JICA aids for construction of 'Trauma & Emergency Centre’ in Dhulikhel
A 'Trauma & Emergency Centre' is to be constructed in Dhulikhel Municipality-6, Dhulikhel.
In this connection, Dhulikhel Hospital and Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a memorandum of understanding on the initiative of the Nepal government.
The Japanese government would provide an additional grant of 573 million Yen for the Trauma & Emergency Centre Improvement Project in the hospital.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel and Japan's Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ikuina Akiko, signed the grant aid agreement at the Ministry of Finance on May 16.
Although a grant assistance of up to 3.29 billion yen from the Government of Japan was signed in 2023 for project implementation, due to inflation and other reasons leading to financial shortages, additional grants have now been made available, as informed by the Japanese embassy in Nepal.
The embassy stated that due to the increase in the number of patients with diseases, including those suffering from strokes and heart diseases, as well as rising use of transportation and expansion of road networks, hospitals in Nepal are facing a shortage of beds and medical equipment, leading to the provision of this assistance.
It has been indicated that such assistance will strengthen Nepal's medical services by constructing trauma and emergency centres and related equipment in Dhulikhel, improve the quality of health and medical services, and contribute to economic growth.
The final agreement for the construction of a 100-bed trauma center in Dhulikhel has been completed between the government and the Japanese government in the fifth phase.
UN says more food needed in Gaza as looting hampers deliveries
Israeli airstrikes killed at least six Palestinians guarding aid trucks against looters, Hamas officials said on Friday, as the head of the United Nations warned that only a "teaspoon" of aid was getting in following Israel's 11-week-long blockade, Reuters reported.
The Israeli military said 107 trucks carrying flour and other foodstuffs as well as medical supplies entered the Gaza Strip from the Kerem Shalom crossing point on Thursday, for a total of 305 since Monday when the blockade was relaxed.
But getting the supplies to people sheltering in tents and other makeshift accommodation has been fitful and U.N. officials say at least 500 to 600 trucks of aid are needed every day.
So far, an umbrella network of Palestinian aid groups said, 119 aid trucks have got past the Kerem Shalom crossing point and into Gaza since Israel eased its blockade on Monday in the face of an international outcry, according to Reuters.
Despite the relaxation of the blockade, distribution has been hampered by looting by groups of men, some of them armed, near the city of Khan Younis, an umbrella network representing Palestinian aid groups said.
Four regular flights to operate from Phaplu to Kathmandu weekly
Four regular flights will operate weekly from Phaplu Airport in Salleri, the headquarters of Solukhumbu, to Kathmandu.
Nepal Airlines has started operating four weekly flights on the route. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) informed that Nepal Airlines has run flights services on every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
The Phaplu-Kathmandu air services that had been halted for a protracted time due to technical glitches with the aircraft, are now back in operations.
According to senior official of CAAN in Phaplu, Bhanu Bhakta Acharya, the resumption of flights has been made possible after the maintenance of the aircraft.
The flight that was in operation once a week was 'grounded', which resulted in suspension of Phaplu-Kathmandu services for a long time.
According to station chief of the Nepal Airlines in Phalpu, Tenzing Sherpa, flight services on this route had remained completely disrupted since mid-December 2024 through mid-April 2025.
Mahesh Adhikari, a local businessperson from Salleri, said, "With the resumption of regular flights, the compulsion to travel the disaster-torn 'BP Highway' to get to Kathmandu has ended. Yet, the air service must be regular and reliable, not just temporary".
In the past, the disruption of flights caused several complications for travel, business, emergency treatment, and essential tasks.
Karma Sherpa, senior vice president of the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN), mentioned that tourism business operators are elated about the resumption of flights in the tourist district.
61 charged for Tinkune violence
Sixty-one people have been charged in connection with the violent royalist protest that took place in Tinkune on March 28. Among them, sedition cases are being pressed against 50 individuals, while the remaining 11 face charges of criminal vandalism.
Eight people, including Durga Prasai, face charges of homicide, attempted murder, sedition, criminal vandalism, organized crime, and combined offenses. These charges, filed at Kathmandu District Court, relate to the deaths of Sabin Maharjan and journalist Suresh Rajak during the unrest. The other seven to face the similar offenses are: Harihar Chaulagain, Saroj Gautam alias Tara Rajabadi, Satish Neupane, Gokarna Shahi, Dandapani Regmi, Santosh Kumar Silwal, and Hemraj Tharu.
The charges were filed based on the investigation report submitted by the Kathmandu District Police Range. The police had recommended prosecuting 108 individuals in total.
Furthermore, Rabindra Mishra, senior vice-chair of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), has been charged with four criminal offenses. He faces charges of sedition, criminal vandalism, organized crime, and combined offenses. Police had held Mishra in custody for 50 days for investigation. However, he was later released after the Supreme Court ordered his release through a habeas corpus petition. RPP General Secretary and lawmaker Dhawal Shumsher Rana is also charged with the same four offenses.
During the protest, demonstrators reportedly vandalized private homes, set fires, and looted the Bhatbhateni Supermarket. Mishra and Rana were present at the protest site in Tinkune and are accused of inciting the crowd.
Before the March 28 protest, RPP Chairman Rajendra Lingden had warned that backing Prasai could lead to the party’s downfall, but senior leaders like Rana and Mishra chose to work under his leadership, which ultimately led to the violence.
The March 28 incident also exposed serious flaws within Nepal’s security apparatus. First, there was a lack of coordination among agencies. Second, security forces failed to gather intelligence on Prasai’s plans in advance. Lastly, Nepal’s law enforcement faces severe shortages of essential equipment, with no significant procurement in the last decade.
The government has pointed fingers at former King Gyanendra Shah, alleging that he played a role in orchestrating the protests by appointing Prasai as a commander. On March 27—just a day before the demonstration—Shah met with Prasai, further fueling suspicions.
After the March 28 protest, the campaign of pro-monarchy supporters slowed down. On April 20, the RPP had announced plans to breach the restricted zone near the federal parliament, demanding the reinstatement of the monarchy and the release of its detained leaders. However, the protest failed to gather significant mass support. While the turnout on the streets was minimal, RPP lawmakers managed to stage a symbolic protest inside Singhadurbar, leading to the arrest of RPP Chairperson Lingden, Vice-chairperson Buddhiman Tamang, and Chief Whip Gyanendra Shahi. They were released later in the evening.
Royalist factions have called for a mass showdown on May 29. Nava Raj Subedi, a panchayat-era royalist leader, is leading the monarchy restoration campaign.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has criticized the royalist movement, saying it is not driven by any noble purpose but by narrow self-interest. “These people are not fighting for any great cause. The government has remained relatively quiet, and the people have stayed calm. They are exploiting this situation to put on an unnecessary show of strength,” Oli said. The prime minister has also instructed his party cadres to counter royalist protest.



