construction have already been registered. However, public confidence in the CIAA remains shaky, with many accusing the constitutional body of selective investigations and of operating under executive influence. 

The report has also sparked political divisions. CPN-UML leader and former civil aviation minister, Yogesh Bhattarai, raised doubts about its findings of the report, while subcommittee chair, Rajendra Lingden, accused the Chinese company of undermining Nepal’s sovereignty through its public response. Disagreements like this have become almost routine when issues involving China, India or the United States arise—whether it’s the Belt and Road Initiative or the Millennium Challenge Corporation—exposing the deep influence foreign powers hold over Nepal’s political parties.

Meanwhile, royalist forces are preparing to launch what they call a “powerful movement” starting May 29. Their demands include restoring the monarchy, declaring Nepal a Hindu state and scrapping the federal structure—a direct challenge to the current federal republican system. It remains to be seen whether the government will engage with the protesters through dialogue or resort to force, as it did during the March 28 royalist demonstrations that turned violent.

Leaders from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party told ApEx that they are preparing to bring thousands of people into the streets of Kathmandu. Former King Gyanendra Shah is said to be backing the campaign, including providing financial support for logistics.

Royalist groups have been reaching out to leaders and cadres within the major parties who may sympathize with their cause, especially those who support the idea of a Hindu state if not the monarchy itself. They approached the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) seeking support. But the RSP reportedly refused to join the movement. The royalists are also reaching out to civil society figures, intellectuals and especially young people, a demographic that largely did not experience Gyanendra’s direct rule.

Compared to previous efforts, the royalists are now employing a broader strategy to rally public support. Still, there are growing fears that the protests could again turn violent. Veteran leftist leader Narayan Man Bijukchhe went so far as to suggest that the movement could escalate into “a war” if India or the United States were perceived as backing efforts to restore the monarchy.

In other developments, the long-running tug-of-war between the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML over the appointment of Nepal Rastra Bank’s governor has ended with Bishwo Poudel taking the helm. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli reportedly agreed to the appointment after NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba threatened to pull out of the coalition. While Poudel has a strong educational background and extensive experience in national and international institutions, his close ties with the NC—he ran as the party’s candidate in the 2022 elections—have drawn criticism. The appointment may have helped stabilize the coalition for now, though. 

Senior leader of CPN (Maoist Center), Janardan Sharma, met NC President Deuba this week, and Deuba also held a phone conversation with Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal. NC leaders have been quick to tell the media that there are no problems within the ruling alliance. Yet discontent lingers, particularly from the camp of senior leader Shekhar Koirala, whose supporters continue to express dissatisfaction with the government’s performance.

To highlight the impact of climate change in Nepal and other Himalayan nations, the government recently organized the Sagarmatha Sambaad, a high-level climate dialogue. But the event fell short of expectations. Heads of government were absent, and the event was criticized for prioritizing ruling party leaders and cadres over subject matter experts. Media access was blocked, hampering independent reporting. International media outlets also largely ignored the event. 

Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari is making an official visit to China. The trip is seen as politically significant, as she appears to be actively re-engaging in politics. During her presidency, Bhandari cultivated close ties with Chinese leaders and played a key role in pushing forward several of China’s strategic interests in Nepal. Senior UML leaders will accompany her, and speculation is growing that China may quietly support her return to party leadership.

Regionally, India-Pakistan tensions have prompted a diplomatic response. Leaders from India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party are visiting Kathmandu, where they plan to meet with political leaders, civil society figures and journalists as part of a broader outreach strategy likely aimed at countering other international influences in Nepal’s shifting political landscape.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that the country's economy is moving towards a positive direction. 

Taking to his social media account, Prime Minister Oli noted that exports have increased by 73 percent compared to last year over the past 10 months, indicating that the economy is on a positive path. 

"In the past 10 months, exports have risen by 73 percent compared to last year. During this period, exports amounted to Rs 218 billion. The economy is moving in a positive direction," Prime Minister Oli mentioned.