Author: space4knews

May 24, Kathmandu – Indra Bahadur Baniya, Chief Minister of Bagmati Province, has announced that the upcoming budget will focus on creating an environment where the poor can sustain their livelihoods. Speaking at the annual session of the Bagmati Provincial Assembly, which commenced on Monday, Chief Minister Baniya emphasized that the republic was established for the benefit of the poor and reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring livelihood opportunities for all.

Chief Minister Baniya highlighted that the budget will not be the sole property of any single political party but will represent a collective policy, program, and budget agreed upon by all political factions. Priority sectors for the coming year include education, health, road infrastructure, and drinking water projects, with the provincial government set to take firm steps to promote good governance.

“The provincial government is committed to advancing through consensus, cooperation, and coexistence alongside the federal and local governments,” he stated. “Similarly, the federal government should coordinate with provincial and local governments for collective progress.”

While expressing dissatisfaction over the reduction of facilities for personal secretaries of provincial assembly members, Chief Minister Baniya noted that facilities for personal secretaries of federal parliamentarians have not been cut. At the meeting, former Chief Minister and Parliamentary Party Leader of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) in the province, Shalikram Jamkattel, stressed the importance of continuing the provincial pride projects initiated under his leadership. He also expressed frustration over the long-vacant position of the Provincial Assembly Speaker.

During the provincial assembly session, various leaders voiced their perspectives, including Deputy Leader of the Nepali Congress Ram Krishna Chitrakar; UML Parliamentary Party Leader in the province, Jagannath Thapaliya; Bhuvan Kumar Pathak of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party; Parliamentary Party Leader of the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party, Surendra Raj Gosain; and Shailendra Man Bajracharya of the Hamro Nepali Party.

Despite nearly four decades of participation in FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Nepal has yet to progress beyond the second round. In the qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Nepal was unable to secure victory in the second stage and was consequently eliminated from the competition. Following the loss of international recognition for Dashrath Rangasala, Nepal has been compelled to host its home matches on foreign soil. Coaches have emphasized the necessity of a sustained domestic league and long-term strategic planning for football development.

May 21, Kathmandu – With less than three weeks remaining until the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026, the tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marking the first edition featuring 48 participating nations. Recognized as the world’s largest football competition, the World Cup is widely discussed across all levels in Nepal, from social media platforms to local tea shops.

Although Nepali supporters have made their presence felt during the World Cup qualifiers, the enthusiasm does not reach full intensity compared to other countries. Nepal has typically been eliminated in the first round throughout its four decades of participation. On the rare occasions when Nepal advanced to the second round, the team’s performance was notably weak. Nepal made its debut in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers in 1986 during the Mexico tournament and has participated in nearly every subsequent qualification campaign, except for two occasions, but has never moved past the second stage.

Nepal did not participate in the 1994 qualifiers, while in 2006 it withdrew after registering, incurring a fine of $10,000. In the 2014 qualifiers held in Brazil, Nepal reached the second round for the first time, achieving an impressive 7–1 victory over Timor-Leste. However, the team was eliminated after a heavy 11–1 defeat to Jordan. Nepal exited in the first round during the 2018 qualifiers for Russia and directly entered the second round in the 2022 qualification cycle, ranked among Asia’s top 34 teams—earning a second chance at the second round.

In the second round group featuring Australia, Kuwait, Jordan, and Taiwan, Nepal secured only two wins across eight matches and was eliminated. During the 2026 qualifiers, Nepal successfully cleared the first round for the second consecutive time by defeating Laos with an aggregate score of 2–1 to advance. However, placed in Group H of the second round, Nepal was eliminated by the group winner. The group winner and runner-up were to advance to the AFC Asian Cup and the third round of World Cup qualifiers. Unfortunately, Nepal finished last in the group and ended its campaign after securing just one draw and suffering five losses out of six matches.

During the second round, Nepal conceded 20 goals but managed to score only two. In home-and-away fixtures, Nepal lost 8–0 to the UAE, 4–2 to Yemen, and 8–0 to Bahrain. Except for the match against Yemen, Nepal was not permitted to play on home ground. After Dashrath Rangasala lost international recognition, the Nepali team was compelled to play away games against UAE and Bahrain abroad, denying players the chance to compete on their own turf and fans the opportunity to enjoy World Cup qualifiers at home.

In its four decades of World Cup qualifying history, Nepal has only managed to reach the second round three times and has been eliminated in the first round in most campaigns. The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has faced leadership disputes, along with the absence of a regular league, resulting in player migration and the weakening of Nepali football. Renowned coach Balkopal Maharjan stated, “It is impossible without a long-term plan.” Observing the current circumstances, he remarked that Nepal’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup have become nearly impossible. Maharjan added, “Football leadership has been embroiled in conflicts for four years, and football operations have stalled. What kind of training, academies, and competitions have been given to young generations nationwide? Where are the results and schedules for the U-16, U-17, U-19, and senior teams? This shows that qualifying for the World Cup is merely a myth for Nepal.”

Coach Maharjan highlighted that Nepali football has declined significantly due to the lack of a fundamental league structure, stating, “A league is held only once every four years in Nepal, which has caused football to regress further.” Without proper management of grassroots initiatives and academies and resolution of disputes within football leadership, the development of Nepali football appears unfeasible. Veteran player, captain, and coach Rajukaji Shakya also stressed the importance of long-term planning, noting that qualifying for the World Cup is impossible without it. He said, “We need to move forward with a long-term plan. Whether sooner or later, we can qualify for the World Cup. The Women’s World Cup will be held in 2031, only five years away. We must improve our strategies, investments, and infrastructure with deliberate planning.”

Shakya believes Nepal must learn from strong football nations like Japan and develop comprehensive long-term strategies. “Japan is pursuing a goal to win the World Cup by 2050, and Nepal must undertake planned efforts as well. While India is still struggling in football, Nepal needs to work harder and create more detailed plans,” he stated.

May 24, Kathmandu – A total of 176 Everest climbers from 26 countries are arriving in Kathmandu to participate in the second edition of the ‘Everest Summiters Summit–2026.’ Organized by Everest Alliance Nepal in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the summit is scheduled to be held in Kathmandu on June 10.
Everest Alliance Nepal’s Chairman, Sudarshan Nepal, stated that the climbers will be honored with special medals and certificates. “We initiated this event last year to recognize and honor Everest climbers,” he said. “The grand success of the first edition highlighted its significance and scope.” He also emphasized that the summit has become a global platform beyond Nepal.
“This year, with direct support and coordination from the Nepal government, we are even more motivated,” he added. The summit aims to unite voices for the future of the Himalayas and to acknowledge the unique courage and contributions of Everest climbers worldwide. Organizers hope the event will boost Nepal’s mountain tourism on the international stage and further honor the brave climbers.
President Ramchandra Paudel is expected to attend this edition. He will participate in the ‘Summiters Breakfast’ program, engaging in dialogue with the climbers. –Rastriya Samachar Samiti

Pokhara Metropolitan City has begun deploying bulldozers to demolish illegal structures constructed by encroaching on Firkhe Khola. Former Maoist leader Gyanbahadur Koirala has admitted to building a five-story house on Firkhe Khola in violation of regulations. In total, 35 individuals and 11 organizations have illegally erected permanent structures encroaching on the river. 11 Jestha, Pokhara.

“Oh! A five-story house on the river? How could that have been built?” citizens gathered at the site where the Metropolitan City was operating bulldozers on Monday expressed astonishment. Indeed, a large five-story house stood right over Pokhara’s Firkhe Khola. Located behind Paryang in Ward No. 5, in Laxmi Tol, the grand mansion with numerous rooms and windows built over the river has drawn significant attention. While many locals know who owns it, others remain curious.

Gyanbahadur is a former Maoist leader. After the Maoist peace process, he served for an extended period in the multi-party mechanism of Pokhara Metropolitan City. Prior to local elections, this multi-party body played a role in policy formulation and development projects of the metropolitan. Ironically, the person responsible for overseeing development, regulation, and good governance in the city has violated state law by constructing structures atop the riverbank—moreover, not just one but two such buildings. The city’s bulldozing campaign, launched Sunday, initially targeted areas downstream of the Firkhe Khola bridge.

Gyanbahadur acknowledged that he built the house without adhering to standards or obtaining proper permission. He said, “I gambled; I knew I might lose someday.” He indicated that the house was constructed on the Firkhe Khola about four years ago. “Since I wasn’t granted permission according to regulations, I built it accepting whatever consequences might come later,” he stated. He has suffered both financial and social losses due to illegal gambling.

Similar to Gyanbahadur, 35 individuals and 11 institutions have unlawfully constructed permanent houses and buildings on Firkhe Khola. Even government bodies have exploited the riverbank. Educational institutions like Pokhara Engineering College and Little Step School have occupied significant portions of the river. The approximately 8-kilometer-long Firkhe Khola has not only faced rapid development pressure in recent decades but has consistently been a center of controversy and public debate.

May 24, Janakpurdham – A woman was fatally struck by a train on the Janakpur-Jaynagar railway line. The incident occurred at 5:32 PM on Monday, approximately 600 meters east of Baidehi Station in Dhanusha Bideha Municipality–9, as the train was traveling from Jaynagar towards Janakpur.

According to Madhusudhan Nyaupane, spokesperson for Dhanusha Police, the approximately 30-year-old woman suffered fatal head injuries after being hit by the train at the accident site. The Dhanusha District Police Office has stated that further investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Police have also reported that the identity of the deceased woman has not yet been established.

GB Rai, who absconded after embezzling over Rs 21 billion from cooperatives, continues to have his personal companies operating unabated. The government has initiated the process of refunding small savers of the troubled cooperatives by establishing a revolving fund of Rs 25 crore. Additionally, the government has decided to withdraw cases related to money laundering and organized crime filed against Ravi Lamichhane and GB Rai’s group. (April 24, Kathmandu)

Despite being on the run for five years with the assistance of government mechanisms, GB Rai’s companies are still in operation. Rai, who defrauded more than Rs 21 billion from over a dozen cooperatives, remains at large despite being sought by Nepal Police in Malaysia. Meanwhile, the personal companies, including networking firms funded by the public’s savings invested through the cooperatives, continue their operations.

GB Rai allegedly funneled cooperative savings into his private companies such as Nature Herbs and Gorkha Ayurveda Pvt. Ltd., both of which remain active. According to an audit report, Swarnalaxmi Cooperative, operating in Kathmandu and Lalitpur, had savings totaling Rs 371,172,023 as of mid-July 2022. Of this, Rs 310,532,707 was reportedly misappropriated and invested as loans, indicating fraudulent practices.

The government has commenced refunding the savings of small depositors in distressed cooperatives since Monday, May 17. Approximately 76,000 depositors from troubled cooperatives are expected to be reimbursed around Rs 4.6 billion. Cooperative Minister Rawal stated, “Some cooperatives associated with GB Rai have become problematic, and many are facing issues.”

11 Jestha, Kathmandu – The Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, Federal Affairs and General Administration has established a high-level committee to address disputes arising between elected local representatives and administrative staff. Particularly, conflicts over policy issues between Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) appointed by the federal government and local representatives have led to delays in decision-making, challenges in budget implementation, and an increase in arrears.

To thoroughly examine these issues and develop long-term solutions, the Ministry has formed the committee under the coordination of the Secretary. The committee includes the Deputy Secretary from the Prime Minister’s Office, as well as representatives from the National Associations of Municipalities and Rural Municipalities. Among the problems identified are prolonged vacancies in the CAO positions, late arrivals or absenteeism by recently transferred or appointed CAOs, lack of coordination with local representatives, engagement in actions against good governance and self-interested behaviors, and failure to professionally support the implementation of local government decisions.

The committee is tasked with studying these matters and recommending sustainable solutions. It will also investigate issues such as pressuring staff to authorize payments for illegal activities without completing necessary procedures, excessive expenses related to staff appointments, fuel distribution, and hosting guests. The pressure exerted by local representatives has resulted in some unlawful decisions, exposing staff to future risks of corruption charges and escalating conflicts between employees and representatives.

To enhance the effectiveness of local government operations and promote good governance, the committee will conduct necessary studies and research. If required, it may establish subcommittees and working groups to resolve urgent issues.