Greetings from Kathmandu,
Welcome to The ApEx Daily, your daily briefing on Nepal's politics, governance, and public affairs. Designed for an international audience, this newsletter explains the developments shaping one of South Asia's youngest federal democracies.
Political developments in Madhes have taken a new turn. The communal violence that began in Sunsari has reignited a national debate over whether Nepal should retain its secular identity or restore its status as a Hindu state.
The government has signed an 18-point agreement with the Hindu Samrat Sena. As part of the deal, Home Minister Sudan Gurung has agreed to facilitate a public debate on the issue of restoring Nepal as a Hindu state. Following the agreement, the group has called off its protests across various parts of Madhes.
The agreement is expected to energize a new Hindu movement in the Terai-Madhes region, with demands extending beyond the restoration of Nepal as a Hindu state to the reinstatement of the monarchy. Over the past few years, the number of Hindu organizations active in the region has grown significantly.
After a week of heightened tensions, normalcy is gradually returning to the Terai-Madhes. Authorities have lifted curfews in Sunsari and Siraha districts, and Home Minister Gurung has returned to Kathmandu. However, public reaction to the agreement remains divided, with critics arguing that it contradicts Nepal's constitutional commitment to secularism.
The internal dispute within the Nepali Congress continues to intensify, with no immediate resolution in sight.
Amid growing tensions, a group of youth leaders led by Nain Singh Mahar has launched a pressure campaign urging the party's rival factions to reunite. Speaking at a press conference, the leaders announced a nationwide initiative aimed at promoting unity within the country's largest democratic party.
A total of 196 people have died and four remain missing in disaster-related incidents across Nepal between Baisakh 1 and Shrawan 17, 2083 BS.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), 4,053 disaster incidents were recorded during the period, affecting 5,188 families. The disasters also left 1,218 people injured.
Snakebites proved to be the deadliest hazard, claiming 54 lives and injuring 668 people. Authorities recorded 716 snakebite incidents, affecting 718 families.
A new study has found that Nepal's stock market reacts rapidly to major economic policies and national events, including the annual budget, monetary policy announcements, the COVID-19 pandemic, and earthquakes.
The joint research, conducted by Dr. Birendra Bahadur Budha, Rohan Byanjankar, and Swastik Nepal of Nepal Rastra Bank, concludes that a 2 percent decline in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) can result in as much as a 10 percent drop in the NEPSE index.
The body of renowned British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja has been recovered from Broad Peak in Pakistan, according to rescue officials.
The Alpine Club of Pakistan said Purja's body was found at an altitude of approximately 5,700 meters. Rescuers also reported spotting three additional bodies nearby, although their identities have yet to be confirmed.
Purja's company, Elite Expeditions, announced on Saturday that he was among ten climbers killed in the avalanche. Tributes have poured in from around the world, including from the Prince of Wales.
More than a week after cooking gas shortages emerged in the Kathmandu Valley, the problem remains unresolved.
Although LPG imports from India continue without disruption, consumers are still struggling to obtain cylinders. Traders insist they are supplying gas to the market, but shortages persist at the retail level, raising concerns over possible distribution bottlenecks.
The Nepal Teachers' Federation has announced a nationwide protest beginning in Bhadra, accusing the government of failing to address teachers' long-standing demands.
Federation President Laxmi Kishor Subedi said the organization would soon unveil a detailed schedule of protest programs following the federation's recent meeting.
Former Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) leader Dhawal Shamsher Rana and businessman Durga Prasai are preparing to register a new political party with the Election Commission before the end of Shrawan.
According to sources close to the initiative, the registration process has entered its final phase after several rounds of discussions.
Sagun Lawati, who is involved in the campaign, said the party is expected to be officially registered on Shrawan 26. Before the registration, a task force will finalize the party's name, flag, and other organizational matters.
