Apple's long-delayed Siri overhaul is finally expected to arrive with iOS 27, but even after more than two years since its announcement, the new features could be labelled as ‘beta’ when they first arrive with the new iPhones later this year
Woman found hanging in Bhopal, family claims ‘dowry death’, blames lawyer husband, mother-in-law. What is the case?Deceased's family has accused Samarth and his mother of murder. The family also claims that daughter's in-laws physically assauted her, destroyed the evidence. Updated on: May 18
Indian-origin woman shares how she built $2.8 million-a-year ice cream business in USPooja Bavishi, 42, is the founder and CEO of New York-based ice cream brand Malai, which she founded in 2015. Published on: May 17, 2026 9:56 PM IST By Bhavya Sukheja Share via Copy link An Indian-origin
NCB busts Dehradun lab making banned ‘jihadi drug’ Captagon; hunt on for another Syrian national linked to network31.5kg of Captagon was seized from a house in Delhi’s Neb Sarai and 196.2 kg from a container at the Mundra Port in Gujarat. Updated on: May 18
The performance-focused mid-range smartphone segment is heating up, with OnePlus already launching the Nord 6 earlier in the year and Xiaomi now planning to introduce the Redmi Turbo 5 as well. While Xiaomi has not yet announced the pricing and specifications of the Turbo 5
Love Horoscope Today for May 18, 2026: Love needs honesty and emotional maturity todayLove Horoscope Today: Find daily astrological predictions for all sun signs. Published on: May 18, 2026 7:30 AM IST By Kishori Sud Share via Copy link Aries An emotional ending may create unexpected freedom today
This Indian woman went from earning ₹5,000 a month to running ₹48 crore business: 'Happiness doesn’t come from money'Nayana Vaidya went from earning a salary of ₹5,000 per month to owning a ₹48 crore business Updated on: May 18, 2026 7:21 AM IST By Sanya Jain Share via Copy link Nayana
‘No reparations, only 1 nuclear facility’: Iranian report lists US demands amid shaky ceasefireThe current impasse in diplomatic exchange between Iran and the United States comes after Iran's preconditions to resume negotiations for ending the war. Updated on: May 18
Nepal: Polls due in five months, interim government must win trust of parties, voters
The interim government formed in Nepal after the Gen Z uprising last month has its task cut out. It not only has the mandate of bringing to book those responsible for 75 deaths that occurred in clashes between the police and protestors on September 8 as well as vandalism and arson on the following day but also to conduct elections on March 5.
Though the new prime minister, Sushila Karki, has been saying that the government will hold the elections on that date, her biggest challenge will be to rebuild the electorate's trust in political parties, without whose participation the polls will have no legitimacy.
Since Nepal abolished the monarchy and declared itself a federal democratic republic in 2008, it has had a choppy political transition: it has seen 14 governments, none completing their full tenure. As a result, public scepticism about the political system has significantly increased.
When Karki delivered her Constitution Day address on September 19, she had been expected to urge political parties to assume greater responsibility in restoring confidence in the democratic system – particularly at a moment when traditional parties find themselves on the defensive.
Such a call was essential, given that no leader of a major party has expressed any commitment to the upcoming polls, except for Pushpa Kamal Dahal of the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre.
Dahal has not only urged his cadres to prepare for the March election, he even stepped down as the chairman of the party and called a special general convention before the end of this year to elect new leadership. His outfit had the third-largest share of seats in the House of Representatives before it was dissolved on September 12 on the advice of the interim government.
Many other political parties are in a state of indecision.
Calls have grown for a shake-up of Nepal's oldest political party, the Nepali Congress, which had the largest number of lawmakers in the dissolved lower House of the Parliament. The party president, Sher Bahadur Deuba along with his wife and former foreign minister Arzu Rana had been beaten up on September 9.
But the party's two general secretaries – Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma – have sought to convene a general convention of the party to elect a new leadership.
Bal Bahadur KC, a central working committee member of the Nepali Congress and a lawmaker of the dissolved House of Representatives, said that the central working committee will decide its course of action at a meeting in Kathmandu on October 12.
“It will decide whether to move court against the dissolution of the House of Representatives or start a protest for reinstating the HoR or to take part in the elections,” he said.
KC contended that the interim government has not clearly indicated its seriousness about holding elections, though he added that its intentions may become more apparent soon.
Other parties have expressed their doubts about the government's intentions. Mahesh Bartoula, the chief whip of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) in the dissolved House of Representatives, claimed that the current government, formed by replacing an elected government, was unconstitutional. He said the government did not seem serious about holding elections.
The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) was the second-largest party in the dissolved lower house.
Bartoula gave four reasons for his scepticism.
First, the House of Representatives should not have been dissolved and the interim government could have continued its work even without doing so, he said.
Secondly, the interim government is giving weightage to people who have openly expressed their displeasure with parties. He was referring to Sudan Gurung of the not-for-profit Hami Nepal group that had spearheaded the Gen Z movement. In a recent interview to Al Jazeera, Sudan said that he would not let the old parties take part in the elections.
Third, said Bartoula, is the sense of fear among the electorate. Ensuring that the elections take place without voters being anxious will be a tough task, he said, because more than 6,000 prisoners, including those convicted of heinous crimes, are on the run after breaking out of jail during the chaos on September 9. In addition, more than 1,000 weapons looted from the police are yet to be recovered.
Fourth, he referred to a recent directive issued by the home ministry stating that those involved in September 9 vandalism and arson would be punished based on the investigation carried out by the probe panel and not by a regular police investigation. Bartoula said that the directive raised doubts about the fairness of the investigation as it could be used to settle political scores.
However, he added that his party is always ready to face elections provided they are free and fair. The party's central committee will soon have a three-day meeting from October 11 and take a decision on participating in the elections, he said.
But even if the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist, decides to take part in the polls, it is likely to be the biggest loser. The party's chairman, deposed prime minister Oli, seems oblivious to the desire for change that drove the Gen Z uprising.
Oli had to flee in an army helicopter on September 9 and take shelter in military barracks when thousands of protesters were about to storm into his official residence. Though he is back, there is no one in his party to call for his removal as he has crushed all opposition in the party.
On September 4, he even blocked former president Bidya Devi Bhandari's re-entry into the party after she expressed a desire to lead the party.
Rabi Lamichhane, the leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, the fourth-largest party in the dissolved House of Representatives, is in jail. He faces charges of misappropriating funds from several cooperative banks.
On September 9, his supporters freed him during a jail break and he was even called for talks by the army chief before the interim government was formed. However, his presence infuriated the Gen Z representatives and he returned to prison due to mounting pressure from his party's leaders.
Senior leader and former education minister Sumana Shrestha quit the party for “making many mistakes”. Another senior leader, economist Swarnim Wagle, has been silent since the Gen Z uprising.
The pro-monarchy Rastriya Prajatantra Party seems to be waiting for the interim government to fail, giving it an opportunity to fish in the troubled waters.
Madhesi parties in the Terai region bordering India are likely to gain the most in the fresh elections as they had a meagre presence in the dissolved house. But they are a divided lot and are yet to express their commitment to the polls.
Whatever may be the state of the parties, their involvement is essential for the election process. Without them, elections risk becoming hollow, logistical exercises stripped of democratic substance. Political parties are the central actors and institutional backbone of democracy.
Karki's speech, while commendable in recognising the frustration of the youth, stopped short of addressing the core issue of democratic politics. If the democratic process is to move forward meaningfully in Nepal, political parties must be compelled back into the fold.
Anuj Arora is a journalist based in Kathmandu.
Source: Scroll
Related Posts: After Nepal’s Gen Z uprising Why Nepal's Gen Z uprising is a wake-up call for New Delhi After Gen Z uprising Nepalis vote in first election since Gen Z uprising for change New Government Will Be Formed On 14th November Nepal interim govt gets three ministers Nepal interim govt sets up panel to probe violence that killed 74 Nepal Parliament Dissolved As Sushila Karki Becomes Interim PM Nepal interim govt to expand cabinet with three new ministers today Nepal interim govt gets three ministers
Protesters clashed with the police in West Bengal’s Kolkata on Sunday during demonstrations against the state government restricting the offering of namaz on streets and demolishing allegedly illegal structures in the Tiljala area, according to media reports
2 minutes ago
Vitamins, repair tape and a jar of mango chutney - just some of what my household bought last month via Amazon's sprawling online shopping platform. We also shopped at the company's supermarket chain Whole Foods, streamed its TV shows, read books on Kindle e-readers
2 minutes ago
The political consequences of the Election Commission of India’s controversial voter-roll revision came into sharp focus on May 4, when the Bharatiya Janata Party swept to power in West Bengal with 207 seats. In a state where 1.36 crore voters were reportedly flagged by the commission as having a
1 minutes ago
TMC cries foul over ‘selective FIR’ against Abhishek BanerjeeThe FIR was registered at the Bidhannagar North Cyber Crime Police Station for allegedly making inflammatory statements ahead of the elections. Updated on: May 17, 2026 2:31 PM IST ANI Share via Copy link TMC leader Tanmoy Ghosh on
1 days ago
So close, yet so far for India’s star men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. The former world No. 1 duo had to settle for Silver after falling to Indonesia’s Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin in the men’s doubles final of the BWF Thailand Open Super 500 on
1 days ago
Not far from Bengaluru, on a sprawling farm filled with barking, running and tail-wagging dogs, lives a man many people across India now know as the “Dog Father." Rakesh Shukla, a software engineer and entrepreneur by profession, spends much of his life caring for hundreds of dogs that nobody
1 days ago
Mumbai, May 17 (PTI) More women and freshers among the country’s blue- and grey-collar workforce are moving beyond their hometowns for better jobs and higher pay, driving a 31.4 per cent year-on-year rise in job-related migration during January-April 2026, according to a report.Mumbai
1 days ago
Chelsea have appointed former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso as their manager on a four‑year contract, starting in July. The 44-year-old Spaniard was available after leaving Real Madrid by mutual consent in January, less than eight months into a three-year contract
1 days ago
JEECUP has revised the UP Polytechnic entrance exam schedule. Students can register online by May 17. The Joint Entrance Examination Council, Uttar Pradesh (JEECUP) has revised the examination schedule for the UP Polytechnic entrance examination 2026. As per the updated notification
1 days ago
Tamil Nadu has a new Chief Minister — and the internet has receipts from two years ago. As actor-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay settles into office, fans and political observers are busy mining his filmography for signs they insist were always hiding in plain sight
1 days ago
Taliban says ‘silence of virgin girl’ can be treated as consent for marriage in Afghanistan: ReportThe new regulations say that marriages involving female children may later be annulled after puberty, but only with the approval of a Taliban court. Updated on: May 17
1 days ago
Targeting commercial shipping, endangering civilian crew and impeding freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is "unacceptable", India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Parvathaneni Harish has said, stressing that international law governing safe passage must be "fully respected"
1 days ago
Amid concerns, Ministry of Education says On-Screen Marking foolproof, international normAmid concerns, Ministry of Education says On-Screen Marking foolproof, international norm Published on: May 17, 2026 2:13 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link New Delhi
1 days ago
![Saran (Bihar) [India], May 17 (ANI): Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani on Sunday said the group has placed “additional emphasis](http://newsorbit360.com/files/news/en/imgs/adani-group-ramps-up-bihar-infra-focus.webp?height=520)
Saran (Bihar) [India], May 17 (ANI): Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani on Sunday said the group has placed “additional emphasis" on infrastructure development in Bihar, while underlining that the group’s investments in the state will be driven by a commitment towards public service and
1 days ago
Housing sales across major cities moderated by 2.2% year-on-year; Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai posted growth, while MMR and Pune saw a decline in sales India’s housing market recorded 93,065 new unit launches and 95,973 unit sales across the top eight cities in Q1 2026, with supply rising 1
1 days ago
Who was Krystal Anderson? Body found in search for missing South Carolina mom 4 years after she was murdered by BFThe body of a South Carolina mom, Krystal Anderson, has been discovered four years after she was allegedly murdered by her boyfriend, authorities believe. Published on: May 17
1 days ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Tried and Tested: I used this hair dryer for 30 days, and it has changed the way I dry my frizzy hairI have used Croma hair dryer for over three weeks
1 days ago
The cabinet list for the incoming UDF government in Keralam is expected within hours, ahead of Chief Minister-designate VD Satheesan's swearing-in on Monday. Congress leader Shafi Parambil stated the new government's focus will be on fulfilling public expectations after a decade
1 days ago
There is no smoke without fire, and Jose Mourinho finally admitted as much. After weeks of speculation linking him with a sensational return to Real Madrid, the Portuguese manager confirmed that contact has indeed been made between Los Blancos and his camp.There is no smoke without fire
1 days ago
The story so far: Russia-based hackers targeted high-profile users in Germany, according to reports from the German media over the past few weeks. Der Spiegel reported that 300 Signal accounts belonging to politically connected individuals were attacked. On May 7
1 days ago
Fitness coach shares realistic rules he would follow to lose 30 lbs of stubborn belly fat without extreme dietingFrom protein intake to walking daily, here’s a breakdown of realistic rules that you can follow to lose 30 lbs of stubborn belly fat. Published on: May 17
1 days ago
Ankur Warikoo shares update on shutting down ₹100 crore courses business: ‘The problem is the system'Ankur Warikoo has now clarified that the courses business has not ended entirely but has instead been converted into a subscription-based model under WebVeda. Updated on: May 17
1 days ago
A Anbalagan, the sole AIADMK legislator, will take oath as pro tem Speaker of the Puducherry Assembly on Monday. Lieutenant Governor K Kailashnathan will administer the oath. Anbalagan represents the Uppalam constituency and has a long electoral history there
1 days ago
India pushes back on minority rights question during PM Modi's Netherlands trip: ‘Lack of understanding’India and Netherlands ink 17 pacts, elevate ties to strategic partnership during PM Narendra Modi's visit Updated on: May 17, 2026 2:21 PM IST By HT News Desk Share via Copy link A senior
1 days ago
Liquor prices revised in Karnataka after new alcohol tax system implementedThe excise department said the new tax structure aims to rationalise liquor prices, make alcohol cheaper and align rates with neighbouring states. Updated on: May 17, 2026 2:31 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link The Karnataka
1 days ago
For newly married Rajesh and Aarti from Delhi, Indonesia’s Bali with its beaches, water sports, safari, jungle swings, forests and mountains, is more than a tourist destination. It is a liberating getaway where they could splurge, shed inhibitions and be themselves
1 days ago
An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed more than 80 as authorities warned there was no vaccine for the strain in a crisis that the World Health Organization declared an international health emergency on Sunday (May 17, 2026)
1 days ago
