Nepal

Khadak Raj Joshi, a leading civil society activist in Sudurpaschim Province told India Narrative that "elections are giving major political parties yet another chance to whip up nationalistic rhetoric. The sovereignty issue is, of course, there. But, it's more about securing electoral gains on the plank of anti-Indian nationalism".

According to Kantipur, locals in Doti district have pulled out the dead bodies of three people when a strong earthquake hit the district on Wednesday at 2:12 a.m. Earthquake measuring 6.6-magnitude occurred in western Nepal whose centre was Doti district, according to the National Earthquake Monitoring Center. Another quake measuring 4.1 magnitude also occurred in the same district at 9:56 p.m on Tuesday.

The Nepal's Ministry asked the Indian government to take precautions before carrying out infrastructure work along the border, thereby preventing similar untoward incidents in the near future. The ministry also asked the Indian government to coordinate with the local administration of Nepal while carrying out similar development activities across the border.

The understanding was reached here on Friday during the ninth meeting of the Joint Committee on Water Resources, co-chaired by Pankaj Kumar, Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India; and Sagar Rai, Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation.

Nepal's trade with China largely takes place through Tatopani-Zhangmu and Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border points. The country's bilateral trade with China has come to a grinding halt after the northern neighbour closed these two border points without giving a prior notice. As a result, Nepali importers doing business with China have incurred huge losses as Nepal-bound container trucks carrying their goods have stranded in different towns of Tibet including Nyalam, Kerung and Shigatse.

According to Nepali media reports, the delay over giving decision has reached to the office of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba who discussed the matter with Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka and some senior Nepal government officials.

Wang Yi, the Chinese foreign minister and state councilor, called for finalisinng a BRI implementation plan when he met Nepali counterpart Narayan Khadka in Qingdao city on Wednesday evening, according to two Nepali officials who attended the meeting. Khadka is on a three-day official visit to the northern neighbour at the invitation of Chinese foreign minister since Tuesday.

The announcement was made by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his meeting with his Nepal counterpar Narayan Khadka in Qingdao on Wednesday. Khadka is on a three-day visit to China at the invitation of Wang, who is also the State Councillor. The trip comes at a time during simmering tensions between China and Taiwan following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the self-governing island last week.

At the invitation of Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi, Dr Khadka is visiting China from August 9 to 11, the ministry said. The two Ministers will hold bilateral talks, leading their respective delegations on August 10 in Qingdao, China. Wang will host a banquet in honour of Khadka and the members of the delegation, the statement added.

A meeting of the Cabinet took the decision earlier in the day based on the recommendation of the Election Commission. As per the recommendation, the elections are being held on the same days in an effort to make it cost-effective and easier for the poll body to manage. With the announcement of the polls, the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led coalition government has now turned into a caretaker one and cannot take crucial decisions.