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Nepal is witnessing a significant surge in voter registration as the country prepares for its first parliamentary elections since a mass uprising in September 2025 ousted the government. According to the Election Commission, over 837,000 first-time voters have registered, reflecting heightened political engagement, particularly among the youth. The elections, scheduled for March 5, 2026, will see 123 established political parties participating, with an additional 40 new slates awaiting verification to join the race. The uprising, initially sparked by a brief social media ban, quickly escalated into a nationwide anti-corruption movement, resulting in the ousting of four-time Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. His interim replacement, former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, has been tasked with steering the nation until the elections. The protests, which claimed at least 76 lives and saw widespread destruction of government institutions, have underscored the public’s demand for meaningful change amid years of economic stagnation and corruption. Dikshya Poudel, a 19-year-old student, expressed her excitement about voting for the first time, stating, ‘I dream of seeing new faces in politics who can create jobs, eradicate poverty, and make Nepal a better place to live.’ However, the unrest has further strained Nepal’s fragile economy, with the World Bank projecting a decline in growth to 2.1 percent due to heightened political and economic uncertainty. The nation’s GDP per capita stands at $1,447, with 82 percent of the workforce engaged in informal employment, highlighting the urgent need for reform.

Gaza authorities have reported that Israel has committed nearly 500 ceasefire violations since the truce took effect last month, resulting in the deaths of 339 Palestinians and injuring 871 others. The Gaza government media office labeled these violations as “systematic,” warning that they jeopardize the prospects for stability in the region. This statement came in the wake of a series of Israeli air strikes across the Gaza Strip on Saturday, including areas outside Israeli control, which claimed at least 21 lives according to the Palestinian health ministry. Hamas has accused Israel of fabricating pretexts to justify its actions and undermine the ceasefire agreement, aiming to reignite the two-year conflict in Gaza. The group called on mediators to intervene to prevent the collapse of the agreement, following an “angry” message sent to mediators after Saturday’s strikes. Israeli authorities, however, accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire, claiming that troops came under fire, though no injuries were reported and no Palestinian group claimed responsibility. The Israeli military released footage allegedly showing a man firing at soldiers, but Middle East Eye could not independently verify the details of the video. Hamas official Izzat al-Rashq denied any connection between the man and the group, urging mediators and the US to pressure Israel to reveal the individual’s identity. The government media office reported at least 497 violations since 11 October, including 142 incidents of live fire, 21 ground incursions, 228 air, land, and artillery strikes, and 100 demolitions of homes and civilian buildings. Additionally, Israel has kept the Rafah crossing with Egypt closed, blocking the exit of tens of thousands of critically wounded people, and has continued to restrict essential food and medical supplies, allowing only 150 aid trucks to enter daily, far fewer than the 600 stipulated in the agreement.